Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

"Y/n!" Your mother's voice rings from downstairs.

You put the book you were reading down and exit your room, leaning slightly over the ornate railing decorated with holly and Christmas tree branches "Yes, mother?"

"Look who came to visit," she says sweetly, waving to the finely dressed man with blond hair.

"Uncle Balthazar!" You intone happily, rushing down the stairs to hug him.

"Y/n! You are a young lady! Don't act like a child!" She chides you harshly as she always does since the moment you came of age.

You step back and flush in embarrassment "Sorry, mother."

"Now, now, Clara, don't be so harsh. She is a spirited young woman." The blue-eyed male says softly.

"Spirited won't earn her a good match, you know that!" She hisses at him beratingly.

He smiles boyishly and as always, the woman's annoyance dissipates "I bet that Y/n will have the best match in all the kingdom. I can feel it in my bones."

She slaps his shoulder lightly "In your ancient bones, you relic?" She jests and he laughs wholeheartedly.

"Indeed. If you don't mind, I wish to spend some time with Y/n before we leave to get Hans and head to the party."

She nods "The foyer is yours and try not to eat all the candy canes, Balthazar!"

The man winks and offers his arm to you. You quickly place your hand in the crook of his arm, eager to get away from your mother. You take a deep breath when you enter the room because the scent of the Christmas tree this year seems to be mesmerizing. You admire the lights and decorations a second longer before you focus on the blond.

"I hope your travels were fruitful, Uncle Balthazar."

He smiles tightly "Not as much as I wanted."

"Did something go wrong? Didn't you manage to find a decent toymaker for the new factory you are building?"

"I did find a fellow in Smeerensburg but he is very busy and doesn't have the time to work at the factory, but he agreed to give me some toy blueprints." He takes a seat next to you on the couch, the roaring fire in the hearth basking the two of you in an otherworldly glow "But enough about that. Why is your mother so harsh with you? She wasn’t like that last I saw you."

You sigh "She thinks that with my attitude I won't have suitors and she is right. As you know, it's been several months since my debut and..." You hesitate, even though you aren't eager to get married it still hurts "... I didn't receive anything. No boy wants to get to know me" you say dejectedly and frown when he chuckles.

"You gave the answer to your problem." Confusion colors your face and he explains, grinning widely "No boy. You, my dear, aren't meant for boys who won't be able to see what a treasure you are."

You flush and smile brightly "You think so?"

“I know so.” He claps his hands "Now, I do believe I'm long overdue to give you your gift. Close your eyes and hold your hands out."

You can barely contain your excitement as your eyelids snap shut. Something smooth is placed in your palms and from what you can tell it's made out of wood.

"Open your eyes, my dear."

Your eyelashes flutter and when you look you see a well-crafted nutcracker "Uncle Balthazar, if mother finds out you gave me a toy, she will be angry! She took all my toys when I became a..." You make air quotes "...young lady," you say with a grimace.

He shakes a finger at you "That's where you are wrong. This isn't a toy."

Your eyes narrow and you look at the Nutcracker again. You must admit that the craftsmanship is exquisite. The royal blue coat he has painted on him looks as majestic as the one you saw the Grand Duke wear at the military parade. If you are honest, even more so with the gold details skillfully added. And the sword he has gives off the impression that it can indeed cut through an enemy. The features aren't like the ones you saw on the nutcrackers in the display windows of toy shops. Those look ordinary, and common compared to the one in your hands. It lacks a moustache and seems to have a beard instead but that isn't the thing that stands out. His dark-painted eyes with arched eyebrows simply draw your attention.

"I agree it's well made."

He gives you a loop-sided grin “He is a King.”

You blink in confusion “Pardon?”

He gets comfortable “Once upon a time, there was a handsome and intelligent King. His name was Maxim.” Your eyebrows shoot upward since that is the name of the missing king of the kingdom you live in “He was a magnanimous ruler, and his kingdom flourished under his guideship. When the time came for him to choose a bride, he invited all the eligible maidens from all the corners of the land to a royal ball, so that he could choose one to court. He didn’t care about titles or riches, you see, but by deciding to invite every young lady in the land he committed the greatest error of his life.” He stops briefly and takes a deep breath “On the day of the ball, among all the women that presented themselves to the King was also the Mouse Queen, Morgana, and her rat daughter, Veronica.” Your mouth drops in surprise as you are absorbed by the story, not caring that it clearly became fiction “When the King saw their ugly faces and nasty attitude towards the other women, he immediately refused Veronica and requested them to leave. You can imagine how upset that rat was especially after her dear mother told her repeatedly that the King would choose her. Morgana couldn’t stand by idly when her daughter was crying at being dismissed. Furious, the Mouse Queen cast a spell on the King, turning him into a Nutcracker.” Your eyes jump to the nutcracker in your hands, and you now realize that his jacket is indeed similar to what a ruler would wear “Even though the King’s best friend killed the Mouse Queen it didn’t break the curse that befell the King. And now with her mother gone, Veronica made herself Queen of all the mice, and ever since then she has tried to get the Nutcracker King to destroy him once and for all for denying her.”

