Adventures in Otherlands: Neverland (3/3), Alice in Wonderland

[yappichick]

The Hatter reached up and reluctantly took off the elaborate headpiece. “It’s a very nice hat,” he said sincerely.

The Chief removed the top hat and handed it back to Tarrant. “Me know.”

Tarrant’s eyebrows furrowed. Surely the Chief was going to complement his beloved hat, no? Why it was the Most Known Hat in all of Underland!

Tink jingled impatiently in his ear.

Seeing that his hat was not going to be flattered, he put it back on top of his hair haphazardly and followed the pushy fairy. She led him down the steep path, but instead of passing the tree which he had climbed, he noticed they were going a different way than he had taken.

He looked at the fairy questioningly, but she seemed too busy flittering between trees to pay him any attention. He shook his head and said nothing.

Why everyone in Underland knew there were many ways to reach the same destination. In fact, sometimes one had to go backwards to move forward! Perhaps Neverland was not so different from Underland after all.

They weaved through the boughs of friendly trees, but the treehouse was still nowhere in sight. As they stepped through an Ivy Curtain, Tarrant looked at his miniature guide. “Where are we going?” he asked, unable to keep his curiosity silent.

She jingled a response, but Tarrant was no closer to understanding what was going on. He frowned deeply.

“She said she’s gonna make sure ya and Alice don’t lose the game,” said a familiar voice.

A pair of mouse feet landed on his shoulder. “Mally,” he grinned. He scanned the area. “Where is Alice?”

“Up here!”

The voice came from above, but the only thing that could be seen were leaves. Tinkerbell flew up in the air and illuminated the bough Alice was sitting on.

He clapped his hands together. What a marvelous hiding place!

With the deftness of a Champion, she made her way down the tall tree and moved to stand in front of Tarrant. “Here,” she said, adjusting his top hat. “Now it’s perfect.”

The fairly flew up to the trio and started talking rapidly. Mally translated for the two humans. “She’s gonna have a talk with Pete. She ain’t happy about the idea of us being banished from Neverland.”

Tarrant tilted his head to the side so he was speaking in Mally’s ear. “If you don’t mind me asking, how are you understanding her? It does seem quite impossible.”

“Ya should know with friendship, anything is possible.”

Tinkerbell started chiming again.

“She wants to know if ya two want to go out flyin’ while she finds Pete.”

Alice’s eyes lit up. “Flying? Like Peter?”

Mally nodded. “She’s got this fairy dust that she sprinkles on ya. Ya think a happy thought and off ya go, sailin’ in the air!”

Of all the Odd things that happen beyond Underland’s borders! Fairy sprinkles that make one fly? The Power of Thought was well-known for its moxie, but the idea it could help one levitate? That seemed absurd even to a Mad Hatter!

“I’d love to!” Alice looked hopefully at Tarrant. “You do want to come too, don’t you?”

A cheek-splitting smile covered Tarrant’s face. “It would be my honor!”

Alice turned to Mally. “What about you?”

Mally shook her head resolutely. “Mice ain’t got wings for a reason! I’ll stay here and wait for Tink to come back.”

Alice flashed Tarrant another smile. “Then I guess it will just be the two of us.”

A blush colored her cheeks and the implication of her words. Mally groaned, Tarrant stammered and Tinkerbell started laughing. “I just meant--”

“We know what ya meant!” Mally interrupted as Tarrant set her on a branch at eye-level.

As Tinkerbell sprinkled then with the fairy dust, she let off another string of commands.

“Stay out of the moonlight!” Mally said. “Or Pete will find ya. Now just think a happy thought and ya’ll be flying.”

The two of them closed their eyes. Moments later, they were floating above the ground. It was Alice who opened her eyes first. She gasped as they approached the top of the trees. “Tarrant!”

The view was so startling for the Hatter that he started falling back down to Earth.

“Happy thoughts!” Alice reminded him.

One would suppose he filled his mind of such Happy Hatter thoughts as thimbles and stylish hats because soon he was soaring towards the heavens. Before he could float too high, Alice grabbed his hand and pulled him to her level.

“Let’s go together,” she said, her eyes sparkling.

Her grin was magical, it seemed. As soon as it covered her lips, Tarrant shot up in the air like a Jumping Bean. Alice held his hand firmly, floating up with him. “We have to be careful,” she reminded him. “Peter is still looking for us.”

Together, they flew to the coast of the island, floating several feet above the ocean’s surface. Their reflection bounced off the water, their smiles evident despite the waves. They made their way to where the sea horses were waiting beside the boat.

