The three stared at the strange creature in awe and fear. It was different colors and had the face of a dragon, the wings of one, and the body of a lizard. It was huge as well.
"Are you all alright?" Someone asked, their voice kind and concerned.
Natalya groaned internally. Another person? She held out the sword she stole from a guard.
"Friend or foe?" She hissed, protecting her Italians.
"Friend." The female said, staring at the sword. Her kind hazel eyes were almost as breathtaking as the Jabberwocky besides her. They locked onto Natalya's sky blue orbs. The two stared at one another for a moment.
She dropped the sword. "Alright. I'll trust you for now. But first, get us away from these guards."
She bowed respectively. "Yes, your majesty." The girl grabbed the jabberwocky's collar and unhooked it. "Do as she has told. Get the guards away from them."
The beast nodded its mighty head in reply, obeying its master and flying towards the guards that were close by.
The girl grabbed Natalya's wrist and pulled her towards the exit. She grabbed onto the nearest Italian, who grabbed onto their brother.
Looking closer, Natalya realized the girl looked strikingly similar to their friend the mad hatter. She was as kind as him as well. Natalya silently hoped she wasn't as crazy as him.
"Over here!" The girl said, pulling them into a white rose hedge.
The four crawled underneath it, and out the other side.
"What is this place?" Natalya asked.
There was a large dog house-looking thing painted white and gold. Besides it, a smaller house that looked like a person lived there.
"This is mine, and Jaja's home." The girl smiled. "Come, come. You can seek sanctuary in my little house."
Our trio followed the girl, who was truly a friend.
The house was cute and pink. It was fairly similar to an apartment rather than a home, but no one was complaining. The girl motioned them to sit on her light pink couches. They did so, staring at the girl.
"My name is Mei Xiao Wang! What're your names?"
"I'm Natalya, this is Feliciano and this is Lovino." She said, flustering slightly. Why did this girl make her feel so weird? It was weird, but a good weird.
"Natalya... That's a pretty name! I like it!" Mei smiled.
"Are you'a related to Yao?" Lovino asked.
"He's my big brother!" She smiled.
"Mei, can I ask you something about your pet?" Natalya asked, looking down.
"Jaja isn't my pet, she's my friend, but ask away!" She said.
"Are people afraid of Jaja?"
"Oh, yeah! A lot of people are. I, for one, can see there's a lot of good in Jaja and she's so sweet! I can't wait for you to meet her, your majesty."
"Majesty? No, no, no. You must be thinking of someone else. I'm not royalty."
"Yes, you are." Mei huffed. "I know a royal when I see one and you, my dearest Natalya, are a royal."
"I am not."
"Are too."
"Am not."
"Are too!"
"Am not!"
"I bet you came from Minsk and you have an older sister named Irunya. You have a brother named Ivan, too!"
Natalya stared at Mei. How did she know?
"I bet you felt lonely, and upset. I bet you felt misunderstood. I bet you tried your hardest for people to like you, trying to fit in and trying to smile. I bet it didn't work out, so your sister got worried. I bet she arranged men to come and for you to choose one. I bet this whole world seems crazy, yet perfect." Mei said, never breaking eye contact with Natalya.
"How do you know all that?!" Natalya demanded.
"I'll show you if you'd like."
"Can we'a stay here?" The twins asked.
Mei nodded.
"Yes, show me."
Mei walked to the back of her house, Natalya in tow.
"How do get around so easily?" Natalya asked. "Also, are we almost there?"
"I know my way. And be patient." Mei said, looking at her.
Natalya flustered slightly, embarrassed. "Sorry."
"No need for apologies! It's alright! The thing I wanted to show you is just over here!" Mei said.
She stopped, eyes wide and hands up.
"What's the ma-" Natalya cut herself off. A knife was being pointed at Mei's throat.
The person holding it, was none other than the infamous Queen of Hearts.