The Game of Loops and Love

Summary: Alice is subjected to the Rule of the Endgame, forced to leave Wonderland if she hasn't bonded enough to the land and its inhabitants, and so makes a desperate wish to not have to leave. There is one Roleholder who can grant this wish, but when The Jabberwocky uses her powers, there's always a catch—and so Alice's love-life spins out of control! Add in timetravel, lost memories to be regained, and an unseen enemy and Alice and her Roleholder lovers are left in a bit of a bind… King-X-Vivaldi ; Alice!Harem (including all guys from HNKNA/CNKNA/JNKNA except the King)

Notes: Harem means more than one guy is sexually involved with our gal Alice. Also, in my harem fics (many of which will never see the light of day xD), the guys do end up "helping" each other if Alice isn't available or they're feeling particularly adventurous…just a quick warning for those who have delicate sensibilities~

Loop Zero-Zero
The Wish

"I-I can't," cried Alice, clutching the vial that once held everything then nothing but now held everything once more to her chest with a white-knuckled grip. "I can't! I don't want…want to leave!"

A voice echoed through her head, familiar, pained, a regular Nightmare: "Alice, you say the vial is almost full. Once it is, if you haven't bonded enough to Wonderland…you…have to leave. I'm sorry, Alice. It's the Rule. The Rule of the Endgame. Alice…I…I'm so, so sorry…"

Great, shuddering sobs shook Alice's form as she collapsed to her knees. It was amazing how much she had grown to care about Wonderland in so short of time—a mere year of living there and suddenly, everyone was so important. They were her family, her friends, her new life…

"Don't make me go," Alice croaked through her tears. "Oh, please…I…I can't go back…to an empty home, an empty life…" Liquid sloshed in a pink-tinged container, long, opaque to show it was only drops from being completely full. "I-I wish. I wish I didn't have to leave!"

"Uh? You wish?"

Alice jerked in surprise at the unexpected, light, curious child's voice. She looked rapidly around her empty room in Clover Tower, the place she had stayed while the second half of her Game took place. "Wh-who's there?!"

"You can't see me?" the child's voice curiously asked. There was a confused pause before the voice laughed joyfully at itself. "Oh I'm so sorry! Hold on, I can fix that…"

The air before Alice shimmered before a small figure appeared. Standing there, no older than six, was a young and beautiful little girl. Her face was round and lovely with almond-shaped, bright green eyes sparkling over pouted lips and framed by long, waist-length, poison-green hair; she was clad in a steampunk dress an only slightly lighter shade than her hair, a black corset with black straps and white lace trim, long black boots up her knees with many buckles, her legs clad in black-and-white stockings and black gloves on her small hands.

The small child grinned, showing off bucked front teeth surrounded by much-too-sharp others, reminiscent of a shark. "Hello, Miss Outsider!"

Alice blinked rapidly, not recognizing the young girl who was obviously a Roleholder. "A-ah…who…?" she began only to be cut off by the child's gentle giggle.

"I'm sorry, we haven't met before!" she called, bounding between one foot and the other. A glint brought Alice's attention to a necklace that she hadn't noticed, that of an upside-down horseshoe on a long silver chain that hung all the way to the girl's navel. "My name's Madison Drake! It's nice to meet you, Miss Outsider!"

"I…my name is Alice," corrected the Player, reaching up and quickly wiping away her tears. "N-nice to m-meet you…"

Little Madison stopped hopping and frowned, reaching forward to poke Alice on her nose with one chubby finger. "You're not happy, Miss Alice. Everyone should be happy in Wonderland! What's wrong?"

Alice sniffled gently. "It's…n-nothing, Madison."

"Liar!" shouted Madison with a pout quivering her lower lip. "You're super sad! Why? Why aren't you happy, Miss Alice?!"

"A-ah!" Alice's gaze went wide in horror and she flailed a bit. "Don't cry! Don't cry!" Madison dropped her pout obediently and stared at Alice in wide-eyed curiosity. The Outsider sighed delicately and shook her head. "I…I'm just a slight…upset."

Madison frowned in serious consideration, her thin eyebrows drawing together. "Why are you sad in Wonderland? It's a Wonderful Wonder World!"

There was a moment of hesitation before Alice found herself spilling her story to little Madison in its entirety. She spoke of her early fear and confusion upon arriving, of her first—bad—impressions of most/all of the Ones with Duties and their ways. She spoke of her experiences in the first half of her Game, of how the Country of Hearts was mostly full of learning about the world and those within it. She spoke of the second half of her Game, of how she grew so very close to all of the Roleholders and became comfortable with calling them family.

She spoke of how each one touched her heart and gave her a purpose.

She spoke of how, "I just don't want to leave," said Alice, tearing up again, "because I love everyone, everything, everyplace here. It's…it's my home! I wish I never had to leave!"

"Do you really?" Madison softly asked, speaking for the first time since Alice's rant began. Blue eyes blinked rapidly and turned, uncomprehensive, onto deadly serious green. "Is that what you wish, Miss Alice? That you never have to leave?"

The words felt heavy in the air and Alice swallowed, somehow sensing that this question was worth so much more than it would seem at first glance. She had learned quickly to trust her gut in Wonderland. This answer…it would change everything.

"More than anything," Alice said with equal seriousness.

Madison stared at Alice, searching.

Alice stared back, unwavering.

And Madison's lips spread in a broad, mischievous smile. "Well, Miss Outsider," she nearly purred, "your wish…is my command~"

The world rippled, swayed. Alice's grip on her vial tightened before loosening; it fell, silently, only a drop away from being completely full and deciding her fate.

Neither Alice nor Madison were there to witness this fall. They were already far gone, in another place, in another time.

Alice fell down a rabbit hole, The White Rabbit and Prime Minister of Hearts Castle Peter White clutching her around her waist, looking far too cheerful.

The Game of Loops had begun.

-END-

MKL's Post-Production Notes (12-30-13): Not going to say much here since I'm posting the next/first chapter right away, other than this is a teaser of sorts. A setting of the stage, as a prologue is supposed to be. Please read the next chapter before deciding if it deserves your time or not :)