Disclaimer: I only own my imagination, and my imagination did not create Princess Tutu or Beauty and the Beast. Therefore, I do not own either. :)

AU fan fiction influenced by Beauty and the Beast. She didn't want to be there, and he didn't want her there. So why can't he let her leave, and why did she promise to stay there forever? Oh, right, because they were both being stubborn idiots! Let the story commence!

Thank you _(Seriously, if I don't know who you are I can't answer your questions!), AlleluiaElizabeth, Dawnstar95, hyperpegasai (My Sister), jamie8910, Kaito Lune, Kobato-hime, LittlePlagueSpirit, LovelyOdette, MiaAmerne, My Solitude, Nanenna, and ultimatebishoujo21 for reviewing!

(An yes, I DO know that an unfinished story ends in tragedy, lol, that's why I don't plan on quitting...and part of why I ended up starting yet ANOTHER fanfiction a few days ago...curse those plot bunnies and their relentless hopping...lol, you'll know what I mean soon enough...ugh, my pile of work knocked the moon out of orbit again...XD)

I will take this moment (again) to apologize to everyone for the long wait. My internet was gone for months, and most of the things I'd written for this story were in my FF drafts…which of course you can't use without internet…but the internet is finally back! I took some more time to edit and edit some more (because I want my writing to be good enough to make up for my absence…) and I will soon post some new chapters!

Please enjoy this edited chapter! X3 ~Evan-san

Chapter Two: An Exchange Without A Choice

Once upon a time, there lived a king.

This king had the power to bring anything he wrote to life. A pen was his most powerful asset, and he could have ended all suffering with just a few words on a sheet of parchment.

However, this king was not a good king, and he controlled the lives of his subjects as if they were no more than puppets for his amusement. He enjoyed the suffering of his people, and he did not care how much pain he inflicted as long as it was entertaining. And for those who ever grew against him, he had two favorite punishments. Plagues of ravens, for they were powerful and dark like the ink he wrote with, and curses of never ending tragedy always brought him great pleasure. No ordinary person could ever hope to defeat him.

A time came when he discovered that his sister's son had also inherited the power to bring written words to life. Immediately he called upon the vicious ravens to kill the boy. He was unwilling to share his power, for he had written himself into immortality and, even if the boy proved a suitable heir to him, the boy would only be in his way. On top of this selfishness, he feared the possibility that the boy could have the power to overthrow him. He would never allow himself to be defeated, ever.

The raven's attacked as he had instructed, but the corrupt king had not expected the boy's parents to interfere, dying in their son's stead. Nor had he expected the young boy to trade his pen for a sword, unknowingly changing from a threat to a tragic knight the king could easily manipulate. The vengeance that blinded the boy made him the perfect puppet.

With great satisfaction, the king created a special stage for his nephew to perform, and the tragic story began. He sat back on his throne, and watched it unfold with a broad grin stretched across his face. For surely, there was nothing that could interfere and save the boy now. The boy's fate was sealed with the ink from his pen.

Ahiru bravely ran through the forbidden forest, not realizing how quickly she'd lost her way. She was so focused on searching that she didn't see the metal gate until she ran into it head first. The force sent her tumbling backwards with a "Quack!" and, in a flash of red light, she shrank and disappeared into the folds of her dress.

'Oh no!' a small yellow duck popped out of the neck of the dress, 'Not again!'

After she squirmed her way out of the dress, she took a long look at the gate, and the towering castle behind it. A shiver snaked down her spine, ruffling her feathers, as she saw how spooky it looked in the moonlight. Fog swirled along the shadowy landscape, and fearsome statues seemed to move in the darkness.

'Where is this...' she noticed something lying on the ground just beyond the gate. She took a closer look, and her blue eyes widened in recognition, 'Prince Mytho's cloak?'

Worry was clear on her feathered face as she noted that it was torn and ragged, and stained with blood. Quickly scooping up the dress and tying it up on her back, she went through the gate and ran without hesitation toward the sinister looking castle.

'He is in there! I'm sure of it!' she thought as she ran, 'He must be hurt, oh no! I have to hurry!'

She paused when she came to a fountain, 'Ah...I need to change back…'

Setting the dress down, she flapped up into the fountain and landed in the water. The same red light surrounded her feathered body, and she grew and transformed back into a girl. She quickly jumped out of the water and pulled her dress on.

