"Alice," Mokuba asked. "Where are we going?"
"To a high place," she pointed. "If we can get to the top of that small mountain we should see about a few good kilometers."
"But I'm afraid of heights!"
"Why," Alice asked.
"I don't want to fall down and go splat!"
"Silly silly boy," she laughed. "You forget where we are. This is Wonderland, if you fall you will fall up." She grabbed Mokuba's hand and led him to the edge of cliff. "Do you trust me?" She asked.
"Does it matter what I answer?" He replied. Alice shook her head and then she jumped off the ledge. Mokuba screamed, he had to close his eyes. The ground was coming up at him quickly and he dreaded when they would meet it, but when his feet touched solid ground he was unharmed.
"See you are in one piece," Alice replied to the shaken boy. "Are you alright?" Mokuba was still in shock. "You big baby; you are just fine! She nudged him.
"WOW! We can see just about all of Wonderland from here" Mokuba replied once he came to. Alice Nodded. They then continued to look out until they spotted a tall stranger with brown hair and a dark blue trench coat. "It's him! It's Seto." Mokuba exclaimed. "And he's coming this way!"
"He is?" Alice sighed. "At last! I really want to meet him!"
"So how do we get down from here?"
"We climb down." She told him.
"If we can fall up then isn't there another way to get down?" Alice shook her head. "How about jumping down instead of jumping up?"
"No, that is too normal." She took Mokuba by the hand again. "C'mon follow me; I think I know where your brother is going?"
***
"Brother, are you thinking what I'm thinking?" Tweedle Dumb said.
"Brother, are you thinking what I'm thinking?" Tweedle Dee replied. Then his brother Tweedle Dumb repeated him and he repeated Tweedle Dumb again. After an hour, both men forgot what they were thinking and more importantly forgot what they were repeating. Finally, they took a deep breath.
"If we tell the queen that Seto Kaiba is here she won't be able to resist challenging him to a duel.''
"True brother, but there is one problem."
"What is that?"
"So what if it makes the queen happy? Why will Seto help us?"
"Because lame brain, we will delivered him to the queen who sent him home."
"Why would she send him home? She really wants to meet him."
"Because the queen is going to challenge Seto to a duel. When he wins the queen will grant him safe passage home since she wants to remain the best duelist in Wonderland."
"That's real smart Tweedle Dumb; now I understand. So after he beats the queen then we can ask him for jobs at KaibaCorp?" He replied. "But what if he loses?"
"Seto lose?! Never! Besides the queen will reward us generously just for delivering him."
"Brother?"
"Yes, Brother?"
"Why did we stop repeating?"
"I don't know. I forgot." Tweedle Dumb replied. Tweedle Dee quickly repeated Tweedle Dumb.
***.
"Do you want to duel me Seto Kaiba?" Alice asked with an air of defiance.
"You want me to duel you?" Seto asked in a smug astonishment.
"Yes," she replied. "Or are you scared?"
"Scared?" Seto laughed. "Look kid I'm considered to be among the top duelist in the world."
"And I'm Alice, the creator of Wonderland."
"Please Seto," Mokuba asked. "Alice is your biggest fan."
"All the girls say that."
"But I'm no ordinary girl."
"Please Seto," Mokuba begged. He then got a hold of Seto's leg and sat on his foot. Seto tried to shake him off, but Mokuba would not let go. Alice soon seized hold of Seto's other leg.
"Please Mr. Kaiba! I have my deck in my pocket and all of Wonderland is one big dueling arena."
"Seto!" Mokuba whined and then took a deep breath.
"NO! Mokuba, you better not hold your breath!"
"It appears that way Mr. Kaiba and in a minute he will be turning blue." Alice replied coolly. Seto tried to walk, but with both children holding tightly to his legs, he tipped over and fell. Mokuba and Alice still held their ground and did not budge. As his face turned from bright red to purple and then to blue, Seto look into his pleading eyes.
"Okay I'll duel Alice," he replied in a defeated voice. Both children released his legs.
"Yay!" They cheered. "You're the best."
***
"Your Majesty, your faithful servants humbly beg you for your audience." Tweedle Dumb greeted the queen. Tweedle Dee quickly repeated him. Then Tweedle Dee did a back flip, but his brother did not join him. He remember the queen's temper and her fondness for executions.
"Get to the point!" Rebecca demanded. She clutched her teddy bear. "You are giving my teddy a headache!"
