Yay! Another chapter :3 So, I hope you are all enjoying this story. It brings me pleasure to write it for you all. And, all of your reviews make me smile! Yay :D Enjoy!
Within 10 minutes, Alana had on her yellow dress, blue tights, and black shoes. The brunette whisked her hair behind her shoulders. She bent downwards, giving the small man a hug. "Will you ever come back, Junior Hatter?" Dormouse asked softly wrapping his small arms around her. Alana smiled warmly, nodding her head,"I intend to. But, some advice, don't let them bite you. You are now in charge until Hatter or I gets back. So, be strong."
Alana felt a ping of guilt as she said those words. She intended to come back, she wanted to... but the fact of the matter is, was that she probably couldn't. She would miss little Dormouse, for, he will be here with Hatter... Not Junior Hatter. The young girl gave the short man one last hug before she felt something tap her shoulder. Hatter's cane.
"Are you ready?" He asked her, placing the wooden stick back on the ground. Alana turned around, nodding, before patting Dormouse lightly on his head. She then stood up slowly, hugging herself as Hatter walked fourth and gave Dormouse some instructions. As he did, the girl wandered forward. Her body moved towards the open door in the corner of the room, leading into Wonderland. This was how they were leaving.
Alana crossed her arms, leaning against the door as she gazed out into the world in which she was forced to become apart of. The brunette brushed a lock of hair behind her ears, letting the only noise she heard be the soft breathing from her mouth and her pounding heartbeat.
She wanted her grandfather here now, to explain everything to her. Why she was here, what was her purpose? But, he was dead.
"Meow."
Alana gasped, glancing downwards. A gray cat sat there, starring up at her with pleading eyes. The girl bent down onto her knees,"They have cats here, Hatter?" She asked aloud, only to hear the response,"Only one."
The brunette heard Hatter approach her from behind. She peered upwards to hear him say,"Cheshire, how lovely for you to meet us. Alana, go with The Cat. He will be your new escort and host."
Alana's face seemed troubled. "You aren't coming with me?"
"Soon. But like I said, follow The Cat.
It was as if Alana didn't register it the first time. Everything was so weird her, but then she realized and her jaw dropped,"A cat. You want me to follow a cat."
Suddenly, the cat tilted it's head and grinned a large toothy grin. The hair on it's skin spiked up a bit, rustling, and turning a dark purple color before settling down. "Excuse me, Junior Hatter, but, I'm not a cat from your world."
Widened eyes. Alana gaped,"The Cat just talked."
The feline purred a bit, licking it's lips as it's eyes flashed yellow. "Yes, yes, I am Cheshire Cat. I'm taking you away, as a favor to the Mad Hatter. Now, if you will follow me, I will not direct you the wrong way. Or the right way. "
The teens eyes narrowed and Hatter gave a comforting pat on her shoulder,"Don't worry. Just follow him. If you get lost, he'll come back to you. He should be a lap dog." The man laughed, letting the cat claw at him playfully before walking off. "Go!" Hatter exclaimed, shooing out Alana. She smiled a bit, before waving to the con man and following the cat outside the door. She then heard the door behind her shut as she slowly freaked. She almost fell off the edge. But, height wasn't the problem, no. Alana loved roller-coasters and high dives. It's just that falling off the side of a building in a new world didn't seem like a good way to die.
Cheshire wouldn't talk as he moved, but would stop and wait for her to catch up before trotting along ahead. This happened multiple times as Alana followed the feline down paths, through holes in the walls, and into building and then out. Alana could have sworn she had circled these areas before.
"Are we going the right way?" Alana asked, bending down in the entrance small dark tunnel in which she was following the cat. It was drippy, wet and damp as she trudged along. "The right way? The wrong way?" Cheshire shouted happily, his tail swishing back and fourth as he went forward into the hole. Alana sighed and couched downwards, following the cat into the hole. As soon as her body was fully inside, the entrance shut. However, there was also no exit.
Alana pursed her lips,"I want the right way, Cat." the girl spat, following along, rolling her eyes at how she knew this cat was tricky.
"But how do you know it's right?" Cheshire responded, trotting.
The teen reached forward and grabbed his tail,"Because, if you were a smart cat and doesn't want to be thrown into the river, I suggest you find the right way. I have the Queen potentially chasing after me, and, I'm not that happiest person at the moment."
The cat's tail disappeared, letting the creature escape Alana's grasp.. It sat in front of her, his tail reappearing,"Why?" He asked in a curious voice.
Alana sighed, putting her hands into her face,"I don't know what I should believe and what I shouldn't. I don't know whether to stay, or leave. I don't even know if I could walk another step of if I would be falling into another world. I just don't know."
"What else?"
"It's like, what I knew is wrong, but right. What I am is wrong and right. And what I want to accomplish is never possible." Alana murmured, peaking out from behind her heads and placing it down by her sides as she bent over.
The cat grinned,"Now I may show you the way that you are looking for."
With a perplexed look she asked,"W-what?"
Cheshire licked his lips,"Questioning is the only way to find the way you need. There is no right way, or wrong way, because the right might be the wrong. When you question, you learn. And you've questioned me, yourself, and now, I may show you the way that you've questioned and want to seek. It's not the right way, but, it's also not the wrong way." His voice was bounding as he stood up and began to walk. Alana's jaw dropped. But then, she laughed to herself, following the cat as she moved her feet along in black circle that surrounded her.
"Nothing is ever as it seems here." Alana whispered. And just then, she saw a light to the tunnel. Her back was aching from crouching down for so long. It was gleaming bright, almost like golden. But, it turned silver as she jumped out of the tunnel to see a person standing there.
Wrinkles brushed her face. Her smile was large, inviting. Her gray hair curled downwards, and her tiny weak body stood there. "Oh Alana."
"GRANDMA!" Alana screamed, jolting forward and pouncing onto the woman. The lady embraced her back, snuggling to her grand-daugther's warm.
"W-what are you doing here? Oh grandma!" Alana cried, releasing Grandma from her grip. The woman smiled warmly, raising a soft hand to cup Alana's smooth face. "I came to meet you, because I heard you were here."
"Yo-you're suppose to be dead though... I don't get it." Alana said aloud, glancing down to the Cat who was smiling. "You found your way now, didn't you?" He said aloud, circling the two.
Grandma smiled widely,"Well, when I died, I had your grandpa insert a looking glass on the roof of my coffin. I never really died, no, it was something he had planned out to get me to Wonderland. I've been living with The Cat for about 2 years now. He is quiet the gentleman!"
Alana giggled,"Is that true, Cheshire? You've been keeping Grandma safe?" She bent down, placing a hand on the cat's purple head. He nodded, jumping up into Alana's arms. The teen held him, smiling as she buried her face into his soft fur.
Yet, she jumped,"Does this mean... Grandpa is here too?"
The old lady grinned, the cat grinned, and in sync, they both nodded. Grandma sighed,"But, he isn't around here. He is somewhere else. He claims he has unfinished business left to do in Wonderland. I'm sure we can meet up with him sooner or later, sweetheart." She shifted slightly, her crystal blue eyes following Alana,"Let's go home for now. I'm sure you've got tons of stories to tell me about your adventures in Wonderland!"
Alana gazed off into the forest like setting around her, watching the trees rustle, hearing the breeze as her Grandmother's voice melting into it. Yeah, things were definitely going to get weirder.
I love the Cheshire Cat. They never really included him in the film, which made me KNOW that I needed him to have a bigger part here. Actually, the next chapter has a slight twist of my own version with the Cat. And I can promise you Hatter is NOT gone. Please read and review!