[a/n] Finally, here is an update! Don't worry, Drosselmeyer isn't the Phantom.
Soon, strange things will begin happening...and who knows? Perhaps the Phantom is behind them...
Chapter 3: Ascent to Stardom
"You want me to pretend that I am being attacked by rats?" Rue asked.
"It's part of the play," Madame Giry answered uncertainly. "The rats come out and run in a circle around Clara."
"When's the Kingdom of Sweets?" Rue demanded.
"Uh, that's later." Mytho said from behind Rue. "After the rats."
"I will not do something so undignified. I will especially not be chased by filthy vermin."
"They're dancers pretending to be rats, Rue."
"I know that! You take me for an idiot. I will not tolerate this. I refuse." Rue said icily. "I will not."
"Don't be unreasonable, Rue." Mytho said pleadingly. "Everyone's waiting for you."
"If she wants to be an idiot, let her be one." A dark-haired stagehand said from the back, turning away before Ahiru could see his face.
"Who's he?" Ahiru asked, not having noticed him before.
"Oh, that's Fakir." Pique told Ahiru. "Don't pay attention to him, he's—"
"What's that? Is Ahiru asking about Fakir?" Lillie said gleefully, rubbing her hands together. "It's only a matter of time before she falls head over heels in love and then discovers they can never be because he obnoxiously insults her, over and over, until—"
"But seriously, he's kind of mean." Pique told Ahiru confidentially. "Doesn't like talking, anyway."
"We'll discuss this later!" Lillie whispered loudly. "For now, let's watch the unfolding drama!" The three turned to see Rue with hands on her hips, Mytho and Autor looking exasperated, and Madame Giry seeming mildly amused.
"I shall not do it. I won't dance in this production. You all can find yourself another star." Rue returned. The smirk on her face told the entire cast that she knew full well that nobody could replace her.
"Miss Rue, we need you." Autor said disbelievingly, shaking his head.
"Maybe she's thinking about MARRIAGE! Rue, we can find you a suitable partner if you don't like Mytho! " Madame Giry trumpeted, to indignant looks from the cast and a hurt expression from Mytho. Rue didn't even bother to answer.
With a triumphant smile, Rue turned on her heel and left, leaving the rest of the cast in silence.
"She just wants someone to come after her and beg for her to be a part of the show again." Pique whispered to Ahiru. "It's not the first time this has happened."
"Why did she just march off again? What are we going to do?" Autor asked fretfully, glancing in the direction she had gone. "Now our prima ballerina has decided not to dance!"
"Ahiru Arima can do it," Lillie said. "It'll be so adorable for us to watch her fail!"
Ahiru nodded and tried her best to look like she knew what she was doing—or, in the very least, like she would be able to learn Rue's part in two minutes.
"The dancer from the corps de ballet?" Autor asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Well, how are we doing?" Drosselmeyer asked as he strode towards them. "Where's Rue?"
"Ah, we might need a replacement," Autor answered apologetically. "Miss Ahiru might be suitable, perhaps."
"Please-please-please!" Lillie begged. "It'll be hilarious, I promise!"
The music began, and Ahiru danced.
An arabesque—and here, her leg stretched towards the sky as she held the Nutcracker wistfully. She was ethereal, delicate, and graceful—everything Clara should have been. No feats of strength or endurance were required here; or, in the least, Ahiru made her movements seem like the most natural thing in the world as she flew above their heads like a fairy.
She landed gently and held the Nutcracker close to her chest, rocking it tenderly like Clara would have, and finished with a graceful curtsy to Drosselmeyer.
"Hey! You didn't fall! How come?" Lillie cried, clearly disappointed.
"Hm." Drosselmeyer said. "Rue refuses to dance in this production?"
"Yes, as usual." Autor said. "We don't have time to deal with her. The production's too close to allow for that!"
"This girl can't be our permanent lead, you know." Drosselmeyer said.
"Yes, she can," Mytho said, with uncharacteristic strength. All eyes were drawn to him, and he looked down quickly.
"No, she can't." Drosselmeyer continued. "But for this production, it seems she shall do."
"Just a moment." Madame Giry said in an odd voice. "Perform a round of pirouettes across the floor for us, please."
This, Ahiru had dreaded. Turns were her weakest point, and her pirouettes lacked practice and elegance. She'd always been drawn to the impressive high-flying leaps, to the slow, languid adagios, or even to the quick allegro beats and jumps...but turns were her greatest nemesis.
Nevertheless, Ahiru prepared herself to do as Madame Giry asked. The stage lights harshly glared into her eyes, and she felt her breath still in her chest as she momentarily forgot what she was supposed to do.
Right. Pirouettes.
On the third pirouette, Ahiru felt her shoes slipping. She knew she shouldn't continue, not after so many years of neglecting her turns. Her fourth pirouette was hesitant, and she considered stopping entirely.
"It is all right. You may end the combination." Autor said dryly. "I understand the situation already."
Ahiru faced them, her heart pounding. I shouldn't have expected to become a dancer in the Company. They only accepted me because they saw my other leaps, my dancing, and thought my turns were just as good as the rest. Now…will they kick me out?
"Miss Ahiru, ah, it seems your pirouettes need work." Drosselmeyer said, somewhat accusingly.
"The part of Clara doesn't require turns. Right now, we desperately need a new star. She doesn't have to pirouette for the audience—this isn't Swan Lake with the 32 fouettes en tournant—I believe her capable of filling in for Rue for this production." Autor answered matter-of-factly.
Ahiru felt her breath loosen slightly.
"Hm." Drosselmeyer replied. "I'll consider."
Autor looked directly at Ahiru. "We will work on those turns." He said, adjusting his glasses. "I am beginning to feel quite tired of Rue's antics, and I have full confidence in your ability to succeed."
"Thank you." Ahiru whispered, and with a slight curtsy she ran off the stage.
However, she couldn't escape Lillie, who sprinted to greet her with a stream of prophecies foretelling how her sub-par pirouettes would lead to her doom.
