I do not own Kamen Rider Ryuki or Ever After High. Those belong to their respective creators and not me. Special thanks to Kamen Rider Chrome as my beta-reader and helping dream up ideas for the story.
Knights of the Otherworld
Written By: Ten-Faced Paladin
Chapter 40: Spring Unsprung Part 1
Ah, springtime in Ever After High. The flowers in full bloom, the sunshine making everything beautiful, and a time of fun and frolic.
And we begin by seeing Lizzie Hearts and her wonderlandiful knight Darren Quinn enjoying a stroll through the Enchanted Forest together.
Shh! Remember, they can hear us! I don't want to spoil their moment!
Enchanted Forest
Darren and Lizzie were enjoying a stroll through the Enchanted Forest, wishing to spend some time together. Lizzie had invited Darren to come along with her in search of something to give her inspiration. Darren wasn't sure what, since Lizzie was playing coy about it. He loved it when she was like that, although the curiosity was eating away at him.
"Lizzie, where are we going?" Darren asked his girlfriend as he followed her.
"It's a surprise," Lizzie smiled as she led her boyfriend through the Enchanted Forest. In her hands was a book, red and gold at the edges with black and white checkerboard pattern in the middle. Every so often, she would open it and look at something glowing. Darren would try to sneak a peek but Lizzie would just pull the book away with a smile. "We're here."
Lizzie and Darren stopped in an empty clearing as he scratched his head in confusion.
"Lizzie, there's nothing here," Darren said.
"Just wait for it," Lizzie giggled.
"Wait for-" All of a sudden, a well magically appeared in the middle of the clearing. From inside, rainbow-colored water began to fill it up. "Whoa! Did that well just appear out of thin air!?"
"Indeed it did, Sir Darren," Lizzie smiled as she took his hand and pulled him over to gaze at the rainbow-colored water within the well. "This is the Well of Wonder, the last remaining link between Ever After and Wonderland."
"It's...beautiful," Darren appreciated.
"Indeed. It's also the source of wonder of this world. It can also awaken inspiration," Lizzie put her hand in the water. "Go on."
Darren followed her lead and touched the water. Instantly, his mind was filled with images of Wonderland and he gasped in astonishment. It was wild, wacky, colorful and vibrant. More than anything, Darren felt a connection with it, like he was looking at a home he had grown up in with old neighbours and local friends ready to welcome him back.
Darren drew back with a gasp, feeling more energized than when he first had an espresso, "I just...I just saw Wonderland. Was that Wonderland?"
"It's because of your connection to home," Lizzie smiled. "Our home."
"Home," Darren smiled. "Hey, if this well connects to Wonderland, does it mean we can go there if we jump in?" Ever since he learned he was part Wonderlandian from his paternal grandmother's side, he wanted to go visit.
"That's possible but I wouldn't recommend it. The rabbit hole is a maze and you could get lost," Lizzie warned him. If she could go home using the Well of Wonder, she would have, but it was far too risky. Very few knew their way through and most that did would send you in the wrong direction just for the fun of it. "Now, we should head back to school. I have some outfits to finish."
"Lizzie," Darren smiled at his Princess of Hearts. "Thanks for showing me this." He kissed her cheek. Lizzie preened from his affection.
"It's only right. My beloved twisty knight deserves to see the land his ancestors hail from," Lizzie giggled. Of course, her future prince should also get a feel for the land he would rule beside her if she had any say in it.
That was a thought for later. Now it was time for fashion!
Wow, the Well of Wonder! Hey, isn't that the same well Briar threw the Storybook of Legends down during Thronecoming?
Brooke, what did we say about spoilers?
It's not a spoiler though, Mom! It's a recap!
She's right, honey. Briar did throw the Storybook of Legends down there so she wouldn't have to sign it. Although she couldn't tell it was the Well of Wonder back then.
Well, now the Storybook of Legends has ended up someplace else entirely, the realm of Wonderland.
Oh my gosh! We can finally get to see it!
Wonderland - Queen of Hearts' Palace
There was an air of tension within the Queen of Hearts' palace. A line of the familiar card guards were marching a pair of teenagers through the hall. The cards were unusually serious and the two teenagers looked a little nervous.
The boy was of average height, wearing a blue coat over a white shirt with brown trousers and knee-high leather boots. Slung over one shoulder was a canteen and on his back was a backpack. He had semi-long platinum blonde hair and blue eyes. He was quite handsome for his age, although in Wonderland, that wasn't always noticed.
The girl with him was somewhat petite with light pink skin and shoulder-length white hair with a fringe. She wore a black top with white fur around her collar. Her skirt was knee length with pocket watch designs on it. She also wore a black hairband with a black top hat decoration on it, perched between two white rabbit ears. Interestingly, the rabbit ears were not a decoration, but were in fact her natural ears.
Alistair Wonderland, son of Alice Liddel and Bunny Blanc, daughter of the White Rabbit were being escorted by the card guards to the Queen of Hearts' throne room. She sat on a throne at the top of a set of stairs, looking down on everyone. Once the two teens were placed in front of her, she finally spoke.
"The baby bird flies, the snake slithers, but the cage holds both, to die and wither."
The Queen of Hearts was the undisputed ruler of Wonderland. She wore her red hair in twin buns that resembled the shape of a heart and was dressed in a black and red gown of regal design. Naturally, it was designed with numerous red hearts while her collar regalia had playing cards adorning it.
"What?" Alistair responded in confusion.
"This is your last warning!" In a flash, she was right in front of the two. "If my guards catch you exploring my grounds again, it's off with your heads!" 'Off with your heads' echoed a few times while a card guard wheeled over a tea set. "Oh, it's afternoon tea!" The Queen's attitude suddenly shifted from stern to cordial. "Would you like some tea, children? One lump or two?"
Alistair and Bunny could only look at each other in confusion.
Oh wow, things are tense in Wonderland!
For good reason. Ever since the Evil Queen cast her curse, everyone has been afraid. For now though, we turn our attention back to Ever After and it's Spring Fairest. A celebration worthu of Wonderland.
Ah, Brooke, didn't Darren say he was going to pick you up soon?
Ah, curses! I almost forgot! Hang on Darren, let me get ready!
Ever After High
The Spring Fairest was a huge festival taking place in Ever After High, celebrating the arrival of spring and all that came with it. Game stands, food stands and rides were set up on school grounds. Even Headmaster Milton was getting into the spirit as he enjoyed himself with his brother Giles, a rare mirthful smile on his face.
A few students were busy decorating the trees with black and white ribbons. Rob and Nina could be seen among them. It was called Treefitti. It was a bit of fun where the students would decorate the trees with the ribbons, which symbolized winter, which would stand out against the colors of the vibrant trees, representing spring. Plenty of students enjoyed it, since it wasn't often one had an excuse to go wild and wrap up trees with the long ribbons and make a mess.
