I’ve been studying its properties for years. Watching its effects on the people of the nearby village. Watching from a distance.

I found it deep within the dark forest, I’ve heard stories of great witches who called this land their home many moons ago who used the properties of the flora and fungi here for their spells and witch work.

Now I guide the young Princess just beyond the village to where I buried my experiment.

I uncover the earth and show her the blood red mushroom, and she looks at it with wonder.

“And you say this one mushroom has driven everyone in this village mad?”

I shake my head. One mushroom couldn’t do something to this extent. It’s just the first of the thousands it created under the soil.

“I suggest we either quarantine this village or…” I begin.

“Or what? Speak your mind Sir Hatter.”

“We cleanse the land” I regret it as soon as I say it. These people don’t deserve this, it’s my fault they are the way they are. I brought suffering onto this village. But if we don’t do something soon the entire realm is in danger.

“Out of the question! We should inform my mother of this. We can help these people.”

“No your grace, forgive me, but informing the Queen will only cause mass panic. That’s why I wanted to tell you, you have a good heart and with your status you can bring hope to these people.”

Princess Amelia studies me for a moment before taking a look around and nodding.

“We shall close this village off from the rest of the kingdom, you shall inform my mother that a bout of plague has riddled these people that shouldn’t raise too many questions. I will offer myself as their ambassador.”

I can’t stop myself from frowning as she looks at me confused.

“What is it? I thought my response was appropriate.”

“It was your grace, it’s just. Now you’ve been in contact with the mushroom too, its spores have infected you as they have me.”

Her eyes widen in horror.

“How long do I have?”

“I don’t know your grace, it could take years.”

“Then I will continue as if nothing is wrong, and come the time it does get to me. I shall move to this … this wonderland and live amongst these people.”

“You will make a wonderful Queen someday, your grace. The Queen in everybody’s heart.”

“Someday Sir Hatter, but a word of warning, if my mother discovers you’ve purposely infected me with this disease she’ll have your head.”

“She’s welcome to it your grace, my mind is only going to go anyway.”

Perhaps it has already gone, after all I was the one to knowingly put a spore in the heart of the Princess.