It was a rainy night in Underland, the citizens of the topsy turvy land were nowhere to be seen as the heavy downpour made its way through the land. The grass and earth grew wet and muddy as the thick sheets of rain fell down, no traveler dared to venture out in such risky conditions, leaving every underlandian indoors to take shelter. Meanwhile inside the home of a hatter and a champion, a new story had begun to be written for an addition to the underland population.
The thick waterfall didn't stand chance in swaying the optimistic hearts inside the home, waiting around in a small dining area. Mirana sat on a fabulously designed wooden chair, her hands gracefully cupping her tea, delicately tapping a black fingernail onto the porcelain. Her heart fluttered as she watched mallymkun and Chessur scrabble about the situation. She downcast her eyes into the auburn tea, gently watching the ripples take form. She bit her dark lip gently, chewing it anxiously.
She hushed under her breath, "I wish this child peace and to be rich in wisdom and heart." She hummed silently to herself, grabbing the attention of all in the room: a dormouse, a floating cat with a grin so wide, a tremorous rabbit, and a snow white rabbit. The white hare reached his clock out of his pocket, mimicking the ticking sounds, "Any minute now will be too late…" Mirana grinned eyeing the hare beneath her thick lashes, "Mind the situation my dear, Alice is in no rush or no delay, time is not allowing her control but giving it to the child." He scoffed at her words, "He incorrectly chose whom should be running the watch."
Mirana couldn't help but allow a gentle chuckle. In was in that moment their dear friend Tarrant came rushing down the twirling steps. He halted at the last step, gazing at them. Mirana gently stood on her feet, floating her hands in the air to prepare the words of the hatter. His hair was wildly risen, his crimson curls took form of its wild etiquette. He gripped onto the rim of his hat, eagerly looking upon their gazes. "A girl." He mutters smiling. His gapped grin sent them all into sighs of relief and heavy clapping. He waltzed onto the floor smiling and they all took hold of him giving their congrats.
Mirana smiled, she swiftly made her "hovering" walk to the hatter, gently placing a kiss upon his head. "I assume Alice is at rest?" She spoke up. Tarrant nodded, gently placing his hat back upon his head. "Well 'ven cahn we see uh?" mally asked piping up. Tarrant nodded, "Alice is a bit worn, but The baby is rather awake none-the-less." They fled up the stairs following the hatter as he led them all to the room.
He opened the door revealing a man with a stork head packing up his medical tools. Alice was sat up in the bed, holding a bundle of a colorful silk blanket. She smiled up to the friends present. Tarrant took his position once more at Alice's side, gazing upon the child in awe. Once Mirana noted his once more gapping grin, she swept to Alice's side. She smiled upon the sight of the fair skinned newborn. Mirana adored the fact her skin was almost porcelain. Smiled as Alice gently brushed the small patch of vibrant red on the baby's scalp. "Hatter, it would seem this child has taken your wild mane." Alice smiled. Tarrant grinned at his wife and kissed her cheek gently as the baby stirred.
Mirana floated her hands once more before bending to a slight angle. "She's quite the charm. Her fair skin will practically match the underland snow." She humored. Alice grinned at her comment and nodded. "Her eyes, emeralds. Almost too pure to be human." Tarrant chuckled. They all peered over the bed spying on the baby as she coughed and awoke. Her emeralds blinking thickly. A gentle hiccup escaped her fragile lips, earning an 'awe' from the crowd.
Tarrant mused at his child's awe inspiring appearance as if there was nothing else in the room. Alice smiled tucking her blonde locks behind her soft ear. "Any names?" Mirana Hummed to the couple. Alice grinned looking up to her hatter as he exchanged a twinning grin. "Poppy." Alice chirped as her lips stretched to a smile. She barely bounced the child as she stirred once more. Mirana sighed in love with the name. "This child is to be a delicate gift to all underland. We thank you both for presenting such beauty to our land." The couple nodded giving a thank you to their queen.
She stood with her designated poise once more, before shooing the rest of the stragglers out of the room. When the room became vacant, hatter placed a gentle kiss upon the soft flesh of his child. She cooed in response to her father's affection, earning a whispered breath from Alice. The two remained in their moment, basking in the beauty they created.
Meanwhile, across the land, a man on a black horse panted as he tried to shield his eyes from the heavy rain. His horses' soles clanked against the slippery rock, emitting a loud neigh in return. The man combed his hair back quickly from his eyes as the rain drenched it. In a few more strides, the horseman trotted into a large garden circling a heart shaped home. He leapt off his horse, sprinting up the large black stairs. He burst into a room, aggressively opening large red doors.
Down the long corridor, a small woman with a large head stood up, her glare fixing upon the young man. "Have you news?" she spat. He nodded panting, "Plenty." He threw a scroll at her feet. She looked upon it under her lashes, momentarily spying it out. "This is what I sent you out for? Some mildewing parchment?" He shook his head grinning, hands gripping his knees, "This 'parchment' isn't just any scroll." He stood to his feet, picking the item up as he strolled to her side at the throne. "This"- he unwound the page- "Is your key." The page showed in black ink something of a maze, leading to a singular spot in the white queen's court.
