Third Shard [Action]

[soheartless]

Once upon a time...

There was a prince who was locked in a tower. His kingdom had been conquered by a dark king who was known for his ravenous greed, and he sealed off the prince from his people whom he loved. Alone and desperate, the prince was overwhelmed by sorrow until a miracle appeared. A swan had come to his window, and her feathers concealed letters from the people he missed so dearly. Day after day, the swan returned, bringing him more words of hope and well wishes from his people. These letters helped to rebuild the prince's heart, and he started to have hope again. One day, the swan decided to fulfill that hope. She lent him her wings, and with them he soared to freedom. The wings wore down as he reached land, and the prince was free to lead his people again. It was only then that he realized that by giving up her wings, the swan had trapped herself in his place. She was never seen again, and with that, all of the happiness that the prince had found began to crumble away.

In fact, it is said that this prince never smiled again...

[Action]

[Today, Mytho's wandering around town has something closer resembling meaning to it. Sure, he doesn't live near enough Duck to immediately notice her absence - nor does he come across her path on a daily basis. But he's still searching for her, without stopping. He goes around various locales around the town such as the library, the bakery, the fountain and most places around the plaza. And throughout his search, he specifically looks sad. He had felt that heart shard return to him the previous night, and that emotion - the emotion of sorrow - has been weighing on him ever since.

He will often stop passerby to ask them:]

Excuse me. Have you... seen Duck?

[Or, he may instead ask.]

Do you know... where Tutu is?

[Everyone knows Duck and Tutu, right? But all along, in a way, he knows. They're both gone. He's been able to feel it, ever since he woke up. He's not sure why both Duck and Tutu are associated with his feeling... He just knows that it feels like a piece of his heart is gone.

The search is over when night falls. He sits at the edge of the fountain, wallowing in this sorrow. And wishing he had the strength to try to dance.]

Comments

[godbent]

Yeah, she's gone.

[and at this, she snaps the book closed. And sighs]

[action]

[untrueheart]

She is gone, Mytho. Tutu has...perhaps, returned to the story where she belongs. To find her ending.

[imatreenow]

That's hardly my problem. I don't know who she is, nor do I care.

[The sharp look in his eyes is just daring Mytho to say anything else on the matter.]

[action]

[soheartless]

Tutu's ending.... [He shudders suddenly, his eyes starting to glimmer.

A memory is triggered - Fakir reading him that story. That part of the story he liked to hear over and over again... about Princess Tutu.]

She's - she's going to disappear. No... Tutu... [He moans, near a fainting point.]

[action]

[untrueheart]

Mytho, stop! [Either she holds him up or she makes him sit down, if there's a chair handy.] Didn't she tell you? She's going back to a happy ending.

[action]

[soheartless]

[He manages to get seated in a chair, his hands lifelessly resting on his knees]

I don't remember. She never said... such a thing.

Such an ending...?

[soheartless]

Safe? Is that... is that really true? [He looks with wide eyes. He sounds sad, hurt - but also like he's not really convinced that there's reason for joy.]

[Action]

[soheartless]

Home... to the school? [He says uncertainly, as if struggling to put all the pieces together.]

I'm not sure if I remember where she lives. But... I think she may be gone. She's not coming back.

[soheartless]

That;s okay.

In the past... When, I... [He winces slightly, as if remembering is hurting him.] remember... I know the things love has made me.

[soheartless]

[He steps back slightly at the sudden closing of the book, looking broken.]

Duck...? She's... she's gone. [Said not questioningly, but as if admitting it to himself.]

[soheartless]

Yes. Princess... Tutu.

[He puts his hands over his heart.]

She dances, and... she restores pieces of my heart.

[soheartless]

[It's a sharp look that appeals to the fear in him. It's a struggle to maintain eye contact. But he manages to speak.]

You don't want... to help?

[imatreenow]

Do I really have to say it again? Why would I?

[ex_tessen852]

Is it a bad memory or a good one?

[action]

[untrueheart]

She told me. She said the story has a happy ending. And she wouldn't lie. [Rue thought her incapable of falsehood, at least in front of herself or Mytho. She tried, of course, but with such an inept hand that only Mytho's emptiness kept him from realizing.

Rue moves to the side of his chair, so she can wrap her arms around him and draw him close, his head against her chest.]

[knightofratatosk]

[Oh, don't look like that, Mytho, you're making Emil feel bad.]

Well, yeah. It's safe back in your world, right?

[godbent]

Yeah. She's gone.

[Is this guy going to have some sort of breakdown or something ... ]

[action]

[soheartless]

It does? Tutu said that?

[He looks up towards her. He can't feel that hope right now. And the sorrow still feels like a well within him. Then he goes into her hold, his head rested on his chest, while tears shimmer in his eyes.]

Tutu... is trusted.

[Just like Duck.]

[soheartless]

I don't know. I don't know how safe it is in my world.

There has been... danger.

[soheartless]

There's memories that could be good or bad. I don't know for sure.

[soheartless]

You've helped me before... haven't you? As... my friend.

[ex_tessen852]

All memories are important, good or bad. They make up who you are.

[Action]

[bubblywishes]

[Oh...jeez, how does she manage to always get into an even bigger mess than she expects? Today was supposed to be a leisurely kind of day! Well, looks like it's time Norma plays the support, as she seems to so often do these days. Luceti must be weighing heavily on everyone nowadays. Poor kid...]

Jeez...h-hey, I know it's real tough to have one of your friends maybe go home [She's felt that pain time and time again.] but in the end it's kinda better that way! None of us really belong here, right? So...uh. Tr-try not to look so upset, okay? I mean, if you really wanna look on the bright side, she may not be gone! And she could always come back, too!

[imatreenow]

[A scoff, as if he pities Mytho. He doesn't.]

I've never been your friend. We were all forced to believe delusions. [He likes having someone else to blame, to hate. The distance is safe.]

[action]

[untrueheart]

You don't trust hearing that if I say it, do you?

[It is a question for the air. Not for him. His answer holds no water when he has so few emotions to judge it with; none or all would be better. Unless 'all' lead him to turn from her in the end, despite everything.]