"But sir please, I have nothing to give..."She cried out to him in a desperate plea. "I only have my kindness and apperication for you kind gesture..."She said in hopes he would understand. The poor girl had nothing to her name, not a penny not a even a trinket of sorts, just the clothes on her back. This place was large, and truly wondrous but after the night she had she just wanted to get home. The girl did wish she had something, anything, but alas she had nothing that would interest him. No gold, no jewelry not even food with her.
"Oh dont lie to me child! You may not have anything here, but when you can find your way home..you will have plenty to offer to me.."He said with a evil smirk, he knew very well in time she have something ever so great to offer. Something only she could offer him. Soon this girl would have more to offer then just "kindness". He smiled, but despite the softness to the smile it held a lot of darkness to it. He began to pace, slowly making a circle around her. He just had to stall her for now, frighten her a little. It was part of the plan after all, though he had his own plan in store as well for this child. It would be a glorious day it be when his favored was returned.
"..What do you mean? I don't understand..."She said as she watched the man as he paced around her slowly. Nothing he was saying was making all that much sense to her. It was also slightly difficult to look at him, he was a man, but..his face and everything about him gave off a evil feel. Casting her eyes to the ground, she tried to make sense of the night she had. From the fall to the talking cat and rabbit to odd tea party. It was a world so different and so unique but she has never felt more homesick then she did now...She nervously played with her apron, full of stains of every kind from running through the forest of wonderland. There was even small rips from when a branch snagged at her apron , hopefully she could repair it. Her tutor would be so disappointed to see her like this, she be horrified to know she was running around like this and getting all dirty like some wild animal. Just the thought alone was scary, she would wring her neck for this. The girl tried to take a deep breath in hopes to calm her mind, but that didn't work, she just completely confused and anxious to get home. Though if she didn't stay calm he might find that in powering, she did not wish to give him anymore power over her. Emotions always were a great source of power, or so has read. When ever the characters paniced or were frighten its when the bad person had the most control because they couldnt control their emotions and think properly. She thought she heard the man stop his pacing, so she gazed slowly up at him as he smiled, he had such a odd look on his face, one full of mischief and evil. It was frieghting, truly freighting.
"Oh child, I shall help you find a way home...but remember this..you owe me..a favor...understand?"He asked pausing long enough to look at her before continuing his pacing around her. He hoped she did, he hate to have done all this for nothing. That would truly ruin his day if she went an hid from him or never returned his favor. He smirked softly to himself, what was he worrying about? He always found who he needed and got what he needed no matter what.
"...I really dont have anything of worth..even at my home."She said nervously, the last thing she wanted to do was displease him when he came to collect his favor. She had no idea what this man was even capable, and she didn't want to ever find out. She was lost in a world unlike her own, she just wanted to go home. Was that such a impossible thing to want? To go home? After all this world was full of impossible things so going home should be easy...Right?
"Oh you will.."Was all he said before a soft misty cloud swirled around him causing him to disapear right before her very eyes. His laughter slowly drifting through the trees around her. Slowly his laughter died away, and the birds soft mournful sounding chirps were all that was left.
"Wait!"She cried out desperately, "Please you must tell me how to get home! You said you would!"She cried out into the emptiness around her. She rubbed frantically at her eyes trying to stop from crying, but she couldn't help it. She was far to upset now to keep herself in check, she just wanted to sick into the ground and lie their forever. Tears slowly fell down her cheeks as the silence slowly settled in around her. He was gone with out even bothering her to tell her how to return to her home, even though he said he would have. "Well.."She said sitting down on a rock. "This was to be expected, I had nothing to offer any how..Its only fair I suppose.."She mumbled dabbing her tears with her apron. "I really just wanna go home."She said feeling the tears begin to fall once again. Home, what if she never saw home again? No more soft bed, no more friends, no more playing with Dina out in the meadow, no more home cooked meals no more anything. All normality she felt was thrown out the window and she was trapped in a place where nothing ever made sense. "I was foolish to think a world of my own, with everything backwards would have been perfect.."She said crying softly to herself burying her face in her hands.
