REPOST: I forgot to change the title within the story from its original. This has been reposted with the correct title.
A Greater Fate
kagomes-wanna-be
Chapter One
A soft breeze fluttered a lonely curtain. A bread-and-butterfly passed by the open window, chased by an irritable dragonfly, before darting through the window in an attempt to escape. The dragonfly followed closely. The two darted back and forth down the long corridor, doing their best to avoid the passing people and grand decor. The bread-and-butterfly escaped out another window into the fresh garden air and continued their dance as below a tea party commenced.
"You're late!" A cup was thrown and ducked under.
"It is impossible to be late to an event that never ends and has no beginning."
It was true. It was an ongoing tea party. The serving always continued, even when nothing was left to be served. Someone once questioned the possibility of this, stating that it could not be a tea party without any tea. The response was a question as to whether the tea cup or the tea drink was invented first, and the subject was never breached again.
The newest addition to the afternoon tea party took her seat, placing the stained white napkin over her lap. She held up her cup as the host poured the tea and turning her head to let out a cough. "Oh, dear friend, that was quite the ragged noise. Are you well? I can't say that I recall a time when, in my presence, you have coughed as such. Of course, it is probable that you have coughed when not in my presence, but you always seem to be in reputable health. Is your health becoming unreputable?"
The dark eyed beauty tossed her fair hair over her shoulder. "To speak honestly, kind Hatter, I have been feeling under the weather as of late. I may even be paler than normal."
"Sugar for your tea!" Thackery screamed, throwing two cubes from across the table, interrupting the party's burst of laughter at the Queen's joke.
She reached for the offending lumps, accustomed to the practice, but her hand never reached them. Instead, they hit against the breast of her gown as her hand covered her mouth in a coughing fit. The March Hare burst out in laughter along with the resident Dormouse, but the last party member was unable to enjoy the humor.
"Are you alright, Your Majesty?"
"Fine, fine," Mirana tried to wave it off, but her fit did not lessen. It grew, turning into a more menacing hack. "Please, some tea."
Tarrant rounded to her side, lifting the cup to her lips. It was at this time that the bread-and-butterfly decided to join the tea party. Followed by the dragonfly, it ducked under teapot sports and through cup handles, but was unable to slow in time to avoid the queen. She jumped in her seat at the sudden impact, sending tea down her dress and spluttering from her lips.
"How dare ya attack our queen!" Mallymkun cried, harpooning her pin at the creature. It pierced it through the head, and such was the end of the bread-and-butterfly.
Mirana stood, still coughing wildly, to protest the killing of the unknowing critter. Before she was able to mutter a word, the world turned madder than ever before. The sky and ground switched places and the tea smelt of metal as every teapot on the table began to whistle at its highest pitch. Faintly, she heard the yelling voices of those around her, but they were incoherent. Her knees gave out. She clutched at the table cloth as she fell to the ground-sky, pulling it with her and sending the contents of the tea party to the ground.
Tarrant caught the queen on her descent and helped lower her to the ground. "Your Majesty!" he yelled, shaking her by the shoulders, but there was no response. "Your Majesty!"
"The tea must be poisoned! Treachery! Madness! Mutiny! MURDER!" Thackery jumped from the table to the ground and began crushing all the offending teapots and teacups.
The commotion in the garden caught the attention of those in the castle. They began opening the windows and pouring out the doors, noticing the tea party was madder than usual.
"The doctor!" The Hatter cried to the masses. "Fetch the doctor at once! The Queen has fallen!"
A roar erupted and madness reigned. The Queen was on the ground, the hare was screaming of murder, and the doctor appeared to be out for the day.
The mood was... absent. No mood could be found. No one in the room knew how to react. For the first time in years, the entire castle was silent.
"Your Majesty?" the timid voice of the doctor asked. She hadn't spoken in minutes.
Ever composed, she looked up at them with a smile. She had no time for mourning. "Forgive me. I was lost in reverie."
"It is quite alright," she was assured by the doctor. He seemed to be the only one able to speak. "Should we look further?"
"No," Mirana stated certainly. She rolled the Oraculum up from where it rested upon her lap. "We have seen far more than we should have in order to receive the information we required." She had done her best to ignore the rolling images of Underland's near future, but certain glimpses could not be helped.
Silence abounded once more as Mirana placed the Oraculum on her nightside table. The present people stole glances at each other, each questioning the other as to who should speak and what should be spoken.
"What do we do now?" someone, some high ranking court member, questioned.
"Why we should go to bed, of course!" Hatter cried. "We've all been awake with worry for many hours today, and the Queen is awake far past her bedtime. Naughty," he chastised her with a wink.
The outburst had been uncalled for and ill-executed, but the others could not disagree. It was late, and the queen would need all the rest she could get. Slowly, the processional exited the lady's chamber, all to the farewells and goodnights of one Tarrant Hightopp. They could not find his same joy in themselves for a hearty departure, but then again, he was mad.
Soon the room was empty and all that remained was the queen and the hatter. They faced each other, each mirroring the others pained eyes.
"Thank you, Hatter. You have made this night far easier on me."
He smiled at her, holding his top hat in his hands. "If that is all I can say that I've done with this life, then it has been a good life."
Tears came to the young queen's eyes, but she refused to cry in front of him. He was such a good friend. She refused to add her pain to his own. "You should sleep. You do not want to be tired for your guests at tea tomorrow. You never know who will show up."
He cast his eyes downward, watching his hands play with the edges of the blue fabric wrapped about his hat. "I've been considering words that begin with the word A lately; absent, anguish, anger-"
"All hope is not lost, Tarrant. You have many friends in this world," Mirana interrupted him before he could finish his thoughts.
"Aye," he whispered. "Many friends indeed."
With a tip of his hat and a wish goodnight, the hatter left the queen alone. Or, he thought alone.
"'Tis truly a tragedy."
"There have been far more tragic tragedies in the history of Underland than this," she informed the blue butterfly on her balcony ledge.
Absolem flew across to her bed, perching on the pillow next to her. "How are you?"
With a sigh she responded, "In the end, I will be fine. But I'm afraid that Underland may not be."
"I feel a favor being brought on," he said in monotone. "You know I am not oft for favors."
She knew it to be true. Absolem did as he pleased, being the wisest member of Underland, but she found it worthwhile to state her point. "At least you know it will be the only favor I'll ever have the pleasure to ask you."
Even as a butterfly, she could see the smile on his face, his wings giving a soft flutter. "What do you need, Your Majesty?"
"Alice," she told him sternly. "I need our Champion."