Poppy swallowed the knot in her throat leaving a slight tinge of pain. She shook as her hand grasped the knob, slowly opening it. Absolum fluttered out the door, once opened. She followed the blue monarch down the hall, and down the twirling stairs. She silently adored the adventure, but also felt her heart throb in fear of what was to happen next. She followed Absolum as he fluttered to the front door, she quickly took note of what his next request was, "Wait!" She loudly whispered. "Mother has the keys, she locks the door at dusk…" She pouted as she watched his wings calm in it's flapping pattern.

Not a moment more, he began to soar past her, down the hall. She followed quickly, now curious of his Plan B. She watched as he flew around the corner, she silently peered around to spy on his motive. She watched as he landed on a doorknob, the doorknob to her mother's boudoir. She felt her voice ache in her throat, this was too far, she could never! Absolum noticed this, he began to assume the worst, but remembered her heritage. Alice was convinced by a rabbit to fall down a hole, how troublesome would it be to convince her offspring to open a door? Not very.

He kept his position, eventually earning her presence to grow closer. Poppy gently cracked the door open, peeking in. She gazed upon her mother, she was dressed in her night gown, dawning her lengthy red hair. She watched as her mother brushed her red locks. She listened carefully as her mother began to complain to herself, "Had I handled Alice sooner, I would've never dealt with this mess." Alice? Who is Alice? "Sister takes a tart and lies about it to mother and I end up being the one in ruins… how perfectly perfect." She spits. Poppy looked down, strongly confused. Her mother's sister? She never heard of any aunt. She flinched as her mother kicked her seat back, "No matters now, The child will be wed off before long."

She felt her heart pause as she gazed upon the keys lying on her vanity. So close, yet opening the door alone was such a task to her all in itself. She slowly opened the door further, hiding behind the wardrobe. When she noticed the timing, she slowly grabbed the keys, one set clinking making her mother's head whip around to the sound. Her eyes widened in rage as she broadened her shoulders. "How… DARE!" She roared. Poppy shook, "Forgive me." She muttered before sprinting out, following her companion. Iracebeth watched the blue butterfly, she glared grimly at the bug. "Absolum…" She growled darkly.

Poppy sprinted fast, her bare feet smacking the wooden floors as she raced to the door. Quickly she fiddled with the keys, her hands shaking tremendously. Her breath sped up as she heard her mother close behind. Not a second later, she opened the door running out. Absolum fell upon the horse nearest her. "No… I can't…" She denied quietly. She whipped her head to the door bursting open, seeing her mother standing there. "Poppy!" She roared. Without thought, she ran to the horse, unhitching it and mounting it. Absolum rested in her thick locks as she ordered the steed to dart.

With a delaying neigh, the horse sprinted down the streets of London. Iracebeth yelled once more before mounting her own steed, following after. Poppy felt her breath quicken and her chest tighten. This was all so scandalous, but it felt like it was needed to be done. Something in her practically screamed at her to go to that well. Maybe it was curiosity, or maybe it was intuition. Her answer awaits her when she reaches her destination. "I can't.. This- Why Absolum?" she asked expecting no reply. She approached the garden, at first assuming to dismount the horse, but turned to see her mother close behind. A wild rage painted on her face as she roared her name out.

"GO!" She ordered her horse, it whined and sprinted into the bushes, not giving any heed. She flinches at the wildly flying roses, the twigs smacking her face and petals catching in her hair. Her body tightened as her horse came to a halt at the fountain. She quickly dismounted the steed, waiting for Absolum's next move. She watched as he fluttered into the water, vanishing. What did he want of her? To go into the water? But it was so shallow, she would barely submerge. "Poppy!" She whipped her head around hearing the sound of her mother. She felt her heart ache for this, but why! It's a silly ol' fountain!... Right? Where was Absolum?

Hearing her close behind, she took no further time to think. She stepped into the water, and closed her eyes as she fully submerged herself into it. She held her breath in the water, no longer hearing her mother near. She quickly sat up, inhaling deeply as her hair stuck to her face. She coughed and held onto the marble edge of the fountain. She coughed thickly as she pulled herself onto the land. She lied on her back coughing, staring up at the beautifully painted sky, peppered with dazzling stars. She took steady breaths as she calmed herself down. She recognized this place, it was where she went last time she hopped into the fountain.

"So troubling, your mother wasn't nearly that hesitant…" a male voice groaned. She sat up quickly to stare at the sight of her monarch friend quite notably enlarged. "A-Absolum?!" She gasped. She watched as he sighed and fluttered his wings, "I've places to be child, but for you, you best find your way to the castle of the white queen. You are already in her courts…" he purred. She watched as he floated away, leaving her behind. She stood to her feet, wringing her hair. "White Queen? Well that answers my question as to whom was the woman…" She noted.

She sighed as she began her parading around the garden to find It's exit. Turning a corner, she found an opening completely revealing a large castle, drenched in white. Assuming this be it, she began her walk toward the massive Manor. As she approached a large archway, she felt a shiver in her skin. She flinched as a cold breeze blew onto her delicate flesh. She fell to her knees taking all she could bear. She whimpered as she pulled herself against a marble wall. "Blasted Butterfly…" She muttered between shivers. She bit her lip as she felt the temperature drop. She silently cursed her damp clothes for worsening her situation.

She shut her eye feeling yet another thick breeze. "bloody night…" She whispered. She felt her lips tremble, her voice went hoarse. She turned to see the woman in white gasp with a wide grin approach her. "Poppy! You have returned!" She gracefully glided to the child before holding out a hand to her, "Come, you must be frozen…" She smiled. Poppy took the woman's hand and let the woman lead her. "I'm sorry ma'am, I followed Absolum here, I fled from my mother." Mirana paused. "Mother?" She repeated. She turned to the young lady, "Yes, mother." Mirana fell silent. "My dear… we have much to discuss…" She muttered before resuming her lead.

