A Different Wonderland ~ IC

[Christiefries]

Alice continued to fall for what seemed like hours. Darkness surrounded her, small glimmers of light reflecting off of unseen objects on occasion. After a while, the source of the light revealed itself at the bottom of the hole, causing alarm to stifle her screams. Tears swept past her cheeks, flying into the air behind her as her speed increased, her thoughts becoming jumbled in the confusion of recent events as she prepared herself for death. She hid her vision with her hands, gulping down the knot in her throat as she braced for impact. Suddenly, the feeling of falling became that of floating. Her brows scrunched in confusion, her eyes kept closed as she tried to summon up the memory of impact, contemplating the idea of floating was because she was a ghost.

A smooth sensation moved itself across her hands, lifting them slowly from her face. Reluctantly, she opened her eyes, blinded by the light. As the light dimmed to that of candlelight, she saw in front of her was a beautiful woman with white hair and pure skin, holding her hands gently. A kind, trustworthy smile graced the woman's face as she lowered Alice to the ground slowly. Her feet gently planted themselves on the ground, the hole which she came through had vanished. Her eyes darted to the white rabbit in the corner, sitting as still as a statue, and then back to the woman.

"How did I... What just... Who are you?" Alice spoke softly, letting go of the woman's hands as she scratched at her head.

"I am Kalin Serenity, the White Queen. You have forgotten?" the woman tilted her head, "Aren't you Alice?"

"How do you know my name? Where am I?" Alice walked into the chamber, sitting in a chair as she stared into the candlelight blankly whilst pinching her arm to test her consciousness. She was still awake.

"You have been here before. You are in Wonderland." Kalin followed behind Alice, taking an adjacent seat as the rabbit hopped onto her lap. Kalin pet the rabbit softly, fiddling with it's fluffy fur.

"No I have n- Wonderland? You mean that fictional children's story?" Alice looked Kalin in the eyes in bewilderment. Kalin stared back in confusion.

"Fictional children's story? This place is very real, obviously." Kalin laughed for a short time before frowning. "It's too depressing to be a children's story."

"What do you mean? The story was wonderful. It had a happy ending. The Red Queen was banished and the White Queen ruled the people in peace." Alice watched Kalin look into the candlelight, her eyes filled with sorrow.

"The Red Queen escaped soon afterwards and built up an army, conquering Wonderland. I escaped the bloody war to one day find you, so I could take my rightful place as Queen and bring peace once again. Lucinda, the Red Queen, is stealing people from your world, Oysters, to make drugs of positive emotions. A resistance has started to save these people, but I fear they cannot do it without you." She looked at Alice and begged, "Please help me."

Alice stood up, her eyes widening, "I'm just a girl! I barely know anything about politics, and I can't possibly be expected to fight. Take me back home now!" The rabbit jumped, startled at the girl's yelling, scurrying into the corner.

"I'm afraid I can't do that," Kalin stood, "The only way you can get back home now is through the Looking Glass. But that is currently controlled by the Red Queen. You must help the Resistance get control of it, and then you may return."

"Why can't I go back the way I came?" Alice started towards where the hole was, and then remember it had vanished. She twirled around, glaring into Kalin's eyes.

"If you insist... It will be another hundred years or so before it will manifest itself again." Alice's eyes widened, Kalin taking a step back in fear at the angered girl.

"SO YOU KIDNAPPED ME AND ARE MAKING ME HELP YOU AGAINST MY WILL? YOU COULDN'T HAVE BOTHERED TO ASK?" Alice stormed towards Kalin, pushing her up against the wall.

