Chapter Text
Chapter 1: The Toymaker’s Tale
On the quietest winter nights, the impossible wakes.
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The apartment was lit up with scattered lights, the smell of pine tainting the air as the candle burned on the coffee table.
Izuku stood frozen in the middle of the living room, staring at the Christmas tree like a math problem he couldn’t figure out. The string of lights sat tangled at his feet as he shifted his gaze back and forth.
“Ochako,” he said carefully, holding a strand of lights at arm’s length, “I don’t know if these are going to be long enough.”
From where she was kneeling by an open box of ornaments, Ochako peeked up at him—and promptly burst out laughing.
“Maybe you should try untangling them first, silly,” she said, rising from her knees. She walked over and grabbed the lights from the floor. “Maybe then, they will long enough.”
Izuku flushed, nodding quickly. “Yeah, that makes sense.”
This was their first Christmas living together. Last year, they still lived in their own apartments, and he didn’t see her till after Christmas since they both had to work. Despite knowing each other for a decade, being a couple and celebrating a holiday together felt so insanely intimate. He wanted their first holiday season together to be memorable. Decorating their first home together was much more nerve-wracking than it should be. Every ornament felt important. Every placement felt like it mattered more than it should.
Ochako moved through the room like nothing fazed her. Izuku remembered during their time at UA and how much of a natural she was in decorating their dorms. Her smile was radiant as she skirted around their small apartment. She was barefoot on the floor, hair tied up messily, and humming along with the Christmas music drifting from the speaker on their coffee table as she continued rummaging through the ornament box.
“Aww! Here’s the ornament Eri-chan made us our second year!” Ochako held the small ornament in her hand tenderly as she showed it off to Izuku.
Izuku’s eyes misted as he remembered the day they made it.
The Shei Hassaiki crew, sans the Big Three, had gotten together for a Christmas ornament making party. Ochako and Tsuyu had helped Eri with making a Christmas tree ornament out of popsicle sticks while Izuku focused on cutting yarn for her garland decoration. Kirishima helped provide the strength to glue the popsicles together.
When the night was over, she had gifted the ornament to Izuku.
“You big sap.” Ochako grinned as she placed it on the table gently.
Izuku walked over and snapped a photo, sending it Eri’s way. Ochako watched as his eyes softened, sending messages back and forth towards the young girl. She nearly felt her heart explode. Seeing this side of Izuku always turned her to jelly.
“Eri says hi!” He looked over at her and grinned. Ochako gave a small wave.
“Once the place is decorated, we definitely need to have her and Kota-kun over!”
Izuku nodded as he sent one more text before setting his phone back down.
“Alright, these lights won’t get themselves done!” Izuku’s face shifted to one of determination, one Ochako had seen time and time again. The same expression that she had fallen in love with all those years ago.
“Don’t let the villain best you, hero.” She teased, and a light blush tainted his cheeks as he began to untangle the string of lights.
“Never!”
And they both laughed, as the soft Christmas music continued to play in the background. Ochako separated all the ornaments, the inserts, garland, and watched as Izuku finally untangled the lights. She giggled as he began to mutter, his mind strategizing at the best way to place these lights.
“Here – ” She grabbed one end and floated herself, “I’ll start at the top, and you continue to the bottom?”
She could see the realization in his eyes, and he scoffed. “Why didn’t I think of that?”
“Because you were too distracted.”
He nodded, and they worked together to get the lights strung through the tree. Once they looked presentable, Ochako released herself, Izuku catching her from falling.
“Now who’s the one who almost fell?” He asked cheekily and Ochako rolled her eyes with a slight blush.
“Alright, mister. How about you help me put these ornaments up instead, huh?” She elbowed him and Izuku grinned.
Just like when they were in school, their teamwork was impeccable. They knew each other’s next moves without speaking to one another. Izuku read her mind, her movements. He knew all her expressions just like she knew his. She would hand him the next ornament without him having to clarify which one. He would step in where she couldn’t reach. And soon, they were done.
With her hands at her sides, Ochako nodded in triumph.
“Not bad for our first tree together, dontcha think?” She grinned at Izuku as he walked up behind her with two cups of hot chocolate in his hands.
He set them down on the coffee table and walked up behind Ochako. Circling both his hands around her midsection, he laid his chin on her shoulder.
Ochako felt her entire body burn.
“It looks perfect.”
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The night had gone on relatively quiet for once. Neither were on call, and Izuku had already finished grading all his student’s papers. Ochako and Izuku were nestled together on the couch, sharing a blanket as they scrolled through the Christmas movie catalogue.
