***
The first stop was Anna, Olaf, and Idina's corner.
Anna: Hey, Elsa. I'm teaching Olaf and Idina how to build a snowman. I thought it would be a fun New Year's Eve activity.
Me: It is- but a snowman out of cotton balls? You know that I can make actual snow and ice, right?
Olaf: But Anna hasn't seen you do it yet.
Anna: And if you make a snowman for us, there's no guarantee that it won't come to life, Elsa!
Idina: Yes. No offense, Olav, but ve don't need any more snowmen in dis house.
Olaf: Aw, why not?
Idina: Because dere is only one snowman for me.
Me: Aw, you guys are too sweet. *turns to Anna* Will I see you guys at our New Year's bash Bell and the nutcrackers have planned for tonight?
Anna: I wasn't really aware that there was going to be a New Year's bash.
Me: No, it will be our first ever... so I guess you can call it new news. But hopefully we will have more of these in the future.
Olaf: What will we be doing at the party?
Me: I don't know. It will probably be a lot quieter than the humans' for sure.
Idina: Dat is good to know. I don't like noise.
Anna: I wouldn't worry about that, Idina. What I would worry about is fixing our snowman's scarf!
Me: *checks She's alarm clock behind me* I guess I better go see what the others are doing before we ring in the new year. We've only got a few hours before midnight. Your snowman looks adorable, by the way.
Olaf: *waves as I walk away* Bye, Elsa! See you tonight!
Magneto: Loki wanted to hang She's calendar for her.
Me: *teasing* Really? Because I remember a certain someone saying that we'd blow our cover if we interfered too much in the humans' lives.
Loki: But this is important. She needs to have a calendar for 2017.
Magneto: We found it downstairs. We're pretty sure it was purchased for She beforehand.
Me: Another Avengers calendar? Didn't She already have one of those for last... er... this year?
Loki: Yes, but that one had the live action characters from Age of Ultron. This one has the originally drawn characters instead.
Me: Right. Total difference.
Magneto: It's upsetting to see that I don't appear anywhere in the calendar pictures.
Loki: You're X-Men, that's why. And neither do I, but no matter. I still think it's a nice idea to put up She's calendar for her.
Magneto: *sighs* He insisted.
Me: Um, do you want some help with that? I am taller than either of you, so maybe I could reach that hook on the wall.
Loki: *acting all protective of the calendar* No, no, we can do it.
Me: Uh... okay. Good luck to the both of you. *leaves the bed*
Benny: *grumbling* Fairly well... until now.
Napoleon: We're trying to think of a what to do with the New Year's ball.
Me: You actually found a ball? Like, the ones the humans see on TV?
Napoleon: Yes, we found quite a suitable replica in one of the coffee table drawers downstairs. It's got flat sides like a prism and there's something inside that's supposed to flash different colors.
Me: That sounds perfect. Does it work?
Benny: It does. We've already tried it.
Me: Then what's wrong?
Benny: We're not sure where to put it.
Napoleon: We've already been told to wrap this string around it and tape the end to the ball, but once we've done that, we don't know where Bell wants it. She's running the whole gig, but she never gave us directions on what to do with the ball afterwards.
Me: Anything I can do?
Napoleon: No, no. We wouldn't want to bother you. You look busy.
Me: Oh, please. I'm just interviewing everyone for my blog. I have time.
Benny: Could you go find Nessa and Elphaba for us? The two of them are working on decorations also. Maybe they've got an idea.
Me: Sure thing. I'll see what they think. *goes off to find Nessa and Elphie*
Nessa: I thought so, too! That's why I came up with the idea of using them for our New Year's bash. The box said they were purple but they look sort of pink to me... *frowns* Whatever, they're purple, because the box is always right. Of course, I may be strong, but I couldn't carry the box all by myself. Elphie had to help me.
Me: Speaking of which, where exactly is Elphaba?
*a hand bursts out from the bundle of lights, and a groan follows*
Elphaba: Here.
