The sun crept over the horizon, casting a soft, golden light through the high windows of the Queen's castle. Alice sat on a low stool in a dimly lit chamber, her heart still pounding from the events of the trial. She could scarcely believe what she had agreed to—defeating a creature as fearsome as the Jabberwocky? She barely knew what it looked like, let alone how she was supposed to defeat it.
As she was lost in thought, a pair of card soldiers marched in, carrying pieces of gleaming red-and-gold armor. Without a word, they began dressing her, fastening the heavy chest plate with the Queen of Hearts' insignia emblazoned across it. The armor felt stiff and foreign on her body, making her movements awkward as she tried to stand. One of the soldiers handed her a spear, the shaft long and polished, the point gleaming menacingly in the dim light.
Alice stared down at the weapon, her thoughts spinning wildly. "What am I doing?," she thought. She had never held a spear in her life. She was just a girl, not a warrior. How could she take on such a monstrous task?
The Queen's generosity—or what little of it she possessed—had at least extended to preparing Alice for the journey. The armor was finely made, the helmet snug as they placed it over her head. It was heavy and stifling, the visor casting shadows over her face, making it harder to see. The insignia of the Queen, a large heart in the center of the breastplate, seemed more like a cruel joke than a symbol of protection.
As the card soldiers finished securing the last of her armor, Alice shifted uncomfortably in the metal suit. "Do I really need all of this?" she asked, her voice muffled under the helmet.
One of the card soldiers, a silent figure with a spade on his chest, gave her a curt nod. He offered no explanation, only stepped back as another card soldier entered the room with a crimson cloak, draping it over Alice's shoulders. The deep red fabric fluttered slightly as she moved, giving her the appearance of a knight—though she hardly felt like one.
Her mind raced with doubt and fear. How had it come to this? Just yesterday, she had been wandering a strange garden, drinking tea with bizarre creatures. Now, she was being sent on a quest to face a legendary beast. She hadn't even met the Jabberwocky yet, and already her hands were trembling at the thought of it.
As they led her to the courtyard, the morning air was crisp, the sky painted in soft pinks and purples. Alice glanced at the spear in her hand, wondering if she'd even have a chance to use it, or if the Jabberwocky would be upon her before she could blink. The weight of the armor was uncomfortable, pressing down on her shoulders, and the helmet felt too large, obstructing her view of the world ahead.
In the distance, she could see the Queen watching from her throne, surrounded by her officials. Her cold eyes tracked Alice's every movement, a silent warning that there was no turning back. The White Rabbit, looking even more anxious than usual, stood to the side, nervously fidgeting with his pocket watch. He hadn't spoken a word since the trial.
As Alice stepped into the center of the courtyard, she took a deep breath. The enormity of what lay ahead was crushing. She would have to leave the safety of the castle walls and venture into the wilds of Wonderland in search of a creature she barely understood, let alone knew how to defeat.
"I suppose there's no use running now," Alice muttered to herself, gripping the spear tightly. The cold metal felt reassuring in her hands, even if it didn't make her feel any braver.
The Queen's voice echoed across the courtyard, interrupting her thoughts. "You have until sunset to prove your innocence, Alice. If you return without the head of the Jabberwocky, you will be declared guilty, and the consequences will be... most unpleasant."
Alice swallowed hard. There was no more time for fear, no more time for second-guessing. She had made her choice, and now she had to follow through with it.
While her thoughts raced with uncertainty, a familiar voice called out from behind her. She turned to see the White Rabbit racing after her, his pocket watch swinging wildly as he hurried to catch up.
"Wait! Wait!" the White Rabbit cried, his breath coming in short, frantic gasps as he skidded to a halt beside her. His fur was disheveled, and his ears twitched nervously, but there was a determination in his eyes that hadn't been there before. "You can't go alone! I—I must come with you!"
Alice blinked in surprise. "You want to join me? But... aren't you afraid of the Jabberwocky?"
The White Rabbit adjusted his waistcoat, his whiskers twitching as he glanced anxiously toward the horizon. "Afraid? Oh dear, of course, I'm afraid! Terrified, really! But... well, it wouldn't be right to let you face such a dreadful creature all on your own." He fumbled with his pocket watch, his voice softening. "Besides, it was my fault you got into all this trouble in the first place. If I hadn't been running around like a madman, you wouldn't have... well, ended up here. So, I'll help. In any way I can."
Alice smiled warmly at him, her heart swelling with gratitude. "Thank you, White Rabbit. You don't know how much that meant to me. Well, I still don't know how I can really face that Jabberwocky, but having you with me makes it feel a little less daunting."
The Rabbit blushed, waving a paw dismissively. "Oh, no need for thanks. We'll both need to keep our wits about us if we're to survive this. Now, come along—there's no time to lose!"