"I'm sorry! I would do anything for the people of Wonderland. We need you, Alice, it's the only way." The tears that welled up in Kalin's eyes caused Alice to calm down. She let go of the woman, understanding her pain to protect those she loved.

~~~

Kalin led Alice and the rabbit up the stairs and out of the ruins. She breathed in the fresh air, giving Alice a hug. Alice hugged back slowly, patting her back before pushing her away awkwardly. The rabbit pawed at her feet before hopping away.

"The rabbit will lead you to the city. There you must look for a member of the resistance. Ask for Caterpillar, she is the leader. Tell her the White Queen lives, and bring them here." Alice nodded, taking off after the rabbit, this time watching where she stepped.

Soon she smelled death, stopping in her tracks. The rabbit continued to hop away, on the verge of being out of sight. Alice walked cautiously through the field, her eyes scanning what looked to be metal bits of debris and crimson streaks across the blades of grass. She followed one trail of color to a clump of ashes, bits of hair and flesh scattered around. A hand clasped over her mouth in surprise as she realized what she was staring at. Alice took off running towards the rabbit, her eyes darting to each body she came across, blood and guts displaying themselves without mercy, scarring her with unutterable thoughts of a bloody battle.

Frightened, she picked up speed, crying as she saw the city in the distance. "What have I gotten myself into?" She asked the rabbit, who ignored her as it hopped on. Upon arrival of the city, it stopped near the edge, pointing with its paw to a building with a lit-up scrolling sign that read "Tea House" in red letters. The rabbit watched as Alice made her way towards the decrepit building carefully, staring at the large expanse off the ledge. If she slipped, she would no doubt fall to her death. A small girl was seen entering the building.

"I suppose I could use some tea. It would calm my nerves. And maybe the owner knows something about this resistance." She spoke softly to herself before reaching the door. The metal handle was cold to the touch and the hinges creaked as she cautiously opened it.

Closing the door, she walked forward, seeing the girl make her way to the back office. She seemed to know where she was going, so Alice followed her curiously, spotting a woman in a kaleidoscope of colors through the window. Her attire fascinated Alice, instantly feeling a connection with this strange woman. She seemed to be fiddling with an unknown gadget, swiping her lithe fingers across a projected screen. Beside her sat a cup steaming with the scent of tea. Alice inhaled the aroma seeping through the bottom of the door, licking her lips. She stood beside the girl and waited for an answer, in which case she would enter into conversation.

"Um... May I have some tea, please?" She asked, although not quite sure how to go about her mission.

[Pinball]

Hattie looked up quickly at the knock, she was about five hours behind, Miranda had left and she had to run the front of the house. A place where she could not have her "medication". Standing up she growled walking towards Miranda, tripping the the mechanism to make the room's 'security system' deactivate. Walking out she growled at Miranda.

"Do you know what I had to do, o Miranda your lucky I love you woman." Hattie started to say an evil, almost sociopathic, laugh escaped her soft lips. "O the things I would do to you if I didn't," she sad pulling her close. Yet she stopped and looked over at the girl, "An what do you want oyster, go sit down and place a bid. You all should know by know that when Mouse is here she is the one in charge of the front, now shooo. It's my play time with my Miranda..."

Hattie was rather road and disgruntle to the oysters, seeing them as the reason for her constant 'prison'. Hattie seemed to become groggy as she slumped slightly leaning against the door frame. Placing a hand on her head she laughed softly, "Hattie dear, what did I tell you about being kind to the guest of my tea house?" she spoke softly. Seeming to speak to her self she looked up a hug grin and a new glow in her eyes.

"I am sorry dear, what were you asking fo..." Dee started to say but turned and noticed Mouse. "OH MY GOD MOUSE!" she squealed and nearly speared the poor girl to the ground. Hugging her tightly but not enough to hurt. "O i missed you so so so very much my little mouse....tea time...yes i think so...come have some tea with me please?" she said half begging half demanding. Dee turned to the girl Alice and scanned over her body quickly, reaching up she pulled down her goggles and had them scan the girls body. Not a single marking of being an oyster was on the girl, that was good. "I believe you asked for some tea did you not?" she quickly said forgetting she had asked what the girl wanted having ignored her reply if at all she had the chance to when Dee was talking.

"Anyway....mouse did you drink some of my tea, some of it came up missing right before you left. An from the looks of you love you seem to be in more of a daze then usual. I swear Hun, you are the only person I know that can overdose and still come out alive." Dee said quickly motioning for the girl to step inside the room, were Mouse and Dee where waiting. Dee had her arm around mouses waist, like she usually did with mouse. Dee having had a slight crush on mouse for awhile know she flirted with her constantly, mouse being the only person besides her beloved White Queen that accepted Dee for her.....strange ways.