CR AU - CR In Wonderland Chapter XIV

Chapter XIV :The Antagonizer

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Part I : Edge of Silence

"What is it that you want to discuss with me, White King?" Senzen asked when they reached the tactical room that's placed just beside the Throne Room, "Couldn't you just discuss it along with the White Queen and-"

"It's a sensitive matter," the White King replied.
"Sensitive?" Senzen repeated with an arched eyebrow.

There was a moment of silence between the two of them.
Before a knock could be heard upon the door.
Without a doubt, both Senzen and the White King gazed at it.
As the door swung open.
And revealing a so-familiar figure.

"Nero!" Senzen called.
"Ah, you're finally back, the White Rabbit," the White King said.

Ah, indeed, inside of this place, Nero is known as the White Rabbit, Senzen noted.

"I'm here to report every single thing that I've seen so far," the White Rabbit said, remaining silent for a moment to catch his breath before continuing, "Which would you like to hear first?"

"Regarding the condition outside," the White King replied, "How about it?"

There was a moment of silence.
But then the White Rabbit nodded.

"The Knave and the Humpty Dumpty has encountered both the Red King and the Bandersnatch," the White Rabbit said, "The fight went for quite some time, but it has been stopped thanks to both the Duchess and the Queen of Hearts."

"How's the outcome?" the White King continued.

"Both parties suffered minor injuries," the White Rabbit replied, "But that's not the thing that should be worried about at the moment."

"What do you mean?" Senzen asked.

"The Dollmaker has made his move."

Senzen arched an eyebrow.
It's a name that he's never heard before.
Who could the one referred as "The Dollmaker" be, he wondered.

"As expected, he might very well be the one working upon all the schemes that's been happening so far," the White King said as he tapped his chin with one hand, "Though I couldn't help but having another suspect in mind as well…"

"Who is 'The Dollmaker'?" Senzen asked.

"He was known as one of the best doll creator upon the entire Wonderland," the White Rabbit replied, "But around several years ago, something went wrong and he might have gone crazy. Almost all of the people who lived near the Dollhouse, the name of his castle, had been turned into mindless dolls unwillingly. And ever since that time, none of the residents of the Wonderland dare to come close enough to the Dollhouse, in fear the same fate would fall upon them if they're stupid enough to do that."

"Couldn't someone do something about it?" Senzen asked, "There are two Kingdoms inside of this Wonderland, isn't it? Why wouldn't you do something about it?"

"As a King, the first priority is not to conquer but to defend and keeping the lives of the people living safe," the White King answered, "As much as we want to do something, we couldn't."

"Besides, there's something else that's been said guarding the Dollhouse."
"Something else?"

"It's an old saying that has been spread amongst the residents of the Wonderland," the White King continued, "It's about the Jabberwock."

"What is it about, exactly?" Senzen asked.

The White Rabbit remained silent for a moment.
As if hesitating.
Before eventually giving a sigh.
As he spoke, "Beware of the Jabberwock, my son!"

"Jabberwock?" Senzen repeated hesitantly.

"The claws that catch, the jaws that bite! If you cannot free yourself from its catch, the Jabberwock might very well be your worst nightmare!"

Part II : The Deathbringer Twins

"All of you seemed so lively," the Dollmaker laughed, "Did something good happen?"

"How could you act so nonchalant like that?" the Humpty Dumpty said, "You might have very well known that you'd stand no chance against all of us at the same time."

"Well, if I'm on my own, it might be really hard just to get close to the Duchess and the Queen of Hearts," the Dollmaker replied with a slight shrug before eventually giving a sigh, "But do you honestly believe that I'm the kind of person who'd come encountering you without any preparation?"

There was an eerie atmosphere leaking from the Dollmaker.
And it made the Knave, the Humpty Dumpty and the Bandersnatch uneasy.
Without any doubt, the Humpty Dumpty was the one to charge forward.
Followed b y the Knave and the Bandersnatch behind him.

But even knowing that, the Dollmaker simply smiled.
As he clicked his fingers.
And the sound of the leaves rustling could be heard from the forest behind him.

There were swift movements.
And in an instant, both the Knave and the Bandersnatch has been held in place.
While the Dollmaker unsheathed his own blade and confronted the Humpty Dumpty.

Two figures could be seen standing.
Holding the Knave and the Bandersnatch in place.
Two identical figures, that of a male and of a female.

They seemed to be around the Dollmaker's age.
And dressed in a more refined clothing, though still identical nonetheless.
A pair of huge claws could be seen upon their hands.
Using it to prevent both the Knave and the Bandersnatch to move forward.

The Bandersnatch remained silent.
And keep trying to move forward.
Even though nothing happened as the other male somehow managed to hold him.

While the Knave widened her eyes a bit.
Before trying to push the other female back with her gunlance.
Only for it failing with little to no effort.

"You brought your underlings with you?" the Humpty Dumpty stated with a small grin, "Do you honestly think that people like them would be able to stand a chance against the three of us?"

"'People like them'? You should stop underestimating your enemies, Humpty Dumpty," the Dollmaker said, "They're not just anyone that you'd meet along the lands of the Wonderland. You can't even compare them to the normal soldiers around this place."

The Humpty Dumpty narrowed his eyes.
But the Dollmaker gave a wicked grin, "They're special."

The Knave gritted her teeth.
And once again pushed forward.
Only to widen her eyes so suddenly.
As a diagonal wound could be seen upon her chest.
Slicing through her armory.
"What…?" she asked in disbelief.

But that's not the only thing.
Several sounds could be heard from the Bandersnatch.
As it had been pushed back with little to no effort.
And some scratches and chips could be seen upon his body.

