Page 46 - Nuts to You - The Nutcracker Retold

And More Betrayal
Franz was worried about the Mouse Queen’s next move, while also trying to breathe, as Princess Pirlipat held him in a stranglehold. But the Princess wouldn’t let go, so he was unable to hand her off to Mother Ginger and see her out the window, much to his disappointment.
Then the Mouse Queen made her move and thrust a rather frightened Prince Reginald Rhatt before them.
And then ever so softly, the Mouse Queen began to chant. And soon, the chant was picked up by all the meeslings, as they all joined in. Finally Reggie joined in, as he gained courage when the forces grew against Franz. The chant went something like this, “You must marry. Do not tarry. I need your throne. Your crown.”
“Oh, no!” Pirlipat cried, wrapping herself around Franz like a choke vine on an oak. “Never! Never ever, could I marry a mouse!”
But the chanting began again, “You must marry! You must marry!” And the chanting went on, and on, and on, until
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