Once upon a time there was a man who wanted to fulfill his daughters wish and bring a Lark to her. But once he caught sight of one,and wanted to catch it, a lion appeared and threatened him. The man tried desperately to save his own live and promised the lion anything it asked for. The lion agreed and ordered him to give him the first thing that would run towards him once he returned home. The man accepted the condition, realizing that this decision was even worse than death.

Akt 8

Entführung aus dem Serail

Everybody returned to Kinkan in an instant. Sand wouldn't help them anymore.

" If I told you how the story was supposed to go on", she mused, " then we might miss the chance to find a far better ending than I could think of!"

It was the last thing she said before she disappeared.

Mythos and Rue had also left with just a few words. Rue couldn't say anything, she was still pale and breathing heavily.

Mythos offered his help but both, Fakir and Ahiru, declined his offer.

"This isn't your story", explained Fakir. " We'll be able to take care of it by ourselves. Don't worry about it."

Mythos accepted their resolution, somehow. You should never meddle with a story that's not your own.

Ahiru has been well. It seemed that she didn't get hurt. By striking her own heart and the Pendant, they were able to switch again. Or maybe Tutu just needed to break her heart to disappear yet again in a flash of light?

Anyway, there was nothing to worry about anymore.

Autor was still in aw of what he experienced. Now that he saw some real spinners, he felt like a new door opened for him. He was fully occupied writing down his new-found knowledge.

Ella had been silent since they came back, with a distant look in her eyes. Ahiru wondered about it but didn't ask why.

She jumped a little when Ella turned to her with a serious look.

" We should go home."

"...huh?", Ahiru blinked irritated. Ella made a firm step towards her.

" If we go back home you might remember more about the past. I did when I went."

" So you know where the house is? Why didn't you say it earlier?"

" T-that's not important right now. Let's go!"

Ella took her hand and squeezed it. Ahiru shifted uncomfortably from one leg to the other.

"O-okay...", she said unsure.

Fakir sighed as he watched the two girls. This will be... interesting.

They left early the day and marched through the woods.

"It's the fastest way", explained Ella, " but there is no good road for any horse. Don't worry it's not that far away."

But Ahiru's clumsiness slowed them down for good. She either stumbled, fell or her braid was caught in the trees branches. Fakir sighed annoyed after he finally took her hand, blushing a little.

" Just stay close to me and try to watch your step. Don't get distracted."

The girl pouted and was about to say something in return, but let it slide. She just nodded, facing the ground. Ella groaned, rolling her eyes. She faced the the road and moved a little faster.

" Can't you walk any faster!", she suddenly turned around and yelled. Ahiru startled at first but didn't let herself be put down.

" What is it with you? Are you mad at me or something?"

" Of course I'm mad, because you live up to your name you stupid duck!"

" I guess we're all just tired. We should rest for today.", Fakir explained.

" What? No! We need to get back fast!", Ella yelled at him.

" There is no need for us to rush! We'll get there by tomorrow, it's going to be all right."

Ella wanted to respond to this but just let out a quiet growl and turned around, walking towards the bushes.

" Ah, wait Ella!"

" Don't worry, she'll be okay. She just needs to cool off."

" But what if she gets lost? And it's so cold..."

" She seemed to be more reasonable than you. I don't think she'll go too far. Ella needs some time on her own, you need to respect that."

" Yeah but …. I want to know what's going on..."

" Who knows. She might tell when she comes back."

Ahiru nodded after a while. And turned to Fakir. He had picked up some sticks and tried to light a fire.

" Sit down." He said and pointed to the side. She walked over to him and did as she was told.

After the fire was lit, he sat beside her in the grass. He took out 2 blankets; one for himself one for the girl next to him.

For a while they said absolutely nothing. Fakir watched the fire while Ahiru gazed at the stars in the sky.

" I wonder what's it gonna be like.", said Ahiru after a while. She pulled her knees closer to her body.

" I mean, I hope I'll remember my past soon, but I've been gone for so long. I guess a lot of things would have changed in this time."

" Not necessarily. If they really are still trapped in a story, there won't be too much changes at all. In the end you might find the place the way you left it. "

Ahiru nodded and smiled.

Fakir still looked at the fire in front of them.

" Your life will change any way. But it's better this way.", he said concerned.

Ahiru looked at him irritated. " Huh?"

Fakir met her gaze. " You're going to stay with your family, won't you? There's no reason for you to return to Goldcrown."

Ahiru was about to yell. " That's not true!"

But she closed her mouth as soon as she opened it. She looked to the ground irritated. She didn't think about it. Of course. When she meets her family and restores her memory she would want to stay. The place she supposed to be. Most people in Goldcrown can't remember her anyway. But still, there was that one thing...

She moved her hand to hide her lips.

Fakir relaxed his face and breath out. He took her hand what made her look directly at him, but shortly after, she looked away again, a little ashamed.

" You will stay with your family. It's the only one you got, you've got to treasure it."

"...but you're also important to me.", she whispered into the fire.

" Well it's not like we can't meet ever again. You're hometown is not too far away. I could always visit you. Once I start to focus more on my writing and stop dancing I will have plenty of time. "

"But still!" The girl turned to him with a sad face. She was about to cry.

