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.”

The Star Wars Nutcracker, Part 3

They emerged into a snow-swept landscape. It wasn't their front yard. There were no trees or other houses to be seen. It was all light, fluffy whiteness. The moon shown on the falling flakes, giving them the appearance of glitter falling to the ground. The entire world sparkled like diamonds.

“Master Luke!” Rey got quite a surprise when a group of beautiful women emerged from the snow. They wore white gowns with short, fluffy skirts that shimmered like the snow around them. Gossamer wings almost seemed to float on their backs. One had two golden buns on her head and a silver crown trimmed with white crystal between them. “It's so nice to see you again!”

“Lady Kaydel!” Luke gave her a hug. “It's good to be back. How's this year's snow fall coming?”

“Very well, Master Luke.” Her big grin was familiar. “We just finished Munich. We're going up north to Scandinavia. Helsinki and Stockholm always make huge orders at this time of year.”

Rey exchanged surprised looks with the Nutcracker. “Orders?”

Poe laughed. “Oh, this is Lady Kaydel, the head of the Snowflake Fairies. She and her girls are in charge of keeping the world white in the winter.”

“It's nice to meet you.” Lady Kaydel bobbed, her wings a blur. “Queen Leia asked me to bring you to Ribbon Candy Village. The mice have invaded Gingerbread Castle. They drove the Queen and the Candy Army to the edge of the Mint Sugar Forest.”

“Our poor queen!” Poe turned to her. “We must go there at once! We have much news to tell her.”

Chewbacca growled. Kaydel's eyes widened. “Oh no! Chewbacca, they've taken the Cavalier?” The more upset she became, the more snow seemed to blow behind her. “Is this true, Master Luke?”

“I'm afraid so.” Luke put his arms around Rey and the Nutcracker. “But we'll have help rescuing him. I did what I promised my sister. I brought reinforcements.”

Kaydel took Rey's hand. “Some of the other girls told me what you did. You, and your wooden friend. You were both very brave.”

Rey shrugged. “I only did what I had to.”

“No, you were real heroes. They might have taken even more prisoners if you hadn't stopped Ren.” The little snow fairy shuddered. “Ren is a terrible warrior, the Mouse King's favorite. No one knows who he is, or where he came from, only that he serves the Land of the First Order. He hates fairies, too. He's destroyed whole fairy towns and keeps the wings from the ones he kills as trophies.”

The Nucracker's painted eyes gleamed. “That's horrible! I'd heard in the Mouse Army that he was doing awful things, but nothing like that!”

Even as they spoke, another white shape emerged from the blizzard. Rey had never seen such a lovely sleigh. It looked like it was made of snow, or perhaps molded sugar. The gold rails were foil-covered chocolate. Two large, furry reindeer pranced through the cold fluff.

Kaydel took the reigns herself. “All aboard for the Mint Sugar Forest and Ribbon Candy Village!”

As soon as everyone managed to squeeze into the sleigh, it rose into the air, flying over the pale moonlit fields. The blizzard gave way to a warm, sweet-smelling twilight. Rey'd never seen anything like the Land of Sweets. Trees were chocolate bark dripping with green mint sugar leaves. Houses were made of gingerbread, cake, and hard candy. Bridges were toffee trimmed with icing. Swan boats floated lazily in a bubbling strawberry soda river. Flowers in tulle gowns danced in bright-colored valleys.

Beyond the looming Dark Chocolate Mountain, Rey could see a dark, forbidding castle on the horizon. “What's that there? That gloomy world over the valley?”

Kaydel looked frightened. “That's the Land of the First Order, where the mice live. King Snoke likes to keep it as miserable and gray as he is. They say nothing grows there, and no one is allowed to play games or laugh or joke or have any kind of fun. He rules from Starkiller Fortress.”

Rey made a face. “Sounds wonderful. I'll bet my brother and our tutor would fit right in.”

The sleigh landed in a small village on the edge of the Mint Sugar Tree Forest. So many different kinds of candy came to greet them! She couldn't keep track of them all. There were Spanish chocolate girls in red ruffled dresses and Chinese tea soldiers in silk wrap pantsuits. Candy cane sailors sported red and white striped uniforms. Girls in fluffy pastel gowns made of pastry helped Rey and the Nutcracker out of the sleigh.

“Luke!” A beautiful older woman literally flew out of the largest of the ribbon candy houses. She was petite, even for a fairy, with large dark eyes and a wide, gentle pink mouth. Purple and pink wings matched her lavender gown with its deep purple bodice. Gray braids were topped with a large glittering tiara, trimmed with crystal plum blossoms. Her purple wand had an amethyst plum blossom on the end.

Rey's eyes widened. “Mother?” It certainly looked like Mother, much like the Cavalier had resembled her father. Come to think of it, Kylo Ren's voice was known to her, too...

The fairy went right to Luke first, giving him a hug. “Hello, my brother. I'm so glad you were able to come back at last.” Her dark eyes became downcast. “I only wish...Han...”

Luke returned her hug fiercely. “Don't worry, sister. We'll rescue him. I don't think Snoke will do anything to him right away. He's bait to trap us.” He turned to Rey and the Nutcracker. “I told you I'd bring help. This is Rey and the Nutcracker, from the Mortal Realm.”

Leia took Rey's hand. “That was a very brave thing you did, my dear, standing up to Kylo Ren.” She reached for the Nutcracker with her other hand. “Both of you. We're in your debt.” She curtsied. “I am Queen Leia, the Sugar Plum Fairy, and until we can find Prince Finnegan, the ruler of the Land of Sweets.”

“Hello, Your Majesty. My name is Clara Stahlbaum, but my family calls me Rey.” Rey tried curtsying, but she almost ended up on the ground. “Uh, I'm sorry, Your Majesty.” Leia helped her to her feet. “I've never met royalty before!”

“Leia is fine.” The older fairy put her arms around the wooden toy and the girl. “Let me get you two settled and find Rey a change of clothes before we figure out what to do next.”

Jessika, the Candied Ginger Soldier, helped her change into a ruffly white blouse and a pale blue skirt not unlike her gold one. “There.” She smiled, her almond-shaped eyes crinkling at the sides. “Now you look like a Candy Soldier.”

“Jess,” Rey began, “who is Kylo Ren? Why does he hate Han...and candy...and everyone?” Rey buttoned the top of the skirt. “Han called him his son.”

The candied ginger girl nodded. “It's rumored he's Queen Leia and Cavalier Han's son Prince Ben. They sent him to Sir Luke Drosselmeyer's school, where Ben was to learn to be a good fairy, after they became regents. Snoke was one of the teachers. I heard he put a spell on him that made him turn against his parents.”

“He didn't seem like he was under a spell to me.” Rey pulled her shoulder-length brown waves into three buns behind her head. “There. I'm ready.”

“You'll need one more thing.” She handed Rey a sword made of white rock crystal. “If we're going to go up against the mouse army, you'll need to defend yourself.”

Rey clutched her sword. “We're going after Han, right?'

“And all the others Ren's taking to the salt and pepper mines.” Jessika lead her across the Ribbon Candy Village square to the largest house in town. “Snoke and Ren have enslaved many toys and human citizens of the Land of Sweets. They work in their salt and pepper mines day after day, until they're worn down or die.”

Queen Leia and the rest of the Candy Army stood in what appeared to have once been a parlor room. Maps made of waxed paper and candy buttons were spread out across the peppermint bark tables. “Good,” the older woman said as the girls arrived, “we're all here.”

One of the Toy Soldiers was glaring at the Nutcracker. “Can we trust him?” He poked his finger at the wooden man's painted chest. “I recognize him. He was a soldier in the Mouse King's Army! I saw him at the siege of Gingerbread City.”

“We can trust him, Statura.” Poe put his arms around the toy. “He save our lives in the Mortal Realm and tried to save Cavalier Han.”

Queen Leia took the Nutcracker's black-painted hands. “You once worked for King Snoke and the Mouse Army. You know the Land of the First Order better than any of us. If you have any information that will allow us to get into his castle...”

The Nutcracker bobbed, the closest thing he could to a nod. “I'll do what I can to help, Your M...Miss Leia. The Mouse Army doesn't mess around! They could be coming for us at any minute!”

Rey pointed to one of the largest candy buttons on the edge of the map. “What's Mother Maz's Castle?”

“Mother Maz runs a home for gingerbread children and others who have no place to go.” Leia saw where her finger was. “It's in the district of Takodana, near where the salt and pepper mines are.”

“What if we went as slaves?” Rey looked at the surprised faced around her. “We could blend in with the real slaves and get into the castle before we free them.”

“I don't think I could get away with that. I'm too well-known.” Leia smiled. “But with costumes borrowed from Mother Maz, it might work.”

Chewbacca shook his head. “I know, Chewie.” Leia patted his paw. “Many of your fellow stuffed animals were taken to the salt and pepper mines. We're going to need you elsewhere, though. Some of us are going to go into the castle to stop their new weapon and find my husband.”

The Nutcracker looked away from Rey. “I don't know if this is a good idea. You don't know what you're up against. The Mouse Army is brutal. They'll tear anything they get their paws on apart or turn them into wood.”

Rey frowned. “We'll work together and keep you safe. The Mouse Army won't get you again.” She turned to her uncle. “What about you? I imagine the Mouse King knows you very well by now.”

Luke gave them his sunny grin. “You don't have to worry about me.” He flourished his cloak...and literally vanished into a corner. “My cloak allows me to blend into the shadows, and there's many shadows in the Starkiller Fortress.”