"A thousand pardons," Tweedle Dee replied.
"But we cannot do them al in the time allotted." Tweedle Dumb said.
"Your Majesty Seto Kaiba in Wonderland we've spotted."
"Oh no!" The queen shrieked. "Not the rhyming! If you keep that up I'll have your head!" Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dumb started to shake and quiver.
"Dispatch your men my queen." Tweedle Dee replied, but instead of trying to rhyme Tweedle Dumb repeated his brother. The queen was growing impatient with them. She started to twirl one of her ponytails around her finger.
"And allow us to lead them. We will find Kaiba."
"I know you will," she replied shrilly. "Or else your heads will roll." She looked with contempt at the men before her. "And what do you ask for this service?" Tweedle Dee repeated her, but Tweedle Dumb elbowed him in the ribs. He did not want to lose his head for his brother's outburst.
"Money," Tweedle Dumb replied. "And lots of it."
"Power," Tweedle Dee replied. "We need some respectable jobs."
"And what can you do? What skills do you have?"
"Skills, what are those?" Tweedle Dumb asked.
"We are dueling experts, we have the gift of gab which includes off beat rhyming and we are also talented acrobats." Tweedle Dee replied.
"We are dueling experts, we have the gift of gab which includes off beat rhyming and we are also talented acrobats." Tweedle Dumb repeated, but stopped when his brother elbowed him again.
"Fine, money and jobs." The queen shrilly screamed. "But that is if you come back successful. If you do not deliver Kaiba to me then....."
"Rebecca dear," the king cut into the conversation. "How about you have Tweedle Dumb and Tweedle Dee paint the white roses in the royal garden red instead of cutting off their heads. There are several men outside right now painting them."
"White roses!" She screamed. "I wanted red!" She pounded her fist on the thrown. "Who planted the white roses?" As soon as she said that, the royal gardener cowered in the crowd. The queen saw his response and gave him the pointy finger of death. "Off with his head!" She shrieked. The royal executioner separated himself from the crowd and carried off the gardener. Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dumb watched in pure terror and cowered together. Rebecca turned back to them. "Why are you still here? Bring back Kaiba or else!"
"Yes, Your Majesty," the two frightened men replied. They then ran for the door.
"Oh and one more thing," the queen added. "Take the secondary royal guards with you."
***
Alice and Seto started their match. Seto figured he would go easy on Alice for Mokuba's sake. On her opening move, she placed one monster card and magic card face down. Seto quickly played Saggi the Dark Clown, equipped with a negative energy generator then attacked Alice's face down monster. To his dismay, the face down monster was a Man Eater Bug. "I thought you wouldn't have fell for that." Alice laughed, having the early lead.
"I end my turn," Seto quickly placed one magic card and one trap face down. "It's just like an amateur to celebrate a small victory even if it was drawing first blood. But what really matters is if you can keep up your advantage." She smiled nonchalantly and drew another card; then played another monster in defense and placed one trap card face down on the field. Alice was waiting for Seto to call an attack so she could play her face down Mirror Force. Seto knew she placed a trap for him so he placed a counter trap card on the field. He was waiting to draw a Blue Eyes. So he placed one monster in defense mode and ended his turn.
The two continued to put monsters in defense mode each turn instead of calling an attack. Alice gained better cards in each draw and was now waiting for Seto to summon his Blue Eyes White Dragon. Finally, Seto stopped using his throwaway monsters. He played a Judge Man by tributing a face down monster and then he called an attack. Alice activated Mirror Force, but Seto had anticipated a move like that and countered it with his face down Trap Master. He then ended his turn by activating Defense Paralysis. Alice's plan was coming undone. She did not draw a card she needed and she now could no longer put monsters in defense mode. So instead of playing another monster, she placed Chorus of Sanctuary on field to protect the remaining monsters she had and ended her turn. She wanted to be beaten by Seto's Blue Eyes, but she could barely hold her own with his Judge Man. He then used Invigoration on Judge Man and destroyed another one of Alice's face down monsters. She was down to three monsters. Meanwhile Mokuba watched the duel in anticipation. He was routing for Seto, but he really wanted Alice to win. On her next turn, she fissured the Judge Man and used Shadow of Eyes on one of Seto's face down monsters. It was a Lord of Dragons. She knew that Seto was going to bring out his dragons soon. In her hand she had a Seven Colored Fish, but debated whether to attack because leaving a monster in attack mode would leave her life points vulnerable. Alice then activated a dragon capture jar and decided to use the Seven Colored fish to take down the Lord of D, but to her dismay, Seto activated Waboku.
