Act II
Chloe raced down the stars the next morning.
"Mom, Dad, Uncle, Tuff, I have something special to tell you all!" They all looked at her.
"What is it, sweetheart?" Mrs. Carmichael asked. Chloe showed them the nutcracker, and told them her magical story.
"Sounds like quite an adventure." Clark complimented. Chloe nodded in agreement.
"It was!" Tuff groaned.
"You guys aren't buying this, are you?" He questioned. "She's lying! She didn't go on any adventures with the nutcracker, and it certainly didn't come to life." Chloe looked at him.
"Yes, I did." She responded. "And it, or Link, comes alive at night. Ask Uncle Klaus. He knows what I'm talking about." Everybody looked at Klaus.
"Just making this little girl's world magical." He said. "Lord knows we need a little magic in this world these days." Mrs. Carmichael faked a smile at her daughter.
"That's great, dear." She said. "Maybe next time you can bring me."
"And me." Mr. Carmichael added. "You know how I like adventuring."
"Well, you can leave me out of it!" Tuff put in. "I don't want to be in any part of your web of lies!" Chloe glared at him.
"They're not lies; they're the truth. You'd know that if you come with me tonight." Tuff rolled his eyes, or Chloe thought he did. It was hard with his hair in the way.
"Whatever you say." Chloe scowled at him.
"Children," Mom said. "Can you two go off for a while? Dad and I need to talk to your uncle alone." Chloe's mood changed.
"Sure, Mom!" And with that, she and her brother let the adults be.
"What is this about?" Klaus wanted to know.
"It's nice of you for making our daughter's world magical," Mrs. C began.
"but, it'll be nice if you cut down on these stories." Mr. C finished. "before it's too late."
"Stories?" Klaus questioned. "I'm just doing what you said, making her world more magical. You know how the world is now. They're just kinder, let them be. They don't need to learn how the world is a cruel place, especially at Christmas where a child's world is more magical then ever. Don't ruin it for them. They'll learn when they're older, but, not now; heaven forbid."
"Brother, you know that I love you." Mr. C began. "But, I don't want my children growing up making up stuff all the time. They'll be untrustworthy. People won't take them seriously. I'm not asking you to stop treating them like children, because they are, I'm just asking you to be a responsible adult, and do the right thing."
"I am doing the right thing. I don't know what you're getting at." Clark sighed, and looked at his wife for assistance.
"I need help here, Connie." Connie just shrugged.
"He's your brother, Clark, not mine. You know him better then I do." Clark sighed again, and looked back at Klaus. He didn't know what else to say to make his brother fully understand what he was talking about. Klaus smiled at him.
"It's okay, Clark." He said to him. "I understand. I'll shatter her little world if you want me too."
"No, no. Don't do that. You'll make it sound like I'm the villain here when I'm clearly not. I'm no rat."
"You're right, you're not. Und don't ever be. I won't shatter her world."
"Good. Just please remember what we were talking about."
"I will. You're debating if I should shatter her world or not, but, I certainly won't. She's my niece. I know how to treat her." The grown-ups then broke up their conversation, and went their separate ways.
"What are you doing?" Chloe wanted to know when she saw Tuff halfway down the stairs. He looked at his sister.
"Just overhearing Mom and Dad's talk with uncle Klaus." He told her. He then grinned mischievously. "And guess what I found out?"
"You peeped in on their conversation? You really are a troublemaker, Tuff. You can't do that."
"So, you don't want to know?" Chloe folded her arms to her chest.
"No." But, her curiosity got the best of her. "No, tell me. Oh, wait, don't. It's wrong, and you know it. Oh, but I do want to know. Wait, then I'll be a bad daughter. Tell me, no, tell, no…" Tuff groaned.
"Don't hurt yourself. If you don't want to know that Mom and Dad think Uncle Klaus is a nutcase, and to stop filling our heads with ideas." Tuff realized what he just said, and covered his mouth with his hands.
"What? That's ridiculous."
"I know."
"Uncle Klaus's not nuts. He's not getting us ideas of whatever. Because you know why? Because Link is real!"
"Okay, okay, calm down. I believe you." Chloe was surprised.
"Really?"
