literature

Arcee in Wonderland ch 4 - Meeting The Queen

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"Meeting The Queen"

Arcee was miserable. She plopped down on a rock, pulled her knees up against her chest and wrapped her arms around them. She had been walking aimlessly for hours through the tulgry wood. She had got lost, found her way, and got lost again multiple times. It was such a strange and horrible place. She encountered many strange and indescribable creatures in the forest; some were friendly, many were not. Now she was lost again.

"Now what do I do? I'll never get out of here. I guess if your lost, you should stay put until found. But who would ever think to look for me here. Good advice; If I listened earlier I probably wouldn't be here. But that's just what I always do. I give good advice, but I rarely follow it. That's how I always get into trouble."

She felt tears start to well up in her eyes as she realized just how lonely she was.

"Now, now don't cry arcee. Remember what happened last time. You don't want to flood this whole place" she whimpered to herself

Things seemed to grow darker and darker. It seemed that it was becoming night time but she couldn't tell. She started to hear humming. It echoed in the darkness.

"Cheshire?"

"and the mome raths outgrabe"

She turned and looked up into the tree behind her. Up in the branch a smile appeared followed by its bright blue eyes, then the rest of its body.

"chershire cat, it's you" she smiled, whipping the tears from her eyes.

"of course" he smiled

"who were you expecting, the white rabbit?"

He made the joke but his smile softened to a more sympathetic one. He wasn't trying to be really mock her, just raise her spirit a bit.

"no no, I'm done with all that, scrap that stupid rabbit. I just want to go home, but I can't find my way"

"naturally. Unfortunately, always here you see are the queen's ways" he spit after he spoke the name to show his disgust.

"queen, what queen?"

"the queen of hearts, she rules here"

"could she help me?"

"I wouldn't count on it"

"well we'll see about that" she said with some new found confidence

"this should be interesting. She'll be mad about you, simply MAD hahaha"

"how do I find her?"

"weeeell, some go this, some go that way, but me, I prefer the short cut"

With that, he pulled one of the branches down, causing a doorway to open up in the tree trunk. It obviously wasn't meant to be there; it was clearly magic. She looked up to say thank you but he had already vanished. She walked through and found herself blinded by the sun. She then realized she was in a maze, a large hedge maze. At the far edge she could see a large castle.

"well, seems fairly obvious"

She started making her way towards the castle. She got turned around a few times but managed to keep the castle in site. She started to hear whistling as she walked along.

"oh god, more singing"

She came upon a courtyard in the maze. It had lots of space and was full of white rose bushes. She looked over and saw three bots, identical in appearance, with masked faces. They all had heart symbols on their chests. They had some open cans of red paint and were painting the white roses red. They were the ones whistling and humming.

"painting the roses red, we're painting the roses red" they started singing

"um, excuse me guys"

The three whirled around to look at her. Just like the door mouse, their featureless faces were off putting, but she could at least read their body language. They were surprised but didn't seem hostile.

"why exactly are you painting these roses red?"

"huh, oooooh!" they all said together

"well, the fact is young lady, is that we planted the white roses by mistake" one said

"aye" another added

"and the queen likes them red" the third one said

"and if she finds out, each of us will quickly loose his head"

"scrap!"

"yup, the queen has practically everyone beheaded"

"yeah, her scary king just swishes his sword and it's done"

"she's got a reeeeeally bad temper and anyone can get one her bad side, then shrrrrrrrrrrrcc"

"NEVER make her lose her temper!"

"whoa. That doesn't sound fun. That cat never said anything about that, huff, course he didn't. Well, I am busy but I don't feel that comfortable to just leaving you guys to deal with this. If you guys fail and she finds out I just couldn't have that on my conscience. So I guess I could lend a hand, just for a bit. BUT, if i do, will you guys bring me to the castle"

"oh, thanks a lot"

"but, are you sure you want to go there, it isnt a pleasant place"

"im getting that feeling but i have to"

"thank you so much ma'am"

"yeah, don't mention it. Now give me a brush"

She helped them with the rose bush they were on then they all moved to the next one. That's when they started singing again.

"painting the rosses red, we're painting the roses red. Don't tell the queen what you have seen or say that's what we've said, but we're painting the roses red"

"yes, painting the roses red"

"not pink"

"not green"

"not aqua-marine"

"we're painting the roses reeeeeeed!"

Suddenly they heard trumpets echo in the maze. They looked down the main path through the maze and saw others approaching.

