Aneko: How amazing!!! Look how fast this chap came up!! Like magic!!!

Disclaimer:replays broken record I don't own Princess Tutu, I don't own Princess Tutu, I don't own…

Chapter 6

"Now, class," The teacher was saying as class began, "there is an acting troupe visiting us, who would like to hold a ballet."

There were murmurs of excitement from the students. The teacher waited for it to be silent again before he continued.

"The try outs are in about a week. I expect all of you to try out; it will be counted as a grade." At this remark, there were several groans, which the teacher ignored. "It will be graded by effort, as most of you will not make it."

Ahiru could see already that everyone was glancing at Fakir- of the few male ballet students, he was the obvious choice (with the best grades) for lead.

He probably will make the lead, Ahiru thought, silently agreeing with those who kept glancing at Fakir, with Mytho gone, he's most likely the best male ballet student…but I wonder who the best female student is? Rue-chan obviously was before, but I wonder who it is now.

"Ahiru-san."

And I wonder about that troupe. Did they enter the way people did before, just appearing at the gate?

Ahiru-san."

Or has that changed now that Drosselmeyer-san is gone?

"Ahiru-san!"

"What?!" Ahiru automatically put her hand over her mouth. She had not meant to snap- especially at a teacher.

"Very well; as it seems you have more important things to worry about in class, you will just have to stay after class to practice your positions." The teacher said, clearly peeved.

Ahiru sighed as the teacher walked away and she was consoled by Pique and Lilie.

Ahiru stood by the bar, in the comfortable silence, practicing. Outside the window, students milled about below.

Staying after class to practice isn't so bad, Ahiru thought, at least I'm not cleaning.

Looking out the window, Ahiru noticed Kange talking to two girls. She couldn't hear anything, but the girls were obviously infatuated with Kange.

They talked for a moment of two more, then the girls ran off.

Pique and Lilie are right, they are pretty popular.

Kange seemed to feel Ahiru's stare, because he looked up, smiled, and gave a friendly wave. Ahiru smiled and waved back.

Ahiru turned back into the room, closing her eyes and playing the piano music in her mind as she went through her positions.

Ahiru didn't know how long she was doing them until a high pitched giggling made her eyes snap open.

"So, this is the new dancer for the? She's not all that impressive." Ahiru pressed back against the bar. She didn't like that tone of voice.

"Who are you?!" She demanded, but unable to see where the voice was coming from.

"Oh, but that's no fun." The giggle came again. "It's better to make it a game."

Ahiru felt helpless. She couldn't turn into Princess Tutu- she didn't know if she could do anything.

"Fine. I'll show you who I am." From the shadows stepped a girl, who seemed a little younger that Ahiru herself. Shiny black hair was bunched on either side of her head in pigtails, and she had cocky green eyes.

"Shall we play a little game right now?" She asked innocently, pulling out a paintbrush like Geiju's.

"Wha-?" Was all Ahiru had time for before the girl began attacking, sending out black streaks, much in the same way Geiju had; but where Geiju's art was warm and soothing, this girl's was like a whip, cold and sharp.

Ahiru jumped out of the way as the "whip" came flying at her. It made no noise, not even the whistling noise normal whips make as they go through the air.

I have to do something, but what?

The "whip" Snaked around her ankle, making her fall.

What can I do, though? Ahiru thought, fighting to get up from the despair of helplessness she felt, I am no linger Princess Tutu.

"You know it's hopeless," The girl said, as though she could read Ahiru's thoughts, "so why don't you just give up? Princess Tutu is just a game you were playing at- without Drosselmeyer you would still be a duck. There is no Princess Tutu now!"

No, I am not Princess Tutu. But…

"I may not be Princess Tutu…" Ahiru said, standing up, "but I am me!" She said firmly.

The moment she said it, a glow began to envelope her body, spreading from the point where she had originally worn her red pendant, coming from inside her.

Ahiru's long braid, which she had put in a bun to practice, came lose and uncoiled. Two white gloves that went up to her elbows wrapped around her hands and arms. A pair of ballet shoes, also white, laced halfway up her legs of their own accord. Her practice uniform, which was shapeless and plain, changed to the lovely outfit of Princess Tutu(give me a break, I can't make a whole new outfit).

