The drummer boy tore his cardboard prison to shreds before bursts out the newly wrapped parchment. He savagely yanked the remaining paper off himself until the only thing left was a gift bow on his hat.

He lifted his brow, feeling there was something else on his hat. He tossed one of his drumsticks to his other hand, then pulled off his cap. Seeing the bow his ladyship placed on his box. He hummed in fascination as he inspected it. "Oooooooohhhhhh Trommel you lucky dog got the special treatment." A robotic voice cooed. The said toy's black coal eyes shifted to a familiar metal figure which he calls a friend. Tik Tok.

"Shut up Tiki, it could've been everyone." "Everyone but Lady Eira." The robot sang. The drummer nudged his companion playfully, causing both of them to chuckle. It's been a while since they saw each other, they used to have fun together, train together, tortured together, and even been made together on the same day and year. December 16th, 1942. They had to go their separate ways when Tik Tok was chosen to be promoted as one of the toy commanders. Of course, Trommel was heartbroken that he'll lose his only friend but he encouraged Tik Tok to accept it. Since then they never had time to hang out due to Tik Tok's new responsibilities as a commander.

"Wish me luck Tiki, pretty soon we'll be a duo again," Trommel said, twirling his hat on before racing to the air ducts, stripping off the metal screen. Motioning three gingerbread men, Clumpy, Lumpy, & Dumpy, to hurry up and head to the kitchen while he'll take the living room.

"" A firm shout gained the vigilance of the cookies and Trommel. The source of the noise leads to a snake-like jack-in-box, dressed as a jester. Der Klown. He raised himself so he looked taller than he should be. Shadow eyes squinted at the gingerbread men. "If I or the Master finds a scratch or a hair is missing on the Mistress. " Klown bore his teeth with a growl and eyes turned darker than before.

The triplets nodded immediately then raced off into the vents before Klown could snap at them again. Trommel twisted to Der Klown again, knowing there was more. "Make sure you two are alone, we can't afford any mistakes." He said softly, however, his eyes were still pitch black. The toy soldier nodded in acknowledgment, before heading to his distinction. With his insides shaking.

Cherub could feel her brother's tension rise by the passing hour. She felt his outrage when one of the cousins called Eira a foul name willing to sacrifice her over hatred, along with the uncle pointing his gun at her and her father from insanity. Although she and the others were ticked off by these events, Der Klown had more. She smirked when an idea popped up into her head. Dragged Tik Tok, who was shaking nervously, to whisper in his audio. After she was done, the robot smiled menacingly then headed to the stairwell to keep watch.

"Geez, someone in bad mood," Teddy grumbled. He approached the demonic toy with caution. Not wanting to fight him during this time.

It has been 2 years since they had seen Eira for the first time. Well technically snuck into Krampus' workshop and "borrowed" a snow globe to spy on their master's bride. They have seen her as a hard worker in her job as a retail clerk. A caring, empathetic member to her family and others. Very flexible and acrobatic due to her time in gymnastics. Along with an intelligent and independent young woman.

They noticed that she was hanging out with a guy who was a baseball captain, also a straight-A student like Eira. Ricky Cartwright. One day, they decided to sneak out. Heading to a student's home where it hosted a Halloween costume party for every high schooler. They watched Eira dance with her friends. At some point, she was heading to the refreshments stand to get drinks for her friends and herself. But stopped short, as she carefully witnessed and listened to Ricky's and his buddies.

She heard everything from their bids to steal girls' virginity and spilling pills into their girl targets' drinks for fun. She (along with the toy helpers) watched one of Ricky's masked friends gives him two drinks of punch with one of them dissolving a small pill.

When Ricky saw Eira and approached her with a toothy grin as nothing happened. After all of the events that occurred from Eira's eyes. Her next action could stop time itself.

She punched him, hard in the face. The two plastic cups fell from the floor.

Everyone stopped as some witnessed what they had seen. The music stopped playing. The gossipers shut up for the first time in their lives. All eyes gawked at the panting golden beauty and the groaning boy holding his cheek. Without a word, Eira turned her heel walking out of the party. Ran to her house and then sobbed her heart out.

Later that night, Ricky placed an ice pack on his bruised cheek and cursed Eira for the embarrassment he was put through. After an hour, the lights flickered then left his empty house into darkness.

A beautiful but terrifying tune of a music box played in his living room. As he stepped in the room a fire blazed to life in the fireplace and he coiled around in Christmas lights. The enemy was too fast for his sight, they scratched his skin and tore his clothes. Ricky threw his head back and shrieked in pain as blade-like teeth bit into his calf, causing him to fall. He swiveled around to find the most horrifying sight that would scar his life.

Generally, Der Klown is a pretty chill guy, however, if his sibling, teammates, or his liege lady was being abused in any way. It's about to go down.

He assaulted the teen for a while until his teammates restrained him and left.

"Well, lucky for us!" Cherub exclaimed, wrapped her arms around Teddy's and Klown's neck into a hug. Both toys were confused as ever. "We have two defendants on their way up here, isn't that right Tik Tok?" The demonic angel grinned maliciously towards the open door where the sound of two pairs of footsteps descended downstairs.

Klown waters as the scent of two adolescent females with more masculine pheromones than feminine. One set of footsteps was heavier than the other.

Both Cherub, Teddy, and Tik Tok hide somewhere in the attic to the show. Der Klown started to grin viciously because his appetite was increasing.

""