The Star Wars Nutcracker, Part 2

Rey couldn't sleep. Her mind kept wandering to her nutcracker. Even Bee Bee's tiny purrs on the pillow next to her head couldn't soothe her. “What if he's lonely down there? He doesn't know any of the toys well. What if the mice get to him? A mouse chewed a hole in the arm of my favorite stuffed frog. What if they decide they want to gnaw on wood?”

Her mind was spinning with memories of the party. She wanted to see Finn again. She liked him. He was so sweet and charming. She wouldn't mind being friends with him. He had such a nice smile. She wanted him to meet all her friends and join them in their games and fun.

And then there was Snoke...and Christophe...and her parents. Would Snoke try to hurt them? Would he try to take Mother away? No, Mother loved Father. She saw them kiss. She was too smart for an old miser like Snoke. Snoke was just like the mice in the walls. He'd raise a ruckus, then would be trapped and would go away.

But what about Father? He said his hands were tied. And Benjamin? Ben would defend Snoke until the end. He thought their tutor could do no wrong. Mother said he was going through a rebellious stage. Rey hoped it ended soon. How could he have broken her nutcracker? She never touched his silly old toy soldiers. It was like he was another person.

That was when she heard a strange thump downstairs. “Mother?” She called, sitting upright. “Father? Ben?” She shivered. It had begun to snow as the party was ending. The delicate white flakes were flying down at a furious rate. They had already covered her window pane.

Bee Bee lifted her head from the pillow, probably wondering where all the body heat went. “Come on, girl.” She slowly picked up the kitten, pulling her robe and slippers over her lacy blue and white satin nightgown. “Let's go see what's going on downstairs. Besides, I want to visit my nutcracker.”

She lit her candle and crept down the hall, making sure not to wake the family and servants. Her tiny feet moved slowly down the stairs, then across the parlor and Father's office. She swore she saw two balls of gray fuzz dashing towards the ballroom, but when she moved her candle to take a closer look, they were gone. An owl hooted somewhere n the distance.

The ballroom was dark as a tomb. The tree was now only lit by the moon shining in the huge picture window behind it. The toys and games they'd received that night stood at attention underneath. Everything was shadowy and still.

Rey finally found her nutcracker. He was on a shelf with the toy soldiers, where her mother had put him. She put Bee Bee down and swept her new favorite toy into her arms. “Hello, nutcracker!” she whispered. “Did you think I'd leave you behind?” She gave him a hug. “I don't care what Benjamin says. You're not useless! You're good at your job, and you're so beautiful. Uncle Luke did good work on you.” She ran her fingers over his broken jaw and fuzzy hair. “There's something about you. I don't know what it is. You feel more like a prince than a soldier to me!”

Bee Bee watched as her new owner swirled around the room with the strange little wooden man. The kitten didn't quite understand what the fuss was. Her human swished her tails so nicely, but that toy looked like a painted scratching post to her.

Rey finally yawned, settling down on a small couch by the tree. “Tomorrow, Nutcracker,” she whispered, “Uncle Luke will fix you, and everything will be all right.” She kissed the toy on his dark wooden forehead. “I promise.” She lifted Bee Bee onto the couch next to her, settling her two favorite Christmas presents down for a night's rest.

She'd barely dropped off to sleep when she heard the same owl hoot. It sounded awfully close, like it was in the room. Bee Bee meowed and pawed her arm in alarm. She looked up at the ceiling...just in time to see the owl from the top of the grandfather clock swoop down over her head! She gasped, the Nutcracker falling from her arms and onto the floor.

The owl landed in front of the Christmas tree. The moment the moonlight hit it, it was surrounded by a sparkling pink-silver light. When the sparkles vanished, her Uncle Luke appeared. His brown and cream suit had been replaced by a black velvet uniform and long, swirling cape that looked more like it belonged to a magician of old than a toy maker.

“Uncle Luke!” She ran to him, leaving her nutcracker on the couch. Bee Bee followed, staying close to her human. “What's going on? I know people say you're a magician, but...”