'Alright, here I go!' Ahiru thought as she continued on to the castle.

The doors were intimidating and hard to open, but Ahiru didn't let that stop her. Soon she was inside the dark castle.

"Prince Mytho?" she called, her voice echoing back at her spookily.

As she looked about her, she noticed a traveling light from a winding staircase nearby. It seemed as though she had just missed someone.

"Hello? Can you help me, please?" Ahiru began climbing the staircase, following it. The light continued, and she followed it up and up until she reached the top. Then it led her down a hallway and to an open doorway. Prison cells lined the walls to the end of the room were a small lamp set under a barred window. With a gulp, Ahiru tiptoed into the room and looked around.

"Hello?" she called tentatively, 'Where did-'

"Who's there?" a voice asked in surprise.

"Mytho?"Ahiru saw him in one of the cells nearest the warm oil lamp.

"How did you get here?" he demanded worriedly, recognizing her, "You shouldn't be here!'

"I came to bring you back to the town!" Ahiru tried to open the door, "My sister thought you got lost-"

"You need to go home," Mytho told her, "Quickly!"

"What do you mean?" she asked in confusion, "I can't leave you here!"

"Don't worry about me, I'll be fine," he told her, "You must go, now!"

"But who did this to you?" her eyes shone with unshed tears as she saw all the cuts and bruises, "You're hurt!"

"Please, just run, and don't stop until you reach the town."

"No, I can't leave you here! I won't!"

Suddenly there was a loud bang, and the lamp went out. A shadowed figure stood in front of the closed exit.

"Who's there? Who are you?" Ahiru demanded, just a little fear leaking into her voice.

"I'm the Master of this castle," the dark figure crossed his arms, "How did you get in here?"

"I came to find the prince!" she told him, "Why are you keeping him here?"

"He's my prisoner until I find out why the ravens are after him."

'The ravens attacked Mytho? Why?' Ahiru thought, then her eyes widened as she put her hand to her neck, 'Could it be...'

"Um, do you have my pendant, Prince Mytho?" she asked politely, "It's a round red gem on a gold chain."

His eyes widened and he pulled it out of his pocket, "Here, I found it on the ground after you disappeared. The chain's broken."

He placed the pendant in her outstretched hands, and she clutched it tightly to her chest as she turned to face the master of the castle.

"This is what the ravens were after," she told his dark form, "And now that you know, you have to let the prince go."

"That stupid necklace?" he ridiculed.

"It's not stupid!" Ahiru shouted angrily, "It's my magic pendant! The ravens would love to possess it, and that's why they attacked the prince!"

After a moment of silence, the shadowed figure spoke, "A magic pendant, huh?"

"A very powerful one too," Ahiru said, without really thinking about it, "It would be really bad if the ravens got it."

"Then what's a moron like you doing with it?" he demanded coldly.

Ahiru grew angry from his insult, "I'm not stupid you JERK! Release Prince Mytho now, and I'll take care of my pendant!"

"If that's what the ravens are after," he took a step toward them, "I won't let you take it out of this castle!"

"You can't keep us here," she argued.

"I can, and I will, unless you hand over what the ravens want," he said.

Ahiru held it closer to her chest, "This belongs to me, and I will not let you have it!"

"Then you will stay here with it!" he shot back.

"What about Prince Mytho?" Ahiru demanded.

"If you refuse to stay, and refuse to hand over the pendant, I'll lock you up along with him," he said definitely.

Ahiru was about to retort when a sudden flash of light came from seemingly nowhere. It left as soon as it had come, and then, for some mysterious reason, the small lamp was lit.

'A girl? I could have sworn...' Ahiru blinked as her eyes adjusted to the change in lighting.

The man standing in front of the door, who was now visible thanks to the lamp, was wearing a dark hooded cloak that fell to the ankles of his boots, and a white mask that covered his entire face. His hand rested on the hilt of a broadsword, as if ready to draw it at a moment's notice.

"Fine then," he said gruffly, "If you swear to never leave this castle, I'll have Mytho taken back to the town you came from."

"That's Prince Mytho!" she snapped, not completely registering what he'd said.

A small tick appeared over the hooded man's temple, 'Why you...'

"You can't be saying you'd trade your freedom for mine!" Mytho exclaimed.

"QUA-," Ahiru slammed her hand across her mouth just in time.

