Chapter 16 - Back down the garden path.
Alice didn't appreciate travelling through wonderland for several reasons. Firstly, There was no joy in the experience of the journey. One simply stepped through the portal and your journey was over, many a thought has been collected and processed on a long journey and this was not the case by portal. Secondly, (and primarily) usually for her, she landed with a (painful) heavy thump leaving one aching for a few minutes afterwards. However, Alice had no time to ponder her dis-comfortshire s the attack to get her into the looking glass realm was to commence shortly and her allies needed her present so their distraction would have a reason. She fought her way through huge forests (she had reduced in size once again, so the forest was a normal sized flowerbed) until she came to a path. She followed it until she cam to the signpost once again from another direction. It seemed to be sleeping so she thought I best not to disturb him. She attempted to sneak past him onto the path towards the caterpillar until she realised the paths seemed to have changed. This meant, unfortunately, waking the signpost which he would not appreciate.
She knocked on his wooden pole making him jump into consciousness the same way a cricket would leap over a blade of grass. He was not impressed and scowled at her sternly.
"Oh, its you!" he sneered. "I thought it would be someone important!"
Alice was slightly offended but had no time for an argument.
"Yes, it's me! All the paths have changed, how could that happen?"
"I changed them!" He said with an air of prideful authority. "The paths are the same but all of the destinations have changed. I have to change every now and then." He explained "Keeps me busy you see."
"Not really, in fact it's quite confusing!" Alice replied, slightly irritated.
"Please yourself!" he said. "What do you want anyway?"
"I need to see the caterpillar again."
"Oh, him! Yes well I couldn't change his path for fear he may uproot me. He still waits in the direction of the great tree." And erected one of his arms in the appropriate direction. Alice wasted no time and began to run along the displayed route towards the tree.
"You're welcome!" he said to himself and proceeded to go back to sleep, folding his arms.
Alice ran across the path and game upon the gateway to the mushroom grove and stepped through it. (She was relieved not to be dropped when she reached the other end.) Before her stood her insect friend smoking as always. Alice wondered if he ever moved from his place in the garden? The only occasion when he appeared to change location was when he advised her in the fiery realm before her encounter with the jabberwock (still smoking of course). His advice however was invaluable no-matter where he was located and had always helped her in her efforts against the Queen of Hearts. She approached him silently, to no avail as he was always aware of her most silent approach.
"Yes Alice, why are you here?" he asked in his calm, methodical voice.
"Don't you know?"
"For once I don't!" he said (much to Alice's surprise) "I am aware of the approaching battle you have planned, organised as ever. I just hope it works!"
This un-nerved Alice as his predictions were usually more definite!
"Can't you tell me if I will succeed."
"The attack will succeed as a distraction," this relieved Alice but his faraway look became more strained as if to see a target many miles away "but I cannot tell as to your events through the great looking glass. I never could see into there very well."
"Well at least I'll get in there, that's some comfort." Her voiced brightened up, then receded in fear. "Do you know anything about this dark person I saw in my dream?" The topic seemed forbidden to her (mostly as she had avoided it). The caterpillar inhaled deeply and began to speak.
"The dark figure you refer to is Konchuu," he began "and he is the assassin for the Religion to dispose of the most stubborn of heretics." He paused her and shot her a serious look "This means you Alice! You will have to get past him to get to the cleric. It is rumoured the water of purity runs through him making him extremely hard to kill! Be vigilant and he may fall." He returned to earth from the future.
"If I were you Alice, I'd cover your throat from time to time. It's the spot he aims for!" He smiled a sinister smile which made Alice shiver in fear. She was comforted by the chimes which heralded the approach of Cat. "He must have returned from the chess realm?" thought Alice.
He materialised on a leaf just above caterpillar looking as serious as he could be despite his never ending smile.
"You forces are in position Alice," he began "The chessmen have loaned you a platoon of their pieces, they would appreciate it if you didn't sustain so many casualties."
"I understand." Alice acknowledged "Anything else?"
"Yes, I believe Griffin is on his way as well and I suggest you come immediately. The pieces are getting restless!" And with that closure he vanished, presumably to view the conflict.
