Alice watched in disbelief as the March Hare, who had been trembling and erratic just moments ago, now stood completely still beside the White Knight. His wild eyes had calmed, and the incoherent mutterings that had filled the clearing had faded into an eerie silence. It was as though the presence of the White Knight had tamed the madness that had consumed him. But something about it felt wrong—unnatural.
The Hatter's brow furrowed as he took a step forward, his voice low and edged with suspicion. "What did you do to him?" he demanded, pointing at the now-placid March Hare. "How did you make him like this?"
The White Knight turned his gaze to the Hatter, his expression calm, almost serene. "I did nothing," he replied smoothly. "The March Hare simply chose a side."
The words sent a chill through Alice. She looked at the Hare, then back at the White Knight. "Chose a side?" she repeated, her voice thick with disbelief. "What are you talking about? Did you do all of this? Did you cause this darkness?"
The White Knight let out a soft chuckle, his eyes glinting with something cold and calculating. He took a step closer, his presence looming over them like a shadow. "Not I, Alice," he said, his voice as smooth as silk. "We. The Knave, the Duchess, and all of us who desire order in Wonderland."
Alice's heart sank at his words. "You... you're working with them?" she asked, her voice shaking with a mix of anger and disbelief. "You're helping destroy Wonderland?"
"Destroy?" The White Knight's lips curled into a thin smile. "No, Alice. We're not destroying Wonderland. We're saving it. The chaos, the madness—that is what's been tearing Wonderland apart. We seek to bring order, to put an end to the endless anarchy that has plagued this world for far too long."
The Hatter's eyes narrowed. "Order? This isn't order. This is madness of a different kind! You're just replacing one form of chaos with another."
The White Knight tilted his head, his expression unwavering. "You may see it that way, Hatter. But the truth is, Wonderland has been lost for too long, spiraling deeper into chaos with every passing day. The Queen of Hearts' reign, the incessant games, the madness—it must end. We are creating something new, something… controlled."
Alice took a step forward, her fists clenched at her sides. "Controlled? You mean you want to control Wonderland. You and the Knave and the Duchess—you're no better than the Queen of Hearts."
For a moment, something flickered in the White Knight's eyes, a glimmer of emotion, quickly suppressed. "We are not the Queen," he said softly. "We are doing what is necessary."
The Hatter laughed, a hollow sound. "Necessary? It's always 'necessary,' isn't it? The destruction, the betrayal, the manipulation. But at what cost, White Knight? At what cost?"
The White Knight's gaze turned hard, his calm demeanor cracking for just a moment. "At any cost, Hatter. Wonderland cannot survive without change."
Alice's heart pounded in her chest. She could feel the tension in the air. The White Knight—someone she had trusted—was now part of something dark, something twisted in its quest for control. And the March Hare, her old friend, had chosen to stand with him.
She looked at the Hatter, who was staring at the White Knight with a mix of anger and sorrow. They were all standing on the edge of something—they could feel it in their bones. And the question was: which side would they choose?
But deep down, Alice knew there was only one choice. They couldn't stand by and let Wonderland be twisted into something it wasn't. Not by the White Knight. Not by the Knave or the Duchess.
She took a deep breath, her voice steady but firm. "We won't let you take Wonderland. We'll fight for it. We'll fight for its madness, its freedom, and its heart."
The White Knight's smile faded. "Then you've chosen your side, Alice."
The White Rabbit, who had been standing silently at Alice's side, began to mutter under his breath. His paws shook as he clutched his pocket watch tightly. "Alice… the Knave… the Knave was…"
Alice glanced at him, the weight of the truth finally settling in her heart. She took a deep breath, her voice steady but carrying a bitter edge. "I know, Rabbit. I can see it clearly now." Her gaze hardened as she looked back at the White Knight, her eyes full of both sorrow and resolve. "We lost him."
The White Rabbit's ears drooped, and he swallowed nervously. "But they were—"
"No," Alice interrupted softly, shaking her head. "No, Rabbit, they weren't our friends to begin with. They never were. They simply used us. Played with us, and we didn't even see it."
The White Knight's eyes gleamed, his expression unreadable. He said nothing, but the silence between them spoke volumes. Alice felt the coldness of betrayal settle deeper in her chest.
"They needed us for the Vorpal Blade," Alice continued, her voice laced with bitterness. "You needed us to get that sword. And we played along, didn't we?"
