It's been a while, has it not? Firstly, I'd like to thank the people that have reviewed my story so far: bookfanatic01, DarkAngel3993, PeersHitInMoscow, Mercedes Aria, Lady Greystoke, Celeste38, RoxyMoron, and Salsaxxx. You guys kept me going while I was writing. And to all my other readers: if you like something, please review!

Chapter 7: Trouble and a Tea Party

Mirana was troubled again. Of course, all of the trouble came from her sister. Ever since the King had died, Mirana had never had the same feelings she had had about Iracebeth. She had always thought Iracebeth had never really meant to be horrid or mean towards everyone; but perhaps now she really did mean it. Mirana frowned to herself as she sat on her bed. Perhaps it had to do with the size of her head?...

"Your Highness," a voice purred from the doorway.

"Chessur." Mirana let out a grin as the Cheshire cat floated in midair next to her. "Where have you been? It's been a while," she said as she scratched him behind his ears.

"I'm here because of a certain Hightopp," Chessur replied. "He sent me to ask you if you'd like to come to a tea party on the grounds of the castle. He says it may cheer you up."

"Tarrant?" Mirana smiled. "Of course I'll come! Let him know I'll be on my way immediately."

The cat grinned toothily and disappeared. Mirana went to her wardrobe and began to look for clothes to wear. As she searched through her clothing, she couldn't help but wonder something. Since she had turned sixteen not too long ago, many people had begun to look at her differently. One of them in particular was the knight-in-training, Illosovic Stayne. He had been in training to be a knight a short while after her father died. Iracebeth had urged the Queen to place him as a knight rather than a servant. Mirana chuckled, remembering how her sister had always stared at Stayne as though he were the most delicious tart on the table.

After putting on a light colored dress, Mirana walked down from her room to the castle grounds. She gasped when she saw the table set up for the tea party.

Several tables had been pushed together, and many different sets of teapots and teacups had been set out on the table. And seated at the chairs around the tables were all of her closest friends: Tarrant, Thackery, Nivens, Chessur, a Dodo bird, a Dormouse named Mallymkun, a hookah-smoking caterpillar named Absalom, a young bloodhound named Bayard, and two small plump twin boys named Tweedledee and Tweedledum. All of them had met Mirana when she had visited their villages each month to give each of their families baskets. She had become good friends with all of them, and confided her trust in them.

"You're a little late," Nivens said impatiently, checking his pocket watch.

"We'd thought you'd never show up!" added Thackery, who was absentmindedly buttering a napkin.

"She's not late, she's just on time!" Tarrant exclaimed. "Never mind them, they're just hungry. I told them we wouldn't start until you got here, and now you're here!"

Mirana smiled and took a seat between Tarrant and Mallymkun. Mallymkun was a feisty little Dormouse who had a rather stubborn temper. If she was ever mad, she'd take out her needle-like sword and slash the nearest mushroom apart with it. More than anything, she wanted to be a knight, but she knew it was impossible due to her size. Presently, she was sipping tea out of a tiny teacup.

Everyone began to talk of nothing in particular. Conversations differed from one thing to the next. Mirana sat back and quietly watched it all. The Tweedles were busily telling Nivens, the Dodo, and Bayard a story about a walrus, a carpenter, and some curious oysters. Chessur, Thackery, Tarrant, and Mallymkun were discussing Iracebeth's method of training the knights. Occasionally, Mally would throw a sugar cube if one of her friends weren't paying attention.

Absalom, however, was quietly smoking and looking off into the distance. Sometimes, he would think to himself about the most powerful scroll in all of Underland: his Oraculum. No one knew why the caterpillar truly smoked, but Absalom smoked because he could see visions of the future when he was smoking. Years ago, he had been smoking when he had seen glimpses of the future of Underland. Not wanting to let his visions go to waste, he had gotten a hold of the longest scroll he could find and written down all of his visions. Now, the only eyes to have seen it were his and the Queen's.

