I do not own Alice in wonderland. Tim burton and Disney do

Alice Kingsleigh had had a productive and success full life since that faithful event 3 years ago. After doing the impossible she set out to do what was considered to be more impossible things, recreating her fathers business and trading trade with china. She had worked hard with her father business partner and from that hard work they had managed to establish the first British trading post in China. Sadly, things had not turned out as well as she had hoped. While Mr. Ascot had been very kind and saw the intelligence and strength of her father in her, all other business men seemed to see was a foolish dreaming girl. They considered her to be nothing more then a play thing to Mr. Ascot, regardless of how much he might deny it.

But today was different from the many other days; there was an extraordinarily important meeting today. This was the last meeting they would attend before being able to return to London. Should the meeting be a successes they would be able to go home and operate things smoothly from the comfort of their own homes. Alice and Mr. Ascot were walking together towards the meeting room in the home of a powerful Chinese representative for the Republic of china.

Mr. Ascot was dressed in one of his suit, he choose a dark blue suit today, given to him as a gift when their first deal was made with the Chinese government. Alice was in a long blue dress very similar to the one she had worn 3 years ago when she had returned to wonderland. She had thought much of wonderland since she had last been there, wondering if everyone was alright, if every one was happy. In particular she thought of Tarrant, the hatter, whom she had become rather close to in wonderland. It seemed the people who were supposed to be normal in this world paled in comparison to the vibrant personalities of wonderland. But Alice tried not to let her thoughts drift away today; she needed to focus on the task at hand. As they walked she looked around a bit, the long halls seemed still so strange yet fascinating to her, the architecture was much different from that of London, yet it held its own charm and elegance.

They arrived at the grand doors to the meeting room they were tall and made of wood with stunning engravings of mythic creatures of the land. Two men stood on either side of the door, guarding the entrance. In front of these impressive doors stood the business men with whom they came to meet, chatting with one another when they noticed the two of them coming towards them.

"Mr. Kou, it is a pleasure to meet you, I'm Mr. Ascot and this lovely young lady is my business apprentice Alice."

The men shook hands as a translator spoke for Mr. Ascot. As the translator finished, Mr. Kou looked at him perplexed, then said something in his native tongue in a questioning tone, looking from the translator to Alice. The translator pointed to Alice and spoke again in the language still to strange to Alice. She felt a tab bit upset at the pointing, she felt it was rather rude, but she tried to tell herself it might be yet another one of the cultural differences she had run into in the past. However, Mr. Kou suddenly looked angry and spoke in a frustrated tone. The translator looked to Mr. Ascot.

"Mr. Kou Does not wish for this young girl to be present for the meeting."

Alice looked at the translator with slightly widened eyes, then looking to Mr. Kou, then to Mr. Ascot. This was her fathers business and if anyone had a right to be in this meeting it was her. She opened her mouth to speak but Mr. Ascot spoke first.

"She is very important to this company, I really must insist on her being present." He stated rather firmly as Alice smiled just a bit, trying to remain professional but enjoying the fact that he had stood up for her.

The translator began to speak and Mr. Kou took a stern look to his face. He spoke with sternness in his voice, as if trying to over power Mr. Ascots previous tone. The translator nodded and began to speak again.

"Mr. Kou says that regardless, children have no place in a businessmen's meeting room, much less a young girl."

With that Alice could no longer hold her tongue, "I have every right to be here, this was originally my families company. I have worked hard to make things work in your country, regardless of how I may look there is nothing childish about my business actions."

The entire time Alice spoke Mr. Kou refused to look at her, staring instead at Mr. Ascot. The translator began to speak but Mr. Kou held his hand up forcefully motioning for the translator to stop. He then spoke very calmly and the translator looked down at the floor sheepishly before hesitantly translating the sentence.

"Mr. Kou says that if you insist on her being here, then he must insist on canceling the meeting."

