Merry Christmas everyone!

Welcome to another Mermaid Melody holiday pic, this one based on a version of the Nutcracker story. This one isn't going to be the same as the ballet, but another version. This was one I remember from way back when I was in elementary school, a video my music teacher showed us.

But now, let us enjoy a holiday tale.

Disclaimer: Neither Mermaid Melody nor Nutcracker are owned by me. These are the property of their respective owners.

Mermaid Melody Nutcracker

Chapter 1: The Tale Told

The holiday season was in full swing at Pearl Piari once more. Everyone was decking the halls and preparing for the most joyous day of the year. Guests were flooding the rooms, eager to spend Christmas either with family or friends as well as enjoy a Japanese Christmas. Several guests were even from out of the country. Including a certain scientist who stopped by for a visit.

Seira was down in the main hall with Luchia, hanging garlands on the walls that had red bows tied into them, while Rina worked on the wreaths amidst the hanging. Nikora and Coco were in the kitchen working at a fever pitch to make lovely holiday treats, while Hanon worked with Hippo to wrap the gifts. Everyone was working their hardest for this Christmas season.

After putting the last bit of garland up, Seira and Luchia stepped down and wiped their foreheads at a job well done. Seira was ecstatic for this Christmas season, as was everyone else. She had noticed it in the weeks leading up to it, but everyone had other things on their minds besides getting ready for the holiday.

Subaru was the first instance, having arrived last week to surprise Karen.

Seira had caught Noelle talking to someone on the phone, though she never did say who it was she talked to.

But from the way Noellespoke, it was someone she was very close to.

Meru was not at Pearl Piari this year, which was a bit of a surprise to Seira. She didn't even learn where the girl was disappearing to for the holidays. She would miss her friend, but she hoped she was somewhere with people she could enjoy the holidays with.

At that moment, the doorbell rang. And when Hanon went to answer it, she was greeted with several boys proclaiming, "Merry Christmas!"

"You're all here!" Hanon shrieked with joy before welcoming them all.

And in from the snow outside came Kaito, Nagisa, Masahiro, Ryu, and even Hugo. They all dispersed to meet with their Mermaid Princesses, who all came to meet them in turn.

Luchia and Kaito came up and hugged ever so tightly, wishing each other a Merry Christmas.

Nagisa stuck by Hanon's side, though he didn't have a choice since she clung to his arm like it was a lifeline.

Rina met with Masahiro at a table, asking how things were with his family and catching up on events.

And Ryu surprised Coco with an early gift: a drawing he made of everyone, Mermaid Princesses and Sea Princes, after they had all been gathered.

Seeing her beloved friend and cherished lover, Seira called out to him and raced over.

Hugo caught her, spinning her around and laughing as he embraced her. They wished each other a Merry Christmas too and stopped spinning before moving in to kiss.

That is until Hanon called out, "Seira, don't get all greedy. You're not even under the mistletoe."

Having their moment ruined, Seira retorted, "You were going to do the same to Nagisa."

Pointing up, the Aqua Mermaid Princess replied, "But I am." Indeed there was some mistletoe hanging over the pair, and Hanon kissed Nagisa on the cheek while he was struggling to get his scarf and coat off.

Pouting a little, Hugo griped, "And she's the one getting on everyone else's case about being lovey-dovey."

Before this could go on, Nikora called, "Alright everyone, let's all gather by the tree. I believe a certain someone was going to share Christmas stories with us today."

Hugo smiled before heading over with Seira at his side.

The others soon gathered with them, the girls more eager than the guys. Noelle went up to get Karen and Subaru before they all came back down to join them.

"What story are you going to share this time, Hugo?" Luchia asked in earnest. "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer?"

"The Little Drummer Boy?" Coco inquired.

"The Christmas Carol?" Rina proposed. When she did, everyone gave her a weird look. "What?" she spoke in her defense. "It's a Christmas story too."

"Yeah, but that one's a bit scary," Subaru pointed out.

"And I don't think we'd like having nightmares about ghosts before Christmas," Kaito commented.

But Hugo intervened by answering, "This one's a bit different from the norm. You guys probably haven't heard of it. It's a tale that originates around mid-Europe, most versions taking place in Germany. It's called 'the Nutcracker'."

"The Nutcracker?" Coco questioned.

