CR AU - CR In Wonderland Chapter VIII

Chapter VIII : The Strategist

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Part I : The Urge to Unite

"I didn't expect that we would manage to get away," the Humpty Dumpty started.
"And so do I, especially from those two," the Knave added.
"We should be glad that we're at least out of their grasps," Senzen replied.
"Yeah, we should be glad about that," the Duchess nodded in turn.
"But that's only for now, Mistress," the Cheshire Cat ended.

The four of them fell into silence again.
It was an awkward, uncomfortable kind of silence.
"What should we do now?" Senzen started to break the silence.
"It'd be best if we visit the White Kingdom," the Humpty Dumpty replied.
"The White Kingdom?"
"Both the White King and the White Queen would know what to do."

"Well, I know that we can rely upon the White Queen, knowing that she was the one who asked us to save the Knave and all," Senzen replied as he scratched his cheek with a finger, taking a moment before adding with a sigh, "But what about the White King? Are you sure that we can really rely upon the White King?"

"Surely, at times the White King might act just like the Kingdom's Jester and all," the Humpty Dumpty replied with a small chuckle before giving a somewhat relieved sigh as he added, "But at other times, when the situation calls for it…"

"It is not wise to judge someone just from their outer appearance," the Cheshire Cat grinned, resulting to Senzen to gaze at it with an arched eyebrow, "As just as the Humpty Dumpty stated, while the White King might not appear really bright at times, at certain times he could indeed be someone that can be relied upon."

"Well, I kinda find that hard to believe right now," Senzen sweat dropped.
"There's no need to rush, we'll see him soon," the Humpty Dumpty said.
"And you shall see it for yourself," the Cheshire Cat ended.

"I'm sorry for troubling all of you like this," the Knave suddenly stated.
"Don't sweat it," the Humpty Dumpty replied.
"At least… I'm glad that you're safe right now, Knave," the Duchess smiled.
"Thank you very much, Duchess…" the Knave replied silently.
"Mhmm, it's not me, it's the Cheshire Puss," the Duchess shook her head.
"The Grinning Puss?" the Humpty Dumpty responded.

"He was the one who managed to prevent the Knave from getting beheaded," the Duchess replied as she squeezed the Knave's hand a little bit along the way as the memory of the Knave that was almost beheaded by the Red King replaying itself inside of her mind, "If the Cheshire Puss didn't take any action, the Knave would surely…"

"Wait, what are all of you talking about?" the Humpty Dumpty said as he arched an eyebrow, "Are you implying that that the Grinning Puss already know about what's going to happen and simply played along with us for the fun of it?"

The Humpty Dumpty is sharp, Senzen noted.
The Humpty Dumpty noticed the same thing that's been bothering Senzen as well.
And both Senzen and the Humpty Dumpty gazed at the Cheshire Cat.
But it remained silent, as the grin upon its feature simply grew wider.

There was an awkward moment of silence.
"Cheshire Puss?" the Duchess suddenly started.
And the sight of the Knave turned towards the Cheshire Cat as well.
But still, the Cheshire Cat remained silent.

"I wouldn't imply something like I'm trying to avoid your question," the Cheshire Cat suddenly stated after a moment, "But I would appreciate it if you could save it for later as if we're actually approaching the White Kingdom right now."

Part II : The Suspect is the Cheshire Cat?

"I'm glad that all of you made your way back here safely," the White Queen stated once Senzen, the Duchess, the Knave, the Humpty Dumpty, and the Cheshire Cat has gathered inside of the Throne Room, "And I'm very glad to find that the Knave is safe as well."

"I wouldn't be here right now if it's not because of them," the Knave replied.
"I'd do anything just to keep you safe, Knave," the Duchess smiled in turn.
"I'd never want to see my Mistress sad," the Cheshire Cat added.
"I'm just doing what I could," Senzen ended.

"Whatever it is that you did along the way," the White King said, "It doesn't change the fact that all of you saved the Knave and for that you have my deepest gratitude."

"But for now, we should think about what's going to happen between this White Kingdom and the Red Kingdom," the Humpty Dumpty replied, "The Red King himself said that with us saving the Knave, it would mean that we're responding to the Declaration of War that he gave the other day."

"Because of me, we would be now officially in war with them," the Knave added.

"The White Queen asked all of you to save the Knave with that in mind as both she and I already discussed about it first," the White King replied as he placed a hand to the White Queen's head who's sitting upon the Throne beside where he's standing, "We're fully aware of the consequences and of course, if it means going out to a war just to save a good friend, I'd do it."

Well, it just like what the Humpty Dumpty said, Senzen noted.
At times like this, the White King could actually be serious.

"What do you think we should do right now, White King?" Senzen asked.

"Before that, I'd like to make something clear," the Humpty Dumpty suddenly said.
"And what is that, Humpty Dumpty?" the Duchess asked.
"I find it hard to believe that Grinning Puss of yours, Duchess."
"The Cheshire Puss? But why?"

"Before that, I'd like to confirm something," the Humpty Dumpty continued before shifting his sight towards the White Queen, "Queen, is it true that you gave an order to me to discuss something of importance with the Caterpillar?"

The White Queen arched an eyebrow, "I don't remember giving an order like that."

"Just as I expected, what my hunch is telling me is actually true," the Humpty Dumpty gave a sigh before narrowing his sight as he gazed at the Cheshire Cat for a moment before gazing at the White King in turn, "And King, I've heard of the order of saving the Knave you and the Queen gave to save the Knave. But is it true that you gave me an order to test the Red King's power?"

"What?" the White King arched an eyebrow in turn, "I never gave such order."

