Once upon a time, there was a child.
For the child, the world was filled with wonder:
How?
Why?
How come?
When one mystery was solved, two new mysteries would arise.
When two mysteries were solved, four new mysteries would arise.
When four mysteries were solved, countless mysteries appeared.
In time, the child came to be consumed by these mysteries…
"Stay away from me, stay away!" Fakir yelled, his fear being poorly masked by him pointing a blade at the princess.
Princess Tutu only smiled before the shard shot into his chest.
As Fakir screamed in pain, Rue's spirit was ejected from her body and ravens appeared, morphing into a cage around her.
"I never wanted you to suffer like this, you must believe me!" The girl cried, wrapping her hands around the bars.
As she tried to free herself, a woman who shared the same face wearing a black dress appeared. She smirked, seeing the knight hunched over in pain.
"You're one of them, one of those horrible crows!" The boy gasped.
His sword was knocked away in an instant as the raven princess raised a sharp dagger over him.
"Fakir, that isn't me! She's something else, something evil! You must run away!" Rue begged, slamming herself on the cage door to try and save him.
The princess raised the blade high in the air before plunging down.
"Fakir!" Rue screamed, jolting up from the nightmare. Tears stained her cheeks as she curled up under her blankets. It was dark under there, not allowing a single ray of light to reveal her crow-like face. "I didn't mean to make him suffer like that… I just wanted him to know what it felt like to love and be loved in return…"
"I heard from a friend that Fakir hasn't been in classes for a whole week now!" A student whispered.
"Neither has Mytho." Her friend murmured. "Don't they care about missing all that school work?"
"I don't think Fakir cares about anything."
Rue glared at the gossiping girls before hearing a heavy sigh. She turned back to see Duck looking depressed while sitting between her two friends.
"Cheer up, Duck! I'm sure Senior Fakir will be back soon!" Pique reassured her with an elbow jab.
"Unless he won't." Lillie sighed dramatically. "Imagine if something horrible has happened to him and he never returns, leaving Duck miserable forever and ever! She'd remain cute no matter what!"
"Ahem."
The class turned their attention to Mr. Cat, the whisperings dying down. "Everyone did exceptionally well on their reports on Carmen this week. However, two reports caught my eye. The first being Miss Duck's: It was really great… The end. Brilliantly said."
"Thank you, sir…" Duck mumbled. She was used to having her work pointed out since it was usually so brief or sloppily done. But this had been bad even for her, she just couldn't stop worrying about Fakir this week.
"That was sarcasm…. Moving on. Miss Rue?"
"Yes?" Rue sat up slightly.
"I expected more from you. You normally write such insightful essays but this week's… well, it was very bare bones."
"I am terribly sorry, Mr. Cat." The girl whispered. She hadn't been able to focus on her essay much either, too wrapped up in her self-reflections. "I'll do better next time."
"See to it that you do."
As Rue strolled across the green, she couldn't help but notice a pair of girls chatting away.
"I just don't know what to do! Should I confess to him or keep it quiet?" One girl asked.
Her friend tilted her head in thought. "Gee, I dunno. I wish I could tell you the answer but it's way too important to be decided by me… Thanks for trusting me though!"
"You're my best friend, why wouldn't I?"
I wish I could talk to someone about my problems…Rue thought to herself, clenching her school bag a bit tighter.Duck's my best friend, my only friend. If I could ask anyone about this mess, it would be her… But I don't want her to suffer because of Princess Tutu, like Fakir has.
"Why don't you ask the Whispering Woods?"
Rue paused her walk, listening to the girls. It was quite unladylike to eavesdrop but she simply had to see if something could ease her worries.
"You mean the forest near the south gate?" Her friend asked. "Isn't that place haunted?"
"Probably, but it's a good ghost! You tell it what's bothering you and it keeps whispering you questions until you sort out how you feel! …But if you take too long to answer, a giant twister appears to suck you up and rips you to shreds!"
The other girl gave a squeal, grabbing her friend's arm. "That doesn't sound like a good ghost at all, you liar!"
Rue narrowed her eyes in thought.The Whispering Woods? Is that what they call my forest? …I don't remember ever hearing a ghostly voice there. But, I guess it's worth a try.
Rue reached the forest just after class had been let out but found someone had already beaten her to it. "Duck?"
"Quack!" Duck blurted out in surprise before blushing, covering her mouth.Way to blow your true self! Everyone's going to know at this point!"Rue! You came to the Whispering Woods too! I guess that means even you have things you're not sure about!"
"D-Don't be ridiculous, I was just passing through!" Rue huffed, feeling her face turn red in embarrassment.
