Page 121 - Nuts to You - The Nutcracker Retold

Sprung Free
No plans came to Clara then. And being without a plan was a terror to Clara. And even though she danced and swirled with her prince, Clara was frozen stiff with fear.
She couldn’t have been happier, than when the entire dance was interrupted by a flash and a bang and a puff of smoke. The shock snapped her out of her trance, and she leaped out of the arms of the Prince as easily as if she had planned it.
What had happened?
Now, Drosselmeir had been watching Clara and was dismayed to see her accept a dance with the Prince. Who is this prince, anyway? Drosselmeir thought. In all my travels, I’ve never come across him or his kingdom. As Drosselmeir watched, he realized there was more going on than met the eye. There was a spell in process! Drosselmeir didn’t know who this upstart of a prince was. But he, Drosselmeir, Godfather to Clara – even if he were on the outs with Mother Stahlbaum – still loved, and would protect, Clara.
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