Such a fangirl..

She was not what he had expected.

Perhaps that is why that foolish queen had brought her here, he thought indignantly. To distract, to confound, to throw him off! It wouldn’t work; Hightopp had given up too much, sacrificed too much than to give it away to a woman.

As he watched her step past a hive of fireflies, who blew their often-deadly flame in her direction, he took in her appearance. She wasn’t particularly beautiful; her blonde, wavy hair seemed out of place in his world of darkness. Nevertheless, he couldn’t deny there was something about her that made him regret the task set before him: to behead the Overlander in front of him and personally deliver her head to the pathetic red queen.

He watched her as she looked around the decaying land with a barely disguised snarl on her lips. So far, she had refrained from asking him any more questions about the world around her, but Hightopp could see her curiosity. It impressed him. Lesser people had been so appalled by his land that they had fled to other world a long time ago.

But, Alice was different.

Perhaps, he thought with a wicked grin, she would not need to be his enemy at all. She would be a powerful ally. Anyone who had the ability to slay a Jabberwocky most assuredly had a Muchness that could only help the cause.

Yes, she would be a most welcome addition to the Revolution.

He needed to gain her trust, though. He knew of the Champion’s Oath, that due to her connection to the White Queen in Underland, she would be drawn to protect the monarch of this world. However, if he could convince her that he was the rightful ruler of Otherland, then she could very likely feel the need to protect him.

“Are you alright?” he asked.

He felt her grip tighten around his hand slightly as they walked by the rotting mushroom grove. “I would have thought that things in Underland would have improved now that Mirana is the Queen.”

He suppressed a shudder. How could someone with this magnitude of Muchness possibly speak, let alone speak, any kind word against that foul, unscrupulous excuse for a monarch? “Things are already improving,” he assured her, thinking of the latest blood that had been shed in the name of the Revolution.

They walked for another quarter hour before they approached Ipalm. Hightopp led her into the open field, feeling particularly proud of himself.

It wasn’t just anyone who could have pulled off a feat like he had, creating a Revolution that had grown so strong, so powerful, it was about to completely take over Otherland. He saw the largest griffin, Magtfulde, the Commander of his army, talking with a group of griffins and lions. The surviving Hightopps--he still couldn’t believe his own parents would attempt to side with the white queen!--were scattered throughout the open land.

There were dozens of types creatures here, he noted with a sense of pride. Most of Otherland had come to him, realizing that under the rule of the Royal Family, there would be no hope for the rest of them. It was the Royal family that had turned Otherland into the dark perversion of what it once had been.

Never again, he thought bitterly.

Alice turned to him, her mouth open to ask him a question when a piercing shriek cut through the air.

At her cry, several of the members of the Revolution, including Magtfulde, drew their weapons, ready to attack.

“She is here at my request,” he answered, his voice dangerously calm. He glared at the creatures around him until they reluctantly sheathed their swords.

“But, I thought--”

“Plans have changed,” he interrupted. He turned to Alice who still had the most confounded look on her face. As he sat Alice down, he looked at Mally who was munching on some rather raw rabbit meat and sighed. “Oh Mally,” he said, slightly disappointed, “You ate our dinner guest again?”

He watched as Alice looked at the rather unkempt rat, who made no effort to wipe the red smudge off the side of her lips. “Mally?” she whispered before looking directly at Hightopp. “Tarrant…what is going on here?”

Hightopp frowned slightly. “I’m afraid I haven’t been completely honest with you, Alice,” he said, taking a seat at the head of the table. “You see, you aren’t in Underland.”

Her eyes narrowed. “What do you mean?”

******

This is impossible, Alice thought with more than a dollop of disbelief. Sure, there were unquestionably some differences between the world she had left two years ago and this one, but how could this not be Underland?

“You are in Otherland,” Tarrant--no! Not her Tarrant!--explained. “ I suppose you could consider it a mirror world of sorts.”

Alice looked at the creatures around her who were looking at her suspiciously. She sensed that, whatever was coming, she had best be ready for it. She was unarmed and surrounded. And unwelcome, by the looks on their faces. Her two years spent learning her father’s trade had refined her skills in observation, flattery and negotiation.

She warily allowed that she might have to wield them once more. Here. Now.

