𝒜 𝐿𝒾𝓉𝓉𝓁𝑒 𝒞𝒽𝓇𝒾𝓈𝓉𝓂𝒶𝓈 𝑀𝒶𝑔𝒾𝒸

𝒞𝒽𝒶𝓅𝓉𝑒𝓇 𝟫

A/N: This entire chapter is dedicated to the candy dances in Act II of The Nutcracker. If you're confused on some of the descriptions (I did try not to use ballet lingo), please let me know.

Once I processed Sugar Plum's words, I was ready to sink into the candy-coated floor out of sheer embarrassment.

Princess?! That's a title I never thought I'd ever hear used. What have I done worthy of the title? Hide behind a doll bed? Have amazing aim when it comes to shoe-throwing? That hardly deserves to be considered royalty. I let out a small sigh.

I was excited about having a feast held in my honor, though. My heart raced, and I fidgeted with one of my still-in curls. I simply could not keep still—the anticipation was too much.

This has got to be the most excitement I've had since our last real Christmas party three years ago. Actually, scratch that. 2019 didn't provide you with a toy turning out to be a cursed human, a trip to magical Candyland, or the title of "princess."

I took a few moments to calm myself and try to piece together what had happened that night.

Okay, Clara, so you broke Nate's curse. It doesn't matter how. Then he crowned me princess, and we came here. Sugar Plum was super excited to see us, and now we've got a feast in our honor. Oh, and I'm crushing on him. It's got to be. I've had butterflies in my stomach since we met. I've also been blushing like crazy, and my heart has been in hummingbird mode. Oh, this is so awkward, but cool.

Suga Plum waved her wand, and a table with all sorts of desserts appeared. "For your enjoyment."

We settled down just as the first set of dancers entered the room. They were dressed all in brown with colorful bottoms. The ladies wore knee-length brown dresses with a light brown velvet trim and colorful tights. Their hair was worn in a neat updo. The men, on the other hand, wore brown shirts with an intricate crisscrossing pattern and a hat that looked a bit like a halo. Their pants matched their partners' tights.

"They're representing chocolate, aren't they?" I whispered to Nate.

"Yeah. In my opinion, they're some of the best dancers here. But I may be a little biased 'cuz I'm a chocoholic."

I giggled. "Me too. You really should meet my brother. Mention my name and chocolate in the same sentence, and he'll conjure up a story about my love of chocolate."

"It must be nice to have a sibling." His voice held a melancholy note to it.

"Sometimes it is. Sometimes it isn't. But there's one thing I know: we've got an inseparable bond."

"Shh! They're going to begin!"

He was right. As soon as we'd returned our attention to the dancers, they began a lively Spanish dance, complete with the click of castanets. I was in awe of how effortless they made it seem. Even the lifts (which I knew were far from simple) were executed with ease. Their faces all bore cheerful, excited smiles, and I knew they were performing their very best for us tonight. When they finished, I enthusiastically applauded them. So did Nate.

Next was Arabian coffee. I remembered them standing off to the side earlier, almost as if they preferred being by themselves. The group of five ladies wore silky pale pink tunics with flowy pants in the same color. Their hair was covered by gauzy veils.

"They seem sort of mysterious," I noted.

Woodwinds began to play, and the five dancers swayed in time to the music. There was a sort of allure to their movements. I watched in rapt attention as they contorted and stretched their graceful bodies to their limits.