"Hehe, it's okay, Rue. I was here to talk about stuff too." Duck assured her. "… Hey, Rue… Do you think Fakir will come back to school soon? I'm really worried about him."
Rue felt her heart ache seeing the girl look so sad. She joined her, looking down at their reflections in a puddle. Duck looked so normal compared to her… "I'm sure he'll be back soon, there's no need to work yourself up over it, alright?"
"Okay." Duck smiled weakly, glancing at her with hope. "Thanks for being here, Rue."
Rue watched as the girl waddled away, contemplating what to do.Duck is already so wrapped up in this and always seems to want what's best for Fakir… Maybe she'd know what to do."Duck… you do know about Fakir not having a heart, don't you?"
Duck froze before slowly turning around with a nervous laugh. "D-Doesn't have a heart?! What do you mean?! I don't…!"
Rue narrowed her eyes.
"There's no fooling you, huh, Rue?" Duck whispered, wilting slightly. "…Yeah, I know about it…"
"Then surely you'd want him to have a heart more than anyone, wouldn't you?"
Wouldn't I?The girl felt something in her burn at the question. "I… I love Fakir very much. Even if I never hear that he loves me back, I'll keep loving him."
Rue could see the pain on her face while saying the last sentence. She meant it. "Duck…"
"I know if Fakir got his heart back he'd be able to smile and to love and that's so wonderful…" The girl's eyes narrowed before looking up at Rue. "But a heart still hurts. And I don't want that for Fakir. I don't want him to suffer…!"
Rue turned her head away as to not show her tears when seeing Duck's eyes grow watery. "I see. I'm… I'm sorry for bringing up a sore subject…"
"Huh?" Duck quickly wiped her eyes, forcing a smile. "No, no! Don't be sorry! I just… um…"
The two stood in silence before Duck turned away.
"I should get going! Bye, Rue!"
Rue didn't know how Duck could appear so cheerful when she worried so much about Fakir. It must've taken a lot of practice.
"We must keep running, my prince!" Fakir yelled as a giant black beast chased after them. "You can't save them all!"
"I must try!"
The prince pulled away from him, running to save a little boy from his doom.
"Prince!"
"It is too late for him, cowardly knight." A booming voice chuckled, the shadow of a claw engulfing the knight's form. "Your beloved prince's heart will soon be mine…"
Fakir brandished his sword, trying not to show his fear even though he was trembling.
The claw swung down, trying to cleave him in half.
"Arghhhh!" Fakir screamed, jolting up from his bed.
"Fakir!" Mytho was by his side in seconds, holding him close. "It's alright, I'm here. Just breathe…"
Fakir took in a few shallow breaths before looking into Mytho's eyes. He wanted to protect him like he had wanted to protect the prince in his dream. "I should be the one comforting and protecting you, Mytho…"
"You did that enough in your previous life." Mytho insisted gently, stroking his hair. "There is no danger here, this cabin is completely abandoned and in the middle of the woods. No one will find us here."
"Not even the ravens or their princess…?"
"Especially not them." The boy whispered, narrowing his eyes. "You keep speaking of this raven princess… Do you mean Tutu?"
"I…" Fakir mumbled, turning away to glance out the window. "I keep imagining her as that woman, even though something feels off about it."
I agree; The Princess Tutu from the story would've never sided with The Raven. But if she is the character reborn like Fakir and I were… who knows? I'm certainly not the all-loving prince I was then…Mytho thought. He wanted to take pride in that fact since it meant he'd be a better protector but he couldn't help feeling disappointed in himself for it too.
"Where is Tutu?" Fakir suddenly asked. "I… I want to figure out who she really is, a friend of foe…"
"Anyone who causes you such suffering must be a foe." Mytho grunted, his tone turning harsh.
Fakir lowered his head, not seeming totally convinced.
"Just stay here where she can't find you." Mytho muttered, staring into his eyes. "That's the only way you'll stay safe…"
Both Duck and Mytho believe Fakir would be better off without a heart but I…Rue stared at herself in the puddle.What if I'm battling this simply because I'm being selfish…? Do I really want love so badly that I'd be willing to harm the person I care for to get it…?
"What is she waiting for?!" Drosselmeyer muttered, tilting his head. "Of course she does! That has always been a fundamental part of her character, regardless what role she played! Why is this scene even in this story, I thought it'd be gone once I changed the protagonists!"
The girl thought of the visions she'd been having of a woman so much like her, and yet so different.
I was a lot like the raven princess in the beginning, I wanted to help Fakir for his sake, but also because it would mean I had the chance of receiving his love in return. But now that I've met the true Fakir… I care for him more than I do my own feelings.