You blink several times, your gaze jumping from the blond man to the nutcracker and back “That is an amazing story, Uncle Balthazar.” You snicker and shake your head “I particularly enjoyed how you tangled reality with fantasy.”

He looks at the grandfather clock and sees the late hour “Every story has some truth in it” he intones, standing up and bowing slightly to you “I’m afraid I must leave. I don’t want your mother to yell at me for my tardiness. Have a nice night, Y/n. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Have fun at the party!” you tell him “Uncle Balthazar?” you breathe out a thought crossing your mind.

He turns “Yes?”

“How can the curse be broken?”

He smiles gently “The King needs to slay the Rat Queen and win the heart of a maiden.”

You roll your eyes “Like in every fairytale. Slay the bad person and fall in love in the process.”

He shrugs slightly “Who knows maybe fairytales are real.” With that, he spins on his heel and leaves.

Your eyes lock back to the nutcracker. You stare incredulously at it because, for a brief second, you could have sworn that it moved its mouth. You must be more tired than you thought, and Balthazar’s story simply fueled your imagination.

“Well, Nutcracker, I don’t know about you but I’m going to bed.”

You make to place him under the tree, but you pause. You sigh, knowing your mother, the wooden toy will be gone by tomorrow. You take him with you to your bedroom. You place him on the nightstand, and you make a note to hide him somewhere where your mother won’t find him. You change and lay in your comfy bed, eager for Christmas tomorrow.

You glance at your impromptu guardian for the night “Sweet dreams, Nutcracker” you utter softly and without thinking you kiss the wooden cheek.

You snuggle into your pillow, sleep overpowering you while the Nutcracker’s eyes flash a royal blue color just like the pommel of his sword.

Chapter Text

The sound of metal clashing against metal rings and you scowl in your sleep. Fleetingly, you think that it's your father and Balthazar having a spar after one too many glasses of alcohol, but the sound seems to not come from the parlor and actually getting louder... and closer to your bed.

Your eyes fly open and the first thing you notice is the absence of the nutcracker on your nightstand. Your first thought is that your mother came to check up on you when she got home and took the Nutcracker away. You frown since the sounds don't stop but in fact, become more frequent.

You timidly lift your head a little, and your eyes widen when you see the ground moving. You blink several times, and you slowly realize that your floor is full of mice... with swords. Your heart starts pounding in fear, but you hear a pain-filled yelp and see one mouse flying, bloodied, away from the foot of the bed.

You move to the edge and your eyes widen when you see the nutcracker moving on its own and fending off the army of mice.

It can't be true, can it? Uncle Balthazar's story can't be real, right? And yet, you can plainly see the nutcracker sword fighting the mice and obviously outnumbered.

Something overcomes you and you don't even hesitate. You turn and grab the long-handled wooden mallet next to your headboard and bless your father for not allowing your mother to stop you from playing polo with him. You get up and put your shoes on before you take aim and hit with all your might a patch of mice. They go flying right into the wall and fall down unconscious.

"Nice aim" a deep voice tickles your ears and when you look down to your right you see the nutcracker saluting you with his sword.

"Thank you...?" You mumble, still incredulous about what's going on.

"11!" He shouts as he resumes fighting against the mice that are charging him.

You react instinctively, twisting and hitting hard to your left, throwing the mice across the room. Your mallet flies left and right, and his sword clashes with the others until the only ones left standing are yourself and the Nutcracker.

"Well... I have to say that I didn't expect such an intense workout the first moment I could move again" he intones with a chuckle, sheathing his sword and turning to you "Allow me to introduce myself. I am Maxim" he bows before you and you stare in shock.

"Y-you mean to say that Uncle Balthazar was telling the truth?! You are King Maxim?!"