"They managed to withstand the Knave and the Bandersnatch? Just what-"

The Humpty Dumpty's thought was cut short as the Dollmaker kicked his stomach and threw him back, laughing along the way.

"Interesting, isn't it? INTERESTING, ISN'T IT?" the Dollmaker shouted, "You'd never expect that they'd be able to break through the Knave's and the Bandersnatch's defenses just like that, aren't you?

There were no words from the Humpty Dumpty as he simply gritted his teeth.

"You've heard of it, haven't you? Don't you tell me that you've never heard of it," the Dollmaker continued, still with a chuckle, "It's a really old nursery rhyme that's been spreading amongst the residents of the Wonderland!"

"Of the Jubjub Bird, the Raven, and the Dodo…" the Dollmaker said with a wicked grin, "Be careful of the Jabberwock, my son! The jaws that bite, the claws that catch! If you cannot free yourself from its catch, the Jabberwock might very well be your worst nightmare!"

Part III : The Tyrant

There was a moment where the Dollmaker was still laughing.
Before suddenly jumping back and moving backwards a bit.
In time to avoid the pool of blood that's placed below him when he didn't notice.

And in turn, he gazed at the Red King, "Didn't expect that you'd make your move."
"Shut up," the Red King replied.

"Well, nonetheless, that's not something that I should worry about," the Dollmaker replied with a slight shrug, "In your present condition, you wouldn't stand a chance against me, anyway."

Though the Humpty Dumpty wanted to say something, his attention was distracted when he heard the Duchess' voice. And gazing back, he could find the Duchess sitting upon the ground with the Knave's head placed upon her lap.

"Knave? Knave! Answer me, Knave!"

The Knave gave a small pant.
As a small trickle of blood could be seen flowing from her mouth.
And noting that, the Duchess gritted her teeth.
Before turning towards the Dollmaker and spoke, "What'd you do to her?"

"Well, I'm not exactly the kind of bad guy who'd explain every single thing to my enemy when I actually have the chance to do something else that should prove to be more productive," the Dollmaker replied with a shrug, "But out of respect, allow me to tell you that if she's not going to receive the right treatment, she might very well end in a coma state for the rest of her life."

There was silence.

"You see, even though the wound's not really deep, the Jabberwock's claw has been reinforced with quite lethal poison. Well, it doesn't really affect the Bandersnatch, I could see, but it has its own advantage as well," the Dollmaker continued, "While it's not strong enough to end someone's life, it's strong enough to make someone end in a coma state for the rest of their lives."

"Recover her this instant!" the Duchess shouted almost desperately in turn.

"Now that I think of it, I already told you, right? That I wanted you and the Queen of Hearts to come and aid me in my conquest for Wonderland?" the Dollmaker replied as he tapped his chin with a finger, "In turn of having the Knave cured, why don't you come with me?"

The Duchess almost lost her breath.
Gazing at the Dollmaker in disbelief.
Before gazing at the Knave upon her lap.

"You'd have no choice anyway. You don't want to see the Knave end in such a miserable state, aren't you?" the Dollmaker said as he made his way forward, "I'm not so stupid that I'd make a poison without something to cure it. And I assure you that I'd give her the cure for the poison if you come with me."

The Duchess closed her eyes for a moment.
Before opening it once again as she gazed at the Knave.
There was a loving look upon the Duchess' eyes.
As she run a hand upon the Knave's forehead.
Giving a small sigh, the Duchess then shook her head.
Taking a moment to lower her head and placing it near the Knave's ear.
As she whispered, "I'm sorry, Knave."

The Duchess then pulled back.
Placing the Knave's head gently upon the ground.
Before ever so slowly making her way towards the Dollmaker.
And stood beside him.

"Excellent," the Dollmaker said.

And then the Dollmaker turns towards the Red King.
Lowering his body a bit as he gazed at the Red King with a grin.
"Oh, and I've said that I'm going to take the Queen of Hearts along as well, right?"

The Dollmaker clicked his finger.
And the female who wounded the Knave before moved swiftly.
Before reappearing behind the Queen of Hearts.
And made the later fainted with little to no effort.

"AIRIA!"

"Curse the fact that you couldn't do anything, Red King," the Dollmaker said with a chuckle, "Curse the fact that you could do nothing while the one you care for the most being taken from you."

The Red King gritted his teeth in anger.
Before thrusting a hand forward towards the Dollmaker.
Only to have the later catching it with little to no effort.
As he gazed at the Red King with narrowed eyes.
And spoke, "I'm disappointed in you, Red King. You're not this pathetic before."

"Well, that being said, that should be all for my performance today," the Dollmaker said as he threw the Red King back with little to no effort, giving a slight bow as he continued, "You're welcome to visit the Dollhouse anytime, but don't forget to pay the entrance fee, alright?"

There was a slight chuckle emitted from the Dollmaker.
As he gazed at the remaining people.
The Knave, the Humpty Dumpty, the Bandersnatch, and the Red King.

"I shall be taking the Duchess and the Queen of Hearts," he said, "You're welcome to come and try to take them back, but the entrance fee would be much more expensive compared to a normal performance."

The Humpty Dumpty and the Red King gritted his teeth.
While the Bandersnatch slowly lifted the Knave's body and held it bridal style.
Before turning towards the Dollmaker in silence.

The twins that's been helping the Dollmaker could be seen upon the later's side.
Giving a small nod, still in silence.

Giving another slight bow, the Dollmaker then laughed.
Before vanishing as he spoke, "So long and good night!"