"Can't you destroy one Lord of Dragons?" Seto gloated. He knew that if she was a good duelist then his Lord of D. was going to be destroyed soon. So far, he had only one Blue Eyes White Dragon in his hand; he could not successfully pull off his combo without another dragon type monster.
"You just got lucky, but your luck will soon run out!" Alice pouted and then ended her turn once she figured out she could do nothing else. Seto then drew a Tri Horn Dragon; it was not a Blue Eyes, but he used his Lord of D. and Flute of Summoning Dragon to summon his lone Blue Eyes and Tri Horn dragons. Alice knew that the two face down cards were protection for his dragons. One of them had to be another Trap Master. She drew a Pot of Greed. With Pot of Greed in play, she drew a Raigeki and another throwaway monster. Mokuba and Seto knew she had to have drawn at least one good card that turn. Mokuba sat up in anticipation of Alice's comeback, while Seto mere watched on. Alice wanted to prove her worth to Seto. Quickly she activated Raigeki, but he used a Magic Jammer to counter Raigeki's devastating effect.
With her two best magic and trap cards in the graveyard Alice knew the match would be over if she could not take out his Blue Eyes by means of an attack. Alice looked back at her hand; with the Lord of D. on the field none of her magic or traps could target Seto's dragons. She used Change of Heart on the Lord of D. since it was a spell caster and not a dragon type. Then she used Monster Recovery on it, which sent Seto's Lord of D. back to his deck and made his dragons vulnerable to Alice's Dragon Capture Jar. She then put back her hand and drew a new one. Her gambit brought her some time, but none of the cards she drew was strong enough to take out either dragon. She received a Magician of Faith, an Unhappy Maiden, Fissure, The Cheerful Coffin, Giant Rat and a Messenger of Peace. Alice had to use her Messenger of Peace to protect her monsters, but then she reluctantly placed her Unhappy Maiden in attack mode due to Defense Paralysis. She was hoping to tribute it for a more powerful monster.
With a Messenger of Peace in play, none of Seto's dragons could attack her monsters since their attack points were well over the fifteen hundred limit, but he was unfazed by her amateur-stalling attempt. Seto drew another card and ended his turn. Mokuba knew the match was over once his brother drew Despell because his he always had a face down Trap Master when someone activates a Dragon Capture Jar. Alice looked at the score. It was a 2300 to 3900 and victory was resting on the next card she drew. In her deck, she knew that there was only monster that could defeat the Blue Eyes; it was her Shadow Ghoul. Unfortunately on her turn, Alice did not draw the Shadow Ghoul and there was nothing in her hand to back up her Messenger of Peace so she ended her turn. Seto then drew his next card; it was Despell. As he was about to obliterate the Messenger of Peace, he heard Mokuba cry out.
"Let me go!" Mokuba protested.
"Let me go!" Tweedle Dee taunted, by trying to mimic Mokuba pitch for pitch.
"Mokuba!" Seto shouted, but before he could turn around a group of men wearing playing card costumes fell on him. One of the men grabbed Alice while another neatly gathered up their decks. Tweedle Dee laughed and continued to repeat Seto and Mokuba's last words. "Let Me Go!" Tweedle Dee repeated.
"Mokuba!" Tweedle Dumb replied. They did not realize that everyone had left, but them.
***
Rebecca sat on her thrown dueling her teddy bear when Seto, Mokuba and Alice were present to her. Tweedle Dumb somersaulted and posted while his brother did the same, but accidentally tripped on his costume. "Tweedle Dee, I told you to practice more on your somersaults and less on your air rolls!"
"Enough!" The queen shouted; Tweedle Dumb and Tweedle Dee snapped to attention at the sound of her agitated voice. Rebecca hopped off her thrown and walked over to Seto. "So I finally meet the great Seto Kaiba."
"Who are you? You look like a little girl obsessed with playing cards."
"I'm Rebecca Hawkins, a decorated champion duelist and a child prodigy!"
"Look little girl, shouldn't you be playing with your dolls or something?" Seto laughed, but Rebecca did not find his comment so amusing. She scowled. Mokuba perked up when he realized whom the little girl was.
"Seto! She's the queen of hearts!" Mokuba shouted to his brother. Alice watched in the background because she knew she was safe. The queen would never cut her head off, but she was not so sure about the Kaiba brother's fate."
