The Nutcracker

Chapter 5

Soooo here's chapter 5! :D

Chapter 5 part :

The lights wrapped Clarie's figure, and she shrinked from a human size to the size, of the nutcracker.

Then, the string of lights untangled themselves and fluttered back into the mouse hole, catching up with their king.

Clarie's stared down at her new self. "Elbows. Fingers. I'm still..... me.".

"But smaller." The Nutcracker said, with a tinch of disappointment in his eyes. He felt like he'd failed, as he failed to protect the one who saved him.

"Oh no. I cant stay like this! What am i going to tell my grandfather? How......" Clarie was devastated. All her life, she had never seen anything magical before, neither had she ever believe that magic existed.

But now, she not only witnessed magic, she was a victim of magic. It was all overwhelming, and too much to comprehend.

"We'll figure something out." The Nutcracker tried to comfort her, it was the only thing he could do to help her.

"But for now, you'll have to follow me. We'll find a way to break all of mouse king's spells."

"Follow.... you?! But.... how will i get back?" Clarie asked.

Just then, the owl on top of the cuckoo clock winked. The magic had not only brought the nutcracker life, it had also brought another wood piece wisdom.

The owl's eyes glowed in a green light for a few seconds and she flew down towards the christmas tree.

She grabbed hold of the golden necklace which laid on the ceramic dancer with her firm claws and dropped it directly and accurately into the palm of Clarie's hands.

"Once you've found the sugarplum princess, open the locket, and you'll return home your normal self."

"A... but...." before Clarie had a chance to respond, the owl flew back to its rightful position and froze, turning back into the lifeless piece of old wood.

Clarie sighed. She really didnt know who or what to trust anymore. Plus, she was tiny, she couldnt possibly allow herself to live like that forever. Her only hope, was to break the spell.

"So..... You coming?" The nutcracker gestured towards the mouse hole.

"Me?.... In there?!" Clarie's eyes widened.

"It's our only way to get  to the other world. And of course our only way to find the sugarplum princess" the Nutcracker explained, his voice full of concern for Clarie.

"Hmm.... seems i have no option." Clarie walked towards the mouse hole.

"Together?" The Nutcracker said, and grabbed hold of Clarie's hand.

Clarie felt strange.

She was holding hands with her own toy! A wooden piece of art. His hands were hard and stiff, but they gripped hers firmly and made her feel unusually safe.

"I'll count to 3, and we'll jump in together. Alright?"

Clarie nodded in response.

At the count of three, both of them jumped into a ride of their lives.

The mouse hole led to a long passageway downwards, the passageway which connected the two worlds. It was filled was purple and white strings of lights everywhere, it made Clarie close her eyes.

They went downwards like a free fall, but never let go of each others hands.

"Ahhhhhh!!!!!!" They bothed screamed, as they dropped down what seemed like a bottomless pit.

After what seemed like eternity, Clarie and the Nutcracker landed onto a soft white pile of snow.

Clarie's struggled as she tried to get up, and finally stabled herself onto the ground.

She looked around to find her Nutcracker with a broken shoulder. The landing had exerted way too much pressure on the wooden joint, that his entire arm was dislocated.

Watching the worried look on Clarie's face, the Nutcracker swiftly grabbed his dislocated arm and pushed it back with a great force till he heard a loud "click".

"Does it hurt?" Clarie asked, out of concern.

The nutcraker couldnt help but smile. "I'm made of wood, Clarie, i cant feel pain."

Clarie blushed in embarrassment and turned her face away from him.

She decided to change the topic. "How did you know my name was Clarie?"

"Well, after i was given to you, i heard many people calling you Clarie. Even though i wasnt exactly alive, i was stuck in the wood. And i could hear and see. Just that i couldnt do anything or move any part of my body"

"Ohhh....." Clarie finally cleared a part of her doubts.

"This way" the Nutcracker said, using his arm to lead the way. They walked through another hole and finally arrived at their destination.

A place where magic existed.

A place where they could break the spell.

A place that was all so unfamiliar to Clarie.

And that was how she ended up in a small room underground, with the Nutcraker.

"Anymore questions?" The Nutcracker asked. He was determined to clarify Clarie's doubts, to make sure she felt safe with him. But there was something he had been hiding from her. Something he avoided talking about.

His true identity.

"No. I guess not. For now i'm clear" Clarie replied.

The nutcraker felt relieved at the fact that he did not have to lie or avoid saying anything to her, he hated keeping things from others, but he just didnt know hoe to explain himself then and there.

"Go to sleep. I'll be on the couch if you need me" the Nutcracker told Clarie.

Clarie cuddled up into the warm comfy bed and closed her eyes.

The Nutcracker watched her every move, admiring the gracefulness and gentleness of her movements. He her eyelids flutter shut, and the constant rising and falling of her chest as she breathed. Every part of her drew him towards her.

He couldnt help but  be mesmerized by her every move.