"Clara and the Nutcracker"

I don't know why I'm telling you this. I don't even know who you are, but I think my story should be heard. You see, I have an experience I'd like to share with you. Never in my life did I ever think anything like this could happen to me. It just goes to show you, fate is a little twisted in the nut. And speaking of Nuts, Let me tell you about this one, and how he changed my life, forever.

Chapter 1

I grew up like any other kid except I had no parents…so I guess more like every other kid. I was raised by my Grandfather Drosselmeyer. How he got such a name I will never know. There's supposedly some German in my veins, but you'd never know it.

You see, My name is Clara Barks.

Or Clara Stahlbaum if you take my mother's maiden name. I have a little brother named Tommy, a serious pain in the rear, and Tommy and I are both black. We have our mothers gray eyes and according to my Grandfather our father's devilish spirit. My Grandfather was and is a saucy old timer who was loaded with as much money as he had sarcasm. Which was, a lot. He kept us busy, making sure we would uphold the family name. While Tommy was stuffed in a series of sports like football, American football, lacrosse, and track, I was stuffed in more refined practices like etiquette class, reading circle, and ballet. I didn't mind the reading circle, I've always loved to read, and ballet was one of the most amazing things in my life, but etiquette…was a bit of a challenge. I was stuffed with a lot of wit, and the only way to keep that wit from exploding inside of me, was to release it. I released it, a lot. If we were given grades in it, I would have an F, a super F. Winter in New York was beautiful. The crisp cool air cutting through the city air was to die for.

I wanted to die here, live here forever. Because here, held the New York City Ballet.

Ever since I was born I've done ballet. I still remember my first teacher Madame Lafayette. I was in a special class for young serious students and was a six year old in a class of ten year olds. "First Position!" she'd yell. We snapped into position. "Second Position!" Another crisp move. "Third!" Sometimes you would lack the crispness needed for the position, and she would smack your legs with her cane and make you do it over and over again. I loved her. If she had had a son he would've been mine. Nonnegotiable. She inspired me. She had once been a prima ballerina at the New York City Ballet before she retired. The only time I felt graceful and beautiful was when I put on my ballet shoes. They were magic, like Dorothy's red slippers, or Shazam's….hands and lay ups.

I would see her everyday; trudging four blocks through rain, sleet, and Saturdays morning cartoons to meet her. Sometimes I was the only one and no matter the day, she would always be there. We practiced one ballet often, it was The Nutcracker her favorite of all dances. I too began falling in love with it. Being named Clara, it seemed destined. I was just Clara Barks and no one would believe me if I said my Grandfather's real name was Drosselmeyer.

He had legally changed it to Stanley after he knew he was raising a granddaughter named Clara. The idiom was bad for business.

It would be like being named Scrooge with a dad named Tim.

With her guidance I was at the head of the class, pushed hardest, and started Pointe before all the others. The others thought she hated me because I was always smacked the hardest when I did something wrong, but I assured them that it was love. They thought I was mad which, I probably was. I was sure I would be like her in everyway. Long lustrous hair always put in a tight bun at the top of my head. Poised with long features and flowing with grace.

But then I hit puberty. Oh Lord, that ruined a good set of my life.

I began to grow a very womanly form, too womanly for traditional ballet. My hips and breasts grew too big. I became too solid, and let's not even talk about my butt. I struggled through it, practicing harder and harder, but to no avail. I was tone, very tone, but not thin and somewhat wispy like required. It was then that I outgrew Madame Lafayette, and at the age of 14 me, and three other girls, were moved on to an integrated dance academy.

Integrated, meaning boys.

There I had Mistress Aigre. From the moment she looked at me I knew she had it out for me. There is nothing more embarrassing and humiliating than being openly chastised for one's body in front of potential boyfriends. And having to take it. Not one word of sarcasm, or one curse escaped my lips. Ballet meant too much to me. I was moved from being Giselle in Ms. Lafayette's class to being Dancer #3 in Coppelia. I came to help out Madame Lafayette whenever I had a free day. I danced along with the younger girls and was happy to feel my supremacy over them. I was a star again, but what bothered me, was never once did Madame Lafayette correct me. Bothered, I began intentionally making mistakes to see if she would do anything. She did not.