“Rules are the same as the dorm days! We each pick a movie to watch!” Ochako handed Izuku the remote. He tapped it against his chin, mind already spinning.
“Okay, but we have to think practically here – there is no way to get them all done before Christmas?!” He said horrified.
“Deku-kun… it’s not a marathon. We’re just watching our favorites!”
“But Ochako – there are so many good ones!”
The zero-gravity hero laughed, knowing that Izuku was being completely sincere.
“With how much we work, we aren’t going to be able to get to even half of them!”
“Well, we better get to it, then, hmm?” She gestured towards the selection and Izuku sighed in exasperation.
They sat on the couch as they scrolled through the catalogue, Izuku deep diving on themes, semantics, plot, characters, foils, etc. and why each movie deserved its own spotlight. Ochako rolled her eyes as she merely replied with “It’s cute.”
Eventually, they agreed to watch a movie that had never been watched before: The Nutcracker Prince.
“Y’know, I don’t think I’ve ever watched this. I’ve heard the music, sure. But an actual movie? Can’t say that I have.” Ochako scrolled through the internet as she searched images, the characters, the plot.
Izuku’s jaw dropped. “Wait, seriously!? You’ve never watched the ballet?”
Tilting her head, she shook no. Half her lip quirked up, and she shrugged her shoulders. “Nope.”
“Ochako! This is such a classic! Mom would take me down to the theatre to watch it almost every holiday season!! Oh, this movie is old but it’s soooooo good! The characters, the plot, the villains. The music, as you know, is a classic. The characters are so unique and the way the story is told is amazing! You find yourself rooting for every single one, even the bad ones!”
Ochako smiled sweetly as she watched excitement brighten Izuku’s eyes. She did always find it endearing how passionate Deku was about the things he enjoyed. Whether it was hero work, his students, or whatever other interest captivated him, he always gave it his absolute best.
She loved that so much about him.
“Alright then! It’s settled. We will watch this movie about dolls and magic.” She giggled and he reciprocated with a wide grin.
“Great! Let me get our refills of hot chocolate!”
When he returned, they snuggled on the couch, snow falling gently outside their window. The lights dimmed, soft shadows from the lights of their Christmas tree illuminated parts of their living room. Izuku turned back slightly to admire the tree in its completed glory.
Ochako watched him stare at their first Christmas tree together, his beautiful green eyes softening.
She leaned up to kiss his cheek, catching him completely by surprise.
His eyes found hers, wide with shock. His cheeks flushed and ears burned at the sudden action. Which, Ochako found silly. A kiss on the cheek was certainly the most innocent form of love they have engaged in. They had other activities to be more embarrassed for.
“Wha - ”
“I’m just happy I get to be with you. Is that so bad?” She teased and his entire face burned a bright red.
“Never!” He swallowed and then sighed with a small smile, “I’m so happy, too. That we get to be together like this.”
Ochako knew that her zero-gravity had not been activated, because all her fingers were to herself. But Izuku always made her feel like she was floating. He reached for her hand under their shared blanket and brought it to his lips. Eyes closed, he kissed her knuckles gently.
Her heart felt like it was going to burst from her chest.
“I love you.” He whispered, Ochako feeling the words vibrate against her fingers. All the restraint in the world was barely enough from lunging at him and kissing him until they were suffocating.
With his boyish grin, and twinkling green eyes, and shaggy hair that never quite grew back correctly after the war, Ochako didn’t know it was possible to love someone so much.
“I love you too, Deku-kun.” She muttered, face red, tongue tied.
His eyes brightened, smile wide across his face as if it were the first time he heard those words. They settled comfortably into one another, Ochako resting her head against Izuku’s shoulder. He felt it immediately – the weight of her, the warmth of her.
The movie began, the soft notes of one of the most beloved and well-known pieces of classical music filled the room. When Izuku looked down at Ochako, her eyes were locked onto the screen. He smiled and turned his attention back to the movie.
As the movie continued to play out, she would stop and ask him questions, curious about what was playing out in front of them. Izuku was happy to answer all her questions without revealing too much about the film.
But no less than 45 minutes in, he noticed the weight against his shoulder grow. Her breathing evened out, and Ochako was sound asleep.
She fell asleep before the Mouse King even appeared on screen.
Bummer, Izuku thought.
“Oh well,” he laughed slightly, “we can finish it some other time.”