They neighed in delight as Alice and Tarrant hovered next to them. She scratched behind the horse’s ear before leading Tarrant away to the east of the island.

The duo flew past where the Mermaids lived. An incredible sight that was! Underland had plenty of Milk Maids and Hand Maids, but ones that looked like fish were unheard of!

“When I was on the Wonder, the men with me would look in vain for mermaids, despite their reputation for being tricky,” Alice said, leading him away from them.

"Did they ever find any?" he asked.

She shook her head. "No. And I must say quite a few of them were disappointed."

They circled around the island until they started approaching another large, unfamiliar boat with giant pieces of fabric attached to it.

“Are those the sails you were speaking about?” Tarrant asked as they slowed their flight.

Alice nodded. “That must mean there really is a pirate here.” She tugged on his hand. “Let’s go have a closer look!”

Tarrant’s altitude dropped. No Happy Thoughts could come from being in danger!

“It will be fine, Tarrant. Just a peek, then we’ll be on our way,” assured Alice.

The Champion’s confidence was strong enough to silence any concerns (or Unhappy Thoughts) from the Hatter. He rose several feet as Alice led him closer to the seafaring vessel.

There were men, all adorned with swords, walking on the deck of the ship. Alice and Tarrant moved towards the stern of the ship, away from the pirates. There they saw the captain's quarters with a window.

"Let's go!" Alice encouraged.

She tugged on his hand and they made their way to the opening. As they looked inside a small window, she let out a small gasp. “Is that...Chess?”

Sure enough, inside the room, the Cheshire Cat was floating next to a tall, gangly man who had the misfortune of having a hook for a hand. Alice tried to peer further into the room, but the size of the window only let her see a small sliver of the chamber.

“I believe it is. Why is that slurvish cat with him?” He started drooping towards the deck of the ship.

“I don’t know.” Alice licked her lips.

They could hear the muffled sound of Chess’ paws clapping. “Bravo!” the feline said.

Alice looked at Tarrant worriedly. “We need to find Mally and tell her what’s going on.”

The two of them rushed back to the part of the forest where they had left their friend. It had been nerve-racking during the entire journey; Tarrant dropped precariously to the ground at a rush of influx of Unhappy Thoughts. Alice and her Muchness were the only thing that kept the Hatter from falling out of the sky.

“There,” Alice said, pointing at a small clearing.

They moved together and made their way to the ground. The tree where they had left Mally was there, but the mouse wasn’t. “Mally!” Tarrant called softly, knowing that Peter was still looking for them.

There was no response.

“Where did she go?” he asked, his eyes growing orange.

“I’m not sure,” Alice quietly admitted. “Tinkerbell!”

A frown creased her face as she heard no reply. “Tinkerbell,” she called out, louder.

At the continued silence, she faced Tarrant. “We need to find Peter. I don’t care if we lose his little game. Something is wrong. He should be able to help us find Mally.”

Filled with Despairing Thoughts, the pair of Underlandians weren’t able to lift themselves off the ground. They run through the forest until they found the Lost Boys’ treehouse.

“Where’s Pan?” Tarrant demanded, his eyes glowing orange.

The ground of young boys looked at the enraged Hatter nervously. “He--he--he’s--”

“Right here.” A voice spoke from behind them. He flew in Alice’s face. “What did you do with Tink?”

“Me?” Alice sputtered. “She went to talk to you!”

“I haven’t seen her since she was suppose to take this codfish back to the treehouse,” Peter argued. The boy looked at them crossly. “Tell me where she is!”

“We don’t know!” Alice argued. “But, we did see the most particular thing on the pirate ship.”

Peter’s eyes narrowed. “How did you get over there?”

“Your fairy friend came us some of her magic sprinkles,” Tarrant answered.

The man-child looked at them in disbelief. “Why would she do that?”

“I think she wants there to be peace amongst our people,” Alice said. The Champion inside of her emerged. “She knows a decision like this shouldn’t be decided on whether one wins or loses a game of hide and seek.”

“Maybe Hook has her!” said one of the boys.

Peter looked at Alice intently. “What did you guys see? Did you see Tink?”

“No,” Alice replied. “But we did see one of our friends, a cat, on the ship talking with a person we assume is Captain Hook.”

“Did he take your cat?” Peter wondered.

“I’m not sure,” Alice said, skirting the fine line between Truth and Non-Truth. True, neither Underlandian knew for sure whether or not Chess was being held against his will, but it was unlikely.

