Black in Wonder(land)

BANG!! Both brothers jumped at the noise. Whirling around Sirius noticed the door had slammed shut closing them in the impending darkness.

“Have any more great ideas? Maybe there will be a bridge to jump off next? Or maybe an inviting volcano to take a swim in?” Reg asked. Even though Sirius couldn’t see him he knew exactly what face he’d be wearing right now. His eyebrows would’ve been scrunched together. His lips pursed, and arms folded across his chest. His usually pristine hair would’ve fallen out of place like it always does when Sirius pisses him off.

“What would you have done? Stay there and become besties with Doorknob?”

“Not jump down a fucking rabbit hole!”

“Ok well it happened, so our only choice now is to keep moving.”

“And then what? Hope something doesn’t kill us?”

“Precisely! But manifest it, it’s stronger!” Sirius replied chirpily.

“I hate you.”

“No, you don’t!” Sirius sing-songed back. Reg didn’t respond but he’d imagine he’d be rolling his eyes right now. This was a fairly common exchange between the two. After a fight Reg would claim his hatred towards Sirius, and Sirius would declare it false. Then it was over. They didn’t need to ask for forgiveness or tell each other they cared. They both new in their hearts and that was all that mattered. No matter how big of a fight they had, they’d always make up. It might not be the healthiest way. They definitely have things to talk about. However, it’s their way. Growing up where they did, they’re both happy to have a relationship at all. They were never out a lot when they younger always locked away in their giant house, their only company themselves and the servants. Regulus became friends with one of the servants Kreacher, but Sirius never did. He acted out, he was loud and rude. He knew the servants disliked him; he couldn’t blame them. He was sorry now for the way he acted towards them, making their life harder in attempts to piss off his mom. His brother was easy to like. Did as he was told, was nice to the workers and often helped them clean up one of Sirius’s messes. He’s tried to make up for how he acted, but it’s too late, he made his own reputation, and it stuck. He often goes back and forth trying to break the rebel troubled child behavior he adapted or becoming an even worse version of it. When they were finally old enough to be let out of the house Sirius finally decided what he wanted to be. Anything but a Black. Blacks were posh, rude, abusive, fake, cared more about labels than anything, and so much more. So, to become less like them he let his hair grow out, he wore street fashion, he was nicer to the servants. While his brother could be subtle. Everything Sirius did was loud. People thought of them as complete opposites: Reg was the short, perfect hair, nice clothes without a wrinkle, always early, perfect manner, and most importantly quiet. Sirius had grown his hair to his mid back, his clothes were wrinkled and messy, he never had good manners even when he tried, and he was very very loud.

“I think I see something!” Reg whispered. Way ahead of them looked like a pool of light. Possibly from a fire. Orange, yellow, and red lights illuminated the dirt walls. A splurge of happiness and hope rippled through Sirius in shades of orange and reds. They were almost out! “Don’t do anything stupid.” Sirius snorted in response. They fell into a faster pace, making sure they were still quiet as they went. They soon reached the bend from where the light seemed to be coming from. Peering around the corner the brothers realized it wasn’t a fire at all. The sun was setting. No rising! How long have they been down here? A whole day and night passed. He was about to voice this very question when he saw a pretty brunette collecting seashell. Huh, they were on a coast! She was wearing a long flowy dress; her curly hair was up in an afro. Her dark hands were covered with silver rings, and she probably wore 50 different necklaces.

“Hello! Are you here for the coronation?” she asked with a broad smile. Sirius peered into her basket and realized she wasn’t collecting seashells, but oysters.

“Um, no we were following this guy named Peter and- “

“Oh Peter! He’ll be at the coronation in a few days. He’s the queen’s right-hand man.”

“Right…Who is the queen?” “The queen? Why it’s Dorcas Meadows of course. Her mother was tyrant! Always wanting everything RED! But she’s much better, she wants everything PINK!” She said this as if red was the worst crime someone could ever commit.

“Why’s pink so much better than red?” Reg asked, speaking for the first time since they arrived.

“I think the better question would be why isn’t it?” She said with a blank stare.

“No, it really wouldn’t.” Reg deadpanned.

“Ok, whatever. Red, pink, purple. Doesn’t matter. Where do we go if we want to get back home?” Sirius said before his brother tried to rationalize with strawberry shortcake.

“I love Purple!” She squeaked.

