The final chapter! This wasn't an easy story for me to write, due to my issues with the holidays, and that for once I focused on a family aspect instead of romance. But I'm still fairly pleased with how it came about, and since others seemed to enjoy it as well, I call this a success. I hope you all had the happiest of holidays!

Thanks for all my fans who left comments, they're the ones that keep me going! A big thanks to the TransSiberian Orchestra, whose music inspired part of this story. And of course a big thank you to Twisted-Wind, whose artwork planted the idea in my mind in the first place.

Finally, the biggest and most heartfelt thanks to my editors, Drucilla and BlueShifted, who are the sweetest people you could ever know. They not only make my rambling nonsense into something coherent, but they're wonderfully supportive and always try to lift my spirits.

I do hope you enjoy this little story, and that you love the next story just as much!

Goofy wasn't one of the guards who had been given the strange order to let any intruders in, but it was probably for the best. If he'd thought about it too hard, he might have gotten a headache. He was in the midst of taking yet another nap at his post when he heard hoofbeats, and when he woke up he saw exactly what he was expecting – horses. Though he certainly hadn't been expecting the riders – hadn't those people escaped before? What in the world were they doing coming back?

He stood up straight, holding the empty shotgun and mulling over his options. He'd been trying to prevent people from entering the kingdom so they could avoid Mortimer, but with the destruction of the doors, there was honestly very little he could do about it. He was tempted to simply take another nap, but curiosity overwhelmed him, and he shouted towards the oncoming stampede, "What do you think you're doin'!"

"Saving Mausekönig!" Donald yelled right back, with Daisy cheering behind him.

"Or die trying!" Ludwig added as they galloped on past.

"Nice to see you, Goofy!" Mickey was the last of the group, but he was running as fast as his body could go while offering a friendly wave to the befuddled guard.

"Huh. All right, then." Goofy nodded once and was going to continue his nap – but if they were going to save Mausekönig, then that meant they were going to confront Mortimer, and Mortimer would get mad, and then – and then EVERYONE would be in trouble. "No, that's not all right!" He chased after them, swinging his shotgun in the air. "You can't do this! You're gunna get us all transformed!"

Those that were out in the dirty streets had to stop and look at the world's most bizarre parade – ducks on horses, a running nutcracker, and a disheveled dog wielding a useless weapon. All it needed was a partridge in a pear tree and it could've been Christmas.

But as the band of heroes, plus one frazzled guard, raced toward the castle, they were forced to halt before a line of disfigured guardsmen. Horace was at the forefront, holding his hand out – which now held five extra fingers. "Oh no you don't! That rat king might want you in there, but you've caused enough damage!"

Donald held out his toy sword, but he didn't will for it to be of any use yet. He'd have to save that. "Out of the way! I've got the only thing that can stop Mortimer and save everyone here!"

"Save us!" an indignant woman from the village shouted, and others began to angrily join her. "You've got Ludwig with you! It's thanks to those rotten Drosselmeyers we're in this mess!"

"Yeah, we don't want your help!"

"I don't wanna be turned into...into...anything!"

"If you keep this up, we'll all be suffering!"

Mickey stepped out of the shadows, his wooden fists clenched. "Aren't you already suffering?!" It was difficult to tell what ultimately silenced the mob – that point of fact or seeing their prince as a gigantic talking nutcracker. He took advantage of the confusion to march forward, though inside he was shaking like a leaf. "This isn't the Drosslemeyers' fault! They've done nothing but try to help this kingdom since it was first founded! And...And maybe it didn't work out exactly as they planned...but doesn't effort count for anything?" He glanced at Donald for additional support, but Donald merely crossed his arms and lifted an eyebrow. No, this time Mickey was on his own.

The prince wanted to keep his eyes down and avoid the same of looking at the people he'd hurt, but instead he gazed straight ahead. "Maybe...Maybe the first Drosselmeyer did exactly what I did – try to avoid the real work it takes to build and lead a kingdom. I-I was the one who gave Mortimer access to the crown, because I wanted the crown before I was ready." In turn, Mickey got exactly what he expected – furious shouting, cries of how he had doomed them all, demanding he leave at once, and he could have sworn he saw one large cat grabbing a stone to hurl towards him. Mickey embraced each stinging word, and didn't budge from his spot.