"the queen, it's her, the queen!" one yelled

They all started scrambling around to get rid of the evidence. They threw the ladders, paint cans and brushes over the hedges then lined up. A large line of the same identical solider came marching down the path. Then came the white rabbit himself, blowing the horn they had heard before. He was apparently the queen's herald. Then a throne, carried by the troopers, came into view. The three she had just met dropped to the ground and bowed. After what she had heard about this queen, it would be best not to cause any problems yet, so she did the same. Then the queen came into view. Her appearance was instantly repellant. She was a curvaceous, seductive looking women; horns on her head, wicked fangs in her grin, bright purple eyes and razor looking fingers. Behind her throne were two other figures. One was a average height bot but thin and hunched over a bit. He was silver, with large wings and long claw-like fingers. The other stood much taller, nearly twice the height. He was darker grey in color, very muscular, a stern and scared face, and piercing red eyes. The crown on his head showed that he was the king.

"stop!" the queen shouted

"all hail the queen of hearts!" all those assembled yelled

"what do we have here?"

"I agree entirely your majesty" the winged figure said as he stepped forward

"don't be suck up"

"would I dare deceive you, your majesty?"

"yes"

"oh thank you, your majesty. complements are always welcome" he said sarcastically

"your an idiot"

"takes one to know one" he whispered

"silence knave!"

The knave started to grumble to himself but a harsh glare from the king shut him up. The Queen stepped down from her chair and began inspected the messily painted roses.

"you three, get up" she demanded and they obeyed

"what is this?" she asked mockingly, already knowing the answer

"please your majesty!"

"we were just trying to…"

"YES, you were weren't you"

She gave a wicked chuckle at the thought. The king gave the smallest, briefest of grins before it faded away. The knave, however, grinned just as wickedly as the queen.

"OFF WITH THEIR HEADS!"

The king stepped around the carriage and stood before the three poor troopers. A sword suddenly extended from his arm and in one fluent motion he slashed through the air. Before arcee's eyes, the heads of the three troopers tumbled to the ground. Their lifeless bodies then collapsed right beside her.

"HOLY SCRAP!"

It was just horrible. Before she could even move, the queen used her foot to lift arcee's head off the ground to look at her.

"and who is this?"

"a...arcee…yo..your majesty"

"and why are you here"

"I…I have heard much about you and was sent to meet you"

"really!" the queen grinned

"stand up"

Arcee stood up and stared into the queen's eyes as they were about the same height. All she could feel was hatred. Those poor troopers were trying to please her. They made one tiny mistake and tried to make up for it and were killed for their loyalty. They didnt even have enough time to beg for their lives before they died. she pityed them and would remember the poor souls always.

"do you know how to play croquet?" the queen hissed, breaking arcees thoughts

"what?"

"i said do you know how to play croquet?!" she asked in a harsher tone. she obviously wasnt fond of repeating herself

"ye..yes, I have a general understanding"

"well, c'mon then!" the queen ordered as she walked away

The queen sat back in her chair and the escort started moving again. Arcee followed behind them all when the white rabbit came back to walk with her.

"hey, nice day huh?"

"I suppose. So, this is what you were late for, huh?"

"yeah, well, you see why I was in a hurry. This isn't exactly a job where you can make a lot of mistakes, or your head is literally on the chopping block"

She just nodded as they walked along, the image of the lifeless bodies of the troopers were burned into her eyes.

"it's kinda of hard to remember but, you remind me of some one i think i know" she finally said

"must be a handsome fellow"

"riiiight. It seems like everyone here seems familiar to me. Maybe this is all just a dream"

"maybe. But if it is it's gotta be a heck of a dream!"

she suddenly gave a hard punch to his side and he recoiled in pain.

"hey!"

"that's for that little stunt you pulled back at your house"

he had to think for a second before remembering how he slapped her butt when they were there. his only responce was cocky smile. she glared at him for a second before giving up and returning the smile.

The entourage finally came to another large courtyard in the maze. In a corner of the clearing was a small pond with many flamingos. The queen, king, knave and some of the soldiers grabbed the birds and it became clear that they were to be used as the croquet mallets. arcee was horrified at the animal creulty, she just kept hating this queen more and more. As the queen was lining up her shot, the soldiers started jumping onto the ground and leaning up, clearly acting as the hoops. And as balls, they were using the vicious little creatures that had bit arcee before.

"hm, good, those little pests deserve it" she thought.

When the queen hit, the soldiers would all move so she could always win. On soldier was not as fast and missed the oncoming "ball".

"OFF WITH HIS HEAD!" she yelled

The king grabbed the panicked trooper, dragged him behind one of the hedges, and after a slicing sound was heard, he returned to the game as nonchalantly as if he was coming back from the bathroom.

No one else was having as easy a time as the queen and a commotion started to break out as many started trying to cheat by kicking their "balls".

"enjoying the game?" arcee suddenly heard a voice

Floating in the air over the hedges was the large head of the Cheshire cat.

"oh, you!"

"quite the game huh"

"they don't really play fair do they"

"most people don't if they think they can get away with it"

"it was soooo nice how you failed to mention the way the queen really is"

"oh, that. That's just one of those things you really gotta see for yourself, y'know. I did say she would be MAD about you, hehe"

"yeah well…"

"and who is this!"

