It is time for another chapter of TLN 2. There is where Russell will lay out his plan, but some things get in the way, and so they have to make some decisions and begin a new journey. Let's see how it all plays out. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Chapter 4: A Helping Hand

As they resided in the underground hideout, Russell started to lay out his ideas on how to take back the kingdom. The princess, the guards, advisor, and handmaiden sat around the child as he drew out his plans.

"The best way to form a rebellion is to find those who rebel against the rulers." He explained, "Besides us, there are still the people... who have been captured, right?"

Bill nodded, "That's right. So we have to find a way to break the subjects out of the palace."

"Yeah, and with all of us working together, we can stand up against the villains."

Carla smiled, "This might be a good idea, Russell. You are so smart."

Russell blushed a little, "Well. I guess you can call me 'just class'. Now... we have to find a way to get into the palace."

"Since the bad guys know you're here, they've probably upped their security, so it may be a bit more difficult getting back in there." Bill pointed out, "But... what they probably don't know is that there are plenty of secret entrances that we guards have used. It's only a matter of how to sneak through without any of those fairies seeing us."

"And most of them are at the edge of the forest," Harold added, "Like the one you used earlier, Russell."

"Alright. So we have a plan set. Now we just have to execute it..."

Suddenly, there was noise outside. Sensing possible trouble, Russell grabbed his sword, "I'll check it out."

"Be careful..." Carla said softly.

With that, the boy climbed up through the tunnel of the hideout, and peeked out from behind the tree, while still keeping himself hidden. What he saw were a few fairies surrounding this horse-drawn sleigh. In the sleigh appeared a man, a woman, and a small child who looked very familiar. And from the looks of it, the woman appeared to be pregnant.

Russell frowned, "Is this another Franklin situation...?" he asked himself, "Yes it is... in fact, it's a repeat of their situation, minus the fairies..."

He watched as the fairies were confronting the family. "Ray, do something!" the woman cried to her husband.

"Just stay behind me, dear! Son, hold on to mom." He assured them as he stood to greet the fairies, "Hello. We're from out of town. Just a family trying to find a place. Do you know where we can receive any service? And a doctor as well. My wife is going to have a baby."

Two of the fairies exchanged glances before looking back at the man, "Well, our queen doesn't take too lightly to outsiders. However, we'll be more than willing to bring you to the palace so that her royal highness can assist you..."

Russell gripped his sword. He couldn't let that happen. If that family was taken to King Rudy and Queen Lulu, it was more likely that they would enslave or imprison them rather than help them. He had to do something. And so, he jumped out from his hiding spot and approached the fairies, "Hold it right there! I don't know why you're harassing this family, but you better leave them alone." He demanded, holding the sword up.

"Stay outta this, twerp." One of the fairies shot back, "We were just asking them questions before we take them to see the queen. They appear to be outsiders, and so are you!"

Russell glared at him, "It's true, I'm not from around here, but neither are you dudes. I can take it from here."

"As if you work for the queen."

"Trust me, I wouldn't work for her even if she paid me. But for you guys..."

With that, Russell jumped on the family's sleigh, concentrated hard, and with a bright flash, he, along with the family, was gone. By the time the fairies regained their vision, they noticed that the sleigh was empty with the exception of the horses still being there.

One of the guards spoke up, "I think that sword that kid had... was the Nutcracker's sword."

"Really?" Asked another, "We better alert the queen that it has been spotted..."

Back in the hideout, Russell appeared with the family "You guys should be safe here." he said.

"Russell, what a surprise..." Carla said as she stood.

"Yep. These guys were surrounded by some of those fairies, who were gonna take them to the palace. So I saved them in the knick of time."

Camille, seeing the pregnant mother, quickly stood from the chair she was sitting in and offered it to her, "Here, M'am. You can sit down here. You look exhausted."

"Much obliged." The mother smiled as her husband helped her sit in the comfy spot.

