Evolving Archetypes (Princess Tutu/Utena, oneshot)
Title: Evolving Archetypes
By: aishuu
Fandoms: Princess Tutu/Utena
Length: 1,000
Note: A long, long time ago I asked for drabble prompts based on fics I've previously written on my private journal, and katharos_8 requested "Two Archetypes in Search of a Story- Fakir and Ahiru encounter another archetype from Utena on their quest."
...Now that is something I definitely wasn't expecting.
They spent over a year chasing leads that might result in a spell to change Ahiru back into a girl, but none panned out. Despite their multiple failures, Ahiru and Fakir's spirits remained high, because a Quest that was won easily wasn't likely to end in true happiness. It was only through sacrifice that a happily-ever-after could be purchased.
There were rumors that a Witch had recently moved into a town three days from where they had been staying, and Ahiru persuaded Fakir that it would be worth checking out. Fakir, always more cautious, worried that the Witch might not be a good one. But he had no better plans, so they set out.
When they arrived at the cottage, the first thing they were struck by was the overabundance of roses. Fakir paused at the door, noting the fantastic shades of flowers that curled up the walls of the quaint little home. It was beautiful and attractive, but Fakir was wise enough not to be lulled by appearances. However, this was part of their Quest, so he raised a fist to knock on the oaken door. A sweet, feminine voice bayed him wait a moment.
This seems too easy, Ahiru thought at him, and he couldn't help but agree.
The woman who answered the door made him wonder if they had walked into a trap. She was one of the most lovely creatures he'd ever seen, with warm mocha-colored skin and silken lilac tresses falling to her knees. She brushed her hands off on her apron, tilting her head quizzically. "Can I help you?"
Fakir always felt silly broaching the subject of their Quest, since not everyone understood the world he and Ahiru lived in. On more than one occasion, he'd mistaken someone for an Archetype, and had been embarrassed by their freaked-out reactions.
But the threat of embarrassment was something a Knight would not be cowed by. A Knight only spoke the truth, directly and without fear of ridicule. "I was told there was a Witch living here," he said.
The woman shook her head. "I'm not a Witch anymore. I don't have any magic spells to offer you," she said softly.
From what Fakir had learned, an Archetype was an Archetype. Once an Archetype was created, it was impossible to destroy. An Archetype could be altered, but people never completely broke free of a story. He and Ahiru were good examples of that.
"Then what are you?" he asked.
"I am an Empowered Princess," the girl said, and her smile was full of happiness. "I make my own destiny."
Fakir had never heard of such a thing. By definition, a Princess was at the mercy of a higher power - Ahiru and Drosselmyer, Rue and the Raven. "A Princess who makes her own destiny?" he echoed.
"Stories are never static, Sir Knight," she replied. "Archetypes evolve with the times, and we can evolve with them. I choose to tell my own story, unwilling to yield to whatever society tells me is 'right.'”
It sounds like a good thing to be, Ahiru said in his mind.
But I don't see her Prince around her, do you? And a Princess could not exist without a Prince by her side. That was one of the reasons Princess Tutu had vanished.
Maybe she's waiting for her Prince to come, Ahiru speculated. Or maybe an Empowered Princess doesn't need to have a Prince.
He wondered quietly if Ahiru would be happier without a Prince, or a man who was trying to be her Knight. But instead of sharing that thought, he turned to the girl. "We apologize for bothering you, my lady," he said, dipping a slight bow.
"It's no trouble," she assured them, before her eyes fell slightly, in a fashion that could be considered almost shy. "If you want, I can offer you some advice. It's up to you to decide to follow it or not."
He looked at Ahiru. Should we accept?
We did come seeking her. Maybe she is meant to serve as a Wisewoman for our story.
Despite his nervousness about dealing with this previously unheard of Archetype, he decided to follow Ahiru's wishes. "What advice would you give us?"
The girl reached down and plucked a rose from the bush next to the door, a pink rose that reminded him of someone, although he couldn't recall who. "I can tell you that the most powerful magic is one cast through love," the Empowered Princess said, holding out the flower to Fakir, who gingerly accepted it. "And that love should always be shared, not hoarded away from the world."
Her advice sounded trite, but as he held the sweetly-scented rose, he couldn't find it in himself to think she was being anything less than sincere. He tucked the flower away in his backpack, knowing instinctively that the bloom would survive far more than an ordinary rose could. Gifts given by Archetypes had a way of proving necessary later on.
"And how does an Empowered Princess share her love?" Fakir asked.
"By trusting in my Prince and helping out those people I can. Someday my Prince will come," the Empowered Princess said, "but until she does, I will work hard to be worthy of her.”
There was nothing more to say to that, so Fakir and Ahiru offered their thanks before turning to leave. He bent over to scoop the tiny duck up in his hands, placing her on his head. Ahiru liked sitting there, claiming it was a comfortable nest.
It was only after Fakir left that he recognized that the Empowered Princess had spoken of a female Prince. And as far as he knew, Utena was the only female Prince there had ever been.
"Do you think she's the one Utena is seeking?" he asked.
Should we go back and ask her? Ahiru wondered.
He thought on it for a long moment, before deciding it wouldn't be a good idea. A Quest was never advanced by backtracking. "No," he said. "We've already played our part in their story - we need to work on our own.”