It truly was a fair to remember and the students were going to enjoy the hex out of it. All sorts of things with a fairy tale twist were available like dragon corn, which was popcorn made with dragon fire. There was a test of strength, which Daring, of course, nailed perfectly. When it was Hopper's turn though, he got flustered when Briar walked by and turned to his frog form. Rides were all over and everywhere like the swing carousel, which had Kitty purposefully let her ice cream go flying into the face of others on the ride.
Max Lefay was currently running a game stand.
"Try your luck and win a prize!" Max challenged, standing behind a table with three upside down cups in front of him. "Just one gold coin for a try."
Daring put down a coin on the table.
"I'd like to try, my good man," Daring smiled confidently.
"OK, then," Max smirked as he showed the small ball held between his fingers. He put it down on the table before he covered it with a cup. The single cup stood between two identical ones. "Keep your eye on the ball." With swift hand movements, he shifted the cups around, on occasion giving Daring a peek at the one hiding the ball before he resumed and then stopped. "Alright, Daring. Where's the ball?"
Daring inspected the cups. Was it the one in the centre, the right or the left?
"That one," Daring pointed at the cup on the right. Max lifted it up and revealed it was empty. "What!? I know it was right there!"
"Sorry, Daring. You were slightly off," Max grinned as he lifted the middle cup, revealing the ball underneath. "Want another try?"
"Oh, you are on, Lefay," Daring put down another coin.
After ten more tries, Daring finally gave up and walked away.
"Pleasure doing business with you, Daring!" Max waved and then he put a 'closed' sign on the table as he went off to enjoy the faire.
"So, had fun scamming Daring?" Ramona asked as she walked up to him.
"Me? Scamming?" Max pretended to look innocent. "Would I do that?"
"I saw the trick. You hid the ball in your hand then slipped it under the cup without him looking," Ramona stated. As a Badwolf, she was gifted with sharp eyes, so she saw the whole thing.
"I've been working on my sleight of hand," Max boasted, holding the ball between his index and middle finger. He flicked his wrist and it was gone. "Now, how about we spend some of the cash Daring so generously gave me? I think I saw a kebab stand near here."
"Heh, you always know the best way to my heart, Stringbean," Ramona smirked as she took his hand.
In another part of the fairgrounds, the resident gamer of the Knights of the Round Table was quickly making the rounds and earning a reputation. Gabe of course was a gamer, but many didn't realize that extended to carnival games as well. Once he found them, he went on a gaming spree to get the biggest and best prizes for his princess.
"ATATATATATATATATATATA!" Gabe yelled as he furiously pummeled the frogs as they popped out of their holes at the Whack-A-Frog stand. His score rose with each successful hit. Once his time was up, he saw that he managed to get a high score on the game. Bells and whistles rang, alerting many to the fact Gabe had broken a record.
"Here you go, little guy," the vendor said as he handed Gabe a plush doll. It was a plush doll of him as Gai. Many of the game stands were offering these Knights of the Round Table plush dolls as prizes. Being the hot topic lately, plenty were hoping to win one.
Gabe frowned when the vendor called him 'little' but he did not let that comment sour his mood.
"Here you go, Holly," Gabe gave his girlfriend the plushie.
"Oh, another little Gabriel for me to cuddle at night," Holly cooed, holding the plushie close.
"Should I be jealous?" he asked, eliciting a fit of giggles from his girlfriend. Holly's phone buzzed and she took it out to see a hext message from Lizzie.
"Who's it from?" Gabe asked.
"Lizzie wants me to come to her dorm. She says she has a surprise for me," Holly said. "I'll be right back, Gabriel." She gave him a soft peck on the lips and walked off to meet with Lizzie. Gabe touched his lips as the sensation lingered. If only those jerks and bullies from his old school could see him now. He would rub the fact that he was dating a princess in their stupid faces.
"I think Headmaster Milton is trying to one-up Merlin for his carnival," Lance remarked, looking at the numerous trees being decorated. For the Spring Fairest, he was in a black turtleneck and blue jeans with a navy duster thrown over it. On his feet, he wore leather shoes.
"As long as he doesn't rope us into some random competition, I'm cool with it," Arthur replied. He wore a white T-shirt with a red dragon on it, blue jeans and sneakers. Over this, he wore a red letterman jacket with a big K on the front.
"Speaking of competitions, I'm entering the Chef Showdown," Apple smiled.
"I'll be there to cheer you on then, Apple Pie," Lance smiled. "You might have stiff competition with Ginger though. She's got a magic touch when it comes to baking."
"Well, then I'll just have to try my best," Apple beamed. "And nothing's wrong with a bit of friendly competition."
Over at the rides, Kyle was waiting for Duchess to finish on the swing carousel. He liked some of the rides, but he didn't have the stomach for others. He never felt like a swing carousel was a safe ride so after the first time, he never tried to get back on. Duchess wanted to ride though, so he just decided to wait until she was done. Finally, the ride died down and Kyle looked to see the people passing through the exit. He was looking for a familiar swan princess, and finally spotted her.
"What happened to you?" Kyle blunty asked as Duchess approached him, looking steamed. An ice cream cone was stuck on her head and she had ice cream stains on her face. Miraculously, none of it got on her dress, which would have been very bad since she had been meticulous in her fashion choices and insisted Kyle do the same. For Spring Fairest, Kyle had on a purple faux snakeskin jacket over a black T-shirt with black jeans and faux snakeskin cowboy boots. He had his hair spiked too.
"Kitty threw ice cream at me on the ride," Duchess grumbled.
"Here, clean yourself up," Kyle said as he handed her a napkin. She tossed away the cone and wiped the ice cream from her face. "It didn't hurt or anything, did it?"
"No, she just got me mad," Duchess huffed as she managed to get the worst of the ice cream off. "Now my hair's ruined. If I had a squirt bottle or something, I'd soak her to the bone!"
"We can get back at her later. Darren can even give us some tips," Kyle reassured her. Darren and Kitty once had an epic prank war so the jester knight knew the best ways to actually pay Kitty back for her antics. "Now come on, we can stew about her later. We've got a fair to enjoy."
Duchess smiled and took Kyle's hand as they began exploring the faire. There was still lots to do and perhaps too much to do in one day. Coming around the school, Duchess eyes some impromptu activity happening in front of the school castle.
"Hey, what's going on there?" Duchess asked as a crowd began forming in front of the school. She always paid attention to any gossip, usually to have some kind of leverage over students, but she had changed since then. Now, she just enjoyed gossip because of the juicy stories.
Kyle shrugged before he and his girlfriend turned to follow the crowd.
"Let's check it out."
At the front of the school, an impromptu fashion show was taking place. Lizzie's trip to the Well of Wonder was not without a bonus as it gave her the inspiration she needed to finish designing the outfits for the Spring Fairest. With that, she was able to finish the last of the details for her Spring Fairest line and got several friends together to model them.