“There is another way in.” The Nutcracker smoothed out what looked like a huge castle outlined with black jelly beans. He tapped the bottom of the castle. “There's an opening in the mountain under the Fortress that's used by servants and incoming and outgoing troops. You'll have to get past Captain Phasma, though.” He shivered. “She's the biggest, strongest mouse who ever lived! She's twice as tall as a regular mouse, with teeth that are far sharper. She'll have no trouble killing all of us the moment she sees us.”

“If we attacked her with one or two people, there might be trouble.” Leia traced a line into the castle with gold magic. “But I don't think even she could handle a crowd...or a very angry stuffed bear. Chewbacca, you'll lead Rey, Luke, the Nutcracker, and I into the castle to deal with this Captain and rescue my husband.” She turned to Poe. “You'll take the group going into the mines to rescue the slaves, including Jessika and Snap. The Mouse Army isn't as familiar with you.”

Poe bowed with a flourish. “You can count on me, La Reina Leia.”

“Good.” Leia gathered the map. “I'll see you all tomorrow morning. We'll be leaving at the first light of dawn for Mother Maz's house.”

“Nutcracker?” Rey went to him as the others split to their own living quarters.

He actually seemed to blush, or at least his wood turned a little red where his cheeks were supposed to be. “Yes? Rey, do you mind that...that I'm a traitor? Or some people think I am. I really couldn't stay in the Land of the First Order anymore. I just couldn't hurt anyone, and that's what they want.”

“No, it's not that. We'll, it's sort of that, but not just that.” She felt herself turning red, too. What was it about the Nutcracker that made her feel all mushy inside? “It's just...I've never fought anything worse than a car engine before. How can I stop a whole army of mice? I'm not a soldier, like you and Poe and Jessika, or a fairy like Queen Leia, or a magician like Uncle Luke. I'm no one.”

“You'll be fine, Rey.” His big toothy smile managed to look sweet rather than scary. “You're a lot more than you believe you are. I think you're the strongest person in this world or the Mortal Realm. You stood up to Kylo Ren, and that takes courage.”

She smiled at him. “You think so?”

“Yeah.” He took her hand. “Do you mind if...if I walk you to the sleigh?”

She squeezed his wooden hand. “Not at all.”

Uncle Luke flew the molded sugar sleigh over the multi-colored landscape. As they moved further inland, the scenery gradually became less bright. The green cotton candy grass, lollipop flowers, and mint sugar trees were replaced by brittle brown plants and black hulks of trees that were sadly bent and misshapen. The Dark Chocolate Mountains loomed ever-closer. The black rock crystal of Starkiller Fortress, with its needle-like spires stabbing the clouds, dominated the skyline of the Land of the First Order.

They arrived in a spot that was still green at the southern base of the Dark Chocolate Mountains. A cottage made of gingerbread and candy canes was nestled in the mint sugar trees. Gingerbread and candy cane children chased each other around the yard, laughing and playing and tossing a ball made of peppermint puffs.

“Hello there!” Rey had never seen such a small woman perched on such a huge dress. Mother Maz's billowing gown seemed to dominate everything. It looked like a giant Christmas cake, with gay orange and yellow stripes and blue and green ribbons and ruffles. She could barely catch a glimpse of the beaming elderly brown-skinned woman peeking out of the giant lace collar. Her eyes were hidden by thick rock candy spectacles. “So glad you've finally arrived! I'll get my children to serve you peppermint tea and spice cookies.”

“That won't be necessary, Mother Maz.” Poe helped Leia out of the sleigh. She flew up to the old woman's head. “We're just here to get some supplies and get organized before we start into Starkiller Fortress.”

“Oh no.” Maz literally pushed Leia along with her little fingers. “First, you eat. Your army can't run if it has no food in its belly. Besides, your beloved Cavalier is unharmed for the moment. Weak, but unharmed.” She frowned. “Snoke dumped him in the Pit of Nightmares in the mountain under Starkiller Fortress. No fairy has ever managed to escape from there, not even your wily spouse.”

Rey didn't like the sound of that. “What's the Pit of Nightmares?”

“Only the darkest, deepest, most dismal spot in the entire Land of the First Order.” The Nutcracker's gentle voice crackled with horror. “Fairies live on light. They can't survive without it. Snoke imprisons the fairies he captures in the Pit of Nightmares to weaken them before he and Kylo Ren hack their wings off or turn them into wood.”

Poe saw Leia's face fall. “Maybe he does not wish to do that to Han. He want him alive.”

“Yes.” The small older fairy's voiced cracked. “Because Han and the captured toys are bait to trap the rest of us.”

Mother Maz's home was just as eccentric as she was. It was all made of sponge cake, with icing trim, bonbon knobs, and spun sugar glass windows and mirrors. Toys made of candy canes and chocolate truffles lay scattered around. The elderly woman commanded the gingerbread children to pick up their mess before shooing them upstairs. A cook made of gumdrops brought them their tea and cookies, along with marzipan fruit and candied pear bread.

Rey had just finished her bread, with it's sweet hazelnut spread, when she heard what she thought was a voice...and it was calling her name. It was faint, but there. Rey, it whispered, come to us...

Who here knew her name, besides the toys, her uncle and the Nutcracker? She followed the voice to a door. It swung open the moment she touched the gumdrop knob.

Her feet made hollow sounds on the rickety almond bark steps. The room she found herself in was presumably a basement. Other than the gingerbread walls, it could have been the basement at home. It was filled with jars of jams and chutneys, dried herbs, and piles of boxes and old, musty trunks. One solitary sugar glass window let in the watery light from the forest.

She knelt before one long, dusty old trunk. The lid creaked open as soon as her fingers brushed it. A blue sword, made of heavy old rock candy, rested in a bed of spun sugar. She lifted into her hands. It felt heavy, hard.

Suddenly, her world changed. She was standing in a black corridor, a gleaming obsidian hall in an otherwise white candy city. She saw the green glow, heard the sound of a raspy squeak. Two figures were locked in combat, their blades flying. One knocked the other, a small man with golden hair, out a sugar candy window. When he turned to her, she thought she saw a mouse mask, not unlike Kylo Ren's, but more...mechanical. More terrifying. It came near her, holding out its...hand? Paw?

Come with me, it rasped. It reached for her...and suddenly, she saw long, sharp claws on those hands...or paws. It might have been Kylo Ren. It was certainly tall enough to pass. But there was a darkness to his voice, a deep-seated evil. It repulsed her.

When she looked closer...it was Kylo Ren. She thought she saw her uncle fleeing from his red blade, something small and gaily painted in his arms. She heard “I won't let you hurt him anymore!” before he hurried into the snow.

“You, girl,” the figure hissed, “come with me...”

“No!” She screamed, shutting the lid hard. “No, I won't!”

“Rey!” Mother Maz somehow managed to get her entire dress down the splintered staircase. “What are you doing down here?”

“He...that...” She pulled away. “What is that?”

“That, was the sword of Anakin of the Skywalker Fairies.” One of the gingerbread children rushed over and opened it again. “He was one of the great magicians of the Land of Sweets...before the previous Mouse King corrupted his powers and turned him into a half-mouse, half-machine.”

“He fought...” Rey's eyes widened. “With Uncle Luke. That looked a little like Uncle Luke I saw fly through the window!”

“Rey.” Luke followed them downstairs. “That's why I brought you here. You're destined. I've always known you had the gift. My father, your grandfather, passed it to me...and now I'll pass it to you.”

“Oh Uncle, no!” Rey skittered as far from the box as she could. “I don't want to have anything to do with that again! Ever!”

“Wait, Rey!” But Luke couldn't stop her from darting up the stairs and back into the main house.

The Nutcracker saw her hurrying for the front door. “What are you doing? Are you ok?”

She shook her head. “I'm sorry, but I can't stay here. I don't belong here. I'm not a mouse, a toy, a fairy, or a piece of candy! I'm a normal, ordinary human being! I have to get home. Bee Bee needs me, and I can only imagine what my parents will say when they find out I've been gone all night.”

“But Rey...” The Nutcracker began. She pushed his hand away as she hurried out the door and into the woods.

She had to find her way back. She shouldn't have come. She was crazy to think she could handle magic. She wasn't a magician. She was a child. Her abilities were mechanical, not magical.

Still, she thought, there was the Nutcracker. She was nearly very certain that he wasn't who he claimed he was. She felt like she knew him. In fact, she felt like she knew everyone. Queen Leia, the Nutcracker, the soldiers, Chewbacca...everyone was familiar. How could she let them down?

She finally stopped by a mint sugar tree, out of breath. One of the gingerbread children tugged at her. It had followed her all the way from Maz's. “I'm sorry,” she puffed, “but I don't know if I'm coming back. I'm just...not a fairy or a magician. What can I do?”

That was when she finally listened. There was someone else in the woods. Footsteps crackled over dried sugar leaves. Raspy breathing echoed off the dark chocolate trunks. She was about to follow the gingerbread child back to Mother Maz's when she saw the mice. They shot hard cheese balls from their muskets, but she managed to dodge them. She and the gingerbread child threw pine cones and small rocks at them. She always did have good aim. She managed to knock down several.

“Little gingerbread girl,” Rey started, “we have to get back to Mother Maz and Uncle Luke. You lead. I don't know my way around.” She remembered the military talk Hux and Ben used when they played with their toy soldiers. “I'll cover for you.”

The child squeaked and hurried along as she threw everything she could get her hands on – rocks, sticks, acorns, nuts, pieces of rock candy crystal, pine cones made from mint chocolate patties. She was about to go after it when a figure stepped into her view. A tall, dark figure wearing a metal mask with mouse ears.

