Once upon a time, there was a man who died. The story he rewrote had a knight who not only lost his heart but also his life.

Once reborn, the knight still had no heart to speak of, and so could not express any sort of love or kindness to the people around him, not even to the prince whom he'd once protected so valiantly.

Meanwhile, scattered throughout the town, the shards of the knight's heart sought places to settle and found their way into people's hearts who had a void in them.

Among those possessed by the shards were some who ended up making their own tales go awry…

"You lack emotion in your dance. Without portraying feelings of either yourself or a character, you are merely going through the motions. A connection between you and the audience can not exist if the character has no heart…"

Rue narrowed her eyes after going over what Mr. Cat had told her yesterday for about the hundredth time. She had no idea how to practice showing emotion so simply did her usual routine more often. She had her early morning practice, of course, but now spent the afternoon at the barre as well. When I'm Princess Tutu, I was able to empathize with Pique and help her let out her feelings along with Fakir's heart shard… But that wasn't me…

"Miss Rue, I'm afraid emotion can't be practiced or perfected, it's rather the opposite."

Rue winced before turning to see Mr. Cat with an armful of books. She hoped they weren't for her. She'd learned how to balance a book on her head and bottom a long time ago (it was a way to teach posture) but knew even she couldn't balance that many. "Mr. Cat… How did you know I'd be here?"

"Because you remind me of myself when I was your age: I couldn't handle a bit of constructive criticism without immediately trying to fix it." Mr. Cat mumbled in memory. "It wasn't until I met the sun to my moon, the apple of my eye, the prima of my very life that I was able to truly relax and dance like I never had before!"

Rue smiled faintly. Mr. Cat couldn't help talking about his wife and how in love he was with her, it was rather sweet.

"Until you find a connection like that, someone to dance for, you can never unlock your full potential."

Someone to dance for? Would that be Fakir? Rue wondered to herself.

"Do you have someone in mind?"

"No! Well, I don't know, maybe…" Rue felt her face heat up. She thought of her growing friendships with both Duck and Fakir and what a good couple they seemed to be. If she ever admitted her feelings, what would it mean for them? "I know I do feel something but if I ever confess it…"

She could almost hear Droselmeyer's amusement at her plight.

"You know, you remind me of a story. It's actually in one of these books, I brought them so you could find a character you could empathize with and learn how to express that through dance..." Mr. Cat said, pulling out a purple book and handing it to her. "I think you'll find a character inside you can relate to but you must look quite hard, she only appears in a sentence or two."

"He is the reincarnation of the brave knight from the story I wrote! In it he shattered his own heart to seal The Raven away in an attempt to protect his precious prince." Rue remembered the strange man and his description of the story he wrote. "The author of this book… Is his name Drosselmeyer?"

"That's right. His stories are all heart wrenching tragedies focused on each character and their internal struggles."

"…" Rue stared at the book, a feeling of dread in the pit of her stomach. She wanted to have a word with the author, other than in her dreams. "Where can I find this man?"

"Find him?" Mr. Cat's ears perked up in surprise. He began licking his paw in a nervous tick before beginning to groom himself. "Miss Rue, didn't you know? Drosselmeyer died ages ago."

Her blood ran cold. "D-Died…?"

"It seems like karma for the stories he wrote, doesn't it?" Mr. Cat purred before closing the door, leaving her alone once again.

So the person who wrote the story died… Rue turned to look out the window. And in the story, the knight died too and was reborn here in the real world… "So Fakir is really the knight from the story reborn. That must be why he's so handsome…"

She then noticed a familiar girl skipping towards the fountain with a picnic basket in hand."Oh, it's Duck. If she knew about the story, she surely would've let it slip by now, wouldn't she?"

It was then she saw who Duck was meeting, Fakir. He looked as emotionless as ever when she wrapped his arm around hers, excitedly talking to him. Rue blushed. I wish I could go on a picnic with him too but I don't think he'd enjoy it. Who would want to go out with an ugly crow like me…?

"Ahem."

She turned to see Mytho leaning on the doorway. She narrowed her eyes. "You need something?"

"I was just wondering if you've seen Fakir. I can't find him and I'm starting to get worried…" He gently placed his hand to his chest, as if his very heart ached.

