Chapter 3: Road of White

Chapter 3: Road of White

 

     “Told you we haven’t seen him.” Hiccup replied, her pet growling at them with his ears back and glaring at them with slit eyes. The guards straightened up and began to take their leave, Hiccup giving a single wave and her pet shot a ball of fire at the shoulder of Vincent. He glared daggers as he said, “Try making your pet stay in its place.” Hiccup stuck her tongue out. Ace patted out the fire and Vincent ordered, “I want Alice found!! Also bring the three along.”

   The guards pointed their spears at the three having tee, grabbing them and lifting them away. Alice was still in the tea pot, soon finding a way out and spotting the three being hauled away. The dragon was shooed off and disappeared in the sky in a black blur.

     “Toddle loo, a loo once told me!! To the Queen of Hearts we go~” Louise and Hiccup sang merrily.

     “Shut it!!” Vincent scolded and they disappeared down the path.

     “No…wait!!” Alice called about to chase after but was proven his legs too short. He wore himself out instantly and lost sight of his new friends.

     “How to find them……” Alice said.

     “Ask the Caterpillar.” A voice cooed. Looking up he found the same cat like man there with him, this time looking at his long feline nails and hair.

     “Caterpillar…?” Alice asked.

     “Yup…he knows all.” Valentine said, disappearing and leaving Alice alone. Looking around and hearing all the eerie creatures around him, the fog rolling in and no insane laughter to fill up the silence. Alice was utterly alone.

~***~

     “WHERE DID YOU HIDE HIM?!” Vincent bellowed.

     “Don’t know. Up.” Hiccup said.

     “Downtown.” Louise added.

     “Upside Downside.” Max chimed.

     “Goes around comes around~” The three sang and broke out in drunken giggles. Vincent face palmed then ordered, “Take them to the cells; talking to them anymore will give me a margarine.”

   The guards did as told, Louise calling over, “DOWN WITH THE BLOODY RED QUEEN!!”

   Her mouth was clasped over before Valentine could truly blow a fuse. Once the three were out, he collapsed, face in his hands as he silently sobbed.

     “Mother, how would you put up with these…these drunkies?!” Vincent said, running his tear soaked hands through his hair. The door opened and he instantly bellowed, “I DO NOT WISH FOR COMPANY!”

     “‘Tis only I.” A voice said. Looking up, the Knave of Hearts had entered, heart shaped black eye patch over his eye with long blond hair and tall; wearing the uniform of the Red Queen as he strolled over. Vincent went to his feet, racing over and hugging the taller man around the waist.

     “Thank god! Someone who understands me!” Vincent said.

     “I am forever bound to you my Queen.” The Knave replied. “I could not find you this morning.”

     “Hmm…” Vincent said, ignoring the statement and heading out of the room. The Knave followed, Vincent leading to the balcony where they found a blood lagoon and the faces of the bobbing heads that were punished for disobeying the Queen…which was him. Vincent looked down, seeing his own mothers head bobbing about. Many said it was the best beheading known in history compared to the other Red Queens, so Vincent tried abiding to the people. But that was rather hard when everyone still didn’t forget about his mother’s lineage.

     “I just want friends…” Vincent mumbled.

     “Friends you will get.” The Knave said, about to head out to look for the servants but was stopped.

     “I want them to like me for being me.” Vincent said. “I hate the hateful looks they give me, the whispering rumors of my murdered victims…I haven’t beheaded a single soul!”

     “I am aware.” The Knave said.

   Vincent turned back and replied, “Maybe giving the Jabberwocky back will make the Hare…like me?”

     “Oh no, no!” The Knave said. “She’ll only turn against you and kill you off! Taking your throne and everything you own!”

   Vincent's eyes widened as he said, “R-really?”

     “Yes! She hates you!” The Knave said. Vincent’s eyes dimmed when the statement went down into his system.

     “Your right…” Vincent said. “Who needs friends when I have you……” He hugged the Knave and the Knave simply ruffled his head.

     “Anything for my Queen.” The Knave recited.

~***~

A sigh filled the quiet air.