"Look Mokuba, she could be Harpie Lady for all I care." Rebecca grew angrier.
"But Seto," Mokuba replied. "She cuts off people's heads. The queen of hearts executes people everyday."
"So my reputation precedes me," she smirked. A glimmer of pride showed in her big green eyes. "Then you should know my deck and dueling credentials are exemplary." Mokuba only gawked. He did not want her to lose her temper. "What's wrong with your brother? Is he dumb and mute?' Seto recoiled at her remark, but more men restrained him before he could act on his disgust.
"Take that back Becky!" Alice snapped. "You are only baiting him. Either you challenge him to a duel or let us go!"
"What makes you think I want to duel Kaiba?"
"Isn't that why you brought us here?" Alice looked on. Mokuba turned to look at Alice defying and questioning the queen.
"Yes, but I wanted to tell him," Rebecca had her teddy bear reply. Seto recoiled and Mokuba smacked his forehead at her cutezness.
"Oh brother," he sighed.
"Don't worry Mokuba, I won't let her talk about you that way." He stood up despite the big thugs were trying to hold him down. "If she wants a duel with me then she will get one"
"Ooh such confidence," she had her teddy bear reply. She then walked over to Seto and faced him. "Do you think I should be scared of him Teddy?" Rebecca then shook her teddy bear's head and smiled. "I didn't think so either."
"Your highness?" Tweedle Dee cut in.
"What about our reward?" Tweedle Dumb asked.
"You are still here?" She replied, "How about I let you keep your heads?!!"
"How about I let you keep your head?" Tweedle Dee repeated to his brother. Tweedle Dumb nodded.
"Yeah and some dancing girls?" He asked.
"Yeah and some dancing girls!" Tweedle Dee repeated.
"Oh yes and powerful jobs." Tweedle Dumb added.
"Oh yes and powerful jobs." Tweedle Dee nodded.
"Is there an echo in here?!!!" Rebecca screamed, her teddy bear nodded.
"Now Rebecca, those men did deliver the Kaiba brothers to you," the king replied.
"But Grandpa!" She shrieked and pouted. "They are giving me a headache!"
"Grant Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dumb jobs as the Royal Gardener since the position has become vacant."
"Grant Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dumb jobs as the Royal Gardener since the position has become vacant," Tweedle Dumb, replied. Tweedle Dee nodded, but then stopped before repeating the line.
"Brother, do you remember what happened to the gardener?" Tweedle Dumb thought for a second, nodded and choked when he realized what his brother was hinting at.
"Alright!" Rebecca replied. "Now let's duel!"
"Why should he duel you?" Alice rebutted, "What is in it for him?"
"They get to keep their heads!"
"But they didn't do anything for you to execute them."
"They broke my new law."
"And that is?"
"You have to register before you can enter Wonderland." Rebecca screamed, "And they did not register!"
"When did that become a law," Alice questioned her.
"Just now!" Rebecca folded her arms and then walked away. She had her teddy bear wave bye-bye to prisoners. Then two thugs took them away. "I'll be waiting in the garden Kaiba. I know you have your deck, so put together your strategies wisely. I've studied all of your duels"
***
"Be careful Mr. Kaiba, Becky may not look like it, but she's a very shrewd duelist."
"Yeah Seto, the queen is a shrew and she can execute us on a mere whim."
"Yeah she's a true goddess of whim," the Cheshire cat popped in and replied. "So this is Mokuba. I heard him all about Wonderland."
"This is the Cheshire cat," Mokuba replied. "Why does it sound Hungarian and don't you suppose to be purple and have stripes?"
"Me-ouch!" The cat tugged at its eyelid. "Nener nener nener!"
"Cheshire!" Alice scolded. "Don't be rude. It wasn't nice of you to just pop in here unannounced." The cat meowed in defiance and disappeared only to have it eyes and smile remain.
"Seto," the cat purred. "Kick that little brats butt! I can't stand the bee ouch!" The cat then let out a menacing laugh when its smile, whiskers and all disappeared.
"You gotta like a cat like that!" Mokuba replied. Alice blushed politely while Seto paid no attention to the children and their antics with the Cheshire cat. He had a score to settle, he was not going to let anyone talk about his brother that way. Seto concentrated on putting together his strategies.
Will Seto beat the queen of hearts?
Will the Kaiba brothers keep their heads?
Will Seto and Mokuba go home?
