Frozen Battle
Even though the sun had set a few hours ago, Fauna and Snowy Heart could still see where they were going. Giant sprinkles on the ice cream slopes had started to glow as soon as the sun had disappeared. However they were encountering another problem. Fauna was beginning to tire, having gone through a few fights and multiple shape shifts. She also felt as if the strange magic of this world was draining her energy faster, as if she had to focus harder.
Snowy was not as tired but he noticed that polar bear Fauna was, "Fauna, if you're tired we can rest for a bit and carry on when you're ready."
She shook her head. "No...Swift Heart..."
"We barely survived the last battle with those bears. You will not be of much help to Swift Heart if you drop from exhaustion."
She lifted her lip in a last defiance before belly flopping into the ice cream. "Just give me 10 minutes, I'm not used to holding a strange shape for this long."
Snowy nodded and sat next to her in the frozen food that made up the terrain, "Don't worry, we will save Swift Heart," he inhaled, actually feeling better than he had before and smiling.
Fauna noticed his smile and scowled, "What are you so happy about."
"I am an arctic fox, my species thrives in cold climates," Snowy explained, "even up in Care-a-Lot things have always felt just too hot for me and I began to trim most of my fur short in order to keep from overheating but here, I feel comfortable in the cold and it has been a long time since I was in a winter climate for an extended period."
"Well that's just great. I'm so glad." She sneered at him then regretted it. "Sorry I'm being such a crab, I'm just tired and frustrated and want to go home."
Snowy placed a hand on her back, "I understand," he said. Snowy looked around, "this place is indeed strange, not just the terrain, but as I breath I can feel this ice cream winter seeping into me some how."
"It's seeping into me too." She stood and shook the melted ice cream that had sunk into her fur.
Snowy held up his arm to block the cream for hitting him, with little success, "are you rested?" he asked.
"Yup, let's move on." She started walking forward again, passing by a purple glowing sprinkle. As the two of them passed by the sprinkle, Snowy turned, thinking he sensed something, he turned and examined the sprinkle but the passed it off as nothing.
"Not very perceptive are you?" the voice came from where Snowy had thought he sensed something, he turned to see a man dressed in purple robes that made him look somewhat like a bishop from chess.
Fauna was facing the other direction but had stopped moving. "Wait, don't tell me, you are here to stop us."
"It seems like you're not completely clueless," the man said, "I am the official Wizard of Wonderland. I was imprisoned because I felt I could run this place better, but now with Dementiva's help, this place shall become as I envisioned it."
Snowy raised his left arm, forming his bow, "And you need Swift Heart for that?" he asked.
"We needed a white rabbit, but there's no point in telling you, because I'll be done with you soon," he raised his hand and formed a large spear of ice in it.
Fauna spun and raised herself up on her hind legs towering over the wizard. "Drop the spear before I drop you."
"Just try it!" the wizard flung the spear at Fauna. Snowy saw she couldn't dodge and fired his first arrow at the spear, which shattered when it struck. The Wizard cursed and threw a fireball at Snowy Heart. Roaring she knocked the Wizard in the back with her massive paw sending him face first into the ice cream. Pounding his fists into the ground he caused a column of ice cream to envelop Fauna. Snowy saw this but could do nothing to help Fauna, so he began shooting his arrows at the wizard while changing position to avoid getting hit. The Wizard responded in kind as Fireballs and arrows began flying back and forth. Unfortunately the wizard was more accurate and Snowy took a few hits staggering backwards. Penguin Fauna shot from the column and slid on her belly, knocking the wizard off his feet once more. Her sledding brought her next to Snowy.
"Are you all right?" Snowy asked, training his bow on where the Wizard had vanished beneath the layer of ice cream.
"I think I swallowed a gallon of that stuff but I'll live. You?"
"A bit singed, but I'll be fine once I locate that wizard," the wizard in question appeared behind them, having teleported when he hit the ground, he conjured a large stone that he raised to smash over Snowy Heart's head. Seeing the shadow Fauna squawked in alarm before staring him with her symbol. The bolt caused him to stumble back a few feet and drop the rock from his hands.