A rather intimidating-looking griffin scowled as he took a seat next to Hightopp. “You shouldn’t have brought her here, Master Hightopp. The Red Queen--”

Alice tensed. Iracebeth was in power here? That would explain the welfare of the land around her.

“The Red Queen is no threat to any of us,” Hightopp said, glaring at the griffin. “I hope you are not questioning my ability to lead, Magtfulde.”

The creature shot Alice a nasty glance, his feathers ruffling slightly, before shaking his head. “Of course not.”

Alice refused to be intimidated by those around her, even if there were a pride of lions approaching the table with a particularly ravenous look in their eyes. “Why have you tricked me here?” she demanded.

To her surprise, Hightopp seemed to enjoy her indignation. He grinned widely. “That would not be my doing, Alice. Iracebeth, it seems, is rather distraught after her sister’s untimely death.”

Alice recoiled at the manic laughter coming from the others at his words. Mirana was dead?

“She thought if she could call on you--a Champion--that she would be protected from the one who shed Mirana’s blood, but I couldn’t let that happen,” continued Tarrant.

“Why?” Her voice was barely above a whisper.

“Because,” he replied with a wicked grin as he leaned close to her, “I am the one she fears.”

Alice pulled back away from his predatory look. Even her sense of self-preservation which was screaming at her- “Fool him, Alice! Just go along with it for the moment!” - could not drown out the betrayal.

“You killed Mirana?” she whispered in disbelief.

“In the name of the Revolution, yes. It was unavoidable, I’m afraid. If one is willing to die for a cause, then they should be willing to kill for it as well,” he continued. He took her hand and squeezed. “You could be a part of this, Alice.”

She pulled her hand away from him. “You. Killed. Mirana.” Yes, the Mirana he had killed was not her friend, not the woman she had fought for on Frabjous Day, but still…!

“For the cause!” he shouted as he pushed the chair from the table. He began pacing around the table, never allowing her gaze to stray from her from her. “‘Conform,’ she said! ‘Serve!’ she demanded! For what? So they could rule over us? So that she could use us as her test subjects? Never!”

He jumped up on the table. “Downal wyth th’ Royal Bludd Line!”

“Kill ‘em all!” the creatures shouted.

He stepped off the table next to her, his red eyes morphing into a slightly less threatening yellow color. “I did what I had to do, Alice. Surely you can see that.”

She shook her head slightly. How could Mirana be responsible for this?

Hightopp knelt to the side of her and took a hold of her hand. “I’m sure the queen you fought for in Underland was a monarch of the utmost character, but the White Queen here was a beast. She turned Otherland into her own personal alchemy project. She wanted to control everything around her: the plants of the land, the beasts of the field, the birds in the air, the people who tended the earth.”

He stood up and faced the forest. “Tweedles! Show yourselves!”

Alice turned as two shadows emerged from the forested area. As they stepped into the moonlight, Alice gasped slightly. The two round, child-like twin boys had been replaced by two identically deformed, disproportionate men. Their arms were unevenly matched; one bicep was enormous while the other was terribly atrophied. One leg was longer than another, forcing them to lean on each other for support. Their other arms, Alice noted, were chained to a huge tree.

Their hair was uncombed, their skin filthy. Drool rolled down their chins as they eyed the raw rabbit meat on the table.

“What happened to you?” whispered Alice, reaching out to them.

To her shock, one of the Tweedles reached out and tried to bite at her hand.

“I wouldn’t do that, if I were you,” Hightopp said, grinning wickedly before turning somber. “This is the work of Mirana. She wanted to create a better soldier. She craved a more powerful fighter than those in her army.” He looked at the Tweedles with a frown. “She experimented on the brothers, hoping they would be a prototype for her new army, but what she created were these…abominations. Disgusted, she threw them out of her castle. But, we in the Resistance saved them and vowed to make sure no one suffered at her hands again.”

“The Revolution needs someone like you, Alice. Someone who would be willing to stand beside me, to bring an end to this bloodshed. Then I will bring in a new era in Otherland!” he declared, his eyes wild.

The wildness - the blood lust - in his eyes unsettled her, but Alice sensed that this was her chance. These creatures would not let her leave - she could plainly see that. But they might believe that this man - Hightopp -- had convinced for of their cause. Of course, she mustn‘t allow herself to seem to easily swayed. She prevaricated, “Tell me, Hightopp, what has the Red Queen done to earn her death sentence?”

