Once upon a time there was a man who lived in a world devoid of chivalry who read of worlds that had plenty of it. The man wished to become a real knight to a lovely maiden and so went on a quest on her behalf, for they both wished the world to be full of strong and noble ideals which only the man could spread.

It was on this quest that he ventured out of his tale and into a new one filled with many interesting characters, one of which looked just like the maiden he'd seemingly left behind. Thinking them to be one and the same, the man followed the girl only to find her in love with another knight.

With the line between fantasy and reality already so thin, it seemed he'd never understand that the maiden he'd fallen in love with in his own story may be nothing but a dream as well.

Duck loved to dance. That was one of the only things she knew about herself other than that she could transform into an actual duck but that wasn't something she could disclose easily. The only person who knew that secret was Fakir, who'd had barely any reaction when she'd first transformed in front of him as a child, so she knew he wouldn't tell.

I can't believe I got into the advanced class. Dancing here beside such wonderful dancers like Rue, it's like a dream come true! Duck thought as she performed her solo homework in front of the class. She felt like she was floating on air as she gave the mime for love as she thought of the reason she'd begun professional training in the first place: Fakir. I always loved to dance but when Fakir and Mytho joined the academy, I knew I had to follow them. It was a way to feel closer to Fakir and dance with him, even when Mytho didn't like it, hehe.

"Think whatever you want, Duck. The fact is he mentioned a feeling the other day."

That's right. Duck's eyes widened, her steps becoming a bit distracted as her mind focused on what Mytho had told her the other day. Mytho said Fakir mentioned a feeling… Fakir's never really had feelings before. Maybe if he did, he would finally know how he feels about me and could let me know… But… But what if it's not the same way I feel? What if he realizes someone like him shouldn't ever be with a clumsy duck like me? What if-?!

"Duck!"

Duck quite literally fell out of her intrusive thoughts and onto the unforgiving floor. "Ouch…"

She heard the gasps and murmurs of her classmates as someone with gentle hands helped her up. She opened her eyes to see it was Rue. She felt herself flush in embarrassment. "Rue! Haha, did you see that?"

"Of course I did, you were performing in front of the class, which you clearly must've forgotten!" Rue tutted softly, dusting her off. This was probably one of the many reasons she never let herself get lost in the dance, the lack of control and certainty. "Countless ballerinas have gotten hurt simply by letting their mind wander or their emotions get the better of them, you must make sure you're not one of them!"

"Ah, okay!" Duck grinned. Rue is always kinda blunt but I know deep down she's really a sweetheart! "I'll try not to do it again!"

The chiming of the school's clock tower was drowned out by a mysterious voice that Fakir didn't recognize, they simply called out to him.

"Who are you?" Fakir asked softly, staring out the window. "What do you want from me…?"

Mytho glanced up from straightening his carvet, walking up to the boy.

"You look strange, Fakir." He muttered as he approached.

"Strange?" Fakir repeated in confusion.

"Yes, you've been looking awfully different these days." The boy nodded, stopping in front of him. "Tell me, is something troubling you?"

Fakir gave a slow nod, glancing out the window again. "Yes. I think someone's calling out to me. They're trying to hide how they feel with harsh words but I know deep down, they're hurting."

Mytho narrowed his eyes. Fakir's never empathized with anyone before…

"They desperately want to be with someone, someone who cares for them… I know that's what they're going through, because I feel it too. I think… I feel lonely."

He feels lonely? He really is regaining his heart… I can't allow that to happen…!

Mytho's worried face melted easily into a seemingly carefree smile as he led Fakir to a mirror. "Why would you ever feel lonely, Fakir? I'm right here. You're always by my side, even when we're not together."

Fakir stared into the mirror, his eyes narrowing. "I…"

"You don't need a heart or the feelings that come with it, Fakir." The other boy whispered, leaning on him. "Not when you have me to rely on. You understand, don't you?"

Fakir glanced down to see his desperate golden eyes and the feeling of loneliness lessened but another emotion took its place. "I understand. I will remain by your side and try not to upset you anymore."

"That's what I like to hear."

