Hostage
Chapter One: Recapturing Memories
Red. Blue. Riddles. Hats. Confusion.
Alice opened her eyes and stared up at her ceiling for a few moments before rolling onto her side. She was so tired of her mind telling her to remember what she could not. Dreams haunted her sleep of a place that seemed so magical and strange. But at this age of 25, Alice was far too practical to find any meaning from them. She put these common, recurring dreams off as a mere fantasy her imagination had conjured up. She had, after all, expanded her horizons when she went to China to pursue her father's dreams. Perhaps all of that adventure was making her head wonder about in fantastical directions.
Alice moved her body out of bed and walked over to her closet. She pulled out a simple blue dress and made special care to disregard her mother's standards of femininity. As Alice patted the skirt of the dress down into place, she suddenly felt a sharp pang in her head that made her fall to the floor. She gripped her forehead in pain.
"What is this… curious… feeling of dread I have?" She closed her eyes as the pain sharpened before going away entirely. She breathed in deeply and slowly got back up from the floor. Something was wrong, but Alice was not sure what exactly it was.
She ran down stairs to the dining room where she was sure her mother would be preparing breakfast.
"Mother, the most peculiar thing has happened to me", she spoke, coming to an abrupt stop when she got into the room. No one was there, even though the table had been set and food was there, half eaten. "Mother?" Alice slowly walked towards the kitchen door and peered around it, not finding her mother. "What is happening?"
Alice turned around and stared at the wall opposite her. There, a note was pinned with a knife. The letters were in a bold red color. She walked to the wall and read the note.
Alice of Legend,
Your meddling into the affairs of Underland has brought great misfortune upon you. If you value the lives of your mother and your sister, you will return to Underland and allow the Red Queen the glory of reclaiming her power by taking your head. As you are the Champion of the White Queen, it seems only fitting. Accept if you wish your family to live. You have three days.
Stayne
"What am I supposed to do with this information? I do not know what 'Underland' is." Alice looked around the room, feeling panicked. "Where am I supposed to go?"
Alice bolted out of the house and made her way towards the Ascot's mansion. When she arrived, she knocked on their door and waited patiently. She could not think of any other place to go to. Their family was close to hers, despite her refusal of their dreadful son, through the trading business.
"Yes, dear Alice?" questioned the doorman when he opened the door.
"My mother and sister have been taken. I need help finding this…" Feeling as if she should not mention Underland to anyone, she stopped herself. "Some… place where they could have taken them."
"I will get the Lord. Please step inside." He moved quickly to find the family while Alice anxiously waited for their help. She glanced out one of their windows in hopes of a sign while she waited. All she saw was a blue butterfly take flight.
Blue, she pondered. Something about it seems familiar…
Without hesitation, she stormed out of the house, running after the beautiful butterfly.
"Wait, Alice!" Shouted the Lord and his wife from their doorstep as Alice's form became a mere shadow in the distance. "That girl is going to get lost."
-XOXO-
Alice kept following until the butterfly landed on a tree branch. She stopped and put her hands on her hips. "Why is it that I sense I should follow you?" She did not expect a response, but moved forward towards the butterfly. "And why have you stopped here?" She took one more step and screamed as she fell into a seemingly small and benign hole in the ground.
Her screaming did not cease as a whirlwind of color within the darkness filled her eyes. Extravagant items took their places on small ledges around the circumference of the hole but were only momentarily visible to Alice as she continued the long journey down the hole. When she finally landed, her head was too dizzy to make use of. After resettling herself, she stood up to find herself surrounded by doors.
"I have no time for this! I must find Underland." She tried to open a door, but when she failed she tried the next one. She continued this procession until she turned to discover a key. She picked up the key and felt a surge of déjà vogue take over. She felt pulled toward a curtain, which she moved out of place. She bent down and noticed a small door, which she promptly unlocked. She knew she would not fit and systematically turned to find a small bottle on a table in the center of the room. She drank a small portion of the inviting liquid and screamed as she found herself shrinking.
Finding herself in a familiar situation, Alice promptly ran to the small door and left the room. She found herself in a land that seemed abundant in color. She gasped as insects she had never seen in London buzzed passed her.
"It's Alice!" She turned sharply at the mention of her name to see several flowers whispering and gossiping to each other beside her.
"How is it that you can speak? Even more curiouser, how do you know my name?"
The flowers looked down at her in irritation. "How dare you be so rude you ugly little thing."
"Excuse me?"
"Oh how dreadfully impolite you are, child."
"How do you know my name", she repeated, hoping to distract the chiding flower.
"Ah yes, Alice of Legend. Oh deary me, the Hatter has been all a mess since she left." The flower once again glared at Alice. "Stop eavesdropping!"
Alice stepped towards the plant. "Who is the Hatter?"
