Setting: Evening, cold, windy, dark clouds so no sun, and a possible chance of rain.
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Breathing heavily with her heart racing and her face pale as a ghost, Alice tries to figure out what just happened. Her hands are to her knees, panting like a while dog and her long black hair falls over her face, she was more confused than ever. The watch that she had created dangled from her neck with it's chain. She grabs the watch, pressed the button atop and it opened. Year:2011; Time:5:45.
Alice had hoped that with the watch, time wouldn't move forward, but it did. This wasn't the place she once knew it for. It felt more empty and hollowed. The lively, crazed aura that it once was....is no more. The creatures she befriended was long gone. This wasn't her Wonderland anymore.

Her memory of this place was dwindling throughout the years. She tried to remember as much as she could, but only fragments could be obtained, none of it fits together. Her breathing went back to normal as did her heart beat. The woods was so quiet. It no longer had it's colorful creatures that lurked behind the shadows. Too shy to come close. It was just....empty. The noises that once echoed through the woods are no more. Alice wasn't going to stay in one place. It wasn't too safe with the Red Warriors behind her. But what was their purpose? Those questions rang inside Alice's head, questioning everything and finding no solution to them. She didn't like it.

A very heavy wind began to blow. Alice struggled to keep her stance as the wind was awfully powerful. Her black hair and her dress soared behind her as she tries to fight the current. Then, a piece of paper hits her hand. It was caught on her forearms. The wind slowly diminished as if it was intending for her to catch that paper. Looking at it, it was a wanted poster. It said: Wanted Alive by the White Queen. Reward is immaculate. It wasn't a very convincing poster, but what caught her attention was the fact that her image was on it. Though something was off. It wasn't her at all. Just someone who looked exactly like her. But how?

Alice was caught in such confusion as she stared at the poster with disbelief....

Everything was normal, as normal as one could get in Wonderland. A few rats scurried across the streets, nothing that peeked Emanon's interest. She had already tested the grenade on a few rats, which was a success in making them insane. It was amusing watching them attack each other and running around in circles. The grenades were strapped to her belt for easy access. "There she is!" A voice rang out, making Emanon stop in her tracks for a moment. Normal people would've run away from the about, Emanon wasn't normal. 

Emanon sprinted to where the shout came from, turning different corners until she finally came to who had made the shout. Accompanied him were people screaming and running off. White Guards were running after something… no [someone. The person seemed familiar until it Emanon a moment later, this was Alice! A loud laughter escaped her lips, she would be the one to kill Alice. Not the White Queen. Another loud laugh came from Emanon's lips as she grabbed a gas bomb from her belt and popped the top. Throwing it at a few White Guards. Now she'll find out if the gas works. 

Alice ran off into the woods, with the guards wondering who had thrown the grenade. A few moment later a few of the guards were rolling on the ground, crying and screaming. A few others were laughing non-stop while the rest were just standing here with a horrible blank looks on there face. Emanon ran into the woods after Alice, following the trail of upturned leaves and scattered twigs. A strong wind rustled the forest, making it howl in unison of the wind. A figure caught Emanon's gaze and a twisted smile formed on her lips as she got a tinier gas bomb ready.

Something stopped Emanon before she did anything, this wasn't the girl in the wanted poster. Something was different about her and the way she was clutching that paper signaled she had no clue what was going on. A louder laugh escaped Emanon's lips, making a few things fly off. "Hello Alice!" Emanon spoke as though she were insane with a bit of excitement. "Welcome back to Wonderland!" A twisted grin planted on Emanon's lips. 

Cheshire sat crouched atop a tree branch high above the floor of the woods, wrapped inside his black cloak. The wide and frozen smile on his face shown as it almost always did. He sat in silence and in thought. Not far off a commotion sounded. The interest of Cheshire was peaked at the slightest sound of it, so he leapt or teleported from tree branch to tree branch toward the noise.

The cloaked figure arrived at a tree which towered over the previously said commotion. As Cheshire peered down he saw guards with various afflictions. By 'affliction' that would be writhing on the floor screaming their lungs out, hysterical laughing, and horror shown clearly on the face. Cheshire smiled even wider with glee. Ah, the madness. The cause should not be too far off. I would love to meet the mastermind of it.