     “Tsuki, we were supposed to go East to Quest.” His sister had no sense of direction. He, the older twin brother, has the same silver hair in soft spikes, same green emerald eyes, tan skin, and 6’0” tall. He wears a white button up dress shirt, black shorts, black suspenders; black boots with three buckled straps going up, and has a dark grey pageboy hat on.

     “No your wrong, it’s South to Snud, of course. Why do you doubt your sister, Taiyo? I’m never wrong.” She had silver hair that goes to the small of her back, bangs that frame her face and sweep to the right side with a random cowlick, tan skin, 5’6” tall, and green emerald eyes. She wore a white button up dress shirt, a black skirt, black suspenders, and black boots with three buckle straps going up.

     ‘But you are always wrong’ He mused. They had been walking for a few hours now trying to get to the White Queen’s castle. Depending on whom you asked, they would give you a different answer as to how it was going. Tsuki would say things are fantastic then she’d ask if you’d like to tag along. Taiyo would not say anything due to not knowing you and then his sister would say for him, “He insists that we should be going the other way, but this way is so much more fun! Would you like to come?”

   While Tsuki had her face buried in the tea stained map, (upside down he might add) he saw a miniature blond boy talking to a cat man. Taiyo nudged Tsuki.

     “Hey sister, isn’t that Valentine talking to a strange boy the size of a toy?” Taiyo pointed out, pointing at Alice, the small boy. Tsuki looked up from the map.

     “I suppose it is. Let’s go see what they’re saying, yeah?” Tsuki said, pulling along her brother toward the very small boy and Valentine.

     “But what about the White Queen?” Taiyo asked but Tsuki simply kept on pulling him and replied, “Oh she can wait I want to see who that boy is, besides, maybe they’re going to the castle too, I mean they are going the right way.” Her brother just shook his head, knowing nothing could stop her now. All of a sudden Valentine disappeared but she was still going to where the boy was at.

     “Tsuki, maybe we shouldn’t do this.” He nearly whispered. He didn’t like talking as it is, bad enough when it’s to someone he doesn’t know. Tsuki looked at Taiyo with sympathy. She knew he didn’t like new people, but Tsuki was hoping he’d break out of it if he met enough people and became comfortable with them.

     “It’ll be okay, he can’t hurt you and if you don’t want to talk you can whisper in my ear and I’ll say it for you, yeah?” Tsuki reassured. Taiyo just nodded his head affirmative he loved his sister dearly and knew she was only trying to help. Soon they were upon the toy sized boy and Taiyo froze. “Hello I’m Tsuki and this is Taiyo my big brother who are you?”

     “Alice…” Alice replied, surprised at the sudden appearance of the two siblings. Tsuki smiled widely at Alice and asked, “How are you doing?”

     “Uh…fine? You?”

     “Fantastic!” She replies.

     “A-and you?” Alice asked Taiyo who flushed and hid his face under his page boy hat.

     “He insists that we should be going the other way, but this way is so much more fun! Would you like to come?” Tsuki asked.

     “Where?” Alice inquired.

     “To see the White Queen! You’re going there, yeah?”

     “Uhm, actually, I-”

     “Great! Let’s go, Taiyo, Alice.” Tsuki interrupted, scooping Alice up into her hands and taking her brothers wrist as the three made their way to who knows where the no since of direction, Tsuki was taking them. As the fog got thicker and thicker, it was becoming very hard to see where they were headed.

     “T-Tsuki…I think we should head back.” Taiyo said.

     “No, no, brother, I know where I’m going.” Tsuki remarked, but then ran into something hard, yet soft. “Owch! Darn tree!”

     “This isn’t a tree, Miss. Tsuki.” A woman’s voice said sounding aggravated and snobby. Looking up, they were met with a woman looking to be about twenty-one and thin wearing a big brown Marietta dress and tied up curled hair with a long smoking pipe in her mouth. It was actually very hard to make out cause of all the smoke and fog covering her. “It’s a mushroom!”

     “Ah! Miss. Caterina Caterpillar; funny running into you here of all places.” Tsuki said.

     “C-Caterpillar? That cat man " Valentine, was it? Told me to see the Caterpillar!” Alice said. “I need to talk to her! It’s an emergency!”

