Act 3~Akt 3—Let the Classes Begin
Ahiru's POV
Well, looks like today is going to be a beautiful day! And I can't forget, I promised Fakir I'd try harder. So I have to remember not to reveal that I'm a duck, or that this town used to be controlled by stories, or that the Prince and the Raven really happened. Wow, I guess there's a lot I have to remember now that I think about it. But it will be all worth it! I'll never have to be alone again. Thanks to Fakir that is, hmm I guess I owe a lot to him, and now he's even offering to attend all my classes, and he'll even be my partner. He can be so kind when he really puts his mind to it.
"Ahiru, are you ready yet!? We'll be late on our very first day!"
"Oh, coming!"
"Oh, I'd better hurry before Fakir gets really upset*1."
Narrator's POV
Thus, Ahiru rushed down the stairs, she may have stumbled but she never fell. Thus, being able to resemble more grace than usual, though acting clumsy from time to time. Once she reached the bottom of the stairs, Fakir was leaning against the adjacent wall near the stairs, he held both their books, and yet he still managed to cross his arms impatiently. Yet, if you looked closely at his expression, you could faintly see a small smile across his lips, which was strange since he didn't often smile. But, being the person she is, Ahiru never noticed since she was too busy looking at the ground to make sure she wouldn't fall.
"Ok, I'm ready."—Ahiru
"Good, let's go. It seems our first class is ballet, and we still need to get ready."
"Right! Hey Fakir, how did you manage to have us take all the same classes?"
"You could say I pulled a few strings."
"Oh, with who?"
"The head mistress, turns out, I already knew her."
"Oh."
"Ya, I'm sure if you bump into her you'll find that she has a familiar quality about her."
And before Ahiru could ask any further questions, Fakir was already out the door, to which she rushed to his side and closed the door. They were off, going at a leisurely yet semi-quick pace. They chatted and laughed about nothing, and seemed to enjoy each other's company, once they finally reached the front entrance of the school, Pike and Lilia emerged from two rose bushes that were a light pink shade. Once they jumped out from behind the bushes, the giggled with delight, as they dragged Ahiru with them.
"Hey! Where are you taking her?"—Fakir
"Don't panic Fakir! We'll take good care of her, besides you can't go into the girls' dressing room."—Pike
"Oh oh, what's this, getting so serious already?"—Lillie
"No! I just want to make sure she's safe."—Fakir
"Oh, that's so sweet!"—Pike
"Yes, but bitter defeat is sure to happen."—Lillie
"But, but."—Ahiru
"Ok, well, we'd better go."—Pike
"Yes yes, or else Ahiru will get into trouble. What a terrible disaster, but it would be wonderful."—Lillie
"Ya, let's go! You can have the lobster next to us."—Pike
"Oh, that's wonderful! Thank you so much!"—Ahiru
And thus they went off to prepare for class, as Ahiru learned not only the two girls' names, but they also began chatting about themselves, and Ahiru had to keep remembering not to mentions that she lived with Fakir. Which she managed to avoid, but she was slightly confused, why were they in the beginners class as well? But she later found that it was the first time that they were allowing ballet classes for both boys and girls together, and thus they wanted to witness all the "horrible encounters" that would occur when you intermix boys with girls. And Mr. Cat always says that it's important to always practice the basics. And since they hadn't gone for very long on pointe, they wanted to return to practicing the basics, to better prepare their foundation for when they go back to pointe. And Mr. Cat insisted that they both needed a bit more time with the basics. Thus classes, began, everyone in the center of the room, waiting for Mr. Cat to welcome everyone. The room was filled with the sound of chitter chatter, all but Fakir, who seemed to be a little nervous; since he still was anticipating how everything would go for Ahiru.
"Attention classh. We will now begin out firsht intermixed ballet lessonsh for both young men and women. Now, I'd like the boysh all on one side, and all the girlsh on the other. Quickly now, quickly."
Everyone scurried to do what they were told, as he looked around the room, silently counting the amount of individual male and female students, to which pleased him.
"Good, good. It appearsh we have an even number of both partiesh. Ten boysh and ten girlsh, alright, now time to asshign partnersh. If you originally came with your partner in order to take thish classh to begin with, pleashe join them now."