She had been working more as of late. Even before they started dating, Izuku knew how busy Ochako made herself, especially during the holiday season. This time of year, brought about an array of emotions, and she knew that children suffered mentally more during the holidays. She didn’t want to see any children get leftbehind again.
She wanted to save any future Toga Himiko’s.
Just like he wanted to save any future Shigaraki Tomura's.
Izuku carefully muted the TV and shifted just enough to slide his arm around her. For a moment, he simply sat there and watched her sleep. It was disbelieving at times that this was his life. A hero once more, still able to instruct his students, and with the person he loved the most.
He was so lucky.
Izuku, slowly and with practiced care, lifted Ochako into his arms.
“Ochako,” he whispered, more out of habit than expectation. She only stirred faintly, burying her face into his chest.
He carried her to the bedroom and tucked her beneath the blankets, smoothing her hair back gently. Grabbing her sleeping mitts, he slipped them on gently and kissed the top of her head.
“I love you.” he murmured.
The faintest smile touched her lips.
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Ochako didn’t remember falling fully asleep.
One moment she had been curled against Izuku’s side on the couch, the faint music of The Nutcracker Prince drifting through the room. The next— she was cold.
Wood creaked beneath her as she stirred from her sleep.
Ochako opened her eyes.
She was no longer in her apartment.
Not in her bed.
Not… not anywhere that she recognized.
Endless shelves stretched around her under a vaulted ceiling that was lost in the shadows. Each shelf was packed with toys of every kind – porcelain dolls, tin soldiers, clockwork animals, music boxes that all seemed frozen in time. Strings of lights hung from the unseen rafters above, casting the workshop in a soft, amber flow.
The air smelled faintly of sawdust, oil, and what felt like… like old magic.
“Hello…?” She called out softly.
Her voice echoed, lost in the vast space around her.
She took a tentative stop forward, bare toes brushing against smooth, wooden floorboards. She wandered between the shelves, careful not to touch, but curious as to what world she was in.
And it had to be a new world.
Because everything felt too real to be a dream. Yet, it also felt wrong enough to unsettle her. Because as she continued to walk through the never-ending aisles of shelves, they toys seemed to watch her as she passed them by. Every toy felt alive in a way she could not explain.
Glass eyes caught the light, painted smiles fixed forever. Like they were locked in with no way out.
And then –
And then she felt it.
A pull in her chest.
Subtle. Gentle. Quiet.
Certain.
As if something – or someone – was calling to her without words.
Her feet carried her towards a solitary worktable, lit by the soft beam of a lamplight.
Ochako’s steps slowed as she approached it slowly, her eyes landing on it almost instantly.
A Nutcracker.
His uniform was intricately carved, painted in deep reds and soft gold. His wooden joints gleamed with careful craftsmanship and painstakingly precision. A noble sword carved from a sturdy wood and painted in rich silver hung against his hips. His black boots were strong on his feet, as if they carried the weight of his duty.
Ochako could tell that whoever created this magnificent creature did it with all the love and devotion in the world.
But what intrigued Ochako the most – what caught her attention above the craftsmanship…
The story she could see in his beautifully carved eyes.
A striking green, almost twinkling under the soft glow of the lamplight. They were soft, kind, gentle even. But there was an overwhelming sadness there too. A melancholy that she felt so deep in her heart it was difficult to explain.
His hair was dark, a muted shade of green – an odd, but beautiful color she had never seen on a toy before, nevertheless a Nutcracker. Freckles dotted his carved cheeks, faint but unmistakable. They were tiny, imperfect things that made him feel more human than a toy.
Ochako stepped closer, her hand moving gently towards his carved one. Her fingertips brushed faintly against his shoulder, and she felt like she was going to cry.
Something about him felt burdened, his shoulders strong, resilient. But also, gentle. Like if he had a soul, he would be a kind person.
“You have a unique taste in toys, young Miss.”
A strong voice spoke behind her.
Ochako spun around with a startled gasp, almost knocking herself off her own feet. Her heart jumped to her throat as she reached her hand to her heart, trying to ease the ferocious beating.
A tall figure appeared from the shadows, shoulders broad, wrapped in a long, dark coat dusted with starlight. His presence felt… ancient, magical, old. But also, warm, and calming, and a weird sense of relief fell over her.
His blonde hair shimmered against the freckles of light. But like the doll behind her, his eyes told a story of both heartache and wonder. Cerulean blue eyes that she imagined once blazed in glory, were now sunken into his face. A faint, despondent smile graced his lips as he came closer to her.