"The Hatter is mad, yes that he is. But he seems rather taken with Alice."
"That he does" added in the other flowers.
"Where can he be found?" She tried to play on the fact that the flowers had no choice but to gossip when the opportunity was given to them.
"The Hatter lives in a small hut near the White Queen's Castle. I dare say that castle is not a safe place to be right now."
"This is true! It appears the red Queen may be returning."
"Oh what a fright!" The flowers continued their gossip as Alice meandered away from them.
How is it that they know me? And the Hatter? Who is that?
"Oh finding him is a hopeless cause!" Alice sighed heavily. "I will never save my family at this point."
"Oh my dear, I think you give up hope too early."
Alice looked up. "Who is speaking? Where are you?"
"I am but I am not. You see me when I want you to see me. It is the gift of being a Cheshire."
Alice looked around her surroundings. "A Cheshire? What sort of thing is that?"
"Well it is a me, I suppose" spoke the deep voice behind Alice. She jumped and turned to face a striped, purple cat with such a wide smile, it would make anyone shiver at the sight. "Hello Alice. We meet again."
"Again? We have not met, I am sure of it. Nothing like you exists in London."
"Tsk tsk. You promised the last time you were here that you would remember us in Underland. But it appears you have forgotten."
"Underland?", she questioned. "This is Underland?"
The thing grinned even wider before disappearing. "It seems you have found what you were seeking."
"No I have not! I must find this Hatter person and the Queen!"
"Well surely you should know by now where these people are."
"But I do not", she said sadly. "It is most urgent so that I can save my family."
"Well then, should not you be moving as quickly as possible? You seem to be distracted."
"Could you help me find this place?"
"I could. But will I", he said as he reappeared in front of her, "is the real question."
The cat disappeared once more.
"Cheshire Cat?"
No response.
"Of course he would leave me. Why would anyone help someone like me?"
"Are you not coming, Alice?" She looked up in hope to see that the cat had reappeared a few feet away. She quickly followed the cat, but she knew it would not be a short journey.
-XOXO-
Alice fell to the ground when they finally reached the castle. She was exhausted and just wanted to sleep.
"You may want to take a bite of this before you go anywhere", said the cat. Alice looked up to him as he dropped a piece of cake into her hands. "Goodbye now."
Alice managed to release a measly 'thank you' before the cat disappeared permanently. She looked at the curious cake and took a small bite of a corner. She cringed as she felt her body start to grow, screaming in surprise as she stretched upwards. When she stopped growing, she realized she had reached her normal height. Feeling more grateful towards the cat, she placed the rest of the cake on the ground, hoping she wouldn't need it.
Alice started to head for the White Castle, hoping to quickly find her family. She noticed two guards in full white armor when she got closer and approached them.
"Is there a way for me to speak to the Queen?"
They looked to her in surprise and grabbed her roughly, pulling her inside the castle.
"Alice of Legend, you have arrived! The Queen will be most joyous to see you again."
"What is this legend thing everyone keeps mentioning?" she questioned but was not answered.
As the guards ushered her into a big, open hall, she found herself feeling calmed by the castle. It felt as if she were somehow at home even though she was sure she was far from it.
"Your Majesty, you have a guest."
Alice watched as the most beautiful woman she had ever seen lifted her head from the seat she sat on and looked in her direction. The woman, in a long, full white gown with flowing, wavy white hair grinned at her with her darkly colored lips.
"Alice Kingsley, our Champion! You have returned to Underland! Oh what a joyous occasion this is." The woman stepped down towards Alice and curtseyed, garnering the same response from Alice. The courteous exchange switched to a mood of familiarity as the queen grabbed Alice's hand. "There is no way for me to thank you for what you have done for us."
"About that… I seem to have no idea what anyone is speaking of. All I have heard since I woke up this morning has been 'Alice of legend' this and 'Champion of Underland' that, and I have not the slightest clue what this place even is."
The Queen frowned only slightly, as it was very against her character to frown deeply. "So it is as Tarrant feared. You have forgotten." She looked away for a moment before smiling at Alice again. "Well no worry this time around. I had my most knowledgeable helper prepare a potion just for special circumstances such as these." The woman released Alice's hand and lifted her arms up gracefully, gesturing delicately in the direction of another room. "Chesshur is quite the medicinal know-how it would appear, and he has concocted an anecdote for your constant amnesia."
Alice followed the Queen into the other room and watched patiently as she fingered jars sitting on shelves until she came across the right substance.
"Ah ha!" she proclaimed as she pulled a bottle with a pale blue shade of liquid inside it. "Here, dear, now drink up. But not too much, for there is a chance you would end up knowing more than a human could handle." She giggled softly at the prospect and watched as Alice consumed a few sips of the substance.
The room began to spin as Alice fell backwards. People and objects ran across her vision.
