Twisted Tale Of Wonderland! [[IC]]

Darcy

Dee gave a snort of disgust as the moon leapt from it's hiding place and into the sky, a pompous smile pasted to it's milky lips. He hated the moon. He'd seen enough of the moon in one night to ever want to see it again. It hadn't always been this way, before the Doctor came Darcy used to enjoy playing in the quick silver shadows the moon splashed across the forests. Pockets of gleaming moondust gilding even the filthiest leaf into looking like a fine jewel. That was before that night though. Now the moonlight seems harsh and eerie, disturbing his sleep and casting dark thoughts into his mind. Not that it took moonlight to make Dee think darkly. From where Darcy sat on a high tree branch the Royal Castle spread out in front of him like a greasy tableau. The dank battlements rose out of the ground like a shark's mouth from the frothy waves of the surrounding forest, an ugly grey stain. Then again the forest itself wasn't so beautiful these days. The flowers were gone, replaced by thick vines and stinging nettles, the butterflies had left leaving maggoty grubs and biting insects in their place. Even the tree seemed different, darker in colour with thin spindly branches like fingers. The whole of Wonderland was twisted and filthy. Darcy fancied he fit right in.

Standing up he watched carefully as the cards on the watch tower switched shift, glad to be done with the chilly and dull job. One goes every half hour whilst one stays, then ten minutes later another one turns up to replace the card that has left. In this way they take it turns. It seems to be mainly the spades, a lazy and slovenly famly of the deck. The spades were generally used for the most boring or disgusting jobs, guard duty of latrine cleaning for example. The clubs were little better, many being maids or butlers, respesctable enough jobs but still little more than servants. The diamonds were intellectuals, the inventors and professors of the group. And the heart? The hearts made up the Queen's Court, arrogant and flamboyant as much as cards could be they adhered to every casual command of the Queen's and worshipped her like dogs. Of all the cards the sly, greedy hearts were the worst. In charge of the cards were just the King and Queen of course, the only people they answered to. There used to be a Jack, the Knave of Hearts but he dissapeared from the Court the last time Alice was in Wonderland. Darcy and his...Darcy sees Jack from now and then, carrying on in the woods with his bloody birds and his training. He had no interest in Knave now he had no leverage in the Court and so in his indifference ignored him.

The guard that was left in the watch tower slipped into a heavy doze whilst he waited for a new card to take up the shift with him. This was what Darcy had been waiting for. Quick as a flash he pulled out a large, pale coloured leaf from his pocket and spread it across the trunk. Snapping off a little, sharp twig he wrote on the leaf the moon's position in the sky, the date and the appearance of the guard. He checked this new entry against his previous results. He had been right. Every tuesday when the moon had been in the sky for about ten and a half minutes the guard changed and the card that was left behind would fall asleep for precisely the ten minutes it took for the new card to arrive. Darcy watched with a grim smile on his face as after a few minutes the replacement guard turned up and the sleeping spade woke with a start and proceeded to pretend he'd been awake the whole time. This was perfect. Dee's hand tightened against the tree branch that held him upright, his body rigid with malcious glee. Now he knew when he could get in he only had to work out how. And that was only a matter of time. Then the doctor's would be his to kill. Excrutiatingly painfully and slowly murder. It was only what he deserved, an eye for an eye. No that wasn't right, Duncan had been worth a million of the twisted Doctor.

Dee nimbly scuttled down the tree trunk, his mood at a high that he liked to think of as almost happy. Not quite there though. Nothing but the doctor's corpse could make him truly happy. Back in the beginning, when people didn't know how he'd changed and started avoiding him, he'd been asked what he'd do after he killed the Doctor. It was a stupid question. What was there to do but kill himself also? With the Doctor's death his mission would be complete and he could go join Duncan in the Wonderland in the sky. There was nothing left for him in this wretched, dark place anymore anyway. A large 'BOOM' noise sounded in the near distance, the creaking bang of a felled tree. Darcy raised a lip in a sneer, whoever it was that made that noise was going to kept him or herself killed if he didn't watch out. Nobody made loud noises in Wonderland anymore, even the bees hummed quieter, noises attracted attention. The last thing anybody wanted was to draw attention to themselves. He walked in the opposite direction to the boom, his speed making him a sleazy black blur in the shadows, Dee headed over to the pond and settled himself down beside it. The moon shone off the black, inky water and reflected vivid images back at Darcy, a glassy onyx mirror. Dee looked down into the pool, noting the boy's dark red hair, emerald eyes and pale skin. The eyes were large in the gaunt face, the flawless porcelain skin stretched over high cheekbones and a shapely nose. The mouth was sensual and wide, a mouth clearly made for smiling and laughter, but it's destined dimples lay dormant. It was a touchingly beautiful but painfully sad face. A hollow elegance that spoke of heartbreak. Around the boy's neck was a rusty, half broken locket on a chain it's surface faded from overtouching. The boy's clothes themselves were understated and hung gracefully from his wiry limbs, a black waistcoat over a crisp white shirt with black trousers. The shiny bronze locket and a crimson hankerchief in his pocket were the only highlights of colour in the othewise somber outfit. It suited him though, this pale emotive youth, seeming rather than dulling his beauty but defining it.

