Five– Obstacles

There was ever soo much to do in Marmoreal.

Much more than there ever was back in Crims.

I sat outside on a long stone bench, leaning against a large twisted tree with a book in my lap.

I had managed to run my way through the hedge maze in less than twenty-five seconds, a new record according to a dove who had landed beside me a few moments ago and informed me of it.

The book was incredibly dreary but it was the only book in the library I had found about the history of Underland and so far there was nothing that would help me answer the question as to who this mystery girl was.

I knew I could not ask The Hatter or Mirana, they would just avoid the question- so I had been tediously trying to figure it out on my own for the last three days, but with still no luck I was beginning to get tired.

The tips of my fingers began to ache as I turned the page once more to reveal another plain white page with ounces and ounces of jet black writing that really made no sense.

I sighed light-heartedly and closed the book placing it down on the bench beside me.

I began to ponder as to why I even bothered.

"…Contrariwise I'd be ether either," said a childish voice from somewhere within the maze.

"How'd you work that?" asked an almost identical voice yet I was somehow sure they had come from two different people.

"Will you two ever agree!?" cried a stern, intellectual voice sounding almost fed-up with the other two.

Shrugging my shoulders, I stood up and dove into the hedges going along the pathway where I presumed the voices were coming from. I jogged down the long path, hearing the voices still over the hedges.

"Contrariwise will we ever stop disagreeing?"

"Yes, that's true."

"Yes very true."

"Will you ever stop!?"

"Contrariwise will we ever stop agreeing?"

"Yes that's true."

"Yes very true."

"Gahh!"

I turned one last corner and almost fell into three quite unusual characters.

Two small boys wearing matching overalls with two quite abnormal heads stood right in front of me, accompanied by a tall blue dodo bird in a waist coat with a single eyeglass over one eye.

"Oh begging your pardon ma'am," The Dodo said, pulling the small boys back and narrowly avoiding a collision.

"That is quite alright," I said, politely.

"Aye is that Arietta girl?" asked the chubby boy on the left, pointing at me.

"Why yes, yes I believe it is," said the second boy, nodding at the first boy before pointing at me also.

"Tweedles it is rude to point!" The Dodo snapped, hitting the small boys over the head with his wings.

I grinned slightly, feeling a tad dazed as to the fact that everyone seemed to be aware as to who I was, yet I knew barley anybody.

"I humbly apologize," The Dodo said, looking to me. "Allow me to introduce myself, I am The Dodo and this is Tweedledum and Tweedledee."

"Contrariwise he's Tweedledee and I'm Tweedledum," said the one I presumed was Tweedledum.

"Right, right," the other agreed, nodding at him before turning his gaze to me and causing both Tweedles to grin up at me.

"Well, I imagine there is no need to introduce myself as it appears you all know who I am," I stated, half hoping they would admit that they did not.

"Yes," they all said, in unison.

"Well we have all heard the tale that is," The Dodo added, taking off his eyeglass and clearing it on his coat.

Tale? Was I really this well known already?

"Yes we have," Tweedledum piped up. "It's being flung around the castle faster than The Hares' soup."

"Contrariwise The Hares' soup is being flung around the castle as fast as your tale!" the other Tweedle said, almost as if it were scripted out.

"Does she have a tail?" Tweedledum asked, looking to his brother.

"No, tale- like a story," Tweedledee corrected, plainly.

"Ohh," Tweedledum said, idiotically.

I laughed at the insolence of the brothers, they seemed soo mad. Suddenly something occurred to me. These three weren't the sanest of people; perhaps they could help me with my ponderings.

I cleared my throat and placed my hands behind my back.

"Tweedles. Dodo. I was considering as to how much the three of you knew about the history of Underland," I began, clearly. "And I was wondering if you knew anything about an ostensible heroine who has recently left these parts? I can plainly see she matters very much to everyone and I would love to know who she is."

The three of them fell silent, just as I had hoped they would not.

"Well?" I asked, impatiently.

They remained silent, one of the Tweedles kicking up some dirt with his shoes as both him and his brother placed their hands into their pockets. The Dodo took off his eyeglass again and cleared it with his coat before placing it back into his eye and a few seconds later repeating the process.

"Thank you greatly for your help," I huffed sarcastically, pushing past the three and walking away.

"Much like her mother ain't she," I heard one of the Tweedles say but I kept walking.