Then one day as I was putting on my Pointe shoes in the locker room, she asked me to leave, and to not come back to dance again. "Why?" I cried horrified. "My mistakes aren't intentional I assure you! I was just…" "Hush," she said putting a finger to my lips. My eyes welled up in response. "You're using me as a crutch." "Please…" I tried to interrupt. "Shh," she said pressing harder on my lip as it began to quiver. "I know of your problem," she said sitting down on a bench and motioning me to sit beside her. "Your size and shape is not that of a traditional ballerina, and I will not lie to you, it probably never will be." I looked down, ashamed at my one transgression. "I've seen this happen to many ballerinas, and they've all tried to cope with it in different ways. You could try different forms of ballet like modern, change yourself in unhealthy ways, or quit ballet all together, but what needs to matter most…" she turned to me and grabbed my hand and placed it on my heart. "…is what here tells you."

I looked out the window. It was snowing that day.

They brushed lightly against the window and reminded me of angel tears. For the first time in our entire history, she hugged me. Her stern ways were replaced with a sudden motherly kindness that finally made my tears fall. I was 15. She looked at me smiling and beaming with all the wisdom there ever was in this world. "I have nothing more to teach you," she said. "You're the most talented dedicated dancer I have ever had the privilege of teaching. I care for you very much and you will be greater than I was, I know it."

She patted my head then and grinned coyly at me. "You may visit me from time to time, but now my dear, you must choose your own path."

I never danced for Madame Lafayette again. Six months later at the ripe old age of eighty, Madame Lafayette passed away. I didn't eat for days, but what I did do was go to class. I don't remember what I did or what we danced. I just knew I had to carry out Madame Lafayette's words, even if it killed me. Grandfather and Tommy were worried and got me to eat again by threatening to cancel my classes. It was only for a few days, but it scared them I think. I came back to class with renewed vigor not only because my promise, but because there was a new student at the class. A new male student.

In the end despite my intense concentration, dedication, and focus my path was redirected by a boy.

Typical, but hey I was young, blame the accursed endocrine system and it's interfering hormones.

Adam was an amazing Polish dancer who had come to study at our school. He had crisp short blond hair that fell like golden hay on his head. His eyes were a warm honey brown that reminded me of endless pools of chocolate. I found myself entranced watching his powerful movements. His amazing consistency as the energetic Blue Bird or the princely Romeo astonished me, but what I wanted to do with him more than anything, was perform a Pas de Deux or a partner dance.

No matter how awkward the girl was in real life, in his arms she looked regal, ethereal, beautiful, and he was strong. We had long ago begun our partner dancing. I found myself picked last in partnering because I was less easy to lift. The most popularly picked girl was Murielle, a little French girl who performed her movements with astounding technical purpose but little feeling. She was the favorite of Mistress Aigre's, but she herself hated her. She was the one who gave her nickname Mistress Sour, which is what Aigre in French meant. She was bird thin and little. Beside her I looked like a tree.

I knew however that if I was the best in the class I would be partnered with Adam. I knew that he could lift me. He wouldn't laugh at me, he would see my talent and together we would dominate the stage. In a way, he was my first love.

It was around this time when Mistress Aigre announced we would spread out on our horizons and learn alternative types of dance. I had intended to sign up for Advanced Romantic ballet but before I could do anything, Mistress Aigre signed me up for Modern and Lyrical. I was heartbroken and bitter. I began changing then I think, to the tough person I am now. I joined a kickboxing studio to gain strength and tone myself even more. My muscles developed in untraditional ways being both sport and ballet trained. I didn't care, I was untraditional in every way. I was a black, curvy ballerina. My upper torso was almost perfect for ballet work, my waist small and thin.

My legs were muscular and long. It was the space in between these areas that caused me so much agony. I was great at modern, my oddly shaped teacher Master Lawrence accepted my body type, but I could find no joy in it. I was best at performing moving angry and sad pieces, so that's what I was stuck with. My Grandfather was angry about this outcome and thought of Modern as an abomination of morals and ballet tradition. I assured him it was, and I was going to do it till I had the courage to murder Mistress Aigre. I'll never know if I was joking. I never gave up traditional ballet, and it was this year that Mistress Aigre announced we would have try-outs for "The Nutcracker."

At age 16, she could no longer deny my talent and began casting me as strong solo roles, but the pas de deux were never given to me. If my role required one, she would give it to another girl. It made me furious.

Now, age 17, I snapped back into place. I worked hard, practicing harder than I had ever done to be the Sugar Plum Princess. They chose Princess instead of Fairy because they wanted to identify with girls who wanted to be princesses. Since you obviously could become a Princess but could only be born a fairy, this was a more achievable goal. ….right.

