by Lotus Rose
“There come some jabberwocks. Is it the Emperor?” one of them says.
The objects flying in the sky begin as tiny specks. As they get closer, Sleepy B can see that a kind of carriage is being carried in the sky by four jabberwocks. The jabberwocks are holding the wheel-less carriage aloft by means of four poles sticking out the underside. It’s a palanquin, she realizes.
As the group flies closer still, she sees that none of those jabberwocks is wearing the conical hat of the Emperor.
The jabberwocks flutter down and set the palanquin down behind the platform. The four jabberwocks stand at the four corners of the carriage—one of them pulls the door open. Out steps the Emperor’s body, wearing its conical hat, beneath which the Snark hides.
The crowd of jabberwocks launch into polite claps, but they don’t seem overly enthusiastic. Sleepy B wonders if she’s expected to start booing, but the crowd of little girls stays eerily silent.
The Emperor flits onto the platform and, as the applause dies down, stands in front of the part of the amplifying device that would be the mouthpiece on an instrument. The Emperor, who is really the Snark, gestures at one of the jabberwock guards, who kneels down and appears to press a button on the box connected to the device.
The Snark taps the Emperor’s palm against the device, sending an amplified thoom thoom throughout the crowd.
He clears his throat. “Little girls and ungentlemonsters, I am holding this ceremony today, to show everyone the heights I have grown to, as the leader of the jabberwocks. The changes I have brought about within the past few days have been swift and powerful. I have brought about these changes for the sake of my monsters, to make them strong once again, and to inspire your loyalty. First of all, as a direct result of missions that I directed, I have returned flight to the jabberwocks!” He raises a fist in the air and raises his wings as well, giving them a flutter as the jabberwocks loudly shout their approval.
He continues, “Secondly, because of my carefully orchestrated mission, the kissing curse has been removed, never to return! Now we may kill little girls with extreme prejudice once more!” He raises a fist in the air as the jabberwocks cheer. The crowd of little girls remains eerily silent.
Sleepy B looks around at that crowd of girls—they don’t seem afraid for the most part, or angry—merely, stoic is the word she’d use.
The Snark continues, “I have done all of these things, out of my love for the jabberwock monsters. Because of this love, I yearn for so much more for my monsters! I yearn to return us to our former greatness, to return us to glory!”
Cheers rise up from the jabberwocks. After a few seconds, he gestures for them to quiet. “But I know that for the jabberwocks to be victorious, in order for you to revive Woeland, you shall need a strong leader, a ruthless, unstoppable leader willing to do anything for his fellow jabberwocks. And that leader is me! I have already done so much for you, and soon I shall do more. With our flight regained, and our ability to kill little girls restored, soon we shall crush all our enemies!”
He looks around for several seconds, gazing out at the crowd. “This is your warning, little girls. Leave the valley within three days, or suffer our wrath. The valley now belongs to the jabberwocks!”
The jabberwocks whoop and cheer. The little girls don’t rise to the bait, but by their facial expressions, they are barely controlling their emotions and rage.
The Snark continues, “I am the leader you have been waiting for to unite the monsters and return Woeland to its proper position once more. It never should have been taken from us! It was the Queen of Hearts who drove the monsters out from our rightful land. The monsters have forevermore sought vengeance, and today it is I who shall deliver it to you, for I shall execute the Queen of Hearts before you all, by my own two hands, and so shall it become clear that I am the leader destined to avenge you. All hail me!”
In unison, the jabberwocks shouts, “Hail Goklam!”
“Follow me, and I shall lead you to vengeance and glory!” the Snark shouts.
The jabberwocks voice their enthusiastic support.
Sleepy B seethes with anger. She wants to shout out her dissent, but the other girls are silent, and she has to concede. Why, the jabberwocks are fierce, large, armed monsters, who can now fly, and the little girls are just...little girls. So, she keeps her mouth shut.