"Too bad we couldn't have been escorted to the castle." the man thought, "The fairies said that the queen would help us."

"Trust us, sir. That queen would've had you thrown inside the dungeon or something if you went there." assured Bill, "So Russell here did you a favor."

The father nodded, "I see. I suppose we got lucky. Oh, I guess I should introduce us. I'm Ray Franklin, and this is my wife, Marge, and our son, Marshall."

"Hi!" Little Marshall greeted. "Thanks for saving us back there. Those fairies came outta nowhere."

"We can't stay here for long though, The Queen might send out her fairies to come searching for us and they might find us here." said Russell, "Is there any other hideouts we can go to?"

"Well, we actually had to make this one. If we go to another location, it could take a while to create a whole new hideout."

"Ugh..."

"I'm a little confused. Why were they threatening?" Marge asked.

Carla walked up to the family and curtsied, "I'm so sorry for the inconvenience. I'm Princess Carla. My father is the true ruler of the Winter Kingdom. We were overthrown by the evil Sugar Plum Fairy Queen... and the evil Rat King. It has been this way for months. We're actually in hiding..."

Ray and Marge looked shocked, "Oh my goodness. I'm so sorry, your highness.." Marge expressed sympathy.

"We were coming here hoping to bring a new start to our lives." Ray explained, "We had no idea what has gone on."

"And now that we do know..." The mother looked down at her swollen belly, "Well..."

Russell smiled softly, "It's gonna be okay, M'am. We're gonna find a way to run those rulers outta town, and take the kingdom back. I have the Nutcracker sword. And with it, we can fight back."

"Is there anything we can do?" Marshall asked, "I wanna help save the kingdom... but I only have my drum." He showed everyone his drum, which was hanging off his shoulders by a strap.

Ray sighed, "Son, it sounds too dangerous."

"I'm sure I can do something."

Bill bent down to the smaller child's height, "Maybe he can help. We need all the help we can get. Russell here is planning a rebellion. We're gonna have everyone revolting against the Rat King and Fairy Queen."

"He may have a point, Ray." Marge said to her husband, "Maybe we can help."

"Well... alright. I'll help as well. But we'll need to get you a place to stay, where you and the baby can be safe." Ray replied to his wife, "If what these kids are saying about the King and Queen are true, I can't imagine what they might do to you..."

The woman took his hand in hers, "Don't worry. I'll be okay..." She assured him.

"Alright... what should we do...?"

"Well... we have to figure out a way to save the people who are imprisoned." Russell started to explain, "Some of us can probably sneak in-"

BANG!

Before the little boy could finish his sentence, a loud sound shook the hideout. And it wasn't long before voices were heard, "We have you surrounded! You are under arrest in the name of the Queen!"

"Oh great! They found us." Bill groaned.

BOOM!

An explosion once again rocked the room, as snow and debris began to fall. A swarm of fairies entered, brandishing swords at the group, "You're all coming with us. Surrender!" One of them ordered.

"How did you even find us?!" Russell asked.

"One of our men happened to discover an open tree bark and lead us down here..."

Oops.

Russell must have forgotten to close the entrance earlier.

Immediately, the guards surrounded the princess to protect her. Ray wrapped his arms around Marge and Marshall. Russell stood forward, holding his sword, "You're gonna have to do better than that. Cause we're outta here."

"Use the teleportation power," Bill said.

The child attempted to teleport everyone. But it the rush of it all... only a few of them actually disappeared. All who were left behind were Donald, Wendy, Mushmouth, Ray, and Marge.

"Marshall?" Marge was shocked when her child vanished from her arms. "Marshall, where are you?!"

"Marshall!" Ray yelled his son's name until...

"Uh oh, I-I think they left us..." Donald said as the six of them were already surrounded by The Queen's fairies.

"We got you now!" said one of the fairy guards.

Meanwhile...

