Fanfic100 Adventures in Wonderland #11
Title: A Colour Sale, part 2
Fandom: Adventures in Wonderland
Characters: Alice, Mad Hatter, March Hare, Queen of Hearts, Dee and Dum, the Walrus, White Rabbit
Prompt: 011 Red
Word Count: 1526
Rating: G
Summary: Part two of the colour sale.
A/N- Alice's age: 15,
Connected to prompt #12, Orange, so it may make more sense if you read that one first.
----
It was another wonderful day in Wonderland and everyone was standing in front of the Queen's palace setting up tables.
The Queen stepped out of her palace regally while the White Rabbit tried to get everyone's attention.
“Excuse me, excuse me.” No one could hear him over the noise that was being made.
“Listen up!!” The Queen yelled. Her voice was loud enough to get everyone's attention and soon everyone was standing quietly.
“That's much better.” The Queen remarked. “Now, I know you are all here to get ready for tomorrow's colour sale so I just thought I should tell you what the first colour is going to be.” She started to open a sealed envelope.
“What's she talking about?” Alice whispered to the Mad Hatter.
“Oh in a colour sale we sell one colour per day. The Queen gets to decide what order we go in.” The Hatter replied.
“Not that's it's going to be much of a surprise.” Dee remarked. “We always have the same colour first every time we do this.”
“Really?” Alice asked in surprise. “Which one?”
“Red.” Everyone replied.
“And the colour will be....red.” The Queen smiled sweetly. “Oh, what a surprise. Now I'll let you all get back to setting up.”
As she left the room everyone went back to work. “Is red always first?” Alice asked as she and the March Hare spread a table cloth on their table.
“Always.” Dum said from the other side of the yard carrying a box.
“It is her majesty's favorite.” His brother put in, from the other side of the box.
“She always picks it first.”
“Oh,” Alice said, that didn't seem very fair to her but she couldn't say she was very surprised. “What do we have that's red?” She asked the Mad Hatter, who looked down at her.
“Oh, it's a surprise. You're going to have to wait for tomorrow.”
------------------------------
The next day Alice arrived bright and early in front of the Hatter's house. The March Hare was already there and sitting at the tea table.
“Alice!” He exclaimed when he saw her.
“Hello Mr. Hare.” Alice said pleasantly as she let herself in the gate. “Where' s Mr. Hatter?”
“In the house but Alice where's your apron?”
Alice looked over, her eyebrow's raised. “What apron?”
“Why the official colour sale, colour apron.” The Hatter said as he walked out of his house.
“Yes,” the March Hare said as he put stood up reveling a bright red apron. “Every one has to wear one of the colour that's being sold.”
“Oh, dear.” Alice fretted. “I don't have one of those.”
“Not to worry.” The Mad Hatter replied. “I made you one last night.” He handed Alice over a smaller red apron.”
“Oh thank you Mr. Hatter.” Alice said with a smile.
“It was a piece of cake.” The Mad Hatter said with a wave of his hand.
“Are you sure?” The March Hare asked. “It looks more like an apron to me.”
-- --
It was around noon when everyone was set up for the colour sale.
“What a lovely first day for the sale.” The Queen said smiling. “And my favorite colour too. Isn't that such a coincidence?”
“Oh course, your majesty.” The White Rabbit said standing next to her in a flat voice. “Are you ready to get started?”
“Oh course Rabbit, now let's go see what they've come up with this year.
Walking out into the yard in front of the palace she first stopped in front of the table where the Walrus was standing.
“Hello, Walrus.” She said with a smile. “Now what delightful red thing do you have for me this fine day.”
“Only the best.” The Walrus said holding up a finger. “Pinniped and I had quite a time locating this object.”
“Wonderful.” The Queen, clasped her hands together. “Let's see it.”
The Walrus took the towel off the object with a flourish.
“Why there's nothing there.” The Queen said in amazement as she looked at the empty table.
“Of course there is.” The Walrus replied. “It's a red pen....”
“Do you see it?” The Queen whispered to the White Rabbit, who gulped.
“I can't say that I can your majesty.”
“It's been in Pinniped's family for years.” The Walrus continued.
“That explains it.” The White Rabbit said quietly and the Queen nodded.
“Let's go see what the Tweedle's are selling.