She scoffed, "This is my key? How is it I shall exactly get through If I do not bare the blood of underland's champion?" He grinned Further opening the parchment, "This, is the day Alice and Tarrant Hightop presented their child into the world." Iracebeth widened her eyes, yanking the page from the lad's hand. "A child!? They conceived a child? Of all people, The slayer of my poor pet and the daunting hatter?!" She roared. Fury possessed her as she ripped the page throwing it on the ground. The man quickly gathered up the scraps, "No! madam you don't understand…"
She turned to him raising a brow. "You see, if you take the child, you can use the portal!" He muttered. She turned, completely transfixed upon his statement. "Steal the baby?" "And go above…" He chimed in. She was still, but in seconds the thought baptized her crazed mind, a wild grin spread across her pale face. A dark chuckle rolled from her lips as she erupted into a fit of dark laughter. She grabbed her arm rest, grinning madly. "Fetch me my robe, it's awful muggy outside…" she grinned.
The Hatter grinned as he danced a stuffed lobster doll above the crib which held his child. She stared in amazement at her father, smacking her lips together before gurgling a heartwarming giggle. Alice smiled from the bed, gazing upon the two in such heart felt actions. "Would little poppy seed like to show a grin?" he mused. She smiled flashing her gums as she chuckled once more. He smiled wildly before turning to his wife, "Alice! Look! She's practically as crazed as you and i!" Alice laughed at the thought, "Before you know it she will be spewing on of riddles with ravens and writing desks and what not.
She hummed.
He laughed gently and he slowly stroked some of the red curls from her head. "Poppy Isle Hightop… I promise to do right by you." He whispered before placing a kiss upon her head. She cooed and watched her father pull away. He lit a small lantern near the crib, and turned out everyother light before sliding into bed next to his wife. Alice smiled as he cradled up to her side. She lie on her back, hair sprawled across her snow pillow. "She will be brave…" Alice whispered.
Tarrant looked at her, poising his head upon his hand supported by his elbow. "But of course, love. Her veins run thick with the blood of the champion to Underland. She will no doubt be brave of sorts." She grinned at him, "She will be thriving in courage… she has a free spirit…" Tarrant nodded at this. "I felt it too." He noted before closing his eyes to rest. Alice glanced once more upon the crib, her heart beat racing at the sight. All was well in underland….
Yet it is always someone's job to ruin the joy. A heavy knock interrupted the slumber of the couple. Tarrant hopped to his feet, fleeing down the steps. He rolled his sleeves up before opening the door to peer into the darkness. "Hallow? Who be stompin' upon the 'and o' mae 'ome at such an 'our…" He grumbled in his thick brogue. There was an empty view to the hatter. He slowly closed his door, biting his bottom lip curiously letting the question of the ditching knock wrack around in his brain.
"TARRANT!" he whipped his head to the stairway, sprinting up, nearly taking a blunder a few moments but luckily recovering. "Ahlice!" He shouted back. He burst into the room to find her wheezing and laying on her womb whimpering in pain. He fled to her, gently sitting her up noticing blood stain her gown. He looked into her dull green eyes, hers meeting his vibrant yellow ones before quickly eyeing the crib. Catching notice of the motion, he turned to see the crib empty as the lantern knocked on it's side no longer lit.
He stood to his feet rapidly, throwing sheets about trying to find any hint of where his child was. He panted as his hand began to tremble, He looked up at the opened window, gently swinging against the breeze. He stood upon the nightstand quickly peering out the window his breath clogged in his throat as he saw a robed figure sprint away in the distance holding a colorful bundle of blanket. Tarrant couldn't restrain the loud roar of a yell he let out.
Mirana sat up hearing such distress from the hatter, she quickly floated to her balcony to spy upon the racing figure holding the newborn. "No! Guards! Halt her! Poppy!" She whimpered out. Guards began to race after the theft. Mirana followed suit after her guards, "Mind the newborn! She is delicate!" She yelled out. She eventually gave up her graceful sprint and began full on running madly toward the figure. She panted as her nightgown muddied up at the hem and her feet kicking back mud.
She outran her guards and was nearly feet away from the figure, she reached her hand out grasping the robe, ripping it off the theft. She stopped and looked down at the silk object seeing hearts scattered across it in a pattern. Her heart dropped to her stomach as she looked up seeing Her sister holding the sobbing newborn. "Iracebeth…" She muttered chocking up. Iracebeth panted with a glare painted on her face. She took a few steps back, seeing the rabbit hole nearly feet behind.
Mirana caught note of this. "Don't…" She whimpered. "Leave the child be…" She plead. "And for what? I was banished and restricted any right to rule over my kingdom. Now I at least have a chance to regain my path… And this time… you and your petty white flesh wont dance into my plans ruining 'em.." She took one more step back-"IRACEBETH, NO!" She shouted reaching out as she stepped into the hole dropping in, holding the child. Mirana fell to the earth only managing to grasp hold of something soft. She slowly opened her eyes to peer upon the stuffed lobster animal In her hand. She gripped it tightly as she poised herself upon her knees, holding the pillow like doll to her chest. Her lashes fluttered as heavy tears poured from them. The guards soon fell in line behind her, "My queen-" "Inform the hatter and our Champion… there has been a grave crime done on the lands of Underland…" She whispered as her wet lips gently pried open whilst she wept into the red fabric of the child's lobster.