#nutcracker fanfic

It seemed like a peaceful afternoon as the birds chirped, one flying away as two figures kept walking on the path that was suppose to lead to the kingdom where the Mouse King stays at. Hans and Clara were on their way there as the Nutcracker leads the way, Clara just right behind him. 

“Umm...Hans?” He blinks and looks behind him. “Yes, Clara?”

“You...don’t think mice travel this far up here, right?” She asked. She wasn’t really afraid, she was just worried if Hans would get hurt. But her thoughts were cut off when she felt a hand on her shoulder. She looks up to see Han’s gentle smile on his face. 

“Clara, all will be fine. And even if they are able to travel up this far, I will protect you.” He smiled gently, giving her shoulder a confident squeeze. She was silent for a moment before she smiled. “Okay.” 

He nods before pulling away and they both continued their way before they saw a stranger just sitting on a tree stump. They were unsure if they were friend or foe, so Hans placed his arm out to protect Clara when the stranger suddenly stood up. 

“...stay behind me, Clara.” He whispered, pulling out his sword as he got ready to protect her. But he did not have a chance when the stranger pulled his sword out and with one swift, he knocked the sword out of his hand and pointed it at his chest. 

“...a sword wields no strength unless the hand that holds it has courage...and I should know that you have never fought anyone with a sword, an amateur at that too.” The stranger said. Hans had his eyes narrowed, having Clara behind him in case something happened. 

That’s when the stranger froze, suddenly recognizing him. 

“...it’s you....you’re the cursed nutcracker. Hans, was it?” They asked, taking the sword down before sheathing it in place. Hans seemed confused before nodding. “Y-Yes, I am.” 

The stranger took the hood of the cloak off of them, revealing to be a fallen toy soldier. Some of the paint had been either faded or chipped off throughout the years, but clearly shown that he was a top rank soldier before the whole war had fallen out. But despite of the appearance, the soldier seemed to be pretty young as well, probably been in the war for a few years. 

“...so the rumors were true, you have returned. But why are you all the way out here, if I may ask?” He asked, folding his arms over his chest. Hans looks at the fallen soldier before clearing his throat. 

“Well, you see...my dear friend Clara...has been cursed...and I’m helping her break her curse; along with mine.” He said. The soldier looks down at Clara, who tensed up when he glanced at her. 

“Ah, so you’re the human girl? My name is Julius, first captain of the toy army...well...once a captain. Ever since the Mouse King invaded the toy kingdom, most of my men fallen...and here I am...just...wondering, letting myself to get to one destination to another.” 

“Then you know where the kingdom is where the Mouse king is at?” Clara asked. The soldier nods. “Yes....but you won’t stand a chance if you don’t know how to wield or fight with a sword.” He looks at Hans. 

Hans looks at where his sword had fallen, which glittered in the sunlight. Hans then blinked when Julius walked over and pulled it off from the ground. “...that’s why I’m going to teach you.” He tosses it to Hans, who was able to catch it. 

“Really? You’ll...You’ll help us?” Hans couldn’t help but ask. They barely know each other for a few minutes and he’s willing to help him? Julius nods and pulled his sword out. “Of course. It’s the least I could do because I am tired of Mice roaming around in this land and frighten the innocents. And that one that calls himself a king needs to be put in his place once and for all.” 

Hans looks at him then at his sword before nodding. “Alright.” 

“...then be ready, Hans. Because this training will not be easy.” Julius said as their swords clashed gently together, preparing for their practice. 

Clara was giving them both space, watching them wield swords. But it seems that every time that Hans tried to make a move, it will be either Julius having the upper hand and knock him off of his balance and knock out his sword out of his hands. Or that his joints will freeze up, not giving him a chance at all to lay a hit. 

It seemed that it went on for hours as Hans was knocked to the ground once more to the ground by the fallen soldier, making Julius sigh softly. 

“...take a break. We’ll continue in a little bit.” He responded, sheathing his sword back in place before going over to a tree. Hans looks at his sword and sighs deeply before going to a different stump and sat down in defeat. 

He placed his hand in his hands, sighing deeply. Clara couldn’t help but worry as she got up from her spot and slowly walked over to Hans. “...Hans? Is everything alright?” She asked. 