"AW, SHADDAP!" Donald roared from atop his horse, wildly swinging his sword around. Even his horse appeared to be affected, kicking its front legs about to keep the crowd away from his masters. "Like none of you have ever done one wrong thing in your rotten stinkin' lives! Let him finish, jerks!"

Daisy happily laid her head on Donald's shoulder. "I really like this side of you, y'know."

"Daisy. Time. Place. This is neither."

But the villagers weren't the only ones affected by Donald's bravery in the face of so much opposition. Ludwig had taken his time to dismount from his horse, and he joined Mickey at his side, touching the young man's shoulder. "My boy is right. None of us are without fault. And I've got more than enough faults for one lifetime. I was too afraid to look after my own blood and I tried to make up for it by redeeming a man who never showed any signs he wanted to change. I've been running away for a long time. I won't beg for forgiveness from anyone." To this he locked eyes with Donald, who turned away uncomfortably. "But I'll apologize all the same. To my dear nephew, my sweet niece, to the true prince of Mausekönig, and to all of you...I'm sorry for all the pain I have caused."

Mickey didn't kneel down as Donald had ordered him to do – he doubted his body could – but he took one large step after another, though the guardsmen wouldn't budge. "Please let us through. Please let us fix this once and for all. We have to put an end to this, and I have to make up for what I did to each and every single one of you. Even-" How could a wooden nutcracker feel pain? It didn't make sense, but it burnt his insides to speak it. "Even if it means you don't want me as prince anymore, I have to do this. I'm sorry too, but my words will never be enough. I have to do this. We have to do this. I'm not ordering you as the real prince of Mausekönig. I'm...I'm just Mickey Mouse, asking you to let me right these wrongs."

Of course the entire kingdom didn't collectively forgive the two sinners instantaneously. But the need for revenge and blood had begun to cool, as each man and woman exchanged looks from one to another, quiet murmurs debating about the future of their lives. Those with raised fists began to lower them, and quite a few took steps back to clear the way. Even a number of the guardsman began to shuffle away, but Horace stood his ground, a large lump in his throat. "Look, what you guys said is nice and all, but what happens if you lose? Mortimer's gunna change us all into whatever he wants!"

Daisy poked her head out from behind Donald. "Doesn't he do that...kind of already? If we lose, how much are things going to change around here, really?"

The horse needed to pause and process this. His eyes bounced around, trying to find a counterargument, and none came. "Might be one of those 'stuck between a rock and a hard place' kinda situations, I suppose."

Donald finally climbed down from his horse and helped Daisy do the same, allowing her to keep holding his hand for the time being. "Rock nothing! What can he do to YOU? Unless you were born with those extra digits, he can't do squat. Now move!"

Daisy triumphantly waved her hand in the air. "Exactly! We're unstoppable! In fact, so are most of you, if you bothered to think about it! Tell them, Ludwig!"

Ludwig moved his head around, and began counting out loud all of the already transformed people around him. Not everyone who had been struck had to stay in the castle, and as he added the guardsmen, he ran out of fingers to count. "Meine Güte! She's right! If we took everyone who's already been hexed by that heretic, we'd have our own small army! It actually works out for us if we got more people transformed!"

This made Horace slowly lower his changed hand and blink three times in a row. "You mean I could've punched him extra hard this time, and he can't do nothin' else to me?"

Donald hadn't felt himself smile in what seemed like a century – but now a wide, deep, eager one graced his face. "Well then, what are we waiting for?"

Mickey had never felt his spirits rise so high, and he pumped a fist in the air before sprinting ahead, joined by more and more people with every passing second. "Down with the false prince! CHAAARGE!"

Breakfast, lunch, and dinner no longer had any real meaning to Mortimer since he could eat whenever he wanted. He had ordered the oppressed chefs to cook up a lavish meal for one of his most entertaining shows, and he chewed cheerfully through some chicken as he watched Minnie continued to pirouette in pain. "Hey, babe, I can't see your pretty face if you wilt like that! Don't you dames do this for fun?"