The wooden features of the toy twist with his smirk "Indeed I am, my lady. With whom do I have the honor of speaking?"

You drop into a curtsy and stutter your name "F/n, your grace."

"Oh, none of that! I am Maxim, not 'your grace' or any other variant of that."

You straighten yourself and smile "Not fond of titles?"

"I loathe them, but they are necessary, especially in politics."

Any retort you wanted to intone gets stuck in your throat when something akin to a lightning bolt hits you. Is it you or does the room seem to grow? The bed gives the impression of increasing in size and so does the wardrobe. You stop breathing when you come face to face with the Nutcracker. No, you are lying. He is taller than you and stares at you in shock.

"Blast it!" A shrill voice rings and Maxim's head snaps to it.

"Veronica!" He utters, staring at the rat woman in the corner of the room. He grabs your hand "We must leave. Now! She isn't as good as her mother was when it comes to magic, but Heaven knows her next spell might make you explode like confetti." He declares, running toward the mirror.

"Where are we going?!"

"We are taking a shortcut. Hold on!"

He runs with you straight toward the mirror and you close your eyes, waiting for the inevitable impact and pain but you feel like something ripples around you, like you jumped into the lake on a summer day. You open your eyes, and you see your room, but with more blue coloring it.

"What in the world...?"

"Welcome, to the Mirror World, Y/n."

Chapter Text

You spin in place, taking in your new surroundings. In this Mirror World, as Maxim called it, everything familiar from your bedroom is there but slightly... off. The mirrored room appears, at first glance, to be an innocent reflection of your bedroom but, after closer inspection, you notice that some strange details give it a surreal feel. The walls, which in the real world are a soft cream, have here a faint, iridescent blue sheen, shifting colors in a hypnotic way. The shadows that dance across the room fall in unusual places, often defying the laws of logic. Books, pens, and little baubles you own in the real world are present here as well, but hover just slightly above the surfaces they should rest on, as though gravity only loosely applies here.

The furniture is mostly the same as in the real world, of course appearing gigantic due to your current size, but you note some peculiar alterations. Your bed, for instance, which in your world has white sheets, now has vivid red ones, so rumpled that it looks like someone tossed and turned around in them quite a lot. Your eyebrows knit slightly when you see the dangling golden cuffs from the headboard. Those certainly don’t belong to you, and you can’t fathom the logic of putting such intricate jewelry on a bed or why the cuffs are linked together by a substantial gold chain. You continue your exploration and notice, as you would expect in a mirror world, that the grandfather clock ticks backward, the hands turning in reverse serenely.

Nearby, the vase that holds roses in your bedroom now has flowers that seem alive. Their petals open and close slowly, as if breathing, making you a little uneasy.

The air feels different as well, refreshing like spring after a quick rain. However, there’s a scent that tickles your senses. You can pinpoint lavender and bergamot, but the other subtle notes elude you. It gives off the impression that it’s a perfume someone used extensively in your room.

The light fixtures in this world lack bulbs, and in their stead are blue flames that cast an eerie glow. As you wonder how that is possible, you focus on the painting. While in your room it beautifully captures you and your parents, here it depicts you, sitting gracefully in a chair with a figure poised behind you. Though the flames fail to illuminate the figure's face, you can make out that the painted man has his hand resting gently on your shoulder in the artwork.

Gradually, you lift your gaze to the nutcracker’s “This isn’t my room…” you mumble, confused by everything you see.

He inclines his head slightly in agreement “It isn’t, but at the same time it is.”

“I don’t follow.”

“This isn’t your room at this moment in time. It’s intertwined with details from your future” he declares, his dark gaze lingering on the state of the bed with interest.

You cross your arms. “You mean to tell me that I will paint my room like this in the future?”

A chuckle escapes him “No, that is the effect of the Mirror World. A trained eye can distinguish what solely belongs to this world and what fragments are from the future”, he says casually as he studies the painting briefly and indifferently.

“Hm… so the painting is definitely from my future, the rest is the Mirror World.”

He starts walking toward the door “I wouldn’t say that. The bed also seems to be a fragment from your future”, he informs you as he exits the room and comes to stand in the middle of the hallway.

You follow him, frowning “What do you mean? Will I be untidy in the future?” you ask, perplexed when you come next to him.

He looks down at you and realizes that you aren’t jesting “Nothing of the sort. I assume you are unmarried”, he enquires casually as he makes his way down the hall toward the stairs.