Mr. Ascot sighed and turned to Alice, speaking in a hushed tone much like that of a whisper.

"I'm sorry Alice but I'm afraid I'll have to ask you to-"

"Sir, surely we can renegotiate, this man is being unreasonable."

"Alice, it's taken us so long to get this far, we can't risk it now. I'm terribly sorry Alice; I know how much this meant."

Alice looked down biting her lower lip for a moment then looking back up at Mr. Ascot with her usual calm persona, trying to mask her frustration.

"No, it's quite alright Mr. Ascot I understand completely."

With that she turned, glancing at Mr. Kou who still refused to look at her. She turned curtly and walked quickly down the hall back towards the entrance to the building.

The nerve! She thought to herself, why is it that so many people disregard me simply because I am a woman or young? Is the whole world plagued by such ignorance?

She walked briskly towards the entrance and down the steps as she headed towards her lodgings.

After a few hours of being cooped up in her room blowing off some steam by ranting to herself, she felt the need to walk about. She knew there was a market place near by and thought that perhaps she could entertain herself by looking around at the oddities for sale. She put on her long blue jacket, her distinctive gloves with the fingers cut off , and a basket for her items and set out towards the market place.

The place was particularly busy today. People were bustling through the small walkways carrying whatever good they could. The small shack like stands with vendors yelling about fantastic deals and one of a kind items. Alice was rather surprised that so many knew that much English, but it was pleasant to think that should she wish to get something she may.

Alice went around and looked at the fresh produce first, buying little snacks here and there with some of the money she had set aside to spend on herself. She looked at all the fresh greens, picking up several Carrots and a head of lettuce. She held up one of the carrots as she examined it and couldn't help but thing of that funny little white rabbit with a waist coat. Dear Nivens, how are you in that wonderland so far away?

She continued to look through the market until she came to the meat section. Chickens and pigs all around, people shouting as they bid on the poor creatures. It was rather revolting to Alice, ever since she has been to wonderland and became friends with so many animals she found meat much less appealing. She struggled to move through the crowds trying to get past this section of the market when she turned and something caught her eye. At a lonely stand to the far side of the market stood a stand with a single white rabbit in a very small cage. The Rabbit was about the size of a large tea cup and the cage wasn't much larger. Alice stood there for a moment looking at the rabbit, and just as she was about to turn back and keep walking the man at the stand went over to the cage and got the rabbit out placing it on a board as he reached for something else. As he continued to look, Alice looked over the stand, coming closer to get a better look and too her horror she saw rabbits, dead rabbits, hanging up side down for sale. The man finished rummaging around a pulled out a knife. Alice's eyes grew wide and she ran to the stand "STOP!" She screamed and the man looked to her, one hand on the rabbit now struggling for its life, the other holding a knife in the air. He began to speak in Chinese, gesturing with a smile towards the dead rabbits hanging up, but Alice shook her head , stopping in front of the stand and breathing heavily to catch her breath.

"That rabbit, I want that rabbit! In your hand, I'll give you whatever you want."

The Chinese man looked somewhat annoyed and pointed once again to the rabbits. Alice sighed with frustration. She pointed franticly to the rabbit in his hand.

"That rabbit!"

The man smiled and again prepared to kill the rabbit but Alice franticly shook her head and waved her hands in a stopping gesture. She then pointed to the rabbit and gestured for him to put it directly in he hands. She pointed to the dead rabbits shaking her head, pointed to the living rabbit, then her hand and nodded. The man looked somewhat confused, then Alice dumped out her coin purse on the counter. The man laughed, grabbing the rabbit and shoving it into Alice's hands. She sighed with relief as she began to walk away listening to the exuberant laughter of the man at the stand. She looked down at the little creature in her hands as she placed it in her basket, then stroking the creature gently on its back. The poor thing was rather thin and while it appeared very frightened, at the feeling of Alice's touch it seemed to calm immediately. After checking to see what it was, she smiled and continued to pet the rabbit.