Ochako felt this pull in her chest, a familiarity sinking in.
She knew there was nothing to fear in his presence.
“He…” she turned to look at him, “He just stood out to me.”
The smile on his lips quirked higher. “As he was always meant too.”
“Who – who are you?” She asked, turning back towards the older gentleman.
Bowing slightly, he spoke, voice full of ancient vigor. “In this realm, I am known as The King of the Dolls.”
Ochako’s eyes widened, brows lifting high as she stood in the presence of royalty. His title felt important, heavy with meaning she couldn’t fully grasp.
“But to you, Young Uraraka, I am simply Yagi Toshinori.”
Her brows knit together.
“How do you know my name?”
A mirth of a smile, and he chuckled, vibrating deeply into his chest. “Nothing is unknown to the King of Dolls in his own realm.”
It didn’t make sense to Ochako, but she had chosen to accept his answer. After all, she didn’t sense any ill will from him. Really, his essence made her feel safe in ways she never did.
“Tell me, Young Uraraka,” His eyes traveled back to the Nutcracker as he approached both her and the toy slowly. His eyes softened, admiration and regret admonishing the bright blue to a dull midnight color as he rested a heavy hand on the edge of the worktable. “Have you ever heard the story of the Nutcracker Prince?”
Ochako shook her head. “No, sir.”
His expression softened with something like old sorrow.
“Then, if you would allow me.”
.
“Long ago,” Yagi began, “there lived a good and just King, and his only daughter—Princess Melissa. Their kingdom flourished, with good bounty, prosperity, and a radiating happiness that enriched the lands.”
“Yet, the princess lived in quiet loneliness. With no siblings, no companions, she felt a heavy solitude. And the King, with all the blessings and offerings a man could get, was unable to give her the very thing she sought the most: a friend.”
“So, with no one else to turn too, the kind begged his oldest and dearest friend – The King of Dolls – to craft a toy that would bring comfort to his daughter. A loyal companion that would bring her happiness. That would never abandon her.”
Ochako’s brows furrowed as he faintly smiled.
It was then she realized something.
This was his story.
This was his Nutcracker.
There was a crinkle in the man’s eyes. His realization that she put together the puzzle he laid out for her.
“And so,” Toshinori stated, “I created the Nutcracker.”
“Princess Melissa, ecstatic with my creation, adored the toy above all else. She always kept him by her side. The King was overjoyed in his daughter’s newfound happiness. And The King of Dolls was pleased to bring such jubilance to his friend’s life.”
“As time passed, Melissa’s happiness spread across not just the castle, but across the land. The Nutcracker, diligently at her side. He fulfilled his purpose so well that the Princess made a wish born of innocent love.”
Ochako sucked in a breath.
“She wished for him to become human.”
Toshinori Yagi’s voice grew heavier, the frown lines on his face grimmer.
“Knowing I was capable of making her greatest wish come true, the King pleaded for my help.” Something shifted in the air, and Ochako felt the air grow heavy around them.
“I hesitated, bringing great strife between my oldest friend and I.” He shook his head as his eyes studied his beautiful creation. “Magic of that kind is never without consequence.”
He closed his eyes, sighing deeply. “But I loved the King and his daughter too deeply to deny them true happiness.”
“So, I swore only this once that my magic would be used in creation of life. And I had the Kind swear his life to never ask me of such a feat again.”
Yagi Toshinori reached out a hand, hovering above the Nutcracker. He wriggled his fingers, as if he were reenacting a spell of old.
“And such, the Nutcracker came alive.”
Ochako was hit with a gust of air, the black coat around Toshinori Yagi’s shoulders swaying next to her. Millions of specs of gold fell around her, illuminating the ground in showers of gold. Her eyes went wide as she realized that this was magic.
“His name?” The blonde-haired man said as he tilted his head towards her, “was Izuku.”
There was something painfully tight in her chest as the King of Dolls spoke his name. And Ochako couldn’t put a reason as to why.
“The Princess was overjoyed. The King declared him a prince, and Prince Izuku was utterly devoted to the Princess. His duty knew no bounds as he ensured her complete happiness.”
“For some time, the Kingdom knew peace. As his creator, I assumed responsibility of raising the boy. I trained him to be the strongest, most resilient man I had ever set eyes on.” A nostalgic smile full of fond memories lifted on his lips. “Even without my teachings, that boy knew devotion the moment he became human. In his creation, he learned kindness, and loyalty. His sole mission in his life was to bring peace and prosperity to Princess Melissa and her future kingdom.”
