A/N: This is my Christmas special for the ending of 2010. It's based off of Warner Bro's The Nutcracker Prince. And I say Warner Bro's because I understand that there are many different versions of this story. There are MAJOR differences, yet again there are major similarities. The general idea for the Nutcracker Prince was kept. I hope you enjoy it and I hope to have it completed by December 31. I'm sorry to say it may get a little confusing throughout the chapter so if you need any further explaining just PM me or leave your questions in a review (I'll always answer). =)

Disclaimer: I do not own or claim any rights to the story from Warner Bro's The Nutcracker Prince nor do I own the characters from Digimon.

Chapter One: A Misguided Fairy Tale

December 20th 1894

It was a frosty evening. The breeze was biting and whipping, but despite the frozen breath there was still a delicateness falling in the air. The coarse wind was in contrast to the fragile flakes that landed in the girl's hair. Even with the crisp air the girl couldn't get over the feeling of winter wonder. She closed her eyes and turned her face to the sky, a pleasant smile on her face. Her eyes opened slightly and she peaked out of the corner of her eyes to make sure no one was around and when guaranteed the coast clear she grinned and stuck her tongue out catching the snowflakes as they fell. Feeling more confident she let herself laugh out loud and spread her arms spinning in circles.

There was never a time she loved more than winter or rather Christmas time. Feeling lighter than ever, her spins became more calculated, her feet leading her on an eccentric flow of grace. She was still feeling giddy from dance class and she could still hear the melody ringing in her ears.

"Mimi!" The outstanding voice caught her off guard and she nearly went tumbling to the ground. "What are you doing?"

Mimi leapt up and pushed her hair out of her eyes. She could feel the heat spreading to her cheeks and didn't doubt that it was more than obvious to her friend. This wasn't the first encounter where Mimi had been caught dancing in the streets, but that never lessened the embarrassment. Mimi coughed to clear her throat and gave a self-conscious smile. "How long have you been there?" She directed the question more to her best friend Kari.

Kari grinned at the boy to her right, "Long enough to see just about enough." Kari broke her secret looks from her partner and gave Mimi a warm smile. "It seems you're always daydreaming these days. You're also a great ballerina – you're sure to get into the New Year's Ballet with ease."

Mimi hummed appreciatively at the compliment. For the first time her eyes went to observe the boy next to Kari. She'd seen him around town but had never bothered to speak to him; he was one of those unattainable boys she and Kari had gossiped about and fancied, but was sure to never actually become involved with.

At first her initial reaction was surprise, but Kari and Dean were too wrapped up in their own mingles to notice her gaping expression – much to her relief. Mimi sifted uncomfortably. Obviously they'd been seeing each other for a while. There was a nagging feeling of betrayal in her nerves that would let up, and the feeling only intensified as she watched them share an intimate moment of whispered secrets as if she weren't even present.

Mimi glared in distain wondering when her friendship with Kari had dwindled so much that Kari thought it alright to leave out the fact that she was now on the arm of the dashing Dean Ashton.

Kari and Dean finally looked up and Mimi gave a half-hearted smile and hoped her voice didn't give away the hurt she was feeling, "I didn't know you two were seeing each other…"

Kari stared at Mimi for a long moment and Mimi was sure she saw a flash of regret – or something in Kari's face. Mimi watched Kari kick at the snow, "Well we've been together now for two weeks, nearly three."

Mimi's eyes widened. Three weeks! When and how – exactly? Why didn't Kari ever tell her? "Oh…"

Dean spoke for the first time, "So Mimi, as I hear you're rehearsing for the New Year's Ballet Recital?"

Mimi looked from Kari to Dean feeling utterly dumbfounded, "Um… Yeah, you heard right."

Dean gave a careful smile; even he could feel the awkwardness in the air. "Well perhaps Kari and I should be leaving now. We have to meet with her parents for last minute details for the annual Christmas ball."

There was no way of knowing if Dean knew what he meant when he said that. No way of knowing that planning the annual Christmas ball was something she did with Kari – her truest and best friend – since the dawn of time. But of course he would only know that if Kari had informed him, and with the way Dean seemed oblivious to Mimi's hurting astonishment she could only assume Kari had kept silent.

