Author's note: Hey guys this is my first Fanfiction on here so bare with me. This story is based off of something I thought about late at night when I was listening to the Almost Alice Soundtrack. Hope you like it. Please Comment!

The French maid tightened her corset as Ali took a deep breath in. "Why do I have to wear this stupid death contraption?" she complained allowed. The maid understood English but didn't speak it. She replied with something along the lines of father, have to, and party. She sighed. There was a knock at the door and the maid allowed the person in. He had a very old fashioned king costume on that was red and white with hearts all over. He even had to wear tights. His hair was black and slicked back under a crown with more hearts on it than his other clothing.

"Interesting attire Father," Ali teased. "Yes, yes, and you look, well you look not prepared yet. Are you giving Anette a hard time?" He father questioned looking her over. "No, I just wished that I could have some kind of idea to why I am dressing like this. What kind of party are we going to?" Ali explained her reasoning. Her father sighed. Ali always wanted to know what she was doing and where she was going, because if she didn't have to go, she wasn't going to. "Here is the invitation," he father stated.

Ms. Alyssa Felicity Collins,

You are cordially invited to Vivien Sophia Langton's 16th annual costume party. You and two others are required to come up with a theme from your childhood, a choreographed dance, and costumes. They will be displayed to the guests of the party. Practice is to be held at eleven o'clock sharp at the Marie Gabriel ballroom. Vivien has chosen Cinderella. This theme is unavailable to others. The party will start at five and start with you Ms. Collins.

"Another one of Vivien's parties," Ali thought to herself, "how dreadful." Vivien Langton was a stuck up spoiled brat that expected the world to revolve around her. She had a costume party every year since she was two. Ali didn't know how she could have forgotten that she was going to have one again since it was late November. "Why didn't you tell me about this earlier? I have no theme planned or dance." Ali whined. "I didn't tell you because you wouldn't want to go and everything was pre planed for you. I will go over what you are to do in the car. I didn't think you would mind the theme "Alice in Wonderland" since that was your favorite story ever since you were five," he explained then left.

Ali looked in the mirror. She had a light blue dress that was long and intricate. It wasn't like the old fashion dress she always imagined Alice to be in. She had her hair curled and make up done. She didn't like this but she would have to suck it up. At least she would enjoy seeing her step mother in her apparel. There was only one thing she could picture that treacherous woman to be and that was the queen of hearts. Her step mother Claudia would see the queen as powerful and a great honor to be her, but anyone who has heard the story would know that she was an evil, hostile, crude, villain.

Ali met her father down in the car. He tried to explain to her what she was supposed to do. Ali tried to understand but when he asked her to repeat what he told her to do she failed. Soon enough the car came to a stop and the doors were opened. Ali would just have to wing it. Outside there was lots of paparazzi outside taking pictures. Vivien was being interviewed. Ali walked into the ballroom and saw that everyone was waiting for her.

"Alright places everyone!" someone announced. Ali started off twirling around then waltzing with her younger cousin who was dressed as the white rabbit. She twirled a few times around then pretended to lose the white rabbit. The Cheshire cat was next. Things continued to play out like the story. Every once in a while she was stopped and corrected. She was twirled onto the next person, the mad hatter.

She smiled when looking into the green eyes of her best friend Shaun. Instead of his usually black hair he had a frizzy orange wig on that made him look comical. She mouthed to him hi. He squeezed her hand. "You're welcome" he mouth then bowed to her as it was written. She peeked at her hand to see that it was the dance steps written on her hand. It was lightly printed but eligible. The rest of practice was easy. Someone once again announced that practice was finished and it was someone else's turn.

Ali sat at one of the tables fallowed by her best friend. They were serving lunch for everyone that wasn't practicing. Ali wanted to hug Shaun for knowing her so well. She looked at him and it took her back to a memory of them having a tea party when they were six. She was dressed as what she thought Alice would look like and Shaun was the mad hatter. He liked it because his whole face was painted like a clown but slightly different. Shaun was throwing things from the table acting "mad" and Ali was laughing and asking what is wrong. Shaun replied, "Why is a raven like a writing desk?"

Shaun was Ali's closest friend ever since they were little and their fathers went to war together. Shaun had lost his mother just like Ali, but in a different way. Ali's mother was murdered and Shaun's mother died in a car accident. They both lost them at five but Shaun was a year older than her. They comforted each other, they told each other all their secrets, and were so close. Ali let Shaun know anything he wanted to and Shaun would let Ali put make up on him. Ideally Ali wanted to marry Shaun because she thought he was so perfect, but she knew that it wouldn't happen. Shaun's father wanted him to marry into wealth because his father was losing his and that was the only think that would fix it. Ali wasn't what Shaun's father was looking for.

"Ali are you even paying attention?" Shaun asked. "I'm sorry," she said then pinched the bridge of her nose. "Off in wonderland Alice?" he joked. "Not quiet just thinking about when we use to have tea parties and you would throw everything," Ali explained. Shaun smirked, "That was quiet an interesting time. If I remember you yelled 'where is the white rabbit' and I replied, 'is he under your big puffy dress?'. You were so mad at me that you poured tea on me so then I began my rampage. You thought it was so funny that you couldn't stop laughing and your face turned purple. Your maid was made at me so we were never allowed to play that again."

Ali laughed remembering it, "Is that what happened? Hmmm I wish we could relive that moment. I was so happy." "Well that was after our mothers past away so I guess that was one of the only times that we laughed," Shaun explained. Ali nodded. "So what have you been up to? It's been weeks since the last time I've saw you," Ali asked. "I've been busy," Shaun replied. "With what, your mistress?" Ali teased.

