Author's note: Somewhere between Akt 7 and 8 I thought "geez, I can't believe I'm writing this- it's so cheesy!' anyways…hmmmm….this dance looks suspiciously familiar….ha ha. Akt seven!(This is the longest akt)
Disclaimer: I don't own Princess Tutu or any of the characters.
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Akt 33/ Akt 7- Finale
When Ahiru woke up, her head felt very fuzzy. Trying to remember what had happened, she sat up quickly.
"Qu-ack!" She waved her arms helplessly, landing in a heap on the floor.
She patted the top of her head, then smiled. Still human. She hadn't turned into a duck when she quacked. She didn't know how she had become human again, but she had fainted as a duck, then woke as a human, with Redoan leaning over her. He said he had seen her on the side of the road (as a human) and stopped to see if she was alright. She had learned he was going to become a ballet student at the school.
That last month as a duck…I wonder how I got through it…she wondered. I feel like…like someone else was there…
"Even if that happens…"
The half memory faded again, and Ahiru shook her head.
"Oh, well. I'm human again. I don't have the abilities of Princess Tutu, but I'm human. I wouldn't really need them anyways, Mytho has his heart back…"
Distracted by chirping at the window, Ahiru went to feed the birds.
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Rue still had not given up trying to make Ahiru remember. It was the only thing she could do. Mytho didn't come with her to and from school when she talked with Ahiru. He felt it was better to stay with Fakir.
"Ahiru," Rue said as they walked, "was it hard to collect Mytho's heart?" The question had occurred to her when Mytho thanked Ahiru.
"Mmmmm… I can't really remember," Ahiru looked uncertain, "but I do remember the hardest part."
"The hardest part?"
"Yeah. Knowing that giving Mytho the last piece of his heart meant I would turn back into a duck.
"How…how could you do that?"
"Eh?" Ahiru turned. Rue had stopped walking and she was staring at Ahiru like she would start crying again.
"You became Tutu knowing you could never let him know how you felt, and then you even gave up being human, just to return his heart. How could you do that?"
Ahiru smiled. "Why are you saying that, Rue- chan? You were willing to die in Mytho's place. In the end, you saved him." Rue blushed and looked away.
"Still, why…how…?"
Ahiru looked thoughtfully up at the sky, a finger on her chin.
"Well, I just…when I saw him the first time, he wasn't smiling. He wasn't frowning or looking sad, either. His face was…empty. So I thought," Ahiru smiled, " 'I want to see him smile.' At the end, I was a little afraid, but…eh? Rue-chan?"
Rue hugged Ahiru.
"Ahiru, you have a sweet heart."
"Y-you think so?" Ahiru blushed.
That is why, Rue thought, determined, I promise we will bring back your memories of Fakir.
Rue couldn't bring herself to ask any more questions, or probe Ahiru's memory.
You barely knew him, and you wanted to make him happy, she thought, as she watched Ahiru, and yet I, who knew him for years, didn't even try to restore his happiness…indeed, you have a sweet heart.
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Fakir put his hand to his head, leaning against the bar.
"Are you alright, Fakir?"
Fakir looked up at Mytho, then away again.
"It's just hard. Every day I see her, I want to take her by the shoulders and shake her, force her to remember…it still feels like some twisted joke someone thought up, like Drosselmeyer.
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Drosselmeyer sniffed, stung by Fakir's remark. "I'll have you know that my stories are much more enjoyable than this one. It's much too clean. Not interesting at all."
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Ahiru sat by her window, staring up at the night sky.
"Rue-chan was right," she said aloud to no one, "how could I do that? Ah, no!" She said, waving her hands, like she was trying to convince someone, "I'm glad I did! I just…how was I able to? The last piece…no, I wasn't a little bit scared, I was very scared. So how…did I actually get through it…alone?"
"Even if that happens…"
The ghost of a voice ripped through her mind, leaving her blank for a moment.
"A…promise?"
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The moment Fakir closed his eyes, the dream came again. The dream where he danced with Ahiru. Tonight was different, though. Just as it got to the part where she disappeared, and he was left with nothing but gold specks, a voice echoed thunderously around him, so loud he couldn't hear any identity in it.
"You know what you have to do," the voice said, "it's only a little longer to wait now."
What are you talking about? His thoughts reached out defensively. The voice sighed in undisguised impatience.
"I can't tell if you're playing dumb or if you really don't get it, but I can't tell you any more."
"Hey-wait!" Fakir spoke aloud this time, his voice edged with anger.
