I do not own Beyblade!
- - - It was Christmas Eve.
Hilary was in the kitchen again making cookies with Tyson and Kenny. What surprised Tala the most was that Kai was actually participating. He was straightening flower and using cookie cutters. Hilary spotted him and motioned for him to get in.
"You can join us too Tala" said Hilary placing sugar cookies in front of him. "Go ahead and decorate"
Tala didn't understand what Hilary meant by that. Kai motioned towards Tyson. Tala turned to the blue haired boy and watched him. Tyson had all of his concentration on his cookie. His tongue was sticking out to the side. He was putting icing and sprinkles on the cookie. Tala looked at what there was on the table and immediately went for the red icing and red sprinkles. Red…why was he getting red? He was sure that it wasn't because of his own hair color. He concluded that it was because of that girl he had been bumping into.
Tala decorated his cookie star. He looked up when Hilary burst out laughing. Tyson had icing on his nose and face. He offered a small chuckle.
After cleaning up, Tala went out for some fresh air. He didn't walk far. Hilary had invited him and the rest to a play. All the proceeds were going to given to the less fortunate. The entry was just five dollars but if you wanted to give more then you were welcomed to. He walked back to the Dojo and found everyone ready to go.
They walked to a local theater. It was going to be a ballet performance. It was the nutcracker. They paid and went to takes seats. The performers waited until the theater was full to start the performance. A caped person came out from the curtains and stood in front of the audience. Lowering the hood, Tala immediately recognized her.
"That was her, she gave me the flyer" mumbled Hilary
It was Tsukiko. Akahana's cousin. She had make-up on and was probably covered to hide who she was going to perform as in the play.
"I want to thank all of you who came. It will mean a lot to the children who the money is going to. Enjoy the play" Tsukiko bowed and everyone clapped. She rushed behind the curtains. After a minute or two the curtains were pulled away and every one clapped.
The curtain opened to reveal the Stahlbaums' house, where a Christmas Eve party is under way. Tala was not surprised to find Akahana playing the main character. Akahana, her little brother, Akatsuki in this case, and their mother and father are celebrating with friends and family. Akahana's mysterious godfather, Herr Drosselmeyer, (affectionately known as "Uncle") enters. He quickly produces a large bag of gifts for all the children. The children twirl and jump to get to Herr Drosselmeyer. All are very happy, except for Akahana, who has yet to be presented a gift. Herr Drosselmeyer then produces three life-size dolls, which each take a turn to dance. Tsukiko with two other teens her height started to dance around Akahana. She fell to the floor and watched them dance. Tsukiko helps her get up and to dance with them.
As the dances are finished, Tsukiko with the other two teens tip toe away from the stage. Akahana approaches Herr Drosselmeyer asking for her gift. It would seem that he is out of presents, and Akahana spins and twilrs to her mother in a fit of tears and disappointment.
Drosselmeyer calls for Akahana and she twirls towards him. Drosselmeyer then produces a toy Nutcracker, in the traditional shape of a soldier in full parade uniform. Akahana is overjoyed, but her brother Akatsuki is jealous, and breaks the Nutcracker.
The party ends with every one waving and the family going to bed. Akahana creeps downstairs to have a look at her beloved Nutcracker. When the clock strikes midnight, Akahana hears the sound of mice. She wakes up (or is she still dreaming?) and tries to run away, but the mice stop her. Children play the part of mice. The Nutcracker comes to life. He and his band of soldiers rise to defend Akahana. The Mouse King leads his mice into battle. Akahana twirls and tips away from the mice as the Nutcracker and his army battle it out.
Akahana helps the Nutcracker by throwing her shoe at the Mouse King. The Nutcracker seizes his opportunity and stabs him. The mouse dies. The mice retreat, taking their dead leader with them. The Nutcracker is then transformed into a prince, which again is Akatsuki.
Akahana and Prince Akatsuki travel to a world where dancing Snowflakes greet them and fairies and queens dance. The queen being Tsukiko who changed into a different costume and hair was down and free. The other two girls who had played the dolls were fairies. They welcomed Akahana and Prince Akatsuki into their world. The curtain falls ending Act I.
Everyone clapped including Tala and Kai.
After a few minutes, the curtains reopen for Act II and the audience claps.
Akahana and Prince Akatsuki arrive at the Land of the Sugar Plum Fairy. The Sugar Plum Fairy and the people of the Land of Sweets perform several dances for Akahana and Prince Akatsuki. The Sugar Plum Fairy being again Tsukiko. Yet this time her hair is up and covered in glitter and dressed in a plump dress.
Children dressed as candy canes and bonbon's start to dance for the audience. Akahana, Prince Akatsuki and the Sugar Plum Fairy join in and dance along. Once the dances have concluded, the Sugar Plum Fairy, the Snow Fairies, candy canes and bonbon's surround Akahana and Akatsuki to the point where the audience can not see them. They twist and turn as if to dizzy the audience.
When all the dancers dance away, Akahana is back in her home. She is asleep under the Christmas tree with the fixed Nutcracker tucked under her arms. A candy cane that is tucked on the Christmas tree as an ornament falls on Akahana thus waking her up. She stretches her arms and looks around. She finds her Nutcracker and a smile spreads on her face. She grabs it and dance around the change expressing joy. She then fall on her feet facing the audience and hugs the Nutcracker.
The curtains fall and the audience stands and applauds. Hilary is clapping like a lunatic as is Tyson. Kenny, Kai and Tala clap along with the rest of the viewers. The curtains open up and everyone who participated in the play all held hands and bowed to the audience.
Some of the audience stayed to congratulate. Hilary dragged everyone else to as well. They were the last ones to get to greet the actors and dancers. Hilary quickly went to greet Tsukiko.
"Hilary-san you came" said Tsukiko returning the hug Hilary was giving her
"You were amazing! The twins were great too!" said Hilary turning to the twins who bowed
"Oh please, I could barely stand on the tip toes without groaning. Ballet is not my thing, its Akahana's" said Tsukiko pointing at the dark cherry red head girl
Tala had to then again take a step back when he noticed that Akahana was standing in front of him. "You came Ivanov-kun"
Tala nodded.
"Did you like the play?" she asked
Tala then again nodded at her. She smiled and waved as she walked off to catch up to her brother who was leaving her. Kai nudged him in the ribs when he noticed that Tala was staring at the retrieving form of the red head girl. "Enjoying yourself Tala?"
"You're the one to talk. You couldn't keep your eyes from straying to the Sugar Plum Fairy" said Tala walking off
Kai stood there but smirked. It seemed that Tala was not all out when he was near the red head girl.
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