"No. Both you and Unc are cray-cray." He laughed, and went upstairs. Chloe scowled at him again.
"Fine!" She shouted. "Believe what you want! Seeing is believing anyway, and I know what I saw!" She then saw her uncle sitting on the leg of the sofa, sighing. She went down. "Are you alright, uncle?" Klaus looked at her, and smiled.
"I'm all right, kind."
"You know I don't think you're crazy, right? I believe you."
"I know that, und thank you. You are a good niece." Chloe smiled.
That night, Tuff had just come out of the kitchen with a glass of milk, and a gingerbread cookie in hands. The head was in his mouth. He was going to go upstairs when he saw Chloe and Link. Before he could react, he saw them jump up the Christmas tree, shrinking. He spit out the crumbs, and dropped the milk, spilling it on the carpet. He ran upstairs.
Chloe has been going on adventures with Link for four days, and she had fun each and every time. Link trained too during this time. Tuff tried to go with them each time, but failed.
Chloe had just come back that night, and stood under the tree when she saw her parents panicking. This confused her.
"Cark!" Her mom cried. "Have you seen Chloe?"
"No." Clark responded. "Have you?" Clark shook his head. Chloe then saw her mom burst into tears.
"What if we never find her, Clark? She's our baby!" Clark comforted her.
"We'll find her, dear."
"But, what if…."
"Shhh, it's Christmas. The season is filled with miracles." Chloe felt sad.
"It's okay, Mom and Dad." She said. "I'm here." Connie sniffed sadly.
"It's as if I can hear her sweet little voice." She sobbed. "What I give to hear that again."
"I know, dear." Tuff then saw Chloe.
"Uh, your daughter's under the Christmas tree." He said.
"Don't fool us, Tuff." Clark told him. "It's not the time for that."
"But, he's telling the truth." Chloe spoke. "I really am under the Christmas tree."
"Not now, Chloe. Your mother and I are in mourning." They realized something, and got excited. They ran for their daughter.
"CHLOE!" They hugged her. Klaus saw this, and smiled.
"Don't do that!" Connie scolded her daughter. "You scared us."
"Sorry, but I had a marvelous experience! I rode on a Ponyta, met Link's horse: Epona, had a snowball fight, bounced on clouds, and helped feed a baby Luma."
"That's nice, dear." Connie said to her "But, what's a Luma?"
"Oh, they're stars. I told you that, remember?"
"We remember." Clark said. "And their mother is Rosa..rose.."
"Rosalina, and she's their adoptive mother."
"Right. And did the nutcracker do these with you?" Chloe nodded.
"As a matter of fact, he did." The parents looked at each other again, and then back at Chloe.
"Your father and I will like to talk to Uncle Klaus again, alone."
"Certainly." She and Tuff left the room. She then stopped, and saw Tuff peeking in the room.
"Oh no you don't!" She said firmly. "You're coming with me so I know you're not peeping."
"But…" Tuff protested.
"Tuff!" Tuff sighed in defeat.
"Aw, alright. You know, they're still going to scold Uncle Klaus for your stories."
"You don't know what they're going to talk about. They might be talking about how a good girl I am, and give me something extra special for Christmas." Tuff groaned.
"Whatever. You're worse than Mom." Chloe smiled.
"I'm going to be a mom someday. My kids are going to be so well behaved; they' be little angels."
"Whatever. My kids are going to do whatever they want, so you know, they can be, kids!"
"They can't do everything they want. They need discipline. Rules are there for a reason you know." They talked about this as they walked on.
"Kids," Connie stated as she and Clark told them when they met again "Uncle Klaus is going to stay in a hotel for the rest of the week." The kids were dumbstruck, especially Chloe.
"What?!" She wanted to know. "But, why?"
"We think it's for the best."
"Best? What do you mean?" I don't understand." Connie sighed. She knew her kids were upset, and it broke her heart.
"You'll understand when you're older."
"But, we'll see him for Christmas, right?" Tuff asked. "I mean that's the main reason why he came, for Christmas and New Year's. We're supposed to be together."
"And hotels are expensive this time of year." Chloe put in. "Because of everyone traveling to see family. We don't get to see Uncle Klaus as much as our other relatives."
