Mad as a Hatter

"NOW! YOUR CARRIAGE MI'LADY!!"Papyrus said as the three left the wind-mill. She was back to her small size. Frisk looked at the Hatter as he took off his hat full of pins and cards and he let her get on. Sans sighed. 

"man i wanna ride the hat too.." Papyrus frowned and he got up alongside his brother as they started walking. Suddenly Mk screamed. 

"TEAAA!!" And everyone was laughing as Mk threw the cup towards Papyrus, who dodged it easily. The three walked into the forest of dead trees and snow. Frisk sitting on the Hatters had as Ches was floating about. Such a pretty sight. His had was actually warm, and it was fun to travle by hat! She thought it would be weird...but it wasn't as weird as the other things she'd seen. 

"AHH I CAN'T WAIT FOR YOU TO FINALLY SLAY THE JABBERWOCKY AND SEE YOU WITH THE VORPAL SWORD!!" Hatter chidded. Sans looked away nervously. 

"i don't slay..i couldn't even if i wanted to! So put it out of your mind!!" Papyrus stopped dead in his tracks. 

"MIND..?" He looked at her and picked her up. He put her down on a tree stomp and looked like he was abou to leave. 

"HEY!! YOU CAN'T JUST LEAVE ME HERE!!" Papyrus looked at her disgusted. 

"YOU DON'T SLAY...DO YOU KNOW WHAT THE RED DEVIL HAS DONE..? YOU DON'T SLAY...WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU? YOU'RE NOT THE SAME AS YOU WERE BEFORE... YOU WERE SO MUCH...MUCHIER. YOU'VE LOST YOUR MUCHNESS, TINY HUMAN..." Ppayrus nodded as he pointed at her chest. 

"IN THERE...SOMETHING'S MISSING..." Frisk looked at her chest and Sans looked away from the sight. 

"boss...we've talked about this..." Sans said through gritted teeth. 

"AH YES...THAT WITCH...OF COURSE IT WOULD BE HER FAULT. I WOULDN'T EXPECT LESS FROM SOMEONE MARRYING THEIR DAUGHTER TO A WIMPY STRUDEL!!" Frisk snorted. 

"but...what has the Red Queen done..?" Hatters face darkened and Sans sockets went blank. 

"IT'S NOT A PRETTY STORY..."

"Tell me anyway.." Frisk said looking at the two skeletons, determined to get answeares. The taller one sighed. 

"IT WAS HERE!! I WAS EMPLOYED UNDER THE WHITE QUEEN AT THE TIME. NOTHING LESS FROM SOMEONE AS GREAT AND AS MAD AS ME!!" 

"boss..err..ya don't hav'ta--" Sans tried to say but he was silenced. 

"SHUSH BROTHER!! I AM HAVING A FLASHBACK!! NOW...WE WERE RIGHT HERE IN THE OLD SNOWDIN FOR A FESTIVAL WHEN....SHE CAME ALONG..." 

"she..?"

"THE QUEEN...ON THE BACK OF HER JABBERWOCKY...IT WAS...AWFUL. EVERYONE...EVERYTHING...Our Mother..." Frisk's eyes widened. 

"they're gone now.." Sans said in a bitter tone as he teleported himself. He wasn't there anymore. It must have hurt to remember. 

"My dad is gone as well...i know the feeling..." Frisk said. Sans and Papyrus both froze. Sans stratched his head. 

"ahh..i...i actually didn't notice that...err-- ah damn it.." Sans said looking away. Papyrus however beamed. 

"NOW YOU UNDERSTAND WHY WE NEED YOUR HELP!! Please...Frisk..." Frisk looked at Papyrus and then looked at the charred houses between the fog. Ruins of a once happy town covered by the toxicity of the place and the anguished screams of the past...Frisk looked around and could feel tears swelling up in her eyes. A fire...a cruel fire...the same that took her fathers life a few years ago...the hole that her father left behind shall never be filled. Absent mindedly she reached for the pocket watch and rubbed the initials on it. Papyrus however snapped her out of her daze. 

