The nutcracker and the four realms
The Sugar Plum Fairy explains that Marie created this world as a young girl, and that she animated everyone with a machine that can turn toys into real people. It is also revealed Marie was the beloved Queen of this magical land and, thus, Clara is the princess. They tell her they are at war with the Land of Amusements, which they refer to as "the Fourth Realm". Phillip brings Clara to the palace, where she meets the regents of each land: the Sugar Plum Fairy of the Land of Sweets Shiver of the Land of Snowflakes, and Hawthorne of the Land of Flowers. Captain Phillip Hoffman, the Nutcracker, leads her across the bridge into the Fourth Realm, where they hardly escape the Mouse King and Mother Ginger, the regent of the Fourth Realm.
Before she can grab it, a mouse snatches it and crosses a frozen river. She finds her string with her name on it, signifying her gift, and follows it into a forest in a parallel world where she sees a key. He reveals that he made it for Marie when she was younger.īenjamin scolds Clara for refusing to dance with him, and they insult each other. The family goes to a Christmas Eve ball, hosted by the children's godfather and skilled engineer, Drosselmeyer. Clara receives an egg-shaped box which she is unable to unlock, together with a note saying "Everything you need is inside". On Christmas Eve in Victorian London, Benjamin Stahlbaum gives his children, Louise, Clara, and Fritz, the presents his wife, Marie, had set aside for them before she died.