Their outfits incorporated a lot of black and whites in the main portions, but also brought in flowers and other bright colors to represent the spring season.
Lizzie naturally made an outfit for herself. It consisted of a corset-style strapless dress which was black and red with some gold with a black and white skirt. A longer red ruffled waist cape hung from her hips, giving a bright splash of color. A ruffled collar was around her neck, large enough to drape onto her shoulders. She styled her hair, letting it be pulled back while a crown-like ornament made of red roses and gold hearts was perch lopsided on her head.
"Ooh la la!" Darren gave a whistle from the crowd, making Lizzie blush, but smile vibrantly as he clearly liked her outfit. He was also dressed for the occasion, sporting a green suit over a black shirt with a purple bow tie. The blazer, tie and pants had a pattern of question marks all over them and he was wearing a pair of green flower-shaped shades. On his feet, he wore green sneakers covered in question marks.
Cedar sported pink leggings with crisscrossing straps on her lower legs. The main coat portion of the outfit had the same patterns as tree rings, only in black and white which suited the puppet girl. Pink flowers were perched on her waist and shoulders and she wore pink suspenders which was more for show, and a spot to stick the flowers. Her hair was styled, courtesy of Poppy with streaks of pink draped in front of her shoulder and a hairband of pink flowers on top.
Cerise more or less stepped forward, wearing a checkerboard jacket inspired by a picnic blanket with red edges and red fur on her shoulders. Naturally, she kept her hood up, but it was sprinkled with white. Her long hair was on display with a braid that hung in front of her and she had purple streaks set next to her natural white one in her hair. Her leggings were covered mostly in dark branches which faded as they went down, reminiscent of her mother's sense of style. Topping it all off was a bundle of small white flowers which was made part of her hood.
Deacon couldn't help himself and gave a sharp wolf whistle, making Cerise blush with a bit of a silly smile on her lips. Nearby, Ramona scowled at him and Max had to grip her hand to keep his girlfriend from acting out on her protective instincts.
Holly's jacket was similar in construction to Cerice's, but the design was mainly white with black ivy. She sported an elaborate gold belt and her leggings started as black but then turned white around her knees before fading to a rich purple. She wore a gold necklace with purple flowers on her shoulders, although it was slightly obscured by her hair, modestly dyed with a single streak of purple. For a hair ornament, she wore a hairband of purple flowers, but with small artificial butterflies in it as well. Of course, she kept her little Gai doll tucked under her arm for a bit of cuteness.
"Looking fableous, Holly!" Gabe cheered from the crowd, causing Holly to smile radiantly.
Briar's outfit consisted of darker colors for the most part with a black rose motif. Her top consisted of magenta and white, but with black rose lace overtop. Her skirt was black and white with the rose thorn designs with more black lace overtop. She also sported maroon leggings which turned to black with more of the rose vine pattern. As always, her hair was expertly styled, draping over her shoulders with gentle curves and new blue streaks in it. As a hair ornament, she wore what seemed almost like a crown made of roses with various shades of red, white, pink, and black.
'Dark and sexy,' Harry thought and when Briar spotted him checking her out, she winked at him. It made his heart skip a beat. Hopper stood beside him, admiring Briar too.
"She's so hextacular, isn't she?" Hopper asked, but then realized who he said it to and poofed into his frog form.
"Yeah," Harry nodded, not noticing since his eyes were trained on Briar.
The girls' spring fairest fashion was being shown on the JumboMirror, a giant magic mirror that floated above the fair to show announcements or whatever interesting thing that was going on. It got all five girls excited to be considered fableous enough to be seen by the entire fair.
While enjoying some ice cream, Kitty magically altered her outfit to match theirs, with a spring theme in her usual color scheme. Her hair was now done in braided twin tails with a crown of blue and white roses and a bow ribbon shaped like cat ears. She wore a short black dress under a white waistcoat with a black faux fur collar and a ribbon sash that flared out and turned purple at the hem with a zig-zag pattern. Finally, she had on dark blue leggings with purple roses printed on them and white open-toe pump sandals. She wasn't going to let anyone upstage her. Of course, it just made her look all the better, which was a plus.
Blondie went up to the group as Humphrey followed with his MirrorPad.
"Wow girls! You five just look fableous! Lizzie, what inspired you to design these spelltacular outfits?" Blondie asked.
"We don't have Spring Fairest back in Wonderland, so I thought I could bring Wonderland to the Spring Fairest with my fashion designs," Lizzie explained.
"And these look amazing! No lie!" Cedar gushed excitedly.
"I don't normally change my look, but these designs are big, bad, and bold!" Cerise grinned, although her eyes kept darting back to Deacon in the crowd.
"Wow! Well, take it from this reporter, the Fairest Five make this festival just right!" Blondie declared, earning cheers of approval from the audience around them.
"Oh, wow! They look great!" Brooke Page cheered. "Seeing them in person is so much cooler!" As promised, Darren had brought Brooke back into Ever After so she could spend the day at the Spring Fairest. The girl was ecstatic when her parents gave her permission. She worried she'd be forced to watch and narrate instead of joining in on the fun.
Plus, more chances to fill her autograph book! Maybe she'd get to meet Raven and Apple this time.
"Lizzie really outdid herself this time," Darren smiled. His girlfriend had once again shown everyone she was a talented fashion designer.
Brooke smiled in delight as she looked to Darren, "Thanks, Darren, for bringing me to the Spring Fairest."
Darren just smiled back, "Hey, I promised, didn't I?"
"You did. I'm just happy to be here," Brooke giggled.
"Happy to have you here."
Ah, Spring Fairest truly is a Wonderland in itself. It's good that Brooke gets to experience it herself.
So long as she doesn't go overboard. In the meantime, let's check back in Wonderland where Alistair and Bunny have been released by the Queen of Hearts.
Wonderland - Riverside
Alistair and Bunny were released with a warning, their last warning. The two friends were now at a lake while the boy skipped stones. Alistair was not in the best of moods. Ever since his mother told him about her adventures in Wonderland, he had wanted to go and explore it and have adventures of his own. Finally arriving, he met so many new friends like Bunny, Lizzie, Maddie, and Kitty. It made him look forward to the adventures they would have when their stories began.
Sadly, the Evil Queen ruined all that. The curse she laid on Wonderland threatened to destroy it and so almost every way there was sealed. People were afraid and closed off, hoping not to upset the balance and have the curse go out of control. Needless to say, it limited the adventures Alistair and his friends could go on. Worse, he and his close friends were cut off from one another as several escaped to Ever After.
Alistair sighed after throwing another pebble, "The curse on Wonderland has the Queen afraid."
Bunny sighed as she hated Alistar feeling so down, "I know, Alistair."
"Afraid that if anything upsets the balance, that green encircling chaos will close in and destroy Wonderland," Alister continued, talking more to himself than Bunny. "One day, I'll help solve the riddle and break the curse." Sighing, Alistair knelt down to pick up a pebble when his eyes caught sight of something in the water. "Whoa, what's this?"
