A trumpet was blown to mark the beginning of the game and everyone took their places. Miss Pauling looked around to see where the equipment was. The King of Hearts noticed her quizzical look.
"What's the matter?"
"Where are the mallets and balls? I don't see any."
"Oh, there right here." Saxton said and handed her a flamingo and a hedgehog. The pink flamingo let out a squawk and immediately straightened itself to a shape similar to a croquet mallet. The bright blue hedgehog rolled itself in a ball in Miss Pauling's hand. The needles on the animal's body where blunt and only pricked her hand slightly. These where the strangest croquet mallet and ball she had ever seen (although it did remind her of a certain story)! Never less, the game had begun and the Queen of Hearts was first to play. She lined up her shot and with the class of a skilled billiards player, whacked her red hedgehog through the arch (which was a hunched over card servant). The audience golf clapped for the Queen, who beamed proudly.
"Your turn, Miss Pauling." she said to her. Miss Pauling took her place and lined up her shot. She was about to swing her flamingo when it suddenly went limp. She shook the bird, who only continued to remain lifeless. "Stupid bird, you better get your act together or your head will be on the chopping block." Miss Pauling told the bird, who gulped in fear. He returned to his stick-straight stance, thus allowing Miss Pauling to complete her shot. The blue hedgehog rolled just a hair shy behind the Queen's.
"Nice shot, but no one can beat me at this game." The Queen said and prepared for her next shot. The game went on for a few more minutes with Miss Pauling always a few points behind the Queen. Miss Pauling was becoming quite bored, hoping that something would happen to break up the monotony. Well, she got her wish when the Cheshire Spy appeared. He mouthed keep quiet and snuck behind the Queen. Miss Pauling realized what he was about to do and mouthed no to him. Alas, he wasn't going to back down. He made himself invisible once more and plucked the Queen of Heart's crown right off her head!
"What the-?! " she stammered as the crown floated away. "My crown! Who dares to touch my crown?! You!" she pointed to Miss Pauling. "Off with her head!"
"It's not me; it's that Cheshire Spy who took your crown!" Miss Pauling said to the enraged Queen.
The crown bobbed along in the air as the still invisible Cheshire Spy laughed at his practical joke. "Stop laughing!" the Queen commanded to her. "I am not laughing!" Miss Pauling said. Suddenly, the Spy made himself visible and winked at her. Miss Pauling pointed to him and told the Queen took look to her right. She did and he disappeared. He repeated his actions once more, this time to the left side of the Queen.
"I'm getting annoyed with the way you are toying with me! Guards! Take this girl away and have her head removed, IMMEDATLEY!"
Just before the guards could do so, the Scout Rabbit came racing into the garden, looking very high strung. "Your Highness; the royal tarts have been stolen!" Everyone gasped. The Cheshire Spy stopped playing with the crown and dropped it back onto the Queen's head. He scampered off, which was the smartest thing to do at this point in time.
"What?! Who would do such a thing?!" the Queen asked.
"I believe we have a suspect."
"Then a trail must take place!" the Queen then commanded everyone to gather at the Great Hall.