Together, they walked toward the castle gates, where the Queen's land stretched out before them like an untamed wilderness. But as they approached the towering iron gates, Alice's gaze fell upon a peculiar sight.
There, standing just beyond the gates, were none other than the Mad Hatter and the March Hare. The Mad Hatter was grinning from ear to ear, his wide-brimmed hat tilted jauntily to one side, while the March Hare fidgeted restlessly beside him, clutching the sleeping Dormouse in his arms.
"Off to face the Jabberwocky, are we?" the Mad Hatter called out, tipping his hat dramatically. "Quite the adventure you're embarking on, my dear Alice! But it wouldn't be much of an adventure without a bit of company, would it?"
Alice's eyes widened. "You... you want to come with us?"
"Want to?" the March Hare giggled, his eyes wild with excitement. "Of course, we want to! What fun is there in staying behind? Besides, we can't let you and the Rabbit have all the glory, now can we?"
The Mad Hatter nodded enthusiastically. "Indeed! And we've brought along our dear Dormouse—though he's still fast asleep, I'm afraid. But don't worry! He's always more useful when he's dreaming."
Alice couldn't help but laugh. The absurdity of it all—the Mad Hatter, the March Hare, and the slumbering Dormouse—somehow made the looming threat of the Jabberwocky feel a little less terrifying.
"Well," Alice said with a grin, "I suppose if we're going to face a monster, we might as well do it together. But are you sure? This isn't just another tea party, you know."
The Mad Hatter's grin widened. "Tea parties, battles, grand adventures—they're all the same, really! Full of chaos, and who better to face chaos than us?"
The March Hare bounced on the balls of his feet, his excitement barely contained. "Yes, yes! Together! To face the Jabberwocky and beyond!"
Alice exchanged a glance with the White Rabbit, who shrugged, looking as bewildered as she felt. But there was something comforting in the Hatter and Hare's enthusiasm, even if their sense of danger seemed... skewed.
With her oddball companions now assembled, Alice took a deep breath and stepped forward, the gates creaking open before them. The quest had officially begun, and with the Mad Hatter, the March Hare, the White Rabbit, and a sleeping Dormouse by her side, she felt a strange surge of confidence.
Alice raised an eyebrow. "The Caterpillar?" she repeated, thinking back to their odd encounter. She recalled the hookah smoke curling lazily in the air as the Caterpillar spoke in riddles, perched on his mushroom. "Do you really think he'll help us?"
The White Rabbit nodded, though there was a touch of uncertainty in his eyes. "If anyone has knowledge of the Jabberwocky, it's the Caterpillar. He's ancient and wise... or at least, that's what they say."
"Wise?" The Mad Hatter grinned, adjusting his oversized hat. "Oh, wise in the most nonsensical of ways. He speaks in circles, riddles, and smoke. But then again, in Wonderland, riddles often hold the most truth."
The March Hare giggled beside him. "Riddles, smoke, and mushrooms! Oh, how delightful it will be!" He began to bounce with excitement, his energy infectious as always.
Alice wasn't entirely convinced. The Caterpillar had been anything but clear during their last meeting. Yet, there was a strange logic to Wonderland's madness—help often came from the most unexpected places. "I think I still remember where I last saw him," she remarked, glancing at the White Rabbit.
The Rabbit's ears drooped slightly. "That's... the tricky part. The Caterpillar doesn't…really stay in one place. He drifts around, as unpredictable as Wonderland itself. But... maybe..."
As if on cue, a wisp of smoke appeared in the sky above them, curling and twisting into the air. Alice's eyes widened. "Look!" She pointed toward the distant tendrils of smoke rising from a distance. "The Caterpillar's smoke! It must be coming from his hookah."
The White Rabbit's eyes followed her gesture, but instead of relief, his face filled with dread. "Oh dear..." he muttered under his breath.
Alice tilted her head in confusion and turned to him. "What's the matter?"
The White Rabbit wrung his paws nervously. "Well... that smoke seems to be coming from the Topsy-Turvy Woods."
"The Topsy-Turvy Woods?" Alice asked, frowning. "What's wrong with that?"
The White Rabbit fidgeted with his watch, clearly anxious. "It's a place where nothing stays where it's supposed to. Paths lead nowhere, trees turn upside down, and everything shifts around. One moment, you think you're walking forward, and the next, you're going in circles."
Alice sighed but straightened her posture. "Well, we don't really have a choice, do we? If the Caterpillar is there, we have to go."
The Mad Hatter twirled his hat in excitement. "Oh, the Topsy-Turvy Woods! How wonderfully confusing! Let's hope we stay lost for hours!"
The March Hare giggled. "Lost and found and lost again! What fun!"
Alice glanced at her odd companions and smiled wryly. Despite the daunting nature of the journey ahead, there was something oddly comforting about having them by her side, even if everything around them was chaotic. "Alright then," she said, determination seeping into her voice, "to the Topsy-Turvy Woods we go."