Rue was back to practicing as usual. She'd been practicing everyday until her feet ached and yet still couldn't get it right. "I can't believe this. I'm usually top of the class but now I'm being outshined because I can't do something even a clumsy girl like Duck's able to! I'm a failure of a crow and a human being. If I don't learn how to channel emotion in my dance like Tutu can, I'll never become a prima…!"

It was then that she glanced out the window to see Duck walking arm and arm with Fakir and felt her heart ache. I always wanted someone to hold like that…

"Princess… Tutu?"

"S-She's a character from a book, The Prince and The Raven. A prince lost his heart due to his foolishness, leading Princess Tutu to hunt down the shards."

"Wow, she must've really loved him!"

"She did, that's the truly tragic part… For when she confessed that love, she faded into a speck of light and vanished."

Is that truly my destiny? To fade away into nothing…? Fakir is the knight from the story reborn and so I suppose that makes me Tutu in a new body… Rue narrowed her eyes at the thought. Even if it's different from the original story with the knight piercing his heart instead of the prince, what if this one follows the same logic?

As the worrying thoughts enveloped her mind, Rue hardly noticed that she'd begun to dance, swaying and twirling gently as if to express her delicate state of mind. Even if I knew what I fully felt for Fakir, I couldn't possibly confess… And yet, the wish to do so to someone and receive affection in return, it simply won't go away…

As she danced, she didn't notice she had two sets of eyes on her. One inside the story and one out.

"It seems you're beginning to understand what it means to lose yourself in your feelings, young princess." Drosselmeyer chuckled. "The question is will you ever be able to find your way out again?"

"I don't understand…"

"Hm?" Duck glanced up from leaning on her boyfriend. "Understand what, Fakir?"

"What I'm feeling."

The girl's eyes widened before she glanced away. There's that look again… Fakir's eyes have been starting to gain more warmth and light… I should be happy about that, shouldn't I? But for some reason… it scares me. "I don't know what I'm feeling half the time either, haha. Maybe it's better if you don't think about it and just be here in the moment with me!"

"I want to remain loyal to you and Mytho but…" Fakir continued to stare forward, not meeting her eyes. "Something out there calls for me, saying they… they want to take someone away from me…"

"Wh-What? Take someone away?" She looked around wildly but saw nothing out of the ordinary. Are they talking about me…? What could be wanting to tear us apart? Is it someone who wants Fakir or could it be… could it be Fakir's own feelings…?

"Duck! Would you stop making him bring up such painful things?"

She snapped her head over to the path leading to the gazebo where Mytho had come from. She couldn't help but pout at the sight. That's right, it's probably just Mytho being a butt again, he's always trying to get between us.

"Fakir, go back to our room, please."

"Yes, Mytho." Fakir whispered, walking off.

"But Fakir…!" Duck watched him sadly before turning to the other boy, narrowing her eyes. "Why did you do that? We were just talking!"

"Yes, talking about his emotions." Mytho scoffed, his usually gentle face twisted with disgust. "I know we both wish Fakir could feel for us as we do for him but if you're the one bringing back his heart-"

"I didn't do anything!" Duck cried, standing up to glare at the much taller man. "Someone else must've done it!"

"Like who?"

Duck opened her mouth to say something but then closed it, looking embarrassed.

Mytho forced out a harsh laugh, trying to deny it could be who they both had thought of. "You think it's the pretty ballerina princess from the fairytale, don't you? That she was reborn and is now helping the knight just as she helped the pathetic prince. How adorable~"

"Hey, stop making fun of me!" The girl whined, earning her a smirk in return.

"Miss Rue!"

Rue gasped in surprise, stumbling out of her dance. She glared up at whoever interrupted her. "Hey! Don't you-!"

Mr. Cat raised a brow, daring her to continue.

She gulped back her words.

"I'm sorry for interrupting you, Miss Rue, but I'm afraid this couldn't wait. I must say that your training has paid off."

Rue's eyes widened. "You mean…?"

"Just now, I saw a great deal of feeling in your dance, so many emotions I could not pinpoint just one. I'm not saying you've mastered the art, for that can never be done. Just that it is a great improvement."

She couldn't hold back a sigh in disappointment. If only I could have the same sense of control over my emotions as I do my moves…

"For your own sake and the sake of your dancing, I must insist you cease your extra practices. I worry you'll tire yourself out at this point. Remember, you can't practice to your full potential unless you take some time to rest."

