At the Red Shoes dance studio, Duchess was teaching the ballet basics to Dana.
Dana traded in her regular clothes for a magenta ballet dress with a slightly tattered light pink skirt that had a purple spiderweb design and was torn at skirt. Her hair was pulled into a ponytail with her pink headband. She even wore pale rose leggings and light purple ballerina slippers.
It's been an hour since she started teaching and Dana was already doing great. Her poise and grace were spot on, her moves were excellent, and her expressions were serene and soulful as she danced.
"Wow. You're a fast learner." Duchess said.
Dana smiled as she twirled. "I owe it to you. You're a great teacher, Duchess!"
"Well, it's good to know people who show gratitude." Duchess clapped her hand she twice. "Let's take a break."
Duchess and Dana took their break on a bench outside the studio. They sipped their water bottles and enjoyed the fresh air.
"So, what exactly is your story?" asked Duchess. "You're a girl that can turn into a ghost?"
"Well, actually, I'm not sure what my story is exactly." Dana answered. "I'm a ghost-like alien called an Ectonurite...I can turn into a human...and...that's it."
"That's it?"
"Yeah, I have amnesia. Can't remember a thing." Dana shrugged. "But so far, even without my memory, I'm having a lot of fun! I met Ben, made a lot of friends, what could be nicer?"
"If you say so." Duchess said.
A moment of silence.
"So...what fairytale are your from, Duchess?"
Duchess angrily turned her head in Dana's direction. "Seriously?! I am the next Swan Princess from Swan Lake!"
Dana blinked twice. "Swan Lake? I didn't know that was a fairytale."
"Are you kidding me?!" Duchess stood up. "It IS a fairytale! It's a ballet where I'm cursed into a swan's body by an evil wizard. Then my Prince Charming falls in love with me and promises to break the spell."
"Oh! And then you live Happily Ever After," Dana said. "Cool!"
The bitter ballerina kept frowning. "Actually, he gets tricked into falling in love with the wizard's daughter, the Black Swan. The prince realizes his mistake, but it's too late. The evil wizard forces him to keep his word. And then in the end I'm forced to spend the rest of my life as a permanent swan just like my mom!"
Enraged by her cursed fate, Duchess balled her hands into fists. "IT'S JUST NOT FAIR!" She kicked the bench then howled in pain, hopping on one leg while holding her sore foot.
"Whoa! Whoa! Easy there, Duchess!" Dana helped her friend sit back down. "Look, if you don't wanna be a bird for the rest of your life, then don't."
"Yeah? Well, I don't have a choice." Duchess snipped. "I'm a royal. And royals have to follow tradition and honor their stories." She looked at Dana, hoping for a response.
But Dana just stared.
"What?"
Dana reached out and plucked something from Duchess's hair. "You've got a feather stuck in your hair." She showed her the white feather.
"Yeah, it happens. Comes with my story." Duchess took the feather and flicked it aside.
A pause.
"Wanna get a hocus latte?" asked Duchess.
Dana smiled. "Sure! Whatever that is!"
Meanwhile, Ben and Wicca arrived at the Wonderland Haberdashery and Tea Shop. Seeing the topsy, turny atmosphere, Ben was so happy to be back here.
Wicca went up to the desk. "Hello! Maddie? Is my new hat ready?"
A girl with turquoise and dark magenta streaked hair popped out from behind the counter. "Hip hip hooray! Hat-tastic to see you today, Wicca!" She gasped seeing Ben. "BEN!" Maddie bounced off the counter and laughed like a mad hatter as she tackled Ben with a hug.
"Whoa! Maddie!" Ben grunted out as he was on the floor, squeezed by Maddie's hug. "Great to see you!" he wheezed.
"I had no idea you were coming today, Ben! What a splendoriffic surprise!" Maddie helped Ben up. "Are you here to pick up a hat?"
Ben blinked. "Uh, no."
Wicca raised a green hand. "Just me, Maddie."
"Hmmm..." Maddie tapped her chin. "This just won't do! I have a hat, Wicca has a hat, but Ben doesn't have a hat!" She snapped her fingers. "We need to fix that!"
Faster that you can say 'tea time', Maddie reached into her hat and pulled out two boxes. She gave Wicca and Ben a box.
"Sweet!" Wicca opened the box and took out a wide brimmed witch hat with a crooked point and decorated with little white skulls. "Another masterpiece! Thanks, Maddie!"
Maddie tipped her teacup hat. "Anything for my favorite customer!"
Ben stared at his hat. It was a dark green top that that was three times the size of his head with a purple polka dotted band tied in a bow. "Uh...I don't know what to say."
"Try it on, Ben!" Maddie said. "It's a good one!" She reached into her hat and pulled out a full length mirror.
"Why not?" Ben went up to the mirror and put on the hat. As he gazed at his own reflection, Ben saw his eyes turn blue and slitted like a cat's!
Ben watched in confused horror as his mouth turned into a twisted smile. "Meow!"
"AAAAAH!" Ben fell backward and landed on his behind.
A sneaky chuckle was heard and a girl materialized before Ben. A girl with lavender hair pulled into two curly pigtails and had the same cat-like eyes.
"Long time no see, Ben." said Kitty Cheshire, daughter of the always tricky Cheshire Cat. "I missed you."
"Kitty!?" Ben stood up. He felt nervous seeing Kitty again. He had a pretty good feeling Kitty had a crush on him. Although Ben thought Kitty was cute, he also knew he had to be wary around her.
Kitty grinned her trademark Cheshire smile. "Still nervous about me, my little mouse?" She tickled Ben under the chin.
Ben started to chuckle until he backed away and glared at her. "I am not your little mouse!" But Kitty could see the faint blush in Ben's cheeks.
"Wow! So you and Kitty are a thing, Ben?" said Wicca.
"We are not!" Ben replied quickly.
"For now." Kitty said, winking in Ben's direction. "Then again, who knows?"
Before Ben could say something, Wicca and Kitty started chatting. "So, Kitty, any chaos today?"
Kitty shrugged. "Hmm, not much. Just put some itching powder in Daring's armor and poured grape juice in Holly's hair."
"Pretty good, Kitty!" Wicca and Kitty shared at high five.
"What's so good about that?" asked Ben.
"Relax, Ben. It's the good kind of bad. Not the bad kind." Wicca said.
"Yeah. Nothing wrong with a little chaos." Kitty said. "It's a Cheshire thing."
"And a wicked witch thing." Wicca added.
Ben turned to Maddie, who smiled. "Don't worry about it, Ben. It's only a natural a Cheshire and a wicked witch becomes best fiends." She took a sip of her mint milk tea.
Sighing, Ben accepted this fact. It did make sense when he thought about it. A bad witch and a sneaky Cheshire, it truly was a perfect duo.
