Going on with chapter six, drama starts here!

TW: This chapter is trigger free!

ღ ღ ღ

Chapter 6 –Frabjous Day

The sunrise warming up her face was what Teana woke up to in the morning: despite the trouble she had had with falling asleep and her outburst, she had rested quite well. She squeezed her eyes shut as she moved to stretch and roll onto her other side to give her back to the window, that's when she felt a weight on her: Tarrant was laying on his stomach, snoring quietly with his face half buried in the pillow, one arm laying limp on her middle.

It was the most familiar scene she had lived in a while. Twin births were to be expected in the Hightopp clan, but they could not be predicted: the bedroom, already occupied by their older brother Ernan, turned out to be a little too small for three, so their beds had been pinned together to save space. It had to be temporary, but their mother soon found out that that disposition was the only way to put them to sleep successfully: they found comfort in each other, sensed the other's feelings and needs even before they could voice them, they felt safe and serene when they were close.

Where had all that gone? Why did it have to fade?

Will it ever be the same again?

Seeing her brother asleep by her side again seemed so touchingly unreal to her, but as much as she would have loved that moment to last longer, it was the Frabjous Day and it was time to get going. She pressed a hand on his back and nudged Tarrant gently, trying to shake him awake. All she obtained in response, was a muffled groan. So, she sneaked a hand to his face and delicately pinched his nose closed instead. That did the trick, as he awoke with a start and the urgent need to take a deep breath: "Always works".

The Hatter swallowed an insult for his newly found sister and pushed her hand away with a hoarse: "Get aff!".

Teana gave a short laugh and moved to get on her feet: "Get up, Tarrant, I'm going to need your help with my dress soon", and off she was. She collected everything she had been given the previous day to wear and headed to the bathroom to prepare, closing the door carefully behind her.

ღ ღ ღ

Later that morning, as instructed the previous evening, the twins made their way out of the castle to join all their companions in the courtyard in front of the main entrance: they walked in silence, side by side, their pace unconsciously synchronized.

They melted into the crowd gathered at the bottom of the stairs: it was mainly composed by courtesans but they could spot Mallymkun and Thackery in the front row, Bayard trotting towards them from the opposite side of the gardens and McTwisp already standing at the top of the stairs, anxiously wriggling his paws, with his trumpet under his arm. The last to arrive were the Tweedles, each equipped with a wooden sword: Dum had it leaned on his shoulder and was marching rather proudly, while Dee looked exactly like he had just woken up, his weapon scraping the floor as he dragged himself behind his brother, yawning.

"Well, don't we all look absolutely radiant?", said a smooth voice coming from above Teana's head.

The Mad Hatter snarled: "Chess…"

"Good morning to you too, Tarrant", Chessur said as his head appeared out of thin air.

"It ain't a 'good morning' when ye start aff like that!", Mally exclaimed.

Assuming that his current mood was too much for anybody to handle, Chessur rolled his eyes and his head to vanish once again.

Soon after, the White Queen and Alice finally showed up from the top of the stairs; McTwisp perked up at the sight and hopped hurriedly at their feet. The three talked together for a few minutes, but they were too far away for any present to hear what they said, and this had the crowd murmur.

"Tarrant?", asked Teana, without shifting her eyes from the interaction having place in front of her.

"Mmh?", the Hatter hummed; he also didn't look away from the scene.

"What now?"

He answered after a long inhale: "The Champion will be chosen."

Teana finally looked at him wide eyed: "Chosen?! What about her?", she asked tilting her head towards the trio.

"Alice…", he began, as if his sister's use of a pronoun to refer to the girl had offended him "…is not ready, yet."

Teana was in total disbelief, but her reaction to the news had to be postponed, because right then McTwisp blew his trumpet to get everyone's attention: "Who will step forth to be Champion for the White Queen?".

The Hatter moved at her side, muttering a pardon to the people who circled them as he made his way in front of everyone: "That would be I!", he said, a smile on his lips and an index raised in the air. She was left there, astonished beyond comprehension, hid by the white dressed courtesans.

"You have very poor evaporating skills", said Chess, as he reappeared near the Hatter's shoulder: "I should be the one!".