"She what?! This can't be!" Drosselmeyer yelled, rising from his chair.
Rue ripped off the pendent, not noticing she'd remained human simply for the dramatic tension. She narrowed her eyes before dropping the pendant to the ground. "I will end this now, for everyone's sake!"
The gears grinded to a halt and the image disappeared from it.
"Not again!" The author howled, leaping down from his lofty perch of gears. "Why must all princesses be so dramatic?! I'd normally love all the misery their stunts bring but this is taking it too far! I will not allow this story to end until it's the most spectacular tragedy, no happy ending in sight for any of the characters!"
Rue tried to brush away her tears as she raised her foot, aiming the sharp heel towards the center of the pendent.
The wind began to howl, the trees shaking wildly as if the entire world knew it was about to be set free.
"Its my own fault that I loved too hard. Someone selfish like me, crow or girl… they don't deserve a happy ending!"
"Stop!"
In an instant, the world went completely still, making Rue hesitate before slowly taking her heel away from the pendant. "W-Who's there?"
"We meet again, little crow!"
She turned towards the voice to see an old grandfather clock nestled between the trees. It opened to reveal an eerily familiar face. "You… You're Drosselmeyer!"
"That's right, my dear. I'm so pleased you remember!" He stepped out of the clock only to disappear into thin air.
"So it's true then, you really wrote The Prince and The Raven…" She looked around wildly before noticing his smiling face amongst the trees. "So are you influencing what happens to my friends and I?!"
"Influencing? No, no, not me. I have another person to do that." The old man chuckled, his eyes appearing in the leaves nearby. "I simply like to watch! You make an excellent Princess Tutu, a true primadonna!"
"A true…?" The girl's eyes then narrowed in distrust. "I'd normally love the praise but I know you're simply saying them in order to get me and the others to perform for you!"
"Yes, perform a wonderful tragedy…"
"What was that?" She asked sharply. "Speak up when I'm talking to you!"
The man gulped in surprise, not used to being talked back to. He regretted not creating someone she felt too scared of to disobey this time around. "My, my, you were far more manageable when under someone's wing…"
"What's that supposed to mean?" The woman huffed, crossing her arms.
"What I mean to say is, you're the only person that can play Princess Tutu this time around! You must restore the knight's heart!"
"I don't believe I should." Rue mumbled, looking down at the pendent. "So far, all I've done is make him suffer."
"Precisely the reason I chose you!"
"Mm?" She glanced up from her distracted thoughts.
"I mean, the reason I chose you was because you love people so very deeply to the point you'd do anything, even risk your own life! How very dark and twisted, hehehe~"
Rue nodded slowly, turning back to the pendent. She raised her foot once again, this time with more conviction. "Then you understand why I feel I must do this!"
"What?! No, no no!" Drosselmeyer wailed as she stomped down. He returned to the clock as it began to flicker, sensing his story coming to an end. "You must stop her, she's making a horrible mistake!"
When the world resumed, Rue opened her eyes to find herself a crow once more. She lifted her talons but the pendant wasn't there, not even its shards.Hm? Where did the pendant go…?
Is Tutu really the raven princess I saw in my dream…?Fakir wondered to himself as he sat, scribbling in his notebook. No words came to him, even now when his mind was swimming in terror.What is this feeling I have when I think of her?
His thoughts were interrupted by a sharp and sudden tapping at the door. "Mytho?"
He opened the door to find no one there, as if they'd appeared and then vanished in an instant. "Princess Tutu? Was that you?"
"Princess Tutu?" The wind asked suddenly, rustling his dark hair. "Who's that?"
"She's my enemy… I think…"
"You think?" The voice asked, giving a scoff in disbelief. "You should know, shouldn't you?"
"I…"
"Is she an enemy or not?"
"I can't be sure. She looks like one or at least she did… She's restoring my heart to me."
"And that makes her your enemy?"
The boy frowned deeply. "… I don't know."
"Fine, well then, why don't you have a heart?" The wind asked, his voice beginning to sharpen in annoyance.
"… I can't remember."
"You… Why won't you give me an answer?!"
The wind began to pick up as Fakir stared up into the trees in apprehension.Who is this person? What do they want from me?
I miss my dorm room already…Rue thought to herself as she picked out another stick for her nest.It's much more comfortable then a pile of twigs and sticks!
She was about to dive down to get another when another raven suddenly landed nearby.
Rue would've cowered or tried to shoo it off if she hadn't noticed it wasn't a real bird, it was one made of metal and gears.
"There you are, Rue-zura!" Uzura called from down below. She pouted seeing her in her bird form. "… Are you going to remain a crow-zura?"
