Aneko: Why, why does my computer hate me?! -sigh-Yes, yes, I know that was random, but my computer always randomly decides to be a jerk every so often…oh well. At least I can still type this chapter up .

Disclaimer: I do not own Princess Tutu, only the idea for this fanfic and Koeko, Kange, and Geiju.

Chapter 3

"Ahiru. Would you like to regain your human form?"

"Qua-?!" Ahiru's mouth fell open in shock. She was speechless.

He can't really mean that, can he? It's not possible…is it?

Fakir, too, was very surprised. Of all things he had wondered about, he had never imagined this. Wondering what her reaction would be, Fakir looked at the little duck at his feet, and she looked back at him. Fakir saw a variety of emotions on her eyes- a hesitant question, wonder, sadness, excitement, confusion, curiosity…but above all, desire. This was what she wanted.

"I want to talk to Ahiru for a moment." Fakir said. The other three nodded, and headed to the arch at the entrance to the cave, Koeko following obediently behind Kange and Geiju.

Fakir knelt down next to Ahiru. "This is what you want, isn't it?"

Ahiru, who had been looking down, looked up at him, and Fakir saw tears in her eyes.

Fakir was reminded of dancing with her in the Lake of Despair. She had almost given up hope, but had given the last heart shard to Mytho. She had known she would never be human again, and Fakir had said it was okay, because it was who she really was…

…And now, being offered the chance to become human again made her confused.

"Don't worry." Fakir told her, "If this is what you want, I think it's okay." As he spoke, Ahiru's face lit up, and she nodded.

Fakir smiled. Ahiru deserved this. It wasn't right for the girl's heart to suffer in a duck's body. He still saw Ahiru as a girl. No matter which way you looked at it, she still acted like she did at the academy.

When he had told her it was okay to be in her true form, he had known it would mean she would lose nearly everything. She had not deserved it, but Fakir also knew that if she had not made the decision to free Mytho, she would have regretted it. She was not a duck; she was a human.

Fakir stood up and looked over at the other three, who walked back over.

"She would like to be human again." He said to Kange.

"Would you stand past the edge of the circle, Fakir-kun?" Geiju asked as Kange led Ahiru to the center of the circle.

Fakir walked to the outside of the circle, then turned back to watch.

Geiju, Kange, and Koeko each stood on the line of the closest circle, all an equal distance apart.

Out of nowhere, a flute materialized in Kange's hand, a small one, made of metal. He brought it to his lips and began to play a soft sweet melody. A few moments later, Koeko joined her voice to it.

Geiju seemed to be listening for some time, before he whipped his arm forward gracefully, a paintbrush held in his had. As he brought it forward, a rainbow colored streak came from the end of the brush, though no paint was visible on it. He spun in place, sending out a never-ending streak of color, that began to flow towards Ahiru.

Ahiru felt the music like it was warming her from the inside out, so when the lines of pure color came toward her, she wasn't alarmed.

The streaks wrapped her in a large cocoon, and Fakir watched as the color was sucked into the cocoon, to wrap around Ahiru's now-human form, leaving behind nothing but a transparent shell.

Ahiru uncurled from her fetal position as the fragile shell broke, and floated down to the ground.

Fakir ran over as Ahiru felt all over her face. "It worked!" She said, astonished, as she looked down at herself. She was wearing an outfit similar to the school uniform, except it was white.

"Ahiru, how are you feeling?" Kange asked.

Ahiru thought for a moment. "Big." She replied truthfully. Suddenly her legs felt much longer, and she didn't have to look up (as much) to see everyone's faces. Koeko walked over and looked up at Ahiru. Now that she was human, Koeko came to about her chest.

"We appreciate it and all," Fakir stated from beside Ahiru, "but you still haven't told us why you brought us here."

"Fakir-kun, Ahiru-san," They looked at Geiju, "Koeko told you our story, did she not?"

Fakir and Ahiru nodded.

"And how our writer and dancer were killed?"

They nodded again.

"I have a request to make. Would you join us and become the writer and dancer for the Lions?"

"Eh?!"

Fakir kept his control better than Ahiru. "Us? Why us?"

"You were able to defeat one of Drosselmeyer's greatest tragedies, and in doing so, caused him to lose much of his power."

"But…aren't we only considered characters in his story?"

"Are you sure about that?"

"What do you mean?"

"Kinkan town is a town on the brink between reality and stories. If you were merely characters, wouldn't you have been unable to change the ending?"

Fakir was silent.

"Can we have time to think about it?" Ahiru asked.

Geiju nodded. 'Yes, but I can't give you very long. The seal had been broken, and the Serpents are beginning to move."

Fakir and Ahiru left the cavern, going back the way they had come in.

They emerged into the sunlight, blinking at the brightness. Miraculously, it seemed no one had noticed the gaping hole where the lake once was.

Though the sun was still bright, it was beginning to descend from the sky.

Fakir began to walk away from the lake, and Ahiru unquestionably followed. They ended up in the woods by the academy, in the small gazebo.

"Hey, Fakir, "Ahiru said when the reached it. She leaned against one of the pillars while Fakir sat on the stone steps, "I want to help them." She was looking down at the long grasses as they waved in the breeze.

"I thought you'd say that." Fakir said. He moved his hands from where they had been in front of his face, to cross his arms.

"What about you?" Ahiru turned to look at Fakir.

"Why would they want me on their team? I'm related to Drosselmeyer."

"Don't say that!" Fakir looked up as Ahiru stood in front of him. :Fakir is Fakir, and Drosselmeyer-san is Drosselmeyer-san! If they didn't want you there they wouldn't have asked!" Ahiru said stubbornly.

"You're right." Fakir said after a moment, closing his eyes and standing up, walking forward a few paces.

"So," Ahiru said, more quietly after her outburst,' will you help? I mean, I know the whol Mytho thing is over, and you don't have any obligation to them, but…"

"I'll fight."

"Really?!" Ahiru said in relief, looking at Fakir's turned away form.

"Even if I have no obligation, the Serpents are dangerous, and could cause trouble for others as well, not just the Lions." Fakir looked at his right hand, which had held both sword and quill.

This time, I will begin the fight with words…

"We'll tell them our decision tomorrow." Fakir said, noting the sun's low position in the sky. "Until then, come back to Charon's. He won't mind lending you the extra bedroom."

"Okay." Ahiru followed Fakir back.

She was glad she was fighting with Fakir. It just felt so right.

Aneko: There's chapter three!! Now, I'm sorry, but I think that Fakir may start getting a little bit OOC (in my opinion). I tried my best to keep him from becoming like that, so we'll just have to see how it works out. If it bugs you, sorry.