What Alistair found was what looked like a thick tome in the river. Picking it up, he found the water running off the book. The pages weren't even wet, being just as dry as if the book was still on the shelf. Even if his hands were wet, the paper simply refused to absorb the water. Most shocking of all, Alistair recognized the book from its intricate design.
"I don't believe it," Bunny said as she looked over his shoulder.
"It's the Storybook of Legends! Hey, if the book is in our world, that means there's a portal that isn't sealed anymore," This would mean the chance to explore, go on an adventure, and do a good deed by returning the book! He put the book away in his backpack. "Let's go, Bunny!"
Bunny turned into a bunny and hopped off as Alistair followed. Bunny had an innate knowledge of all the ways to get around Wonderland. A gift from her father. Once in her bunny form, she could get around anywhere, even if she didn't have a clear idea herself. So with her in the lead, she and Alistair could find the portal where the Storybook of Legends had come from.
Ever After High - Fairgrounds
After showing off their Spring Fairest outfits, the Fairest Five went their separate ways to enjoy the rest of the faire. Those with boyfriends went with them as they explored the fairgrounds together.
As Harry and Briar walked together, the people they passed by stopped to check out Briar's new outfit.
"I caught the way you were looking at me, Harry," Briar smiled. "You like what you see?"
"How can I not, Briar? You look great in anything you wear. I just feel a bit underdressed here standing next to you," Harry admitted. Walking beside Briar, who looked fableous, he felt a bit plain.
"Oh, come on, you look great," Briar complimented. Harry was dressed in a white buttoned-up shirt and black jeans with a magenta blazer.
"If you say so," Harry smiled as he rubbed the back of his neck. Even now, he sometimes couldn't believe that he had someone as beautiful as Briar as his girlfriend. Normally, Lance was the one who got all the female attention while he was often overlooked.
Elsewhere, Brooke did not want to be a third wheel so she left Lizzie and Darren by themselves so she could explore the fair herself, taking pictures to fill her MirrorPhone's digital album. This left Lizzie and Darren to enjoy the sights and attractions of the fair as a couple.
"So, these outfits were inspired by Wonderland, huh?" Darren asked as they walked together. Her Spring Fairest outfit really brought out her beauty and style. It was times like that which reminded Darren he really was dating a real princess.
"Indeed," Lizzie sighed. While she was very proud of how well the designs turned out, Darren could tell that she was down from all the talk about Wonderland.
"You really miss home, huh?" he asked softly, gently taking Lizzie's hand.
Lizzie could only nod sadly despite the bright atmosphere around them, "I do. Seeing everything so topsy-turvy today just makes me miss it more. My mother sent me away just as the curse hit our home. I really do miss her and I left so many good friends behind too."
Darren gave her hand a gentle squeeze to show his support, "You know, we could still use the well for a trip if you're game."
Lizzie smiled at him, eyes sparkling with affection, "As wonderlandiful as that sounds, it's still too risky and I could never forgive myself if anything were to happen to you."
Darren shrugged, "Alright, then I'll figure out a way to get you home."
The prompt declaration just made Lizzie blink, "You will?"
The Chameleon Knight merely laughed, "I managed to bring Brooke over. I'm sure we can find some kind of mirror portal that connects to Wonderland. I'll just ask Mira after the faire."
"Oh, Darren." Lizzie smiled brightly. Her boyfriend was so sweet to offer to try.
Darren actually wanted to visit Wonderland himself, to set foot in his grandmother's homeland. His grandfather hadn't been clear what his grandmother's story was, but he was eager to learn. Perhaps by visiting Wonderland, he would be able to find out. Still, that was for later. Lizzie needed his attention now.
"So, these friends you left behind. What are their names?" he asked, curious about Lizzie's friends from back home.
Lizzie smiled in fond remembrance, "Bunny Blanc and Alistair Wonderland."
"Related to the White Rabbit and Alice, right?" Darren guessed from the sounds of their names.
Lizzie nodded, "Correct. Oh, I wish you could meet them. I know you would get along so well."
Darren just grinned, already thinking of the two as new friends, "Lizzie, any friends of yours are friends of mine. So, what can you tell me about them?"
"Oh, well, Alistair has the heart of an adventurer. He's always eager to explore Wonderland's many mysteries and solve every riddle he can find," Lizzie explained. "He used to take us exploring all the time when we were children, though my mother would always scold us if she caught us entering any forbidden territory. Oh, and Bunny, sweet Bunny, is always so punctual. She always makes sure to come on time to any event."
"So, Alistair's basically an urban explorer and Bunny made sure you were never late," Darren summarised.
Lizzie nodded with a fond smile, her sad frown turned upside down, "Indeed and we went on so many adventures. I just hope that they're doing alright in Wonderland."
"If they're friends of yours, I'm sure they managed to survive despite the evil curse. Maybe they're on an adventure right now, trying to find a way to break the curse and save Wonderland."
Lizzie nodded, "We can only hope, Darren."
Enchanted Forest
Meanwhile, Rex and Ginger were on an expedition into the Enchanted Forest. Ginger just needed one last secret ingredient to impress Not-So-Little Jack Horner. With her entry into the cooking competition she needed Wonderland water. The only known source left was the Well of Wonder. The trouble was that the well would teleport someplace new every few minutes. Luckily, according to Maddie, their friend Lizzie had a special book which would tell them where it would appear. So after asking Lizzie about where to find it, the couple set out so Ginger could get the ingredients she needed to knock the judge's socks off.
"Wonderland water is supposed to be super magical. It should help me impress the judge," Ginger said.
"But do you really need it? You're already the best baker in Ever After High," Rex replied.
Ginger's cheeks pinkened at the honest compliment, "Thanks, Rex, but I need to be better than my best. This is important."
Rex nodded. He understood how important it was for Ginger to improve her skills. Maybe this Wonderland water could raise her to world-fame status. That would be happily ever awesome.
"OK, this is where Lizzie said the well is supposed to be," Ginger said as they approached the clearing that Lizzie had specified. Ginger even had a photo of the area on her phone just to be sure Pushing some brush aside, they found their quarry. "I present to you the...Well of Wonder?" Ginger trailed off when she saw the actual well. The well was indeed there, but also there were several Sheerghosts, clearing gorging themselves on the water, even dunking their heads inside to gulp up as much of it as they could.
"Oh, no," Rex groaned. "These pests again."
"They're eating all the wonder!" Ginger gasped, seeing the area grow somewhat duller as more of the Wonderland water was devoured by the monsters.
The Sheerghosts groaned before curling up on the ground. Their bodies shuddered before their backs burst open, allowing Raydragoons to emerge. For the most part they looked the same, but their wings took on a rainbow sheen as they took flight.