“Well then, let’s go! Fighting Hook is always better than playing a boring game of Hide and Seek!” Peter proclaimed as he found his dagger and held it up in the light.

The Lost Boys shouted their agreement.

“Just stay out of our way!” Peter said to Alice and Tarrant.

“We’re going with you,” Alice said firmly. “If our friends are in trouble then we’re going to help then out.”

“You?” Peter laughed. “You couldn’t catch a fly!”

With much Muchness and a dollop of Pride, Alice said, “I’ll have you know in Underland I defeated a Jabberwocky!”

“What’s that?” asked one of the boys.

“A vile creature,” Tarrant answered solemnly. “One that destroyed my entire village and killed my kin. So, Pan, you are gravely mistaken. Alice can do much more than catch an annoying flying insect.”

“Oh, all right!” Peter sighed. “Let’s go.”

********

The pirate ship looked a bit less intimating as the sun started to rise in the east. From their position on the shore, behind a large rock, Alice and the others could see the silhouette of Captain Hook and Chess on the bow.

“I’m going in!” Peter said.

“You’re taking me with you!” Alice said

The man-child only hesitated a second before nodding. “All right, but the rest of you are going to have to take the boat.” The tiny vessel was pulled on the shore next to them. “Alex will throw you a rope so you can climb on the Jolly Roger.”

The Champion rolled her eyes at his deliberate mispronunciation of her name. She opened her mouth to speak, but before any words tumbled out of her mouth, she saw her friend’s concern.

Alice reached out and squeezed Tarrant’s hand. His eyes were filled with worry. “Don’t worry. I’ll be fine.”

“I do hope you’re right,” he whispered.

Before she could reply, Peter scooped her off the ground. “Hope you like flying fast.”

He swished through the air, moving swiftly. No one on the boat noticed the flying boy or the young woman he carried with him. Peter sliced through the hair, frowning as Alice’s hair flew in his face. “Girls,” he muttered.

As he turned towards the stern of the boat, he glided down to the deck. Safely hidden behind the walls of the captain’s quarters, Peter set Alice on the ground. “There’s a rope on the other side of the ship. I’ll distract Hook and you throw it over.”

Alice nodded. “Thank you.”

Peter scrunched up his nose. “I’m not doing this for you. I’m saving Tink!” he scowled. Without a second look, he turned around and started to fly, leaving Alice alone.

She cast a glance at the shoreline. Tarrant and the other few boys that were brave enough to go on this adventure had already loaded into the boat and were rowing to her position. She moved quietly on the deck and spotted the rope.

“Hook! You codfish! Have you taken Tink?” Peter shouted from the sky.

“And what if I have?” yelled Hook. “I’m thinking about feeding her and her little mouse friend to the crocodile.”

“You wouldn’t dare!”

Alice used the distraction and made her way to the rope. It was thick and heavy, but she knew she had to lift up the coil and throw it over the edge. She grunted slightly, but managed to grab a hold of the thick twine. With a heave, she threw it over the side of the boat.

“Attempting a rescue mission?” a familiar voice asked from her side.

“Chess!” She looked at him closely. He showed no sign of trouble. Then what in the White Queen’s name had he been doing with that pirate?

“What are you doing on this ship? Do you realize what kind of person Hook is?” she hissed, keeping an eye out for any pirates walking on the ship.

“Do you realize what kind of person Pan is?” countered Chess. “When one goes around making treaties, she should know exactly who they are dealing with and how to use it to her advantage.”

Alice’s eyes narrowed. “I know what I’m doing.”

“Then you secured the treaty?” he asked, his eyes widened in surprise. "I hadn't heard."

“Well, no.”

The clattering of swords from the side of them interrupted the conversation. Alice turned and faced the front of the ship. There, on the ledge, sat two glass jars. One of them contained a familiar-looking fairy and the other held--

“Mally!”

Alice looked at Chess. “I trust you’ll have no problems in rescuing our friend.”

Chess held up his paws in innocence. “I am now but an observer.”

She glared at him, but he was already fading away. Soon only a shadow of a wide smile remained. "Do your best not to get yourself killed. Mirana would hate to have to look for another Champion."

Then, he was gone.

Alice pressed her lips together. Until Tarrant and the boys made it aboard, she was alone. Alice crawled towards the front of the boat. She glanced at Peter and Hook who were battling fiercely and made a break for it.

