Chapter Nine: Tower

The next morning Mytho waited by the gates of the girl's dormitories. Rue and Duck arrived and he smiled in his usual princely way.

"Good morning Rue" he said gently, "Good morning Duck," he added.

"Good morning Mytho" Rue replied with a smile of her own.

"Morning" Duck said also with a smile.

"We'd better hurry and get to class" Mytho replied as Rue took his arm.

"Mhm" they nodded as the three of them walked down the street.

(Next Scene)

Duck and Rue remained in the practice room during lunch hours to work on a routine that Mr. Cat wanted them to show the class so Mytho sat alone under the tree on the large blanket during the meal. As lunch was coming to a close he saw Fakir walking up to the school, his hands casually in his pockets, so he stood up and walked over to him, the sun shining on the sword sheath that hung at his side.

"Good afternoon Mytho" Fakir said pleasantly as he stopped.

"Good afternoon" Mytho replied back a bit of an edge to his voice.

"Is Duck around? I came to talk to her."

"She's in the practice room with Rue right now. They're working on a routine that we have to do for class this afternoon."

"How come you're not with them?" Fakir asked quizzically taking his hands out of his pockets.

"Because I already finished" Mytho practically snapped, "Speaking of which isn't there something else you should be doing now that is more important then talking to Duck?"

"Huh?"

"You've been wasting a lot of time lately. It's like it doesn't really matter."

"Mytho, what are you talking about?" Fakir furrowed his eyebrows at his tone.

"It's all your fault you know. That she can't remember" Mytho continued, "Don't you think that you could take some responsibility?" he added accusingly.

"What do you mean?"

"You're the one who brought her back remember? It's all your fault."

"Mytho?"

"Why aren't you finishing the story Fakir? Why are you acting like it doesn't matter?" he asked angrily.

"I'm not."

"Oh really? Well you could have fooled me. And you honestly say that you love her? Hmm" he scoffed.

"I do. What has gotten into you?" Fakir shouted slightly grabbing the attention of some people in the courtyard including Pique and Lillie who had just finished lunch.

"I'm tired of seeing her in pain. You're not treating her like she should be treated Fakir. She deserves someone better" he added his voice becoming even more accusing.

"What?" Fakir blinked, "Mytho why do you sound so strange?"

"What are you talking about? I am talking like I always do. The truth is Fakir you really shouldn't be here. You should leave like you intended to before."

"Mytho" Fakir replied a bit startled.

"What makes you think you can do anything anyway? You're nothing but a worthless knight who couldn't save himself from the attacks of the Raven."

"Huh? Mytho why are you bringing that up now? Why are you acting so weird?"

"I'm not" Mytho said, "You're just not used to seeing me with all of my feelings Fakir, that's all."

"That's not what I am seeing here" Fakir shook his head with a frown, "You're acting just like, well."

"Fakir go back on the road. If you're not serious about helping her then just leave," he replied as if he was giving a command, "She doesn't need your help anyway. I can take care of her."

"You can?" Fakir frowned again.

"That's right. I can ease her pain. Just like she eased mine. She's just like I was Fakir, with no thanks to you. She's just like I was when I had no heart. The only difference is she has lost her memories. But she still is wandering around in the darkness. The same darkness I found myself and more or less it was because of you. What do you think that you can do about all that when you were the one person who made me feel that way anyway for whatever reason that was."

"I was trying to protect you" Fakir said defending himself.

"That's what you say. Are you trying to do the same thing now for her Fakir? Are you going to shut her away from the world too? Keep her to yourself just like you did with me once? I won't let you. It would be best for everyone around here if you were just to disappear."

"I'm not going anywhere Mytho" Fakir replied dangerously furious now, "And you can't make me."

"Oh no?" Mytho pulled his sword from the sheath, Fakir surprised that he had it, "What do you say now?"

"Put that thing away" Fakir said through gritted teeth as more people came over because of the commotion, "What are you doing with that anyhow?"

"It is my sword isn't it?" Mytho replied not hesitating, "I am a prince aren't I?"

"But" Fakir began holding up his left hand as Rue and Duck arrived on the scene stunned at what they were seeing.