He flew off about the trees again, into the woods. He delved more toward the ground of the woods to have a clearer look at whomever he were to find. A monstrous gust of wind blew, and Cheshire clung to a tree branch with his claws. At last, two personages came into view. He teleported himself onto a branch in distant view for the both of them, but not distant enough to hear them. Though his eyes and huge smile shown as it always did. One person that he did not recognize spoke to the other, "Hello Alice! Welcome back to Wonderland!" Cheshire looked to the other, who indeed seemed to be Alice. Alice was looking at a piece of paper with confusion. Cheshire sat in silence, waiting for something to happen.

{ OOC: The guards are actually chess-like pieces rather than cards. I feel that cards will be too [i]weak than a solid 6 foot tall chess-like pieces. Also for Sullenkiller, Angel, and others, it would be very helpful if you tagged the characters that you mentioned in your pots. Even if you just mentioned their name ones, tag them so it'll be easier for people to see their involvement in your post.

Sorry for setting such guidelines, but it would really be helpful and easier in the long run. Thank you so much everyone :)}[/i]

The night was anything but calm. A wild wind whipped about every few minutes and the air was bitterly cold. Above, what bits of the sky she could see through the tree leaves, were dark and cloudy. Rain seemed to be on the air. Madeline Hatter smiled. The night suited her. She'd never been one who enjoyed calm whether. Calm was boring.

She stepped lightly through the trees of Tulgey Wood, making her way about with no real direction in mind. The night was a perfect one to make mischief and wreak havoc, but she hadn't run into anyone since she'd left her home at the Pool of Tears. She glanced at the trees above, then at the ground below. Her long, full lilac colored, skirts covered her feet, but if she lifted them, they'd be bare. Shoes were great, but on a night like this, she preferred to feel the cold earth against her skin as she walked. Atop her head, Madeline wore a wide-brimmed lilac hat, it's edge swooping down low so that she had to peer out from underneath it. Flowers and lace cascaded down the side of it and mixed with the bright ringlets of her hair, shining silver in the moonlight. She was a picture of loveliness and fashion. If it was the 1730's. Instead, it was 2011, but she didn't know that. Every morning her mind awoke in a different era and this particular night, she was living in the early 1700's.

It wasn't long before she began to hear a comotion and tilted her head ever so slightly so she could hear better. Laughing and shrieking. Ah the madness of Wonderland. A tiny smirk twisted her lips and she lifted her skirts in her hands so she could move silently, making her way towards the noise. Madi stopped at a tree and slipped her way up into it's branches so she could peer down at the laughing and shrieking mess below her.

On one of the particularly larger branches, she stood and, holding her skirts at an immodest hieght to her knees, she tiptoed out to the end and looked down. Below, the White Queen's gaurds rolled and screamed. The Hatter shifted her hat on her head slightly and looked on with interest. Who could have done this? Through the noise of the soldiers, Madi heard a feint voice up ahead and tipped her head towards it.

"Hello Alice! Welcome back to Wonderland!" One delicate eyebrow shot up in interest. Alice? They'd caught her? What did the voice mean by back? Wasn't she already a wanted criminal? Hadn't she been here for quite some time? Of course, Madeline had helped put Alice in the eye of the White Queen, looking for a little fun, but that wasn't important. What was important was that they'd caught her before she'd even had time to play her games. A pout came to her face and she climbed back down the tree, skirting around the soldiers who were now beginning to sober up. Asking them any questions might lead to conflict. Something she always tried her best to avoid.

When she came to the source of the noise, Madeline hid herself effectively behind a large-trunked tree and took a quick peek. Someone she didn't recognize was standing with some sort of bomb in her hand and on the other side of her, Alice, though looking slightly bewildered, not so diabolical as in the picture she held in her hands. Madeline also spotted the glow of Cheshire's eyes. So the two now had an audience? Madi pulled herself back beind her tree before her softly glowing violet eyes and bright platinum hair gave her away. She leaned her back against the tree and listened intently. Not stepping into the conversation was maddening, but that would ruin the chance for her to get some useful information out of these two.

