//------------------------------// // Remembering Marie // Story: Nutcracker Ponies and The 4 Realms // by Wildcard25 //------------------------------// After viewing the Ballet story, Sugarplum lead the group the downstairs palace. “Dear Queen Marie kept Mother Ginger in line,” Sugarplum explained more as they walking down and entering a room in what seems to be filled with crates and boxes, “But now that she’s gone and with Mother Ginger seeking dominance over our realms, we are utterly defenseless.” “Why say that?” Chet asked. “Well, you see dear, we were once toys. Mere play things to children,” Sugarplum explained, “But when Marie arrived, she changed everything. She gave us life.” “How exactly?” Clara asked. “With this,” Sugarplum pointed to what seem to be a giant microscope machine in color blue, “The Engine.” “That’s my mother’s invention,” Clara remember one of he mother’s creations. “Yes. When we were toys we felt nothing,” Sugarplum spoke, “But with Marie’s Engine, we were brought to life and now we have feelings like you all do. Happiness, Sadness, Anger, Love,” She paused for a moment before saying,“Fear.” “There’s plenty of that going around,” Captain Philip spoke. “You’re quite right sweet captain,” Sugarplum responded, but now it has been set down, "Our spies tell us that Mother Ginger is on the warpath, gathering her forces. The Engine is the only way that we can build an army to defend ourselves. But it doesn't work! If we can't get it to work, then all is lost.” Clara thought about it before speaking, “Perhaps I can fix it.” “And I can help you with that,” Twilight offered, “I do know how to tinker with some mechanisms.” “Oh it’s not broken,” Sugarplum interrupted that idea as she was climbing on the platform where the Engine controls are, “We’re simply missing the key. We have been searching all around but we could not find it.” Sugarplum showed them the pile of keys that none seem to fit, “I fear your mother must've taken it with her when she left us and now that she’s dead we are at a loss,” Sugarplum felt grieved of the situation before she calmed herself down and then turned to Twilight, “And I’m afraid the key that Starswirl gave you would not fit to the keyhole either.” Clara examined the keyhole to the Engine controls and noticed something familiar on the lock. She then reached in her pocket and pulled out what seem to be a metal egg shape and looked on its lock. She then compared the two and noticed that they are the same. “Everyone, look this is a Christmas gift my Mother gave me. The lock on it is the same shape as the Engine Control Lock. Which means they share the same key,” Clara spoke. The group was astounded to hearing the fact. “Wow what are the odds in that?” Pinkie spoke as the others. “This key you speak of, is it with you, or back in your world?” Sugarplum asked in hope. “It was that horrid little mouse that snatched my key in the Christmas Tree Forrest,” Clara recalled. “The same thing with my key from Starswirl. Another mouse swiped if from me,” Twilight shared. “Both Mouserinks and Ratsputtle,” Captain Philip stated while looking in some crates full of toys and stuff, “Crafty little sneaks.” “We chased them both to and in the Fourth Realm where we ran into the Mouse King and Mother Ginger,” Applejack mentioned. “Then that would mean, Mother Ginger has both of those keys,” Sugarplum fell into depression before realizing a terrible thought, “Oh, poo! And I’m afraid with the key Starswirl gave to you, Mother Ginger will be able to use it to open the doorways, lead her army to Clara’s home and Equestria and she will be able to rule three worlds.” “WHAT?!?!?!” The group screamed together. “She wouldn’t,” Fluttershy nervous spoke will feeling scared at that thought. “Our home, our family and friends are in grave danger,” Spike shuttered as the group share sympathy thought for their friends and family in the peril they will be in. “We got to get our keys back from Mother Ginger,” Clara decided with the group coming to an agreement. “Go back to the Fourth Realm?” Captain Philip asked in shock, “That is ludicrous!” “No no we can’t let you all risk your lives. We already lost our Queen. We can’t afford to lose you all too,” Sugarplum forbid the idea. “We got to do it,” Twilight spoke in determination, “If we don't do something, all our worlds are doomed.” “I agree,” Chet vouched for Twilight, “We must prevent the demise of our worlds from Mother Ginger, the Mouse King, and their forces.” “This is too risky,” Captain Philip spoke in concern, “Are you all certain?” Clara went to the Captain and spoke, “This is why my mother send me. My mother created this world for all of you to live together. And I am certainly not going to let it be ruined or fall apart by those two. I got to get that key back.” Sugarplum and Captain Philip still both share concern of the decision the group made, but they then saw courage and determination within them and eventually agreed. “But if we’re gonna do this then we must come up with a plan of attack,” Rainbow pounded her hooves. “And we will need plenty of food and rest tonight,” Applejack spoke. “Ooh I need to figure what to wear tomorrow,” Rarity with her sense in wear spoke with the group rolling there eyes. “Alright friends, we have a lot to do but not much time,” Chet spoke before