Good afternoon, my readers! Another chapter is upon us. We get to see Crystal Park for the first time, but it won't be long before Russell has to confront his demons again. Remember that nightmare in Chapter 5? It's gonna come up again here, especially during a fight he has with Rudy. It's gonna get ugly really quickly.

Disclaimer: Don't own anything but my OC's. Nostalgia-Margo owns hers. Moving on...

Chapter 8: Attack on Crystal Park

Thankfully because of distance, the ride to Crystal Park did not take long at all for everyone.

Once they arrived, they could see that Carla was right. Crystal Park was a beautiful place. A huge lake with a bridge, snow-covered trees with crystal droplets. A playground for young kids, and an overall lovely landscape.

Russell, Carla, Marshall, and the guards walked through the area. From the looks of it, it wasn't affected by Queen Lulu's reign... at least for now. There was no telling when her fairies would conquer this place too...

"Crystal Park... my favorite place in the whole realm..." Carla sighed with a soft smile, "My Mom and Dad always brought me here when I was little..."

"It sure looks like fun," Russell commented as he watched a few kids run around. He then frowned when he thought about Bertha again. Without her, would they even have a chance at taking back the kingdom?

Would he be able to prevent his nightmare from happening?

"I can't believe Bertha just refused to help us..." He sighed to Carla, "She used to work with the former Nutcracker. Your kingdom has been taken over, but she won't help. Why? Because she's a coward?"

Bill put a hand on the small child's shoulder, "I wouldn't say she's a coward, Russell... I think maybe she's just lost her confidence. She's probably most likely still heartbroken after the loss of our previous Nutcracker. She seemed to hold him to a high standard when she talked about him... and maybe she feels that she can't work without his guidance..."

Russell looked up at Bill, "Oh. I guess I understand. But..."

"But we'll think of something. It isn't over yet..."

"What are we gonna do now? Am I ever gonna see my mom and dad again?" Little Marshall questioned.

Carla looked down at him with a smile, "Of course you will. We'll find a way to save them. As soon as we figure out how to bust everyone out of the dungeon so we can form that rebellion."

"We'll have to do it without getting caught..." Harold added, looking up to the sky, "Because we might be in the dungeon if these fairies have anything to say about it."

Fairies?

Everyone then looked up and paled. Flying towards them at a fast pace was a group of fairies. Pointing their swords straight ahead, "Duck!" Bill shouted as everyone hit the floor of the bridge. The fairies flew passed them surprisingly, and towards the playground, frightening the children playing.

"I should've known they'd be here," Russell muttered.

Bill drew his candy cane sword, "Well, we're not gonna let them destroy this beautiful park. Alright, soldiers! Let's get them!"

With that, Harold, Bucky, and Cheryl followed their leader as they charged towards the intruders. Russell remained on the bridge with Carla, Camille, and Marshall to protect them.

"I hope they can apprehend those nasty fairies," Camille said.

"Don't worry. They can hold their own." Carla assured,

"And at least you know who isn't here..." Russell added.

Immediately after she said that a couple of wicked sounding laughs filled the air.

"I just HAD to open my mouth..."

The four turned and stared in horror as floating down towards them was the evil villain. The Rat King and his Fairy Queen landed on the bridge, both smirking sadistically.

"Well, look who we just ran into, My King." The wicked Fairy Queen exclaimed with a grin.

"It's the princess, her advisor, and the wee little shrimp of a nutcracker." Rudy replied.

Russell glared at him, "Yep, still definitely Rudy." He stood forward to shield his friends away from the villains, as he held the sword up, "If you know what's good for you, you'll leave... now..." he warned.

Lulu laughed, "Such empty threats from a small kid..."

"How did you find us?" Carla asked.

"I would say that we were just in the neighborhood. But we just happened to have a spy in the Saint Nick Village who saw you... thanks, Elaine..."

"Figures..."

The queen then looked around the princess to see Marshall, who was clutching Camille's skirts for protection. Lulu smirked, "Look, Rudy. It's the little boy of the pregnant lady. Your name is Marshall, right?"

Marshall sniffled a little, "Where's my Mom and Dad?" he asked timidly.

"Don't worry, kid. They're safe... for now..." Rudy grinned.

"And you'll get to see them very soon!" Lulu added, "If you just come with us quietly, I promise we won't hurt your Momma... especially considering she's with child... heh, heh, heh... so come on over here, little boy..."

Marshall felt disturbed as he continued to hide behind Camille.

Russell then stood forward a little more to protect his friend, "Marshall doesn't wanna go with ya, you wicked old witch!" He pointed his sword at the Fairy Queen, "What did you do with his parents?"

