Yes, I am aware it is still October! Need I remind you about last year? I'm getting a jump on this now (alongside a story for spooky season) in hopes that I get it done in actual December.

Wish me luck and enjoy.

...

The snow fell in soft flurries on Christmas eve. Not many monsters were out, most were at home spending time with their families. The only two out as the sun dipped behind the hills was a brother-sister duo hurrying home from their day of ice skating,

"Chase, wait up, you'll fall!"

seventeen-year-old Christina scurried fast as she could after her brother, impatiently blowing loose strands of her brown hair out of her face every few steps. Dressed in several warm layers and a plum-colored hooded cloak over her gown it wasn't easy to keep up with Chase who bounded ahead, mud-splattered on his knees, his scarf barely hanging on while his skates were slung over his shoulder.

The silent twelve-year-old stopped turning back to his sister with an impish grin, teal eyes aglow with mischief.

"Please? I'm trying not to tear my skirts"

Chase walked back to his sister, offered his arm, and took her skates with his other hand.

"Thank you"

A few streets later their home came into view. A stately manor gray stone, ebony trimmed windows on either side of the double doors each with its own holly wreath. The siblings were almost to the doors when they were flung open by their mother, Alissa already dressed for Christmas Eve dinner in a pine green high-waisted silk gown.

"Come in, come in my little ice cubes!" she hurried them inside, "Your grandmother will be here within the hour now hurry upstairs hot baths are waiting, Go, go"

…...

Christina's dress matched her mother's in every way but the color. Hers was a cranberry red a step outside her comfort colors for the Christmas celebrations not that she minded. With a final glance in her vanity mirror, she headed downstairs, finding Chase sitting beside the Christmas tree, fiddling hopelessly with his bow tie.

"You have to leave it on," she sat next to him, "You know that"

Chase pouted.

"You look nice, I promise"

"You both look vonderful," Radu glided into the room, Alissa beside him, "And just in time too"

The front doors blew open, snowflakes swirling into the foyer. Maleficent stepped inside shutting the door before shaking the snow from her robes, "I hope I'm not late," she opened her arms to her grandchildren, "I just had to stop and admire the Snow Queen's handiwork"

"Right on time just like always,Mother" Alissa smiled.

"We missed you!" Christina hugged her grandmother tightly.

"Not as much as I missed you two," Maleficent smiled.

Chase tugged his mother's arm, impatiently pointing at his bow tie.

"But, you look so handsome, Chase," Alissa insisted gently.

He crossed his arms with a pout.

"Come now, Alissa," Maleficent chuckled, "If Chase doesn't feel comfortable he shouldn't have to wear it"

"Okay, okay, you can-"

Chase already had the bow tie off happy to toss it aside, taking an exaggerated deep breath before hugging his mother.

"You're welcome"

"Shall ve move to the dining room?"

…...

After a filling dinner loaded with Christmas staples the family was seated around the tree which glowed with the light of dozens of candles. A pile of prettily wrapped presents stacked underneath. Packages which Chase was staring at. Not that the others noticed, too caught up in conversation.

"I would like to know what you've done with my granddaughter"

"I'm right here," Christina looked up from her sketchbook confused by the sudden declaration, weren't they just discussing the winter roses in her mother's garden, " Why are you asking such a strange question, Grandmother?"

"Simply because you, my little love bat aren't so little anymore I want to know what happened to that little girl and how she was replaced by such a beautiful young lady"

"Grandmother," Christina could feel her ears burning.

"I only speak the truth, Dear. Now, who wants their gifts?"

"Mother, it's only Christmas Eve," Alissa spoke up watching the elder fae stand from the couch, conjuring a sack of gifts with a wave of her hand.

"And that's supposed to stop me?"

"Well..."

"Don't be so stingy, it's just a bit of fun," Maleficent handed her hesitant daughter a gold-wrapped box.

"Alright, alright," Alissa watched Radu accept his silver box with a grateful nod.

Chase was given a red box, Christina a green one.

"What are you waiting for? Open them"

Chase wasted no time tearing through the box with gusto finding new soldiers for his collection.

"Open yours, Butterfly," Alissa softly prompted, "We'll wait"

With Chase watching over her shoulder, Christina slowly undid the ribbon before peeling back the paper. Lifting the lid of the box she found her gifts were wrapped with tissue paper.

"Wanna help me?" Christina handed the larger of the two things to Chase.

"Be careful," Maleficent warned, "It's fragile, Christina"

But she already had the tissue paper undone, "Oh, he's cute," Christina lifted the nutcracker from the paper with a smile.