Fakir tried to keep a straight face.

" Ahiru, the only family I have now is Charon. And I want to stay with him. And you should stay with your family."

He pulled her a little closer to him. She blushed as he put his arm around her.

" This doesn't mean I'm abounding you, got it? I won't leave so easily."

Ahiru couldn't answer. What could she answer him?

She nodded calmly and rested her head on Fakirs head. No more words were spoken in this night between them. And shortly after Fakir had noticed that the girl next to him was asleep, he sighed and rest his head on the tree behind him. Although he tried to stay awake, he fell asleep just moments later. This moment was just too comfortable.

Ella had stamped through the forest until she came to small valley in the middle of the forest. She sat on a big rock close to her. She embraced herself as she looked into the sky. She had a worried complexion. She was confused. And scared. And it didn't seem to get better.

"You shouldn't wander off by yourself."

"Her eyes grew big as she recognized the voice and looked around.

"...Jäger?"

"Haha. Up here!"

She looked up. And there he was sitting in a tree with half-closed eyes and a simple smile.

Ella stared at him, at first a little surprised. But then her face saddened as she looked at the ground, slowly turning away.

Jäger tilted his head to this. He jumped down the tree and came closer to the girl.

" What's wrong?", he asked.

Ella sighed. He leaned down to her and tried to meet her gaze.

" Aren't you going to be happy for your friend ? She's going to remember everything soon."

"Leave me alone."

He blinked. The boy straightened his back and looked up.

"...You're not yourself."

"I'm always like this."

"You've always tried to talk me out of everything."

" I want to be alone right now."

" So you rather want me to go on?"

She turned her head abruptly to him and yelled at him.

"No! Those are totally different things!". She stood up to face him. Clenching her fists.

" Being with the Queen won't make you happy! This isn't about the Queen right now anyway.! I'm more worried about Ahiru.!"

"Why's that?". Jäger still talked in a soft voice.

" Because I'm scared that my heart is going to break!"

She put her hands on her mouth with a little shock. She turned to the side and turned lightly red, her eyes open wide.

Jäger just watched for a few seconds as she started to shake and almost crying.

" I don't know what you thinking. Every now and then I can see a glimpse of his memories. I don't know all of it, but you were friends right? All three of you."

She moved the hands to the side but still leaving them on her face.

" He wouldn't know what I'm worried about... or even if he knew he wouldn't believe it. But that's my own mistake." She looked at the ground, ashamed of herself.

She looked back at him. " Why does it even matter to you? Why do you care?"

The boy smiled knowingly and put his hands behind his head.

" I wonder. That's something you should think about."

And he disappeared. Ella sat down and kept looking at the ground.

" There's nothing to wonder about. He's just being nice..."

Before Ella knew it, the day was already over, without getting much sleep. She was freezing although she wore warm clothes. She walked back to her two companions who were still asleep. Fakir had put his arms around Ahiru as she snuggled closer to him.

Ella sighed and put her arms to the side of her hips.

" Wake up already! We gotta go!"

Fakir groaned. Ahiru opened her eyes like a newborn and blushed as she realized how close she was to Fakir. And Ella seeing it got even more annoyed.

" Stand up! We're leaving!"

They moved in a steady tempo. It wasn't far anymore.

" We're almost there.", Ella mumbled.

"Really?" Ahiru had managed to stumble a little less than the day before and caught up easily to Ella, Fakir walking a little further behind. Although she had rushed them before, Ella seemed to hesitate a little to go further. But she pushed herself anyway. It had to be done anyway, no matter what would happen afterwards.

" Ah!"

The sound of a piano.

Ella stopped. The way before them seemed to be flooded by light.

" We're there..."

Ahiru turned to Ella and also stopped, turned to the road and gazed. Like in trance, she ran through the forest. Fakir didn't stop her.

" So this is it.", he said with a firm voice.

Ella nodded. " No hard feelings coming here?" He glanced at her but didn't respond. He walked after Ahiru.

Ahiru ran until the trees finally parted in front of her. She stopped and looked around.

A lake with a tiny bridge.. A white house. Music played on a piano. The smell of grass and flowers. It overwhelmed her. Her sight got blurry...

Fakir came just in time to catch her as she fell unconscious. His voice couldn't reach her right now or the voice of a woman stepping out of the white house.

Right now she had a sweet dream of her childhood.

Okay I don't even want to know when I last updated this story

I know it was long overdue and I promise the next chapter will come faster *don't kill me for the short chapter*

The fairytale is "the singing, springing Lark" it got many simialirities to the beauty and the beast ( of you know the original version of that story), I think I've read that they do have the same origin

Chapter title translates to "The Abduction from the Seraglio" and it's an opera singspiel by Mozart. The plot concerns the attempt of the hero Belmonte, assisted by his servant Pedrillo, to rescue his beloved Konstanze from the seraglio of the Pasha Selim*thanks wiki*

change quite a bit since I last logged in O_o

ah right about the " Of course I'm mad, because you live up to your name you stupid duck!"

in germany , when somebody is walking or doing something slow we call him/her "lahme Ente"( lame duck) I do know that the term is also used in english but refferring to politician

I pondered but I left it in the story anyway. It's supposed to be in germany, right?