Ignoring the absurdity of it all I worked my hardest. I did it for me, I did it for Madame Lafayette, but mostly I did it because I knew I could.

It was the day of the try-outs. There were four girls in front of me. One of them was good old Murielle. I tightened my ballet strings and dusted my feet one more time. I rolled my neck and adjusted my bun. It was already decided that Adam would be the Cavalier. He would audition with each of the girls. I watched him as his blonde hair swung in his eyes as he lifted yet another girl. His brown eyes sparkling as he did another grand jeté. Murielle was up. She danced wonderfully but I smiled because I knew I could dance even better. They ended and I knew it was my turn. I smiled, confident as Mistress Sour put on the music.

I lifted myself onto my toes and filled myself with love for Adam. His hands were rougher than I expected and he lifted me with precision, but little delicacy. I convinced myself for the moment that it was passion. He lifted me high enough, but deep inside I could tell he was not happy about it. I pirouetted, another lift. On and on we danced until we faced each other breathlessly at the end of the dance. Surprisingly the room was silent and everyone looked at me astonished.

"Well?" Mistress Aigre said annoyed to Adam. "Who was the best?" "Between whom?" Adam asked raising an eyebrow. Mistress Aigre rolled her eyes. "Murielle and Clara of course." Adam smiled at both of us but his eyes turned me cold. I could tell what the bastard was thinking. "They both danced beautifully, but I think it would be easier for me to dance with Murielle." Mistress Aigre nodded in agreement, "Then Clara, you're the Sugar Plum Princess' understudy." I shook with anger.

"Not to be forward." I began. "You are being forward," Murielle said cutting me off. "I don't give a damn," I hissed. She shut up and gaped at me astonished. "I know I danced better than her. Adam, you and Mistress Aigre know that! Why am I an understudy?" Adam laughed lightly. The laugh I once thought beautiful resonated cruelly. "Maybe it's because I can barely lift you. If you wanted to be the Princess then maybe you should have lost a little weight." I glared hard at him. "Maybe you should have gained some weight! Those baby muscles on your arms didn't exactly make me feel safe." He looked at me outraged. "ENOUGH!" Mistress Aigre yelled at me.

"Yeah," I said glaring at her. "It is enough. Call me if you need me, and hope I come." With that I stormed out of the studio, collected my things, and walked away. The production was on Christmas morning five weeks away. I awaited it in bitterness, snapping at anyone mercilessly who dared bother me. At some point when Mistress Aigre had taken me aside to give me a talking to I mentioned the fact that my grandfather could buy her and her job five times over. She shut up fast.

It was on December 24th that my life was about to change.

I stared at the Christmas tree with annoyance. The sap from the live tree was dripping on the tree skirt and would most likely damage it beyond repair. "Candles! We need more candles!" I could hear my Grandpa's rampage coming closer. "Clara please!" Grandfather yelled as he entered the room. "No more daydreaming. We have to finish decorating before our guests arrive." "Right, more candles, as if this place wasn't already a fire hazard," I grumbled. "I'll have none of that young lady," he said grumbling back at me. "Yes Grandfather," I said sighing. "Why do we have this annual party again?" He sighed as though I was beyond hope.

"It's a Barks tradition," he said, his nose turned up with a sophisticated air. "Right," I said airily. "Cause we're the traditional German upper class family." Before he could retort the doorbell rang. He looked over at the digital watch on top of the fireplace and frowned. "Twenty-two minutes early. Such bad manners." I shrugged. "Leave them outside for twenty-two more minutes." He hid a smile and began walking away. "Wait," I called out as he trod to the door. "When are we going to talk about the scholarship Grandpa?" I asked urgently. "Not now Clara," he said frowning, and then he bustled off. I rolled my eyes and continued to put trinkets on the tree.

Silently I put up a beautiful ballerina with a golden locket around her neck on the good side of the tree. Christmas music played silently behind me and I smiled softly when recognizing it as "We Three Kings." "It's beautiful Miss," Laura, our head housekeeper said. "Madame Lafayette gave it to me," I said smiling. She had also left me her house in Europe. She had no children, so she left it and everything in it in my name. Grandfather had allowed me to claim it, but had never allowed me to see it. "It was the Christmas we did our first ballet." Laura smiled as though she knew what I was thinking and walked away respectfully.