“...I’m tired...” 

She seemed confused by his response and looks at him, before she saw his body shaking a bit. “...I’m tired of this body....I’m tired of this mess.....and I can’t even wield a sword.” Her heart heaved a bit when he looks up at her, only to have tears streaming down his face. 

“How am I suppose to defeat the Mouse King like this? How am I suppose to break my curse? To break your curse?” He didn’t think it would go this bad. If he can’t even fight with a sword, how was he suppose to do all of this? To defeat the Mouse King that gave them their curse? How was he suppose to protect Clara? 

“...if I only didn’t cracked that darned nut...!” Hans cursed, burying his face in his hands once more. Clara tried to comfort Hans the best she could “Oh no, Hans. Please don’t say that, we can still fix everything--” 

“How, Clara? HOW!?” Hans asked, making Clara jerk back a bit, but she did not back away as she watched her friend break down mentally of the situation. “You’ve seen how those nights went. I can’t win, Clara.” Hans silently cried to himself. He knew that this was foolish, he was no fighter. How could he win if he didn’t know how to fight with the sword he wields?

He then felt hands on his cheek, making him look up at his friend. But what happened next got him off of his guard. 

Clara suddenly pulled Hans down to his knees with her, her arms wrapped tightly around his shoulder as she held him in a tight hug. He didn’t know what to do nor did he know what to say. He then heard Clara speak to him in a soft voice. 

“Hans, listen to me now. I don’t know how we’re going to fix this. But I do know that you can do it.” She tighten her grip on him ever so slightly. “...you are wonderful, Hans. You did fend off those mice in those nights.” 

Hans was still silent. 

“You just need to believe in yourself. Because I do.” 

He started to shake again, slowly raising his arms up again when Clara finished speaking. What she said...sparked up his spirits once more; her words of encouragement telling him to not to give up and he will triumph and defeat the Mouse King. 

He then wrapped his arms tightly around Clara, silently crying into her shoulder. She did not say anything, just holding onto her dear friend as she lets him let it all out until he felt better. 

“...Clara....I don’t know what I’d do without you.” He said. She simply smiled a bit and nods. “...you’re welcome, Hans.” 

He pulled away a bit to look at her. She just smiled and rest her forehead against his. He had a faint blush on his face, but he lets her as he closed his eyes as well, slowly relaxing. They stayed like that for a brief moment before pulling away. 

Hans looks up at Julius and stood up. “...I’m ready, Julius.” His expression showed confidence and encouragement. That placed a slight smile on the soldier’s face as well. “Very well.” 

They soon clashed swords once again. But as Hans fought the fallen soldier, he could still hear Clara’s words in his mind. “You just have to believe in yourself. Because I do.”

He nods as he fought harder and the next thing that Hans knew, he was the one that knocked the sword out of Julius’s hand and had him pinned to a tree, gasping. Julius was surprised of how he was caught off guard, but he had a smile on his face. 

“...you are ready, Hans.” He said. 

.........

.........

The training was long and hard for Hans, but he followed every word that Julius taught him each different sword technique and some that can get his opponents caught off guard. 

“You’ve done well, Hans. I have taught you everything that I know and you are ready to face the Mouse King. Just stick to the training and the techniques I taught you and you will go far and break you and your friend’s curse.” He smiled at Clara, which she smiled back. 

“Remember; a sword wields no strength unless the hand that holds it has courage. And with that, I must be off. It was an honor to be your teacher, Hans.” Julius bowed at them both. Hans smiled and nods back. 

“Thank you for teaching me, Julius.” Hans smiled. The soldier nods before going on his way, finding to where his next destination will be. As Hans watched him disappeared, he looks down at Clara, who looks up at him confused. 

“Umm, Yes Hans?” She seemed worried about something, but was cut off when he suddenly pulled her into a hug. 

“...thank you, Clara. For everything you’re doing...” She smiled and wrapped her arms around his chest, her head resting against his lower shoulder. 

“You’re welcome, Hans....” 

Yays I got this done! I may do a fanfic or two on the Nutckracker, but we will see! More fanfics to come!

To those who got the quote “A sword wields no strength unless the hand that holds it has courage” it was from Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess. I love that quote the most and it is my favorite game. 

Until then,