Hey guys! I'm back with another chapter of TLN 2. We continue to follow Russell and his friends on their journey to find and recruit Bertha, who may be the key in helping them save Winteria. But it's not gonna be an easy trip, that's for sure. Let's see what happens.

Disclaimer: I own nothing but my OC's. Nostalgia-Margo owns hers.

Chapter 5: Sleigh Ride, Dreams, Stars

Russell was looking at the sword in his hands as he, the princess, the guards, and Marshall rode in the Royal Sleigh. He thought back to when he first found himself in the Winter Kingdom the previous year. And now here he was again, to save the kingdom again. The job looked like it was going to be harder than last time, but he was glad to not have to do this on his own.

"Is it true that you saved the princess before?"

He then turned to Marshall, who had asked that question. Russell smiled, "Yeah, it's true."

"Me and my mom and dad aren't from around here. So I don't know the whole story..."

Russell chuckled. If he wanted the full story, then he'll get the full story.

"It all started when I was knocked out somehow in school, when I woke up, I found myself in The Freezing Forest and there I met Princess Carla, who came to my aid and introduced me to the royal guards and all the living toys. But that's when I met Rudy the Rat King and his rodent henchmen. The princess got kidnapped, so I had to go on a journey to rescue her. But in order to do that, I had to find a magic sword that would turn me into... the Nutcracker. I found a cave, The spirit of the original Nutcracker, who died from being slain by the Rat King. Once I picked up that sword, it started to glow and as I came across The Rat King's Palace, I transformed into the nutcracker, and saved the day."

"Wow!" Marshall was amazed, "What happened to Rudy and his rats?"

"As for Rudy, he was lucky I didn't slay him but as he begged for forgiveness, he soon turned back into the human prince he used to be, as well as the rat henchmen. I was rewarded as the hero of the land." Russell finished.

"So why didn't you stay the Nutcracker?" the smaller boy asked.

"I had to go home. I wish I could've stayed, but you know how it is. But now I'm back to save the Kingdom again. From the Rat King and the Sugar Plum Fairy Queen. And when we do, we'll save your parents too. Your Mom's gonna have a baby, right?"

"Yes!"

"How much further, Captain Bill?" Camille questioned.

"I think we're getting there." Bill mentioned as the sleigh kept dashing through the snow, "It might be some more hours, but I can tell when we'll get close."

Camille smiled at him, which Russell noticed. He wouldn't be surprised if they liked each other. After all, his brother liked her already back home. The small boy then heard Carla sigh beside him. He looked up at her in concern, "You okay, Princess?"

"Well, yes and no, I just wished things could have turned out differently if that evil Sugar Plum Fairy Queen wasn't around... but I'm so happy that you came back once again to help us, Russell." she placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Have no fear, Princess. I promise to you and the rest that we'll finish this battle for good." He assured her, "Hopefully with no fatalities."

"Thanks. I just hope this Bertha person will be able to help us too. We need all hands on deck to fend off the Sugar Plum Fairies after all."

"And when we come back with Bertha, we'll break out all the prisoners at the palace, and together we'll all stand up to the villains."

As Bill continued to pilot the sleigh, he saw something up ahead. A closer look made him gasp, "Heads up! Winter doves approaching fast!"

Winter doves?

"What are winter doves?" Russell asked in confusion.

Before the captain could answer that question, millions of white blurs engulfed the sleigh. Everyone ducked, but Russell took a peek and saw the birds flying over, around, and through them.

"Winter doves are birds who stick together..." Carla explained, "The reason they're called 'Winter' is that their feathers are as white as snow. They're harmless, but you gotta be careful when they flock in groups. They like to move, no matter what's in their way. They won't stop."

"I can see that..."

Because of the doves, the horses pulling the sleigh had a hard time seeing in front of them, as they began to freak out, slowing the sleigh in the process. Bill attempted to calm them, "Whoa, Clara! Calm down, girl. Settle, Fritz. It's okay!"

"Man, how many are there?" Harold asked.

"I don't know. But I ain't gonna let these birds delay us."

With that, the captain punched in some more commands, as in an instant, a force field surrounded the sleigh and horses, along with providing a path for Clara and Fritz to see. Within seconds, they were on the move again, riding through the Winter doves, until the last of the flock had flown by.