     “Really? Okay.” Tsuki said placing Alice on the plush mushroom.

     “Miss. Caterpillar, can you-”

     “Who. Are. You.” Caterina asked, breathing out smoke onto Alice who nearly gagged.

     “*Cough, cough* A-Alice Walker…” He said, covering his mouth and nose.

     “Alice Walker…eh?” She asked.

     “Yes.” He replied.

     “You’re a bit smaller than I thought you’d be. I imagined you would be taller.”

     “The Mad Hatter made me eat something that made me grow too much and then had me drink a bottle of liquid that shrunk me to this size.”

     “I see. Just take a small bite out of this mushroom and you’ll grow back to your normal size.” She said. Alice looked down at the mushroom he was standing on and scooped out a piece of the shroom and took a nibble at it and instantly grew back to his normal size.

     “Thank you!” Alice thanked.

     “Do not thank me just yet boy. I need you to see that the Yin and Yang arrive to the White Queen. After you drop them off, I’ll help you with your situation with the Queen of Hearts.” Caterina bargained.

     “Alright. I’ve lost all sanity so what else do I have to lose?” Alice said, taking the woman up on her offer. The fog disappeared, and so did the woman.

     “Alright! So we’re all headed to see the White Queen! What fun this will be!” Tsuki said as Alice hopped down from the mushroom. This time, Alice was in charge of leading the way…though, it’s not like he’d be any better due to not knowing his way around Wonderland.

~***~

At the Queen of Hearts palace deep underground in the catacombs, our three insane prisoners were currently trying to make the best of things. Max was trying to find a comfortable position on the cement, Louise straightening out her hat to look presentable for any means of execution, while Hiccup tried her call of the Jabberwocky.

     “Will you stop?!” Max asked aggressively.

     “No! Jabberwocky is here somewhere.” Hiccup replied, sticking her head through the bars and looking left and right. “Maybe the guards will want to let us out.”

     “I highly doubt it.” Louise said gleefully, straightening herself out.

     “We ain’t gonna die, Louise~” Hiccup sang.

     “You never know, Vincent can be very unpredictable these days.” Louise said.

     “He won't kill " he’s a good boy.” Hiccup retorted.

     “Say that to his mother." Max said referring to the Queen he first beheaded.

     “Which was a life saver thank you very much.” Hiccup said.

     “She’s right ya’ know.” Louise said. Max grumbled and curled into a ball, hoping to fall into sleep but not having luck since the cement was not comfortable as his chair at the tea party. The three then heard heavy metal footsteps coming their way only to be welcomed by the Knave.

     “Knave.” Hiccup replied.

     “The Queen would like to speak with you.” The Knave said clasping on heavy cuffs around Hiccups wrists and opening the cage. Hiccup hopped out, the gate closing behind her and making her way down the hall with the Knave kicking her rear whenever she walked to slow. She simply whistled along the way, Louise whistling in replying.

~***~

     “Hicca, do you like me?” Vincent asked.

     “Eh?” Hiccup asked, the doors closing behind her and the Knave giving them privacy.

     “As a friend.” Vincent clarified. “Just making……sure.”

     “Well you don’t come over as much anymore.” Hiccup said.

     “I am Queen, I can’t leave my quarters.” Vincent said.

     “Can you, or are ya’ forcing yourself?” Hiccup retorted. “I remember when we were kids and we had tea parties all the time. Your mom hated me.”

     “I know.” Vincent said gravely, his bangs shielding his eyes as he turned and went to the balcony. Hiccup followed, her shackles being dragged across the floor as she came to his side.

     “Why not take a break?” Hiccup asked.

     “My duties Hiccup.” Vincent said. Looking down, Hiccup saw the heads of the victims to the previous red queen floating about, looking fresh in the blood tainted mote. Hiccup looked on ahead, seeing dragons swirling through the sky; agitated at her absence.

     “Why not call them?” Vincent asked.

     “Who?” Hiccup asked.

     “Your pets; they seem to miss you.” Vincent said. “You could easily over power my Knights and Knave.”