Fakir stepped away first, to the center of the room, Ahiru quickly followed. A few other couples (partners) did the same; Pike and Lillie remained at the uneven bars with the rest of the girls.
"Good, looksh like we have three couplesh total. Now, if you already had shomeone in mind for a partner, pleashe approach them."
A few girls went up to a few of the boys and if the partners agreed, they went to the center with the others that were paired.
"Good, but it appearsh we shtill have a several that are unpaired."
There were still six boys and girls that had no partners.
"Alright, thoshe who are unpaired, remain with your group and line up shortest to tallesht. Hmm, that'sh it, now shtay in your linesh, buy pleashe approach one another. That'sh right, make shure to shtay in line. Good, now shtop, alright then let'sh have you two, you two, and you two. There, done, if anyone has any disagreementsh with their partner, pleashe shpeak now. Becaushe after today, there will no longer be an opportunity to shwitch partnersh, unless there ish a shpecial circumshtance."
No one raised their hand, thus Mr. Cat nodded his head and told the couples to line up at the uneven bar, boy girl formation according to who they were paired with.
"Good, now, we shall begin!"
They went over every position, everyone did a fairly well job, those who stood out were: Fakir, Pike, Lillie, Dillon (armadillo), Femmeo (mostly because he wasn't doing anything right), the four girls from the advanced class (who were mainly there for examples, since they still had advanced ballet in the evenings, and they needed more practice with pa de duex), and Ahiru (surprisingly, she learned all of the positions quickly, and was even given small compliments from the teacher, to which Fakir smiled at).
"Alright, everyone sheemsh to get the idea, now we shall begin with shtretching out your partner. Make shure not to hurt one another, an shpeak up if you are at your limit."
Once everyone had finished stretching, they were on the floor, and four of the advanced girls went to the front with their partners, who were also in the advanced ballet department, but new to the school. Once they were all standing up front, Mr. Cat had each couple do a pa de duex from a classical ballet. The first couple did an exert from The Nutcracker, the second couple from Sleeping Beauty, the third did an exert from Swan Lake as Princess Odette and Prince Siegfried, and the fourth also did an exert from Swan Lake but as Princess Odile and Prince Siegfried.
"Now classh, did you notice anything with the lasht two couplesh? Yesh, Missh Ahiru?"
"Well, uhh, Princess Odette and Princess Odile had two entirely different ways of dancing. And it's known that they're usually played by the same person in a ballet."
"Good, and what in particular wash different about the way they danced?"
"Well, Princess Odette seemed to be very innocent, and very much in love. She even looked a little timid and scared. But Princess Odile came out strong and precise, never regretting a single move or action."
"Very good Missh Ahiru. Doesh everyone else shee what Ahiru'sh shaying?"
They all nodded their heads in agreement.
"Very good classh. Ash you know, at the end of the year, we will be having our final, to which will be portrayed ash a ballet. I am going to give the classh an option, we will pick from one of the three balletsh that were jusht performed. You will choshe from either: The Nutcracker, Shleeping Beauty, or Shwan Lake. Well classh? Which will it be?"
The room was abuzz with disagreements and discussion, and Mr. Cat was ready to hear the decision.
"Alright, who ish in favor of the firsht mentioned?"
Two hands went up.
"The shecond mentioned?"
Five hands went up.
"The lasht mentioned?"
Thirteen hands went up.
"Alright, it looksh ash though we have a winner. Shwan Lake it ish. Thoshe who choshe the former may perform an exert for your midterm or for extra credit."
The class cheered, it seems as though the first day was going smoothly. As Mr. Cat continued to have the class practice stretching, and proper positioning, the bell had rung, and everyone went to go and wash up, change out, and then it was a ninety-minute lunch break.
"Wow Fakir, that was so much fun!"
"Yes, it seems you did rather well."
"Ya, well you did too."
"Thank you. So, where would you like to go to lunch?"
"I was thinking the pizzeria, since it's the closest thing to bread. Hey Fakir, what class do we have next?"
"Homeroom. It looks like Mr. Cat will be our teacher, and he'll probably give us a brief history of ballet. It's what he usually does."
"Oh, sounds fun."
"It should be interesting."