His expression soured and guilt washed over his face.
“But the time of peace was disrupted.” The magic swirled around them and Ochako gasped slightly as the golden dust particles turned purple. “The Mouse King emerged. That demon brought destruction to everything he touched.”
“He was an evil creature. Manipulative, cruel, cunning. He turned many of the King’s faithful servants against him. And at his side, his adopted son, the Mouse Prince – Shigaraki Tomura.”
The King of Dolls leaned against the worktable, jaw tight as he stared at the Nutcracker.
“Prince Izuku, my beloved Nutcracker, gathered the King’s army and with the help of his friends from neighboring lands, defended the kingdom.”
The magic around Ochako eased, the purple fading into deep red. “The fighting continued with no end in sight. The King, with his blind ideal of optimism, hoped that a meeting with the Mouse King, could end the strife.”
“And so, word was sent, and a meeting was set in the Land of Amusement to finally end the war.”
Ochako felt a twist in her stomach.
“When the Mouse King and his entourage arrived, the King welcomed them with open arms in hopes of showing there was no need for such carnage.” His eyes hardened, and he scoffed.
“It was all for naught, as the Mouse King wanted no peace. He only wanted one thing: total control. His greed for victory and domination set a terrible precedent for the Four Realms.”
The magic swirled once more, and the gold swirls of dust turned blue, a frigid air replacing the warmth that once settled over her.
“The Mouse King used his curse magic and bestowed a terrible curse on the Princess. A wasting sickness that drained her life, making her slowly fade.”
“The Mouse King escaped, but not before making irreparable damage to the Kingdom. Prince Izuku and his friends tried to stop him, but not before suffering terrible wounds from his fight with the Mouse Prince.”
A heaviness swept over her heart and Ochako looked at the Nutcracker with somber eyes. She could only imagine what the toy felt. Desperation, frustration, anger that he couldn’t stop the Mouse King from hurting the one person in the world he loved most.
“Prince Izuku searched day and night for a cure. He traveled to the Land of Sweets, the Land of Snowflakes, and the Land of Flowers in hopes for a solution. The King begged for the King of Dolls to save his daughter with magic.”
“You couldn’t?” Ochako finally spoke, her voice small.
The blonde man shook his head. “As strong as my magic was, The Mouse King’s curse was too powerful.”
“Day by day, the Princess began to fade. Her sickness wasted her away, and the desperation from the King was clear. He aged 20 years in months, his kingdom falling apart at the seams as he no longer had the will to govern. The prince tried to salvage what he could, but even he was beginning to lose hope.”
“Even the Nutcracker?”
Yagi Toshinori nodded solemnly. “Even the Prince.”
“And then one day, the Land of Amusement received a visitor.” Ochako tilted her head at that. “The Sugar Plum Fairy, Hado Nejire, ruler of the Land of Sweets, offered the cure to the curse that plagued the Princess.”
Her eyes went wide.
“Just like that?” She asked and the creator the Nutcracker smiled briefly.
“The Sugar Plum Fairy was known to be curious and inquisitive. She had intrusive behaviors but was reveredby her people. I knew her magic was just as powerful as mine. If she had a solution, we would be foolish to not take it.”
“She didn’t want anything in return?” Ochako couldn’t fathom giving up something so valuable without an exchange.
“She heeded a warning.”
The cool air that surrounded her turned bitter, icy. Ochako’s nightgown flapped in the wind as the scene changed. The old, ancient smell of textbooks and the fixed, wandering eyes of the toys were gone.
Gone was the worktable where the Nutcracker stood.
Gone was Yagi Toshinori, The King of the Dolls.
Instead, Ochako stood in the middle of what looked like a throne room. The pillars around her stood so high she could barely see the ceiling. The air was still, cold as a heaviness surrounded the granite marbling under her bare feet.
A woman, light on her feet with beautiful, long blue hair that reached the floor, stood in front of a king, who sat on his throne. Next to him, the King of Dolls, a younger version than the one she met, fixed on the woman who floated with a mythic presence.
And on the other side of the King, stood a man she knew to be the Nutcracker.
He was wearing a forest green royal uniform that was tailored to his waist, flaring slightly at his hips. Gold braiding traced the seams of the sleeves and collar. Polished brass buttons ran down the front of his uniform; each stamped with the crest of the kingdom. His dark trousers were tucked neatly into knee-high boots of worn black leather. Scuff marks showered his boots, showing the long marches and countless battles versus his time in the castle halls.