I re-traced my steps out of the hedge maze and ran back across the grounds to the castle, walking through the doors and inside. I stormed through the front hall and past the throne room, Mirana calling me as I passed but I ignored her.

I knew I should not be acting this way, but I was tired of being kept in the dark with everything. I was aware that some people around the castle may not trust me, Mallymkun was a prime example but out of everyone I was bemused that even The Hatter, of whom I had known since I was twelve did not trust me enough to tell me who she was.

I went up to my room and closed the door, walking over to one of my mirrors and collapsing down in front of it, looking up at myself.

I hated who I was.

Nobody trusted me, but honestly if I were anyone else- I wouldn't either.

I remained where I was for almost three hours, just looking up at myself into the mirror and wondering what could have been, but soon I got hungry and I realised I hadn't eaten dinner last night.

I stood up and against my desire left my room, wondering my way downstairs and into the dining hall.

It was very early in the morning and it did not really surprise me that the table was completely empty aside from the pure white vase that sat perfectly in the centre of the table.

Disgruntled, I wondered into the kitchen where I was immediately attacked by a soup bowl that luckily crashed onto the door just behind me.

"What in the blazes?" I asked, aloud and looking over to where the illicit flying soup had come from.

Behind the main counter was a short, scraggy looking Hare brandishing a wooden spoon in one hand and a long mallet looking tool in the other.

"You want something to eat!?" he demanded, hitting himself over the head with the mallet and making a quiet "oohh" sound. "Well, I got pepper, pepper and lots of PEPPER!"

The Hare picked up one of the small pepper shakers and began to run wildly around the room, shaking the pepper everywhere and covering patches of the floor ankle deep in pepper.

"Er… no I do not desire any pepper," I managed, making it to the main counter without being shrouded in pepper.

I sneezed slightly because of all the pepper in the air and the Hare immediately returned to standing behind the counter, looking right at me and placing the pepper back onto the table.

"Well what did you want? I can make yah some cereal-"

I reached across the counter and grabbed the Hare by his top, making sure he did not run away.

"No thank you," I hissed, quietly even though I was starving.

The Hare nodded and I released him, standing back up straight.

"I could-"

"Ah."

"But I-"

"Ah!"

"It'd be no-"

"Hare!" I said, sternly but grinning slightly.

"Yes ma'am," The Hare said, defeated.

"Thank you," I responded, elegantly. "So Mr Hare, what are you doing up soo late?"

The Hare began to quiver and grasp his ears as I sat up against the counter looking over to the quivering fool.

"I don't sleep yah see," The Hare rambled. "It's really hard what with me eye twitchin' all the time, yah see?"

The Hare waved his massive eyeball right into my face and I moved slightly back, mildly appalled by his bad breath.

"Yes, yes I do see," I spluttered, as The Hare moved back, still twitching. "So why are you in the kitchens and no-one else?"

The Hare rose one of his ears.

"Well cos I can cook yah see!?" The Hare cried, shoving one of his disgusting green-pea soups right under my nose.

It smelt like dead bird and twelve month rotten cheese mixed with a bit of vinegar and topped off by a hint of pepper.

"I bet you can," I stated, as he took the soup away and threw it onto the wall before dissolving into a fit of laughter.

All of a sudden an idea filled my mind- The Hare, he was a bumbling, mindless madman; perhaps he would tell me who 'she' is? After all he does not even know what he is saying half the time, he might even forget who I am after I leave.

"Hare," I began, but the Hare was still laughing mildly and hitting himself on the head with a ladle. "Thackery!"

The Hare paused and looked to me.

"Oh I am sorry, why did I just call you that?" I asked myself. "I do not even know if that is-"

"How did yah know ma name?" The Hare demanded. "I've never met ye before!?"

I began to quiver. Not even I knew how I knew his full name, it had just suddenly occurred to me. As well as the name of the Dodo, Uilleam. But how did I know this? How did I know anything? There was soo much of my life I did not know, and especially the bits of my life that I did know but how I know them I do not know!? Great, now I am going mad.

"Erm… The Hatter told me," I lied, quickly as The Hare raised the ladle above his head.

The Hare lowered his weapon and began to quiver once again.

"Hare?" I asked, quietly.

"What? Who's there?!" The Hare demanded looking around, seeming slightly paranoid.

I waved to the Hare, trying to remain calm at his craziness.

"Oh Alice, it is you! How glad I am ter see yah back!"

