Author's Note: So, this story has not gotten much of a response, but I am grateful to those who have read and reviewed. I will respond to your review soon, but I want to get this posted before the new episode airs in 15 minutes. Anyway, I hope you like this chapter, that you review, and that you look forward to another chapter. Which will come. When I post that one, I will have seen what actually happens with the spell of shattered sight, which should help me figure some stuff out. Anyway, here we are. Chapter one.
Chapter One
Drowning. That was what it felt like. Ana was drowning. She was gasping for air. She jerked awake, coughing and choking.
Then she heard a gentle, motherly voice, "Don't strain yourself dear. Come out of it slowly."
She looked up, and saw the Rabbit's wife standing over her. She looked different. There was concern in her eyes, but also pain. It was a very new pain. And Anastasia remembered her army turning on her, running the to the Rabbit for help, the army catching up with them, and - "Will!" she cried, frantic, hysterical even, "Where is 'e? Where's Will? Is he 'urt? Is he-"
"Shhh." The Rabbit's wife soothed, changing a washcloth on Anastasia's head, "There's no need to work yourself up like that."
"But Will-"
"Is fine, I'd imagine. He made it safely through the portal. That was quick thinking on your part, Majesty."
Anastasia nodded, seeming to calm down a little. He was safe. Will was safe. That was all that mattered, "What 'appened 'ere?"
The Rabbit's Wife lowered her head, "The soldiers came, and they shot. You were hit with a bullet. You passed out, lost blood, but you'll survive. It would have been much worse if …"
The Rabbit's wife trailed off, "If what?" she didn't respond, "Please, tell me?"
"My husband got in the way. They were aiming for your heart. It would have been a straight shot, and you would be dead before I could do anything for you. But my husband, brave idiot that he was, pushed you out of the way. You still got it with on of the bullets, but you'll survive. The other two bullets, they hit him. And now…" she trailed off again. Anastasia could tell she was trying to be strong, but she heard to pain in her voice.
"I'm so sorry." She said, "This is our punishment isn't, for falling in love with Brave Idiots. Though, they are very difficult not to love." The Rabbit's Wife smiled at her kindly. "I know your family has been through much, and I know I am responsible for a lot of that-"
The Rabbit's Wife put her hand up "You separated my children from their father, threatened Percy, laid waste to the land we called home, but you also saved Wonderland from Jafar. You have done a lot of good this past year. I am the type to hold a grudge, but Percy wasn't, and I owe it to him to offer you forgiveness. Besides, I happen to think you've earned it."
Anastasia smiled, "Thank you."
"Now, you need you rest. I'll fill you in on everything else when you've healed up more-"
"But wait, the soldiers? What happened to them? Are they still trying to kill me?"
"Your Tweedle, the loyal one, he gathered the people you've helped to come and aid you in your time of need. They knew they were outnumbered, so they fled. Their still out there, in hiding, the cowards-"
"We'll find them. We'll find them, and put them to justice. Will and I will," she paused. Will wasn't here anymore, "Do you … do you know what realm Percy sent him too?"
The Rabbit's wife shook her head, "I would imagine somewhere that he would be safe."
"And, can you … that is, do you know how … ?" she could hear the desperation in her voice, and she was sure the Rabbit's Wife heard it too, but she didn't care at the moment.
The Rabbit's wife looked down, sadly, "I'm sorry, Your Majesty, but that was my husband's gift. I've never understood it."
"But, but there must be another way. Will and I came through a looking glass. Perhaps-"
"You need to rest."
"I need Will!" Anastasia cried, "I always need Will. Without him, I'm …" she didn't even know how to finish that sentence. What was she without Will? Lost? Lonely? Broken? She just knew she needed him, and so did Wonderland.
"I want to help you, Your Majesty, but right now, you need to rest. We'll figure everything out after. Please, now, let your body heal."
"I-"
"It's what Will would want."
Anastasia was silent. The Rabbit's wife was right, she knew. Will would want her to take care of herself, to get better. The Rabbit's wife was right. She was such a kind soul. Rough around the edges, and stubborn, which was certainly something Anastasia could relate to, but a kind soul, "What's your name?" she asked, realizing she only knew the woman who had saved her and was nursing her back to health as The Rabbit's Wife.
The Rabbit's Wife turned to her, smiling, "Cynthia."
Once Anastasia had healed up some, Cynthia knew that she would have many more questions. There were dangerous traitors out there that she had to deal with, but that would not be The Queen's main concern. She needed her King, in every way. It was so clear; Cynthia was surprised that none of them had noticed it when she wore red. None of them had seen her as a lonely girl in love, but she had been. And she did not want to be again.
Cynthia found the Queen barking orders at her subject. The loyal ones, the grateful ones who had offered to help.
She hopped up, offering a cup of tea, which Anastasia accepted. The two of them went off to the side, to confer, "You may not want to be so harsh with they. They are being kind in helping you, because you have been kind to them."
