One Kiss: A Descendants AU Tale

14. Illusion of Hope

Ben was permitted to bathe and dress himself in clean clothes for his audience with the Queen of Hearts. The courtesy shown to a royal prisoner gave him hope that the tyrant wasn't totally unreasonable. He rubbed at the maroon indentation left on his wrists. If his bondage was this bad, he wondered about the state of the others. He had to barter for their release... how he was going to do that? Well, he would think of something, even if he had to be deceitful and bluff his way out. He was surrounded by an escort of guards and as long as he kept with their pace, they didn't lay a hand on him.

As soon as his appointed group tasted the outside air, a white rabbit in a smartly tailored vest hopped forward. His hind legs and tall ears straightened up giving the animal a dignified appearance. "Hello, young royal. I am Bibatt Wher, humble herald to Her Most Illustrious and Exuberant, Most Honored and Glorified, Most Red and Beautiful of the known and unknown world and Most Powerful and Dignified, Queen Ruby of Hearts and of the Red Kingdom, Merciful Benefactor to those worthy, Bane to her enemies, Soon-to-be ruler of Auradon, Conqueror of the Other World, and Empress of All---"

"Is she waiting on us?" Ben interupted , chagrinned at her new titles she had already fashioned for herself.

Bibatt's nose twitched and he smoothed his whiskers with a paw before sighing. "The Queen waits on no one. You would do well to remember what I am about to say. And I shall speak plain, but if it helps I can speak backwards or upside down or sideways. Doing so on hands would be rather un-easy, unspeakable, one could say... or not say... nothing has to be said at all for one's coherent or hare-ent, get it?-- understanding. Oh where was I? Oh! Correct in the leftiest of ways, for me, or on feet, or shoes or... oh dear. The point has been lost. We should go find it. Oh, by the by, no time. We shall be late. Follow, other worlder. I have not a hand for such questions. You distracted me so." He tutted then hopped off.

Ben's brain burned and he squeezed his eyes shut, wishing for a nap and an afternoon spent under a wet rag. I despise riddlespeak.

"No dawdle. Her Majesty hates dawdlers and the very act of dawdle!" The rabbit said and Ben had no choice in the matter anyway.

As soon as he saw the red-clad queen, he had to duck. She was out on the lawn playing some kind of game of croquet. The objective of the game seemed to be how many windows of Auradon Prep she could bust out. Glass shattered with every stroke of her... green... flamingo? It took him a minute to realize the "balls" were colorful living creatures as well. And from the way a guard grunted and held his bleeding eye after being hit by a stray shot... he came to the conclusion the balled up creature had quills. The other cards did not rush to their fellow comrade's aid.

"How dare you get in the way of my shot?" The Queen smirked, despite her furious tone and the fact that it was not the guard's fault that her shot was off, if the windows were in fact the targets. "What have you got to say for yourself, blind foolish club?"

"It will not happen again, Your Grace."

"Oh. Well. We can make sure of that, now can't we? Off with his---!!!"

Surprisingly, the white rabbit interupted her with his announcement. He was singing his praises of her, and that seemed to ease the annoyance that took over her brow. Ben had a sneaking suspicion the rabbit had to do this show of flattery so as not to incur the Queen's wrath. "My Queen, rightful ruler of all Wonderland, Uniter of the Red Court, and most gracious, fantastical, loveliest of the---"

"Enough." She waved her hand for him to move along.

"It is my pleasure, Your Majesty, to present... uh... whats-his-face from Auradon."

Annoyed, he stepped up. "King Benjamin, Your Majesty."

"Isn't this embarassing for you," the Queen said in a friendly tone, "I'm afraid, deary, you are no longer a king. I have taken your crown."