Once upon a time, there was an cursed woman who at day was a beautiful woman but at night a flower. The man who wanted to free her from the curse she told this:" Pick me in the day, then I'll be forever yours." But how should he know which flower she is, when he came to the field of flowers?When she was just like the others...

Akt 2

Die Hochzeit des Figaro:Overtüre

Fakir was once again sitting in front of his stories, with his head in his hands. Talking with Autor didn't help him to understand what was going on actually and also why the story turned out to be so strange. The day before, after he had talked to Autor he met Ahiru on the way and she told him of some Jäger person who confessed to have turned Ahiru back into a human. He was worried. The writer couldn't tell where this story would lead to. He took the pages in his hand and read them over again.

His thoughts were interrupted by loud footsteps. A moment later Ahiru opened the door, almost falling into Fakirs room and screamed: "I was accepted!"

As Ahiru tried to find her balance, the writer turned around to face her.

" I was accepted to the academy!", she repeated with a big smile.

Fakir looked confused. Ahiru pouted and folded her arms.

" What, did you think I wouldn't make it?"

" No that's not it, it's just... how?"

" Well maybe I AM better at ballet than you think? I thought you would be happy for me..."

" Of course I am. Congratulations."

Ahiru smiled. "Hi hi, thanks! What are you doing anyways?"

The girl tried to look over Fakirs shoulder. She saw the papers on his table and realized immediately what they were.

" Are you writing again? Let me see!"

Ahiru wanted to pass him but he didn't let her.

" You can't read them!", he said with a firm voice.

" But you never let me read anything you write! You always burn the stories when they're finished!"

" Because there is no need for anyone to know that I have this power. It's safer this way. And it's not nice to poke your nose into other people's stories."

"But you do it all the time!"

" Because I'm trying to help! Now get out of here. I need to focus!"

He pushed her outside the room and closed the door behind her. He sighed. That was a close.

Then he turned around and read through the pages once again.

Since she was accepted to the academy Ahiru didn't need to stay at Fakirs place anymore, but moved into the girls dormitory of the academy. She was so happy when she found out that she would actually get the same room she had before.

As she entered the room, she looked around and realized that it was just like she remembered, only with some Dust here and there. She would need to clean everything up. She could see a few birds sitting outside by the window and peeking into the room and the girl inside. Ahirus eyes finally glued to the lamp that was standing on the table near the window.

" Oh, I totally forgot about you!", she said with a regretful voice, put all her stuff on the floor and sat to the table to clean the lamp with her sleeve.

" I should have told Fakir to get you. I'm really so sorry!"

Ahiru coughed as the dust flew in the air. The lamb glued in response. It seemed to welcome her back. Ahiru smiled at this. She felt like coming home from a long trip. After she cleaned the whole room, she put her clothes into the cupboard and before realizing it, it was already dawn. She went to the Mensa fast to grab something to eat and went to bed early. The next day would be her first Ballet Lesson at the Academy. Once again she'd be able to dance again. She smiled in her sleep.

That night she dreamed of dancing, music and all her friends. Pique, Lilie, Fakir and even Rue and Mytho were there. She smiled and it seemed like she would never stop dancing. A perfect world, just for her.

" Oh, hello there. Your name was Ahiru right?"

It was morning and the students were doing warming ups. Ahiru, who was stretching her legs on the floor, turned to Pique and Lilie.

" Yes, good morning!"

" So you got accepted to our school, that's wonderful! Now you can share the hardships of a Ballerina with us!", Lilie implied giggling. Ahiru smiled.

" I hope that we can become good friends. I'm a little nervous because today is my first pointe lesson."

" Oh really? I just can't wait for your face contorted with pain!"

Pique ignored Lilies musing and came a little closer to Ahiru.

" Hey I heard that you were with Fakir yesterday. Some people saw you."

Ahiru wondered if she meant the time when she was running through town with only his coat but still said nervously: "Y-yeah, so what about it?"

"So you know him personally?"

Then Ahiru remembered that Pique admired Fakir as a dancer and felt a little relieved. It was just about Fakir.

" Well, you could say we are friends."

Some other girls seemed to have caught the conversation and turned to the two girls.

" Seriously? Hey you think you could introduce me to him or anything? "

"Huh, but why don't you talk to him by yourself? He seems a little mean but he's actually a nice guy. Sometimes."

