She know they're trying. Every time Fakir rushes to the lake, every time his face falls as she floats out of the reeds, she knows another attempt to make her human has failed.

Mytho is trying to help as well. Waiting for Fakir to join them one day, he wondered aloud if a heart shard would change her. Ahiru's horrified reaction put an end to that idea; Fakir was never told.

Rue understands. She and Ahiru have long talks while the boys are thinking of another plan. One afternoon as they watch one of Fakir's successfully completed stories pass by, something occurs to Rue. "Ahiru, what does Fakir say about happy endings?"

"The story has to have enough tragedy to fit the ending."

"What if all this tragedy is part of your story?"

Ahiru chuckled. "You said yourself Princess Tutu was a tragic character."

"We are not talking about her; we are talking about Ahiru, the duck turned girl."

"What do you mean? I returned to my true form."

"Perhaps; perhaps not. Think of the little mermaid."

"Trying to change me back is causing so much trouble for everyone!"

"Ahiru," blue eyes met ruby, "I think your ending will be very happy. Because of all you've done, our efforts for you now are a gift."


Gift – noun
1. Something that is bestowed voluntarily and without compensation: a present
2. The act, right, or power of giving
3. A talent, endowment, aptitude, or bent


Author's Note: I don't know that I will ever get into telling a story of how Ahiru could have turned back into being a girl, but I like to imagine a few things and thought that this is the sort of thing that would happen in the meantime.