Be My Alice

Samuel Hatter Knows How to Dance

Growing up and to this day, I love watching the sun rise and fall day after day. I always feel at ease as I enjoy the peacefulness before the disruption and chaos occur. I am at peace. Relaxation is my companion. Nothing plagues my mind as I marvel at the sheer beauty of the sky.

Today... was not that day. I watched the sunset perched on a thick branch with a lit pipe between my fingers. I could not enjoy the silence. I was alert and wary. I felt... pathetic... nausea was threatening to escape my stomach. Smoking my pipe was not working. Forgotten and hardly used, my mind raged with thoughts of the unfortunate events throughout the day.

Leonardo, the Outsider I pledged my protection to, was caught again by Crimson Knightly. The Red Knight enjoyed the thrill of the hunt. He would have succeeded with his latest scheme. He injected a strange serum into the Duchess – one of three Foundering Members of Wonderland – turning her into an abstract mutant. The same mutant, which, in contrast, was like the monster plant and the knight I killed. My ward had an episode once he witnessed her transformation. He ran off only to be caught in Crimson's grasp.

I was powerless. I convinced myself I was powerless. But my vow to get the turtle home ignited, giving me enough determination to kill the Duchess. I was not certain if there was a cure to reverse the effect. If I were mutated like her, I would rather be dead with the remaining humanity I have left. I prayed she would find peace in the afterlife and followed the Royal Guard's trail.

What I did not anticipate was Leon accompanied by the one Wonderlandian I did not want to see – Vex Cheshire. They left Leon as a carnivorous plant's meal not too long ago. They value their nine lives as family heirlooms, which baffled me how a two-timing, backstabbing feline preferred to intervene in this game. They love observing from the sidelines, not standing in front and center.

How baffling...

My eyebrow twitched as a pair of paws massaged my shoulders. "Ooh~ my, my, my. You are a tensed Hatter, Sammy. Why the stress?" I lifted my pipe to my lips to avoid saying my piece. "Silent, are we? I do not blame you. It was a long day, especially for Alice."

I inhaled a deep breath before releasing the smoke. "What are you doing here, Vex?"

"I think it is obvious what a massage looks like or rather what it feels like."

I shoved their paws off as I glared at the feline. "You know what I meant. By now, you would be far away from the danger of brushing your fur and trimming your claws. Imagine my surprise to see you "assisting" the new Alice."

Vex laid a paw on his chest as they gasped at my statement. "Sammy! I am appalled! Devastated! Alice would be back with the Red Knight warming his bed if it were not for me. Is that what you want? For Alice to warm Sir Crimson's bed? I think not."

"True. I do not. If it were not for Alice's plea, I would hunt down the bastard and kill him and his Royal Guard for daring to touch my ward." I sipped my pipe again. "It boggles my mind to see you... charitable."

"We Cheshires do offer our services when needed."

"Advice, dear Vex. Unlike the Pillars, your family offers words of wisdom; you do not require a fee no matter how vague you spew your words."

"Sammy... are you insinuating I have a motive for lending a paw?"

"Coming from you... absolutely. The matter of you insinuating what I am insinuating to you proves my point."

Instead of shock, the Cheshire Cat shrugged as they floated over my sight of the sunset. "I cannot hide it from you. I have a motive, but I cannot say what it is. I will say it has nothing to do with harming Alice."