Tiger in Wonderland
By Tiger

                           VI

Tiger awoke yet again to another brilliant day. She
opened the door of the cottage and peeked out warily,
as she was on to the March Hare. No Hare... breathing
a sigh of relief, she walked in the forest for hours,
returning after she had picked what looked like her to
be Daisies. She put them in a vase. She saw the potion
on the table again and this time thorougly read the
description of the decanter. Her emotions warred with
her heart and mind. It was a small price to pay to
bring a little happiness to someone else. But she
finally backed off and put the decanter down. She was
beginning to wish that she would never have to return
home again, but she knew that sometime she would have
to return. She decided to go to the Singing Waterfall.
The melody was a lullabye, which relaxed her and she
soon fell asleep and dreamed dreams of beautiful
things. When she finally did waken, the full moon was
out and shining bright. She watched various nocturnal
creatures come out and play. The Hatter joined her on
the ledge. "Have a nice nap, did you?" he grinned. She
chuckled. "Very much so...." His smile was a mile
wide."Thought I'd find you here...." The moonlight
bathed the water and the foliage a beautiful silver.
She had seen and discovered so much. The Hatter's next
words confirmed that and more. "You've seen and
discovered quite a bit... but more is yet to come....
Not time for you to go back yet." She smiled again as
they made the long walk back to the cottage. She
finally told him what she had thought about doing. "I
know about that, Gorgeous... the choice is up to you,
but I also know that you are divided about it. Don't
make a rash decision... for once you do... it is
irrevocable." His eyes grew a little haunted and she
just reached out and hugged him. The haunted look left
his eyes, and it was replaced with warmth.
"Beautiful... You've got a horseload of sense I trust
you to do the right thing."


                          VII

Finding herself awake and fully alert.. She saw
candlelight, and the Hatter awaiting there. He rose,
seeing the concern in her eyes, and gave her a
hug..."Have something to show you, and I think that
you will like it!" She smiled at him and followed him
out into the night, where a family of Red Foxes
waited. The vixen took one of her cubs to Tiger who
was shocked. She was even more shocked when the vixen
spoke with her mind to mind. And Tiger spoke back to
her, tears flowing down her face. She COULD
communicate with the plants and animals. She smiled as
she petted the little kit. She looked up at the Hatter
who smiled warmly at her reaction. "Everyone has the
ability, Gorgeous, but many have failed to find it, or
put it to good use." she nodded agreement at that
particular statement. She heard the March Hare and
protectively held the kit so that he wouldn't get
hurt. The March Hare wisely went on, noting the look
on Tiger's face. Tiger growled low in her throat then
stopped... That shocked her worse!. The Kit would not
leave her side. She fell asleep only to wake up with
the kit curled around her feet! She had to giggle at
the sight. "Looks like you have a lifetime friend!"
The Hatter joked. "I seem to have TWO of them!" she
smiled as he caught her meaning. "Could be, could be!"
he laughed. Her heart overflowed with love and
happiness. As it did so, she began to glow with a
golden glow. He smiled at her and made her go back to
sleep.


                     VIII

Tiger woke up feeling warm and comfortable.. She
grinned at the little kit still wrapped around her
feet and got yet ANOTHER surprise. Someone else was
holding on to her... still asleep. She didnt move....
"This is SOOOO precious..." she thought to herself.
Brown eyes opened and looked at her with a
heartwarming grin. "Morning Gorgeous... Hope you
didn't mind the company?" "Not at all" she stammered.
He smiled at her blush. "Beautiful.... anything is
possible in Wonderland... including love...You look
with your heart and NOT your eyes. That makes you
quite a bit different. That little fellow there would
not have come to you, nor the Unicorn, if you had not
believed and seen both with your heart and with
faith." "Enough talking... let's take a walk..." With
that, alll threee went out the door for another
adventure.


                        IX

All three strolled down the garden path, just enjoying
the view. The little kit dashed onwards to the
den..."He'll be back later".. The Hatter said with a
wide grin. " Now as for you, Gorgeous...." his voice
trailed off with a wicked grin. Tiger got the message
and smiled back at him. Both heard the March Hare
approaching....Tiger just groaned...Hatter just
smiled..."Let em try to grab ya...just let em try.." 
He took off his hat and rolled up his sleeves with an
evil grin. As usual the March Hare proceeded to try
and grab Tiger again, and got a surprise. "All right
you wascally wabbit you... weave the wady awone!" He
said in his best Elmer Fudd voice. But the look in his
eyes told Hare that he wasn't playing! The Hare backed
off laughing..."What took you SO long?!" he
chuckled... "about time you made up your mind!" with
that... the Hare was off again cackling...leaving
Tiger somewhat bewildered and confused. He just put
his arms around her and smiled...."I'll explain as
best as I can..." They walked off together, talking
and laughing... A peace settled in Tiger's heart and
soul...She stared in shock and Hatter cracked up at
her ....She looked like she had been poleaxed! She
stared speechless at the Lollipop Kingdom... "Sweets
for the sweet, or so they say..." he chuckled. "And
sweet you are.." She stared in fascinated wonder at
... everything... He smiled... "I think I'll steal a
little sugar from you..." he grinned and proceeded to
kiss her silly. That made her snap out of her shock!
All she could do was respond to the warmth and caring
that she felt. Finally breaking apart.. both looked up
to see a rainbow-covered sky and golden sparkles of
light raining down on them. Both smiled and continued
on their way into the Lollipop Kingdom.


                      X

Tiger still could not believe her eyes... The Hatter
laughed again... "Believe it, Beautiful..." She smiled
at him again...this time NOT quite so poleaxed as
before. She remembered what he had told her
earlier..and just blushed. He gave her a hug. "Now I
know I don't wanna go back!!!" She chuckled... and his
grin lit up...."You haven't seen anything yet! This is
just the beginning!" She smiled at that. "By the
way.." he chuckled evilly... "You do know who I really
am..." Tiger broke out laughing.... "You're Eric..."
"Yep and just as crazy as a Mad Hatter!!!" he retorted
as her grin grew even wider... "C'mere.. taste
this..." she did so and just about sang.. She could
NOT believe the sweetness of the gumdrop he had just
fed her...His smile was dazzling and he chuckled at
her... "What am I gonna do with you?" "I'm sure you'll
think of something!!!" was her prompt reply...."heh...
I've already got something in mind!" he laughed. "But
that can wait... Let me show you around this Kingdom..
then we go the the King Of Heart's Kingdom...
Everywhere she went and that they walked was made out
of CANDY! She grinned devilishly..."Want some RED
HOTS?" he cracked up laughing..."already got that...
don't need more..." she just blushed as the meaning
hit home.. She playfully formed a water balloon and
hit HIM with it and chuckled.. "OOH payback is going
to be a good one!!!he roared with laughter. She had
doubled over laughing and could not stop...Finally
both got in control of themselves and headed out
towards the next Kingdom. If this was a dream... she
hoped that she would never wake up..."Remember what I
told you about love and WonderLand?" She nodded as it
dawned on her what exactly he was referring to." Wait
until we get to the Kingdom of Hearts... then ... well
you'll see" he grinned at her. She gave him a hard hug
and they walked  down the path towards the Kingdom of
Hearts.