Somewhere in the Tulgey woods, there slept Chester in his cat form. Inside he felt an odd emptiness. He awoke and quickly morphed into a lavender mist and floated to the top of a tree. He scanned the area, but did not find what he was looking for. My Madeline.

"Hello Alice! Welcome back to Wonderland!" Chester's eyes widened.

He began to search in a more frantic manner. He knew that Madeline could take care of herself, but he also knew how dangerous Alice was. My Madeline

Chester was about to jump onto another branch, but before he could an arrow came out of nowhere and stabbed his skin. He winced and quickly took it out. He heard the snap of a branch and threw the arrow at the place where the sound was coming from. His attacker fell to his side and began to moan. Chester held the body up by it's neck towards the light and saw that it was a guard.

"Tell me what you know of the queen" Chester demanded. The guard was silent. Chester screamed with rage "Where is my Madeline! Tell me!".

"I know nothing of the queen," The guard managed to say "But I know that the Hatter is deeper into the forest. Please let me go"

Chester began to cackle. He let go of the guard, but stepped onto a loose part of his Chess-like uniform. The guard tried to scramble away but Chester pounced and gruesomely devoured him.

He wiped the blood from his mouth and evaporated. He ended up on top of a tree. He looked down to see Madeline. A burst of joy and relief spread all over Chester's body as he jumped down and whispered into Madeline's ear "I've been looking all over for you"

The unsteady wind blew once more and with it was the poster she was holding. Alice heard noises rustling through the woods. To some they would just think it's the wind carrying away stray debris, but she knew that these weren't from the leaves or branches blowing. As quiet as the Wonderland creatures can be, Alice's ears have always been trained to hear them. The slightest breath or twitch of their finger can make Alice's eyebrow's raise. In Earth, her senses weren't so acute, but in Wonderland they were very keen and sensitive.

"Hello Alice! Welcome back to Wonderland!" A voice from behind spoke. Alice drew her long, thin, but very shard sword as she turned to face the voice that spoke. The sharp tip of her sword was barely touching the person's neck. One wrong move from her could cause a bloodshed. Alice glared at her and somewhat hissed.

"Who are you and what is going on?" she asked in a very scary and angry manner. As an interrogator would to a witness.

Emanon didn't flinch when a long strong sword went to her neck. In fact, she liked the cool tip touching her flesh. Emanon couldn't help but bust out laughing, she didn't move a muscle, just laughed insanely. "Who are you and what is going on?" This Alice said in a malice tone. This Alice defiantly wasn't the other. Or perhaps it was the other that wasn't Alice. Or perhaps it wasnt Alice at all. The theory made Emanon laugh a bit more. She then went completely silent, staring into Alice's eyes with her own purple ones. 

A twisted smile formed on Emanon's lips. The grenade she had gotten ready before was still in her hand, ready to be dropped. "Silly Alice." Emanon cackled with laughter. Emanon slowly brought the grenade up to Alice's view. Making sure she saw the little bomb like object. "I pop this open and you become one with the insane." Emanon's smile widened. "Or let's drop the little weapons and give you a proper re-run as to what happened to Wonderland when you left." Emanon's smile dropped.

"Another option: you could just kill me, and run your little butt back to the city and get captured by Chess Guards. Maybe the White Queen will tell you!" Another insane laugh. "I'm not saying a peep until you put that pretty little sword down." Emanon said with another wide smile, looking Alice dead in the eye. 

"I've been looking all over for you." A whisper tickled Madeline's ear and she turned her head sharply, body instincivly ready for a fight, even though she would lose. It was Chester. She let out a soft sigh of relief and rolled her eyes, heart pounding. Chester had been following her around for quite some time now. At first, she'd tried to get rid of him, but there didn't seem to be a way, so instead she just adapted to having someone around. Besides, the she didn't mind the company as long as he gave her space to breath. Sometimes it was good to have such a faithful confidant, it made playing her games all that much easier.

She smiled slightly and grabbed his shirt, spinning so that his back was pressed to the tree and she was in front of him. She raised her finger to her lips and stepped closer, to keep hidden. "You almost gave away my cover Chess." She whispered breathily, stepping closer again and pointing at the others on the other side of the tree before bringing her fingers to her lips again.

