Trigger Warning!

fight scene, mention of blood, sword/knives, mention (and semi-description) of death. If you are uncomfortable with any of this, the next chapter will have a summary, so don't worry about missing anything! Your well-being is more important that anything.

ALSO THIS SONG IS SO POWERFUL TO SLAY DRAGONS TO, I FELT SO COOL WHEN I WAS PROOF-READING!!

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Y/N

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TIME IS TICKING...

If I could count the minutes and seconds since my departure, I'd just be counting down to an untimely fate. I'd put it off for long enough, promising I'd be okay to everyone who was brave enough to try and stop me, but now I had my hands wrapped around the reigns of my horse, thundering through the forest and towards the castle.

Or certain death, but let's not get too angsty.

My teeth were gritted together as I ducked under a loose branch, the wind pushing my hair into my face wildly as I traveled deeper into the wood. Louis' chain was snapping at my collarbone painfully with each gallop, which was less than ideal, so I twisted my right hand into the center of the reigns, using my left to slip the necklace in between my teeth and clench down. Gross, or whatever, but it was bothering me.

Now that it was my second time approaching the castle, I didn't worry about directions. It took me less than a quarter of an hour to approach the towering, red kingdom, and I craned my head back in horror to observe the chaos from up close.

The silhouette of the Jabberwocky was shining through the thick clouds, and my curiosity dimmed for once—I'd rather not see what it looked like behind the smoke. Shielding my eyes from the fiery glares, I traced the destruction towards the back of the castle and immediately set off towards it.

This was it.

No going back now.

I stopped my horse once we reached a large croquet garden, with crumbling ruins of old architecture surrounding an arena in the shape of a chess board. Cards were littered around the space, spears clutched in their hands as they whipped towards my entering presence.

But I wasn't worried about them.

Instead, I kept my focus on the unfamiliar face in the center of the board, perched on top of a heart-shaped throne. I hadn't been graced with their presence before, and I was definitely glad for that—looking a sickening person in the eyes was enough to make me sick myself.

"I suppose you're the Queen of Hearts," I called out across the arena, dropping off my horse with a thud, "which is surprising, considering you don't seem to have one."

Emma had traded me my training sword in place of my dagger, which was now trailing against the stone ground behind me as I stalked towards the throne and the woman who sat on it.

Her hair was frizzy and untamed, a horrific red color that reminded me of rotten apples and dead roses. Not to mention, her matching gown, which seemed to be fit for someone of actual class, not a woman who killed for fun. I'd heard the stories about her. I knew what she did to the people of Wonderland, and if forgiveness was still in my mind, it wouldn't be used for her.

She slowly arose from her chair, her thin lips pressed into a distasteful frown.

"The prophecy girl," she sneered, "I was wondering when you'd stop hiding."

Keeping a good distance between us, I stopped walking, my hand hovering over the handle of my sword. If I needed to use it, then I'd be ready.

"Enough with the pleasantries," I stated, narrowing my eyes, "I'm here to make you a deal."

She cocked a brow (although they were almost nonexistent). "A deal?"

"Didn't you hear what I said?"

"How dare you take that tone with me!"

"And how dare you think I give a damn about what you think," I shot back, "now listen carefully, because I'm only going to tell you this once, got it?"

Apparently, the harshness of my voice was coming through stronger than I thought it was, because the Queen sank back into her chair in waiting. I had shut her up, and now I could speak. Good. I had her right where I wanted her—cooperating.

"You have two choices," I explained, beginning to pace, "one, you can give up the crown on your own."

That earned me a disgusted gasp of offense. I ignored it.

"Didn't think you'd pick that one," I continued, "and two, if I face your Jabberwocky and win, then you forfeit your title and leave Wonderland forever."

The Queen clenched her hands around the arms of her throne, leaning forward to sneer at me once again. "And if you lose?"

"Then I'd be dead, obviously, case closed."

Admitting that out loud was frightening.

However, I didn't want to show an ounce of vulnerability, so I kept my face stone cold as I stared the Queen down with rage. She hurt the ones I loved, and she was going to pay for it one way or another. I just hoped I'd be around to see it happen.