"Oh look, the two love birds."—Pike
"What! I'm not a bird!"—Ahiru
"No, you were actually wonderful today. Hmm, and I was so hoping that you'd fail miserably."—Lillie
"Ya, have you taken ballet before?"—Pike
"A long long time ago. But I'm pretty rusty."—Ahiru
"Yes, well it's always good to practice."—Fakir
"Hey, you weren't so bad yourself Mr. Fakir."—Pike
"Don't call me that."—Fakir
"Haha."—Ahiru
"Well, where were you guys off to? Lunch?"—Pike
"Ya. Wanna come?"—Ahiru
"Sure!"—Pike
"Yes, I'd love to see what happens next, it seems the two of you have a lot of drama that tends to follow you where ever you go."—Lillie
"That's not true!"—Fakir
"Oh no? Tell me then, how did the two of you meet?"—Lillie
"I'll tell you at lunch, I'm starving."—Fakir
"Fine then."—Lillie
"But we're going Dutch!"—Fakir
"Deal!"—Pike
"But Fakir, I don't have any money."—Ahiru
"Ya I know, I brought enough for the both of us."—Fakir
"Oh really?"—Ahiru
"Ya, Caron's having me work at the shop more often, so I'm managing to make more money."—Fakir
"That's great!"—Ahiru
"See, I told you, drama. He must work harder in order to support their new life together. I bet you they're living together!"—Lillie
"WHAT! How did you- uhhhh! Never mind. Come on Ahiru."—Fakir
"Right."—Ahiru
"Wait for us! But really Lilia, how did you know?"—Pike
"I didn't, I just guessed."—Lillie
"Wow, you're good! Ok, who am I going to date?"—Pike
"Your partner."—Lillie
"What! Really?"—Pike
"I don't know. Now, let's catch up with them, I don't want to miss another moment of our two love birds."—Lillie
"It does seem that they've got it bad, but I doubt Ahiru has even thought of admitting her love."—Pike
"True, true. That will be our next act as her friends."—Lillie
"Ya!"—Pike
"And who knows, maybe something terrible will happen. Like him turning her down, or worse."—Lillie
"Worse!?"—Pike
"Yes, they both fall in love, but another woman comes along!"—Lillie
"Like Princess Odette and Odile right?"—Pike
"Yes, but who will he choose?"—Lillie
"Who knows?"—Pike & Lillie
They shrugged off the conversation and were able to catch up with Fakir and Ahiru. Once they found a table and got settled in, the four were having a nice lunch, until Fakir began to start conversation.
"So, does Mr. Cat always insist on having a performance of a classic ballet as the final?"—Fakir
"Yes."—Lillie nodded her head
"He tends to like doing Swan Lake, but he always keeps it up to his students, but that is the most popular. Lately he's been using two ballerinas for the part the Swan Queen, which is traditionally supposed to play Princess Odette and Princess Odile. But because there were mostly female dancers, it's been challenging due to the number. But this year, he might change his mind."—Pike
"So, do a lot of people come to see it?"—Fakir
"Yes, it is the town's most cherished time of year."—Lillie
"Ya, the whole town usually shows up. And even some people outside of town."—Pike
"Yes, a terrible performance, and all eyes would be watching. Say Ahiru, you should try out for the Swan Queen, or at least one of the princesses."—Lillie
"Oh me? Oh no, I couldn't."—Ahiru
"Who knows, you may be good enough by the end of the year to pull it off. If you want to, I can help you practice."—Fakir
"Really?"—Ahiru
"Ya."—Fakir
"Well, I have always wanted a part like that. But I couldn't possibly."—Ahiru
"Who knowsh, you could bear shome promishing talent Missh Ahiru."—Mr. Cat
"Oh Mr. Cat, hello."—Ahiru
"Good afternoon shtudentsh. I couldn't help but overhear your convershation. And I do believe that we all should go forth and achieve our goals, even if it may only seem like a dream that could never come true. But yesh, I would conshider going for it Missh Ahiru. Who knowsh, you could get shome extra credit."—Mr. Cat
"Thank you sir. I'll try it then!"—Ahiru
"Wonderful, I shall shee you for an hour after classh everyday. And when auditionsh come, I believe you will be ready."—Mr. Cat
"Thank you very much Mr. Cat!"—Ahiru
"Hmm, I shall shee you all in classh then."—Mr. Cat walked away, a faint smile across his lips.