The Emperor’s voice calls out. “Now, I’m going to deliver to you the greatest enemy of the jabberwocks, the Queen of Hearts. When I kill her, you shall surely realize how indebted to me you are.” Something in front of him, in the jabberwock side of the crowd catches his attention briefly, before he continues, “Let this be a symbolic moment, a symbol of our rise against the former leader of Wonderland, who wronged us so unacceptably. Let her death signify our rise and eventual defeat of the travesty known as Wonderland, to be replaced by the true kingdom of Woeland, with me as its leader! Will you follow me? Well you let me lead you to victory?!”
More approving shouts, and now a chant starts, “Kill her kill her kill her!”
The Snark lifts the Emperor’s hands up and down, egging the crowd on, but now his attention is once more drawn to the front of the crowd on the jabberwock side.
The Snark bends forward and speaks to some monsters or people unseen. Even though he pulls his mouth away from the device, his words are still amplified. “What? I’m in the middle of...” He’s listening, but the device isn’t picking up the other side of the conversation. He says, “This is preposterous. I’m the Emperor! I shan’t allow it!”
A short figure in a brown robe walks up the steps onto the platform, holding in her hand a golden rod that sparkles with jewels. Sleepy B believes it is the witch, though it’s hard to be sure, with those robes.
A group of two male and two female jabberwocks flutter onto the platform—they each wear white conical hats, signifying they must be some sort of high ranking officials, Sleepy B thinks. One of them gestures to the Snark, who reluctantly steps to the side.
The short figure in the robe steps in front of the amplifying device, though, because she is so short, the mouthpiece is above her head.
Sleepy B hopes she’ll be able to hear whatever it is the supposed witch is about to say.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
THE WITCH’S VOICE PROJECTS out quite nicely: “Little girls and ungentlemonsters, I, the royal witch of the court, hold in my hands, the magical royal sceptre, and I should like to present it to the Emperor today, in the presence of his official council.”
She holds the golden rod up. Its polished gold shimmers and its jewels sparkle.
Cheers rise up from the jabberwocks.
The Snark sidles up next to the witch and leans into the amplifying device, causing his voice to boom out too loudly. “I care not for gaudy trinkets. I thank you kindly, but I shan’t accept it.”
“Oh, but I really must insist, or more accurately, your council members insist. I must take this time to remind everyone that the council members have the right to remove the Emperor from power under certain conditions—you know, for things like insanity, illness, mental deterioration, and other things... You are aware of those powers they have, are you not?”
“I am,” he says, sounding pained. He turns to look at the four council members, who tip their heads gravely at him.
The witch says, “It is by their request that I present the sceptre to you today, and they really must insist, if you follow me. So let us proceed. I’d like to fill the audience in concerning the qualities of the royal sceptre. It is enchanted with magic that glows when it is held within the hands of the true ruler of the jabberwocks.”
“That is me!” the Snark says.
“Yes, ever since you overthrew the royal family, you have been Emperor, so today, I present to you this gift to demonstrate your true status as the leader of the jabberwocks.” She holds the sceptre out to him.
He hesitates as he looks out into the crowd. Finally, he takes the sceptre, and the jabberwocks erupt into
cheers.
The Snark stands, awkwardly looking down at the sceptre, that is not glowing.
The cheers die down, replaced by confused murmurs.
The Snark looks back at the council members who are scowling now, with arms crossed. One of the council members motion to some guards who draw their swords and flutter a few feet behind the witch and Snark.
The Snark chuckles nervously, now says to the crowd. “This is ridiculous! Of course this stupid sceptre wouldn’t glow for me, because it is no doubt ensorcelled only to recognize members of the royal family. But I took my station by force! I am definitely not related to the royal family. For you see, I vanquished and obliterated them, because I was mightier. And that is why I am your ruler—it doesn’t matter what this silly trinket does. In fact I daresay, this royal sceptre is now no more than a toy—it shall never glow again, for there are no members of the royal family left!”
The members of the council exchange glances with each other, looking uncertain what to do.