Slowly her sorrows settled in as she sat there staring into the emptiness with tear stained cheeks. "What ever will I do now.."She muttered softly to herself. She felt so lost and confused, would she ever get home? Did home even exist anymore? The idea of having no home just made her wanna cry even more. "Crying wont do you any good Alice..."She said to herself almost wanting to laugh at herself knowing very well she very seldom ever followed her own advice. Alice gave good advice, she knew just the right things to do and say for most situations but when it came to herself she was utterly clueless. She knew one thing for sure, Crying wasn't going to get her anywhere. Crying was just going to waste energy and it was bound to get dark soon, she would need to find a place to stay. That would take all the existing energy she had left, she had a feeling she be stuck making her own little home. Wonderland didn't appear to have houses or cabins sitting around.
Alice took a deep breath before rising to her feet and brushing her hair from her face. "I lasted this long, I can manange a little while longer."She said trying to smile but was failing miserably. The smile felt to fake, to force..no use smiling if it didn't feel right. It didn't felt her mood any either, she just felt depressed and tired. Alice truly wanted to just sink back into the rock and cry her eyes out some more. Maybe then she feel better, right now she felt homesick, scared, anxious and it didn't help she was constantly thinking about how she may never see her home again. She may even lose her mind while she was here surrounded by mad people.
The sound of hooves beating the soft ground made her jump nearly out of her skin. She hadn't expected anything to break the silence she was growing so use too. She quickly spun around looking franticly trying to find out where the source of the sound was coming from, then she spotted it. A large beautiful black carriage slowing as it came near her. It was so elegant, it was truly breath taking. Her mind began to race trying to figure out what person could have such a lovely thing, some one rich and important probably. It made her frighten a little, the only people she has meet so far, we mad maybe this person could be worse...
Alice stepped back as the carriage slowly stopped before her. Two knights in bright armor rode up along side of carriage, one dismounted and opened the door reveling a beautiful women dressed in a elegant black dress. The women studied her for a moment then stepped out and smiled at her.
"Well.. aren't you...precious."She said dismissing the over protective knight. "..I hope we didnt do that."She said gesturing to the poor Alices dirty dress. It wasnt till she mentioned that Alice noticed how badly she was caked in dirt, and a little blood when she fell down the rabbit hole. Alice knew it was a little stained but now looking at more closely she was true mess. Oh her tutor would simply die at this horrid sight of her.
"Oh, no no ma`am.."She said waving it off, "Im a little clumsy and unsure of these woods..."She said quickly, their was no need to make this women feel guilty for something she didn't do. "I was a little clumsy and am having a hard time navigating through though the woods.."She said hurriedly trying to smooth out her apron wishing to look a little more presentable. The queen just smiled as she explained herself, she had to stop herself from laughing at the girls feeble attempt to clean her self up though. Her story sounded likely, children always got lost easy but she failed to mention why she was in them.
"..Speaking of which.."She said slowly circling her once before stopping front of her. "What ever are you doing wondering around in my woods?"She asked suspiciously. It wasn't normal for young children to be wondering about at dusk aimless and unsupervised. It was a displeasing thought, children wondering through her woods doing who knew what!
A smile crossed Alice lips, "Oh then you can help me!"She cried happily so relived to find this women. "If these are your woods then you obviously know them well...I would love to go home after this adventure I have had..."She said rambling awfully fast as she let her excitement get the better of her. "Its been such a long day, it feels like its never going to end. I guess that's possible sense everything here seemed rather impossible at first..."She said slowly trailing off hoping her rambling wasn't annoying. She didn't wish to bore the poor women, after all she might be her ticket home.
The queen gave a small smirk, "And what type of adventure have you had?"She asked curiously, it made her wonder whom she had come across in the woods. Many people stayed clear of certain parts for who roamed them. No matter how harmless it all looked their were certain people and places you wanted to avoid. Many children entered and never made it out to tell the tale.
