Hey everyone, it's Erin. :) So, I just wanted to try my hand at some fan fiction, and what better way to start than with a Heart no Kuni no Alice fanfic! Hopefully you will enjoy it as much as I did writing it! Reviews will help encourage me to continue writing this story, so please, well, REVIEW!

Oh yes, and by the way, I do not own anything Heart no Kuni no Alice, except for my OC's. :) Not that I don't wish that I did... CUZ I TOTALLY DO.


So, I got my boots on, got the right 'mount of leather, and I'm doing me up with a black color liner, and I'm workin' my strut, but I know it don't matter. All we need in this world is some love~

Serena listened contently to the rhythmic beat of the original single by Adam Lambert, adjusting her headphones in order to receive a clearer sound. Carefully, she stroked the black paint across her upper lids, lining her eyes in the dangerous makeup. Just as Adam had.

Shortly afterwards, she rushed through her closet in order to select an assortment of her most precious pieces of leather, as well as a sturdy pair of combat boots which presented themselves towards the front of her closet. Just where she had left them. Adam really was influencing her style this morning.

Lacing her prized leather corset along the small of her back, Serena deeply stared into her tall bathroom mirror, pointedly acknowledging each of her flaws in criticism. Skin too light against the brunettes wavy dark hair. Eyes so fluorescently green they were frightening. An unnaturally undeveloped body for a teenage girl. And most importantly, the thin, disturbing scar which lined above her left brow. Shaking her head in disgust, she fiercely turned her back to the reflected imagery of the young woman, cursing under her breath as she huffily stormed away.

Winding her metal studded belt through the loops of an old pair of denim jeans, Serena dazedly walked through her front doors and into the cool morning air. The frigid wind nipped at her exposed skin, forcibly convincing her to address the solid black hoodie around her waste. Pulling her head through the soft material, she sighed in defeat. Stupid weather, She thought to herself, can't I just once display my beautiful leather for the underprivileged eyes of this preposterous world?

Serena stood at the foot of the tall metal sign which suggested the arrival of the city bus in less than five waited impatiently, shuffling her feet in discontent. Fallen leaves danced gracefully across the solid pavement of the lonely side walks. Winter was approaching, therefore everyone had shut themselves within the relaxing warmth of their homes. If only Serena had been given that option.

The painful screeching of breaks caught the dozing girls attention, acknowledging her of the buses slightly late arrival. Anxious steps took her up the steep, creaky stairs of the old vehicle, and the silver bus pass which dangled at her chest further allowed her entrance.

Taking a spot in the closest available seat, Serena set her MP3 on shuffle and let her eyes close. Her head leaned uncomfortably against the rattling metal walls of the dingy bus, her legs across the vacated seats which surrounded her. She easily fell asleep; it had quickly become routine after a few months of riding in the familiar habitat every weekend. Hadn't her divorced parents chosen to live so far apart, she wouldn't have become so accustomed to the setting. Unfortunately, they had chosen properties on opposite ends of the state. Her mother having always been a country girl lived on a small ranch along the eastern coast, where as her father resided within the most urbanized city of the entire state. Couldn't they have considered my position? Serena wondered. Didn't they realize that in this case, I'd be the misfortunate, unbeneficial person? Idiot adults.

After eternally driving through an endless array of shrubs and dusty soil, Serena arrived in the beautiful coastal city of Saffron, which was beautiful blanketed in a thin layer of sparkling frost. Young children ran around the street in complete merriment, carefully stepping aside in order to let the bus through courteously. The driver had smiled and waved toward the youthful children; his eyes sparkled in remembrance of his own childhood. Serena began to reminisce the experience she had had at such an age, but quickly shook her head in disgust. She did not wish for her mind to reencounter those emotions which she so gravely loathed. No child should have felt the way she had.

Another screeching of breaks excused Serena from the bus.

"Thank you sir," she graciously said to the generous bus driver. Tipping his hat, he winked at the young girl, opening the doors to the vehicle amidst the process. Waving goodbye to the middle-aged man, she stepped onto the solid concrete of the small familiar town, several bags slung around her shoulders. Saffron had been where she was born and raised at an early age. An age at which she was still completely innocent and seemingly naïve to the brutalities which surrounded her. The town held a precious place in her heart, as well as some of her most treasured memories. This is where she had spent every afternoon baking pastries with her grandmother, someone whom had recently passed away. This is where she had taken her first piano lessons, an instrument to which she devoted her entire free-time towards these days. Most importantly, this is a place where she only remembered happiness, an emotion she rarely encountered anymore. Why did we even leave this place? Maybe things would be better if we had never left.

The girl fantasized of a life like it had been when she was just learning the basics of living. Serena knew that she could daydream all she wanted about it, but it'd never come true, because she had come back, and yet nothing changed. Her parents weren't back together, they continually fought, and she was still discontent.

She walked silently down the long main road, counting the cars as the flied by in attempts of soothing her anxiety. Walking along this street, she always grew hysterical. Nerves weighed across her chest like cinderblocks, her stomach groaned in unease. What awaited her was completely unknown. Her mother's claims; they were unreliable. She never knew whether she'd be invited into the home of a sober woman or a drunken alcoholic.

