- Chapter 6 -

Darkness blanketed the meadow

Darkness blanketed the meadow. The moon had just started to appear from behind some drifting, shredded clouds. It got bigger and brighter, lighting a herd of sheep clouds. They still had some rosy bellies just the way the sun had painted them. Here and there a twinkling star winked at all the goings on. A warm breeze embraced the rabbits and their guests. Tutu had already hidden herself behind the stage in a small dug out. None was able to see her yet.

The magician, Star Man, had the place of honor right in the middle in front of the stage. Beside him sat on a big silvery cocoon the artist Brocade. True to her name, she shimmered in her most precious glory. In the cocoon floated her new babies, so she protected them well by sitting on them. They were not ready to come into this world yet.

Around the perimeter of the stage flashed the big white crystals that Prince Shine Bright had placed in even distances around it. The moon reflected thousand fold and lit the stage in brazen beauty. Now every one was seated, their chalices filled with Clover's clover wine. The anticipation was palpable. Brocade fanned herself, she was warm around so many rabbits. But she truly liked them.

Tutu is dancing

And ever faster she spun

Suddenly, with one huge burst of energy, Pink Cotton Candy Tutu Girl jumped onto the stage, her tutu flying high, ruffling around her in a bright pink cloud. Her highest bell tone floated in the air in an almost unearthly sound, undulating, wavy. She twirled around and around, speeding up faster and faster, her layered tutu turning into many flaky lace sheets. The ones closest to her legs turned sugary white, then slowly pinking stronger and stronger, until the outer layers turned into a brilliant pink. And ever faster she spun on her pretty pink toes, the sound of her bell voice drowning out everyone's own thoughts. The breathless pace spun ever higher, her outer layers now took on the purple colors of exotic orchids. The crystal rocks all around her flashed her pink and purple reflections out over the stunned audience, it dabbled them with flecks of light, they became part of the show.

And as suddenly as she had appeared, she stopped, spinning the other way around. Long threads of sugar unraveled themselves, blinking and flashing with the sugar diamonds that studded those threads. The threads stretched longer and longer, until they filled the whole stage. And she spun faster and faster, lifting up into the air, the tutu just long threads now, sugar stars dropping and tinkling all around. Her singing turned soft and sweet, words being woven into the melody. Slowly she touched the stage with her toes again, the threads of sugar embracing her in one big blinking filigree. The breeze took some of the lacy strings and danced with them. But soon Tutu began spinning again, now the opposite way, gathering all the glory close to herself to look the way she did when she started her dance.

They sat quiet like never before

Soft gentle sounds of a melody floated from her to the audience. They sat quiet like never before. She sang about the seasons of the year: Tutu's poem about the seasons

Spellbound, the audience did not even notice that she had stopped. Just standing there now, her arms plainly hanging to her sides.

They were still in awe for a while, burst out into a cacophony of applause. They thumped their hind legs on the ground, cheered and started dancing themselves. Brocade clapped with all her eight legs and Star Man took off his top hat - no bunny in there now - and bowed to her in respect and acknowledgment of her achievement.

After what seemed forever, Tutu curtsied, swept the audience with her eyes, raised her arms. With a sudden burst she jumped up high, spun and flipped a salto at the same time and landed on her knees with her arms stretched out wide. Again the audience went wild and she was showered with all kinds of wildflowers and clover blossoms. She plucked out a few trumpets of the clover, drank a little of the nectar and felt instantly refreshed. This had been the best performance of her young life, to an audience that vibrated energy back and spurned her on with their obviously knowledgeable expectation. What an unforgettable night for everyone.

The moon still shone bright. The clover wine tasted oh so good. Not a single one seemed to want to cut the gathering off, so they milled about, kept talking about Tutu's marvelous breathtaking act; went over to her to shake her hand, to see if a little of her glory could rub off on them, if just for a moment.

Tutu Girl had joined Brocade and Star Man. Presently she was trying to whisper with Brocade about the spinning of gold; they had a lot in common, both being spinners. But the rabbits kept interrupting with their praise and her whispers got drowned out. So Star Man said to Tutu: “Why don't we stay another day, then you can spend some time with Brocade here - if that is all right with you, Brocade?”

“I'd love to do that. Then I can take you down the shaft, to show you how I eat the gold. Maybe you can eat some too, I can see the golden threads flying about you already! What a lovely day we will have. I can leave my young ones alone still, there is still time before they want to come out of this cocoon.”

With that they bid each other a good night, wished each other some sweet dreams and went too their sleeping quarters.

Symbol of waves, stars, sun, seahorses. Divider.