"Could you help me get there please?" Alice asked caterpillar, curtsying to show good impressions.
He inhaled a large amount of his narcotic and blew a large smoke circle which formed a portal. On the other side seemed to be dozens of white chess pieces formed in lines (pawns in front of course!) all awaiting orders.
"Good luck Alice" Caterpillar gestured, and she stepped (hesitantly) through the portal.
She materialised in front of a great line of chessmen who heralded her approach with a grand cheer. The rooks all raised there polarms as the pawns jumped wildly about.
"ATTENTION!!" snapped a voice from the back
Immediately all the pieces stopped and stood erect, instinctively.
Alice looked above them to see a single queen tapping her baton in authority. She stood to attention in front of Alice. "Greetings, Ma'am. All available troops are here for the attack"
"It's not an attack." Corrected Alice "NO-one is to be executed, you are to provide a distraction until I can get through the looking glass, understood"
The Queen agreed somewhat disheartened. "When do we begin?" She asked.
Alice wished she could tell her. Griffon had promised some aerial cover but he was nowhere to be seen. She assumed (and hoped) he was on his way. She decided to take a risk as the day was drawing to a close and the sunlight was disappearing steadily
"Straight away, before it gets too dark." She replied "I'll follow after the first lines have advanced and try to break through."
"What kind of resistance are we expecting?"
Alice pointed towards the fringe of the town and pointed. "That kind!"
The direction she was pointing ended with dozens of civilians armed with anything they could find. Torches, swords, mallets even planks of wood and all of them had the same glowing eyes from the effects of the water of purity.
Alice examined the forces in her command. 4 Rooks, 6 Knights, 2 Bishops and a dozen pawns. This seemed to be adequate to at least put up a decent front until she was through and if the griffon was coming, they could have the advantage. Alice signalled the queen and ran behind a large knight.
One way or another, this was going to end. Alice preferred it if there were no casualties. Her especially! She prayed that Christopher was still alive when she passed through the mirror but it was too late for that now as the Rooks and knights began to march forward. The attack had begun!!
Alice didn't appreciate travelling through wonderland for several reasons. Firstly, There was no joy in the experience of the journey. One simply stepped through the portal and your journey was over, many a thought has been collected and processed on a long journey and this was not the case by portal. Secondly, (and primarily) usually for her, she landed with a (painful) heavy thump leaving one aching for a few minutes afterwards. However, Alice had no time to ponder her dis-comfortshire s the attack to get her into the looking glass realm was to commence shortly and her allies needed her present so their distraction would have a reason. She fought her way through huge forests (she had reduced in size once again, so the forest was a normal sized flowerbed) until she came to a path. She followed it until she cam to the signpost once again from another direction. It seemed to be sleeping so she thought I best not to disturb him. She attempted to sneak past him onto the path towards the caterpillar until she realised the paths seemed to have changed. This meant, unfortunately, waking the signpost which he would not appreciate.
She knocked on his wooden pole making him jump into consciousness the same way a cricket would leap over a blade of grass. He was not impressed and scowled at her sternly.
"Oh, its you!" he sneered. "I thought it would be someone important!"
Alice was slightly offended but had no time for an argument.
"Yes, it's me! All the paths have changed, how could that happen?"
"I changed them!" He said with an air of prideful authority. "The paths are the same but all of the destinations have changed. I have to change every now and then." He explained "Keeps me busy you see."
"Not really, in fact it's quite confusing!" Alice replied, slightly irritated.
"Please yourself!" he said. "What do you want anyway?"
"I need to see the caterpillar again."
"Oh, him! Yes well I couldn't change his path for fear he may uproot me. He still waits in the direction of the great tree." And erected one of his arms in the appropriate direction. Alice wasted no time and began to run along the displayed route towards the tree.
"You're welcome!" he said to himself and proceeded to go back to sleep, folding his arms.
