Once upon a time a man died. The last story that the man had spun should have ended in extraordinary tragedy. However the story turned out to have a happy ending. The reason for that ending was a little Duck that the man himself called into the story.

And so a man started to write a story. That story overflowing with hope had just begun. But the light of hope can only shine in the darkness of fear and doubt. The man had started a story he might regret to have written without realizing it.

Akt 1

Der Nußknacker: Der Schneeflockenwalzer

At the lake nearby Goldcrown Town, a young writer was sitting in his chair on the gangplank, with his coat hanging over the chair . It was late autumn and the wind blew over the water. The young writer was wearing a white blouse and a brown vest. In his left hand he hold piles of paper clipped on a board, in his right hand a Duck's feather with ink. He was concentrating on writing but he couldn't focus or arrange his thoughts.

He sighed and turned to the left. "What the hell do you want?"

On his left shoulder sat a small yellow Duck, looking at the young man with concerned eyes, without blinking even once. Fakir grumbled and asked once again:"What?"

The little Duck gave him a little "Quack", as it would answer all his questions. Ahiru still wasn't looking away.

Like I could understand that, Fakir thought to himself.

He grabbed the little yellow animal and wanted to place it on the wooden planks.

"Look, I don't have any more food for you, so please stop troubling me. I'm trying to write here!"

Now it was Ahirus turn to be annoyed. She released herself out of Fakirs grip, flew up, and pecked his head. Fakir tried to defend himself and held his hands up for protection.

"Stop that, Ahiru!", he shouted.

After the little Duck believed that the boy had enough, she stopped, and flew to the waters surface, landed elegant and swam around the little lake. If you looked closer you could tell her still annoyed look in her face as she tried to ignore the boy.

Fakir patted his head, thought, stupid Duck, and turned back to the almost blank pages on his lap.

He started to write a few more words on his pages as he started to spin another story.

It was a cold breeze on the water. Winter was about to come. As the little Duckling swam around in the water, she seemed to hear a sound. At first it was low but it got louder and louder. Ahiru stopped and listened a little more to the music.

As she listened, she felt how her heart started to resonate with the melody, becoming one with it.

Fakir was still focused on his story. A few snowflakes that flew over him caught his attention. He was taken away from his story and came back to reality. Curiously he tried to hold one of the snowflakes in his hand. It landed on his palm, a white snowflake, but it didn't melt. Instead of that, a cold shiver ran down his spine.

How strange..., he wondered. He didn't write a story to start snowing, he was sure of it. So how could snowflakes appear in this mild climate? A strong wind started to blow, and Fakir needed to shield his eyes.

"What the-?"

Suddenly a light appeared on the lake, glowing strong in the dark water. It was the little duck (that swam on the lake) who was engulfed in the light. With big eyes, Fakir watched as the little figure seemed to grow bigger and bigger. The shape of the little bird disappeared. The legs grew longer, out of his head grew hair and his little floppy wings lost its feathers and turned to graceful arms. The figure was wearing a white Tutu and pink pointe shoes. Around her neck was a red necklace with two extended wings. On her head she wore a little crown shaped like an egg. She was standing there like a Primadonna: Princess Tutu.

As she opened her eyes, you could see the blue of the water in her gaze but there was still something else. Something like longing. The music was calling her, she wanted to follow it, like a puppet with no free will. But it didn't matter. Only the melody was important. She needed to follow the melody, wherever it may lead her.

"...Ahiru?"

A voice called her back from her dream of the puppet with no will. She turned around and saw a young man, standing on the gangplank, a feather in his hand and with amazed eyes. His dark hair was messy from the wind and his papers were scattering around. He seemed familiar to her. Who was he again? She blinked innocently with her blue eyes as a the light returned into them.

"Fakir."

She couldn't say any more because within the next second she fell into the cold water . After a short while, she aroused, panting for air. But it wasn't Princess Tutu anymore. As soon as she said his name, the mask of Princess Tutu disappeared and she turned into a common girl. She looked at her hands and she couldn't believe it. She was Ahiru again. The girl who can't dance ballet very well and acts like a duck. The girl who was actually a duck who turned human for the prince she fell in love with. Now she got back in her human form again and was shaking in excitement.

„I'm human...? I'm human! Fakir I'm-" she was standing up to face her friend and saw him looking the other way. He was burning red. She blinked again. "Huh?"