Check out Chapter 5! The final Chapter
"To a high place," she pointed. "If we can get to the top of that small mountain we should see about a few good kilometers."
"But I'm afraid of heights!"
"Why," Alice asked.
"I don't want to fall down and go splat!"
"Silly silly boy," she laughed. "You forget where we are. This is Wonderland, if you fall you will fall up." She grabbed Mokuba's hand and led him to the edge of cliff. "Do you trust me?" She asked.
"Does it matter what I answer?" He replied. Alice shook her head and then she jumped off the ledge. Mokuba screamed, he had to close his eyes. The ground was coming up at him quickly and he dreaded when they would meet it, but when his feet touched solid ground he was unharmed.
"See you are in one piece," Alice replied to the shaken boy. "Are you alright?" Mokuba was still in shock. "You big baby; you are just fine! She nudged him.
"WOW! We can see just about all of Wonderland from here" Mokuba replied once he came to. Alice Nodded. They then continued to look out until they spotted a tall stranger with brown hair and a dark blue trench coat. "It's him! It's Seto." Mokuba exclaimed. "And he's coming this way!"
"He is?" Alice sighed. "At last! I really want to meet him!"
"So how do we get down from here?"
"We climb down." She told him.
"If we can fall up then isn't there another way to get down?" Alice shook her head. "How about jumping down instead of jumping up?"
"No, that is too normal." She took Mokuba by the hand again. "C'mon follow me; I think I know where your brother is going?"
***
"Brother, are you thinking what I'm thinking?" Tweedle Dumb said.
"Brother, are you thinking what I'm thinking?" Tweedle Dee replied. Then his brother Tweedle Dumb repeated him and he repeated Tweedle Dumb again. After an hour, both men forgot what they were thinking and more importantly forgot what they were repeating. Finally, they took a deep breath.
"If we tell the queen that Seto Kaiba is here she won't be able to resist challenging him to a duel.''
"True brother, but there is one problem."
"What is that?"
"So what if it makes the queen happy? Why will Seto help us?"
"Because lame brain, we will delivered him to the queen who sent him home."
"Why would she send him home? She really wants to meet him."
"Because the queen is going to challenge Seto to a duel. When he wins the queen will grant him safe passage home since she wants to remain the best duelist in Wonderland."
"That's real smart Tweedle Dumb; now I understand. So after he beats the queen then we can ask him for jobs at KaibaCorp?" He replied. "But what if he loses?"
"Seto lose?! Never! Besides the queen will reward us generously just for delivering him."
"Brother?"
"Yes, Brother?"
"Why did we stop repeating?"
"I don't know. I forgot." Tweedle Dumb replied. Tweedle Dee quickly repeated Tweedle Dumb.
***.
"Do you want to duel me Seto Kaiba?" Alice asked with an air of defiance.
"You want me to duel you?" Seto asked in a smug astonishment.
"Yes," she replied. "Or are you scared?"
"Scared?" Seto laughed. "Look kid I'm considered to be among the top duelist in the world."
"And I'm Alice, the creator of Wonderland."
"Please Seto," Mokuba asked. "Alice is your biggest fan."
"All the girls say that."
"But I'm no ordinary girl."
"Please Seto," Mokuba begged. He then got a hold of Seto's leg and sat on his foot. Seto tried to shake him off, but Mokuba would not let go. Alice soon seized hold of Seto's other leg.
"Please Mr. Kaiba! I have my deck in my pocket and all of Wonderland is one big dueling arena."
"Seto!" Mokuba whined and then took a deep breath.
"NO! Mokuba, you better not hold your breath!"
"It appears that way Mr. Kaiba and in a minute he will be turning blue." Alice replied coolly. Seto tried to walk, but with both children holding tightly to his legs, he tipped over and fell. Mokuba and Alice still held their ground and did not budge. As his face turned from bright red to purple and then to blue, Seto look into his pleading eyes.
"Okay I'll duel Alice," he replied in a defeated voice. Both children released his legs.
"Yay!" They cheered. "You're the best."
***
"Your Majesty, your faithful servants humbly beg you for your audience." Tweedle Dumb greeted the queen. Tweedle Dee quickly repeated him. Then Tweedle Dee did a back flip, but his brother did not join him. He remember the queen's temper and her fondness for executions.
"Get to the point!" Rebecca demanded. She clutched her teddy bear. "You are giving my teddy a headache!"
"A thousand pardons," Tweedle Dee replied.
