AUTHOR'S COMMENT: First of all, sorry for the slow updates and development. From now on, I will make sure to make the development of the story less stretched out, as I find myself bored while rereading the story on most occasions. I cannot, unfortunately, promise faster uploads, given that there is always something going on in real life for me. I will also limit the appearance of OC characters. The Three Ducklings – Flora, Monique, and Dana – will not appear as frequently in the continuation. However, they are meant to be a throwback to Ahiru's childhood, and are meant to trigger some of her Story memories, as well as serve as plot devices, so I cannot really cut them out. I will try to give less insight into their characters though, to keep the story from getting too long. As for the Advanced Class group, they have been introduced so they will get some more 'screentime', since I plan to provide you with at least two major student performances directed by Fakir, but we will not get too into their characters. Finally, regarding characters, I have pictured Neko-sensei to appear as a human being in this fic; it is something like his personality and cat body being split with the end of the first Story, and the personality found its path back to the Academia. He is still called Cat, though. As a conclusion, I would like to ask you if you would like to see the designs for the characters, and the story turned into a doujinshi sometime in the future. I would like to improve my drawing skills as well. If I start on the doujinshi project, the story will get a bit altered though, and the written story most likely will not be completed. That's partly because of the change of media, and partly because this is by far an unfinished manuscript. Which reminds me – I am randomly changing Fakir's time restriction to a year, rather than half a year. I would've corrected that in the documents, but I lost the previous chapters when I changed computers. Fakir's Set-Things-In-Motion story has already been written in this timeline, but it unfortunately did not get any spotlight so far. Blame my poor writing skills of the years past. I will make a reference to it and its content soon.
Thank you very much for reading this story. I will keep doing my best to make it enjoyable.
Princess Tutu ~ Schwann
THE STORY SO FAR: The previous story had ended with an unexpected happy ending, and the spell cast onto Kinkan Town had been dispelled. Now, Fakir is trying his best at both writing and teaching at the Academia, while visiting Ahiru the duck frequently. However, things will not stay peaceful for long, because Fakir's writing invites Drosselmeyer's accursed blood to intervene with his stories, and his everyday life.
Fakir's hope-filled stories invite the dark side of him to challenge him by proposing an even happier ending to Fakir – provided he has enough power to write it to existence. The shadow of Fakir's heart promises to provide enough power to turn Ahiru human for good, given that Fakir writes with the power to influence reality as Drosselmeyer's descendant. In order to gain the power to influence reality, the shadow of Fakir's heart – the Drosselmeyer's blood – needs Fakir to cooperate by sacrificing one fraction of his own heart…
Ahiru, being made temporarily human, now gets involved in Fakir's life, but with her memories altered, as the condition of her staying human is to fall in love with Fakir. Drosselmeyer's blood is keen on tragedy, and turning Fakir's attempts for a happy ending into tragedy will in turn give Drosselmeyer's blood absolute control over Fakir, and through him, over the entire town once more…
Chapter of the Typhoon
Ahiru should be taking the test for employment by now, thought Fakir as he made his way through the corridors of the Academia. The first winter snow had already started falling, and the stone walls were not making the ambience of the ancient school any warmer or cosier. His footsteps echoed as he trotted past the monumental windows. The entire development with Ahiru was still making his chest clutch with displeasure and angst, and his head was beginning to hurt.
He pushed the giant wooden door to the teachers' cafeteria open and stepped inside through the creaking amplified by the emptiness of the space. He was welcomed by a slight gust of warm air from the ovens and multiple fireplaces, and orange fires of candlelight gently burning on the walls. He usually spent his time either here or in his chambers writing stories when the weather was too bad for prolonged visits to the pond.
Fakir made his way to his usual remote corner, not speaking to the lady behind the heavy wooden counter that much resembled the kind in village pubs, except slightly more monumental to fit the ambience of the castle-like school. He did not need to speak to her, however, as she disappeared behind the door that obviously led to the kitchen, and shortly resurfaced with a mug of steaming liquid and a candle on a table stand. She positioned the two on Fakir's table and nodded to him in a friendly manner.
"It has been a while since you paid us a visit, Professor" – she said cheerfully, in the kind of tone only friendly old ladies can produce.
"I am not officially a professor yet" – argued Fakir with a somewhat exhausted smile. The woman kindly made a gesture with her hand that implied that she neither understood the professorial hierarchy, nor kept much interest in it. – "Oh, you know I don't understand much of that stuff! Anyhow, please enjoy your soup. It is always a pleasure to welcome you." She turned to go back to her post, but then added: "Do mind your health. You look exhausted."
Fakir offered her but a hollow laughter, and they parted, the woman eventually disappearing behind the door wherefrom she brought the soup and candle. There were no other teachers in the room.
Fakir sunk into thoughts once more. He pulled out the manuscript for a story he had written as a request from the Shadow in his heart. The title read: The Little Duck. It was inspired by Ahiru's struggle to save Mytho and Rue during the final clash with the Raven of the first Story. As it appeared, it was enough to set things in motion without him offering a shard of his heart to the Shadow. This made Fakir suspicious. Just how much power does the Shadow have on his own, he thought.