Minnie had to wonder if she'd ever want to dance again once this was all over. Her arms hung lifelessly at her side and her breathing was labored. It was probably because of her extreme weakness that she didn't hear the sudden repetitive thuds of footsteps further along in the castle. But Mortimer did hear, and he stopped mid-bite into a piece of ham to try and guess what it was. Last he checked, Donald had only two feet.

The doors to the throne room burst open, and even Minnie was stunned to see Donald joined by a horde of villagers and guardsmen, each one shouting cries of "Usurper, ursuper!"

"Uh-oh," Mortimer's left and right faces whispered together, but Mortimer's middle remained defiant. "I don't know what that means, but it doesn't sound pleasant! You'd better learn some manners quick, before I start getting creative!"

"Give it your best short, Mortimer!" Mickey shouted, banging his fist to his chest. "You can barely touch any of us now! Don't you remember Ludwig's lessons about the crown's magic? Or were you really that lousy of an assistant?"

"Hey, I was a fantastic assistant!" Mortimer stood on his feet, hissing through his teeth. "Of course I remember! You can change objects as much as you want, but you can only change people..." He trailed off, making same counting motion Ludwig had done mere moments before. "...Once. Hm. This is...mildly unfortunate..." He dragged each word out as the mental counting got higher and higher.

As much as Donald wanted to start the beat-down, the second he saw his sister his priorities changed. "Minnie! Are you okay? I'm here to – to – will you stop moving for one second? I'm trying to say something here!"

"Enchanted feet!" Minnie shouted back, trying to get his attention returned to Mortimer.

As Mortimer heard her, for a fraction of a second he wondered if she planned this – no, impossible, no one was more clever than he was! She was just a good little girl, and probably without a single thought in her head. All she was good for was dancing... and that's when he recalled the instruments still playing in the corner, the silverware resting on the throne's arm rests, and the throne itself. His multiple faces sneered and he rubbed his hands together. "So, you've got yourself a little militia? I've got my own!" Before anyone could think to stop him, the rubies shot out red light toward the instruments, the silverware, and the throne. With horrendous creaking noises, they began to twist and turn until they faced the rebels – in an explosion of energy, all of them countercharged the onslaught of commoners.

The violin strings tried to tie up tangled fists, the forks and knives cut across skin and fabric, but the throne was made into a living battering ram – and as a former battering ram, Mickey was using all of his strength to hold it in place. There were many frightened cries from the unprepared band, though many refused to give up. Donald didn't care how many knuckles he bruised and bloodied as he knocked a towering tuba out of his way – he was going to get to his sister!

Mortimer's faces laughed in wicked amusement, his arms outstretched and ready to wield his magic once more. "Did you morons think you stood a chance against my power? I can have curtains strangle you, windows wham you, I could even make the entire carpet capture you! I'm the most amazing person who has ever lived!"

Minnie could feel her heartbeat in her big black ears. Mortimer was right, in his own twisted way. He was amazing in many ways – amazingly creative, amazingly cruel, and amazingly selfish. She'd already proven to herself that as long as he believed in himself, he was capable of anything – so it was time to make one last gamble. If she was wrong about this, she hoped this constant dancing would kill her. It'd be better than the alternative.

Though she could no longer will her feet to stop, she could lean towards a direction and they'd follow suit, dancing all the while. Gritting her teeth and fighting through the aches, she spun and jumped in Mortimer's direction, until she had somewhat gracefully landed in front of him. "Mortimer, I don't understand!" She arched her back, pushing her chest out. To heck with acting like she believed any of this, all he needed was words. "You of all people should be able to change people more than once!"

The right face furrowed its brows, fooled once again. "We should?"

Daisy, who was avoiding a shower of broken plates, tried to shout to Ludwig and others to gain their attention. "What is she saying!"

Minnie touched her cheeks, trying to get the point across as fast as Mortimer's brain cells could connect. "With all those faces of yours, you're almost three people! So you – you could – you could have the other parts of you change people, since it'll be their first time!" She had never wished so hard for someone to believe as much she did right now.

"We could?" The left face was liking the sound of this, and why shouldn't he? It was appealing to what he loved the most – himself.

"Minnie, what are you doing?!" Even Mickey was having trouble concentrating on pinning the throne down. "Don't give him any ideas!"

She heard each of their shouts of pleas and protests, but like the tragedy in the caves, she wouldn't budge. "You could do anything you wanted to, your highness! You could even make me fall in love with you!"