“Kylo Ren!” She threw rocks and pine cones at him as hard as she could. He just sliced them in half with his red rock candy crystal sword. “Come out! I'm not afraid of you! Who are you?”

“I'm no one you need to know about.” He finally stepped out of the afternoon shadows, his long black robes trailing behind him. “What I want to know is,” he put out his sword against her throat, “who are you, girl?”

“I'm...I'm Rey. Clara Stahlbaum, but my family calls me Rey.” He raised his hand over her forehead, prodding it. “What are you doing? Taking my temperature? Other than I don't like you holding that giant crystal lollipop of yours so close to me, I feel fine, thank you!”

“No,” he hissed. “I'm reading your mind.” She winced as he poked around her head, her eyes starting to flutter. “You're the girl from the Mortal Realm. Drosselmeyer brought you here to defeat my master. You and that useless wooden traitor.”

“He's not a traitor.” Rey glared at him as best she could. “And he's not useless! He's strong and brave!”

“His jaw is broken.” Ren's voice was a sneer. “He's not fit to crack nuts for my mouse army.”

Rey made a face. “Now you sound like my brother.”

He ran his gloved fingers across her forehead, whispering into her ear. “You have a very interesting mind. You're far stronger than you know. I think I'll take that mind.” He stroked her forehead. “Come with me, my little one. Come with me to the Starkiller Fortress. We'll have a longer discussion there.” He lifted his head, enough for her to see the very human skin on his neck under the mask. “You'll even get to see your precious Fairy Cavalier, if you're a very good girl.”

“I will?” She'd never been so tired. She was barely standing.

“Yes.” He finally ran his hand over her face. A red light bathed her cheeks and forehead. “You will sleep, my little Rey. Sleep deeply. Sleep now.”

His words were the last things she remembered before her eyes closed, and she fell asleep, unable to resist his powers anymore.

The Star Wars Nutcracker, Part 4

When she awoke, she was in total darkness. Not a sliver of light broke through the thick rock walls around her. “Where am I?” she muttered to herself. “How did I get here?”

“Hello?” A feeble but familiar gruff voice seemed to come from the other side of the wall. “Rey? Is that you, kid?”

“Han?” Rey tried to lean her ear against the wall, which wasn't easy when she was chained to the one alongside it with heavy iron manacles. “It's me, Han! They caught me in the woods outside of Mother Maz's house.”

“Kid, I'm so glad to hear from you.” His voice was hoarse and cracking. “I don't know how long I've been in here. I'm too damn tired to move Can't even fly. They still have the iron on my wings.”

“I'll get you out of here.” Rey struggled wildly with her chains, but they were held fast to the wall. “I promise.”

“It wouldn't surprise me.” Han chuckled. “I saw you take on Kylo Ren and his army. Hell, I was scared of you.”

She leaned against the jagged wall. “Where are we?”

“The Pit of Nightmares.” Han's voice became cranky. “Yeah, it's a nightmare, all right. It's dark as hell in here, and it smells like wet mouse fur. When I get my hands on that son of mine...”

That was when she heard the door open in Han's cell. The raspy breathing gave away Kylo Ren's arrival well before she heard his voice. There were other footsteps as well, ones that clanked loudly.

“Hello, Father.” The footsteps moved closer to the wall. “Ready to tell me where Mother and the Candy Army are hiding now?”

Iron manacles rubbed against the wall. “I wouldn't tell you in a million years, son. Besides,” there was a shrug in his voice, “I have no idea. I haven't seen your mother in nearly a week. I was leading the soldiers stationed near the Snowflake Meadows.”

“Why did Mother marry you?” Kylo Ren hissed. “A fairy thief with weak nature powers and no position in the government or influence at court? She could have married any fairy she wanted...”

“I love her, Ben,” Han insisted. “I always have, and I always will. Did that ever occur to you?”

Rey's eyes widened. Ben? So Kylo Ren is his son. I knew there was something familiar about him. He's a lot like my brother!

“Love doesn't matter, Father.” Kylo Ren stepped closer to the wall. “Power matters. Love is for fools.”

“Then you're the fool, kid.” The hiss in Han's voice made him sound very much like his son. “What are you going to do with all that power? Who will you share it with? Snoke? He doesn't care about you. He's using you to get to your mother and her title. When he's gotten what he wants, he'll kill you, like he's killed most of the other fairies in the Land of Sweets.”

“No! He'll find a place for me in his plans!” She winced when Kylo Ren slammed his gloved fist against the wall. “You're afraid of me! I'm stronger than you are! My powers are five times stronger!”

“Ben, I know you're in there somewhere.” Han's voice softened. “You don't belong here. You're not one of them, and you know it.”

“Might I suggest a way to eliminate this nuisance?” She heard fingers yank against silken wings and Han's angry yelp. The voice was familiar, a smooth, spoiled accent. “Cut off his wings. Perhaps at the Gingerbread Town Square, just outside the castle? Hold him up as an example of what happens when supposedly powerful beings defy the Land of the First Order. I heard Vader executed many fairies that way. He had a vast collection of wings he'd cut himself.”

“Yes.” Kylo Ren's voice became a smirk. “You'll finally have some use, Cavalier. Your execution should bring Mother flying to her precious husband's welcome. Snoke is very interested in her. Once he offers to make her his queen and merge their lands, she'll be putty in his hands. They'll make these lands as mighty as they were when King Vader ruled them.”

Chains rattled hard against the walls. Rey suspected Han was trying to angrily lunge for his captors. “Never! Leia would never give up her throne to Snoke. It's not hers to give. It rightfully belongs to the Trooper family. Besides, she hates Snoke. He's killed too many fairies for her to agree to this!”

“The Trooper family is dead.” Kylo Ren's voice got very close to the wall. “As you will be soon, Cavalier.” The feet moved away from the prisoner. “Take him to the Gingerbread Castle dungeon. Make sure you cover all sources of light in his cell. Officer Mitaka, announce to everyone in the Land of Sweets that the coronation for King Snoke and his new bride will be dawn on Christmas Day. We'll have Santa Claus himself officiate it. Hux, go to Phasma and have her bring the army to Gingerbread Town. I'm going to question the girl in the next cell. She seems to have powers she's unaware of, very strong, familiar powers. I want to read her mind further.”

Rey's eyes widened. They were coming to her cell! She could hear Han's feeble attempts to struggle with the guards. They must have ignored his protests, since his gruff voice and their steps in perfect time faded out quickly.

As soon as they were gone, the door was flung open. Her eyes adjusted to the weak light as Kylo Ren stepped in. “Girl,” he rasped. “I've been looking forward to this.”

“It certainly took you long enough.” Hazel eyes glared at his gleaming black helmet, with its silly fake mouse ears and whiskers. “If you're going to interrogate me, could you at least give me the honor of taking that blasted thing off? It'll be a lot easier talking to a real face.”

“Very well.” She had no idea what to expect as he tugged it off, but it wasn't...her brother. It was her brother. He had the same long face and pale skin and big dark eyes that reminded her of their mother's. He even had that thick, black hair that was really the only thing he was vain about. Rey liked to joke that he fussed with his hair more than any woman ever did.

“Benjamin!” She couldn't help her shocked squeak. “What are you doing here?”

“That's not my real name anymore.” He raised an eyebrow. “And I've always lived here, girl.” He walked around her. “How did you know my real name?”

“You look like...like someone I know.” She clenched her fists. “I heard everything you said to Fa...your father in the next cell. I think it's horrible, wanting to kill him just to show how powerful you are. He's our...your father! Doesn't that mean anything to you?”

“You don't understand!” Ben matched her glare. “How could you? You're just a girl. You've never lived in anyone's shadow.”

“Yes, I have. Yours!” Rey frowned. She didn't mean for the words to come out like that. “My brother is the one our tutor likes. He's smart and good at everything. I'm good at mechanics and dancing and not much else. Not to mention, he's the heir to Father's business.”

Ben put a hand – a slender white human hand – against her forehead. “You're telling the truth.” He ran his fingers along her temples. “You're from the Mortal Realm, but there's something...something in the back of your mind...you're more powerful than you know.”

He gave her such a familiar grin, her stomach dropped. “How would you like to join the Mouse Army? You'll finally get a taste of real power. I could teach you how to use that new magic of yours.”

Rey yanked her head away. “I'd rather eat smelly old cheese. And get your hands off me. They're like ice.”

She decided it was time to return the favor. Her eyes closed, and she concentrated. Probing his mind was actually easier than she thought. He made his desires so obvious. “You...you're afraid to be like Han. You think it'll make you weak, as you were when you were a fairy child. Snoke's filled your head with a lot of rubbish about how powerful your grandfather was.” She raised her head high. “You may think you're so high and mighty, Kylo Ren, but you'll never, NEVER be as strong as King Vader!”

Ren raised his hand to slap her, the way he had very likely hit his father...but after a few second, he lowered them. “Leave her.” He shoved the helmet back on his head. “Perhaps a few days in the Pit of Darkness will quiet that feisty little temper of hers. I'll come back for her after I've seen to the King and Queen's coronation.”

“No!” The girl struggled wildly as he left. “That won't happen! I won't let it! You'll see!” She thought he seemed a bit rattled as he stumbled out, but that might have been her imagination. He was so hard to read under that helmet.