A girl who listened to the conversation said:" He is the best male dancer of our school after all. You can't just go to his home and try to talk to him."

" Well then try to talk to him in school. That shouldn't be too hard."

Pique shook her head and said: " He's been skipping school lately and we barely see him at the academy ."

Ahiru stopped stretching her legs and looked at the girls that have gathered around. Lilie was still in her Dreamland of the painful Disasters of a Ballerina's Life.

" He's been skipping? But why?"

" You don't know? I thought maybe you could tell us why. Some people say that he's always by the lake writing some stories. I really don't know what to think of that."

Ahiru was silent. It's true that he was often at the lake but she didn't think that he would skip school that often. He loved dancing after all. This wasn't good at all.

Another girl with brown hair asked her:" Maybe you could ask him to come back?"

Although they wanted to chat a little more, the teacher said that the lesson was about to begin and all the girls went to their positions on the Barre.

Ahiru was thinking about Fakir. True, the stories are important, he is trying to correct all of Drosselmeyers mischief. But it didn't seem to make sense to skip the lessons for that. He could easily do it in his free time after school, right? Maybe he feels just a little bit lonely since Mytho is gone, she thought to herself.

Ahiru couldn't concentrate on Fakir . Because when it finally came to the en pointe she could do nothing but feel the pain, pushing all her other thoughts out of her head. She wondered how she could do it so easily as Princess Tutu.

After the classes were finished, Ahiru stumbled slowly to the Dormitory. Pique and Lilie went into Town to eat some ice cream, since the day was quite warm. Each step was worse than the other and she had to sit down eventually to take a breath. She looked down the street and saw Fakir coming her way. Surprised she jumped up and wanted to run, but she remembered the pain and felt the pain so she could only walk slowly to him and waved her hand. Fakir saw her and walked right towards her.

"I was looking for you. Rätsel cooked and said I should invite you to eat with us, come on."

Fakir turned around to leave but Ahiru stopped him.

" Ah wait not so fast!"

Fakir gave her a curious look. She normally was more energetic than this and would run to the place right away. Ahiru gave him a painful smile.

" Today I wore pointe shoes for the first time. My feet hurt."

Fakir chuckled and the girl gave him a angry look. So they walked slowly, side by side, to the Blacksmith. Ahiru wanted to ask him about class but didn't know how to do it. Then she realized the best thing would be to ask him directly.

" So I heard you're not coming to school anymore. Why is that?"

"Hmm,oh that. I don't know I can't find the time to dance anymore."

"Oh, really?"

" Well, I was thinking to quit the school anyway."

"Quack?", said Ahiru in surprise. And just before it had the same effect on her. She turned into a little Duck and her clothes fell to the ground. Fakir got her out of her clothes and said with a smile:" I wondered if this would happen."

She turned back at Fakirs place and put her clothes back on. As they all sat down to eat Fakir explained to her:" If I really want to get better at writing I need to work on my stories. And school just takes so much of my time, it's slowing me down. And I don't think that I can do ballet with all my heart anymore. My concern right now is writing."

Ahiru silently listened to his explanation. She didn't like it. The girl was worried that the story-spinning changed her friend and she was worried to loose him. Should she tell him her concern and what she noticed about him lately? She wasn't sure.

" What's wrong Ahiru? Don't you like the food?"

Ahiru turned around to look at Rätsel.

"No it's really good, I was just in thoughts..."

" I see. Well then."

Now that she looked at Rätsel, she seemed to be little off. It was like a notion in her eyes, like they lost a little of their light. The woman gazed into the distance every now and then and didn't smile much. Ahiru wondered what this familiar feeling could be.

"By the way", Charon asked as he had finished his meal. " Why are you still here? Didn't you want to return back to Hans already yesterday?"

Rätsel gave the man a weak smile. " It sounds like you don't want me here Charon."

" That's not what I meant, we're always happy when you visit us. I'm just curious. "

Rätsel sighed and a long silence followed. The Room got cooler. Charon walked over to the oven to put some more wood into it. Ahiru finished her meal and stood up. She felt awkward to stay any longer at the Blacksmith, although it was just a day afar that she shared a room with Rätsel in this house.

" Thanks for the meal Rätsel. I guess I'll go back to the Dormitory now, I still have homework to do."

Fakir wanted to ask her if he should walk her back but Rätsel was faster.

" Would you mind if I came with you? I still have to buy some things in Town."

" Ah no, it's okay."