"Mytho?" Rue said as she stared at her boyfriend astonished and Duck's eyes became wide, "What are you doing?" she added as he glanced at her over his shoulder.

"Nothing" he placed his sword back at his side, "I'm done here."

He walked over to Fakir who was still wide eyed by the whole encounter. He stood by his ear and spoke in a voice that only his friend could hear.

"Don't forget what I said. You're only a pathetic knight Fakir so I don't know what you think that you can do. But if you don't do something soon, I'm going to take her away from you" he added menacingly.

"Huh?" Fakir's eyes became even wider as Mytho moved away.

Still stunned Rue dashed after Mytho while Duck walked over to Fakir's side.

"Fakir?" she questioned her eyes filled with worry.

"Hmm?" he looked down at her his own eyes filled with the same worry.

"What was that all about?"

"I don't" his eyebrows furrowed once again, "know" he finished and then took her hand gently in his own, "C'mon Duck let's go to Charon's like we said we would."

"Okay" she nodded as they walked slowly leaving the crowd that was still whispering about what had just occurred.

(Next Scene)

"Mytho!" Rue called making him turn around and face her, "Mytho what's going on?" she asked out of breath.

"Hmm? Rue, what do you mean?" he said his eyes gentle.

"You had your sword pointing at Fakir. Why would you do that?"

"Oh that" he smiled, "I was only trying to get him to be serious."

"Huh?"

"About the story he wrote about Duck. I think he should finish it. I was just giving him a wake up call that's all."

"Oh for goodness sakes" she sighed heavily, "That was kind of drastic wasn't it?" she added moving closer to him and he patted her head.

"It worked didn't it? Besides I think I made my point."

"You scared me half to death" she smacked him playfully making him grin, "Don't do that."

"I'm sorry Rue, I didn't mean to scare you."

"Oh all right then" she replied sinking into his arms, "I forgive you. Just promise me you won't do something like that again okay?"

"Okay, I promise" he nodded with another smile and then embraced her tightly his smile quickly fading back into the same frown he had on when he was talking with his rival, Fakir.

(Next Scene)

Meanwhile Fakir sat at Charon's table trying to figure out what had happened to his friend. He continued to frown as he thought and tapped the table nervously, drumming his fingers against the wood. Duck came into the room with a cup of tea she had brewed and handed it to him.

"Thank you" he nodded appreciatively and then took a sip.

"Are you still worried?" she asked standing near him.

"Yes. I don't know what happened this afternoon. Mytho was so angry. I have never seen him like that before except for once" he added as he took another sip from the small cup.

"When was that?"

"Never mind" he shook his head, "Don't you have to get back to school?"

"Yea I do" she nodded grabbing her schoolbag.

"I'll walk you back" he began to stand up but she shook her head.

"No, you stay here with Charon. He needs you. I can go by myself. I know the way."

"Are you sure?" he asked.

"Mhm. You stay here. I'll see you later Fakir," she added with a smile as she opened the door and left him once again alone with his thoughts.

"Bye" he waved solemnly and then turned back around to think about his problem.

(Next Scene)

As Duck walked through town she noticed that the clouds were starting to get darker.

"I guess it's gonna rain this afternoon" she said aloud as she looked up, "I'd better hurry and get back."

At the same time Rue was running out of the dorm with a bright yellow umbrella in her left hand and a purple one over her own head as the rain began to fall.

"I can't believe she forgot this, this afternoon" she thought, "I'd better get it to her before she gets too wet. Besides we only have thirty minutes till class starts."

The rain started pouring even harder as Duck ran holding her schoolbag over her head. She ducked under a café awning and glanced down the street.

"I'll never get to school on time now" she thought bitterly, "I need to find some shelter."

She looked across from her and saw a tall tower that she had never seen before.

"Huh? I didn't know that was there. But the door is open. It's got to be warm and dry in there" she surmised and then dashed across the street at once, her feet hitting the wet ground.

Before she entered the tower she heard another pair of wet feet hitting the pavement and turned to see a familiar face.

"Duck!" Rue called as she ran over.