"Oh no!" Laura exclaimed. "What?" I asked frowning at her melodrama. "Tommy fall into the fire?" "No," she said disregarding the sentence. "The mice have found their way into the Christmas boxes." I looked at the big gingerbread house and picked up a half-eaten gingerbread man. Mice would have eaten it all. This had Tommy written all over it. "Hm…Where's the brat?" I asked annoyed. She shrugged. I opened my ears and behind the couch heard the sound of obnoxious eating.

Looking over I saw my lovely little brother covered in frosting with a gingerbread stuffed in his mouth. Not too gently, I pulled it away from him and smacked him on the head. "Mystery solved," I said satisfied. "HEY!" he yelled annoyed before pouting. "Hay is for horses. Stop being such a glutton. You're acting like we don't have plates upon plates of cookies in the kitchen." "Grandfather won't let me have any until the guests arrive," he said frowning. "I won't tell if you won't," I said shrugging. He smiled. "Ok." Then he began to run toward the kitchen. "Wipe the evidence off your face!" I yelled after him. He was wearing a nice suit that was sure to be horribly disfigured by the time the night's festivities were over.

Laura smiled at me and I shrugged. "It'll be our little secret." Suddenly the door swung open. "Clara!" I turned and saw my exotic aunt standing with her arms open. "Aunt Drosselmeyer!" I exclaimed wrapping my arms around her. Her features were soft and beautiful. She wore an elaborate red kimono which told me where she had just come from. She traveled all around the world going from country to country and writing books about dance types. Her books were informative and brought new light to a lot of subjects. "You're at least a head taller," she said holding my hands. "Don't remind me," I groaned. "I'll never get a dance partner. On a happy note, I'm glad you're here! I thought you weren't coming this year!"

She smirked evilly, her red hair glinting in the candle light. "And miss a chance to visit you and vex my uncle?" She laughed heartily and I smiled widely in response. We would probably be very close if she was around more often. She was good to us, but always so far away. Grandfather walked in almost instantly. "Five minutes and you're already conspiring against me." She laughed some more. "Don't worry," she reassured him. "I'll wait until your party's over before I perform any mischief." Her eyes went wide when she said the word, and I desperately hoped she planned to keep me in her devious fold. Grandfather grunted and walked away, no doubt dreading her promise.

"Where did you go this time? Mars?" She grabbed my arm and we escorted each other to the couch. "Well let's see…I met an Emperor, I sailed on a Junk, I got my first rickshaw ride, and I hiked the Great Wall of China." "Wow," I said smiling. "You must have really gotten into the culture. What's it like?" I loved New York, but I had never been out of it. "I'd appreciate it if you'd stop filling Clara's head with your stories," Grandpa interjected. "I'd appreciate it if you didn't snore in your sleep," I said sweetly.

He glared at me but I didn't care, I wanted to talk about the scholarship. He walked up to her and shook his head. "Just because you go traipsing all over the globe instead of staying put like a sensible person." "There's a world full of wonders out there Uncle, and Clara deserves to experience them." He frowned prominently. "You told her about the scholarship? How? I've been watching the home line and your cell phone calls." "It's called texting Gramps," I said with an eyebrow raised. "It's a great opportunity. It would get me in a solid company too!" He shook his head like a frenzied bull and spat, "I will not have you going and that's final!"

I had received a scholarship to go study Modern Ballet abroad in Europe. It was not my ideal dream, but at the moment in my senior year of high school, it was the best I could hope for. I had to be practical. I would never be the Sugar Plum Princess. "As long as you live in this house you will follow my rules." "Good thing I have a house of my own huh Grandfather?" I said indignantly. The doorbell rang before he could continue to talk.

Aunt Drosselmeyer motioned elegantly to the door halting us both. "Your guests are waiting." He grunted once more and stalked off. "You mustn't be so rude Clara," she said frowning. I shrugged. "I gave up on manners a while ago Auntie. Right now I just need to get by. Grandfather's driving me up a wall." She sighed escorting me to the party hall. "Some people never change…but we can always hope."

The party went on like any other party we had. Being a stickler for tradition Grandfather had made all his family and guests dress in gowns proper for the 1800's. I constantly escaped to the fireplace to avoid possible suitors talking to me. Some were bolder than Grandfather could intercept. He was like my Front tackle, and I was the Quarterback. I was sure they all had ill intentions.

All men did, just like dumb Adam. I should have seen it.

I dumb? A-dam? They're like the same word.