On top of her head was a delicate circlet of silver, with a blue stone in the front. A white bow adorned the end of her braid.

"Wh-what-?" The girl had not expected this.

"What?" Ahiru looked herself over, astonished. "It's Princess Tutu, and yet it's not…"

"What is this? What did you do?!" The girl seemed to be getting increasingly angrier. She attacked with her paintbrush again. "You should have no power left! What is this trick?!"

Ahiru danced out of the attack, backing up a little more. It defiantly wasn't the grace of Princess Tutu, but she could feel herself in it.

Only problem is, she thought, I don't know what I can do like this.

"Who are you?" Ahiru asked again, "Are you part of the Serpents?"

"Hmmm." The girl pretended to think about it. "I seem to recall our being called that by those little kittens."

By kittens she must mean the Lions.

"Enough about that though." The girl smiled wickedly. :I want to see you dance some more." She raised her brush to strike.

I can't keep this up forever…Ahiru thought. Already she could feel her breath starting to shorten. I need to contact the others. I have to! I need help!!

I need help!

They all heard it. In the library, Fakir's head snapped up from the book he was reading; Geiju, in the art building, paused in his painting; Koeko, singing in the music room, stopped and gasped, and Kange, who was playing piano for her, stood up from the bench abruptly, letting his hands fall on the keys in a cacophony of noise.

Fakir dropped the book her was reading on the table.

That sounded like Ahiru. I think she stayed after class to practice…she should still be there.

Fakir ran out of the library and towards Ahiru's voice.

As Ahiru continued to evade all of her attacks, the girl was getting increasingly angry and less cocky. Especially since sometimes she only managed to dodge from her clutziness-she felt like she almost had her, when Ahiru would trip and fall flat on her face, letting the whip pass harmlessly over her head.

I need a new plan…The girl thought as she watched Ahiru stumble again. A spark of an idea came to her, and she smiled.

Ahiru kept her eye on the whip. It was fast, but she could just avoid it. It waved back and forth like it had a mind of its own. Ahiru watched it closely, waiting for it to strike. When it did, Ahiru tried to dance out of the way, but as soon as she took a step, she fell heavily. Immediately, the whip stopped and the girl laughed. Ahiru looked down at her legs and noticed a black chord, much like the first, wrapped around her feet. She tried pulling at it, but it was as hard as steel and painfully tight.

"You were watching the main one so much, it was easy to get the second beneath your guard. Now, since you've been giving me so much trouble, I'll make sure you won't be forgetting me any time soon."

The whip flew towards her, faster than ever. Ahiru, unable to dodge, closed her eyes, putting her arm up in front of her face.

"Ahiru!" Ahiru looked up. From behind her, a silver object came spinning through the air with a sort of humming noise. It hit the tip of the whip with a metallic clang, and several sparks flew up.

The whip recoiled quickly, and the one around her legs loosened. Ahiru got up quickly and ran towards the entrance, where Fakir, Kange, Geiju and Koeko stood.

Geiju looked grim. "Yamiko."

The girl retracted the whip, making her weapon an ordinary paintbrush again. In an instant, her angry expression glazed over to a superior smile as she surveyed everyone.

"Hello kittens. Did you miss us?"

Geiju put a restraining hand on Kange's shoulder, who looked like he wanted to rip her to pieces.

Ahiru looked around when a second voice sounded.

"Yamiko, I thought I told you to get rid of her quickly." A man appeared beside Yamiko, his arms crossed as he also looked at the small party.

"Jun-chan, I was trying!" Yamiko said, her hands balling into fists and coming in front of her chest, reminding Ahiru even more of a child. "But something weird happened!"

"Enough." The man said calmly, effectively halting Yamiko, who looked like she was about to say more. Come back now. This time was a failure.""

Yamiko's expression faltered for a second as the man disappeared, but a moment later smoothed over as she looked at them all again. Her expression was slightly angry, but behind that Ahiru could see fear.

"If Jun-chan is mad at me…you'll pay!" She declared, then disappeared.

Aneko: Ta-dah!!!!! Let me know what you think-reviews make me happy!