The White Rabbit flinched at her words, his paws trembling as he clutched his pocket watch tighter. "But the Vorpal Blade… it was supposed to be the key to saving Wonderland…"
Alice's voice turned sharp. "That's what they wanted us to believe. But it was never about saving Wonderland, was it?" Her gaze bore into the White Knight, challenging him to deny it. "It was about control. Power. You and the Knave needed the blade to strengthen your grip over Wonderland."
The White Knight's lips curved into a faint, almost amused smile. "You always were clever, Alice. But it was never just about us." His voice was smooth, almost placating. "The blade was a symbol and a tool. One that could restore order, the kind of order Wonderland has always needed."
"Order?" The Mad Hatter scoffed, his voice shaking with anger. "This twisted darkness, this madness you've let loose on Wonderland… you call that order?"
The White Knight's gaze shifted to the Hatter, his expression cold and calm. "Chaos is a natural state here. We simply gave it direction. The Vorpal Blade is the key to balance, to keeping Wonderland from collapsing into the abyss entirely."
Alice stepped forward, her fists clenched. "No! This is betrayal of everything Wonderland stood for—its whimsy, its freedom, its madness!" She shook her head, her voice filled with sadness.
The White Knight's smile faded, replaced by a calculating look. "And what side do you stand on, Alice? Wonderland has always been torn between chaos and control. You cannot straddle both worlds forever."
"I stand with Wonderland," Alice said fiercely. "The real Wonderland. Not this broken version of it that you and the others are trying to create."
The White Knight's eyes narrowed. "Then you leave me no choice."
The White Knight's eyes glinted coldly as he raised his sword, the blade gleaming with a strange, dark energy. "If you won't join us, Alice," he said calmly, "then you're a threat to everything we've worked for."
In an instant, the sword came down, aimed directly at Alice.
But before the blade could reach her, the ground beneath her feet shifted. Alice felt a sudden pull, her balance giving way as a dark hole opened up beneath her. She gasped, her heart leaping into her throat as she was swallowed by the void, along with the White Rabbit and the Hatter.
The sensation of falling was dizzying. The world blurred as they plunged through the tunnel the White Rabbit had created. Alice could hear the rapid thumping of her heart in her ears, and just as she thought the descent would never end, they landed with a soft thud in a dimly lit space.
Alice sat up, disoriented, trying to catch her breath. The White Rabbit was panting heavily beside her, clutching his pocket watch as if it was the only thing keeping him grounded. "That… was too close," he muttered, shaking his head.
The Hatter dusted off his coat, his usual manic grin absent. "Well, that's one way to make an exit." He looked at Alice, his eyes filled with concern. "Are you alright?"
Alice nodded, though her mind was racing. "Thank you, Rabbit," she said, her voice steadier than she felt. "You saved us."
The White Rabbit's ears twitched, and he looked away, still catching his breath. "I couldn't let him… he would've…" He trailed off, too shaken to finish the thought.
Alice stood, her resolve hardening once again. "We're not safe yet. The White Knight and the others—whatever their plan is, we have to stop it." She glanced around the shadowy place they had landed in, wondering where the Rabbit's tunnel had taken them.
The Hatter stepped beside her, his voice quiet but determined. "Where do we go from here, Alice? Wonderland is unraveling… but we can't give up now."
Alice took a deep breath, her mind racing through the chaos of recent events. The betrayal of the White Knight, the Knave, and their former allies weighed heavy on her, but the pieces of the puzzle were beginning to fall into place. She clenched her fists, eyes narrowing in resolve.
"We don't have a choice," she finally said, her voice calm but firm. "We have to go back to the Queen of Hearts."
The White Rabbit's eyes widened in alarm. "The Queen of Hearts? But Alice, we just escaped from her! And she won't listen to reason, not in the state Wonderland is in."
"I know," Alice replied, her gaze steely. "But she's the only one left with enough power to challenge the Knave and the others. Without her, we don't stand a chance."
The Hatter rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "You've always been one for impossible plans, Alice. And yet, here we are, still alive." He gave her a lopsided smile, though his eyes held a glint of uncertainty. "But getting the Queen of Hearts to help us? She's more likely to take off our heads than listen."
Alice nodded grimly. "Maybe. But we've seen what the Knave and his allies are capable of. They're tearing Wonderland apart, and the Queen will lose her throne, her kingdom—everything, if they succeed. She has to realize that."
The White Rabbit fidgeted nervously with his watch. "Assuming we can even get close to her..."
Alice placed a hand on his shoulder, trying to ease his worry. "We'll find a way, Rabbit. We always do."