Putting a finger to her chin, Noelle mentioned, "I have heard of this story a bit. Not the whole thing, but I know it is a Christmas story."

"Hang on, what is a nutcracker anyway?" Nagisa asked.

Helping answer this, Hugo pulled out one from his bag. This nutcracker was adorned in red with a great, white beard and black boots. "This is a nutcracker," he relayed. "Normally, these are used to help crack nuts so they may be shared around a fire. But this story has a bit of a twist to it. Which I will share with you tonight." He then brought out a book, and Seira scooted closer so she could listen in. And thus, Hugo began weaving his tale.

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In a far away land, Christmas was well under way. The people decked the halls and roasted the Christmas feast for their families and friends. Shops provided gifts for many families, and there was jubilee in the air. Or there would be, except for a few.

"Hang on," Noelle interrupted, "this sounds different from the more common version of the story."

"It's a different version, but the story is the same," Hugo told her. With that cleared up, Hugo went on.

You see, there was an orphan girl named Clara. She worked as a cleaning worker for a wealthy family in her town. That day, the children received numerous Christmas presents and were playing all night. But Clara could only look in and watch from outside.

As she did, she saw some kids with a little nutcracker. They were feverishly cracking nuts with it, but they handled the poor thing with reckless abandon. So much so that, at one point, the nut would not crack. No matter how much they pushed and forced it to move, the nutcracker could not crack the nut. Fed up with it, they tossed it aside, giving no attention or care to the little toy.

Clara felt bad for the little nutcracker. It did not deserve such treatment. But none of the kids gave it the time of day. Before too long, it was time for bed. The kids all raced up to their rooms. It was only then Clara could go in. She went about cleaning the mess and dusting the floors so everything could be spotless for Christmas. Her heart was heavy, but she did not dawdle. She did not dare change her situation, being grateful for what she had.

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"That's not fair!" Luchia cried out, stopping Hugo again. "She shouldn't be so sad. That family should treat her to Christmas as much as anyone."

"Luchia, let him tell the story," Nikora admonished.

With the help given, Hugo cleared his throat and pressed on.

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While she cleaned, Clara came across the poor nutcracker. She bent down to pick it up and felt a connection to the little toy. Discarded and left alone, it was just like her. It was not its fault it couldn't do what it did at the time. It was a very good toy. She took the nut from its mouth and gave it a small peck on the cheek. When she did, something magical happened.

For just then, the nutcracker's eyes moved, and it smiled up at her.

Clara was shocked by this sudden occurrence, and even more when the nutcracker moved and stood on its very own.

It looked around at its surroundings, while Clara still could not understand what was happening. The little toy soon looked at its reflection in the window, and appeared horrified by its appearance.

Seeing its strife, Clara began to worry for the nutcracker. She approached and asked, "Little nutcracker, what is wrong?"

The nutcracker turned to her and said, "Dear miss, if you will heed me, I shall convey what troubles me.

"For you see, I was once a prince in a beautiful kingdom. Everyone came to celebrate my birthday one year. There were dukes and duchesses, counts and marquis. Many came to offer gifts and well wishes. But among them came a vile sort. She was the Rat Queen, who came to sully the festivities. For you see, a rat she may be, but powerful in magic she was. She planned to use her magic on my family and our friends, jealous and vengeful of our prestige. Oh, how she tormented and terrorized everyone gathered, and even her son joined in the glee. Young as I was, I did not like her ruining such a day, so I threw my scepter and struck off her crown.

"And oh what a thing to do. For with her crown gone, her magic seemed to turn against her. All its energy caused her to release a mighty sneeze. But before she did, she cast one last spell on the one who struck her. Upon me she cast, and my body quickly changed. I became short, still, and wooden, until I took the form of this nutcracker. But the Rat Queen perished, sneezing into dust. But her crown was quickly claimed by her son, now the Rat King. The king gave a warning to my mother and father, that he would return one day to exact his mother's revenge on me.

"That is why you see me as I am now," the nutcracker finished regaling his tale. "And I fear what may come as I am now. What of my family, my home. I dread what has become of them all."

Clara was moved by his plight. A dreadful fate to endure indeed. She only wished she knew how she could help him, seeing how he was in such a state.