"I can tell you no more," the voice was getting smaller, "I will reveal myself soon. The end is nearly here, it depends on you now as to the result."
The voice disappeared entirely, and what he had said washed over Fakir.
"…it depends on you now…"
Fakir straightened up in new determination.
"I will finish this with a happy ending. For everyone." He said.
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The voice last night…Fakir thought, It's the voice who told me about Ahiru's memory. He thought of all this as he stretched, his body on autopilot while his mind wandered far away.
As caught up as her was, it took him awhile to notice Ahiru was actually on time today. Normally, though she walked with Rue, she would still manage to be late somehow. Which amazed and amused Fakir, even at as hard a time as it was. Today, however, when he looked up, she was already in her place, stretching. That wasn't the only odd thing. (this was the only way to describe it." Her face wasn't cheerful, like normal. Instead, there was this intense concentration, and when Pique touched her shoulder, she very nearly jumped out of her skin.
Wonder what she's thinking so hard about…
At that moment, Ahiru looked up and met Fakir's eyes. As much as Fakir wanted to break his gaze away, he couldn't. Her eyes were different. There was still no recognition, but they also weren't empty. There was dark confusion, like she was standing on a high precipice, teetering on the edge. Like she was on the edge of a decision.
But was it a decision, or was it memories?
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"I don't understand," Rue said, as she sat by Mytho, "why hasn't he tried dancing with her yet?"
"I asked him the same thing," Mytho said, giving a little laugh, but it was half-hearted, 'he just smiled; and then he said something strange, 'Some times and place are better than others', just like Redoan."
Rue looked a bit better hearing this. "So you think he's got an idea?"
"Yeah. He might."
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Fakir did in fact have an idea, but he was so unsure about how to do this that two days flitted by in the same routine. He could tell Mytho and Rue were getting anxious. He didn't blame them. It was Thursday, and Friday was the last day, but he knew it wasn't time yet. Had anyone asked him how he knew, he wouldn't have been able to answer, but for some reason, he knew. Redoan and the voice were right- it was almost time.
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Ahiru could actually tell now: There was something she was missing. She had no idea what it was, and it confused her. It was like something she had been holding on to for a long time had suddenly been taken away from her.
She fell asleep that night thinking about it, trying to figure it out.
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"Where…where am I?" Ahiru sat up from where she had been laying.
As far as the eye could see, there was nothing. It was not light, but it was not dark either. The nothingness just stretched on for, what she imagined, was forever.
"Ahiru." A baritone voice called out of the nothing.
"Who's there?" Ahiru called back.
"Ahiru, can you hear me?" The voice seemed to be fading.
"I can hear you. Where are you going?!" Ahiru didn't know why, but she was desperate not to lose the voice.
"Ahiru!"
"Wait, don't go!"
Another voice came now, as the other was fading away. It was a gentle whisper.
"Ahiru. It's time."
"Time?" Ahiru echoed.
"Ahiru, follow my voice!"
"No, please don't leave me here!" Ahiru got up, trying to follow. A spectral figure appeared in front of her, smiling when she stumbled towards him.
"That's it," He encouraged in his quiet voice, "just a little farther. Try to wake up."
Ahiru blinked, and she was in her room, but the man still called, more faintly this time.
Come Ahiru.
Eyes curiously calm, Ahiru got up, dressed, and followed the voice.
This way. You're nearly there.
She was walking down the street. It was early morning, and the sky was barely beginning to get light.
Come into the trees.
Obediently, Ahiru left the road and went into the woods. The man appeared in front of her again, but he stayed just a little ahead of her.
Just a little farther Ahiru. He repeated. He stepped out onto a small lake. Ahiru hesitated a moment, then followed. When they reached the middle, the man stopped floating away from her, and as she approached him, he held out his hand. Ahiru took his hand, but as soon as she did, he smiled, and turned into vapor, blowing away. Ahiru's eyes cleared.
"Wait!" She called, but he was gone.
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When Fakir got up, Mytho and Rue were still asleep. It was still too early for school, so he got up and left the house. Standing just outside the door, he looked towards the woods where Ahiru's lake was. A flash of red caught his eye.
"Ahiru…?" Fakir began running into the woods.
This is it…it's time.
Fakir heard her voice just before he broke through the trees.
"Wait!"
Ahiru turned when a twig snapped.
"Fakir-senpai."
Ignoring the fact that it was strange, Fakir walked out onto the frozen lake to look down at Ahiru. She had slid down to a sitting position on the lake surface.
"Ahiru…what's wrong?"
"Fakri-senpai…I don't…" Ahiru looked upset, "I don't understand! Something isn't there…and I don't know why!"
