The Looking Glass Wars

Jack of Diamonds and Generals Doppel and Gänger anxiously wait for Dodge and Alyss back at the camp. Alyss and Dodge arrive in due order, to a crowd of celebrating Alyssians. Alyss is still in shock from her return to Wonderland after spending the past 13 years trying to convince herself that none of it was real, and she is overwhelmed by the Alyssians’ collective euphoria at her return.

After observing Alyss’s overwhelm, General Doppelgänger has his doubts, which he expresses to others in a meeting. He, Bibwit, Hatter, Dodge, the white knight, and Jack of Diamonds are talking in the Alyssian War Room. While Jack is vocal about his lack of confidence in Alyss’s queenly abilities, the others feel that she is the right one for the position. However, she will need some help before she’s ready to face Redd, and they agree that Alyss must undergo the trials of the Looking Glass Maze to come into her full powers. All except Jack conclude that the next step is to take Alyss to the Valley of the Mushrooms, where she can meet with the caterpillars and then make the decision whether to try the Maze. However, General Doppelgänger instructs Jack to proceed with the arrangements for the summit, as they must have a backup plan should Alyss fail.

The Cat informs Redd that Alyss survived. Redd punishes the Cat by taking another of his lives, leaving him with five. The Cat also informs Redd of Alyss’s presence in Wonderland and Bibwit Harte’s betrayal. Redd commands the population’s cooperation in apprehending Alyss, promising rewards to her captor. Redd then instructs the Cat to summon Jack of Diamonds.

Alyss takes some time to reflect and finds herself worrying over the Liddells, and she realizes that she has come to love them after spending so much time in their care. Bibwit comes to speak with Alyss, and he tells her, for the first time, what the rebels call themselves, spelling it out for her: “Alyssian.” This only increases Alyss’s unease, as she feels that she is being elevated beyond her capabilities. Bibwit assures Alyss that she will get there in time and that the Looking Glass Maze will help her unlock within herself everything she needs, but Alyss is still doubtful. Noticing that Dodge has been acting coldly towards her, Alyss finds him in his tent and confides her worries in him. Dodge’s demeanor hardens, and he leads Alyss out of camp to show her something that he feels is necessary for her to see, though he does not say what.

Jack of Diamonds carries the Cat, in kitten form, in a case to the guards at the Alyssian camp. He tricks them into opening the case, upon which the Cat springs forward in full assassin form and kills the guards. The Cat orders Jack to call for the Cut, Redd’s regiment of card soldiers; Jack does so, and the Cat and the soldiers of the Cut break into the Alyssian camp.

Dodge takes Alyss to see the ruins of Heart Palace; there, she recalls both fond memories of her parents and the traumatic memories of when Redd first attacked the palace. Alyss attempts to reconnect with Dodge, but he is adamant in letting her know that his only motivation for anything is to bring down Redd or kill the Cat. Dodge tells Alyss his reason for bringing her to the palace: He wanted to remind her of the attack to ignite her own desire for revenge, as Dodge sees Alyss as the means to his own vengeance. As they talk, Redd appears in a looking glass on the wall, and Dodge and Alyss barely escape as the palace collapses around them. Although Redd has just destroyed the last of Alyss’s childhood home, Alyss is renewed with a sense of defiance and hope.