There was no way she could stay here that long. She noticed he left one guard at the door to her cell. She might be able to do something with that. “Hey out there! I'm terribly hungry. Could you maybe get me a bite to eat?” The mouse didn't respond. “You don't want me to turn into some poor, starved bag of skin and bones, do you? King Snoke wouldn't like that.” She concentrated. “I want you to bring me food. A four-course meal, if you can.” It wasn't really a lie. She was starving. She hadn't eaten anything since at least that morning.

To her surprise, the mouse did everything she asked. He brought her a meal of the finest cheese she'd ever seen! There was every kind of cheese in the world, from Cheddar to Gouda to blue cheese. After she'd had her fill, he even wiped her lips and took the tray.

“You're going to hand me the keys and your candy cane bow and arrows.” The mouse did so, his button eyes completely clouded over and vague. “And then you'll take a nice nap on the cot here. When you wake up, you'll remember none of this.”

“I will remember none of this.” Rey couldn't help giggling when the mouse just lay right down in the cot and started snoring almost immediately. It worked! It really worked. She tip-toed out of the cell, making sure to lock the door behind her.

She grabbed the first torch she saw to light her way. This “pit” was really more like a dungeon. Not a speck of light shined through. She saw heavy doors that likely lead to other cells. If only she knew where they'd gone with Han, or even how to get out.

Something small and sharp dropped on top of her head. “Ouch!” She rubbed where it hit. “Now, where did that come from?” Her fingers picked up a sharp rock candy crystal pebble. It was reddish, not black like the walls of the Pit. Hazel eyes rolled upwards, towards the ceiling.

Only there wasn't a ceiling. There was just...light. It really was a pit, after all. “And if there's a pit,” she murmured to herself, “there has to be something on top.”

She put the torch back in a bracket and reached for one of the rock candy crystals. There were indentations in the crystal, holes carved from years of use and mice trying to nibble at them. She'd always been a good climber. There was a huge old oak tree in her family's backyard she could shimmy up in less than five minutes. It drove Ben crazy. He was terrible at climbing. He'd get up a limb, then get tangled and fall back out again. He could never catch her.

Climbing a rock wall was a lot different than climbing a tree. She closed her eyes and concentrated, swinging the bow and quiver of arrows over her shoulders. One hand, then one foot. Her dainty human feet slipped at least three times, sending little candy pebbles to the pit bellow. Her arms ached, and her legs wobbled, but she held on. The light at the top of the pit kept beckoning to her. There had to be a way to warn Leia and the others and tell them about Han and the trap. There had to be!

One hand, then the other...one foot, then the other. It felt like it took hours to climb that rock wall. As she got closer, her ears picked up voices. They were unfamiliar and rather squeaky. Probably mice, she figured. Most of the army may not have left for Gingerbread Town yet.

As she reached the top, she finally heard a voice and a growl she knew. “Easy, Chewie. I'm sorry. This was the only way we could get into the Castle.”

Rey grinned at another familiar, more masculine voice. “Are you sure this was a good idea, Your Majesty? You know that evil Kylo Ren can see through any magic...”

“He can,” said Leia, “but most mice can't. It'll be enough for us to get through the castle and down into the pit.”

“Leia? Nutcracker? Chewbacca?” She wiggled her fingers. “Could someone give me a hand here?”

“Rey!” The Nutcracker's excited voice bounced off the black rock walls. “Hold on! We're going to save you!”

“I've already done a pretty good job of that.” She looked up with a grin. “I just need a hand getting up there.”

Furry paws thrust themselves in front of her face. She took hold of them with both hands. Chewbacca caught her just in time. If she'd been there a moment longer, the ledge would have crumbled out from under her feet, sending her hundreds of meters to the hard floor below.

“Thank you!” She threw herself into the outstretched, fuzzy brown arms. “That was a close one, Chewie!”

A pair of wooden arms folded around her. “I'm so glad you're ok, Rey. I missed you.”

Rey leaned against his hard shoulders. “I missed you too, Nutcracker.” She finally pulled away long enough to see what he was wearing. “Why are you painted to to look like a mouse?” His uniform was now gray instead of red. He had mouse ears on his hat and scratchy wire whiskers sticking out of his face. The blue rock candy sword from Mother Maz's home rested by his side. A very, very tall and furry mouse held a candy cane bow and arrow next to him, his eyes searching for any sign of movement.

“It's a temporary spell.” A female mouse in a lavender gown waved a wand behind them. “We had to blend in somehow.”

Rey couldn't take her eyes off her beloved Nutcracker. “What are all of you doing here?”

“The plan, remember?” The Nutcracker managed to give her a big smile, despite his broken jaw. “We came after you and Cavalier Han.”

A shorter mouse wore a black velvet cape and had thick whiskers on his chin. “Rey, did you see Han in the Pit of Nightmares?”

“No, but I heard him.” She turned to what she suspected was her uncle. “They're taking him to Gingerbread Castle. Kylo Ren will cut off his wings at the first light of Christmas Day. He wants to use his execution to bring the Candy Army into the open.”

“I won't let him do it!” Leia's paw curled around her purple crystal wand. “I did feel them take him away. His light is faint, but it isn't here. We have to get him back.”

“Wait, there's more.” Rey turned to Leia. “Ren is using Han to lure you to Snoke. His master is going to try to force you to become his queen and merge your lands.”

Chewbacca let out an angry roar that filled the halls. “No way!” The Nutcracker drew his sword. “We'll stop him before then!”

Luke narrowed his eyes. “Santa Claus would never sanction this. He knows Leia wouldn't be happy with Snoke, and it wouldn't be good for the Land of Sweets or Christmas, either. The Land of Sweets provides many of the toys his workers don't make themselves.”

Rey rolled her eyes. “No one is going to sanction anything until we get moving.” She started down the hall. “We're going to need a fast getaway. We have to be at the Gingerbread Castle, wherever that is, before morning.”

The Nutcracker pulled them all into an alcove as a platoon of mouse troops marched by them. “And I know how to do it. Leia, change us back. I want this...er, mouse...to recognize us.”

“All right.” She waved her wand. Soft, glowing purple lights surrounded the group. When they subsided, everyone looked as normal as they were going to. “That's better. I never was the biggest fan of cheese.”

“Shh!” A tall figure in shiny silver and black armor, with pale gold ears sticking out of the top, stomped by them. The Nutcracker pointed at it and whispered something to Chewie. The stuffed bear's furry paw shot out and yanked the mouse soldier into the alcove.

“What in the name of the Land of the First Order is this?” To Rey's surprise, the voice was deep, but very female...and strangely familiar. “Unhand me, you gigantic dust mop!”

“Take off that mask, Captain Phasma, so you can see me!” The Nutcracker pushed her. “I'm in charge now, miss. I'm the one giving the orders. Who's the better soldier now? You're going to do everything we say, or this bear's going to start looking for honey in your rear end!”

Luke sighed and pulled the Nutcracker aside. “Calm down. I think she gets the point.”

The mouse shook her head and finally pulled off her helmet. Somehow, Rey wasn't surprised to see the lovely face and pale blond hair of Gwen Phasen underneath. The only difference were her whiskers, pale beige ears, and slightly longer nose. “Nutcracker,” she snapped, “I knew you'd come back. Decided to stop being a coward and return to our employ? I might be able to convince Snoke to go a little easy on you. He'll only burn part of your wooden hide.”

She didn't even jump when Luke narrowed his eyes and pressed his green staff against her back. “Captain, you are going to sneak us onto the sleigh carriage with your men. Better yet,” he grinned, “we'll go in style. Get us on General Hux's private carriage.”

Rey smirked. “Or our bear friend Chewbacca will decided you look like a very tasty silvery fish.” Chewie sniffed at her, perhaps deciding if he could peel off that armor and get a taste of her furry insides.

“All right already!” She lead them to a large room at the end of the hall. It looked like a war room, with lots of wax paper maps and globes made of popcorn balls. Another mouse, a tall, thin one with ginger red fur, was already there. She waved the others behind the door. “Hux,” she said, “I'd like to request for my men and I to join you on your private sleigh going to the Land of Sweets. There's more room for us to train.”

“I'd rather not listen to the troops jumping about.” Hux rolled his eyes as she reached for his neck. “Oh, fine. On second consideration, it might not hurt to have bodyguards at my disposal. The transport leaves in less than ten minutes. Get your men on it as quickly as possible. The Sugar Plum Cavalier's execution and King Snoke and Queen Leia's coronation will take place promptly at dawn.”

“I'm already in charge of one world,” Leia snarled, her brown eyes suddenly filled with fire. “There's no way I'll marry that dirty cheese-snatcher!”

Luke put a hand on her shoulder. “We won't let that happen.” He turned to Chewbacca. “You and I are going to go down to the mines to gather the remaining Candy Army. Poe and the others are freeing the toys and candy who were enslaved in the Mortal Realm. We'll contact them and send them along to Gingerbread Castle.”

“Please be careful, brother.” Leia gave him a fierce hug. She had to fly to Chewbacca to be able to give him an equally large one. “You too, Chewie.”

Rey frowned. “Uncle Luke...”

The small magician gave his niece and the Nutcracker a big hug. “Watch out for Kylo Ren. He's determined to get rid of both of you.”

The Nutcracker shuddered. “I hope we never see him again!”

She made a face. “I have the feeling we more than likely will.”

The Star Wars Nutcracker, Part 5

Phasma lead them down the hall to the largest sleigh Rey had ever seen. It was made of black molded sugar with silver foil trim and runners, with three very big reindeer pulling it. Leia cast the mouse spell on them again, making them all resemble the Mouse Army. Rey wasn't sure she liked that. Her short brown fur itched, people kept stepping on her tail, and she had a weird craving for Gouda the entire trip.