There was an awkward silence following her outburst, but it gave her time to consider her situation, 'He'll let Mytho go if I either give him my pendant, or swear to stay here with it? There's no way I'll give it to him...so since I can't let him keep Mytho here, I guess I'll have to stay here...ah, but then Rue will be worried sick...'

With a slight frown, Ahiru turned back to Mytho, "Could you please tell my sister not to worry, when you see her? Her name is Rue, and she'll be waiting for us to return by the front gates. Please tell her Ahiru will be fine."

"Ahiru?" Mytho exclaimed, "You can't!"

Ignoring his protests, she glared at the man in the mask, "If you take the prince back to the town, I swear not to leave this castle."

"Ever?" the man prompted, "Or until you decide to give me the pendant?"

'Like I'd ever give it to the likes of him!' she thought to herself, "Fine, you have my word."

"Done," he said. Then, with a swoosh of his cloak, he vanished from the room.

"Don't do this," Mytho beseeched her.

"I'm sorry," she told him sadly, "Please make sure my sister is alright."

"After that, I'll return for you," he resolved.

'Time for the spell...' Ahiru closed her eyes sadly as she took his hand, "I'm sorry."

"Forget me," a red glow emitted from her hands, and his eyes grew blank, "Forget everything about me...and this place."

"I will forget you, and this place," Mytho repeated without emotion.

"When you meet Rue at the gate, you will tell her Ahiru says not to worry, I'm fine. And tell her to make sure you don't remember me. After you have given her this message, you will forget it completely."

"I will tell her not to worry, you are alright. And I will tell her to make sure I do not remember you. Then I will forget the message."

"Until you arrive at the town gate, you will remain asleep. Starting now."

"I will remain asleep..." he closed his eyes, collapsing onto the ground.

'There, it's finished,' Ahiru thought to herself as she sat under the window, 'Rue's going to be so worried...but I don't know what else to do...'

Nearly a moment later, the masked man appeared in the room again, and unlocked Mytho's cell.

"Hey, get up off the floor," he ordered.

"He's asleep," she told him, "And he'll stay that way until you reach the town."

"What are you talking about?"

"It's a spell, dummy," she mumbled.

"You cast a spell on him?" he asked, his tone ridiculing her.

"Yes...well actually, more than one-"

"And you didn't place any on me?" he asked.

"Huh? What are you talking about?" she finally looked up, confused.

After a moment of staring at her in silence, he knelt to the ground and lifted Mytho into his arms. It wasn't long before they were both gone out the door.

'Jerk...he didn't answer my question...' Ahiru closed her eyes and rested her head on her knees, 'After today, I'm so tired...the floor is cold, but oh well I guess...'

The sound of footsteps alerted her from her dozing state, and she looked up as someone entered the prison room. The light of the lamp above her head showed her to be a tall woman with a lovely, pale face and seafoam green colored hair. She offered her hand to Ahiru, who took it without much thought.

"Come with me, Ahiru," her voice was kind, and her blue eyes seemed gentle.

"Who are you?" Ahiru asked as she stood, rubbing one eye sleepily, "How did you know my name?"

"My name is Adel," slight smile appeared on the puppet-like woman's lips, "I'm here to escort you to your room."

"My room?" Ahiru blinked after the retreating figure, "But I thought-"

"Do you prefer this one?" she looked back from the doorway in mild curiosity.

Ahiru promptly shook her head 'no'.

"Then come with me," Adel turned back to the doorway and continued walking, the darkness quickly surrounding her slender frame.

"Wait, just a moment," Ahiru paused to pick up the little lamp from the window sill, 'There's no point in leaving this here...'

"Are you afraid of the dark?" Adel asked.

"Hmm? Oh, no, not really. I just don't think it's fair to leave it here like this," Ahiru said as she walked up to her, looking at the lamp with a small smile, "And it's a really cute lamp, don't you think?"

"Cute?" Adel asked, slightly surprised.

"So it should be somewhere where it can comfort someone, right?" Ahiru said.

Adel was silent for a moment, "...would you take care of it then?"

"Ah, is that alright?" Ahiru asked. When Adel nodded she smiled, "Alright, I'll take good care of it then!"

Adel looked at her a little strangely before turning away, "I'll show you to your room now."

"Ah, thank you," Ahiru followed her down the dark corridor.

...

The moon was high in the sky as Rue paced anxiously from one side of the gate to the other. Pain burned in her crimson eyes as she wrung her hands in worry.

