Disclaimer: No copyright infringement intended. All I'm doing is mixing Stephenie Meyer and Lewis Carroll's characters in Tim Burton's world while adding a dark splash of my own imagination.
Chapter Two: Welcome to Wonderland
Alice looked around her,observing everything as she walked into Wonderland, realizing that it hadn't changed much. The vibrant forest was still replete with colorful flowers, roses, and mushrooms that surrounded the verdant trees. To the north, one could appreciate a large castle that loomed above the land, although she didn't remember having seen it before.
"That's interesting," she muttered to herself. "It doesn't look anything like the Queen of Heart's castle."
She'd have to investigate it later, though, since at that moment, the most important thing for her was reaching the Mad Hatter's home, so Alice headed in what she hoped was the right direction. As she walked deeper into the forest, between the tall mushrooms and trees, Alice came across a pair of twins that were dressed in matching outfits.
"Tweedledum and Tweedledee!" Alice exclaimed jovially, referring to the pudgy brothers.
The twins were rather uncomfortable with her casualness toward them, especially because they didn't recognize her.
"I'm sorry," began Tweedledee, "but, do we know you?"
Alice's face fell immediately. "You don't remember me?" she asked.
"I'm afraid not," Tweedledum replied. "We've never seen you in Wonderland before."
"But you have," Alice rebutted. "I came here when I was a child."
Tweedledee shook his head. "As a child? No, I don't recall that."
Alice frowned. "My name is Alice, so maybe that'll help you remember."
"Alice?" Tweedledum scowled. "The only Alice I remember was about this big," he said, motioning with his hand the approximate height Alice had been as a child.
"No," Tweedledee argued, holding his hand out higher. "She was about this big."
"No, she wasn't," Tweedledum countered.
"Yes, she was," Tweedledee disagreed.
Alice didn't bother correcting them or getting in the middle of their argument since she knew full well that there was no point in doing so. She simply grinned, saying, "That was me; I am that Alice."
"No, you're not," both boys said at the same time.
Alice sighed, shaking her head. "What can I do to convince you that I am that Alice?"
"Let's go with Absolem!" Tweedledum exclaimed, nodding. "He'll be able to tell us."
"What a great idea!" his twin agreed cheerfully. "Let's go with Absolem!"
Without any warning, each boy took a hold of one of Alice's hands, pulling her in different directions. "Right this way," they announced at the same time once again.
"If I do remember correctly," Alice interjected, pulling her hands toward her as if to lead them straight ahead, "Absolem lives in that direction."
"Oh, yes," Tweedledum accented. "That is correct."
"Let's go, then," Tweedledee said.
"Let's go," Alice agreed, smiling as she stepped forth and guided the amusing twins deeper into the forest.
As they walked to Absolem's abode, Alice continued to behold her surroundings. With the exception of the castle she'd seen when she arrived, nothing seemed to be out of the ordinary to her, although she had yet to explore more of the land. Just as she began to worry about whether or not she would have time to do so, she realized that they were close to their destination.
A large field covered in vibrant mushrooms lay ahead of them, indicating that Absolem would be right at its center. Walking a bit further in, Alice saw that she had been correct in her assessment, because there, on top of a large mushroom was the blue caterpillar, smoking its hookah as he'd had all those years ago when she'd first met him.
Spotting Alice immediately, Absolem exhaled a cloud of smoke from his lips, and greeted her in his usual monotone voice. "Well, well, well, look who has returned to Wonderland."
"You remember me," Alice cried.
Absolem nodded. "Of course I do, Alice. You haven't changed one bit since you were a child; I can see that without even taking off my monocle."
"That is such a relief because Tweedledee and Tweedledum didn't believe me when I said I was Alice," Alice chuckled.
"Oh, that doesn't amaze me one bit, considering that these stupid boys barely even know who they are," Absolem said dismissively.
"We are not stupid," Tweedledum argued. "I said that she was the same Alice."
"No; I did!" Tweedledee exclaimed.
Tweedledum shook his head. "Well, I said it first."
Absolem sighed, rolling his eyes, ignoring the pudgy twins. "So, what brings you here, Alice?"
Alice looked down, shifting her feet anxiously as she released her hands from the boys' grip before meeting Absolem's gaze once again. "I needed to get away from my world," she confessed, "but most importantly, I missed Wonderland as well as the friends I made here."
Taking a puff from his hookah, Absolem paused briefly before resuming their conversation. "I hope you realize that many things have changed here. The most important being the current war between the White and Red Queen."
"The White and Red Queen? Who are they?"Alice inquired.
"Isabelle of Marmoreal and Victoria of Crims, respectively," Absolem informed her. "They're the daughters of the late King and Queen Hearts."
Alice's face became somber at the news of their passing, and although she was curious to know how they'd died, she refrained from asking. "How long has this war existed?" she asked instead.
"Three years," Tweedledee and Tweedledum replied at the same time.
"That's when Victoria became of age, creating a conflict because they both wanted to reign Wonderland," Absolem added.
Frowning, Alice asked, "And why couldn't they do it together?"
Absolem looked at Alice as if he were in disbelief, baffled that she wouldn't figure out the answer on her own. "Their thirst for power has blinded them, child."
Feeling properly chastised by Absolem's simple gesture, Alice changed the subject. "Absolem," she began, "do you suppose that Mad Hatter is home right now?"
"Where else would Edward Hightopp be? He hasn't stopped having tea parties with both the March Hare and dormouse throughout all these years that you've been gone."
Alice smiled sheepishly, remembering with delight the time she'd attended one of Edward's tea parties. "I think I'll head over there, then," she told Absolem, "so I guess I'll see you at another time."
"Very well, then. Are these twin boys going to take you there?"
"I don't know," Alice replied, looking down at Tweedledum and Tweedledee. "Are you going to join me, boys?"
They both shook their head at the same time. "I'm going to go look for White Rabbit at the Red Queen's castle to tell him you have returned," said Tweedledee.
"And I'm going to look for Cheshire Cat to do the same," Tweedledum announced.
Seeming bored, Absolem continued to smoke his hookah, as the twins and Alice headed in different directions. Following an old pathway, Alice walked quickly to the clearing where she remembered the March Hare's house was, so it wasn't too long before Alice arrived. Once there, Alice stood by taking note of what her childhood friends were doing, realizing that not much had changed in respect to them.
Because there, underneath the tree that was next to the March Hare's house, were Edward Hightopp—the Mad Hatter—Mallymkun the dormouse and the March Hare drinking tea.