Hey hey there people! Well welcome to my very first story...ever xD. I hope my grammar and vocabulary isn't to horrible, I'm really doing my best (I'm actually from Belgium). Now I'm going to stop rambling and just let you read this thing ^^. There is an original plot, but a lot of the story will be written spontaneously (vigourously :P).I've had this story in my head for a while now.

Disclaimer : I do not own the characters and most of the things (I wouldn't be here if I did). They belong to Lewiss Carol, Tim Burton and all those lucky fellows.

Alice through the Mirrorshades

Chapter 1 – Alice ponders

''…Father?''

His daughter Alice had been silent all morning. It was a relief to finally hear her sweet little voice.

''Yes, my dear?''

''Please, don't leave. I don't want you to go…''

Charles Kingsleigh's brows furrowed. He knew he sensed a hint of sadness in her voice. He slowly turned towards his youngest daughter. Alice's eyes were sparkling of unshed tears and her bottom lip was quivering. She looked eagerly at him; full of hope…It almost broke his heart.

Mr. Kingsleigh had been contemplating his ship silently. It was a masterpiece; any architect would have said it was a true little beauty.

''It's truly marvelous… Spain will be thinking that there welcoming the Queen herself'' he had told Lord Ascot, his most loyal business partner the very first day that they had seen the ship. ''I don't even know where you've found the money for this...''

''That doesn't matter. What matters is to make a good impression, is it not?'' Ascot said smiling.

Charles grinned back.

A small smiled appeared on his face briefly at the memory but disappeared as soon as he came back to reality. It was going to be his first trip away from his family. Well yes, he had already left for business trips in England or Scotland but only for a short period of time. A few days, a week maybe. But this time, he was really going to be away.He was sailing of to Spain with his business colleagues, hopping to widen his trade roads. Charles Kingsleigh was at the head of his own trade company, but not any company NO. He had dreams. Oh yes. Every morning, he thought about six impossible things before breakfast. One of them was: '' Kingsleigh&Cie shall extend itself until the faraway lands of China…at least.''

Spain was not China, but it was already a small step. It was the beginning of the fulfillment of his dreams, and also a heart breaking departure.

He kneeled down near his young daughter and caressed her cheek gently. Alice found herself melting into his touch. Does she even know how much I'm going to miss her?

''Alice, my little Alice, I'll be back before you know it.'' He told her still stroking her small figure.

The unshed tears that had been storing up in her eyes were now flowing down her cheeks. Charles frowned and didn't bother to ruin his nice clean shirt in wiping them. He hated to see her like this. Mr. Kingsleigh cared for his family greatly. Despite his wife being a little too strict, stubborn and stuck-up, Charles loved her beyond all costs. Firstly she was beautiful, intelligent and although she rarely showed it, her heart was a gold one. And this wonderful woman had given him two daughters. Margaret, the eldest, had turned fourteen recently. She was the exact reflection of his wife. He had her looks, her wits and clearly wanted to become a perfect lady as an adult. He adored Margaret, but his nine-year-old Alice, was his jewel. She fascinated him! So small, fragile and yet she seemed so bold. And her imagination…had absolutely no boundaries. Often, she would come to him at night to wake him because of her dreams. She dreamt of mad things: rabbits with waistcoats, talking flowers, mumbling twins…and a completely tea-obsessed hatter.

Somewhere in his heart, he hoped Alice would follow in his footsteps and become a businesswoman, even if it was out of nature. It was one of his six impossible things: My sweet Alice shall be at the head of Kingsleigh&Cie one day.

Yet now, his young Alice had lost her boldness and was crying freely in front of him.

''Take me with you…'' she said lifting her eyes to gaze into her father's.

Ha, her boldness was back. Charles smiled at her daughter.

''Now what an idea…a crazy, mad, wonderful idea!''

Alice's face seemed to lighten up.

''But…not now. I promise you, when you're older, we'll sail together over the seven seas and beyond! '' Charles said making a wide gesture with his hands.

Alice giggled.

''What's beyond the seven seas? '' She asked curiously.

''Well, I have absolutely no idea. We'll find out together, Alice. But as I told you, when you're older.''

The young girl smiled and then suddenly jumped at her father's neck and hugged him with all the strength a small child could have.

''I'll miss you.'' She whispered.

Charles nuzzled into her neck.

