Page 86 of Knot My Wonderland: Part Two
From the main room, I heard the Tweedles moving about, their soft voices discussing final calculations and temporal probabilities. The reality of our departure settled over me like a physical weight—in less than an hour, we would leave this sanctuary and face the dangers of Wonderland once more.
"We should check on Vee and Dee," I said, reluctantly sliding from the warm cocoon of their embrace. The floor was cool beneath my bare feet, a reminder that our time in this safe haven was rapidly drawing to a close.
Heart and Chi flanked me as we entered the main room, where the Tweedles were methodically packing their temporal devices and calculation scrolls. The morning light streaming through the crystal windows had taken on an ethereal quality, as if the pocket dimension itself was preparing for our departure.
"Final probability assessment," Vee announced without looking up from his instruments, "shows optimal departure in Fifty-seven minutes. The dimensional barriers are thinning precisely as calculated."
“I hope I learned enough.” I muttered but I knew they could hear me as I glanced around.
"You've learned more in these few weeks than most learn in decades," Heart said, his hand settling reassuringly on my shoulder. "The pattern responds to you in ways I've never seen before."
Chi nodded, his tail flicking with nervous energy. "Besides, you won't be facing anything alone. That's the whole point of the bonds."
I touched the marks on my neck - Heart's golden claim on one side, Chi's silver one on the other. Their warmth pulsed in response, sending waves of reassurance through our connections.
“We will arrive where we left. Martha and Varik have been awake holding the dimensional pocket…”Heart said, trailing off a thoughtful look on his face, “They will be exhausted when we get back. We can figure out what my mother has been doing and make a plan….and let them rest.”
Through our bonds, I felt Heart's concern for his allies mixing with strategic calculations. Martha and Varik had been maintaining the dimensional anchor for days—an exhausting magical feat that would leave them drained and vulnerable.
"How long will they need to recover?" I asked, already dreading the answer. Every delay gave the Queen more time to consolidate her power.
"At least twelve hours for basic functionality," Vee replied, looking up from his calculations. "Full magical capacity could take days, depending on how deeply they've depleted their reserves."
Dee adjusted one of his temporal devices with practiced precision. "The timeline remains manageable. The Queen's forces show no indication of mobilizing for immediate attack. We have a window."
Chi's tail swished with agitation. "Assuming she hasn't been planning something while we've been training. The Queen isn't known for sitting idle."
"Which is why we need intelligence from Seth and his network," Heart said, his golden patterns pulsing with steadydetermination. "Before we make any move against her, we need to understand the current situation."
I nodded, feeling a flutter of anticipation at the mention of Seth. Our Void bond remained incomplete, a silver and black connection that pulsed with potential whenever I thought of him. After what the Tweedles said about the tactical advantages of completing that bond, I couldn't help but wonder what our reunion would bring.
"We should eat before departing," Chi suggested, already moving toward the kitchen area. "The transition between dimensions can be disorienting even under ideal circumstances. Better to face it with full strength."
Heart nodded, helping Chi prepare a simple meal of dreamfruit and bread that glowed with subtle magical energy. As we ate in contemplative silence, I watched the light through the crystal windows change—becoming more translucent, less substantial, as if the pocket dimension were beginning to dissolve around us.
"Twenty minutes remaining," Dee announced, his temporal devices humming with increased intensity. "The dimensional boundaries are thinning rapidly now."
I finished my breakfast, feeling the pattern beneath my skin responding to the shifting energies around us. Silver and gold light pulsed with anticipation, almost eager for the transition despite the dangers that awaited us beyond.
"Is there anything special I need to do when we transition?" I asked, watching as the Tweedles carefully secured their equipment in leather satchels.
"Stay centered within the pattern," Vee advised, his silver eyes meeting mine. "The dimensional shift will try to disorient your magical connection. Focus on the bonds with Heart and Chi—they'll help anchor you during the transition."
Heart moved to stand beside me, his golden patterns brightening as he took my hand. "I'll guide you through," he promised, his warmth flowing through our bond. "The transition can be jarring the first time, but with two completed bonds anchoring you, it should be manageable."
Chi took my other hand, his silver energy cool and steady against my palm. "Just remember—no matter what you see or feel during the shift, we're with you. The bonds won't break."
I squeezed both their hands, drawing comfort from their solid presence. Through our connections, I felt their absolute certainty that we would face whatever came next together.
"Five minutes," Dee called out, his devices now humming with urgent energy. "The pocket dimension is beginning final dissolution."
The crystal walls around us had become translucent, revealing swirling mists beyond that seemed to shift between colors I couldn't name. I felt my stomach lurch as the pocket dimension began to collapse around us, reality bending in ways that made my eyes water. The pattern beneath my skin flared with protective light as Heart and Chi's bonds anchored me through the disorienting shift.
"Hold steady," Heart murmured, his golden energy wrapping around me like armor as the world dissolved into prismatic fragments.
The transition felt like falling through water—every sensation magnified yet distant, time stretching and compressing until I lost all sense of direction. Through the chaos, Heart and Chi's presence remained constant, their bonds burning bright against the dimensional storm.
Then, suddenly, we were standing in the familiar stone chamber where we'd left Martha and Varik days ago. The contrast was jarring—from the ethereal beauty of the pocketdimension to the rough-hewn walls and flickering torchlight of the underground hideout.
