The swords crashed into each other and pushed each other away. Mytho spun and danced backwards, his onyx black sword held out in front of him by one hand. Fakir held his sword vertically with both hands, the silver metal of the blade shining. Mytho attacked, driving Fakir backwards with every swing of his cursed sword. Princess Tutu stayed with the unconscious Retzel, crouching over Fakir's friend protectively as prince and knight continued their duel.
Fakir found an opening, swinging towards Mytho's torso. Mytho bent back, dodging the blade by inches. Only black feathers from his clothes were cut. Again Mytho drove forward in his heated attacks, his sneer turning into a grimace. "Some knight you are," he taunted. "You can't even protect your beloved Princess Tutu, let alone your prince!"
"No," Fakir panted, raising his sword horizontally with his own face. "I will save you, and I will protect her."
"Fakir..." Princess Tutu muttered, watching Fakir steadily.
Mytho laughed, a twisted sound. "Not a chance, failure!" He charged forward yelling, and Fakir lowered his sword - but not in time to block the dark blade.
"FAKIIIIR! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" Princess Tutu yelled.
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" Duck's own cries woke her up from her nightmare. She sat up in her bed, clutching the blanket until her knuckles became white. Hands shaking, breathing short, she could only tremble as tears formed in her eyes.
"Duck!" Footsteps crashed down the wooden floor of the hallway outside. Fakir slammed the door open. "Duck, what happened? What's wrong?"
She shook her head, shaking violently. "N-n-n-nothing hap-pened, Fakir. Just had a-a-a bad dream." Sobs wracked her body as she wailed into her blanket.
Fakir's eyes widened. "Duck!" He sat on her bed and held her tightly to him. "Duck, tell me! What happened in the dream?" he asked, lowering his voice even as he spoke urgently.
Nothing came from Duck's lips except more sobs. She buried her head into his shoulder as she cried. After what seemed like hours to both of them, Duck replied through tears, "You were fighting Mytho when he was infected by raven's blood and you were protecting me - Princess Tutu me - and Mytho killed you!" Her crying increased in volume again; she clung to him as if hiding from her own words.
Fakir gripped her even tighter to him, intertwining his fingers in her loose hair. "Another nightmare," he muttered to himself. Tears formed in his own eyes as his fianceé continued to cry. "Idiot," he murmured. "It was only a dream. Mytho didn't kill me, I'm right here. I always will be. I won't leave you."
"I know," Duck breathed. "I'm so glad for that."
Fakir kissed the top of her head. "I won't leave you tonight, either. I'll stay here with you."
When the morning sun rose, Fakir was still there, sitting on the bed with Duck in his arms.
Final.