Welcome to my next story! This promises to be WAY shorter, (including shorter chapters), just a fun little story for the holiday season.

This tale was inspired by the artwork of Twisted-Wind and the music of the Trans-Siberian Orchestra! Also, while a certain mouse may be the title character, the story will mostly focus on siblings Donald and Minnie. (I've gotten a few complaints here and there that Don's never gotten a chance to be a hero, so maybe this'll make 'em happy ;) )

This takes place in old-timey Germany, so expect some peppered google translate German in there. =P Also I have NO confidence writing little kid dialogue so I try to avoid it whenever possible. Hope this worked out!

Christmas Eve is supposed to be a time of magic and wonder, especially for little children who've yet to understand life's cruelties. But instead of listening for the sounds of reindeer hooves on the rooftop, one particular child was sitting by the window and awaiting the sound of a motorcar. Snow had begun to fall outside and it became harder to see what was coming down the worn-down road, though the little girl was certain she'd still hear her uncle's car, since it made noise like its own mechanical parade. It was getting late, however, and she knew her her foster parents would beckon her to bed soon.

Quietly she pleaded to Santa Claus that she didn't need a single present except to see her beloved uncle. Although, if Santa was also going to give her new ballet shoes and a pretty doll, she certainly wouldn't complain. Her eyelids began to droop, but before her body could fall into slumber, a jarring clattering erupted from outside. There was no mistaking that sound, and she jumped to the floor in joy. "Donald!" she called out, continuing to hop up and down in delight. "Donald, he's here! Uncle Ludwig is here!"

Like a bolt of lightning, her elder brother raced into the room, almost knocking down the ailing Christmas tree in the corner that took up most of the room. He ignored the pine needles sticking to his sweater and white feathers, moving past his little sister to look out the window. "Are you sure, Minnie? Are you absolutely sure?"

The tiny mouse tugged on Donald's shoulder. "Listen! Can't you hear his motorcar?" They both went quiet to make sure of what they were hearing and even when the engine was turned, off it still rattled, as if the car itself was shivering from the cold. Footsteps crunched in the snow and at last the door opened to reveal the man they'd been waiting for far more than Saint Nick.

Yet in a funny way, Ludwig Von Drosselmeyer did look similar to the jolly gift giver of old. His puffy red coat made him seem bigger than he really was and the snow falling off his beak nearly resembled a white beard. Once he shook bth off, the only remaining hints to his old age were the graying tuffs of hair jutting from both sides of his head, and the bags under his eyes. He adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses, and set down a white and gold suitcase by his side. "Mister Claus is going to need help seeing through that mess, I tell you."

"Uncle Ludwig!" Both children cried out at once, dive-bombing into his arms and almost knocking the old man over. They peppered him with questions, not even bothering to wait for Ludwig to answer them. "Did you bring us something?" "Can we go home with you now?" "Can we leave right now?" "Did you remember your promise?"

"Easy, easy! I haven't even closed the door yet!" Ludwig had to shout to be heard, and once the children had settled down, he lifted each one to kiss the top of their heads. Donald pretended to be disgusted – he was eight years old, he didn't need kisses anymore. Ludwig slapped the door shut with his foot, and then ruffled the space between Minnie's ears. "My Minnie, did you get even prettier than the last time I saw you?"

She giggled. "You saw me two weeks ago!"

"It's still true." Ludwig then patted Donald's head. "And you've been staying out of trouble, dear Donald?"

"I never get into trouble," Donald lied easily, crossing his arms and glancing away.

Ludwig chuckled, but his voice didn't contain as much mirth as the children were expecting. He looked back and forth between the two of them, and then sighed heavily, the guilt of what he was about to say making him feel twenty years older. "Meine kleinen...I know when your parents died, I promised I would take you in-"

"And take us home to the Kingdom of Mausekönig!" Minnie finished for him, hands clasped and her eyes full of starry wonder. "Where everyone is happy, the hot cocoa never ends, and magic is everywhere!" She and Donald had heard Uncle Ludwig's tales about the legendary kingdom ever since they could remember, and each adventure he spun was more fantastic than the last. When they asked their parents when they could go to the Kingdom, they had smiled and said when the children were older.

But their parents never had a chance to explain why. Three months ago, on the way to pick Donald and Minnie up from school, their car had slid on a hidden patch of ice. Both had been killed instantly. Their only living relative left was Uncle Ludwig and he had told the children time and time again that he'd take to them to the Kingdom of Mausekönig. Because of this, Minnie and Donald did their best to hold back their tears over their lost parents. Surely once they were living with their uncle in this enchanted place, all the pain would go and they'd live happily ever after.

But Donald, older than Minnie by two years, was getting wary of his uncle's uncomfortable pause. "You are taking us there, right?" His hands balled up into fists, daring his relative to say otherwise. "You promised, and we've been really good! I've been taking care of Minnie and not gotten into any fights! …Any big fights!"

"And I've been practicing my ballet every day!" Minnie added, leaning on her tippy-toes, ready to show off if need be. "Do we get to leave tonight, Uncle Ludwig? Please?"

Ludwig swallowed the lump in his throat and knelt down. Donald sucked in a hard gulp of air – when grown-ups got down on one knee to talk to kids, things rarely ended well. "Do you remember how I told you it is the duty of Drosselmeyers to serve the Mausekönig royal family? Our lives are connected. Your parents wanted you to live a normal life before seeing it all for yourself, but...I'm afraid just as we have suffered a loss, so did the royal family. The young prince's parents have also passed away."

