With Boris and Karloff with them, the walk to the city didn't seem long at all. It probably helped a bit that Karloff had insisted to put Maria up on his broad shoulders were she was now comfortable sitting, giggling and laughing. The Nutcracker though had no need to be doted on like that as he proudly walked in front with his hand on the handle of his saber and then finally the city itself appeared in the horizon.
Maria couldn't help but gape as it all came into view, the golden spires, the light and the roofs in shining copper, then as they came closer Maria could hear the noises too. People talking and laughing and lots of music.
Next came the scents, a thousand different scents promising cookies, hot chocolate, lavender and everything nice you could possible think off.
Finally they reached the wall around the city and there was a giant gate, at the gate stood two guards both in the most delightful dark blue uniforms and tall black hats.
As they came to the gate the guards greeted them with a raised hands.
"State your buisness!" The guard on the left demanded in a stern tone.
"Ah dah!" Boris exclaimed. "I am Boris and this is my brother Karloff, we have come from across the ocean to dance at zeh wonderful light ball!" he stated.
"And this is lady Maria! A true little lady." Boris informed and Maria chuckled from his shoulders.
"And I am Nutcracker." The Nutcracker stated.
Suspiciously the guards looked at Nutcracker. "What are you supposed to be?" The one guard asked.
"Could be a mouse in disguise." The other commented. "What a weird disguise though."
"How rude!" Maria exclaimed from Boris's shoulders. "To call the brave soldier Nutcracker a mouse in disguise!"
"My lady?" The guard asked.
"Nutcracker is my bodyguard." Maria then informed. "I never go anywhere without him, it just wouldn't be safe now would it?"
That made the guards look at her then stood upright. "Oh of course! Please forgive us our imprudence my lady!" The guard exclaimed.
"Well all right, then I shall over look it." Maria grinned. "If you just let us in right now."
"Of course my lady!" The guards stated in unison and stepped aside making Maria chuckled. "Thank you." and they all walked inside.
First as they were well out of sight did the Nutcracker exhale deeply. "I can't believe that worked." he admitted.
"They really believed i'm a real lady?" Maria asked. "Wow it must be this wonderful coat uncle Drosselmeyer gave me!" she beamed.
"What? Is zeh little lady telling me i've just been carrying around on a ordinary girl all this time?" Boris asked.
"Oh no!" Maria exclaimed. "I.. I'm sorry! I didn't mean I."
At that both Boris and Karloff laughed out loud. "We don't mind." Karloff assured. "You two have good hearts."
"Beside you are a real lady." Nutcracker assured. "You saved me remember, so you're a true lady."
And Maria blushed deeply, she knew that wasn't how it worked, under this wonderful coat her dress was still just a rag, but it sure was a nice thought and so Maria looked up as she gasped. "Ooooh." she breathed. "Nutcracker, this is where you're from?" she asked. "This is wonderful!"
And indeed it was, everywhere there was a warm light, from every corner a new scent, each one more delightful than the other, and right in front of Maria towering about the rest of the town was a large golden castle, the tallest tower of that castle having the promised clock on display. A beautiful clock with large golden handles and intricate symbols around it. No wonder magicians from all over would travel here to get a look.
"Oh so you are from here Nutcracker?" Boris asked.
"Yes." Nutcracker admitted. "I was born here."
"Strange they would barely let you in then." Karloff commented.
"Yes… It is." Nutcracker nodded in a slightly distant voice
"So where are you children headed?" Boris asked. "We can you follow you that far at least, then it sadly seems like it's time for us to part ways."
"Oh that's quite all right." The Nutcracker then said. "It's not far away now. We can handle the rest, thank you so much for doing this much."
"Are you sure?" Boris asked.
"It's fine." Maria assured. "Nutcracker will protect me."
And Boris finally nodded as he reached up and very simply picked Maria off his shoulders then put her down on the ground.
