Once upon a time: Ever After High in Wonderland (Book 2)

Ch.35 And evil persuade

"Guys" Maddie said as everyone kept searching the woods for Alistair "We really shouldn't be out here at night, it's creepy".

"Yeah Maddie's right" Chase agreed "We can look for Alistair tomorrow, but we have to get back to the fire, it's not safe being out here at night".

"Fine" Lizzie sighed as they all went back to the fire.

"I just don't understand" Bunny said "Why would Alistair run off by himself?"

"Maybe he saw something and decided to follow it" Kitty guessed "I mean, his curiosity does lead him to new discoveries".

"Yeah, and his curiosity can lead him to trouble" Darling put in.

"Oh boy" Bunny sighed with a worried look "I just hope wherever he is he's ok".

_______

Alistair laid on the rough straw bed in his cell as he tried to sleep, but with straw poking his skin and the thought of what could happen to him and his friends ran through his mind causing him to stay awake. Plus the thought of the Jabberwock kept him wondering what he was gonna do to him, and what he did to his mother.

But his thought came to a stop when he heard footsteps heading towards his cell, he opened his eyes and saw Courtly slid open the door.

"Someone wants to talk to you" she said.

"What?" he said.

Alistair followed Courtly into the throne room, the Jabberwock wasn't there, so he wondered who wanted to talk to him.

"Right there" Courtly pointed ahead.

"Where?" he asked.

"The mirror" she pointed to the mirror that hung on the wall.

"The mirror?"

"Yes, now go" she said as she went away.

Confused, Alistair went up to the mirror and only saw his reflection.

"Um, hello?" he asked.

All of a sudden his reflection disappeared, and there in front of him stood the Evil Queen.

"Ah Alistair Wonderland" she grinned "You're here".

"You!" he gasped.

"Yeah it's me" she said with a sneaky look "Ah look at you, all grown up and handsome, you look just like your mother".

"You- you wanted to talk to me?"

"Why else would Courtly get you?"

"Wh- what do you want?" he asked nervously.

"All I want is to help you" she said with a sneaky smile.

"Help me?"

"I know that you've been looking for you mother since she disappeared years ago, and perhaps I can help you".

Alistair could tell that something was on her mind.

"What are you up to Ms. Queen" he asked with a stern look.

"Oh I'm not up to anything" she said with a sneaky look "I really do wanna help you, but in order to do so, I need you to help me".

"If this is about me freeing you, then the answer is no" he crossed his arms.

"Oh I'm sorry" she said sarcastically "I just thought that you wanted your mother back".

"Wait a minute" he gasped "You did something to her didn't you?"

"Well... maybe".

"That's why she never returned" he scowled "Where is she?!"

"Like I said, I'll tell you where she is, if you help me" she pressed her hands against the mirror.

Alistair held up his bravery.

"I'm still not letting you out" he said.

"Oh why not? You don't trust me?"

"Exactly".

"Well you can trust me this time, I promise that if you let me out, I'll tell you where your mother is".

Alistair took a step back.

"I'm sorry" he said "I just can't let you out".

"Well" she frowned "Then I suppose you'll never see your mother again".

Alistair turned his back to her to avoid seeing her.

"I thought that was what you wanted" the Queen said "Isn't that why you've been doing all that exploring and solving riddles, to find your mother".

Alistair clenched his fist as he held his tears back.

"But everything you do you end up failing to find her, cause only I know where she is, well, so does the Jabberwock, but this isn't about him right now. This is about you, do you want your mother back? Do you want to be the hero of Wonderland that everyone knows you are?"

"How will that make me a hero?" he turned to her with a stern look "Even if you did tell me where she is that wouldn't make me a hero".

"What I'm saying is, do you want your mother back or not?!"

He turned away so she would see his teary eyes.

"What are you?" she asked "Are you a hero? Or are you a wimp?"

He felt tears roll down his cheek.

"You're just like your mother" she frowned "An adventurous girl who's curiosity leads her to trouble, I can see why you were both put in asylums, cause you're both mad".

Alistair felt more tears come out as his blood began to boil.

"So answer this Alistair, do you want your mother back? Or do you want to live the rest of your life as a hopeless orphan?"

Alistair has had enough, he faced the Evil Queen with a mad look with tear stains on his cheek.

"You really think I'm gonna help you?!" he yelled with anger "After what you did to my life! You took my mother away from me, she was the only family I had left. Not only that, you took everyone away from their families, you're a cruel thing, and I will never let you out. I can see why Raven doesn't want to be you, cause all you do is cause harm to others. So don't even think about trying to persuade me to get you out, cause I wont do it. And I'll find my mother, no matter how long it takes".

The Queen then gave an evil chuckle.

"Well you might wanna hurry with that" she said with a grin "Cause I'm afraid you don't have much time to do it".

"What do you mean?"

"The Jabberwock didn't tell you?" she asked with sarcasm "Oh that's a pity, yeah you don't have much time to live".

"What?"

"I would tell you everything, except, you don't wanna help me".

Alistair put on a stern look.

"You know what?" he asked "I don't care, I am not giving up, I will find my mother, no matter what it takes, and you can't stop me".

And with that he stomped away as the image of the Evil Queen faded away. But inside the mirror, the Queen gave a little laugh as she watched him walk away.

"Oh Mr. Wonderland" she smirked "I really could've helped you, but I think it'll be more fun to watch you fail".