Act 4~Akt 4—Channeling Princess Kraehe

Narrator's POV

It was Monday morning and Ahiru was tying up her new bright pink pointe shoes that Mr. Cat had helped her pick out. And she was elated to start her pointe classes. She was hoping that she could manage to try and work on her Princess Odile persona. And in order to manage that, she found a surprise sitting next to her.

"What's this?"

Ahiru looked at the box confused.

"It's for you."

Fakir smiled at her, Ahiru opened up the box to find a pair of black pointe shoes with silk ribbon.

"They're beautiful!"

"Put them on, I'm sure it'll help you get into your Kraehe persona."

"Ya, I'll do my best Fakir. Thanks for being so much help, I hope I'm not troubling you at all."

"Don't be nonsensical, I'm your friend aren't I? And we both love to dance, so I need some practice as Prince Siegfried, and I may as well do it with you."

"Thanks Fakir."

"Come on now, we don't want to get into trouble by Mr. Cat."

"Right!"

Ahiru quickly took off her pink pointe shoes and placed the black pointe shoes on. She closed her eyes for a moment and slowly opened them, tying the ribbons and trying to concentrate.

"Good morning Missh Ahiru, Fakir. Are Pike and Lillie not coming today?"—Mr. Cat

"Oh, they said they'd let Fakir and I should practice alone."

"Right then, I shee that you have another pair of pointe shoes."—Mr. Cat

"Ya, Fakir got them for me, so I can channel in my inner Princess Odile."

"Good, good. Then let'sh get started. Missh Ahiru please go over to the bar and face the mirror."

"Yes sir."

"Good, Fakir pleashe hold on for a minute and begin stretching. We will begin with some simple techniques today."

"Yes Mr. Cat."

"Ok Ahiru, begin shtretching. Good, elongate your body and have confidence. Princessh Odile hash confidence, poishe, grace, and sheduction. You must find a way to channel each individual ashpect of her ash well ash together in a shingle performance. Now thish will not be eashy, but I believe you can do it."

"I will do my best Mr. Cat."

"Good, jusht try not to think about it too hard, it should come naturally. Yes, that'sh it."

Ahiru was trying to balance everything Mr. Cat was saying along with trying to make everything come out naturally. She placed her leg up on the bar as she leaned forward and pointed her toe, stretching out as far as she can with a straight back and her arm curved her hand. She held herself in that position for as long as she could, then she switched directions and stretched out the other leg. Then Mr. Cat had her take up to the different positions of basic ballet. And then, she was to stretch out her feet, preparing to go on pointe in the proper shoes. Thus she braced herself, trying to lose herself in that same trance again.

"Lovely Missh Ahiru, shimply lovely. Now, continue to shtretch out those toesh and get ushed to your shoes, then we will have you begin dancing with Mr. Fakir."

Ahiru nodded her head, and after another ten minutes, she agreed to being ready. Thus she took her place next to Fakir. Mr. Cat put the CD player on, it was the song that Princess Odile and the Prince danced to.

"Now, I don't want you to dance any dance in particular, I jusht want you to dance what you feel from the music, or from your other partner. But remember, Princessh Odile ish the one that is shupposhed to lead. She ish trying to get the prince to fall in love with her."

Both Fakir and Ahiru nodded in response and looked at one another, Fakir searched Ahiru's eyes an noticed something that wasn't there before. The music began and Ahiru pulled away from Fakir, dancing on pointe alone, but her eyes, even her actions alone were calling him in. And he couldn't help but feel drawn in. And thus he approached her slowly, with hazy eyes. He put his hand out, she spun around him and tapped him on his shoulders, smiling and giggling flirtatiously. Trying to get his attention and succeeding. Fakir continued to look for her each time she was out of his sights; grace and poise emanated the two of them. They were wonderful to look at, and Fakir finally reached out for Ahiru, taking her by the waist as she spun on her toes in front of him, batting her eye lashes and continued to flirt with him in their dance. It was as if she was a different person, confident, poised, graceful, and seductive. She wrapped her legs around him and gave him a peck on the check, then she sashayed away, twirling and calling him towards to, he ran and leapt to her, grabbing her petite waist and threw her up in the air, she elongated her body and he caught her as she came back down. They looked into each other's eyes and she leaned her forehead against his and her bright blue eyes were crashing into his dark green ones. It was as if they were having a conversation with their eyes, but no one else understood what they were saying, then the music stopped.

"Marveloush!"

Mr. Cat was very impressed, clapping as he approached them. A grand smile on his face, then two shrills from the top floor were heard, Pike and Lillie had seen the entire performance.

"How scandalous!"

Lillie shrieked.

"That was awesome!"

Pike retorted.

"Thanks guys."

Ahiru smiled, slightly blushing, as Fakir slowly set her down, never looking away from her, their distance still extremely close.

"That was amazing Ahiru. You were amazing."

Fakir slightly blushed as he smiled at her.

"Thanks, you weren't so bad yourself Fakir."

Ahiru nudged him in the abdomen.

"Haha, well we'd better begin practicing the other dances if we want to get anywhere. We'll watch some videos on it tonight and we'll practice everyday. How's that sound?"

"Sounds good."

"Right, I will shee you two in classh later, and perhapsh we can have you two demonshtrate to the resht of the classh."

"That would be wonderful!"

Ahiru squealed.

"Sounds fine to me."

Fakir added.

"Hey do you want to head back? We should probably get ready to get to bed."

Fakir replied.

"Ya you're probably right."

Ahiru went with Fakir, until they had to go separate ways. Ahiru changed and met with Fakir outside the changing rooms as they headed to class.

Classes seemed short; Fakir kept looking over at Ahiru, wondering how she managed to dance the way she did. It seemed she'd been full of surprises lately. And he couldn't help but feel curious as to how she managed to channel her inner Kraehe, but first he wanted to know why she kissed him, even if it was only on the cheek. He would be lying if he said he didn't want more from her, but he never thought he could ever be attracted to her like that, or was he?