She looked over the side as the landscape rushed by her. She'd had no idea what time it was when they found her, but from the looks of things, it was the middle of the night when she left. The winged horses that pulled the carriage just couldn't go fast enough! Her head was too filled with thoughts to enjoy the beauty of the landscape below her as it changed from the blacks and browns of the Land of the First Order to the brilliant pastels of the Land of Sweets. She tried to sleep, but her dreams were filled with mice in black robes stabbing fairies in the heart while she watched and the Nutcracker burned.

“Foil-covered chocolate coin for your thoughts?” The Nutcracker's gentle voice nudged her back into wakefulness. “Are you ok? You were sort of moaning in your sleep.”

“No, not really.” She shifted in the carriage. “Aren't you tired?”

He shrugged. “I'm a toy. We don't need to sleep. Besides, I think we're almost there.”

The light outside was getting brighter and brighter. She could see the sun slowly rising over the Dark Chocolate Mountains. The early morning sun cast long, deep shadows over the biggest castle Rey had ever seen. It was made entirely of gingerbread, from the walls to the peaked roofs that were covered in pale green icing. Candies of every description decorated the sides. Two black licorice ropes held up the long drawbridge.

The whole town was gingerbread houses. They put the small cottage she, Maz, and Jess had worked on at home two days before to shame. There were great mansions, stables, churches, and even department stores and businesses, every last one made of gingerbread and icing. The pine trees were piles of green whipped cream. The cobblestone streets were hard candy. Rey was getting hungry just looking at it.

As soon as they landed, they managed to separate themselves from the rest of the group down an alley. “What are we going to do with her?” The Nutcracker still held Phasma's arm.

Leia's dark eyes glittered. “Where's the nearest opening to the sewers?”

The Nutcracker echoed her grin. “Down by Cadbury's Department Store.”

“Good.” Leia waved her wand. The first wave restored them to their regular forms. The second lifted Phasma in the air, ignoring her angry squawks. They followed Leia's light until it reached a thick foil-covered circle in the road. The glittering purple light surrounded the lid until it was large enough for Phasma. The other deposited her in it and slammed the lid shut.

Leia put her wand away. “There! Took out the trash.”

Rey and the Nutcracker followed her down the alley. The girl grinned at her. “Where did you get that idea?”

The older fairy hovered just a few centimeters off the ground as she lead them down dark back streets. “I was held prisoner by King Vader many years ago. He destroyed Alderaan, the Land of the Fairies, in order to get me to tell him the location of the First Candy Army. Han, Chewbacca, and my brother tried to rescue me, but they weren't very good at it. I lead them out through the sewers.”

“Speaking of...” The Nutcracker pushed the two women aside as more mouse troops marched past them. A tall figure covered in a heavy black wool cape was being lead by a masked Kylo Ren and the red mouse...who looked, Rey thought, an awful lot like her brother's friend Hux with whiskers and round ears.

Leia closed her eyes, her hand held over her heard. She lifted her wand, letting a thin stream of purple light go to the cloaked figure. It turned around...and Rey could see the bumps on his back that the cape smothered and a few wisps of silver and white hair. She swore it actually stared right at them. When the light tried to flow around the cape, the fabric absorbed it instead.

“Han,” Leia whispered. “That cloak is made from no-magic velvet. It smothers and absorbs any magic or light that tries to penetrate it. Ben...Kylo Ren is taking no chances.”

“Make way for the King!” The largest carriage Rey had ever seen, lead by a team of six reindeer, followed the prisoner and his guards. The girl's eyes widened when she saw who sat in the back with Hux and Ben.

Rey gasped. “Snoke!” It couldn't have been anyone else. Even as a mouse, he was old and gray and wrinkly. His beady black eyes were sharp, though, and his crooked whiskers twitched. His eyes darted here and there, seeing all. His guards lead him to two gingerbread thrones, one smaller than the other, on the back of the platform. He settled down, leering at the crowds. He held a long, heavy black rock candy staff with a mouse head carved on the end.

“How are we going to get to him?” The Nutcracker poked his head out. “This place is swarming with soldiers. It's three-fourths mice.”

Rey agreed. “We're going to need a distraction.”

The twang of a guitar and castanets in the center of the square answered that question. A group of toys in fancy Spanish costumes were dancing to a lively tune. “Citizens of the Land of Sweets!” The short man strumming the guitar hid his curls under a wide-brimmed black hat, but the laid-back smile gave Commander Poe away. “We have gathered some of our finest performers to put on a show for our great leader King Snoke!”

Kylo Ren turned his intimidating helmet to the performers. “Oh please. We need to get on with the execution.”

Snoke's nasty little smile chilled Rey to the bone. “Why not? We'll need time to set up the execution and ceremony, and Father Christmas has yet to arrive. Perhaps a little amusement might be in order.”

Rey didn't know how Poe had gotten the toys from the mines in time, but she was glad he had. He played a Spanish folk song while dancing with a lovely lady in a frilly red gown. Chinese soldiers jumped out of giant teapots. Jessika and the Candied Fruit Soldiers played reed flutes while they danced. Snap and the Russian Trepak officers performed a wild folk dance. Mother Maz arrived with her cookie children under her cake dress. They tumbled and spun dizzily into each other. Two Arabian Coffee dancers slinked around each other in a pas de deux that was so sensual, Rey blushed.

“I wish they could keep distracting them forever.” The Nutcracker managed a grin as he clapped for the Coffee dancers. “They're really good! Poe should take them on the road after this is all over.”

“Look!” Rey pointed to the square. The mouse soldiers had moved away from Han to watch the show. There were only two holding onto him now.

Leia nodded. “Let's go.”

They stuck to the shadows as much as possible, even as they grew longer in the early morning light. “We have to go fast!” The Nutcracker grabbed Rey's hand. She looked down at it, frowning. “The moment it gets to Christmas Day, they'll start the ceremony!”

“Wait!” Leia hurried to them. “There's something wrong here...”

But Rey was already disarming one of the mice. The Nutcracker smacked the other over the head with the butt of his sword. “Han! Cavalier! Are you all right?”

“No!” Leia's shocked voice was loud enough to hear over the music. “That's not him! It's...”

“Hello, Nutcracker.” Kylo Ren...Prince Ben...removed his hood. “I had the feeling you'd be coming back to us.”

“Han! Where is he?” Leia raised her wand...but a dull black light yanked it out of her hand.

“I wouldn't do that if I were you, Your Majesty.” Her wand flew into Snoke's grasp as he stood. Leia's eyes were filled with an furious fire, even when the ugly old mouse kissed her hand. “I would be honored if you'd become my queen. You're an uncommonly strong fairy, with a good head for ruling. Between the two of us, we could bring our two lands to their knees!”

“After everything you've done, to my family, our land, and our people?” The dark eyes glared daggers that would have cut Snoke in the heart, if he had one. “I'd rather die!”

He raised Leia's chin. “That can be arranged, my dear.” He grabbed her shoulders and forced her into the smaller throne.

Rey started towards them, but she was immediately surrounded by fifteen rock candy swords and lances. The Nutcracker was luckier. He decked Ben in the face and took off into the shadows. She hoped he was getting help.

Ren narrowed his eyes as he rubbed his chin. “Just for that, I think we can eliminate those performers. I know they're the Candy Army in a rather bad disguise. We just got word that there was a break-out at the salt and pepper mines. Many toys were freed, including members of the Army.” The black-clad fairy raised his red wand. Bright red lights swirled around the candy dancers. Poe managed to hurry into an alley, but Jessika, Snap, and the remaining soldiers stiffened and became wooden toy dolls, animals, and nutcrackers.

“Is that what you did to the Nutcracker?” Rey stared at Prince Ben in horror. “He got in your way, so you turned him into a toy? Was he human once, too?” She suddenly wished she hadn't eaten all that cheese. Every morsel seemed to tighten in the pit of her stomach.

Prince Ben only gave her a lopsided smirk that looked remarkably like his father's. “Maybe.”

Another cloaked figure was dragged from the crowd and onto the platform. “Leia!” Han Solo's unmistakably gruff voice croaked from under the hood. “Are you all right? Have they hurt you?”

“No, they haven't.” Leia gazed longingly at her husband. “Han, what have they done to you? Your wings...”

Han gave her a weak version of his famous smile. “I'll be ok, sweetheart.”

“This is so banal.” Hux rolled his eyes as he removed the mouse mask and black tunic he'd been wearing. He and Prince Ben shoved Han onto the platform. The red-furred mouse whipped the cloak off. Han's blue and red wings unfurled...butt they were limp and faded, a far cry from their glistening beauty in the ballroom. His wrists remained bound in iron chains and manacles.

Snoke clutched Leia's hand in a vice grip. Two mice had already thrown the black cloak over her shoulders. It took two more to hold a horrified Rey back. “Citizens of the Land of Sweets!” The evil Mouse King raised his staff. “Today, Christmas Day, marks the beginning of a new era for our lands, one in which the Land of Sweets and the Land of the First Order will be united!” He nodded at Ben, whose candy wand grew into the jagged red sword. “There will no longer be room for useless malcontents like this weak creature before me. All Christmas magic will belong to the mice of the First Order!”

As the Mouse King droned on, Rey thought she saw three figures – one wooden, one tall and furry, one small, with curly dark hair and wearing a red bolero costume – trying to sneak along the edges of the crowd. A black-painted wooden mitt pointed at the platform. She swore she heard Chewie's distinctive roar over the crowd.

