A/N This story takes place during Alice's game. I try to update often. Please leave a review! This is to set the mood, everyone excited for her return, a new and sweeter side of Julius, it's all so wonderful! And please let me know if any of the characters are ooc, if they are I'll try and improve. So, yea...
Enjoy!
Prologue
Third Person POV
Alice stared off as she sat across from Ace, having a cup of afternoon tea. Alice was not listening to Ace's story, though. She had been watching Julius for the past hour. He had been acting weird lately, almost anxious. He had gotten very little work finished, and even more strange, hasn't graded a single cup of coffee Alice has made him.
"...and then I said, 'Ho- Alice are you listening?" Ace said waving a gloved hand in Alice's face.
"Huh? Oh, sorry Ace. I'm just a bit worried about Julius. Has he seemed strange to you lately?" At this both Knight and Outsider glance over at Julius, who is standing looking out a nearby window.
"Now that you mention it he does seem a bit spacey." He says taking another sip of his tea.
Suddenly the time changes from afternoon to early evening. Ace stands and thanks Alice for the tea. He grabs his blood-stained cloak and puts on his mask as he leaves, going out to collect more clocks most likely. Alice decides to take this opportunity to ask Julius what has him so upset. Was it something she did? Was he sick? She walks up to Julius from behind, tapping him on the back to get his attention. He jumps a bit, which is strange for him, and turns to look at Alice.
'He has dark circles under his eyes. How long has it been since he last slept?' Alice wonders to herself.
"Yes, Alice? Did you need something?" Julius asks as he sits back down at his desk. He goes to work on a clock, obviously not fully focused on his work.
"Julius, is there something bothering you lately? You're not acting like yourself. Are you ill?" Alice asks as she sits across from him. Julius heaves a great sigh and sets the clock down.
"Alice, there is something I've been meaning to tell you. It's kind of a long story, so please bear with me." He says, removing his work glasses. "You'll need to pay attention because I won't repeat myself and you'll need to know the whole story for the next few days to make sense."
"What do you me-" Julius cuts her off mid-sentence by raising a hand in the air.
"Please, no interruptions and save all questions till the end, Alice." Julius sets his hands on his desk, folding them together.
"It all started about 10 years ago. There was a young girl named Rosalina that would go and collect clocks for me. She didn't kill like Ace, though. The Knight of Heart Castle at the time did that, the girl merely collected their clocks for me. During this time the war between territories had not yet begun. There was merely a disagreement about the clocks. Some in Wonderland believed it was wrong for me to fix their clocks, while others agreed it was wrong not to fix clocks. This was merely opinion, no action had been taken as of yet.
One day, though, I had sent little Rosalina to collect some clocks deep in the forest. She had only been away a few minutes when Blood had brought her back. She had been beaten and stabbed. After Blood had left a doctor was called and he said she would live. She would have died had the knife had gone a mere centimeter deeper into her side. Alice, this girl was my younger sister." Alice gasped as what he said sunk in, and Julius continued.
"I was afraid she was going to get killed because of me. So I lied and said she had died from the attack, when in reality I merely sent her to your world, Alice. I wiped her memories of Wonderland, and me, so she would not hurt herself trying to return. I don't normally enjoy lying, but, in this case, it was necessary. But, Alice, she is much different from everyone else in Wonderland. She was born with a heart, not a clock.
She is now 18 and ready to return. I have been anxious as of late because I don't know if she will have her memories or not. Or what has happened since I sent her away. No one from Wonderland has ever been sent away only to return once more. My sister also has a strange ability. She has a strong connection with nature. She loved to raise all sorts of different plants. Her abilities are evident by a marking she has on her right arm. When she was younger it began at her hand ending just past her wrist and soon before she left it had come to the middle of her forearm. As she gets older her abilities become stronger, thus the marking grows farther up her arm." After Julius finishes his tale the time changes and he suggest Alice get some rest.
As she walks to her bedroom Alice mulls over the new information she was just given. 'Julius has a younger sister with strange powers that he hasn't seen in ten years. For all he knows she's dead. I wonder who else knows of Julius having a sister?' The thoughts don't stop, they won't.
After a night of fitful sleep, Alice decides to visit Blood. 'I remember Julius saying Blood had brought Rosalina back after she was attacked. That means he must know of them being siblings.' She thought to herself.
Alice arrives at the Mansion and walks up to the front gates. 'I wonder where the twins are?' Just as the thought comes Alice hears two young voices yell out: "Onee-chan!"
