CR AU - CR In Wonderland Chapter XXVI

Chapter XXVI : End of Hypnosis

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Part I : Whose Side Are We On

"Do you attempt to ruin the plan that we have discussed together?"

Both the Knave and the Duchess widened her eyes.
Before gazing the Cheshire Cat in disbelief.

"Cheshire Puss…?"called the Duchess.

But the Cheshire Cat simply remained silent.
Swishing its tail as its grin grew wider.

"Cheshire Puss…?" the Duchess called once again.

There was a moment of silence.
But the Cheshire Cat kept grinning.
As it swished its tail.
And turned towards the Duchess, "Yes, Mistress?"

The Duchess widened her eyes the slightest bit.
Before placing a hand upon her chest.
And asked, "What's the meaning of the Dollmaker's words, Cheshire Puss?"

"It's exactly as it sounds, Mistress… though I have to admit that it was nothing special," the Cheshire Cat replied, still with a grin upon its feature, "All of the things that has been happening, it was all planned by both Dollmaker and I."

The Duchess cannot help but widening her eyes more.
As she placed a hand upon her mouth.
And shook her head in disbelief.

The Knave doesn't say anything.
But she simply gritted her teeth.
And gazed away.

"…… it's a lie, isn't it?"
"No, it's not, Mistress."
"… you must be lying, aren't you, Cheshire Puss?"
"I'm not lying, Mistress."
"I… I already taught you that lying is a bad thing to do, aren't I-"
"Mistress Rina."

The Duchess widened her eyes as the Cheshire Cat called for her.
Her sight is fixed upon her pet cat.
But its next words caused her to shook her head once again.

"I would not have the courage to lie to you, Mistress."

The Duchess fell into her knees.
And the Knave immediately move to get a hold of her.
Gritting her teeth at the same time as she shifted her sight towards the Cheshire Cat.

"Indeed, it might be a little hard for you to believe that I was the one who schemed all of the things that has been happening so far, Mistress," the Cheshire Cat continued as it swished its tail and moved to sit not so far in front of the Duchess and the Knave, "But I must tell you that it's the truth."

The Duchess remained silent and gazed down.
While the Knave stayed by the Duchess' side and gritted her teeth.

"For Senzen's appearance in Wonderland.
For his meeting with the Caterpillar.
For his meeting with you.
For him attending the Mad Tea Party.
For his involvement in the conflict between the White Kingdom and the Red Kingdom.
And for his every single acts up until now.
I schemed it all.
Every single one of it went just like what I calculated."

The Cheshire Cat paused for a moment.
Before eventually continuing.

"And I am also responsible for various other things.
For the conflict between the White Kingdom and the Red Kingdom.
For the Red King's attempt to behead the Knave.
For the Knave to be wounded by the Dollmaker.
For the Dollmaker's attempt to kidnap you and the Queen of Hearts.
And for the simple fact…
That all of you are inside of the Dollhouse."

The Cheshire Cat paused.
Swishing its tail as it gazed at its owner.
With a grin upon its lip.

"I am responsible for all of it."

Part II : Truth Under My Strings

"But… but why?"

The Cheshire Cat stopped upon its words.
Shifting its sight towards its owner.
As its grin grew wider.

"Why would I do such a thing," the Cheshire Cat added after a moment of silence, swishing its tail as it kept its sight upon the Duchess, "Why would I went to such an extent, is that what you are referring to, Mistress?"

The Duchess didn't answer.
But she gave a brief nod.
Seemed to still be unable to look at her pet cat for the moment.

"Well, indeed I would not go as far as saying something cliché as 'Everything happens for a reason'," the Cheshire Cat replied with a small sigh, keeping its amused grin upon its feature as it reverted into nothing but a floating grin in mid-air, "But I could tell you that I have my own reason for doing it."

"Cut the chit-chat, Cat. I don't need you blabbing about nonsense right now," the Dollmaker suddenly spoke, "I want to know if you're siding with me or not, cause if you're not, I might very well get rid of you as well right here and right now."

"You seemed to be taking it the wrong way, Dollmaker."
"What do you mean?"

"Indeed, I did mention that I planned almost every single that has been happening recently with you," the Cheshire Cat added, "But I never actually mentioned that I'm taking your side in this little 'chaos' I planned."

"Wait… does that mean-"
"Yes. I am using you as well."
"……… you used me… as well?"