-- -- --
“Hello your majesty.” Dee said when he saw the Queen walking over. “Care to buy something Red?”
“I'll make up my mind when I see it.” The Queen replied. “Now where is it.”
The Tweedle's looked at each other awkwardly before pulling the cover off of a plant and reveled some bright red roses.
“Why are those rose's dripping?” The Queen asked as she looked at them closely.
“Well.” Dum started,
“You see.” Dee continued.
“We accidentally got white roses.”
“But we didn't realize that until we got them here.”
“So we kinda....”
“Painted them red.”
“Well it was a nice try but just the same you shouldn't paint flowers, it's bad for them.” The Queen said wiping the paint off her finger.
“Yes your majesty.” “Sorry your majesty.”
--- ---
“Well who's next?” The Queen asked the White Rabbit.
“Why that would be the Mad Hatter and the March Hare your majesty.”
“Hopefully they have something good.” The Queen said with a sniff. “So far I haven't bought a single thing.”
“Yes, well I'm sure you'll find something soon.”
“I'd better.”
The Queen and White Rabbit walked over to the table where the March Hare and Mad Hatter were sitting with Alice.
“Oh, hello Alice.” The Queen said when she saw her there. “I didn't know you were in this.”
“I'm helping Mr. Hatter and Mr. Hare.” Alice said with a smile.
“Wonderful. Now what do you have that's red.”
“Your majesty.” The Mad Hatter exclaimed. “I think the better question would be what don't we have that is Red.”
“Your hat.” The March Hare pointed out, completely serious. And the table's brown.....”
“Never mind Hare.” The Mad Hatter said with a shake of his head. “Just show the Queen what we have, won't you?”
“Of course.” The Hare replied and he pulled out something from behind his back. “Your majesty you will never guess what is in this box.”
“I don't intend to.” The Queen said, starting to lose her temper. “Just show me what you have to sell.”
“All-righty.” The Hare replied as he slowly opened the box lid. “Drum roll please.”
“Hare!” The Queen exclaimed and the Hare quickly opened the box reveling a large red ball.
“It's a beach ball!” The Queen exclaimed.
“Of course not.” The Hare said in indignation. “It's a red ball.”
“Well I'll take it.” The Queen said as she looked over at the White Rabbit. “It's the only good thing I've seen yet. How much is it?” She asked the Hatter.
“For you, your majesty. 8 Wobucks.”
“Rabbit.” The Queen demanded. “Pay them.”
“Of course your majesty.”
“And here you go.” The Mad Hatter said after the White Rabbit had passed the money to Alice. “One red ball, just for you.”
“Excellent.” She held the ball up in her hands. “The first purchase has been made. I now officially open this colour sale.”
Everyone clapped respectfully and then started to look around themselves.
---
“Well did you get anything Alice?” The Mad Hatter asked as they packed up for the day.
“No,” Alice said with a shake of her head.
“Why not?” The March Hare asked. “There was a lot of neat stuff, I bought myself this red pen.” He held up an empty palm.
“Where is it Mr. Hare?” Alice asked looking at his hand in confusion.
“Well it was right here a second ago.” The March Hare said, scratching his head as he looked at his empty palm. He snapped his fingers. “I must have left it at the Walrus's table.”
As he walked off the Mad Hatter just shook his head but turned back to Alice. “So wasn't there anything here you liked?”
“There were some interesting things.” Alice said thinking back, then shrugged. “But I don't have any money.”
“Alice you should have said something.” The Mad Hatter exclaimed. “We would have lent you some money.”
Alice shook her head. “It's fine, I don't use the same sort of money that you use here anyway.”
“Oh,” The Mad Hatter said a little awkwardly. “Well, why don't you take these flowers then.”
He held out the flowers he'd gotten from the Tweedle's.
“They're yours.” Alice protested.
“Nonsense. Everyone should have something to show from their first colour sale. I've been to lot's of them before.” He continued to hold the plant out and after a moment Alice took it.
“Okay then. Thank you Mr. Hatter.”
“Not a problem Alice.” The Mad Hatter said with a smile on his face. “Now let's go see if the Hare's found his pen yet.”
--
When she returned home that day, Alice placed the now dry flowers on her desk. They were rather pretty in an odd sort of way. Just like Wonderland, she thought with a smile.