"This can't be good," Ginger gulped.
"No doubt," Rex took out his Advent Deck. "You stand back. I'll take care of this." Rex summoned his V-Buckle to transform. "Henshin!"
As Rex transformed, he held his hand up to the sky to conjure golden feathers that dropped down on the Raydragoons. They seemed harmless, even beautiful, but Ginger knew that in the middle of a fight, looks could be very deceiving.
The feathers touched the Raydragoons and exploded, going off as sparks erupted all over the monsters' bodies. They were stunned by the surprise attack which left them wide open for Odin's assault.
[Sword Vent!]
Odin stepped into the clearing with his Gold Saber and struck the Raydragoons. They tried to attack him but he teleported, evading them before slashing them from behind. It may seem dishonorable but these monsters did not deserve an honorable battle. They weren't knights or warriors. They were invasive monsters. They only deserved to be exterminated.
Odin showed no mercy as he struck the Raydragonns and sent them tumbling. Once he had them in a heap, he summoned his Gold Visor and inserted his Final Vent. Since the Raydragoons had just molted, their bodies weren't as tough as they could be, and Odin's surprise attack caught them flat-footed, making them easy prey.
[Final Vent!]
Goldphoenix appeared, its feathers shining radiantly as Odin spread his arms. His Contract Monster picked him up with its talons and they both dove at the Raydragoons, ramming straight into them.
As each Raydragoon exploded, they didn't erupt into fire, but a large cloud of rainbow-colored smoke. The smoke fell to the ground, bringing color and vibrancy back to the area. The well likewise seemed to fill to the brim again, looking none the worse for wear.
"Whew!" Ginger sighed in relief as she saw the wonder the monsters had eaten returned to the well. "Those monsters are some real pests sometimes."
"Agreed," Odin nodded, looking around to see if any more monsters were still hanging around. With how potent the water was, it would have attracted more monsters if they were nearby.
"But how did they manage to get to the well?" asked Ginger. "I mean, Lizzie said it only appears for a few minutes."
"It's likely those monsters were nearby and had a way here when it appeared," Odin frowned. Looking around, he spotted it. Some fairy crystals which were glistening in the sun up in a tree. No doubt formed when fairies took up residence at some point. "It appeared that these monsters got lucky with an open feast."
"I should get some of that water before the well vanishes," Ginger said as she stepped over to the well with a measuring cup. She put her hand on the well's rim when it started to sparkle. "Huh?"
"Ginger! Take your hand off the well!" Odin cried, running to his girlfriend. Sadly, it was too late as the well vanished and took Ginger with it. "GINGER!?" Odin ran to the space where the well stood, looking for a clue or sign here it may have gone. "Okay, don't panic. The well just moved again and Ginger got brought along with it." Odin tried to calm himself as he took out his MirrorPhone to call Ginger. "She couldn't have gone far." He put the phone to his ear as it rang and she answered. "Ginger, where are you? Are you OK?"
"I'm on a hill. I don't know where I am, exactly, but I can see the school from here."
Odin sighed with relief. Good, Ginger was safe. He turned on an App on his phone that allowed him to track Ginger's phone, giving him her location.
"Just stay where you are. I'll come get you." In a burst of golden feathers, he teleported.
Enchanted Forest - Hilltop
Ginger waited for Rex to come get her. That had been a little scary. She was just about to try and get her cup of water when the well began to sparkle. A flash of gold and she suddenly found herself someplace else entirely. She was a little confused, but she could still see the school and Rex was able to call her, so it didn't cause her to panic.
A flash of gold feathers announced his arrival. Quickly, he jogged to her side, checking her over, "Are you okay?"
"Just fine," Ginger smiled with some relief. Nothing helped ease her worries like having her knight in shining armor around.
"Good," Odin sighed in relief. "When you disappeared like that, I almost panicked."
"Aw, thank you Rex," Ginger beamed. Giving her armored boyfriend a hug, she turned her attention back to the well. "At least I should be able to get some water now," Ginger said as she went to scoop some up with her measuring cup, but the water suddenly receded out of her reach. "Huh?" The water level rose back up and she tried again only for it to recede deeper into the well. "What's going on here?" The level rose up and this time Ginger quickly leaned over the edge of the well to get some but she accidentally went in too deep and fell.
Odin gasped and he yelled, "Ginger!" He did not hesitate and dove into the well after her. Ginger was plummeting down the well and looked up to see Odin falling after her.
"Rex!" She reached out to him as he reached for her hand. He managed to catch her and wrap his arms protectively around her body. He tried to teleport but the well's magic was interfering with his power now that he was actually inside of it. It was simply too wild and chaotic for anything to work inside of it. Thinking quickly, he rotated their bodies so he would take the brunt of the fall.
The two hit a pool of rainbow water with a splash but it was not over yet as they were sucked into a whirlpool which pulled them into a pipe. The current carried the two of them. Ginger held her breath as she clung to Odin for dear life.
The two were finally expelled from the pipe as they fell out of the sky. The two screamed as Ginger screwed her eyes shut until they landed in a giant teacup. Groaning, the two sat up in the teacup that had broken their fall. The teacup they were in was attached to an old abandoned house that sat atop a tall hill. Beyond that was a wild and crazy land where the hills and fields made no sense and all sorts of wackiness just seemed to permeate the air.
"Ginger, are you alright?" Odin asked his girlfriend, sitting up with her cradled in his lap.
"I think so," Ginger answered as she fixed her glasses. "Yeah, I am."
Odin adjusted his position so he could see where they were, only to be at a loss to describe it all, "Where are we?"
Ginger looked at their, rather odd, surroundings. Finally, she looked at Odin, "I think we're in Wonderland."
Ever After High - Fairgrounds
Kitty Cheshire never took a break from her pranks, not even when she was having fun in the middle of Spring Fairest. Every day was a chance to get a laugh out of some prank she managed to play on someone. They never even saw it coming and it was always hilarious. Just earlier, she managed to hit Duchess with some ice cream on the swing carousel. Snapping a picture of Duchess' look with the ice cream on her face, she decided it was a perfect chance to brag to her mother.
Despite Wonderland being cut off from Ever After, Kitty was still able to contact her mom via magic. She would update her on any pranks she managed to pull at school. Drawing a smile in the air, she opened a small window to where her mother was found under Wonderland. At the moment, she seemed to be lounging on what looked like some kind of giant mushroom.
The Cheshire Cat was stylish and certainly gave the appearance of a cat. She wore a black ensemble with a furry top and silver jewels. She bore a distinct resemblance to her daughter Kitty, being her mother of course, and had her hair done in a ponytail with a ribbon giving the appearance of cat ears. She had a distinctly more cat-like feature than Kitty did.
"Hi, Mom!" Kitty announced, making Cheshire yawn and roll over to see her daughter. "Did I wake you?"
"Not at all," Chesire yawned, stretching. "It was just a catnap. How are you, my darling? Any good pranks to share with Mommy?"
