2. Look What The Cat Dragged In


Alice was headed for Marmoreal, but it was much farther away than she had expected. All she knew was to keep heading south, and she'd reach the White Queen's castle soon enough. She didn't really have a plan yet, she didn't know what she'd say to who, she was still deliriously happy to be somewhere other than her dreary home. However, Alice had never gotten to know Underland very well. She picked her ways through weeds and trees.

"South to Marmoreal. South to Marmoreal." She muttered to herself repeatedly. She actually didn't know if she was even going south anymore, the greens and blues around her were disorienting.

"Well well well…" A voice said from behind her, "look what the cat dragged in." Alice turned quickly and smiled in relief.

"Chessur." She breathed. A gray and purple cat with a white smile was perched on a branch, his face level with hers. He regarded her for a moment, then purred.

"What brings you back to these thick forests?" The Chesire Cat asked.

"I was trying to find my way to Marmoreal." Alice answered, looking around hopelessly, "But it has been a while and I didn't know the land very well to begin with." Chessur leaned forward slightly, still looking at her critically.

"Well…I suppose I could show you the way. Old time's sake and all that, and I couldn't leave you simply wandering around here." He evaporated from his branch and Alice looked around expectantly, he reappeared a few feet in front of her. "Let's make haste." He said, beginning to walk, "Oh won't Tarrant be glad to see you." Alice's eyebrows drew together uncomprehendingly, but she smiled nonetheless and followed Chessur through the forest. "So how are things in…that Otherland you came from?" He asked after a few minutes. Alice shrugged.

"White and dreary." She replied.

"I suppose you regret rushing off after the battle?" Chessur asked.

"I don't know…" Alice sighed, "There were things that I had left unfinished. Only…"

"Only?" Chessur prompted when she didn't continue.

"They were wrapped up much more quickly than I had thought. And then everything became so routine and I…missed this place. I missed it here very much." Chessur nuzzled the top of his head against her arm.

"And of course you missed me too, I'm sure?" He asked haughtily, making Alice giggle.

"Of course I did. I missed everyone here so much." She scratched behind the cat's ear, "I can't wait to see them all again."

"Completely likewise, I assure you." He turned his head to study her again, "And there is someone who you will just have to meet."

"Meet?" Alice asked nervously.

"Of course. Don't worry Alice, it will be fine. You always have to meet everyone you've ever met. Why, look at you and me now, imagine that there was a time where we had never met. And then we met and we never have to meet again, it's hardly worth fretting over."

"You sound like the Hatter." Alice muttered playfully. Chessur flashed a grin and seemed to quicken his pace.

"Reminders, reminders. We should hurry along now." He said, and Alice lengthened her pace to keep up.

Finally, they reached the gates of Marmoreal. A guard peered out of the tower, saw Alice and the Chesire Cat, then rushed to open the gates. Chessur floated up and spun around a few times before coming face to face with Alice.

"I'm afraid I must leave you here, things to do. But don't fear, you won't get far beyond the gate before someone recognizes you, and then you will be taken care of. Taken care of indeed." Without waiting for a reply he vanished. Alice frowned at the place where his smile had been a few moments before. She wasn't comfortable with wandering around, waiting for someone who may be right there or may take hours to find her. But, she didn't have much of a choice, so she drew herself up and walked through the gates.

The garden and courtyard were as beautiful as ever; blossoms, bushes, flowers and trees of every color overflowed their stone boundaries and poured into the white marble walkway. Alice smiled and proceeded through the gardens and froze when she heard rustling in a nearby bush.

"Who's out there?" An unfamiliar voice called. Alice gaped as a girl stepped out of the rosebush in front of her. The girl was young, maybe a year or two younger than Alice. Her playful hazel eyes had flecks of bright gold in them, her skin was creamy white and flawless, her chocolate brown hair was braided down her back and tied with a large yellow bow. The girl's dress was knee-length and a frosty yellow color. The girl looked at Alice, taking in her yellow hair, blue eyes and matching gown. Finally, the stranger smiled a friendly grin and held out her hand.