The Queen nodded, "I just don't know what to do."
"They will be captured, my queen."
"And then what? I know what The Red Queen would have done. She would have had them beheaded. Made it a big event, where people gather to watch, and she sits regally above it all, feeling like a god who can smite them all in an instant from her high post. I used to revel in that power. I could do whatever I wanted to any of them, and nobody could stop me. It's easy to get drunk on such things."
"That's not who you are anymore."
She shook her head, "Isn't it? I didn't start out that way, but the power, such alluring ambrosia, and nobody to steady me. There was nobody to remind me who I was, and why what I was doing was wrong. This past year, Will was here. He calmed me down. He reminded me what was right. He made me good." She turned to Cynthia, "I can't do this without him. I don't know how. I don't want to be that person again, but-"
"Then don't. Will didn't make you good, he just helped you to see that you could be, that you already were. It's easy to be corrupted by power, but you are strong. The girl who sent her love through a portal, not knowing if she would see him again, and returned, bravely, to face the men who wanted her dead, that is a strong, brave woman if ever I knew what. You will make it through this. You will find a fair punishment, and you will not revel in their pain. You will do what is necessary, and no more."
"But how will I know what is necessary."
"Because you are wise. Wisdom comes from pain, and you are a wise girl indeed, far beyond your years. You know pain, and suffering, you have seen it, and experienced it. You know power, and loss, and love. And you have learned. You can be a fair Queen without Will."
"But, I still need-"
"I know. And I will do everything I can to help you find him, but until that time comes, you will reign as the fair, wise, benevolent queen you were always meant to be."
Cynthia gave Anastasia and awkward hug, which the queen returned. "Thank you."
"Of course dear. Now, back to work. I believe certain army men need to be brought to justice."
"You wanted to speak to me." The White Queen asked as she entered the holding cell. It was strange. The last time she was down here, it was with Will. He had been behind those bars, looking at her with such hatred. Oh, how far they had come. The man before her, however, clearly hated her just as much, if not more, than Will had.
"Actually, I didn't." He grunted. Out of his army clothes, she realized he was not as in shape as she had once thought. He clearly worked out, but his body looked tired, and slightly malnourished. And that smile he had always worn was long gone. This was the real man, not the fake general who had infiltrated her ranks. This was who he was.
"So tell me, General, is Grout even your real name?"
He nodded, "I thought it would be a dishonor to my wives memory to change it. For a moment, I worried you might recognize the name, but then I remembered you had never cared for any of us. There was no way you remembered my wife."
"You're right. I don't. So why don't you tell me about her."
"She had long red hair, just like my daughter." Anastasia nodded, listening. "She was brave, feisty, and she loved fiercely. Her daughter, our daughter, she loved her more than anything. Ayla was only two and a half, but she was curious, and quite the little crawler. We were at the shopping center, trying to find something to eat. We were starving are asses off, and somehow, Ayla wandered off. She saw something pretty in a window, and she wanted it. She grabbed for it, yanking, and she ripped the thing. It was this expensive red fabric, and we couldn't afford to pay for it. Supposedly, those were the fabrics used to make The Red Queens gowns." Anastasia flinched, knowing what had to be coming. "Word was that the queen would behead the person responsible, so my wife stepped forward. We begged her not to, but she would have done anything for her family. She was strong, and brave, and fierce."
Anastasia felt herself get chocked up, "I'm sorry-" she began.
"No you're not. Else, you wouldn't've done it."
"I have made a lot of mistakes, I know that, but I am trying to make amends for them. I did not give you money to make you forgive me. I did it because after suffering such a loss, you deserved something, and that was all I had to give. If I could, I would bring them back. But I can't. You can't bring back the dead, and you can't change the past. I know that better than anyone. I regret, so deeply, every wrong I have committed since I became queen. All I want to do is right those wrongs, and be the queen the people of Wonderland deserve."
"The people of Wonderland deserve more than you can ever be. You're nothing but a monster."
"The King doesn't think so."
Her prisoner rolled his eyes, "Love is blind."
"No, he sees me. He sees the cruel things I have done. I've hurt him more than I have hurt anyone, but still, he sees the good. He sees me, all of me, the good, the bad, and he believes in me. He knows I can be a good queen."
"And where is he now?"
The White Queen deliberated on her choice. This man had tried to kill her. He had gained her trust, and betrayed her. There was no doubt that, given the opportunity, he would try to kill her again. And again. He would keep going until she was dead. But it was her fault, wasn't it? And if she had him executed, wasn't she being the exact person he hated?
She needed Will, his kind words, his supportive smile. He believed in her, more than anyone ever had, and when he had absolutely no reason to, he believed in her. And after everything that had happened, he had still found a way to believe in her. Somehow, he believed in her. He saw goodness, and he saw strength. She needed to find those things now. If he saw them, they must be there. She just needed to learn to find them without him.