"Check this out, Mom!" Kitty showed her the picture of Duchess' face covered in ice cream. "I threw ice cream in Duchess' face! Isn't that hilarious?"
The Cheshire Cat yawned and rolled her eyes, "Ice cream in the face, Kitty? That's so preschool. I thought I taught you better than that. You need to think bigger. A prank's only great when it catches a lot of people by surprise. Like that prank war you had with one of your classmates. Now that was impressive. Shame you can't do that again."
"But Mom, I-!" Kitty sputtered.
"Yes?" Cheshire glanced back at her daughter.
"I...I'll do better," Kitty mumbled.
"I know you will dear. You are a Cheshire after all," Cheshire encouraged her daughter. "Call me back when you pull a prank worth bragging about. I need to get back to my catnap. Love you, Kitty."
"Love you too. Bye Mom," Kitty sighed, ending the call. Now her good mood was ruined.
Kitty just wanted to make her mom proud but recently, the Cheshire Cat's feedback on her pranks seemed more critical than before. She did have a point, though. The pranks she pulled on Darren during their prank war had been genius but now it looked like she was sliding back to pranks that were too juvenile for her mother's standards. Kitty wanted to please her mom so much that she would do anything to make her proud.
Throwing ice cream in Duchess' face was too childish of a prank. Her mom was right. She needed to think bigger. Her eyes wandered over to the Fairest Wheel and a wicked grin split her face.
Wonderland
Alistair and Bunny followed the river to, their surprise, the Well of Wonder. It was the last existing passage between Wonderland and Ever After. With such a mystery, Alistair and Bunny didn't need any convincing to take the plunge, flowing through the magical water before it spilled them out into a massive underground cavern.
Officially, it was an underground system that connected Wonderland to Ever After, a complex and perhaps whimsical pattern that allowed wonder to travel from one world to the other. In practice, it almost looked like a sewer with rainbow water flowing from several tunnels.
After Allistair and Bunny splashed out of their initial entrance, both of them had to admire the scenery of a new place. Bunny had to gasp at it all, "Wow, I've never been under Wonderland before."
Nearby, the Cheshire Cat perked up from her catnap at the unexpected voices. Peeking over her napping spot, she spied the two teens before a mischievous smile came to her lips.
"Well, well, what do we have here? Curiouser and curiouser," she purred before she teleported herself to them. "What brings the two of you down here?"
"Oh, hi, Kitty's mom," Bunny waved nervously. She had good reason to be since everyone knew how chaotic things could be when the Cheshire Cat got involved. The fact her shadow was cast as a large cat just made it slightly creepy.
The Cheshire Cat just chuckled, somewhere between warmly and mischievously, "You know, not many people come down here. It's why I like it. It's a nice quiet place for a catnap. So, I wonder, what brings the two of you here?"
"We're going to Ever After to return the Storybook of Legends," Alistair answered.
"Oh, that sounds really naughty. The Queen certainly wouldn't want you going," the Cheshire Cat snickered.
"You won't tell her, will you?" Bunny asked.
"Oh, no. She already ordered her guards to take my head if they ever see me. No, I'm going to help you instead." The Cheshire Cat reassured them. "The way to Ever After is to follow the flow of Wonder. Two left, three rights, four lefts, five rights, and so on until you're there!" the Cheshire Cat instructed them. "Good luck." She teleported away.
"Wait, what?" both teens said in stereo.
Ever After High - Fairgrounds
With the excitement of the impromptu fashion show over with, the Fairest Five collected their friends and/or boyfriends and hit the fair to have some real fun. Briar, Harry, Holly, and Gabe climbed into a Fairest Wheel gondola together.
"I love a good Fairest Wheel," Briar smiled as she entered the gondola first.
"Briar, you love everything that excites you," Harry remarked, following her.
"Well, duh, these rides are fun!" Briar giggled.
"And because Briar, well, you know..." Holly pretended to snore and they all shared a laugh.
The Fairest Wheel was being operated by their school's troll, literally as he spun it with a crank. Despite his appearance, he was a nice creature who was willing to help. Once all the gondolas were filled, he spun the crank to get the ride going. Gently of course.
As he started to spin the Fairest Wheel, Kitty teleported on his shoulder with a pepper shaker in hand. She sprinkled a pile in her hand then blew it into his face. He breathed in the pepper which tickled his nose and he began to sneeze. This made the Fairest Wheel stop spinning and when he sneezed, he accidentally spun the ride in reverse at high speeds.
Everyone hung on for dear life as the Fairest Wheel spun out of control. Gabe clung onto Holly in fright as Harry held Briar protectively. Nearby, Brooke took a selfie with the Fairest Wheel going out of control behind her.
Kitty teleported away to watch the chaos when Raven marched up to her with Vivi in tow. It didn't take a detective to figure out who did it, especially since Kitty had been pulling pranks all day.
"Kitty, you need to stop pulling these pranks!" Raven yelled.
Kitty rolled her eyes and faced Raven. "Have you met me? Daughter of the Cheshire Cat," she pointed to herself. "Pranks are kind of my thing."
Raven frowned, "But you don't have to follow the same path as your mom. If you're a Rebel-"
Kitty scoffed, cutting Raven off, "Ugh, why does anyone have to be a Rebel or a Royal? I do what I want and I want to be like my mom."
"Really?" Raven asked, surprised.
"Of course. She's beautiful, and clever and creates more chaos than anyone in Ever After!" Kitty declared, clearly in admiration of her mother. " Someday I want to make her proud of me. Later." With a meow, she teleported away.
"My Queen, shall I punish the unruly feline?" Vivi offered as she conjured a sphere of water.
"No, Vivi. Come on, let's go find Arthur," Raven sighed.
The Fairest Wheel ride safely came to a stop after the school troll managed to stop his sneezing fit. Still, he would have to wait until the effects of the pepper Kitty used wore off, putting the fairest wheel out of commission. Everyone who had been on the ride stepped off safely, albeit feeling dizzy.
Gabe was throwing up inside a paper bag as Holly rubbed his back. She was still feeling a bit dizzy from the Fairest Wheel ride, but her boyfriend needed comforting.
"Are you alright, Gabriel?" asked Holly, trying to keep focused on Gabe despite her spinning vision.
"I think...I'm OK," Gabe groaned, looking a bit green before he promptly threw up again.
"What happened?" Harry wondered, trying to stay balanced on his feet.
"Two words: Kitty Cheshire," Briar said even if her vision was still spinning.
Wonderland - Underground
Alistair and Bunny had tried their best to follow the Cheshire Cat's directions. Sadly, they were pretty strange and hard to remember. Eventually, they found themselves right back where they began. She had sent them in circles
Of course, the Cheshire Cat planned that.