'What if something happened to them?' she thought, 'I should have gone with her...the ravens attacked her this morning, what if they caught her off guard...oh God, please let her be safe...'

As the sound of an approaching horse reached her ears, Rue shoved the gate open and rushed out. She looked around hurriedly, trying to see who it was. On a dark brown stead, the hooded man rode up to the town entrance. Rue's eyes widened as she spotted Mytho on the saddle, and she ran to the side of the horse as it stopped.

"Prince Mytho!" she exclaimed in worry at the sight of his injured state and unconscious face, 'What happened-'

Gloved hands non-to-gently dropped him into her waiting arms, leaving her to stumble to the ground with Mytho lying in her lap. She was about to give the masked stranger a piece of her mind when he finally spoke.

"So you're Rue, huh?" his voice was gruff, and muffled by the mask.

"How do you-"

"Until your sister chooses to return to you, no harm will come to her," he interrupted her rudely, "Even for someone as slow as her, it won't take long before she gives up."

Rue's eyes widened in surprise, "What are you-"

Before Rue could finish, the hooded man tugged on the reins and rode away into the darkness. Her eyes were wide with shock and confusion as she watched him vanish. In her arms, Prince Mytho stirred and she quickly turned her attention to him. As he opened his eyes, she quickly noticed the distinct blankness they held.

'Ahiru put a spell on him?' Rue thought to herself, a panicked expression frozen on her face as the prince looked at her, 'What happened? Is she…she didn't get into some sort of trouble, did she?'

"Don't worry Rue, Ahiru says she'll be fine," his voice was monotone, and his face was expressionless, "And she says to make sure I don't remember her."

Her eyes were still wide as he finished, concern in her eyes, 'Why did she...what is she thinking? Where did she go?'

The prince closed his eyes, only to open them anew, confusion clear on his face. He blinked at Rue before he started to stand.

"Are you all right your highness?" she asked as she helped him up, turning her attention to him.

He pinched the bridge of his nose, seeming to have a headache, "How did I get here?"

"Well..." she struggled slightly before she composed herself, "You wanted to go for a ride through the Forbidden Forest, but as you were riding in that direction some ravens attacked you and spooked your horse. You fell, hit your head, and the ravens chased your horse into the woods."

'I hope he believes it,' she thought, 'It should complement his muddled memories well enough...'

"We should get you to a doctor, I'll take you there," Rue gently took his arm and led him back into the town.

With a brief glance back, her composed mask fell into worry, 'Please come back soon...please stay safe...'

After returning her gaze forward, with her free hand, she gave a stiff wave to the gate behind her back. Several yards behind them the gate silently closed by itself.

...

Ahiru held the lamp close to her as she followed two steps behind Adel. The hallway was dark and somewhat frightening, and Ahiru stared at it with wide eyes. When Adel finally stopped at a double-door, Ahiru bumped into her back from lack of attention.

"Ah, sorry," Ahiru hurriedly hopped back.

Adel smiled at her as she opened one of the doors, revealing a dark bedchamber. The stone walls were draped with wine-colored tapestries that had a curving black inlay design, and the floor was covered with similarly made rugs. A large window that overwhelmed one of the walls was shrouded with curtains that matched the tapestries. All furnishings in the room; consisting of a dresser with a vanity mirror, a wardrobe, and a full sized bed frame with a canopy; were made of dark stained wood. The overall effect was dark and mysterious, but full of warmth and comfort as well.

Ahiru set the lamp on the dresser and stepped up to the large bed, staring at the room in tired wonder, 'I haven't been in a room like this in years...'

"If there is anything you require, let us know," Adel said as she was about to close the wooden doors.

"Ah-thank you very much," Ahiru said quickly.

The elder woman nodded, a soft smile just barely showing itself on her lips as she gently shut the doors. As Ahiru sat on the bed, her eyelids fell. Her limp body sprawled out onto the bed, dead to the world in an instant. As she lay there, the cream curtains of the canopy slid into place and the lights dimmed. There came a quiet giggle, but no one was to be seen.

To Be Continued...

Author's note to Readers: I WILL be continuing this (for those of you suffering from doubt), so please know that this story will not end in...wait, that would be giving away the ending, now wouldn't it? X3 Review and it will help me stay focused. (For those of you who already reviewed, THANK YOU! X3)