Rue had to be careful to not puncher the little drum with her talons as she landed. She gave a slight nod of her head to answer.I'm afraid so. It's what's best for everyone.
"But what about Duck and Fakir-zura? They're going to miss you! And if you're not a girl-zura, you can't be lovey-dovey with the p-!"
I know I can't be with the knight! It's like the whole universe wants to remind me!Rue cawed wildly.You think I want to be a bird for the rest of my life with no dancing? No friends?
"Uzura would miss you too-zura…"
Rue stopped her rant to look up at the puppet who looked so sad.Oh, Uzura… I never really thought about it, but I'm sure I'll miss her too, even if she can get on my nerves sometimes…
"I can never tell if tussle-mayor is lying to me or not-zura. But when he said Rue-zura is happier being a girl than a bird-zura, I knew it was true." Uzura opened her tiny hand to reveal the pendant she'd snatched away earlier. "Can't you just go back to being a girl-zura?"
I want to, I want to so badly…Rue stared at the golden pendent.But… I can't, not when it causes everyone to suffer.
"I want to know more about you, I must know more!" The voice boomed as a twister began to form.
Fakir gritted his teeth, fighting against the winds as it pulled his hair out of its tight ponytail.
"You will come with me!"
The boy gave a cry as he was swept up by the winds, grabbing on to a nearby branch for dear life.
Not too far away now, Rue heard his yell over the howling wind and flew towards it.Fakir!
As she arrived, the branch snapped, leaving Fakir to be sucked up into the tornado that was now glowing a bright gold.
Fakir! Hold on!Rue dove into the storm, losing some feathers along the way.
Duck was relieved to be done with her punishment for arriving late that morning but when she opened the doors, she was met with a terrible wind.
"Whoa!" The girl braced herself against the double doors in fright, only opening her eyes when something tickled her nose.
She caught the black feather in surprise.Hm? A crow's feather…?She looked up to see where it had come from to see the woods glowing a bright gold. "Ah! Could that be…? Fakir!"
She transformed into her duck form, taking off into the sky. She was unaware that the raven that had been watching her had taken flight as well.
"You say Princess Tutu has been trying to help you, right?"
"That's right…"
"And the Raven Princess only wants to hurt you…?"
"I think so..."
"Why?"
"I'm not sure." Fakir thought back to his nightmare and the black beast that had been chasing him. "I think it may be because I was fighting someone close to her…"
"Who?"
"I don't know."
"Don't you want to know?"
He gritted his teeth in frustration. "I'm told it's easier not to question it."
"You're so weird…" The voice grunted in slight frustration as well. "You and I are similar, you know. We both don't know what our purpose is to this world… And yet, I'm not a coward like you."
"Coward?" Fakir glared at the light beside him.
"That's right. Unlike you, I'm not afraid to learn who I am, I want to know so badly it hurts…"
Fakir's eyes widened in surprise. "Are you…?"
The little bird fought hard against the winds of the twister but was still sent spinning, trapped in its coil. This is useless! If I could just… just become Princess Tutu again!
"That's music to my ears!" Drosselmeyer laughed heartily, watching Uzura throw the pendant into the storm. "Now the story can get back on track!"
She hated how she could hear Drosselmeyer's gleeful cackle as she transformed once again.
Princess Tutu rode the wind like it was a dance partner lifting her to greater and greater heights until she finally reached the eye of the storm. All was calm here and in its center sat Fakir.
"Princess Tutu…?" Fakir whispered in surprise. He backed away slightly. "You really do look like that raven…"
Rue placed a hand to her heart in pain.Will he always see me this way? That woman isn't me… is she?
"So you're Princess Tutu."
Tutu looked around in surprise at the sudden voice. It sounded like Fakir and yet no words left his lips.
"Are you really the Raven Princess? Are you this man's enemy?"
"My knight, it pains me to know I remind you of such a frightening creature…" Tutu whispered gently, beginning to dance. Rue placed her heart into the words she spoke. "I do not know if I was a servant to the Raven in the past or if she is a vision of my future… I do not know if I am or ever will be the villain in your story but please know this: As I am now, I shall never, ever harm you again!"
Fakir's eyes widened as tears came to her eyes.
"I simply wanted to help you regain your heart so you could live your life to the fullest not only experiencing sorrow and fear, but also joy and love. But I wasn't helping you, I was putting you through so much pain!" Rue's heart ached as she fell to her knees. "I'm so sorry, Fakir..!"
They stood quietly, the only sound being the princess' sobs.
"Hey, come on, get up."
Tutu looked up in surprise, seeing Fakir looking down at her. She'd never heard him speak so directly.
"I'll go with you if that'll make you stop crying."