"Your clothes, you moron! You're not wearing any clothes!", he yelled with a shaky voice.

Ahiru looked down on herself, turned red and sat down in the water. ...deja vu?, they both thought to themselves.

On the other side of the lake one could see a little mouse standing on his back legs, sniffing the air and looking at the unbelievable scene. After a while it fell on all four, turned around and left the lake through the grass.

After a while, Ahiru crawled out of the water to the save shore. Fakir handed his coat over to her, so that she wouldn't freeze so much. But Ahiru didn't think about the cold. She was human again now. She would be able to dance again and talk to all the people she used to know. Happily she turned to Fakir with a big smile on her face.

"Fakir, isn't it great? It worked! You wrote a story about me right?"

But Fakir didn't look at her. He was looking right in front of him, thinking hard about something.

"No, it wasn't me", he mumbled.

"Huh?"

"I don't know what exactly happened. It doesn't make sense. I didn't write that..."

Ahiru was a little confused. It seemed to trouble him, that she turned back into a human. Why wasn't he happy? She wrapped the coat closer to her body.

"... maybe Drosselmeyer decided to turn me back?"

"I doubt that, that's not like him."

" Oh no, what if there's something wrong with Mytho? Maybe he needs our help? We got to find him as fast as possible, Fakir!" Ahiru jumped up and wanted to run into town, but Fakir held her back.

"I don't think so. His heart is complete again, he has no need for Princess Tutu anymore. The story came to an end, remember?"

Ahiru wandered around the green grass barefooted and thought. What could be the reason that she turned back? As she walked, something hard bumped against her chest again and again. She stopped and took out a little Pendant which was around her neck. The Pendant which let her turn into Princess Tutu!

"The Pendant!"

"What?"

Fakir turned around to the girl as she came closer to him. She held the red egg-shaped Pendant in front of the writer.

"Look, look! It's the same Pendant as before! Although..."

"What is it?"

Ahiru looked closer at the red Jewel in her hand.

„ It feels... kind of different.. I can't really say. It's weird. Ah! Look! There seems to be something inside. See?"

Fakir took a closer look at it. She was right. It looked like a small white snowflake in the middle of the Pendant.

" So most likely it's a different Pendant."

Fakir nodded. " Hmm. A copy. A good one to it."

Ahiru sat down, powerless. Her happiness about returning to the life of a ballerina had disappeared entirely.

"So, maybe somebody else needs me?"

"Well it's possible."

For a brief moment there was silence between the two. Ahiru looked at the calm water and wondered what her life would be like from now on. If it would be like before. And since the town isn't trapped inside the story anymore, what changes would she meet? And why did she returned to be Princess Tutu all of a sudden?

" Alright."

"Huh?" Ahiru was taken back from her dreams and looked at Fakir.

" I'll try to find out what happened. You wait here. " Fakir turned around to leave the lake and to head into town.

Ahiru stood up in protest." I'm coming with you!"

Fakir looked at her." You? Looking like this?"

Ahiru blushed a little. " But you can't just leave me here alone! And the whole story concerns me after all! And what if somebody really needs my help?"

Fakir sighed and closed his eyes." Why am I doing this.. alright but first of all you need some normal clothes. Where are we supposed to get them?"

"Why me...", Fakir mumbled.

Ahiru had insisted that they go to Fakirs house. It wouldn't be perfect to run around in boys clothes but that was the best solution they could think of right now. Fakir wanted to bring the clothes to her but she was thick-headed. She thought he would leave her then. So Fakir gave in to her request and now they were walking in the town on the way to the blacksmith, an embarrassed boy and a half naked and soaked girl.

They were fortunate that the weather was really bad and it almost seemed like it would rain soon, so most of the townspeople stayed at home. However, the few faces that looked at the strange pair with curious eyes, made Fakir blush. Ahiru didn't really realize them. She was so happy to have a closer look at the town again, seeing all the shops and houses. She felt melancholic.

As they got closer to the blacksmith Fakir started to walk faster then before, almost running, while Ahiru was still walking idle. Then she realized that he was about 5 meters ahead. She ran after him, almost bumping into Fakir.

He's acting strange... so I didn't imagine it, did I?, she thought to herself remembering the last few weeks.

But her thoughts were interrupted. As Fakir reached out for the the door it suddenly opened.

