Aneko: Okay, now I just know my computer hates me. It's being a jerk again, and I can't get on the internet (TT ). -sigh-just peachy….okay, it's better now!!!(obviously, since I'm posting this…)

Disclaimer: If I owned Princess Tutu, it wouldn't have ended in such an evil spot. I don't own it, okay?

Chapter 4

Charon was surprised to see Ahiru.

"You're back!" He said, smiling.

Ahiru nodded happily. Charon, unlike everyone else, who had forgotten her, remembered. It was probably because he lived around Fakir, who was always with Ahiru when she had been a duck.

He gladly let Ahiru use the spare bedroom, so Ahiru went to her room and sat looking up at the now dark sky. They had just had a meal together, and Ahiru was comfortable and getting tired. A full moon radiated a calm white light, and the stars burned brightly. The day had gone by so fast, she had not had time to think much about it.

The Lions are a very strong group. It's no wonder they could seal away the Serpents for so long.

"Demo, do they really want a duck-girl like me to replace their dancer?" She said aloud, resting her chin on her hands.

Receiving no answer from the silent night, she went to bed.

Fakir was already awake when Ahiru came down in the morning.

"Once we talk to Geiju, we should get you enrolled in the Academy again." He said, as Ahiru sat as the kitchen table.

"Hai." She replied around a piece of toast.

Fakir sat down with a cup of tea.

"I wonder if they kept the lake open for us." Ahiru wondered aloud.

"They probably closed it over night and either reopened it, or will once we get there." Fakir, said, finishing his drink and standing. "Ready?"

"Yep." Ahiru said as she stood up.

"You know," Ahiru said, thinking out loud, "it kind of makes me wonder what the dancer and writer were like, if they wanted us to be on their side…"

"Who knows." Fakir said.

When they reached the clearing with the lake, they found the entrance to the cavern covered over, but as soon as they reached the edge of the lake, the telltale rumble from underneath them began, and the entrance formed.

From the bottom of the large stone stairs, a figure could be seen, and Kange's voice echoed towards them.

"Welcome back, you two. We've been waiting."

Fakir and Ahiru followed Kange down into the cavern. As they entered, they saw Geiju, seated not far away. He was painting on a large canvas board, and Koeko sat at his feet on the floor, watching, much like a child sitting at the feet of her father.

"We've made our decision." Fakir said, as they approached. "We will help you."

Geiju stood up, wiping his hands, which had spots of paint on them, on a wet towel.

"I am glad to hear it. We're glad to have you on our side."

"But I am curious. Why would you want me on your side?" Fakir asked. He ignored Ahiru's noise of disapproval as he also asked. "Are you sure you want a descendant of Drosselmeyer working with you?"

Ahiru sent a frown at Fakir, which he was obviously not receiving, before she looked at the floor in doubt. "And I am only a girl who used to be a duck."

Geiju laughed quietly, causing both of them to look up, "Ah, but Fakir-kun. Did you not know? You are also related to the writer from our side."

Eh?"

"N-nani?!" Fakir couldn't hide his shock.

"Yes. You see, our previous writer was Drosselmeyer's grandfather."

"Hold on! If what you say is true, and Drosselmeyer-san is an older man, then his grandfather would be very, very old!" Ahiru said, not bothering with the math, "No one lives that long!"

"Yes, but," Geiju said, picking up the canvas board, "living is not the same as existing." He began walking further into the cavern, so the others followed.

"What about me, though?" Ahiru asked again. "I/m not even Princess Tutu any more, so I won't be a very good dancer…"

"Ahiru-san," Geiju stopped and turned to face her. "What determines our warriors is not their skill, but their heart. The battle cannot be won by ability alone, but the heart. Remember that."

"Besides, you two deserve way more credit than you're giving yourselves." Kange said from the back, "You beat Drosselmeyer, right? His power was formidable, to face it alone like that."

"And remember, in doing so, you took all his power." Geiju reminded them.

"What did you mean by that?"

"Defeating him meant that you both, together, were stronger. He wouldn't be able to beat you again."