In order to stay in the shadows, Madeline had to stand with her dress covering his ankles. The closeness was uncomfortable for her, but she wouldn't miss the opportunity for some information. She pressed one lilac gloved hand against the tree bark next to Chester's head and leaned on it, listening intently.

She heard the unsheathing of a sword. "Who are you and what is going on?" Alice said, and The Hatter tipped her head slightly, blonde curls rustling as she did so. Interesting. Alice had to know she was a wanted criminal by now. Madeline had made sure the White Queen had placed her at the top of the list. Unless she was playing dumb.

"Silly Alice." Came the voice of the other woman, and Madi raised an eyebrow. "I pop this open and you become one with the insane." the woman spoke, referring to the bomb she'd seen in her hand. "Or let's drop the little weapons and give you a proper re-run as to what happened to Wonderland when you left."

Madeline looked at Chess, and for a second, her softly glowing violet eyes were wide with shock. What was this stranger talking about? She composed herself and turned her head again to listen, waiting anxiously for Alice's response.

Chester's enjoyed the warmth of Madeline's body as she pressed closer to him to hear the voices. It took him a while to notice the strange conversation behind them. "I pop this open and you become one with the insane. Or let's drop the little weapons and give you a proper re-run as to what happened to Wonderland when you left.".

Madeline's mesmerizing violet eyes caught Chester's attention. He sensed her shock and anxiety. The urge to kiss her thin lips was too much for him. He closed his eyes, but the temptation was killing him. When he opened his eyes Madeline was still there, but he saw a strange silhouette behind her. It raised it's left arm ready to attack. He evaporated and reappeared behind the creature with his claws around it's neck. "Dare touch my Madeline, and I will promise you a slow painful death" Chester quietly said.

He widened his eyes to get a better view of the thing. He saw a white pawn. Chester rage overcame him and he pierced his claws into the pawn's stomach ripping out his innards."My Madeline," Chester said as he grabbed her shoulder "We must flee".

Alice looked at the bomb-like thing that the person had shown her. Then a maniacal laugh bursts out of her lips. Her weapon was lowered as her laugh echoed through the woods. This person must really not know who Alice is. She thinks she knows, but nobody knows. This was her World. Though they all lived in it under the queen's rule, this was hers. After a good laugh, a demonic smile and glare came upon her face as she looked at her dead on.

"You are no importance to me, it seems that I am important to you. If you wish to release your bomb, so be it, but that doesn't mean it won't affect you nor does it mean it'll affect me." Alice spoke is a very dark tone. Much more scarier than her earlier tone when she sounded confused and frazzled.

"Everything that it is, is nothing that it isn't. And on the contrary, Nothing that it is, is everything that it isn't." she said with a smirk. This was one of Alice's favorite words. These creatures do not know her capabilities and they should ne'er under estimate her. With a snap of a finger, they could all be laying on the floor dead, but Alice needed to clear her name not create more commotion.

Looking up at the trees, she saw a cat-like creature, Cheshire, then her gave traveled down the tree. A sliver of shine caught her attention and so did their voices. A mad hatter seems to be in her presence and so is a lap-cat. The smirk never escaped her lips as she shook her head and chuckled.

"The madness begins..." she said with a smirk as she was swallowed by the darkness of the woods only leaving her icy, cold blue eyes and her rose red lips visible until they as well slowly disappeared. This was a trick she learned from the True cheshire. Though she is only able to do it for a short period of time, it was still amazif how she learned such a trick.

Madeline whirled in shock as Chester disappeared. She pressed her back to the tree and watched as he killed a pawn guard who'd tried to kill her. Having Chess around had more than one advantage. As well as being obedient, he was also a fighter where she wasn't. In a fight, she was practically useless and preferred to flee. He, was able to fend of anyone who might attack her.

She watched the pawn die and rolled her eyes. The Queen and the Hatter's relationship was pretty fragile. Madeline couldn't blame her, she was a tricky person to trust, but having the Queen's thugs follow her everywhere was growing old, fast. She looked at Chester and sighed. He'd practically just ruined her hopes of staying hidden.

"The madness begins..." She heard Alice's voice from behind her and pressed her back to the tree with a sigh.