declaring, “So let’s get to work!” The group piled their hooves and hands together and let out a cheer. They soon bang discussing a plan of attack. They eventually thought of an idea, an element of surprise, without any of them seeing them coming. Sugarplum then made all the arrangements to assemble the palace guards to accompany the group to the Fourth Realm. Everything else was then in preparations for tomorrow. With that everyone decided to get some rest. During that night all were sleeping peacefully in their warm beds, enough for them to be ready. However not everyone was asleep. Twilight who couldn't sleep decided to get some fresh air up on the palace tower. Aside from being astounded by the view of all the four realms, what she didn’t noticed was she was not alone. “Beautiful evening eh?” A voice called from above Twilight. She looked up and saw that it was Chet. “Oh, Chet, I didn’t’ see you there,” Twilight spoke, “I thought this area was empty.” “Nah, I’ve been up here for a while, needing some fresh air and all,” Chet replied as he then climbed down using his gecko instinct skills to meet up with Twilight, “Assuming the same for you or something else on your mind?” “No, actually I couldn’t sleep. I’ve been thinking about what we were about to do tomorrow in hoping what we’re doing is right,” Twilight sighed, “But more importantly, I’m worried about Clara. Not just for her safety but noticing her still feeling grieved for her loss.” “Yeah I know,” Chet spoke, “I couldn't sleep either because of those reasons, but we must remember and you said so yourself, the fate of our worlds rests upon our shoulders. This will certainly be no different than our past encounters separate, but along with the recent defeat of the Storm King in Canterlot and stopping Cozy Glow from taking all the Equestria Magic and ruling not just the school but the world as well.” “Yeah I recalled those recent events, but this isn’t Equestria,” Twilight pointed out, “This is something new that we never encountered before.” “No matter what Twilight,” Chet spoke as he laid his hand on Twilight’s shoulder, “We do what we must to bring peace to all our worlds.” Twilight gave Chet a smile before hearing something coming up the stairs. They turned to see who that was and it none other than Clara in her white night dress. She took noticed at Chet and Twilight. “Oh, hello, you two,” Clara greeted, “I thought I heard some voices up here. I just didn’t know who it was.” “Oh, Clara, we were up getting some fresh air and all,” Chet explained before he joked, “I suppose you’ve come to join us for that?” Both Twilight and Clara giggled a bit. Clara’s sense of humor was soon turned to bitter sorrow, before Chet and Twilight took noticed. “I know that bitter look,” Chet spoke, “Come on over here and tell us what’s really the matter? What are you doing out of bed?” “Well, I couldn't sleep because I had a memory revisit of my mother,” Clara began, “I remember the one time at Christmas when she and I were decorating the tree. I found the Nutcracker ornament. He was one of my mother’s favorites. She said he reminded her of a land she once discovered which I assume it was the Four Realms. She promised me that one day she would take me to that world before she felt ill once more. Being concerned I had to check on her but she assured me she was alright. She also told me that there are some journeys that I must go alone and that I am unique and brave unlike my sister Louise. But more importantly she told me that whatever I do, she will always watch over me, before she had me hang the Nutcracker ornament on the tree. After that memory I heard a sound from my window and noticed it was an owl. The same one from my Godfather’s workshop downstairs in his mansion. The bird flew upwards and I followed. Somehow lead me here and to you two. Thought coming up here would help clear my mind, but it hasn’t.” Clara then paused for a moment before speaking again. “Now that she’s gone, I really miss her so much. I felt so miserable and depressed for some time now I just could not feel in my heart that she is there,” Clara placed her hand on her heart and suddenly began to cry with tears leaking down, “My sister Louise and my brother Fritz also grieved over loosing mother as well. But father, all he ever cared about is appearances. As if he shows no sympathy at all.” “Clara,” Twilight begin, “That’s not true. I’m sure that deep down your father really misses your mother. I wouldn’t jump to the wrong conclusions.” “Yeah, I’m certain your father loves your mother as much as you three do together,” Chet pointed out. “I appreciate what you two are saying, but I wouldn’t expect neither of you to understand this feeling I have inside, what it’s like to loose a mother,” Clara sniffed as she tried her best to hold back her tears. There was a moment of silence until Chet finally broke it. “Actually I do,” Chet began as Twilight and Clara looked at him surprisingly. “What do you mean, Chet?” Twilight asked out of curiosity. “Well you see, you already know that I came to your castle in Ponyville Twilight under my sensei, Master Oshi’s wishes. But there is more to the story of why I have come to Ponyville,” Chet explained before he took a sigh and began telling his story. “You see when I was very young, I once had a mother and