Soon night fell and Auntie continued to tell me about all her adventures while Tommy played by the fireplace. "…then he bowed and asked me to dance," she said smiling. "NO WAY! That player, did you?" "I couldn't say no to the king," she said snorting. "Well you could have, but it probably wouldn't have been good." "Trust me Clara," she said leaning in. "I didn't want to say no. He was HOT, with a capital HA." I snickered as Tommy gagged. "So that's your Cinderella story huh?" I asked fluffing out my nightgown.

I combed a hand through my hair. It reached to my upper back. I chopped it to my ears after Madame Lafayette died, but Grandfather had made me grow it back. "Wish I had been there. I would have said no just to see what would have happened." She pinched my cheek. Then she looked behind her to see if Grandpa was skulking about before whispering, "Maybe next time, you can come with me." I rolled my eyes and scoffed. "With you? To a foreign country? I'm lucky I get to go to the bathroom by myself. Every time I bring up the scholarship he looks like he's ready to nail me to the mantle."

Auntie laughed. "I know the feeling. Well surely he won't object to these." She went over to the table near the tree and retrieved two gift boxes. She walked over to Tommy, calling his name and handed him the box. "And for you my dear." I took the box from her; its shape strange enough that I had no guess for what it could be. "Wow! Ace's evil twin brother and a silver edition Commander Cobra! Thanks!" I laughed at whatever that meant and began unwrapping my gift box.

I struggled with the wrapping paper trying to delicately open it in case it was fragile. Then I gave up on all delicacy. "Who the heck are you trying to keep out?" I grumbled tearing at it with my teeth. She shrugged. "It was wrapped by an Egyptian priest, much like a mummy." I grunted with the effort. "Next time just stick a bow on it and drop it in a plastic baggie." Soon I managed to unwrap the box and inside a silk blanket was a beautifully carved nutcracker. I smiled bitterly.

Someone was laughing at me. A nutcracker...yaaayy...

"A nutcracker," I said, trying to sound enthusiastic. I lifted his arm and his mouth clanged open. I released the arm, and it shut. He was painted red all over except his hands, feet, and head. He had white hair slicked back hair, a black mustache, and a white square goatee.

I lifted an eyebrow. Okay, my nutcracker was part cow. His feet were painted in dark black boots and his face was a pale peach. On his head he wore a tall, almost ridiculous blue hat with a star in the middle of it. He had gold shoulder pads, and gold trim on his boots and hat. His hands were white, gloves most likely. Examining it closely I saw the craftsmanship was indeed remarkable.

"He's wonderful," I said genuinely smiling. "Thank you Aunt Drosselmeyer." I hugged her tightly. It was nice to get a toy for a change. Gramps only got me clothes and stock bonds nowadays. "He sure is ugly," Tommy interjected as he stabbed Commander Cobra with Ace's head. "Now he'll match your face," I said smiling, my tone sharp. He stuck his tough out at me, and Auntie laughed in response. Auntie leaned in as though to tell me a secret. "Well on the outside maybe, but inside beats the heart of a prince."

"Please," I interjected, feeling protective of my toy. "I've seen uglier things in the girl's locker room." I shivered for effect. "Then I'll use him to strike down Doctor Mindbender!" Tommy suddenly grabbed the nutcracker. My eyes widened as I struggled to get it from him. "Doctor who? Let it go before I break all your fingers off you little beast!" Tommy ignored me and pulled harder till I heard a sickening snap and my nutcracker landed in his arms. "Sorry," he said, realizing what he'd done.

Aunt Drosselmeyer looked at me sadly as I snatched it from him. "I should throw you and your stupid toys into the fireplace!" I turned from him, too angry to think. It's not that I loved the nutcracker just that it was mine, and my brother broke it. "Thanks Tommy, really, thanks." I walked over by the couch and saw my brother bore a sad expression on his face. For a kid who lived on violence it was almost shameful that he looked like he was going to cry. We were five years apart, but I guess in a way, I was his mother as much as his sister.

"I forgive you Tommy, next time ask to see things before you grab them." He came over to me and I patted him on the head. "Let's see the damage." I turned the broken arm over and nearly winced. "Thank God you can't feel this." "Ignore the idiot brother before me, he's not bad when you get to know him," I said to the nutcracker on my lap, looking for a piece of string to prop his arm up with. I tied it to his shoulder in a makeshift sling and smiled at my handy work. "There, now you're a veteran of the first Tommy War. War Two should be around the time his voice cracks and he wants to act tough." I jumped when I thought I saw the nutcracker's eyes shine and I handed it back to my Aunt. "You didn't tell me this thing was possessed!" "What?" she said looking at me in confusion. "It just...shined its eyes at me and short of almost…smiled." My aunt laughed. "It's the light dear, take it."