“No!” Leia and Rey shrieked at the same time as Ben raised his sword over Han's wings. Leia turned to Snoke. “I won't let you do this!” She tried to run to Han, but Snoke threw his wand in front of her. “I love him! I've never loved anymore more!”

Han only gave her a small smile. “I know.”

“Agree to be my queen, then.” Snoke's toothy smile was cruel. “Become my bride, and I'll set him free. We could use strong bodies like his in the salt and pepper mines.”

Leia pushed Snoke aside. “Never! I'd wouldn't marry you if you were the last available male in both lands! I wouldn't marry you if you were young and handsome, which you probably never were. The only man I ever wanted is kneeling on that platform.”

“Leia!” Han tried to stand, but Hux and Ben forced him back down. “Forget it, Snoke. We ain't gonna give you what you want.”

Snoke wrapped his arms around Leia, holding his staff to her throat. “Do it, Ren!” he hissed over his shoulder. “Cut the Cavalier's wings! Kill him!”

Ben's slender white hands were shaking, but his face was impassive. His sharp sword hovered over Han's back. He raised his sword...the red light flashed...Rey screamed...Han gasped...

There were shocked yells in the crowd. A candy cane arrow whizzed over her head. Ben barely managed to duck away from it, but it did manage to scratch his shoulder. Blue lights flashed as the Nutcrackler leaped onto the platform, using Anakin's blue rock candy sword and his hardened body to protect the helpless male fairy.

“Oh no, you don't.” Poe rushed in after him, holding a candy cane bow and arrow of his own. “You will never take us alive, Snoke! We will fight you until the Sweet Soda Pop River goes sour!”

Rey raised her eyebrows. “What are you doing here? How did you all get here from the salt and pepper mines?”

Poe gave Chewbacca a scratch on the back that made him nearly purr. “We convinced Chewie's fellow stuffed animals to help us save others. Mother Maz gave us ride. You never lived until you have seen world from the top of a cake dress!”

“You!” Ben glared at the Nutcracker. “You've interfered for the last time, you useless piece of trash!”

“I'm not afraid of you anymore, Ren.” The Nutcracker somehow managed to grit his wooden teeth. “This fairy is one of the few beings who was ever good to me. I won't let you hurt him!”

The Nutcracker wasn't a bad swordsman, but Rey suspected he wasn't at Ren's level. Even with a damaged shoulder, Ren was still too fast for the wooden soldier. She gasped as the two leaped over the platform, fighting in the shocked crowd.

The two mice who were supposed to be holding onto her were as entranced with the duel as the rest of the toys and candy in the square. She took advantage of the distraction to elbow one of the mice, then step hard on the other's foot. The moment they squawked, a pair of furry paws grabbed them and knocked them together. Their heads clattered, leaving them both unconscious.

Rey grinned as Chewbacca appeared behind the now-sleeping mice. “Thanks, Chewie! You were wonderful.” The giant bear nodded and gave her a great big hug.

Poe tossed her the candy cane bow. “Here you are, Senorita Rey! I fight better with fists!” He proceeded to prove this by decking three mice into each other like dominoes.

“We'll go get Han.” Rey almost literally shoved Chewbacca to the back of the platform. “We'll need help to get to Leia and the rest of the Candy Army.”

“You watch out, Senorita.” Poe frowned. “That Ren, he is full of tricks. Snoke is too. Don't let them get in your head.” Chewie growled his agreement.

“I'll be all right.” She gave them a lopsided smile that looked a great deal like her father's. “I can take care of myself.”

The Star Wars Nutcracker, Part 6

The Gingerbread Town Square was now total bedlam. Candy and toys attacked mice, kicking them, stepping on their tails, and tossing them into carts to be hauled back to the Land of the First Order. Rey saw Captain Phasma sulking as the tall female soldier skulked over to King Snoke. She was hard to miss. The fragrance that drifted behind her was somewhere between rotted, centuries-old cheese and ripened sticky-sweet taffy that had been left out in the sun too long. Anyone who took one whiff of her instantly got out of her way.

Poe blocked Hux from leaving. “Going so soon, General? You are too afraid to fight without your friend Ren around?”

Hux put up his ginger-colored paws. “I can fight you with my tail tied behind my back, you chocolate cream puff!”

The smaller soldier smirked. “Oh, that hurt, Hux. Just for that, I will not go so easy on you.”

“We'll see about that.” Hux may have had the advantage of height and a mouse's fast reflexes, but Poe was smaller and stronger. He ducked under the red mouse's skinny legs and around his back. “I am over here!”

Hux's face was getting as red as his fur. “Stay still so I can hit you!”

“Not a chance!” Poe finally delivered a solid right to Hux's nose. The mouse hit the platform with a soft whump!

“Owww!” Hux let out a wail. “I think you broke my beautiful nose!” He threw his paw over the bleeding nostrils.

Poe handed him a handkerchief...even as he started to tie him up with ropes of taffy. “Your nose, she is not so pretty as you think. It might look even better this way.”

Chewbacca and Rey had pulled Han from the front of the platform. She tugged at his chains. “I can't get these off! They're too tight!”

The elder fairy just turned to the bear warrior with a feeble grin. “Hey Chewie, how about a paw here?” Rey could barely see those paws under all Chewie's fur, but somehow, they broke the iron bands on his wrists and wings like they were peanut brittle. Han quickly brushed them off. “Thanks, pal. I owe you one.” The bear gave his friend the biggest hug he possibly could! Han gasped. “I'm glad to see you too, but right now, we need to go get Leia and make sure the Nutcracker kid's ok.”

“The Nutcracker!” Rey's voice was close to a screech. “Fat...Han, I forgot him! I have to go help him!”

Han nodded as he tested his wings. “You go get him, kid. Chewie n' I will go after Leia.” He frowned. “And by the way, have you seen Luke? He's the only one missing.”

Rey shook her head. “No, I haven't. I'm surprised. Maybe he went to get more help.”

That was when Rey heard the clatter and a sickening crunch. Han almost literally pushed her towards the combatants. “Go, kid. He needs you!”

Rey turned around just in time to see Ren slice into the Nutcracker's back and arm. He nearly cut his arm right in two. The blue candy sword skittered at Ren's feet. “I knew you were no match for me, you warped piece of trash! I should have taken you out years ago. You're nothing like the great King Vader.”

“No...I had to...to save my friends.” The Nutcracker gasped and Rey screamed as Ren gave him one last slash that left his back in splinters. “I...Rey...”

“She's mine, now.” Ren reached for the crystal sword. “As is this. It rightfully belongs to my family. I'm the heir to Anakin of the Skywalker Fairies, not you!”

“NOOO!” Rey raised her hand. “You...you bully!” Gold light flitted around her as the sun came up...and the blue candy sword flew across the platform and into her hand. into her hand. The moment the sword reached her, she felt the light penetrate her. Something inside her changed. Long golden wings burst from her back. Her white and gold gown, with it's short, stiff lace petticoats and gold beaded bodice, looked almost exactly like her fairy ballerina doll. A white crystal tiara sparkled from her brown waves.

King Snoke squeaked angrily as people in the crowd gasped. “The Dewdrop Fairy! I thought she was a myth!”

Ben held out his hand. “Give me that sword, girl. You don't know how to handle it.”

Even her voice had a different timbre to it, one that was far more confidant than normal. “You'd be surprised, Fairy Prince. I'm not going to let you hurt this poor Nutcracker or the Sugar Plum Fairies anymore. They're my friends...my family. I love them. That's what's important.”

“No!” Ben hissed. “They hate me! Father doesn't understand me. Mother cares more about work than she does about her own child. They raised that...that piece of wood and ignored me! They couldn't even be there for me for Christmas! They were too busy fussing over the heir apparent! They're nothing like King Vader, the strongest mouse who ever lived!”

“Ben, you're selfish and bratty,” she insisted, “but you're also my bro...someone's son. You're in there somewhere.”

“I...I'm not! I'm not weak! I'm more than them! Snoke says so!” He let out a growl, a pair of purple and blue wings appearing behind them. “I'm not like them!”

“We're both like them.” She raised her sword. “And that's not a bad thing. Snoke's wrong, Benjamin. They love you.”

“No!” Ben lunged for her. “Snoke wouldn't lie!”

She parried. She had no idea what she was doing. She'd only watched Ben's fencing classes. Girls weren't allowed to take part. She must have absorbed more of those classes than she thought. Not only did she hold her own, she actually drove her brother back to the edge of the platform. Of course, it helped that she was in decent shape, and he had a bleeding shoulder.

“How could you believe him?” Rey snarled, smashing at him. “He's just some MOUSE! That's all! An old man...rodent! This is your FAMILY! That Nutcracker never hurt you! Your parents care about you!”

Ben fell backwards against the platform, Rey hovering above him. “Kill me, Dewdrop Fairy. You know you want to.”

Rey's rage was blinding. On one hand, she did want to. He'd killed others, tried to kill his father, may have killed the Nutcracker, and enslaved half the Candy Army. On the other...he was a person, or at least a fairy. And he looked and acted a lot like her brother. Her brother may have been a spoiled brat who drove her crazy, but he was her brother, and she loved him.

She raised the sword. Instead of hitting him with the blades, a beam of blue-gold light writhed around him. When it subsided, he now wore a black vest over a pale purple shirt and, quite frankly, looked a lot like a younger version of the Cavalier. His purple wings unfurled behind him, darker and sharper than his mother's.