She sprinted across the deck and lifted up the jar, releasing the mouse. “Are you alright?” she asked breathlessly.

“That no good cap’n came and snatched me up!” Mally said, enraged.

“Tarrant and the others should be here soon. We need to get to the back of the ship,” Alice whispered, allowing the mouse to scurrying up her arm. She turned around and walked straight into the barrel-chest of a huge pirate.

“Looks like that cat was right!” boomed the pirate. He looked at Hook. “They are trying to save the rat.”

“I’m a Mouse!” She pulled out of hatpin and held it in Hook’s direction.

Hook stabbed at Peter’s direction before he looked at Mally and laughed. “What do you intend to do with that? Mend my torn trousers?” He blocked Peter’s advance. “Just tie the girl up and put the mouse back where she belongs.”

"Will do, Captain." He leered at Alice with a evil smirk. "Come here, runt."

Alice shared a look with Mally. “You go for his eye. I’ll go for something a bit more...sensitive,” she whispered.

The mouse nodded. “One..two..three!”

The women sprung into action. Mally launched herself at the pirate’s face and Alice kneed him in a rather unlady-like way. She ducked to the side of him as he doubled over in pain. He let out a guttural shout; Mally ran down his back, her optical prize on the end of her hatpin.

“He’ll be needin’ a patch just like that foul creature Stayne,” she bragged.

Knowing he wouldn’t be able to see, Alice reached down and scooped his sword off the ground. Despite not having carried such a weapon since the last time she was in Underland, Alice was relieved to find that it felt sturdy in her hand. She swung it in the air, testing the weight of it.

Satisfied, she nodded at Mally. Together, they ran towards the back of the ship where Tarrant and two of the other boys had made it aboard.

“Mally!” Tarrant grinned. “You’re safe!”

“Well, of course I’m safe! But Tink ain’t! We need to go and get her before that Hook feeds her to the croc!” Mally replied.

“How many pirates are on the ship?” Alice asked.

“Maybe six or seven,” Mally said. “And none of them ain’t got any manners!”

“All right,” Alice looked at the boys. “You distract the pirates and we’ll try to save Tinkerbell.”

The boys looked at Alice strangely. “Ya mean you ain’t leavin’ even though you got your friend?” Tootles asked.

What kind of people did these Lost Boys think they were? “Of course not! We’re all getting off this ship. Together,” she said resolutely.

“All right,” another boy said with a toothy grin. “We’ll pull their pants over their heads!”

The rest of the boys--and Tarrant--giggled at the thought.

“Come on,” Alice urged. They all moved forward, along the narrow deck between the rail and the wall. Ahead of them stood three pirates facing away, each armed with a sword. “Are you sure you boys can do it?”

“Of course!”

The boys sprung into action, jumping on the unsuspecting pirates. Alice, Mally and Tarrant ran towards the front of the boat. Hook and Peter were sweating as their weapons stuck off each other.

“I’ll get Tink,” Mally said, scurrying down Alice.

Tarrant and Alice watched breathlessly as she weaved around the deck. She managed to reach the fairy’s position without being noticed by Hook or his other pirates. With a push and a shove, she tried to tilt the jar to allow her friend to escape, but it was simply too heavy.

The fairy pounded her fists on the thick glass.

Mally tried jamming her hatpin under the jar to lift it up, but the tiny tip didn’t have enough leverage to lift the glass prison.

Alice pointed to the left of the mouse. “Tarrant, look!” A burly pirate with a few missing teeth was running to where Mally and Tink were. “He’s going to catch her!”

Quickly, Tarrant lifted his hat off his head. “Duck!” he cried.

His hat went sailing across the length of the boat. With perfect aim, the top hat hit the jar and sent it crashing to the ground. The sound startled the two fighters who turned to see what had caused the commotion.

Peter looked smug. Hook was enraged!

“Smee!” Hook roared. “Get those pint-sized trouble makers back!”

A stout man bumbled around the deck. “Oh yes, Captain. I’m on my way, Captain.”

“You go help Mally and Tinkerbell,” Alice said. “I’m going to help Peter. He looks like he could use a hand.”

During the rescue attempt, Hook had obtained the upper-hand in the fight and had the man-child pinned up against the side of the boat, making an escape by flight impossible.

“Be careful, Alice,” charged Tarrant.

“I will,” she promised.

With a determined look and the pilfered sword, she ran across the deck to where Peter and Hook were battling.

Tarrant, meanwhile, focused on getting to the bow where Mally was standing. Tinkerbell had flown away from the shards of glass that held her, but was still hovering around her friend. He rushed to them, but was stopped by the bespectacled man.

