Prologue

I used to think that everyone was right. That I was just a child with an over active imagination, that Wonderland was just a land invented to help the dull days go by. I never would've imagined that one day I would actually be back. And I certainly never thought that what happened would happen, first how I got back, what I found, and of course him. I never expected him, well maybe him being there but like he was then not how he is now. The strangest part of being back is seeing how things have changed but also stayed the same.

I wish I could say that I was able to handle being there again but, well I didn't. How could I? I had suddenly been thrown back (more like fallen into) the world of my childhood fantasy. Of course I immediately though I had finally and completely lost my mind, had a break with a reality anything but the fact that I was back. Plus contrary to belief when you go to another world it can be rather disorienting. You can momentarily forget exactly how you got there and it can take you a moment to recognize where you are. But once it hits you it really hits you, like a punch in the gut. But I had returned, returned to Wonderland.

Chapter 1

"Alice! Alice hurry up! We cannot be late!" Groaning inwardly I did my best to reply in a voice as chipper as I could muster "Coming mother! Just doing last minute touches!" I knew that reply would make her happy. She would think that I was actually starting to care about the things she considered
"appropriate" for a girl of 21 but in reality I had been ready for 15 minutes and had only been stalling to avoid this dreaded event. I'll admit it is horrible dreading seeing one's own family but family is, how shall I explain it? In every family there is that one person who is somewhat odd, maybe by being eccentric or by being overly dramatic… My family is made up of all three of these personalities. Eccentric, overly dramatic and completely maddening. I finally managed to drag myself off my bed and actually make sure my dress and hair so that way what I told her wasn't a complete lie.

I get downstairs, mother waiting at the bottom as always to be sure that she can give a complete once over and make sure she approves of my appearance. Giving a slight nod at my hair clothes she gives me a slightly annoyed look at my, obviously, peeved expression.

"Alice dear could you please at least try to look as if you are going to nice family outing and not an execution?"

"I could try mother but I doubt I could do much better"

*sigh* "Well at least try to look relatively pleasant, please? I know it can be hard for you"

That got a smile out of me, mother always could help me to bear these things, she knew how hard there were for me but she could always help me to manage.

We went outside and got in the carriage and off we were to the Spring Gathering. At the start of every new season the family would get together for a small party and I'll admit they were always very nice with delicious food and wonderful music. I would enjoy it more if I liked the majority of the people there but one cannot win every battle.

"Dear?"

Mother's voice, and tone, jarred me from my thoughts. I had been trying to think of new ways that I could avoid those I truly disliked without appearing overly rude.

"Dear really it will only be for a couple hours surely you could manage that?"

"I could mother if not for the people who will be there"

"Alice! They are your family! How could say something like that?"

"Just because they are related to me by blood does not mean they are family. The fact that they drive me mad beyond reason does but other than that… I am sorry mother but I simply cannot stand what they have done, to you, to father. They are rude selfish self centered twits and I only accompany you to these events because unlike them I care about you and your feelings"

She looked at me with eyes that were sad, because what I said was true and somewhat proud at the same time.

"Alice that may be true but we cannot simply avoid or ignore them. Trust me it would only create more problems than what it's worth. And it's just not appropriate behavior."

"Since when have I cared what was appropriate? I'm sure it is also not appropriate to treat those who have done more for you than any other human being alive like dirt."

"Nevertheless we must put on a pleasant face and do our best to act better than them. You don't want to sink to their level do you?"

I let out a sigh and finally gave in to her argument. "You're right and I'll do my best but if someone starts something I cannot promise that I won't finish it"

She let out a small chuckle and with a gleam in her eye said "Well if you didn't I would think that your father and I had made a serious error somewhere in raising you."

Returning her smile I turned back to the carriage window looking at the trees and bushes lining the road. If it had been fall the streak of red I saw flash through the leaves several times wouldn't have even caught my eye. But every so often I saw a red streak flying along behind the bushes, seeming almost as if it was trying to keep up with us. I shook my head slightly thinking that the stress of this day was merely getting to me. A sudden lurch in the carriage let me know that we had all too soon arrived at our destination. Our coach driver assisted mother in getting out first and I followed after her and was soon standing next to her as our carriage went off to find somewhere shady to wait for us.

"Well Alice here we are, do try your best to bear it as well as you can. Who knows? Today might be different."

I gave her a sardonic grin and replied "Yes who knows? They might decide to act like civil adults this time. It might be different."

Funny I had had that same thought all those years ago when my sister and I had gone outside for her to help me with my lessons… I had no idea how different that day would be and I had less of an idea of how different this one would be.