Disclaimer: Princess Tutu does not belong to me, and neither to the characters. I only claim some responsibility for those whose names are unfamiliar. The rest is up to the story.
Chapter Two
As anticipated, Fakir's research hadn't turned up very much. He had forgotten just how simplistic Tutu's appearance had been in the story. She played her role, and then vanished with her last words of love. He really had a lot of room to explore with his writing; which made it a bit more difficult, actually. For now, he still felt like he could only look so far into the story. But despite that weakness, he needed get back to writing before he got caught up in possibilities again. He wasn't affecting anyone with this, he reminded himself, he was just writing to explore the past. He could let the story sway itself if it wanted to, for it was already over. The ending wouldn't change. He just was going to fill in some gaps.
Princess Sylvia practiced her dancing as much as her father practiced his magic. She learned magic from her tutors, and while she picked it up well, she was nowhere near her father's proficiency. She insisted that she could help him more if he would let her, but King Marius did not wish his daughter to become too involved in war affairs. He knew she would be a good ruler, but stemmed her war education at planning and fortifications. If it became necessary for her to know more about battle, he said, it would be better for her to surrender and live.
While she did not agree with her father, the Princess did love him, and respected his wishes. She tried to ensure that her magic could be used for the best defensive purposes. She often practiced among the townspeople, helping fortify gardens and fields. King Marius desired that his daughter be familiar with their subjects. Secretly, he hoped that if the townspeople loved their princess enough, they would be willing to fight for her if it became necessary. He had their respect, most assuredly, and their support – but his powers against the Raven were weakening, and his armies were already out and fighting. The magical barrier surrounding what was left of their kingdom was diminishing in strength. He could not hide from his daughter that the war with the Raven had forced their kingdom to shrink, merely leaving the town surrounding the castle; all their other lands had succumbed to the Raven's powers. There were no reinforcements; only the castle and the people around it. They could still pin their hopes on Prince Siegfried and his father, King Ivanov, though, for that was all they had.
Suddenly, Fakir felt as if he were hearing a conversation; he began writing on a new piece of paper.
"If all goes well, your father may offer you in marriage to Prince Siegfried. He is saving all the kingdoms, after all – and the only thing we have to offer him is you, my Princess," Kurt said to Princess Sylvia as she looked out at the sunset from a balcony.
Princess Sylvia blushed as she looked at Kurt; "… There are other kingdoms Prince Siegfried is also protecting;" she said with an embarrassed smile. The sun reflecting on her white hair only made her look more radiant; "I am sure that they will also have princesses to offer him, much prettier than I."
"You are wrong," Kurt stated, looking directly at her; "There could be no one as beautiful as you, even in another kingdom, my Princess."
"… Kurt, you are too kind."
"And you are too modest, my Princess," Kurt countered, "But even if you do not believe that your beauty and grace are enough to draw Prince Siegfried in, the love you already hold for him surely will."
She looked back at the sunset, her smile fading a little as she sighed. "But… he does not know of my love for him."
"How could he not? Every time he would come into a room, you would light up like a radiant star," Kurt said.
"R-really?" Princess Sylvia questioned quickly, looking at Kurt worriedly; "Is it that obvious?"
Kurt chuckled; "I believe so, but I also know you quite well, my Princess. Although, I do think that the Prince would have to be blind not to notice your feelings." Kurt sobered somewhat; "But I fear that he has been blinded by the concerns of war. So, there is a chance he does not know of your feelings yet."
Princess Sylvia returned to staring off at the sunset; she had never actually met Prince Siegfried before the problems with the Raven occurred. She had been thankful for the reason then, ignorant to the terrific problems that would ensue; but now…
"… Honestly, I believe that is alright. If he doesn't know," she said absently, "He has many concerns right now, least of all of them would be marriage. And, even after all of this…" her voice caught momentarily, but she overcame the emotion; "I think I could live… with him choosing another."