"But we cannot do them al in the time allotted." Tweedle Dumb said.
"Your Majesty Seto Kaiba in Wonderland we've spotted."
"Oh no!" The queen shrieked. "Not the rhyming! If you keep that up I'll have your head!" Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dumb started to shake and quiver.
"Dispatch your men my queen." Tweedle Dee replied, but instead of trying to rhyme Tweedle Dumb repeated his brother. The queen was growing impatient with them. She started to twirl one of her ponytails around her finger.
"And allow us to lead them. We will find Kaiba."
"I know you will," she replied shrilly. "Or else your heads will roll." She looked with contempt at the men before her. "And what do you ask for this service?" Tweedle Dee repeated her, but Tweedle Dumb elbowed him in the ribs. He did not want to lose his head for his brother's outburst.
"Money," Tweedle Dumb replied. "And lots of it."
"Power," Tweedle Dee replied. "We need some respectable jobs."
"And what can you do? What skills do you have?"
"Skills, what are those?" Tweedle Dumb asked.
"We are dueling experts, we have the gift of gab which includes off beat rhyming and we are also talented acrobats." Tweedle Dee replied.
"We are dueling experts, we have the gift of gab which includes off beat rhyming and we are also talented acrobats." Tweedle Dumb repeated, but stopped when his brother elbowed him again.
"Fine, money and jobs." The queen shrilly screamed. "But that is if you come back successful. If you do not deliver Kaiba to me then....."
"Rebecca dear," the king cut into the conversation. "How about you have Tweedle Dumb and Tweedle Dee paint the white roses in the royal garden red instead of cutting off their heads. There are several men outside right now painting them."
"White roses!" She screamed. "I wanted red!" She pounded her fist on the thrown. "Who planted the white roses?" As soon as she said that, the royal gardener cowered in the crowd. The queen saw his response and gave him the pointy finger of death. "Off with his head!" She shrieked. The royal executioner separated himself from the crowd and carried off the gardener. Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dumb watched in pure terror and cowered together. Rebecca turned back to them. "Why are you still here? Bring back Kaiba or else!"
"Yes, Your Majesty," the two frightened men replied. They then ran for the door.
"Oh and one more thing," the queen added. "Take the secondary royal guards with you."
***
Alice and Seto started their match. Seto figured he would go easy on Alice for Mokuba's sake. On her opening move, she placed one monster card and magic card face down. Seto quickly played Saggi the Dark Clown, equipped with a negative energy generator then attacked Alice's face down monster. To his dismay, the face down monster was a Man Eater Bug. "I thought you wouldn't have fell for that." Alice laughed, having the early lead.
"I end my turn," Seto quickly placed one magic card and one trap face down. "It's just like an amateur to celebrate a small victory even if it was drawing first blood. But what really matters is if you can keep up your advantage." She smiled nonchalantly and drew another card; then played another monster in defense and placed one trap card face down on the field. Alice was waiting for Seto to call an attack so she could play her face down Mirror Force. Seto knew she placed a trap for him so he placed a counter trap card on the field. He was waiting to draw a Blue Eyes. So he placed one monster in defense mode and ended his turn.
The two continued to put monsters in defense mode each turn instead of calling an attack. Alice gained better cards in each draw and was now waiting for Seto to summon his Blue Eyes White Dragon. Finally, Seto stopped using his throwaway monsters. He played a Judge Man by tributing a face down monster and then he called an attack. Alice activated Mirror Force, but Seto had anticipated a move like that and countered it with his face down Trap Master. He then ended his turn by activating Defense Paralysis. Alice's plan was coming undone. She did not draw a card she needed and she now could no longer put monsters in defense mode. So instead of playing another monster, she placed Chorus of Sanctuary on field to protect the remaining monsters she had and ended her turn. She wanted to be beaten by Seto's Blue Eyes, but she could barely hold her own with his Judge Man. He then used Invigoration on Judge Man and destroyed another one of Alice's face down monsters. She was down to three monsters. Meanwhile Mokuba watched the duel in anticipation. He was routing for Seto, but he really wanted Alice to win. On her next turn, she fissured the Judge Man and used Shadow of Eyes on one of Seto's face down monsters. It was a Lord of Dragons. She knew that Seto was going to bring out his dragons soon. In her hand she had a Seven Colored Fish, but debated whether to attack because leaving a monster in attack mode would leave her life points vulnerable. Alice then activated a dragon capture jar and decided to use the Seven Colored fish to take down the Lord of D, but to her dismay, Seto activated Waboku.
