Chapter 4

On a Night before Christmas, Family and Friends Celebrate the holiday in the Lindholm household. Torbjorn, his wife, his Children and his Friends are decorating the tree. The Christmas tree is at least 20 feet tall, all over on it's branches ornaments of different variety covered the tree, making it especially beautiful. The girls who helped decorate the tree were proud of themselves of this momentous occasion: Lena, Satya, Amelie and Angela.

Each girl would take a portion of the tree and decorate it with the help of the others of course. Amelie would always start from the bottom decorating it with snow flakes, and small white spiders as she thinks they're cute. Lena would decorate the midpoint above Amelie's, decorating it in small animals to Gingerbread men all over the tree, the sweets and cookies was Lena's favorite. just below the top of the tree, Satya would always proclaim perfection in her decorations, She always despised the other girls "imperfect" decorations for the tree, but she agreed to a compromise, on her space, she covers her area with perfectly beautiful snowflakes and small perfectly packaged box ornaments to be hanged, she tries to make the tree stay the right way, always being the last to move away from the tree before finishing. Finally at the top space of the Christmas tree, Angela would set up small angels around the borderline to Satya's and her personal favorite she would add tiny soldiers just before the top, she always considers the little soldiers to be heroes and defenders of the star, And finally She adds the Star that makes the tree look beautiful, though with the help of her friend Genji, She would be unable to reach the top.

The tree was decorated, despite the different styles each girl had used to cover the tree, it look quite impressive, but Perfect in each girl's eyes. As the girls looked in awe of their work, the grandfather clock began to ring in a loud bellowing chime, and the door flung open. Everyone at the house all looked toward a large and imposing figure covering the door way. Each person looked frightened or ready for a fight until a booming laughter echoed through the house, giving everyone ease to learn that the figure was no one but the friendliest giant, Reinhardt Wilhelm. Reinhardt enters the home and has brought the presents for everyone in the home. As he finished handing everyone their present he looked at the four girls and Genji and smiled warmly at them. He pulls out their gifts. Genji was given a new katana, while the girls were given life-like dolls, the girls enjoyed their presents very much so, however Reinhardt takes them away saying that they can keep them after tomorrow which puts a damper on the girl's spirits. Reinhardt couldn't stand to look at the girls sad but decides to give them something to enjoy their time with. He Reaches into his bag and pulls out a nutcracker in a shape of a soldier.

The three Girls looked at the nutcracker, Lena thought it looked a little old for such a gift, Amelie thought the gift didn't suit her style and Satya thought it looked crooked, old and very imperfect in her eyes. The girls left the toy behind to join the others in celebration of Christmas, all but one. Angela took the nutcracker toy and examined it, The toy looked to be carved into a Musket man, Holding his rifle and his sword sheathed on his side, the clothing looked to be from the 18th centenary style and he had short fuzzy white hair, though the most interesting thing was the toy's face was masked. Even though it looked old, slightly splintered and it's not much like most modern gifts, however she thought the soldier looked very interesting, She thought if it could come alive, she would love to hear the stories he would have. She hugs Reinhardt and thanked him for the gift and sat down on the couch to admire her new yet over neglected gift. Genji was examining his gift, saying how great it was, how perfect the craftsmanship was, he went along to test it out, he didn't unsheathe the blade, however as he swung it around a little, the sheathe slide right out and flew towards Angela's Nutcracker doll. The toy took the accidental blow and fell out of Angela's hands and on to the floor, cracking the doll's body, it's right arm and part of its face. Genji tried to Apologize for accidently breaking Angela's new gift. Even though she cried, she still forgiven him, despite his clumsiness.