He scowled. “That weak, pathetic excuse for a queen has no place in Otherland. She did nothing to stop her sister. She stayed hidden in that castle, away from the atrocities that her sister had done. No, Alice,” he said, shaking his head, “she is not fit to be ruler over this land.”

“Surely you can work out some sort of truce with her,” Alice argued.

“No. The royal bloodline must be purged,” he countered, his eyes swirling with a dangerous red color.

Alice frowned. She couldn’t agree to join his revolution; not with knowing that he hadn’t done everything he could to establish peace in the land. “No,” she said resolutely. “I won’t join you.”

The creatures around her shouted in indignation. “I told you, Master Hightopp!” yelled Magtfulde. “If you don’t think you can kill her, I’d be glad to offer to do it.”

“No, let me at the little wench!” cried Mally.

Hightopp held up his hand and everyone went silent. “Just think of it, Alice,” he said, leaning over the table, coming close to her. “The weak will run but they will not be able to hide! Only the strong survive. Only the strong are meant to survive...”

She shuddered. How could this man in front of her be in any way related to the Tarrant she knew? This man was driven by power; his lust for it had clearly distorted him. “No, the strong should help the weak, not exterminate them. If you cared about Otherland at all, you would try to seek peace with Iracebeth.”

He pushed back from the table and snarled. “Does that mean you will not reconsider your answer?”

Now was the time, the moment. Now, Alice must hesitate, make Hightopp think that perhaps he could convince her. Now was the moment when she should claim that she wished to help the citizens of Otherland, that he had not made a strong enough case against Iracebeth to warrant killing her, that there were still questions she needed answered before she could declare herself. Now was the moment to buy time.

However, Alice could not force the vile, repulsive words out of her throat.

“No, I will not.”

“I was afraid you were going to say that,” he said resignedly. He turned to Magtfulde. “You were right, I should have just killed her when I first found her.” With a flick of his wrist, he hurled a throwing knife in Alice’s direction.

Before she could react, Alice found herself pushed to the ground.

“If you want to survive this delightful gathering, I would advise that you keep silent,” came a familiar feline voice, whispering in her ear.

It was Chess! Alice looked down at her hands, which, she was startled to find, were invisible! She felt a furry paw pushing her in the direction opposite of Hightopp. Crawling on her hands and knees quietly, she started to make her escape.

“Where is she?” she heard Tarrant scream from behind her.

“It must have been that blasted cat,” Mally shrieked.

Alice pushed herself to follow Chess’ invisible helping hand until she was far enough away, tucked behind some trees. “Chess?” she whispered.

“Checkers,” the cat corrected, as he came into view.

As he came into view, Alice noticed that his grey and black fur was, in fact, reminiscent of a checkerboard. But, there was no mistaking that the wide smile on his face was certainly like that of Chess.

She looked down at herself, which was thankfully visible. “How did you do that?” she asked him.

“Do what?”

“Make me invisible. Chess isn’t able to do that…or at least I don’t think he can.”

Checkers huffed. “Chess is a scaredy cat who is far too cautious. Just because turning someone invisible runs a high risk of keeping a person in that state, he refuses to do it.”

“Well…thank you,” she replied, looking at her hands gratefully. Being permanently invisible was not how she wanted to spend the rest of her life!

He looked behind her and frowned. “Now, we must hurry. Hightopp will not waste any time looking for you.” He let out a long meow and the Bandersnatch came bounding from behind them.

Instead of seeing the ferocious beast, a rather timid-looking, yet giant creature stepped cautiously from behind the giant trees. Its black fur almost seemed to glisten in the moonlight. “Go!” he instructed. “I will be in Salazen Grum shortly.”

Alice hesitated. Though she inexplicably felt drawn to protect the Red Queen, she wondered if it would be best to find some way back to Underland to gain help from Mirana. “I should go back to Underland--”

“There is no time to visit your old friends,” chided Checkers. “The Resistance is building strength by the minute. Iracebeth must know what you have seen.”

“Where will you be?”

“Making sure Hightopp doesn’t send someone after you to finish the job,” he said as his head suddenly separated from his body.