"I forgot you could do that," Snowy said, turning and aiming to shoot another arrow at the Wizard. Unfortunately the Wizard had recovered and threw a large ice ball at Snowy. Snowy's arrow made no effect and the fox was knocked back several feet and fell, where he lay, face up in the ice cream.
Fauna shifted into a tiger and stalked towards the Wizard. "You're gonna pay for that." She swiped at the Wizards legs, catching the fabric of his robe in her dagger sharp claws.
The Wizard winced and created a staff made of fire that he swiped at tiger Fauna, attempting to scorch her with the heat, "And you'll pay for interfering!" he said.
She hissed swiping at the staff and backing up. "What's the matter kitty, can't stand the heat?"
As he laughed she shifted into a t-rex. His face drained of color as she roared at him, putting out the flaming staff. Using her tail she lifted Snowy out of the ice cream. "Come on Fantastical Heart Fox. Wake up!"
Snowy stirred, "Nice form, Fauna," he said, lifting his head, "but can you do something for me?"
"Yeah name it."
"Put me down and keep him busy for just a minute more, I think I can stop him without killing him," he said, "then we can get whatever information we need from him." Rather then responding she yanked her tail out from under him, plummeting him into the ice cream once more. Looking once more at the Wizard she charged him.
The Wizard had recovered from his shock and merely froze the ice cream into a solid slick form in Fauna's path, sidestepping as Fauna slid past him, "the bigger they are the harder they shall fall!" he sneered.
Crashing to the frozen solid ground she shrunk her form down to a Great Horned owl and took flight. The Wizard shielded his face from Fauna's talons and beak. "Get away from me you blasted thing!"
While all this was going on, Snowy was concentrating. "This cold, it should pierce me but, in this world it seems to strengthen me," the pentacle on his wrist raised and began to glow, "if I can feel this power, I must figure out hot to use it," his bow formed but it didn't stop there, two four lines sprouted from the rough center of the bow turning it into roughly an asterisk shape.
The wizard was having enough of the owl and began to shoot out fire in a stream, trying to burn Fauna alive. Feeling the fire scorch her wing Fauna screeched in pain and landed on the ground. Turning human she gripped her burnt arm and staggered to her feet.
"Now you die!" the wizard formed a massive fireball, intending to roast Fauna.
Snowy opened his eyes and viewed his new bow, the six lines were now connected by an artistically intricate series of lines and shapes, appearing very much like a snowflake. Seeing Fauna in danger he drew back an arrow on three bowstrings all connected at the middle.
"Feel the breath of winter," he said, letting the arrow fly. The arrow struck the Wizard's raised hand, but instead of damaging it, it froze solid in a block of ice. The Wizard was stunned as his fireball dissipated with no effect and he lowered his hand to stare at the now frozen appendage.
Fauna looked over at Snowy and smirked, "Now that's cool."
Snowy smiled, actually pulling back three arrows at once, "not just cool, solid," he let the arrows fly as the wizard turned to try attacking him, but all three arrows hit their marks, freezing his other hand and both his feet, rooting him tot he spot. Snowy fired several more arrows until the wizard was completely frozen, except for his head. Snowy approached him with his new bow at his side, and grinned, looking to Fauna for what to do next.
Fauna stood in front of him hands on her hips. "Now that we have your attention, you are going to tell us how to get into the castle to rescue our friend."
"And why should I tell you that!" the Wizard was no less arrogant, despite his predicament.
"Because, Fauna here has plenty of experience and more than enough way to make you wish you were dead without killing you," Snowy said, wondering just by how much he was exaggerating.
Pulling her lip back, she showed off a set of hinged fangs that dropped down from the roof of her mouth. Light green venom glistened from their tips. The Wizard began to sweat despite the cold. "You can go through the back door. It's behind the bush shaped like a spade. It's always unlocked."
Fauna got real close to his face, "How do I know you are telling the truth?" She flicked out a forked tongue to lick his nose.
"I swear, that's the best way in." She looked to Snowy for further instruction.
"We will believe you, but we cannot leave you to attempt to warn them of our approach," suddenly Snowy whipped up his bow and fired one more arrow, freezing the Wizard completely, "he's still alive, but he will likely never thaw out, unless someone finds him and from what he said, no one will want to free him." He looked to Fauna, gauging her reaction.