Later that night, As all the guests were asleep deep into the night, Angela was still awake, thinking about the nutcracker doll, Reinhardt had promised that he would fix it in the morning. She couldn't stop thinking about the toy and soon went into the room where the Christmas tree still stood, the toys and gifts still under the tree, and on the couch slept Reinhardt, whos loud snore almost rumbled the house, But Angela's main prize was the Nutcracker which was sitting on the parlor table, still broken, but promised a full recovery by tomorrow morning. As she sneaks closer to the Doll, she quickly grabs it and examines it, the doll was still damaged making Angela feel sad for the little wooden doll, She decided to take it with her upstairs and sleep with it for the night before giving it to Reinhardt. As she was close to the stairs, the clock began to ring midnight, Suddenly she felt that the distance between her and the stairs began to grow farther and farther away until suddenly she looks around and she was the same size as the nutcracker.

Angela looked around at the environment around her, She knew this was the main room and the large glowing tower was the Christmas tree. She was both shocked and amazed that such a situation would occur to her. As Angela tries to make heads and tails of the whole situation until she hears skittering footsteps moving quickly. She turns around to see three rat like soldiers holding swords and shields, the three rats surround Angela before she could even make a run for it. As the rats moved in closer a shot rang out from behind. The first rat fell down, dropping it's weapons to the ground, the other rats looked at the sight of their fallen comrade then focused their sights on the Nutcracker, who had his rifle aimed at the rats, smoking from the barrel. Angela was shocked to witness such a rescue, as the nutcracker rushed forward, pulling out his blade from his sheathe. The rats tried to gang up on him only to be cut down by the veteran soldier. As the rats fell, Angela looked at the once immobile toy soldier, who looked at Angela for a moment then bowed politely to her, then sheathed his blade.

Angela was frightened at first of the nutcracker, only to feel relaxed as he offered her his hand, she goes to reach for his hand only for a dark and sinister mist to glide around their feet. The Nutcracker pulls his blade once more only to meet his long time nemesis: King Junkhog, Lord of Rats. The creature was a large brutish creature was twice as tall as the Nutcracker, his body was covered in grey fur mixed in with dark soot like patch marks over his body, the creature's tail was crooked and bent, the creature wore a cape and carried a large hook on one hand and a scepter in the other, but the most monstrous thing about the king, is that the crown he wore made of gold and jewels was shared with three heads, their hair was frizzled and burning and all three wore gas masks and their eyes were red as blood.

Angela was scared of the creature taking a few steps back, the Nutcracker stood in King Junkhog's way as he hobbles towards the girl, with one swing from his hand, he pushed the Nutcracker away and grabs Angela then retreats back to his kingdom, which was a castle made of trash and scrap around the home.

The Nutcracker regained his footing and looked forward at the kingdom with both anger and new resolve. He rushes over to the large Christmas tree, climbing to the top where all of Angela's ornaments are, grabbing a trumpeter's bugle and blowing hard, sounding the call for war against the Lord of Rats. Suddenly Lena's gingerbread men and Angela's soldier ornaments came to life and jumped down to the ground as fast as they could. all the small animals, cookies, and toys rushed towards the ground with the nutcracker followed behind, riding a gingerbread horse. Once everything was set up, the Gingerbread men & Toy army marched to war against the Lord of Rats and his kingdom.

King Junkhog tied Angela in rope and proclaimed her to be his queen. The Subjects of the Trash kingdom was made of both rats and trash beasts that were under the king's command. As they celebrated the King's triumph, a scout rushed to the halls and told of the Nutcracker's army marching to the kingdom, to the pleasure of Angela and the displeasure of the Lord of Rats. He barked orders to his men to prepare to fight back and defend their kingdom from the Goodie two shoes invaders. Much to the insanity of the kingdom, they did as they were told and prepped themselves for war.

As both armies covered the land of the rug, the Nutcracker offered the king a chance to give back Angela and surrender. However King Junkhog unleashed catapults of cans filled with expired cheese as his response that destroyed a small portion of the Nutcracker's army. With the first shots fired, the war began.