Next thing she knows she is tackled to the ground in a massive hug. Alice sits up as the twins are each holding onto one of her arms. Dum on the left and Dee on the right.
"We missed you so much, Onee-chan!" Whines Dee.
"Yea, Onee-chan, where have you been? Why haven't you come see us?" Dum says, both boys have tears in the corner of their eyes.
"I'm sorry boys, I've just been so busy helping out Julius." Alice replies with a weak smile.
"There you two are! Blood and I have been looking everywhere! The tea party's 'bout to start! Oh, hi Alice!" Says a familiar voice belonging to none other than the orange hare himself, Elliot.
"Tea party? Am I interrupting? I'll come back later if Blood's busy." Alice says standing and dusting herself off.
"Your not interrupting, Alice. In fact you can join us if you like!" Elliot says with his usual wide grin.
"Yea Onee-chan! Please stay! Please!" The twins beg in perfect unison. Alice has no choice but to give in to their adorable puppy eyes.
"Very well, as long as Blood doesn't mind."
"I don't mind at all, Young Lady." Says Blood as he approaches the group. "I was actually hoping you'd come and join us. Besides, you seem as if there's something you wish to talk about." He says taking Alice's hand and lightly kissing the back of it.
"Actually there are things I'd like to talk to you about, Blood. It can wait till after the tea party, though." Alice says as her and Blood walk hand in hand towards the garden, the twins and Elliot following not too far behind.
The tea party is nice, as usual, and relaxing. Alice sits next to Elliot, the twins sitting across from them. Blood sits at the end of the table as always. Alice chats with Blood while the twins tease Elliot about his ears and carrot dish addiction. Alice doesn't pay too much attention to what Blood is saying to her until the time changes, causing Alice to snap from her trance. The twins had run off a while ago and Elliot just announced he had work to do, leaving Alice and Blood alone.
"So you wanted to discuss something with me? It must be important to have you so preoccupied." Blood says leaning his head on his hand, his interest in what Alice has to say piqued.
"Yes. It's about Julius. He told me something today that has me a bit worried about him." Alice says, folding her hands in her lap.
"Hm. Could it be about his sister?" Blood says as if it's common knowledge.
"Uh, yea. It is. How did you know, Blood?" Alice was shocked that he had already guessed so easily.
"Her Birthday is tomorrow. He gets this way around her Birthday every year. She had died not a week before her 8th Birthday. The poor man was so distraught, that he started locking himself in that tower. He used to come out all the time when she was alive." For a moment Alice could have sworn she saw concern for Julius on Blood's face, but it was gone as quickly as it came.
"Poor Julius. Blood, who else knows that they are siblings?" Alice had been wondering this for a while. She had to tell everyone who knew Rosalina that the girl was alive and coming home.
"Vivaldi, Gowland, White, Nightmare, I believe the Jokers would remember her, and myself of course. Why?" He seemed amused now.
"Because I have news for all of them, starting with you." Blood looked on in confusion and curiosity. "Blood, Rosalina is still alive. She didn't die, Julius sent her away so she would be safe. She's also returning soon." Blood looked shocked.
"Th-that's not possible. She died. I saw with my own eyes. How do you know all this?" He said scooting to the chair next to Alice.
"Julius told me himself. He said he never meant to lie to anyone, he simply wanted to protect her." Alice explained, sounding a bit defensive.
Blood seemed to be thinking this all over, looking a bit shell-shocked. "Then, if this is true, you must go tell my sister, Vivaldi. She'll be especially happy to hear this good news." With that, Blood stood up and left.
Alice arrived at Heart Castle soon after. Alice was soon spotted by her white, bunny-eared stalker only to be tackled in a bear hug.
"Aliiice! My dear, sweet, beloved Alice has come to visit me!" Alice remembered Blood saying Peter had known Rosalina.
"Actually, yes, I have come to visit you, Peter." Peter let go and looked simply dumbfounded, a slight blush appeared on his cheeks.
"R-really? Alice really came to visit me!? She really came! That must mean you really do love me!" At this Alice pushed Peter off her, causing him to frown a bit.
"Don't get carried away." Alice had on her 'this-guy-just-doesn't-know-when-to-stop' face. "Anyways. I really need to talk to you, Peter. It's kind of important." Alice was about to continue when Peter stopped her.
"If it's that important we must go somewhere private. Come, come." Peter grabbed Alice's hand and practically dragged her to his room.