"I, Queen!", came from Mally and, in the end, even the Tweedles volunteered, showing off their wooden weapons.

What the hell is going on?

The Queen looked at all those who had offered themselves to the cause, gracing them with a thankful smile. Then, she waved lightly to McTwisp, who turned to get a parchment that he had placed behind him: as he threw it down the stairs to unroll it, Teana realized it was the Oracolum. She too stepped forward next to the others to see what the compendium had to show, as she had never seen it before. Teana looked at the inky pictures as they seemed to flow on the old looking paper and contemplated the one that everyone was pointing at: the Jabberwocky in all its terrifying presence in front of a wavy-haired girl in armour, the Vorpal Sword raised and ready to slay the beast.

She was still studying the picture when the Twiddles spoke, so she lost the beginning of their speech, but she could get the ending, in which they said what everybody already knew, but had been too stubborn to admit: "If it ain't Alice… it ain't dead.".

She saw the White Queen lose control over her impeccable façade, widen her eyes, and shake her index to the twins, every action screamed 'No, don't say that in front of her'. Meanwhile Alice had gone pale, her chest raising and falling visibly faster than normal, the Monarch calling her momentarily shook her: "You don't live to please others, the choice must be yours. Because when you'll step out to face that creature…", she paused, for a moment everybody thought she would have ended the speech mid-phrase, but then she concluded with a grave tone: "…you'll step out alone".

That obviously didn't calm Alice in any way, in fact, she started to back away, her eyes shifting among the people she had in front until she turned sharply and ran away. Everyone was left speechless, but only a few were surprised: apparently almost everybody knew what turn this morning would have taken, except for Teana, who was getting more bewildered by the situation by every passing minute. Great, havoc is upon us.

Some of the courtesans had started whispering among them, the White Queen took a while to regain her composure, but in the end, she herself spoke to the crowd: "My people, it is clear that The Alice has rejected her role as my Champion. Therefore, I am compelled to choose among the volunteers the best candidate to substitute her.", She lowered her gaze to the front row to look at the members of the Resistance. She saw the Cheshire Cat disappear in a puff of smoke, but she didn't flinch, her eyes already knowing where to stop: "Tarrant Hightopp, step forth". The Hatter stepped in front of the Queen, took off his hat and bowed his head as a sign of respect as she continued "Will you fight as my Champion on this Frabjous Day against the Red Queen's Jabberwocky, to free Underland from her tyranny and bring the crown of this reign where it belongs?"

"I will be honoured, your Majesty".

"Excellent", she said, relieved "It is settled. It's about time we prepare for the battle".

The Hatter turned towards his friends as he placed his hat back on his head as the crowd applauded, Mally was clapping and Thackrey jumping up and down while yelling, Chess reappeared with his big smile… everyone was cheering to the new Champion, everyone but one person. Teana's heart had sunk the moment her brother's name had exited the White Queen's lips: she knew the Oracolum couldn't be deceived, if it wasn't Alice fighting the Jabberwocky, the beast would have won and Underland whole would have rightfully gone to the Red Queen. And Tarrant would have been killed. And she would be left as the last of Hightopp Clan. For who knows how much, knowing the Knave would have probably looked for revenge.

She felt her eyes burn with rage as she thought that all their work was all going to rot away, after all the pain, the tears, the strength, the hard choices, and the dangers they had faced. All because of a child who still thought this was all pretend. Now, all those lives weighted on Tarrant's shoulders: and he could not win.

ღ ღ ღ

Mr. Edwards was the Head Groom at Marmoreal Royal Stables, a tall and thin middle-aged man, with ice blue eyes, grey hair, no beard, who limped a little. He had personally taken care of Daredevil when the suffering horse had arrived at the Castle, and with no little difficulty. Teana had been listening to him talking for half an hour straight about how he and other four grooms managed to pin him to attend his wounds, all while she paced around her horse verifying that they had actually done a good job: no more blood in sight, a few stitches needed and gauzes around his legs, they had even put leg wraps on to prevent him from scratching them off as much as possible. He would have been out for some time and certainly not available for that day, but he had been fed, had water at his disposal and someone would have occasionally come to check on him.