Alice ran across the path and game upon the gateway to the mushroom grove and stepped through it. (She was relieved not to be dropped when she reached the other end.) Before her stood her insect friend smoking as always. Alice wondered if he ever moved from his place in the garden? The only occasion when he appeared to change location was when he advised her in the fiery realm before her encounter with the jabberwock (still smoking of course). His advice however was invaluable no-matter where he was located and had always helped her in her efforts against the Queen of Hearts. She approached him silently, to no avail as he was always aware of her most silent approach.
"Yes Alice, why are you here?" he asked in his calm, methodical voice.
"Don't you know?"
"For once I don't!" he said (much to Alice's surprise) "I am aware of the approaching battle you have planned, organised as ever. I just hope it works!"
This un-nerved Alice as his predictions were usually more definite!
"Can't you tell me if I will succeed."
"The attack will succeed as a distraction," this relieved Alice but his faraway look became more strained as if to see a target many miles away "but I cannot tell as to your events through the great looking glass. I never could see into there very well."
"Well at least I'll get in there, that's some comfort." Her voiced brightened up, then receded in fear. "Do you know anything about this dark person I saw in my dream?" The topic seemed forbidden to her (mostly as she had avoided it). The caterpillar inhaled deeply and began to speak.
"The dark figure you refer to is Konchuu," he began "and he is the assassin for the Religion to dispose of the most stubborn of heretics." He paused her and shot her a serious look "This means you Alice! You will have to get past him to get to the cleric. It is rumoured the water of purity runs through him making him extremely hard to kill! Be vigilant and he may fall." He returned to earth from the future.
"If I were you Alice, I'd cover your throat from time to time. It's the spot he aims for!" He smiled a sinister smile which made Alice shiver in fear. She was comforted by the chimes which heralded the approach of Cat. "He must have returned from the chess realm?" thought Alice.
He materialised on a leaf just above caterpillar looking as serious as he could be despite his never ending smile.
"You forces are in position Alice," he began "The chessmen have loaned you a platoon of their pieces, they would appreciate it if you didn't sustain so many casualties."
"I understand." Alice acknowledged "Anything else?"
"Yes, I believe Griffin is on his way as well and I suggest you come immediately. The pieces are getting restless!" And with that closure he vanished, presumably to view the conflict.
"Could you help me get there please?" Alice asked caterpillar, curtsying to show good impressions.
He inhaled a large amount of his narcotic and blew a large smoke circle which formed a portal. On the other side seemed to be dozens of white chess pieces formed in lines (pawns in front of course!) all awaiting orders.
"Good luck Alice" Caterpillar gestured, and she stepped (hesitantly) through the portal.
She materialised in front of a great line of chessmen who heralded her approach with a grand cheer. The rooks all raised there polarms as the pawns jumped wildly about.
"ATTENTION!!" snapped a voice from the back
Immediately all the pieces stopped and stood erect, instinctively.
Alice looked above them to see a single queen tapping her baton in authority. She stood to attention in front of Alice. "Greetings, Ma'am. All available troops are here for the attack"
"It's not an attack." Corrected Alice "NO-one is to be executed, you are to provide a distraction until I can get through the looking glass, understood"
The Queen agreed somewhat disheartened. "When do we begin?" She asked.
Alice wished she could tell her. Griffon had promised some aerial cover but he was nowhere to be seen. She assumed (and hoped) he was on his way. She decided to take a risk as the day was drawing to a close and the sunlight was disappearing steadily
"Straight away, before it gets too dark." She replied "I'll follow after the first lines have advanced and try to break through."
"What kind of resistance are we expecting?"
Alice pointed towards the fringe of the town and pointed. "That kind!"
The direction she was pointing ended with dozens of civilians armed with anything they could find. Torches, swords, mallets even planks of wood and all of them had the same glowing eyes from the effects of the water of purity.
Alice examined the forces in her command. 4 Rooks, 6 Knights, 2 Bishops and a dozen pawns. This seemed to be adequate to at least put up a decent front until she was through and if the griffon was coming, they could have the advantage. Alice signalled the queen and ran behind a large knight.
One way or another, this was going to end. Alice preferred it if there were no casualties. Her especially! She prayed that Christopher was still alive when she passed through the mirror but it was too late for that now as the Rooks and knights began to march forward. The attack had begun!!