"You must be Alice." The girl said, "The Alice. It's a pleasure to meet you at last." Alice took the girl's hand and shook it.

"Nice to meet you too…?" Alice fished for an introduction. The girl looked amused at the lack of tack but didn't address it, she merely answered,

"Owlira. Owlira of Antonia."

"Antonia?" Alice repeated, trying to place the unfamiliar name, "Where is that?"

"North." Owlira said simply, "Far north. It's very small and very hard to communicate with." Alice nodded.

"Are you the one Chessur told me I had to meet?" She asked. Owlira laughed outright.

"I suppose I must." She answered cheerily, "I'm the only one around here who doesn't talk of you constantly." Owlira glanced Alice up and down, making the older girl blush. "But we've met, so we must go tell the Queen of your arrival! Everyone will be so excited to see you've returned!" Owlira leaned forward and grabbed Alice by the wrist, she then began to tow Alice off to the castle while still chatting, "You should here them go on! 'Alice' this and 'Alice' that, why, you're probably even more admired than the Queen!"

"Not so!" Alice argued humbly, her blush deepening. Owlira batted her hand as if to wave her comment away.

"Tweedles!" Owlira said suddenly, changing directions rapidly. Alice stumbled a bit but Owlira's death grip on her arm kept her standing as she was dragged in front of two very short boys who were watching them oddly.

"Owlira, we was just looking for you…" Tweedledee said.

"That is to say that Queen was looking for you…" Tweedledum interrupted.

"But we was still looking for her…" Tweedledee argued as he turned to his brother.

"Come now boys." Owlira said cheerily, "Come take a looksie at who I've found!" The Tweedles looked back and forth between Alice and Owlira before turning to each other.

"Is that being...?" Tweedledee started.

"No. No musn't be…" Tweedledum interrupted.

"But surely it is, look at her..."

"But look at her hair and dress. Too different…"

"She looks exactly the same…."

"Maybe not exactly…."

"It's Alice." Owlira interjected.

"Ah." The Tweedles said together, running forward to greet Alice.

"It's good to see ya again…"

"We thought you was never coming back…"

"Hatter was in a right fit, he was…."

"The Queen missed you something awful…" Alice smiled at them and greeted them happily, she had missed the Tweedles' amusing way of speaking.

"It's so good to see you again!" She said happily.

"Which reminds me," Tweedledee said, taking a step back, "won't the Hatter be happy to see you..."

"That's what Chessur…" Alice began confusedly before Owlira cut her off.

"Yes yes yes all joy and joyous. You said the Queen was looking for me?" She asked. The Tweedles nodded before turning back to Alice.

"You must go see the Hatter…" Tweedledee said, taking one of her wrists.

"She mustn't neither." Tweedledum argued, taking her other wrist, "She must go tell the Queen of her arrival!" They each began to tug and Alice was caught so off-guard she nearly fell.

"This way Alice…."

"Follow me Alice…"

"Come now." Owlira laughed, prying both Tweedles off of Alice and taking the girl by her nearest elbow, "I am showing Alice around and I will choose who she sees first. And since the Queen is looking for me I shall bring Alice and we will kill two birds with one stone." Tweedledum clapped a few times, Tweedledee sulked. Owlira was dragging Alice with her again, the Tweedles trotted behind them as they followed Owlira to the throne room. The big white doors were closed. Owlira let go of Alice, threw open the doors and dipped into a curtsy.

"Majesty," Owlira greeted.

How are you all liking Owlira of Antonia so far?

HINT: I made Owlira a brunette to be opposite of a blonde, Yellow (her dress color) is the opposite of Blue (Alice's dress color) on the color wheel....see where I'm going with this?

So here's something about how I work as an author: I get busy and distracted and updated randomly and sadly. Usually I crank out the first few chapters then it gets harder to write for them. BUT this is a good thing.

REMEMBER: The longer it takes me to write a chapter the better I feel I have to make it for you guys, so if it takes a while to come out expect it to be awesome!

Thanks for reading, REVIEW!!!

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