Poppy watched as the queen lead her down a long corridor, every gentle design in the wall made with such poise, without a doubt done by the hands of a professional. "We have many artists in Underland, they help take part in making the world so beautiful. If I'm correct, you are one as well?" Mirana asked. Poppy nodded silently. Mirana grinned at this, "Your mother is quite the adventuress. She has sailed the seas, she tells us all the wondrous stories she knows from her travels." Poppy looked at her feet, Iracebeth was never one to explore, let alone sail an ocean.

She looked back up once she heard the queen unlock a large door. She watched her open it, her floating hands gesturing to enter, "You may rest here." She spoke. She slowly entered the room, watching as Mirana lit a few lanterns and permitting light. "Would you like some tea? Tea is a very popular thing in this land." She mused as she set up a few glasses before pouring tea into them.

"My lady." Mirana looked up with a gentle smile, "Yes, dear?" Poppy swallowed the brick in her throat, "My mother will grow weary, I should begin my leave first thing in the morning." Mirana sighed setting down the kettle, she would've much preferred explaining at a better time, but she knew time all too well and he does not like to be wasted. "Darling…your mother, she… she may claim more than is truth, my love." She remorsefully confessed.

Poppy felt her heart flutter, Mirana sighed biting her lip, "My dear, she is many things, but a mother isn't one of them." She fell silent, Mirana felt her heart tug as she watched the girl's face fall. She exhaled taking a seat upon the white stool.

She handed Poppy her tea, turning to the balcony, gracefully gliding the floor to gaze into the moonlight. "It was a rainy night…"-she began- "The day you were born, In the dark of the night, Iracebeth managed to swipe you. They still haven't the slightest idea how, All they knew was she lured your father away and managed to harm your mother post-labor in the process."

Poppy's eyes widened, swipe me away? Mirana shut her eyes, feeling the thick pain of her words flowing from her lips, "They haven't been quite the same since. They used to always be attached at the hip, but after losing you, they revealed some pullback… Your father wasn't quite as chipper, but he always tried to keep a mood for Alice. Alice has just, lost her muchness. When she speaks, she speaks as if she is unable show express herself, as If part of her is gone."

Poppy's face fell at her words. She looked into her cup, too choked up to now drink. She tried to search for the words to say, only managing a question, "My mother is, this Alice?" Mirana nodded, "The champion of Underland. She had slain The red queen's jabberwocky, the years of torment it caused had finally ended. Your mother is a great and brave woman…"

Poppy felt her heart ache, she both loved and dreaded the news. She loved Iracebeth, she was raised by her, but she always felt disconnected emotionally. She showed affection, but she never truly put it into action, less it would bring her benefit. She looked down at her lap, her mother… this Alice? And this Tarrant? She felt her heart tighten up at the thought of belonging to an actual home… one that truly desired her…she gripped her cup finally managing more words to say. "When may I see them?" Poppy asked. Mirana smiled softly, "First thing in the morning, it's late and you need rest. There are warm clothes in the wardrobe, make yourself right at home my dear." And with that, Mirana placed a kiss upon the child's head before leaving.

She watched as the woman gracefully left her side. This felt all like so much at once, but at the same time she felt at ease, like this is what needs to be done. She felt as if she was doing right while being in the wrong, she brushed it off as she changed into silk sleep wear and tucked herself into the large bed. She rested her head upon the soft pillows, slowly drowning into her dreams.

()

Poppy walked into a large ballroom, it was filled with creature like humans and humans of sorts as well. She gazed upon the image of Men dressed in elegance, sporting vibrant hues and such, women twirling and dancing in large ball gowns. She walked across the hall wearing her own gown, the color of red, unlike anyone else. She watched as women twirled with their partners across her very own path. She looked up to see only two people wearing a mask, standing at the sides of Mirana. She slowly approached the two, gazing at them. Who were they? One with wild red locks similar to hers, was obviously masculine.

The woman beside him had long blonde locks ending right at her breasts. They both garbed blue and gold. She stood in amazement at the beauty of the scene, she felt her heart ache to be held by the masked figures, god knew why. She stood still as the masculine figure approached her, "Well, love. Shall we dance?" He asked slightly chipper, She remained mute as he swept her away into a dance. She stared into his mask as he paraded her around the ballroom. A smile tugged at her lips as the man began to sing along to the instrumental orchestra, she giggled at his rather silly antics. After times of twirling and dipping, she watched as the man stopped both dancing and grinning.

She watched as he slowly removed a stuffed lobster doll from his coat pocket, she stared the plaything down, as if it had some sort of value to her. She cringed in pain as she felt heavy waves of nostalgia. "Poppy!" She turned around quickly to find her caller. No man or lass stood out. She turned back, assuming to see the man, but only to see the woman now standing in his place. She once more took in the room, seeing it empty. It was now just her and the blonde figure. She looked at her hands to see the lobster in them.

"What is this?" she asked. The woman smiled softly before pulling her into a hug. She felt her heart melt from the affection, everything grew lame as she slowly returned the hug.

Poppy sat up in her bed, Her mind wracking with questions. Who were the figures? Why was there a ball? Why was the lobster there? Why was she even dreaming this? She felt her body jolt as her door opened, a lady in waiting bowed to her, "Ma'am the queen requests you in the throne room once you are able." She nodded her head, causing her wild hair to bounce. The woman smiled gently as she left the girl be. Poppy looked at her lap, her hands grew clammy. She knew this wasn't some small turn of events, she knew this entire adventure was like no other, and no matter the outcome her life will forever be changed; whether for better or for worse.