"Well little girl," Alice said in a soft tone, "Today is your lucky day, and I hope your grateful, you cost a pretty penny. " The rabbit stayed put in her spot as Alice removed her hand, took a handkerchief from her pocket and covered the little one. "I suppose you'll be needing a name." She pondered for a moment and from no where a name popped into her head. "Abby. It's a fine name don't you think?" But the little rabbit had hidden most of its body beneath the handkerchief. "Abby it is then." She whispered into the basket as she left the meat section of the market and into another.

She walked by the other vendors looking at the lovely trinkets and toys they had available. She found them interesting but there was nothing that really caught her, until she came upon a very distinctive and unique item. It was large, flat, about 3 feet high, and covered with a old dirty cloth. Alice looked for the merchant who owned the stand; she was an elderly woman in rags who appeared to be haggling with someone over the price of another item for sale. Alice went over to the large object and removed the cloth to reveal a dingy, dirty yet awe invoking mirror. She set her purchases (and Abby ) aside and knelt down to get a closer look, rubbing the mirror with the cloth to clean it up just a bit. Beneath the dirt covered frame was a beautifully carved frame, made to look like trees. A tree trunk was on either side, the bottom of the mirror was made up of tree roots and the top of the mirror had tree limps branching out and intertwining towards the very top in a half moon shape. It was extremely well detailed, with actual groves in the tree giving the illusion of bark, grass growing between the roots at the bottom and even a small rabbit in the left hand corner. Small leaves were carved into the trees, coming out of the branches much like that of a tree in spring just blooming. The glass its self however was filthy, and desperately needed to be washed.

"It's rather nice isn't it?" She said to Abby in her basket, "Sadly, all the money I brought was spent saving you. Too bad I didn't bring more; it's rather lovely isn't it.? "

Just as Alice was about to rub away some of the dirt from the glass the old woman came over, her face bright with excitement.

"You like?"

The voice of the woman woke Alice from her dazed state as she studied the mirror.

"I'm sorry?" Alice said with a somewhat confused tone. The old woman moved to the other side of the stand and patted the mirror.

"You like? You want?"

"I don't have any money I'm sorry."

The old woman shook her head; she had a small grin on her face, as if she were trying to suppress a larger smile.

"You want? You take no charge."

Alice looked at her strangely, why would she want to give up such a beautiful item for nothing? She looked at the old woman then the mirror. It really was a wonderful mirror, and it would look beautiful over her fireplace, but she knew to approach with caution.

"I couldn't possibly carry it."

"I bring to you."

Alice raised an eyebrow to the woman's response, she seemed all too eager to get ride of this mirror.

"Why do you want to get ride of it so badly? Why not sell it?"

The woman coughed then looked sterner look as she spoke again.

"Ugly, no buy. You want, yes?"

Alice looked at her cautiously still, the woman began to look irritated and she started to walk to the other side of the stand again. "No want? I keep. Go." Alice took a step towards the woman regretting her words and possibly missing a wonderful opportunity.

"I'm sorry! I'll take it."

Alice proceeded to give the old woman her address, told her a time to come and walked off after picking up her things and Abby. But as she walked she could have sworn she heard the woman snickering quietly to herself.

As she walked through the door of her lodgings Mr. Ascot walked up to her with an enormous smile on his face. "We did it Alice!" He exclaimed, "The deal is done and we can finally go home! Isn't it wonderful Alice? And just think, if it wasn't for your belief in the impossible it never would have happened! I've already arranged for use to take a ship home so pack your things we are leaving tomorrow morning."

He looked down from Alice's face to her basket in which the little white rabbit was happily chewing away on a carrot.

"Alice, are you aware you have a rabbit eating your produce?"

"Yes actually, I bought her today. They were going to kill her, I couldn't let that happen. Her name is Abby." Alice said rather firmly as if to emphasis the importance of this act in her mind. Mr. Ascot looked at her questioningly for a moment then smiled softly, extending his hand to pet Abby's back as she ate.

