Hello kittens!

This fanfiction was originally created for the MLBBookAUChallenge325 challenge on ML Amino and is based off the manga "Alice in the Country of Hearts" by QuinnRose.

Book Summary: Alice Lidelle is forcefully dragged into the crazy Country of Hearts, where time changes between noon, evening, and night at random, a good majority of the citizens are relatively "faceless", and there is no regard for human life. Instead of hearts, the inhabitants have clocks that once broken, can be repaired and become someone new. Alice must interact with the people of this country in order to make it back to her own world.

"This is crazy... No, scratch that. This is absolutely insane." Marinette watched as the person she'd just been talking with lay on the ground, motionless.

"I told you there was nothing to worry about Marinette! 'Kill or be killed' games are just the best, don't you think?"

She felt herself beginning to shake from shock as she looked her companion over. The blonde boy standing in front of her was covered in scrapes and bruises. She was sure his fur wrap would be stained red if it weren't for the fact that it was the darkest black she'd ever seen. There were tears in his dark clothing that revealed light-toned skin below. Sunlight glinted off the gun he held in his right hand, making it impossible for her to forget it was there. Perhaps the most shaking thing however, was the wide smile on his face. He was truly enjoying himself.

"Hey, did you know? Games always have rules. It's decided from the beginning. . . You knew that, right?

"... ette... rinette... Marinette. It's time to wake up silly."

Marinette slowly opened her eyes and was met with soft sunlight. Sitting up, she noticed that she had been lying down outside in her family's garden. There was a slight pounding in her head and she gingerly placed her hand on it.

"Does your head hurt Marinette? It's probably because you were napping outside again. How many times do I have to tell you not to do that?"

She looked in the direction of the familiar voice and easily recognized her older sister Bridget sitting next to her. The two were quite close and always spent Sundayafternoons such as this one with each other. It was enjoyable, despite the fact that they tended not to do much of anything. Just being in her sister's company was enough to put a smile on Marinette's face.

"You were mumbling..." Bridget mused. "Were you dreaming?"

"Yes. It was a strange dream." Marinette thought back, trying to remember exactly what had happened. "There was something about a game... and rules?"

"A game? Sounds like a fun dream." Bridget smiled down at her sister and noticed her awed expression. "Oh? What's wrong?" When Marinette didn't answer, she just laughed and shook her head affectionately "You are so strange Marinette."

Marinette continued to watch her sister, admiring how effortlessly beautiful and elegant she could be. One smile was all it took to brighten anyone's world. She was on an entirely different level than her younger sister, one that Marinette could never reach no matter how hard she tried. On top of undeniable beauty, Bridget was also intelligent and graceful. She was the ideal lady, the kind any and every guy would fall for.

Marinette shook her head slightly, stopping her mind from going down a dark road. That was when she noticed the book in her sister's hands.

"She must have been reading this while I was napping."

"What are you reading today sister? Is it another psychology book?"

An amused expression graced Bridget's features. "Well... I guess you could call it that, but it's not at the same time." She giggled at her sister's confusion. "It's more like a novel. A fairy tale really. The story is about a girl. She follows a white rabbit into a wonderland. Then-"

"Ah, it's fine" Marinette interrupted. "You don't need to tell me everything. I just want to know how it ends. What happens?"

Bridget couldn't keep herself from laughing at her sister's insistence. "It's always the same with you. In the end, the Queen of Wonderland tries to put her on trial, but she escapes... until she wakes up."

"So, it was a dream in the end?" Marinette clarified.

"To put it simply, yes."

"And? She wakes up and that's it?"

"Yes, that's it."

Marinette's shoulders slumped in mild disappointment. "I don't think I'd like that book very much."

"Oh. That's a pity." Bridget's face lit up as an idea struck her. "Then Marinette, let's play a game."

"Huh?"

"You dreamt of a game, so you must really want to play."

"I don't really-"

"What about a card game? Yes, a simple card game would be perfect."

"Cards?"

Marinette felt her heartbeat speed up.

"I have to... I have to play cards."

"A card game it is then," Bridget exclaimed, not hearing any opposition from Marinette.

"Because that's the rule."

"Marinette?"

Her sister's voice brought Marinette out of her thoughts and she glanced up in confusion. At some point, Bridget had stood up and was now angled towards their house.

"Are you still tired?" she asked before laughing and turning the rest of the way. "I'll go get the cards. Just wait here, and don't fall asleep again while I'm gone."

"Oh, uhm, okay."

"Did I just say something?"

A wave of drowsiness lazily made its way through her the moment Bridget left, and Marinette found herself fighting to stay awake.

"It's so nice out today. The weather's just perfect for napping in the sun. I'm sorry sister, it'll just be for a little bit..."

A rustling noise made Marinette slowly open her eyes. When her vision came in to focus she was met with the sight of a small white rabbit standing on it's hind legs. It was wearing a crazy looking red, black, and white suit with a large pocket watch dangling off the left side. It's pristine white fur glowed in the sun as it stood there, watching her.

Marienette let her eyes slowly close again, intent on not having any weird dreams this time around.

"You! You're supposed to follow me!" Her eyes flew open in alert at the sudden voice. "What are you doing?! You have to chase me!"

"What!? What is this!? Now it's talking? I must be really tired to have dreamt this up! I'll just pretend I didn't see it..."

"I suppose it can't be helped."

Marinette felt her body be lifted off the ground and was once again alert.

"Wha-Ahhhhhhh!" She screamed when she saw the man holding her. He was wearing the same bizarre clothing as the rabbit from before and even had white rabbit ears that contrasted with his dark brown hair.

"Please don't scream in my ear," the stranger politely asked.

"Wait... Who are you?" Marinette demanded. "Put me down!"

"No can do! I'll put you down when we get there." The man began jogging away with Marinette held firmly in his grasp. "We're going in to that hole over there!"

"Hole?! Why is there a huge hole in my garden!?" She looked between the large hole in the ground and the man holding her. His carefree attitude was only working her up even more as he made his way straight for the ominous black circle with a smile.

"Hmm... I wonder why? But if there's a hole, you must jump in!"

"Nooooooooooooo!" Marinette yelled as he proceeded to do so.

Hope you enjoyed the first chapter. Stay tuned for more!

~Sanasings