Fakir was reminded forcibly of the Lake of Despair. He knelt down and grabbed her shoulders.
"Baka. Trust your memories."
Not even bothering to ask, Fakir stood, clasping her hand in his and pulling her close as the dance began. Ahiru didn't protest.
"I don't expect you to understand," Fakir said, repeating something he had said a while back, "but I want you to be happy. That's why I thought you wanted to be human." He paused, "No- I wanted you to be human too. So if you don't remember because you don't want to, I'm sorry if this makes you unhappy, but right now I'm going to be selfish, because I…don't want you to forget." Faki's arms supported Ahiru so that she was above the ground. "Ahiru," He whispered. He brought her closer to the ground, and one hand came up to touch the side of her face. Ahiru looked at the hand, then back up into Fakir's eyes. He could no longer tell what was there. "I should have told you before…I love you." He didn't wait to see the effect. He didn't wait to see her reaction. Fakir lowered his head and kissed her.
Ahiru's eyes went wide, then she closed them, a tear sliding down her cheek. Because the memories were already there, just as they always had been.
Fakir crying alone in the forest, and hugging a small duck to him.
Fakir entrusting everything to Tutu when he almost died.
Fakir writing her story to get her away from Drosselmeyer.
"Even if that happens, I'll always stay by your side."
"You…remind me of a very good friend who disappeared."
A thought from before finally completed itself, along with the promise. No! He shouldn't be sad like that…that's not the way I remember him!
When Fakir finally released her, Ahiru opened her eyes. With tears still streaming down her face, she threw her arms around his neck.
"FAKIR!"
"Ahiru." Fakir whispered fiercely, and he held her tightly.
"Me too," She whispered, still crying, "I love you, too."
With a tiny crack and then tinkling sound, the jewel in Ahiru's necklace shattered, and Ahiru let go of Fakir to catch the falling shards, but they were blown away from her hands.
They glittered in the dawn light, changing shape and size until they formed a swan. The swan grew, glowing until it stretched itself out into another shape. A boy.
"Redoan?" Ahiru said, surprised, but Redoan's figure got taller, until he was an adult, but with the same pure-white hair like a swan's feathers.
"You did it!" He cried, smiling radiantly, in his melodic, whispering voice.
"Redoan…you're the one who turned me human." Ahiru realized. The man laughed. "My real name is Eredon. Ahiru," He smiled, holing out his hand, "there is one more dance to perform."
Ahitu walked slowly to Eredon.
"Ahiru!"
Ahiru turned and smiled at Fakir.
"Don't worry. He's a good person. He won't hurt me."
As soon as she took his hand, a great wind began to blow. Eredon and Ahiru didn't move, but Fakir was forced to lower his face. When he looked up, both Ahiru and Eredon had disappeared.
"Ahiru!" Fakir shouted, but there was no answer.
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Ahiru was in this place again, where there was nothing in all directions.
"Ahiru." Ahiru turned. Eredon stood behind her. He gave an elegant bow. "The final dance, please?"
"Yes."
They dances slowly in the nothingness, never saying a word,
Wait…why am I able to keep up with him? Ahiru thought surprised. Normally, I can't do this.
A strange sensation came over her, and suddenly, she was not dancing with Eredon at all anymore. She watched as he danced with someone in a white tutu.
Oh. Ahiru thought, I see…he was dancing with Tutu, not me.
As she thought this, the somewhat see through image of Princess Tutu danced lightly over to Ahiru. Taking Ahiru's hand in both her own, she curtsied, lifting her head to give Ahiru a warm smile.
"Arigatou, Ahiru." She said, in a voice so similar to Ahiru's, and the ballerina disappeared.
Ahiru looked around, only to see that Eredon was gone too.
Oh great. Now what?
Ahi…!...ru! Ahiru!
Eredon's voice sounded faintly, like a radio station with bad reception.
Ahiru, come this way!
Ahiru began jogging, then running towards the voice. A tiny speck of light was far ahead. Eredon's ghostly figure glided along in front of her again.
He stretched out his hand to Ahiru as far as it would go.
Take my hand! Hurry!
Giving a last burst of effort, Ahiru grabbed Eredon's hand. The speck of light grew, and Ahiru closed her eyes.
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Less than a minute after she had disappeared, Ahiru reappeared, and Fakir caught her before she hit the frozen lake.
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Note: 'Eredon' is the Japanese name. In English it would be 'Eldon'. Don't ask me why, I was just in a weird mood…
Howzzat? I'll try to get the last akt up soon.