"For this little 'chaos' I planned ever since the very beginning, you're already a part of it," the Cheshire Cat replied as it swished its tail, "I never planned to cooperate with you from the very start, but you're an important key for this 'chaos', that's why I decided to come to you and asked you to plan everything along with me."

The Dollmaker gritted his teeth.

"It would be too hard for a simple cat like me to take all the blame if something went out of expectation," the Cheshire Cat replied, still with a grin, "That's why I needed a figure. An evil figure. Someone who could take all the blame but wouldn't pay even the slightest attention to it. And you were the one who fit those criteria the most, Dollmaker."

"So you're saying that you double-crossed us?" the Knave asked.
"Well… you could put it that way, I suppose," the Cheshire Cat replied.
"But I… she… Rina trusted you!"
"I never asked for her trust, though I highly appreciate her kind gesture."

"Why would you go to such an extent, Cat?" the Dollmaker suddenly spoke, "Would you be so kind to enlighten me with your thoughts?"

"It's unlike you to be polite all of the sudden, Dollmaker."
"Shush. I'm trying my best to hold back my emotion right now."
"Ah, you're holding not to cut me into pieces aren't you?"

The Dollmaker didn't answer.
But he simply grinned.
As he indeed placed a hand upon the handle of his blade.

"Well, it's actually really easy. I could only do something to this extent because I'm wishing for something," the Cheshire Cat replied with a grin, swishing its tail as it continued, "I want to destroy the Wonderland."

Part III : Individual Thoughts

There were footsteps.
Several footsteps, followed by a small earthquake every now and then.

The Humpty Dumpty widened his eyes.
But so does the Red King and the Queen of Hearts.

There was suddenly silence.
Before one of the walls collapsed.
Revealing a fairly large Golem standing by the gap created.
And a person with rabbit ears sitting upon its shoulder.

"The Bandersnatch… and the White Rabbit?" the Humpty Dumpty said with widened eyes.

"I was trying to tell him the correct way to find all of you," the White Rabbit started.
"… but I'm too lazy to search for the door," the Bandersnatch ended.

There was an awkward silence.
But the Humpty Dumpty simply give a sigh.
While the Red King patted the Queen of Hearts' head.

"How're all of you?" the White Rabbit asked.
"We've been better, obviously," the Humpty Dumpty replied with a sigh.
"I got Airia safe and sound right here," the Red King added.
"I'll never leave Red-Nii's side again!" the Queen of Hearts ended.

The White Rabbit gave a relieved sigh.
While the Bandersnatch remained silent.

"Where've you been anyway, White Rabbit?" the Humpty Dumpty asked.

"The White King gave me the right to freely investigate various matters," the White Rabbit replied with ease, taking a moment before continuing, "Though I have to admit that I encountered various surprising facts along the way."

The Humpty Dumpty narrowed his eyes.
Before replying, "And what could those 'surprising facts' be?"

"It'd be better if we continue our talk as we venture deeper through this Dollhouse," the Bandersnatch suddenly spoke, "After all, we need to re-group with the others as well."

The Humpty Dumpty remained silent for a moment before shrugging.
The Red King gave a small sigh before nodding.
While the Queen of Hearts immediately took one of the Red King's hand along the way.

"For your information, the White King and the Tweedle-Twins are safe," the White Rabbit continued as they venture deeper through the bleak hallway of the Dollhouse, "The Mad Hatter and the Dormouse are on their way to help those three with a new company coming along with them."

"A new company?" the Red King asked.

"It is believed to be a girl that was brought here by the Cheshire Cat, though its purpose for bringing her here is still unknown," the White Rabbit replied with a shrug, taking a moment before continuing, "Moving on, I have managed to pinpoint the location of Senzen and the White Queen and we should be able to see them soon."

"What of the Cheshire Cat?" the Humpty Dumpty suddenly spoke.

The White Rabbit paused.
While the Bandersnatch remained silent.

The Humpty Dumpty noticed the sudden odd silence.
And gritted his teeth, "White Rabbit?"

"Well, I have mentioned that I found a rather surprising fact along the way when I did my investigation, right?" the White Rabbit spoke after a moment of silence, giving a small sigh as he continued, "One of it is actually connected to the Cheshire Cat."

The Humpty Dumpty narrowed his eyes.
And eventually asked, "And what could that fact be?"

The White Rabbit closed his eyes.
Before eventually spoke:

"The Cheshire Cat from the very start has been planning to destroy the Wonderland."