MERRY CHRISTMAS!

…ok fine. It's not Christmas. (yet) But tis the season! This fanfic is a little reward for my fanfic readers and followers! Just a small Christmas present to show my appreciation! Theme? THE NUTCRACKER! A classic. I'll be using elements from several different stories but of course 91% of this is originality. We've got our classic characters and new surprises!

When do we start the awesomeness? RIGHT NOW!

When will this be finished? BEFORE CHRISTMAS SOMETIME!

Read, review and enjoy! Oh and grab some eggnog, hot chocolate or some sort of Christmas drink.

Disclaimer: I do not own Pokemon or ANY of the Nutcracker stories

Claimer: I do own changes to plot/characters

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From the darkened sky came snowflakes, descending to the snow covered grounds of Vientown. It was Christmas Eve, where hopes of children were alive with the wonder of what Santa might bring. Even the adults were cheerful and festive, hanging decorative lights all over town and caroling. There wasn't a single person in town who wasn't overjoyed by the holiday.

The Vientown Ranger Base, however, were the ones most excited. Their decorations were quite merry and their happy spirited fueled by eggnog & pudding. And there was a party with massive celebration. For not only was it Christmas Eve. But a ranger, known as Kate, managed to save an entire ship of pokemon from near death.

"To crashing a ship and destroying a school's pier!"

"CHEERS!"

Everyone in base seemed to have a wonderful time. The rangers, operator and mechanic were dancing away. Bertha had stopped by for a little bit to deliver milk pudding, as did Kate's family to congratulate her. Music was in the air and the fun didn't seem to ever stop.

"Hey rookie!" Crawford rubbed her hair, messing it up. "How's it feel to be a Christmas hero?"

"Pretty darn awesome!" Kate laughed.

"HEY WHO TOOK ALL THE COOKIES!" Luana raged near the snack bar.

"Ack!" Crawford sweatdropped. "Gotta go!"

He dashed off, causing Luana to give chase. Sooner or later they'd be kissing it up under the mistletoe. Kate never did understand romance nor did she want to. She instead played with some of the pokemon around the base and talked to the others.

"I see everyone's in fine spirits tonight."

From the entrance came a familiar figure.

"Professor Hastings!" Kate ran over to hug him. "You made it!"

Hastings laughed heartily. "Kate, it's been too long! You've grown quite a bit!"

Kate knew Professor Hastings from way back. Her family and his were close friends for years so naturally they'd know each other. Hastings was even made Kate's godfather, though he felt more like a grandfather figure to Kate. Though ranger'ing prevented Kate from seeing him often (whether it was his work or Kate's), she was still very close to the professor.

"Welcome to the party professor!" Barlow greeted.

"Ah Barlow. Good to see you." Hastings said. "How are things here in Vientown?"

The base leader and professor started to chat. Kate went for some hot chocolate and took a seat on a couch by the Christmas tree. Elaine had relaxed there, worn from the party and from all the preparations.

"Come on. Not gonna stay up for Santa?" Kate giggled.

Elaine grinned. "I'm way too old."

"Twenty one is not old!" Kate scolded in a teasing voice.

"Well it is to me." Elaine chuckled. "Besides, I'm saving my energy for Ollie."

"Ollie? Geez…what is with the romance?" Kate groaned. "It's so annoying!"

"You think that now but just you wait. You'll find a guy who you think is dynamite." Elaine smirked all-knowingly.

"Who's to say she hasn't already?"

Crawford and Luana came over to the couch.

"What the heck are you talking about?" Kate asked.

"What about that red haired guy you came to the internship with?" Crawford questioned. "You two were awfully close."

"KEITH? Heck no!" Kate gagged. "Not him!"

Keith Dazzle…wow did that name take Kate back. They met on Kate's first day of ranger school and he was a thorn in her side ever since. It wasn't that they hated each other. But their stubborn rivalry usually outshined that 'best friend' aspect. Keith was a hotheaded, arrogant jerk most of the time who never hesitated to ram heads with Kate. That stupid attitude always managed to tick her off.