At that moment, Neko-sensei stormed into the cafeteria looking obviously distressed. Fakir lifted his gaze from the bundle of paper before him and stared at the arrival, angst further clutching his chest. Neko-sensei scanned the room, and as he caught sight of the only person in there, he erupted:
"Fakir! You would not believe the most bizarre thing just happening!"
Fakir swallowed. – "Surely it can't be that unbelievable", he hinted to Neko-sensei with a dash of sarcasm he always used towards this man, trying to mask the dread he was really feeling.
"We had a new applicant for a teacher's position today, you see", Neko-sensei continued fervently, grabbing a seat next to Fakir, whose face lost all colour the moment he heard these words. – "She was really a lovely lady. The most bizarre thing…" – he continued, not finishing his sentences. At that moment, the cafeteria lady came from over the counter, hopping hurriedly towards them.
"What's the matter? I heard some shouting" – she noted, approaching.
"Ah, Megan!" – Neko-sensei shouted back. – "You won't believe, the most bizarre thing, I felt like I was dreaming…"
"So what happened?" – interrupted Fakir, already seemingly disturbed. He was already not sure anymore what the Shadow was capable of doing.
"The girl started her examination alright!" – Shouted Neko-sensei – "But then, suddenly, before our very eyes, she just disappeared!"
Fakir froze.
"What do you mean by 'disappeared'?" – asked Megan, the cafeteria lady.
"I mean what I say: 'disappeared'. Vanished! Into thin air!"
"That can't be" – Megan retorted. Neko-sensei was known to be a bit overly dramatic. – "You must've seen something else. You are known not to pay attention, Professor."
"Don't be rude, Megan. I know what I saw!" – returned Neko-sensei. – "Or else, you will have to m-m-marry me…!"
Fakir jolted from his seat and sprinted towards the exit. The other two stopped their conversation and watched blankly after him.
XXX
Fakir was running through the corridors, and into the whiteness of increasing snowfall outside. The fastest way to get to the classroom designated to the examination this afternoon was through the orchards. He was only thinking about what an idiot he had been, and that he would never forgive himself if anything happened to Ahiru.
While he ran, he passed Dana without noticing her. However, she noticed him.
XXX
Fakir collided with the door to the examination classroom, and then stormed inside. He found, as Neko-sensei had said, just a couple of the examiners, and five empty chairs, four of which were prepared one next to each other for the examiners, and one, placed across them, for the examinee. There was no sign of Ahiru.
Fakir was puffing as the two examiners left standing in the room observed him with surprise. One of them was the chunky school Dean, and next to him stood Madam Montgomery, seemingly distressed and puzzled by what she had just witnessed.
"Mr Fakir" – the Dean broke the silence caused by his sudden arrival. Fakir swallowed some air in order to speak.
"I heard…" – he huffed. The Dean patiently waited for him to finish, but Fakir couldn't bring himself to utter the word disappeared in correlation to Ahiru.
"Yes" – interrupted the Dean knowingly, upon seeing Fakir's troubled expression. – "Surely a happening most curious. I wouldn't know what kind of magician you have presented us with, dear Mr Fakir, but it was a performance most intriguing."
Fakir gawked at him. What?
The Dean laughed amusingly. – "It would appear that you were smitten as well, dear boy."
For a moment, Fakir was utterly appalled by what the Dean was saying. He could not make sense of any of it. The Dean continued:
"I must admit, a girl such as her, I honestly thought she was here for the job, so I approved of it. She looked decent and honest enough. But, to be fooled so splendidly, that's a first!"
Madam Montgomery murmured an excuse to let her leave the room, and approached Fakir who stood at the door. As Fakir looked at her, she smiled meekly and said:
"The Dean is convinced that you were fooled by a magician who seduced you into bringing her here."
Fakir found himself now staring at her in disbelief. Madam Montgomery leaned closer to him.
"Please say that it is so." – She whispered somewhat more panicked – "I am all too afraid it is the work of the Devil."
Fakir was at a loss for words, unable to answer. Everything was swirling in his head that was beginning to ache again. Madam Montgomery's eyes kept staring at him. The Dean was walking across the room, examining the nooks and crannies, seemingly searching for the tools that helped out in the trick. Finally, Fakir managed to turn to Madam Montgomery:
"It was no Devil, Madam, I am sure" – he managed to utter. I hope, he added to himself.
He then turned to the Dean, and said more loudly:
"For what it's worth, I do believe that you are right when you say I was smitten." – He offered a weak smile. His head was pulsating with pain.
The Dean laughed with amusement. – "That's so, isn't it? Marvellous! Truly, marvellous, yes..." – The Dean proceeded to stare blankly through the window. Perhaps, thought Fakir, he was masking the same fear that Madam Montgomery and Neko-sensei felt by convincing himself nothing important happened. As the Dean, he was responsible to keep the Academia peaceful and undisturbed, after all.
Fakir parted with them in a somewhat relaxed atmosphere, or at least it seemed so, and he made his way towards the cafeteria through the orchards to pick up the things he had left behind. As he exited once again into the frosty air outside, his body gave into the excruciating headache he was feeling, and he fell into the snow, losing consciousness.
Meanwhile, a post carriage was approaching Kinkan Town.
-X-X-X-
COMING UP IN THE NEXT CHAPTER:
Fakir will finally decide which shard of his heart he will give up to give to the Shadow.
The Shadow explains Ahiru's mysterious disappearance.
A letter arrives from Mytho.