Stardom Reset: From Washed-Up Actor To Global Superstar

The next couple days passed by smoothly on the set of [A Maddened Wonderland].

Through it all, Mary-Beth happened to have become a lot less stiff on set, especially in the way she related with her fellow actors, and most especially, Niall.

Though she hadn’t trusted him, much like she hadn’t anyone else thus far, the incident at Sterling Vance’s photoshoot had lifted the veil from her eyes.

Enough for her to re-evaluate her entire stance on interactions with people.

This was because she’d been certain, that had Adrian--or whatever is name was called--done the same thing to someone else that wasn’t her, Niall would’ve reacted much the same.

Clearly, the man was a decent fellow, one who happened to be very capable of violence should the need arrive for it but often never saw any reason to utilize it until his button was pushed.

That was the conclusion she had come to at least.

Currently seated within the confines of a circular cage akin to a crisscross of yarns--a prop the production crew had made ahead in preparation for the scene, the lady awaited filming to begin.

Several production assistants buzzed across at ground level, the elevated hydraulic motion platform atop which she and the extras whom were set to play the Knaves in the scene offering them a slight top-down view across the movie set.

Finally, the day to film perhaps the most whimsical yet exhilaratingly entertaining sequence in the whole movie had arrived.

It was also the very scene Niall had been busting his ass off to bring to life by learning how to dance, and even making a sole music track for.

Following up from where he’d been knocked out in glade, Alistair would ultimately wake up almost a full day later to see that the general state of Wonderland was dire.

Colors were slowly dimming out, and everything was slowly turning into a shade of grey, akin to that of Wonderland’s Outlands from the opening scene.

Simply put, the wonder in Wonderland was slowly vanishing, as was the liveliness in the inhabitants living within alongside its flora and fauna.

Yet, somehow, someway, he remained unaffected when compared to everyone else.

Having rushed over to the White Queen’s Castle to inform her of the Knave of Heart’s survival, Alice’s arrival, and also ask what exactly the cause of this all was, even the once lively Queen and her sister, were just as affected as everyone else, even if they were doing a bit better.

In a scene that was to be filmed later, it was then revealed in that very scene that the possible reason for Alistair remaining largely unaffected by it, was his connection to Chaos Magic.

It was also why both the White and Red Queen were holding out far better than their subjects as they also had their own sources of magic they were subconsciously drawing on to keep themselves from losing color as well, even though it was just delaying the inevitable.

It was also why they then informed Alistair of what exactly the former Red Queen had tried doing before she cataclysmically turned the Outlands into what it was.

Sealing off the tributaries of the Well of Wonder, the primordial source of everything that made Wonderland what it was--including Chaos Magic itself.

And though they stated they weren’t particularly certain, they could only assume that the Knave of Hearts had figured out where the tributaries leading to Wonderland was and on track to finishing what his late Queen had started.

Still, they didn’t have a single clue as to what he could possibly want with Alice’s granddaughter.

Having heard that, and realizing that he was on a time crunch to save not just Alice but perhaps even Wonderland as a whole, Alistair rushes out without banding together with both Queens’ reinforcements.

The reason for this, was because he could intimately feel the residual traces of the Knave of Heart’s magic... one he’d tracked all the way to the Outlands.

Naturally, he ended up stumbling into the Knave’s henchmen, and all manners dangerous flora and fauna across the way, his connection with Chaos magic deepening.

As a result, by the time he’d arrived before a rather peculiar cottage, he was a completely different beast from his previous self, much to the detriment of a particularly scheming feline.

At the moment, Niall currently stood off to the distance, a couple meters from what was assumedly a door into Chesire’s Twisted Cottage.

Interestingly, the cottage itself was a reused asset--one that had been employed when they were filming the movie’s opening scene in the tavern.

As Mark raised his megaphone to his lips, a slight yet palpably giddy hint to his tone, he said;

”Alright everyone, quiet on set.”

”Now, guys,” the young director turned his attention to Niall, Mary-Beth and the extras on the platform after the set had lulled to quiescence and said;

We all know how important this scene is, so make sure to bring your A-game. Let’s keep the takes as little as we can. One, if possible.”

As they all nodded in the affirmative, Mary-Beth letting out a soft breath while Niall gestured with a light smile and a thumbs-up, the young director bobbed his head softly in acknowledgement.

At the same time, everyone was just as excited for the scene. Afterall, they were about to watch Niall perform whatever sorcery he’d done the previous time he’d acted out the scene.

Upon making the necessary checks one last time, Mark declared with the magic words;

”Action!”

-

{A Maddened Wonderland | 17th, March 2019 | Act 3 | Scene 4 | Take 1}

Alistair’s fingers retrieved a card he’d previously tossed as he arrived in the clearing, grey trees and ferns bending inwardly, almost as if directing him to the crooked cottage standing at the far end.

Its chimney pointed sideways, and its windows did a slow blink that was as creepy as it was intriguing.

As Alistair walked up the barren path to its front door which was upside down, clearly in the shape of an annoyingly inviting grin, he audibly muttered;

”Whatever shall I do with you, Chesire?”

Then, flicking his crooked top hat a bit with a finger, he pushed open the door, a rush of air blowing back his apparel and the garment fluttering in the breeze as he stepped in afterwards.

The sight he was met with on the other side was an interior that was dimly lit with lanterns, yet impossibly large.

Hallways stretched in every direction as staircases twisted into ceilings, doors floated upside down, and bridges crossed across empty space.

And scattered throughout it all were Knaves in the dozens.

