And so it begins...

[reuigprinzessin]

((In the middle of the night, P!Rue, for no apparent reason, is screaming at the mirror, with streaks of smudged eyeliner down her cheeks.))

-no! Stop it! You can't make me! I won't-

((She falls silent, and her eyes glaze over. As if in a dream, Rue walks slowly to the window, opens it, and climbs through.
And falls.
The transformation is almost

Comments

[kleine_ente]

[[A while after Prue's disappeared out the window, the door to her room creaks open, and Quacky peers in, blinking sleepily.]]

Rue? Are you okay? I heard you yell-

[[She blinks again, suddenly realizing her friend is nowhere to be seen.]] ... Rue?

[[Ahiru suddenly notices the open window and approaches it, peering down into the... deserted? street below. But Rue hadn't gone past her room to leave, had she? She'd just... disappeared.

And with that knowledge in mind, she turns around and marches straight across Hotel California to Supes' room and bangs loudly on the door.]]

Mytho? Mytho, open up, it's really important!

[note: this thread is filtered from outsiders; any newer threads take place before this one]

[schuchternprinz]

[[The door opens fairly quickly. His creased brows bespeak his already deep worry, as if he had already suspected something was amiss.]]

What's wrong, Ahiru? What's happened? I thought I heard something...but I wasn't sure if it was in dreaming, or...

{.....}

[kleine_ente]

Rue's gone. I woke up and I heard her yelling and then it just... stopped, and I think I fell asleep again but then I woke up and I went to go see her and she's not there, but the window's open, and...

Mytho, it just feels really weird. Like... [[She hesitates for a moment.]] ... like back home with the Shadows. And...

... I think we should find Rue.

[1/2]

[schuchternprinz]

[[Mytho's eyes widen in alarm.]] Rue is...?! I had thought something might have been bothering her, but...

[2/2]

[schuchternprinz]

[[brows creasing]] Let's go immediately.

[[Then, quietly, so that only Ahiru could hear--]] We should transform once we get out of sight of the house.

[kleine_ente]

[[Ahiru nods earnestly.]] Yeah. Except most people will be asleep at night, so it's prolly not that risky.

[[She reaches out to grip Mytho's wrist and immediately yanks him out of the doorway and through the house. She pauses at the front door and glances out.]]

... Nobody.

[schuchternprinz]

There are fewer people around here, that's true...

[[Mytho follows Ahiru along to the entrance. Upon hearing that the coast is clear, he nods and steps outside. He shivers a little in the cool night air, but he knows the air temperature won't make a difference once he's Siegfried.]]

{...Apologies, Siegfried, but this stage shall be mine.}

[[Mytho's eyes widen in confusion.]] What?! What do you--

[reuigprinzessin]

[[Kraehe twirls down from a nearby rooftop, flanked by several Shadows almost three times her size.]]

I've been searching for the two of you~

[1/2] ohai

[kleine_ente]

[[Ahiru inhales sharply at the sight of Kraehe and the enormous Shadows.]] Kraehe? But I thought you were-

[[Instead of going on, she claps her right hand to her chest. People seeing isn't really an issue anymore.]]

[2/2]

[kleine_ente]

[[And with a flash of pale light, Princess Tutu stands besides Mytho, looking back and forth between the Shadows and Kraehe.]]

... So Kraehe's reawakened.

[1/2]

[schuchternprinz]

[[Mytho's now crimson eyes gaze nonchalantly upward. His voice changes from its usual earnest, comforting tone to one that is slick and subtly merciless.]]

...Kraehe. So, we meet again. This time, though, I should introduce myself properly.

[[So saying, before his other self could interject, he deftly raised his left hand to his own chest and was engulfed in black feathers and an otherworldly darkness.]]

[2/2]

[schuchternprinz]

[[A youth of snow-white hair stood posed in an outfit of all black and gray, framed by dark plumage at the shoulders and waist. He smirked, placing his feet in fifth position and spreading his arms wide, as if in welcome.]]

You were waiting for us, were you not? Do you seek Prince Siegfried? He is here, but...[[a brief chuckle]]....right now it is I, Prince Sigurd, who greets you.

{What do you intend to do...?!}

I will not miss this opportunity. The first appearance of Shadows near me while I am awake...it has been far too long!

I'm seriously thinking about getting a paid account for this pup. Or some better icons.

[reuigprinzessin]

[[Kraehe steps back, eyes widening slightly.]]
My shadow prince...

You promised us a pure heart.

[[She turns, smiling to the Shadow who's spoken.]]

And you will have one. I hope. You need only to wait a few trifling moments, and you can have all the hearts you desire~
...now, what shall we do first~?

Well, unless Kraehe comes back after this, you may not have to

[kleine_ente]

[[Tutu gasps involuntarily at the appearance of Sigurd and steps back.]]

… Sigurd? But how could that-

[[Her attention is momentarily diverted by the restless shifting of Shadows around her; she pulls her fan out of thin air and holds it protectively over her heart, still staring in blank astonishment at the dark prince.]]

Wh-who are you?

She can't exactly just go away, so....

[schuchternprinz]

[[glancing towards Tutu]] I've told you my name already. ...Oh, you mean, that. [[folding his arms, smirking again]] I suppose it might be easiest for you to think of me as Siegfried's other self.

[[That so mentioned self tries to step in, fearing the worst as he realizes what danger he faces once again before him, but an agony like a thousand nettles drives him back within.]]

{...Augh...!}

I burn similarly whenever you have activated your powers. Governing each side apart, we govern these opposite powers separately, lest we annhilate one another. ...Thus, we cannot interfere with the other without experiencing great pain and injury. So, just stay where you are. As I said...this night shall be *my* stage. I've made sure of that.

{...I will not let you harm Tutu...!}

I'll see if she gets in the way.

[[glancing upward, chuckling]] Kraehe, what are you doing still standing up there? Come down and meet me face-to-face. [[holding out a hand to her]] Tonight, let us dance with the Shadows together.

{*desperately* Are

1/?

[reuigprinzessin]

With pleasure. I-