"WELL TINY HUMAN TIME NEVER STOPS AND TIME SURELY GETS CRANKY WHEN YOU WASTE IT SO I SUGGEST WE SHALL MAKE THE BEST OF OUR SHARE OF IT AND GO TO SNOWDIN AS WE DECIDED SO WE CAN GET THE NECESSITIES FOR OUR JOURNEY. UNLESS YOU HAVE COMPLETLY LOST YOUR HEAD AND YOU CAN'T REMEMBER THAT AS WELL." That's right...they decided they will go to the White Queen. Her castle was close to the barrier and she had more answears than the brothers. The road to the town was silent. But Frisk didn't mind. She usually didn't like talking after she remembered her father. Until...

"what was he like, doll? yer old man must've been like ya. that witch sure as hell isn't." Frisk was caught off guard by his question. She giggled when she realized something. 

"he was just as mad as a hatter.." Papyrus beamed and the silence faded as Frisk finally got to be herself for a while...the old self she loved...the happy cheerful unmannered kid that would climb trees to try and catch birds, would fight every bully in town and would wear trousers instead of a fancy dress. The same kid that was like a beacon in the dark, she shinned some would even jokingly look away. Sans and Papyrus looked at each other as her colors grew in intesity and her spirit was coming back. As soon as she stopped talking however...they faded. She was back to being the puppet her mother trained. The nice lady who was trying to become better after being sent to the asylum....The asylum...as she remembered that horrible place more and more her light was fading and she could feel herself being numb again. Sans and Papyrus watched in horror as the sombre memories were covering her away. Thankfully Sans snapped her back to reality. Her soul was back to the one before they started the conversation. 

"we're here. welcome to snowdin." Frisk couldn't believe her eyes. The place was beautiful. They spent half a day in there. They visited the librarby, the shop and our little human talked to each monster. The more she talked the more she noticed how they were just like her....They were numb. The Red Devil to these people was just like her mother to her...actually worse if you put the fact their lives were on the line. Frisk would only get a good beating or be sent back to the asylum. She made friends with all these crazy people. After that Sans took the two to a bar. The bar was even more crazy...pretty sure there shouldn't be self playing instruments and floating furniture and glasses in a bar...nor a literal flame serving. The fire monster was named Grillby. He loved to play with fire...at a literal level. His daughter was just as pretty, with green and blue flames instead of his red orange and purple ones. It was a beautiful world...a world she wished she could ive in...yet they were all trapped. Frisk could feel the guilt swallow her whole as she realized just how much these people needed her to kill that damned dragon. Frisk sighed. The trio exited the town and they were now walking again in a forest. Papyrus was humming, then he started reciting something. 

"‘Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe:
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe." Frisk dropped on his shoulder and looked at the tall skeleton, listening to his poem. Somehow..it seemed familiar. Something about this whole world seemed familiar.  

"The Jabberwock with eyes of flame. 
The jaws that bite. 
The claws that catch. 
Beware of the Jabberwock, my son. 
And the frumious Bandersnatch. 
He took his vorpal sword in hand. 
The vorpal blade went snicker-snack.
He left it dead, and with its head. 
And he went galumping back...... 
IT'S ALL ABOUT YOU, YOU KNOW...?" Frisk snapped out of her daydream. 

"o-oh! right...about me.." Sans frowned again and scoffed. 

"i swear they mopped your head with somethin'...the bin sure as hell got rid of yer colors..." Frisk was susprised. 

"H-how do you..." Sans scratched his head. 

"well i have been observing you for a long time...err...of course i don't actually know the hell they did in that place." Frisk looked at him...through him. 

"it doesn't matter..i'm not going back there if i can help it and that's that." Papyrus frowned at his brother for the insensitive things he said. 

"sorry.." Frisk giggled. 

"i must be truly going mad huh..?" The two skeleton monsters looked at each other and their smiles softened. She was so kind compared to the other humans. She was filled with LOVE...or rather the good type of love. That was a nice change for the place. Then they hear some noise. 

