Blunderland-Twist Fate Challenge Finalist

Chapter 3: Old Friends, New Enemies

"Me?!" Mary exclaimed.

"Yes Mary. You are the only person who can stop her."  the Herchies Cat said.

"But why me?"

"Because you are the only one who has ever gotten close to killing her. You must do so alone."

"But how? The only reason I was ever able to do that were because of my many card soldiers!"

"Do not worry, my dear Mary.  Your friends will be with you-"

Suddenly, a voice rang out.

"Right now!"

They all spun around to find the Mad Hatter,  the March Hare and a mouse.

"Mary! Thank goodness your safe!" the Mad Hatter said.

"We're very glad to see you've recovered." the March Hare said. 

"Squeaaaak." went the mouse.

"Hold on." said Mary. "There's something...off about you all."

"You would be right." said the Herchies Cat.

"I am no longer the Mad Hatter. I am now the Sad Matter. When Alice attacked, she destroyed my entire collection of hats. The hat i'm wearing right now is really just a mat in disguise." He pulled off his hat, which unfurled into a long mat.

"I used to be the March Hare. Until Alice came and destroyed the land around us. Now, March is just a myth around here. I've changed my name to the October Rabbit, as everything around us has started to fall."

"Squeak Squeak Squeak. Squeeeeeaak, Squeaaaak."

"Poor mouse. He's lost his ability to talk." Sad Matter sighed. 

"Are you all going to join me on my journey?" questioned Mary.

"Unfortunately, no. We are too weak to help you. We've lost all of our redeeming qualities, so it is up to you to save us all."

Mary was quite shaken by this. Even her close friends couldn't help her?

"However." started the October Rabbit. "We can give you something to help you on your journey."

The Sad Matter held out his hat. Or rather, his mat.

"Mary, I bestow upon you my magical mat hat. It doubles as a floating device, and an indestructible cage." 

"I bestow upon you leaf daggers." said the October Rabbit. "I've forged them from leaves fallen from the trees."  

"Squeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeak." The mouse held out a piece of cheese.

"Cheese?!" exclaimed Mary. "What will I do with cheese?"

"Squeeeeeeak." The mouse looked sad.

"I'm sorry." said Mary. "I appreciate your gift."

"Squeak!" The mouse quickly smiled.

"I thank you all for bestowing upon me marvelous gifts. I hope to use them well on my quest."

Suddenly, the ground started to shake. 

"Mary! You must hurry. Vanquish Alice, and return safely."

A giant crack appeared in the ground.

"RUN MARY!" they all shouted in unison.

Mary ran. Ran for her life. Ran to defeat the evil tyrant known as Alice.

Mary ran as fast as she could. As she ran, she heard a terrible sound behind her. As she turned around, her castle was collapsing into the ground.

Mary couldn't believe it. Why had this happened to her? But one thing stuck in her mind. She had to defeat this tyrant, before it was too late.