Maria smiled broadly up at the two burly men. "Thank you so much! For everything you've done. You saved our lives and then you made sure we were safe! Thank you." she said again and then curtsied.
"Bwahaha! What a nice little lady." Boris Laughed then scratched his neck.
"A TRUE lady indeed." Karloff laughed as well. "Well then, remember to catch our fantastic dancing show!" he asked making a pose.
"The flying wonder twins!" Boris exclaimed making a pose that matched the others and then they both moved in synchronization as they spoke in unison.
"Bringing joy and wonder for one and for all!"
And Maria laughed as she clapped her small hands. "I wouldn't miss it for the world!" she beamed.
And the two beamed before finally they made a final bow and were off.
"What nice people." Maria smiled warmly. "It sure was lucky they saw us."
"Yeah it was." Nutcracker had to admit. "Well we should get moving."
"Oh yes of course! I didn't mean to slow you down." Maria stated. "I bet your mother and father will be happy to see you're doing fine."
At that the nutcracker silenced as he looked down.
"Nutcracker, I know your father refuses to acknowledge you and your mother can't look at you without bursting into tears, but they are your parents! They must care for you." Maria pointed out as she reached out taking the Nutcrackers hands. "That's what parents are right? Wonderful loving people taking care of their children."
"You say that." Nutcracker commented looking up. "But where are your parents?"
That made Maria silence then she looked down. "I don't know." she admitted. "I was found… in a box. I'm sure there must have been a good reason though!" she exclaimed looking up. "Who ever my mother was i'm sure she didn't mean bad. She can't have."
"No you're right." Nutcracker then agreed. "You're so nice, so your mother must be a real nice person to."
"You think so?" Maria asked in a smile. "And you're nice, so your parents must be nice too! Deep inside. Come on then." she asked taking Nutcrackers hand. "Lets go to the castle!"
It was hard not to be distracted by all the wonderful things all around the place, there were so many sounds and sights and all of them pleasant. But Maria managed to keep her eyes ahead walking towards the castle itself that is until suddenly a woman called out.
"Excuse me! Excuse me! You there, strange wooden man and young lady!"
That made both Maria and Nutcracker halt as they turned and was faced with what looked like a combined china shop and tea house.
And by china I do of course mean porcelain, all over the shop there were tea cups, plates and pots in the most exquisite white porcelain with elegant blue drawings of flowers, birds, dragons and even cats which was the one that Marias eyes immediately fell on.
That is before she got a look at the woman whom had called them over, this woman sure was a different sight.
Her hair was black as coal, long and straight, her eyes seemed to be askew and her skin slightly yellow. She wore what looked like a huge flowing dress tied up with a broad sash just above her chest. What really stood out to Maria though was how the woman looked to be just as delicate as all the porcelain around her.
Her features were so slim and elegant, her fingers so small and slender. Her black eyes were shining though as she looked at them. "Can I offer you a cup of tea from my tea house?" The woman asked in a broad smile.
"No thank you." The Nutcracker replied politely. "I'm afraid we are rather busy."
"Oh but this is a cup of tea you must have." The woman insisted as she pulled up a tea pot and then poured up in a cup.
It wasn't any kind of cup Maria was familiar with though, normally cups would be curvy and round with a little handle, this one though look like a cylinder and had no handle at all so the woman had to use both hands to hold it. "Here, drink!" she offered the nutcracker.
The Nutcracker then sighed deeply but finally accepted and just drank all of it before returning to cup. "Thank you." he said just about to head away.
"Not so fast!" The woman shouted and the Nutcracker halted looking back.
"The tea leafs in your cup, I knew it." The woman stated down in the cup. "Miss fortune and sorrow seem to follow in your wake." she stated. "A great sadness is about to hit you and very soon." she said. "If you desire to find happiness, you must decide what is truly the most important to you." she stated in a very important voice. "Ask yourself that question, what is it which really matters to the wooden man?" she asked. "Only then, will the sorrow that has followed you for so long finally seize."