"DID YOU HEAR THAT..?" The noise is getting louder. 

"I'M CERTAIN I'M HEARING SOMETHING.." Frisk tries to listen and then frownes. She can hear...

"Voices..?" Sans' ears twitch as they raise up high. His slit eyes become even smaller as his sockets widen and suddenly they're gone. His ever-lasting smile is grimm. 

"red knights!" The three look at each-other in panic. They hear the screams of the blood hunter. Papyrus puts Frisk into his breast pocket and runs. Sans following them. The Hatter dodges trees and leaps over stumps. He sees the edge of the woods ahead. But there’s a flash of red through the trees. He turns. A Red Knight steps out. He turns the other way, another Red Knight. They’re surrounded. Eyeing them warily, Sans whispers to Frisk.

"listen Frisk...go south to the ruins... the white king and queen’s castle is just beyond...trust us, 'k?" 

The Hatter sweeps his hat off as if in a conciliatory gesture to the approaching Knights. He whispers to Frisk:

"Jump On The Hat. Now." Frisk does as she's told. Ches takes his borther's hat like he's his underling. Sans winks at her and smiles, a true smile, at her. He's trying to reassure her..?

The Hatter and Ches both fling their arms wide, sending the hat and Frisk sailing over the treetops. The card like knights circle the two monsters as Frisk screams after them. Her screams can't be heard as the hat goes over a river she didn't even notice was there and she landed in what seemed to be the next part of Wonderland: a rocky place with caverns and glowing fluorescent plants; but Frisk didn't pay attention as she watched her two friends and protectors get taken away by the Red Queen's troops. The troops cuffed them both, probably stopping them from using any magic as the two walked willingly in the dirrection they were being pulled to by the chains. Sans looked over the river, one more time, at her as he also dissapeared behind the trees of the dead forest of Snowdin. What have you done Frisk?! You shouldn't have let them be so laid back with you in Snowdin. Because of you, now, the two brothers are going to be decapitated or something!! She had to do something...but she didn't know where or how to get to the damn Red castle.

She sits there, under the hat, weighting her options, before a metal hand of a silver and red armor pick the brim of the hat and flips it over. Frisk looks at the fish monster from yesterday and frowns. Wasn't she the one supposed to lead them away?! 

"You turncoat! You were supposed to lead them away! The Hatter trusted you..!" The fish monster frowns. 

"They have my wife!! So shut up!!" Frisk's eyes widen. First: at the fact two women were married..but she supposed it was normal for monsters...plus..who was she to say no in the name of love...two: Maybe she could help her get to the brothers before anything bad happens...maybe...all four of them can go to the castle...actually, since the troops will be passing in Snowdin, she can free all the prisoneers they took from there as well!! They will surely try to take the people associated with the brothers if they took them as well. With that plan in mind Frisk took on a determined look and smiled at the fish-monster. 

"What's your name?" The monster was surprised...but also more at ease at the pleasent change of behaviour from her. 

"Undyne." Frisk looks at her. 

"Sit!" The blood hunter looks at her, confused. 

"Come on! Sit!" She sits, amused if nothing else. Something occurs to her.

"Would your name be “Frisk” by any chance?" Anther person..?

"Yes...but i don't think i am the Frisk you are searching for." Undyne scoffs. 

"You kidding?! The Hatter AND Ches (on top of that) would not have given himself up for just any human...you've got something special...heck..I don't take orders, from anyone and look at me now!! So cut the shit and admit you are and that's that.." Undyne said. Frisk stayed silent then decided to ask her. 

"Where did they take them..?" The fish monster raised a brow and looked at her. 

"To the Red Queen’s castle at Salazun Grum...also known as Hotlands. This is Waterfalls." The monster explained. The tiny human nodded. She remembered the pain in Sans eyes as he looked at her before throwing the hat. She couldn't leave the two like that...Papyrus has been a great friend and...she can't believe she's saying this, but Ches as well. 

"We’re going to rescue the brothers..." Frisk said, looking at Hatter's hat. 