"The Red Queen…"
"You have slayed the Jabberwocky!"
"You won't remember me."
"Alice! I would remember that face anywhere."
Alice gasped as the image of a man with bright reddish hair entered her mind, wearing a top hat. She could vividly remember her dear friend the Hatter more prominently then any of the others. But she was able to fondly recall Chesshur, The White Queen, Nivens, Mallymkun, and the March Hare. Alice's head stopped spinning finally as she looked at her friend.
"It has been so long", Alice exclaimed, hugging the Queen tightly.
"Yes, my Champion, it has." The woman smiled at Alice. "I am sure there is someone who would be very excited to see you, though. A certain someone who misses you very much." The Queen took Alice's hand once more and led her back into the main hall. "Dear Tarrant has been quite a mess since you left."
Alice frowned and looked to the ground with guilt. "I know. I feel bad that I could not remember on my own accord. But I am here now, and perhaps that will suffice?"
"Of course, dear Alice. Your presence is surely to brighten up Underland."
They shared a smile. But Alice faltered when she remembered her intentions in Underland.
"My Queen, my family has been kidnapped by Stayne. That is why I was led here. I need to rescue them. As much as I miss Hatter, reunions come after."
The Queen furrowed her brows at the new information and covered her mouth with one hand. "Oh dear. Yes, well at least let me try to get Tarrant. I sense he would like to help you on your quest."
Alice nodded, finding that the mention of him being around her for long amounts of time made her heart clench with excitement. She remembered how great he was to travel with before, even if he did tend to go into random fits of rage when remembering the past.
"My Paige." The Queen summoned her Paige in her gentle tone. He responded quickly bowing in her presence. "Please fetch Hatter. I am sure he would very much like to see Alice again." He nodded and left the court. She turned back to Alice and gave her sweet smile. "Now, how about we catch up?"
-XOXO-
Alice had explained the letter and her time restraint of three days to the Queen by time the Paige had returned.
"I have brought the Hatter", he said as he bowed again.
Both women turned and looked to the door. Tarrant Hightopp walked in with his head bowed, his hat covering his eyes.
"Your majesty", he spoke with his slight lisp. He bowed deeper as he stopped before them.
"Oh Tarrant, stop being so formal."
He mumbled a sorry before looking up. He noted that there was a girl standing beside the queen and thought it rather peculiar that she looked an awful lot like--
"Alice!" exclaimed the Hatter in joy. "It is you! You have returned!"
Alice smiled at the man. "I told you I would."
"If only it was under better circumstances", interjected the Queen, looking a bit solemn.
"What do you mean?" the Hatter questioned, restraining his desire to clobber Alice with hugs. Oh how he had missed her.
"It seems that Alice has become Stayne's target. He wants revenge, and Alice's head is the only way to get it."
The Hatter felt a tinge of anger at the thought of Alice being put in danger.
"Then shouldn't she stay in London?" he asked inquisitively. "It would be safer, would it not?"
"Yes, it would", the Queen started, "but he kidnapped her family as a way to force her to personally come here and take action."
The Hatter stopped restraining and moved to the very troubled Alice, putting his arms around her.
"Any other parameters?"
"I would like both of you to go together. I trust that neither one of you would let the other get into a dire situation."
The Hatter nodded. "I will help her find her family at any cost."
The Queen smiled. She knew his determination would return with the current task at hand.
"Oh", she said as a last minute thought. "And you have three days to accomplish this task."
"Three days?" he questioned. "That's madder than me, and I know mad because I am mad as a hatter!"
Alice looked up at the man sadly.
"So it is impossible, isn't it?" she said with sorrow laced in her voice.
The Hatter let his eyes soften as he looked into Alice's eyes.
"Only if you believe it is, dear Alice." He tightened his arms around her before releasing her and bowing to the queen again. "We must be heading out now if we are to accomplish this."
"Yes, Tarrant, I suppose you both must leave." She smiled at the two. "Be safe, both of you. I cherish you and have no desire to lose either one of you."
The Hatter bowed to Alice as a gentleman would before asking a lady to dance with him. He put out his hand, which Alice gracefully took.
And with that, Alice was returned to the place where she truly belonged. It was most unfortunate that this place would most likely be the death of her.
A/N: Hey, I typically write under InuYasha (Anime) fanfiction, and am used to that type of story, so I must say Alice in Wonderland is a new one for me. I watched the movie and felt disappointed in the developed, hint, of a romance that never bloomed. I felt as if the romance needed justification. So I decided to write my own Alice fanfiction to do with it what I want. I am not the best at writing, and am most certainly not used to this section, but I hope to somehow do it justice. I will be working hard to finish this story in a timely manner, as well. I do hope that it has not moved too terribly fast. Thank you for reading and please R&R!