Nutcracker [Discontinued]

9 Adjusting

Fritz
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"Maria?"

She whirls around, nearly causing herself to fall off the building. I rush forward to help her. She pulls herself to her feet, sighing and watching my arms on her.

"Are you all right?"

She blinks. "Fritz, what do I look like to you?"

"A doll--a nutcracker."

She smiles. "Yes, that's correct."

I turn to Eira, and when Maria doesn't think I'm watching frowns.

"I'm sorry for the way I treated you."

Eira gives me a weak smile.

"Both of you."

"It's all right, Fritz," Maria says slowly. "This must be hard for you to adjust to."

I nod. "It is. I never thought I would miss my sister this much." Or my grandfather. Accepting I'm weaker than a doll and a fairy isn't easy. But I am willing to try to do so. "Where do we go from here?"

"To my castle. But it's on the other side of Animara. Ralph will continue to try to take me."

I still do not understand that relationship.

Eira turns away, watching the sky. "There will be Fireflies."

"Fireflies? You're worried about Fireflies?"

"Fire fairies," she snaps. "If they don't want me near them, I won't mix well."

"What does that mean?"

Maria takes Eira's hand while looking at me. "She'll melt."