A leaf dropped lazily into the pool, distorting the image and sending ripples shuddering across the surface of the water. For a second it looked as if the lips were stretched in a decadent grin and the bottlegreen eyes winking. "Duncan..." Darcy whispered, laying two tapered fingers to the surface of the pond. But it was too late, the image was gone and Dee's vaguely elevated mood with it. He peeled his eyes from the water and dropped a fishing line into it instead, waiting for the arrival of the Dormouse who was known to visit this pond. He may be able to spread some light on the weather next tuesday, or hopefully more. In the meantime Dee shut his eyes, one hand resting lightly on the rod the other pressed firmly to his chest, the mirror image having left him aching and longing again. Sometimes he felt the only way his heart would keep beating long enough to defeat the doctor was if he held it in place. It was as if half of it had been destroyed alongside his brother and without it the remaining flesh struggled to survive. He hoped the Dormouse would turn up soon so that he could leave this dreaded pond.

Alice approached the door to her mothers house, she had been away for a year. It was still the same old towering iron threshold, that was all to serious for Alice's likings. Alice sighed, but her sigh was filled regret and nervousness. Alice was forced to come here by her older sister. Her sister had tried to keep the family close by forcing family reunions, but Alice wanted nothing more than to just leave. Alice picked up her hand and knocked softly. She waited, and waited, no one answered.

"Oh drat, no ones home!" Alice said very sarcastically and started to walk away. "I guess next year then" She was smiling and laughing, this had worked out all to good. But then, the iron door opened fast and loudly.
"Alice! Where do you think your going!?" Alice turned around and saw her sister stand on the porch holding a cup of tea in her hands. She held it like its was the closet and most important thing to her. She wore a floor length dress, the colors had faded it seemed, but that didn't matter, the colors were dull and boring anyway.

"Oh nowhere, I just, umm" Alice rambled through her head for a believable excuse. "Thought I dropped something" She feigned to search the ground. "But I don't see it, so lets go." Alice walked up to the porch and through here door. Her sister walked her through the house to where they were siting in the kitchen. The house seemed lifeless, and covered in a layer of dust. Alice remember her child hood, running through the house, annoying her mother, having pillow fights with her sister, boring homeschooling lessons. Alice, even though she wished not to be here, was happy to have recalled these precious memories. She soon reached the kitchen, where her mother and sister where sitting.

Alice stood there awkwardly for a moment then walked over to the stove where the tea kettle sat, steam slowly septet out of the lid of the kettle. Alice poured herself a cup of tea and took a sip. Tea made her happy, it reminded her of something, but she could place her finger on it. She remembered going to a tea party where people threw cups and saucers and colors flashed and everything was crazy, no not even crazy, it was mad. But every time she asked her mother about going to tea party her mother would tell her she had never been to a tea party, and she would never permit Alice to attend one such as mad as that one.

Alice sighed and took another sip and walked over to the table where her mother and sister sat and talked of foreign affairs and such. Alice quietly sat between her mother and sister and stared into her cup. She began to play with it, making the tea swish side to side and make the sugar cubes in it spin in circles. No matter how hard Alice tried, she could never remember where that party was.

"Alice? Alice!" Alice jumped at the sharp sound of her mothers voice.

"What?" Alice was worried of what her mother might say, her mother had always seemed random and unpredictable, which was not a good thing.

"Good God dear child! Do I need to repeat everything I say?" Her mother barked at her.

"I'm sorry mother" Alice grumbled back

"Back to my question, where do you stand politically Alice"

"Oh mother! Must everything be so formal? Why does every conversation have to be small talk?! Why not do something different, something funny and outstanding!? Like go out side, its such a beautiful day!" Alice turned and looked out the window and into the meadow. The sun seemed to make the tall grass glow, butterflies fluttered freely, and flowers swayed in the wind.

"Why must you be so difficult Alice?" Her mother slammed her cup down. "Why cant you be...like your sister? She's just the way a young lady ought to be, and you see where that's gotten her? She got married! Not because she was lallygagging all day, but because she sat with posture and had manors. See Alice, your 17, almost 18, and you still haven't a man."

"Mother I do not need a man!" Alice hated her mothers stereotypical side. She went back to looking into her tea, and her mother and sister when back to small talk. Alice started to day dream but then was abruptly cut off by something under the table. She felt something graze her stockings, Alice bent over and peered under the table.

"Meow!" It was Dinah.

"Oh it was you Dinah!" Alice pulled the cat to her chest and lifter her from under the table.

"Alice!! What manors do you have!? It is very inappropriate to bring a pet to the table! I don't know whats gotten into you! I taught you everything then you go ahead and ignore it!"

"Oh you never understand me mother! But you see, Dinah does!" Dinah purred in agreement. "Now, I'm going to leave and go out to the meadow and play with Dinah." And with that, Alice stood up and went out the back door. But before she was completely out she heard her mother say, "Dear Lord, how is it that she is your sister? My daughter?"
Alice didn't think anything of it, she continued to walk to the meadow, It wasn't unusually to have these fights at their Reunions. Its was a good half way into the meadow before she sat down and let go of Dinah. Alice pulled a weed and waved across Dinah whiskers. Dinah attempted many times to catch it before giving up and going into the grass.

"Dinah, you truly are the only one who understands me." Alice lay back and stared up to the sky, Dinah popped in and out of the grass, pouncing on Alice's dress, then running for cover in the tall weeds. Alice laughed, "Oh Dinah, your so silly." Alice waited for Dinah attack her again, but it never came.