“I’m afraid you can’t take her,” he said.

Tarrant’s eyes grew orange. “I beg to disagree.”

On the other side of the ship, Alice was approaching Hook who had his sword pressed precariously on Peter’s throat. “I’ve been waiting a long time to do this, boy.”

“You’re going to have to wait longer,” Alice said, holding the tip of her sword against his neck. “Now release him.”

He looked over his shoulder and sneered. “A woman? Just when I thought your band of misfits couldn’t get any worse.”

Alice clinched her free fist and pressed the blade. A chunk of hair fell to the ground. “Release him now.”

Hook looked to the ground and saw the fallen strands. “My beautiful wig!”

Despite his apparent peril, Peter laughed. “It’s a wig?” Taking advantage of his distraction, Peter spun out of the captain’s hold and flicked Hook’s hair with his dagger. The rest of his wig landed on the ground with a plop.

“You’re bald!” Peter crowed.

The entire ship froze, taking in the sight of their follicle-challenged captain. Then, everyone, including Smee and the rest of the pirates did something unimaginable.

They laughed.

Hook froze. Peter and Alice wasted no time in surrounding the captain. “Tell your men to stand down,” Alice ordered.

For a second, Hook did nothing. Then, he slumped. Even his mustache seemed to droop slightly. “Smee, let the man with the giant hair get his pet mouse.” Smee obeyed his captain’s command and stepped out of the Hatter’s way.

Tarrant brushed against Smee and plucked Mally from the ledge. He placed her on his shoulder and Tink jingled merrily.

Alice kept her sword pointed towards Hook as Peter reached down and scooped his wig off the ground.

“What’s that I hear?” The man-child held his hand up.

A faint ticking sound was heard. It was growing closer and closer.

Hook shook in fear. “It’s that blasted crocodile!”

“I think your friend should have a tasty snack!” With a flourished throw, Peter threw it into the ocean.

“My wig!” Hook shouted. He turned around the jumped into the water. “Smee!” he cried once he resurfaced. “Get that lifeboat and keep me and my wig safe from that wretched crocodile!”

Ever-obliging, the stout man moved to follow his captain’s order. Seeing their captain and Smee gone, the rest of the pirates held their hands up in surrender.

Peter flew up high and let out a loud crow. “We defeated that codfish!” He swooped down to stand in front of Alice. “If fighting with you is always this much fun, then I’ll sign the treaty!”

Tink and the Lost Boys let out a cheer.

“I want Tarrant to show me how to throw a hat like that,” Tootles said, approaching the group.

As Peter and the rest of the Lost Boy spoke with Tarrant and Mally, Alice looked over her shoulder to where Chess was floating, looking quite pleased with himself.

“You knew, didn’t you?” she asked softly.

“Knew what?”

“That we wouldn’t be able to earn Peter’s trust unless I fought against Hook--the grownup. That’s why you orchestrated the whole thing,” Alice said.

Chess rolled his eyes. “You Overlanders and your ridiculous ideas,” he replied disapprovingly. “You know how much I hate politics.”

Alice opened her mouth to argue, but Chess gestured to where Peter and the others were standing. “I do believe it is your responsibility to secure this treaty once and for all.”

It was clear that the Champion didn’t want to let the issue go, but the feline was correct; she needed to start moving forward with the treaty process. She stepped towards Peter and stuck out her hand. “Friends?”

He spat in his hand before grabbing and shaking Alice’s hand with a wide grin. “Friends.”

******************
Two weeks later…

“And you believe that Chess was behind all of the actions you described?” Mirana asked from her ivory throne.

“He won’t confess to anything, but, yes, I do,” Alice said. She took a long sip of tea (which was thankfully in amble supply thanks to the Bandersnatch’s delivery).

The White Queen considered her answer for a second. “Perhaps the Cheshire Cat isn’t as aloof as he claims to be.”

Alice nodded. “I believe you are correct, your Highness.” Her gaze shifted to the large tapestry that hung behind the throne. The map of Underland seemed so large and yet there were so many lands that the tapestry didn’t show.

“Where would you have us go to next?” Alice asked.

Mirana smiled. “Take a little Time to rest, Champion,” she ordered. She stood up and looked at the tapestry. “When you are ready, it will be time to go south. I don’t know much about the land; there is a large desert that separates our worlds, but I have heard they have a most wonderful yellow road that runs through the entire land.”