Recollection of the Previous Night in the Morning

When I woke up it was still dark. But I had to get up. A feeling that I had to get out of that bed and just move pushed me to my feet.

My head throbbed as I got dressed. I had completely forgotten about my concussion and my poor night. I had been woken up by that psycho nurse every hour asking me "Hey you still alive!" and with the creepy shadows cascading across her face, it was unnerving.

I shook my head hoping to shake the images out of my head. No such luck and I had been particularly lucky in all this, at any rate it just made my head hurt worst. And my chest was sore from the broken ribs and it was hard to breath.

I let out a small agonized sigh and pinched my nose. If I had had an upset stomach ache it wouldn't have been a big issue.

I decided to take a risk and get some medication on my own.

I found a small bottle and opened it smelled like peppermints. Nope. Another bottle I shook it and the sound of pills came from inside, nope. I went through two cabinets of various medicines when I found a small box a little bigger than my palm.

Opening it I found a small vial about the size of my for finger with an orange liquid inside, my gut told me that it was the right one same with my nose but my logic told me otherwise. It was orange the stuff I drank was blue and pink.

Should I go with my gut or logic? Which would you chose? I went with my gut. I mean why not it was just a dream… right?

I took a cautious sip. It tasted like watermelon, which made no sense since it was orange. However I felt good, really good. My ribs felt great and my head didn't pound. Deep down grinding in my gut that said if this stuff made me feel this good there was bound to be a catch. My logic said the same.

I swallowed down the rest of the taste in my mouth and quickly put the vial back.

I grabbed my sword and bag that Captain had given me just after we had all agreed to go on the quest and Major Mint had left.

"Excuses me Miss?" said the Captain.

I turned to look at him. "Yeah?"

"Um I noticed you didn't have a satchel," He had a heavy Indian accent. He handed me a tan leather back pack.

"Oh," I smiled "thanks, and you can call me Clara," I took the pack gratefully.

The captain blushed and looked down. "You're welcome," He did a half smile when he looked back up. He laughed nervously "um I'll see you tomorrow," Then turned and ran into a table knocking maps and pencils off.

My hand slapped my mouth to hide the small laugh that was about to escape my lips.

Then Candy laughed and turned towards me, red in the face, as if we had just made a joke. Immediately I laughed too. He wasn't hurt and he was laughing. Everything was okay.

Between my gasps for air I laughed, "You okay?"

He laughed, "Yeah I'm fine I am a bit of a klutz."

I gave him a huge smile. "Sure you are captain."

We laughed as if we were best friends. I suddenly felt a lurch this was the prince's best friend and the prince was the nutcracker. My laughing faltered.

Candy stopped laughing and looked at me. "Are you okay?" he asked politely.

I cleared my throat nervously remembering Clara was supposed to fall in love with the nutcracker, not his best friend. "Oh nothing just you know my head," I tried to brush it off. Over Candy's shoulder I saw the nutcracker by the door pretending to clean his sword. He was glaring at Candy.

"Oh maybe I should take you to the nurse?" Candy offered, looking worried.

"Oh no that's fine," I caught a glimpse of the nutcrackers murderous look towards the captain. The last thing I needed was to be breaking up a fight.

"You sure?" he asked skeptically.

"I'm fine Captain, just a little rest and I'll be fine," Sure my story didn't make sense but did it really have to? My head really was bothering me. I gave him another smile a confident brave smile though it wavered a bit when I saw nutcracker leave. "Listen Cap, I'll see ya in the morning."

He gave me a small smile. "Sure glad to help."

I nodded and quickly walked out of the room. As soon as I was sure Captain Candy couldn't hear me I let out a long sigh.

Over the years I had noticed that I was sometimes attracted to Indian or Asian guys, there exotic and have an accent which is always adorable.

But I doubted I was I really in love with him. I mean seriously I never really believed in love at first sight. Plus my mind was kind of on over load with the whole nutcracker thing.

Was I really in love with the nutcracker? Looking at him or standing by him I don't feel any different as if I were standing by my friends.

But seeing him glare at Captain Candy made me feel bad for laughing like a total idiot around him.

Were dream selves supposed to have such a dynamic in emotions? All these questions were flooding into my mind I didn't realize the two shadows come up behind me...

"Hey what are you doing?" squawked someone from behind me shocking me out of my memory. I jumped and turned expecting to see the psycho nurse; instead it was just the parrot. Another memory slipped back into my mind.