Mimi's eyes zeroed in on Kari wanting to know what she was thinking of all this. Did she care that she was seemingly tossing their friendship aside? Mimi couldn't understand anything that was happening right now. But Kari kept her face shadowed down, hiding from Mimi's prying eyes.

Mimi straightened; it was obvious Kari didn't want to see her… "I suppose your right Dean. I wouldn't want to delay you any longer."

Dean gave a brief smile to Mimi and with a nod of his head he pulled Kari with him. Mimi didn't wait a second before she too went in the other direction, but she was halted when Dean called back to her.

"Oh and Mimi!"

"Yes?"

"I hope to see you at the ball. And good luck with your recital, you'll be wonderful!" and with that they left.

Mimi stood there, speechless – again. She sighed and watched her breath puff out in front of her. Only moments ago she had been feeling… happy. If nothing she felt… glum. How did Kari and Dean find each other? When weeks ago they'd only fantasized? And why was Kari acting so distant? Mimi glared at the snow not wanting to think of Kari as a liar, but what difference did it really make?

XxX

"Mother! Mother!" Mimi called for her mother once she reached her house. Bursting through the door she jogged around her home looking for her mother.

"Mother? Mother where are you! I need to speak with you!"

Mimi's mother, elegantly known as Satoe, rushed out of the kitchen her expression stricken, "What is it Mimi, darling? Are you alright?"

Mimi shook her head ridding all the formalities, "Have you heard about Kari? Have you seen who she's with?"

Satoe removed her hand from her heart and the panic was pulled straight from her face. Now she only looked on irked and stern. "Mimi Tachikawa you had me scared half to death all for nothing!"

Mimi restrained from rolling her eyes, "Mother, can you tell me if you know anything or not?

Satoe placed a hand on her daughter's shoulder, "Mimi dear – manners. I thought you better."

"Mother!"

Satoe gave Mimi a hard glare but quickly sighed in defeat. Mimi's innocent expression was one face you couldn't say no to. "Mimi dear…."

"What about this Kari and Dean Aston affair?" Mimi pressed eagerly.

"Hush now Mimi," Satoe chastised with a frown; she wondered how to go about this, "Well for starters you've been awfully busy these past few weeks. I mean with all your dance lessons you're practically living in your own little dream world!"

Mimi didn't expect that, she pulled away from her mother's grip feeling even more confused. "Are you saying the reason Kari and I are no longer friends is because of me?"

Satoe reddened a bit and exclaiming, "No! Of course not dear! I only meant to imply that it's because of your busy schedule – which you haven't had time for your friends."

Mimi pressed her lips together speculating her mother's words. "So you're still saying it's because of me?" her voice was petulant, "Aren't you?"

"No, not really…" Satoe rolled her eyes to the ceiling with a deep sigh and finally she gave up, "Well Kari has called and dropped by here multiple times, but you were either practicing your lessons in your room or down at the studio. You did not want to be bothered, so Kari simply gave up."

Mimi stared at her mother with mixed disbelief and bitterness. She couldn't believe what she was hearing. If what her mother was saying was true then she felt it was Kari's fault or at least both of them. Mimi couldn't help but feel hurt. She had thought Kari understood what this recital meant to her, just how hard she had to work to be standing where she was now. And if maybe – Mimi still highly doubted – she was hard to reach along the way… well Kari should have tried harder!

Mimi refused to give in and couldn't help but be crisp. "I'm sorry but I don't follow your logic, Mother."

It wasn't just the excuses that she was busy, but what of the Christmas ball? Mimi couldn't still quite comprehend the fact that Kari was planning the annual Christmas ball alone. Well that wasn't quite true being as Dean seemed to find it in his right to help and not even think or rather burden himself with asking why Mimi wouldn't be joining them. Tradition was being broken and of course Mimi didn't see any reason why she should be held responsible.

Even as she did not feel any regret in that moment she still couldn't help but feel awfully hurt. Her mother now wasn't paying much attention anymore since Mimi ended up lost in her thoughts. Mimi looked to her mother and gave a sad smile, "I think I'm going to go see uncle for a while."