" So you're worried about him?", Rätsel asked as they walked to the Dormitory. Ahiru nodded.

" But i'm sure he won't listen to me. He can be so stubborn and I do understand him but still.."

Silence. Ahiru embraced herself to protect herself from the cold.

" Brrr, it's getting cold. Winter is really coming, isn't it?"

" Hmm, yeah it really is coming fast. You know the best thing right now is to not think of the cold."

"How?", Ahiru asked and wondered if she would say to think of warm things. But she didn't.

" Alright try to do this Riddle. What slew none, and yet slew twelve?"

Ahiru looked into the sky and thought about it. She mumbled the words over and over again but couldn't think of a solution. She folded her arms and closed her eyes as if it would help her find a solution. But it didn't . The melody was pleasant and seemed to encourage her to think harder. But to no avail. She sighed and turned to Rätsel to tell her that she had no idea and was really curious about the solution. But she didn't say a word and widened her eyes instead. Rätsel gazed into the far distance, her eyes were blank. And the melody that Ahiru could hear came from her! How could this be? She couldn't really say what melody it was but that didn't concern her right now. Could this be connected to Jäger?

Ahiru turned to Rätsel with worry and touched her arm.

" Rätsel are you alright? What's wrong? Hey!"

Rätsel stopped and so did Ahiru.

" It doesn't matter anymore."

" What do you mean? What is going on?"

" I was so naive to marry him. He doesn't need me. I don't need him. He doesn't know me at all."

A strong wind started to blow. Out of nowhere Jäger appeared in a flash of white snowflakes and bowed before the two women. Ahiru looked at him shocked.

" It's finally time. The Snow Queen will welcome you Rätsel."

Ahiru looked at him in disbelief. She didn't understand anything what Jäger was talking about. As a big door made of glass(or was it ice?) appeared behind him Rätsel walked towards the door. It struck Ahiru and she transformed into Princess Tutu. Jäger watched as she tried to stop Rätsel from walking towards the door.

"Wait", said the Ballerina in her soft voice. Rätsel turned around to her.

" Where are you going Rätsel?"

"The Snow queen. She's the only one who will appreciate me. I can be useful to her, even if it's only a little."

"But why? Do you really want to leave everybody behind who loves you? Who you love?", said the Ballerina, putting her hands on her heart.

Rätsel seemed to think for a moment.

" They don't really need me."

" But what about Hans your husband? Don't you want to see him again?"

Tutu came closer towards the woman, but Rätsel turned again to the door.

" He could have anybody. I was naive to believe that I was something special to him. And I even chose him over Charon..."

Princess Tutu danced even closer to her.

" Do you really believe this? Isn't there a reason why he chose you instead of anybody else? He loved you and wanted to marry you. And you also chose him. Do you think you can just forget about that?"

Rätsel hesitated. The sound was distorted. Princess Tutu could reach her. Jäger also realized this as he looked closely at the scene. Princess Tutu persuaded Rätsel even further. She danced in beauty and with a gentle smile.

" Everybody has doubts about love. It sometimes hurts. But when you fall in love it gives you wings to fly. It gives you courage because you're not alone. You're never alone. "

The ballerina took Rätsels hand and looked her straight in the eyes.

" You will always be loved."

A single tear rolled down Rätsels cheek. It glittered in the light as it fell to the ground. But instead of dropping like water, the tear fell with a chink, as if it formed solid.

Princess Tutu caught Rätsel as she fainted and laid her down. She then turned to Jäger who applauded her.

" I guess you really are Princess Tutu, the Princess of the People's hearts. You even broke the Queen's spell of the magic mirror."

Princess Tutu gave him a serious look. She stood before him with her head up high.

" Why did you do this? I thought you needed my help."

" I never said I needed you help. Take it as an invitation you can't decline."

Tutu blinked." What do you mean?"

" Your Pendant. It is also a fragment of the Queen's magic mirror mixed with the soul that changed you into Princess Tutu. It took me a while to find you. I never thought you'd be a little yellow Duck. But I have my sources." A little mouse ran around his legs, sniffing in Tutus direction.

The Ballerina looked at her Pendant. She took it into her hand and looked again at Jäger.

" So... what do you want from me? Why did you look for me?"

" I told you didn't I? She heard of your beautiful dance and wanted to see it."

Tutu was silent. Then she gave him a gentle smile.

