The Enchanted Toy•||Michael Jackson||•

Chapter Two

Narrator: Y'all should know the drill by now. ⬆️ Anyways...Here's chapter two!

  Clara gripped the sparkling dagger tightly, standing beside the Nutcracker as he raised his sword high in the air. His voice boomed with authority.

"Soldiers! To arms!"

Suddenly, tiny doors in the walls burst open, and the Nutcracker's army poured into the hall. Clara's mouth fell open as she took in the sight of them. There they were soldiers in shiny uniforms, but something was... off. Real off. One soldier was rubbing his eyes and yawning like he had just rolled out of bed. Another was dragging his sword behind him, the tip scraping against the floor. A third was twirling his rifle like a baton and humming a little tune. And the other two? Arguing.

Narrator: The two arguing have got to be Jermaine and Randy cause ain't no way.

"Wait," Clara said, looking from the Nutcracker to the soldiers. "Aren't they supposed to you know... fight?"

The Nutcracker pinched the bridge of his nose, clearly exasperated. "Yes, yes they are. But they're also very lazy."

"Lazy?!" Clara hissed as the soldiers began stretching, gossiping, and—was that one juggling walnuts?

Narrator: This is when Clara realizes that these soldiers might get her killed.

The Mouse King's army of mice snarled and charged forward, swords drawn. Clara's heart leapt into her throat. "They're coming! Do something!"

The Nutcracker groaned and turned to his soldiers. "Alright, you bunch of slackers! Get in formation! Now!"

One soldier lazily saluted. "Yeah, yeah. We got this."

The soldiers shuffled into a ragtag formation. Clara cringed as she watched them stumble over one another, one soldier even dropping his hat and stopping to pick it up in the middle of the advancing mice.

"This is hopeless," Clara muttered.

But then, to her utter disbelief, the tide began to turn. The soldiers, despite their laziness and disorganization, fought with surprising skill. One tossed walnuts into the air, hitting mice on the head. Another slid on his knees like a rockstar, knocking out an entire row of mice. Somehow, they were winning?

"Unbelievable," Clara whispered, watching as the Mouse King's army began to retreat.

The Nutcracker stood beside her, his sword gleaming. "You see? They're unconventional, but they get the job done."

Clara sighed in relief, but her moment of calm didn't last long. The Mouse King stomped forward, his sword sharper than the Nutcracker's. "You think this is over? You've underestimated me for the last time, Nutcracker!"

The Nutcracker turned to Clara. "Stay back, Clara. This battle is mine."

Narrator: Boy you still all broke up! Please sit down.

The Mouse King lunged, and the two clashed swords in a blur of sparks and thunderous clangs. The Nutcracker fought valiantly, but the Mouse King was smaller, faster, and more ferocious. Clara watched helplessly, clutching the dagger.

Then it hit her. The Mouse King had been commanding his army from atop a makeshift throne made of Gold and purple silk. Purple silk!

"Nutcracker!" Clara shouted. "Distract him! I've got an idea!"

The Nutcracker dodged a swipe of the Mouse King's sword and glanced at her. "What kind of idea?"

"No time! Just trust me!"