''You don't even imagine how much I'll miss you…all of you.''

He looked up at Margaret and his wife that were standing right next to Alice. He let go of the little girl and gave his eldest daughter the same bone-breaking hug Alice gave him. Then he turned to his wife and repeated the gesture.

''Charles…''

He put a finger on her lips then kissed her gently.

He was off, gone. Alice refused to leave immediately after her father's departure. She told herself that maybe if she stayed a while, her father's presence might linger with her a little longer.

''Alice, we really have to leave.'' Called Mrs. Kingsleigh.

''Yes, mother.'' She answered lost in her thoughts.

One day, yes, one day she'll sail those seven seas…

and Beyond.

Alice woke up that morning with an expression of complete surprise. She hadn't dreamt of her father in years. For the past years, her sleep had been entertained by quite strange dreams. She would find herself in a strange world doing various things: talking to flowers or animals, petting a bizarre purple evaporating cat, playing games with a pair of young twins, walking down corridors with a beautiful white queen, or taking tea with an absolutely crazy hatter. Waking up, she would always tell herself that she was completely mad and smiled: all the best people are. Yet that night, she had had a completely ordinary dream, more of a memory in fact. And part of it wasn't even her memory.

The young woman got lost in her thoughts.

''Father broke his promise…'' she whispered sadly.

Her father had returned successful from his very first trip to Spain, and had returned successful from many other trips in Europe. Kingsleigh&Cie was extending itself slowly. Alice would always wait impatiently for her father's return. He would always tell her the most fascinating stories and bring the greatest gifts. With every year that passed, she would tell herself that she was getting older and that soon, she and her father could sail together and she could finally escape her mother's boring garden parties! Yet approaching her nineteenth anniversary, Charles had left to sail to China and has promised to be back for her birthday. Yet only two weeks after his departure, the Kingsleigh family received horrible news.

''Mother…what's going on?'' asked Margaret who was followed by Alice.

They both approached their mother whose eyes were flooded by tears.

''We received a letter…Charles is not coming back…''

Her father had disappeared at sea; his ship had been attacked by pirates. Alice flinched at the memory. She had never been the same after his death. Her dull life seemed even duller. Of course, Lord Ascot inherited of Kingsleigh&Cie since he was her father's best friend. She could say goodbye to her adventures on sea! She was going to become a proper lady, and marry some ''proper'' young man.

But then came the day of the Lord Ascot's party. The day Hamish proposed to her, she ran away and fell down some rabbit hole. She absolutely couldn't remember how she came to that hole and what happened in it. She supposed she severely hit her head but ,thanks to it, finally came to a realization: this wasn't the life she wanted. She was going to take things in hand! She was going to say no to Hamish and his intestinal problems and reclaim her father's company.

And now here she was. It had been four years since that day and Alice had done a successful job in accomplishing her father's dream: Kingsleigh&Cie's had extended itself to China and even more! Singapore, Japan, Thailand...She only went back to England once a year and that was for Christmas. The young woman didn't really feel the need to go back. Of course she missed her sister and mother. She would write to them every week and waited for their answers impatiently. Yet she felt so well at sea, so alive! She would find herself saying that she had found her muchness and after that, she would giggle to herself wondering what that word meant anyway. Alice loved her work as a tradeswoman despite the looks people gave her. Only because she was a woman! When will society finally realize that women are just as good business partners as men?

Her work also made her think of her father. Alice promised herself she would accomplish what he failed to achieve and she had almost finished. For the moment, she was staying at Emakulam, in India, to finish some paperwork with the locals. After that her mission in Asia was over.

The businesswoman would often find herself pondering on what she would do next. Should she continue extending the company? Where? To the west? Or should she just settle down somewhere and pass the company to Ascot? No…she just loved her job too much for that.

''...we'll sail over the seven seas, and beyond!''

She could explore what was beyond those seven seas. Yet…she had the impression she had already been there before.

And why did she have the feeling this had something to do with the rabbit hole and her crazy dreams? Alice sighed.

And why did she feel as though she wasn't supposed to have forgotten something?

This is more of an introduction chapter. I find it important for people to know a bit more about Alice's past before the Underland episode (and well you'll need it later in the story). Now, you all have guessed Alice didn't keep her promise and forgot. So what's up next hmmm? Wait up for the next chapter :). Thanks for reading !