Rue smiled back through tears, forgetting to be elegant as she rose. "Alright then… I'm so glad…"
The winds carried them safely down to the ground before the storm dissipated into the light and gentle breeze it had once been.
The princess gently took away her hand, her smile fading. "It was an honor to see you while I could, but this is our last meeting."
Fakir frowned quickly. "How come?"
"I don't wish to trouble you anymore…" She smiled sadly. "After tonight, you'll never have to see me again."
They stood in an awkward silence before she gave a small curtsey.
"Well… good-"
"I don't want you to leave, Tutu."
She looked up to see his usually cold eyes hold a strange sort of warmth.
Nearby, Duck had transformed back into her human self and had paused her search after hearing their voices. She watched through the leaves as Fakir walked towards the beautiful princess, towards the person who'd brought them both such fear with her presence.
"When I think of you disappearing, I can only feel sorrow and disappointment…" Fakir revealed. "I don't want you to go away."
"But I have harmed you so much…"
"That doesn't matter to me." The boy insisted, placing a hand to his chest. "When I think of you, I feel a small light in my heart that's only growing stronger and stronger the more often we meet."
The princess blushed.A feeling? One he doesn't have yet? Could it be what I feel for him? It seems neither of us knows what it is…
"It feels so familiar, it is a feeling given to me by someone who cares about me deeply, someone who will never give up on me…" Fakir continued on. "If you leave, I fear I'll never feel it again."
That light… it sounds a lot like…Duck's eyes began to darken, changing color in the night.
"I want you to restore my heart, Princess Tutu." Fakir implored, kneeling to her like many of the shards had before. "The shard that created that storm was likely the feeling of curiosity. I'd like it back."
Tutu blushed as he held her hand in pleading. "I…"
Watching them like this… I never wanted to feel this way and yet I…!Duck's hands tightened into fists, tears coming to her eyes.
A raven landed on the branch beside her, eyes glowing in the darkness.
The breeze converged to reveal the heart shard who kneeled as well. "So this is who I am, my purpose…"
"Are you certain, Fakir?" Tutu asked softly.
"Yes."
The shard appeared in her hands, making the princess smile hopefully.
But just as it landed in her hands, the wind kicked up once more.
"What is this?!" The princess braced herself and Fakir as feathers began to swarm around the two.
The woods seemed to calm after a moment, announcing the arrival of someone new.
A beautiful ballerina with a black tutu and stunningly red pointe shoes stood before them. Her eyes seemed to glow in the dark, they were the same blood red as her slippers.
"W-Who are you?" Tutu asked, narrowing her eyes in suspicion.
The girl smiled before making a mime, one that sent shivers down the other girl's spine. It was the mime of death. "I… am Princess Kreahe."
"Princess Kreahe…?" Tutu repeated softly, wondering why the name seemed so familiar.
"Why have you come?" Fakir asked, raising a brow.She seems to be the Raven Princess, but she's not the one I saw in my dreams… could she be someone else?
"I come to assist you, my knight." The princess smiled gently, offering him her hand. "Allow me to take you away from this woman. You don't need her nor the 'help' she offers you."
"That's not true!" Tutu grunted, surprising the other two with the tone. She realized she wasn't acting as she should and quickly calmed herself. "What I meant to say is that Fakir himself wishes for me to restore his heart."
Kreahe narrowed her eyes before glancing back at Fakir. "Really?"
He gave a quick nod.
The ballerina's sweet smile vanished, as if it had been a facade simply to get her way. "I see… Well, if I can't convince you otherwise…"
She disappeared in a flash of feathers.
Before Tutu could even comprehend what was happening, Kreahe had snatched the heart shard out of her hands before twirling away. "No!"
Kreahe laughed before sending a swarm of rose petals at the other princess, knocking her to the ground.
"Stop this!" Fakir cried, reaching out to grab the heart shard.
Kreahe caught him by the wrist with a smirk before meeting his eyes. Her own widened, the red color draining from them.Who… Who am I?!
Princess Tutu opened her eyes to see Princess Kreahe and the knight had vanished. "Fakir…? Fakir!"
Mytho had been searching for the boy all evening only to find him fast asleep on the cabin floor. "Fakir!"
Beside the boy was a single black feather.
The boy picked it up with a shaky hand, staring at it with wide eyes. "N-No! It can't be!"
Drosselmeyer laughed seeing the prince and the princess both shaking in fear while Duck lay collapsed on her bed, surrounded by gold and black feathers. "This is where the story truly begins! The once shining spark of hope has begun to flicker, its followers soon to be lost in an endless tragedy without their precious light! How terribly delightful, ha ha ha!"