Was it the last stroke of luck in Mausekönig that Mortimer never thought of enchanting someone's mind and emotions before? The seed that had been planted bloomed in his mind, and his eyes widened with new possibilities. The idea of making people believe they wanted to love him, obey him, respect him – it was enough to make him drool. Turning Daisy into an obedient monster of a servant had been close, but this was on a whole new level of loyalty. "Yes...Yes I can! I'm the ruler of Mausekönig! I can do anything I want! I CAN DO ANYTHING I WANT! I'M AMAZING!"

Donald screamed for his sister, trying to reach for her through the binds of a resistant harp, but the crown was glowing, and the lights came, and no one could stop the frightening transformation taking place before them. Minnie found herself lifted an inch off the ground, and that wormy feeling of knives digging through her skin now plowed itself through every cell of her body. She opened her mouth but nothing came out, nothing could be done. The nightgown that had begun this adventure grew longer and darkened until it resembled a queenly gown that trailed on for ages. Her ballet shoes grew sharp dagger-like heels, with the strings looping around her body in a tightening imitation of a corset. When she floated back to the ground, her head was tilted to a side, listless and lifeless.

Mortimer bent down to inspect his work, licking his lips. "So, how's it feel to love someone as amazing as I am, Minnie Drosselmeyer?"

Only he could see the expression Minnie was making, and he was wholly convinced it was one of sweet devotion, a smile that could melt the coldest ice. "Amazing, of course," she murmured with a genuine sunniness. She threw her arms around his neck, and he picked her up into his arms, laughing over and over, ignoring the fact that her feet were still moving this way and that. "All hail Prince Mortimer!"

Upon hearing that, several villagers raced for the door to avoid being struck next, but a grand piano was blocking them from any escapes. Daisy felt ready to cry, and Ludwig pulled out his hair, gasping for words that wouldn't come. Mickey dropped the throne in complete shock, and Donald was losing the strength in his legs. Had this all been for nothing? Were they really so powerless? Had the Drosselmeyers actually doomed them all?

Upon meeting less and less resistance, several of the utensils and instruments began to back up, awaiting more orders. Mortimer let go of Minnie and sat back down on his throne, trying to catch his breath after all his jubilation. "I've got to say, this has been fun. But you really should've thought twice before trying to take what I took. There's nothing this crown can't do, which means there's nothing I can't do. Now, maybe if you all formed a neat little line, I can start improving you one at a time. Let's start with the old man." He raised a hand to adjust the crown so one of his faces could take over -

Except it wasn't there anymore.

"You're amazing, all right – an absolutely astounding amazing fool!" Minnie's dancing feet kicked Mortimer soundly in his big nose before jumping gracefully off of him. With the crown of Mausekönig in her hands, she raced toward her brother. The new outfit made it harder to move swiftly, but it was the only thing the crown could change about her as her body had already been enchanted. Mortimer had failed to change the most powerful aspect Minnie had – her faith. Faith in her family, faith in tomorrow, and now more than ever, faith in herself. She spun, she pirouetted, she twirled, closer and closer to her shocked sibling. "DONALD! NOW!"

For the briefest of moments, Donald felt guilty for doubting his brilliant, clever, wonderful sister. Was it really so surprising he'd done all he could to protect her throughout life? She didn't have his love merely because they happened to have the same blood – Minnie was Minnie, and Minnie was someone to be proud of. With this love pouring through his very soul, the sword in his hand ignited. Whatever came after this, they would always be brother and sister, Minnie and Donald Drosselmeyer. The name no longer brought shame. Donald was proud to be a Drosselmeyer, proud to have Minnie as his sister, and proud to be the one to save this imperfect kingdom.

"This is the end – of magic in Mausekönig!" He raised his arms high, and brought it down upon the cursed crown – when flames met rubies, they both erupted into a hot fury of volcanic proportions. The heat made Minnie and Donald drop their enchanted objects, watching in astonishment as the swirling flames rose up in the air, destroying each ruby one by one. Within the flames, they thought they saw – and it may have just been their imagination – an old, familiar soul smiling at them in gratitude. Yet this flicker didn't last, and spirals of flames began to fly off toward anyone who needed its touch.

