6 years later
"Alice! Hurry or we'll be late!" her father called as Alice rushed down the stairs of the inn in her blue dress carrying the props for their performance.
"Relax Lewis we have time," said her mother soothingly.
"I just down want to be beat out for the best spot for performance by the bloke shouting about the end of the world," snorted her father. "After all, if the world is ending why bother getting upset? You'll only suffer twice."
Alice giggled. Her father was a bit mad, but she loved him that way. Her mother was calmer and more sensible in comparison.
"Well let's get off then!" said Alice and they trotted on their merry way towards the town square which fortunately was still free.
"Right then my songbird, you start," he instructed her. Alice smiled and after running a brief scale broke out into song while dancing round the square.
"La-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la
'Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe:
All mimsy were theborogoves
Andthe mome rathsoutgrabe"
A few people gave her odd looks, which to be fair the first words of the song were rather nonsense to an ordinary person. But the tune was attractive enough to make some stop. She focused on trying to make her voice more enticing. After all the more people that came the more likely to drop money. Her father meanwhile was supplementing her voice with music from his pipe which held a similar sway.
"Beware the Jabberwock, my son!
The jawsthat bite, the claws that catch
Beware the Juju bird, and shun
The frumious Bandersnatch!"
She made a faux snatching motion at a child who jumped back but giggled. Then she skipped over to where her mother stood on the side and accepted the fake sword.
He took his vorpal sword in hand;
Long time the manxome foe he sought—
So rested he by the Tumtum tree
Stood awhile in thought
And, as in uffish thought he stood
The Jabberwock, with eyes of flame
Came whiffling through the tulgey wood
And burbled as it came!
"La-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la"
She began to fight with an invisible enemy.
"One two! One two! And through and through
The vorpal blade went snicker-snack!
He left it dead, and with its head
He went galumphing back"
Her father played a merry instrumental break during which she set aside the sword and even twirled with a few of the children before stepping back. Her mother approached with a makeshift crown.
"And hast thou slain the Jabberwock?
Come to my arms, my beamish boy
O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!"
He chortled in his joy"
She curtsied and her mother crowned her before Alice finished the song.
La-la-la-la-la-la-la (Yaa-yaa-yaa-yaa)
Callooh, callay! O frabjous day!
La-la-la-la-la-la-la (Yaa-yaa-yaa-yaa)
Callooh, callay! O frabjous day!
As soon as she finished applause broke out her mother took out a tin while Alice spoke up saying.
"Thank you for your kind attention. If you would be kind enough to spare some poor performers a bit of a coin, we would be grateful," she tried to pour some influence into the words though it didn't work as well without the music. Still people began to pull out their purses and she held out her white apron to help collect as well.
One of the last people to give her money was a girl of about her own age dressed in expensive looking clothes. She had dark hair and eyes.
"Your voice was lovely," she said and to Alice's surprise emptied a good amount of her purse into Alice's apron.
"My Lady," for clearly this girl had to be nobility at the least. "You are too kind." The girl shrugged.
"You could use it more than me. My mother wanted me to buy a new frock but I think it's better spent here. I'm Regina."
"Alice," she replied with a curtsy careful not to spill her earnings.
"Will you be here long?" asked Regina. Alice shrugged.
"Probably till the winter is out then we'll move on like we always do."
"It must be wonderful to have such freedom," said the girl wistfully. "In that case perhaps we shall meet again. Good day Alice."
"Fairfarren Regina," replied Alice. Regina gave her an odd look and Alice laughed. "It's how we say goodbye where I'm from." Regina laughed.
"Well then, fairfarren." Alice watched Regina walk away towards a carriage where a white haired man sat waiting.
With how much they travelled Alice didn't get many friends. At least not many long-term ones. But perhaps she'd just found one. At least for the winter.
"Meet someone new my songbird?" asked her father coming up behind her.
"Yes, her name is Regina."
"Well, I suppose you could do with some proper socializing. Just be careful." Alice nodded.
"Of course, Papa."
OUAT
They ate well that night. Alice didn't mind sleep on the road and in the open, her family was usually on the move. Her mother called it the Wonderlandian wanderlust. But with that said a bed and a hot meal were certainly always preferable.