As he continued, he laid the suitcase down and began to unlock its many hatches. "He's about your age, Donald. A fine boy, but he can't be expected to rule yet. So I must go and help him with the kingdom. With all the duties that entails, I can't bring you with me just yet. You'll have to wait a little while longer."

"But you promised!" Donald snapped, stomping the floor hard with one foot. "You promised you'd take us with you! These grown-ups aren't our family, you are!" He could see Minnie had ducked her chin and shut her eyes tightly, the standard move when she was trying and failing not to cry. The image made his infamous temper grow even hotter. "You can't just leave us! We don't have anybody!"

Ludwig finally opened the suitcase and inside were two objects in last minute gift wrapping. "Now, now, that's not true. You'll always have each other. Minnie will always have Donald, and Donald will always have Minnie. Until I'm ready to come get you, you have to be there for each other." He lifted his head, his eyes unusually serious. "No matter what happens, you'll always be together in your hearts. All right?"

Minnie said nothing, because she knew if she opened her mouth she'd never stop bawling. Deep down, she had to wonder if maybe she'd been a better girl, been better at ballet, been someone who wasn't a crybaby, that maybe her uncle would have taken them.

"But I didn't come empty-handed," Ludwig announced, taking the first bundle out of the suitcase. "Minnie, this is from Prince Mickey."

Thankfully, that was enough to distract the girl from her tears. She blinked away her tears and then rubbed her eyes. "Huh?"

"When he found out he'd be 'taking' me away from you, he was very sad." Ludwig began to unwrap the present for her. "This is his way of saying sorry. It's his most favorite toy in the whole wide world, and he wants you to have it until you can come to the kingdom. It's always made him happy, so he hoped it would make you happy too." Donald pretended not to be interested but he was glancing over.

Minnie had never seen a doll like this before as all of hers were female with curly hair and lacy dresses. This looked more like a regal soldier, with a hand-stitched turncoat of blue and leather shoes on its wooden feet. Cotton made for a shaggy beard and white hair tucked under a tall yellow and black hat. Dull blue eyes stared back at her, and paint had been chipped around its cheek.

"Why does the mouth look so funny?" Donald couldn't help but ask. "It's creepy."

"This is a nutcracker!" Ludwig held up the doll and showed the children that the back had a small lever. Upon moving it up and down, so too did the doll's jaw move up and down. "The Kingdom of Mausekönig is famous for its nutcrackers! They come in all shapes and sizes, and this one is a soldier, ready to protect the fair maiden." He offered it to Minnie, even imitating the nutcracker's mouth with his own in an attempt to make her laugh.

She cracked a hint of a smile and delicately took the nutcracker into her hands. This was not a new toy at all, and years of hugs and play had worn down its shine. Yet the nutcracker seemed to wear the chips and scrapes it had like badges of honor. This was a loved doll, and in a way that only children can, Minnie understood the weight of what had been given to her. "I'll take very good care of him," she mumbled, pressing the nutcracker to her chest. "Can you...can you tell Prince Mickey 'thank you'?"

Donald snorted, but Ludwig smiled. "Of course I will. He'll be so happy to hear you like it. When you meet Prince Mickey, you'll be best of friends. I know it." Satisfied, he took out the second present and offered it to Donald. "And now for the young man of the family." He raised an eyebrow, noting Donald's still sour face. "If he still wants it?"

Donald hesitated, but he snatched the gift anyway. "If it's someone else's crummy toy, I don't want it." He huffed, but he was still eager to see what now belonged to him, the wrapping meeting the floor in the seconds. His wasn't a toy that had stood the test of time, but instead smelled like freshly carved wood. He held in his hands a perfectly crafted wooden sword, with a bizarre insignia on the "blade" that Donald couldn't decipher. His mouth moved around, unsure of the expression to make – he wanted to remain furious at his uncle, but this was an excellent gift. "Wow."

Ludwig grinned at his victory. "As I said, it is the duty of Drosselmeyers to serve the royal family, and that means protecting them too. I want you to practice every day so you can protect Prince Mickey, and of course, your sister."

Donald moved the sword around, adjusting to the weight of it in his tiny hands. It took him a moment to remember that he was supposed to be angry. "Well, I don't care about any prince," he replied defiantly. "But I am gunna protect Minnie, since you won't." He hadn't meant to say those last three words out loud and regretted the sting it left on his uncle's face. Yet stubbornness wouldn't allow him to apologize, and he held his sword to his body in case his elder tried to take it away.

Ludwig rose back to his feet. "It won't be forever, meine kinder. I promise I'll write to you every week, and tell you everything that's happening in the kingdom. And I'll make sure Prince Mickey writes to you too, so you can all be friends." Minnie smiled at the idea of being friends with a fairy tale prince, but Donald kept his eyes away. The older boy was beginning to wonder if the Kingdom of Mausekönig was even real. "But I don't have to leave until the morning. Tonight, I am all yours! Let's stay up all night and wait for Santa Claus!" He took each child by the hand, heading for the kitchen so they could start cookie preparations for the mythical man. The foster parents had patiently waited for them in the kitchen, not wanting to interfere this sad little moment. They kept their pity to themselves, not wanting to question the truth about such a fairy-tale kingdom on a magical holiday.

When the children were eventually tucked into bed, they would not wake up wholly the same. From then on, Minnie worked herself to the bone to be the perfect girl who no one would ever abandon. Donald never picked up his toys again, deciding to become the parent they both needed. Had Ludwig Von Drosselmeyer known this would happen, he might have stayed longer.

But Minnie and Donald wouldn't see their uncle again for twelve years, until another broken promise brought them together.