"My Madeline," That was one thing she didn't particlarly care for. The way he called her his Madeline. She belonged to no one, and, while she'd be sad to see him go, she allowed him to follow her about. She raised her eyes to his, lifting an eyebrow and squaring her shoulders. "We must flee". Well that was do able. Now that the group behind her had noticed them, she didn't exactly feel like confronting them. It may lead to physical violence.

Madeline shook his hand from her shoulder and pushed herself off the tree. "Alright." She sighed whistfully as she disappeared into the trees. "Back home then. The Pool of Tears." She said as she lifted her lilac skirts in her hands and began to lightly step her way back through the familiar wood.

Cheshire sat on the branch watching and listening from afar. Two figures he realized were watching as well in another spot under these woods. One came down from the trees and spoke to the other, the other then kept them both hidden enough. The unsheathing of the sword to the unknown woman's throat caught his attention again on the scene. The woman laughed then spoke, "Silly Alice. I pop this open and you become one with the insane." Cheshire now noticed the grenade in her hand. His smile widened. I ought to get my hands on one of those. "Or let's drop the little weapons and give you a proper re-run as to what happened to Wonderland when you left." Oh a twist, eh? This could get interesting.

"You are no importance to me, it seems that I am important to you. If you wish to release your bomb, so be it, but that doesn't mean it won't affect you nor does it mean it'll affect me. Everything that it is, is nothing that it isn't. And on the contrary, Nothing that it is, is everything that it isn't." Ooo, I like this Alice. She's got a way with words. "The madness begins..." said Alice, and then she pulled a trick much like a Cheshire would. She disappeared, only leaving her eyes and smile behind for a brief moment.

Cheshire teleported himself on a branch very much closer to the scene as to talk to the mysterious woman with the grenade. Cheshire sat on the branch, feet hanging off. He applauded the disappearing trick of Alice. "Quite a show!" He smiled and focused his large eyes and smile now on her. "Though I'm pretty sure the madness began long ago, wouldn't you agree?" Cheshire turned his head upside down, but leaving his smile right side up. "Who knows, maybe she's bringing a new madness. That would be fun!" he laughed madly to himself, then put his head and mouth in the correct posture and smiled normally. "Now, from your words it seems you know a good bit about the Alice 'top wanted' and the Alice who just belittled you a teeny bit." Cheshire teleported once more, sitting on the floor of the woods now a few steps away from the unknown woman. "Care to share that mad little story of yours?" his smile now showed his razor sharp teeth.

Rosie Thorn

Rosie ran her fingetips through her long, black hair. Her eyelids shut as she hummed a soft lullabye to herself. A sly smile appeared across her face as she laughed quietly and opened her eyes, looking at the view. Many trees lined the garden but the flowers took over the most. A small, delicate pond sat next to Rosie. Many colorful fish swam, making the water lap. A soft breeze filled the air as a few rose petals flew past her pigtails. White and icy petals. She skipped along the same familiar stone path that lead her through the rose bushes with the sweet scent of tea. Rosie twirled in thought. Her delicate features made her look like a child, though she certainly wasn't. She tightened her grip on the stuffed rabbit she held. A button as an eye hung down, and many tattered edges remained along the wide ears. She reached her destination. The rose bushes swallowed her in a circle with only one entry open. Many white roses filled the area as she sat down into a small antique chair. The white table cloth brushed her ankles as her eyes met the White Queen. A silver dress that fit her well, a twisted crown and light hair that ran to her shoulders. The same dark eyes that stared into her. Rosie looked away quickly, gripping the chair. It was the queen that she was always intimidated by. Her soft lullabye came to a stop.

"Rosie." The Queen spoke, with a soft but strict tone. "I need you to listen." Rosie's answer was a slight turn of the head. Her wide eyes met the rabbit. "Listen." She spoke, again. Her gaze met the queen. She felt as though she was being punished. The Queen sighed. "A very lovely job you have done. Painting my roses, I mean. So pure and white, this is why I like you." She took a small sip of tea. "But I have another task for you sweetheart." The Queen had Rosie's attention now. Her eyebrows narrowed as she scooted closer to the queen.