"Can't you destroy one Lord of Dragons?" Seto gloated. He knew that if she was a good duelist then his Lord of D. was going to be destroyed soon. So far, he had only one Blue Eyes White Dragon in his hand; he could not successfully pull off his combo without another dragon type monster.
"You just got lucky, but your luck will soon run out!" Alice pouted and then ended her turn once she figured out she could do nothing else. Seto then drew a Tri Horn Dragon; it was not a Blue Eyes, but he used his Lord of D. and Flute of Summoning Dragon to summon his lone Blue Eyes and Tri Horn dragons. Alice knew that the two face down cards were protection for his dragons. One of them had to be another Trap Master. She drew a Pot of Greed. With Pot of Greed in play, she drew a Raigeki and another throwaway monster. Mokuba and Seto knew she had to have drawn at least one good card that turn. Mokuba sat up in anticipation of Alice's comeback, while Seto mere watched on. Alice wanted to prove her worth to Seto. Quickly she activated Raigeki, but he used a Magic Jammer to counter Raigeki's devastating effect.
With her two best magic and trap cards in the graveyard Alice knew the match would be over if she could not take out his Blue Eyes by means of an attack. Alice looked back at her hand; with the Lord of D. on the field none of her magic or traps could target Seto's dragons. She used Change of Heart on the Lord of D. since it was a spell caster and not a dragon type. Then she used Monster Recovery on it, which sent Seto's Lord of D. back to his deck and made his dragons vulnerable to Alice's Dragon Capture Jar. She then put back her hand and drew a new one. Her gambit brought her some time, but none of the cards she drew was strong enough to take out either dragon. She received a Magician of Faith, an Unhappy Maiden, Fissure, The Cheerful Coffin, Giant Rat and a Messenger of Peace. Alice had to use her Messenger of Peace to protect her monsters, but then she reluctantly placed her Unhappy Maiden in attack mode due to Defense Paralysis. She was hoping to tribute it for a more powerful monster.
With a Messenger of Peace in play, none of Seto's dragons could attack her monsters since their attack points were well over the fifteen hundred limit, but he was unfazed by her amateur-stalling attempt. Seto drew another card and ended his turn. Mokuba knew the match was over once his brother drew Despell because his he always had a face down Trap Master when someone activates a Dragon Capture Jar. Alice looked at the score. It was a 2300 to 3900 and victory was resting on the next card she drew. In her deck, she knew that there was only monster that could defeat the Blue Eyes; it was her Shadow Ghoul. Unfortunately on her turn, Alice did not draw the Shadow Ghoul and there was nothing in her hand to back up her Messenger of Peace so she ended her turn. Seto then drew his next card; it was Despell. As he was about to obliterate the Messenger of Peace, he heard Mokuba cry out.
"Let me go!" Mokuba protested.
"Let me go!" Tweedle Dee taunted, by trying to mimic Mokuba pitch for pitch.
"Mokuba!" Seto shouted, but before he could turn around a group of men wearing playing card costumes fell on him. One of the men grabbed Alice while another neatly gathered up their decks. Tweedle Dee laughed and continued to repeat Seto and Mokuba's last words. "Let Me Go!" Tweedle Dee repeated.
"Mokuba!" Tweedle Dumb replied. They did not realize that everyone had left, but them.
***
Rebecca sat on her thrown dueling her teddy bear when Seto, Mokuba and Alice were present to her. Tweedle Dumb somersaulted and posted while his brother did the same, but accidentally tripped on his costume. "Tweedle Dee, I told you to practice more on your somersaults and less on your air rolls!"
"Enough!" The queen shouted; Tweedle Dumb and Tweedle Dee snapped to attention at the sound of her agitated voice. Rebecca hopped off her thrown and walked over to Seto. "So I finally meet the great Seto Kaiba."
"Who are you? You look like a little girl obsessed with playing cards."
"I'm Rebecca Hawkins, a decorated champion duelist and a child prodigy!"
"Look little girl, shouldn't you be playing with your dolls or something?" Seto laughed, but Rebecca did not find his comment so amusing. She scowled. Mokuba perked up when he realized whom the little girl was.
"Seto! She's the queen of hearts!" Mokuba shouted to his brother. Alice watched in the background because she knew she was safe. The queen would never cut her head off, but she was not so sure about the Kaiba brother's fate."
