The Duck Dances in the Darkness
The figure shook his cloak free of the rain and removed his hood. Fakir sighed in relief as his foster father turned round to face him.
"Fakir." Carl nodded, his face grim and Ahiru felt Fakir tense once more.
"Why are you out on such a night?"
"That storm," Carl glanced out the window as lightning arced across the sky. He stalled as thunder rattled the house. "Came out of nowhere. There's a strong north wind blowing this gale."
Carl removed his cloak completely and hung it from a peg near the door before gesturing to the table. Fakir jolted into motion, releasing Ahiru and setting the kettle to boil. She took up roost on one of the seats at the table, watching him with concern. Carl, too, was watching him as he prepared the tea, occasionally glancing over at the small yellow duck with a mixture of curiosity and disapproval.
Fakir brought the mugs to the table and took the seat opposite Carl, moving Ahiru to his lap for comfort. Carl watched the motion, his face dropping further.
"Fakir, is it true? Do you plan to wed a duck?"
Fakir stilled, his hand pressing down on Ahiru's back. She wriggled in his lap, then snapped at his fingers to lessen the pressure. The sudden bite of pain brought him out of his shock. He opened his mouth to answer but Carl continued.
"I don't pretend to know why you're attached to the bird, nor have I protested your decisions regarding it. But Fakir, this is beyond innocent. You're playing on the line. I know you're not a simpleton but this reeks of madness."
Fakir sat motionless, his mouth firmed into a thin line, his face impassive.
"Well?" Carl asked, wanting a retort or reaction.
"There is more at work here than you know or remember." Fakir stated quietly
Confusion added to his furtive anger, causing Carl to growl, "Speak plainly, boy."
"It's our story and it is unfinished." Fakir replied, petting Ahiru to calm her tremors, "I have to see the story through to its end."
Carl stared at him, brow furrowed as he dissected Fakir's words. His frown grew more pronounced as he reached his conclusion. "Drosselmeyer."
Thunder boomed outside and Ahiru jumped. She was positive she heard sinister laughter echo through the sky as surely as the thunder. Fakir rose from his seat and crossed to the window. Holding Ahiru tightly, he glared into the storm.
"There have been some… changes."
"You're not in control?" Carl asked, troubled by his admission, "Fakir, the Bookmen won't allow you to play around with this."
"I don't have a choice!" Fakir replied tightly, "Someone or something is changing the story! We have to see it through."
There followed an awkward silence as both men thought about their present situation, what had led them there and all of the possible steps to move forward.
"It would seem that you," Carl began, pausing to consider his words, "that you both are in need of protection and support."
Ahiru glanced up, surprised that Fakir had not relaxed at Carl's statement.
"Will you…"
Carl nodded, cutting him off, "I'll keep the Bookmen distracted." He stood up, leaving the table as he collected his cloak. "It would be best if you didn't rouse any more interest."
"You're leaving?" Fakir asked, in alarm. The rain was still sheeting down as lightning and thunder continued to split the sky.
Carl turned back to him, "And you are too. Gather your things."
"Why?" Fakir asked, standing as well, but not leaving the kitchen.
"Because the Bookmen know you're here." Carl replied, peering through the windows, "If you want your ending to be happy, you need to stay away from them."
Without speaking, Fakir did as he was told, gathering the essentials and collecting his manuscript, he returned to the kitchen and took his cloak from the hook. Carl had remained near the door, keeping an eye on the street through the rain. When Fakir arrived, he nodded once and led them out into the storm.
They battled against the wind and rain, traversing the empty streets of Goldcrown Town towards the forest. Their pace slowed as the ground became rough and muddy and the light from the storm created more shadows under the trees with every flash.
They picked their way through the gloomy trees, with no apparent destination, for a long time. Just as Fakir was ready to give up, he caught sight of a light shining in the darkness.
"What is that?" He yelled, but he went unheard over the sounds of the storm. Carl led him on, and the light was revealed as a lantern swinging in the wind, over the door to a small building.
Duck poked her head out of Fakir's cloak and regarded the building curiously. It seemed familiar but she couldn't remember being here before. Her entire world had revolved around Fakir for years; her memories of Princess Tutu and Mytho had taken on a dreamlike quality that resisted recollection.
Carl didn't stop to allow them to recognise the place or to stand in the rain staring. He led them up the steps and straight to the door. It swung open as he approached and he ushered them inside.
"Carl, I'm so glad to see you." A woman cried as she enveloped him in a loose hug, before dragging his cloak from him.
"Ebine." He greeted her with a smile, though it disappeared when she turned to Fakir. "Can you keep him here for a day?"
The woman nodded and smiled, drawing both men forward and seating them at a nearby table.
"What is this place?" Fakir asked curiously, allowing Ahiru to settle herself on his lap. The answer to his question was cut off when Ahiru let out a loud squawk of recognition.
All three stared down at her in confusion and she hid under the table. As the conversation continued, she peered over at the woman whose heart had been pierced by the Prince's feeling of loneliness.
"So, the wedding is for a duck?" Ebine asked quietly, "The rumours were true."
Fakir shot a look at Carl, which he returned with assurances, "You can trust her."
"How can you be sure?" Fakir demanded, shielding Ahiru with his arm. Carl raised placating hands but it was Ebine's words that calmed him.
"I know about the Prince." She said softly, one hand to her chest. "I held a piece of him within me. I was so lonely."