Alice frowned as the implications of what he had said registered in her mind. Swiftly, she climbed onto the back of the Bandersnatch and rode out of the woods. As she traveled through the moonlit valleys of Otherland, she wondered what kind of person would be waiting for her at Salazen Grum.

****************

“Your Majesty, I need…your attention is required.”

Mirana looked up from her latest batch of Upelkuchen, concerned. Nivens hadn’t sounded this anxious since--no, she would not think of That Day. Forcing aside her worry, she daintily knelt, coming down to eye level with the twitchy rabbit.

“What is it, Nivens?”

He began wringing his paws, another sign of nervousness. “I just received word from one of the guardsman that there is activity in the Royal Gateway,” he rushed to say, the words tumbling out.

Mirana recoiled slightly at his words. “But there has been no contact since my father…” she trailed off, not willing to speak the words aloud.

“I know, your Majesty.” He swallowed thickly. “But, but, she’s asking to speak with you. She says it is of the utmost importance.”

Mirana froze. There was only one person that could cause such fear in the rabbit before her. What could have possibly happened for her to contact Underland? Slowly, she stood up. “Very well, I will speak with her.”

With a nod and a hop, Nivens led the way to the normally unused part of the castle. It was appropriate, she thought as they walked down the ever-darkening hallway, that this area of the castle was not flooded with light.

Though she tried to prepare herself for what was waiting for her at the Gateway, she knew it was pointless.

Mirana waved away the guard that stood in front of the door and turned to face Nivens. “I will speak with her alone.”

He looked at her silently. She could see his struggle. While most of him wanted to flee, he still felt to need to stand by his queen. “I will be fine,” she said, her voice full of confidence.

“Please, your Majesty, be careful. You know what they say about people from over there,” he pleaded.

Her eyes fluttered shut. Yes, despite the fact she had never personally met her, she knew about those on the Other Side. When she opened her eyes, she smiled patiently. “I would never do anything to bring harm to Underland,” she said patiently.

His eyes widened as he took a step back. “I did not--I mean, I wasn’t saying--I--I--I!” Before he could finish his sentence, he passed out.

She looked up at the closest guard. “Would you carry Sir McTwisp to his room please?”

“As you wish, your Highness.”

She did not miss the concerned glance he shot her way when he thought she could not see him. Was everyone so worried about her reaction to her?

There was nothing to worry about, she told herself as she pushed open the thick door. With a determined step, she made her way to the giant looking glass in the center of the room. She should have been prepared for the image looking back at her.

She wasn’t.

In front of her was Iracebeth.

Not the Iracebeth from her Underland, of course. Her sister, along with Stayne was still banished in The Outlands. No. This Iracebeth was from Over There.

She suppressed a shudder as she took in her mirror sister’s appearance. Her hair, now a dull red, resembled a Jubjub bird’s nest. Gone was the bright blue eye shadow Mirana had long associated with Iracebeth; it was replaced with dark trails of mascara running down her cheeks. Her cheeks were hollowed, her eyes bloodshot.

“Mirana?”

There was no mistaking the desperation in Iracebeth’s voice.

“Yes, Iracebeth, I am here.” Mirana resisted the urge to reach through the looking glass for her.

A single tear ran down her face. “I thought it might be too late. After what he had done--”

Mirana’s eyebrows furrowed. “What are you talking about?”

“Hightopp. He…he--”

“Tarrant? What are you talking about?”

Iracebeth studied Mirana carefully. “You mean she didn’t tell you what was going on?” she asked, the anger pushing past the sadness in her voice. “She told me she was in contact with you that entire time!”

“Iracebeth,” Mirana said calmly, hoping not to be witness to one of her meltdowns. “Who are you talking about? What is going on?”

“That wretched traitor Hightopp murdered Mirana--our Mirana--in her castle last night,” the red queen explained, tears freely falling down her cheeks.

Mirana’s knees weakened. “Why would Tarrant to such a thing?”

“We’ve been in a civil war for years now. The Outlanders have been trying to take over Mamoreal, to stop Mirana. They made several failed attempts, but last night, somehow that mutineer managed to get into the castle and kill her!” replied Iracebeth.