"Wow, well, looks like you're going for it then."—Fakir
"Ya, I am!"—Ahiru
"Great!"—Lillie and Pike
"We'll help you!"—Pike
"Really?"—Ahiru
"Yes, it should be wonderful to see you all tired and sweaty, you may even mess up."—Lillie
"We'll all help you."—Fakir
"Thanks!"—Ahiru
"But it's a fat chance you get the part, what with you being like such a duck and all."—one of the girls from the advanced class
"Ya, every girl is going for that part."—another girl from the advanced class
"Hmph, I doubt that you'll even show up for auditions."—yet another girl from advanced ballet
"Ya, I bet she'll chicken out."—The final member of the advanced ballet class
"No I won't! I set my mind to it, and so I'll do it. And besides, all my friends will help me."—Ahiru
"What good will that do?"—Girl one
"And you are you to question her purpose? And besides, who invited you into this conversation into the first place? Hmm? Oh that's right, no one did. Now why don't you go back to eating your celery."—Fakir
"Wow Fakir, you really told them!"—Pike
"Ya, no one has ever stood up to them!"—Lilia
"What are your names anyway?"—Ahiru
"I'm Georgiana."—Girl one
"I am Calypso."—Girl two
"Miranda."—Girl three
"I am Olivia. But people call me Olive."—Girl four
"Oh hi, I'm Ahiru. And ya I know, it's Japanese for duck. But I'm hoping one day I'll grow out of my name."—Ahiru
"Ha! You would be named after the most clumsy of birds."—Georgiana
"Ya, bird brain."—Calypso
"Hmm, no talent, no wings, well, you are certainly out of place."—Miranda
"Haha ya! Like you totally don't belong!"—Olivia (Olive)2
"According to whose opinion?"—Fakir
"What?"—Georgiana
"To whose opinion is given that Ahiru doesn't belong. She's worked just as hard, and nearly as long. She loves to dance as you do, and there is no 'policy' that states who is to belong to a certain division, including ballet."—Fakir
"Well uh, we never thought of that before."—Olive
"Oh shut up Olive, you're not helping."—Calypso
"Well, I guess that settles that."—Miranda
"Hmph, I still say she needs to watch herself."—Georgiana
"Ya but, she proved herself. She never talked back to us, and her little boyfriend here stood up for her. I give her props."—Miranda
"What!"—All but Miranda and Fakir
"So what do you say Ahiru? Friends?"—Miranda put her hand out for a truce.
"Sure! The more the merrier!"—Ahiru shakes Miranda's hand.
"Ugh, fine."—Georgiana reluctantly put her hand out.
"Yay!"—Olive quickly shakes Ahiru's hand, along with the rest of her body.
"What the hell, put her there."—Calypso put her hand out.
"Good, then we'll make it a challenge."—Fakir
"A challenge?"—All but Fakir
"Yes, whoever wins the part of the Swan Queen, and only that entire role of Princess Odette and Odile, will be invoked into the advanced class and seen as an equal amongst the other dancers. To which will ensure that she is true competition."—Fakir
"It's a deal!"—Miranda
"This ought to be exciting!"—Lillie
"Ya!"—Pike
"Well, I guess."—Ahiru
"It's settled then."—Fakir
"May the best girl win."—Miranda
"Or duck!"—Olive
"Haha!"—Ahiru
"Oh Olive!"—Calypso
As the four girls left, the others finished their meal and began to walk to class.
"I don't know guys, do you really think I can do it?"—Ahiru
"Of course you can, I'd never volunteer you if I had any doubt."—Fakir
"Yes, it should be a wonderful fight!"—Lillie
"Yes, a battle for the spot of the queen!"—Pike
"Ohhh, I don't feel so well."—Ahiru
"You'll be fine, just be yourself (minus the tail and feathers3), practice hard, and you'll be fine."—Fakir
"Ok!"—Ahiru
As they arrived, they took seats; Fakir and Ahiru sat in one joint bench with Pike and Lillie next to them.
"Alright classh. Today we will go over the history of ballet."—Mr. Cat
"Told you."—Fakir whispered teasingly to Ahiru.