Suddenly, he received a sudden vision, but it was one that he had already drawn. Absalom knew that he had to remind the Queen-it concerned her. Bidding a smoky fairfarren, he departed to the castle.

"Why's he always have to smoke?" coughed Mallymkun. "Don't he know how it bothers us?"

"I'm sure he has his reasons," the Dodo said thoughtfully.

"If there wasn't a secret reason for it, he would tell us," Tweedledee said.

"Yes, but if there was a secret reason for it, he'd keep it too himself, because then it wouldn't be a secret," Tweedledum answered.

"True, true," everyone else replied.

Mirana now turned her attention to Tarrant, who'd been unusually quiet this time. She noticed that his curly ginger hair was, oddly, turning an even brighter shade of red, and that his skin was turning pale. Perhaps it was the effects of being a Hatter's son, she thought to herself. To undo his quietness, she decided to ask him a riddle. He loved riddles.

"Tarrant," she said, "What is the beginning of earth and the end of time?"

Tarrant thought for a moment; his eyes changed from green to blue and back. "The letter 'e'?" he said after a moment.

Mirana smiled. "Of course," she grinned.

Tarrant leaned forward and frowned. "Why is a raven like a writing desk? My father asked me the question last night and I have not yet figured it out. All I can think of are differences between the two. A raven has claws; a desk doesn't. A raven can fly; a desk doesn't. A raven has a beak and wings and feathers, and a desk doesn't, and-"

"Tarrant." Mirana noticed his eyes were changing to an odd yellow color, which only happened if he was angry.

Tarrant flushed. "I'm fine, Mirana. Just a little frusterated."

Mirana patted his arm reassuringly. "It'll come to you."

"Clean cup! Clean cup!" Thackery suddenly shouted. "We must move down and find a new cup!"

Everyone grumbled, but moved down a chair or two and found a new cup.

After talking of nonsensical subjects for a while, the sky began to grow dark, and everyone decided to go home. Everyone lived in the same general area of Underland, so they all went home together. Mirana made sure she said goodbye to each and every one. She sighed happily as she saw them walk off. Never have I met anyone with better friends, she thought as she made her way to the castle…

"Mirana."

Mirana turned around and saw Stayne walking towards her, drenched in sweat from training.

"Stayne?"

"I…just want you to know that… I think you are rather…lovely… much lovelier than your sister," Stayne whispered as he grabbed her hands.

"Wh-what?" Mirana stuttered, confused. Why was Stayne doing this?

"I… think… I am madly… in love with you," Stayne blurted out. And suddenly he pressed her up against the castle wall. "Kiss me," he whispered.

"N-n-no. I am afraid I can't. I don't think I love you the same way you do me," Mirana mumbled, scared. She ducked out of his grasp and ran towards the castle, leaving a sad and angry Stayne staring at a castle wall.

Mirana lay in bed that night troubled yet again. She didn't love Stayne at all, and it wasn't right at all for him to do that. What should she do? What could she do? Iracebeth would be angry if she found out, and she couldn't tell the Queen. The Queen had been acting rather sad lately, sadder than usual. Nothing could cheer her up at all. Mirana didn't want to trouble her anymore than she already was.

Sighing about all the confusion, Mirana rolled over and fell fast asleep.

A young blond girl wearing a blue dress stumbled through the woods. Mirana stared at her curiously. This girl was rather important; she was certain of it. But why?

The girl noticed her and came up to her. "Have you seen the rabbit? He's late for something?" she asked.

Mirana thought of Nivens; he was always concerned about the time. She tried to speak, but found she couldn't.

Suddenly, a shadow fell overhead. The girl stared curiously at it. Then all at once, screaming began. From everywhere in the forest, screams of terror and pain rang out.

The girl stared at Mirana. "You need help," she commented.

And Mirana jolted awake.

Was it a vision of the young Alice? Hmm… by the way, I am thinking about extending the chapters right up until the end of the movie, and ending right after Alice drinks the Jabberwocky blood. What do you think I should do? Review please if you like!