The Nutcracker ordered his men to seize the kingdom and rescue Angela from the evil lord's grasp. The gingerbread army charged forward in their mounts, holding their peppermint swords in hand as they charged to battle. The King sent his rat soldiers to forward the charge as his catapults kept raining garbage. The gingerbread men were bombarded with garbage, either being crushed or losing their limbs in the charge, however they showed no pain or signs of retreat as they closed the gap. The Nutcracker waved his sword and the toys pulled out their cannons. A line of cannons were ready and poised to strike at the large wave of rats coming from the battlefield, with a swift motion of the Nutcracker's sword, the toys lite up their cannons. Out from the cannon's barrel popped out red, white, and green confetti paper and a large circular object flying in the air and slowly descending quick on to the incoming rat chargers. The cannon ball crashed on to the ground, exploding small shrapnel of paper and wood that pierced the rats that were near the area, some of the unlucky ones were crushed by the sheer force of the cannon-balls that it was a raining fire and wood.

The remaining armies were closing the gap, trash and wood rained from the sky until the first clashed commenced. The gingerbread men and the rats crashed into each other like ocean waves. The rats were stabbed and beaten by the gingerbread men's weaponry, while the rats used their sharp tools to break the gingerbread men into small pieces and using their teeth to eat them alive. Heavy losses were accountable on both sides as the ground littered with the crumbs of fallen gingerbread men and rat bodies that were pierced by the Hard peppermint candy.

The Nutcracker has seen enough and ordered a charge with his toy army and charged into the fray. King Junkhog decided to take the fight into his own hands, he put on his armor and grabbed his weapons, ready to take the life of the Nutcracker once and for all, he set himself on-top of a a rat powered chariot and rode himself into the fight, followed by a large force of trash men to protect and fight against the toy army.

The two armies were once again bombarded with each others artillery, and once again clashed like waves of a storm. The Nutcracker swung his blade and slew as many trash soldiers and rats as he could, while king Junkhog bashed the gingerbread men with his scepter and eviscerating the toys with his hook. The battle raged on for hours, no side showing any signs of fatigue or rest. The King was bored of this fight until he saw the Nutcracker giving the injured time to fall back. This was his chance to eliminate the Nutcracker. He rode his rat powered chariot towards the Nutcracker, not caring that who he was running over, crushing them without pause. The Nutcracker slew another trash soldier until he saw the king swing his hook and pierced through his body. The Nutcracker stood there for a moment before falling to his knees, the hook was violently removed as his body began to look damaged like he was when Genji accidently broke him. One of the Trumpeters saw the kneeled nutcracker and called for a retreat, this caused the alliance to fall back, while the Nutcracker still kneeled to his attacker. The Lord of Rats laughed at the defeated soldier and rode back into his kingdom, declaring his victory over the Gingerbread men & Toy army and preparing Angela to be his queen. The Nutcracker was defeated, damaged and cracked, His hand still held the blade as he looked around the battlefield to see the carnage that was wrought by the Lord of Rats. He looked down and sighed at his defeat, knowing he can not win. However, he began to have memories of Angela holding him in her hands, admiring him, and even playing with him even if the other girls weren't interested. The Nutcracker lifted his head and regained his courage, he grabs a bugle from a fallen toy soldier and calls back for the remainder of his army to join him on a final assault on King Junkhog's kingdom.

As the Kingdom celebrated its apparent victory over the Gingerbread men & Toy army, The Lord of Rats was wearing a large white suite, while eating a large cake while Angela was sitting on a throne next to him, wearing a white dress only to be dirtied by the Trash soldier's filth. As the Celebration went on, the doors of the halls was smashed open and suddenly the Gingerbread and the Toy soldiers charged in with a surprise attack, fighting the rats and trash guards. The Nutcracker walks forward, looking damaged and cracked, ready to end the fight once and for all. King Junkhog was angered, he grabs his weapons and charged at the Nutcracker, deciding to end this foolish retaliation of his kingdom. The Nutcracker was no pushover even damaged and made his stand against the Lord of Rats. The two leaders clashed blades, Sparks flew around. King Junkhog roared in anger as he kept using his strength to overpower the Nutcracker. The Nutcracker looked over to the surprised Angela and used all his strength to push King Junkhog off of him and with one final thrust of his blade, he pierced the skin of the Lord of Rats, his heart beats quickly, his breath ragged as he stumbles backwards in pain. With One final breath he falls on his back, dead, his crown fallen from his head as it rolls to the ground. The remaining rat and trash guards saw their fallen leader and retreated into the hole on the wall, that was soon covered up by a heavy circular ornament, the war has ended and the Gingerbread men & Toy army let out a cry of victory and cheer that echoed throughout the Trash kingdom.