"Your majesty..." Rosie trailed off. "I like it here though-"

"This is serious." The White Queen whispered. Rosie twisted in her chair feeling lonely. The Queen moved in. "Well, I've had a disturbance in Wonderland. That little, Alice is causing much trouble. We don't like that, now do we?" Rosie gave a small nod as The Queen patted her hair lightly. She knew where this was going. The Queen sighed. "Oh Rosie," The Queen stood and turned towards the soft roses. "I need you to become my little assasin again. Lure her in. Bring her to me with your innocence and charm. Trick Alice to becoming your friend. A challenging task, but I will offer something." Rosie's eyes widened.

"What are you offering..." She murmured.

"Your freedom, my little Rose." The Queen walked away from the table along with two guards trailing behind her feet. Freedom? That's all Rosie ever wanted. Of course she would do it. Her fingers wrapped around the rabbit as fuzz fell out.

"Watch out Alice."

I like this Alice! The stories Emanon would hear would be the ones of Alice slaying the Jabberwocky and bringing peace to Wonderland. Oh, how boring those stories were! This was so much more exciting, especially now that Emanon could see the insane in her eyes. All are insane, Emanon is just able to see it. She liked the part at which Alice said she was of no importance. It made her chuckle a bit. I might be unimportant to this little tale, or perhaps I am the most important. Hmm, one can never tell…  Emanon kept the wide smile painted on her face as Alice finished her speech. 

"Let the madness begin..."She finished as a rustle came from beside them. But Emanon's attention went back to Alice as she disappeared, only leaving a wide smile and blue eyes mid air. This is intriguing! Apparently Emanon wasn't the only one to think so. A rustle can from atop a tree, but Emanon kept her attention everywhere. She knew the way Wonderland was, and if someone were to of lived moderately long you would have to prick your ears to noises one wouldn't normally be able to hear. Emanon moved to face the new comer who was now speaking. 

A new madness? Why didn't I think of that?Emanon liked how he could teleport. Perhaps she could learn his secret. She let him continue his own little talk. Belittled. Hmm, it's a funny word if you think about it. when he telaported a few feet away from Emanon she acted calm, eyes cool with a twisted grin still on her face. She didn't trust anyone in Wonderland. No one should. Her hand was ready to pull the switch on the purple haired boy if her tried anything. 

Emanon had been around quite a few of the fumes and they really only made her drowsy or nauseous, never actually making her go insane like the rats. Hmm, perhaps she already was insane and the bomb had no effect. Or maybe it did and she just too insane to realize it! She would've laughed at this moment if her attention was dragged back to the new comer. "Care to share that mad little story of yours?" Emanon looked at his razor like teeth. Why did she like them? "It may be mad. Or perhaps it's true. One can never tell with such circumstances." 

Emanon slightly laughed. "I have a few teensy tiny theories." Emanon said with a smirk. "My first was just proved wrong. Alice became utterly insane and started to commit these heinous acts. But what proved it wrong is a few things. The original Mad Hatter, saw Alice leave. Why would she still be in Wonderland? Also it proves that this isn't Alice, or the other Alice isn't Alice, because the other on of the other one would've slit my throat without second thought." Emanon's smile widened. 

"The second one was that Alice was being forced to commit these crimes from unknown reasons. But what just proved that wrong was how she was staring at that specific paper. As though she had never seen it in her life." The smile continued to stay on her place. Someone was perhaps listening to her theories. "My final one is the only one that would make some sense. When Alice left, someone pretended to be her. Looking just like her to ruin her name. I myself can think of quite a few reasons someone would be wanting to do that to little 'ole Alice." Emanon finished. "Or perhaps I am completely mad. Either one."

"Back home then. The Pool of Tears". Chester nodded as Madeline began to walk away. He was curious of what the strange people where talking about, but he couldn't risk leaving Madeline alone. She was too valuable. He stood close behind her to make sure she would never be out of his sight.

While walking to the Pool of tears Chester remembered something that he had learned earlier before. "My Madeline," He said "There are rumors that our dearest Queen has gotten a new assassin to take care of Alice. A young girl with abilities that could possibly overpower Alice".

Chester stopped to sniff the air. He hissed at the smell of humans. "My Madeline, we are being watched".

