#made the 'perfect creation' and the way she treated him was obviously a HUGE contrast to how she was before (being gentle and nuturing)

[monards]

i know hoyo is setting up rhine to have good intent and whatever in her trying to 'save' khaneri'ah or whatever; but i REALLY hope they stay with the cruel persona thats been built up for her. because it would be so wonderful to see a character who had good intent in the beginning just get absolutely corrupted; with the inability to ever go back to that prior state purely because of what had happened. also because there is NO way in her turning back after all that shit

[princesstutufandemonium]

Presenting my huge theory, or: Why Duck might actually be Princess Tutu, reincarnated into the real world

(In a series of points that grow more coherent as you go along)

*Now that I’ve had a little more time to think about this theory, I’ve added to this. New parts have an asterisk.

Point one: Duck is never shown to have any memory of her life as a duck. After becoming human, she seemingly has no problem whatsoever adjusting to human life. She goes to school, dances, gets dressed, eats, speaks the human language perfectly, understands what is 'normal' and what is not, etc. The idea of becoming just a duck once more terrifies her, as shown in the series finale. She has no attachment or fondness for her life as a duck despite the fact that she has supposedly been a duck for almost her whole life.

So, really, was she truly a duck to begin with? At least, a normal duck? After all, Duck is the only animal in the show to always possess human intelligence, even at the end when all magical animals have reverted back to their original human or 'normal' animal form. In other words, all enchanted beings return to what they were before. However, direct creations of Drosselmeyer's, like Mytho and Uzura, stay the same. They don't disappear or change; they exist exactly the same as before. This implies Duck was never a normal animal or person, and was directly made by Drosselmeyer.

But, okay, why did Drosselmeyer make her into a duck? To make things that much harder for her. heh

But in all seriousness, we don't KNOW what the 'original' Princess Tutu was. Was she really just a spirit? Was she a magical girl too, a clumsy girl who fell for a prince, just like Duck? Is it possible she was originally a duck too? Remember, Drosselmeyer never finished writing The Prince and the Raven. The version that exists only has a small part with Princess Tutu, but it's entirely possible he had a whole arc fleshed out for her, as the entire plot of the anime seems to imply.

Point two: Mytho never differentiates between the two Princess Tutus that he knows. Even after most of his heart is restored and he seems to regain the memory of his storybook past, he never treats Duck Tutu any differently or even seems to recognize her as separate from the one in the book. He continues to call her Princess Tutu all the same. Does he just not care? Does he see no point in making the distinction? Or does he think she's the real thing?

*Even at the story’s end, when it is clear the current Princess Tutu he knows is truly a duck, he continues to address her as Princess Tutu. This also carries into the epilogue skit.

Also, we don't see much of him, but the Raven himself recognizes Duck Tutu as THE Princess Tutu. He calls her by name and knows who she is just by looking at her. Either she really must be a dead-ringer for the storybook one, or she is the real thing.

Point three: Here's one that sticks out sorely once you shine light on it. Out of all the girls already infatuated with Mytho, why did Drosselmeyer choose a random duck? Remember, he's got a huge master plan that by that time was years in the making, and Princess Tutu is a major player. He's gambling a hell of a lot of his story on the supposed feelings of an animal. It doesn't make any sense, especially considering how well thought-out Drosselmeyer's plan for his tale is. He would only choose someone who he knew was a perfect fit, who would act and feel exactly how he wants them to.

This leads me to my next point.

Point four: Drosselmeyer knows exactly how Duck feels and thinks, and in the first season is almost always a step ahead of her. He knows what she's going to do and why, and even the actions she seemingly decides for herself have been accounted for by him. This is shown at the end of episode 13, when, despite having seemingly defied her fate of vanishing and outwitting Kraehe, Drosselmeyer implies he knew and planned for things to develop this way. Obviously, the only way this would be possible is if he has a deep understanding of Duck and what makes her tick.

Point five: Duck seems to fall for Mytho at first sight. Interestingly, Drosselmeyer's first words to her are, "Do you care for him, little duck?" He doesn't ask her if she thinks he's handsome, or if she wants to get to know him. He asks her if she cares for him, and of course (since he needs her to agree) he asks already knowing what her answer will be. Drosselmeyer needs someone selfless who passionately loves the prince, who is willing to die for him. Someone who maybe already loves him from before the story in the real world began. After all, how else is it that Duck could care for someone she just met, let alone take on the duties of Princess Tutu shortly after to save him, someone she doesn't know?