Appearing just above Alistair and Bunny, the Cheshire Cat wiggled her fingers before deftly opening Alistair's bag without either of them noticing. Pulling the Storybook of Legend out, she swiftly replaced it with a book that looked remarkably similar save for the green coloring in the middle of the cover.
Once the swap was made, the Cheshire Cat teleported in front of a larger brass pipe, "Oh, hello dears. Are you still lost?"
Alistair and Bunny jumped slightly when she suddenly appeared, but they managed to collect themselves.
Alistair answered, "We followed the directions you gave us, but we ended up right back here."
"Well then, why don't I lend you two a hand?" Cheshire Cat smiled and pressed a hidden switch in the pipe. The stairs under Alistair and Bunny immediately turned to a slide and sent them both sliding to the edge of a plateau looking over a large pool of wonder. "Say hello to Kitty for me." Cheshire Cat waved before she vanished once again.
Alistair and Bunny tried to stop themselves, but the slide was too slick. Both went sliding over the edge and dropped to the large pool of wonder. In a bid to save his friend, Alistair held Bunny tightly so to try and shield her from the impact. Bunny clung to him tightly, wondering if she should speak up before they...
They both crashed into the pool of wonder but barely felt a thing aside from getting wet. It didn't last long before they were sucked down by some kind of drain. It was one of many which sent them hurtling in numerous directions.
Finally, they were launched like a geyser from the Well of Wonder. Both cried out in shock before Alistair landed in a tree. Above him, Bunny turned to her bunny form, letting Alistair catch her.
"Whew," Alistair sighed, getting his bearings as he held Bunny close. "That was...amazing," he looked around and spied the castle-like structure of Ever After High. "But we did it! We're here!
Ever After High - Fairgrounds
"I love Spring Fairest," Apple said. "It brings out the best in everyone."
"And everyone is having so much fun. It's like they've forgotten about that war we had," Lance agreed. It was nice to just relax, breathe, and have fun without any of the tension that was bothering them.
"Let's hope it stays that way," Arthur cautioned. Victor and his Rogues would ruin the fair out of spite. Plenty of them had that kind of attitude, as shown from their disastrous White Dragon Assault.
"So, what will you be making for the Chef Showdown, Raven?" Apple asked her roommate as they made their way to the stage where the cooking contest was taking place.
Raven merely played coy, not wishing to give up the surprise of her dish, "Oh, it's a delicious surprise that will impress the spellebrity judge."
"Do you know who that might be?" Arthur asked.
"Not-So-Little Jack Horner," Vivi answered. "I heard Ms. Breadhouse mention it."
The group walked onto the stage and found that it was empty, with only Brooke, Kitty and Maddie filling the spectator seats. The Narrators' daughter wanted front row seats to the Spring Fairest's main event.
"Where is everyone? The Chef Showdown is the best part of Spring Fairest," Raven asked. "No one would want to miss it."
"We're here!" Briar called as she walked dizzily over with the rest of the Fairest Five and their boyfriends. Only Darren and Lizzie had not gotten on the Fairest Wheel, having been showing Brooke around before she decided to let the couple have some time together.
"Where have you guys been?" Apple asked as her friends came to the Chef Showdown.
"The Fairest Wheel broke," Gabe answered, glaring at Kitty who sat in the spectator seats with Maddie, enjoying an ice cream cone and cotton candy. She tried to look completely innocent, but not like she would deny an accusation either.
"We're looking at you, Kitty," Cerise pointed, missing Kitty entirely thanks to how dizzy she was. She had been sitting with Deacon when the Fairest Wheel went out of control. It totally ruined their moment together!
"What happened?" Lance asked, more than a little concerned for his brother and their friends.
"Oh, I'll tell you what happened," Harry answered. "Kitty decided to pull one of her pranks and sent the Fairest Wheel spinning out of control!"
"And she made poor Gabriel sick!" Holly added.
"Oh, come on!" Kitty laughed. She then teleported in front of the group, if only to see the results of her work up close. Their dizzy sprawling was just hilarious! "It was funny!"
"I don't think I'll be able to sit in another Fairest Wheel again!" Gabe exclaimed.
"See? He's traumatized!" Holly hugged Gabe to comfort him.
"Look, if you can't take a little joke-" Kitty suddenly paused when she saw someone she hadn't seen in a long time walking into the fairgrounds. "No way. Alistair?" She promptly dropped the conversation and teleported to meet the boy. To her utter delight, it really was the friend she left behind in Wonderland. "Alistair!"
All eyes turned to where Kitty suddenly went. They immediately noticed the boy she was running for. The other Wonderlandians quickly recognized him, starting to smile in delight. Maddie giggled wildly and cheered as she skipped on over, "Yay, yay, yay!"
"I don't believe it," Lizzie gasped in delight as she followed as well.
Alistair was immediately tackled by Maddie and Kitty while Brooke took a picture of the Wonderlandiful reunion.
"Maddie! Kitty! Lizzie!" Alistair smiled as he got up.
"Oh, Alistair. We've missed you," Lizzie smiled.
Alistair just beamed in delight, "Yeah, it's really been a long time."
"Uh, Maddie, who is this?" asked Raven, approaching the happy Wonderlandians with their friends.
"Everyone! Meet our good friend, Alistair Wonderland!" Maddie introduced as a crowd formed around the Wonderlandians. "None other than the son of the famous Alice." Gasps came from the onlookers as everyone knew who the famous Alice was.
"And is that?" Lizzie asked about the bunny that her friend was holding.
Alistair nodded, "Yep. It's Bunny."
Bunny hopped out of Alistair's arms and changed back to human form in a puff of magical smoke.
"And don't forget me," Bunny bowed. "Bunny Blanc, daughter of the White Rabbit."
"Oh! You're a girl! Sweet fairy fire!" Sparrow cheered from the crowd. He immediately approached Bunny and began strumming a tune to impress her. It served to make Bunny laugh, although Alistair quickly started to frown at the sight.
"Hey man, she's with me," Alistair frowned, stepping forward. Sparrow backed off, but then the son of Alice realized what he had said, "Uh, that is, she's right next to me! Beside me, yeah." Bunny blushed, but a smile as clear on her lips. Kitty, Maddie, and Lizzie all giggled, knowing that the pair had eyes for each other for a while.
"So, you're Alistair and Bunny," Darren smiled as he approached. "Lizzie's was just telling me about you guys. Nice to finally put faces on the names."
"So, you're friends with Lizzie?" Bunny asked.
"Oh, he's more than that," Lizzie smiled, hugging Darren's arm. "Alistair, Bunny, I'd like both of you to meet Darren Quinn. My boyfriend."
"Boyfriend!?" Alistair and Bunny gasped.
"Yeah, that's me! Darren H. Quinn, at your service!" He gave a two-fingered salute. "Grandson of Sir Dagonet, one of the Knights of the Round Table."
"The Knights of the Round Table?" Alistair blinked. "Wow, I only heard of you guys in stories. I thought you all disappeared from Ever After."