Me: Nessa buried you in the lights?
Nessa: Not intentionally! They just kind of fell on her.
Me: Right. *helps Elphie out* Any other plans besides decorating?
Elphie: Not really. We have all these glittery things that Nessa liked but nothing to do with them.
Me: These look like costume necklaces. Maybe if the larger dolls wrapped them around their necks three times, they could work for doll necklaces.
Elphie: Hey, great idea! Bell said that she had one of her own ideas for them earlier, but we haven't seen her yet.
Me: As far as we know, she might be stuck under another pile of lights.
Nessa: *pouting, with her hands on her hips* It was an accident!
Me: Maybe I could go find Bell for you and bring her here.
Elphie: That would be great, Elsa. In the meantime Nessa and I can try to untangle these lights.
Nessa: Ooh, maybe I should follow Elsa-
Elphie *pulling her back* Nope. You're staying here.
Nessa: Aw, man.
Me: Don't worry, I'll be back. But before I go, Benny and Napoleon said they weren't sure were to put the New Year's ball. Do you know anything about that?
Elphie: *looks up from sorting the lights, waving a hand at the windowsill* Just tell them to hang it up by the left curtain over there, the one closest to the lamp. That's where everything else will be.
Me: Great. Thanks. *visits the nutcrackers to tell them the news before going over to Dorothy and Bell's station.*
Dorothy: *muttering to herself and scratching a pen on paper*
Bell: Could you at least get me some scissors to cut this ribbon? You can be so rude sometimes, Dor.
Me: Hey, what's going on?
Bell: *tugs at her bangs* Dorothy's being mean. Or a little more than mean. Savage, I should say.
Dorothy: *turns up her nose* I'm not savage. I'm trying to be honest, for once, instead of hiding how I feel all the time.
Bell: *sighs* I'm trying to get things ready for the New Year's bash tonight, Elsa. I found this sparkly pink ribbon that I thought we could use on the windowsill, but Dorothy here refuses to help.
Me: Why is that, Dorothy?
Dorothy: I'm writing a list of New Year's resolutions.
Me: What's wrong with that, Bell?
Bell: She's writing a list of New Year's resolutions, alright. But she's making it for me. Because I need to work on improving myself.
Me: What kinds of things has she written?
Bell: *offendedly* Mostly that I talk too much.
Me: I don't think I talk too much...
Bell: See, Dor? Elsa agrees with me.
Me: ...Then again, I'm not around you as much as Dorothy is. Sorry. But you're right too, Bell. That doesn't sound very nice at all.
Dorothy: *quietly* I was just trying to express my feelings.
Me: Well, maybe you could do that in a better, nicer way. Like coming out and speaking to Bell face-to-face about what she might need to change instead of writing a list about it.
Bell: Does that mean I get to do the same thing, too?
Me: Um... I don't really see why not. As long as you girls realize that you've been friends for as long as I've known the both of you, and probably for more time than that. You don't want to damage your friendship by being mean to each-other.
Bell: Elsa's got a point. I'm sorry if I can get annoying at times.
Dorothy: Yes, and I apologize for writing this mean list about you. *tears the paper out of the notebook and rips it up, then goes to hug Bell.* Do you still need help with the decorating?
Bell: I could always use help. Can you go find me some scissors?
Dorothy: Anything for you, Bell. *walks to She's craft drawer*
Me: Oh, and, Bell? I think Elphaba and Nessa might need you for something. Just for a little bit.
Bell: *groans* Okay... *flies away*
Me: Moana? Is that you out there?
Moana: *hiding behind the railing* Yeah, it's me. And Sven. And Pua and HeiHei.
Me: What are you doing by yourself?
Moana: I'm not alone. I have the animals.
Me: *sighs* What are you doing with the animals, then?
Moana: Waiting by the staircase. We're going to see the ball drop on the human's TV from up here.