Satoe watched her daughter sulk out of the room and reenter the winter morning. It was strange seeing her daughter so down. But it was just as well that Kari must be feeling the same way so Satoe wasn't too worried for their friendship. It would mend itself in time and she was even more certain that her Godfather would bring some cheer in Mimi's life again.

xXx

Mimi reached her Godfather's quaint shop in the middle of town in a short time and as she entered the familiar shop the tinkling bell announced her arrival and in seconds her Godfather came around from back with nothing but smiles. It was refreshing to be back in the workshop that held so many of her childhood memories and seeing his simple smiles. "Hello uncle."

Hiroaki Ishida beamed at his goddaughter relieving in his favorite endearment from her. It had been such a while since the last he'd seen her, "I'm sorry young lady, but I'm afraid I don't recognize your face."

Mimi gave a grim smile. So it was true, her mother hadn't been over exaggerating. "I see your point uncle Ishida."

"I haven't heard you address me as uncle in a long time, Mimi." Hiroaki managed to look cross, "Your brother Davis has at least burdens himself with a visit once a week. Although it has been more so he could check to see if the newest models of aircrafts I've created – but it's still nice to see him."

"And I'm sorry about that. It's only because I've been so busy with my dance recital coming up that I haven't had the time for anything else."

"Yes I know all about that. Davis told me all about it every time he turned up without you. And if I do say, it seems to me a good enough reason to ignore everyone."

Mimi glared and crossed her arms. Sure she had neglected everyone but that didn't mean they had to dump unnecessary guilt on her. But as she continued to stare at Hiroaki she could feel her defenses melting. She sighed and gave a timid smile and Hiroaki then couldn't continue his charade. He cracked a smile and surprised Mimi by sounding a well-rounded laugh. "I'm sorry Mimi. I cannot stand to tease you. I think it's great that you've got the lead in the New Year's Ballet. It's only natural that you would be spending every second perfecting your routine."

Mimi blinked rapidly wondering if she'd heard him right. "Thank you for that lousy joke uncle. You know I came here for some cheering up."

"I'm sorry I didn't know that. What has you feeling blue?"

"Just that you were completely right! I have been ignoring everyone – unintentionally." She eyed him carefully, "And what's worse I just saw my best friend ever – my best friend in the whole world with our Dean Ashton!" She couldn't help her rising voice, "If I remember correctly Dean Ashton was ours – in theory – not hers alone! And what makes it even worse, she didn't even tell me!" Her face became flushed with emotion, "No wait, that's not the worst. What's the worst is she is arranging the last details to the annual Christmas Ball!"

Hiroaki frowned somberly through her tirade and quietly waited for her to let it out and until finally her voice became tired and she looked to him with expectant eyes. Walking from around the counter Hiroaki pulled two wooden chairs from the table, beckoning Mimi to sit. "It seems to me that you could use an escape."

"And what type of escape did you have in mind Uncle Ishida?"

A sense of serenity enclosed around them and Mimi was taken back to her childhood days of nothing but long hours of storytelling and fairytales. And just as she suspected, Hiroaki looked her right in the eye and a cunning smile took place. "It all started in a faraway kingdom."

Mimi grinned back and let herself fall into the easy pattern that had been missing from her life. This was the beginning she'd heard countless of times and always the same ending of 'Happily and Ever After.' Those were the kind that she adored most. "Please tell me this is a story of love and adventure and even mystery too, uncle?"

Hiroaki's eyes gleamed with the mystery she asked for, "Yes of course Mimi. I know the type of fairytales you love. This one may even be your favorite yet. So as I was saying, it all started in a faraway kingdom where there was of course a king and queen then their only son – the prince!"

"Now this prince was you're every knight in shining armor. Pleasing to the eye with his rouged looks - dashing, charming. Hair gold like the sun, eyes like shinning sapphires and a smile that could charm any young lady to his whim. But for that he was kindhearted, there was no arrogance or conceit. He was a romanticized figure in the kingdom but there was one girl who was bestowed the gift of his everyday presence – his fiancée Princess Catharine. She herself was a regal beauty to match his own; they were the perfect match in appearance."

"So this is a story where the boy and girl are already together?" Mimi asked already intrigued as she imagined the two beautiful people in her mind.

"Listen to the story first." Hiroaki said.

"They were to be wed in two weeks, it was a forced marriage and for that they did not truly love one another. If anything they were indifferent to each other's presence. But for the sake kingdom they put on the act of loved ones."