"Hey isn't Keith the nephew of Professor Hastings?" Luana asked.

"Don't remind me." Kate muttered.

That little detail was something Keith was proud of. And it always irritated Kate. To think the man she was close to was the uncle of her competitive redhaired rival. Although…sometimes Kate did admit to missing Keith. Just a tiny bit. Things would be a lot more interesting with him picking fights left and right. How was he in Fiore? Living it up as a hot shot ranger?

After some more teasing, the three friends went off. Kate was left to pout by the Christmas tree. Though it didn't last long. The beauty of the Christmas tree wasn't anything to sulk at. Everyone did a great job putting it together and decorating. Kate smiled remembering how she helped put the staryu light at the top of the tree….as Crawford tangled himself in the lights.

"Having a nice time?"

Hastings took a seat next to his goddaughter. With a smile, he started to dig something from his pockets. Something was wrapped in light blue tissue paper.

"I have your Christmas present." Hastings set it in Kate's hands.

"Oh you didn't have to get me anything!" Kate told him.

"I insist. For my favorite goddaughter." Hastings said.

Kate carefully unwrapped the tissue paper, revealing the gift inside.

"A nutcracker…" Kate whispered.

There was a nutcracker about half a foot tall, if that. But rather than shaped like a human solider, it was a buizel shaped nutcracker. There was a scarlet red & navy blue sash with gold circles. Very detailed and crafted beautifully.

"I love it!" Kate hugged Hastings.

"I thought you might." Hastings smiled. "He may not look like it but inside that nutcracker beats the heart of a prince."

"A buizel? Prince?" Kate blinked.

"Ah, yes. There's a story that goes along with him." Hastings spoke. "You see, he was a strong lad with much confidence. After traveling across a distant land, the young man was ready to assume his position at the castle."

"But something stopped him." Kate guessed.

"Something did. An evil man with nothing but darkness in his heart." Hastings went on. "For his dream was to cast the land in darkness and become king. The only thing that could stop him was the castle and the brilliant minds that lie inside. So a curse was set upon the castle. But the young lad intervened, absorbing most of the curse and transforming him into a buizel. At that point, two other strong figures tried to fight only to have gone down the same way."

"So what did they transform into?" Kate asked.

"One was captain of the air brigade, causing her to change into a staraptor. The other was land based and held a certain 'spark' to him, which made him into a luxray." Hastings answered. "Even in his sorry state, the buizel attacked the enemy and tried to save the castle. Unfortunately, a second curse was cast which locked him into the state of a nutcracker. Then the castle itself was put under a spell as were the people and pokemon inside. Even as we speak, that curse is in effect."

"Wait, that's it? That's a sad ending…" Kate frowned.

"Maybe it's not over. For the evil man must be slain and the buizel must capture the heart of a fair princess to break the spell." Hastings told her. "Who knows? It could be you."

"ME? No, no!" Kate sweatdropped. "I'm nothing like a princess!"

Hastings, with a grin, got up from the couch and went to talk to the others at the party. Kate looked down at the nutcracker. There were a bowl of nuts on a side table so Kate grabbed one. She put it between the jaws of the buizel and used the tail to chomp down. Success! The nut was cracked! Kate tossed the nut into her mouth, delighted at the gift.

"So you're a prince." Kate whispered. "I wonder what you'd look like as a human…"

Naturally, the nutcracker was silent. Though the light made its eyes twinkle in the most peculiar way, just for a moment.

Throughout the party, Kate kept the buizel nutcracker close to her. She ate all sorts of candies, pudding and eggnog. There were high spirits as everyone danced and opened presents. With her friends and the laughter they shared, Kate felt this truly was a magical Christmas.

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Any of my usual followers who noticed, it may seem a bit familiar. Yes Keith is a buizel again and there's also the staraptor/luxray thing (kind of obvious). Be patient because this story and my other story (Beauty & The Buizel) don't have too much in common and they're totally different!

Next chapter? Comin right up!