" I'm sorry I can't go with you. You shouldn't force people to come with you. Please, tell this your Queen. I'm only dancing for those who need my help. So please don't take other people with you."

Jäger gave her a vicious smile.

" So you think you're needed here?"

" Huh? N-no but..". She thought for a moment and when answered: " It's just... This is where I belong. I don't want to leave. You can have the Pendant back but I won't leave this place. If there's need i'm sure Princess Tutu will appear again."

Jäger played with the flute in his hand. The mouse was crawling up his leg.

" I see. Maybe you should wonder how I found you in the first place."

Tutu looked at him with curious eyes, still holding on the Pendant.

" Isn't your friend a writer whose stories come true? Didn't you wonder if he might write a story about you?"

" But he said he didn't.."

" People lie you know. Maybe I'm even his creation, the Queen as well. This could be all thanks to him."

" No that can't be true, that wouldn't be like him."

But as she said it doubts arouse in her. What if he did write a story about her. Has he wanted her to leave? But he would never put Rätsel in Danger! But what if it was just a coincidence that Rätsel was involved. Jäger could see how her own thoughts scared her more and more. " He wouldn't..", she mumbled. The boy smiled even more.

" How can you be sure of all that? With somebody like that writer your whole life could be a lie. Maybe you're a Prima donna? Maybe you're actually human and not a little duck? Who knows how much he messed up your own life? But it's boring to play with the same toy everyday, don't you think?"

" You know nothing about Fakir!", the girl shouted and was also surprised about her loud voice. She looked at him with fierce eyes without blinking. Jäger grunted. He bowed before her, the mouse now sitting on his shoulder.

" We'll see each other again, my Princess."

" No wait-".

But he already disappeared into the little Snowflakes and was blown away by the wind. Ahiru clenched her hands around the Pendant as she turned back. She couldn't forget about his words and felt miserable. She couldn't say if they were true or false. It scared her. What if she became a burden to Fakir?

Her thoughts were interrupted by the awaking Rätsel. She ran to her to help her up.

" What happened to me? I feel dizzy."

" You just fainted I guess. Are you alright, Rätsel?"

Rätsel hold her head with her hand and looked a little confused to the girl. Ahiru sighed in relief as she realized that the older women eyes glittered with light just like before. She was okay now. After Rätsel stood up they both wanted to leave for the Dormitory. Ahiru caught the sight of the fragment that Rätsel had in her eye on the ground. She picked it up and put it into her pocket. Then she turned around and ran to Rätsel who was wondering what she had been doing.

The next day Ahiru took all her courage to talk to Fakir. She told him about the incident with Rätsel and handed the fragment to him.

She was determined, but after all didn't tell him yet about Jägers accusations. She was too scared of the answer.

But Fakir didn't realize Ahirus torment and walked in his room up and down.

" So it's another story. A story about a Snow Queen... a mirror... I wonder if it's Drosselmeyer's new story. What do you think?"

" I... I don't know."

Fakir sighed. He should figure this out as soon as possible. Rätsel was involved after all and nobody could tell what other things would happen. He is really worried, right? It's not fake..., Ahiru thought to herself.

" Rätsel left in the morning so she should be good. I'll see what I can find about a magic mirror. You shouldn't worry about this okay?"

Ahiru turned to him as he was about to leave and wanted to say something." Fakir, I..."

Fakir looked at her. But Ahiru couldn't put her thoughts into words. She sighed and shook her head.

" It's nothing. Just be careful."

Fakir gave her a curious look and left. Ahiru stood alone in his room. Clenching her Pendant again she could feel the cold glass in her fingers.

If I wasn't so lazy, this chapter would have been up much sooner XD. Still I had some issues with this chapter. Especially writing about Tutu was hard, but I guess it's okay. This chapter has way to much dialogue -_-'.

Fairytale: "A riddling Tale"

Rätsels Riddle is from the Fairy Tale "The Riddle". I just couldn't resist, okay? After all Rätsel does mean Riddle in German XD.

Title: The Marriage of Figaro: Overture, one of Mozarts Operas

I guess that's all :)

Sorry if I made many grammar or spelling mistakes ^^'.

Also for those who didn't see it: I changed the passage with Pique and Lilie in chapter one.

" But we're almost done with school, so obviously some people do look up to us!"

"We just started en pointe last summer!"

So it's just a few months later or maybe just weeks.

I'll try to do the 3. chapter a little bit faster XD.