He grabbed Madeline's hand and evaporated with her. They landed in the Pool of tears. "Please forgive my Madeline," Chester said as he sat down in the cold water" Now, would you like some tea?"

Alice knew her way well through Wonderland. She wasn't really running away, but she was surely speeding through the woods until she reached it's center, The Pool of Tears. Slowly kneeling down on the edge of the pool, Alice sat, covering her legs with her puffy dress as she looked at her reflection in the water. Her face showed no expression, her icy blue eyes appeared as if they were glowing in the water, then....the water rippled. The rippling effect created an illusion of a different Alice. Except it wasn't a different Alice. It was actually Alyss. But Alice didn't know about her. Not just yet.

Squinting to get a better view of her reflection, she noticed it smiled. A very eery and diabolical smile came to her. This brought Alice back a little bit. Who is this? she thought to herself.

I'm you. her reflection spoke, but as if it was in Alice's thoughts instead of hearing it through her ears. Alyss smiled as her hand goes through the water, turning from a reflection to an actually being as she touched Alice's arm. Alyss smirked then suddenly yanked Alice into the water and began to sink her down. Bubbles escaped pass Alice's lips as air and water became her line of life and death. Her blue eyes were closed as she tries to hold her breath as long as she can, but Alyss continued to drag her down. Then Slowly, more bubbles were released from her lips as she fell unconsci ous, slowly sinking to her death. Alyss then let Alice sink to the bottom then she disappears in to the shadows. Alice continued to go deeper into the bottom of the Poole of Tears.

Emanon finished. "Or perhaps I am completely mad. Either one."

Cheshire sat listening to her the whole time, fixing his stare on her as she spoke of her theories. "Well of course you're mad!" he assured her. "We're all mad here! I'm mad. You're mad. Anyone who isn't mad, will soon be mad. That's just how it is down here." Or the way I try to make it. He teleported on a branch different from before, but still in sight of her. He paced on the branch, still smiling widely. "But that doesn't mean a theory can't be right from someone mad. In fact, if it's from a someone mad, it probably is right down here. For instance, that last one sounds reasonable to me." He chuckled to himself. "That doesn't mean much though. I'm madder than the mad here." He sat back down on the tree branch. "Now, what might your interest be in Alice? I hear there's a hefty reward for her." He looked slyly at her, "Either one of her."

Cheshire began to fade, now his own eyes and smile left for a brief moment. "Don't take my motives the wrong way," his voice floated through the air. "I'm not on the hunt for the reward of Alice. But it seems you are." He reappeared in front of her, standing and staring at her. He assumed she was a bounty hunter with the grenade and whatnot. "Or at least on the hunt for her for your own reasons, as I'm sure many are." his eyes and smile was now shown deviously. "My interest is to keep the madness of the place."

"My Madeline," Chester said from behind her as they walked. "There are rumors that our dearest Queen has gotten a new assassin to take care of Alice. A young girl with abilities that could possibly overpower Alice".

Madeline stopped and whirled around to face Chester. She raised one pale eyebrow and looked at him with interested violet eyes. An assassin? Mentally, Madi went through a long list of all the Queens thugs. None of them seemed equipped for the job, but there was one more thing. "Rosie." She hissed as she twirled back around and began stomping through the woods angrily once more. The Queen was moving way too fast for her liking. She was throwing everything she had at Alice without giving Madeline a chance to have any fun. She'd have to have a talk with her "dear friend" the White Queen.

"My Madeline, we are being watched." Chester's hand against hers stopped her and she turned to face him, but before she'd even turned all the way around, they'd already transported. Now they weren't trudging through Tulgey Wood, but were at its very center. The pool of tears. Her lilac gown, one of her favorites, was now soaked to the knees, for he'd not only transported them here, but he's landed them in the pool itself. "Please forgive my Madeline," Chester said as he sat down in the cold water "Now, would you like some tea?"

But something else had caught Madeline's attention. "Sh." She cut Chester off quickly with a brisk wave of her lilac gloved hand. At the edge of the pool, kneeling over with long dark locks grazing it's surface. Sat Alice. Madeline smiled and watched as a hand reached up out of the water and yanked the girl under, dragging her down to the depths of the pool.