Now this warmth felt welcome, like a mother's embrace to her tender child – Minnie's nightgown was its white pureness again, and her feet stopped their eternal tumbling. Ludwig's throat was engulfed in fire momentarily, freeing his voice to answer whatever it pleased. The servants, the guardsmen, the villagers – all were cured, with tears of joy streaming down their faces, followed by joyous dancing and jumping into the arms of loved ones. The flames vanished through the windows, removing the walls and the glass dome that had loomed over the kingdom. The buildings were restored to their natural hard-earned beauty, and even the castle itself was less pompous than it had been before. No perfection could be found in the kingdom naturally, but it now looked like a place one would be happy to live in.

Mortimer's extra faces howled in terror as they burnt off his cheeks, scrambling to undo what couldn't be undone. The final transformation was for the nutcracker prince himself – light obscured his entire body, and when people could open their eyes and see him for himself, he was flesh and blood, breathing and blinking, and a little shorter than they remembered. Mickey was overwhelmed by the return of his senses, and began to pinch every inch of skin he could find so he could remember what he felt like.

The almighty fire began to die out, whispering into smoke and ashes that littered into Donald's empty hands. The weariness deep within him was gone, and while he couldn't be sure if he had regained what had been lost, he decided to be an optimist for once. He held his hands up, and blew the ashes away.

Though Minnie longed to sit and rest, she found herself hugging her brother, flopping onto him as the last of her vigor left her worn out body. "I love you, bruder."

"Yeah. I know." But it was soothing to hear, and Donald ruffled her fur between her ears, unable to stop smiling. He wasn't sure if he could ever stop. "I love you too, schwester." He didn't want her to let go, but he knew she would have to. He'd have to let her go and make her own choices, as good or bad as they were.

Mortimer tried to take advantage of everyone's partying celebration by sneaking away, but Daisy put a stop to that via smashing a now lifeless trumpet to the back of his head. The "OW!" caught everyone's attention, reminding them there was one thing they needed to do before they could properly congratulate their heroes. He rubbed the large lump on the back of his head, sitting on his knees as everyone glared into him. "Uh...Oh! Would you believe me if I said the crown was evil, and it possessed me into doing those awful things?" Daisy smashed the trumpet into his head again. "OW! OW! I...wasn't hugged enough as a child?" Smash. "I have a split personality?" Smash. "Sleepwalking?" Smash.

Before Mortimer could suffer a concussion, Mickey calmly touched Daisy's shoulder to make her stop playing whack-a-rat. "Mortimer, for your crimes against the kingdom, I sentence you to the dungeon!"

"Hold it!" Donald held up a flat hand, allowing his sister to lean on him while she caught some much needed rest. "Dungeon? What is this? Some kind of wacky fairy tale? This isn't a dictatorship, you can't send him to the dungeons!"

Mortimer wiped his forehead. "Phew. Thanks!"

"You send him to jail, like a normal person! Sheesh."

The guardsmen had to shove each other aside for the prestigious honor of dragging the kicking and crying Mortimer off, but it was Horace who happily won the fight. He even began to hum as he grabbed Mortimer by the wrist and dragged him along. Not once did Mortimer ever apologize as he went to meet his just punishment, and the people of Mausekönig doubted he ever would. However, they never needed to hear it. With the menace out of range, hugs and kisses were tossed about once more, with those in the village streets running up and down to see that their homes had been restored, that businesses were open and ready, and that Mausekönig was indeed Mausekönig once more.

As the merriment went on, Mickey timidly approached the siblings, a hand on his beating chest. "I can't ever thank you both enough for all you've done. This isn't about what your ancestors did, or even Ludwig. You both did what no one else could. How can I ever repay you?"

Donald looked down at his sister, afraid that she'd ask for Mickey's hand in marriage. Minnie herself appeared to be contemplating it, but she shook her head, smiling through a weary face. "I think I'd like to get you know you better, Mickey. I feel like we still don't know each other very well." Instead of covering his face in kisses or offering him a tackle of a hug, she merely held out her hand. "Maybe when you get a chance, we can go on a date?"