She started pacing. “I know some of the things she did were rather…unethical, but what could I do? She would have turned me into toad warts or something worse.” She frowned at Mirana. “I am frightened that they will come after me next,” explained Iracebeth. “I am left with no choice but to come to you for help.”

Mirana studied her as the other queen wept, broken and desperate. She was very different from the sister that was banished to the furthermost parts of Underland. Pity and compassion flooded her heart. This was a version of her sister that she longed to help. “What do you need?”

“There are rumors that you have a Champion,” Iracebeth said.

Mirana’s eyes fluttered shut. Of course that would be why Iracebeth would contact her. “I do,” she admitted softly.

“Then you could send him--”

“Her,” Mirana absently corrected.

“Her over here and she could assist in protecting me,” Iracebeth continued, her eyes looking at her pleadingly.

“Do you not have a Champion of your own?” Mirana asked half-heartedly. Of course she didn’t; that’s why she had felt the need to end the decades-old silence between the lands.

“After that wretched Hightopp slew my dear King, no one has been brave enough to step forward to become my Champion. Please, Mirana... we are sisters, are we not? Could you not find the kindness to at least lend me your Champion?" Iracebeth pleaded through the looking glass. "Just until the threat of the revolution has passed.”

Mirana shook her head. There was absolutely no way she would send Alice Over There. It was too much for her to ask of her Champion. “I am afraid I cannot do that, Iracebeth. My Champion is in Overland tending to some unfinished business.”

“It is easy enough to call her,” argued Iracebeth desperately. “She could travel through the looking glass.”

Mirana shook her head. “I cannot just send her there. She needs the freedom to make her own decision.”

Iracebeth frowned. “But the Champion’s Oath would extend--”

“No! Her oath will not be used for your advantage,” Mirana interrupted. She considered her options for a second. “I can send a couple of my most trusted subjects over there to help.”

Iracebeth waved her hand, dismissing Mirana’s idea. “You know how powerless a queen is without a Champion. Look what happened to Mirana over here.”

“I am sorry, Iracebeth. It is all I can do.”

She frowned and let out a shaky breath. “I see. Then I am afraid I will have to take matters into my own hands.”

******************

“So what do you think?”

Alice watched as her mother and sister cautiously fingered the intricate paper lanterns that she had brought from China as gifts.

“They certainly look…exotic,” Margaret answered, disgust weaving into her voice.

“I thought they looked exquisite,” Alice shot back.

“They are,” Helen said quickly, interceding. “They are very unique.” She pasted a smile on her face. “Just like you, Alice.”

Though Alice had only returned to London the day before, she was already yearning to leave. It wasn’t that she hadn’t missed her family--she had!--but being with her mother and sister highlighted how different they were from her.

“Have you thought about what you are going to do next?” Margaret asked, taking a sip of her tea.

“Yes, I am considering leaving London again,” Alice answered. She did her best to mask the excitement in her voice, but after so long, she was looking forward to being able to keep the promise she had uttered to Tarrant in Underland years ago.

Her mother sighed, as if she had expected that answer. “You’re not planning on going with the trading company to India, are you? I have heard rumors of the people there,” Helen asked, frowning.

“I have too. That they are wonderfully cultured, but I’m not planning to go there. But this land is no less exotic,” Alice replied, thinking of Underland and all of its wonders.

“But Alice! You are already nearing twenty-four! If you wait much longer…well, let’s just say no man wants to marry a woman past her prime,” Margaret replied.

“Not every woman wants to be married,” Alice countered.

“Will you be traveling as Lord Ascot’s apprentice?” Helen asked, breaking up another argument.

“No. I will be making this journey alone.”

The two elder women gasped simultaneously. “Without an escort?”

“I will be fine,” Alice assured them. “Women from America travel to London without an escort quite often.”

“Women from America are not ladies,” snorted Margaret. “Besides, a voyage at sea would be an excellent time for you and a husband to get to know each other. I heard that Lord Walter’s son is looking to be married soon.”

“He is a close family friend,” Helen murmured. Alice could see her trying to come up with a Plan. “Lady Walter and I had tea just last week. She did ask about you Alice.”

“No thank you,” she said firmly. Images of another pompous young suitor, not unlike Hamish, popped in her mind. She would not be chained to a man like that!

