The Knight and the Duck

~13~

Meanwhile, Duck awoke on the dock of the pond, her mind buzzing and her arm still a bit tense from being sucked under. She expected a bigger change however,

And what change there was, there was nothing

It was not under the water, instead she was back in Gold Crown town.

Everything seemed a bit more colorful though, and there wasnt a huge wall surrounding the area.

"okay.. a few new things." Duck murmured to herself.

"Maybe I can go to Fakir's! and he'll know what to do!"

She was ready to start off back to Fakir's house when she spotted a familiar face. One she hadn't seen in at least a few months, at most a year and a half.

It was Rue.

"RUE!!" Ahiru yelled the name and bounded over to her friend, squeezing her in a tight hug. "I'm so so so glad youre back how are things with Mytho?"

Rue gave her a bewildered look. "Whatever are you talking about? And you were just with Mytho weren't you?"

It was then Duck began to realize small differences in her friend too. Rue had the kind gaze of her elegant friend, but she didn't seem weighed down by anything.

"Ahiru?" Rue questioned after she didn't say anything.

"Is Fakir okay?" Duck asked softly. "Please Rue I have to know."

Rue was even more confused at that question

"I'm sure he is but why the sudden change? You planning on giving up?"

"Giving up? Giving up what?"

Rue let out a joyous laugh, and prodded Ducks arm. "Our feud? to see who can win Mythos heart!"

"Mythos...heart?" Duck was extremely confused

"But with the question of Fakir I can see maybe just maybe, you've set your gaze on someone else? Hmm?"

Duck had never seen Rue so talkative

"Ah, Is the town a bit more colorful to you?"

Rue shook her head. "I don't think so? Are you okay Ahiru? you're looking a bit pale."

Duck needed to sit down, this was alot. It was nice to have Rue, but, her trying to get Mytho? but Rue and Mytho we're part of the story? if they had come out?

"Rue, I'm gonna ask you something and you have to answer honestly okay?"

"um, sure okay?"

"Why did you leave your story with Mytho?" Duck bit her lip.

Rue thought for a moment. "I really, have no idea what nonsense you've cooked up. If this is a plot to take Mytho-"

"I don't have romantic feelings for Mytho!" Duck shook Rue's shoulders. "Why did you leave your fairytale ending? How did you get out of the Prince and the Raven?"

Rue, annoyed, stepped away from Duck. "Look Ahiru, maybe you're having a lapse in judgement but don't you remember? YOU saved us!! When Miss Edel was the Raven and took advantage of my love? and turned me into Princess Kraehe? Then Tutu turned into a speck of light and vanished."

Rue shook her head and began to walk wherever she was going, leaving a dumbfounded Duck trying to process everything Rue had just said.

"Miss Edel...is...the Raven? no no that can't be right....but Tutu turned into .. a speck of light? And yet I'm here? But but Rue .. isn't? wasn't? grown up as Kraehe?"

"Ahiru!" Mythos voice shocked Duck out of her trance and her head snapped up to the white haired prince. Beside him, his green haired knight.

"Fakir!!!" Duck couldn't help herself, she ran forward to hug him.

She was stopped by his hand on her head though, and she stopped trying to hug him almost immediately, embarrassd

"I don't know who you think you are Idiot, but I don't play games like this."

Mytho hugged Duck and she gave him a wary hug back, eyes still on Fakir.

"Come on Fakir, don't you want to hug her? she was so eager to."

"No Mytho I don't want to."

"Fine, suit yourself. One day her kindness will get to you."

"Whatever you say "

The two interacted a bit different than before, with Mytho being happy and exuberant, and Fakir being sort of dark and brooding.

Similar and yet different. Like meeting Rue had been.

Mytho must know!! Why he came back with Rue!

"Hey Mytho? why did you leave the story with Rue?" Duck meant the question, but Mytho laughed immediately and waved it off.

"With Rue? what are you talking about? I don't have any story times with Rue. Or at least, I haven't heard of any."

"She means a storybook, dimwit." Fakir piped in.

Duck turned on Fakir, pointing her finger in his face. "And you! What did you write?"

"Slow your horses stupidhead, I don't write. I dance. In case you've forgotten??"

"Fakir, play nice. "

"No, She's always bugging me." Fakir groaned.

So this Fakir was different too, much more like before Duck had seen this quiet side.

"But you were in the book right? The Prince ans the Raven?" Ahiru tried Mytho again.

"I don't know what that is."

His response was simple. He meant it.

Duck was so confused now. Still with what Rue had said and now? Mytho and Rue weren't together, Miss Edel was bad? And Fakir was his old self, not his new one.

"Duck? Do you want to walk with us to school?" Mytho asked, holding out a hand.

Duck didn't take the hand. Holding hands with Rue's man was not something she would do.

She wished she could hold hands with Fakir though. He caught her staring and looked away, folding his arms.

"We are Not holding hands. Don't give me that look."

Maybe..better to play it safe. And when the time comes, she would figure it out.

"Sure! I'll tag along. I saw Rue up ahead!" And the three began walking, Ducks knowledge still a scrambled mess.