Me: But we have our own in She's room, and it's a better size. The dolls are setting up for our New Year's bash right now. Why don't you come and join us? You'll get a better view of the ball drop.
Moana: A New Year's bash? I didn't think I was invited.
Me: Why wouldn't you be?
Moana: *grips a banister* I don't know.
Me: Maybe you just have the winter blues.
Moana: That could be it.
Me: In that case, I have just the thing to cheer you up. Come on.
And with that I took Moana into the guest room (since that was closest to were she currently stood) and carefully shut the door. I had just the perfect thing to get Moana in the holiday spirit. This past summer, Dorothy and Bell had gone out to pick flowers, but since it was raining, they were only able to come back with these fake ones. Each green plastic stem had four flowers each, and four different colors of petals: dark purple, purple and white, yellow, and dark orange. I knew I could use these to dress up Moana's hair for the party.
"Hey, what do you have in your hands?" she demanded, once I made her stand on a box so I could get a better view of her head.
"Nothing!" I lied, clasping my hands to my chest to hide my surprise. "Just turn around. Trust me, you'll like it after I'm done."
Moana squinted her eyes, but gave in and faced the bed. I snipped the stems off of my chosen flowers and began lacing them into Moana's curls like a crown.
"So, about your finding day..." I began, biting my lip in concentration.
"My finding day?" Moana asked.
"The day She found you. It doesn't necessarily mean the day you were bought. Yours is December 25th. Unfortunately, you also share finding days with Elphaba and Idina. And I think Nessa, too, but she's mostly decided to have hers on the 24th."
"You can just decide to change finding days like that?"
"Yeah," I giggled lightly. "It's surprising to think just how much we can change about ourselves sometimes, even as dolls. But that's what I'm getting at. I wasn't sure if you wanted to keep your finding day how it was with two other people sharing it with you. Olaf, Loki, and I all have our finding days consecutively, but we've been around a little more than two years, so we didn't bother to change that. You can pick a different day if you like, or keep it the same. I was just curious to see what you wanted."
"Um, well..." Moana tugged at a stray hair, and I brushed it back with my hand. "I never really thought about that. But if I had to pick a different day-"
"You don't have to. It was only a suggestion."
"No, I want to. How about... January first?"
"Tomorrow?"
"Yeah. Nessa told me that my mere existence brought a new kind of princess to Disney, and you've taught me something new. that I actually like writing, so a new year makes just as much sense as everything else."
"I think that's a wonderful idea," I cooed. "I was thinking of something similar to that, actually."
"It was meant to be, then. My finding day is January first from now on."
"We can tell everyone when we get to the party. And speaking of party, we can go now. You're finished."
"I'm finished?"
"Yep. You can turn around now. I have a mirror so you can see my surprise for you."
Moana cautiously spun around to face me again, and her eyes met with herself in the mirror I was holding, and when they did, she smiled.
"You look gorgeous. Seriously, I'm getting jealous."
"It's wonderful," she commented. "Just like the flower crowns on Motunui."
Since the blue in Moana's necklace didn't match the oranges and yellows of her new look, she made sure it was put safely away before we showed up at the party. I wish I had the ability to see her movie so I could learn why she is so protective of it, but I kept those thoughts in my head. We all have our secrets, and I thought it would be too bold if I asked.
"Here we are." I said, pushing She's door open soundlessly and letting Moana lead the way inside the Room She Lives In. I was very certain that's where our New Year's bash would be, but since the air was dead silent as soon as I entered, I was starting to have doubts. Unless... with my height I was able to peek around the corner of She's bed. I saw Anna, who stood in the center of the group, and she pressed a finger to her lips in a signal to be quiet. I nodded and jumped down again, telling Moana it was nothing to worry about.
"Where is everyone?" she asked, pacing around slowly.
"We're probably the first ones to arrive," I lied. "Give them time. How about we go over here and wait for them?"
