The Nutcracker | [Prince Eric X Reader]

f o u r

Two men in uniform marched towards them, each brandishing sharp swords and eyeing the group with suspicious looks. The stick-like elderly spoke up first, glancing at them through his spectacles, "What have we here?" The short Mohammedan with the low, white turban on his head spoke up, his voice raising in confusion and doubt, "A wooden spy? Some...new kind of Mouse King trap?" Major Mint caught a glimpse of (Y/N) and the children, he then retreated a step backwards in fright, "Kidnappers as well!"

The Peppermint Boy argued, "No. They helped us!"

Captain Candy's dark eyes collided with (Y/N)'s and she inhaled, "Well. If you have nothing to hide, you won't mind answering a few questions?" Major Mint waved a bony, slender hand to a obese woman who was stood nearby. He purred, "Come on, children. Masha...shall take care of you." The children uneasily took small steps towards the brunette woman, Captain Candy gestured politely to (Y/N) and the Nutcracker to come inside, she looked back over her shoulder blade one last time before she joined the Major and Captain for questioning. Major Mint jumped right into it as the door slammed behind them, (Y/N) sprung a few feet into the air, and Nutcracker gave her a reassuring nod of his head. She gulped. "Right. Let us start with: who you are? And what you are doing here?"

Nutcracker's response was calm and collected, quite the opposite of what (Y/N) was feeling on the inside, "I'm Nutcracker. And this...this is (Y/N). We are both victims of the Mouse King's magic.", he told them and she added her own input on the subject as well, "We're trying to find the only one who can defeat him. The Sugar Plum Princess." Feeling vulnerable, she wrapped her arms around her middle.

Captain Candy repeated, "The Sugar Plum Princess?"

Major Mint scoffed, his upper lip stiffened and his chin rose pompously, "I have never heard such a...ridiculous story!" He accused and (Y/N) opened her mouth to argue, however, Nutcracker beat her to it. "It is the truth. Told to me...by Prince Eric himself." The Major chuffed at the mere mention of the Prince, retorting stubbornly, successfully getting on her last remaining nerves, "Prince Eric?! Oh, puh-lease. He is the reason we are in this blasted mess! If it weren't for him, that reckless boy, the Mouse King would not be turning everyone into...knick-knacks!" Nutcracker sighed as (Y/N) boiled from beside him, he murmured, "You make the Prince seem...very...awful."

"Awful? That's...a compliment! He was - useless, lazy...and - irresponsible." The Nutcracker looked away from them as Major Mint got closer, invading his personal space. Fortunately, Captain Candy came up behind him to pull him away. He warned the Major warily, his voice fiery fury, "Major Mint! You are forgetting that Prince Eric was my friend!" Major Mint frowned at the Indian, mocking, "Captain Candy! You're forgetting - that I am your superior." The Captain just rolled his eyes as Major Mint rambled on and on about how 'bad' Prince Eric was for the Kingdom: "I had high hopes for that boy...no matter...I have got more important things to think about, like keeping what is left of our subjects, safe from the Mouse King!"

(Y/N) stepped forward, "Then perhaps you should be looking for the Princess too."

"I don't have to search for some...Sugar...Pie..."

"Sugar Plum." She corrected.

"...imaginary princess!"

Captain Candy's head lifted as he held up his hand, he interjected quickly, "Wait, Major. They may be telling the truth. I once overheard the King sharing with Prince Eric about - this powerful princess. The King himself believed in her magic...and we have tried everything else to defeat the mouse," he reasoned while his eyes grew soft as he recalled memories of the long gone King. Major Mint paused for a moment, thinking deeply, "Do you know where she is?" Nutcracker said, "We have learned that she's on an island, across the Sea of Storms." The Major scoffed and spluttered at the mere notion of the mission. "Oh, very well. We shall all go looking for the Sugar Plum Princess...but, I will be in charge of the expedition."