"Oh! Fakir, I was wondering where you were, it's such an awful weather. I came to visit you and Charon, you can't keep me waiting for too long, you know?"

Before them, Rätsel was standing in the door, the wedded woman, who Ahiru met when she was human before. She still looked beautiful with her brown hair and her gentle smile. After greeting Fakir, she realized the little person behind him.

" Oh my, who are you? Your wet from head to toe... and where are you clothes? Fakir did you have anything to do with it?"

"W-What? No! I...", Fakir protested and tried to think of something. He couldn't tell her the truth obviously. Then he continued," I saw her at the lake. She seemed to be robbed so I helped her! Right?"

Ahiru blinked nervously and nodded fast.

Rätsel leaned over to Ahiru and tilted her head a little to the left." And how did they steal your clothes?"

" Ah, I was taking a bath in the lake!"

" What? But it's such a cold weather!"

"Yes!"

Rätsel looked at the girl and was confused while Fakir was rubbing his head. Idiot!

Rätsel laughed and said to her:" I see. So, what is your name?"

"My name is Ahiru!"

"Ahiru? Like a duck? What a...unique name. Well, it seems like you need some new clothes then, right?"

" Ah right. Since your here, could you give her some of your clothes maybe? Just for a short while, promise."

Rätsel turned to the boy.

"Oh I don't think she will fit into my clothes. She's so petite. How about buying her some new clothes. What do you say Ahiru?"

"But I don't have any money with me.."

" Don't worry, I'll pay for you. A beautiful girl needs beautiful clothes that fit her perfectly."

Fakir protested against this idea." You don't need to, she will be gone soon anyway."

Ahiru made a grimace and glared at Fakir. " Rätsel, I gladly accept your offer."

" Huh? How do you know my name?"

" Ah, uhm you see, well, Fakir just said your name didn't he?"

" He did?"

Fakir couldn't stop them, they were already engaged in chatter and were walking off to the next shop. The boy sighed and scratched his head. Whatever, he had more important things to do. He made his way to Autors place. Maybe he could tell him what was going on.

As Ahiru and Rätsel walked along the road, the little Duck-Girl turned around to see Fakir leave. She grumbled and pouted. How can he say that. I won't go anywhere! I turned back into a human and there must be a reason for it! Not like it's thanks to him anyway!

Rätsel laughed at Ahirus angry face and hid her smile. Ahiru looked curiously at the older woman.

"Say, Ahiru-chan, do you like Fakir?"

" What, no we're just friends! Although I wonder about that every now and then..."

"Hihi. You're really cute."

Ahiru looked into Rätsels face. She didn't remember the little girl anymore, how could she anyway. But she still seemed to be the same woman she met before. Ahiru smiled and forgot Fakir for the moment, she wanted to enjoy herself.

After 2 hours the two women were done with shopping. Rätsel insisted to buy her more than one outfit. In the end, they both had their hands full as they got back to Charons house. Rätsel explained the situation to Charon. Apparently, Ahiru told her, that the robbed girl wanted to dance Ballet at the Academy and that her parents sent her here alone. After Ahiru told this first to Rätsel she was amazed that she came up with a lie so easily. But it wasn't all a lie, was it?

Fakir still hadn't returned, so Ahiru decided to stray around the town. She didn't want to look for Fakir right now, she was still annoyed about his behavior. As she walked the familiar streets, the little girl was wearing a yellow long-sleeved turtleneck pull-over and short brown trousers. She wore warm boots and her socks reached almost her shorts. It looked similar to her older clothes when she was still fighting for the Prince's heart.

Just like before she gazed at everything she could see. The people, the shops, even the little birds which flew in the air. A yellow little bird stopped and landed on a nearby lantern to get a closer look at the girl. Ahiru realized it's gaze and smiled widely as she recognized the bird as Canary-mama. She waved at her with her hand.

" What are you waving at?"

"At Canary-mama of course."

"Who? Do you mean the bird?"

"You think that the bird is your mama, you're so delusional. Did you fall on your head and woke up believing that you're a bird? How cute!"

Ahiru stopped her movement. She knew those voices! She turned around and looked at two students

of Goldcrown Academy, one with two blond pigtails and a bright smile on her face, the other one with dark pink hair put together in a bun and with a curious look.