Chase handed over the book with a skeptical look. Nutcrackers usually looked the same to him but the one his sister held looked like a werewolf in a soldier's uniform with a little metal sword hanging at his side.

"And that book is the story that goes with him"

"Vhat do you say to your grandmother?"

"Thank you, Grammy"

"Your very welcome"

…...

Hours later, the candles burned low, the grandfather clock chimed 9. Chase was carried off to bed by his father after being kissed goodnight by his mother and grandmother. Christina meanwhile, put the candles on the tree out after locking her brother's toys in their case.

"Butterfly"

"Mom? I thought you were going to bed," she stoked the fire in the hearth to keep the room warm.

"Look what I found"

"My ballerina! I thought she was lost"

"she was in a box in my wardrobe, I have no idea how she got there but I found her while dressing for dinner and forgot to tell you"

The ornament posed mid-leap and wore a blush dress with white shoes. The paint was a bit faded but the tiny gold locket around her neck still glimmered in the firelight as Alissa hung her from a topmost branch.

"She looks best up there"

"I agree," Alissa hugged Christina, "Now, flutter off to bed my little Butterfly or Santa won;t come"

"Good night," the teen gathered up her things, kissed her mother on the cheek, and headed upstairs.

Rather than go to bed, however, Christina changed into her warmest nightgown, set the nutcracker on her bedside table climbed into bed, and opened the book she'd been gifted eager to start reading. The red leather-bound book had no title, the covers of the book depicted candies of all sorts followed by swords and mice.

How strange, Christina thought beginning to read.

Once upon a time in The land Of Sweets.

The good king was tired. Wizened and gray from many years of ruling he sought to retire but he had a problem. There was no heir to replace him. Though many came to claim the throne they were all shallow, greedy persons who did not have the best interests of the land at heart.

"What am I to do?" the king moaned, rubbing his temples tiredly.

The advisor, a man with hair the color of snow and a beard down to his waist stepped forward with an idea.

"What about a challenge, Sire?"

"Challenge?"

"Yes, I have spoken to the court majcion," From his red robes the advisor pulled a single harmless nut, "This here is the only crackatooth nut left so named because it shatters the teeth of who ever try to open it"

"And what does this have to do with a challenge?"

"The majcon has enchanted it so that only one pure of heart, the true heir can finally open it"

The king clapped with joy, "Then we must have a celebration"

So under the next full moon couturiers from far and wide descended upon the marzipan castle for another chance to claim the throne. Lined up before the king they each took their chance, desperate for the crown and the king's magic scepter but one by one they shattered their teeth scurrying off in pain.

Until there was one lone werewolf named Shaggy.

"Come, try," the king encouraged.

"I'm like, not certain I should, Your majesty"

"Please? There's no harm in trying is there?"

"Um..."

"Don't mind them, come, try, don't make me order you"

"O-Okay"

Even though Christina could guess where this was going she couldn't help but bite her nails with anticipation. The illustrations in the book were so incredibly detailed they seemed to be moving, sucking her in along with the words.

With a gulp, Shaggy stepped forward, all eyes on him. The tension was so thick he could barely breathe.

"Go on, go on," the king encouraged.

Popping the nut into his mouth, he clenched it between his teeth

and opened it.

"You've done it!" the king spun around, "I FOUND MY HEIR TO THE THRONE, come, come, come there's much to do, a coronation to plan-"

"That mutt gets to be king?"

"Who dares mock the prince to be? Show yourself coward!"

From the crowd stepped a sneering red-eyed vampire with an oppressing aura despite how finely dressed he was, "I am going to be king"

"Nonsense"

"Watch me!"

Lightning struck the king turning him to stone which the vampire shattered with a single hit.

Grabbing the scepter from the ground the vampire turned on Shaggy, "Now for you"

"This is not going well," Christina muttered.

With her eyes glued to the book, she didn't notice the magic that snaked under the door, climbing up the bedside table to wake the nutcracker who soundlessly jumped down, hurrying downstairs where a battle was brewing.

"Run boy, run!" the advisor warned.

The guards advanced on the vampire who with a flick of the scepter turned them into mice. Shaggy tried to run only to find himself surrounded by mice.

"That was easy," the vampire struck everyone adding them to his hastily created army, all except the majion and the advisor

"What to do with you," the vampire twirled the scepter at the trembling Shaggy, "I know, how about THIS!"

There was a crash from downstairs causing Christina to drop her book in surprise, "What was that?" grabbing her wand she slid her slippers and went to investigate.

…...

"Where are you, you stupid hunk of wood? Come out, come out"

"Right here, Drew"

Drew turned in time to be kicked in the jaw by the nutcracker's descent.