An eery quiet has come over the jabberwock crowd.
“You are mistaken,” the witch says to the Snark, but her voice booms out for all to hear.
“Begging your pardon?” the Snark says.
“If you became the true leader by force, it would glow just the same. No, there is another reason that you’re not the true ruler of the jabberwocks.” She gives a nod to the guards, who grab each of the Snark’s arms. The witch takes the sceptre back.
“This is outrageous! Not the true ruler? Is this because I’m a snark?...” A loud collective gasp sounds. “Oh, bollocks, did I say that out loud?”
“There,” the witch says. “I promised not to tell anyone, but you have revealed it yourself. To answer your question, it wouldn’t have mattered to the sceptre—so long as the Emperor was the true ruler, it would have glowed.”
The Snark struggles, but the guards keep hold. “But this is impossible.” He addresses the crowd. “For I am destined to be ruler. It is in accordance with the prophesy: I am one who has ‘both human and jabberwock been’!”
The witch says, “The prophesy shall be fulfilled, but the fact remains, you, Snark, are not the true leader of the jabberwocks, nor is the Emperor. But there may be someone out there in the crowd, who can reveal who is.”
“Who?”
“Sleepy B!” the witch calls. “Are you out there? If so, raise your hand, please!”
Sleepy B gasps as she hears herself called. She is uncertain whether to reveal herself, because she doesn’t want to compromise her mission, but how can she even accomplish her mission if she doesn’t even know where the Queen of Hearts is. After a few moments thought, she raises her hand.
The witch says to the council members, “With your permission, I’d like to have her brought up here.”
The council members look at each other, before nodding their approval.
The witch directs one of the jabberwock guards to fly out and carry Sleepy B back to the platform.
Sleepy B waves at Hatter and Malice, who wave back. The witch directs Sleepy B to face the crowd, which she does.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
THE WITCH SAYS TO THE crowd, “Little girls and ungentlemonsters, the time of prophesy is close at hand, and this so-called little girl shall play an integral part. It is time for the true events of the past to be revealed to all! It is true that the Emperor’s soldiers stormed the royal caves and defeated the royal family—he believed he killed every member of the royal family that day, and so he declared himself Emperor!”
“That’s bloody right!” the Snark shouts—he’s still being held, by the way.
The witch continues, “However, he didn’t realize that one of the members of the royal family escaped that day.”
“What?!” the Snark shouts.
“Yes, a young jabberwock girl escaped through a hidden tunnel, aided by her gnome nanny. The nanny knew the jabberwock girl could be hunted and killed, so she disguised the jabberwock girl to sneak her out of the area. The nanny used a glamour spell to make the princess appear to be a little human girl. To keep the princess safe, she had her taken far away to Wonderland and used magic to wipe most of the princess’s memory of her former life, so she wouldn’t inadvertently let details of her past slip, which would put her in grave danger.”
Sleepy B’s jaw is hanging open. She is about to say something, but the witch says, “Hush, sweety, don’t interrupt my dramatic speech.” She continues to the crowd, “The princess had to be kept away from Jabberwock Valley until the time was right, when the times of prophesy arrived, but until then, she was still in great danger, so a protector was sent to her, a jabberwock male who would need to arrive at a certain point in her life to keep her safe. We, readers of fate and destiny, knew his fate would be linked to hers, but we knew it was essential that he not realize her true identity. So, we did what we could to guide the interweaving of their destinies, nudging them this way and that, so that destiny would cause them to meet at the right time, and we cast a spell on him that would cause him to have affectionate feelings toward little girls—more than any other jabberwock would.”
“Was that Jabby?” Sleepy B says in a whisper, before making an apologetic face for interrupting.
The witch nods. “That jabberwock was known as Prince Eblis before he lost his name, but now he has regained it again.”
“Crikey,” Sleepy B mutters to herself.
“Sleepy B,” the witch proclaims. “I hereby present this sceptre to you...”