"Dinah? Where are you?" She waited, still nothing. "Dinah?" By this time, Alice got up and looked around her. "Dinah? Come on!" Alice looked a little bit away from where she lay and saw a spot that moved through the grass at an unsteady pace. "Where are you going silly cat!" Alice started to made her way through the grass to follow Dinah. She followed Dinah until she made it to the one tree that stood in the field. Dinah sat waiting at the bottom of the tree trunk, then let out a loud meow as Alice made her way over to the tree.

"Oh I remember this tree!" Alice grabbed Dinah and placed her on Her own back and started to climb the tree. She got about a third of the way up then pick a branch to sit on, Dinah jumped off Alice's back and to the spot next to her. "I do recall the boring lesson that sister taught me, and how I would sleep all after noon up here, or come and play with you!" Alice lay her back to the tree and started to day dream, but then out of nowhere, she heard her name.

"Alice....Alice"

Alice opened her eyes, she picked up Dinah and put her next to her own face, "Dinah, did you same my name?" Of course she already knew the answer. Dinah meow and shook her head in disagreement. "Well , if it wasn't you then that must mean it was some stranger, we should leave then." Alice put Dinah on her back and climbed out of he tree. She then put Dinah on the ground.

"Meow Meow!!" Dinah ran over to the other side of the tree
"No Dinah!" Alice chased her to the other side, but then saw Dinah waiting at what appeared to be an giant rabbit hole. "What's this?" Alice said as she got down on her knees and looked inside. As she did this, the voice came again.
"Alice! Alice!" the voice sounded course and evil.

Alice lingered into the hole just a bit, but the voice kept repeating. Alice kept crawling until she came to the precipice of an unknown drop. The voice stopped, Alice leaned over the edge, trying to hear any noise at all.

...

BOOM!

Alice jumped when she heard this, and caused her to fall. Alice scream and threw her arms and legs around. Fear coursed through her veins. She soon realized that she was slowing, she could see the forming of the ground.
"What? This all seems so familiar! But when have I been here?" She had stopped screaming and started thinking. She looked around and saw familiar objects floating in the air.

"Oh my God! I remember now! This is Wonderland!" She had flash backs of all that had happened when she was first here. "The Tea Party!!! That was here!" Her lips formed a wide grin. She was never really sure if she had really came her the first time, or if it was just a daydream. And through the years, she forgot about it.

"This will be most exciting to come back!!" Alice laughed and landed softly on the ground. She twirled around and took in the room. Her smile faded as fast her fall, it was different now. The room before use to be filled with life and colors and shapes! Now, it seemed dead. The colors where grays and white, cracks formed themselves on the wall, tiles on the floor were missing, and the door. The door was, off a hinge, and deformed, almost like a forced entry. Alice cautiously approached the door, she looked for the face that had once been there. It wasn't, there were scratch marks and dents where it should have been. All of Alice's happiness fled from her body, fear took its place.

Alice walked through the doorway and into the woods. The night was cold and unwelcoming, not normal. "Hello?" She tried to sound as courageous as possible, but she had a hard time convince her own self.
Alice looked down at the path. She followed it until it split, she stood there and contemplated her options and continued on the one that lead to an opening. "Hello?" She decided that she would walk until she found someone...

The mad hatter strolled through the forest on his way to his daily tea party. He kept one hand on his hat tipping it down low and another at the sword. The forest was chillingly quiet, his soft foot steps echoeing. Gone was forest of before. Where strange creatures wondered through. Creatures o strange and humorous image. But since the arrival of the doctor the once tame creatures have been replaced by more vicous beast that gobbled up the innocent ones. Now the forest are all but abandoned. No one daring to go in.

Save for the Hatter. It was the quickest route and apalled being late. Besides he was never aware of these so called vicous beast. He always enjoyed his walks in complete silence. Without knowing that the beast FEARED him. The faint scent of tea mixed with murderous intent emanated from him. Scaring all away. He started humming to himsel as he imagined what kind of tea he'd have today.

" Filled to the brim with honey perhaps. And cream and sugar and mustard ".

He froze in mid step " Mustard!! Now that is mad, obviously you mean butter.Of course butter "

He continued walking. He passed a pond along the way and stood there gazing at himself for a few seconds. He'd been alive for 52 years and seen so much. But this was quite mad indeed. But then again everthing was mad these days. Well madder then it had been, ever since that doctor fellow arrived. He was was maddest of all even more then hatter, well not as such. But his maddness seemed to be poisoning the very soul of wonderland. Twisting it and it's inhabitants, it was hard to reconize a person anymore. Everyone looked different. From his tea having buddy March Hare, to that wreched queen. All was mad and mad is all. He laughed loudly, his laugh seemed to make the forest shake in fear. Alice, oh sweet Alice who came to a party oh so long ago. She had been a delightful child, so out of place and yet she fit right in light a disfigured puzzle piece.

She reminded him of his late sister, amanda. But he would never get them mixed up. Amanda had hair as black as the bottom of a well. But there personality's were spot on. So much that he nearly cried when he realized she had left, but he merely gulped down some tea and continued on with the un-birthday party of the moment. Blissfully ignoring his heartache. Then the doctor arrived on the scene, tainting his tea and dragging him into his world of madness.

