A Dream Within A Dream

Bloody Red Big Head

Hatter looks around him as the Red Knights and the Bloodhound pass by them he takes Alice out of his pocket then places her on his hat next to Chitose and whispers "go south to Trotter's Bottom the White Queen's castle is just beyond hold on tightly"  Chitose nods at him and whispers "be careful Hatter and stay safe!"  he smiles at her then tosses his hat.... the hat lands on a patch of grass both Alice and Chitose roll off it as it does Chitose helps Alice up and they look around them at the unfamiliar terrain that just happened to be on the other side of the lake that they were before and they watch as Hatter becomes surrounded by a army of Red Knights and gets taken away by them "we should probably rest first.... come on!"  Chitose says as she gently pulls her friend over to Hatter's hat and they both climb underneath it Alice falls almost directly to sleep but Chitose stays awake throughout the night watching over her friend.... the next morning Alice wakes up to Chitose talking with someone "yes I understand that I look like her but if I recall her hair and eyes are a much different color than mine!"  Alice hears Chitose say and she walks out to see Chitose chatting with the bloodhound from yesterday "Alice this is Bayard and before you become all bossy.... they have his family! he did what he could and I'd like to believe that the Hatter knew that!.... now Bayard has kindly offered to take us to the castle so.... be nice or I'll have him change his mind and take us to where Hatter wanted us to go to begin with!"  Chitose says when she hears her friend walk out from under the hat the dog chuckles and says "you are most like her!"  Chitose replies "that's what he said!.... Hatter.... after he told the story of what happened in that area on that day.... before he threw us over here.... he seemed to have forgotten her!"  Bayard replies with a sadness in his tone "yes.... a lot of people have!"  Chitose says "I don't know much of this land but.... maybe she made it happen that way.... or with all the darkness here one does find it hard to see the light that tries to shine through it!"  the dog nods "I will do what I can to help you get your family back Bayard.... the Knave seems quite keen on me so he might be easier to influence than the others.... I hope! no one deserves a live of slavery and the threat of losing the ones they love if the do not submit to the others wrong doings!"  Bayard carefully give her a kiss she smiles and teases "don't you fret I won't tell your wife!.... I'll tell your kids and THEY'LL tell your wife!"  Bayard laughs then he lays down and lets them climb up on his back "don't forget Hatter's hat!.... I do believe he feels naked without it!.... though it would be quite a sight to see I'd rather not embarrass him in such a way!"  Chitose says as she and Alice grip the ring on his collar Bayard chuckles as he stands up and starts running gripping the hat within his teeth as he does so.... once they reach the castle Bayard stops and Alice and Chitose climb off "there's only one way across"  Bayard tells them "thank you Bayard"  Chitose says and she gently scratches him under his ear then bows before him as Alice looks across the moat and mutters to herself "lost my muchness have I?"  Chitose smiles and chuckles then says "see you around the bend Bayard"  she waves at the canine then she and Alice climb across the moat using the heads within it as though they were a stone pathway to get from one side to the other "these poor people!"  Chitose whispers quietly to herself as she hops from one to the next luckily Alice didn't hear her.... once they get to the other side Alice turns to face the canine that waits to see if they make it safely and says "Bayard the hat"  Bayard picks up the hat with his teeth, spins around then throws that hat over the castle wall Alice then takes Chitose's hand and leads her through a crack in the wall and they end up in the garden where the Courtiers watch the Red Queen play croquet with.... a flamingo and a hedgehog as mallet and ball!?!.... "Hatter was right.... her head is HUGE!"  Chitose whispers quietly Alice chuckles then shushes her by swatting at her.... not that anyone heard her speak anyway.... Alice chases after the hedgehog as it whizzes past them Chitose follows and when they reach it they work together to try and untie it from the binds that make it stay in a rolled up position "hold still.... the more you move the tighter it gets!"  Chitose tells the squirming hedgehog in a low kind tone and it stops moving "see!.... isn't that better!?!"  she says once he/she is free and they hear the Queen call out "where's my ball? page!"  and a few seconds later a White Rabbit, dressed as a court page hops over behind them Alice and Chitose spin around to face him "well if it isn't the wrong Alice"  the rabbit says "and.... friend"  he adds as he looks at Chitose the hedgehog scurries away as the rabbit asks "what brings you here? Mmm?"  Alice replies "I'm here to rescue the Hatter"  the rabbit replies "you're not rescuing anyone being the size of a gerbil"  Alice asks "well do you have any more of that cake that made me grow before?"  Chitose asks "do you think that's wise!?!.... to do that here where she can see you grow! I am uncertain that dress will grow with you.... and after all that work Hatter did on it too!.... besides if he doesn't hurry up she'll wonder where he is and come looking for him"  the rabbit becomes afraid at the truth of her words.... what will happen to him!?!.... "and what are you doing here!?!"  the rabbit asks the other girl "I made a promise to Bayard and I plan to keep it!.... also I am here to make sure noting happens to the "wrong Alice"!"  Chitose replies with a hint of dark sarcasm in her tone "hmph!"  the rabbit replies "and to answer you question "Alice"? I might have some Upelkuchen left"  he checks his pockets and hands one of the cakes over "here she comes!"  Chitose whispers "how!?!"  the rabbit asks "my brothers are hunters and trackers.... I've learned a few things in my short time"  Chitose replies as Alice takes a bite of the cake then hands it over to Chitose who shrugs then does the same and they both start to grow their bodies peek just over the hedge and the queen and her followers look up at the two of them "and what are these?"  the queen asks "they're a who your majesty this is um...."  the rabbit replies nervously "I'm Chitose and this is my sister Adalheidis from Umbradge you majesty"  Chitose introduces herself and Alice with false politeness and a small curtsy "what happened to your clothes?"  the queen asks "we out grew them we've been growing an awful lot lately we tower over everyone in Umbradge they laugh at us so we've come to you hoping you might understand what it's like"  Alice replies "my dear girl anyone with a head that large is welcome in my court someone find them some clothes! use the curtains if you must but clothe these enormous girls"  the queen replies....