There are kingdoms not from this world, but from other worlds entirely. How one might get to a kingdom like Parenthia might be through doorways made by powerful sorcerers, like the Stahlbaums. Or it might be through finding the cracks between the worlds, if you are resourceful and imaginative enough.
It is in the realm of Parthenia that this story starts—a world with a king, a queen, and Royal Sorcerers who could jump from world to world as easily as one might jump from their own bed. The details long escaped the teller of these tales, but these were the facts: once there had been an alliance with the Queen of the Mice, a Lady Mouserinks, she had once been called.
No one quite remembered what it was that caused the war between the Royal Family of Parthenia and the Mice—or perhaps they were ashamed of the reason. Whatever it was, mice traps were set and war was declared. In retribution, Lady Mouserinks cursed the newborn baby Princess Pirlipat with ugliness, as she knew the darkest arts of magic, and she gave birth to a new child, stronger than ten men with seven heads, each more cunning than the last—the Mouse King.
The King and Queen strived to break their daughter's curse, calling upon the Stahlbaums, their court sorcerers, to do so. They searched the worlds for a prince who could break the spell—finally drawing upon the world created by the Stahlbaums for their darling daughter, Marie: the Four Realms.
In the Four Realms, there were various peoples—including humans themselves. The prince of these realms was discovered through Pirlipat's horoscope and frankly boring astrological calculations to be the very prince who could break the curse.
No one knows what exactly went wrong. As far as Benjamin recalled, he kissed the princess, as was traditional, and she turned beautiful again.
Perhaps it was her ungratefulness afterwards. Perhaps all that was truly done was a transference of the curse. Maybe Lady Mouserinks, in her dying breath, concocted a new curse.
It does not matter, what was done then. What matters is that the curse changed—Prince Benjamin transformed into the Nutcracker and Parthenia was destroyed. The Stahlbaum Sorcerers were able to save Benjamin—but they lost their lives and their estate was destroyed. All that remained was the nutcracker, the owl, their daughter, and the key to all of their creations. . .
"I can see now why I was never told much about your parents," Christian said sadly. "So the Mouse King is coming from Parthenia,then?"
"Yes, and the realm has suffered greatly under his leadership," Prince Benjamin explained. "The Stahlbaums' last spells, however, have transformed the people into toys, and over the past year I have led them into the Four Realms."
"I had also been creating my own citizens, bringing them to life." Marie gestured towards a doll with pink hair and a shimmering dress with little fairy wings. "I have dedicated myself to learning the magic my parents wielded and becoming an inventor in my own right."
"I would like to learn how," Christian said eagerly.
"And I would like to teach you." Marie smiled. "I suspect we can learn much about invention from each other. But we must first deal with the Mouse King. We cannot keep fighting him, and he cannot follow the people of Parthenia into the Four Realms."
"What must we do, then?" Christian asked. "I want to help."
"We must seal away Parthenia forever," Prince Benjamin declared. "I believe Queen Marie would know how, but I need help keeping the Mouse King at bay in order for her to do so."
"I think I have a few ideas on how I can help." Christian stroked his chin and looked at the clockwork owl. "I imagine your parents must have entrusted me with her for a reason."
"I suspect so as well," Marie agreed. "I am sorry I haven't been as friendly or open about my history, Christian. You have been working to be such a good friend to me and I haven't deserved it."
"It is alright," Christian assured her. "I had no idea how terrible the story truly was. I am sorry for pressing into such grave matters."
"I've been spending time in the Four Realms, really, when I've been locking myself away in this room." Marie stood up, and pulled her key necklace out from where it had slipped under her nightdress and unlocked her wardrobe. Christian peeked in, seeing snow and an enchanted wood.
Marie then closed the doors. "I will take you, once we have defeated the Mouse King."
"We'd better get started on a plan, then," Christian said. "When will he return?"
"Tomorrow, at midnight," Benjamin said grimly.