“They're right. I am.” He bowed before her. “You're looking at Sir Luke Drosselmeyer, knight and court magician to the rightful rulers of the Land of Sweets.”

“Sir?” Now she was confused. “The rightful rulers? What's the Land of Sweets?”

“Luke!” She blinked as a yellow-amber glow twinkled over her uncle's head. “Kid, use that magic and get down here. We're gonna need your help.” Rey knew that gruff, gentle voice. It was a great deal like her father's.

“I'll be down in a minute.” He turned to Rey. “Do you want to defend your Nutcracker?”

Rey had no idea what was going on. “Well, yes, but...”

That was when she saw the mice. There were mice all over the ballroom! They came out of the radiators and from holes in the walls. They came up from under the floor boards. They used buttons for shields, sewing needles for swords, and knitting needles for lances. Their uniforms looked like they'd been stripped off older soldier dolls. Rey's eyes widened. “So that's where Mrs. Maz's sewing kit went.”

Bee Bee tugged at the skirt of her nightgown, nodding at the tree. Her human let out a gasp as she turned around. “What's happening?” Even as the mice arrived, the tree started growing...and so did Bee Bee! Everything around Rey grew and grew, until Bee Bee was the size of a horse, and she and Uncle Luke were the size of the toys and mice!

The golden light landed in front of them. “Hope your magician's staff is sharpened, kid.” It landed before them, fading away to reveal a handsome older man. One who did, indeed, greatly resemble Hans Stahlbaum. “We're gonna need it.” He had thick silvery hair to his shoulders, bright hazel eyes...and large, beautiful wings that fluttered behind his back, deep blue wings with ruby red trim. A crown of daisies adorned his pale locks. He nodded at Rey. “Who's the human kid?”

“Han, this is Rey.” He waved at the man. “Rey, this is Han, Cavalier and husband of Queen Leia, the Sugar Plum Fairy.”

“You're a real fairy?” She reached out to touch his delicate wings. “I've never seen a fairy before...”

He pulled away quickly. “There's a reason we don't like to be seen. You humans like messing with our wings. We can't lose 'em, or we'll die.” The hazel eyes moved to Luke. “Is this the best you could do?”

“Han, it was short notice.” He pulled a long green crystal staff out of his cape that hadn't been there before. “Rey is smart, strong, and capable. I think she'll be a great asset.”

“Asset to what?” Even as she looked around Rey was beginning to get the idea. Every toy in the ballroom was coming to life. “What's going on?”

That was when she swore she heard her nutcracker groan. She, Han, and Uncle Luke ran to him immediately. “Did you have to drop me so hard?” He rubbed his rear. “I think I splintered something.”

“Sorry.” Han and Luke helped him to his feet. She tugged the handkerchief off. “I didn't know...well, I didn't know you could move.”

“That's ok.” He grinned at her. It seemed more sweet than grotesque. There was something about it that she just...knew. “Come on. Kylo Ren, the Mouse King's greatest warrior, is on his way here. He's after my hide, and the hide of every toy, flower and snow fairy, and piece of candy in the human realm.”

“What!?” Rey looked around her. “I don't understand any of this. Why is he after you?”

Now the Nutcracker sounded confused. “I don't know. Sir Drosselmeyer told me this before he brought me here. I only know that you need to stay with me. These mice could get rough.”

She gathered one of the sewing needles in her hand. It now more closely resembled the swords the toy soldiers and the Nutcracker carried. “I can take care of myself.”

Bee Bee nudged her. “I can't cuddle you now, Bee.” She grinned and swung onto the kitten's back. “But I can ride you! Hop on, Nutcracker! You too, Uncle Luke.”

Luke grinned. “Why not?” He climbed on behind her, drawing his green staff.

The Nutcracker gingerly touched Bee Bee. “Is she safe?”

Rey laughed, scratching her between the ears. “Of course! She's tame as...well, a kitten.”

“Ok. Here goes nothing.” The Nutcracker just managed to make it on last before Bee Bee took off like a shot for the paper mache fort under the tree.