But before she could say or do anything, a part of the floor gave way. And from that floor arose the vile creature himself: the Rat King. And along with him came his subjects, marching forward at their king's command. Clara became fearful, but the nutcracker stood firm. In his glee, the Rat King waved his hand, and magic began to manifest.

"The time has come, little nutcracker," the Rat King proclaimed. "Today I shall exact revenge against you for what you did to my mother. You will be powerless to stop me." He quickly spotted Clara, fearful of the rats that appeared.

But she grabbed a broom and started sweeping them away.

Seeing this nuisance to his pursuit, the Rat King cast his spell. And Clara soon found herself growing smaller and smaller, the broom much too large for her to hold now. Until—

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"I didn't know this was going to be like Alice in Wonderland," Hanon commented. Everyone gave her a harsh glare for interrupting Hugo again, which made her clam up.

So Hugo found his place and resumed.

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Until she was equal in height to the rats all around her. They pressed in on poor Clara, causing her to fear. She cowered close to the tree, frightful of what was to come.

To her relief, the nutcracker impeded their path. He bade, "Go Clara, flee! I will ward off these fiends."

Clara looked on as the nutcracker went against the rats, before climbing the tree as best as she could. But when she was only part way up, she looked back and saw a distressing sight.

For the nutcracker had been seized by the rats, and the Rat King soon approached.

He laughed and said, "Now to end this line once and for all." He raised a sword and prepared to strike.

Desperate to save the noble nutcracker, Clara took her shoe and tossed it at the Rat King.

By luck it struck his crown, knocking it off his head. The Rat King tried to catch it, but it slipped from his hands. And in a great crash, the crown shattered on the ground. And with it, magic was released. It reached the Rat King's nose, tickling it with dust. And with a mighty sneeze, the Rat King became the same dust. His subjects followed, each letting out a great sneeze before becoming nothing but dust on the floor. And even the last, though he tried to avoid his fate, fell victim to this curse, in the little rat hole he came from.

Clara was amazed that such a small act did so much. She looked down at the nutcracker, worried for his well-being. But then, an astonishing event took place before her very eyes.

The nutcracker was filled with light, so blinding she could hardly see. And when it faded, standing proud, was the prince. Now a young man and adorned as any prince should.

Clara came down and was breathless at the prince.

The prince retrieved the shoe she had used to save him and went over to her. He bent down and placed the shoe on her foot. As he did, the shoes changed from a servant's wear to ones of royalty.

The change went up her body, replacing her tattered dress with a princess's gown, her hat becoming a beautiful tiara.

Taking her hand in his, the prince conveyed, "Thank you Clara. You have saved my life. I wish to repay your bravery and kindness."

And thus the prince took his princess and they lived happily ever after.

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Closing the book, Hugo looked up to see almost all the girls gushing at that ending.

Seira was quite enthralled as well. The story sounded so wonderful. A prince turned into a nutcracker, saved by a girl who became his princess. It was beautiful. But she also noticed some things seemed similar to their lives. Though she figured that could only go so far.

"That was a wonderful story," Subaru spoke up. "I am not familiar with this version of the nutcracker, but it's a rather nice story to hear."

"It's so romantic," Coco said with a sigh. "She gets her prince and becomes a princess."

"It's a really awesome story regardless," Ryu pitched in. "Nice pick."

"Glad you all like it," Hugo returned humbly. "It's my personal favorite version of the story."

"It certainly has a happy ending," Masahiro commented. "The one I know of has a bit more of a strange ending where it was all a dream." This made the girls boo at such an idea, making him sweat a little at the reaction.

"Shall I tell another story?" Hugo inquired. And when everyone affirmed he could, he pulled out another book to tell the story of Santa Claus.

That night, when everyone had gone to bed, Seira was still up reading the Nutcracker story. What was nice about the book Hugo had brought was that it had little pictures along with the words. She couldn't read it, being that it was in English, but the pictures told her the story well enough after she heard it earlier. But she was drawn to the last picture where Clara became a princess and held hands with the prince. She loved looking at that picture, having it remind her of her love life with Hugo. Oh, how she wished she could share such a tale once again with him. These thoughts floated through her mind as her eyes grew heavy. She tried to fight it, but sleep soon won over and she collapsed with the bed on her stomach, the image of Clara and the prince ingrained in her mind.

It was then when dreams took hold.

To be continued…