"Oh, well, you know, destiny called," Darren shrugged. "Actually, it was more like destiny kidnapped us. And it was shaped like a bus."
"Wow, Lizzie. A lot really has changed," Bunny remarked. Lizzie hadn't even shown a remote interest in having a boyfriend back in Wonderland. Although her mother's overprotectiveness may have had something to do with that. "I mean, if your mom was here, she'd explode if she found out you had a boyfriend."
"Indeed," Lizzie sighed. "How's she been?"
"Honestly, paranoid," Alistair answered. That was a polite and apt description. "The curse really has her on edge."
"Oh," Lizzie frowned.
"Hey, Lizzie, cheer up," Darren smiled. "Your mom's fine and two of your best friends came to visit all the way from Wonderland." He blinked. "Wait, how did you get here from Wonderland?"
"That is what I'd like to know as well," a gruff voice cut off the celebration. All eyes turned to the source to see Headmaster Milton arrive with his brother, a stern expression on his face.
"And here he is, Headmaster Killjoy," Darren muttered. Fortunately Milton hadn't heard him, focused entirely on Alistair and Bunny.
"You both are not supposed to be here," Milton said sternly. "All portals to Wonderland have been sealed."
"Except for that one portal that allows a little bit of wonder to flow into our world," Giles reminded.
"Oh, yes, indeed," Milton recalled, clearing his throat. "Wonderland was sealed off for a reason. We cannot risk the curse that infects it to come into our world. The worlds must remain separate."
"We're actually here to bring back something important," Alistair said as he opened up his backpack. "The Storybook of Legends." The crowd murmured when they heard this while Harry and Briar both looked worried. This did not go unnoticed by Lance as he observed his twin brother's reaction. Alistair handed the book to Milton who opened it. After a few minutes, his face grew stern
"This book...is a fake!" Milton exclaimed as he snapped the book shut.
Alistair and Bunny gasped with wide eyes, "What!?"
"I don't know what Wonderland shenanigans you're playing at, young man, but the Storybook of Legends is no laughing matter," Milton said crossly as he threw the book away.
"But we did find the Storybook of Legends. Why else would we be here?" Alistair insisted. The book was fake? How? He was sure it was the real thing!
"I believe him," Arthur interjected.
"Mr. Pendragon..." Milton stared as Arthur approached.
"I believe that Mr. Wonderland believes he found the Storybook of Legends. I mean, this isn't the first time anyone has been fooled by a fake, sir," Arthur continued. Milton winced, recalling how he himself had been fooled for years by a fake book. "Maybe he mistook the one he found for the real one and wanted to bring it back here. Let's all respect the fact that he risked his safety to bring it here, even if it turned out to be a fake."
"Yes, you're right," Milton relented, sharing a look with his brother. "Mr. Wonderland, Ms. Blanc, please enjoy the rest of the faire. We'll sort things out for you soon."
As the Headmasters left the new Wonderlandians alone, Alistair spoke up, "Thanks, dude."
"It's no problem. Arthur Pendragon, grandson of King Arthur," Arthur introduced himself.
"The King Arthur?" Alistair shook his hand. "Does that mean all the Knights of the Round Table are here?"
"Our whole court is here," Arthur confirmed. "We're the latest generation."
"Wow," Bunny gasped. "So now what?"
"Hey, you came all this way, why not hang out with us and your old friends and have some fun?" Darren suggested. "Be a shame not to."
"Oh yes!" Lizzie clapped her hands in delight. "Follow me! I'll show you everything our Spring Fairest has to offer!" She took Alistair and Bunny's hands before starting to drag them towards more of the fair's attractions, the others watching them go.
Hiding at the back of the crowd in the shadow of a stall, Valentine watched with a sad frown on his face. He had heard a commotion nearby about new Wonderlandians showing up and got closer to see who it might be. To his shock, his old friends were right there, appearing in Ever After despite the one way from Wonderland being a secret. His first instinct was to charge over there and hug them both, seeing them smiling and happy. After a moment, he let his shoulders droop and he stayed back. His friends didn't need to be reminded of one of their own who ran away and abandoned them when the Evil Queen's curse hit.
Wonderland
Ginger and Odin entered the strange house together. It looked like it used to be a tea shop or cafe of some kind. Of course, it was clearly abandoned as a lot of the shelves were empty, although it seemed like a number of things were left behind.
"Is anyone home?" Ginger asked.
"I don't think anyone's home, Ginger," Odin answered as he looked around the abandoned house. There were a stack of dirty plates still in the sink. "Whomever lived here, they left in a hurry."
"Rex, you can take off your armor," Ginger told him as they did not seem to be in any danger now.
"I can't do that. We're not in Ever After anymore and we have no idea what dangers exist in Wonderland. I need to keep you safe."
Ginger smiled and looked around. There was something familiar about this place like she had been here before. Not here in Wonderland, exactly, but in a building like this. Finding an old top hat on the front counter, she blew some dust off of it. The hat promptly wiggled and spouted wings before starting to fly around the room.
Ginger instantly realized where she had seen such a room before, "I think this is the Mad Hatter's old tea shoppe."
Odin pondered his surroundings, "Do you think he has a way back to Ever After tucked away here? He has doors to just about everywhere else in his current shop."
As if answering his request, a door magically appeared on the floor. As soon as it was done manifesting, it groaned as someone opened it, coming through.
"Get behind me, Ginger," Odin instructed as he summoned his Gold Visor and put himself in front of his girlfriend to shield her from danger. The door opened and a tall figure in white armor climbed up.
"That's the White Knight!" Ginger gasped. She remembered seeing him on Blondie's MirrorCast. He was an ally of the Knights of the Round Table. He only appeared rarely, and Gwen vouched for him, so he was generally accepted as a friend.
"Indeed," the White Knight confirmed. "Good tidings to you, fellow knight. I am surprised to find you here though."
"We are just as surprised to be here," Odin nodded but he was still wary. "What brings you here, White Knight?"
"Sir Odin, Lady Breadhouse, I've come with a dire warning," the White Knight said. "A crisis has befallen Ever After High."
"A crisis?" Ginger gasped.
"Tell us more," Odin frowned.
To Be Continued...
TFP: Well, at long last here's the start of Spring Fairest. The past months have not been fun and have helped suck energy and/or inspiration out of me. Still, with some free writing which turned back to this story, I got some of my inspiration back and decided to finally finish this chapter.
So now we see the start of the Spring Fairest, but also witness the Cheshire Cat plotting some mischief. What does she have in mind?
I also want to give a shoutout to a companion fic begin by my friend, Kamen Rider Chrome. It's called Knights of the Otherworld: Between the Lines. It's an anthology of the daily lives and antics of the Knights of the Round Table and their friends. If you're a fan of my story then I suggest you look it up since Chrome and I often share ideas and collaborate on several of its chapters.