Act 1: The Amazing Mr. Fakir

Rue's eyes fluttered.

Images came to mind of a girl named Svanna…and why did Rue feel a vague sense of foreboding?

Rue thought for a moment, and she came to the conclusion that she really needed to get to her pointe class. Luckily, she wasn't too late. Even if she had come an entire half-hour late, it was unlikely she would be chastised very much. After all, Rue was the best dancer in the advanced class and an aura of mystery was fitting.

In the mirror she saw herself as she completed her warm up. Rue remembered Svanna again…why was the girl so unsettling? Was it how closely she resembled Rue, and yet evoked another association entirely?

Almost like Odile, the black swan of Swan Lake?


A confused Ahiru sat on the floor of her room, thinking. She remembered something to do with a voice speaking, and then Odette had appeared, and then…

She brushed the memories away. As usual, she was going to be late again! What really mattered was that she needed to get to dance class. She ran as quickly as she could out the door and down the halls, taking care not to trip over her own feet but stumbling a couple of times anyway.

She burst through the door unceremoniously. "I'm so sorry I'm late! I slept a bit too…hey, I mean, never mind, I'm just late so I'll just come in I guess, and I'm really sorry! I didn't mean for…yeah." Ahiru babbled.

Instead of a dozen girls practicing their dance combinations, she found a dark-haired boy leaping across the floor. He caught her gaze mid-air and landed lightly, almost like a panther. Ahiru recognized him as Fakir, one of the best students of the advanced class. She hadn't really seen him that often, but he seemed to be scowling all the time, almost as if he hated everything.

He shook his head. "Moron." His voice was abrasive, and his green eyes were sharp. "If you're late for class at this hour, you might as well not go at all. It's almost over by now."

Ahiru froze with shock. Wasn't this her classroom? Had she, being the bumpkin she was, opened the wrong door? "Mr. Fakir, I'm so sorry," she said quickly, unsure how to talk to him but finally deciding on being formal. "I've interrupted you and everything and…I guess…if it's so late…I'd be really embarrassed if I walked into class this late…can I practice…here?"

Fakir gave her a long, suspicious look, and then turned away sharply.

"I guess that means yes! Thank you, Mr. Fakir!" Ahiru almost sang. Walking over the barre to warm up, Ahiru wondered why she had accidentally entered this place instead of her classroom. She could've sworn that she knew where it was before she opened the door…

"Hey. Straighten that leg. You've got the strength. Use it." Unaware that he had been watching her, Ahiru endeavored to execute each movement as flawlessly as possible.

Fakir studied her for a moment, and then turned away. "Idiot. You look like a frog." Ahiru felt her cheeks redden slightly as she clamped her mouth tightly shut, careful not to stick her tongue out.

After about fifteen minutes of dancing, during which she never once saw him glance at her, she heard him say, "Keep your core together, moron." Had he been watching after all?

Ahiru found that he was right. It seemed much easier to her now to penche downwards from an arabesque. She focused on her center, but to her horror she tipped over too far forwards.

As the floor rushed towards her, Ahiru felt a pair of strong hands lift her into the air. Her arms automatically formed a circle above her head as she smiled at the sudden weightlessness.

The ground came beneath her feet much too soon, and Ahiru found herself staring into Fakir's green eyes.

"You've got talent, you moron," he admitted, casting his gaze downwards and walking away nonchalantly. "You just need a good teacher."

Hardly daring to believe it, Ahiru nodded eagerly. "So can we meet at…um…after dinner at…seven o'clock each day, Mr. Fakir?"

It was obvious he not been expecting this, but he looked thoughtful at the suggestion. "The times for advanced classes change sometimes, but I think I'm free today and for the next two days. I'll have to check about Friday."

His usual demeanor took over again and he looked sullen, almost as if he wondered why he had agreed.

"Moron. It's Fakir." He turned around and left without another word.

Ahiru blinked. Had he just called her a moron? Again? Already she could guess at his two favorite words: idiot and moron.

And yet she had secured five dancing lessons from the incredibly accomplished Fakir! Just the thought made her heart soar. She returned to the barre and practiced with extra passion.

"I won't let you down, Mr. Fa- I mean, Fakir!" Ahiru said happily to herself. "You'll see!"


The next day, Ahiru lightly tiptoed to the door, which stood ajar. Should I walk right in? Should I stand for a moment, and then peek in...or would that be weird? Does he already think I'm weird? What do I do now? What was I going to do, anyway?

She cast aside these thoughts with her usual blithe cheer and finally skipped into the practice room, humming a tune at the top of her lungs in order to make things less embarrassing. She was immediately stopped cold by Fakir's odd look, which clearly said something along the lines of You are a moron who is beyond the point of all help.

Ahiru shifted uncomfortably under his penetrating green-eyed glare until she finally said, "Well? Aren't you going to help me learn how to dance?"

