Charlotte felt a tear slide down her cheek as her godmother finished the story.
"What a terribly sad story." She said, looking at the nutcracker. "Did they ever find out how to change him back?"
"It took them many years to find the answer." Rosie said. "This particular spell was very powerful and very hard to break. And with spells like that, it takes a very long time to discover the solution."
"How long?"
"Eight years to be exact."
"But they did find an answer."
"Yes. The only way the nutcracker can be changed back is-"
"I would appreciate it Rosie, if you would stop filling Charlotte's head with your stories." Lucifer interrupted. "She's much too old for such childish nonsense."
"Oh Lucifer, must you be a sourpuss even on Christmas?" Rosie asked. "But it's your household, so I'll respect your wishes."
"Thank you."
Lucifer then carried on into the next room, where a new song was beginning to play. He asked his wife to dance and Husk did the same for Rosie. As Charlotte watched all the adults waltz, she couldn't help but wonder what it would be like if she were to dance with a fine gentleman. Sadly, none of the boys her age had the courage to ask her, so she improvised.
"Would you like to dance?" She asked the nutcracker.
She made the wooden man nod and rose to her toes again. With the nutcracker in her arms, she let the melody of the song carry her, making sure each step matched with each note yet at the same time she added her own style. She felt so free when she danced, that she could express what was deep in her heart without the use of words.
"Do you like to dance too?" She asked the nutcracker as plied. "I bet you did, and I bet that you were a wonderful dancer. Much better than me."
Husk and Rosie both stopped to watch their goddaughter dance. She definitely needed work. She wasn't confident in her capabilities, she lacked precision and balance, and that clumsiness of hers would definitely be a great obstacle. But on the positive side, she had a strong sense of passion, was a natural at using her eyes and movement to express her feelings, and she moved like an angel. Yes, with the proper training she could become a great ballet dancer.
"I hope your arm doesn't hurt too bad." She said to the nutcracker. "The others shouldn't have treated you that way. But please, don't be too angry with them. I'm sure that they didn't mean any real harm."
They also watched the way she treated the nutcracker. The way she held him and looked at him. In her eyes, there was nothing remotely ugly about him.
"Husk." Rosie whispered into his ear. "I have an idea. It's a bit risky but I'm confident that it will work."
Suddenly, when Charlotte did her fifth pirouette, she spun herself right into the dessert table. Knocking over many dishes, spilling food and punch in to the floor, and getting frosting and jam onto her dress and hair. All the children laughed, the adults whispered things like,
"What a ridiculous child."
"Hard to believe that clumsy girl, is the product of Lucifer and Lilith."
"They must not be teaching her about the importance of etiquette and manners. Truly an uneducated wild child."
Lucifer heard the rumors and became very angry and embarrassed. Husk was angered by their words too, but he made it no secret.
"You know you people really suck at whispering." Husk said. "What the hell is the matter with you all? She's a little girl who was having fun on Christmas. That's perfectly normal, and for your information, she has a lot more etiquette and manners than some of your spoiled brats!"
"Husk be quiet!" Lucifer ordered.
"Do you know how many times I've seen your children scream and throw tantrums over things like not getting the toy they wanted? Or mistreating specifically made toys? But Charlotte never does such things. She politely accepts every gift, thanks the giver, and treats every toy kindly."
"I said that's enough!" Lucifer shouted. "Husk, I want you out of my house now! You have insulted my guests! Therefore I can't allow you to stay!"
"I'm not allowed to stay? What about your so-called guests? They insulted your daughter. Proper guests do not insult a host's family."
"Ugh! This is why I don't like you and your wife coming here! You're always making a spectacle and filling my daughter's head with juvenile ideas and stories!"
"Father please don't yell at them." Charlotte pleaded. "They didn't do anything. It was my fault."
"And you young lady, what do you think you were doing?" Lucifer said turning to his daughter.
"I...I was just dancing with the nutcracker."
"Charlotte, how many times must you be told this? You cannot continue to live in a fantasy world of dolls and dancing! This is exactly why we're sending you off to that school next month!"
"Lucifer please, remember your blood pressure." Lilith said.
"Starting tomorrow, we are packing your things for the trip and I am having all those storybooks and dolls of yours burned."