"Why should I be making deals with you?" The woman finally said, eyeing me carefully, "you're just a small, little girl, not a threat in the slightest."

"If you really didn't think I was a threat, why'd you bring out your beast to face me?" I scowled in return.

She let out a thin scoff, but I could sense the fear running throughout her veins at the very instant. Her hands were shaking from where she had them resting on her knees, and her brow was quivering ever so slightly. So she was scared. Good, she deserved to be.

"Thought so," I spat out, "now do we have a deal, or not?"

The Queen pretended to consider this, before letting out a shrill laugh. I didn't know what she was finding amusing.

"You poor, foolish girl," she mocked, "you seem to forget that I have guards at my disposal."

She waved her gloved hand around the arena, displaying the array of Cards standing by with their spears. I felt my heart sink.

"I don't have to make deals with you when I can just kill you now," she grinned devilishly, "and you can't do anything about it. You're all alone."

"No, she's not!" A voice rang out from behind us.

At the sound of the intrusion, we all turned our heads to see shadowy figures approaching from the smog of the forest. Their faces were shrouded in the darkness as they approached, some on foot and some on horseback, but once they stepped into the moonlight they were revealed.

Louis, Emma, Daniel, Oliver, James, Harry, Draco, and a crowd of others were filtering through the trees in groups, all brandishing a weapon of some form. I recognized some of the others from Yenqum's village, and the rest must have been soldiers in the past battle.

"You won't get away with this again, Mary," Louis spat out, sliding onto his feet and holding out his very own blade, "your time is over."

The Queen (or Mary, apparently) froze when she saw Louis, and immediately covered it up with a scoff. It all made sense now. The cards running from him the first day they tried to take me, the separate cell...he was clearly not someone they wanted to mess with. Someone they were threatened by. Someone dangerous.

"Very well then," the Queen snapped, "deal it is."

I turned back towards her with a smirk. "Good."

"Prepare to lose, prophecy girl."

And with those final words, she waved her hand, signaling for the moment everyone had been waiting for. A line of bugle calls echoed out into the space, and the deafening roaring that had encircled the kingdom was accompanied by the breaking of shakes and chains.

And like a phoenix, the Jabberwocky came rising from the ashes and smoke.

It was a terrifying creature, with talons and scales running along its body, brandishing sharp claws and a serpent's tongue. Spanning nearly the size of six of me combined, I shuddered as I watched it unfold its towering wings, crawling towards me like a demon from below the earth. Its eyes flashed yellow with wanton hatred.

The arena was silent as it approached, the low grumble of its slippery growl being the only noise heard.

"Good luck," The Queen remarked, backing away from the board, "you'll need it."

And before I could unsheathe my sword, the talon of the Jabberwocky's tail came swinging towards me with untraceable speed.

Gasps could be heard from everyone watching as I rolled out of the way, unclasping my belt and pulling out the sword I had grown used to carrying. I'd trained with this. Now it was time for it to finally pay off.

Breathe, a voice in my head told me, as I stumbled back onto my feet, that would help too.

So, letting out a sharp exhale, I lunged towards the beast and began to fight for my life and everyone behind me.

Swords were thrashing left and right, while claws scratched against the polished surface of the chessboard, a vile noise that had me wishing for an end. But it was clear that was far from happening. I ducked through sweeping arms, flinging tails, trying to pierce the skin of the creature, but the scales were too thick.

The only penetrable place was near the heart—and that meant I'd have to be under the beast to reach it.

As the battle ensued, I almost missed the beginning of a fight beginning around us. The Cards had begun to engage in a spur against the rest of my friends, the clinking of daggers and spears echoing out into the space along with my own. The people were fighting alongside me.

Narrowly dodging another swing from the Jabberwocky, I had just enough time to search the crowd for Louis.

He was currently fending off two Cards at once, his hair strewn messily over his eyes as he slashed his blade into the sides of his attackers. I gasped sharply when a Spade grabbed his shoulder, but didn't have time to help given the fact that I was facing a considerably dangerous opponent of my own.

But as I slipped under another jab of the creature's wings, I had just enough time to see Louis' eyes on me, nodding his head proudly. You can do this, his eyes read.

And that was enough to keep me going.