Rue rolled her eyes at his dramatics. "Worried? Please. That's just a clever way of saying you want to control him."

The boy looked surprised for a moment before giving a short laugh, walking towards her. "You don't know the first thing about Fakir. He loves being by my side, it's only lately that he's been pulling away."

"Maybe because he found a sweeter partner in Duck." Rue muttered under her breath.

"Did you say something?"

Her eyes widened when she realized he was right in front of her now. She could feel her face heating up as his honey eyes stared into hers. "N-No-"

"You did, don't try and deny it. You said he'd be better off with Duck." He smiled faintly as he leaned in closer. "Where are they?"

"As if I'd ever tell you." Rue huffed, hugging the book closer as if it would protect her as she glared at him. Who does he think he is getting so close?!

"Fine then, I'll find them myself." He glanced down to see the book and frowned in confusion. "Are you reading The Prince and The Raven…?"

Does he know about Fakir? Rue wondered before narrowing her eyes. Would that be a good thing or a bad thing? "Why are you so interested, Mytho?"

"I'm not." Mytho murmured, finally turning away. "I just find it funny that someone who takes herself so seriously would be so invested in a bedtime story for children, that's all!"

The nerve of that man! The door slammed, leading Rue to drop the book. She gave a sigh before continuing to practice. So I'm the only one who knows Fakir's secret… Then I guess that means it's up to me to protect my knight…

Rue'd never had a good reason to stop in the middle of practice until today. She was determined to find Fakir and Duck and warn them of Mytho.

They looked like they were going out on a picnic so she'd check all the usual picnicking spots, places she rarely ever visited. Fortuitously, her first stop, the park, was the right place.

Through the trunks, she saw Fakir and Duck were sprawled out on a picnic basket with a feast of bread and fruit beside them. Fakir scrawled in his journal while Duck lay her head in his lap as she stared up at the sky between the thin branches of the blossoming tree.

"Hey, Fakir." Duck eyed him curiously. "Do you think you could ever get to the point where you could maybe say you…um, loved someone?"

Rue could feel her cheeks heat up. She shouldn't be watching this! But she wanted to know the answer too so forced herself to look back.

Fakir put down his notebook before looking down at the girl. "Do you want me to say that to you?"

Duck's face turned red as a rose as she sat up far too quickly, knocking over a bottle of lemonade. Neither of them seemed to notice. She covered her face in embarrassment as Fakir watched with an eyebrow raised, not understanding why she made such a strange face. "Hehe, to me? Oh, um, only if you'd want to! And only if you meant it, of course!"

"I see." Fakir didn't say much back, leaving them in an awkward silence.

Rue frowned. Why didn't he answer her…?

Duck looked around for something, anything to get them away from the conversation and noticed the now spilled bottle of lemonade. She picked it up, turning it over. "I spilled the lemonade… I'm sorry but Fakir, could you maybe go get us some water?"

Fakir nodded obediently, taking the bottle from her hand.

Rue saw Duck's smile fall the moment he was gone. She clearly had just wanted some time to herself to process what had just happened.

She backed away from the bushes before sadly walking away. Duck could've just told him to tell her he loved her just to gain the satisfaction but she didn't… If I was in her position….

"Trust me, you do love me, _"

Rue heard her own voice say the words but couldn't remember a time she'd ever said them, nor who she'd said them to. What a manipulative thing to say… Why did I say that?

Before she could think any more on the subject she bumped into someone.

"Fakir!" She gasped in surprise.

"Rue." He recognized.

"I saw you going off with Duck on a picnic when I was practicing. She's very kind…" Rue mentioned offhandedly. She sighed. "You must really love her."

"Maybe."

Rue glanced up in surprise. He actually doesn't know? I knew he couldn't feel a lot but love is so important…! "Maybe?"

"I don't know how to express love or how it feels..." Fakir shrugged as if it was nothing. He glanced to the bottle of water unfeelingly. "Duck and Mytho take care of me. But I don't know if that's love or not."

"I see…" Rue whispered sadly. She could somewhat relate. He doesn't even know what love is…

"I should get going." He mumbled, not knowing what to say to such a pitiful face. As he walked by, his hand snagged against a bush, scratching it.