"Hehe, ya you did."—Ahiru giggled and whispered back.
The following weeks proceeded, and Ahiru worked harder than ever, slowly but surely improving. Even Mr. Cat said he'd never seen a student come this far in just under a month. But there was still much to learn, Ahiru hadn't even taken pointe classes, as a matter of fact, she never even put pointe shoes on, only when she was Princess Tutu, which was a different person entirely, or was she? Ahiru had thought about it a great deal, and realized, that they were all one person. Duck, Ahiru, and Princess Tutu were all based on just a simple duck that wished to see the prince smile again. So, why couldn't she just try and bring out her inner Tutu? She was becoming desperate, and so one afternoon, she just let the music take over. It was the song that Princess Odette soloed to, just before her pa de duex with the prince, to which Fakir would most likely take the role, being that he may as well audition for something, instead of taking a mediocre role. And the room was silent, only the CD player rolling as Ahiru closed her eyes and danced her heart out. Slowly her body stretched up, her arms flapped gracefully as a swan, and her legs stretched, until . . .
"She's . . ."—Pike half said, stunned.
"Going on pointe."—Fakir smiled.
"Oh, I hope she doesn't fall, that would be too wonderful!"—Lillie
"Wow, she's good. Better than us Lillie."—Pike
"Yes, indeed, how dreary."—Lillie
"She's beautiful."—Fakir smiled at Ahiru's graceful figure, her bright blue eyes slowly opening, as if they were in a trance. Suddenly, applause erupted.
"Marveloush Missh Ahiru. Shimply marveloush."—Mr. Cat
"What? Really?"—Ahiru
"Yesh, I've never before sheen a girl who can under a month, go from beginner'sh luck, to dancing on pointe without the proper footwear."—Mr. Cat
"Haha, well, honestly I have been practicing hard but it wasn't till I let go. Almost like I was channeling to a different side of me."—Ahiru
"Well, it sheemsh to have worked wonderfully. Dance like that, and you're shure to get the part of Princessh Odette."—Mr. Cat
"But, you won't be having a Swan Princess?"—Ahiru
"Oh, ish that the rumor that hash been going around?"—Mr. Cat
"Well, yes."—Ahiru
"Well then, I shupposhe I cannot dishappoint. Shwan Queen it ish. But, I will need to be sheeing an exert for Princessh Odile ash well."—Mr. Cat
"Yes sir Mr. Cat! As soon as I begin pointe classes."—Ahiru
"Good, we will begin when the two of ush meet on Monday morning, bright and early, jusht before classh. The shooner you come the better, make shure to be fitted over the weekend and bring your shoes with you. Or if you'd like, come to the shmall ballet shtore in the market place on Shaturday morning, anytime. My family and I will be there."—Mr. Cat
"Yes sir, I will be there, on both days!"—Ahiru
"Good, and Fakir, Pike, Lilia, you may alsho join Missh Ahiru."—Mr. Cat
"Thank you sir."—Fakir
"Wow! What a treat!"—Pike
"Yes, I hope Ahiru finds the right shoes in time, if not- oh what a wonderful pinch!"—Lillie
"Ya! I'm excited."—Ahiru
"Alright, again."—Fakir
"What?"—Ahiru
"Do the routine again."—Fakir
"Ok."—Ahiru
"Cue music!"—Fakir hollered to Pike.
"Cuing music!"—Pike
"Cue lights!"—Fakir
"Cuing lights!"—Lillie
"And, go."—Fakir
The music started again, softly and slowly, as Ahiru herself blended into it, slowly finding how she can connect to her inner Princess Tutu. And Fakir thought:
Well, looks like I didn't need to write a story for her after all, she did it all on her own.
And what a lovely, yet sorrowful sight, the pain and loneliness of the princess, yet the grace of a swan; forever trapped under Rothbart's spell. It was strange, it seemed to be such a familiar feeling, though it was much more faint, but now, it was the only thing she could feel, suddenly tears began to fall. Her character slowly becoming intertwined into Ahiru's own emotions and disposition, yet she still held some originality that made it so lifelike and so believable. All she needed now was a persona similar to that of Princess Kraehe, to which she was slightly nervous about.
1 Whisper
2 Will from now on be referred to as Olive
3 Thinks to himself