“Me too!” Sirius exclaimed back forgetting all about his question.

“Great. Glad we’ve made that clear. So, how do we get home?” Reg asked breaking the moment.

“I’d ask the new Queen at coronation! She will probably grant any request to gain favor of her people.” The girl responded.

“Great, where’s that?”

“Oh well, just follow the path!” She pointed down to her left where there was a stone path. “Oh but remember this. The best friends are liars, the deer wants to play, the flowers waste time, and the wolf wants to be left alone! You better hurry the Queen will get crowned in no time!” Sirius grinned turning back around to thank his new friend.

“Thank you so much um…?” Sirius started.

“Mary! I’m Mary! I’ll see you guys at the coronation!” With that she skipped the opposite direction with her basket of oysters.

“Why’d she go the opposite way if we’re going to see her at the coronation?” Reg questioned, eyeing her as she left.

“I don’t know. Maybe she had something to do?” Sirius responded walking towards the path.

“You don’t find that at all strange?”

“No, I trust her.”

“How can you already trust her! You just met her!”

“She had a trusting face!” Sirius defended.

“Now come on I wanna see this pink queen get crowned.”

“No, you don’t idiot.”

“You don’t know what I want!”

“Moron.” Sirius stuck out his tongue at him, which he received a glare for it. They walked down the sandy path watching the sun slowly rise up and over the silvery blue water. The beach was very pretty the sand appeared white against the blue of the water. The red and orange sun painted beautiful; streaks along the sky in colors he couldn’t recall ever looking so pretty. Sirius had the sudden urge to paint it. He loved to paint and draw. Sceneries were his favorite. He loved to paint places he longed to visit. To dream he was anywhere but at his lonesome home. He let out a sigh. It would be very strange to paint a place he has visited, a place full of new colors and wonderful sights he gets to experience firsthand. Sirius made a mental note to paint each of his favorite places from here once he makes it home. Home. The thought put a bitter taste in his mouth. He looked over Reggie, the boy had a determined look on his face. Even though the last thing Sirius wanted to do was go home. He had to for Reggie.

Ahead of them the path left the beach and went through a forest. It was a beautiful forest it was dark and full of life, with so many trees it was hard to tell where one tree ended and the next began. From inside the forest, he swore he could hear a little tune playing. He looked over at Reg who had stopped walking at the entrance.

“I assume we are going in?”

“It’s the way Mary told us to go!” Reg gave him a skeptical look.

“I’m not sure how much trust her.”

“Well, she has fabulous style, loves purple, and had basket full of oysters! So, let’s go!”

“Sirius! What the fuck! None of those were a good reason to trust her. You were just naming characteristics!” Regulus huffed beside Sirius but made no attempt to stop him from going into the forest.

“Exactly, and do you know what else is a characteristic? Trustworthy! And I say she’s that too!” Sirius declared taking his first few steps into the woods.

“That had to be the dumbest argument you have ever presented.” Once in the woods they realized it only looked dark from outside of it. Inside it was full of color and lights. It appeared as if the trees were all light sources. Birds and small animals scampered around in bright colors. They followed the path down a small hill, where a couple of pink racoons (?) were fighting over an apple. The farther they went into the forest the louder the music he heard before was.

“There’s no way I’m not dead.” Reg murmured as he glanced around in awe.

“Trust me if you were dead, it’d be a lot hotter here.”

“No. This is definitely my version of hell.”

“Come on Reg! It’s pretty cool! Everything is same but like prettier and brighter!” Sirius said motioning around them.

“It’s hurting my eyes.” Reg complained.

“Your always so negative.”

“Your always to positive.”

“Thank you.”

“Not a compliment.” They continued until the path led them deeper into the woods. The animals and lights became scarcer as they went. However, the music kept getting louder, which gave Sirius the hope he needed to continue. Little flowers that glowed in the dark made the path easy to see. The flowers were all blue and purple alternating down the road. It felt like they were walking for several hours before they reached a little white fence. Behind the fence was a cottage. The music appeared to be coming from the small house. The path they were following went through the gate around the house to the backyard.

“Let’s just go around, the path probably continues behind the cottage.” Reg said.

“Nah, let’s see who lives here! It sounds like they are having party!”