"Hey, hey you still alive?" whispered the weird nurse.

I turned over and looked at her she had a candle in her hand making her eyes look like yellow and orange pools of flame.

I tried to make my voice work. "y-y-yes!" I stuttered.

"Good I'm going out and won't be back. You don't die okay?"

"sh-sh-sure."

The nurse walked out of the light.

I hiccupped a yelp. I rolled back over and tried to go back to sleep.

About ten minutes later I heard a voice that sounded like the nurse. "Hey, hey you still alive?"

I sat up so fast that my head began to pound. "Yes! yes I'm still alive!" if I hadn't been so tired and scared me probably would have awakened the entire village. I looked around but I didn't see the nurse. This scared me even more.

"Yes! yes I'm still alive!" shouted the voice again but this time it sounded more like me. I did a quarter turn and saw a multi colored parrot. I took a step towards it. "Hi?" I said to it.

"Hi!" it squawked back.

I cocked my head. "So what's your name?" I wondered why I had never noticed it before and why a nurse kept a parrot in the infirmary. It just couldn't be sanitary.

"I like cotton candy!" it squawked.

"Huh," I shrugged.

"My head is bleeding," It muttered.

I laughed. "Wow," I had to get back to sleep. "Well good night Parrot," I went back to bed but the bird kept muttering very disturbing things.

"I hate this place. The knife hit him right in the heart, died instantly. So much death here. Yes I know why he's here. Why do you keep asking me this? Fire and lightning. It's her I'm sure of it."

My breath hitched. I lay awake there in the suddenly cold bed until the nurse came back.

My mind came back to the present. I looked at the parrot and glared. Stupid bird, I thought.

I gripped my stuff and walked out.

The tree top community reminded me of the boardwalk at the beach you could walk to one side then turn around and walk the whole length the entire day.

It was too early for anyone to actually be awake and in truth I was not a morning person but if you've ever been away from home you tend to get up earlier and well when you're about to go on a possible wild goose chase to stop an evil Rat tyrant you tend to get up even earlier.

After I was out of the nurse's office and walked a short length of boardwalk my eyes screamed at me to let them close. But I fought of control.

I stumbled to the one end of the community where I stood ready to collapse I looked up at the dawning night, at the fading stars.

I took a deep breath.

I had a bad feeling that I would never see the tree top community again. Or if this did turn out to be a wild goose chase and there is no magic princess to turn me back to my normal size I might never see my family again and this was not the last time I would think about this. This was such a big risk I was taking, so many questions swirled and bashed against my skull.

As the sun began to turn the sky pink and red I remember the old sailors' rhyme my parents taught me: red a night sailors' delight, red in the morning sailors take warning; a storm was coming. As I remember I swore that if this was all a dream that I would never forget it and if it wasn't (and if the Sugar Plum Princess isn't real) then I would help these people to take back there kingdom, after I give the nutcracker a good beating for saying the princess was real, prince or no prince.

I took another deep shaky breath as I watched the sky turn orange and yellow. People would be waking up soon.

Breakfast. Hmm what to do about breakfast. My father always nagged me about how breakfast was the most important meal of the day. The thought of never seeing my family again made me want to, well, do what he would tell me to do.

Breakfast, I thought again.

"My, you're up early," Said a frail voice said from behind.

You would think after all this I wouldn't jump at voices behind me but well I was tired and not really paying attention.

I jumped and turned. Mrs. Mint…

Were dream selves supposed to have such a dynamic in emotions? All these questions were flooding into my mind I didn't realize the two shadows come up behind me...

"What was that about?" I nearly jumped out of my skin as a fragile female voice came behind me. I turned around. In the dim light I saw a gray haired old lady standing straight and regal and next to her was the Major.

I clutch my chest. "Ma'am no offence but I'm in no condition to give a heart attack to."

"Terribly sorry," She said. She smiled warmly. "I assume you met my husband Major Mint. I'm Mrs. Mint," She reached out her hand and for the first time I realized the two had their arms entwined like they were going to dinner or something.

I shook her hand. "I'm Clara."

"Pretty name."

"Thanks."

"I assume you're ready for tomorrow?" the Major said gruffly.

Mrs. Mint sighed "dear," She rolled her eyes. "Clara before you answer that would you mind answering my question."

"Uh sure what was it again?"

"What was that about?"

