Act 3: Reunion “Rue! Mytho!” Rue, still embracing Mytho as if her very life depended on it, slowly opened her eyes at the sound of their names. The voice, which sounded vaguely like a duck’s, seemed familiar, but that was impossible. Ahiru had given up her human form when she gave Mytho his last heart shard back. Yet… “It really is you!” the duck-voiced girl cried out, launching herself at Rue and Mytho and throwing her arms around the both of them. “I’m so happy! I’ve miss you so, so much!” Mytho was the first to speak, Rue still in shock by what had just happened. “A-Ahiru? Is that really you?” he asked as the girl released them from her enthusiastic embrace. “Where are we?” “Kinkan.” “Kinkan? But how?” “Fakir wrote a story,” the girl who could only be Ahiru said as if that explained everything. Running over to a nearby door, she knocked and called out, “Fakir, come out! They’re here! They’re really, really here!” From the other room, Rue heard the distinctive sound of a chair being pushed back, then soft footfalls as Fakir walked over to open the door between the two rooms. “Ahiru, what is going on?” he demanded to know. “I told you not to disturb me while I’m wri…ting…” Fakir’s eyes widened when he finally became aware of Rue and Mytho’s presence. “It’s been a long time, Fakir,” Mytho said, giving his former knight a nod of acknowledgement. Once he got over the shock of seeing them again, Fakir’s lips curled up in a rare smile. “Yes, it has, Mytho. Good to see you again.” “Will somebody please explain what’s going on?” Rue asked, speaking for the first time since they arrived. She felt as if she fallen into some strange dream, though a discreet pinch to her arm assured her it was indeed real. “We were in Mytho’s private library in the palace, but then there was this blinding golden light…” “I told you, Rue,” Ahiru said, “Fakir wrote a story.” “That still doesn’t really explain exactly what happened. And how are you a girl again, Ahiru? I thought you couldn’t transform without your pendant.” “Fakir did that, too.” Smiling, Ahiru performed a small, awkward pirouette, the skirt of her pretty yellow dress fluttering up slightly around her. “See, I’m completely human now.” “You two want something to eat?” Fakir asked. He had turned toward a nearby cupboard, most likely to hide the faint blush Rue swore she had seen on his cheeks, and was rummaging around the canned goods. “I was just about to break for lunch.” “Oh, I’ll fix lunch, Fakir,” Ahiru said, coming up beside him and reaching for a can of tomato soup, which he immediately snatched away. “No, I think *I’d* better do that. Remember last week?” “Oh, right.” Ahiru looked bashful at the reminder, but Fakir affectionately ruffled her hair in a manner Rue never thought possible from the gruff, serious young man and jerked his head back toward Mytho and Rue. “Why don’t you go entertain our guests instead?” he suggested, and Ahiru instantly perked up. “Okay!” Grabbing Rue’s and Mytho’s hands, the completely human girl who used to be a duck led the two of them outside the small cottage where Fakir evidently now lived. The house was not in the main part of town, as Rue had expected, but sat solitary beside a beautiful crystal blue lake. Unlike the world of the story, which had been in the middle of winter when they had disappeared, Kinkan appeared to be in full spring. Everything was lush and green, and the sun pleasantly warmed Rue’s fair skin. “How have you been, Ahiru?” Mytho asked as the three of them walked around the lake. Ahiru smiled. “Great,” she replied, “especially ever since Fakir wrote the story that turned me back into a human girl. I wouldn’t have minded staying as a duck for the rest of my life, but I have to admit it feels wonderful to be able to talk, and laugh, and especially dance again.” She did another pirouette. “Miss Helena -- she’s the new ballet mistress at the Academy, by the way -- says I’m almost ready for beginner’s pointe classes. Isn’t that fantastic? I can’t wait!” “That’s wonderful.” “Yes, it is,” Rue agreed, though she took the opportunity to turn the conversation back to her original questions. She was happy for Ahiru, but she needed answers -- real answers, and not the vague ones Ahiru kept giving them. “So Fakir wrote a story that permanently turned you back into a human girl?” Ahiru nodded. “I think he sensed how much I longed to be human again. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have done it. Fakir doesn’t like to use his story spinning powers very often, but I’m glad he did for me.” She suddenly stopped. “Actually, that’s why you two are here.” “What do you mean, Ahiru?” Rue asked. “Well…” Ahiru blushed and looked down at the ground. “The truth is, I really missed you guys. I wanted to see you again, so I asked Fakir to write a story where you came for a visit,” she confessed. “He didn’t really want to at first, feeling it wouldn’t be right to control Mytho’s actions like Drosselmeyer did, but I convinced him it would be okay as long as he only wrote enough to bring you two here. I-I hope that’s okay.” “Actually, we’re grateful you did,” Mytho said, reaching for Rue’s hand and giving it a light squeeze. “In fact, right before we left the story, Rue and I were trying to discover a way to return back to Kinkan. Rue wants to look for somebody who may live here, right, Rue?” In all the excitement, Rue had almost forgotten about the search for her real parents, but her heart leapt when she realized what their unexpected visit to Kinkan meant. She could finally make a serious effort to find her lost family! Grabbing a surprised Ahiru by the shoulders, Rue looked almost manic as she asked the question that could hold the answer to her prayers. “Ahiru, listen to me, do you know where the completed version of 'The Prince and the Raven' is? “The completed version?” “The one in the tower, the one that recorded everything that happened when you were Princess Tutu. It’s very important that I see it.” “I-I’m not sure,” Ahiru stuttered. “Um, Rue, could you let go of me? You’re hurting me a little.” Rue, embarrassed by her behavior, loosened her grip on Ahiru. “I’m sorry, Ahiru,” she apologized. “I just really need to see the book.” “Fakir probably knows where it is. I think he took it after you and Mytho went back into the story.” “Fakir…” Without telling Mytho or Ahiru where she was going, Rue immediately turned around and ran back to the cottage. Fakir was in the middle of making grilled cheese sandwiches to go with the can of tomato soup he had warmed up when she burst back into the kitchen, excited and out of breath. “Rue, what in the world…?” Holding onto the edge of the kitchen table for support, Rue sputtered out seemingly random words as she attempted to catch her breath. “Where…complete…'Prince and Raven'…? Need…read…it… My parents…” “Rue, sit down,” Fakir ordered, pulling out a chair and pushing Rue down to sit in it. “You aren’t making any sense. What’s this about 'The Prince and the Raven'?” Rue managed to calm herself down before repeating her question. “I need to see the complete version of 'The Prince and the Raven'. It might be able to tell me who my real, human parents are. Do you know where it is?” she asked. After what seemed like an eternity to Rue, Fakir mournfully shook his head. “I’m sorry, Rue,” he said, “but it’s gone. I burned it.” DISCLAIMER: "Princess Tutu" doesn't belong to me. AUTHOR'S NOTE: Any comments or criticisms can be sent to me at ElysionDream@aol.com.