"Rue?" she said surprised when she arrived, "What are you doing here?"

"I came to look for you. You're soaking wet" she replied a bit scoldingly as she tried to fluff her friend's hair and felt the water dripping off her bangs, "I brought you this" she handed her the yellow umbrella that was still in her left hand.

"Thanks. But I don't think this rain is going to let up anytime soon. We should go in here until it stops" she pointed inside at the door that was ajar.

"In the tower?"

"Mhm."

"Okay" Rue nodded hesitantly, "Just for a little while though. We'll be late enough as it is."

They both walked inside and Rue closed the door behind them.

"Well" Duck said putting down her soaking wet bag and umbrella, "At least it will be warm and dry in here."

"Yes, but this place gives me the creeps" Rue said closing her umbrella and then wrapping her arms around herself after she had placed it on the ground next to Duck's things, "People in town say that this place is haunted."

"Haunted?"

"Yea, it's because it has been abandoned a long time."

"Oh."

"I hope it lets up soon. We're supposed to be showing the routine to the class this afternoon."

"That's right we are" Duck nodded sadly, "Perhaps Mytho will have to stall for us till we get there."

"Maybe" Rue nodded back; "Maybe it will let up enough for us to at least get back to the school" Rue suggested walking over to the door and pushing it, "Hey. It won't move" she pushed against it harder.

"Is it locked?" Duck replied perplexed.

"No" Rue shook her head with a sigh, "I was afraid of this. These old buildings sometimes when it rains, their doors jam. We're gonna have to wait until the rain stops completely."

"Oh I see" Duck nodded a third time as she shrank into a squatting position and wrapped her arms around her knees while Rue pulled away from the door with another sigh and then leaned against the cold brick wall.

As they sat there Duck heard a sound from overhead. It sounded like violin music.

"Huh?" Duck stood up, "What's that?"

"What?" Rue looked at her confused.

"Didn't you hear that music?"

"What music?"

"Rue" Duck looked up at the stairs that were in the center of the room, "What's up there?" she pointed.

"I don't know" Rue shrugged coming over, "Not many people come in here so no one really knows."

"Do you think it could be warmer up there?"

"Huh? I doubt it."

"Why don't we go and see what's up there?" she suggested.

"But Duck" Rue began.

"Come on what could it hurt? Besides maybe that's where the music came from" she added running up the stairs fast.

"Duck wait!" Rue cried out chasing after her.

(Next Scene)

Duck ended up at the top floor and looked around. There were three doors all together.

"Three doors?" Duck said out loud, "But which one, which one should I take?" she looked at all three and moved closer to them, "Well logically speaking a normal person would go into the first door, but I am curious about the last two. Especially the middle one. Oh heck I'm gonna take the middle door. What could it hurt right?" she added with a smile as she entered in.

A couple moments later Rue appeared at the top of the stairs out of breath.

"Duck?" she breathed, "Where? Where did she go?" she replied as she saw the doors, "She must have gone in the first floor. I must go after her," she added as she took the knob, "It's dangerous here. I can just feel it" she opened the first door and entered in, "Duck?" she called as she entered the dark room, "Are you in here? Answer me" she said a bit scared now, "Du.." something struck her on the back of the head making her collapse unconscious to the floor.

The door opened and a dark figure moved out of the room leaving the helpless girl all alone.

(Next Scene)

Meanwhile Duck was looking around at the large room she was standing in that resembled an old ballet studio.

"What is this place? It's bigger then the practice room. I wonder where Rue is; she should have caught up to me by now? Oh well, I guess I'd better go back to her" she moved back to the door but was surprised when the door opened up, "Rue!" she called out happily.

"Duck?" a familiar voice spoke as a candle loomed into the light.

Duck gasped at the sight of the man standing in front of her.

"Mytho what are you doing here?"

"I got stuck in here because of the storm" he replied closing the door behind him, "I was on my way back to the school when it started to rain so I came in here for some shelter."

"So you were the one who opened the front door?"

"Yes" he nodded, "What are you doing here?"

"Same reason. Oh have you seen Rue?"

"Rue? She's here too?" he added surprised.

