The Alice Games

The Empress

The gates opened to reveal a great hall that was, indeed, great. It was lit by the same strange fungi that illuminated the corridor leading to the Door Room, which illuminated the marble walls, bustling servants, and immense mahogany table in soft rainbow-colored light. Sitting at the other end of the table was a beautiful lady, cloaked in purple, white, and silver armor.

"Bow," muttered Thea between gritted teeth. Delia bowed slightly, then opened her mouth to speak.

"I am Alice," the woman pronounced before she could ask. "Alice of the Rabbit Hole, Alice the Warrior Queen of all Underland." Delia tried not to gape at this incredible picture sitting before her. True, the woman possessed clear blue eyes and long, golden hair- but could that tough, hardened face of a person used to power and deceit really belong to a childhood heroine? Could Alice really have returned to Underland, where she had been so unhappy during her first trip?

"Questions," a stooped, white rabbit announced gravely, "will be answered later."

"No," Delia said, with just the same amount of weight in her words, "they shall be answered now."

Alice smiled. "Very well." She stood up gracefully and offered Delia her arm. "Servant, I shall escort our newest contestant to her rooms."

Delia took the Queen's hand and they started off down a corridor.

"So, you wish to know my history?" Alice asked, smiling tolerantly.

"Yeah," Delia replied. "There's a book about you."

"Ah, the Book. Well, that Book is really quite inaccurate. When I came to this nation, it was truly a beautiful place, but filled with impossible people who all seemed to hate each other.The Red Queen, Crystina Rose, was ruler, though all she seemed to want to do was play croquet with flamingoes." The warrior queen chuckled. "So when I returned and saw a rebellion of these creatures, trying to take the kingdom by winning a croquet game against her and the Duchess." Alice chuckled again, and added, "I defeated the Jabberwocky as part of a quest... long story... and then, the Queen tried to execute me... and, oh, it took ever so long to get the bloodstains out of the courtyard." Alice nearly doubled over with mirth.

"You killed her?!" Delia asked in shock.

"No. I killed her closest henchman, the Knave of Hearts. Then I cut off her leg," Alice explained. "Being a new cripple, she swiftly surrendered- and, well, I was placed in charge!" Quite suddenly, they were running, and at a very fast pace. The corridors seemed to bend and elongate until they were nearly infinate. After what must have been an hour of running (it was really only fifteen minutes), they arrived at a great oaken door, where Alice measured off a short distance. Still smiling, she said, "Now, open your mouth widely when you speak, and speak German when you can't think of English- the Ex-Queen used French, but I like German better- and curtsey while you're thinking. Good-bye!" And then, she ran down the corridor so fast that Delia almost couldn't see her move at all.