At his shoulders, epaulettes of muted gold – not heavy with rank, but symbolic of his responsibility, rested firmly. A ceremonial ash crossed his chest, the same red as the uniform he wore as a Nutcracker.
He looked less like a royal and more like a knight who learned to stand in a crown.
The Sugar Plum Fairy reached her hand out, something small laying in the middle of her palm.
“This nut will save her.”
Her voice carried a certain prestige, an ancient air that seemed older than The King of Dolls. It was airy, light. Ochako felt her voice deep to the depths of her bones. But not in a way that terrified her.
It was like a soft medley that was singing her to sleep.
“This will cure her sickness,” as the King lifted himself from the throne, the Sugar Plum Fairy closed her hand around the nut.
“But heed my warning, King of the Land of Amusement.”
Her eyes shifted to the King of Dolls, then finally to The Nutcracker Prince.
“When violence comes again, it will not strike where it began. He will return to what he was. And because magic answers love with balance, it will take something equally precious in return.”
The room stilled at the warning, and the Sugar Plum Fairy unclasped her hand once more.
“Magic does not punish,” she said quietly. “But a balanced must be kept.”
The world around Ochako shifted once more, and she felt herself falling. The darkness around her enveloped her completely. She closed her eyes, waiting for death to find her as she fell viciously through nothingness.
And then –
Hardened wood appeared under her.
She opened her eyes slowly, adjusting to the dimness of her surroundings. Ochako slowly stood up and sighed in relief.
She was back in the workshop.
“My old friend, the King I loved so much, took the Krakatooth Nut without a second thought.” Ochako turned quickly, eyes wide at the sudden appearance of the King of Dolls.
When the ancient man turned to look at her, Ochako was surprised to see the darkening of his cerulean, blue eyes. There was a tightness behind his eyes, a shadow of anger that flickered.
“The Nutcracker Prince, in his fierce loyalty and unwavering devotion to the Princess, stood by the King’s decision, consequences be damned.” His voice cracked, anger laced in his words.
Ochako’s jaw hardened, her chest tightening at the thought of his subtle implications.
“The Krakatooth Nut was impossible to crack. And the King was furious in what he thought was the Sugar Plum Fairy’s deceit. Not the finest blade or the sharpest tool could crack through the nut.” Yagi Toshinori spoke.
“The entire kingdom failed, one by one, to open it. And every day, the Princess grew weaker and weaker.”
“Did they ask her how to open it?”
The King of Dolls smiled sadly.
“No, but it was obvious who must open it.”
Ochako’s eyes went wide as she looked towards the Nutcracker on the table. Yagi Toshinori chuckled to himself and reached a gentle hand towards his creation. He thumbed the freckled face, with fixed green eyes that were frozen in time.
“The Nutcracker?” Ochako asked and The King of Dolls nodded.
“With his teeth, the Nutcracker Prince, shattered the shell. The Princess was given the nut and in moments, she was cured.”
Ochako stared at the Nutcracker, her chest heavy with admiration but also frustration. A person so devoted to those around him… didn’t he ever think of himself?
“The King was beside himself. And the kingdom once again in great celebration. The Princess was back to herself, and The Prince was celebrated as a great hero.” The King of Dolls grabbed the Nutcracker as if he were made of glass and walked slowly towards Ochako.
“My Nutcracker Prince was to be wed to the Princess,” he spoke solemnly and handed his precious creation to her. Ochako put her hands up defensively.
“Oh no – I can’t – ”
Despite her protests, Yagi Toshinori pried her hands open and placed the Nutcracker in her hands.
For a doll made of wood, so light, so feathery, she felt the weight of his story in her hands. Ochako was terrified. Holding him, she felt like she was carrying the weight of the realm. Gently, she clasped her hands around him. Her thumb ran carefully over the intricate designs, the careful markings, and precise carvings.
She furrowed her brows when her thumb felt a splintering at his chest.
The brown-haired woman looked up to the King of Dolls, his expression twisted in great anguish.
“The Mouse King heard of this. Of Izuku breaking his curse.” Ochako’s heart stopped momentarily. “He revealed his true form, a powerful being known as All For One. It was a power that transcended even the magic the Sugar Plum Fairy and King of Dolls practiced.”
“In his rage, he descended upon the Land of Amusement and destroyed everything he touched. Prince Izuku, with all his bravery and courage, stood against the Demon Lord, as they now called him.”