"It was exactly one week until the grand event and the entire castle was on edge with preparations for the wedding and the prince was having second thoughts. So he called to his uncle for some advice on what he should do."

"You wanted to speak with me, my nephew."

The prince looked up from his book and stood from his desk. "Yes Uncle Ishida. I've been meaning to ask your thoughts –"

Mimi perked at the name she recognized for Hiroaki, "Why that's your name!"

"Yes, yes, a mere coincidence." Hiroaki said with the wave of his hand. Mimi stared suspiciously but kept quiet anyway. "So back to the story…."

"Yes Uncle Ishida. I've been meaning to ask your thoughts on the event of the wedding."

Ishida looked confused, "Why do you ask Matt? What has you troubled?"

Matt gave his uncle a condescending glare. "Well it could be that I have no true feelings for Princess Catharine." His biting tone made Ishida cringe.

"I'm sorry. I should have remembered. Only I thought that maybe you have found yourself already fallen for her. She is a lovely girl – quite the sight."

Matt sighed feeling more than aggravated. This was just the same story over and over and it was wearing thin on him. "That's true uncle. She is beautiful, but it's not reflecting the same image on the inside."

Ishida frowned, "What do you mean?"

"She's nothing as she appears. She's selfish, conceited, jealous, and, and…." He struggled for the right word, "mean-spirited."

"I don't doubt you, nephew. I have seen firsthand her true ways but she's good for the kingdom. You need a Queen figure by your side."

But it was all a charade. And was that good for the kingdom? Matt didn't believe that. And most of all he didn't feel the affection he thought he should feel for the girl he was to marry.

"I do not love her."

"And it was that very day that Princess Catharine had been wondering the gardens when out of sight she tripped over a large rat that had been sneaking by. There was a loud cry from the princess and both the rat as well. It was nothing more than an accident but as it turns out; just before the princess fell she stepped on the rat's tail disfiguring it to wretchedly useless."

"Of course the rat was furious to no end. When Princess Catharine recovered from her fall, she was horrified to see the rat's piercing eyes taking her in, no doubt planning an act of revenge. For this was no ordinary rat. He too belonged to a kingdom of rats – he was the rat prince! And damaging his tail was an act of foulness to his crown. Because in rat world, a rat with an ugly tail would be like a rat with no tail at all. It was their pride and joy their tail was. And Princess Catharine had damaged the prince's tail – the soon to be king!"

"Pointing his scraggily, crooked finger at Princess Catharine his red eyes glowed with bitter vengeance clear. Taking the few steps he heaved himself on top of Princess Catharine's knees and looked her right in the eyes. Princess Catharine cowered in fear and willed her eyes to look away from the dirty rat, but she could not escape the malice in his tone as he vowed his act of vengeance upon her."

"And just as soon as it started it was over and Princess Catharine was left sitting on the grounds wondering just when the prince of rats would follow through with his plans. With rushing fear she ran for Prince Yamato for his help to save her life."

"After she was finished with her tale of the Gardens, Prince Matt couldn't help but stare in bemusement."

"Catharine, sweetheart…. Are you sure you didn't bump your head when you fell?" Matt asked in all seriousness. He made the motion to check her head but Princess Catharine jerked away red in the face.

"You mean to mock me, Yamato? You do not believe me?" Her voice was sharp.

Matt sighed, "No Catharine. I'm not mocking you dear. But a talking rat? And not just a talking rat but a prince as well?" Matt didn't look convinced, "Are you sure it wasn't just an old regular rat passing by?"

"No! I know what I saw! The Prince of Rats means to kill me!"

"For six days nothing happened and the planning of the wedding left the castle in chaos. For the first few three of those days, Princess Catharine lived in fear and paranoia. No one could calm her and Prince Matt's presence only seemed to agitate her more. And that could be because he didn't believe her and insisted that she only bumped her head too hard, but no one believing her didn't dissuade her from believing it herself. But it was a near week and nothing had yet to happen and it was now the day of her and Matt's wedding."

