Kate in Wonderland

Chapter 2: The Queen's Croquet Match

The white rabbit leads Kate through Wonderland's peculiar landscape, with its colourful flora and eccentric inhabitants. They eventually arrive at a vast open field where a grand croquet match is in full swing. The royal court is in attendance, and at the centre of it all is The Queen of Hearts herself, resplendent in her elaborate, heart-shaped crown and crimson gown.

Kate, hiding behind a nearby bush, watches in awe as the queen plays croquet with flamingo mallets and hedgehog balls, her every command met with swift obedience. It is a whimsical and absurd scene that she has only heard of in stories.

But as she tries to get a closer look at the action taking place, she's taken aback, The Queen of Hearts looks strikingly similar to Natasha, except with red hair but they have the same confident demeanour and it is as if Natasha has stepped into Wonderland. Kate's heart races, but she dares not speak her thoughts aloud.

The queen's commands are just outrageous as her demands, and the croquet match is almost like a trial setting and it's hard to ignore. Her subjects, the playing cards, nervously follow her every whim, painting a picture of both chaos and fear.

Kate wonders if Natasha had somehow been swept into this surreal world as well, or if this is merely a whimsical twist of fate. With each swing of the flamingo mallet and the Queen's cries of "Off with their heads!" echoing through the air, Kate couldn't help but feel a sense of unease.

From her hiding spot, she continues to observe, marvelling at the bizarre spectacle while silently contemplating the strange duality between the Queen of Hearts and her real-world friend. The surreal world of Wonderland is proving to be full of surprises, and Kate could only imagine what other wonders and peculiarities she would encounter as she ventures deeper into this enchanting, and at times, unsettling realm.

As the match continues, the queen stops abruptly in her tracks, her eyes narrowing as she exclaims, "My tarts! I must have my tarts, this instant!" Her voice reverberates through the field and the whole court comes to a halt.

The servants scrambled to retrieve the tarts, and as they were presented to the Queen, "Someone has stolen three of my tarts!" She shouts.

A gasp goes through the assembly. Three tarts are missing, and the Queen's furious gaze sweeps over her trembling subjects.

"Who dared to steal my tarts?" she bellows, her eyes ablaze with anger. She lines up every servant before her, her judgment swift and unyielding.

"Was it you?" She demands, her voice firm.

Each servant's face is pale as the white roses that adorn the garden and they reply in a chorus of denial, "No, Your Majesty."

But the Queen's gaze lingered on one of the servants, a nervous man with squimberry juice staining his lips and chin. The Queen's eyes gleamed with suspicion, and she leaned forward to inspect him more closely.

She reaches out, swipes a finger across the servant's lips and licks it, "Squimberry juice."

"I swear, Your Majesty, I did not steal your tarts!" He pleas for his innocence.

But the Queen's judgment is swift and unyielding, "Off with his head!" she declares, pointing at the servant with squimberry juice on his lips. The other servants gasps in horror, and the unfortunate man is led away by the guards, his fate sealed.

Kate watches in astonishment as the bizarre trial unfolded before her. The Queen's whimsical yet ruthless sense of justice was both comical and terrifying, and the consequences of her actions in Wonderland are grave indeed. As she continues to observe, she couldn't help but wonder if she would find a way to navigate this curious and perilous world without meeting a similar fate.

The card guards, with their red and black uniforms and stern expressions suddenly surround the bush where Kate has been observing the chaotic trial.

With a sense of alarm, they uncover her hiding spot, their spears at the ready, ready to carry out the Queen's orders.

In that moment, Kate's heart races with fear, uncertain of what her fate would be in this strange and unpredictable world. She braces herself for the worst, her mind racing with thoughts of how she has unwittingly become entangled in the Queen's dramatic proceedings.

The Queen of Hearts, observing the commotion, approaches with a regal stride. Her eyes fell upon Kate, her expression a mixture of curiosity and authority. Kate braces herself for the worst, expecting the Queen to order her immediate capture or punishment.

However, to Kate's surprise, the Queen's gaze softens just a fraction, "And who might you be?" the Queen inquires, her voice carrying an air of command.

Kate, feeling a mix of trepidation and boldness, responds, "Kate Bliss, ma'am. I come from another world but I promise you, I mean no harm, Your Majesty."

The Queen regards her with a keen gaze. After a moment of contemplation, she declared, "For now, you shall not face the fate of my other adversaries. But beware, my dear. In Wonderland, things are not always what they seem. One misstep and my verdict may change."

Kate gulps and the card guards step back, allowing her to stand freely. The Queen, without further ado, resumes the croquet match, her attention fully diverted from Kate's presence.

Feeling a mixture of relief and caution, Kate quietly slips away from the royal court, contemplating the Queen's cryptic warning. She knows she has to navigate this curious and unpredictable realm with utmost care if she is to find her way back home, or at least uncover the mysteries that Wonderland holds.

As she ventures through the fantastical landscape, the warning from the Queen of Hearts echoed in her mind. Kate knows she has to tread carefully and make astute decisions if she is to survive this enigmatic and whimsical world that seems to defy all logic and reason. Her adventure in Wonderland has only just begun, and the challenges ahead seems both wondrous and perilous.