Alone
A Princess Tutu fanfic by Klondike Aura
"Take all the time you need," the Raven graciously says to the prince.
Siegfried doesn't even look back as he gently closes Lohengrin's eyes and folds his arms over his bloodied chest. He can't entirely keep quiet as he carefully pushes the cleaved parts back together the way they're supposed to go. He couldn't leave his friend without doing at least that. It was all he could do for now; mourning will have to come later.
He stands again, sword at the ready, to face his foe.
It is how it was meant to be. The Prince and the Raven.
The Raven bows his head and says, "Please."
"Enough pleasantries," Siegfried retorts, tired of his false kindness.
The prince isn't sure how long the fight lasts, only that he is stuck in a frustrating stalemate. The Raven will not yield to his sword and the prince is able to evade his strikes.
But not forever.
Siegfried stops and catches his breath.
"Growing tired?"
The prince smiles and says, "Does the Monstrous Raven think himself tedious? I'm shocked."
"You can't fight me forever, prince."
No, he can't. And the more they draw out this stalemate, the greater the chances it will eventually change in the Raven's favor. But there is something he can do.
It was dangerous, certainly. And it wouldn't work forever. But it would mean time and even a measure of freedom.
"You're right," Siegfried agrees. "But I can hold you back."
And he turns the tip of his sword to his own chest.
The first is nigh-unbearable sorrow, the mourning he wouldn't allow himself to indulge in before. It hurts more than the sword itself as he sees Lohengrin slain and Tutu vanishing. He cries out at this and not the physical pain. Next is intoxicating love and joy, the bliss of Tutu's confession. What follows is anticipation, the foreboding that came before the encounter. Each moment he ever held floods out, his memories and emotions bleeding through the gaping wound in his chest.
His heart leaves him piece by piece, taking those precious to him with it until he is fully and truly alone.