Changing him into something he didnt know existed. Something so mad it was sane. He was no longer who he had once been. Sure tea was still his passion, but even that sometimes filled him with something he didnt like. He smiled darkly as he passed an area of the forest that told the tale o great violence something had fought and died.

" If somebody dies in a forest, does the forest care? Does the corpse that feeds it bring tears of sap or sadness? " He pondered this as he pushed through the gate and took a seat in his favorite chair. He sat his sword down next to him, dissapointed that he hadnt been able to use it, but holding the hope that he could soon. Pouring a series of cups, he added a few ingrediants to each of them and sat back twiddling his thumbs. Waiting,always waiting. He had all the time in the world.

Jack

Knave had been lightly dozing when a shrill bird song reached his ears. It was a tune he knew exceptionally well, for it had been he who had taught it to the birds. He'd come across the idea when he'd been practicing his shooting one day when a bird's trill of danger had alerted him to the presence of a large, angry bear. He'd shot the bear just in time, if it hadn't been for the mockingbird however he would have been mauled to death. So it occured to him that he could use the birds to alert him of other things. For example the arrival of Alice. It had taken weeks upon weeks of careful training, he had tried all sorts of things - pictures, dummys wearing blue dresses, eventually it was the hair that did it. He wove blonde hair out of the finest ears of corn and at the sight of this the birds would begin the shrill little tune he sung them. It was this song that awoke him today. She had finally come. Jumping from the rock on which he'd been napping he took off at a sprint through the woods, his revolver already in his hands.

If he knew Alice was in Wonderland it was only a matter of time before the Doctor knew, and if he got his hands on the girl now then there was nothing Knave could do. He had to get her to a safe place, somewhere the Doctor wouldn't find her or was loathe to visit. The Hatter's tea party would do for now, the Hatter being just insane enough to keep the Doctor at bay. His feet pounded over the mossy ground of the forest as he hurried along, already the skin on the back of his neck was tingling, and in built instinct that let him know less then savoury eyes were watching. Bursting out of the wood he saw her on the path ahead. His heart shook momentarily, shuddering in on itself at the realisation that what he'd waited for had finally arrived. She looked different from the child before, an adult shape but with the same blonde hair. "Hello...?" he heard her call softly, starting off down the path.

Jack winced, any speech no matter how soft was dangerous around these parts, even the trees had ears. A blur of movement caught his eye as one of the said tree's branches bowed, it's thin wooden fingers reaching for the girl. He did it without thinking. The bullet had left his gun, snapped off the tree's branch at it's join to the tree before he had time to blink. In the same space he darted forward, grabbing the girl by the wrist and dragging her into the woods at the side of the road. He waited until they were at least out of sight of the path before releasing her and turning round, running an agitated hand through his hair."I'm sorry I pulled you so roughly..." he spluttered, his eyes everywhere but on the girl his agitation at his behaviour clear "...But I need to get you away from here. Before he finds out. You need to trust me." His eyes finally gathered the courage to meet hers "This isn't the same Wonderland you visited previously."

"Wonderland..."

Opening his eyes upon a new day in the twisted world of his own creation, Doctor Vendian Krieg slowly opened his eyes upon a dark room. Sitting comfortably in a large old chair fit for a man of status, the doctor took in a deep breath, letting the smell of decaying flesh and tortured bodies sting his nostrils. All that could be seen in the blackness of his room were the two, rather bloodshot, black eyes. Raising a hand into the air and giving but a snap of the fingers, lights appear about the doctor, which then scatter about the room as if in fear of the man. But, at least they illuminate the room. If one did not know better, this rather handsome looking, black-haired man would look like no more than an ordinary man of medicine. But, the man's eyes gave him away more than any action would. Those eyes, and old man's eyes, showed the true nature of this doctor, a doctor that was just beginning his days' work.

Slowly raising himself from the chair, the doctor stands in the middle of this circular room. In it, many beakers and test tubes full of liquids of all sorts and colors, several tables, wreathed in shadows, where the groaning of the still living echoed their pain, pain wrought from the doctor's belief that all creatures in wonderland desperately needed fixing. Humming a light tune, like one that you might hear whilst getting a shot, or a check-up from your family physician, the doctor walks to a nearby table, upon it, one of the queen's own card soldiers, a two of spades, to be precise. Unfortunately, the only thing that marked this card as a card anymore were the very spades he represented, which had replaced his hands. "Ah...and how are we today, hm?" the doctor said casually, his tone so calm and level that one might think he was used to such tortures, or that he enjoyed them.

Now, of course the card couldn't speak any longer, after enduring months of excruciating pain and torture at the hands of what may seem to be pure insanity, one often looses the ability to speak coherently. And besides, his mouth was burned closed anyway. Dr. Krieg stood over his "patient" for a moment, staring down at the wild look of fear in his eyes. Chuckling lightly to himself, the doctor reaches into a nearby box, pulling from it a simple pair of latex gloves and pulling them onto his hands, of course. "Only one final little change, my boy. Then you will be free to return to the wonderland that I know you love." The doctor said jovially, smiling softly down at his experiment, though the way the shadows played upon his face, and those devilish eyes of his, it seemed very little like a smile. Reaching across the table, the doctor takes a scalpel in hand, to the muffled screams of the card soldier. "Yes, you've guessed it, you will be going into surgery, but I promise you that I shall do everything in my power to bring you out and release you to wonderland a new, and better, man." And with that, the scalpel fell upon the two of spades, and the symphony of moans played in mourning for him.