"We'll need to plan out which songs we want to perform over the rest of the season," said her father.
"Yes, I need to know which outfits of yours need checking for mending first," said her mother. "I've also managed to pick up a job helping the innkeeper's wife here with her sewing. Poor woman doesn't have the best eyes sight."
"I don't know what we'd do without your marvelous seamstress skills Mother. You really should have opened a shop of your own," said Alice. Her mother waved her hand.
"I was too busy falling down rabbit holes and finding adventure for that. Then I met your father and well..."
"I managed to snag the most beautiful woman in all the realms," chuckled Alice's father.
"Oh hush," said her mother with a blush. Alice watched her parents lovingly interact. She'd love to have a romance like that. To be loved so deeply. Not that romance was really first on her list more something she simply hoped would find her with time.
Anyway, she didn't need to worry about it right now. Or anything. She had good food, her parents, the income was coming in and the possibility of a new friend.
OUAT
A few days later Alice finished up another show with her father when she saw Regina again. At a nod from him she walked over.
"Hello, again," she said.
"Hello," said Regina. "That was another nice performance."
"Thank you," said Alice. "We try our best."
"Care to take a walk?" asked Regina. "I convinced my father to let me ride into town today. Told him my horse needed the exercise."
"Alright, just give me a moment." Alice hurried back over to her parents.
"Regina wanted me to take a walk with her. May I?"
"Well, you can't really turn down a Lady," said her mother wryly.
"Have you got your dagger on you?" asked her father. Alice nodded since she was old enough to learn to use one her father had always had her keep a thin dagger on her in case of emergencies.
"Then off you go and be back at the inn before sunset," said her mother. Alice skipped back over.
"We can go now." They began to walk through the market.
"So where are you from?" asked Regina. Alice smiled.
"Here and there, and everywhere." Regina looked confused and Alice laughed. "I'm only joking. We're from Wonderland. Although my mother is from the Enchanted Forest."
"That makes sense. I've read about Wonderland. It sounds like a...bizarre place," said Regina. Alice nodded.
"It is, but we've lived in the Enchanted Forest for several years so I suppose this is our home now. And you?"
"Oh I've always lived on the nearby estate. My father's a Prince." Alice's eyes widened.
"My apologies your Highness." Regina waved her off.
"Don't be I didn't say it. Besides my father is the fifth brother and I've lost track of how many of his siblings have children. So it's not like I'll be sitting a throne any time soon."
"Still being nobility likely has it's perks," said Alice. Regina nodded her head.
"There are advantages if...stifling at times. Travelling the realm though that sort of freedom sounds heavenly." There was a longing tone to her voice.
"It is enjoyable, my father says most Wonderlandian's don't stay in one place for long," said Alice deciding it was best not to go on too much as it seemed a bit of a sore spot. "At least not unless they find something worth settling down for."
"Weren't you and your mother worth settling for?" asked Regina. Alice shrugged. "For a time. But despite being from the Enchanted Forest my mother's as fond of the road as Papa."
"Well, that's quite a happy family you have," Regina said and Alice once more picked up the sadness in her.
"It is," she agreed. "But tell me what does a Princess do for fun around here?" Regina smiled.
"When I can escape my mother's lessons. Ride," and so they continued talking and laughing
OUAT
It was nice to finally have someone around her age to speak with. Regina was never really allowed to form long term connections. At least not ones her mother knew about.
Most people in the town by their estate were too terrified of her mother to go near her which worked well to her mother's purpose of keeping Regina as isolated as possible. So, when she'd seen a new girl her own age she couldn't help but reach out.
Alice was a bit on the odd side. But seemed sweet enough. Regina couldn't help but envy the girl's freedom and happy life. Perfectly happy parents the ability to go where she wished when she wished.
Nonetheless it was a pleasant encounter. She knew her mother often went on about love being a weakness and not being attached but...the girl wasn't going to be here permanently. So surely even if mother found out there couldn't be a great deal of harm in it. Right?
Author's note: And SOOO Regina shows up! I remember there were questions back in The Best Tea Cup is Chipped when I made some mentions of Alice and Regina having been friends so we'll get to see that here! Thanks for the support! If you like the story PLEASE PLEASE take a moment and leave a note below! Until next time!