Lulu smirked evilly, "Nothing... yet. And like I said, they're in no harm if the boy wants to pay a visit. His mom wants him oh so badly."

"We'll let him see his Mom... once we take you down!"

Carla also stood forward, "You should enjoy your reign while you can, Lourdes! Because before you know it, I WILL take back my kingdom! No matter what it takes." She declared.

"I'd like to see you try, Princess!" The queen taunted, "Only so I can see you fail... and then you'll become my personal slave!"

Russell turned to the girls, "You two better get Marshall to safety. I'll deal with the No Class Rat over here."

Rudy overheard the young boy's words and growled, "Alright, Smart Mouth! Now you're gonna get it!" He exclaimed as he removed his cape and crown, and his scepter morphed into a sword. The evil rat charged towards Russell.

"I see you're ready for that rematch! Alright, you're on!" Russell held his sword as it clashed with Rudy's. He silently prayed that it would work probably this time.

Camille picked Marshall up and held him in her arms as she and Carla tried to make their way off the bridge, only to be blocked by Lulu. "Where do ya think you're going?" She hissed as the two gasped in horror.

Carla reached into her dress pocket to pull out her own candy cane sword, "Stand back, Lourdes!"

"Hand over the boy!"

"Never!"

Lulu growled, "Enough of this! Guards, grab the boy... now!" She demanded.

The Sugar Plum Fairy Guards continued to swarm around in the air as one of them swooped down and snatched Marshall out of Camille's arms. The little boy was frightened, "Help! Help!"

"Oh my goodness!" Camille exclaimed as she tried to save him.

"As the princess of Winteria, I demand you let him go at once!" Carla ordered.

"Ha, ha, ha! Nice try, Princess, but they only listen to me, cause I'm the ruler of this land!" Lulu intervened.

As for Russell, he was trying his own against Rudy, but was having a bit more of a difficult time... and he didn't know why. He narrowly avoided a swipe to his side as he dodged the Rat King's blade.

"What was that?!" Rudy questioned.

"Me trying not to get sliced up!" Was Russell's response as their swords clashed once again. With enough strength, Rudy was able to push Russell to the floor of the bridge. The child groaned as he dropped the sword.

The evil rat laughed, "Looks like you're losing your touch, Nutcracker!"

"Hey, I haven't done this in a year! Give me a break!" Russell frowned.

He stood again and swung his sword again, but the villain was quick to dodge it. Rudy charged at the boy, who then tried to use the teleportation power. The sword only glowed a little bit, before the villain made a hard swipe, striking Russell on his left arm, and leaving a nasty cut behind.

"Ow man!" Russell exclaimed as he groans in pain, covering the wound on his arm with his hand.

"Now you've given up?"

The little boy glared at the Rat King, "No... 'cause I'm still right-handed!"

Their swords clashed again. " A soldier never gives up!" He added, "And I won't let you destroy Winteria or set it on fire!"

"And what makes you think you have what it takes to defeat me again?!" Rudy asked tauntingly, "You just got lucky last time."

"Because a wise soldier... and brother, once told me... just because I think I can't do it, doesn't mean I can't do it at all! And that definitely doesn't mean I can't do it again!"

Russell swung again, just barely missing Rudy's head. But the villain was once again quicker as he made another slash on Russell's left arm, sending the boy to his knees, "Ahhh!"

"Are you okay, Russell?" Carla called.

"Yeah... just a few scratches..."

As for the soldiers, they too were starting to feel the wrath of the fairies. Bucky was barely able to keep up with the. Bill was able to subdue a few, but he was starting to feel the wrath. One of them aimed their spear at Harold while he was distracted, ready to strike him. Cheryl was quick to notice.

"Harold look out!"

Before the tall boy could react, he was shoved out of the way, just as the fairy bashed Cheryl on the head.

"Cheryl!" Harold exclaimed as one of the fairies flew below and grabbed the unconscious soldier. He tried to get to her but felt another spear hit the back of his head, sending him into the snow.

Bucky tried to fight this group of fairies in his way, but they eventually apprehended him as well.

Bill, watching his crew fall, grew furious as he turned to face Queen Lulu, "You are a menace, Lourdes! We will stop you!"

"Just try, Captain, because sooner or later, this whole kingdom and the land will remain in my grasps!" She cackled, raising her wand and firing a beam at Bill, who blocked it with his sword.

Russell groaned as he suffered another hit by Rudy. The Rat King was enjoying the moment, but he then saw Carla standing close by, and smirked evilly. The small soldier tried to strike back but was shoved onto the railing of the bridge hard. Rudy started to make his way towards Carla, who gasped in fear.