Mickey could now blush naturally, and boy did he ever, with puffy pink cheeks. "S-Sure! I'd love to! I mean, that'd be great! That'd be..." He stopped himself, feeling Donald's narrowed eyes boring into him. But Donald rolled his eyes and waved a hand – Mickey chuckled quietly and kissed Minnie's cheek. She grinned, squeezing his hand and holding onto it longer than necessary.

"Well now!" Ludwig announced loudly, having popped up next to Donald and almost shattering his eardrums. "Now that I am free, I can finally answer your question!"

Minnie and Donald blinked, looked at each other, and then shrugged. Donald was the one to ask the obvious. "What question? I'm pretty sure we've asked you, like, a hundred of them."

"Don't you remember, nephew? On your first day here, you asked me if ever really loved you." He cupped Minnie's cheek in one hand, and Donald's in his other. "Of course I love you. I've always loved you both. Leaving you behind was the worst decision I ever made and I'll always regret it. You've turned into spectacular adults." He nestled his head between theirs, a bit of mist in his eyes. "Can you ever forgive your uncle for how awful he's been to you?"

Donald breathed slowly, looking down at the withered old man. He was as human as anyone else, he supposed. The pain from Donald's childhood still lingered, but it was no longer an open wound. A scar would always be there to remind him of what had happened, but it wouldn't be as painful to look at. "No promises," he muttered, and he saw a crack of a smile on Ludwig's beak.

Minnie didn't instantly forgive her uncle either, though she did kiss his sagging cheek fondly. She had warped her life to be the good girl she thought he wanted instead of being the kind of girl she wanted to be. But it wasn't too late to change things. For Minnie, things were never too late as long as you had faith and trust.

As much as everyone wanted to take in this adorable family moment, there was work to be done, as evidenced by Mickey taking the fallen throne and trying to prop it back up. "I might not be the prince anymore," he huffed – this body was much weaker than one of wood, "But I think there's still some things we gotta fix."

The throne became easier to push when a second pair of hands joined in. "Who says you're not the prince?" Daisy asked sincerely. "Anyone here got any objections?"

After a moment, more hands began to grab the throne. "We've gotta rewrite the laws Mortimer made up," from Clarabelle Cow. "And I bet our economy's not that great right now."

"Wouldn't hurt to have someone tellin' us how to do all that," Goofy was the last shove needed to put the throne up right. "Long as you don't go rushin' things this time."

"But this time," Donald picked up his sister, guessing she wasn't going to stand for much longer, "You're getting a whole family of Drosselmeyers to keep your head on straight." He walked forward, and plopped Minnie into Mickey's befuddled yet open arms.

Minnie tittered, snuggling up to her beloved. "No more magic to cheat! We're all going to work hard to make this the kind of kingdom I dreamed about!"

"More doing, less talking." Donald shoved his empty hands into his pockets. Funny, he'd only held the sword for less than a day, but now his hands felt bare without it. Maybe in a silly fairy tale they'd spend the whole day and night hooting and hollering for their victory, but they wouldn't know what needed fixing without actually taking a good long look at everything. Christmas had probably passed in the time they spent here, but it would come by next year. Time would move on, and it wouldn't wait for anyone.

As he headed for the door, ready to make himself useful and find out what else Mortimer had done, Daisy skipped to his side, anxious to see what she could do. Mickey would join them, after putting Minnie to bed so her aching feet would know relief. Yet there was no doubt once she felt better, she'd work alongside them. Ludwig answered question after question, now unable to shut up even when people asked him to. All the while Donald found himself surrounded by people offering their thanks and their help. He didn't see his sister for quite some time – and found he could survive.

There was no happily ever after to be found. Life wasn't like a fairy tale, where every broken promise was healed by true love. There would still be people who didn't trust the prince or the Drosselmeyers, and it would take years for the ill rumors of the kingdom to die out in other lands. But with every setting sun, the villagers who were no longer transformed found less nightmares waiting for them in sleep. Donald never said out loud if he forgave his uncle. Minnie waited three months before marrying Mickey – well, all right, maybe that part was a bit like a fairy tale. You can't change a girl that much, to Donald's annoyance.

Not everyone was happy, the hot cocoa would end in empty cups, and magic was never used again. But nutcrackers would be built once more, standing like guardians before closed windows, and each one held a smile of love and pride.

It wasn't happily ever after, but it was close.