Chapter 1

Fakir sat in his chair on the pier overlooking the small lake. One ankle resting on his knee, he watched Duck float lazily along the pond's surface. His ink-stained fingers tapped his chin. It had been almost a year since Fakir had to finish Drosselmeyer's story. He had decided to spend every moment with Duck; walking to the pond very early in the morning, and returning home around ten every night.

It's so unfair, he thought to himself as his quill scratched lazy circles along his paper. I'm in love with her, yet she doesn't even know. It just isn't fair.

Fakir had not found any inspiration in his life since that fateful night. He wished his heart out every night that the end of the story could have been different. Why had Duck ever fallen into Drosselmeyer's trap? Didn't she know what a dreadful man he was? But obviously she hadn't. She'd been only a duck. Everything he had promised her were things he knew she wanted.

He knew he could not rewrite the story, for he had tried many times. Once or twice, he had caught himself wishing that old Drosselmeyer would show up to him and offer him a deal to have Duck. He knew it was foolish, but every time he looked at her cleaning her feathers or heard her quacking, a sharp pain would shoot through his chest. They never spoke; he only spoke to her in his mind. Fakir didn't know if she could understand him or not, but he didn't want to chance her wanting him to speak to her at all. He didn't think he could speak to her without spilling his heart.

The sun had begun to set over the treetops and Duck looked at him with sadness in her eyes. Fakir knew she wanted to come with him, but it was better for her if she stayed where she belonged. He waved a short goodbye, then folded his chair and started his trek home.

Fakir was almost to his small cottage in a grove of apple trees when his vision grew darker. He heard a voice surround him, not only his ears, but his entire being.

"You may not know this, my boy, but just because you do not voice your thoughts does not mean I cannot hear them!" The voice was cold and high-pitched, and Fakir couldn't tell where it was coming from.

"Who's there?" He called into the night. "What do you want?"

"Why, my boy," the voice grew louder. "You must know who I am. I am the one that can fulfill your deepest desires. I see what you wish, my boy, and I would be…happy to help." Finally, the voice attached itself to a body. Drosselmeyer stood not ten feet away from Fakir, a mischievous smile plastered to his mechanical-looking face. His large, metallic eyes seemed to hold all of his secrets and they played across Drosselmeyer's face like the reel of a movie.

"What do you want? Haven't you had enough fun with our lives?" Fakir spat at the ground where Drosselmeyer's feet should have been. They weren't there though, he simply floated.

"Why I am here to grant your wish," Drosselmeyer chuckled at Fakir's befuddled expression. "I am going to grant you some time with your beloved Duck."

"Why do you think I would agree to a deal brought up by you? You've already ruined my life once. Why should I trust you now?" Fakir turned away, but Drosselmeyer appeared right before his face.

"Drosselmeyer, I swear to you, if you do not leave me alone I will find a way to shred you to pieces." Fakir lashed out with his fist, but the wizard evaporated. Fakir's vision cleared and he could once again see the trees surrounding him and the stars high above his head. He could hear the wringing of laughter bouncing off the tree trunks. A cold chill passed over his body, out of fear and anticipation. If Drosselmeyer had bothered to show up once, then he'd certainly do it again…

Fakir had no intention of waiting around to find out though, so he picked up his notebook and folding chair and turned towards home. Once he thought he glimpsed the copper of one of the old wizard's eyes in the moon, glinting high above as though it were laughing.

A/N: First Chapter! Please review and tell me if you'd like me to go on! Thanks..-Maddy :)