CR AU - CR In Wonderland Chapter VI

Chapter VI : Prelude to Big War

_{Author's Note: click this link for the background music.}

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Part I :The Rescuers

After a moment, the Red King then gave a sigh. Extending a hand to the side, The Red King then shouted: "OFF WITH HER HEAD!!"

All of the audiences remained silent.
And it's too obvious that the Duchess is in the verge of crying.
As Senzen held his breath.
But the Cheshire Cat simply grinned.

The Knave has been taken into the custody of the guillotine.
As her head is placed upon the spot where the blade would behead her.

"Knave…" the Duchess whispered.
"Can't we do anything to stop this madness?" Senzen asked.
"We can do something," the Cheshire Cat answered.
"What is it?"
"Are you prepared for the consequences?"
"I… I don't know…" Senzen hesitated.

"I am prepared, Cheshire Puss," the Duchess suddenly said, earning the attention of both Senzen and the Cheshire Cat; placing a hand to her chest, the Duchess then added, "If there's anything you could do to stop the Red King from beheading my dear Knave, then please do it."

The Cheshire Cat remained silent.
Before vanishing into nothing more but a grin.
"As you wish then, Mistress."

The Red King gazed at the Knave as the later's has been placed into the guillotine, he then averted his gaze for a moment to the figure that's still sleeping upon his lap.

For a moment, his expression softened.
As he placed a hand to the Queen's forehead.
And rubbed it ever so gently.
Before shifting his eyes back towards the Knave.

Only to find that the Cheshire Cat's already sitting near the guillotine.
"What business do you have there, cat?" the Red King asked.
"I was just wondering if I could get a close look," the Cheshire Cat replied.
"Pfft, do as you wish."

The Knave is on her knees.
The blade of the guillotine is ready to behead her any time.
But the Cheshire Cat remained silent.
Before jumping and sitting upon the Knave's back.

"What are you planning to do, cat?" the Knave asked.
"Nothing in particular," the Cheshire Cat grinned.

Ever so slowly, blood starts flowing from the Red Throne before reaching the guillotine, covering it before reinforcing the blade with the blood. Releasing a sigh, the Red King closed his eyes for a moment before opening it again, "Execution will be carried out personally by me at this very moment."

"Cheshire Puss…" the Duchess whispered.

"For the insolence that she committed, " the Red King started, " Her head shall roll."

And the blade of the guillotine has been released.
Flying down swiftly.
Leaving only a few seconds before beheading the Knave.

Five seconds.
Four seconds.
Three seconds.
Two seconds.
One second.
The blade of the guillotine flung down.
But both the Knave and the Cheshire Cat vanished.

The Red King widened his eyes the slightest bit in surprise.
Before narrowing it again after a moment.
As both the Knave and the Cheshire Cat reappeared again.
Right beside the guillotine.

"What is the meaning of such insolence, cat?" the Red King asked.

"Nothing in particular," the Cheshire Cat replied as it grinned and swished its tail, "I was just thinking if the Knave end up beheaded, then my Mistress would be sad. And I don't like seeing my Mistress sad."

"Insolent cat," the Red King sighed.

"It's the same as you who would do anything for the Red Queen," the Cheshire Cat replied as it swished its tail and vanishing into nothing more but a grin, "Even to the extension of doing unreasonable things just to make sure that she's safe."

"Silence cat," the Red King said with a cold tone, "You don't even know who you're dealing with."

And the Red Throne lets out more and even more blood.
Ever so slowly enveloping the guillotine.
And making its way towards both the Cheshire Cat and the Knave.
Creeping through the floor.

There was a motion.
And ice crystals seemed to be falling upon the Outer Trial Hall.
As footsteps could be heard.
And all the audience shifted their sights towards the entrance.

A figure stood.
A figure with white hair, with the tip dyed in red.
Wearing a white shirt that's covered with a black tailcoat.
Matching black pants.
A frilly tie around his neck.
And a top-hat adorning the side of his head.
His left hand holding a cane while his right hand holding a sword.
And he's grinning in delight.

"It would be better if you back off, since I already made my appearance here," The Humpty Dumpty said as he gave a sigh before giving a somewhat wicked grin as his surrounding ever slowly start to be covered with ice, "Unless you want me to freeze you to death, that is."

Part II : Go Tight

"Humpty Dumpty?" the Duchess widened her eyes slightly.

What could the Humpty Dumpty be doing here, Senzen noted in mind. But as far as he could remember, he remembered that the Humpty Dumpty was not present when both he and the Duchess made their way out of the White Kingdom.

Where could the Humpty Dumpty be at that moment?

"It turned out that the Grinning Puss was not lying," the Humpty Dumpty said as he gave a sigh as he ever so slowly make his way towards where the Knave and the Cheshire Cat are, "And it's good that I'm not late to make my appearance here."

"You've been planning this all along?" the Knave asked.
"Is that really important?" the Cheshire Cat swished its tail.

The Cheshire Cat might very well be the one planning it just as the Knave suspected, Senzen noted. As for the fact that the Cheshire Cat made his way out along with the Knave first before, the Cheshire Cat might very well be the one who informed the Humpty Dumpty.

But still, that is just a speculation.
There's still no proof that the Cheshire Cat was the one who did it.
But judging from how everyone's acting,
The Cheshire Cat is most likely the culprit.