Suddenly, Cheshire Cat bloomed onto a balcony several floors above him, his grin was enormous as he spoke;

”Well, well, well,”

”Where is she?” Alistair demanded instead, clearly in no mood for jokes.

”Oh, she’s around,” Cheshire’s tail swayed lazily behind him and Alistair’s eyes narrowed.

”But if you want her...” Chesire slowly began to vanish, his grin remaining as he whispered;

”You’ll have to entertain me.”

The walls suddenly shifted, the entire cottage immediately rearranging itself.

Its hallways stretched farther, its doors slammed open and shut in an erratic rhythm and its staircases began folding over one another as the Knaves moved to attack!

For one brief moment, the only sound in the room was the pulsing of Alistair’s heartbeat...

... only for him to casually reach into his pocket as all the Knaves lunged for him.

Flicking the card into the air, the Joker spinning and catching the perfect gleam of light, Chaos magic suddenly erupted from it!

Instantly, the illusion in the cottage crumbled, revealing nothing more than a simple tavern with a balcony up top, several Knaves flung backwards from the aftershock as Alistair snapped a finger;

”Pow!”

In sync, an electrifying beat dropped, the bassline driving and rhythmic as it thumped through the cottage!

At the same time, Chesire bloomed back into existence on the balcony, his grin giving way into an immediate frown as all the illusion he’d prepped dissipated completely, same as his magic.

Now he was nothing more than a simple cat as every furniture in the room jumped in rhythm to beat, Chaos magic equally enveloping them in notable hues of purple.

Alistair on the other hand, walked with sass, his boot lingering across the ground in a slow, smooth slide, his shoulders rolling in sync to the beat as he sang with a restrained sense of urgency;

And you came in through the doorway,

Stumbled right into, the unknown,

Wonderland was waiting for you,

Traps waiting, Knaves in the glade,

And the further that I follow,

The stranger, that this all gets,

Now a crimson hand is reaching,

And Wonderland is bleaching...

The first few Knaves managed to recover, and Alistair transitioned into a smooth spin, tilting his crooked hat slightly with a hand as a spotlight shone upon him.

Then his fingers flicked forwards, multiple cards jetting out and striking them right back down as he asked;

Alice, are you okay?

So, Alice are you okay?

Are you okay, Alice?

Seemingly tired of pretending he wasn’t as worried as he was letting off though, the urgency in his voice surged as he jogged onto the only stage in the corner and moonwalked on the spot;

Alice, are you okay?!

Would you tell me, that you’re okay?!

I said I’d show you around,

Take you off, on a wondrous tour, Alice!

Now a crimson hand is reaching,

Sapping wonder from everything, Alice!

And Wonderland is bleaching,

Time’s a-ticking, Alice!

The Knaves rushed towards the stage, attacking with everything they had.

Jumping forwards and back onto the ground before they reached said stage, a massive red spade appearing beneath beneath his boots as he landed, a pulse of Chaos energy erupted!

In sync with the knockback effect it generated, Alistair executed yet another flawless heel spin, snapping his fingers towards Chesire without looking as he killed his momentum on beat;

You’ve been kidnapped,

You’ve been nabbed by--

That damn Chesire Cat!

Chesire visibly recoiled from the young Hat’s act. Clearly, this was not what he wanted.

Alistair was entertaining, yes, but he really wasn’t entertaining him like he’d asked or hoped.

Rather, he was seriously scolding him for the sort of bullshit he’d gotten them all into with his insatiable lust for mischief and constant thrills.

He was also livid with him for ruining his moment with the daughter of his favorite role model.

Clearly not done with him, Alistair continued as he began walking up the stairs, every walk on beat as the Knaves up top rushed down to assault him;

A feline with, crooked secrets,

Playing keeps for, his amusement,

A Knave without his Queen,

Plotting alone, what a bad thing.

Snapping his finger on beat, a dome of deep purple energy enveloping him, Alistair theatrically kicked out a leg, his shadow reflected on the opposite wall as he wiggled his head.

Like popcorns in a microwave, he danced through every Knave, each one ping-ponging off the protective dome as he moved closer to Chesire;

Alice are you okay?!

Would you tell me, that you’re okay?!

I said I’d show you around,

Take you off, on a wondrous tour, Alice!

Now a crimson hand is reaching,

Sapping wonder from everything, Alice!

And Wonderland is bleaching,

Time’s a-ticking, Alice!

Then, upon arrival before the mischief-making feline, he spun before and flash-banged him at point-blank with a card;

You’ve been kidnapped,

You’ve been nabbed by--

This damn Chesire Cat!

-

Everyone on set currently not on the platform had been bopping their heads to the song, thoroughly enjoying it alongside Niall’s performance when he abruptly stopped and said;

”Yeah. This won’t work...” he audibly muttered.

Before Mark could ask what was up, a deeply concerned yet confused frown on his features, Niall spoke again, his brows furrowing deeply in clear dissatisfaction;

”My coat’s not theatrically flaying with any of the spins I’m executing so it doesn’t look as cool...”

Hearing that, literally everyone on set looked to him like he’d gone as bonkers as the very same character he was playing.

Mary-Beth whom was still in her cage facepalmed.

Johnny whom was standing to the side shook his head, audibly muttering to himself in mild awe;

”This fudgin’ perfectionist...”

Mark on the other hand... well he outright exclaimed into his mic in a resigned yet bemused exasperation;

”Damn it,Niall! It was such a perfect take too!”

Watching as Niall’s expression morphed from dissatisfaction to realization, followed by a rather sheepish smile upon hearing that, waves of unrestrained, boisterous laughter exploded across the set!

Advance Chapters are available on Patreon!

/Caer07