What Happened to the Cat? Chapter 1

DarkCheshire: Alright, who wants to do the disclaimer?

Alice: How about Ches?

Cheshire: Dark Cheshire does not own Alice in Wonderland or any of its characters.

Alice PoV:

It was just after tea time and I was sitting under a tree in front Hatter's house, reading. As usual, The Cheshire was laying on the branch above me, singing a little song he had learned from Hatter.

"Twinkle, twinkle little bat. How I wonder where you're at."

I did enjoy his singing very much. Sometimes I dozed off listening to him.

Hatter, Dormouse, and March Hare were playing their usual game of cards. Everything felt a bit too usual in a place that was completely unusual.

"Alice," Cheshire purred, appearing in front of me. "Would you like to go for a little walk?"

I smiled and asked, "Why do you ask?"

He grinned his usual mischievous looking grin and purred, "I just want to get away from the usual. Ever since the defeat of the Red Queen, everything has been to usual."

I closed my book and stood, smoothing my skirt. "Alright."

I set my book on the large table Hatter used for tea time and followed Cheshire down a path through the forest.

Cheshire PoV:
I led Alice through the forest, humming my favorite song and jumping from branch to branch. I heard Alice giggle when I scared a twittering tea bird by swatting it with my tail. Grinning my trademark grin, I batted at a rocking horse fly.

"Oh, don't hurt the poor thing," she called when I knocked the horse fly to the ground.

I smiled, appearing in front of her, and flicking my tail back and forth. "Alice, you're always so polite even though you've slain a jabberwock and over-threw the Red Queen. How are you able to do that?"

Alice stopped walking and tilted her head, confused. "What do you mean, Ches?"

"I mean, if it had been the Hatter, or me, or anyone else, they would have become extremely rude."

She smiled and replied, "Oh. Well, I guess I'm not like you, or Hatter, or anyone else." She giggled.

I chuckled. "I guess you're right, my sweet Alice." She blushed slightly, smiling more. She always did that whenever Hatter or I called her 'my sweet Alice'. We didn't know why. Maybe she just never expected us to.

Alice PoV:

He was calling me 'sweet Alice' again. He and the Hatter had called me that more often since Red's defeat. I laughed, petting Cheshire's head gently.

After a while, we came to a fork in the narrow dirt path and saw a very upset woman pacing back and forth in front of a sign. The woman was dressed in a long black robe and pointed witch hat. Her long black hair ran down to her waist.

Cheshire tilted his head, grinning, and purred, "Excuse me. Are you lost, miss?" His tone was very polite. He obviously wanted to make a good impression.

The woman whirled around and scowled at him. "You!" she growled. Her eyes were covered by her hat so that only her mouth and nose were visible. "You mangy little floating flea bag!" she roared again.

Cheshire grinned wider. "You lost again?" he purred mischievously. I looked at him in confusion.

"Ches, do you know her?" I asked. He nodded and chuckled.

"I gave her directions before I met you, Alice. She seems to get lost easily," he purred.

The witch screamed, stomping her feet and flailing her arms. "You mindless feline got me even more lost with those horrible directions!" she shrieked. "I'll get you for that!" She held her hand out in front and a red energy jumped off of her fingers.

Cheshire raised an eyebrow and grinned wider. I took a step back.

The energy on the witch's fingers formed a red energy ball that floated underneath her outstretched hand. She grinned, turning her hand over so the energy ball was above her palm. "I've got a little spell for you, cat. Let's see how long you can last!" She then threw the red orb as hard as she could and it exploded into Cheshire.

Smoke blew everywhere, making us both cough. I caught a glimpse of the witch fleeing and she had more... feline qualities. I couldn't see much with the smoke though. It burned my eyes and caused me to cough again.

"Alice!" I heard Cheshire cough. "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine." The smoke started to clear and I could finally see Cheshire but... he looked different. I could feel my face turn bright red. "Ches? Is that you?"

Cheshire PoV:

I coughed, turning toward Alice. Her face was red and she was staring at me strangely. "What are you staring at, Alice?"

She opened her mouth but seemed at a loss for words. "You're naked," she said finally.

"I am a cat," I replied, a confused tone in my voice.

Her face got redder. "No, I mean... You're a human," she stuttered, turning away. I looked at my arms. She was absolutely right. I was human. And without clothes.

I scratched my head and found that I still had my cat ears. I also had my tail still too. "Interesting."

Alice glanced at me and said, her voice shaking, "Um, maybe you should... get some clothes on." I chuckled. Her face was still red.