Shaun was silent. "Oh so what's her name?" Ali said half joking half serious. Shaun looked her in the eyes then looked away. In a serious tone he said, "Ali I have to tell you the truth. Vivien and I are going to be engaged." "Shaun I know you're trying to make this rehearsal a bit more interesting but don't joke about something like that," Ali replied with a smile. Shaun sighed slightly annoyed with Ali's ignorance. Ali's smiled slowly wiped away from her face.

"You're serious aren't you?" Ali guessed. Shaun nodded, "Father thinks this will save the Griffin name. Honestly I couldn't care less about it. If I have to start working for money so be it if it means I can marry who I want." "Then why don't you?" Ali said going on again on one of her pep talks. "You can stand up to your father. Tell him that you won't. He can't make you. He might get mad but he's your father he will forgive you eventually." "Ali you are absolutely right. I would but I know that's not what my mother would have wanted. She would want me to carry on the Griffin name and wealth," Shaun explained. "Your mother would have wanted you to be happy," Ali said but once Shaun's face had gotten even more miserable than before she realized she shouldn't have brought that up.

"Well I guess you just have to marry the spoiled whiney pi…," Ali stared but was cut off because Vivien was almost a foot away. "Oh there you are Shaun," she said giving him a kiss on the cheek. "Oh Ali did Shaun tell you the great news?" Vivien said with a slight tone of boast. "Oh yes and Vivien until you have your engagement party or whatever and make it official I wouldn't kiss him on the cheek. Because you haven't been dating long and it makes you look like a whore since you were dating Timothy Lawrence just last week," Ali said with a polite smile as if it was advice, that it sounded like and not like the offensive remark that it was.

"Right Ali, I'll try to not make you too jealous. I mean I know how much you love Shaun but he chose me and the only reason that he is in your dance and not mine is he said you could use the people," Vivien lied. It was true Shaun and Ali were like a couple, always together and there for each other. The only thing that stopped them was their fathers. That and Ali wasn't a hundred percent sure if Shaun liked her or if he was just clueless and treated all girls like that.

"One, don't call me Ali and two, the only reason I wouldn't want Shaun to get married is that it would be to an ugly disgusting pig like you," Ali fought back. Shaun was the only won who would can her Ali. This was because before Shaun the only person who called her Ali was her mother and Shaun was the only person that didn't piss her off when he called her it. Shaun sat there calm as can be. In a monotone voice reminded them, "You're too loud and the whole room is staring at the both of you. Sit down, calm yourselves, and get through this night. Afterwards you can have a long discussion about what is and what isn't." Vivien and Ali looked around them. Not one person there wasn't staring at them. Ali expected Vivien to have a fit and make Ali leave, but she didn't. "Whatever you say darling," Vivien mumbled and sat down. Ali looked around. Some people went back to what was occupying them previously and others still stared.

Ali whispered to Shaun, "I guess I will see you later." She walked out. Shaun knew she would end up doing something drastic because she wasn't thinking clearly. Ali never said "I will see you later" because they always knew they would. It was like later meant in a few years. The only other time she said that to him was when he had to go to France with his father for a year. But even then, Ali had said it cheerfully as if excited for when they would see each other again. This time he wondered if she was the one that said it or if he had merely imagined it. So he followed her.

"Where are you going?" Vivien asked but when she didn't get her reply she did the same. "Ali! Where are you going?" Shaun yelled after her. "This is France not England. You can't run to your usual spots." Ali turned to where there was a small pound. "What are you going to do drown yourself because I am marrying Shaun?" Vivien called from a mile away. Alice began to undress. Taking off everything, cutting the strings of her corset just enough that she could get out of it with the scissors she stored in her dress. Finally all she had left was her undergarments.

Shaun had stopped by the pond. Vivien wasn't far behind. "Going for a swim to calm your nerves?" Shaun guessed. "Won't she die?" Vivien shouted. "No, she'll just freeze enough to stop the mind from thinking." Shaun explained Ali's reasons. Ali walked in, her face blank with thought. "She's stark raving mad!" Vivien declared. Ali wrapped her arms around herself and then looked over her shoulder to glare at Vivien. "What the hell are you looking at me for?" Vivien shouted. Shaun explained once again, "She is going to be fine just let her be." "Let her be! She will die, or she will go psychotic and kill me!" Vivien complained.

Shaun looked at his watch that was a prop for his costume, but none the less working. Ten minutes had past. He took off his jacket and put it over his shoulder. He began to step into the pound. "What are you doing?" Vivien shouted. Shaun merely hushed her. Shaun walked up behind Ali and began to whisper in her ear, "You are okay now. Your mind has slowed and you heart rate has too. I'm going to take you out now. Not because you can't but because most likely your body is numb. Will you let me?" Ali nodded. This was the way Shaun had learned to take her out without her making things worse. This wasn't the first time for this and he knew it most likely wouldn't be the last.

Shaun swooped her up and carried her. "Do you see it?" Ali asked. "Do I see what?" Shaun replied. "The fish" Ali answered and pointed below. Shaun looked down. "No, where is it?" he asked. "Take a step forward and look down," she replied. He looked ahead of him seeing nothing. So he took a step and tripped. "Don't step on it!" Ali yelled. Then the fish –that he didn't see– bit at Shaun's legs. He quickly fell to his knees but then went even father. "Shaun!" Vivien cried. She ran to where he had fallen and she too tripped and fell down the underwater hole.