She handed it back to me and I glared at it. "I'm watching you."

For a toy its eyes were a startling blue, very blue. I looked deeply at it entranced by its gaze, and then I turned from it. For all I know it could be sucking out my soul. I laid myself on the couch sighing and looked up to the ceiling. Before I knew it, I was asleep, but I was surprisingly aware of what was happening around me. The tick of the clock was constant, and awfully loud.

"It's time we wake her," I heard my Gramps say.

Ugh. Please leave me alone.

"And spoil a beautiful dream?" my Aunt whispered. "No, let her sleep."

Right on Auntie.

"Clara's not a child anymore. She deserves the chance to follow her dreams."

Ah, the scholarship. I thought of the nutcracker I was sleeping with. Yeah, great for the whole, 'I'm not a child' image. I hoped he didn't see it.

"A young girl needs to be responsible and practical," he said turning out the light. Like hell, I thought. It's not like I'm about to give up a dream to pursue something that has promise for me as a career or anything. I had sarcasm even in my thoughts. "Clara is responsible. You've raised her well Uncle. It's time you've trusted her to grow up and make her own choices." I tried to keep a smile off my face and focused on sleeping. Maybe things would turn out good after all. "It's late," he said. "I'll see you in the morning."

I drifted off to a deep, deep sleep, unaware of the battle awaiting me.

"Insolent Mice!"

I jumped up wondering if I left the TV on. I didn't recall watching it. I lifted up and saw my nutcracker was gone. I looked around for him, looked under the couch and behind me before deciding to slaughter Tommy. Then I heard crunching next to me. A mouse was huddled on the couch eating a piece of the Christmas house. "Get off," I barked and it jumped, startled before it fell, its sword trailing behind it. Wait, its sword? My eyes widened as I turned and saw my nutcracker fighting off a bunch of mice in helmets and armor. I blinked slowly and saw the scene had not changed. "Back. Off. You. Traitors!" he said annunciating every word with a thrust. Oh no. Either he was possessed or I was high. On what though? I though back to what I had last eaten.

Could you get high on frosting? It was only one sugar cookie.

"Oh geez, what kind of dream is this?" I said shaking my head. Then out of the decorative mouse hole in the wall, two mouse guards came forth, behind them a mouse with a crown and a scepter. "You have got to be kidding me," I whispered to myself. He growled as he surveyed the room and laid his eyes on my nutcracker. He skulked towards him like a snake and glared at him with evil intent. "Even as a nutcracker, you're a thorn in my side." My mouth hung open. The fricken mouse was talking now? And why the heck did he sound like Tim Curry? My nutcracker pointed his sword defiantly at him. "And a thorn to you I shall remain. HA!"

The nutcracker pushed a book with his foot that landed plop down on the king and his followers. I smiled. For a wooden toy with one hand, that was pretty badass.

Then he jumped down as the mouse pushed the book up. I frowned. He should have sliced him as soon as he lifted it. The mouse king and the nutcracker faced off each other before the mouse king thrusted with his scepter. The Nutcracker blocked before they began matching blows. I sat on the couch wondering if I should intervene on this fantasy. Maybe it would play out like the ballet where some random chick would show up, save the day, and then I could go back to sleep.

Suddenly the mouse king knocked the sword out of the nutcracker's hand and he was sprawled on the floor. Okay, that wasn't in the story. Then he pointed it under his chin menacingly. "It's time I turned you into something more useful, like kindling!" His scepter changed into an ax and my nutcracker tried to crawl away. I jumped up, snatched a heavy vase and ran behind the mouse. "Don't even think about it!" I said evilly. "Unless you want to be messed up by a very heavy vase."

Hey, it sounded threatening enough to me.

"Uhm," he said watching me over and turning it back into a wand. "Meddling human towering tall! Let my scepter shrink you small." He annunciated those last words and before I could react I felt myself changing. "LOOK OUT!" Nutcracker yelled, now on top a cart. "Oh snap! He rhymed, rhyming is bad," I cursed. I knew what was happening. I was shrinking, like mouse sized shrinking. I dropped the vase and it shattered into a million dangerous pieces. How could anyone not hear this! The mouse laughed evilly and I swore that from this day on I was strictly team Tom. Screw Jerry.

