[a/n] the Phantom will make an appearance soon, I promise! Also, you may recognize Madame Giry as someone else entirely... hope you got a laugh out of it!

Chapter 2: The Angel of Dance

"We're doing a production of the Nutcracker." Lillie told Ahiru. "We've just started."

"Really? Who's Clara?" Ahiru asked quietly.

"Of course, it's Rue. Who else would be Clara?" Pique asked bitterly.

"Shh!" Lillie giggled. "She'll storm over and get mad at you! And you'd get into trouble!"

Indeed, Rue turned around and wasted no time in sending a scorching gaze in the direction of the three girls.

"Who's that guy next to her?" Ahiru asked.

"Oh, that's Mytho, our Nutcracker. Only the first in everything, just like Rue's the prima ballerina." Pique said confidentially.

Mytho caught Ahiru's eye and smiled with warm amber eyes. Surprised, Ahiru waved crazily until Pique shook her head and held Ahiru's wrist in place.

"Quit, Ahiru! He's going to think you're an idiot!" Pique whispered.

"Too late! He already thinks she's an idiot, and a dumb one at that!" Lillie sang.

"Miss Arima?" A questioning voice sounded behind her. Ahiru turned around to see a serious young man adjusting his spectacles. "Greetings. My name is Autor, and I am the Casting Director. We have just begun rehearsing this year's production of the Nutcracker. I am here to inform you that you will be dancing with the corps de ballet in the Waltz of the Snowflakes and in the Waltz of the Flowers. Our ballet mistress will instruct you in the steps you have missed thus far; you are only a couple days behind. We are pleased to have you in the Company."

Ahiru curtsied; it was the only thing she could think of to do. "Oh, yes! I'm very excited."

"Very well then." With a curt nod, Autor stepped away briskly.

"He seems rather brusque." Ahiru muttered.

"Autor's actually very nice. You'd like him." Pique answered.

"Until he breaks her heart and she proceeds to eat large amounts of ice cream!" Lillie laughed joyously at the thought as both Pique and Ahiru proceeded to give her looks of confusion.

"Oh, look, it's my mom. You'd better go introduce yourself." Lillie announced.

"The ballet mistress, Madame Giry." Pique explained.

"All right." Ahiru hesitantly walked over to the ballet mistress. "Hello, Madame Giry." Ahiru said shyly, as the older woman glanced over her appraisingly. "I'm the new dancer, and I'm supposed to…"

"I know. You're supposed to be part of the corps de ballet. But have you ever given any real thought to MARRIAGE and your future? Why on earth are you blushing? Do you suffer from a MARRIAGE-phobia? We can cure that right away. But first, let's talk about MARRIAGE some more. MARRIAGE is a very important part of your life, and it's only natural that…"

With a frightened squeak, Ahiru rushed away.

"WAIT!" Madame Giry called back. "I didn't get to the important part yet!"

It took a lot of coaxing on Lillie's part to get Ahiru to come back and talk to Madame Giry once more.

"Mom, you're scaring her!" Lillie squealed. "Just wait a bit before you start on all the marriage business, all right?"

"I'll save it for later." Madame Giry said, clearly disappointed. "Now, just so I can know where to place you in the corps, I'll have you perform a simple combination."

The combination of dance steps she gave Ahiru was not particularly difficult to memorize. However, it did require finesse to complete correctly. Ahiru ran to the far right of the stage, where she settled into standard attitude à terre, right foot crossed over in back. Taking a deep breath, she launched herself into a saut de chat, leg unfolding into straight position as she leaped like a bird about to fly, before landing lightly on the tips of her pointe shoes. Another leap, this time a grand jete."

"I suppose you'll do." Madame Giry said critically, after Ahiru had finished, her arms held up high. "Better than I thought. Keep working on that turnout. From the top of Act 1, everybody!"

Ahiru scurried back to Lillie and Pique, who were quick to tell her that she had great talent. "Thanks, guys!" Ahiru whispered back. "I just hope no one finds out I've never partnered before."

