A/N: Hello everyone! I'm so stunned with how many liked the first chapter. On the flip side, I'm a bit disappointed with this chapter with how little I got done. Things have been hectic. However I'm going to be gone for two weeks, so I decided to post up with I was satisfied with and work on the rest later. I never said the chapters would be long, after all. I work with tidbits at a time.
Thank you those who have reviewed/favorited/alerted so far. I would've responded to each of you separately (And I still plan to - I haven't forgotten~!) but time gets away from me in the summer.
And remember, these characters aren't mine. Yes yes, you all can beat me for forgetting a disclaimer in the first chapter. *bows* Enjoy!
Alice followed the White Rabbit, gazing around at the landscape around her. Colorful mushrooms and grasses soared into the sky as they ducked under fallen branches and leapt over streams. "It hasn't changed," she spoke softly to herself, waving at a sunflower.
"Did you expect it to?" the White Rabbit asked, peering over his shoulder at the girl behind him.
"I don't know what I was expecting, but I have been gone some time," Alice commented, squinting past the cheerful shrubbery. She could've sworn she saw a flash of something, bolting amongst the chrysanthemums and mushrooms. However it was gone as quickly as Alice spotted it. There was nothing there, Alice thought, all just a trick of the mind.
The White Rabbit continued on, oblivious to Alice's distraction. "Yes, well, since the Red Queen was banished, things have been rather peaceful. No more destruction, nor misery. The White Queen has been working hard to restore the kingdom to its former glory." He paused, glancing back at Alice. "Her majesty is looking forward to seeing you again."
Alice pulled her eyes away from the forest around them, eying the Rabbit's back. "Are we going to see her? The White Queen? Is the wedding at her palace?" Alice asked, just as quickly as she focused herself losing herself in thought again. She hoped the Queen's domain wasn't much farther. Her feet were beginning to ache, and she longed to sit down for a little.
"Yes, it is. Her Majesty thought the palace would be a suitable venue. Plenty of room, good catering," the White Rabbit replied, looking up at the trees. The blossoms, and even the leaves, were beginning to turn white, a sure sign they were getting close.
Alice noticed the trees as well. Slowly she smiled, reminiscing about the large palace where the White Queen lived. The White Queen's castle was one of her favorite places in all of Wonderland, with the impossibly high skyscrapers, glittering walls that were not quite marble, and the balconies placed so perfectly to where one could walk out and see all of Wonderland it seemed.
Alice sighed wistfully. Just thinking about it, imagining the precession, made her excited. "The wedding will be beautiful, I'm sure," she said happily, then paused. Thinking for a moment, Alice bit her lip. There was a small detail missing from her mental vision. "I have one question," Alice began uncertainly.
The White Rabbit paused when Alice didn't continue, peering over his shoulder. A moment of awkward silence passed. Alice rocked from foot to foot, apparently unsure of how to phrase her bizarre question.
"Well?" the White Rabbit prompted.
"Who's the wife?"
There was a moment of pause in which the White Rabbit and Alice shared a look. The White Rabbit couldn't help but chuckle softly at Alice's innocence, her large doe eyes indicating her question was in no way meant to be insulting. Alice couldn't help but chuckle a little at the dumbfounded look that had briefly passed over the Rabbit's face, proving that he had as little idea as Alice did.
"If you ask me," The Rabbit began, turning around continuing to hop along, "The Cat is."
Alice thought for only a moment before simply nodding in agreement, continuing on.
"Alice, it is wonderful to see you again!"
The White Queen was as lovely as Alice remembered her. A cascade of pure snowy white curls fell in perfect ringlets past her shoulders, black-painted lips popping from flawless alabaster skin. The Queen waited on the steps of the palace, smiling benevolently. Alice couldn't help but think that, with all the white she wore, the White Queen looked like she was the one getting married instead.
Alice skipped up the steps and paused, curtsying before the Queen. "It's wonderful to be back," Alice said honestly.
The White Rabbit hopped his way over to his Queen, bowing politely once he stood before her. "I'm sorry it took us so long, your Highness," he began, hastily striking up a conversation over the wedding preparations. Alice shyly stood back, allowing the two to converse. Instead she settled for turning her back and looking over the land surrounding the palace. Beautiful pure white landscape with flecks of brown where the bark of trees showed through gaps. Petals fluttered in the air, spiraling to the ground. Alice smiled, agreeing that this was a wonderful place for a wedding, and hoped that the wedding would be outside in such a beautiful landscape.
A flash of grey and black caught her attention, off a little ways in the distance, bolting amongst the trees. The white tops of leaves shook violently, and Alice craned her neck trying to get a better look. Suddenly the grey mass launched itself from the trees and hastily fumbled up the stairs, drawing the attention of the card guards, the Queen, and the White Rabbit. Alice heard the Queen gasp loudly in shock.
"Stop stop!" the White Rabbit wailed at the mass of blue, quickly hiding behind the train of the Queen's dress.
"Wait!" Alice quickly yelled at the guards who tried to move in the monster's path. Alice shoved a heart card aside and threw out her arms, shutting her eyes tightly in case the mass of grey fuzz wouldn't stop in time. She vaguely heard the White Rabbit call out her name, but there was no need for concern. The fuzzy creature skidded to a halt and promptly sat on the stairs, sticking his muzzle up to Alice to sniff her cautiously.
A small smile slipped onto Alice's face as she reached out a hand, gently petting blue and black flecked fur. "Remember me?" she asked the bandersnatch softly, reaching up to gingerly scratch behind his furry rounded ears. She smiled kindly at him as he stuck his nose by her face, sniffing and staring at her with those glassy, blank eyes.
Then, suddenly, his hackles went down and the tension drained out of his large, powerful body. Slowly he opened his mouth and proceeded to greet Alice as any polite animal would, licking from her neck to her forehead. Alice flinched at the smell and feeling, forcing a smile at her furry companion.
"Missed you too," she said kindly, petting his muzzle. She could've sworn she heard him purr. The bandersnatch tilted his head up and butted Alice's petite hand, much like a cat would, before laying down on the palace steps. Alice kissed the top of his furry head gently, hearing him snort with appreciation. At least, Alice believed it was.
The Queen looked Alice over in slight dismay, biting her lip as Alice turned around. The girl brushed off her dress and attempted to wipe the saliva off her skin. It wasn't working too well, ending up with her arm covered with the liquid and her face none the cleaner. Alice wasn't dainty by any means, but she had to admit even that was a little disgusting.
"Perhaps a bath before the wedding?" The Queen suggested, pulling out a white handkerchief and gently wiping the slime off of Alice's face as she called back to the White Rabbit, "Do you mind asking the servants to draw a bath for her?"
"Right away, your highness!" the Rabbit responded and saluted before hopping towards the doors, a card guard kind enough to hold the door for him.
Alice was beyond appreciative of the cleaning, giggling when she heard the card guards attempt to move the large creature off of the palace steps. She peered over her shoulder to see the bandersnatch happily asleep, drawing in a deep breath before letting out a sleepy snore that made one of the nearby guards jump.
"Leave him alone! We're having the wedding out back. It will be alright if he stays here," the White Queen commanded softly, her voice kind yet stern, sighing softly before taking Alice's dry arm. "Come on. First a bath, then we shall take you to see the others."
Alice, unable to protest and deciding the Queen was right about her needing a bath, allowed the White Queen to gently drag her towards the castle with one solemn look back at her own friend. Quietly she promised to come back and spend some proper time with her friend...
...once the wedding was over, of course.