" Pique! Lilie!"

The pink haired girl gave her a even more curious look." Do we know you?"

" Huh? But..!" Oh no, Ahiru thought as she realized the situation. They forgot that they forgot about me! Ahiru tried to think of a really good reason.

" Oh my! Have you been stalking us because you wish to be just like us? Oh you poor thing!"

" I doubt that's the case, we're not that good at ballet Lilie."

Then Ahiru got an idea.

" The school! I'm going to try out to get into the school! That's it!"

" That doesn't really explains it."

" Don't you see Pique? She wants to be closer to us, but she will realize that she can't compare to us and she'll fall into a deep depression. How wonderful would that be, just try to imagine it!"

" Honestly, what is it with you?"

" But we're almost done with school, so obviously some people do look up to us!"

"We just started en pointe last summer!"

Ahiru smiled as she watched the two of them chatting. She was feeling nostalgic. She really missed her friends. And Ballet. Although Rue and Mytho are gone, this would be enough for her. Fakir was also there, but she still tried not to think of him.

She chatted a little more with Pique and Lilie. About the students and teachers of the Academy( it seemed Neko Sensei wasn't there anymore) and also about upcoming plays and the other Facilities in the Academy besides the Ballet. They laughed a little about Ahirus name but they found it cute. For some reason it even sounded familiar to them.

Suddenly, as they kept on chatting happily, Ahiru stopped in her walk. The two students turned around to her to find out what was wrong. It was a quiet melody that Ahiru could hear. The same melody she heard at the lake, just before she turned into Princess Tutu. She turned her Head to the direction the Melody came from.

" Ahiru?"

"Huh? Ah, I'm sorry I have something important to do, go on without me."

" But we wanted to show you the Dormitory!"

"Sorry, it's really important, See you again. Bye."

And with this words she ran off to the direction the music came from, ignoring the shouts of her old/new friends.

The music got louder and louder with every step she took. She now also recognized the melody. It was the melody of the Snowflake waltz from The Nutcracker, she was sure of that!

When she almost reached the source of the melody, she transformed into Princess Tutu. She couldn't remember if it was her own will or the music that made her turn into the Prima Donna, but it didn't matter to her.

She entered one of the many towers of the town, the Lion Tower, also known as the Powder Tower. In it she could see a small figure playing on a flute. A few mice were running around the floor and glared at the the guest, one was sitting on the persons shoulders. The Person, a young man with curly hair was sitting on the stairs at the end of the room. He wore a strange shirt and his hat was decorated with a long feather.

As the princess arrived he stopped playing and looked at her with his grey-colored eyes and smiled.

Princess Tutu asked with a warm smile:" You were the one who called me, right?"

With her hands, she suggested to dance with him, like she always did. The boy chuckled.

" I'm sorry but I didn't call you to dance with me."

He jumped down from the box and made his way to her. The princess let down her hands and wondered about the boy, but she didn't say anything.

"My name is Jäger. I was instructed by my Master to call you back. She is the one who wishes to see you. Your dance, to be precise."

" Why does she need my help? Would you please tell me everything?"

Jäger stood right in front of her now and looked straight into her eyes. Princess Tutu backed off a little. His eyes were cold as ice and intense.

"I've finally found you my princess.."

Jäger gave off a warm smile and Tutu looked at him irritated. But before she could ask anymore questions he disappeared in a flash of snowflakes and flew out of the tower. Tutu looked after him, and after a few seconds turned back into Ahiru.

She wondered who that person was and why he didn't explain anything to her. She embraced herself as she felt cold and made her way back to Fakirs house. She hoped that he at least knew what was going on. Or that they could at least figure out who that Person was. How did he know about Tutu? What could all this mean...

So, this my first time writing a fanfic. The story is already thought through. I actually wanted to make it a doujinshi but reconsidered because it would be way to long and I'm not that good at drawing.

Thanks to my friend who beta-read this chapter although he had no idea what it was about XD.

The beginning is from the end of the anime except for the last 2 sentences. Jäger is the German word for hunter, I thought that it would fit perfectly into a fairytale.

The title for the chapter is german and means: Act 1, The nutcracker: waltz of the snowflakes.

The Lion Tower actually exists in the town the story is based on, in Nördlingen, although I don't know if people can enter it freely or what it looks like on the inside XD.

Please review so I can get better.