"Oh um I'm sorry what was what about?" I felt so stupid and guilty for not being able to answer.

"Well dear first that nutcracker stormed out then you come out looking like you'd just seen a ghost and then Candy my second in command comes out looking happier than ever," Said the Major.

"Oh well um that's a little hard to explain Mrs. Mint," I rubbed the back of my neck feeling self-conscious and uncomfortable, "you know without going into a long story," The two kind of reminded me of my grandparents on their better days.

"Alright but it was strange," Said Mrs. Mint.

"And I don't want you messing with my second in command," Said her husband.

Mrs. Mint laughed. "Dear!" she turned back to me. "Dear you should get some rest and don't mind my husband if he has an off day," She smiled as her husband's mouth opened and closed and blubbered as he tried to control his anger.

Major Mint huffed an undignified response "never mind that. We meet at the ladder you came up and then we will be off. And remember I don't like to be late."

I cracked a half smile. "Alright good night."

"Mrs. Mint!" I yelped. "Mrs. Mint I'm sorry did I wake you? I'm not usually up this early but being in a strange place I—"

"Please dear you didn't wake me and I don't need an explanation," She held her hand up and smiled.

Good I thought I didn't want to explain it.

"Why don't I get you some breakfast?"

Right on cue my stomach growled. "Thank you."

I scarffed down my egg and bacon sandwich and tea as politely but quickly as possible. As I gulped down my last bite and washed it down with the last swig of tea I said. "Thanks for the breakfast."

"Not a problem dear." Mrs. Mint said smiling. "Now you best be off."

"Right!" I yelped remembering that the Major didn't like being late and it was already 'upon the morrow'.

I grabbed my satchel. As I got up my sheath stabbed my left thigh. I grimaced it was a dull pain that I'd felt before when I got up from a chair and hit my hip on the end of the chair I limped for hours afterward. I let out a small groan "Ow," And jogged painfully out of the breakfast nook. "Thanks again Mrs. Mint!" I called over my shoulder.

"Be careful dear!" she yelled back, "and please keep my husband safe!" she yelled again after a few seconds when I was almost out of ear shot.

Keep her husband safe huh? Not going to be an easy task. I shook my head trying to clear my thoughts as I saw the three people I was supposed to travel this county with gathered at where we were supposed to meet.

"Of course your late why wouldn't you be!?" growled Major Mint.

Everyone was there the nurse, Masher, Éclair, Froyo, and all the other villagers. Mrs. Mint came up behind me a few seconds later. "Good morning," She said smiling and kissed the Major's cheek.

The Major blubbered at the sudden action. But his wife just laughed.

I would have laughed but at the moment I felt out of place and suddenly frightened but also a twinge of gratitude towards Mrs. Mint for getting me out of the scolding. Panic swept over me. I mean I was going to leave this place and travel around with three men. Not how my typical dreams usually went.

Though a vague familiarity came over me. Nothing worse than some rats were going to happen on this trip… right?

I shoulder my pack. I had nearly forgotten my sword lessons and the pain in my thigh had reminded me. As the Major began his farewell speech I walked over to the nutcracker and whispered: "you haven't forgotten our deal?"

He looked at me. It was strange looking at him as this way bulky and wooden and not human. I had only just then realized the weirdness of it. And if a word could describe this whole thing it would be weird.

"Deal?" he asked.

I refused to sigh or get angry. I had nearly forgotten. "Yes our agreement last night? Sword fighting."

"Oh ah yes of course I'd forgotten sorry," Said the nutcracker in the same hushed whisper.

I shrugged. "So how should we begin?"

"Well first you need a sword, if I had remembered I could have gone to the weapon storage—"

"Oh that's okay, I already have one."

"No I mean a real sword. One that—"

"Is well balanced," I finished unsheathing a small bit of my sword.

His eyes widened looking at the weird inscription.

I sheathed it and looked back at the Major, who was finishing up his long speech about faith and strength.

"And may the Gods be with you!" he finished.

He turned and led the way down the ladder, then Candy, nutcracker, and last of all me. It was a good sendoff I suppose. Lots of whoops and hollers for safe journey and all that. But I couldn't shake the feeling of dread as I looked back at all the drawn but happy faces. Then I descended down the rope ladder.

seriously a long friggin chapter. whew. And thank you to my lone reviewer. kittyhawk09. she gave me new inspiration! I'm going to start writing for this fan fic again! yay! alright alright. thanks again R&R! :)