She felt a cautious hand on her shoulder; "But you need not, my Princess. Surely you can tell him yourself-"
"Kurt;" she cut him off, "the concerns of the kingdom come before my selfish desires. I am sure that King Ivanov feels the same way. Once this war is over, if Prince Siegfried should chose me…" she trailed off, imagining the bliss for a moment, but quickly returned to reality again; "I would surely accept, gladly. But just as surely, should he choose another, I would support his choice, and go on to guide my father's kingdom as best I can."
Kurt removed his hand; "… I understand, my Princess."
Idiot… Fakir thought. He was reminded of Mytho's selflessness. Prince Siegfried's selflessness. He needed to get used to that name. He hoped, no, he would make sure that Kurt would do a better job of supporting Princess Sylvia than he had done with Mytho. Siegfried. Whatever. Back to the story.
Princess Sylvia watched as the last rays of sunlight filtered beneath the horizon, and twilight truly began. Now was the time when crows would be most active. She could see clouds of them on the horizon, far beyond their own walls. Biding their time until her father's magic ran out. Ravaging what villages remained. Waging war with Prince Siegfried and King Ivanov, with their armies, with the supporting armies given to them in a desperate attempt to overcome the Raven's growing powers. She thought of Prince Siegfried battling out there, putting everything he had into protecting not only his kingdom, but all the kingdoms. All while she simply stood there and watched.
Her eyes started brimming with tears; "I… I wish that I could help…"
Kurt looked at her sympathetically; "My Princess, we have discussed this…"
"I know…" she sniffed, "But… Father is doing as much as he can to protect our kingdom, and Prince Siegfried is out there fighting the Raven, and King Ivanov is fighting too, and the knights from all the kingdoms are joining, and… and even the people are contributing! They spend their days making armor and food and sending them to the armies beyond the walls!" She turned to Kurt, tears falling now as she continued emotionally, "And all this, while I do nothing! I practice, and learn, and see everybody else helping out, but I do nothing!"
Fakir paused, and not just because of her emotions. He felt something welling within him; a connection. But with what-?
Uselessness. That was what she was feeling. She was useless in a war raging around her that could use every willing hand, and she could do nothing for it. Fakir knew that feeling. He hated that feeling. He wanted nothing more than to throw that feeling to the wind and never see it again, to bury it under a million miles of stone. But it was always there. Even here, it welled up through the ink and into his heart-
No, that wasn't this story. This wasn't a story about him, it was about Princess Tutu. Sylvia. She was feeling this, not him. And this was all something that was in the past. He hadn't intended to stumble into this, but there it was; and now he could write her through it. Kurt would be there for her.
Princess Sylvia wept, and Kurt tenderly embraced her; "No, my Princess; you do not do 'nothing'. You go out among the people every single day, and show them that there is light in the world still. You do not allow the dark circumstances to dampen your spirit, and that spirit is what keeps the people going. Without you, they would not find reason for their work; they would see no purpose in making armor to defend a kingdom already lost. But they do not see it as prolonging the inevitable; they see it as protecting a shining light that is precious to them. You are a beacon, my Princess, and I fear what the kingdom would become without your presence."
Princess Sylvia sniffed in Kurt's arms as she calmed her tears. "…Thank you, Kurt," she eventually said softly; "I appreciate your words."
"They are not just words, my Princess, but the truth."
She waited before speaking again; "And… what about Prince Siegfried? What might I do to help him?"
Kurt lifted the Princess' face to look straight at her; "You can support your people. They will support Prince Siegfried and his armies with their food and whatever else they can send along. But you must support them, my Princess, to help them put forth their best efforts."
Her face still looked disappointed, but she gave a small smile anyway after a moment of thought. "… Alright, Kurt. I will do as you and Father say."
Kurt smiled, relieved; "That is good to hear, my Princess." He offered her her blue cloak against the oncoming chill of evening. She accepted the cloak, and together they headed inside.
Fakir wondered if her smile was because she truly believed in Kurt's words, or if she had just decided to accept what was given to her. He had an uncomfortable feeling it may have been the latter, but he hoped that he was wrong.
