The tea party proceeded as scheduled, with Tarrant meticulously preparing different tea sets for each of his friends. The tea cups, teapots, and spoons were all adorned with fantastical shapes and vibrant colors. The March Hare excitedly held up a cup of tea and announced, "The theme of today's tea party is... surprise!" He chuckled mysteriously and dropped a small tea cake into the teapot. As the tea boiled, a lively melody emerged from within the teapot, as if a small orchestra was playing inside.
"This is rarely seen!" Maxwell the White Rabbit exclaimed, blinking in amazement and smiling.
The Cheshire Cat, lazily floating in the air with its tail gently swirling, teased, "You always like to play with these mysterious tricks, March Rabbit."
"Teapot playing? This is simply amazing!" Mary the Dormouse popped her head out of a tea cup, yawning.
Alice and Tarrant sat near the head table, occasionally glancing at each other. Although they seemed to understand each other without words, their faces bore a hint of shy smiles. Tarrant occasionally refilled Alice's tea, pausing for a moment at the edge of the cup, as if wanting to feel her warm touch again.
The atmosphere of the tea party became increasingly lively, and everyone began discussing the recent strange phenomena in Wonderland. Mctrip heard that some plants in the Labyrinth Garden had mysteriously disappeared, while the March Hare firmly believed it was due to a change in the direction of the winds in Wonderland. "We should hold a 'Wind Hunting Competition'!" he announced loudly, eliciting laughter from everyone.
As the tea party drew to a close, McTrip tapped his cup, cleared his throat, and seriously said, "Alice, the White Queen summons you to the palace tomorrow to prepare for the Maze Garden."
Tarrant furrowed his brow, looking worried. Although he didn't speak, it was clear that the news had caught his attention.
As night fell, the afterglow of the tea party lingered, and Alice and Tarrant quietly leaned against each other on the palace terrace. Moonlight bathed them, casting subtle shadows of their figures. Tarrant reached out to stroke Alice's hair and whispered, "Are you really going to the Maze Garden?"
Alice nodded and held his hand, "This is my mission. Tarrant, I know we have to go."
Tarrant lowered his head and kissed her hand softly, his eyes sparkling with reluctance.
After bidding each other farewell, a strange cold wind blew from the depths of the forest, as if the whole atmosphere of Wonderland was changing. Looking out, Wonderland seemed shrouded in a faint gray fog. The originally verdant trees fell silent, and even the walking trees lowered their branches, as if sinking into deep sleep. The once vibrant lawn in the royal garden began to yellow, losing its former vitality.
The next day, Alice awoke in her room at the palace. Instead of the usual cool breeze filtering through the window, she felt a stifling heat and dullness. She walked to the window and found the scenery of Wonderland even more desolate. The distant forest was silent, and even the flowers hung their heads, as if dozing off. The situation seemed to have become urgent.
She hastily changed her clothes and headed to the White Queen's library. There, the White Queen had been waiting for a long time, sitting at a large table and flipping through an ancient book.
"Your Majesty, you have also noticed the changes, haven't you?" Alice asked as soon as she entered.
The White Queen nodded, her brow slightly furrowed, a hint of worry in her expression. "Yes, Alice. All of this is influenced by the Maze Garden. The core of the Maze Garden has lost control, causing the whole of Wonderland's plants to lose their vitality. We cannot sit idly by." She closed the book and sighed, "The oracle did not provide us with detailed guidance, but one thing is clear." She opened a scroll of oracle drawings on the table and pointed to a simple yet profound illustration—it depicted Alice and Tarrant walking side by side towards the Maze Garden, with Wonderland gradually recovering behind them.
"This symbolizes that you and Tarrant must go to the maze garden to explore the root of the problem," explained the White Queen, "Only the two of you can unravel this mystery."
Alice gazed at the painting, feeling both nervous and determined: "We will depart immediately."
The White Queen nodded, gently holding Alice's hand: "You are the hope of Wonderland, Alice. I believe you will find a solution."