why is a raven like a writing desk

An Alice

Pots simmered and boiled on the stove as a woman was mixing a bowl of what looked like cake mix.   It was plain beige in color before it turned a vibrant blue.  She set the bowl down taking a spoon a tasting it. "Hmm needs more zing bing berries. "    The woman wore long black dress with a matching cloak being held in place by a clasp in the shape of a feather.  Her hair was short in a messy dusty grey bob. She went over to her counter and from a basket of colorful berries of all shapes and sizes she pulls out a yellow  bumpy berry, it shocked her slightly but pays no mind as she mixes it in her batter.  She tastes it once more.  "Hmm that should do it. "  she pours the batter into tiny bite size cake tinsel and places them in the oven.  She then moves her attention to the pots of liquids that were boiling, sprinkling different spices and herbs into each. 

Time passes on and soon the woman's work was about done,  jars and vials were filled with colorful liquids,  small plates with the bite sized cakes and some cookies all laid out neatly.   One by one she labled them with the  words drink me and eat me respectively and placed them into a basket.    "Time to get these all set up."   The woman walked to her front door, taking out a key made of bone, she mutters a few words before turning the key.  Once opened she found herself in a corridor, full of other plain looking doors.   She walks over to a glass table, looking around the woman saw no one and set one of the vials she made on the table.   "An Alice will be here soon. " She said to herself before opening up another door and walking through.

The woman goes by the name of Raven,  her job in Wonderland  is the local alchemist, witch, potion maker,  or sorceress.  She was never told the title of her job, just that she had to make things for when Alices visit,  it was her role and it had been for years  or at least she thought it was years, time works different in Wonderland.      She sets down cakes and potions in locations where Alices were suppose to show up, they had lessons to learn, quests to go and people to meet and these concoctions  were there  to aid them.     Raven arrived in a castle of white, it was quite the contrast to her dark appearance.     She traveled up the stairs and to a bedroom. It was full of lavish  furniture all in white like a cloud.   She reached into her basket and from came out a piece of enchanted  chain mail. A note said 'wear me.'     As she places it on the bed a sing song voice spoke.

"Oh me oh my, a little birdy has dropped in.  A Alice will be arriving I suppose?"   When Raven turned she saw who she knew to be one of the White Queens. Her curly white hair reached the floor, her top was covered in pearls her skirt was long enough to cover her feet.

Raven gave a nod of respect. "Indeed your highness.   A battle against Space shall happen.. An Alice will be here soon as will others after."

"They always do.  Would you care for a cookie? "  The White Queen asks.

"No thank you." Raven said automatically. It was the usual  answer she gave to this White Queen.    Others offer her tea, some a snow cone, one has once offered to play her in a game of chess.   "But may I ask, have you seen a Cheshire  kitten, one with green fur and stripes?" 

The Queen shook her head. "I have not but I will tell you if I see one at once. I will send my knights to you."  

Raven walked past her slowly. "No you won't..." Once out of sight, those with title roles forget her.  Whether it be Hatter, Queen, or Rabbit, they forget.   As soon as Raven was out of view the queen's face changed, it looked void of expression  for a split second before a smile reappeared, complimenting  the chainmail that rested on the bed, forgetting all about Raven. 

It was the life Raven lead since she started her job.  Making deliveries to different parts of Wonderland, seeing the many variations  of people here.   They never remember her except for a couple of people. They were the ones who helped keep her sanity in this place and  she needed it if she wanted to find a specific Cheshire cat.             Raven's basket was soon empty as she approached a pond,  she steps on a very oversize lillypad and it moves on its own in the water.  It travels  to the other side where a large nest , the size of a house had been made.    "Keeper, I am here for the next order of cakes, potions and crafts."   

A part of the neck cracks open to reveal a entry way and the one referred to as the keeper comes into view.  It was an old lady, with silver hair and small gold rimmed glasses, she was slightly  chubby with a plaid printed top with an apron tied around her waist. In her hands was a tall swirly staff made of wood with white feathers hanging from thread.   Her lower half reveal a feathery bottom with scrawny yellow legs and sharp talons.   The woman was like a centaur  but instead of a horse bottom it was a goose.    "Dear you are early.  Come in."

Raven walks into the nest home,  there was a small fireplace with a golden fire,  a rocking chair was near it with a basket of yarn for knitting.   The Keeper had gone to a book pile and took one out.  "I know I'm  early Keeper. "

"You can call me Fable.  I have a name" The Keeper answered before letting out a honk.   She flipped through the pages  of her book.  "No others seem to be needed  right now. I suggest checking back in tomorrow."

"Then maybe we can talk about finding him.  It's  been I don't know how long.  You can find him Keeper. Please." Raven said stepping forward.

The goose woman frowned. "Little bird, little bird. Now is not the time.  My book tells me many things and as of now your story is not done yet.  The kitten will return to you when the story says to."

"Please Fable..can't  I..."  Raven tired to say before the nest shook and started to fall apart.   "What's happening? Is the Jabberwocky  here?" 

The Keeper frowned, the few feathers on the back of her neck stood up. "No.  I recognize  this presence.  Joker, you know you don't  belong here. "

There came a chuckle as a skinny figure appeared in a puff of sparkles.  "Aww I can't come visit my favorite birds" The sparkles faded to reveal a patchwork clothed  man with short pink hair.  His colorful clothes  were so mixed matched they made Raven's head hurt.   Over his right eye was a black spade  he wore a sickening smile.   

Raven took a step to guard the keeper.  "You do not belong in this part of Wonderland.  What do you want." 

The Joker  started juggling colorful plastic balls as he spoke. "Why would anyone come to the Keeper's place.  The hen has the book.  I would like it.  It's time for me to have my happy ending. I am tired of doing it for the Alices that arrive here.   Come now Raven. You want something too.  To find a kitten if I heard right."

The Keeper let out a few angry honks. "I do not control the endings.  The book is not yours to have. Joker, go back to your side of Wonderland. "

"Do not use him as a bargaining  chip!" Raven shouted angrily at the mention of kitten before her hand turn to more of talons and she went to scratch him.

The Joker kept on juggling with a smile.  He tossed all the balls in the air as Raven came forward. He cartwheeled out of the way before catching the balls before they touched the ground.    He laughed. "Too slow." He then tossed the balls at The Keeper and they open on impact with her.  One wraps her in a vine connected to some singing flowers, the second released a dark cloud that made her start coughing and the third just made a pie appear, getting in her apron.

"Stop.." The Keeper said between coughs.  She dropped the book because of the vine that wrapped her up. The flowers were singing  row row row your boat. 

Joker picked up the book and smiled.   "You always decide which Alice comes,  see them fulfill their purpose  here and they live happily  ever after.  It's time for me to get my happy ending but first..." He flipped through the pages of the book and tore one out.     At the moment that happened a scream came from the old woman
Joker smiled."Goodbye birdies."  He vanished as quick as he appeared.

Raven growled trying to get him before he vanished but was unsuccessful.   She looked at the Keeper  who was coughing more violently.  "Fable!"  She used her talons to cut the vine, the singing soon stopped.      "Are you okay? "

Every other few words had coughs in between as she spoke.  Her skin started to look grey.  "He...has the book.. you need to...get it back...."

"I'm more worried about you.  What can I do..." she asked looking at her. "You were  poisoned...I can make an antidote.."

The Keeper  gave a weak smile. "This sickness...will pass... he tore the book...look.."  Raven went over  to the ripped page that was left on the ground.  The print on it started fading. The Keeper  continued. "We are all.. connected  to...the book.   He's trying to..end my story..."

"What do I need to do to stop him!" Raven shouted.

"Get..an Alice.."