Russell, Carla, the guards, Camille, and Marshall poofed in the middle of a snowy field, which appeared to be on a high cliff. They were still close enough to where they could see the kingdom in all its purple misery.

"That was close..." Harold said.

"Too close..." Bill added.

Marshall was looking around, "Mom? Dad? Where are you?"

"Wendy? Mushmouth? Donald?" Camille called, "They aren't here..."

Russell froze when he realized what happened, "Uh oh... when I teleported everyone... it must not have gotten everyone. The others are still in the hideout!"

Carla gasped, "Oh my gosh! No doubt the fairy guards got them, and are taken them to the palace as we speak."

"You mean my mom and dad are in trouble?" Marshall asked.

"Oh don't worry. We'll save them..." The princess assured the little boy.

"Yeah, but somehow, we gotta get in the palace without getting caught," Cheryl said staring at the sight of the kingdom.

"I'm hoping the sword won't mess things up this time." said Russell, "I don't get why it isn't working like it should. I know it's been a while since I used it, but it worked fine the first time."

Bill looked at the small boy, "I wish I had the answer. But I suppose the sword works in mysterious ways. Just take it one step at a time, and be patient, okay?"

"Okay..."

Carla sighed as she looked out over her beloved home, "I wish I could've done more to protect my people in my dad's absence. I've failed as their princess..."

"It's not your fault." Russell assured her, "You didn't know any of this would happen."

"Yes, but..."

"And it's gonna be fine. Cause we're gonna take it back..."

"... Right. But... before we do anything. I feel as if we should have a bit more backup. I think we better travel further away from the kingdom. To find that backup. We could use

Camille spoke, "I think I know someone who might be able to help us..." She pulled out a book that she had been reading earlier, flipped a few pages, and showed the group a picture of a girl dressed in red, "Her name is Bertha. She's a soldier who has helped the Winter Kingdom multiple times. Some say she has even worked with previous Nutcrackers. But she hasn't been seen in such a long time. It's rumored that she resides in the Saint Nicholas Village."

"Saint Nicholas Village?" Bucky asked.

"That's such a long way from here." Bill realized, "It'll take us at least a day or two to get there."

Russell stepped forward, " Allow me," He said as he lifted his sword. "C'mon, sword, don't mess up this, please work..." he whispered as the sword started to glow then everybody disappears...

... Only to reappear at that same spot.

"Um... let me try that again."

The sword began to glow again, the group disappears... and reappears again. Russell was starting to get frustrated and tries again... with the same results.

"Ugh! What is wrong with this sword?" He exclaimed, "I keep concentrating like the former Nutcracker told me to before, but it won't work. I don't get it."

Bill had another idea, "We can worry about the sword later, Russell. I have another possible way to get to Saint Nick Village." Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a small sleigh, "The guards and I built this in case of an emergency."

He pressed a button on the sleigh, before lying it down on the ground, "Stand back."

Everyone took a few steps back as the sleigh began to glow, before growing to a full-size vehicle. With two horses connected to it. Russell was amazed, "Wow..."

"May I present... the Emergency Royal Sleigh." Bill announced, "I can't guarantee that this baby will get us to the village quickly, but it'll definitely get us there."

"And thanks to some magic used to make it, it might get us there faster." Bucky added, "Only a few hours faster, but fast enough."

"As long as it gets us there," Russell replied.

Camille smiled, "Oh, Captain Bill. You're so smart. And that is so creative."

Bill blushed as Camille complimented him. "Uhh, thanks, it's the thought that counts." he chuckled.

"Well, what are we waiting for, Let's roll!" shouts Harold.

The crew all climbed aboard the sleigh. "Hang on, everybody." Bill prepares the sleigh for take-off, punching in a few commands. In an instant, the sleigh shot off as if it were a rocket blasting off into space.

Russell stared at his sword. He hoped that things would get better from this point forward. Yet again the fate of the kingdom rested on his shoulders... but this time... he wasn't alone.