     “Hmmm……I need the Jabberwocky for that.” Hiccup said, seeing his eyebrow twitch. She was seized by her shirt and pulled close.

     “Your Jabberwocky doesn’t want to come home.” Vincent said. He dragged her along, Hiccup stumbling over her own feet as she was taken down the stairs. They came to a cold room, Vincent opening the doors and an icy wind blowing at them. Hiccup tried scrunching together but was urged onto moving inward; towards this icy hell.

     “JABBERWOCKY!” Vincent summoned. You could hear talons scraping across cement, wings opening and closing, joints popping from lack of movement. A large beats emerged from the shadows, stepping forward for a snake like tongue and sniffing about. Vincent pushed Hiccup forward, the tongue briefly licking her cheek but retreating in disgust. Hiccup looked at the beast who roared so loud the room shook and she could feel her ears pop.

     “YOUR Jabberwocky!” Vincent said seeing Hiccup become visibly still. Her eyes were wide as she mumbled, “What…happened?”

     “Happened?! Obviously your grandmother didn’t fill you in!” Vincent bellowed. “Jabberwockies are forever in the Queens hands no matter the breeder! They only abide by the queens commands and kill whom I wish!" The beast went at Hiccup, Hiccup shielding herself till Vincent called, “However!” The beats stopped, its jaw open and over Hiccup about take her in one bite. It backed away and its tail slithered around Hiccup to block escape. "I wish not to harm you…You’ll remain here…until you’ve come to your senses.” The doors closed and Hiccup felt the tail close in around her, the Jabberwocky settling down and returning to rest. She fell on her bottom, still bewildered by the monster she was trapped in with.

     “What happened to you, little one?” Hiccup asked, stroking the scale. The beast growled in response its eyes gleaming a dark purple and keeping its eyes on her. Hiccup trembled as she messed with the scales that were slowly falling off.

     “My baby Jabberwocky……I’ll take care of you.” Hiccup mused, acting motherly. The beats relaxed at the caressing feeling of her light fingers stroking his tail. Laying its head down it rested the tail relaxing around Hiccup in a sign of acceptance.

~***~

Vincent listened to his monster sleeping soundly with the March Hare inside. He knew her way with the reptiles would soothe this mighty beast and allow some time for training. The Jabberwocky did prefer him over others but it didn’t mean he had total control " reason why he kept these insane freaks alive in the first place. He returned to his room, heart feeling heavy at having to be so…cruel. When he was a child he would simply ask and Hiccup, most likely, she would say yes. He crumbled to the floor with his head in his hands as he mumbled, “I’m turning into her…” He could swear he heard his mother’s chaotic laugh echo in the halls.

     “Hello,” Valentine said sneaking up on Vincent. Vincent scrambled to his feet and whirled around to the sound of the voice to be met with an odd grin. He asked, “Who’s there?”

     “Who?” Valentine asked his entire body reappearing before them. He was sitting crisscrossed applesauce, his arms crossed upside down his eyes glowing in happiness.

     “You?” Vincent said.

     “Me?” Valentine asked with a Glasgow grin.

     “Yes!” Vincent agreed.

     “Who might that be?” Valentine asked his tail swishing round bout.

     “Ugh!” Vincent groaned in exasperation and defeat and then turned his back to him.

     “You know you can always change.” Valentine said he popped his head off and then tossed it over to Vincent. The head had landed in front of Vincent. “You can always change.” The head repeated.

     “What do you know?” Vincent protested kicking the head back. Valentine trapped his head like a soccer ball and popped it back on.

     “Your name is quite hideous it should be like mine.” Valentine said.

     “I thought you meant- never mind.” Vincent said turning back around.

     “Doesn’t matter what I meant.” Valentine said.

     “What?” Vincent asked.

     “Depends on how you take it Valentine.” Valentine said.

     “My name’s Vincent.” Vincent corrected.

     “How drab. Look an idiot.” Valentine said pointing at the mirror. Vincent looked and only saw his reflection and that the Cheshire cat had disappeared.

     “Did he mean me?” Vincent asked then ignored the odd visit and carried on.

Author's Note

Director: TheWhiteQueen

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© Jamillet
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