"Please, don't make this any more difficult then it already is."
"We're not, Mom. We just…" She then saw her uncle, suitcases in hand. She and her brother ran to him. Klaus hugged them both. Chloe looked up at him
"Please don't go, Uncle." The little girl pleaded. "You're family. You belong here."
"Yeah." Tuff added. "Whatever issues you have with Mom and Dad, you can revolve here." Klaus frowned.
"Aw, I'm sorry, kinder." He told them. "But, I have to respect the wishes of your parents. I'll be back on Christmas; I promise." He kissed them both, and stood up. "Ich liebe dich to both of you and your father." He then left.
"Wait!" Chloe cried. She watched him. She felt like crying, kicking and screaming. But, she wasn't four years old anymore. She knew better then that. She outgrew that phase long ago. Her brother on the other hand, not so much.
"Aw, Clark." Connie said to him. "Look at them; they're heartbroken. Did we do the right thing? I feel like the bad guys here."
"We did the right thing, Connie." Her husband assured her. "We're not heartless rats."
On the night of Christmas Eve, Chloe went to the Christmas tree to wait for Link. She waited and waited, only he didn't show. That's strange. She thought. I wonder where he might be. Tuff came down, nutcracker Link in hand.
"Looking for this?" He questioned. Chloe looked at him. She ran up, and snatched it from him.
"It's not nice to take something that's not yours!" She scolded him
"I didn't." Tuff admitted. "Mom did."
"You're lying! Mom would never do that to me."
"I'm afraid I'm not lying, sis. I saw her take it from under the Christmas tree, and take it to her and Dad's room. She put it in one of her drawers, and I got it back for you. You're welcome. A 'thank you, Tuff; you'll the best brother in the whole wide world' will be great to hear."
"Well, sorry to burst your bubble, but I can't say that to a liar no matter how bad I may want to." Tuff shrugged.
"Okay, whatever you say." He changed the subject. "Say, can I go with you tonight?"
"Go with me? Where to?"
"To the top of the Christmas tree with your toy." Chloe blinked in confusion.
"I thought you don't believe me."
"I do now ever since I saw you jumping into the tree, shrinking with him."
"Oh." Chloe was hesitant about this. "Well, I don't know. No offense, but, I don't want you messing it up."
"I won't mess it up. I promise. And I'm greatly offended that you think I would."
"Sorry, it's just…" She tried to think of what to say, but couldn't.
"Oh, please! I'm your brother. I want to know what's up there, and beyond our Christmas tree." Chloe sighed.
"Okay, but you have to promise to behave." Tuff cheered.
"Thank you, thank you, thank you! And I will behave. I'll be like you, a perfect, little angel." Chloe groaned, but tapped on the nutcracker.
"Okay, Link. Time to get up. I have some company today." Tuff got confused when nothing happened
"Nothing's happening. Is he…?" Chloe shushed him.
"Shhh, give him time to wake up."
Just then, the nutcracker stretched and yawned in Chloe's hands. He leapt out, turning real. Tuff watched as he grew with pure amazement.
"Whoa; that's awesome!" He complimented.
"Are you ready, Chloe?" Link asked.
"I am!" The blond girl replied. Link offered her his arm. "Okay, let's…" He then saw Tuff.
"Hey; I know you! You broke my jaw…literally." Tuff laughed lamely, looking embarrased.
"Yeah, sorry about that." He admitted.
"Link," Chloe told him. "This is my younger brother, Tuff. He saw us go one night, and now he wants to tag along."
"Him? The jawbreaker? I don't think so."
"He promises to behave."
"And I won't break any more jaws." Tuff promised. "I promise. It was just a stupid accident. You can forgive a kid, can't you?" Link thought about this.
"I guess. I was a kid like you once. I broke so many fragile vases in my youth. Apparently, not all of them contain a heart or a rupee." The kids were confused. "Anyway, enough about me." Tuff cheered.
"You won't regret this!" He stated.
"Oh, and one more thing. Don't annoy me like one of my fairies did in my childhood. If you do, you're out. I'll have you sent off of the tree in your normal size. Understood?" Tuff saluted.