"The White Queen has ordered me to stop the execution," the Humpty Dumpty continued as he stopped right beside the Knave and the Cheshire Cat, "So if none of you are going to help, step out. You're just going to be a hindrance."

"I'm not planning to stay back," the Knave replied.
"Well, I might be planning to," the Cheshire Cat added.
"Be more serious, Grinning Puss," the Humpty Dumpy replied.
"Oh but I'm always serious," the Cheshire Cat ended.

"What is happening here?" the Duchess asked.
"Well, it's just something that I planned all along, Mistress."
"What do you mean, Cheshire Puss?"

"He might already considered the fact that the Knave's going to be beheaded and waited until the White Queen gave her order," Senzen suddenly said, earning the attention of the Duchess that's sitting beside him, "That's why he waited until this trial and made his move when the Red King was ready to behead the Knave."

"Is that the truth, Cheshire Puss?" the Duchess asked.
"It's not important right now, Mistress," the Cheshire Cat.
"He's right, we better watch for the Red King for now," Senzen added.

And they shifted their sight to the Red King.
Who's still sitting upon the Red Throne.
Holding the sleeping Red Queen upon his lap.
As he gave a sigh and spoke, "Insolence."

"You better back off, I can handle this," the Humpty Dumpty said.

"You're the one who should back off," the Knave said as she pushed the Humpty Dumpty back with one hand, giving a sigh as she summoned her gunlance out of thin air, "I can't possibly stay silent when I know that someone's fighting for my life."

"Well, technically… I'm not," the Humpty Dumpty sweat dropped.
"I just don't want the Mistress to be sad," the Cheshire Cat said.

"But you saved me nonetheless, the both of you," the Knave replied with a small sigh as she gave a small smile along the way and stepping forward, "That's why for now let me do what I must do."

"But Knave, are you sure that you will be alright?" the Duchess asked.

"It is something cliché, but don't you know, Mistress?" the Cheshire Cat said as it swished its tail and making its way towards the Duchess who's already standing straight right now; taking a moment before jumping up and perching itself upon the Duchess' shoulder, "It's not possible for the Knave to lose when she knows that she's fighting right in front of you."

Part III : Into the Chaos

The Knave then stepped forward.
Holding her gunlance with one hand.
Stopping a few steps away from the Red Throne.
And taking an attack stance.

"Cheshire Puss, aren't you going to help her?" the Duchess asked as she made her way towards where the Humpty Dumpty's standing, "And you too, Humpty Dumpty… you were ordered to stop the Knave's execution, isn't it? Aren't you going to help the Knave?"

"The Knave is a Knight," the Humpty Dumpty replied, "She has her pride."
"And something like we're helping her…" the Cheshire continued.
"It'd stain her pride as a Knight," the Humpty Dumpty added.
"It'd be wiser if we watch for the moment," the Cheshire Cat grinned.
"And take action only when it's necessary," the Humpty Dumpty ended.

The Knave remained still.
As she stared at the Red Throne.
And so does the Red King.
Remaining still as he held the Red Queen upon his throne.

"Red-Nii?" the Red Queen suddenly mumbled.
And both the Knave and the Red King narrowed their eyes.

"Everything is alright, Airia," the Red King said as he rubbed the Red Queen's forehead lovingly with one hand, giving a somewhat soft expression as he added, "Just get back to sleep."

The blood that was over the guillotine ever so slowly creeped back.
And now enveloping the whole Red Throne.
As the Knave pulled her body back a bit.
Her gunlance ready in one hand.

Before thrusting it towards the Red Throne.
Only to find out that a wall made of blood has rendered it useless.
"I'm not going to let you do that," the Red King said.

"I'm not going to remain silent after what you did to me and the Duchess," the Knave replied, "That's why I'm taking you down right here right now, in this very place."

"I'm going to behead you."

Before long a fight occurred.
As the Knave tried to take the wall of blood down.
While the Red King remained still upon his throne.
Holding the Red Queen lovingly, as he gazed at the Knave coldly.

"Shouldn't we help her?" Senzen asked.

"It might seem that she's struggling, if you ask me," the Humpty Dumpty said, "But you know, that's not the limit of her abilities."

A wave of blood made its way to the Knave's side.
She immediately kicked it with one feet.
Before stabbing her gunlance upon the floor.
And using it as a foothold.

Before landing right in front of the Red King.
Grabbing the hilt of her gunlance with one hand.
And swinging it forward.

There was the sound of metal clashing.
As the wall of blood ever so slowly went down.

The figure of the Knave could be seen.
A trickle of blood could be seen flowing from the notch upon her right cheek.
But she smiled, "As expected of the Red King."

The Red King himself could be seen standing upon his feet.
Holding the sleeping Queen of Hearts like a bride right now.
As the Red Throne behind him is in pieces right now.
A trickle of blood could be seen flowing from the notch upon his left cheek.
But the Red King remained silent.

"What happened?" the Duchess asked.
"Most likely, the Knave managed to destroy the Red Throne," the Humpty Dumpty replied.
"But after all that, we better keep an eye," the Cheshire Cat grinned.
"It's not going to end nicely," Senzen ended.

"You, all of you, I'm going to behead you one by one," the Red King said, "For this act of insolence, it means that you're responding to the declaration of war that I gave you. You're going to regret endangering Airia like that."