"I'm beginning to reconsider." Fakir said grumpily. "Which means that the answer is actually..." He stopped as he caught sight of her heartbroken expression.

Her ocean-blue eyes became as wide and pleading as she could possibly manage. "Please-please-please-please-please-please"

Fakir remained silent, turned away, as her voice rose. "Please-please-please-please-"

"ALL RIGHT, NOW SHUT UP!" Fakir shouted.

Triumphant, Ahiru nodded quickly and scurried to begin her warm up.

Fakir wasn't much like her usual teachers. Despite his curt attitude and ever-present scowl, he seemed to be unable to stop himself from correcting her, as if he couldn't bear such terrible dancing before his eyes and had to make it slightly better. "Moron. You can't even hold your arms right." Fakir said icily from over her shoulder. Her mouth pressed into a grimace from determination, Ahiru struggled to keep it all together.

"You look like an ostrich." Fakir said, not bothering to explain why.

At this, Ahiru had finally had enough. "WHO SAYS I LOOK LIKE AN OSTRICH!" She yelled, thoroughly fed up with his cutting remarks. "And you, Fakir, look like a...a...erm...an alligator... wait, no, that's not an insult...um...like a..."

"So the idiot doesn't know how to insult others correctly. Couldn't even finish the sentence. I meant that your alignment is off and it reminds me of an ostrich." Fakir drawled, sounding downright obnoxious to Ahiru.

"Oh yeah?" Ahiru answered. "Well, I say that you are a selfish jerkface who's a meanie and a weirdo!"

"Such sophistication," Fakir replied.

"You have to be nicer!" Ahiru said indignantly. "And that means no comparing me to ostriches!"

"An ostrich. Can't go forgetting our grammar now."

"Whatever."

However, after that, Fakir acted slightly more civil towards her. But only slightly.

"ABDOMINAL MUSCLES! HOLD THEM IN!" He shouted out of nowhere, and Ahiru almost jumped from the shock. She could have sworn she saw him laughing afterwards.

"Two words for your turn: reckless and clumsy. Two words for a dancer's turn: swift and strong."

After watching her fail at a double pirouette several times, he finally relented and gave her useful advice.

"Spot your eyes in the mirror, and make sure your head goes around before your body. Once your head turns, your body will follow." Ahiru nodded and tried again, trying to hide her jubilation.

It was half past nine when they stopped. Part of the dark side of the moon was visible through the high windows of the dance room. Dappled moonlight gave the formerly cheerful place a more mysterious feel.

Ahiru was certain that she was going to be aching all over the next day. Although Fakir was a good teacher, he was also a strict one.

"Not bad," Fakir said.

Ahiru beamed.

"Just kidding, that was terrible." Fakir said brusquely, and he made his way out.

Ahiru gingerly walked back to her room. The only thing running through her mind was I need sleep. What she wasn't prepared for, however, was the loud fanfare that erupted as soon as she walked into her room.

"Cute little Ahiru! Where was she? Did she just see a handsome stranger who she's tragically in love with? ...but it's tragic because he doesn't love her and she gets her heart broken as she cries at his wedding! How cute! How sad!" Ahiru recognized Lillie's voice at once.

Inwardly, Ahiru groaned.

"Seriously, Ahiru, where were you? We were going to have fun together!" Pique said, suspicion tinging her voice, "And then you disappeared! And you weren't even in class today!"

"Look, she's all tired! Maybe she's going to quit her dream of being a ballerina and become a magician instead! And it'll be so cute because she'll discover that she's not any good at magic either, and besides it doesn't even exist! Poor Ahiru!"

All the voices were making Ahiru feel dizzy. She leaned against the wall for support.

"Tell us! Where were you?"

Ahiru decided that if she didn't tell them, Lillie would continue to make up stories that would not only be completely misleading but also could lead to the start of some unwanted rumors.

"Look, Fakir told me-"

"FAKIR?"

"OHMIGOSH THAT'S SO CUTE AND SAD! If you ever need a shoulder to cry on when you break up I'll be there! I know you'll need it!"

"Fakir, like the number one guy in the advanced class! No way!"

"No wait, maybe it's a gypsy! I think I heard that fakirs do magic! Maybe Ahiru ran into a gypsy who performed magic and she got lost and…and she mistook him for the real Fakir…AND IT'S SO CUTE… She's always so confused and adorable!"

"I was doing ballet!" Ahiru shouted hotly, "and I did NOT run into a gypsy and get lost, and it had nothing to do with ostriches!"

Her friends looked at her, surprised. It was unusual for Ahiru to abandon her trademark cheerfulness.

Ahiru smiled and blushed at the sudden quiet. "I'm just really, really tired. Sorry if I shouted…"

"What's all this about ostriches?" Pique asked curiously.

"I'll tell you later," Ahiru replied, and her friends could not get any more out of her on the subject.