You purse your lips “Yes. What does that have to do with anything?”

He smirks “You will understand when you are wed.”

You pause as you think, and then an intense blush creeps on your cheeks. “You mean to tell me that…” you stop talking, embarrassed to voice your thoughts to a king, no less.

He reaches the stairs and carefully climbs down the first step “Smart girl. Now, we need to leave the house”, he says, turning and holding his hands up “Jump!”

You stare at him “You can’t be serious.”

“Are you afraid that I will drop you?”

“No”, you reply truthfully, “I am more concerned by the fact that you are made of wood, and if I jump, my landing will be hard.” You tell him this, carefully sliding down the top step and right into his waiting arms.

Firm arms wind up around you, and an intense blush creeps on your cheeks. You can’t say that you’ve had the pleasure of being in any man’s arms besides your relatives, but even so your embarrassment is more due to the fact that you are in the embrace of a king. How many ladies can say that they have had the privilege of being held by the ruler of the land? And, now that you can adequately study his features, you can see that the rumors regarding his handsomeness weren’t exaggerated, which doesn’t help your blushing one bit.

He releases you and, again, climbs down a step to help you, over and over again until you reach the bottom of the stairs. You glance at the Christmas tree regally poised in the foyer and see beneath it gift wrappers carelessly discarded. It must be a glimpse of tomorrow’s events.

You shift your gaze back on the nutcracker “Now what?”

“We leave the house.”

“Why?”

“Veronica will try to break into the Mirror World, and it’s best that we are as far as we can be when she attempts it. The last time she endeavored to do so, she made a whole room explode with her faulty magic” he informs you as he studies the door, trying to find a way to exit your home.

“Is she that bad at magic?”

“You can’t even imagine how awful she is at it, but even so, she still manages to do damage” he sighs, annoyed that he can’t find a way out, and turns to you “Do you know how we can exit your house?” he asks you softly, and you are slightly taken aback.

Even your own father has trouble asking your mother for help- let alone all the other men that you have encountered so far in your life who would rather cut their own leg off than ask a woman for assistance.

“There’s a dog door in the kitchen.”

He smiles “Perfect. Lead the way.”

You guide him toward the kitchen sluggishly, too preoccupied with looking at the odd world you are in “What is the Mirror World anyway? Why does it even exist?”

“To help me travel quickly and unperturbed.”

You gaze up at him “Not a fan of crowds?”

“Not when they treat me like a god among men.”

“Technically, you are the closest to it. Isn’t a king God’s chosen?”

He scoffs “A king is just a man with a pompous title.”

“Many would kill to have it, though.”

“If circumstances were different, I would give it up without a second thought.”

One of your eyebrows slowly ascends your forehead “Different circumstances?” you ask as he props the dog door up so you can sneak under it.

He follows you outside. “Most people who wish to have my title are self-centered. Someone who thinks of the well-being of their people first and foremost, not of their own, needs to be on the throne.”

You shiver slightly because of the cold and curse Veronica for not shrinking one of your coats as well “That’s why the land is prosperous. You are a great king.”

He smiles charmingly “Thank you but, unfortunately, I have been cursed into this form and have been unable to properly attend to my duties for quite some time.”

Astonishingly, he manages to whistle, and the high-pitched sound reverberates down the snow-covered landscape. From afar, a powerful echo pierces the silence, steadily growing louder and drawing nearer.

“Have you ever heard of the Snark?” he asks casually, far from bothered or afraid of the sound that seems to move rapidly toward your location.

“The mythical creature that is so fast that no one can catch it?”

“Indeed. It’s not a fantastic beast, though” and, as the sound gets louder, your mind recognizes it as hooves hitting the ground “Look” he says, pointing to the horizon where a dust of white can now be seen.

After a few moments, in which the cloud of snow grows bigger and bigger, you faintly start to distinguish the outline of something dark at its center. You nearly fall from the intense vibrations that result from the strong hooves hitting the ground, but Maxim’s arm winds around your waist and keeps you upright just as the cloud reaches you. You watch spellbound as the snow settles and a dark-as-night stallion is revealed, neighing happily at the nutcracker and leaning its head down to be petted.

“This is… the Snark?” you mumble, slightly disappointed if you are to be honest.

“Yes, this is Godric. Godric say ‘good evening, my lady’.”