"Crap," I said as I came face to face with the mouse king. "This… is not good." I backed up and he followed me, his scepter flailing. "Not so fearless now hm?" "I could still kick your ass if you played fair," I said in a fighting stance. "Well, I don't," he said lifting the scepter. Suddenly the nutcracker ran him over with the cart. He skidded back and the nutcracker retrieved his sword. He walked toward the king, but two guards were in his way. Then two he did not see came to get him from behind. I ran toward them, roundhouse kicking one in the face and slamming the other one's head into my knee. They went down like rocks.

When I turned the nutcracker was done with his two. He was also looking at me like I had lost my mind. Which I probably had…again. "Can you make it up to the mantle?" I scoffed. "Like heck. There is no way…" I turned and saw about twenty mice approaching. "…I won't. Peace out." I jumped on it and climbed up as fast as I could, barely missing a spear. The Nutcracker was fighting on the edge of the fireplace with a mouse guard. He had him knocked down when another mouse came up and ran at his back. "Behind you!" I yelled. He turned and met swords with the mouse before overcoming him with his back against the fireplace netting. "Not exactly the prime location for a life or death fight." I yelled, stressing each word to him. "I know!" he said kicking the two mice that cornered him by sticking his sword in the netting and jumping outwards.

"You've got nowhere to run nutcracker!" the mouse king yelled, his scepter now and axe. "Oh geez," I grimaced. He was stuck in mind air. He grunted in the effort to free himself. He narrowly escaped getting chopped and flipped on the other side of the fireplace. He was cornered. "You're not going to get away from me this time. Unless you'd like to feed the fire!" The king said leering. "Climb you idiot! CLIMB!" I yelled, the decorations I hung onto jingling. He jumped up with his one arm and began climbing. I had forgotten he was impaired. Once again he was missed by the mouse king's ax by an inch. "Nutcracker!" I yelled, letting him know that he had better hurry. I also wondered why the mice couldn't climb.

Supposedly they could scurry up clocks and stuff. Ignoring myself, I looked to my toy. He was breathing heavy, but managed to jump to the opposite decorations on the mantle with his one arm. I gasped and wished I could help somehow. I then thought of the glass balls on the decorations. I unhooked the ones closest to me and let them fall on the mouse king's guards. They grunted and fell in pain. Some shards stuck out of their bodies and I felt a sick satisfaction.

Meanwhile the mouse king had jumped on the pile of wood by the fire and turned his scepter into…uh oh. "CROSSBOW!" I yelled at the nutcracker. He saw it and I'm pretty sure if he could, he was sweating bullets. He dropped himself to avoid getting shot the mouse king looked eagerly about trying to find him on the ground. He was holding on, by one thread, and he was breathing very heavily. "Great!" I yelled. "Hey! UGLY!" The mouse king looked about. "UP HERE! PURPLE MAKES YOU LOOK FAT!"

He looked up angrily and kicking as hard as I could I flung my right shoe right at his noggin. It hit him dead on and I couldn't help but laugh at the hollow sound it made when it hit his head. He made some silly sounds before collapsing. The guards ran to him gasping in surprise, then picked up their unconscious leader, his scepter, and ran back into the hole. Two guards had to drag him through and grunted at the effort. "Hm," I mused. "Guess he was just fat." I found to my disappointment that there were no dead mouse bodies lying about. It seemed they couldn't be killed by force. The book that the nutcracker dropped on them should have killed them right off the bat.

Suddenly I found the decorations on the mantle begin to loosen. "Oh you have got to be kidding me!" I whimpered. It let loose and I was dropped roughly before swinging straight at the nutcracker. "GANG WAY!" I yelled and his eyes widened. Screaming my lungs out, I knocked right into the nutcracker and landed on a pillow on the floor. Most of body landed on the pillow, but my left leg was straddling him, and the impact hurt.

There was nothing sexy about landing on a hard living surface.

Nothing at all.

I sighed, grateful the pillow had saved the important parts of me. "I knew you were my favorite throw pillow," I said patting it and rolling off. "I'll never throw you away." The nutcracker tried to help me down, but I disregarded him and he instead stood back a bit. "Thank you for saving my life." Then he untied the sling. "And for your superior nursing skills." I took the sash from him and frowned. "You're not supposed to be able to thank me. You're not supposed to be talking to me right now. Or at all." He looked put-off by my rudeness and walked away. "This has to be a dream," I mused to myself. "One of those pain dreams. The ones where the pain feels real." I then went to retrieve my shoe. "I'm afraid it's all too real," he said from the fireplace. He pulled out his sword and turned to me.