Mr. Edwards had assigned her another steed to ride during the battle, a muscular white horse named Orlov: "Loyal and obedient, fiery, yes, but fearless", he had assured.

"Just my type…", she had agreed, stroking its immaculate head.

After a while, Orlov was clean and tacked appropriately for the mission, while Teana had been given a full light armour, obviously white in colour, and a sword too. She was fixing her gloves when she was startled by a voice that said: "I was looking for you". She had been so wrapped up in her own thoughts that she felt like Tarrant had appeared out of thin air: he was wearing a blue jacket over a dark red waistcoat, his traditional kilt, his signature hat, and a pair of laced shoes. Although he had opted for a rather classic attire for his usual taste, he hadn't given up those extravagant details that made him so… him: a ridiculously big bow tie, mismatched socks, ribbons, a bright pink handkerchief that peaked out of his pockets and a line of bobbins hung on the front of his jacket from his left shoulder to his right hip. In his hand he held a black-hilted sword.

"Are those colourful threads anti-stabs?".

"You ran away from the ceremony.", He said, ignoring her comment and taking a step forward.

At that point she could barely contain her indignation: "No, I took my distance: you know, auctions are not really my cup of tea", she said sarcastically.

He looked to the side and sighed, probably already sensing where the conversation would lead.

Teana went on, eyes already taking an orange tint: "'Who wants to be the Champion? We have a speaking dormouse! Who will bid more? Interesting, a smiling cat- whoops! It's gone!'"

"I know what you mean…"

"Oh, you do? What was that Tarrant? How is it that Underland's fate is given in the hands of the first that offers themselves, with little to no care about what the Oracolum shows?", she asked harshly.

All the answer she got was silence from him.

Teana dropped her hands on her hips and sighed. She decided to go for a calmer tone, hoping he would open more easily: "Tarrant, I need you to talk to me: you know better than me that nobody can defeat the Jabberwocky but Alice… why did you volunteer in her place?".

If his expression had been rather soft when he had entered the stables, now he wore a very serious look: "I know she is the Right Alice: the White Queen is meant to have her as a Champion, and I trust she will change her mind, sooner or later".

Teana's eyes narrowed, but she struggled to maintain her newly regained composure, even in her rage: "Trust? She does not even think this is real, Tarrant. She does not believe that you are real.", she stated, pointing a finger at his chest "And she has not trusted anyone who had tried to tell her otherwise. How do you think she'll take this decision?", she nearly spat, "But let's assume you are right; she will change her mind and eventually fight: when will realization hit her? When the fight has yet to develop, or when she'll see your blood being poured on the battlefield?"

The Hatter's eyes turned orange as well as he answered, with such force that Teana pondered on taking a step back: "Ah do not care when it will happen! One way or another, on this day the Jabberwocky will be slayed. Ah have seen too much destruction brought upon this land, and Ah am sick of it: Ah took the chance tae try tae avenge the Clan, and if Ah must die tae serve the Oracolum's prediction, then be it, Ah have nothin' left tae lose!".

Teana had listened carefully to Tarrant's reasons: she was taken aback by the strength of his speech and had felt how much it burned inside him… but that last sentence broke her heart. She didn't know what to feel: part of her didn't want to drop the rage that had fuelled her up to that moment, wanted to use it to carry on the argument, to check if he meant what he said. The other part was too stunned to speak and had already given up to the fact that he might have spoken the truth. Besides, she knew how those words felt on the tongue after years of fighting against life itself: there are times when they feel good, reassuring... she was afraid that he might have felt like that while pronouncing them for her.

The Hatter, on the other hand, was faced with a tense silence from his twin sister: by the end of his outburst, her eye colour had changed to a blue-tinted green and her eyebrows were not furrowed anymore. She looked defeated… no, she looked… sad and disappointed. He too, in his head, struggled to decide whether to keep on with the anger, or apologize before it was too late, but she was faster than him.