Point six: Duck is a hell of a dancer. No, really. Everyone around her, from her teacher to her friends, has her convinced she's awful at it. However, remember that scene early in the first season when she has to stay after class to practice? When alone and at peace, she begins to do some perfect ballet positions to rival Rue's. The implication that it is really her confidence that decides her performance in dancing is also hinted at in episode 13, when Kraehe's mocking makes her stumble and lose her grace, even as Princess Tutu. Contrast this with episode 25 when Duck dances a perfect pas-de-deux with Fakir. This idea is again reinforced in the final episode, when despite being confined to the body of a duck again, she pulls off moves that previously she could only do in form as Princess Tutu. Duck's dancing ability does not come from transforming - she already has it; it just tends to show when she is at full confidence as Princess Tutu. What is Princess Tutu's most renowned ability? Her ability to dance.

*Point seven: Duck is the only supposed non-storybook character to ‘flourish’ within the role she is given. Rue and Fakir, both ‘story outsiders’ chosen to play roles, become unable to fulfill or rework the role given to them by Drosselmeyer and end up abandoning it entirely. Rue completely leaves her role as the Witch, and Fakir gives up on any idea of being a Knight. This is because, ultimately, their roles do NOT suit them - they were not ‘hand-molded’ to play the part. Drosselmeyer was trying to force them into a box that they don’t fit.

 However, Duck not only sticks with her role as Princess Tutu to the end, she even uses the abilities given to her as the character by Drosselmeyer to rebel against him. Even when she struggles and is doubted in her role by others, she continues to successfully act and identify as Princess Tutu - within the ‘parameters’ of the character. Mytho does something similar by finally defeating the Raven and rescuing Rue once he is restored to his full state as the prince. To summarize this point, Duck continues to act in character as Princess Tutu and succeed in her own way. The only other person to accomplish this is the actual storybook-character-brought-to-life Mytho.

Point eight: Here's some more food for thought - why is Duck such a dead-ringer for the storybook Princess Tutu? By that, I mean two things: Her 'idiot' hair, which is supposed to be a hint towards her true nature as a duck, is also present in the storybook Princess Tutu. *(I did find an illustration of story Tutu without the hair. Interestingly, promo art for the series, however, always depicts story Tutu with it) Storybook Tutu also has... wings. Duck is never depicted with wings when transformed as Tutu. Princess Tutu has no 'bird' abilities, so why the wings? Are they just symbolic of book Tutu's status as an ethereal spirit? Well, hold on, because things are gonna get a little meta.

The last, most intriguing piece:

Point nine: Episode 26. Duck no longer has her pendant, and shouldn't have her abilities as Princess Tutu anymore... Until, THROUGH DANCE, she SUMMONS A SPIRIT AURA OF PRINCESS TUTU AS DEPICTED IN THE STORYBOOK. And it becomes clear why the storybook illustration of Princess Tutu has wings - it is the marriage of her two forms, her current duck self and Princess self. Princess-Tutu-with-wings represents Duck at full power, using her full being and summoning her true magic.

Magic that only the Princess Tutu could have.

*It has been mentioned that Fakir empowered Ahiru in her moment of magic, and this is totally true. However, why did her aura take the shape of the storybook Princess Tutu and not the form Duck has when she transforms?

So, in summary, my theory:

Drosselmeyer wrote Princess Tutu out of the story and into the real world to get the gears for his tragedy moving again. Princess Tutu did die in the story, but Drosselmeyer, placing great importance on her character and needing her to act exactly as he had intended, brings the original back to 're-use' her and have the story he wants.

Which, obviously, if true, is totally screwed up, because this time around, although she didn't die, she still didn't get a very happy ending.

It's late and I'm sure this sounds mostly like rambling, so I'm going to bed, but let me know your thoughts. I know there are holes in this thing, and maybe I'm just connecting cracks in the anime's plot that weren't meant to be pondered so deeply, but I think this theory holds just enough water to be true.