"Just make sure you keep watch of her on the way home, you ever know what sailor will eat."

Alice looked at him alarmed, pulling the basket closer to her and Mr. Ascot chuckled.

"Best go get ready Alice; we've a long journey home ahead of us."

After a grueling journey home Alice was back in London. The mirror had been delivered the morning of their departure and while Alice wanted to clean it on the ship Mr. Ascot said there was no time to unwrap it and put it in her quarters. It had to be put with many of the other larger items being taken home down in the lower levels of the ship. While Alice greatly wanted to go down and get the mirror her quarters were too small for her to put it up and with the usual bumpiness of the sea she feared if she attempted to bring it up she might break it.

But both the mirror and Abby had made it on the voyage home. Alice smiled and fidgeted with Abby in her hands in the carriage ride towards her home. She was rather excited admittedly; she enjoyed getting to see the familiar scenery that she had taken advantage of all those years growing up. Only now did she feel she truly appreciated the beauty of the lush forests, gentle breezes and soft yellow sun. It was wonderful to be home.

Her mother greeted her rather happily though it didn't take her long to begin to criticizes Alice on her lack of stockings or corset. Good to know mother has changed Alice thought sarcastically. The fact that she had brought an animal home was not greeted well either.

"The vermin will eat out flowers and plants!" Her mother had said.

"No she won't mother, look at the size of her, she can barley finish one carrot. Besides I'll keep her out of trouble." Alice has said sternly in protest. Her mother opened her mouth to speak again but sighed and allowed Alice this victory.

After the reunion with her mother ended, Alice was finally able to return to her room. She had the mirror taken out of the carriage and brought to her room. Alice put Abby on the ground and allowed her to roam around her room to get a feel for her new home, then she set herself to unpack her things. While she was unpacking she felt the mirror behind her, as if it were drawing her to it. She stopped turning to the mirror, staring at that filthy cloth the old woman had covered it in. She tried to turn back to her unpacking, but it was as if a force was calling to her, pulling her to the mirror. Alice Sighed and pushed her packing aside, resolving to finish it later. She looked down on the ground to see Abby looking up at her, so she knelt down, picker her up and placed her softly on the bed where she hoped between her pillows.

Alice got a few clothes and some warm water and slowly cleaned the mirror. Bit by bit the dirt and filth came off of the mirror and what had once appeared to be wood turned out to be a stunning bronze. Alice finally cleaned the glass off, and once she did something seemed odd about it. She stared into the mirror and the room around her in it, something seemed different but she couldn't quite put her finger on it.

A sudden knock came at the door, pulling Alice from the mirror. "Come in."

Her mother walked in through the door, "Alice dear, you've been up here for hours. Please come down stairs your sister has arrived." She looked around her room, not even noticing the mirror but instead looked to the bed, "And your not even unpacked Alice, I would have thought all that business work would have made you little more responsible. Come now your sisters waiting." With that she rushed out of the room and down the hall. How is it that mother can become so upset so quickly over nothing? Alice thought to herself. With a sigh she got up, pet Abby on the head and then walked downstairs.

Upon entering the parlor Alice saw her lovely sister Margret and her less then pleasant husband. While He had ended the affair she had always been cautious of him. Her sister rose and they embraced. They made ideal chit chat for a while, weather, how things went in china and how things where while Alice was gone. After a while Alice's mother asked Margret husband to come with her for a walk in the garden so Alice and her sister could talk. The two got up and headed out of the room and towards the front door.

A silence feel over the room as Margret looked down at her hands and Alice looked at her. Alice was concerned as to why her sister suddenly wouldn't look at her. "Margret what is it?" she said softly putting her hand on top of her sisters.

"Alice do you still believe in wonderland?" Alice sighed and pulled away slightly.