a father like everyone else in my island village. My mother was most kind, caring and most loving creature to everyone in our village. My father was a skilled warrior, a student to Sensei Oshi and loyal to all in the village. Both of them were proud to have a wonderful son of their own and we were all happy together. That is until we heard about the Storm King and his armies taking over half the world, spreading fear and despair over the innocent. Then one day, my father was then sent with others to fight off against the Storm King and his Armies. He has been gone for several months. When we heard word that the warriors were coming home, but not all of them returned...alive! The grave news I received and it was hard on me the most is that my father fought valiantly against the Storm King himself but by delaying his plans for conquest, he sacrificed his life to stop those plans. All that was left of him were his two magic Katana swords, which I now carry and wield.” Chet referred to his two Katanas that he used in his battles and continued on. With my father gone, my mother became very ill. She struggled hard to make our loving life last, but hard she tried the worser she gotten. Master Oshi, also being a healer to our village, did all that he could to halt the illness from spreading. But it was far too great, in the end, it took my mother and I was left alone. I felt so empty inside, that void was then filled in when Master Oshi took me into his home, raised me as his own son, and trained me in the way of the skilled warrior that you both come to know. But in the past few years, the emptiness in me of my mother and father being gone still continued to haunt me.” Chet place his hand on his chest and felt his heart ached over that empty void. “However, when we heard the news of you Twilight and your friends ultimately defeating the Storm King at Canterlot, Master Oshi decided to send me to Equestria and seek you out, to learn on how the Storm King’s demise was possible, Chet continued, “Many days and nights had past in my travel but I eventually made it to Ponyville and met up with you and your friends.” “And I think you know the rest of the story,” Chet finished at ease. However, telling such a dreadful tale left a tear running down Chet’s face. Twilight and Clara took noticed and felt great sympathy for him. “Oh, Chet,” Twilight place her hoof on her heart and had tears filling up, “I had no idea you had to go through such hard times and with the reign of the Storm King that time.” “I honestly didn’t know that you lost both your mother and father,” Clara who was also in tears, decided to go to Chet and embrace him. Twilight went over and did the same, embracing the love and sympathy. Chet accepted the gesture for a long moment until he spoke. “But all that void emptiness really changed me since my time being there at Ponyville,” Chet shared his thoughts, “At that school you all were hosting, you not only had me be both student for learning under you education but also gave me the chance as a teacher to share my knowledge in way of living of my island village but also sharing my way of defense. It proved to be more to the test when we stopped Cozy Glow from stealing the magic in Equestria. You had shown me what the Magic of Friendship was really about. Each of you has taught me the qualifications of not only what being a friend means, but the ones that is needed for family. You Princess Twilight Sparkle and you friends turned out to be the family I needed after all. And you Clara, have become a part of my family as well.” “Off and all, whatever happens over at the Fourth Realm, and come face to face with Mother Ginger and the Mouse King, we all must know that family stays together to the end,” Chet made a promise to the two. Twilight and Clara felt more touched at Chet’s words that they then embraced him once more. “Thank you Chet for you sweet kind words,” Twilight smiled and feeling warmed, “Also I’m very proud in knowing how far you have come and how much you’ve learned from us in the Magic go Friendship.” “Yes. Thank you even more, for understanding what I’m feeling, for accepting me as a member of your new family, and for believing what we all can do, as a family,” Clara also smiled as she began to wipe her tears. Chet then placed his hand on Clara’s shoulder and spoke, “Also remember this, just because your mother’s gone, doesn’t mean her spirit is also gone too. And this was something I did not realize until after the Storm King was defeated, but the spirit of my mom and pop still lives in me. That would mean your mother lives in you.” Chet placed his hand onto Clara where her heart is, “In here.” Clara smiled again as she place her hand onto Chet’s, “Thank you.” Just then a little gust of wind blew at them as the three looked at the sky and noticed a shooting star. For a moment, Clara thought on it and realized it was a sign that her mother is with her. She then noticed the owl that was sitting on the rail watching all that was going on started to fly away. Clara then regained her thoughts and spoke. “I believe I feel better now and ready to get some more sleep. We have a long day ahead of us tomorrow,” Clara declared, as Chet and Twilight agreed. The three started to head back down and went back to bed to sleep more before dawn approached.