Stunned both Maria and the Nutcracker looked at the woman.
"Erhh…" The Nutcracker halted. "Thank you?" he questioned.
"We'll take your words to heart, promise!" Maria then stated. "Please do excuse us, we really need to get going." she said.
"Of course." The tea lady bowed her head. "Please consider my advice wooden man, what is it that is truly the most important to you?"
"Yes… Okay. I'll do that." The Nutcracker assured etching away then took Maria's hand. "Let's just go." he asked.
"Yes, of course." Maria nodded and finally the two left, feeling like they had nearly made a daring escape.
Finally they reached the plaza in front of the palace and a stage had been risen up… People were collected all around it, cheering and chattering while the most wonderful music played from the stage.
There were both strings and trumpets, a man who played a large drum and it sounded great. Maria though was determined not to look at the stage so she wouldn't be drawn in… She was then surprised when it was the nutcracker whom stopped.
"Nutcracker?" Maria asked looking at the wooden man and saw her his eyes were transfixed on the stage. "What's wrong?" she asked then finally looked to and saw it…. A man and a woman, both dressed in the most ellaborate silk and wearing golden growns sitting on a platoo next to the stage, it was very clear they had to be the king and queen.
That though wasn't the odd thing, there was a third person. A most beautiful boy sitting right between them.
This boy had the most wonderful golden hair and bright blue eyes, his skin was white as snow with rosy cheeks, he wore the fanciest blue silk and he too wore a crown on his head looking like a true little prince.
Maria blinked by the sight of the boy. "Nutcracker… That's your mother and father isn't it?"
The Nutcracker nodded. "Yes.." he said.
"Who's that boy?" Maria asked.
"I… I don't know." The Nutcracker admitted as he turned to Maria.
"Do you have a brother?" Maria asked.
"No." The Nutcracker replied. "I have no siblings."
"Then who?" Maria asked looking up then she turned to a man next to her. "Excuse me sir." she pulled his sleeve.
Kindly the man looked down. "Yes little lady, may I help you?" she asked.
"That boy with the king and queen." Maria pointed. "Who's he?" she asked.
"Oh, yes it's quite unusual to see him." The man chuckled kindly. "The poor little Prince! They said he had a horrible illness, but finally it was miraculously cured!" he stated in a wide beam. "Must be a light ball miracle! The poor boy has been caught in the castle for most of his life, now though. Little Prince Henry is here with us where he belongs!"
That made Maria blink confused and she turned to the Nutcracker.
The Nutcracker… looked wrong, it shouldn't be possible for a wooden head to like pale but he did, he looked horriefied. "What?" he asked.
"Nutcracker?" Maria asked.
"But… I'm Henry." The Nutcracker informed. "Henry… That's my name… And i'm the prince."
"But, how is that possible?" Maria asked. "You think he is an imposter?"
"He has to be." The nutcracker stated then perked up. "I know! It's the dastardly mouse king it has to be!" he exclaimed. "He must have taken advantage of my absence and send a replacement to trick them!"
"Yes of course!" Maria exclaimed. "That makes perfect sense, oh no that's terrible. We need to go tell them right now!" she said stepping forward.
"Maria wait!" The Nutcracker asked holding Maria back.
"What's wrong?" maria asked turning to the nutcracker.
"Not here." The Nutcracker asked. "There's… To many people, I don't want to make a scene."
"Oh." Maria realised. "Of course, we need to warn them in some other way." she said though a heavy feeling had started to settle in her chest… It felt like something was wrong, very wrong but… She didn't quite knew what it was… This fake prince. Who was he? What was he doing there? Prince Henry… So that was his name. What was going on?
AN: The fortune telling tea lady is inspired from the little music number. "Chinese Tea Dance." from Tchaikowski's Nutcracker ballet, it is a very adorable little tune, and yes, she is supposed to be chinese, the dress I am describing is supposed to be a "Hanfu" which is a bit like a kimono but more casual and flowy and I just think they look adorable.