"Well she was downstairs, maybe she didn't follow me up here."

"Well I haven't been downstairs at all. I just came up here. Shall we go find her?" he said walking over to the door.

"Okay" she nodded as he pulled on the doorknob but it wouldn't budge, "What's the matter?" she asked because she could see the strain on his face.

"It's stuck."

"This one too?"

"Huh?"

"Rue said that when it rains that in these old buildings the doors sometimes get jammed. I guess this one jammed just like the front door."

"Oh I see" he nodded, "Well then I guess we're stuck in here until the storm stops" he looked around and placed the candle on a nearby table.

"I guess so."

"Well not much we can do about that" she shook her head, "What an interesting place this is. I didn't see this place when I first came here."

"It looks like a dance studio doesn't it?"

"Yea it does" he nodded.

"Mytho do you know anything about this old tower?"

"Huh?"

"Rue says that's the townspeople say it's haunted."

"That's nonsense. That's only because no one has been here in a long time."

"Why do you think that is?"

"Well if I had to guess, the Raven must have had something to do with it," he added as he sank to the ground.

"The Raven?" she asked as she sat down on her knees.

"Mhm."

"Mytho. The other day Fakir told me all about Princess Tutu."

"He did huh?"

"Uh huh. And he told me that you were the prince from the Prince and the Raven. And that I was Princess Tutu."

"That's true. You were. And I am."

"You lost your heart?"

"Yes, I did. But you restored it to me Duck" he smiled, "And I am very grateful. What else did Fakir tell you?"

"Huh?"

"Didn't he tell you everything?"

"What do you mean everything?"

"I see" Mytho smiled softly to himself as he thought, "He hasn't said anything about that has he? And neither has Rue. Perhaps I should be, yes" he nodded to himself.

"Mytho?"

"Hmm?" he looked at her directly.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing" he shook his head and looked up into the windows that were now bright with the sunlight coming through them, "Oh look Duck, it stopped raining" he stood up and blew out the candle, "Let's go find Rue."

"Okay" she nodded standing up and joining him at his side.

"Duck."

"Mhm."

"When you have the time, tomorrow I'd like to talk to you about something. Do you think that you could meet me after dance class tomorrow afternoon?"

"I don't see why not. Is it important?"

"Yes" he nodded, "Very important."

"Okay then. I'll meet you after dance class."

"Great" he grinned as he opened the door and they both walked into the hallway and saw Rue coming out of the first door, "Rue!" he exclaimed when he saw her.

"Mytho?" she replied surprised as they came over, "What are you doing here?"

"I was stuck in here too. Are you all right?"

"Yea, something must have hit me in the back of the head. I was in a dark room," she added as she rubbed her head soothingly, "I was looking for Duck."

"I'm sorry Rue" Duck said, "I shouldn't have gone off like that. It's all my fault."

"Don't be silly Duck it's okay. Anyway I guess Mr. Cat is going to be pretty angry that none of us showed up," she added sadly as they walked down the stairs.

"I think he'll understand because of the storm" Mytho reassured her, "Besides we couldn't help it" he added, "The doors were locked" Duck nodded as she grabbed her things and he opened the front door for the girls.

"Let's go" Duck replied running ahead outside as Mytho held onto Rue who was still holding onto him tightly a bit dazed.

"Yea" Rue nodded, "The sooner the better. I don't want to stay in this creepy place a minute longer."

"What this old building?" Mytho said with a smile, "No, it's not creepy. It's actually quite beautiful" he looked up at the windows above in the topmost part of the tower.

"Huh?" Rue looked up at him with a quizzical expression.

Then he turned to her with a grin and took her hand gently leading her away from the tower, while the windows in the topmost part began to glow a bright yellow.

(To be continued..)

Authors Note: Okay here's today's chapter. I have plans to finish two more by the end of the week. So I will see you all later!

Next time on Princess of the Lake:

Chapter Ten: Truth

Mytho determined to tell Duck the truth about her past reveals details to her that also involves Fakir and Rue. Find out what happens next time!

And

Chapter Eleven: Lake

Not telling!!!!