Back at the palace...

"We have found outsiders, along with members of the royal guards and court, your highness."

"Bring them in..."

The fairies dropped the captives in front of King Rudy and Queen Lulu. Ray held on to Marge tightly, Wendy and Mush were trembling, while Donald shuddered under Rudy's glare.

"H-H-Hi, Rudy..." He waved nervously.

"Hi... Donald. So pleased to see you again." The Rat King greeted back to his formally, now-human henchman, without hiding the scorn in his voice.

"Welcome to our palace, peasants." Lulu greeted the five as she got out of her throne and approached the group. "Now, since you're here, we'd like to know about the little boy with The Nutcracker's Sword. Where is he? And the rest of his crew? I know you were with them."

"We don't know," Ray answered, holding his wife tighter as the queen approached.

"Theyb disappearedb." Mush added.

Lulu glared at them, "Right... they actually disappeared. How about we make this easy for us? You tell us where they are... and I won't subject you to the most painful punishments I can think of."

Marge spoke up fearfully, "Honest, your highness. We don't know. They just suddenly disappeared out of thin air."

"You mean that boy, the princess, and the other guards just... magically poofed away?" The queen questioned, "You expect me to believe all of that? You have one more chance to tell me or else..."

Donald timidly spoke up, "Please, your majesty. They just-"

"OH!"

Everyone then turned to Marge, who gasped in pain as she held her stomach.

"What in the name of...?" Rudy was startled.

"Marge, what's the matter?" Ray asked his wife.

"Ray, I... I think... it's time, I don't know if I'll be able to make it." she said shakily.

"Oh no, ish she gonna have the baby?!" Wendy asked.

Lulu was surprised. A baby?

"Please, your highness. Is there a doctor? My wife is expecting." Ray pleaded to the queen, hoping that she would offer some type of mercy.

The evil fairy thought for a moment, and smirked, "Indeed we do... STELLA!"

As if on cue, the fairy in waiting fluttered into the room, "Y-Yes, your majesty?" She asked.

"Take this woman to one of our rooms and make sure she's... comfortable. And men..." She turned to the others, "Take them to the dungeon. Make sure they're locked up tight."

Ray was horrified, "Wait! I need to be with my wife! Please don't separate us!"

All the king and queen did was smirk, "Well, life stinks like that." Rudy grinned.

"I'll be okay..." Marge said to her husband, "We'll see each other again..."

And so, Stella began to lead Marge out of the room carefully, while Donald, Mush, Wendy, and Ray were carried off by the other guards, "Rudy, what about me?" Donald asked, "We're friends, aren't we?"

That question was met with silence as Rudy turned away. Soon, the throne room was empty again, "That takes care of that." Rudy sighed, "What are we gonna do about that shrimp? With the Nutcracker's sword in hand, he has a chance to get one above us."

Lulu gave a sinister smile. "I wouldn't worry. All he has is those stupid guards and the princess. They're nothing compared to what we have. I have a feeling that little brat and his small army will come to save their friends, and when they do, it will be time... for battle! And have no worry about it, I'll make sure the both of us will win..." she smirked, placing a finger underneath Rudy's chin.

"Battle, huh?" He thought, "With you, my Queen, and your army of fairies, that little squirt won't stop me this time! He'll finally pay for being a goody goody!" He said as both of them began to laugh malevolently across the throne room.

Uh oh. So the journey begins for Russell and half of the team to seek the help of Bertha, while the other half gets captured by the villains, who have plans for Russell when he returns. We meet the Winterian versions of the Franklins from the FA Christmas special (and the mom is pregnant here as well). They'll play a bigger role down the line, especially Marshall, who's a little drummer boy (see what I did there).

Anyway, I hope you liked this chapter. Next chapter we'll catch up with Russell's group and what they'll encounter on their journey. Until then, I'll see you guys later. And as always, don't forget to review, please. Thank you!