"I understand, Mr. Cat. Thank you." Rue smiled gratefully, only just able to remind herself he'd said these things because he cared not because he thought her dance was lacking once more.

"Now, please, go relax!"

Rue glanced up from her homework at the sound of thunder clapping across the sky. She quietly got up from her desk to see rain pelting her window. What a terrible storm. It's like the sky is angry with the world…

In a flash of lightning, she could just make out the silhouette of a familiar boy standing out in the pouring rain. "Is that Fakir? How could he be so foolish as to be out in a thunderstorm?"

She raced down the steps before putting on a slick black coat over her casual clothes. She opened her umbrella as she walked outside. "Fakir! What are you doing out here?! Come inside at once, you'll get a cold!"

Fakir seemed to be talking to someone but Rue couldn't make out what it was he was saying.

"Who are you talking to…?"

Another peel of lightning came down and Fakir seemed to vanish with it.

"Where'd he go?" Rue asked herself, looking around the dormitory for him to find he was nowhere to be seen.

She was calling until someone suddenly bumped into her. "Duck!"

"Oh! Hi, Rue!" The girl smiled, looking even more like a duck than usual with her bright yellow coat, hat, and galoshes. She frowned when she noticed Rue's worried face. "Is everything okay?"

"It's just- Have you seen Fakir? He should've walked out this way."

"Huh, Fakir? No, I didn't see him." Duck mumbled, looking around. "You think he could be in some kind of trouble?"

"I hope not." Was all Rue could say. It seemed Fakir was always in some sort of trouble these days.

"Hm. He was saying some really weird stuff earlier…" Duck gave a determined nod suddenly, her mind made up. "Well, I gotta go and find him just in case! See you later, Rue!"

Before she knew it, Duck was running down the street.

"Ah, wait!"

"Fakir, it's time we talk about you and Duck." Mytho returned after a long day of classes, hoping to find his friend safe in their room.

No one was there.

"… Fakir?"

"Where could Fakir be?" Duck wondered aloud, sliding to a halt.

"Duck…! Wait… up!"

She turned to see Rue panting for air. "Rue?"

"You run… really fast!"

"Oh, yeah." Duck laughed, scratching the back of her head in a nervous tick. She then bent down to look at her friend, tilting her head to meet her gaze. "Say, Rue, I was thinking maybe we should split up to look for Fakir."

"Why is that?" Rue asked in a huff, crossing her arms. Is she regretting being my friend already? That makes me feel… No, I can't express that! I have to say something else! "Y-You think you're above me or something?"

"Huh? No, I don't think that at all!" Dusk insisted hurriedly. "I was just saying we'd cover more ground that way! But you're right! It'd be way more fun to search with a friend, like you, Rue!"

Rue felt herself blush as Duck linked arms with her and quickly pulled away. "… Why do you call me that?"

"Rue?" Duck asked in confusion. "Because that's your name…"

"No, not that." Rue sighed. Though it is rather odd she always addressed me so casually even before we were friends… "I mean why do you call me a friend? You hardly know me."

"Oh, that's easy!" The girl grinned, helping Rue jump over a puddle. "I thought you could use one! That look you sometimes have in your eyes, it's the same one Fakir's been getting lately."

"What are you talking about?" Rue asked, raising a brow.

"You both look so lonely."

Rue turned her head away so Duck couldn't see her face. Even when I'm stubborn, she's still so nice to me…

"Do you hear that? It sounds like music…"

Rue looked up from her thoughts before straining her ears to hear through the rain. There was indeed a faint sound of lively music along with laughter and cheering that grew louder and louder until they saw the source walk across the old stone bridge. Fog had come out of seemingly nowhere.

It was a parade full of people of all ages and sizes laden with instruments and all sorts of equipment fit for knights. But they were all see-through. All but one.

"Fakir!" The two yelled, running after the boy.

They chased him over the bridge and towards where the town graveyard should've been only to find it blocked by a stone wall.

"What? A dead end?" Rue whispered, cocking her head.