The queen and king suddenly appeared at arcee's sides

"oh, ah, just a friend"

They both glared at the floating cat head.

"I don't like it, it's creepy and creepy things always lead to trouble. OFF WITH IT'S HEAD!"

"I can't"

All eyes suddenly turned to the king in shock.

"WHAT, WHY!" the queen screamed

"it's a floating head, it has no body, so there is nothing to severe it from. It is already beheaded.

The queen growled; such a notion shattered everything she had ever known.

"that's ridiculous, anything that has a head can be beheaded!" the knave argued

"ARRRRRH, there's too much talk and not enough action. If you all don't get this sorted out I'll have EVERYBODY"S HEAD!"

This didn't stifle the situation at all and the courtyard filled with even more bickering and arguing over the matter.

"pssst"

Arcee looked up at Cheshire

"take a walk, this is probably gonna take while" he smiled and winked

She smiled back before slipping away and heading down one of the maze paths. She wandered for some time before seeing an opening in one of the maze walls. When she got up to it she saw there was a path out of the maze and into a peaceful looking forest. she went in a short ways when she came upon a small stone temple or shrine, sitting there in the thickest wooded area. She wandered up into the open chamber and saw a strange creature sitting next to a stone pedestal. He was a red and blue bot with large majestic feathered wings.

"greetings, who are you?' the creature said as he came to life and turned to her.

"hello, my name is arcee"

Despite the bots rough appearance he had very kind eyes and the smallest hint of a smile. Being in his presence, arcee, for the first time since being in this wonderland, felt relatively safe.

"arcee, hmmmm, that sounds familiar"

"who or what are you"

"a griffin my dear lady"

"I thought you were a mythical creature"

"I am, that makes me all the more fascinating" he smiled, which made her smile

"mr griffin, is there a way out of this crazy place?"

"hmmmm, I've never really been out of it. Let's ask my friend Mr. mock turtle. He's my best friend. Splendid fellow. True blue, through and through." He rambled

He lifted up a giant turtle shell and placed it on the stone table. Then tapped on the shell a few times.

"rise and shine old chum"

With that, the mock turtle began to come out of his shell. But when he did, it wasn't what arcee expected. All four of his limbs were mismatched and disproportionate. His head was a mangled mess, appearing to have traits and parts from multiple different other bots. He popped his head out and looked at arcee then suddenly began to cry.

"oh, is there something wrong" she asked

"oh no no no, it's kind of his fancy. Who knows what sad thoughts tip-toe through the mossy glades of his mind. He has had things pretty rough lately after all."

"oh, wow"

"I know how to cheer him up. Mockers, tell this young lady about yourself"

"well she's come to the right person for that" the turtle suddenly perked up and smiled

"sit down both of you"

"no thanks my old friend, I've heard it all before and…"

"SIT DOWN! It's the least you can do"

The mock turtle turned over and sat up at the edge of the table.

"once…ahhhh, I was a real turtle…I was…I was!" he shouted and started crying again.

"well, that was a very interesting story" arcee said awkwardly as she started to turn to leave.

"I haven't started yet!"

"stay you may just learn something" the griffin added.

"You must have learned a lot while you've been here"

"I suppose I have. Mr turtle, if don't mind being asked, how did you get like…that?"

"well when griff and I were little, we went to the same school together. The school master was an old turtle, we used to call him tortoise"

"why would you call him tortoise if he wasn't one?"

"we called him tortoise because he taught us"

Arcee just rolled her eyes.

"anyways, back then I loved mimicking and acting like other people. I got so good at it that I could make myself look like them. but I did it so much that I starting being others and forgot myself, and my looks reflected that.

"that's how some say griffins came to be young one. That they are part one thing and part another because long ago they forgot how to be true to themselves"

"I see"

"have you been true to yourself?" griffin asked

"not for some time but I think I have finally remember how to be"

The griffin and turtle nodded in approval. Their attention was suddenly drawn by two of the queen's soldier standing in the arch-way. One walked up to the griffin and whispered something to him.

"it appears, my dear, that you are being summoned to the queen's castle"

"for what!"

"the trial of jack, the knave of hearts"

"ok" she stepped down and prepared to leave with the soldiers.

"you two aren't coming?" she asked

"no, we don't deal with those kinds of a affairs" griffin answered

"legal ones?"

"no, THEIRS" he stressed

She knew he meant the king and queen and nodded to them.

"arcee, remember what we said. Just stay true to yourself and you can overcome anything" the griffin called out

She smiled back at the duo before leaving with the soldiers.

"well, what do you want to do know old friend?"

"do you want to sing"

"ah yes, I love a good song"

"great! Hows about our old favorite, Beautiful Soup"

"take it away freind"

© 2013 - 2024 tritie
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