"Oh, your hand!" Rue gasped. She winced seeing the sharp line of blood being to pool near the cut. "You-!"

"It doesn't hurt." Fakir interrupted her. "Mytho, Duck, and now you too… Why do you always act like this when something happens to me?"

Fakir's eyes always look so cold and forlorn…He was the knight who lost his heart, that's why he doesn't know how important feelings are, especially love and hurt…

"We ought to clean that." She quickly took out a handkerchief and poured the water on it before gently dabbing the wound.

Fakir watched silently as she did, not making a face even when the cold cloth touched the cut.

"There we are, all better." Rue smiled to herself before noticing the empty bottle of water in her hand. "Oh, I used up all the water you collected…!"

She handed the bottle back to Fakir with a bow of apology. "I'm terribly sorry! Come with me, I must get you more!"

Fakir let himself be dragged away by the stubborn girl throughout town.

"Duck is so kind and considerate, she deserves sweet-tasting water fit for a true lady, even if she doesn't look or act like one." Rue said mainly to herself. "Disgusting river water won't do and we simply can't impose the townspeople for some out of their own taps, that would be rude. Where should I get some?"

"There."

Rue glanced up to see Fakir pointing to a restaurant in the middle of the woods. She hadn't realized they'd walked so far. Duck must've been waiting for a while now. "That will have to do."

They walked up to see the restaurant was open.

"Ebiné…" Rue read out the name aloud. "What an elegant name, I wonder what it means?"

She knocked gently only for the door to fly open.

"Customers!" A plump and jolly man grinned, his smile seemed too big for his face.

"Hello there." Rue curtsied politely. "I was wondering if-"

"If you could come in, of course you can!" The man chuckled, practically pulling her and Fakir inside. "I'm Omoto, head chef here at Ebiné! Please, you must take a seat, I want you to have a taste of the best dish in the world!"

"Oh, no, you misunderstand, Mr. Omoto. We're not customers." Rue explained before holding up the bottle of water. "We simply came for some water."

"Only… water?"

She gulped as the man seemed to tower over her, his eyes shadowed. "That's right."

But her stomach betrayed her, making a loud grumbling noise. She had been so wrapped up in practice she'd forgotten to eat lunch.

"Ah ha! You are hungry! I won't let you leave without having my famous soup!"

"But I don't have anything to pay you with!"

"That's fine!"

"It doesn't matter, we're only here for water!" Rue cried as he practically shoved the two into waiting seats. It was then that her pendant glowed. Ah! Does this mean Mr. Omoto has a heart shard…?

Duck had dozed off waiting for Fakir to return and was rudely awakened by the sound of a horse trotting up. "Mmm…?"

"Morning, sleepy head." Mytho smiled with mirth.

"Mytho!" Duck gasped, sitting up at once. "How are you today?"

"Fine, thank you. I'd be better if I knew where Fakir was."

Sometimes I wish Mytho and I could be better friends… Duck frowned. They usually got along unless Fakir was involved. "So this isn't a friendly conversation then."

"I'm afraid not."

Duck gave a sigh before crossing her arms. "I don't know where Fakir went. Why are you so clingy to him, huh?"

"Why are you?" The boy shot back, narrowing his eyes. "He's my knight."

"Yeah, well…!" Duck trailed off, not knowing what to say. "Well he's my knight too!"

Mytho gave a sigh in disappointment. "Think whatever you want, Duck. The fact is he mentioned a feeling the other day."

Duck's eyes widened in shock before she stood up. "Huh? A feeling? Fakir?"

"That's right. Now, where is he?"

"He went to get some water since I spilled the lemonade and he's not back. I was going to go look for him-"

"You let him go alone?" Mytho asked with a hint of judgement.

"Yes, I did. I think he likes to be alone sometimes since you and me are always with him." Duck huffed, crossing her arms. "What's the matter with that?"

Mytho gritted his teeth before urging his horse onward.

"Hey, wait for me! If you're going to go look for Fakir then take me with you!"

But Mytho was already gone.

"Meanie…" Duck gave a stubborn little quack before transforming into a duck in a flash of feathers. She flew off after the boy.

"Please, order anything you'd like!" Mr. Omoto urged them, setting down menus.

