The Beginning of Destiny

Prologue: The Night Before

Madeline Hatter stared down at the tea in her cup. It glowed a bright purple, smelt like berries and magic and reminded her of Wonderland. She sighed.

"What's wrong?" Her father, the Mad Hatter, asked.

"Sorry Dad, but I just haven't been feeling like the bees' knees lately."

Maddie blew a mint-lavendar curl out of her face. She stared at her father, who seemed uncharacteristically gloomy too.

"Is this about tomorrow, Maddie?"

All she could do was nod.

Her father walked slowly over to the table where Maddie sat. He reached to pull out a chair, but then it scooted away from his hands and scampered off. Reluctatly, he kneeled on the ground next to her and draped his arm around her shoulders.

"Well, you know what?" He put on his biggest grin.

"What?" Maddie managed a meager smile.

"Come tomorrow, you'll be here working in the shop with me. We can make up all kinds of teas and ciders, and someday you'll own this place yourself. Plus, you'll have no more homework to worry about!"

The Mad Hatter got up and did a crazy dance. Maddie got up and joined in, spinning and twirling and waving her arms all about. She laughed and laughed until they both got so tired, they plopped on the ground.

Maddie stared at her reflection in the mirror. Blue eyes and crazy corkscrew curls. The face of the tea shop girl. She would never get to have elaborate tea parties in Wonderland, never be able to have a big tea party with all of her friends ever again.

Maddie loved it here, and she loved her dad even more. She really couldn't wait to work in the tea shop, but she was going to miss her friends so much.

Maddie whispered to her little doormouse. "Could you please tell all the lightbugs to go to sleep now?"

Her mouse Earl Grey scampered around the room, squeaking at the bugs to fall asleep. One by one, the little lights went out as the tiny bugs flew to the walls to sleep. Maddie stared at the fading lights until there was only one flying in circles, apparently confused. Earl Grey squeaked at him, and the little guy quickly flew over to the wall. The last light went out.

The room was all dark.

For the first time in as long as Maddie could remember, tears began to stream out of her eyes.