They suddenly heard the sound of rain pounding on a drum along with its sticks and turned to see a little puppet walking up to them.

"It's you again, Uzura..." Rue recognized, narrowing her eyes.

"Rue-Zura!" Uzura smiled, a great contrast to how Rue looked at her. "And, oh! Duck-zura!"

"You know me?" Duck barely had time to get out the words before Uzura ran up to her, hugging her leg. "Rue, why do you look so annoyed? She seems like a cute kid!"

"Ooh, there's still no tail when the story changed-zura! Still a butt-zura!"

"Qua- What?!" Duck shooed her away.

Rue frowned deeply as the puppet continued to play her little drum. "That's why. Uzura, you ought to run home, we're on an important mission!"

"I know-zura! You're looking for Fakir-zura!"

"How did she know that?" Duck asked.

The other girl gave a sigh in annoyance. "She apparently knows a lot of things and just won't give a straight answer."

"Uzura," Duck said, kneeling down to the girl. "do you know what's going on with Fakir? He was walking along in some kind of ghost parade before he vanished into that dead end over there."

"Ooh, Uzura knows this story-zura!" The girl exclaimed. "Tussle mayor told it to Uzura so Uzura could tell it to Rue and Duck-zura!"

A story? Who could've told her? Rue wondered. Could it be him?

"Once upon a time, there was a wacky man who was lovey-dovey with a girl he treated like a pretty princes-zura! He challenged every other knight so he'd be the only one to be lovey-dovey with the pretty princess! Then, the pretty princess asked the wacky knight to go on a big, big mission! So, the wacky knight made a big jump out of his story and landed in this one-zura!"

"The knight… He jumped out of his story?" Duck repeated, inraptured.

Rue frowned. "This story may be about a knight but it doesn't explain what happened to-!"

Duck quickly covered her mouth, too invested in the story. "Uzura, what happened to the knight?"

"The jump was too much for the wacky knight and he ended up taking a looong nap-zura. Tussle mayor found it funny he can't ever wake up again!"

"You mean he…" Rue placed a hand to her heart as Duck released her. "How sad…"

"Not sad-zura! It was lovey-dovey again!" Uzura cried happily. "The knight saw another pretty princess he thought was his and so he decided to be lovey-dovey with that princess! But the pretty princess was lovey-dovey with another knight! So he took that knight away to challenge him so he'd have the pretty princess instead!"

Another knight? Duck thought for a moment. Wait, could she mean-?!

Her thoughts were shattered by the town's clock tower chiming midnight.

"Look-zura!" Uzura pointed towards the graveyard which was now replaced by a stone castle.

"Oh no, Fakir!" Duck cried in worry, running into the graveyard without a second thought.

"Duck, wait!" Rue yelled, running after her.

"You want to challenge me?" Fakir asked the ghost knight who nodded.

The knight raised his sword up towards the sky.

"If that is what will give your soul peace, then so be it…"

Another sword appeared in Fakir's hand, one that felt unfamiliar and foreign but the man raised it up all the same.

"Fakir, don't!" Duck yelled, running to her beloved, her hat flying off as she did. She looked towards the ghostly knight who seemed to recognize her.

"If Fakir's the knight then the maiden must be…!" Rue slid to a stop, seeing the knight approach her friend. Her pendant glowed brightly but she barely even noticed it. "Duck!"

"Huh? Rue?" But it was already too late. The knight pulled Duck to him, forcing her to dance. "Eh?!"

"Duck is the one you want to be yours? But she doesn't look happy… I… I should do something…" Fakir murmured, unable to put feelings into words. He wondered why he wanted so badly to help her, could it be a feeling he didn't know yet?

He tried to reach for her but was kicked to the ground by the knight's squire. He looked up to see Duck dancing with the wrong knight. "Duck…"

"Fakir!" The girl was lifted into the air as she struggled wildly, pounding on the knight's armor. "Let me go, please, let me go!"

"My, my! What a thrilling first preview, seeing the little duck and her knight being torn apart!" Drosselmeyer laughed, watching the gears that displayed Fakir and Duck reaching each other drift apart as two other gears that displayed the knight and Rue began to turn together. "You should start getting used to that, Princess Tutu!"