"Alice?" I stated, confused as The Hare began to make more soup.

I wondered around over to him and stood slightly behind him, my hands behind my back. "Er... yes, yes it is me, 'Alice-'"

"I know," The Hare cried, "I just said!"

The Hare kept working, but whilst he believed me to be this 'Alice' person and not 'Arietta' who I really was, it was probably a good idea to ask questions.

"Hare, do you know of any heroines that have recently left Underland?" I enquired, politely. "Someone who is dearly loved by many people here? Especially…by The Hatter?"

The Hare paused and turned to face me, scratching his ears.

"Nope, no idea!" he cried, turning back around and continuing with his cooking.

My heart sunk.

I had hoped I would have got somewhere with the Hares' craziness, but obviously I just was not devious enough.

"The last person ter leave Underland would be yerself," The Hare said, pouring even more soup.

"Yes, yes that is what I meant," I said, quickly as my heart pounded. "So… did The Hatter miss me?"

"Of course he missed yah!" The Hare cried, splashing soup everywhere. "You and The Hatter are like two peas in a soup filled pod!"

"So they're close?" I asked, leaning on the counter beside him. "I mean, we're close."

"You're like this!" The Hare cried, pressing his two paws together.

"Oh," I said, taken back. "Is that it? Well, thank you very much Hare. I best be off now."

I stood up and headed for the door, pausing in the doorway.

"Oh and Hare," I said. "Best not tell anyone I was here."

The Hare looked up at me.

"Who are ye?!" The Hare demanded; brandishing his soup covered ladle again. "What do yer want with me soup!?"

"Goodnight Hare," I stated, leaving the room just as a bowl of soup crashed against the wall right where I had been standing.

I returned to my room, a million thoughts in my mind.

The Hatter and this 'Alice'… two pees in a pod…they were like 'this!'

I got to my room and lay on my bed, considering over everything but by daybreak I had finally come up with a solution- I would tell The Hatter.

I bathed and changed into a nice blue dress, feeling the confidence build within me. It was weird how energetic one could be with only a few hours sleep.

I made my way down to the throne room where oddly enough everyone seemed to be.

"Hatter," I whispered, coming into the busy room and wondering over to him. "What is going on?"

"Oh good morning Ari!" The Hatter beamed, before leaning down to me and lowering his voice to a whisper. "The Rabbit has some terrible news to tell us all and we are all waiting to hear his verdict."

"Well I have some bad news for you also my dearest Hatter," I said, quietly. "I know about Alice. I know… I know that you were close and… I know she has left you."

The Hatter's eyes turned misty.

"You see, the thing you need to know about that," he spluttered, but was interrupted as the grand doors were pushed open and in bolted Nivens McTwisp the rabbit.

"Nivens?!" I cried, spying one of my old servants.

The rabbit reached the foot of the stairs leading to the throne and stopped, panting.

"Good day My Lady," The Rabbit said to me. "But I believe I have more important things to deal with at this very time."

I was mildly offended by the last comment, but obtained my composure as the rabbit continued.

"Your Majesty," The rabbit said to The Queen who was currently seated on the throne, The Tweedle brothers standing on one side and the Dodo on the other. "I have grave news from Crims. They are planning to attack Dementia and take the sacred Looking-Glass Mirror!"

There were various gasps in shock across the room, even from The Queen herself.

"What is the Looking-Glass Mirror?" I asked, feeling slightly foolish.

"It is the mirror that allows anyone who obtains it to enter Underland," The Dodo explained. "There are only two in existence, one placed in the world above and one hidden within the chambers of the birthplace of the two Queens, the ruined castle of Dementia."

I gazed up to my Aunt who looked quite distressed at this topic.

"They are trying to return my sister," she said, quietly.

"Contrariwise your sister is getting them to return her," Tweedledum said, causing everyone to glare at him.

I sighed quietly.

I had no idea what anybody was talking about anymore! Everything was just soo hectic, my head was spinning.

"Your Majesty," Mallymkun said, crawling up to the throne and sitting on her lap. "I suggest we take the mirror first! Claim it for Marmoreal so that the Red Queen shan't ever return!"

The Queen grinned at the mouse.

"That is very bold of you," she said, petting the mouse's head.

She looked up to continue, but paused- as if taking back what she has said before she even said it.

"You know what? Mallymkun is right," she stated. "Bayard, assemble the troops- we move to Castle Dementia as soon as godly possible."