"How many time do I have to tell you it's not a dream, it's a real place."

"but Alice" her sister protested, " how could such a place possibly exists? Talking rabbits, smiling cats, singing flowers, how can any of that be true? "

"Look at my arm for proof then." With that Alice took offer her Jacket and pulled up her sleeve to reveal 3 long distinct scars on her upper arm. "Those were from the bandersnatch, I didn't have then before the proposal remember?"

"Alice, you feel down a hole, it was all a dream. You probably just got scratched on some broken branches." She said as she stood and put a hand on Alice's shoulder.

"Father would believe me..." Alice said quietly. Margret said nothing but sat down again. "perhaps you need some help Alice, we could call someone…" She trailed off for a moment, then looked back at Alice with hopeful eyes. "or maybe your just very tired from the trip, it must have been exhausting to come back after being gone so long?"

Alice could see what Margret was doing. She knew Alice believed in wonderland but she had to lie to herself about it, with a small disappointed sigh Alice nodded and smiled sadly. "I am rather tired, the ride here was rather rough so I didn't sleep well most of the way. " Margret sighed with relief and smiled rather brightly. "Then perhaps you should go to bed early it is nearly 8. Time fly's when ones having fun eh?"

Alice smiled to herself. "Time can be funny in dreams too."

Margret looked at Alice perplexed, but it was then that her husband and mother came in, her husband looking dreadfully unhappy.

"Mother, your finally back, what happened?"

"Well your husband insisted on separating from me and I had to go and find him, but we are back now. What have you been up to?"

Alice looked from the two who had just come back to her sister. She didn't want to miss the opportunity to get away from more unpleasantness.

"Nothing mother, I'm just going to bed mother. Goodnight. "

With that Alice walked quickly back to her room, leaving the others to do whatever they pleased. She looked to see that the servants had indeed placed the mirror over her fireplace, which pleased her. She looked to her bed to see that Abby had fallen asleep on her bed. She figured it would be wise to try and do the same. She gently moved Abby on top of a pillow and set her on the floor. She then got into her night gown and laid down in bed hoping to fall asleep. Time passed, and hour, two hours, three hours, and Alice couldn't fall asleep. She felt the familiar tugging, the feeling of the mirror behind her, as if it were a person watching, waiting for her.

She bit her lip and begrudgingly threw off the blankets and went over to the mirror against the wall, a chair up just beneath it. It was strange, but she swore it seemed at if the trees had more leaves. She stared at it, again getting the feeling that what she was looking at wasn't quit right. Abby shook in her sleep, moving her legs franticly as if trying to run from something. Probably dreaming of that horrible cage Alice thought. She moved to pick her up, putting her in her lap and petting her to comfort her. The little rabbit moved around in her lap until she found a pocket on her night gown and snuggled down inside it. In the distance she could hear the grandfather clock ringing 1: 30 in the morning and with Abby in her lap she continued to look at the mirror until she felt her eyes getting heavy and she felt as if she were about to fall asleep. That was when something fascinating happened. She looked up from her lap to see the mirrors glass begin to change, at first it seemed to fade to a grey color, then it seemed to turn to a thick fog or mist. She got up on the chair, climbing onto the mantle, moving her face closer being just inches from it now. She went to put a hand on the mirror, but one of her feet slipped from the mantle. Alice yelped as she felt herself falling forward, expecting to hit the mall or fall back on the floor but she felt herself falling forward.

She hit the floor hard groaning as she got up, checking to see if Abby was alright. She was shaken but not injured. It would appear she was in the same room, yet it somehow seemed different. She looked down to see she had scrapped her knee slightly in the fall I'll have to have one of the servants help me fine the medical kit. With that she went to open the door to her room, but she did not see the hall. Her jaw dropped. Sunshine flooded into the room and along with warm breezes, she could hear singing in the distance.

A magnificent grin appeared on Alice's face.

"I'm back."