Chapter 11

Applause was the first sound heard after the Red Queen's defeat.

Queen Redd smiled from ear to ear. "Well done."

The Jabberwock, however, did not seem grateful for this praise. After smearing the Red Queen down to a miniature stain on the floor, he fell to his knees and buried his head in his claws. Thanks to him, everything had gone wrong, and problems had been made worse. Redd was all the proof he needed for that accusation.

So now what? He had lost the book; it must have been destroyed with the old Wonderland. Although, it was the very item that started all this mess, so if he never saw it again, it would be too soon.

"And has thou slain the Jabberwock?

Come to my arms, my beamish boy!

O frabjous day! Calloh! Callay!"

He chortled in his joy.

That's it; he should just end it all. So what if he died? It would be rejoiced! He had his organic body back; he could do the deed. Find some crystal and watch the blood flow. Before all this happened, when he resided in that derelict house on the mountain, he wished for death every day…or would he just be taking the easy way out?

Redd put her hand on his shoulder, which made his face twist into a horrid grimace. "You know I don't trust you."

Her smile grew wider. "I know."

The Jabberwock leapt from the floor and gave a cold stare to the so-called savior. "How can I be certain that you won't betray me? That I was not merely a pawn in your plan to reclaim Wonderland? That you can manipulate emotions like the Red Queen and that all those nice things you told me weren't genuine?"

She didn't answer. At least not instantly. At least not verbally.

His entire body began to contract until he dwindled down to her size, still baring his reptilian scales, his mighty wings, his lashing tail moving rhythmically, his sharp claws. The entire ballroom seemed to disappear, the entire Wonderland seemed to disappear. All that existed at that moment was Redd, resembling an angel in crimson. Each step she took seemed to last hours, her being in short proximity to him is something he had been waiting impatiently for.

She wrapped her arms around his back, her fingers drumming on his shoulder blades, her delicate hand clenching his rough claw. She instantly overpowered him as they twirled around the ballroom, watching the entire world around them rotate slowly.

Hadn't they only met for a few minutes?

No, no they hadn't, she was in his mind, she gave him back his body, she helped him face my fears, she did more than…

She made everything appropriate. The walls began to gleam a warm pink, mixing her namesake and purity together. The colours begin to lap and wobble in a way only waves do, performing a dance to accommodate theirs, ghosts trapped in a sentinent continuum.

The Hatters appeared to ruin their fun, that miserable biomechanical Hatter wrapped in a strait-jacket, the white-haired Hatter with unbirthday plans and the tomato-nosed Hatter who incessantly changes his headwear. All three of them exploded into microscopic pieces, revealing themselves as mere illusions. They spared a moment to laugh.

Resuming their poetry in motion, he wrapped his claws around her waist, and lifted her into the air, spinning her around in the atmosphere. He placde her down gently.

Instantly, the world they temporarily entered, the world of pink gleaming light and wonder, disappeared into a ballroom, and they both collapsed, laughing.

"Thank you. Thank you, thank you."

She ran her finger down his ribs again. She placed her hand on his scaly lips. She placed her hands all over his body, feeling each bone, each pulse, each part.

She can do anything.

"I cannot thank you enough. You have restored me to my former majestic form…"

She touched his lips once again.

She can do anything.

They instantly grabbed each other and their faces touched in a fierce embrace, their tongues playfully wrestling with each other

She can make life perfect.

Make life perfect.

She released him.

Perfect life.

Perfect.

P…e…r…f…e…c…

"Bibwit!"

Bibwit walked slowly into the throne room, shuddering with every step. First that news of another Wonderland where he died, then Alyss' death, poor Alyss, poor Alyss, now her returning.

"Y-your h…Imperial Viciousness."

"Take a look out of the window."

He slowly crept towards the window, eyes fixed on the exterior of Heart Palace.

"What can you tell me about what's outside?"

Bibwit said nothing.

"That, out there, is Wonderland. How should it be kept?"

Bibwit still remained silent.

"It should be kept under my control. Now go to bed. Tomorrow you will begin your new duties."

As Bibwit walked away, he massaged his temples. He should have foreseen Redd's return with news of this other Wonderland invading, and that world having him squashed, and the legendary Hatter Madigan warped into a maniac. He was getting too old for all of this…

Queen Redd watched that miserable former tutor of hers depart then lifted herself off her seat. She stepped slowly away from the throne room, into the corridor, through another doorway.

She stared with pride at her newest accomplishment.

Standing ten foot tall and with blazing eyes of unforgiving rage, her newest, and most powerful, member of her army of Black Imagination looked a force to be reckoned with. It wore black armor adorned with twisted hearts, but its arms were bare, reveling deep green scales that gleamed in Redd's aura.

"You're all mine."

It bowed. "I know."