Chapter 5 Part 2

"..."

"So I have news for you."

"Good now explain to me, wench."

30 minutes later…

"I'M A WHAT!?"

"CALM DOWN!"

"DON'T TELL ME TO CALM DOWN! I'M NOT REAL! IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE SAYING!"

"OBVIOUSLY YOU'RE REAL! YOU JUST LIVE IN A BOOK!"

"STOP HITTING ME WITH YOUR TAIL!"

"How can this be?"

Jabberwock huffs and puffs and curls up in the corner while I sit on the somewhat destroyed bed in the kind of destroyed room.

"I think this castle is supposed to be like a home base for me. Like the other queens. My mission is called the Queen's Quest. As a joker in her deck, I have the power to become a queen."

Even though I've never met a joker in the games?

"So you're saying you must destroy my home, become its master, leave and do the same thing to another place."

"Yes in a way. I am going to destroy the Underland, kill everyone living in it, become its ruler and repeat this action with other worlds."

If I haven't already. Have my dreams ended in all the people I met, and their entire world dying? Is that why they don't remember me?

"Tell your master that it's not necessary to acquire and destroy us if it needs something it may take it. I speak on behalf of Underland!"

"That's not what this is about…"

"I think I'm supposed to do this for a different reason. I think it's training or something for me."

He looks up at me his big head comical as he speaks again but this time in a more somber tone.

"So you are the reason this is occurring."

"Yes."

"So if I were to…"

"Kill me? I wish you would."

Then I wouldn't have to do this.

"Can you refuse?"

"Can you refuse Red?"

"..."

"I'll ask if there's an alternative."

Why do I have to do it this way is there another way to acquire Underland that doesn't require ending the world?

[The concluding needs to occur. The story needs an ending. In this case, Alice needs to grow up without being plagued by insomnia in her reality. So Underland a figment of her imagination must end. In the process you will reap the benefits such as the EXP or experience points that each character possesses.]

So I just need to kill Alice in her reality then!

[...]

[No, that's not what I said-]

The end of the story must happen and it's either Alice or Underland.

[You need the EXP that the characters possess to leave the dream world.]

How much does Alice have?

[...]

[Alice has acquired 8,992,000 EXP]

Perfect. How much would I gain if I did the quest?

[3,683,771 EXP]

Killing Alice in her reality is the most effective and lucrative way of ending the story.

[That wouldn't seal her?]

If she's still dreaming while I kill her she won't be able to leave Underland thus she will be sealed in Underland forever! 

[You will still need to close the book.]

Like a real one or a metaphorical one?

[A literal book that will seal the fate of this version of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. All the characters will be completely wiped of their EXP. The fairytale would then be locked away from the Dreamworld until it has regenerated.]

How long would that take? And where is it?

[Many years. I'm not sure how long exactly. It'll appear once you've finished your quest.]

All the characters would die?

[Yes.]

Quest Information?

[The Queens Quest]

(1/1) Defeat The White Queen(0/1) Kill the Jabberwocky (0/1) Seal Alice in Underland(50/50) Kill 50 Hatters

[You are the last Joker in the Red Queens Deck. Obtain victory and prevail over the White Queen's army. Win or Die.]

I don't want to lose Jaberwock and for all of its faults, Underland and everyone in it don't deserve to die forever or even for a little while.

I've already tortured everyone here enough.

What's with the castle?

[It's part of you. Like you're magic or inventory it appears when needed to provide for you. Its a home that you can summon or uncommon at any time.]

Lightbulb!

Can I keep things in it?

[Yes.]

People? Can people be held inside it?

[In theory yes but there is a price to pay for every object or in this case person in the castle.]

In what currency?

[Dreamcoin or DC's]

How many do I have?

[2,178,239 DC's]

[Every dream awards you a certain amount of coins based on how long you spend in it.]

[You have remarkably long dreams so you have a very large amount of DCs for a dreamer but it's a very low amount compared to a Weaver.]

How much would Jabberwock be?

[Approximately 200,000 DC]

"Damn, you're expensive!"

"Excuse you?"

Fine, him and who else?

How much would Red be?

[Are you referring to the Red Queen? If so she is worth 500,000 DC]

Nope, definitely not she can stay her ass in here forever.

How much is a Hightopper?

[It varies based on their significance to the story Tarrant Hightopper or 'The Mad Hatter' is 300,000 DC while any other Hightopper is 20,000 DC.]

How about the White Queen? She makes all the little treats and potions in the game. She's definitely useful to have.

[500,000 DC]

Alright, how about knights?

[Depends on their rank but the highest rank Jokers are 60,000 DC and the lowest rank 2's are 1000 DC.]

Okay, I can save some people, not everyone but some. That's better than nothing!

Alright, I want…

Jabberwock, Tarrant Hightopper, Six Rank 7 White knights, Six Rank 7 Red knights, 1 White Joker, 1 Red Joker, and 1 White Queen.

[Your total is 1,280,000 DC]

Just to be clear I am buying the Jabberwock right next to me the exact one?

[Yes.]

And all the other people I'm buying will be bought and brought here right?

[Yes, they will appear in the front hall of your castle and will be unable to leave without your permission or disobey your orders.]

If I brought things like a bed from the Red Queen's castle here. Would it also stay in the castle when I leave or unsummon it?

[Yes and you would not have to pay a hefty price for the acquisition of the object since you will have 'conquered' it.]

So I get a discount if it's in my castle?

[Yes.]

When I leave and close the book they'll come with me right?

[Yes they will be bound to the castle or your home as attendants. They will be a part of you and can be summoned much like a pet or golem. The objects as well.]

What will be my remaining DC after I purchase them?

[898,239 DC]

"Jabberwock? I may or may not have a solution?"

He looks up waving his tail like a cat.

"Tell me what is it? What must I do?"

"Well it's more like something I would do but I want your permission first."

He walks over to me and his big body thuds as he cocks his head to the side.

Here it goes, please don't hurt me.

"I would be theoretically buying you and some ot-"

I'm met with a claw to the abdomen. He brings me closer to him. Huge black eyes are now regarding me with hostility.

"Say that again Phoebe."

Oh shit.