Rue glanced down at the menu in worry before looking up. "You're very kind but I'm afraid-"

"Oh, I know it's only one item, people often complain about that. But it's my specialty and I've mastered it, chef's honor!"

"Wait, one item?" Rue glanced down to see it was true, only one dish was on the menu: tomato soup. "But isn't this a restaurant? You can't just serve one thing…"

"Two piping hot tomato soups coming right up!"

"Ah, wait!" Rue cried but he was already gone.

Rue knew it was impolite to refuse food but after her third bowl of the exact same soup, she was about to. The worse part was, the soup wasn't even good. Despite Mr. Omoto claiming it was his speciality, the soup was cold and flavorless, not even a hint of tomato came through. "Fakir, don't you think this is strange?"

"What is?" The boy asked, glancing up from his food.

"The fact he only makes one dish and it's so cold and bland." Rue whispered across the table. "Not to mention he's feeding us for free!"

"I don't know."

He's a knight who can't even tell when something's suspicious…! Rue thought to herself. I need to get that heart shard!

She rose from her seat. "Please excuse me, I must go to the restroom."

"Alright."

She'd said she was going to the restroom but really she was looking for Mr. Omoto to relieve him of the heart shard he held, whatever it was.

"Oh, my darling Ebiné, it's been so long since we've had customers… "

Ebiné? Is that his wife? He must've named the restaurant after her… Rue peeked in the kitchen expecting to see a happy couple but was met with the sight of Omoto on his own. Is he… talking to himself?

She then noticed a grave out of the window opposite of her. Above a bouquet of lilies she could just make out the name: Ebiné. His wife died… I think Fakir and I must've interrupted his time of mourning when he clearly needed some more time before he got his restaurant going again. … He must've already been mourning a long time, that grave looks rather old…

She returned to the table and whispered in Fakir's ear. "Fakir, I think we should leave."

"Alright." Fakir nodded, getting up.

Rue was about to go out the back only for an envelope to fall out from between the door and it's frame.

"Hm? What's this?" Rue wondered aloud, picking it up.

The envelope read, 'To my darling husband'.

"What are you doing?"

Rue nearly dropped the letter in surprise at hearing Omoto's voice. "Mr. Omoto, I was just about to leave when-"

"Leave?! You can't leave!" Omoto growled, walking towards them.

This has gone on long enough! Rue held her ground, glaring up at the man. "Why can't I?"

"Because you need to eat the soup! Again and again and again until I'm satisfied!"

"I refuse to eat the same dish over and over again!" Rue cried out indignantly.

"You refuse…?" Rue thought he was about to force her back into the chair but he simply turned to Fakir. "You'll keep eating, won't you?"

"If that's what you want." Fakir muttered.

Rue tried to grab him to get him to safety but was shoved out herself. The door slammed and she heard a definite lock. She rattled the handle at once before pounding on the door. "Mr. Omoto! Let him out now!"

"No matter how many times or to who, I will let the heart shards feed on pure and innocent hearts! So many tragedies are made all the more sorrowful thanks to them!" Drosselmeyer laughed mainly to himself as he watched Mr. Omoto glanced outside to the grave of his dearly departed. "It seems this couple shall never be united again, death has parted them once more! I'm afraid the very same fate awaits you and your prince this time, my little crow!

Rue transformed into Princess Tutu within the golden glow of her pendant.

Omoto opened the door after seeing the glow, noticing the princess. "Are you a new customer?"

"I'm afraid not." Princess Tutu smiled sadly. "I have come for rather the opposite reason..."

The light engulfed the restaurant and transformed it into a space full of blue light. It was full of different kinds of food, not a single bowl of tomato soup in sight.

Tutu helped Fakir out of his chair before helping him onto a large slice of bread that would act as a place to rest. "Don't worry, my knight. I will protect you as you do for the innocent."

"Give him back! Give me back my customer!" Omoto yelled in anger.

Tutu did the mime for dance before offering her hand. "Please dance with me, Mr. Omoto…"

"Dance?" Omoto repeated incredulously. "The only person I ever danced with was Ebiné, I refuse to dance with anyone else!"

With his declaration, a tsunami of soup roared into the realm.

Tutu only had just enough time to summon a ship of vines and pulled Omoto aboard.