Ahiru fluttered her wings, before turning her head to the east. Let's go seek the sun, then.
By: aishuu
Fandoms: Princess Tutu/Utena
Length: 1,000
Note: A long, long time ago I asked for drabble prompts based on fics I've previously written on my private journal, and katharos_8 requested "Two Archetypes in Search of a Story- Fakir and Ahiru encounter another archetype from Utena on their quest."
...Now that is something I definitely wasn't expecting.
They spent over a year chasing leads that might result in a spell to change Ahiru back into a girl, but none panned out. Despite their multiple failures, Ahiru and Fakir's spirits remained high, because a Quest that was won easily wasn't likely to end in true happiness. It was only through sacrifice that a happily-ever-after could be purchased.
There were rumors that a Witch had recently moved into a town three days from where they had been staying, and Ahiru persuaded Fakir that it would be worth checking out. Fakir, always more cautious, worried that the Witch might not be a good one. But he had no better plans, so they set out.
When they arrived at the cottage, the first thing they were struck by was the overabundance of roses. Fakir paused at the door, noting the fantastic shades of flowers that curled up the walls of the quaint little home. It was beautiful and attractive, but Fakir was wise enough not to be lulled by appearances. However, this was part of their Quest, so he raised a fist to knock on the oaken door. A sweet, feminine voice bayed him wait a moment.
This seems too easy, Ahiru thought at him, and he couldn't help but agree.
The woman who answered the door made him wonder if they had walked into a trap. She was one of the most lovely creatures he'd ever seen, with warm mocha-colored skin and silken lilac tresses falling to her knees. She brushed her hands off on her apron, tilting her head quizzically. "Can I help you?"
Fakir always felt silly broaching the subject of their Quest, since not everyone understood the world he and Ahiru lived in. On more than one occasion, he'd mistaken someone for an Archetype, and had been embarrassed by their freaked-out reactions.
But the threat of embarrassment was something a Knight would not be cowed by. A Knight only spoke the truth, directly and without fear of ridicule. "I was told there was a Witch living here," he said.
The woman shook her head. "I'm not a Witch anymore. I don't have any magic spells to offer you," she said softly.
From what Fakir had learned, an Archetype was an Archetype. Once an Archetype was created, it was impossible to destroy. An Archetype could be altered, but people never completely broke free of a story. He and Ahiru were good examples of that.
"Then what are you?" he asked.
"I am an Empowered Princess," the girl said, and her smile was full of happiness. "I make my own destiny."
Fakir had never heard of such a thing. By definition, a Princess was at the mercy of a higher power - Ahiru and Drosselmyer, Rue and the Raven. "A Princess who makes her own destiny?" he echoed.
"Stories are never static, Sir Knight," she replied. "Archetypes evolve with the times, and we can evolve with them. I choose to tell my own story, unwilling to yield to whatever society tells me is 'right.'”
It sounds like a good thing to be, Ahiru said in his mind.
But I don't see her Prince around her, do you? And a Princess could not exist without a Prince by her side. That was one of the reasons Princess Tutu had vanished.
Maybe she's waiting for her Prince to come, Ahiru speculated. Or maybe an Empowered Princess doesn't need to have a Prince.
He wondered quietly if Ahiru would be happier without a Prince, or a man who was trying to be her Knight. But instead of sharing that thought, he turned to the girl. "We apologize for bothering you, my lady," he said, dipping a slight bow.
"It's no trouble," she assured them, before her eyes fell slightly, in a fashion that could be considered almost shy. "If you want, I can offer you some advice. It's up to you to decide to follow it or not."
He looked at Ahiru. Should we accept?
We did come seeking her. Maybe she is meant to serve as a Wisewoman for our story.
Despite his nervousness about dealing with this previously unheard of Archetype, he decided to follow Ahiru's wishes. "What advice would you give us?"
The girl reached down and plucked a rose from the bush next to the door, a pink rose that reminded him of someone, although he couldn't recall who. "I can tell you that the most powerful magic is one cast through love," the Empowered Princess said, holding out the flower to Fakir, who gingerly accepted it. "And that love should always be shared, not hoarded away from the world."
Her advice sounded trite, but as he held the sweetly-scented rose, he couldn't find it in himself to think she was being anything less than sincere. He tucked the flower away in his backpack, knowing instinctively that the bloom would survive far more than an ordinary rose could. Gifts given by Archetypes had a way of proving necessary later on.
"And how does an Empowered Princess share her love?" Fakir asked.
"By trusting in my Prince and helping out those people I can. Someday my Prince will come," the Empowered Princess said, "but until she does, I will work hard to be worthy of her.”
There was nothing more to say to that, so Fakir and Ahiru offered their thanks before turning to leave. He bent over to scoop the tiny duck up in his hands, placing her on his head. Ahiru liked sitting there, claiming it was a comfortable nest.
It was only after Fakir left that he recognized that the Empowered Princess had spoken of a female Prince. And as far as he knew, Utena was the only female Prince there had ever been.
"Do you think she's the one Utena is seeking?" he asked.
Should we go back and ask her? Ahiru wondered.
He thought on it for a long moment, before deciding it wouldn't be a good idea. A Quest was never advanced by backtracking. "No," he said. "We've already played our part in their story - we need to work on our own.”
Ahiru fluttered her wings, before turning her head to the east. Let's go seek the sun, then.