Stepping out of the circular room, the doctor squints his eyes, allowing them to adjust to the light. Pulling the bloodied gloves from his hands and tossing them aside, the doctor sighs, though the emotion behind it is not in regret for his now deceased experiment, but for the fact that the experiment itself was a failure. Some people simple rejected his wonderland to the very end, and those people would of course have no place here, so they died. It was fate, the doctor thought, it was all fate, lovely, cruel fate. Shoving his hands into his lab-coat the doctor walks down the rather ornate hallway of the queen's castle, where his own rooms were. Today was going to be a decent day, thought Dr. Krieg. His wonderland was not yet finished, and the final stages of it were so near that he could almost feel the love and gratitude that the people of this world would give to him for his work. Of course this was but an illusion in the mad doctor's mind, but, it was an illusion that had it's markers all over wonderland, and his dark imagination was always working, even without his direction, changing the world into the chaotic, dark, and deadly swirl of thoughts that made up Dr. Vendian Krieg.

And he was happy.

Daniel remained motionless as he watched the moon's illuminated smile fill the night sky. It had been precisely ten minutes since the moon had emerged with the stars. Daniel uncrossed his legs and rose from the wet grass and started walking in an easternly direction heading towards the pond. He appeared to float across the muddy floor but his heavy, burdened eyes said otherwise. His face was average looking for a mouse; he had the familiar triangular black-button nose and the wiry whiskers that spiked from his once-laughing cheeks but oh, the dark eye circles. They were as black and sore as midnight, it was like he had been a never curing bruise under his eyes. His eyelids seemed to disappear underneath his light brown fur. Oh, but his eyes. His eyes would strike and penetrate your soul with a casual, glass-grey glance. His eyes had lost the essence of life in them. A wilted desire to live. Yes, he was alive but he was dead inside. Merely a shadow of his former self.
Daniel avoided the roots of the trees as to not tread on them. Although, they would take no notice of a mouse like himself, they were still not to be trusted. Everyone knew that, here. Wonderland was a spiralling version of itself, the colour and vibrance retreated into the shadows and the darkness ruled supreme ever since the Doctor came. Everyone were now puppets on strings held in place. Puppets that were too afraid to cut themselves off, except for a brave, courageous handful. Daniel was not in that handful.
Suddenly, Daniel froze. A glisten in his eye. They reflected a ripple in his eyes, shades of blue, coraline and cobalt merged into a torrent of life within his eyes. And Daniel saw. Fabric of the brightest blue. Hair of wavy, golden locks. A smile of pure and radiant light. And Daniel saw. Hope.
"Hope," he whispered and the ripple faded and his eyes drowned in the dull white.
A creak.
An aching. The trees moved. They stirred. They gossiped. They were unstoppable now. They would report back to the Doctor and the Queen and the hope would be quenched and stopped.
Daniel moved quickly and he ducked to escape the grasping hands of the trees. He swerved as the groaning tree on his left took a swipe at his torso. His heartbeat. A fast beat rising quicker and quicker. The pond. Swifter, he thought to himself, Faster! If only Dee were here. He would've helped him. You're not friends with him, Dormouse, he disciplined himself. Don't fantasise about friendships. He nodded in agreement with himself as he nimbly ran past a torrent of branches and the moans of rotting stumps. His lungs were screaming. Fatigue was setting in. How on earth would he reach the pond? "Agh," he let out. If this was how-
BOOM!
His ears swivled to the noise. The echo shook throughout the forest, a resounding thud. The trees stopped and wailed whilst Daniel dashed. He was safe now. He would be there in a few minutes. The echo still rang through his ears. Could that be? No, he doubted it. As he was closer towards the pond, he slowed his pace down and allowed his heart rate to steadily fall back to normal. He saw the purple waters as they beckoned him closer.
And reliable like clockwork, was the sight of Dee, fast asleep using his fishing rod as a cushion. He warily moved closer towards him and bent down, with one hand he carefully slid the fishing rod from underneath Dee's sleeping head and with the other he held it and gently placed it onto the wooden planks. Daniel unwove the string from the long stick rod and sat down at the edge of the wood so that his feet would dangle across the water. He then dropped the fishing hook into the water, he stared at it for a few minutes, mesmerised by the water's ripples.
His eyes glistened and he saw a cloudless, starry night. "Perfect weather," he proclaimed.

The Hatter blinked as he felt something. A feeling that wasnt a feeling, yet it made him feel all tingly. He dropped the tea cup he had just picked up, ignoring the soft crash it made. Ignored how the tea spread through the table. He leaped from his chair and began to run around the table faster, and faster, and faster till he was a blur. He was forgetting something, something important.

Or rather someone important. He stopped feeling terribly dizzy. He fell orward grabbing the table for stability as memories started exploding through his head with one name attached to each o them.

ALICE!!!!!!!!!

He tossed his head back and laughed wildly. He started dancing around, using his sword as a baton. " She's back, she's back. Oh she's sure to come here! " He looked aroun and began running about filling all of the empty cups with tea. And then illing the full cups with more tea till they overflowed. He set out even more cups. He grabbed more chairss
.