"I'm afraid you are stuck in that way of thinking, Mr. Omoto." Tutu whispered softly.

"How can I not be?" Omoto growled, the heart shard of Fakir appearing beside him. It too felt the grief of losing someone they'd lived to be beside. "All I can think of is her now that she's gone!"

The soup flooded the ship, shoving the princess back. She used her arms to slice down, cutting a way through the waves. "But what about your customers, Mr. Omoto?"

Omoto paused, staring at her.

"You and Miss Ebiné must've set up your restaurant to feed more than just yourselves… Why do you cook only one dish when there are so many others?"

"Tomato soup, that was Ebiné's favorite dish" Omoto whispered, seeing Tutu as his wife dancing with him. He chuckled weakly. "It was the first thing I taught her how to make… and the last meal she ever had. It was the only thing she could stomach in the end."

Tutu watched as his memories came to her while they danced. The couple were happily married and started the restaurant together with many satisfied customers but over time, Ebiné grew weaker and weaker. Omoto came to her room one morning to find the bowl of soup he'd left the evening before completely untouched. He then collapsed at her bedside, sobbing over his beloved who'd left him all alone in the cruel world.

Tutu looked up at the shard who still stood by Omoto's side. "You are the feeling of loyalty that faded into loneliness when you were without the one you held dear, aren't you?"

"That's right." The knight whispered, holding onto Omoto.

"You must return to the knight now, he is missing you in his heart."

The shard nodded before giving a bow to Omoto. "Forgive me, there is someone who needs me more."

"No, don't go." Omoto begged as he vanished into the princess's hands. "I won't be able to move on with you, with Ebiné gone!"

"That's not true." Tutu assured him. She took out the letter Rue had held onto for safe keeping. "Look, this is from Miss Ebiné…"

"From my darling…?" He took the letter and hastily opened it. His eyes filled with tears as he finished before he looked up.

The smiling image of Ebiné melted to reveal Tutu in her place.

"She said no matter what happened to her, I couldn't make her the center of everything, that there is more to life…"

A door leading back to the restaurant appeared in front of him.

He took a breath before turning the handle. "I will move on and make new dishes, all unique for my customers to enjoy. Just like you wanted, Ebiné…"

Fakir awoke and accepted Tutu's help up before heart shard returned to him in a flash of light.

"I hope this will help you feel more and empathize with those around you, my knight."

She turned to go but he suddenly grabbed her hand, surprising her. "Oh?"

Fakir gave a small nod to the princess. "I just wanted to say… thank you, Princess Tutu."

Tutu gave a small smile before curtseying to him and running off.

She transformed back into Rue who could feel her heart pounding. Fakir felt gratitude and he expressed it to me…

Just as she was about to go out and check on him, she heard the whine of a horse and a familiar face ran in.

"Fakir, you're alright." Mytho breathed a sigh of relief. "I was worried…"

Fakir bowed his head in apology. "I'm… sorry for making you worry, Mytho."

The boy blinked in surprise. He couldn't remember Fakir ever thanking him for anything. Could it be because he was regaining his heart?

"I'm here too!" A sudden voice yelled and Duck tumbled out of the bushes. She got up and quickly embraced Fakir. "Oh, Fakir, you're alright! What happened to you?"

"Princess Tutu came to me."

Rue peeked out to see Mytho's eyes widen in shock while Duck looked confused.

"Princess… Tutu?" She repeated.

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

Princess Tutu is part of the story as well…? Rue thought to herself. Not only that, but she also restored the prince's heart too?

"Wow, she must've really loved him!" Duck smiled happily.

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

W-What?! Rue covered her mouth in shock, trembling wildly. She placed a hand to her thundering heart. No, no, no, no!

I don't understand, what is fantasy and what is reality?! I'm a crow but I'm also Princess Tutu! She ran back into town before back into a crow. And Tutu vanished! Is that my destiny as well?!

"I see you've found the truth!" Drosselmeyer laughed, watching the girl trapped in a crow's body trying and failing to suppress her fear. "You were written once again as a tragic princess and with the way you are, little Rue, I just know you will stay as one! Bravo, my dear, you need no corrections. As for the rest, well, I guess we'll have to wait and see, hehehe!"