Without realizing, Ochako pulled the Nutcracker close to her chest.
“Izuku fought bravely, fending off the kingdom from what he could.” His voice cracked once more as an overwhelming sense of despair left his lips. “The Demon Lord casted one final curse – undoing every bit of magic I poured into the boy.”
“He turned Izuku back into a Nutcracker.”
Ochako cradled the toy with all the care in the realm.
The King of Dolls scoffed as he shook his head, tears misting his eyes.
“Despite the curse, Izuku saw his duty through to the end. In his final moments before absolute stillness encompassed his body, he buried his blade straight into the Demon Lord’s heart, killing the tyrant in his final breath.”
She felt the tears in her eyes, chocking back a sob. Ochako stared down at the nutcracker in heartbreak.
“But as the Sugar Plum Fairy warned: Magic answers love with balance. It will take something equally precious in return.”
Her head snapped up, and The King of Dolls aged hundreds of years before her very eyes.
“The Princess, who was filled with unwavering optimism, kindness and determination… lost the very thing that drove her wish.”
“No…” Ochako muttered, the tragedy of the story continuing.
“Despite the fall of the Demon Lord, a new evil took its place,” Yagi Toshinori spoke, his voice like gravel. “His adopted son, the Mouse Prince, freed from the grasp of the Demon Lord, declared himself the new Mouse King.”
“The King, in his grief at the loss of who his daughter once was, was no longer fit to govern the Land of Amusement. And so, Shigaraki Tomura, the new Mouse King, conquered the land. Now desolate and war torn, the Land of Amusement was no more. And the Fourth Realm came to fruition.”
“In my despair, I lifted the Nutcracker from the floor and vowed he would never be harmed again. That I would never be dissuade by the feelings and wishes of others to put my Young Nutcracker in such danger again.” His hands were white on the table as he spoke in a low hiss. “I vanished from the Fourth Realm, leaving behind all that I had known.”
Ochako’s throat felt tight, her heart hurting for the man in front of her. His creation, that she knew he clearly loved, suffering at the cost of others.
“Is there… is there really nothing else we can do?”
The King of Dolls turned back to her, eyes steeled. But then his expression softened.
“The only way now that the Nutcracker may be freed is for the new Mouse King to be destroyed.”
.
Silence filled the workshop as Yagi Toshinori concluded the story of the Nutcracker.
Ochako stared down at the wooden figure in her hands – at his gentle, green eyes that were frozen forever.
“This… this isn’t fair.” She whispered fiercely, eyes burning with fury. “It’s cruel. He did everything he was taught to do. He saved her. It shouldn’t have ended like this. The Nutcracker deserved better than this.”
The King of Dolls watched her with quiet intensity.
“What would you wish for him, if you could?”
Her answer came without hesitation.
“I wish to free him.”
The Nutcracker was so busy saving everyone around him…
Which then begged the question: who saved him when he needed saving?
For a moment, the light in the workshop seemed to deepen – the dust of gold around her growing brighter, warmer. The magic around her grew heavier, it’s presence bolder. Her nightgown flapped with the wind that surrounded her. Ochako looked at the King of Dolls with fright for the first time.
Yagi Toshinori’s gaze warmed, his expression softening and a smile the felt like gratitude.
“Please mind my selfish desires, Young Uraraka.” Yagi smiled as he lifted his hand towards her. “For your wish is mine. And I now leave my hopes to you.”
Warmth flooded her limbs, bloomed through her chest. Her eyes began to feel heavy as the air round her spun faster. The workshop disappeared around her, the specs of magic soothing her mind.
The Nutcracker slipped from her fingers, dread trying to keep her awake. But the sleep was too overwhelming as it dragged her down. She barely had time to register both hers and the Nutcrackers fall to impending doom.
Before –
A gust of cold air came rushing in.
Ochako awoke in a field of white, snow blowing brashly against her face. The frigid temperatures lifted her from whatever slumber the King of Dolls put her in.
Her heartbeat thundered in her ears as she the sounds of clashing blades echoed around her. She could hear yelling, shouting from across the white, snow powdered field.
Realizing the Nutcracker was once in her hands, she looked down, searching desperately through the snow for the toy she vowed to free.
Biting her lip, Ochako tried to ignore the cold, the numbing of her hands, the burning of her fingertips. Tears accumulated around her eyes as she threw the never-ending piles of snow around. Was the Nutcracker truly lost to her forever?
But Ochako didn’t have time to linger on that thought as a skittering sound echoed around her.