But, oh, how she missed him. After everything that had happened, she never dreamed they would be separated again. It always seemed that they were though. They always ended up separated for one reason of other. Now it was just a matter of finding their way back to each other.
She had enlisted those she trusted most, Cynthia, and her Tweedle. The two of them were searching high and low for some way, any way out of wonderland. There had to be one. There just had to. And they would find it. But it was taking a dreadfully long time. It had taken months to find and capture all of her former army. Then she had to discover which were the leaders, the truly dangerous, and which were simply along for the ride. Most seemed devoted to their cause, but some were a little less threatening.
Anastasia knew who the true threats were. The question was now, was what was she to do with them? She couldn't behead them, but could she afford to let them live. She had hoped talking to her prisoner would help her, but it hadn't. What would Will do? Well, Will had always been a survivor. "Can't do the right thing of your dead." He had said to her once. Survival was first. Except when someone he loved was on the line. Be it Alice, who she knew Will loved like a sister, or her, who Will loved so much that she had to force him through that blasted portal because he refused to leave her. Survival mattered to Will, but he didn't always practice what he preached. He was a hero, even if he would never admit it. And Hero's didn't kill. She was not The Red Queen anymore. She was The White Queen. She was merciful.
The White Queen had gathered the entire Kingdom for her announcement. She was nervous. Cynthia urged her on. She had really grown to depend on the Rabbit. She was tough, sure, but she was also very motherly, which was something Anastasia always needed. Sometimes, she wondered if she would ever stop being the girl whose mother never loved her.
"Good Morning, Dahlings." She said, loudly, making sure her annunciation was sound. "As I'm sure you have heard, that man there, and his men," she pointed to the prisoners, "made an attempt of my life." There was a collective gasp, "Well, they are not wholly to blame. I have made many mistakes during my reign, and those mistakes cost them the lives of their loved ones. However, I am not that person anymore. I have been a good queen, and will continue to be." She turned to the men, "Dahlings, I would love to pardon you, but that sets a rather bad precedent, don't you think?" the men dropped their heads, resigned to their fate, "However, given the circumstances that led you to commit such a treacherous act, I have decided a more lenient punishment may be more appropriate. Therefore, these men are hereby banished. They are to leave these parts, find homes in another kingdom, and never return. If they are seen here again, they will be arrested, and they may find I am not so lenient the second time around." Her voice rose, "Make no mistake, any attempt on the crown's life will be met with the harshest of punishments. You are my people, and I love you. I do not want to punish you, but if I believe my life, or the lives of anyone in my kingdom, be he king or be he peasant, is in danger, the repercussions will not be pretty."
And with that, she turned, and walked back into the castle, choruses of "Long Live The White Queen." Echoing behind her.
"I believe you would be proud of me Will." She whispered. She knew he couldn't hear her, but somewhere, deep inside herself, she needed to believe that he somehow could.
It had been almost a year now, and Anastasia had almost given up hope, when her Tweedle had come rushing in.
"Cynthia has news. We must make haste. I'll prepare the carriage." As they rode, Anastasia watched the scenery. She had to. Nobody was talking, and she was a bundle of nerves. She needed some sort of distraction. She watched as her Kingdom passed before her eyes. They were heading deeper and deeper into the wood, farther than Anastasia had ever been. She felt that that was a good sign.
When the carriage stopped, Cynthia was there, waiting for her. She ran to great her maternal friend, "No time for hugs now, dear. We have a schedule to keep."
They followed Cynthia towards a rather large lake. Anastasia knew wonderland better than anyone, but this place she did not know.
"It's a portal," Cynthia explained, "Or it is now. It wasn't always, but it's been enchanted. It will get you where you need to go. As for finding your way back, well, you'll need to pay a good deal of attention to where you land. You'll need to return to that spot. You'll have forty-eight hours, and then the portal closes."
Anastasia stared at her, shocked, "So I, I may not be able to get back?"
"There is a chance."
"Wonderland needs me." She called over the current.
"Well, then you best mind the time while you're there."
"But-"
"Anastasia, I know you're scared, but we promised you we would find a way to bring will back to Wonderland. The rest is up to you. And you are strong. And you are brave. You will return with your King, I have no doubt of it."
Ana stared at the waters, terrified. Then, she stood up straight, and a look of determination came over her face. She walked forward, immersing herself in the water.
It didn't feel like water. It felt just like going through any other portal. It felt like going through the looking glass all those years ago.
She fell to the ground, wincing. Then, she stood up. She needed to find Will. It didn't take long. She looked up, and there he was, staring at her in awe. She felt tears come to her eyes. It was Will. Her Will. He was here, so close to her that she need only walk a few paces to be in his embrace again. So she did. And then, she felt something sharp at her throat.