The fight ensued for what felt like eternity, and even though I was able to scratch away at the Jabberwocky's coat of armor, it was like making a small crack in a pane of glass. My endurance was withering, and so was my hope.

I needed leverage.

A better angle.

And I was about to consider other options, until I caught sight of the ruins a few paces away. The architecture that used to be a throne of columns, was now crumbling into a pile of ash. But the staircase still remained, along with the platform above it.

Yet as I moved towards it, I was too quick to distract myself.

In my haste to run, I missed the raising of the Jabberwocky's claw, craning towards me like a spitfire snake in the smoke. Too late to dodge, I felt a searing pain rip through my shoulder as I realized I'd been hit. The beast's talon pierced through my skin, dragging a deep gash from the top of my back to the bend of my elbow. I fell to the ground, crying out in pain as I watched the blood start to spill.

But...I couldn't give up. Not when so much was at stake.

Breathe, came the voice again, breathe.

Gathering my courage, I rolled out of the way of another clip of the beast's wings, and stumbled onto my feet. My vision was blurring, and I couldn't feel my right arm anymore. Breathe, I told myself again. And somehow that made it better.

Limping towards the stairs, I used every inch of energy left to haul myself up the steps and towards the platform. I could hear the dragon crawling after me, roaring its signal for blood-thirst and death.

But I couldn't give up, could I?

Even though I felt like the life was dripping out of me by the second, and my arm was massacred into that sickly shade of red I detested so much, I had to keep going.

As the beast lunged towards me again, I swung my sword with my left hand, unable to use my right for stability. It was a new feeling, and it didn't get me very far. I needed to get to the heart...

But how?

Gosh, my arm hurts...

My whole body hurts...

My eyesight started to blur once more, and I tried to blink away the fear starting to form throughout my body. From the chessboard I could see Louis' figure fighting off the rest of the cards, alongside Emma, Daniel, the Twins, and the rest. I couldn't gather the strength to name the others.

I feel so tired.

Clutching the gash in my arm, I felt my legs give out with another blow from the Jabberwocky, and I collapsed onto the stone ground, my sword skidding across the floor and far from my grip.

And just like that, all hope died.

I yearned for momentary peace as I watched the beast hovering over me, it's underbelly casting shadows over where I lay sprawled and bloody on the cold surface. I wanted to say goodbye again. To everyone.

To Louis.

But I promised I wouldn't leave him, and I can't break his promise again. I had to stay, I had to keep fighting, and fighting, and fighting...even though I knew there was no more left in me to give.

And as the beast's talon raised for the final deadly blow, all I could think about was the end.

No more rabbit holes, no more tea parties, no more early mornings, trainings, visits to Yenqums', afternoons of puns and eyeliner, and no more of the life I had grown to need so much. I'd sacrificed it all, and I didn't even win.

But my thoughts were cast aside as a flash of blue, white, and blonde shot past, the blurry figure of someone I recognized running in front of me. They had picked up my sword from where it had fallen, grasping it tightly as they ducked under the beast and raised it above their head with a loud cry of fueled anger.

"Alice...?" I mumbled, too weak to lift my head.

But the girl didn't respond, plunging the sword into the heart of the Jabberwocky, its searing roar screaming out into the grey sky above us.

And everything fell apart after that. 

I was well aware that I had collapsed in a pool of my own blood, my wound still stinging and open as I heard the cheers of the people below break out. I didn't register the shaking of the ground as the Jabberwocky's dead body disappeared off the platform and into the trees, and I didn't register the rushing of people coming towards me with panicked screams.

But I did recognize the familiar hazel eyes staring into mine, as Louis sank to his knees beside me, cradling my head in his lap as he began to attend to my wound. There were other people around us, probably my friends, but I only cared about him in the present moment.

It's always been about him.

"[y/n], we won!" Louis said, his voice shaking with a mixture of happiness and anxiety, "we won, darling, it's going to be okay..."

I couldn't understand what he was saying, because at the present moment I was beginning to feel my eyes roll to the back of my head. I felt faint. Maybe it was because I'd lost a lot of blood...or something. I don't remember?

"Did we?" I mumbled, "well, that's brilliant."

And then I passed out.