"HOLD UP, BRAT!! That is not foretold!! The Frabjous Day is almost upon us!! You must prepare to meet the fucking Jabberwocky!! You can't just go around and do whatever you wan--"

"I have had quite enough! Since the moment I fell down that rabbit hole, I’ve been told what I must do and who I must be. I’ve been shrunk,
stretched, scratched and stuffed into a teapot. I’ve been accused of being Frisk and of not being Frisk. But this is my story...MY LIFE! I’ll decide how it goes from here... GOT IT?!"

"If you diverge from the path--"

"I MAKE THE PATH!!" 

Undyne was stunned. She was shinnin gso bright, her soul overflowing with determination...and to think her soul trait is paticence. Such a kind, loving soul....she heard what that numbskull of a cat said about her witch of a mother...if it was her way? that woman wouldn't dare to lay a finger on Frisk again. And now? She was 1000% sure she will put her life on the line for the same Frisk she thought was a fake...She smirked. Now that's the spirit she remembered in that little girl who fell down in this place so many years ago. THAT was Frisk. 

"Take me to Hotland. And don’t forget the Hat..." Undyne picked up the hat as well as the tiny human and set her on her shoulder. 

The Blood Hunter races across the caverns and not long after she hits the red stone path in Hotland and the dark castle that sits on the tempestuous cliffs. The walls are high and foreboding with a surrounding moat of a weird liquid which seems to be boiling oil...They approach the moat and they see large lumpish objects which appear to be the heads of the executed...And all of them are made out of stone...She must have transformed her victims to stone or something so the monsters wuldn't turn to dust...Sans did say something about that... They both look around for a way across. 

" Well...Look's like there’s only one way across." Frisk's eyes widened as she looked at the head floating in the moat of boiling black bubbling oil, thick as the darkness swallowing you in the night as the lights turn off to let you sleep, filled with the nightmares of the dead. Is it clear yet that Frisk loves to make everything sound hella ominous in her head? yes the stuff are ominous but..everything sounds like out of a damn book...oh wait--

"Lost my muchness have I...?" Frisk said with a frown. She jumps onto one of the floating heads, then crosses the moat by jumping from head to head. She almost slipped twice, but she made it in one piece. Reaching the other side, she vomits onto the ground from the stress and the disturbing smell. She looks up at the impossibly high wall, then sees a small cracked opening near the ground...just wide enough for a six inch girl. She squeezes through it. In a moment, her head reappears. She calls across to Undyne. 

"UNDYNE!! THE HAT!" The fish monster nods as she picks up the hat and throws it over the wall. Hoo boy...here goes nothing...Alice finds herself in the bushes at the edge of a garden. She hears a loud hit of something, a small cry of pain, then cheers and laughter. She looks through the bushes.

The Queen and her Courtiers play croquet. The Red Queen in her beautiful red dress, with rosy cheeks and a crimson red lipstick matching the ominous color of her eyes. She was pale and had dark brown hair almost black in a high bun on her head. A small crown sat on top of her head. She  surrounded by three powdered and painted courtiers with equally out-sized body parts: a woman with an EXTRA-LARGE NOSE, another with LONG HANGING EARS, a man with a HUGE PROTRUDING BELLY. It was clear they were fake and it was also clear the Queen enjoyed weird people...she must have been an outcast in the real world...she was, after all, the only actual human by blood in the whole Underground. Next to the Queen stood a white furred goat monster. He was constantly looking at his clock, checking the time, and on the Queens other side stood that damned guard with lizard eyes. That freak was smiling, a grin with sharp teeth, as they all were giving their applause to the woman who just hit a  hedghehog in her direction with a mallet. The 'ball' rolls in her direction and it stops. She can't just leave the poor thing like that!! 

 It’s a hedghehog tied by its four legs into an awkward ball. Its fur is matted and filthy, its face buried in the grass.! It cries out as it’s hit again. The mallet is a miserable Flamingo tied by its feet. The hedgehog rolls to a stop near Frisk. She attempts to untie it. It cries out fearfully. 