"You mean for a pas de deux? Don't worry, it's not that hard." Pique said comfortingly.

"I never learned, but I won't have to, not now anyway, since I'm in the corps de ballet. Being lifted and whirled around doesn't look like that much fun, either." Ahiru added.

"Yeah." Lillie said, with an affected air. "I was dropped once."

Ahiru looked horrified. "On the ground?"

"You were the one who accidently kicked him in the nose and then he dropped you. It wasn't really his fault." Pique said accusingly.

"Of course you'd say that. But I knew Femio meant to do it." Lillie huffed, crossing her arms.

"He looked so sorry afterwards! And he wouldn't stop apologizing and offering to buy you all the roses in the world." Pique recounted. "Of course he didn't mean to drop you on the ground. All the guys moved like ninjas to make sure you weren't hurt."

"Mm." Lillie said, slightly mollified. "I suppose. But now I've got to go." Lillie said, turning around. "I'm a party doll in Act 1, and speak of the devil, I have to go dance with Femio now. See you guys later!" Ahiru and Pique waved at her as she scurried to Stage Right to assume a doll-like position as she was carried onto the stage like a doll next to Femio.

"More doll-like!" Madame Giry called. "I want to see tiny, tiny steps, Lillie!"

Lillie's smile was perfectly plastered like plastic across her face. She made tiny bourees en pointe towards Femio, who knelt to take her hands as she leaned forward, allowing her back leg to rise into arabesque position.

"Does he curl his hair?" Ahiru whispered, nodding at Femio's perfectly shaped hair.

"Lillie refuses to believe it. I, however, say that it's a definite possibility." Pique replied.

"Hm."

For a moment the two were silent as the music stopped.

"Again, from the doll dance. Femio, you are a Harlequin Doll. Not a person. Smile just like Lillie, and don't sigh so dramatically." Femio tossed his head back, allowing his curls to settle over his cheekbones with a staged air.

Obligingly, Lillie ran back to her starting pointe and Femio stood, ready to begin once more.

"I think I'll like it here." Ahiru said quietly to Pique, who looked gratified that her assurances had succeeded in changing Ahiru's opinion.

"Of course!" Pique replied. "You will."


Ahiru's eyes snapped open as she clutched her flimsy blanket close to her chin. Nothing but pitch darkness surrounded her, so she had no way to tell what hour of the night it was. She supposed she should be grateful for the small skylight far above, which allowed for a small sliver of moonlight to come down onto her couch.

Beyond her smattering of moonlight on her couch she was able to see after her eyes had adjusted, however, Ahiru could not see a thing. She dared not move, petrified in place.

Ahiru knew that the door was locked, so she had nothing to fear. The skylight was much too small for even Ahiru to squeeze through.

These irrational stirrings in her heart, the chills down her spine, or the quaking of her shoulders…none could be quieted. Ahiru could hear the thump of her heartbeats reverberate in her chest as she remained unable to stir, trying to calm her own mind into sleep.

At the same time, she couldn't help listening intensely to the mysterious sounds of the night, unconsciously picking out anything out of the ordinary.

Did she hear the slight susurrus of fabric rustling?… and instantly she was thrust into a further state of unease.

It was probably just the wind outside, sweeping against the trees. Ahiru closed her eyes and thought of the only thing that could give her solace.

Father had spoken of an angel. The Angel of Dance, who was a gentle and benevolent entity who looked down upon those struggling to find their way and led them in the right direction.

"For each moment is a movement, and life is but a dance." Ahiru whispered aloud to the night, recalling her father's words.

Perhaps the spirit of the Angel of Dance was watching over her even now. Perhaps he had guided her here. She was incredibly lucky, after all, to have a place in the Company.

It took a while for Ahiru to relax enough to drift off the sleep, but eventually she did, with a small smile on her lips and the Angel of Dance in her dreams.

[a/n] what if the Phantom's actually...Drosselmeyer? (creepiest phantom ever)