He stared down gently at the girl who was sleeping peacefully on his shoulder, her long eyelashes folded neatly across her closed eyes as she slept. Across from them, on the other side of the carriage Mytho, Rue, and Autor sat barely saying a word. It had been a whole month. A whole month since they had left Gold Crown Town. The day before they departed Rue and Mytho had informed Mr. Cat of their decision to leave ballet school along with Duck to take care of a personal situation. He wasn't too thrilled as you can imagine with the idea, but seeing as they were his three best students and the fact that they had never asked him such an important request before, reluctantly he gave them the time provided that they promise to return three months later to continue their schooling.
Now here they were riding along a dark country road with Fakir and Autor. Over the first few weeks of their journey they had been diligently searching for the fountain that Duck had described earlier. Well they had been doing that and following Fakir as he went from town to town to meet people, sign autographs, and give out his books. Mytho, whose opinion on Fakir had changed very little since they had left wondered if Fakir was serious about helping Duck out or selfishly just wanted her by his side, making empty promises about finding the so called Swan fountain. Since the night that Mytho had spoken to Rue in her room she had remained quite wary from his behavior, observing him from a distance all the while pretending that nothing had changed. Duck meanwhile tried to do her part as much as possible. But no matter how hard she tried no other memories seemed to enter her mind. From town to town she searched the deep contours of her memory trying to remember any part of the towns they visited, but nothing. Fakir however remained as optimistic as he could to keep up her spirits but in truth as each and every day passed he became more and more discouraged inside his own heart. Autor wasn't helping either. All he cared about was Fakir's presence in front of the people and the buyers. Duck's fountain seemed of little importance to him in fact and often Fakir could feel the frustration welling up inside of him. The same frustration he used to feel in the past whenever Mytho needed protection.
"Mytho" Fakir thought sadly as Duck shifted a little in her sleep.
His friend he noticed had become even more somber and distant during the journey. And on occasion when neither Rue, Autor, or Duck were around he would make snide remarks under his breath that Fakir could clearly hear. Always in the back of his head Fakir wondered what could have caused Mytho's sudden dislike of him. As he pondered this he realized the sun had begun to rise and the carriage was slowing down. Rue, whose head was lying on Mytho's shoulder, now remained still as Autor raised his own head and felt the carriage come to complete stop.
"Why are we stopping?" he replied a bit irritated, "Hey!" he shouted to the driver, "Why are we" he began but Fakir stopped him because his shouting had awoken the girls.
"Autor. Stop" he hissed.
"What?" Autor looked at him quizzically as he straightened his glasses.
"I told the driver to stop at any town we came across," Fakir explained as Duck raised her head trying to focus her eyes as they opened.
"But this isn't a scheduled stop" Autor said confused.
"Autor" Fakir replied warningly, "I know that but that is not the only reason we're on this trip remember?"
"All right" Autor grumbled as he slumped back into his seat and crossed his arms, "Got to look for that dumb fountain."
"Enough" Fakir frowned as Rue and Mytho departed from the carriage, "Duck. Want to get out and stretch your legs?" he asked her gently.
"Okay" she nodded as he climbed out, took her hand, and helped her down out onto the dirt path.
As they stretched they noticed that the carriage was sitting in front of a small town that had definitely seen better days. The buildings were all run down and practically in shambles. There were very few people about and not one single child in sight. Fakir furrowed his eyebrows a little as the four of them moved over to a crumbling brick wall that had obviously been longer at one point in time. Fakir helped Duck carefully onto the wall careful to not dirty the yellow dress she was wearing. Her yellow ribbons in her hair blew in the wind as it picked up slightly. Rue moved her fingers through her thick curly hair to straighten it and then brushed out the skirt of the pale blue dress she was wearing. Mytho sighed as he leaned into the wall, his fancy feathered hat clutched in his hand at his side.
"I don't think we're going to find it here" he replied.
"This place looks too small to hold a fountain" Rue added, "Besides I doubt that a beautiful fountain such as Duck described could exist in a place like this."
"You're probably right" Fakir nodded discouraged once more, "What do you think Duck?" he asked turning to the girl but noticed her blue eyes totally focused, "Duck what is it?"
Without a word, she jumped from the wall, picked up the skirts of her dress, and began to run to the center of town.
"Duck! Come back!" he shouted as he chased after her with Rue and Mytho not far behind.
"Catch me if you can!" she giggled very much like a little kid as she ran.
(Next Scene)
The people frowned slightly as she ran into the center and stopped out of breath at a large object that stood in the middle of the square. As she stared up at it Fakir and the others also came to a halt. As they saw a fountain before them they gasped a little as the small girl climbed up onto it carefully and with a handkerchief that she had pulled from her pocket, she began to wipe the dirt away from the figures of the statue.
"Duck. Be careful" Fakir said a little worried as an old man from the right hand side of the street watched her curiously, his light green eyes widening.
"I've done this hundreds of times. Don't worry" she smiled as her last bit of handkerchief wiped the dirt away revealing the bright sky blue eyes of the two swans that adorned the top of the fountain, "There. Now they can see," she added as she jumped down.
"Oh my" Rue gasped a second time.
"I don't believe it" Mytho replied his mouth wide open.
"It's" Fakir began as Duck sat on the round brick bench that surrounded the object, "It's your fountain Duck."
"Yes" she nodded as the old man began to walk towards them, "When I was little I used to come here to listen to Grandfather Drosselmeyer's stories. I would run much like I did earlier. You know? As if someone was chasing me because I wasn't allowed to come here."
"Wasn't allowed?" Mytho asked.
"Mhm. They thought that he was very eccentric and a little strange but the children, we all loved him. He used to tell the most wonderful stories."
"Used to? Fakir replied, "You mean when he was alive?"