"It was the morning of the wedding and with one final conversation with Ishida – Matt's last resort to calming Princess Catharine. With a long talk from Ishida, he still hadn't made any headway at convincing her otherwise that the rat wasn't real, but tried a different course of seeing to her level. What made Princess Catharine give in was her own logic that made sense to her. She remembered the Prince of Rats vowing to do away with her, but it had already been a week and she was still fine as could be. With that in mind she thought that perhaps the rat was indeed just her imagination or rather the rat wouldn't bother her. Whichever she chose to believe, it worked to calm her nerves."

"As the ceremony was beginning the first scream was heard up in Princess Catharine's chambers. When Prince Matt and Ishida and the guards made it up to her room she was found lying on the floor with a cup of spilt tea lying next to her body."

A voice slithered into Matt and Ishida's ear to make them cringe, "It was quite easy choosing the perfect way of disposal. Your princess did quite like tea… perhaps too much."

Prince Matt looked down to see the queen of rats with her only son standing next to her with a satisfied smile. "It's you foolish humans that underestimate us. Maybe next time you'll believe your bride." Said the prince rat in his crusty, rustic voice to Matt.

Ishida cautiously knelt to Princess Catharine and checked her pulse and was sadden to find none, "She's gone."

Prince Matt blew out an angry breath and ran his hands through his hair, "Guards! Seize the mouse queen and her son! I want them captured – I want them ALL captured and exterminated at once! They've murdered Princess Catharine!"

"That was the marking point for Prince Yamato against the Rat Kingdom. After ordering the guards to exterminate the rats, the castle did not rest. It wasn't difficult luring the rats into cages, all of them were not very bright and all it took was a little cheese. In no time all the rats were captured, all but the queen and her son who were much too cunning to be tempted my measly cheese."

"It wasn't much longer when Prince Matt took much more drastic measures. He ordered twenty cats into the castle to hunt out the last two remaining rats. And unfortunately for the queen three cats managed to corner her and she was disposed of the only way a cat would dispose of a rat."

"The Prince of Rats was then the only one left remaining and he then had no choice – not that he minded – but to crown himself King of Rats. But because of all the traps there was no longer an army to follow him. And still dwelling on his disfigured tail, he showed himself to Ishida – the one person he knew he could speak to before they sent the cat on him. And once again he made a vow of vengeance. That would not be the last time they would hear of him. He would be back with a bigger and better army and then he would destroy Prince Matt. And with that he ran."

"Ishida took the threat seriously and at once fled to tell his nephew. Prince Matt didn't take the threat as seriously as Ishida and only said the king of rats was trying to fix his pride and ego. With the loss of Princess Catharine, that left the kingdom with no queen leading Ishida to invite all the maidens in the land for a chance to rule by Prince Matt."

"You must choose a bride, Matt." Ishida said. He knew Matt didn't want to go through this again.

"And if I don't?" Matt asked tersely.

"But you must…."

"None are fitting for the standards of queen."

Ishida balked, "But you haven't even seen any of them."

Matt shook his head dismissively, "I don't have to. I only know that none could ever live up to her…."

"At the time Ishida didn't understand what Prince Matt meant. He thought that perhaps on some level Matt had finally fallen in love with Princess Catharine and implied that no one would live up to Catharine since finally he loved her."

"Eventually every maiden all fair in their beauty – each their own porcelain doll arrived for a hearing with the Prince. And at each one, Prince Matt blew through them. None fit his standard of his ruling queen. It went on for three days and out of the hundreds of women, none sufficed. Prince Matt sat on his throne and with the wave of his hand and a look of boredom each lady was lead through the exit."

"Ishida had never seen Prince Matt like this. And was displeased to describe Matt's behavior as arrogant and… coldhearted. He tried to write it off as Matt's way of grieving for Princess Catharine. But the more the women came the more Prince Matt behaved coldly. There was hardness in Prince Matt's face that was never there before."

"There was one more day left for the courting and there were just a few more ladies left. And of course without surprise Matt dismissed each one. Finally the last girl was brought in with her mother."

"The mother was confident as ever; sure that her only daughter who was undeniably the most regal beauty and of course the fairest of them all would satisfy the prince, but to say the least it only flared his harsh indifference even more."

"Outraged, the mother revealed herself to be the Witch of White. She spoke with urgent fierceness, asking him if he loved his first princess. Needing to be sure if Princess Catharine had ever touched his heart."