Han lifted into the air, leaving a trail of gold and blue sparkles behind him. “Thanks anyway, kid, but I have my own transportation.” He sprinted ahead, his wings a blur in the dark winter night.

More mice were pouring into the ballroom. Rey, Luke, and the Nutcracker fought them off. Han and other glowing balls of light shot blue, gold, pink, and green beams at the mice, turning them into candy or flowers. The mice ducked the “cannon balls” (they were really her marbles) the toy soldiers shot from their tin cannons. Bee Bee leaped onto mice, kicking them or knocking them away.

Han saw the cannon balls shot in their direction, but his warning light came too late. They rolled under Bee Bee's little paws, tripping her over. The trio on her back went sprawling on the wooden floor. “Are you all right?” The Nutcracker asked, helping Rey to her feet.

“Yes.” Rey dusted off her nightgown, then helped her uncle. “I'm fine. I don't know if I can say the same for your army.”

“Senior Drosselmeyer,” called a distinct Spanish accent. The Spanish soldier doll in the brown velvet uniform hurried over. He had short, dark curls under his flat-brimmed hat and large, flashing brown eyes. In fact, Rey swore she'd seen him somewhere before. With him was the Asian doll in the ginger dress, holding a long, thick sword that looked like a tapestry needle. “We are so glad you have come! The mice, they are overwhelming our toys. All of them, they take prisoner.”

Rey laughed as the stuffed bear her Uncle Lando gave to her for Christmas reached over and gave Poe a huge hug. “Do not worry, Chewbacca.” Poe insisted, “I know we have you.”

Han landed, giving the bear huge hug of his own. “This is Chewbacca, the finest stuffed animal warrior we have.” Chewbacca had what looked like a bandoleer filled with candy slung across his shoulder. He carried a candy-cane bow and peppermint stick arrows. “He's my right hand. I don't know what I'd do without him.”

The Russian Cossack soldier rushed over, jumping around and ducking under fallen toys and mice. “Sir, we just got word that Kylo Ren has arrived with more mice. He's out to destroy us all!”

Han lifted his chin defiantly. “Let me deal with him.”

“No!” The Nutcracker shook his head. “This is my fight...I think. I remember...I think I remember a Kylo Ren. I used to work for him, until I escaped. He was the one who made me into this! I have to stop him!”

“Han of the Fairies!” A voice called out to them from across the room. He was the most peculiar mouse Rey had ever seen. He was tall and thin, his body wrapped in a thick dark cloak and gloves. His black mouse ears, nose, and whiskers looked more like a mask than the appendages of a real rodent. His long black tail looked like it had been sewn together from thick wool.

Han spread his wings to block the others. “Son!” He pulled his gold wand out of his vest. “Prince of the fairies!”

The false mouse merely remained where he was. “That's not who I am,” he hissed, “Father.”

“It is who you are. Who you always were.” Han held out his hand. “I want you to come back to us. Your mother wants you back.”

“No, Father.” He glared at Han. “Only King Snoke knows what I want.”

The older fairy raised his wand. “So help me, if this is the only way to get through to you...”

Kylo Ren laughed, a hollow, tinny sound under his mask. The moment Han shot a gold light at him, he pulled out a red wand of his own, sending the light flying back into Han. It flung him against the wall, leaving him dazed. “You're fat and soft, Sugar Plum Cavalier.” He nodded at two of the real mice. “Bring him to King Snoke. Use the iron chains. Iron inhibits a fairy's powers.”

“In the name of our queen,” the Spanish soldier added, “you are under arrest!” The stuffed bear leaped onto mice left and right, until there were too many to hold back.

“I'll fight you, Kylo Ren!” The Nutcracker caught the sword the Russian Cossack tossed him. “I'll fight you for the Sugar Plum Cavalier and this beautiful maiden.” He nodded at Rey, who blushed a bit.