“Principe Ben!” Poe's eyes narrowed. “It is you! Only someone who knows our land and customs would be able to attack as surely or swiftly. You are traitor, not Nutcracker!”

“You're a fairy now, Prince.” Rey ignored his glares. “Your wings will be out for good. You can no longer make them disappear or hide them. You can't hide who you are.”

“NO!” He shrieked as his wings lifted him into the air. “I'M NOT A FAIRY!”

Rey rushed over to the Nutcracker. Poe had already pushed his hat under his head for a pillow. Chewbacca held him, looking concerned. “Isn't there anything we can do?”

Poe shook his head. “Not unless you know a very good toy maker or wood carver. His wood, it is all broken.”

“You...how could you love him! He's nothing! He's just a Nutcracker!” Ben hovered over them, looking confused. People in the crowd were calling out the names of wood workers or doctors that they knew.

“No, Ben!” Rey took him in her arms. “He's not nothing! He's special. He's tried to save Han and me twice. He's good and funny and brave. I don't care what he looks like. He's my friend!”

“How very touching.” Rey barely heard the crowd murmur, or saw Snoke wander over, his guards holding a struggling Han and Leia. Both had cloaks thrown over their wings and mouse paws over their mouths. “Now, boy, it's time the so-called Dewdrop Fairy and the Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier joined their broken toy. Turn them all into statues. The bear and the Spanish soldier, too.”

“Do it!” Hux made his way over to Snoke, Phasma stumbling behind. She was eating the last of the taffy he'd been tied with. “Don't be a fool!”

“Ben,” Rey whispered, her eyes begging him to disregard Snoke's orders. “Please.”

Ben had just closed his eyes and raised his red candy wand when the sound of jingle bells broke through the murmurs of the early morning crowds. She heard the snorting of reindeer and a very distinct “ho-ho-ho” as people began to flee the platform.

Ok, now this was just getting weird. There was only one person anywhere who “ho-ho-hoed” like that. She immediately searched the sky, looking for a familiar white beard and bowl full of jelly. “Father Christmas?”

It could be no one but him. He was accompanied by Lady Kaydel and her entire snowflake troop. They danced around him as he landed. He had a red sugar molded sleigh with magnificent gold-foil runners and gold-leaf trim. A velvet sack the size of her room at home stuffed full of toys sat in the back.

Father Christmas was surprisingly familiar, too. He had twinkling blue eyes and a gentle, kind smile. His beard and hair were greyish yellow rather than white, and his stomach wasn't quite as round as the drawings and newspaper photos usually made him appear, but it was still him.

She almost dropped the Nutcracker. “Uncle Luke? You're Santa? Father Christmas?”

“Why yes, Rey. Have been for quite some time.” He put out his green staff, blocking Snoke's twisted metal one. “You're through, Snoke. Father Christmas won't sanction any action that could threaten this world and the people in it. The world needs Christmas magic.”

“Christmas!” Snoke glared at him. “What on Earth does the world need Christmas for?”

Uncle Luke gave him a sunny grin that Rey knew well. “It needs faith, King Snoke. Faith and hope. And above all things, it needs love.”

“Love,” the old mouse snarled, “is for fools.”

The older man in the red suit pushed him back towards his throne. “You'd be surprised.”

Rey wasn't listening to any of this. She was too busy cradling her Nutcracker. “I'm sorry,” she whispered to the wooden toy. “I couldn't save you. I wanted to.”

“It'll be all right.” He took her hand. “I love you, Rey.”

Rey looked at Han, then smiled at the wooden remains in her arms. “I know.” The male fairy smirked, nudging his wife playfully.

The moment her lips touched his cracked jaw, a brilliant gold light surrounded him. It became so intense, she and every creature and toy in the square had to jump back. It gave Han and Leia a chance to swipe their wands from their captors and turn them into ordinary, tiny-sized mice, then turn Jessika, Snape, and the Candy Army back into human creatures. They joined Poe and Chewbacca surrounding the lovers.

When the light subsided, a handsome young man in a red and white soldier's uniform lay in her arms. He had beautiful cocoa-colored skin and short, dark curls. As his eyes fluttered open, he reached up and touched her cheek. “Rey?” he whispered, his jaw working just fine now. “Rey? Did you...did I..”

Chewbacca was the first to see the change besides Rey. He almost literally tackled the youth, knocking him and Rey to the ground. “Whoa, Chewie!” The boy laughed. “I'm glad to see you, too.”

Poe helped both of them to their feet. “It is Prince Finnegan!” He got on his knees before him. “Our prince, who we thought was killed by Snoke.”

“No, I wasn't.” Finnegan...the Nutcracker...turned to Snoke, glaring at him. “I remember everything now, thanks to the Dewdrop Fairy. I fought Kylo Ren at the Siege of Gingerbread Castle. He turned me into a Nutcracker, then told me I was a member of the Mouse Army.”

Ren sneered at him. “I thought we could finally get some use out of you. My parents cared more about you than they ever did about me.”

“That's not true!” Leia pushed her way through the crowd, Han following behind. “Ben, we love you. We always have. It's just that we were Queen Viola and King Morgan's head advisers. They left their son in our care after he died.”

Father Christmas pointed his staff at Ren. “You destroyed the Gingerbread Academy in the Land of Fairies. I would have trained you to become good magicians and Father Christmas helpers. The Mouse Army didn't give me a chance. You chose to destroy everything we did, instead of listening and learning.”

“Learn what?” Snoke snorted. “That you hate our kind? That you wouldn't even give us a tiny bit of cheese? Your queen and king trapped my kind, instead of allowing us to learn magic, like those blasted fairies. All we wanted was a cheesecake, and the queen got angry when we ate hers.” Snoke shoved the wand into Father Christmas' big belly. “Magic belongs to those who know how to use it. It should go to those in power, not to weaklings like you and the Sugar Plum Cavalier.”

“Watch it, pal.” Han lunged for him. “I ain't the one who's surrounded by half the fairies in the Snowflake Meadows, about to be tossed in the frozen hoosegow.” Chewbacca had to grab his arm to keep him from grabbing Snoke and pummeling the whiskers off him.

Rey hadn't even noticed the snowflakes. They'd spread out, trapping mice in huge cages made of icicles. Kaydel made the ground under Hux and Phasma so slippery, they slid right into the largest cage.

The kindly old toy maker directed his staff to a statue in the square that depicted a mouse in a menacing black outfit. “My father found out how important love was, too. King Vader was the mouse name for Anakin of the Skywalking Fairies. Palpatine, the previous Mouse King, turned him into a half-mouse, half-machine when he fought with the previous Head Magician, Obi-Wan, and landed in a vat of hot taffy. He was a terrible king who killed and melted anyone who got in his way. He even cut off my hand when I tried to defy him, and turned Han into an ice sculpture. He repented in the end when Palpatine tried to use his dark magic to kill me, but if he hadn't died as well, he would have gone on trial for what he did.”

Rey gasped. “That's what I saw in my vision back at Maz's cottage. I saw you two dueling and you losing your hand!”

Leia removed the tiara from her head and waved her wand over it. A purple light spread around her hand, until she held a larger, more elaborate silver and crystal crown. “This is yours, King Finnegan. You're the true ruler of the Land of Sweets.”

Finnegan knelt to the ground as Leia placed the crown over his dark brow. The remaining crowd cheered with a force that could be heard well into the Dark Chocolate Mountains. Leia nodded and continued soberly “With this crown, I now declare you King of the Land of Sweets and ruler of all the candy and toy domains. May you rule wisely and well.”

“Thank you, Mistress Leia.” The Nutcracker...no, King Finnegan...stood before the crowd. “Citizens of the Land of Sweets,” he gave them a very familiar, wide grin, “I promise to do the best I can to govern as my parents did, with justice and kindness towards all.” He turned to Han and Leia, who were wrapped in each other's arms. “My first order is to appoint the Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier as my top advisers. I could do no less for their dedication in raising me all those years.”

Leia curtsied and Han bowed before him. “We would be honored,” Leia said, “to serve you, just as we did your parents.”

“They were good folks, kid.” Han gave him that lopsided grin. “You turned out pretty well yourself.”

He then turned to Poe. “Commendante Poe, you are now the head of the Candy Army. Officers Jessika and Snap, you've been promoted to the top generals and heads of Poe's staff.” They all grinned and hugged one another. The young man gave Chewbacca a big hug. “And Chewbacca and the stuffed bears will be the bodyguards to the royal court.”

He turned to Mother Maz, looking up...and up...at the diminutive woman perched on the cake dress. “Mrs. Maz, we're in your debt. If there's anything you want from the royal court, name it.”

Maz put up a tiny hand. “Just seeing all of you where you belong is enough for me. I've got my kids and my cottage. Woman doesn't need much else in this world.”

Kaydel and her girls bowed before him next. “We're ready to return the mice to the Land of the First Order. We have to make it snow on the tops of the Dark Chocolate Mountains anyway.”

Finnegan shook Kaydel's hand. “Good work, Lady Kaydel. You and your Snowflake Fairies are always welcome here.” Kaydel gave him a quick curtsy before returning to her girls. They were loading the cages into the same white sugar sleigh that brought Rey and the Nutcracker to Ribbon Candy Village.

The King's eyes rested on Ben. “Master Benjamin, I'm afraid if you remain here, you're going to have to stand trial. You tried to kill me, did kill others, and kidnapped Cavalier Han and the Dewdrop Fairy. By Land of Sweets law, you'll be lucky if you're not sentenced to life work at the salt and pepper mines.”