"Shhh...i'm here to help you, ok? just stay still and silent..." The little animal stops and waits as Frisk works on it's bindings. 

"Where’s my ball? Page!" The Queen yells and the goat monster immediately jumps up and stars coming her way. She needs to move quick. She frees the hedgehog. It stares at her mutely before stumbling into the foliage. Frisk sees two large white furry feet. Her gaze travels up to the White Rabbit, dressed as a court page...It must be the White Rabbit. No other explination to that familiar look he has, just like with Sans and her cat. 

"Well! If it isn’t the wrong Frisk. What brings you here?" Frisk norrows her eyes at him. An idea comes to mind.

"I’ve come for two reasons..." She gestures for him to come closer. He bends down. She punches him. He put his hands on his muzzle as he rubs it. 

"AH!! SON OF A--"

"That’s for dragging me down here against my will! Thank you very much!!" She says. He gives her a stern look. That was no doubt...Frisk...

"You didn’t have to hit me! Now there’s going to be a bruise. Is there?" He shows her his muzzle and Frisk, reluctantly, shakes her head. He sighs in relief. 

"What’s the other reason..?" 

"Here to rescue the brothers..." The goat monster froze. 

"You’re not rescuing anyone being the size of a gerbil.." He says norrowing his eyes. She looks at him up and down....he still didn't call the Queen or anyone...so he must be good. She shall trust him, for now. 

"Do you have any of that cake that made me grow before?"

"Upelkuchen? Actually, I might have some left..." He says as he starts searching his pockets. Upelkuchen? such silly names...like...something her father would name..nistalgic...but she loved it. She always had a thing for tongue tying words. They were very fun. He digs in his pocket and takes out a large piece of the cake. She takes it and shoves it into her mouth. He looked shocked at the quantity but she knew it was perfect. She will be big enough to seem like some sort of giant freak!! It was the perfect plan!!

"Not all of it!! Oh no..." Alice shoots upward. Buttons fly off her torn garments, seams strain and give way. 

"Oh no, stop! Don’t do that!!! STOP!!" She grows right out of the shreds of her remaining clothes until she bursts through the bushes...stark raving nude...she's be lying if she'd say she didn't experience being naked in public before...and she was ahsamed of that. Her mother however made quite the sum of money that day. A witch, that's what she was. 

Frisk looks down at the Red Queen and her courtiers. The tall bushes hide all but her head and shoulders. Everyone stares. Thank good for the bushes. 

"And WHAT is this..?" The goat monster comes out, improvising like mad.

"It’s a “who”, Majesty. This is...um." The monster said. Frisk looked at him in a 'really?' type of way. He shrugged at her. 

"Um..?" The Queen asked skeptical. 

"From Umbradge." Thank god for the names on the Surface. They were pretty similar. 

"What happened to your garments..??" The Queen asked, a bit disgusted noticing she was butt naked in public. 

"I outgrew them. I tower over everyone in Umbradge. They laugh at me. So I’ve come to you, hoping you might understand what it’s like..." Frisk said, with a practiced fake saddness she learned and a fake politness. The goat monster's jaw dropped at the display. Man she was good at acting...

"My dear girl. Anyone with a diffarance that large is welcome in my court!!" The Queen said, now happy to have another freak in her garden. 

"SOMEONE FIND HER SOME CLOTHES! USE THE DRAPERIES IF YOU MUST BUT CLOTHE THIS ENORMOUS GIRL!" She yelled at the courtiers. They nodded and scattered. 

"You’ll be my new favorite!" The Courtiers exchange competitive glances, especially LADY LONG EARS...jeez those were HUGE!! If only they weren't fake...

However...Frisk didn't know the adventures awaiting her in the Red Queen's castle, her almost impossible mission and the dirty looks she got from the Queen's red hand with lizard eyes, staring her down like a hawk. All of this? was only the beginning in the castle...

She may or may not just lose her mind for good. 

But...she was already boonkers.