" Oh everything has to be absolutely perfect!! " Once he'd made the table more clutered then it had originaly been he sat down smiling broadly to himself at his incoming that was sure to be there. As he did a thought suddenly crossed his addled mind. Wonderland is not the place Alice has been in a long time, it's become so different, and not entirely nice.

He growled darkly as he imagined some heinous creature harming her or worse yet the horrid doctor!! The Hatter started shaking uncontrolably in sick rage.

" I he harms even one hair on her head, i'll see to it every sinlge piece of him is scattered across the land!! " he gripped his sword and sat further back in his seat. Time seemed to have lengthened.

Darcy

He was running. Harder and harder he pushed himself, trees slapped at his face and arms as he struggled against the thick overgrowth and still he ran harder. His muscles screamed from exertion and sweat dripped down his body but he seemed to be moving no faster. Instead he seemed to be moving slower, the light ahead between the trees moving furthur away. Eventually his limbs felt as if they were in slow motion and no matter how hard he tried he could not get them to move properly and all the while the light was fading away. A voice broke out from the light ahead, thick with pain and agony "HELP ME" it cried "WHY WON'T YOU SAVE ME? SAVE ME DEE SAVE ME." Darcy tried to reassure the voice, to comfort it that he was coming but no voice came out - he had become silent. The screeching voice took on a higher more excrutiatingly level and began to chant "SAVE ME BROTHER.SAVE ME BROTHERSAVE ME BROTHERSAVE ME BROTHER"But the light was fading, slipping away from his outstretched hands until finally...

Dee awoke to the sound of the Dormouse's soft voice quietly proclaiming "Perfect weather". He had been dreaming again. Cold sweat trickled unpleasantly down his back and his hands still shook with the residue of his night terrors. The mouse looked different today, the little creature was not prone to excitement - his lust for life dulled over the years through bad treatment from the doctor and Wonderland as a whole. He was good hearted enough however, and a sensible soul and for this Darcy forgave his frequent intrusions into his otherwise solitary life. The mouse helped him, occasional predictions that nearly always resulted in avoiding a danger of some sorts and in return he looked out for the animal as best he could, protecting him fron the dangers of Wonderland. But today his button eyes gleamed a little brighter than usual, his tail lay twitching behind him and his feet fidgeted in the water.

"You won't be catching any fish like that." Darcy said, his voice rusty from sleep. With a stifled yawn he got to his feet, stretched and padded over to the Dormouse. Taking the rod from his hands he pulled the animal firmly but not roughly out of the way of the water and sat in his place. He allowed the line to tickle against the waters edge before submerging it, he then wedged the rod between to rocks and left it there before turning back to face the mouse. "You have something to tell me I think Daniel?" he asked, his tone however making it quite clear it wasn't a question.

Knave

Alice stared up at him, her face slightly crumpled with confusion. She had grown up, her hair was longer and thicker around her face her eyes spoke of greater experience and troubles. Her mouth which had been quick to smile and accept was pursed with frustration, maybe she had changed alongside Wonderland? What that would mean Jack was unsure. Maybe a stronger, older Alice was what was needed to fight the doctor? Presuming she would fight the doctor that is.

"I'm terribly sorry for staring, but I know you, I know I do. But i just can remember." she sighed "You look so familiar to me, but at the same time, like someone I've never met. Would you please tell me you name?"

Jack started, letting go of her wrist and taking a step back. He hadn't expected her to forget them, it felt so unusual to him when she had been such a great part of his daily life. Than again he had always accepted that she might not care, might even dislike him. He was determined to repay this debt though and a gentle smile came back on his face "My name is Jack Knave, the Knave of Hearts..." he blushed slightly ...You saved my life once and I have pledged to return the debt."

An odd howling wind took up among the trees, rattling branches and setting the scuttling creatures living in them awake with screeches. "I'm sorry I don't have time to explain the situation right now we need to get you to a place of safety," he paused, giving the girl another reassuring smile. He felt sorry for her, she must be very confused right now but there was no time to properly comfort her now, not with the Doctor on the move "the Hatter's tea party will do for now. He's a little crazy, even worse now..but thankfully he isn't the Doctor's kind of crazy."

The wind rustled again and he grabbed the girl's wrist and dragged her on again, however it seemed she was not yet used to running through thick forest like in Wonderland and not at such a speed. Hunching down on his haunches Jack looked up at Alice, a shy smile on his face "I don't mean to be terribly rude but perhaps I could carry you? It's just at this pace we won't be quick enough..." the smile faded as in the distance the sound of footsteps could be heard "...the cards are coming. And with them him." he spoke this last word with grave disgust.

*Im soooo sorry i havent posted, i will post tomorrow asap!! i have had to stay after school till 10 at night doing theater, but i promise to post tomorrow. just wanted to give you guys a heads up. sorry about not being able to post :'[*

Gryphon


It was day, but all the sun did was wash the rocky beach in a strange, monotonous white, making it look like the color had been bleached from the rocky cliffs. Simon lay on a particularly flat-topped boulder, staring at the sky, which was the color of clouds even on a clear day. A large wave crashed against his rock, lightly splashing him with bitter spray. He thought about brushing it off for a minute, but in the end he just let it run down his face, into a cut on his chin. It stung, but at least the pain was SOMETHING.


He had been lazy before the doctor came, but that was nothing compared to the apathy of a world where nothing ever happened.
That is, things beside fear and pain, and death.


