Page 99 of Knot My Wonderland: Part Two
"Alice is right," Heart said finally, his golden patterns pulsing with grim determination. "My mother's madness has accelerated beyond anything we anticipated. We can't afford to give her more time."
Seth's shadows writhed restlessly around the map, darkness pooling at the locations of corrupted nexus points. "The resistance cells are already positioned throughout the Central Market district. We can have them spread word of your appearance within hours of the declaration."
“Do we make the market the place to take down the Queen…or do we plan something else?” I asked trying to figure out how things would play out.
"That depends on how she responds to the declaration," Seth said, his blue eyes calculating as shadows danced across the map. "If she takes the bait and comes to the market herself, we fight her there. If she retreats to the palace to accelerate the ritual..."
"Then we go to her," Heart finished, his golden patterns blazing with resolve. "Either way, this ends tomorrow."
Vee looked up from his calculations, silver eyes gleaming. "The probability matrices actually favor a palace confrontation. The Central Market has too many civilians who could be caught in magical crossfire."
"But a public declaration first establishes legitimacy," Chi added, his tail swishing thoughtfully. "Shows Wonderland that you chose your bonds freely, that you're not the victim she's painted you as."
I nodded, feeling the strategic wisdom in their words. Through the completed bond network, I sensed their unified purpose "We make the declaration, draw her out, then lead her away from civilians," I decided, the pattern beneath my skin pulsing with resolute determination. "Use the market as a stage, but fight her somewhere that won't endanger innocents."
Seth's shadows rippled with approval. "The old ruins beyond the market district. It's been abandoned since the corruption began spreading, but the ground there is magically neutral—perfect for a confrontation without environmental interference."
"And if she refuses to follow?" Dee asked, his temporal devices humming as he calculated potential outcomes.
"Then we've at least shown Wonderland the truth before we storm her palace," Heart said grimly. "Either way, the people will know you weren't taken against your will."
Through our bonds, I felt their collective resolve crystallizing around this plan. The void connection with Seth pulsed with dark anticipation, while Heart's golden energy and Chi's silver light flowed with protective determination. The pattern beneath my skin responded to their emotions, silver-gold-void energy intertwining in perfect harmony.
"So it's decided," I said, my voice steadier than I expected. "Tomorrow at dawn, we appear at the Central Market. I show Wonderland that I've chosen my bonds freely, that the Queen's story about me being kidnapped and corrupted is a lie."
"And we reveal her true plan," Seth added, his shadows dancing across the map with renewed purpose. "Let the realm know she's been corrupting the pattern itself, poisoning Wonderland at its source."
Heart nodded, his ruby eyes reflecting centuries of grief for what his mother had become. "The people deserve to know what they're truly facing. Not just a mad queen, but the destruction of everything that makes Wonderland what it is."
"What about the purification?” I asked, knowing it would need to be done sooner or later…but I knew taking down the Queen would come first.
“Once the Queen is dead then we can figure out finding and accessing that.” Heat spoke, red eyes dark and trying to keep his emotions in check.
"One challenge at a time," Vee cautioned, his silver eyes serious as he looked up from his calculations. "The probability matrices suggest focusing solely on defeating the Queen first. Attempting to plan too far ahead introduces too many variables."
"I agree," Chi said, his tail swishing thoughtfully. "We need to remain adaptable. The Queen's madness makes her unpredictable—we can't script every step beyond the initial declaration."
Seth's shadows coiled protectively around my wrist, the void bond between us pulsing with dark determination. "My network will continue gathering intelligence on the Heart of Hearts location. By the time we defeat her, we'll have a clearer path forward for the purification."
"What about the actual declaration?" I asked, focusing on the immediate challenge. "What exactly do I say? How do I convince people who've been fed the Queen's lies?"
Seth gave a hum, “I’ll help you figure out something. I have had my fair share of having to speak to people…I am still a King.”
Chi's tail flicked with amusement. "A king who prefers to lurk in shadows rather than address his subjects."
Seth's lips quirked in a rare smile, though his eyes remained serious. "Different circumstances call for different approaches. But I do know how to command attention when necessary."
Heart nodded thoughtfully, his golden patterns brightening. "The declaration must be simple but powerful. Show your bonds,explain the Queen's true plan, and offer a vision of Wonderland uncorrupted."
"We should practice," I said, suddenly feeling the weight of responsibility. Tomorrow, I'd be speaking not just to a marketplace of people, but essentially to all of Wonderland. "I've never given a speech before, let alone one that might determine the fate of an entire realm."
"You won't be alone," Heart assured me, his hand finding mine across the table. "We'll be right there with you.”
Chi nodded, his tail wrapping reassuringly around my wrist. "The bonds will help steady you. You'll feel our support through the connections."
"And the network itself will amplify your words," Seth added, his shadows dancing across the maps with renewed purpose. "The completed bonds create a magical resonance that makes your truth impossible to dismiss."
The Tweedles exchanged one of their silent communications before Vee spoke. "The probability of successful persuasion has increased to ninety-four percent with the void bond's completion. Your magical signature now carries the authority of balanced pattern magic."