You giggle when the horse lowers himself into a bow “Aww, that’s so cute!” you exclaim without a second thought, and in the next second you blush intensely, chiding yourself for acting like a little girl in front of the king.

However, when you steal a glance at him, you see that he is beaming and far from bothered by your attitude. If anything, he seems pleased by your reaction.

“Godric, down”, Maxim orders lightly, and the horse lowers himself enough so the nutcracker can climb on him “Let me help you, Y/n”, he says, holding out his arms so he can hoist you up.

You grab his wooden hands and he effortlessly pulls you up on the stallion in front of him “Um… so, where are we going?” you inquire, a faint flush tickling your flesh when his arms come around you to hold the horse’s mane.

“To my castle.”

“Isn’t that dangerous? Won’t she know to search for you there?” you ask as the stallion takes a few steps, guided by Maxim’s deep voice.

In one powerful move, the horse surges forward, hooves striking the ground with a thunderous beat that echoes across the snowy field. Each stride lengthens gracefully and strongly as the steed finds its rhythm, moving with effortless speed. No wonder people thought the horse was a mythical creature. With its speed and elegance, it can easily be confused with one.

“She will, but it’s easier to defend as I know the terrain.”

“Says the person that got cursed in the first place” you mutter to yourself, only to realize with horror a second later the blunder you’ve just made.

He hums “You are correct. In wishing to give everyone a chance, I brought this misfortune upon me and my kingdom.”

“You were just trying to find the perfect match” you timidly try. Really, you grimace internally, your mother was right: with your attitude, no one will spare you a second glance.

“I’m starting to think that it’s an impossible feat”, he breathes out in your ear, his tone dejected “No matter. Nothing else matters as long as I defeat Veronica and take my rightful place on the throne.”

His words strike a nerve deep within you, echoing the thoughts you’ve wrestled with since your own failed debut. You remember the fierce declaration you have made just a few weeks ago, about not needing a man to feel whole, and the way your mother has scolded you for such unladylike behavior. Yet deep down, you are aware of the truth - you were just masking your heart's desire. The yearning for someone to complete you and light up your life is indisputably there, and you can’t help but believe he feels that same longing and is lying to himself.

“So… you have magic as well?” you ask, trying to change the subject.

“In a manner of speaking.”

“Are you cryptic on purpose?” you react automatically and bite your tongue in reproach. It seems your brain isn’t connected to your mouth today.

He chuckles, the sound tickling your ear “Hardly. It’s difficult to explain. In a way, I possess magic, but it’s not the same type that Veronica or Morgana wield.”

“I sure hope so. I have no desire to be blown to smithereens.”

“You won’t be. I am adequate when it comes to spellcasting.”

“Sooo… you can turn us back to our normal size?” You ask hopeful.

“Yes. When we reach my castle, I need to find my ring.”

You throw him a fleeting glance over your shoulder “Your ring?”

“Yes, it helps me to focus my magic”, he informs you in a gentle voice better suited to a professor.

You frown slightly “So, if you have magic and can use it, why haven’t you turned yourself back into a human?”

He sighs “Curses work differently. They don’t abide by magical laws. The criterion for it to be lifted needs to be fulfilled.”

You nod, slightly nesting into his embrace because the wind is getting colder and colder “Then you must slay the Rat Queen and win the heart of a maiden.”

“I beg your pardon?” he asks confused.

You blink several times, thinking that maybe you didn’t hear the blond man right “Uncle Balthazar told me that for the Nutcracker King to change back into a human, he needs to slay the Rat Queen and win the heart of a maiden. Is that not the case…?”

He groans “I will kill him. This isn’t a fairytale like Balthazar described, Y/n. Veronica needs to die for the curse to be broken. That’s all.”

“Oh.”

You are disappointed by this turn of events and absolutely hate that your mother’s words ring in your mind louder and louder. You are naïve just like a child. Did you really think that this was a fairytale? That the handsome king’s curse would be lifted by true love? You are so upset with yourself for entertaining that silly idea. This isn’t a story, but reality, and even if you would love to attend a royal wedding, it won’t happen. Well, you think, at least he has one less thing to worry about.

“That’s good then”, you manage to breathe out “You only have to focus on Veronica.”

“Indeed”, he replies, oblivious to the impact of his words on you “A little more and we will reach my castle.”

You nod, focusing on the soft mane you are gripping while fiercely battling against the lingering bitterness in your heart. You will get your revenge on Balthazar for this misinformation. Maybe by cutting his hair in his sleep.