Princess Tutu appeared in a flash of golden light, startling the knight and Duck.

"Who are you?" They chorused.

Princess Tutu smiled demurely, curtsying to them. "I am Princess Tutu. It is a pleasure."

"Princess Tutu…!" Duck gasped, her eyes shining in the moonlight as she gazed upon the beautiful princess.

"Brave knight, I understand your wish for companionship and the want for someone to hold." The princess told him, giving her usual mime. "However, she is not a willing partner. Please, dance with me instead."

"No." The knight grunted, his voice echoing through his helmet. He pulled Duck closer, causing the girl to wince. "She is my love, my Ducina!"

"Ducina…" Tutu repeated, remembering the name from a certain ballet. "So, that's the story you leaped from."

As the knight danced himself and Duck away from her, Tutu leapt after them. She effortlessly twirled and weaved through the crowd that tried to push her away.

Once she got close enough, she sent a barrage of feathers at the knight's squire, making him release Fakir. "My knight, you are hurt…"

The man grunted, not used to feeling pain that had come on suddenly with the feeling of loneliness. It seemed to have shocked his body into curling himself up.

"Rest now." Tutu whispered, creating a blanket of white feathers that slowly began to heal him. "I will rescue Duck in your stead."

"Thank you…" He murmured.

She nodded before continuing her quest to save her friend.

"You can't take her away from me." The knight hissed, revealing the other knight, Fakir's heart shard. He also held Duck tightly in his arms. "She soothes my sorrows…"

That's it, the feeling of sadness. Tutu thought to herself. She didn't like the idea of restoring something that might hurt Fakir but knew it had to be done, for every emotion was still Fakir. "I understand your plight but truly look at your dance partner. Can't you see she is also filled with sorrow?"

"Ah… Dulcina, why is your heart so heavy?" The knight glanced down to see the girl gazing at Fakir.

"Even if it brings you even more sorrow than you've already suffered, you must understand that this girl is in love with another..." Tutu gently implored. "Won't you release her and join me?"

The knight lowered his head in sadness but did put Duck down gently.

"Thank you." Duck smiled weakly up at him before taking his hand. "Don't worry, sir knight. I'm sure your true love is waiting for you on the other side!"

The knight gave a quiet nod, slightly encouraged.

"She's right." Tutu agreed, taking his arm to dance while Duck ran to check on Fakir. Tears came to her eyes as the knight bowed to her. She looked to Fakir and Duck and remembered her own sorrow. "I understand your pain. You believed you had fallen in love with someone but that someone already cares deeply for another. …The maiden you truly love is no doubt waiting for you beyond this story. I can only hope I make a suitable partner in her place."

The knight, though big and strong, carried the princess gently as if she was made of glass while Tutu showed him she was anything but, dancing with great fire and passion in a spanish-inspired dance, using her fan as a prop in patronage to the ballet he had come from.

At the end of their dance, the knight faded away, leaving the heart shard in his place. The knight said nothing to her as he stared at her solemnly before fading into her waiting hands.

The castle faded away, leaving Fakir, Tutu and Duck together in an abandoned playground.

Duck stared in awe, forgetting to think of whether or not she wanted Fakir to get his heart back. She wouldn't have made a decision in time regardless.

"My knight, this is the feeling of sorrow." The princess said, holding out the shard. Her smile saddened. "It's a painful emotion, I'm afraid, one that makes people suffer… But it is still important and needed for without it, you wouldn't be able to tell what true joy is. One day, I shall bring that emotion back to you as well. I swear it."

The heart shard floated back into his chest, causing Fakir to place a hand to it. Tears came to his eyes as he thought of all that had happened to him, Duck and Tutu on that harrowing night.

Duck rose to her feet before walking over to Fakir. Seeing his tears brought on her own, causing her to embrace him. Oh, Fakir… Should you have a heart if it brings you such pain…?

Tutu smiled faintly at the scene before curtsying goodbye and running off.

"The emotions returning to the knight are loneliness and sorrow, every version of him would know these very well." Drosselmeyer smirked, the gear fading from the scene of the two embracing to show Rue with tears in her eyes. "You'd know better than anyone he'd rather have love and joy instead, don't you, little princess? Hehehe!"