The wounded Nutcracker, frees Angela from her binds bowed his head. Angela smiled warmly at the brave soldier that she wanted to reward him, She leans herself forward onto the Nutcracker's face and kissed his cheek. The Nutcracker was touched by this gesture, that suddenly his body began to glow and crack. Those that were nearby witnessed the Nutcracker's glow and severe cracking soon found themselves at awe of what happened next. The Nutcracker's body kept cracking and snapping until finally a burst of light flashed, blinding everyone.

After a moment everyone took a look at the Nutcracker, revealing himself to be a young and charismatic prince. The Prince wore a blue noblemen's attire, his hair was short and honey colored, his face was uncovered, revealing his young face, and navy blue eyes.

Angela was both surprised and intrigued of how the Nutcracker was a prince to begin with. The Prince explained to her that he was cursed by King Junkhog's mother, the Queen of Rats. She wished to rule the land long ago, The current king at the time had a beautiful daughter that was cursed by the Queen of Rats to be a hideous monstrosity and the only thing that can cure her was a walnut, However the curse can only be cured if the walnut was cracked by the strongest man, while wearing no shoes. Many have tried but failed to save the princess, and when all hope was lost, The Prince used his own strength to break open the walnut and save the princess, The Queen of Rats was so angered that she cursed him and bit his leg without him looking, causing an accident to occur bumping into a row of columns and accidentally killing the Queen of Rats. Prince Junkhog soon became king and vowed revenge on him and those he cherished around him, this lasted for many years up until now.

Angela was surprised at how the Prince became a toy in the first place, but she didn't mind it as he was a hero to her. A couple of the toy soldiers found a music player and began to play some classical holiday music, a couple of the gingerbread men, opened some lights and pointed it at Angela and the Prince. The two gazed into each others eyes and smiled fondly at one another. They both took each others hands and began to dance to the music, ignoring everything around them as they continued to dance. The Prince asked if Angela would come home with him and be his princess. Even though the idea sounded perfect, she politely declined saying that it would be unfair for her family and the others to miss her like that. The Prince understood and kissed her forehead telling her to open her eyes.

Angela opened her eyes and lifted herself from the bed, realizing it was all just a dream. She rubbed her head a little, as the dream just felt so very real. After cleaning herself up, she heads downstairs to find everyone opening their presents and enjoying Christmas morning. The three girls were given their dolls and enjoyed every moment of it, Genji was outside with his brother playing ninja. Angela smiled warmly to find herself in such pleasant company... Though she admits, she did miss the prince even if it were only a dream. She looked at the table to find the nutcracker toy all fixed up by Reinhardt. She picks up the toy and hugs it tightly, feeling safe and secure with the toy in her hand. As the party continued, the door rang in the household. Angela was nearby and so decided to open it. As she opens the door she was in awe at who was at the door. Outside the door was Jack Morrison, a student in her class at school, who came with a box in his hands, he looked almost like the Prince only without the crown and noble attire. The resemblance was almost frightening, though she only smiled warmly and welcomed him to the house. Jack came to deliver some presents he was meaning to give to Torbjorn. Before he could leave Angela insisted that he stayed, Jack was a little unsure at first until Angela looked up and smiled fondly. Jack looked up to see a mistletoe hung on the wall above them, they both looked at each other and kissed passionately. Jack decided to stay a little longer, while Angela enjoyed not only her gift, but also spent time with her Hero.