Death. He sighed and tryed to set aside the thoughts of someone long gone, wishing that maybe the memories would drown in the water below, and leave him be, let him sleep, for just one night... Touching the turtle shell pendant around his neck, strung on a thick leather cord that hugged his neck tightly, all the things he had hopelessly tryed to forget came rushing back to him.


It was hopeless.


Suddenly, he sat up, allowing a moment of insanity to carry him, and screamed at the sky.


SOMETHING HAD CHANGED! He could feel it, coursing through him, something, someone, somehow had just like lightning lit up his world for a second, not physically, but it was just HOW IT FELT!!!


IT WAS SOMETHING NEW AND OLD AND WONDERFUL!!!


He began to pick his way across the boulders steathfully, humming a tune to a song he had long forbidden himself to remember...

Ezekiel looked up from his carefree stroll through the forest to watch as the moon rose into the night sky, along with its unnerving smile. Ezekiel couldn't help but grin back and even throw in a wave, finding that he should acknowledge it ever since it developed facial features. Yet while watching the moon, he couldn't help but feel nostalgic as he remembered once upon a time when Wonderland seemed simpler, mad, but simpler all the same. But with the arrival of that horrendous doctor, Ezekiel found himself losing his interest with Wonderland quite quickly. With the inhabitants twisted in one way or another, and rarely any place safe anymore he found that he often did nothing but drink tea with the Hatter and only left to take these calming short walks through what was left of the untainted part of Wonderland. But if one was to look closely, they would notice the small changes, implying that the Doctor's influence was slowly seeping into the last remaining memory of what Wonderland used to be. Ezekiel slowly turned his head back as he heard a definite boom coming from that direction and dismissed it, "Must be Alex, up to his little antics again ..." Ezekiel thought. Finding that he should hurry back to the tea party, he started walking again for fear of the Hatter eating the last pastry or something along those lines.

As he made his merry way over to the designated area, Ezekiel couldn't help but slow down for the second time that night and looked around in confusing. He suddenly had an urge to rush back to the tea party, faster than he normally would, thinking that there was something there that would be well worth the extra exertion of energy. There was also a feeling that he couldn't name, he knew that he had felt it once before, back when they days were brighter, and laughter was constant even if there was no need for it. Oh how he missed those days, drinking tea with the Hatter, Dormouse and ... there was one other. Ezekiel could vaguely recall the characteristics, most he could remember was a head of bright blond hair, a blue dress and how incredibly rude the said guest was. How she never drank a sip of tea and sat down without even an invitation! He couldn't help but chuckle at the memory until he realized the person's name.

"Alice is back!" Ezekiel whispered to himself before he took off at a full sprint, "She finally came back! I'll bet she'll want some tea and pastries and ..." the list went on as Ezekiel continued with his run, ducking under branches and jumping over small brooks, getting caught up in the excitement he almost missed his destination. "Can't wait to tell the Hatter!"

As Ezekiel slowed down, his smile only grew as he heard the Hatter's insane laugh from a distance, "Guess he already knows. I just can't wait until she get's here!" With that he said he marched towards the tea party humming the tune to that silly song he and the Hatter made all those years ago about wishing everyone a very merry unbirthday. With his mood so high in the clouds he almost missed Alex, but no one could miss those flamboyant colours of pink and purple, even if they wanted to. Upon closer inspection Ezekiel could see that the Hatter already took it up on himself to set up the table for Alice's arrival. "So Hatter, i guess you already know about our special little guest right? And hello there Alex, how have your pranks been going so far?" he asked as he took his seat next to the Hatter and poured himself a cup of tea before finally noticing the change of lighting . Looking up he noticed the sun with its ghostly smile and gave it a quick wave hello before he took a sip of his tea, observing the scene.

"Tick tock, tick tock"

Peter listened to the quiet sound of his clock echo as he made his way through the Queen of Heart's palace, the sound of his clacking shoes bounced off the walls. Peter sighed to himself as he recalled the days when he was still known as the white rabbit instead of Peter White. 'How long ago has it been since things had changed for the worse?' He wondered to himself while he continued down the hall towards his room, passing by other residents in the palace, each busy with their own business.

"Tick tock, tick tock"

Reaching his room, Peter slowly opened the door to reveal a dimly lit room that was once a bright white which had long now, become an empty grey. Entering his room, Peter walked over to his desk and opened it to reveal the last piece of paper he had signed before the incident only a short while ago. "No use dwelling in the past." He whispered to himself, grabbing a book that lay beside his lamp, Peter opened it and picked up a pen which lay beside it before he started to proceeded to fill out some documents and papers for the Queen. As he was completing the papers, he heard a knock coming from the door behind him.

Turning around, he answered. "Enter," the door opened to reveal one of the Queen's maids.

"The Queen requests that you see her immediately." Sighing, Peter dismissed the girl and before turning back to his work and closing his unfinished work. Pushing it to one side of his desk, Peter put out the lamp before he stood up and exited his small room. It took him a while to arrive but once he did, Peter stood outside the throne room before he was called in. Peter entered and bowed in front of the Queen. "Is there something you need of me, your majesty?" He asked, waiting for his orders.