Kylo Ren's eyes rolled under the mask. “I don't care for some human girl. I do, however, want that meddlesome fairy.” His eyes roamed over Rey to Luke. “I should have known you'd be involved, Drosselmeyer. You should not have come back.”

“I had to, Ren.” Luke put an arm around the Nutcracker. “I wasn't going to let you get away with helping the Mouse King take over the Land of Sweets.”

Ren nodded at the mice behind him. He shot out a light from his red rock candy wand. Most of the toys in the room stiffened instantly. Two mice locked Chewbacca and the dolls in the toy cabinet. It took four mice to bind Han's wrists, arms, and wings with narrow metal chains and wrestle his wand from his grasp. Luke and Rey held off six more with his staff.

“Come out, Ren!” The Nutcracker waved his weapon. “Or are you too afraid when there's no Snoke around to defend you?”

“I'm no coward.” There was a dark gold light around the red rock candy wand, which lengthened into a bright red sword. “You're no match for me, traitor!”

The Nutcracker kicked out a wooden leg, sending Ren sprawling. “I'm no traitor. I never wanted to work for the Land of the First Order. I couldn't stand all the killing and enslaving. That's no way to run a country.”

Ren and the Nutcracker leaped and thrust and parried all around the tree. They swung on ornaments and ducked around fallen toys. Ren finally shoved a glass bowl of gaily striped hard candy to the floor. The bowl shattered, its contents rolling under the Nutcracker's awkward, too-thin legs, tripping him. He lost his sword and landed on the floor with a clatter of wood on wood.

Ren held his red candy sword over the Nutcracker's throat. “You are beaten, useless toy.” The fake mouse nodded at his real army. Rey watched in horror as they dragged a struggling, yelling Han into the mouse hole. A stream of screaming toys were shoved in after him. “Your army has fallen. The Sugar Plum Cavalier is my prisoner. Your magician is powerless. And now...” He raised the sword. “You will die.”

“No! Not the Nutcracker!” Rey wouldn't let that...that whatever he was hurt her Nutcracker! Quickly, she pulled off her slipper and threw it as hard as she could at his hand.

“Ow!” Kylo Ren clutched his wrist, his rock candy sword falling to the ground next to the Nutcracker's. Luke raised his staff. He shot a bright green beam at Ren, a beam so powerful it lifted him and threw him into the mouse hole. His remaining army took one look at Luke and Rey and Bee Bee and followed him, squeaking in terror. A slender mouse with red fur gathered his sword as he left.

“Nutcracker!” Rey hurried over to him, followed by Bee Bee. “Are you all right? I wish I could have gotten there sooner!”

The wooden toy just seemed to stare at her. Or at least his dark wooden head was turned in her direction. “You're beautiful.”

Rey blushed. “Thank you. You're...you're very unique.”

The wooden man sighed. “You can be honest. I know I'm ugly.” She and the Spanish soldier helped him to his feet. “I wasn't always like this, you know. Trouble is, I can't remember what I was before...this. I was in the Mouse Army, and then the Land of Sweets, but before that...”

“We will help you, Senior Nutcracker.” The Spanish soldier bowed with a flourish. “El Comendante Poe Damerez, of the Candy Army. Senior Drosselmeyer brought us here to assist you with Kylo Ren and mouse warriors.”

Luke nodded. “And we don't have much time. Ren is probably on his way back to Snoke now, and he has Han.” Chewbacca the bear warrior let out an anguished growl at the mention of Han.

Poe started towards the mouse hole. “We must tell Queen Leia, the Sugar Plum Fairy. She was in charge of Land of Sweets before Mouse King come. She may already know Cavalier is taken. They are bonded that way.”

“Sugar Plum Fairy?” Rey finally sat down next to Bee Bee, who gently nudged her now very small mistress. “Could someone tell me exactly what is happening and why there was a war in my parents' ball room?”

“We'll do that on the way to the Snowflake Meadows.” Luke stroked Bee Bee. “I'm sorry girl, but we're going to have to leave you. I'll bring Rey back very soon. I promise. Time in the Land of Sweets is different than it is here.” Bee Bee gave him a sandpapery lick on his cheek, her way of saying she understood.

