Aneko: Man, I'm on a roll, aren't I? I used to only update once per week or so, but now I'm going pretty fast...LAST CHAP!!
Disclaimer: No, I don't own Princess Tutu, thanks for asking.
Chapter 13
Ahiru looked down at Fakir, then stepped off the gazebo. A thick green vine, covered in thorns and white roses, rose up to meet her, carrying her to the ground. Fakir came over, and Ahiru smiled as she looked up at him.
"I finally found what I can do." She said as her uniform became normal again.
"Yeah." Fakir said. After a pause he continued. "We just have to visit one more place."
Ahiru nodded, getting the same feeling, so they began walking to the lake.
Though no one was there, the cavern opened again at their approach. Once they reached the bottom, a small light, glowing and pulsating softly, led them to the center. Five identical orbs circled them, changing until all the orbs turned to the apparition-like silhouettes of those they had fought or befriended.
The first to come forward were the former serpents.
Yamiko came first, looking shy; very much like the child she seemed to be. "Ne, is it true? Will you remember?"
Ahiru nodded, smiling, and Yamiko smiled back, a real one that lit up her face. She nodded, fading once more. :Okay! I'll hold you to that!"
Reiko stepped forward. "Tell me- you can forgive us for what we've done to you?"
Ahiru nodded, closing her eyes and putting her hands over her heart. "Hai. It's like Rue-chan. For a long time, you've thought things are one way, but you're starting to see differently now."
Reiko looked at her a moment, before a smile graced her lips. As she disappeared, she bowed, putting an arm across her chest. "Arigatou."
Juniper came forward slowly. Bending down in front of Ahiru, he took her hand and kissed it. "Thank you," He looked up, "for reminding us of what we once were." Ahiru blushed bright red, and Juniper laughed as he faded.
Ahiru and Fakir turned to the other side of the circle where the Lions were.
Kange and Koeko came together next. Koeko reached out and took Ahiru's hands. "You did it. You brought them back!"
"Thank you. Both of you." Kange looked from Ahiru to Fakir, and he and Koeko were gone.
Geiju was last. He already had a warm smile on his face as he came forward.
"Once again, thank you."
"What will happen to you now?" Ahiru asked worriedly.
"I'm not sure. We may go to some other town now."
"We won't forget! We'll tell them all about you!" Ahiru promised again earnestly. "Right?" She looked back at Fakir.
"Yeah. I'll write your story." Fair nodded.
A joyful tear rolled down Geiju's cheek, and he began to fade. "So the world really may have had no need for us after all. You have done admirably."
Fakir nodded, and he and Ahiru watched as the last of the warriors faded.
Ahiru's hand found its way into Fakir's and she smiled as he looked down at her.
"And so the second battle ended, not in the way expected, but happily non the less. Things were peaceful once more, and the warriors no longer needed to watch over the world, allowed finally to rest."
"Fakir!" Fakir put down his quill, getting up to open the door.
Ahiru smiled. "Ready to go?"
"You are actually on time today?" Fakir teased, as he got his things. He had spent the night at Charon's to complete the story.
"Don't be so mean!" Ahiru pouted. "It's not like I try to be late."
Fakir ran a hand through his hair. Ahiru noticed this and asked. "Did you finish the story?"
"Hm? Almost. Just a few more things and it'll be done."
Ahiru smiled happily. "I'm glad you got it done so fast."
"Today we'll be going down to the performance hall, to find out who made it through the tryouts." The teacher said, surveying the students sitting in front of him. "While there are only two main roles, there will also be some side roles as well, for others of you who did well."
"Wow, that was fast." Pique said, surprised, as they all prepared to go.
All the student stood in a line on the stage in front of the judges.
The older man stepped forward and began speaking, his voice projecting easily over everyone. "I'm glad you all offered to try out. I have to say, we were very impressed with all of you."
The older woman spoke up. "We had an interesting occurrence this year. For the first time, we have chosen two people who performed together to be our leads."
There was plenty of murmuring as the young man stepped forward, looking at the clipboard he held. "Ahiru-san and Fakir-san?" He called, looking up. The younger woman motioned towards Fakir and Ahiru.
Ahiru just stood there dumbly, until Pique and Lilie each gave her a little push, which sent her stumbling to the front of the stage to stand next to Fakir.
The young woman walked over as supporting characters were called. "My name is Gwendal," She said, shaking both of their hands. "I'll be working with you on the script and choreography."
Just as she was about to say more, a man came running out from backstage. "Gwendal! We've got a problem!"
"What is it?" Gwendal turned to him.
"It seems one of the new stagehands mistook the script for scrap paper. And threw it out! We didn't get a chance to copy it!"
An alarmed look came to Gwendal's face, and she put a hand to her head. Muttering, "How stupid do you have to be to throw out a piece of paper before you look at it?"
Unnoticed by the worried workers, Ahiru whispered something in Fakir's ear, and he looked thoughtful, then nodded, making her smile.
Gwendal turned apologetically back to Ahiru and Fakir. "It looks like we won't be doing a performance after all. Our writers just don't have time to rewrite a whole new script before we go to the next town. It was a new story, and we haven't had a whole lot of time to study it." She said sheepishly.
"Ano, Gwendal-san?" Ahiru asked, smiling. Gwendal looked at her questionably. "Well, that is…"
"I think we have an idea that might work." Fakir spoke up.
"Really?!" Gwendal looked excited.
