Disclaimer: All rights to American McGee's Alice...and the movie for names. All thoughts (evil of otherwise) are MINE. MWAHAHA
Chapter Three: Conflict
Razerious paced imperiously in the relatively large chamber, where the word "imperiously" here meant "trying not to stub his paws or claws on random metal shards while maintaining a proud, appropriate posture".
"As cliché as it sounds, you are all probably either wondering why I have woken you this morning or cursing me for spoiling your beauty sleep. ("Aye, aye," replied a half-asleep Molly, and Razerious scowled, which came quite naturally for him). Absolem has—ah—generously granted me a vision of sorts. More like, a dream, and he made it quite clear that before we even attempt to contact the Pale Royals for a full-scale invasion of Wonderland's capital, the Jabberwock must be eliminated.
"That…thing is much too detestable, not to mention powerful, to be left serving under the Red Queen so it'd be better for everyone's well-being if we succeeded in removing it this time round," he snarled, glancing sharply at Alice before returning his attention to the semi-attentive crowd. Clicking his beak impatiently, he searched for the fervour for battle, the hunger for righteous bloodshed that he'd felt, that he was feeling coursing through his veins…
He'd faced crowds before, and relished the experience, enjoyed the attention from Card Guards whenever his full rank was read out, along with the complete list of the medals and honours that he'd received for brave exploits on the field of battle—The Purple Spades, Triple Clubs, and the Iron Diamond. If the badge existed, High Aerial Commandant Razerious had it.
The Heart Royals were eccentric, even for Wonderlanders, but even though he wasn't the longest serving officer, he was the most skilful and most loyal, the one who'd won their full respect, and the instant fear of enemies when he ploughed through hostile lines like a fortified ice-breaker.
Thus he was on the frontline whenever a threat to Wonderland loomed, leading the Flying Assault Card Elites (FACEs) and decks to clear the perennial threats of bloodthirsty Bandersnatch or Jujub Bird packs, or ground strafe the occasional invading force of Red Pieces. Razerious' crack FACEs emerged victorious in every skirmish.
Of course, even he couldn't have accounted for the disasters descending upon Wonderland. Rooks, Knights and murderous birds he could handle with his eyes closed, but one could not triumph over nature gone berserk with military might alone. Razerious fretted as Wonderland was scourged, not just by freak firestorms but also pockets of uprisings and street fighting all over the land.
Suddenly each assault by wild Bandersnatch or Jujub bird was more organized, more effective, and they sought to claim territory rather than food in the form of Wonderlanders.
As if his forces were not having enough on their hands, Dark Arcane practitioners suddenly moved out in full force under a common banner to rebel against the Hearts' rule, in greater numbers than Wonderland's history had ever seen.
Sometimes being the highest ranking military commandant was tiring. But someone's gotta do a job, and so he'd lead his troops valiantly against the invading forces, battling the odds which tipped against them further each time.
"I've established contact with the gnomes, and they've pledged their undying support. Here I am pleased to say I have led a successful revolt against the Club Card Guards guarding the Village of the Doomed—with their help of course. Al—"
"The gnomes, you say? I've met their kind. Firstly the only help they'd be would be as an unruly mob of miniature fodder to be cut down by the callous blades of the Red Chessmen. Not insult their size, but gnomes aren't the types who make the enemy shudder in terror. Simply present them with an organized regiment of well-armed Card Guards and I'd bet my hat that they would drop their…pickaxes or whatever counts as weapons for them and scatter in an instant."
Razerious narrowed his eyes, glaring beadily at the speaker, who was twirling aforementioned hat nonchalantly. "Which part of "successful" did you not understand?" hissed the infuriated creature.
"False victory," corrected the Hatter. "Eventually the resulting gain may very well count for nothing when push comes to shove. Now," he continued, speaking to everyone else in general, "not that I'm crushing everybody's morale just for kicks, but we all need to see this."
The air buzzed, and the gathering glanced up at the hovering Crystal Eye flashing, it revealed a map of Wonderland. Specifically, two virtual real-time maps of the area around the Village of the Doomed and Looking Glass Land. Legions of Spade and Diamond Guards marched across rotting land, funnelling through narrow dirt paths leading to the Village. Companies of Red Chessmen rumbled slowly, threateningly, towards the pristine white structure that was Marmoreal, accompanied by a menacing vanguard of Royal Flush units.
Like the inevitable coup hadn't been enough. The Red Queen wasn't one to rest on her laurels, as would-be-rebels found out the very hard way. Within less than a fortnight, the Heart Guards were erased from the face of the realm, eliminating any chance of organised resistance under confirmed loyalists to the Hearts.
Razerious had never harder in his life. Or flew harder, at the urging of his remaining, desperate FACE troops while they died valiant deaths fighting off the innumerable Bishop sharpshooter units and heavy cannons stationed around Queensland.
He felt the pain of each Elite's demise, dropping around him like gnats in the face of the crimson blight that was driven by the relentlessness of Wonderland's new sovereign. But the former general understood the wisdom of self-preservation, especially for one as prolific as himself. For Wonderland and the Heart Republic he had a duty to keep living, and keep fighting back. To recruit as many from those who'd gone into hiding as his expertise and courage could muster. In war, purpose and skill could win all battles, or so he had thought.
He moved his wings uncomfortably, shifting from foot to foot on the stained, rusty, littered floor as he gazed unflinchingly at the disconcerting images obtained by the irrepressible Hatter. No doubt his technology was providing of use now, the same way it probably had helped Alice make it through the Land of Fire and Brimstone long enough to face the Jabberwock alive. (But it was I who saved her from certain death at the jaws of the Jabberwock! Me!)
In the end, it was the same genius…no, devil, who conceived the Queen's crack troops and cruelly assembled mindless fodder units. It was the Hatter who had strengthened the Red Queen's grip over every aspect of Wonderlanders' lives by melding her magical might and deviousness with cold, calculating steel and chips.
And, thanks to Mr. Hightopp, he, the most skilful, decorated general of the Hearts armed forces had to suffer the ignominy of incarceration. Not for a couple of hours, or a few days, but three bloody years.
He could hardly forget the fateful date. The date where he had assembled the most brave, savage beasts and birds of the land who were willing to participate in what he had assured them would be the revolutionary battle. The one that would ensure that all their names would be recorded for posterity in view of their outstanding contributions, when they succeeded in deposing Wonderland's greatest threat since the Spades' insurgence two decades ago.
As it turned out, Razerious was left with a lot of blood on his face and hands.
His very-recently-dead allies' blood.
No sooner had his feathered furred contingent appeared against the Wonderland sun, fully trained and equipped to outmanoeuvre the clumsy flying bishops, a company of flying card troops made of steel, each emblazoned with a single heart, moved out to stop them in their tracks. With speed that allowed the first assault unit of Royal Flush troops to fly circles around even himself, defeat was assured.
Waking up from the stun dart was the most embarrassing moment of his life. Trapped by all manner of contraptions more advanced than that found in Wonderland's highest priority prisons (which he had visited often to deliver executions.) And a muzzle, of all the indignities they could inflict.
He didn't care what Chessur said about the mind-control chip.
Razerious did not forgive.
And he never, ever, forgot.