"I knew it. I knew that you were lying to me all along, Grinning Puss," the Humpty Dumpty said as he turned towards the Cheshire Cat as the later jumped down from the Duchess' shoulder and now sat upon the floor right in front of the Humpty Dumpty, "Tell me the truth, Grinning Puss. You already know about what's going to happen all along, isn't it? You're just playing with all of us, aren't you?"

"Humpty Dumpty, what are you trying to say?" the White Queen stated.

"That this Grinning Puss in front of us might very well be the mastermind of everything."

"But that's a blasphemy. What would a mere cat like me be able to achieve by doing something like that?" the Cheshire Cat replied as its grin never left its feature, "What would I be able to accomplish by doing something like that?"

"I'm sorry, Cheshire Puss, but I'm actually curious as well," the Duchess suddenly stated as she joined her hands together, "What were you and the Knave doing after the two of you left me with Senzen to receive the White Queen's order?"

The Knave remained silent.
And she gave a sigh.
"The Cheshire Puss told me to confront the Red King directly."

The Duchess widened her eyes in surprise.
Before placing both hands upon her mouth.
"Cheshire Puss, please tell me that the Knave is lying."

But the Cheshire Cat remained silent.
As its grin simply grew wider.

"You better spit out everything, Grinning Puss," the Humpty Dumpty said as he suddenly unsheathed his blade and pointed the tip at the Cheshire Cat, "I'm not fond being inside of a game where I realize that I'm nothing more than a pawn inside it."

Still, the Cheshire Cat remained silent.
As it grinned wider.

"The time for every single explanation for everything would come," the Cheshire Cat stated as it vanished into nothing more but a grin, "But for now, it'd be wiser not to avert all of your attentions to me. Something is coming towards this place and it's closer than what you could imagine."

"If you're going to bluff again," the Humpty Dumpty raised his blade, ready to swing it down as he stated, "I'm not going to fall for it anymo-"

Before the Humpty Dumpty could finish his sentence, he widened his eyes.
As a tiny earthquake suddenly occurs.
The rest of the party too couldn't help but widening their eyes in surprise.
As a series of mini earthquakes started occurring that very moment.
Before eventually coming to a stop.

"What's happening?" Senzen asked.

"I hate to admit this, but what that Grinning Puss said was right. There's something else we must focus on at this moment," the Humpty Dumpty said with a sigh, gritting his teeth as he sheathed his blade again, "And it's not something that we could encounter easily."

That very moment, Senzen noticed something.
And he instantly shifted his sight towards where the Cheshire Cat supposed to be.
But that floating grin is nowhere to be seen.
The Cheshire Cat is probably not even among them anymore.

"What could be the source of those mini earthquakes?" Senzen asked after that.
"It couldn't be that, right?" the Duchess added.
"That might very well be the source," the Knave nodded.
"Going to the extent of releasing that…" the Humpty Dumpty sighed.

"What? What is that that you've been talking about?" Senzen said.

The White King remained silent.
But the White Queen spoke, "That, might very well be The Bandersnatch."

Part III : One Order

"The Bandersnatch?" Senzen repeated.
"Yes, it might very well be it," the White Queen nodded in turn.
"What is this Bandersnatch you're talking about?"

"To be honest, I don't even know," the White Queen shook her head, seemed to be ashamed of herself for a moment before she eventually gave a sigh and continued, "None has ever actually seen it in person. But I've heard of it being an extremely ferocious and extraordinarily fast creature."

Something that must be really dangerous in a sense, Senzen noted.

"I've heard of it being the personal bodyguard of the Queen of Hearts several times," the Duchess said, "But since the Queen of Hearts tend to spend most of her time with the Red King, the Queen of Hearts doesn't really need the Bandersnatch's protection and all."

"But still, for the Red King to be able to point the Bandersnatch as the Queen of Hearts personal bodyguard," the Humpty Dumpty replied, "Whatever the Bandersnatch is, it must be quite formidable and quite reliable."

"If it comes to it, I will be the one to face the Bandersnatch," the Knave stated as she stepped forward, "As the White Knight I have a duty that I must fulfill."

"But you know nothing about your enemy, Knave!" the Duchess stated.
"I'm the one chosen as the White Knight," the Knave stated as she closed her eyes.
"That might very well be a wise decision," the Humpty Dumpty stated.
"Not you too, Humpty Dumpty!" the Duchess widened her eyes.

It's something that's hard to decide, Senzen noted.
Whatever's going to happen, it's up to both the White King and the White Queen.

"Give the order, White King, it's for the best," the Humpty Dumpty said.
"Please give me the order, White King, " the Knave added.

There was a moment of silence.
And the White Queen shifted her sight towards the White King.
The White King then gave a sigh.
Before shifting his sight towards both the Humpty Dumpty and the Knave.
As he spoke, "I refuse."

"This isn't the time to be weak-hearted, White King!" the Humpty Dumpty stated, "What would happen if we don't take any countermeasure against a force that we don't even know about-"

"Don't you speak as if you know everything, Humpty Dumpty," the White King suddenly said, "Indeed, I'm very well aware that the fact that I'm the White King means that I have to watch over everything that's put under my jurisdiction. Both myself and the White Queen are very well aware of that."

"Then why are you hesitating-"

"Sacrifice is indeed needed in order to maintain peace. But if I'm aware that I'm capable of protecting those who are dear to me without giving any sacrifices, then I'd sacrifice no one and maintain the peace at the same time," the White King continued, "If being a King means that I have to sacrifice people who are dear to me just in order to maintain the peace… I'd choose not becoming a King at all!"

"Each and every single one of you, prepare yourself! Fight to your hearts' content! Even if your swords rust, even if your souls bent, the most important thing is that you come back alive to this very place. This is the only order that I'm going to give you this very moment and I want you to carve it into your heart," the White King shouted, "My order for all of you is survive! Prepare yourselves, my friends, this is war!!"