I directed Moana to the foot of She's bed, then nudged her forward for encouragement. She took a breath inwards, pushed in a flower, and stepped forward out of her hiding place to face the crowd.
"Happy New Year!" Everyone hollered. The entire group was waiting for the opportune moment to shout their welcome to us, just as I had suspected. Anna waved our way, with Sven, Magneto, Idina, Olaf, Nessa, Elphaba, Benny, Napoleon, Loki, Steve, Toto, Dorothy and Bell surrounding her. Moana's lips broke into a smile and she ran forward, bathing in the jubilee of the other dolls. I took first to Steve and Anna, and prepared She's camera to take a lot of pictures. I wanted to capture every moment of this fantastic night.
After we were fully immersed in the party, I was able to drink in the chosen decorations. The floor under She's window had been covered in a soft purple blanket to simulate a different-colored carpet, and Bell had used the glittery pink ribbon to drape up and down the windowsill. Of course, tiny bell ornaments had been placed in each trough to ring in the new year.
Our doll-sized New Year's ball had been hung just where Elphie said it should be, and the tape actually worked pretty well to keep the string attached. I couldn't wait to see it light up later that night!
My favorite part was probably the snack station. Bell had been able to fly downstairs and get some chocolate sea salt caramels and popcorn as human food, and the nutcrackers used doll foods like cupcakes, chocolate chip cookies, and tea sandwiches for other goodies. The usual porcelain tea set was filled with raspberry lime sparkling water to give it an extra New Year's flair. Our Christmas tree had been brought down to the floor to tie everything together.
Benny and Bell spent their time making sure our New Year's ball was set just perfect. Here, Benny directs Bell on where to fly with the ball since her eyesight isn't that great. (Yes, even Benny was given a gift bow to wear.)
Nessa and Elphaba present Anna with a chocolate cupcake, and Anna took their gift happily, seeing that chocolate is her favorite scent.
Olaf likes to admire the beauty of our Christmas tree. I think he's as festive as the tree itself, what with his holiday hat and shiny gold necklace.
Anna and I shared a chocolate sea salt caramel together, sitting side by side with matching necklaces. I was elated to finally have a sister like me to share this new year with.
Nessa watches her crush, Loki, from afar as he talks with Magneto. Elphaba comes up and interrupts her daydreaming a second later and says,
"Are you going to do it this year?"
"Maybe," Nessa replies wistfully. "But I don't know if he wants to kiss me at midnight."
"It's worth a try. Just ask him when the time comes."
"You're right. I've just got to ask him."
"That's the spirit. Hey, Idina said she'd finally join in on a game of Truth or Dare. Want to come see?"
"Yeah, I'll go. It'll help pass the time until midnight."
As I watched the girls leave, I laughed to myself, internally wishing Nessa the best of luck if she was actually going to kiss Loki at midnight. We'd have to see when the time came.
Bell, who had flown up to stand by the hanging string, tugged at her bangs in a frustrated way. "Funny story, actually. I'm not sure how we're going to get the ball to drop at all. I know we could just cut the string, but that would mean I'd have to do it since I can fly, and I want to be on the ground watching with everyone else."
That was a good point. Everyone seemed to agree that Bell should be able to watch the ball drop, too. But with only three minutes until midnight, we didn't have a lot of time to think of a good plan.
"I can do it," I heard Moana say, as all eyes turned towards her. "My paddle's pointed end has one side that is sharper than the other. If I throw it just right, then it might be able to cut the string and let the ball drop with everyone still able to see it."
"Excellent idea!" Napoleon professed. Moana beamed, pulling her box out from under She's bed and taking up her paddle proudly.
"Ready when the time comes." she affirmed, her right hand pulled back in line with the middle of the pink string.
"It's 11:59." Dorothy's somber voice spoke up.
"Ready, Moana?" Bell asked, flying off the ball and into a circle all the dolls had formed around the drop site.
"Ready." the princess replied.