“Oh Bee Bee...” Rey hugged her pet. Bee Bee kissed her in return. “You be good now.” She put her slipper back on, pulled her robe around her shoulders, and turned to the others. “All right. I'm ready. As long as I get home in time for Christmas morning. My family will miss me.” She looked at her slippers. “And I'll miss them. Even Benjamin.”

“I know you will.” Luke put his arms around her. “We'll be home just in time for Mrs. Maz's sausages and coddled eggs.”

“Besides,” the Nutcracker put his arm around her other side, “I'm glad you're coming. You're one of the only humans who has ever been nice to me.”

“We're glad you're coming, too.” The candied ginger doll smiled at her. She seemed so familiar! They all did. “I'm Jessika, of the Candied Ginger and Fruit Guard. This is Snap,” she nodded at the small young Russian officer with the beard and round-cheeked smile, “of the Russian Trepak Calvary.”

Snap grabbed her hand, shaking it. “You don't know how much we like your help, Reyvina. You stopped that very bad Mouse warrior. You are hero to all toys!”

Rey shook her head. “I didn't really do anything. Uncle Luke was the one who shot him.”

“This way.” Luke lead them into the mouse hole. It was pitch black. He took Rey's hand and gave her his wooden smile again. Most humans would have found it grotesque, but it turned Rey only blushed, even if she wished he wouldn't grab her hand so often. “The way to the Snowflake Meadow is through the Mouse Hole.” Luke lifted his staff, making it glow. The soft light lit their way through the grimy tunnel.

“So, Uncle Luke,” she started, “I know you're a wonderful toy maker, and I'd...well, I'd heard rumors you could do magic...”

“How did I become a magician?” Luke smiled. “Simple.” He waved his green staff...and a pair of green wings with white trim appeared on his back. “I'm a fairy, too. I just don't show it as often. I prefer to live undetected in the mortal realm.” He sighed and made his wings vanish. “Besides, I was banished when the Mouse King came to power.”

Rey didn't like the sound of that. “Who's the Mouse King?”

“He is terrible creature.” Chewbacca growled angrily as Poe continued. “He is very old, but very powerful. He's oldest and most powerful of all the mouse magicians. The mice live in the Kingdom of the First Order. It is dark, evil place, where nothing grows and nothing happy is allowed – not candy, or music, or flowers, or laughter, or even Christmas! King Snoke is miserable, nasty old mouse. He says no creature should be better than a mouse.”

Jessika frowned. “Snoke hates things that are sweet or beautiful. He invaded the Land of Sweets. Queen Leia and Cavalier Han and the Candy Army pushed him as far back as the borders, but the fight had a terrible cost. Many toys were sent to the salt and pepper mines. They cut the wings off fairies or turned them into wood.”

Luke's deep frown could barely be seen in the pale light. “I was supposed to protect Prince Finnegan, the true ruler of the Land of Sweets. Leia and Han were acting as regents until he came of age. He would have taken the throne this very night, on Christmas Eve, like each ruler in his family before him.”

The older magician's voice became rough and sorrowful. “Kylo Ren attacked the prince. They fought and fought hard, but Ren cast a foul spell before he could defeat him. I don't know what happened after that. I was banished to the Mortal Realm, but I kept track of what went on in the Land of Sweets.”

“I wish I could remember this.” The Nutcracker looked down at his wooden hands sadly. “I did work for the First Order for a time, but I couldn't stand all the killing, or the way they treated people. I ran away. The mice chased me, I got lost in the Snowflake Meadows, and then...I woke up in Rey's arms. I don't remember anything before the First Order. I have no idea where I came from or if I have a family.”

“It's all right.” Rey squeezed his wooden hand. “We'll help you find out where you belong. You can always come back with me and my family.” She shivered. “Why is it so cold? I wish Father would stop saying he can fix the radiator himself and get a professional to do it.”

“It's not the radiator.” Luke smiled. “Welcome to the Snowflake Meadows.”