Alice woke up surprised to see that Cheshire Cat hadn’t abandoned her. Due to his reputation Alice wasn’t sure if he was very reliable. Cheshire Cat was well known for being aloof. She didn’t see any other choice in the matter though. If she wanted to get to the resistance she was going to have to trust him at least for now.
Cheshire woke up stretching and mewling. He looked at her with his bright green eyes and smiled. He yawned sleepily and stretched some more. He ruffled his fingers through his disheveled purple hair and scratched behind one of his ears. Alice had to admit that he was an odd sort.
“Good morning Your Highness.” Cheshire Cat yawned. He blinked his eyes a couple of times rubbing the sleep out of them. He wasn’t normally one for early mornings, but there wasn’t any helping it. If he was going to take Alice to the resistance they needed to make haste. He was sure by now the Queen of Hearts will have noticed that Alice had gone missing. She would no doubt send her Cards out to look for her.
“Good morning to you too Cheshire. I don’t mean to be rude, but we really should be going.” Alice stated. The sooner they headed out the better. Alice couldn’t help, but to wonder what the resistance would be like.
“You’re right time is of the essence.” Cheshire agreed. He jumped down from the tree and gracefully landed. He stood up and held out his arms to catch Alice. The last thing he needed was the Princess hurting her royal self.
Alice jumped from the tree knocking Cheshire to the ground. The cat-boy grunted and let out a groan. Alice quickly disengaged herself from him. He sat up and frowned disapprovingly at Alice. Alice knelt by him concerned that she had hurt him.
“My tail.” Cheshire whimpered. He stood up and reached behind him and petted his long bushy tail which was the same color as his hair. Luckily it didn’t seem to be broken. He reached down and held out his hand to Alice. He helped he to a stand position.
“I’m so sorry Cheshire. Are you okay?” Alice apologized. She hadn’t meant to land on him like that. She thought he was going to catch her. Alice worried her lower lip afraid that perhaps now he wouldn’t take her to the resistance.
“Don’t worry Princess no harm done. I should have been ready.” Cheshire said. He really should have been more prepared. This whole helping princesses thing was harder than people made it out to be. It was probably a good thing that he didn’t make a habit of it.
“Alright lets get going then.” Alice decided. The more distance they could put between them and her mother the better. Alice slung her satchel over her shoulder and began following Cheshire Cat along the forest path. Alice held on to her knife tightly, she knew she was going to have to stay on her guard because even during the day the Lotus Forest was filled with curious creatures.
Cheshire Cat swatted at a Rocking-Horse Fly as it buzzed him. As they walked along Alice noticed that nothing was like it use to be. The forest that had once been vibrant and lush had become dark and dreary. Alice noticed that the flowers along the path no longer sang cheerfully instead their heads hung in despair.
All of this was her mother’s fault. It saddened Alice to think that her beloved Wonderland was suffering so. As the Princess of Hearts it was her duty to put things to right. Alice looked behind as a noise caught her attention. Out from the trees came one of mother’s Cards. It was the Ace of Spades followed be the Seven of Clubs.
Alice knew there was no way around it they were going to have to fight. She looked over at Cheshire who looked ready to pounce. They held their ground as the Cards charged at them. The Ace of Hearts flung himself at Alice knocking her to the ground.
Cheshire Cat lept out of the way as the Seven of Clubs lunged at him. The stupid Card managed to hit him in the side. He kept his on eye on Alice as she struggled with the Ace of Spades. As the Seven of Clubs charged again Cheshire Cat punched him hard in the face splitting his lip open. He jumped up and grabbed a hold of a tree branch. As the Card came at him again he caught his head in between his knees and with a twist snapped his neck. Cheshire lept down as the Card fell in a heap on the ground.
“You are to return back to the castle Your Highness.” the Card spoke. The Princess kneed him in the stomach which made him let go. The Queen had given orders to retrieve Alice and return her home. He could not fail his Queen.
“Like hell I am.” Alice hissed. She rolled the Card pinning him beneath her. She punched the Ace of Spades in his face. He turned his head and spat out blood. Alice took her knife and steeled herself as she she slit his throat. Blood pooled on the ground. A gurgling sound could be heard as he drew his last breath.