"Understood, Mr. Link, sir!"
"Good. Now, let's go. Time's a wastin'!" They went to the tree, and jumped. Tuff was in awe the whole time up.
When they landed in top branch, Tuff was still in amazement.
"Whoa!" He said. "This isn't real. Pinch me, I must be dreaming." He shot a look at Chloe. "But, not really. That'll hurt like heck."
"I know." She agreed. "I won't dream of hurting anyone, not even you, Tuff."
"Uh, thank you?"
"Don't mention it."
Tuff got introduced to Rosalina, who introduced him to the Lumas.
"This is boring!" Tuff complained.
"Tuff!" Chloe scolded him." She looked at Rosalina. "Sorry about him."
"Can we do something else now?" Chloe glared at him. She was so mad at his behavior. Would it kill him to be nice?
"I guess I kept you here long enough. You want to explore; that's understandable." Rosalina said.
"Hopefully, there's more interesting stuff to do than here!" And with that, he ran off.
"Tuff!" Chloe called to him. "Not so fast!" She and Link ran after him.
"Childhood." Rosalina observed watching them. "Oh, how I wish to go back. Such a simpler time then adulthood."
Chloe gasped as Tuff was running towards a speeding motorcycle.
"TUFF!" She yelled.
"I got him!" Link offered. He ran to Tuff, and dragged him away from the motorcycle's path just in the nick of time. Chloe sighed with relief.
"You alright?" Link asked the boy. Tuff nodded.
"Thanks." He responded.
"You have to be more careful, Tuff!" Chloe reprimanded him. "Watch where you're running." Tuff looked at her sister.
"I'm sorry, Chloe! But, how does a motorcycle drive here anyway?"
"This is a magical land. But, never mind, I'm just glad you're alright."
"Oh, don't get all mushy on me now."
"Hello, Link." The motorcycle's owner greeted him. They all looked and gasped. It was a rat!
"Butch!" Link said back, not to thrilled.
"That's the rat king?" Chloe questioned.
"Why yes, young lady." The rat greeted back. "I am."
"Where's your crown?"
"I don't take it when I'm out riding."
"Makes sense."
"May I say you have an awesome, sweet, ride!" Tuff told him about the vehicle.
"Yes." Butch told him. "Would you like to see it?"
"Would I!" He ran to the motorcycle admiring it all over.
"Could you hurry it up? Sorry, but, I have a thing to get to."
"Oh, sure. Sorry, Highness." He stepped back as Butch hopped back on. Tuff thought of something. "Wait; can I go with you?" This shocked everyone. Butch looked back at him.
"You want to go with me?"
"Oh, yes. I never rid on a motorcycle before, epically not with a rat driving it."
"Well, I don't know. Kids like you might get in my way."
"Oh, please, I won't get in the way, I promise! You won't know I'm there." Butch thought about it.
"Tuff, no; you can't!" His sister told him. "Butch is evil!" Tuff laughed.
"Butch, an evil rat king? Oh, please! He's setting a bad example with not wearing a helmet. But I wouldn't call him evil. Not every king is King DeDeDe."
"Tuff," Link began. "Your sister is telling the truth. He's very evil. Now, come before it's too late."
"Hop in, kid!" Butch said. "But, hurry!"
"See? He's being nice so far." Tuff got on with the rat.
"It's a trap, kid!" Link warned.
"Hang on, kid!" Butch told him. "I don't have a helmet for you."
"It's okay." Tuff assured him. "As long as you protect me, I'll be fine."
"That's the plan!" They sped off before Link could get him.
"NOOO!" Chloe yelled. Link went to her side.
"We'll get him back." Link promised. Chloe looked at him.
"I hope so. Even through he's a brat, and get on my nerves at times, he's still my brother. I love him, and want nothing bad to happen to him."
"That's sibling rivalry, kid. All brothers and sisters do that. I should know. Aryll and I used to fight all the time." He pulled out his Ocarina, and called for Epona. When Epona was by their side, Chloe grinned from ear to ear.
"Epona!" Link got on and offered his hand to Chloe.
"Hop on!" Chloe nodded, and took Link's hand. Epona neighed, went up on two hooves, and galloped off.13e2wqs