(Clara's POV)
We arrive at a dilapidated village made of what appears to be gingerbread and different kinds of candy. It was a saddening sight to see.
"It's what's left of the gingerbread village. The Mouse King's work, no doubt," Nutcracker says.
We continue to walk through the village, gazing at the destruction the Mouse King wrought.
"I didn't know things had gotten this bad," Nutcracker says.
I see what looks like a forgotten doll in the snow and pick it up. Uncle Aaron, Nutcracker, and I exchange somber looks. We suddenly hear the sound of a horse whinny in the distance. As we approach the stable, the horse nickers and steps back defensively.
"Steady, girl! We won't hurt you," Uncle Aaron says.
The horse leans forward, allowing me to pet her. A snowball suddenly strikes me in the back.
"Ow! Hey!" I say.
"It's an ambush! Take cover!" Nutcracker says.
We quickly hide behind a wall, but when we peer over the wall, we see our assailants are two young children, a boy and a girl. The boy is wearing a gingerbread-looking suit while the girl is wearing a peppermint-looking suit. Uncle Aaron laughs.
"It's alright. They're just children," he says, before a snowball hits him right in the face and another hits Nutcracker's hat off his head.
"With very good aim," Nutcracker says, putting his hat back on his head.
I notice the doll and I hold it up over the wall.
"Wait! We found this. Is she yours?" I ask.
The girl dressed like a peppermint comes out from behind the wall and rushes over.
"Patty!" she shouts happily.
I give her the doll, and she hugs it. The boy dressed like a gingerbread man hesitantly steps out from behind the wall. Nutcracker kneels down to Peppermint Girl's level.
"What happened here?" he asks her.
"We went out with Marzipan to gather candleberries," she tells him, motioning to the horse.
Gingerbread Boy strokes Marzipan's muzzle.
"We came back and everything. . ." he starts.
". . . and everyone. . ." Peppermint Girl continues.
". . . were gone!" Gingerbread Boy finishes.
"It was the Mouse King's army," Peppermint Girl explains.
Gingerbread Boy scowls and crosses his arms.
"This is all Prince Eric's fault," he says.
"Who's Prince Eric?" I ask.
"The son of the king who ruled before the Mouse took over," Nutcracker replies.
"Yeah, but he wasn't much of a prince," Gingerbread Boy says.
"The king left his throne and the golden scepter to his royal advisor," Nutcracker explains.
"The Mouse," Peppermint Girl says.
"Until the prince could prove himself worthy," Nutcracker says.
"Let me guess. The Mouse decided he liked being king," Uncle Aaron says like it is no surprise.
"But what happened to Prince Eric?" I ask.
"Don't know, don't care," Gingerbread Boy replies.
"We're better off without him," Peppermint Girl agrees.
YOU ARE READING
Barbie in the Nutcracker: Beauty is Skin Deep
FanfictionNevaeh, her father Aaron, and her cousin Clara are shocked to discover that the nutcracker Clara was given has come to life by some sort of magic. When Nevaeh is taken by the nutcracker's greatest enemy, the Mouse King, it is up to Aaron, Clara, and...