"Look Mokuba, she could be Harpie Lady for all I care." Rebecca grew angrier.
"But Seto," Mokuba replied. "She cuts off people's heads. The queen of hearts executes people everyday."
"So my reputation precedes me," she smirked. A glimmer of pride showed in her big green eyes. "Then you should know my deck and dueling credentials are exemplary." Mokuba only gawked. He did not want her to lose her temper. "What's wrong with your brother? Is he dumb and mute?' Seto recoiled at her remark, but more men restrained him before he could act on his disgust.
"Take that back Becky!" Alice snapped. "You are only baiting him. Either you challenge him to a duel or let us go!"
"What makes you think I want to duel Kaiba?"
"Isn't that why you brought us here?" Alice looked on. Mokuba turned to look at Alice defying and questioning the queen.
"Yes, but I wanted to tell him," Rebecca had her teddy bear reply. Seto recoiled and Mokuba smacked his forehead at her cutezness.
"Oh brother," he sighed.
"Don't worry Mokuba, I won't let her talk about you that way." He stood up despite the big thugs were trying to hold him down. "If she wants a duel with me then she will get one"
"Ooh such confidence," she had her teddy bear reply. She then walked over to Seto and faced him. "Do you think I should be scared of him Teddy?" Rebecca then shook her teddy bear's head and smiled. "I didn't think so either."
"Your highness?" Tweedle Dee cut in.
"What about our reward?" Tweedle Dumb asked.
"You are still here?" She replied, "How about I let you keep your heads?!!"
"How about I let you keep your head?" Tweedle Dee repeated to his brother. Tweedle Dumb nodded.
"Yeah and some dancing girls?" He asked.
"Yeah and some dancing girls!" Tweedle Dee repeated.
"Oh yes and powerful jobs." Tweedle Dumb added.
"Oh yes and powerful jobs." Tweedle Dee nodded.
"Is there an echo in here?!!!" Rebecca screamed, her teddy bear nodded.
"Now Rebecca, those men did deliver the Kaiba brothers to you," the king replied.
"But Grandpa!" She shrieked and pouted. "They are giving me a headache!"
"Grant Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dumb jobs as the Royal Gardener since the position has become vacant."
"Grant Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dumb jobs as the Royal Gardener since the position has become vacant," Tweedle Dumb, replied. Tweedle Dee nodded, but then stopped before repeating the line.
"Brother, do you remember what happened to the gardener?" Tweedle Dumb thought for a second, nodded and choked when he realized what his brother was hinting at.
"Alright!" Rebecca replied. "Now let's duel!"
"Why should he duel you?" Alice rebutted, "What is in it for him?"
"They get to keep their heads!"
"But they didn't do anything for you to execute them."
"They broke my new law."
"And that is?"
"You have to register before you can enter Wonderland." Rebecca screamed, "And they did not register!"
"When did that become a law," Alice questioned her.
"Just now!" Rebecca folded her arms and then walked away. She had her teddy bear wave bye-bye to prisoners. Then two thugs took them away. "I'll be waiting in the garden Kaiba. I know you have your deck, so put together your strategies wisely. I've studied all of your duels"
***
"Be careful Mr. Kaiba, Becky may not look like it, but she's a very shrewd duelist."
"Yeah Seto, the queen is a shrew and she can execute us on a mere whim."
"Yeah she's a true goddess of whim," the Cheshire cat popped in and replied. "So this is Mokuba. I heard him all about Wonderland."
"This is the Cheshire cat," Mokuba replied. "Why does it sound Hungarian and don't you suppose to be purple and have stripes?"
"Me-ouch!" The cat tugged at its eyelid. "Nener nener nener!"
"Cheshire!" Alice scolded. "Don't be rude. It wasn't nice of you to just pop in here unannounced." The cat meowed in defiance and disappeared only to have it eyes and smile remain.
"Seto," the cat purred. "Kick that little brats butt! I can't stand the bee ouch!" The cat then let out a menacing laugh when its smile, whiskers and all disappeared.
"You gotta like a cat like that!" Mokuba replied. Alice blushed politely while Seto paid no attention to the children and their antics with the Cheshire cat. He had a score to settle, he was not going to let anyone talk about his brother that way. Seto concentrated on putting together his strategies.
Will Seto beat the queen of hearts?
Will the Kaiba brothers keep their heads?
Will Seto and Mokuba go home?
Check out Chapter 5! The final Chapter