"That was close..." Cheryl spoke up.

"At least they didn't peck at us..." Bucky added.

"That's one of the many things you see here in Winteria, Russell." Carla mentioned.

Russell raised an eyebrow, "Winteria?"

"Oh, that's the name of our realm... I didn't mention that before?"

"Um... no..."

"Oops..."

The horses trotted along with the snow, giving the sleigh more power, "So how much more time do we have left, Captain?" Bucky asked.

Bill looked at the digital map installed, and pointed to their destination, "Although the Winter doves slowed us down a bit... we should still make it to Saint Nicholas Village... by at least midday tomorrow."

Tomorrow?!

"Just how far is this place?" Russell asked.

"It's on the other side of the Realm. So we don't get too many visitors from there on vacation. Relax, we'll make it..."

The small boy frowned down at the sword again. If the sword was working as it should, then he could just teleport everyone to the village. But, he didn't want to jinx anything by attempting it. At this point, things would have to be done the old fashion way, much to his dismay.

Just my luck... He thought bitterly, I get roped into another royal crisis, and the sword refuses to work for me. Oh well, maybe it just needs a recharge or something.

He looked up at the sky. Despite the purple filter, he could tell it was getting darker. Perhaps now was the perfect time to get some rest. So he slumped back a little and closed his eyes, drifting off to sleep...

Russell found himself wandering a long hall...

At first, he was unsure of where he was, but he quickly recognized it as the palace. Everything looked normal as if the Sugar Plum Fairy Queen never invaded them. But if this was so, then maybe Carla was back home, safe and sound. The little boy continued to make his way down the long hallway for what felt like hours until he reached a door... that led to the throne room.

"Carla!" Russell called as he opened the door. Sure enough, this was the throne room, and sitting upon her throne, was Carla.

The princess smiled as she waved at her friend, "Russell! Hi!"

"I'm so glad to see you!"

"The feeling is mutual, my friend!"

Russell began to run towards her to give her a big hug. Carla stood herself to open her arms for him. But as the two got closer to one another... and just before Russell could run up the steps...

BOOM!

A lightning bolt struck down between them, causing an explosion that blew them back in opposite directions. Russell fell to the ground, seeing the purple flames rise. Despite how thick it was, he could still see Carla through them. And he could tell she was just as shocked as he was.

Suddenly, a burst of dark laughter filled the area. Russell gulped, he recognized it too well.

A figure rose up from the flames. Her wings fluttering, and her smile ever so wicked. It was Queen Lourdes, and she sneered down at Russell, "Hello, kid. You're just in time."

"In time? For what?" The boy questioned.

"THIS!"

She then turned towards a terrified Carla. Raising her wand, she shot a dark purple beam at the princess, before she could get a chance to scream out Russell's name. Another explosion erupted along with a flash of light. Russell shielded his eyes from the sight until the lights died down. He looked forward again and gasped.

Carla... was gone. She was nowhere in sight... the only thing left... was her tiara, which was burned and shattered.

Is she...?

Did Lulu...?

"No... no! NO! It can't be!" The small boy shook his head.

Lulu laughed, "Look and weep, you brat! Your sweet princess is no more! Winteria's got a new ruler now!"

This was all too much for Russell to handle. The flames had started to expand, and he knew he had to get out of here before he burned alive. Wiping the tears that threatened to fall, he got up and ran right out of the room, the evil fairy's laughter echoing around him.

He had to get help. He had to get to safety. He had to do SOMETHING.

Without the Nutcracker's sword, he was an easy target. He had to find that sword...

Spiriting down the hall, Russell tried to find the royal treasury. The sword had to be there... right?

But once he reached another room, this being the ballroom... Russell was met with another gruesome sight

There was more purple fire around the place. But what the boy focused on was what horrified him. The guards... the maids... the servants... all of them were lying on the floor... motionless... bruised... bloody...

They were all dead. The fairies had killed him. Russell looked closer, and he could even see the Franklin family among the massacre. And when he saw Mrs. Franklin.. well, was all he needed to see before he started to back away, one hand over his mouth to prevent vomiting, and the other over his chest to steady his fast-beating heart. This was beyond horrific at this point.

"I... how could this happen...?" He asked himself, "How did it come to this...?"