"Ok but if I'm going to be in your room with you, you have to turn into a rabbit." Alice said crossing her arms.
"If that is what my beloved wishes, then so be it." He said and he turned into a small white rabbit in a puff of smoke. He sat on the edge of his bed and Alice sat next to him. Alice explained how Julius told her of his sister and what had happened. Peter nodded along, showing Alice he remembered.
"I remember when Rosalina would come to the castle. Her and Vivaldi would play dress-up and have pageants or fashion shows in the throne room. Vivaldi was just about 18 when Rosalina died. She would come play with me as well. She liked to pet my ears and called me Peta-chan, she never could say my name right. I didn't mind though, she was just so adorable! She was oh so fun and just sweet as candy!" Peter said in his high pitched rabbit voice, bouncing on the edge of the bed happily.
"Peter, she's not dead." Peter was so surprised he fell off his bed backwards, mid-bounce, and hit the floor with a loud 'thud' and a small 'poof' followed by a cloud of smoke. He turned back into a man upon hitting the ground, his glasses slightly askew.
"Wh-what? Alice, there was a funeral. She's buried in the Graveyard." He said staying on the ground.
"No, Peter, she's not dead." Alice explained everything Julius had told her. Peter just sat on the floor, glasses still slightly crooked, looking quite dumb founded.
"Sh-she's alive. She's alive." Peter stands suddenly. "She's alive! I must tell her Majesty at once!" With that Peter ran from his room and down the hall, searching out the Queen.
Alice decided she was ready to brave Gowland's music and began heading for the Amusement Park.
On her way through the forest, Alice ran into one of the Jokers. Luckily it was just White, he was a bit nicer and less creepy than the Warden.
"Why hello Alice. How are you this morning?" Alice then remembered Blood saying the Jokers would remember Rosalina.
"Hey Jester, do you remember Julius' little sister?" Alice could tell he did by the happy-sad look he got.
"Why, yes. I remember her. Our sweet little Rose, she was so very full of spirit too. She enjoyed coming to see us at the circus, we enjoyed seeing her smile during our shows." Jester seemed oddly cheerful. 'He must have very good memories of Rosalina, or Rose as he likes to call her.'
"I remember Rose. She's the only brat I like, or liked." Then came the very familiar voice of the Warden. 'He actually liked someone? Huh.' Alice thought. "The little fucker never cried or whined like those other lil' shits. She was always smiling, it made me wanna fucking hurl. Sometimes." The Warden had an odd look on his face. Not his usual sneer, but a genuine smile.
"Yes, I do believe her Birthday would be tomorrow. We used to put a special show on just for her each year. Why do you bring her up, Alice?" Alice then explained, again, what she had been told. That she wasn't dead, but in the real world, and why she was there.
"Well," Said Jester, scratching his chin thoughtfully. "It wouldn't be impossible. So, our favorite little playmate shall be returning soon? Oh, how fun! Well, goodbye Alice, we have a special show to prepare." With that both Jester and Warden left. Alice continued to make her way towards the Amusement Park.
When Alice arrived she immediately found Gowland, he was talking to Boris. "Hi Mary. Hi Boris. May I speak to you Mary." I knew he wouldn't mind me calling him by his first name.
"Uh, sure. What is it Alice?" I cut right to the chase and explained everything I knew. After I finished he looked like he didn't know how to feel. Happy, shocked, confused.
"What's with the face Old man? Cat got your tongue?! Haha!" Boris said laughing his head off at his own joke, He stopped when he noticed no one else was laughing. "What?"
"Boris, you know that picture I have of that little girl with the violet eyes? Could you take Alice to see it? I'm a bit busy."
"Uh, sure thang boss man. Alice, this way." Boris says taking Alice's hand and pulling her to Gowland's office.
After Boris digs through pile after pile of paper and blueprints he finally finds the picture he had been looking for. It was an image of a girl with jet black hair and bright violet eyes wearing a black dress with elbow length butterfly sleeves that ended in layered ruffles. Silver loops and curls decorated the end of the skirt. The girl had a violet bow on the right side of her head. It was decorated similar to the dress she wore only with black and silver thread. She stood next to a younger looking Gowland, both surrounded by autumn leaves. She held his hand in one hand and a cotton candy in the other. She smiled wide making her eyes sparkle.
The frame was hand carved wood painted silver. Alice turned it over gently in her hands. 'Gowland acted as if this picture was important to him, yet he kept it in a stack of papers. It has dust all over it! I wonder...'