"Alright.", She said in the most neutral tone he had ever heard from her. She broke their eye contact to turn to get her weapon and soundly fix it in its sheath. Then, she moved around the horse, that had been quietly standing behind them the whole time, to free it from the crossties. Flashes of the Horunvendush Day filled her mind: the brightness of Witzend in flames flashed before her eyes, the sound of the houses crumbling to pieces and people screaming, the smell and the heaviness of cinder clogging her throat, burning on her skin. The fear and loneliness that followed, the suffering she had endured to get to that point…

She didn't hurry in making the last adjustments on the horse's gear, she stood her ground, keeping her mouth closed, not expecting him to say anything else. She pulled herself on the saddle and took a solid grip on the reins. Then, she spoke again: "It's comprehensible to hold on to what we lost, but the past cannot be restored, Tarrant: our present might. And it's clear to me which you choose to value more", She squeezed her legs around Orlov's belly and the horse threw his head back as he walked forward, passing by the Hatter as if he wasn't even there.

"Teana", he called.

No reaction. She made her way out of the barn, into the sunlight.

"Teana!"

Not a flinch. She took the path that led out of the stables.

She heard a guttural sound and then a heavy bump on the floor, as if he had thrown something out of rage.

Nothing.

She felt nothing. Her heart calm and her head empty. On the inside, she felt like a forest turned to ashes after a great fire. The perfect coldness she needed to mindlessly whirl her sword at Red Soldier's heads. She had almost reached the front of the Castle and was about to ask Orlov for a trot, when she heard her name being shouted again.

"Teana!"

This time it was different: it wasn't the same voice. She turned around, looking for the source of the calling, and she was utterly surprised to see The Alice come running towards her. She raised an eyebrow in confusion, and partly in annoyance, but she pulled the reins to stop her horse and address to the girl as she stopped beside her: "What?". That's it. Despite realizing that it wasn't the nicest way to start a conversation with someone that was closer to a stranger to her, she wasn't in the mood for adding anything else to that sentence.

Her breath a little short, Alice asked: "Do you think you could help me with my armour?".

"It depends on what you want to do with it.", A warmth had lighted in her chest, but she was still not up for a polite conversation. Besides, after that morning, that girl had way to go to earn her help and trust.

Alice pouted visibly at Teana's fake cluelessness, but decided to play along: "I have to wear it".

Orlov showed his joyful surprise by looking at Alice, nickering. Teana raised both eyebrows and her first thought was to turn around to see if the Hatter was around to see or hear this, but after a quick look she realized that he wasn't. She referred to the girl at her feet again: "Well, that was a fast change of mind!"

"You have to thank Absolem for that", Alice said, with a hint of a smile.

"No, you have to thank him", If he hadn't helped, my brother would have been torn apart and you would have had to face my fury. That is what popped into her mind as she saw that soft smile on the girl's face, but this time, she opted to be nice and grateful for her decision: "He helped you find your way, and that won't be useful exclusively for our world, but with you in first person. That's not a thing to be underestimated". She meant it. She knew better.

Now, the smile they shared was true and heartfelt, but the trumpet sound in the distance made it fall very quickly.

"You need to hurry, princess. Can't be late for the ball, can you?", Teana extended her hand towards Alice, who took her arm and was helped up behind the red head. Alice hugged her waist as Teana asked Orlov to sprint through the cherry trees, her heart finding its beat again after being faced with a new hope.

ღ ღ ღ

Not much later, The Alice was making her way bolting on the Bandersnatch through the soldiers of the White Army, Teana galloping behind the beast, their armours shining in the sun. The two got to the very front, where the whole Resistance stood at the Queen's sides: everybody was cheering at the official Champion, who smiled to the Monarch to confirm her decision.

Teana took her place at Bayard's side, at the very end of the row, and as she looked at her companions, she crossed her eyes with Tarrant's. There was stillness between them for a moment, but then they both nodded at each other: a wordless way to let the other know that their anger had been set aside for the time being, in favour of a wish for good luck and a promise of complicity during the battle.

Soon, the White Queen shook the reins of her steed, giving the hint that started the march towards the Chessboard. The metallic sound of the armours and the rhythmic slam of the spears on the ground filled the air as the army proceeded, first along the marble path skirted with cherry trees, then on the hard and dry ground of Snud, through the Tulgey Woods and in a cleaning again: at that point, the very first lines of the formation could spot the battlefield in the distance.