Madeline's eyebrows shot up in shock and she began to make her way to shore. "Chester!" She shouted at him over her shoulder. "Save Alice and bring her to me!" She reached the shore and lifted her skirts, wringing them out before daintily taking a seat on the beach with lilac silk and silvery blonde hair pooled all about her. "Now!"

"My interest is to keep the madness of the place."

Emanon smiled at that. She herself had no clue as to why she had an interest in this Alice, all she had wanted to do was kill the "other" Alice. This one obviously wasn't. Shit. Where did she go!? Emanon took a quick glance around. She was gone! Dam it! I need her help to find the other Alice! "My motives are my own." Emanon replied simply, not letting the annoyance she felt trickle into her voice. She walked in the direction she thought Alice disappeared to. She found it rather rude to just disappear in the middle of a conversation. Hell, perhaps it was smart. 

A crunch of a leaf signaled she was being followed, a smirk playing into her features. The tinier bomb that was resting in her hand just wanted to be thrown. But she fought the urge until she knew what was following her. She whipped around to face two chess guards, they both stopped for a moment in surprise at her sudden movement and that was all Emanon needed. Ripping off the timer cap she rolled the tiny bomb to the Chess Guards feet. The gass exploded almost immediately as Emanon jumped back to get to a safe distance. It took a moment before the Chess Guards reacted to the fumes. One of them started to scream uncontroably while the other ran in circles, crying. The sight was quite amusing and made Emanon laugh. 

She was about to leave when a large stick caught her eye. When they sober up they will be looking for me… Another wicked smile formed into her lips as she took the stick into her hands. The one screaming  ran towards her, quickly ducking to the side she brought the stick face first into his head. Knocking the chess figure onto the ground with a loud thud. It moved to get up but not before Emanon shoved the stick into its exposed stomach. Blood erupted from the soft flesh, the sight made Emanon burst into laughter as the other chess guard ran off, screaming and balling. 

Emanon turned her attention back to the chess guard on the ground. Emanon brought her foot to the guards head, knocking it back to the ground. Her foot started to become soaked in blood as she finally stopped. A laugh escaped her lips as she looked at what she did, it was somewhat appealing to her. "Back to finding little ole' Alice." Emanon mumbled and walked in the direction she thought Alice vanished to. 

"Now!" Chester vanished and reappeared underwater behind Alice. Before he could grad her and evaporate he realized there were two Alice's.

Confusion overwhelmed Chester. Which one was real which one not. The water was getting to his lungs so it was hard to think. He took the last resort and grabbed them both. Chester then shot out of the water, and in mid-air he turned them all into a purple mist. They took back their form in front of Madeline. "My Madeline," Chester said with his right brow raised "there seems to be two Alice's".

Chester turned to them and made a long, curled smile "Anyone for tea?"

Rosie skipped along the rocks. She looked innocent, long black pigtails with satin ribbons and a small red dress. This would help her look as if she could be trusted. She held up her tattered stuffed rabbit. "Well, well. That little Alice is hiding. Isn't she, Mr. Buttons?" She made the rabbit's head move up and down to look like a slight nod. Mr. Buttons was squished into her arms in a tight embrace. "Hopefully we'll get to her first." Rosie began to sniff the air. Giant mushrooms hung down from above, blocking any sunlight from coming through. It smelled of salad. "Maybe we need a little help..." She murmured, curling her lips. The rabbit fell to the ground as Rosie lifted her arms. Her hand shifted to the right, while the other to the left. They swirled together as vines rushed through the soil to surround Rosie. Thick vines, pointy and green. Her arms relaxed for she knew the vines would follow her. Her black hair shifted into following a nod as the vines began to lift Mr. Buttons. "Oh! Of course I would never forget you!" She tickled the rabbit's nose as her shiny shoes trotted through the dirt. Rosie knew there were many sightings of Alice. One of the few places she hadn't been was the Pool of Tears. She might as well start to look. "Forward on, my vines!" She controlled them as an army, but had fun doing it with a march. The child inside of Rosie would never grow. "Left, left. Left, right left!" A smile appeared as her fingertips moved into a pattern of motions. The vines of course, would follow it.