She stood straight up, eyes searching into the darkness that laid around her. Through the trees, red eyes ignited in the dark.
Fear crept into her as she fell back against the snow. The red eyes grew in numbers, and Ochako knew her life was in immediate danger. With no weapon to protect herself with, she felt defenseless and helpless.
From the dark, horrid creatures began to pour out. A cross between mouse and human, with their sickly forms and menacing red eyes, she wanted to scream out for help, wanted to run for her life.
It was a terrifying scene in front of her. These monsters that marched through the woods, through the snow with blades in their hands.
One of the mouse soldiers pounced, running straight at her.
Ochako knew she had no chance. There was nothing she could use to fight off the mouse. But she had to try.
But then –
Another gust of air and something hard pushed her back. She stumbled back into the snow. Ochako’s eyes closed instinctively as she felt the sharp pain on her backside from colliding with the hard ground.
Steel rang ahead of her. The skittering noises now into shrieks as voices behind her grew.
Ochako heard something crack, bringing her eyes back to attention to the scene in front of her.
A blur of red and gold moved quickly, skillfully between her and the swarm of mouse soldiers.
Ochako didn’t have to wonder who her savior was.
Because in her heart, she knew.
She knew that the figure dressed in red and gold with a blade that gleamed in rich silver and moved so methodically was the Nutcracker she held in her hand’s only moments ago.
Ochako couldn’t help but admire him as he cut down the mouse soldiers, moving with absolute precision. It was beautiful, watching him fight as if it was a dance. The mice could not get close, hesitancy in their steps.
He didn’t say anything, letting his skill and way with the blade do the speaking for him.
The mice clicked something to one another and quickly retreated into the forest.
Everything was still for a moment, the air uneasy around them. The quiet was too eerie and Ochako swallowed the ball in her throat.
The Nutcracker hilted his sword, signaling that danger her retreated for now. He straightened, turning towards her. And Ochako went wide eyed as realization hit her.
The Nutcracker was towering over her.
“Are you hurt?” A gentle voice asked as he reached out his hand.
She shook her head, taking his hand.
It was made entirely out of wood.
The soldier helped pull her from the ground and Ochako tried not to gasp. Tried not to freak out that the toy she had just held in her hands was life-sized.
His red and gold uniform gleamed in the darkness of the night, joints still carved cleanly at the elbows and knees. But she could see cracks in the wood, splintering wounds from what she assumed was his previous battles. His jaw was square, with some chippings along the edge.
Yet –
Unlike the frozen Nutcracker she encountered in the workshop, his mouth moved, a voice so soft she could hardly believe it came from a toy. And his eyes – his beautiful, green eyes were alert, sharp, alive. Not glassy or empty like the Nutcracker in The King of Dolls shop.
The same freckles dotted his cheeks, the carved imperfections that made him feel more human than doll. His muted, green hair was carved into careful waves, catching the falling snow into the wooden crevices.
He titled his head at her, also struck by her appearance. His wooden, green eyes looked her up and down, his brows furrowing together. For a toy, he was quite expressive, Ochako decided.
"You’re… you’re not from these lands, are you?" He asked carefully.
She shook her head. “No – no, I’m not.”
“What – What are you?” The Nutcracker narrowed his eyes, his hand instinctively reaching out for her face.
But before Ochako could answer, the trees began to shake. And the snow stilled, almost as if sensing the imminent danger that was coming for the pair.
The curiosity in the Nutcracker’s eyes vanished, and his body turned immediately. He raised his sword with experienced ease, placing himself fully in front of her without looking back.
Protective.
Instinctive.
As he had practiced time and time again.
Ochako’s heart slammed painfully against her ribs as an army of mouse soldiers emerged from the woods. Their beady, red eyes glowed menacingly against the white of the fresh snow.
Looking at his back, she could see the faint seams at his joints. Where the wood met the subtle hum of the ancient magic that held him together. Unlike humans, every movement the Nutcracker made creaked. His shoulders groaned as they moved, his fingers splintered as they tightened around the hilt of his blade.
He was a toy.
Ochako knew that.
And yet –
Standing behind him, she felt small. His presence felt larger than life itself.
The Nutcracker creaked as he shifted into a defensive position. Ochako felt small behind him, his presence feeling larger than life itself.
“Stay back,” he commanded.
His voice was steady, confident.
Real.
And in the moment, Ochako realized something that made her chest ache deeply.
Even made of wood, carved and painted, bound by an ancient magic… he felt more human to her than any person she had ever known.