Casually she reached out her arm and pushed the frozen Wizard over. He plummeted deep into the ice cream. "Oh dear, I'm such a klutz. Now no one will find him."
Snowy couldn't help but smile, "For once, I agree with you, I do not think he should be allowed to be found. Now we should continue, or do you want to try and find some shelter so you can rest?"
"I want to get out of this frozen dessert nonsense before I rest." Wrapping her arms around herself she continued her trek to the edge of the ice cream.
Snowy let his bow dissipate and jogged to keep up with Fauna, he placed his hand on her shoulder, "I didn't know you could shapeshift pieces of yourself and not just your whole body," he said, "did you just learn that?"
"Yeah. That day in the cell with...never mind." She wasn't sure if Snowy had heard about the untimely end of the poachers or not.
"Ah," Snowy nodded, everyone in the family had heard of Fauna's rampage against the poachers, "so was it something you figured out on your own?"
"Yeah. Kinda like when I gave Blue the ability to shift, it was an accident that turned out to be quite useful. But it looks like I'm not the only one who learned something in the spur of the moment. How did you know the cold was going to do, whatever it is it did to you."
"I'm not sure," Snowy said, looking at the pentacle on his wrist, "it probably has something to do with the nature of Wonderland messing with my powers. That and the fact that I am a creature of the cold after all may have had something to do with it. I could feel the cold through me and I was able to transfer it into my Quincy arrows."
"That's rather convenient."
"It is, this place does appear to react to people's thoughts," he looked at Fauna, "are you cold?" he asked.
She nodded, "Freezing...But I can't hold a Polar Bear shape right now." She showed him her burnt arm, "I can't rest any weight on it without it hurting."
Snowy nodded and removed the outer portion of his clothing, leaving him in just the pants he had been wearing on the trip down, "Here, you can wear this. It's warmer than it looks and my fur can stand the cold better."
She took it with a grin of thanks and slipped it over her shoulders, sighing as she felt warmer already. "I really hope we are almost out of here." Snowy nodded and they continued on. Eventually as they walked they found the weather getting warmer and the ice cream under their feet getting shallower.
The sun was rising over the ice cream peaks, allowing Fauna to shed Snowy's shirt. With it she also returned to her normal form, having used up all her energy to retain a shape. She limped along in her human form happy to be in a warmer place. That's when she spotted the table and assortment of chairs off in the distance. "Hey Snowy, do you see that?"
Snowy took his robes back and stared, "A picnic table, out here?" he asked in confusion, "maybe we should see who it is," he suggested.
Walking up to the table they saw a strung out hare throwing tea cups at a little white mouse and a tall crazy looking red head in a large top hat. The man threw up his hands when he spotted Fauna and Snowy, "Hold on a minute, it appears we have guests." He grinned, showing a slight gap in his teeth that explained his lisp. His acid green eyes flickered over the two strangers.
Snowy Heart and Fauna exchanged looks and Snowy introduced himself, "Hello, my name is Snowy Heart Fox, who might you three be?"
"Oh of course how rude of us, I am Tarrant Hightop, commonly called Hatter and this raga-vagabond hogging the sugar is the March Hare." He laughed maniacally and pulled on his ears. "Oh and of course this is Molly, the Doormouse."
She glared up at them, unsheathing her small sword. "Why are you blathering to them Hatter, they could be her spies."
"Her?" Snowy asked, "You mean Dementiva? The woman who has captured our friend? I can assure you we do not work for her."
"Oh no! Ye spoke her name! How could...fork." The hare was distracted by the fork on his napkin.
The Hatter got up from his chair and strode over to them, "That evil woman means nothing but harm for Wonderland. And we will do whatever it takes to stop her." His voice had dropped dangerously low and he had adopted a Scottish drawl. Fauna yawned unexpectedly, drawing the Hatters attention to her.
"Oh you poor thing, you're exhausted. Come sit sit sit and have some breakfast." Tugging on her mane he attempted to lead her to a seat.