((Yeah, finally found time(forced) to post. And Sorry for wanting to be successful in life. Been really busy with school and major exams along with rehearsals and all that crap))

Gryphon

For the first time in uncounted ages, Simon found himself running. Something about the way things now felt, as if something was here that would make him whole again, something that would end this twisted nightmare. Something that would-

He stopped himself mid-thought. Nothing could bring HIM back. Sadness washed over Simon, and for a minute, he considered stopping. Just as he began to slow, however, he heard a giant booming sound, echoing through the dark forest. Something about it seemed... to push the feeling of hope back into him as the air from whatever had caused the sound rushed past him, like a breath of the air he had tasted for the first time in ages, as he broke the watery surface of his sorrow.

He giggled madly at his analogy. Had he really been "drowning" like that for so long? He let the laugh turn into a wild cackle, a scream, a whooping cry of joy. He didnt care if the trees heard him, he didnt care if the docter himself heard him!!! Things were about to change, and that was enough to sustain his laugh for long, gasping minutes. With a new smile on his face, something very rare in the years since the doctors arrival, he renewed his pace, this time following the feeling of... hope, that was it. He was following the hope, deep into the heart of the forest. And if his sense of direction said anything, then the hope had taken a sharp turn west, right into the territory of the Mad Hatter himself...

He frowned. Although he had no idea what this feeling was, he had a deep distrust of the Hatter, not a hatred, but he didnt care to trust his newfound vitality with someone quite so far beyond insanity, and an ally of time, besides that. Heading west, he resolved to be there, just in case Wonderlands most insane resident would care to do anything to harm the precious hope...

The Dodo

Don was not sleeping soundly. The moon looked down on him with its strange features and he looked up at it, frowning, knowing very well that it wasn’t supposed to look like that and that it was all that Doctor’s fault. He ran his fingers through his purple hair and shook out his wings. There was something vaguely wrong about Wonderland now, even worse than it had ever been before.

He stood up out of bed, hoping not to wake his sleeping wife. Everything was twisted, changed, and he wished that the world would go back to the way it was. Then he might be able to turn it towards more order. There was a vague sense of Chaos on the horizon, and he shivered with the cold.

There was a resounding crash in the distance. Don nearly ran to the window, but forced himself to walk with slow, mincing steps. He looked out across the darkness of Wonderland.

Don frowned slightly and his eyes narrowed in thought. Crashes were indicative of atrophy and chaos. They were the essence of things being detained from their rightful order. It made his spine crawl to think that this sort of thing was happening here and now, in Wonderland, on his watch. But he needn’t worry. The tree would bring him word, he knew.

Sure as the Queen would find someone to execute tomorrow, a tall and stately tree leaned over the window sill, bending down to his waiting ear. Don perked up and his eyes took on a glassy look as the tree whispered to him the events of the night.

Don shivered involuntarily at the words. Chaos in its purest form was alive and rampant within Wonderland! SHE was here, that unwholesome creature, the cause of trouble and agony in his life. How long he’d been trying to clean up after the messes she’d left, he’d never know. But he did know that now was the time to stamp out her vile abnormality once and for all. Absentmindedly, he mentally smoothed the rumpled blankets lying on the bed.

The Cat was involved in this, of course. The Cat was involved in everything chaotic in Wonderland. And the Hatter. Don shivered involuntarily at the mention of the Hatter. There was none alive who did not fear him. And naturally the Knave was involved. As was the Hare.

Don knew there were others and would soon be others involved. However, for this time, he was content to start with these. The others would make themselves known in time.

Without disturbing his wife, Don quickly and quietly donned his armor and slid his battle axe into place on his hip. He jumped up onto the window sill, crouching, waiting, silently getting ready to find the traitors. The Queen’s order would come in the morning, but by then he would be long gone.

“Watch out, Wonderlanders,” he whispered into the night, “Chaos can’t win on my watch.”

The hatter had began to dip his biscuit in his tea when he felt a presence beside him. He merely smiled having long snce gotten used to Alex's subtle entrances. He turned to the pink haired fellow. " Why Alex it has been awhile since you have graced me with your presence " He hastily offered him several cups o tea. He'd always found Alex to be very attractive. He loved having the cat attend his tea parties.

" So you can feel it as well? " He asked Alex giddily. " Alice is coming back to wonderland!! "

He gave an insane cackle beore hopping up and down in his seat. " What do you make of it. Having our dear Alice back, isnt it exciting. The fun well have!! " The hatter continued his crazy rambling till he felt another arrival. This one as familiar as his own heart beating.

" "So Hatter, i guess you already know about our special little guest right? And hello there Alex, how have your pranks been going so far?"

" HARE!!! " he cried throwing his arms around his compantion and hugging him fiercely. " Youve been gone so looong, I missed you Here have a cup of tea "

The Hatter offered Ezekial several cups of tea as he released his hold on him and settled back in his chair. He smiled around the large table. He simply loved having people or tea. So rarely did people join him and Ezekial. So few that he was beginning to wonder if he was the cause of it. But that thought never lasted long as he downed two cups of tea at once. He hummed to himself his favorite tune of unbirthdays. " Today is Alices unbirthday is it not? Oh what a marvelous time for her to come " He hopped up and dashed off. Coming back in no time flat with a riddiculously layered cake.

" Do you think she'll like it? Oh I hope she does " He smiled warmly launching back into his seat and pulling Ezekial into another hug. " Alice. Were ready " he sang sipping softly on his tea as he fought down a wave of disgust.