Alice smiled apologectily "Oh right I should explain all that first, well...After tumbling down this rabbit hole, I meet this odd cat, he was no help at all. He spoke in a odd way, he didn't make much sense. Then I ran into this strange white rabbit, he was so skiddish, which was expected from rabbits but this ran kinda like humans in a sense, not very rabbit like.., and this smoking caterpillar, he was a interesting character indeed...not to mention awfully strange tea party where I got to celebrate our very happy un-birthday with mad people, correction..Mad hatter and the hare...He was a rabbit but very human like..more human like then the other rabbit..the other rabbit was smaller and fluffier..I ended up leaving seeing that said small rabbit but..then I lost sight of him...soon I just began wondering..and this man offered to help me and he never did...then you came upon the scene..."She said trying to explain it with out sounding mad herself. Though she knew she must have sounded nuts to the women before her. Who would ever believe such a odd tale? Rabbits, talking cats, she must have sounded mental. She bit her lip lightly and took a moment to access the women`s face, trying to get a feel of what was running through her mind. She looked like she was listening, and taking in her words at least. She nodded and smiled and even laughed lightly now and again. As long as she listened that was good enough for her, no on else she meet really wanted to listen to her. The women before her seemed sane in comparison to everyone else, it was so delightful!
The queens smirk slowly turned into a wicked smile. "My child, that does sound like a lot, now you say you meet a caterpillar...did he happen to tell you about..his mushroom?"She asked curiously, "surely he must have.."She said, even if he didn't, by the look on the girls face she probably want to go back and find out about this said mushroom. She probably think it was a way home or something.
"The mushroom that causes people to grow or shrink? Why yes he did, why? Oh you don't plan on telling the evil queen do you? I promised I wouldn't tell!"She said clasping her hands over her lips regretting ever saying a word. That was wonderlands biggest secrets was the magical mushrooms, the evil queen would do anything to have them. The caterpillar said the mushroom could be used to make a powerful potion to allow the queen into wonderland. Sure the place was strange and a little scary but she didn't wish to see a evil queen run it. The place would be even more horrifying then.
The queen laughed at her, she was such a amusing child. "Oh no dear, I am not the evil queen nor would I dare tell her..But I myself have been trying to get some of that mushroom..Its..."She paused for a second to turn away and pretend to pat her eye with the handkerchief she pulled out her dress. "Its the last thing I need to complete a healing potion for a sick subject in my kingdom..With out..." She stopped again to turn and look at little `ol Alice. "Oh... I'm sure you just wanna go home..I shouldn't burden you with my little request..."She said waving it off with a sad smile. "You probably been through enough as it is.."
"Oh if its to help someone I could go back..."She said slowly unsure herself if she could manage to go back their at this hour. It sounded like the person was in desperate need of it, and if she could help her find it and didnt then she feel at fault for their death. She didnt need a innocent persons death on her hands. Then a idea sparked and she smiled, "Perhaphs you could joi-" The queen quickly cut her off.
"Dear, only children like yourself with a wondrous imaginations can enter wonderland..."She said softly, "You could only enter wonderland but if you were to do this task for me I could help you get home." She had hoped the girl fell for it, truly a child would fall for anything if you smiled enough and sounded sincere. "Plus none of the children in my kingdom are old enough to embark on such a importance task, nor have any ever gone before. Some have but..none have..made it home..they just got so caught up in the majestic place.."She said faking another soft sob. She patted her eyes again and plastered on a sad look of sorrow in hopes this was all worth it. By the look of things the child believed every word, the Queen was indeed one hell of a actress, something she took great pride in.
"Well..Alright. It might take some time, but if i hurry..."And off the girl went rambling to herself and beginning to walk off with out any further words. It was getting late, and she wanted to get home as quickly as she could. Surely gathering some mushroom be a simple quick task this time around.
The queen had to stop herself from laughing at the girl, "I will be awaiting your return at the castle! My guards will find you."She called to the girl who turned around and smiled while she waved before turning and hurrying off not even giving it a second thought. A slow dark smile crossed her lips and she turned away heading back towards her carriage.
"Excellent.."She said to herself as she climbed back into her carriage. The girl would revive the mushroom and with that she could finally take over Wonderland. It was the only place in her kingdom that she had no control over, and it infuriated here every second of the day. The mushroom was the key piece in taking over. The evil queen was also pleased with Rumple, he found a child who could enter wonderland at last...