Suddenly, the image of Tarrant, his wild green eyes and gap-toothed smile replaced the unwelcome thought. Now he was a man of intrigue and honor that Alice wouldn’t mind spending time with!

“Come, now, Alice, you cannot be serious about wanting to travel to--what country did you say you were going to go to?” Margaret chided.

“It is no land that you have heard of.”

“That only furthers my point. You cannot possibly want to go to some undocumented land rather than stay here and begin a family,” Helen argued.

Alice looked between her mother and sister, both looking at her with that disapproving look she so-often associated with them. “I think I know what I want to do, Mother,” Alice declared.

The rest of their teatime passed in awkward silence. Finally, when Helen began to gather the service, Alice excused herself from the room. As she pushed open the front doors, she let the cool air wash over her. To her surprise, she found that she missed the briny scent of the ocean, but not as much as the air of Underland.

Underland.

She knew she needed to find a way to return there without worrying her mother and sister. After sailing around the world and seeing the most unique things, she still found a yearning to return to the only place where she felt like she belonged.

Alice looked wistfully back inside her mother’s home, seeing the two women in the living room, talking softly to each other, to doubt about her. She suppressed a sigh. Perhaps she wouldn’t get a chance to say goodbye to them as she hoped.

Alice accepted that it may never be possible…for they would never understand.

************************

He had been hiding behind the large oak for several hours, waiting for her. He smothered another sneeze--no doubt caused by the unsightly powder that was covering him, necessary for concealing his less-than-snowy-white-fur--as she stepped out of the house.

Finally.

He pulled out his pocket watch, his hand twitching slightly. If they didn’t hurry, they would be late. And the Queen would not be pleased at all.

For several seconds, he remained there, waiting to see if she would walk further out into the garden. When it became apparent that she was content to stay by the table, he hopped from his hiding place, hoping to catch her attention.

Fortunately, it worked.

“Nivens?” she called softly. “What are you doing here?”

He said nothing, not wanting to waste any more time by talking. Instead, he hopped ahead, hoping she would follow his lead.

And follow she did!

At least the rumors about her had been right, McTwisp thought, her curiosity was strong. He continued through the garden, leading her to the rabbit hole that he came from. With a pointed look, he gestured towards the hole.

To his surprise, she didn’t hop in.

This wasn’t the plan! He had been told that Alice would be willing to return to Underland. He needed her to go with him! The Queen would be most unhappy if he returned without the Champion!

She knelt down to eye-level with him. “I can’t just leave. My mother and my sister…”

He twitched. Oh how he hated when things turned out unexpectedly! He slyly looked around for something he could use to push the apparently unwilling Alice down the hole. Unfortunately, there was so such device.

Finally, inspiration struck. She was a Champion! Surely, she wouldn’t be able to deny the call of the one she was destined to protect! “The Queen needs you,” he finally said.

That worked! Alice stood up with a determined look in her eye. “Did she send you here?”

He nodded and held up his watch. “Yes, and we’re going to be late if we don’t hurry.”

Her look vacillated between him, the hole and the home she came from. “I’ll be right back.”

Then she left, heading back to the house and he was alone again.

Frantic, he started pacing around. He needed her to go with him! He knew every minute that passed was one minute that Hightopp would use to his advantage to try to take over Salazen Grum. When Iracebeth had asked him to fetch Alice, even insisting that he don on this white powder so he would appear as his Underlandian counterpart, he had readily agreed. The only hope Otherland had was placed on this Champion Alice. A little bit of trickery was necessary for the common good!

He relaxed as he heard her footsteps quickly approaching.

“All right, Nivens, I‘m ready,” Alice said, looking resolutely at the rabbit’s hole in front of them.

Without wasting another minute--they were already terribly late!-- he jumped in the hole, hoping she would follow him. He wasn’t disappointed. As he was halfway down the hole, he saw the tumbling Alice coming towards him.

When he made it to the bottom, to his surprise, the door was already open. Was the Queen already waiting for them? He looked up, looking for Alice. She was too far up--or was it down?--the hole for him to see her.

With a twitch and a hop, he went through the door, eager to report to the queen he had brought the Alice.

But, to his dismay, Iracebeth was not waiting for him.

“What are you doing here?” he squeaked.

“You’re not the only ones with spies, Rabbit.”

Then the world went black.