Alice went behind a tree and vomited. Tears stung her eyes as she began to sob. She knew that she had done what she had to do, but it still churned her stomach. Killing a Mome Rath was different than killing a person. Cheshire placed a hand on her shoulder and knelt down next to her.
“You did what had to be done Your Highness.” Cheshire assured Alice. He wondered how she was ever going to expect to do anything if she was going to be weak. If she was going to make a difference she was going to have to be strong.
Alice looked over at the lifeless body of the Seven of Clubs. Alice wasn’t completely oblivious to his fight with Card. “How is it so easy for you?” she asked. She knew that the path she had chosen wasn’t going to be easy, but she hadn’t quite imagined it like this.
“It’s a matter of survival.” Cheshire told Alice. He stood up and held out a hand to her helping her up. They needed to keep moving before anymore Cards show up. He really didn’t like having to get his hands dirty if he didn’t have to.
Alice composed herself and followed Cheshire once more along the path. She knew she was going to have to get use to these things, not that she could ever imagine anyone becoming use to it. What was done was done and she had to keep going.
They had walked for what seemed like hours when they came to a fork in the path. It was a literal fork. They had made a left and kept walking along the path. Her and Cheshire both kept their eyes and ears alert in case of anymore interruptions.
Alice could make out a cottage as the walked along the path. Cheshire looked at her and grinned his big grin. Alice picked up her pace as they neared their destination. She knew now that she could trust Cheshire perhaps at least a little.
Cheshire knocked on the door of the cottage and let himself in. Alice followed after him feeling a little nervous now that she was really here. Alice saw a boy with shaggy dark brown hair and brown eyes. Long brown ears stuck out from his head. He wore a white button up shirt and black leather pants. On his feet he wore brown riding boots. He was sitting in an armchair next to a fire place.
A small boy with mousy brown hair which small mouse ears stuck out from he played by the fire. He wore a blue checkered shirt and a pair of brown breeches. His bare feet stuck out from under him. Alice instantly thought he was adorable.
The boy with the mouse ears looked up as Alice and Cheshire approached. “Cat!” he squeaked. He jumped up into the older boys lap. The boy with long ears shoved the younger boy off of him as he got up from the chair. The boy looked up from the floor and pouted. “You’re a meanie Hare.” he accused.
“Knock it off Dormouse.” Hare said. He turned to look at Alice and Cheshire giving them the once over. He walked over to them glaring at Cheshire. “I thought Hatter told you to never show your sniveling face around here.” he sneered.
“The Princess of Hearts asked me to bring her here. How could I possibly deny Her Royal Highness?” Cheshire said. He gestured to Alice who stood at his side. Alice was doing her best to keep calm as she held her knife at her side.
“Are you mad! What are you thinking bringing her here.” Hare shouted. He advanced on Cheshire and punched him his face. The blow sent Cheshire stumbling to the floor. Hare’s fists were clenched at his sides as he stared at Cheshire.
Cheshire looked up and grinned with a manic look in his eyes. He wiped the blood from his lips. “It can’t be help, we’re all mad here. I’m mad. You’re mad.” Cheshire laughed. He disappeared into thin air.
“Wait right here.” Hare told Alice. He walked towards a flight of stairs and started heading up. Before he got to the top he looked down. “Dormouse watch her.” Hare ordered. Dormouse jumped up from the floor and walked toward Alice he stood before her with his hands on his hips. Alice didn’t find him very intimidating.
Alice looked around the cottage as she waited. It was rather quaint. It was decorated very modestly, but it was nice. It was hard think that this was home to the resistance. Alice thought it would like in one of her books, that she would find a group of bandits living in tents in the woods.
Noises could be heard from up above and Alice and Dormouse looked up. Alice wasn’t sure what she thought was going to happen. She just hoped that Hatter would listen to what she had to say. Nerves settled in as Hare came back down the stairs followed by The Hatter himself.
Alice took stock of him as he walked down the stairs. He wore a top hat that had a tag that read In this style 10/6. The hat covered his unruly dirty blonde hair. He wore a purple silk shirt with a paisley tie. He had on black leather pants and black boots. He also wore a long black leather duster.