"She thought perhaps that was why he refused even her daughter. And to everyone's horror, Prince Matt scoffed a laugh, revealing that he had never loved her either."

"You Prince Yamato have shown arrogance when finding love. You show resentment to all these girls – to my daughter!" the Witch of White waved her hands in a circle and a bright light appeared following her movements.

"From what I have seen, you have a cold heart. You wish to banish all these girls? Then you are unworthy of love! No one would love such a bitter man. And for that I shall freeze your heart. You shall become what you are from inside your heart."

'Prince Matt stood from his throne with real fear evident in his eyes. Before he could utter one word in his defense, there was a cloud of smoke and a loud popping noise and when the smoke slowly cleared, Prince Matt was no longer where he was last standing."

"There were screams of terror and many of the women in the room feinted. Where Prince Matt had once stood now lay an unbecoming nutcracker."

"Matt!" Ishida rushed to where Matt should have been. His heart sank at the sight, "Oh my poor nephew. What has she done to you?"

Carefully Ishida lifted the nutcracker and inspected him, seeing a ghost of his nephew reflected. "If it's the last thing I do, I'll break this spell. I know who your true character is."

Ishida looked back to the Witch of White but she and her daughter were already gone. "And in due time a girl will love you for you."

"The witch of white thought him bitter and coldhearted, only destined to be alone and frozen forever. And so with those thoughts she iced his heart and transformed him into a lonely nutcracker. The irony being not the appearance of the nutcracker, but the only the way of changing him back was by the one who could crack his iced heart.

"The Witch of White was certain there would never be one who would crack his frozen heart because he was cold to love. And so he received the title The Iced Nutcracker Prince."

"Ishida still searches for the one girl to love the Nutcracker despite his appearance and break the spell, but he has yet to find her."

Ishida finished his tale with a quiet smile to Mimi, pleased at his ability to tell a story so well. He noticed her sour expression and frowned. Did she not like the story? He thought he outdid himself. "Why are you making such a face?"

Mimi laughed out loud, "Are you serious, uncle? That's not exactly the type of story I was looking for as a way to cheer me up." Mimi cringed displeased, "It wasn't a happy ending, the prince was a jerk, and Princess Catharine was killed by a rat, granted she wasn't very nice but she didn't need to die. And quite frankly I think this Prince Matt deserved what he got in the end."

Ishida balked at her last statement. "What do you mean? That must be the perfect fairytale story out there! It's my favorite after all and I thought as my goddaughter it would be your favorite as well."

"Sorry to disappoint you uncle, but do you not know me at all? I am a romantic. Not a tragedy lover." Mimi wrinkled her nose. "Plus, Prince Yamato seemed to be a jerk. When I find love I want my husband to be warm and loving – not cold and cynical."

Ishida couldn't believe what he was hearing. "Matt is not cold and cynical. Can you not show him any pity? He was turned into a Nutcracker remember? And his fiancé was murdered by a rat. Does that not deserve some of your heart going out to him?" There was a light gleam to his eye, matching his words, but it went unnoticed to Mimi.

"Uncle Ishida, my heart is a dramatically sensitive – I have no problem admitting that. I don't think I could give my heart to a rude and arrogantly insensitive… nutcracker." Her nose wrinkled at the thought. But her face immediately praised Ishida's overly stunned face. She wasn't sure why Uncle Ishida seemed so defensive about this story.

"I would think you of all people would understand this story…." He paused and stared her up and down, "But maybe that's because the story is missing one very vital piece of information."

Mimi perked up, "And what's that?"

Uncle Ishida smirked, but shook his head. He loved messing with her, "I don't think you deserve to know quite yet."

Little did Mimi know that Uncle Ishida's motive to this entire story was a set up and that he was planning an elaborate scheme where Mimi would remember this story for the rest of her life and hold it dear to her heart. His Goddaughter was a fan for the fairytales and romantics so as his secret gift; he was going to deliver Mimi her very own fairytale adventure right to her door step. He couldn't wait to see Mimi's surprised face!

A/N: Confusing just like I said it would be right? Well tell me if it was or wasn't! Reviews are appreciated and loved greatly! Thank you! =)

~ Lilly-Brey