"Do I look like I can sit in a seat right now! I'm a freakin Pegasus!" The Hatter shook off her sass and held out to her a bottle of green and yellow swirling liquid.
"Drink this." He shoved it in her mouth, forcing her to drink it. She felt her body shift till she was human again. "There so much better yes?" He pushed her into a seat. Fauna looked at him mouth agape.
Snowy blinked, "After all the strange things that have happened, you think I would cease being surprised," he attempted to take a seat, looking to the others to see if he could.
"Not there! That's for the jam!" The hare placed the jar of jam on the seat.
Snowy sighed and decided to sit on the ground. The man and the hare were clearly insane, the hare in particular, but they were friendly and despite her more aggressive posture, the little mouse seemed friendly and sane enough. Snowy looked at Molly the Doormouse and asked, "So how long has Dementiva been here?" he asked.
"About three months now. She came in and it's been chaos ever since." Fauna was still examining her hands and arms as the Hatter spread some butter on a biscuit for her.
"And the poor White Queen was so taken aback that she hasn't been able to fix things. How much sugar in your tea dear?" He grinned at Fauna.
"Umm 2?"
Snowy Heart looked around, noticing how peaceful the place was, well relative to any other place they'd run into.
"You three are certainly the nicest people we've run into in Wonderland, sadly that is not saying much, those two strange bears and the Wizard weren't exactly friendly."
The Hatter stopped dropping sugar cubes into Fauna's tea cup and looked at Snowy. "Ye've tangled with them and walked away from it unscathed?"
"We left the Wizard on ice, quite literally," Snowy explained, "and as for the other two... We came here with three friends, a blue dog named Loyal Heart, a blue bear named Grumpy Bear, and a silver and blue wolverine named Valiant Heart, but we were separated by some large birds."
"Oy you don't mean the Jub-Jub birds?" Fauna finally stopped examining herself and turned to Molly.
"Large vultures with checkered feathers?"
The mouse nodded, "That's them. The fact they found you means the Red Queen knows you're here."
"That's a problem," Snowy said, "you mentioned a White Queen, who is she?"
"She is the White Queen of course!" The March Hare laughed at himself, thinking his comment was quite clever.
Hatter looked down the table at him with a look of disdain. "She is the younger sister of the Red Queen and is everything the Red Queen is not."
"Then we may have allies, in addition to yourselves," he looked at Molly, "are you a capable warrior?" he asked.
"More capable then you are." She drew her sword and slashed the air around her.
Fauna rolled her eyes and tapped her fingers on the table, "What is this superiority complex all small things have?"
The mouse glowered at her. "Say that too my face."
But before she could retort the Hatter interjected again, "Ladies ladies, please. Let's not ruin a perfectly good tea with silly squabbling."
"May I have a drink?" Snowy asked.
"But you already have one." He flicked his wrist and instantly the cup in front of Snowy was filled with tea.
Snowy smiled, "Thank you," he said before taking a drink.
The Mad Hatter cocked his head to the side, "I've been considering things with the letter J. Joyous, jovial, jealous, jaded...jumpy." He over extended his arm and grabbed a pink frosted cake off a tray.
Fauna stared at the Hatter as he retracted his arm. Rather then drink her tea, she pushed it away, afraid it would cause her to act like the tea party patrons. "Any chance you can tell us the way to the White Queen? We don't have time to dally."
He smiled his gap toothed smile at her, "Of course dear. She lives beyond the checker board, in that direction." He pointed behind him.
"Thank you," Snowy said, standing up and placing the now empty teacup on the table, "Fauna, do you want to rest a while longer or should we leave now?"
"Nope, I'm good. Whatever was in that potion he gave me did the trick."
About to tell her what was in it she held up her hands, "No no Hatter. That's ok. We'll leave that one a mystery." She laughed a little and got up from the table.
"You sure you wouldn't like some tea to go?" The Hatter proceeded to pour tea into a paper bag.
"No thanks." Fauna shook her head, trying to keep from laughing. For all his kookiness the Hatter seemed to be a good guy.
"Thank you for your hospitality," Snowy said as they turned to leave, "I hope we meet again before we leave Wonderland."