"I guess that is what I mean" she shrugged sadly.
"Then your home couldn't be far from here" Rue suggested, "Maybe one of these houses."
"Pardon me?" the old man spoke up as he arrived.
"Oh. Good morning sir" Fakir bowed his head politely with a smile.
"Good morning" he bowed back, "Can I help you all with something?"
"No, actually" Fakir shook his head, "We were just looking for this fountain."
"Oh yes. Well it is a beautiful piece of architecture. That is, it was in the old days. But I must say young lady" he said addressing Duck, "You made the eyes of the swans sparkle like they once did. How did you know that they were like that?"
"A memory" she responded.
"Memory?"
"Mhm. I remember when I was small that my favorite thing about this fountain was that the eyes of the swans sparkled just like a blue green crystal lagoon."
"But this statue has not looked like that for nearly eighty years now."
"Eighty years?" Rue said stunned.
"Yes, when I was a child in fact."
"Please sir" Fakir replied speaking up because he could see the look of sudden confusion on Duck's face, "Could you tell us what happened to this town? Why is it in such disarray?"
"Oh you children don't want to hear about that," he said back sadly as he sat down next to Duck."
"No. We really do" Fakir replied seriously, "Could you please tell us?"
"Well if you insist. But I warn you it is not a very happy story. It's a very tragic tale."
"Trust me" Fakir nodded as he glanced briefly at the other two who also nodded their heads, "We can handle it."
"All right. Well, eighty years ago I was a mere ten years old. This town was thriving. There was a market place, dozens of shops, and the most beautiful flowers you had ever seen surrounded the place. Even up in the hills, they were covered with thousands of every kind of flower you could think of. They were planted by the women of this town whose job was to care for the gardens for flowers, were the Queen's favorite thing."
"Queen?" Mytho said.
"Yes. Back then we were ruled over by a very patient, kind, and compassionate king. He loved everyone and everyone loved him. He reigned over our town and the entire country towards the east" he pointed, "Just to the tip of the mountains. He ruled gallantly, judiciously, and most important of all lovingly. There wasn't a soul throughout his kingdom who didn't love him or his children."
"His children?" Rue asked interested as Duck shifted her gaze towards the back of the town where she could see another crumbling brick wall.
"Oh yes. Precious jewels they all were too. The pride and even the loves of his life after his wife passed away. I remember them quite fondly. Especially the smallest" his eyes glazed over slightly with tears as he spoke.
"Forgive me for saying this" Fakir spoke, "But I don't see a castle anywhere."
"No" he nodded slowly as Duck stood still staring in the same direction, "It's long gone. It was destroyed the day He came and brought the darkness into our lives."
"He?" Mytho said with a raise of his eyebrows.
"Mmm. He ruined all of this."
"No" Duck replied loud enough for all of them to hear so they turned.
"Duck?" Fakir replied concerned.
"It can't be" she cried, "I don't believe it" she added the tears rolling down her face, "I won't believe it unless I see it!" she shouted dashing forward toward the brick wall.
"Duck!" Fakir called chasing after her a second time with Mytho, Rue, and this time the old man following them.
(Next Scene)
She climbed over the broken brick and ran into the shattered bricks that had once been a large, magnificent structure. A castle that used to stretch to the sky, it's red and purple flags billowing in the wind. She gasped heavily as she fell to her knees in what looked like to be another garden, rotting and in disrepair. The others once again stopped behind her. Fakir took a deep breath and then moved forward to comfort her but she stood to her feet, her back to them and trying to control her tears.
"What happened to them, sir?" she asked politely, obviously addressing the old man.
"Who little miss?" he responded back kindly.
"The people who lived in the castle? What became of them?"
"No one knows sadly. He came, destroyed our town, and then disappeared. No one saw the princesses again and the king. The king seemed to whither away after that tragedy."
"Did they die?" she cried uncontrollably, "Did they really die? Did he kill them? Did he hurt them? Did he break his promise?"
"Duck" Fakir walked over and wrapped his arms around her, "Honey, what are you talking about?"
"My family."
"Your family?" he asked pulling away as she turned around.
"I remember. I remember now. I remember now why I would always run to town as if someone was chasing me. I was not supposed to go there. It wasn't just because he was eccentric. I wasn't allowed to go anywhere unless someone went with me. I so wanted to hear the stories. I wanted to see my friend Mayumi" the old man lifted his head stunned his eyes becoming wide, "And her older brother Yosu."
"What did you say?" the old man's eyes widened even more, "What name did you just say?"
"Yosu" she repeated, "He used to let me sit on his lap to listen to the stories."
"It can't be," he gasped as he stared directly at her, "What sorcery is this?"
"Sir?" Fakir looked at him quizzically.
"It's as if I never got old" he shook his head, "But can it really be you, Lady Ahiru?"
Duck raised her head as Rue now confused spoke up.
"Wait. What was that?"
"Your majesty" he practically cried as he fell to his knees in front of her, "Princess."
"Princess?" Fakir replied stunned.
"Ahiru. My lady" the old man said with a smile, "I am Yosu. Lady Ahiru."
"Ahiru?" she blinked but then the tears in her eyes stopped and she raised her head even more, "Yes. I remember. My name is Ahiru. Princess Ahiru Lohengrin."
(To be continued..)
Authors Note: Hey guys! Here's the first chapter for this month. Don't worry there will be more.
Note One: Duck's real first name is actually her real name from the Japanese anime and manga. Her last name as Princess is actually the name of a famous swan operetta. I liked the sound of the name. So there you go. Hope you enjoyed the chapter! See you all later!
Next Chapter: Villain
Duck reveals her past to Yosu and the others. Meanwhile the dark figure from her past returns and confronts Fakir. See what happens next time!!!