The Bloodhound nodded, running out of the room barking at the top of his voice.

Around the room people were dashing everywhere, some preparing for battle and some preparing a good hiding place.

The Hatter turned to me.

"Oh dear! Oh dear!" he spluttered. "This is not good! This is definitely not good! Did I mention that this isn't good? Definitely not b-b-brilliant!"

"Hatter!" I cried, calming him down almost immediately. "What is going on?"

The Hatter looked deep into my eyes, concern flooding all over his painted face.

"Hatter," said Mirana from behind us.

We looked around to her, falling silent.

"We must leave immediately," she said, and The Hatter nodded.

Mirana's eyes turned to me and she frowned.

"You should remain here Ari," she insisted. "This will be hard enough for me to… just remain here please?"

I nodded, unsure why I was to stay behind but not wanting to disobey direct orders.

Mirana swept off and away, The Hatter turning back to me.

"Here eat this," he said, pulling out a cake from his pocket.

"Why?"

"Just eat!" he insisted, hastily.

I bit into the cake, which was soft and spongy and tasted rather good; when suddenly I found myself slowly shrinking.

"Hatter what is happening to me?!" I cried, until I had fallen out of my clothes and found myself wearing a completely different outfit and at a complete different size.

The Hatter picked me up and placed me in his hand, grinning down at me.

"Wow, you're really small!" he commented, childishly.

"Hatter!"

"Sorry," he said, hastily placing me into his pocket and dashing away.

Being soo small was a really odd feeling, especially knowing that you are ridding in the pocket of your best friend towards a place you have been forbidden to go.

It had almost been twenty minutes since The Hatter had placed me into his pocket, so I peered up and out of the pocket to see that we were marching towards a large grey castle which seemed as if it had been trodden over by a very large child.

"Hatter," I whispered, looking up to him.

He obviously heard me because he looked down and grinned.

"Why hello," he said, quietly. "I almost forgot you were there."

"What is this place?" I asked, impatiently.

The Hatter looked around before returning his gaze to me.

"Originally, there was only one Queen of Wonderland," The Hatter began. "And she and her husband The King lived here, in Castle Dementia. They had two daughters, Iracebeth and Mirana."

"So that means, my grandparents used to live here," I stated, looking over to the ruins of the castle. "What happened?"

"Iracebeth got greedy," The Hatter replied, his accent changing. "She wanted the castle for herself so she left and made her own castle, Crims. When they gave Mirana the crown and not her, she attacked the Castle with her good friend the Jabberwocky- who killed your grandparents and everyone else within the castle."

I looked to the castle, my vision going blurry with my tears.

My mother had murdered my grandparents… I did not even get to meet them.

"But Mirana survived," I said, looking to The Hatter, "So not everybody died."

"Ohh but part of her did die," The Hatter said, still in this odd accent. "Your mother succeeded in that."

I returned my gaze to the castle before falling back within the pocket, lifting my knees to my chest and leaning on them, silently crying.

"Hey, hey Ari," whispered The Hatter from outside the pocket, many minutes later.

I wiped my eyes and peered out of the pocket.

I must have been crying for a while because we were now inside the castle.

The room had half a wall missing and everything was destroyed, but there was still a large red chest sitting plainly in the centre of the room completely undamaged and with Mirana standing over it.

"This is the best bit, where we win," The Hatter whispered to me and we looked to Mirana.

The Dodo stood behind her, as well as the Tweedles and various guards spread throughout the room.

We watched as Mirana opened the chest and suddenly moved her hands to her mouth in shock.

"What is it?" The Hatter asked, walking forwards slightly and looking over.

Mirana looked over to us, tears in her eyes as she spoke.

"It's gone… the mirror… they took it," she stuttered.

I gasped silently, mirroring the actions of almost everyone else in the room.

"Oh dear," The Hatter said, the only person game enough to speak.

Hey all! :) I apologise again if this is getting too confusing or hectic but that kinda suits how Ari is feeling at the moment, like everything if moving way too fast for her and she can't catch up. Thank you again to everyone who has taken the time to read or review my story, it really means a lot to me and I hope you are still enjoying it and I promise there will be more action and more characters will return I future. If there is anything you don't understand please do send me a message or something and I will be glad to answer it for you, but there will also be more info on Dementia and the Queen's past in future chapters. Thanks everyone! MikiChik x