Fakir stared at her in shock, unable to say anything. For a moment, it was as if all of her strength had left her and Ebine had shrunk to a pale, small, sad version of herself. Carl reached for her hand and squeezed it, waking her from her memory.
"But then She came." She said with a smile, "Princess Tutu took the Prince's loneliness and helped me find the strength to face each new day."
"What are you saying?" Fakir asked, suddenly scared of the answer.
"The day my life changed, I met a young girl." Ebine continued, "She was wearing a school uniform, and the prettiest red jewel pendant. She had long red hair and beautiful big blue eyes. Just like your duck."
Fakir's chair clattered to the floor as he pushed away from the table, shielding Ahiru as she squawked and struggled.
"No one knew!" He exclaimed, in time with the thunder; staring at Ebine as she rose from her seat. "No one even remembers her!"
Lightning flashed out side and the thunder rolled over the house, while Fakir backed away from the approaching woman.
"I remember you." She stated quietly, her voice barely carrying over the sounds of the storm. She held out her arms, "Dance with me?"
Fakir panicked, yanking the door open and fleeing outside as Ebine pursued him. As soon as the rain touched her feathers, Ahiru began to transform in his arms and he struggled with her increased weight over the slippery ground. Ignoring the calls from behind him, he slogged through the mud and the rain before crashing down to the ground.
He felt the touch of a warm hand on his shoulder, even through his now soaked shirt, and he looked up into the face of his love. She smiled sorrowfully at him, caressing his wet, mud-streaked cheek. He stared at her, in awe of her serenity, despite the turbulent weather around them. It was only when she shivered that he stood. As he prepared to remove his shirt, a warm cloak fell around her and strong hands helped them both up.
"Ebine." She murmured, as she huddled into the warmth of the woman's embrace.
"I'm so glad to see you again, Tutu." Ebine whispered, rocking the lithe form of the girl, heedless of the rain pouring down around them, "I so long to dance with you again."
Tears mixed with raindrops as the two women moved, the rocking changing to graceful dance steps. Around them, the storm quieted; though the lightning still flashed, the thunder had moved on and the wind was dropping. They laughed through their tears, as they dance around the clearing, celebrating their renewed friendship.
Fakir stood, watching them in amazement before Ahiru twirled right in front of him and grabbed his hands.
"Dance with me, Fakir." She laughed, pulling him forward. Her smile was infectious and he joined her, their dance reaffirming their resolve, their future and their love. Ebine paused, joining Carl in watching as the two young loves swung each other round in the light rain, the sound of rain drops and laughter as their music.
Fakir woke late the next day. The warm afternoon sun shone through the window as he lay curled around the still sleeping duck. A tray of warm food sat on the table under the window, waiting for them to rise.
Ebine had taken them in, hiding them from the Bookmen and who ever else may try to stop the wedding. Carl had returned to his work at the mill, promising to return in the evening. Fakir and Ahiru simply had to remain out of sight for one more day and then they would be beyond the reach of intervention.
As night fell, Fakir waited impatiently for Carl to arrive. His idleness had left him pondering his manuscript, trying to make changes to the alterations he'd already observed. He sat at one of the tables downstairs, with Ahiru waddling around on the floor; an irrepressible restlessness infecting them both.
Carl arrived under the cover of darkness and had to immediately stop Fakir from leading him out again.
"It's bad, boy." He stated gruffly, taking a seat at the table with a tired air. Fakir returned to the table, warily; a feeling of unease infecting him.
"Some how the news got out. Everyone is talking about the crazy man who wants to marry a duck." Carl turned from Fakir to look at Ahiru who was hiding under the chair, "You two have been together for a few years now. It wasn't difficult for some of them to connect the dots."
"That's why we have to leave now!" Fakir said, standing up, "We'll go to the church, find the priest and perform the ceremony in secret."
As soon as the words were out of his mouth, Ahiru ran, quacking, from the room. Fakir raced after her, chasing her down the hall, into and around the kitchen before she escaped out again.
"Ahiru! What is it?" He called, missing her as she flapped passed him once more. She disappeared up the stairs to their room. He followed her up and found her scratching at his pack, finally managing to open it and allowing the pages of his manuscript to flutter onto the floor.
"What are you doing?" He hissed, running to gather them up. "These are important!"
Ahiru stamped her webbed foot upon the table and squawked indignantly.
"Stop it! Do you want someone to hear you?" He growled, shuffling the paper into some semblance of order as he stood and approached the table. Ahiru watched him warily before darting forward and tearing a sheet from his grasp.
"Hey! Stop!"
She dropped the paper and stood on it. Squawking once, she tapped her foot and withdrew, trying to draw his attention to the words he'd written.
He grabbed the page, holding it away from her and, in the process of moving it, the words caught his eye.
Only by humiliation will this curse be lifted.
He cursed as the ramifications of his ill-thought out words struck home. "It has to be public."
Ahiru cooed, waddling across the table toward him as he slumped in the chair. He smiled wryly as he reached out to pet her.
"When did you become smarter than me?" He whispered, as she arched her neck into his caress.
Five minutes later, the couple returned downstairs, hand in hand and united by determination. Clear that they'd made a decision, Ebine and Carl stood from the table where they'd been holding their own conference.
"What have you decided?" Carl asked, as they approached.
"Tonight, we dance and celebrate." Ahiru said, smiling up at Fakir.
He stared down at her, unable to hide the warmth of his affection for this magical girl, "Tomorrow, we wed, for all to see."