“Errm, okay...” Her arms are shaking as she takes it. It glows with a bright light.
A collective gasp from the crowd.
“The jabberwocks have mourned the loss of their beloved royal family, and have yearned for a member of it to someday reclaim the throne. According to prophesy, the ruler to bring in the new age shall be one who has both ‘jabberwock and human been’. Today, you fulfill that prophesy. Today, I remove the glamour I cast over you that day in the royal caves, when I was your nanny.” She pulls the hood of her robe off, revealing the face of a female gnome. “Today I welcome you back to Jabberwock Valley, you who were known then as Princess Ebugor.” She raises her arms and mutters some incoherent words.
Sleepy B feels her body stretching, sees the ground seeming to grow further away. She realizes she’s growing taller.
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
SHE LOOKS DOWN AT HER body, which is transforming into a jabberwock—her peasant dress strains and her sandals fall away in tatters. As her head grows, her wig pops off—her blond hair somehow becomes unbound and cascades down. Now her dress splits open and falls away and Sleepy B reflexively goes to cover her body, but stops herself. Instead, she stands tall and proud, at around seven and a half feet tall, a young adult jabberwock female in pink panties.
The jabberwocks cheer.
Sleepy B looks down at her body, at her clawed hands. She realizes she’s dropped the sceptre, but doesn’t bother to pick it up. She sees strands of blond hair hanging down—she tugs at her locks to verify she still has her long blond hair.
The witch says, “Ebugor, do you accept the title of Queen of Jabberwock Valley?”
“I do!”
“No!” the Snark shouts while making the Emperor’s body struggle. “You can’t do this! It’s not fair! I stole the Emperor’s body fair and square!”
“Of course I can do this. The throne rightfully belongs to me, you dimwit. Now shut your tentacles, or I shall have you removed.” She looks out at the crowd and grins her grin that now has real fangs. “Little girls and ungentlemonsters, the days of prophesy are at hand. I, who have ‘both jabberwock and human been’ have returned to lead you, jabberwocks!”
(Cheers from that side of the crowd.)
She continues, “I think there is a reason fortune chose me to be Queen. The reason is this: I can understand both little girls and jabberwocks in a way that most can’t. And because I understand you both, I yearn for only good things for both of you. I believe th
at I can be a sort of bridge between you two groups, and under my guidance and leadership, I wish to usher in a new era—an era of cooperation and peace between little girls and jabberwocks!”
There are some cheers from both sides of the aisle, but also some hushed murmuring as well.
She says, “I know it may be an unfamiliar way of behaving. Perhaps you have your doubts, but peace, and even affection is entirely possible between little girls and jabberwocks. I shall give you all an example from my own life. There is a certain special jabberwock, who not only protected me, but cuddled me when I appeared to be a human little girl. You know, it’s funny, I used to be in a coma, in which I dreamed that someday a fairy tale prince would arrive and kiss me awake, and go on to marry me. I thought I missed my chance, that the fairy tale was robbed from me. But the fact is, that my prince has been with me for quite some time, but I just didn’t realize it. I didn’t understand it at the time—I had feelings for him that I thought were strange, because we were different species, but now I realize what was truly going on. The truth is, I am actually an 11-year-old jabberwock, so I’m old enough to make grownup romantic decisions. I wanted a prince, and I believe I found that prince. He’s out there, in the crowd, and I’d like to ask him to come up here with me. Jabby, are you out there? Come up here, sweety.”
A hushed several seconds of silence pass by, before Jabby finally flutters up, hovering above the crowd, wearing an eyepatch as a disguise.
“Jabby!” Sleepy B calls. “Come up here, darling!”
Jabby swoops over and lands on the platform to the right of her.
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
JABBY REMOVES HIS EYEPATCH and grins at her. “My, how you’ve grown!”
Sleepy B giggles. “Now you won’t have to kneel!”
“Wait!” Malice says. “Jabby, your sword.” She raises it in her hand.
