Maddest Love | Tarrant Hightopp (Mad Hatter) X OC

5. The Alice

CHAPTER FIVE
The Alice

The young Alice had joined the four mad creatures for tea and they weren't stuck in time anymore. But Horovendoush day had already took place after her visit.

𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫...

"Lily!" McTwisp panted looking at the tea table. "Twispy, what's the matter?" Delilah asked worriedly. "I have found her, I've found Alice!" The white bunny blurted out in his usual anxious tone. "The Alice?" Tarrant raised his eyebrows. "I don't know." McTwisp answered. "Let's go." Delilah determinedly said. "Be careful, Lila!" Tarrant shouted from the tea table, but they were already out of sight.

Almost everyone was there, looking through the lock. A tiny Alice was struggling to climb up the table. "You'd think she would remember all this from the first time." Dodo said. "You've brought the wrong Alice." Mallymkun whispered. "No, she's the right one. I'm certain of it." McTwisp disclosed. Meanwhile, Alice had found the upelkucken. "She's the wrong Alice." Mallymkun spoke again. "Give her a chance." McTwisp protested. They all backed off a bit when Alice approached the door.

"I told you she's the right Alice!" McTwisp cheered. "I am not convinced." Mallymkun was sure of her case. "How is that for gratitude? I've been up there for weeks, trailing one Alice after the next, and I was almost eaten by other animals." McTwisp thundered. "Can you imagine? They go about entirely unclothed, and they do their shukm in public — I had to avert my eyes."

"She doesn't look anything like herself." One of the flowers concurred. "That's because she's the wrong Alice." Mallymkun fumed. "No," Delilah came out of the bushes. "It's because the young Alice has grown up." Delilah smiled at the small confused girl in front of her.

"If she was, she might be."
"If she isn't, she ain't."
"But if she were so, she would be."
"But she isn't, nohow."
, Tweedledee and Tweedledum mumbled.

"How can I be the wrong Alice when this is my dream?" Alice spoke making everyone frown. "And who are you, if I might ask?" Alice questioned stepping forward. "Oh, I'm Tweedledee, he's Tweedledum." Tweedledee answered. "Contrariwise, I'm Tweedledum, he's Tweedledee."

"We should consult Absolem." Dodo stated. "Exactly. Absolem will know who she is." The pink flower agreed. "I'll escort you." Tweedledee started walking. "Hey, it's nog being your turn." Tweedledum protested. They both grab one of Alice's arms. "Are they always this way?" Alice asked whilst being dragged away by the two brothers.
"Don't worry, Alice. You're safe with us." Delilah reassured.

They arrived at the place where Absolem stayed. "Who are you?" Absolem asked as he took a puff off his cigar. "Absolem?" Alice frowned. "You're not Absolem. I'm Absolem. The question is, who are you?" He retorted. Alice coughed because of the smoke. "Alice." She answered. "We shall see." Absolem responded. "What do you mean by that? I ought to know who I am." Alice debated. "Yes, you ought, stupid girl. Unroll the Oraculum."

They do as Absolem requested. "The Oraculum, being a calendrical compendium of Underland." McTwisp explained. "It's a calender." Alice stated. "Compendium." Absolem corrected. "Iy yells of each and every day since the Beginning." They all look back at the Oraculum. "Today is Griblig Day in the time of the Red Queen." McTwisp explained.

"Show her the Frabjous Day." Absolem ordered. "Hmm. Yeah, Frabjous being the day you slay the Jabberwocky." One of the brothers explained. "Sorry? Slay a what?" Alice questioned. "Oh, yeah. That being you, there, with the Vorpal sword." — "No other swords can kill the Jabberwocky, nohow."

"If it ain't Vorpal, it ain't dead."

"The Jabberwocky is the Red Queen's 'pet', you see." Delilah cleared things up. "That's not me!" Alice swore. "I know!" Mallymkun said convinced. "Resolve this for us, Absolem. Is she the right Alice?"

"Not hardly."

"I told you." Mallymkun asserted. "Oh, dear." McTwisp muttered. Tweedledee and Tweedledum started arguing again, whilst everyone followed Alice. She walked backwards, somewhat scared of her own 'dream'. The pink flower scoffed. "Little imposter. Pretending to be Alice. She should be ashamed." She judged. "Everyone, give her a break. The last time we saw Alice she was really young. And she never actually agreed to slay the Jabberwocky. But if you're the Alice, it's your faith." Delilah spoke, but no one was convinced. "I was so certain of you." McTwisp uttered.

"I'm sorry. I don't mean to be the wrong Alice!" Alice apologised. "Wait, this is my dream. I'm going to wake up now and you'll all disappear." She realised and she pinched herself in her arm. Everyone frowned and Alice opened her eyes. "That's odd. Pinching usually does the trick." Alice confusingly spoke. "I could stick you if that would help." Mallymkun offered. "It might, actually. Thank you." Alice accepted the offer. Mallymkun sticked Alice with her toe. Alice yelled in pain and something jumped behind her. "Bandersnatch!" The Tweedles screeched and everyone ran.

They all tried to escape but it was no use. The red knights were too fast and they had captured everyone, except Alice.

"It looks like you ran afoul of something with wicked claws." Chessur appeared on a tree and had noticed the wound on Alice's arm. "And I'm still dreaming." Alice determinedly said. "What did that to you?" Chessur questioned. "Banner or Bander..." Alice hesitated. "The Bandersnatch? Well, I'd better have a look. It needs to be purified by someone with evaporating skills, or it will fester and putrefy." Chessur explained. "No, thank you. I'll be fine as soon as I wake up." Alice declined. "At least let me bind it for you." Chessur offered. "What do you call yourself?"

"Alice." She answered. "The Alice?"