Geiju continued walking, leading them past many rooms carved into the stone around them. All the rooms were in disarray, chairs and tables overturned, and broken glass shattered, things like that, and a thick layer of dust covered everything, muffling their footsteps.

They finally reached a room that was bare except for a large table at the center.

"Here we are." Geiju sat, setting the picture on the table. He went around the room, waving his hand toward the walls. As he did so, candles flared to life around them, giving off a dim light.

"Now," Geiju said, as they all took a seat, "I've been thinking about it, and I think the three of us should enter the Academy as well as Ahiru. In our respective divisions, of course."

"So, you three will be in the music and art division?" Ahiru asked.

"Yes, but Koeko and Kange will be in different classes."

"The good thing is all of those buildings are fairly close together." Kange said from beside Koeko. "If anything happens, it'll be easy for us all to reach each other."

"Are you sure you want to be out in the open where they could attack us easily?" Fakir asked.

"Yes. If we were to hide, they would only attack innocent people to bring us out. This way it will be easier to protect the people."

"Makes sense." Fakir said. "Should we all head to the academy now, then?"

Geiju nodded, and they all headed to the school.

The principal looked at the group of young people in front of him, including Fakir.

"They are friends of mine and wish to take classes here." He said.

"Ah, I see. So, what divisions will each of you be in?"

Geiju stepped forward. "I am Geiju, and would like to join the art department."

Kange introduced himself and Koeko. "We would like to join the music department."

"I'm Ahiru, and I would like to join the ballet department."

Ahiru…? The principal thought. Strange name…

"I believe there are enough slots left for you to enter." The principal checked a clipboard on his desk. "Yes, you may all join classes. You can head to class and I'll see what I can do about dorm rooms for each of you."

The principal watched them leave his office.

"Such handsome you people," He said, thinking aloud, "but that one girl, Ahiru…that name seems so familiar somehow…oh, well." Shrugging, the man went back to work.

Ahiru found that once she was back in the loop of things, even though she was considered a new student, it felt like she had never left. When she had been introduced to the class, Pique and Lilie came right over and started talking to her.

They haven't changed… Ahiru thought as she stood next to her friends once again. As she stood there, Ahiru realized she hadn't spoken to Fakir since class started. She looked around the room. He had his arms crossed and was looking at the floor, as small frown on his face.

I wonder if he's thinking about the Serpents…

Pique noticed Ahiru staring. "Oh, Ahiru, are you going to join the Fakir-sama faction?" She asked curiously.

Ahiru waved her arms. "Eh? Oh no, that's-"

Her motions and words were cut short by Lilie's hands squeezing each side of her face. "Oh, how cute! Ahiru is dreaming of a love that will never be returned- but don't be afraid, you must confess! And we will be here when you fail!"

Yep. They definitely haven't changed…

Pique had been nodding seriously in agreement, but now she looked up at the ceiling as she mused aloud. "You know, though, I hear Fakir-sama is not available any more."

"Eh?" Lilie stopped pinching Ahiru's face and they both turned towards Pique.

"The word is he had a girlfriend."

"No way!" Lilie cried, but it was more of a strangled whisper, so the teacher wouldn't notice.

"Oh no!! Whatever shall become of poor Ahiru now? There is no possible hope for her love to reach him now!" She hugged Ahiru's head to her chest in such a way that made Ahiru sure her neck would be broken.

At least they shouldn't be able to push me into him during class. She thought, as she felt as though her neck would be dislocated from Lilie's sympathy.

Ahiru sat on the bench in front of her dorm window. Ironically enough, she had gotten the same dorm room as before. Now she was back in it once again.

Somewhere in the air, she could feel a mounting tension.

"It's like the town knows that bad people are coming. Will tomorrow be peaceful, I wonder?"

From inside his own dorm room, which he was now staying in again, Fakir looked up at the dark sky.

"The storm is about to break." He murmured.

Aneko: Sorry this chap took to long. I've written the whole story already, I just have to post it all.