Suddenly, Russell felt his back hit something... or rather someone.

"I'll tell you how it happened... it was because you failed..."

Russell's blood went cold at hearing that voice. He quickly turned around and looked up at King Rudy, who was smirking down at him, "You tried to save your friends... but you were too overwhelmed with our forces... so you failed... and now look at what you've caused..." He chuckled.

"No... no, this isn't my fault!" The child nearly stammered.

"Oh trust me, shrimp. It is indeed your fault..."

Russell growled at the evil rat, "I'll stop you and your fairy queen! I'll get the Nutcracker's sword and avenge everyone!" He declared.

Rudy's smirk got wider, "Oh... you mean this sword...?" He reached behind and held up the sword... or what was left of the sword. The blade was completely melted off, and all that was left was the golden handle. Russell paled in horror. The palace was on fire. The princess and her people were dead. And now the Nutcracker's sword was useless.

"Oh..." The king cooed tauntingly, "Don't fret, my friend. All is not lost..."

"What do you mean...?" Russell asked.

"I mean... you'll get to at least see your friends again..." Rudy held up his scepter as it glowed, "Because you're about to join them in OBLIVION!"

Before the small boy could even react, the villain fired a blast straight at him.

Russell awoke with a scream. He sat up quickly, breathing heavily, which caught Carla's attention, "Russell... is something wrong...?" She asked softly with a yawn.

"Oh... I was just... having a dream..." Was his response.

"You wanna talk about it?"

"... Not really..."

Russell looked up and saw that it was completely nighttime. The guards, Camille, and Marshall were all asleep, which confused Russell about the guards sleeping and the horses still going until Carla explained, "Don't worry. Bill has the sleigh and horses on auto-pilot. We're gonna be fine..."

"Oh..."

Looking up at the sky again, Russell could still see the purpleness over it. But despite that, stars still filled the sky, shining bright and making constellations, "Y'know... even with the purple filter, the night still looks nice..." He whispered to the princess, who smiled.

"It does..." She whispered back, "One of my favorite things to do is look up at the stars every night. Especially during the holidays, because that's when the stars are very bright. Right now... it's hard to tell... but one of these stars is the Winterian Star, the brightest of them all. There are stories about that star bringing miracles... but no one has ever witnessed that ever happening."

Russell nodded, "If that's true, then maybe this star can help us save the kingdom."

"It just might..."

The two heard a yawn and looked over at little Marshall, who was sound asleep. They both felt terrible for the boy. He and his family were just people trying to move into a new place, and not only do they end up in the middle of the Fairypocalypse but now Marshall's parents were captured by the bad guys, all while his mom was pregnant.

"Poor little guy..." Carla frowned.

"I know..." Russell sighed, "He might not show it, but I can tell he's worried about his folks. You don't think the Rat King and Sugar Plum Queen would hurt his mom since she's... y'know, having a baby... do you...?"

The princess shrugged, "I honestly don't know, Russell. Those two may be a couple of cruel tyrants... but I honestly have no idea what they have planned for Mrs. Franklin. And I don't know what they plan to do if... when she has the baby..."

"Well, hopefully, we won't have to find out once we find Bertha. And we'll take back the kingdom, and save everyone."

"Right... but let's get some sleep..."

With that, Carla pulled up a blanket over herself, Russell, Camille, and Marshall. Russell grasped the blanket, finding it soft, comfortable, and above all, warm. Perfect for a wintery night. The small boy placed the Nutcracker sword beside him. He had a feeling he'd be needing it later. Hopefully... just hopefully things would get better for everyone. He was the one everyone was counting on... and he hated to let them down, especially Carla...

So he hoped that things would get better in the next several hours...

After all... tomorrow is a new day for new opportunities...

So we see a little bit of the sleigh ride for the group. Russell has an insane nightmare, and we learn about this Winterian Star that Carla talks about. Keep the nightmare and star in mind, as they'll become important later in the story. Next chapter, we'll check up on Marshall's parents, as well as Rudy and Lulu's evil plans, and continue with the journey and arrival to Saint Nicolas Village. This will start to pick up for everyone. But anyway, I hope you enjoyed this chapter. I'll see you guys later. And as always, don't forget to review, please. Thank you.

PS: Anybody catch the Nutcracker Ballet reference with the horses? ;)