“Then I won't stay here.” Rey couldn't help the tears that pricked her eyes when Ben's purple wings fluttered and raised him into the air. “I don't belong here. I don't know what I am, really, but do know I feel more comfortable in the Land of the First Order.”

“Benjamin!” Rey tried to fly to him, but it was too late. He'd waved his red wand around him, making himself disappear in a deep purple light. The Snowflakes followed soon after. Hux and Phasma could be heard arguing with each other all the way across Gingerbread Town.

“Darn kid.” Han raised his wand. “Come back here, boy, and stand trial like you're supposed to!”

Uncle Luke took Han's arm gently. “Let him go, Han. He has to figure out his own way.”

Finnegan nodded. “We know who he is and what he is now. We'll be able to more easily recognize his trickery and make him stand trial the next time he comes to this land.” He took Rey's hand. “Thanks to the Dewdrop Fairy, our own Rey.” He took her hand. His hands were warm now, warm and strong and surprisingly rough for royalty. She could feel callouses on his palms.

“Do you...” she smiled “do you work with machines? My hands have callouses in the same places.”

“I used to.” He gave her that sweet, huge grin again, the one that made her turn mushy inside. “I want to work on machines with you forever. Please stay with us. Marry me. Become the Queen of the Land of Sweets.”

“We'd love it if you would stay,” Leia added. “There's something so...familiar about you.”

“I do love you, Finnegan.” Rey gave him a smaller kiss on the lips. “I love you more than anything.” She sighed and raised her wand. When the gold light subsided, she was just herself again, wearing her white lace nightgown. “But I also love my family and friends. I miss them. What would they do if I stayed here? Who would take care of Bee Bee? Besides,” she shrugged, “I'm not really a Dewdrop Fairy. I don't know where that came from. I'm just plain, ordinary Rey.”

“You'll never be that.” Finnegan gave her a hug. “You're a lot of things, Rey Stahlbaum, but one of them isn't ordinary!”

Uncle Luke tapped her shoulder. “I have to get going and deliver the rest of these gifts. I could give you a ride home.”

“Really?” Rey grinned. “I'll get to ride in Father Christmas' sleigh? Oh wow, all of my friends will be so jealous!”

Now that she was really leaving, Rey wasn't so sure she wanted to. Everyone wanted a hug. Chewbacca nearly lifted her right off her feet! “You be good now,” she said into the soft fur. “Keep an eye on Han and Leia for me.”

“We will miss you, Senorita.” Poe grinned. “Don't forget us!” Jessika handed a handkerchief to Snap, who sounded like a trumpet when he blew his nose.

Han squeezed her shoulder. “Thanks for coming after me, kid. I owe you one.”

“We're in your debt, dear.” Leia smiled at her. “You've done more for us than you could ever know.”

King Finnegan gave her another kiss. “Rey...”

She threw herself into his arms, crying openly now. “I'm going to miss you most of all.”

“I will, too.” He handed her a wooden nutcracker that looked a lot like her original one. “Here. A Christmas gift, from me to you.”

“Thank you.” She wrapped her arms tightly around her new gift before finally turning to Luke. “I'm ready to go now, Uncle.”

Finnegan helped her into the sleigh next to her uncle. Jessika tucked soft fur blankets around her legs. Uncle Luke grinned down at his teary-eyed niece. “Maybe it'll cheer you up to call the names of the reindeer and start them flying.”

She wiped her eyes. “May I, Uncle Luke? Just like in the poem?”

He put an arm around her. “Of course.”

“I never thought I'd get to do this!” She sat up straighter and called the names she'd heard every year when Father read the famous poem to them. “Now Dasher, now Dancer, now Prancer and Vixen! On Comet, on Cupid, on Donner and Blitzen!”

The moment she finished, the reindeer took off like a shot! She barely had the chance to wave good-bye to the people below her. Even as she turned around, they were barely become pinpricks on the increasingly snow-covered ground below her.

She leaned into her uncle. “You know,” she said with a yawn, “there was something...strange...about the Land of Sweets. It was like I knew everyone there. Finnegan, Han, the Sugar Plum Fairy...I've seen them before. But I couldn't have, could I?”

“You never know, my little ray of sunshine.” His voice was the last thing she heard before she fell asleep in his warm embrace, still clutching her beloved Nutcracker. “You never know.”

The Star Wars Nutcracker, Epilogue

“Rey!”

“Wha...whoa!” She forgot she was sleeping on the small couch in the ballroom. Bee Bee squeaked when her mistress rolled over her and ended up on the floor in a tangle of blankets. The Nutcracker clattered beside her.

“Rey?” Her mother came into the ballroom, now wearing a simpler green day gown. She hurried to her flailing daughter. “Are you all right, dear? What are you doing down here?”

“I thought I heard something last night, and I came down here to investigate.” Rey threw herself into her mother's arms. “I love you, Mummy. Don't leave us for that horrible Snoke! He just wants to use you so he can rule, like Grandfather did.”

Leia looked concerned. “What makes you think I'd leave you? I love my family. You mean the world to me, more than any political appointment ever could.” She sighed. “I'm going to fire Snoke right after the holidays. That man causes more trouble than he's worth. We'll find you both a better tutor.”

Benjamin came in, scratching his back. His clothes were rumpled, and he looked like he hadn't shaved yet. “What's all the noise? Can't a man get any sleep around here?”

“Ben!” Rey flew to him next. “I love you, too, even if you do drive me crazy. You're my brother, no matter how big you get. You're so much smarter and faster than I am. Snoke likes you more than he likes me. I guess...” she frowned. “I guess I was jealous.”

He gave her a pat on the shoulder. “I guess I was jealous of you too, kid. You're the baby of the family. You get all the attention from Mother and Father and Uncle Luke. Snoke's the only one who ever noticed what I did and praised the things I liked doing, instead of making me do stuff I didn't want to do.”

Hans followed his son, looking only slightly more presentable. “You're still grounded after today for breaking Rey's Nutcracker though, kid.”

“I deserve it.” Ben nodded. “I stayed awake half the night. Came to the conclusion that I was a jerk at the party and shouldn't have taken Rey's stuff.” Her lanky brother picked the Nutcracker off the floor and handed it her. “I'm no good with fixing things, sis, or I'd fix him myself.”

Hans shook his head. “I'm better with metal than with wood. That'll have to wait for your Uncle Luke's arrival.”

The moment Hans said those words, the door bell rang. “Good timing.” He chuckled. “There's your uncle now. How's breakfast coming along anyway, dear?”

“Maz should be ready in a few minutes.” She put her arm around Rey. “Why don't you and your father go greet your uncle while Ben and I talk to Maz and Christophe and get breakfast on the table? Then you really have to get dressed, so we can eat and go to church.”

Ben's grin looked a lot like their father's. “I can go for that. I get first dibs on the coddled eggs!”

“Only if I'm able to have the first sausage. Mrs. Maz makes them herself, with fresh spices from the market in town.” Leia put her arm around her son and lead him into the kitchen.

“Merry Christmas, sweetheart.” Hans gave her a big one-armed squeeze. “How did you end up down here?”

“It's a long story.” She sighed, looking at her Nutcracker. Bee Bee scampered behind her new mistress. “I had the craziest dream last night, Father. You and Mother and Ben were fairies, Maz was made of cake, Snoke was an evil mouse, and Uncle Luke was Father Christmas!”

Hans chuckled. “Sounds really wild. I especially like the part about Snoke being a mouse.”

“Oh Father, some parts were so scary!” She clutched her Nutcracker. “The mice kidnapped you and hurt my Nutcracker, but I was able to save you in the end. Some of it was beautiful, though.” She sighed. “It was just a dream. It wasn't real. No Land of Sweets. No Dewdrop Fairy. No Prince Finnegan.”

Even as she said those words, Hans swung open the front door. Not only did her Uncle grin on the other side, but a handsome figure with dark eyes and a wide smile stood next to him, clad in a warm red jacket.

“Finn!” She grinned. “I'm so glad you were able to come!”

“Mr. Drosselmeyer talked me into taking a day off.” They stepped in, shaking the snow from their coats. “I've never been to a big, fancy breakfast before.”

“I thought the boy deserved a decent meal. We usually just have bread, fruit, and sausage at my workshop.” Hans took Luke and Finn's coat. “We're too busy to really sit down and eat.”

“I think I could fix your Nutcracker.” Finn gently took it from her, moving his jaw with his thumb. “The screws cracked. I could replace those easily at the shop. Mr. Drosselmeyer told me what your brother did. Makes me wish I was a king or something, so I could pass some laws against hurting people's things like that.”

“We could do it together.” Rey took his hand. “Tomorrow, at Uncle Luke's shop.”

Finn's eager smile made her knees weak. “I think I'd like that.”

Luke put his arm around Hans. “Why don't we leave these two and go get us some breakfast?”

Hans shook his head. “She's still a kid, Luke. I just want to make sure...”

Luke gently directed him away. “She's not a child anymore, Hans. She can take care of herself.” He laughed, his blue eyes twinkling. “Let's go eat, before Benjamin devours all the biscuits.”

Rey finally put the Nutcracker aside on a table. “Finn, do you know how to dance?”

The young man blushed. “Uh, no. Not really. You don't learn how to dance in an orphanage.”

She took him in her hands. “Would you like me to teach you?”

His smile nearly blinded her. “I'd like that.”

And so, Rey taught Finn how to dance. She felt like she was back in her dream...or even better, because she knew this was real. They just kept dancing as the snow fell in the ball room windows, and Bee Bee mewed and pranced around them.

The End