"Yeah, If you need help with arranging music, I have a cousin in the music department. He's never done it before, but I'm sure he'd like to try."
"Great!" Gwendal said enthusiastically. "We might be able to pull this off after all!"
The ballet, called Farewell, Goodnight, was enormously popular. It was about a group of people who decided to protect the world with their powers, and how they were not happy with how they had no real place in the world they protected, with one group still dedicated to protecting the world, while the other turned against it, and caused suffering. In the end, all of them, both sides, found peace, and were able to leave the world as they found it. (Sound familiar? XD)
Fakir and Ahiru were given a standing ovation when they came out to bow. Fakir was introduced as the writer of the ballet as well, and got wild cheers.
Backstage, many people came up to Fakir, asking how he came up with such an original idea. Each person was mystified as he got a strange look in his eye, and he and the girl beside him would smile mysteriously, though she was sometimes facing a different direction and didn't seem to be listening, and Fakir would say, "I'm only writing down the lives of some friends."
Each person would inquire that, of course, he would mean from a figurative perspective?
To this, Fakir would simply look at the person directly and ask back. "Is it?" This left many puzzled as they walked away, and some wondered about what he had said.
Ahiru watched as they stage crew started to tear down the scenery. Tonight had been their last performance of three nights in a row (after many practices), and tomorrow, the acting troupe would be leaving.
"It was fun…and I'm glad we got the story out this way. Do you think anyone really understood what we were trying to tell them?"
"Who knows?" Fakir said, "What they believe is up to them."
"Ah, Ahiru-san, Fakir-san!" Gwendal came running up. "It's been lots of fun. Thank you both for your talent and time."
Ahiru blushed. Talent…? Me…?
Gwendal noticed. "What? Don't you believe me?"
"It's just…"
"It is the heart that decides, not the ability."
Ahiru's head snapped up to look at Gwendal, who was smiling at Ahiru.
"Gwendal-san, where did you hear that?"
Gwendal smiled mysteriously. "I was told that by a friend a very long time ago. I'm sure wherever he is, he greatly enjoyed the play."
Ahiru could only gape after Gwendal as she walked away. "She-she-!"
"Perhaps," Fakir said, "there are some who know as well. She, they are not as forgotten as we thought. I think the world will know, someday."
Ahiru found Fakir's hand holding hers again, and she smiled at him again. "Yep. We've done all we could for them, and the world should be okay by itself now."
Epilogue
A young girl thundered down the stairs, nearly tripping and falling. Her blue-green sea-colored eyes widened, but she grabbed the doorframe, rubbing the back of her head and laughing sheepishly.
A woman called from somewhere else, "Saki-chan! I thought I told you not to run inside!"
Saki turned, her black, long braid flying out behind her. "But okaa-san! I'm gonna be late again!"
The woman came into view. With long, salmon-colored hair, and blue eyes, she had grown a little taller, and her face was a little more mature, but other than that, not much else had changed. A new sense of grace, all her own, had replaced most of her clumsiness.
"Calm down! I'm sure Pique-sensei and Lilie-sensei wouldn't want to kill yourself to get there."
Saki rolled her eyes. "You say that, but aren't you teaching the apprentice class this morning?"
The woman's eyes widened. "Ohh! I forgot! Thank you Saki-chan!!" She ran hastily back upstairs.
"Hey, I thought you said no running!" Saki shouted after her mother, but gave up, shaking her head.
"I almost forgot!" Her mother ran back in, "Mytho and Rue-chan are visiting today. They're bringing their son Prince Kitza. You remember him, right?"
Saki groaned. "He thinks he can tease me just because he's a couple years older and a prince!"
"He's only teasing."
"What's going on in here? A minute ago it sounded like the world was ending." A third voice sounded.
"Oto-san!" Saki said brightly, "Ohayo."
The man entered, his green eyes and black hair the same as always.
"Yeah." He replied. "Is something wrong?"
"No, no." The woman said quickly. "She just doesn't want to see Kitza-kun."
The man raised an eyebrow. "He can't be that bad." Saki gave him a sour face, and he laughed. "Go on, you'll be late."
Saki's eyes widened. "Oh noooo!" She ran out the door and towards the Academy.
Fakir laughed as he watched his daughter. "She's just like you when you were her age." He said to Ahiru.
"You think so"
"Well for one thing she's just as stubborn, and for another just as clumsy."
"Hey!"
Fakir shook his head. "Hey, won't you be late too?" He chuckled, as Ahiru flew about, getting ready to go.
"I'll see you later, before Mytho and Rue-chan get here!" She said, heading for the door.
Just before she got out, Fakir grabbed her, giving her a small kiss. "See you later."
Though it had been years since he had first kissed her, Ahiru blushed. "Yeah."
Fakir leaned against the door, watching his wife run down the street. Finally turning back inside, he went upstairs to write. Maybe today, he would write about a duck…
-The End-
Aneko: I had fun writing the epilogue. I hope you liked it too. Try listening to Overflowing Emotions, Reunion (from Tales of the Abyss) from the part when they talk to all the warriors to when Geiju disappears. Kudos to anyone who knew the line "You have done admirably". Sayonara, until next time, in my Furuba oneshots.
Disclaimer part 2: I don't own Tales of the Abyss, sheesh. If I did, I would listen to the pretty music all day without having to buy it(such as above piece), and Tear and Luke wouldn't be so dang DENSE!!