"Shut up. You can't talk," I said glaring away from his direction. "And I've got to return to Parthenia while I still have the chance," he said coming up behind me. I stepped forward. "Well in the event that you could talk, I would tell you that there is no such place as Parthenia. I would also tell you that if you must indeed go, you should change me back to my normal size first." "I'm afraid only the Sugar Plum Princess can reverse the mouse king's spell." I turned to face him, furious. "The Sugar Plum Princess?" "Yes, I've been trying to find her since the mouse king turned me into a nutcracker." "Ok, I'm not that imaginative. That would only mean…" I gasped and turned from him, running as fast as I could to climb up on the couch. "Hey! Wait!" he yelled running after me. "NO! STAY BACK! This cannot be real!" I rolled on top the couch at last and in less time the nutcracker was on the couch as well, holding my arm.

"Toy or not if you don't let go off me this instant I am going to go Matrix, Madea, and Jet Li on you!" "Please, let me explain," he said trying to calm me down. It had never been a forte of mine to argue with someone who was calm, so I stopped struggling. "On the ground if you wouldn't mind," he said gesturing. "You could fall and get hurt from here." I frowned then slid down, my dress slightly riding up. As he dropped I felt the distinct feeling that the nutcracker felt sorry for me.

"So you used to be…" "Not a nutcracker," he finished for me. I raised an eyebrow. Suspicious much? All of a sudden the owl from the top of the clock hooted. I yelled and took cover under the couch while the nutcracker bore his sword. "Yeah, like that'll do anything against that big old bird," I declared bitterly. "How can there be no one in this stupid house hearing this?" "Perhaps I can help," the owl said in a motherly female tone.

She sort of sounded like Madame Lafayette, which is why I came out instantly. "You will find the Sugar Plum Princess on an island across the Sea of Storms." "But it's impossible to cross the Sea of Storms," he said coming to my side. "It's dangerous yes…" she said nodding. "…but not impossible." He looked at me, and then began walking away, sword still drawn. Guess he wasn't an owl fan. I looked at the owl and she simply gestured to him with her wing. Seeing that I was not following him he stopped and turned to me. "Well? Are you coming?" I looked at him, a hand on my hip. "Are you out of your mind? Me? With you? In there? Yeah, I'll take a rain check on that one."

"Surely you don't want to spend the rest of your life as a mouse," the owl interjected sounding more and more like Madame Lafayette. "Can't you just bring me the antidote or something?" I asked the nutcracker. He shook his head. "I'm afraid the portal will close after the clock strikes one and it will disappear. The portal chooses one place each Christmas Eve and never repeats itself." I sighed and rubbed my temples. This was not happening. "But how will I get back?" The bird swooped down and I was sure I had offended it. It was going to eat me. She just passed by me and gathered the golden locket off the ornament Madame Lafayette had given me. I had never known it was removable.

"Once you have found the Sugar Plum Princess, open the locket and you will return home your normal size." "But…" I began, but the owl went back onto the clock and froze. The nutcracker walked to the hole, looked at the owl, then looked at me. "Hold on a sec," I said running under the tree. Tommy was too lazy to put away his toys. The action figures should still be here. "Bingo," I said finding the boxes. Finding that Ace's shoe size was closest to mine, I pulled off his boots and stole another figure's military pants.

"Turn around," I ordered the nutcracker, and he obliged. "I hope you are wearing your dress," he said without turning. "Why? We're going to battle mice, why do I need a dress?" "It's…proper." I scoffed. "Trust me babe," I said pulling on the pants. "You'll learn that a lot of me is traditionally improper." I had pulled on the pants and the boots over my shoes, but for his sake left on the dress. "I'll wear it since it offends you so." Slowly I put on the necklace and walked toward the nutcracker. "Ready?" he asked gesturing to the creepy hole, now a cave to me. "That is not the question you should be asking." I said saucily.

Are you okay with this? Do you have life insurance? Who's your provider? Those were appropriate questions.

"This is crazy."I quipped. "I'm…as ready as I'll ever be. Let's get this over with."

He stood there waiting and reproachfully I poked him. "Oh no, you go first." I could swear the corners of his mouth went up slightly and he walked in beside me.

It was pitch black and I couldn't even see my hands when all of a sudden I felt myself falling.

SIDENOTE/ Previous reader: Just a few grammatical and textual changes, the plot remains the same. Enjoy^^

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