"Is this Julius' sister?" Alice asked Boris, pointing to the little girl in the picture.
"Yep. I didn't know her but the old man talks about her a lot. He said she'd come to the Amusement Park almost every time change. He even said Julius would come too, sometimes." Boris said, sitting on top of the desk, swinging his legs over the edge.
"Everyone seems to have liked her a lot. She must mean a lot to them. I mean, even the Jokers liked her." Alice said with a small smile.
"I guess. From all the stuff I've heard Gowland say, I'd definitely like to meet her. He says we'd be about the same age if she was alive." He says, hopping off the desk to stand by Alice.
"Boris, what if I told you, you could meet her?"
"I'd say your crazy. She's dead!"
"No she's not." Alice then goes on to explain everything, for the fifth time today.
"That's so cool! I can't wait to meet her. She seems like she'd be tons of fun! So you gonna tell everyone else she's comin' back?"
"Only those who remember her, you being the only exception. I only have one more to tell."
"Oh yea, who?"
"Nightmare." Alice hands Boris the picture and walks back to the Clock Tower. 'If I take a nap I'll be able to see Nightmare and tell him about Rosalina. I just hope I can fall asleep quickly.' Alice thought to herself as she walked through the forest.
Suddenly, Alice heard a rustling sound behind her. Just as she turns around she sees Boris burst from the bushes panting. He was followed by a tall man with black hair and some sort of lizard tattoo on his neck.
"Hey Alice... Didn't you say you were... gonna go see Nightmare?" Boris said between gasps of air.
"Uh... Yea. Why?" Alice asks, still trying to process what just happened.
"Well, this guy," Boris points to the tall man with the lizard tattoo. "is Nightmare's subordinate. He can take you to go see Nightmare. Oh, Alice, this is Mr. Lizard. Mr. Lizard, this is Alice, she's an outsider."
"Oh yes, I've heard Master Nightmare speak very fondly of you. My name is Gray, not Mr. Lizard." Gray says, glaring at Boris. He then extends a hand towards Alice to shake, and smiles kindly at Alice.
"Well, it's nice to meet you Gray." Alice says, shaking his hand.
"This cat said you needed to see my boss?"
"Oh yes, I have some very important news to tell him."
"Very well then, shall we?" He says as he bows slightly and gestures towards the path they must take.
"Yes, thank you. Thanks Boris!" Alice shouts back as her and Gray head towards the Tower of Clover.
After arriving at the tower they enter and Alice is surprised to see a cluster of stairs going every which way, even upside down. 'Figures Nightmare would live here.' Alice deadpanned.
"Right this way, Alice." Gray said as he lead the way up one of the staircases. He took several different turns, the staircase seeming to go on forever. 'How does Gray not get lost in here?' Alice thought as she continued following Gray, keeping her eyes fixed on his back so she wouldn't lose him.
"He's in there, Miss Alice. I must continue with my work but your welcome to stay as long as you like." He said smiling. Alice was so lost in thought, she hadn't even realized they had made it to Nightmare's room until Gray spoke up.
"Oh thank you. It was nice meeting you." She said, smiling back.
After Gray was out of sight, Alice knocked on Nightmare's door. Alice waited patiently until she heard Nightmare's voice, saying, "Come in."
Alice entered and found Nightmare sitting on a couch wrapped in a blanket reading a book.
"Well, hello Alice. For a moment I thought it was Gray knocking." He said smiling at Alice. "But, this is a much better surprise."
Nightmare sat his book down and patted the seat next to him, inviting Alice to take a seat. Alice sat beside him and noticed he was shivering like a Chihuahua.
"Nightmare, are you cold? What's wrong? Do you want me to start a fire?" Alice felt his forehead and he felt like he was burning up!
"Yes I'm sick, but don't worry, I'll be fine. It's merely a cold. But, I can tell that's not why you visited me this time change. What seems to be the problem?" He said with an innocent smile. 'Bullcrap. You know why I'm here you idiot. So stop reading my thoughts!' Alice thought, the last part caused Nightmare to cringe.
"Okay, okay. No need to shout. That was mean." He said with a mock pout.
"Sorry." Alice said with a sigh.
"No worries. All is forgiven. I'd give you a hug but I don't want you to catch ill."
Alice began to explain, once again, about how Julius told her of his sister. "But Nightmare, she's no-"
"She's not dead. Yes, I know. Who do you think helped Julius hide her away, take her thoughts, and tell him of her abilities?"