"But Father you can't!" Charlotte cried.
"I am sorry but I can't see any other way to get this message through to you! You need to castoff this foolish notion that you can become a ballet dancer or live in a land of dolls and make believe! It's a childish fantasy! This is the real world and in the real world there is a lot of rejection and disappointment! It's time for you to grow up and be practical."
Tears welled up into Charlotte's eyes and she bolted up stairs to her room, throwing herself on to her bed, and crying into her pillow. Now this was just too cruel. It's bad enough that she was being sent away, but now her beloved books and dolls were going to be destroyed? Oh how could her father do such a thing? Is that what it really meant to grow up? That you had to throw away and burn every part of your childhood? That you had to give up everything you loved like your home and your treasures? If that was the case then she never wanted to grow up. Never.
"Charlotte." She heard Lilith gently say as she creaked the door open. "Honey, it's Mother. May I come in?"
Charlotte didn't answer. She just cried deeper into her pillow.
"Now, now, darling, there's no need for tears." She sat to next to Charlotte on the bed. "Your father didn't mean what he said. His temper and his ego just got the better of him."
"So I don't have to go to that school? He's not going to burn my dolls and my books?"
"Well your father and I still believe that sending you to that school is in your best interest, but I'll speak to him about your dolls and books."
"But I don't want to go Mother! I don't want to leave here!"
"We all have to leave home sometime. It's how it is."
"But I'm not ready! I'm scared!"
"I said the same thing when my parents told me I had to go and in the end I turned out just fine. You'll see."
"He probably just doesn't want me around anymore." She sobbed.
"No." Lilith said hugging her child. "No that's not it at all. Your father loves you very much, more than you'll ever know. But your father's childhood was so vastly different from the one we've given you. Until he was a grown man he never knew a warm bed, or a proper meal. He never wore nice clothes or was given toys. He lost many loved ones to illnesses because they couldn't afford a doctor. The world was very cold and ugly to him, and it crushed every dream he ever had. He's sure that the world will be that way toward you and he wants to make sure that you'll have the strength to go on, just as he did."
"But the world isn't always cold and ugly, is it?"
"No, but people like your father will forget that very often. I know it's hard for you to understand him now, but you will." She said. "Now let's get you cleaned up and ready for bed."
Lilith and the house maid ran a hot bath for Charlotte, washing the frosting and jam from her hair, face, and body. Then the maid helped her slip into a nightgown and her mother combed her hair, tucking her into bed and kissing her goodnight. The bath felt nice, but she was still very sad. So against her husband's wishes, Lilith allowed Husk and Rosie to say goodnight to her before they left.
"I wish I didn't have to grow up." Charlotte said to them. "Then I wouldn't have to go away."
"Getting older can be very scary." Rosie admitted. "But just as childhood has it's joys, adulthood has theirs as well."
"Like what?"
"There's a world full of wonders out there Charlotte and you deserve to experience them. Growing up will allow that to happen. It will also allow you to follow your dreams."
"Father says different."
"He's right to teach you that not all dreams come true and sometimes the world can be very cruel. But that doesn't mean a dream come true is impossible, and if one dream doesn't become real, then another dream will, one that will make you far more happier."
"I don't understand."
"I didn't think you would. Sleep on things now, who knows? Tomorrow morning, things might be much better."
"I don't think so."
"Maybe this will help." Husk said placing the nutcracker back into her hands. "He's yours now, and he'll always keep you safe."
"Oh thank you Uncle Husk. I promise I'll take good care of him."
Charlotte hugged the nutcracker close to her heart and laid down in bed. Her godmother pulled the covers over her and planted a kiss on her cheek.
"Goodnight Charlotte, Merry Christmas."
"Merry Christmas Uncle Husk, Aunt Rosie." Charlotte said before turning on her side to sleep.
They left quietly, turned out the light, and softly closed the door to her bedroom. Next they bid farewell to Lilith and seemingly left the Morningstar house.
"Are you sure about this?" Husk asked his wife as they stepped out the front door. "What if it doesn't work?"
"I don't know. But we don't exactly have a lot of options." Rosie said. "This might be his only chance, and we have to take it."
"Alright." He said. "I just hope we know what we're doing."