Alice swallowed as he came to stand before her. He looked down at her, but his hate was hiding his eyes. He reached out and wrapped a hand around her throat. He backed her up into a wall. “Your Highness what’s stopping me from killing you right now?” The Hatter asked.
The words Your Highness came out as though they were something filthy. Alice cringed. She could underneath why they would want to kill, but she rather hoped they wouldn’t. “My mother has done horrible things so I can’t blame you. I’m not like her though, I want to take back Wonderland and I want you to help.” Alice pleaded her case.
“Don’t listen to her Hatter. I say we kill her right in front of her murdering mother.” Hare suggested. He glared at Alice with hatred in his eyes. He looked from Hatter to Alice and then back to Alice.
“You would do well to remember March Hare who calls the shots around here.” Hatter hissed through clenched teeth. He was trying to start a revolution he didn’t have time for dissension amongst the ranks.
“Oh yes, how can I forget since it was you who had White Rabbit killed.” Hare seethed. His fist once again were know closed tightly at his sides. Killing Alice would be one of the biggest messages they could send to the Queen. Hare had been suggesting it for sometime now, but Hatter wouldn’t go for it.
“He’d turned turncoat Hare. He was working for the Queen.” Hatter defended himself. The sniveling rat was the Queen’s Herald. It wasn’t like he enjoyed having to make the choice. Rabbit could no longer be trusted. He couldn’t be sure how much information he had been leaked.
“He was my cousin Hatter!” Hare shouted. Hatter could think whatever he wanted, but there was no way Rabbit was a traitor. Hatter had found a way to get information to Queen letting her know that Rabbit had been a part of the resistance. She promptly had him beheaded as an example to any of her servants that might want to betray her.
“That’s irrelevant.” Hatter said. Hare went to the armchair and sat back down. Hatter turned his attention back to Alice. Her being here did pose a risk. He had it on good authority from Caterpillar that the Queen was looking for her daughter who had gone missing. Hatter wasn’t expecting her to turn up here.
Alice had enough of listening to Hare and Hatter’s little spat. She remembered when her mother had the Herald executed. She brought her knife to Hatter’s throat. “I just want Wonderland back to the way it was.” she spoke. She didn’t care about their petty little argument.
Hatter let go of Alice’s throat and Alice lowered her knife. Hatter raised his hat so Alice could see his eyes. He had one blue and one green. Alice couldn’t help, but to notice how handsome he was. She instantly shook the thought from her head she didn’t have time to be swooning over guys no matter how handsome they were.
“What are you proposing exactly?” Hatter wondered. Even if he wasn’t willing to align himself with her he could perhaps use her leverage. Either way it could turn out to be a win win situation. She was the heir to the throne after all.
“If we overthrow my mother and I were to become Queen I would rule Wonderland as my father once had.” Alice promised. Hatter looked at her as if searching her soul for the answer. Alice shivered slightly she had never had someone look at her like that before.
“You promise to rule Wonderland fairly and justly. Will you put your people first?” Hatter asked. If he was going to help her he had to be sure. He didn’t if he could trust her. What he did know what that one false move out of her and he wouldn’t hesitate to consider Hare’s suggestion.
“Of course. Why else would I have come to you?” Alice told Hatter. She understood that he wouldn’t trust her, but all she wanted was what’s best for her people. Her mother needed to be stopped and Alice was willing to do whatever it would take.
“Welcome to the Wonderland Resistance Princess.” Hatter grinned. He could see the relief wash over Alice’s face. He was taking a big risk in trusting her. Hatter knew though that it wasn’t Alice’s fault for the current state of Wonderland. Why should the daughter suffer for the sins of the mother.
“Is it time for tea Hatter?” Dormouse asked. He tugged at Hatter’s duster. Dormouse liked tea time. Everyone was less cranky at tea time. Hatter ruffled Dormouse’s hair affectionately and smiled down at him.
“Yes, I do believe it is. Alice would you put tea on and also set the table?” Hatter said. If Alice was going to stay here now she wasn’t going to be treated any differently than the others. Hatter wasn’t going to bow down to her not until he had to and maybe not even then.
Alice nodded and made her way to the little kitchen area. She found the kettle and filled it with water. She also found the tea service and set up the table. Alice was glad that things had turned out well for the most part. It was still only just the beginning there was still so much to do.
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