"Welcome home, Serena," the solid words of the quickly aging woman called from her kitchen as Serena arrived at the familiar household. Thank goodness, Serena graciously thought to herself in relief. The small woman pranced into the living room, pulling her daughter excitedly through the front doors of her heartwarming home. "Quick, we don't want to let the cold in!"

Serena let her eyes wander around the beautifully furnished home. Everything followed an earthy color scheme, including the endless array of frames concealing hundreds of pictures of herself aging over time. Serena did give her mother credit for sincerely loving her daughter, but couldn't conform to truly trusting the woman once again. Not after the various times she had slipped back into her old ways accidentally due to stress or overworking. It was too painful to lose that hope constantly over again.

"Thanks, Mom," the young girl said through smiling teeth. Her mother beamed in return, her sunken eyes glowing in exhilaration. Though the years of alcohol had gotten to the woman both physically and mentally over the years of excessive intake, she still had emitted an air of liveliness in the presence of her dearest child.

"How about some dinner, yes? I made your favorite dish; chicken noodle soup!"

"Sounds great, mother," Serena agreed, a smile still playing at her lips. So she remembered.

Serena's mother bolted from the room, dragging her unprepared daughter in her wake as she traveled toward the dining room. Awaiting them was an amazing display of different breads, salads, vegetables, and a centralized crock-pot of the beloved soup. The two of them sat in their usual spots along the right-hand side of the table, mouths watering as they began serving themselves and quickly eating the delicious food.

So far, this is actually going quite well. Maybe this will be a good visit with Mother.

Dinner flew by, and Serena began to grow weary from her long day of driving, though she had slept for the majority of her travels. Her mother lead her to an oddly offset room down several winding halls through the surprisingly large house. The girl had grown accustomed to journey towards her room, but continued to let her mother lead her as if she could possibly become lost. It wasn't for her own desires, but her mothers, because it gave the aging woman the feeling of being needed. Serena may hold many things against her mother, but admittedly, she still wished for her happiness.

"Okay, I'll let you get to sleep then."

"Alright. Goodnight, Mom."

"Goodnight."

No exchange of "I love you". It pained both of them, but they were used to it. Neither knew how the other would react to the simple words. They weren't sure whether they wanted to know either.

Serena quickly fell asleep, shortly after her head hit the pillow. The dream she had that night was unexpected, and quite honestly, it didn't exactly make sense to her.

A tall man had stood before her, fully clothed in an exuberant suit which was stitched and woven with beautiful golden thread. His majestic hair sat at his shoulders, it's shade, as well as his eyes, resembling an eccentric silver mist. Serena had never seen a man of his young age with such an odd color of hair, but quite frankly, it suited the mysterious man. An eye patch stretched across his face and over his right eye, only permitting vision to his left side. The girl couldn't help but develop several questions within her mind about the strange man, and that was before she had even spoken to him.

"Hello, Serena, My name is Nightmare Gottschalk."

Nightmare; what a bizarre name, Serena thought to herself. Though the man possessed a threatening name, he by no means had frightened her so far. If anything, compared to the other imageries which had haunted her mind amidst her slumber, Nightmare was nothing close to being unpleasant. Perhaps it was a nickname, or just utterly ironic. Of course, this was a dream. Something unintentionally formed by her subconscious.

"Hi," Serena returned politely before an abrupt question flowed from her mouth. "This isn't going to become a nightmare, right?" The unease that this dream would take an awful turn of events was eating away at her. The man chuckled in response, stringing his long fingers through his hair.

"I would consider it as more of a warning. It depends on how you further interpret it."

Serena slightly cocked her head sideways in confusion, narrowing her eyes in request of further explanation. Nightmare once again chuckled lightly, then relocated Serena's questioning gaze. "I've came to warn you of your fate."

"My fate?" Serena questioned, her confusion growing rapidly.

"Yes. You are to be taken to Wonderland shortly."

"Wonderland?" The girl repeated in suspicion, her eyebrows furrowing accusingly. "There is no such place as Wonderland." Come on, I'm not that completely gullible, the girl nearly defied aloud. Nightmare grinned dangerously at this, his eyes forming deadly slits.

"Is that so?" The man began, eyes glinting with something of excitement. "Well, I suppose you are in for a great surprise then."

Before Serena could respond, Nightmare had fled the scene, leaving her in a world of swirling fluorescent colors. Her eyes blinked furiously; had she just heard such deluded talk? Wonderland doesn't truly exist! Or does it? Of course not, Serena! This is only a dream! You'll wake up in the morning laughing because you had even considered such an idea!

Drifting into a dark, thoughtless sleep once more, Serena was able to claim a good rest that night, awakening the following morning feeling lively and ready to face the day ahead of her. But she couldn't help but notice the uneasiness which resided in her mind from the incredibly vivid dream she had had the previous night, nor the fact that she had never laughed upon her awakening. Serena was constantly dreaming every night, yet, this one had so strangely taken hold of her. What is going on with me?


So, how was it? Not too terrible? xD I feel pretty good about it! Please REVIEW, and I promise to put up another chapter, as well as many more after that! Sooo, yay..! x3