“Yeah, for a three-year-old.” Reg murmured but followed Sirius through the gate anyway as he went to investigate the music. When they made it to the back of the house, they were greeted with a massive, decorated table with three people sitting at it. The table had a long pink tablecloth with white and red hearts on it. There were several teapots all different shades of pink and reds with matching cups and plates. The person at the head of the table had blonde hair and was wearing a top hat. He also had on a ridiculous green suit. He was laughing with the boy sitting next to him who had dark brown hair. And a matching orange outfit and top hat. The girl to the left of the blonde hair man looked identical to him. She had long blonde hair with a small braid on one side. She was smiling softly at the two men beside her.

“Hello!” Sirius called to them. All three faces turned to them with identical evil grins.

“Sirius!” Reg whispered elbowing Sirius. “Remember what Mary said! Best friends lie!”

“Oh, so now you trust her?” Sirius whispered back ignoring the look his brother was giving him as he approached the table. “I’m Sirius and this is my little brother Regulus.” He said with a smile full of charm.

“Well, I’m the Mad Hatter.” The blonde one said, “And this is my sister Pandora and my boyfriend Barty.” Mad for sure. What kind of name is that?

“Nice to meet you!” Pandora said sweetly. “Want to stay for tea?”

“No! We really can’t!” Reg said immediately.

“Why not? I’m sure we have time for tea!”

“Of course, you do!” Barty said starting to pour glasses for each of them. “How many scoops?” He asked holding up the sugar bowl.

“None. We are leaving!” Reg said grabbing Sirius’s arm.

“Aw, come on Reg one cup?”

“What if they poison us? Mary said they lie.”

“We don’t know if she meant them. Come on we are being rude. One cup of tea and we leave, alright?”

“One cup. And we leave immediately.” Reg repeated sternly.

“Isn’t that what I just said? I’ll take three scoops. He’ doesn’t want any sugar” Sirius said sitting next to Barty. His brother sat across from him next to Pandora.

“Here you are!” Barty said sliding the cup in front of him. Sirius smiled a thanks before picking up the pink cup and taking a sip of it. His eyes went wide. That was probably the most delicious thing he had ever put into his mouth.

“What is this?” Sirius asked sipping on his drink.

“Tea, of course!” Barty said mixing his own cup. Now sitting next to them Sirius could see that their eyes weren’t white like they were supposed to be. Their eyes kept changing colors. He blinked a few times and continued staring at Bartys eyes.

“What are you staring at?” Evan asked glaring over at Sirius.

“Oh sorry! I was just…well his eyes.” Sirius heard Regulus bark out a laugh. His eyes were also changing colors. Him and Pandora seemed to be getting along they were giggling and whispering back and forth. Sirius was sort of proud of him.

“His eyes?” The Mad Hatter asked leaning forward.

“Who can blame him babe? I’m gorgeous!” Barty said with a laugh. Before The Mad Hatter could respond Sirius chocked out a quick response.

“Er I mean you are. But your eyes are changing colors.”

“Oh, so are yours you know!” The Mad Hatter responded looking calm again.

“They are?” Sirius asked bewildered. He took another sip of his tea surprised to find it gone. Barty was already filling his cup again. Sirius looked back over at Reg again. He looked very drunk. Come to think of it, Sirius was feeling pretty drunk himself. Well, drunk wasn’t the right word for it. He didn’t know what it was, but he wasn’t sober. However, he couldn’t stop drinking the tea. No matter how hard he tried. “This isn’t really tea? Is it?” Sirius asked giggling a little bit as he spoke. The Mad Hatter and Barty started spinning and they sounded far away when they responded.

“It’s special tea!” Barty laughed.

“Very special!” They both broke off into laughter.

Now looking back on it, Sirius couldn’t tell you how much tea he drank or what all happened. All he knows was there were a lot of swirling colors. People laughing and talking nonsense. Food was brought out, but Sirius couldn’t find his mouth to eat it. So instead, he stared at it and tried to figure out what it was. It looked pretty, it was yellow and green and spun. It might’ve not been spinning. He sat there watching the world spin all the colors around him combining into one. It made all the pretty colors turn into an ugly brown color. That made Sirius sad. He missed the pretty colors.

“I’m late!” A voice said piercing through the hazy cloud he was in. Sirius blinked rapidly trying to remember whose voice that was? Where was he? And where’s my brother? With all those questions swirling around his mind the colors suddenly turned black and Sirius was only left with his unanswered questions.