And so was everyone else. Nessa inched slowly closer to Loki, the nutcrackers watched with their eyes wide, both on the clock and the ball, and I felt Anna grab my right hand and Steve take my left. It was a minute 'till midnight, and already I could feel it was going to be a magical new year.
"12:00 p.m.!" Someone cried. Moana heaved her paddle and it launched into the air, the sharper part running across the thread holding the ball to the windowsill, just as Moana had said it would.
All of us held our breaths as we waited to see if Moana's trick would actually work.
Once the ball fell, there were hugs and shouts of glee all around. Anna broke away from me to go congratulate Moana, leaving Steve and I to ourselves. The two of us watched as everyone else participated in their New Year's celebrations.
Bell practically bounced on Dorothy to give her a kiss on the forehead.
"Now's your chance! Go!" Elphaba hissed as she shoved a reluctant Nessa towards Loki, who was conveniently all by himself at the time. We saw her mouth move, tripping over each word, but we unfortunately couldn't hear any of it. When Loki hesitantly nodded, I expected Nessa to get her first kiss, but he just took off his helmet and placed it on her head. It fit surprisingly well, despite the ornament hook on the top her her head.
"What? I thought you were going to kiss him!" Elphie muttered angrily at her new helmet-adorned sister.
"I thought so, too," Nessa said dreamily, her cheeks pink with ecstasy. "But I'll take his helmet over a forced kiss any day."
"Well, Steve," I sighed, tearing my eyes from the two. "Guess that leaves just you and me now."
"I guess it does," Steve agreed, pressing his forehead against mine, so that our noses and eyelashes brushed together. "Happy New Year, Elsa."
I giggled to myself. "You, too, Steve. Aren't you gonna kiss me now? Or at least before it becomes 12:01?"
"I'm considering it." he teased, but when his head titled to one side and his eyelashes fluttered, I knew that he would.
My arm laced under the one he already had around me like instinct, and I geared myself up for some New Years magic as my eyelids closed delicately.
My "wonderful" sister, take that word sarcastically or thankfully, had the tact and grace to cover us with Steve's shield, though I didn't really see the point after we had already gotten couples and kissing on She's camera that night. Oh well. It was more romantic that way anyhow.
After that, it was time for us dolls to get back to our places before our drowsy humans came back upstairs for much-needed rest. I made sure to pull Moana aside during cleanup to pick all the flowers out of her hair and give her necklace back.
"So what did you think of the party? Glad you came?" I asked her.
"Definitely. It was great that I was able to help out, too. I'm the kind of doll that has to be constantly doing something, moving around, or else I tend to isolate myself."
"I know the feeling," I agreed. "And I don't think Bell would have gotten to see the ball drop had you not used your paddle to cut the line."
"Yeah. I didn't think that would actually work, but it did."
"Yep. Okay, you're done. Want me to put the flowers away in your box in case you want to use them later?"
"Here, I can do it. You should get back to the shelf with Anna."
"Thanks. Oh. And, Moana?"
The newbie turned around once more, her hair missing flowers but her eyes still containing holiday cheer. "Yeah?"
"Happy finding day."
She smiled, turning around and jumping off the bed. "I almost forgot. Thank you, Elsa."
Shortly after Moana's flowers and box was put away and all the dolls were back in their proper places, She came upstairs and went right to bed.
***
All in all, I would say that our first annual New Year's bash was a successful one. Not much went wrong, except the last-minute plan on how to make the ball drop and Magneto getting stuck in the putty tin. But that was partially our own fault anyways. But we were able to fix it, and think that should be the theme of 2017 for all of us. We could make a mistake, small or disastrous, but as long as we commit ourselves to fixing the problem, then even if things are not completely okay, we'll at least know that we did our best. That's my resolution for this upcoming year, but you can use it, (and I'll actually be impressed if you do!) for one of your resolutions. And as long as we keep that in mind, 2017 will not be so bad after all.
Introducing a new sign-out picture,
Queen Elsa
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