"OOF, why when I'm done with you you'll be nothing but splinters"

"Like, why bother me now?" Shaggy grabbed his sword, blocking the blast from the scepter.

"You're searching for that blasted princess and I can't have any threats to my reign now can I?"

The stray bolts of magic shattered many Christmas ornaments, Drew pushing Shaggy closer and closer to the fireplace until his back was against the grate.

"I like, won't let you win," Shaggy forced his way back, knocking the scepter from Drew's hand.

"I already have"

This was the scene Christina found. Without a second thought, she threw her slipper at the tiny vampire.

"WHO THREW THAT?' Drew spun round and round.

"I did and I would thank you to leave my nutcracker alone" Christina snatched him up, the tip of her wand sharp enough at his current height to cut him down.

"Hm, But this is much more fun," he bit her hand so she dropped him, "Why don't you join us?"

"Watch out, Christina-"

But it was too late, Drew shrunk her down to their height where he unfortunately was quite a bit taller than her.

"Not good, not good, not good," she gripped her wand so tight she feared it would break.

"Not so fearless now, are you?" Drew grabbed her by the arm, "You are rather pretty though and you taste good I do need a princess"

"LEAVE HER ALONE!" Shaggy forced himself between them, blocking Drew, "Your fight is with me!"

Mice streamed into the room, standing behind Drew, waiting for their orders.

"Dismember the nutcracker and bring me the girl unharmed"

"You should run," Shaggy hissed.

"I can do one better," Christina took to the sky.

"Don't hurt the mice, they're just-"

"Cursed," Christina finished deflecting the flurry of arrows launched to bring her down, ducking behind the tree she watched Drew knock the sword from Shaggy's hand. One particularly burly mouse kicked his feet out from under him, another sending him skidding across the floor a third readied his sword but Shaggy rolled out of the way in time, scaled the garland hung over the fireplace while grabbing the only thing he could find to defend himself, a candy cane.

"Run, run like the coward you are" Drew flew after him.

"I'm not the coward!" Shaggy knocked the bat over the head, "You are!"

Drew was sent spiraling to the floor only managing to open his wings at the very last moment. Deciding to change target he flew after Christina, who'd been putting mouse after mouse to sleep, watching them slump to the floor. She saw him coming rather than trembling as he expected she zapped him with her wand, again and again, and again. He had trouble dodging thanks to the bump on his head, hardly managing to land on the branch where Christina was.

"Feisty aren't you? I like feisty"

"Trust me," you don't want to see me angry," Christina warned, wand glowing brightly, "It isn't a pretty sight"

"Oh, I think I'd like that," Drew reached for her...

Only to plummet towards the floor, a stream of violet flames following, burning him crispy.

"RETREAT!" he coughed.

The mice who'd been battling Shaggy dropped their weapons, rushing to their fallen ruler. The entire army scurried back through the mouse hole carrying drew who whined and whimpered like a child. It was only after the last had left that Christina dared a descent from the tree.

"Are you alright?" Shaggy rushed over, only to stumble and fall a few steps away.

"I could ask you the same thing," Christina offered her hand.

"But like, I asked you first"

"I'm okay given the circumstances but where did they come from?"

"That like must be an entrance to the land of sweets," Shaggy regarded the mouse hole curiously, "Come on"

"In there?"

"Otherwise you'll be-"

The ground began to shake. Shaggy raised his sword prepared to defend them both but it was only Chase who did a double take upon seeing them.

"Now you're a big brother, Chase,"

He grabbed Christina from the ground regarding her curiously.

"It's a long story"

Shaggy watched this exchange curiously. They understood each other well even without words.

"No, don't wake Mom or Grandmother they'd have a fit," Christina was saying, "I don't want to worry them"

"I'll keep her safe," Shaggy spoke up, "The only one able to like, undo the spell is somewhere in the Land Of Sweets, Christina will like, have to come with me"

"But how will I get back?"

Chase snapped the fingers of his free hand, setting his sister down he bounded over to the tree where he gently removed the locket from the ballerina ornament.

"What are you doing?"

Handing the locket to Christina he found his ink and paper.

Open it when the spell's broken and you'll return home your normal size.

"Thank you, Chase, I'll be home as fast as I can"

"I promise, I'll keep her safe"

Chase pinned him with a you better look.

"Are you ready, Christina?"

"Y-Yes"

…...

Okay, clearly spooky season's story didn't happen but there's always next year. As for this take on the Nutcracker story, it blends elements from all my favorite adaptions but it borrows very heavily from the Barbie version I was very much a barbie girl growing up and still regularly watch the movies.

Review!