"You're coming with me, Princess." He sneered as he scooped Carla around the waist.

"No! Not again! Let me go!" She exclaimed as she struggled.

Russell paled slightly when he saw that. Visions of his nightmare started to come back. But he quickly shook them away as he stood up again, "Leave her alone!" He charged towards Rudy, once again swinging his sword. Only for Rudy to blow his blow. It was a struggle between the two... but Russell was somehow losing.

And... when he was staring at Rudy... he could see the purple flames from his nightmare appear behind the villain. That shocked him so much as he nearly lost his composure.

Rudy grinned evilly, before using the handle of his sword to smash Russell on the head, sending the battered and bruised soldier to the ground with a sickening thud.

"NOOO!" Carla cried.

Russell groaned in pain as he dropped his sword, but before he could retrieve it, Lulu snatched it up, "I can't believe he was this easy to beat, Rudy." She smirked down at the boy, "Now that you have failed to defeat us, I'll be holding on to this sword. You and your friends will come back with us to the palace, where we'll decide your fate. And this whole land will continue to be ours FOREVER!"

The two villains cackled as the fairy army turned and flew away to head back to the kingdom.

Russell couldn't believe it as he was carried away... he had lost... but... how... he used the sword like before... he believed in himself... how did he lose...?

Back at the palace, the gang, who was now apprehended, sat before the evil rules on their knees, their hands tied behind their backs. Russell was placed in the middle, between Carla and Marshall. The guards were bruised up, as Camille leaned again Bill. Guards surrounded them. Stella was nearby.

The Rat King and Fairy Queen stood before the group, smirking at the pitiful sight.

"Look at this sorry sight, my king." Lulu turned to Rudy, "The princess... her 'brave' guards, her 'wise' advisor, the sweet little boy... and the 'amazing' Nutcracker... all sitting like a sad bunch in front of us..."

Rudy chuckled, "Yes. It's indeed a pitiful thing to behold. But we're not done just yet... we gotta sentence our prisoners..." He winked, before glaring at the guards, "You four... will be joining the rest of the royal finks in the dungeon. The girl next to the captain... she will be MY advisor from now on. The little boy will be part of our entertainment ring, but for now, he'll share the same cell as his father."

The guards frowned deeply. Camille gasped softly, and Marshall whimpered a little, although he was glad he would see his father again.

"Of course..." Lulu approached Carla, "And here will be my new personal slave..." She suddenly snatched the tiara out of Carla's head, dropped it to the floor, before stomping on it, shattering it to pieces. The princess's heart shattered along with it.

Rudy then approached Russell, who was glaring at him with hatred, "And as for this failure shrimp of a Nutcracker... for all the trouble he's called... it's time we do what should've been done a long time ago..." He chuckled as he pointed his scepter at the boy, "Tomorrow morning... he shall be executed in front of our subjects!"

Everyone gasped in complete shock terror.

...

Russell said nothing. He was too petrified to say anything. Executed? He was going to be executed?

"NO!" Carla cried, "You can't do that! I won't let you!"

Rudy smirked at her, "And how do you plan to stop me, princess? Besides, this will be a public occasion. Oh yes, meaning all of you will get the witness when I slowly and painfully destroy him."

"You mean like how you destroyed our previous Nutcracker?" Bill asked with scorn in his voice, "Only you're gonna do it with an audience..."

"Of course. It makes the victory more delicious that way."

"But for right now, he'll be placed into the dungeon until then." Lulu added, "OH STELLA!" She yelled.

"At your service, your wickedness." The faithful servant curtsied.

"Take this little brat to the deepest and darkest cell we have and lock him up tight." The queen commanded, before turning to the other fairies, "Throw the guards and the tiny boy into the regular dungeon

"Yes, ma'am."

Stella ushered Russell away, as he looked back at his friends. Bill and the guards looked on with sympathy, Camille looked concerned. But as for Carla...

She looked absolutely devastated...

And he didn't blame her... so was he. He could still see those flames burning up the place... killing his friends... their screams and the villains' wicked laughs echoed in his mind. As much as he didn't want to admit it... things looked bleak...

He failed his friends...

He failed the kingdom...

He failed Winteria as a whole...

But most of all... he failed himself...

Talk about a downer ending to a chapter.

The gang gets apprehended by the fairies, and it looks like Russell is gonna be sentenced to death. Poor guy is starting to think his dream will become reality. But I think you know by now that it's not over yet. Next chapter we'll see Russell in his cell, as he gets two visits. A bad visit, and then a good visit. Will he find another way to save the day? You'll have to find out in the next chapter. I'll see you guys, later. And as always, don't forget to review, please. Thank you.