Authors Note: Why hello there to everyone who is reading this story! Time and time again I visit the wonderful world of fanfiction and read various romantic stories, always choosing NOT to join the bag-wagon of writing my own… but much to my despair, I now have. For starters I have ADORED Alice in Wonderland for years but could never come up with any stories for it, but after seeing the 2010 film a gazillion ideas filled my mind, and this is just one of them. So read as you will and please be nice…

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters mentioned in this story apart from my own creations

Preface

~Before Alice~

Mother never explained to me why I was to call her Emerella instead of mother.

I supposed she just wanted to feel younger, but I never really asked.

I also wondered why she always insisted I always be surrounded by red: I must wear red, I must have a red bedroom and that I must dwell inside a red house.

As "Emerella" pulled the dark red hood over my head, I began to ponder over these things but knowing they would probably never be answered, I tucked them away along with all of my other emotions.

"Now, you just buy the sprouts and return here, alright?" Emerella drilled, her glossy red hair swaying when she pointed her bony finger at me. "Don't talk to anyone, don't do anything- just buy the sprouts and return- I don't want you spending too much time up at that imbeciles' place!"

I sighed inside.

"Oh Emerella, why do we hate the White Queen so? She seems… nice?" I stuttered, gripping the cloak she had insisted I wear.

Emerella's eyes suddenly looked sharply into mine, with a glare that could pierce the heart of the bravest lion.

"Don't you EVER say anything about THAT HIDEOUS WOMAN EVER AGAIN!? DO YOU HEAR ME?!" Emerella shrieked; her face mere inches from my own.

I could feel my heart burning and my ears beginning to pop. My legs shook and my chin began to wobble, just waiting for Emerella's cold, crusty hand to swipe across my face.

Emerella stepped back slightly and raised her hand.

I looked away, ready to be hit with such force that it would cause my cheeks to sting for hours… but nothing happened.

I slowly opened my eyes and looked back to Emerella who was now grinning.

"Foolish girl," she hissed, before abruptly smacking me across the face and causing my hood to fall down and reveal my long blonde hair.

I felt the sting purse through my face and all over my body; the pain was immense- like jumping off a roof and landing face-first.

"Gah," Emerella said, as I forced my head back around to the front and spied her looking at my hair. "What repulsive hair."

My lower lip began to tremble, but I refused to allow myself to cry.

"Now get going! Before I throw-up," Emerella cried, whipping her head around and storming off into the kitchen.

I tugged the hood back over my head and picked up the basket on the table beside me, before opening the front door and leaving the house.

The sun was hot and the clouds were few, as I walked along the pathway towards the White Queen's castle.

Ever since I can remember, Emerella has been in an atrocious mood; always muttering about how horrid the White Queen was and how much she'd love to see her beheaded.

I decided to forget Emerella and everything that I was walking away from; after all I was heading into the White Queen's Castle for the official Castle Fair where there would be fine food, amazing acrobats and brilliant performers! How could I possibly think of something as dreadful as the thought of returning home when I had all that to look forward to!

I began to skip along the stone path, the basket in hand and humming a tune that I had just made up.

I skipped over a hill and once I had reached the top, I could see it- the White Queens Castle.

It was beautiful, with gleaming towers and luminescent pink trees that always seemed to shine. There were tall balconies with swans engraved into them with a giant picturesque maze garden that seemed to go on forever.

"How could Emerella hate something as exquisite as this?" I asked aloud, grinning.

I was suddenly filled with happiness, and a joy that I had never felt before.

I ran down the grassy hill, humming that tune even louder until even the birds in the trees began to sing along with me.

Once I had reached the bottom, I continued along to the palace; reaching the front gates and joining the crowds of people eager to have a wonder around.

We climbed some stairs and followed the bright windy path filled with merchants and street performers until we made our way to the main square where everyone who was anyone was spending the day.

I wondered past the stalls; smelling the glorious fresh fruit and flowers and laughing at the singing monkey and his cat friend.

The time drove on and I remembered that Emerella would soon be expecting me for tea.

I pulled the coins out from my pocket and purchased the sprouts before placing them into my wooden basket.

Thanking the stall owner, I sadly began to walk towards the exit when a loud cry of joy caught my attention.

I spun around to see a large crowd of people near exit, and they were cheering and applauding something? Or someone?

I pushed my way towards the crowd and edged through the mob of citizens until I reached the front.

They were crowded around a man; a very tall man, with bright orange hair and large emerald green eyes. He wore a smart outfit with an adorable hat atop his head.

"And sooo, ladies and non-ladies I shall now present to you the trick of a lifetime! It is called, 'Hat-Attack!'" the man announced, and the audience cheered.

I clapped politely as the man placed his hat on the ground.

He stepped back and was about to announce something to the audience when the hat began to rise.

The audience were silent, filled with shock and astonishment.

I looked back to the man, who looked as confused as we were which caused me to smile.

The hat suddenly began to twirl around in mid-air before stopping and slowly a bushy cat's face appeared under the hat, grinning broadly.

"Alright Hatty?" The Cat teased, laughing.

The audience were appalled and began to 'Boo' the man, thinking he was trying to con them.

"No! No that wasn't my plan!" The man stuttered, but the audience began to leave. "No, No wait!"

The Cat laughed and disappeared, the hat falling to the floor.

The crowd cleared quickly and the man's face turned to a frown as he turned towards the castle and began to walk away.

I picked up the hat and ran over to him.

"Hey wait," I said; and he paused at the bottom of some small steps, turning around. "I thought you were brilliant."

His eyes were blue and misty, yet still big and adorable. His lower lips trembled -like mine did- and his hair began to droop.

"Really, or do you just want to throw something at me?" he asked plainly.

I lowered my hood and smiled, handing the man back his hat.

"That's a nice hat you've got there," I commented, as he held the hat loose in his hand.

He remained quiet, looking up at me in occasional glimpses.

"I-I'm sorry but why are you talking to me?" the man asked, his voice turning slightly into different accent. "I'm just a mere hatter."

I smiled.

"Life's full of mysteries," I said, smartly. "One that I've always pondered over is, 'Why is a Raven like a Writing Desk?'"

The man looked up at me, considering the question.

"I do not know," he said, "why?"

I grinned and placed the hat atop the man's head.

"Think about it," I said, kindly and beginning to walk away. "I'm Arietta by the way."

"I-I-I…"

"Nice to meet you "I"," I said, looking around at him and grinning.

I waved and turned around, leaving the man boggled.

I didn't want to return home, but I knew I must- after all, I had sprouts to cook.

Authors Note: So what did you think? I've written a few more chapters because I couldn't help myself but its all up to you guys if I keep updating or not. Thankyou soo much for reading my story :) MikiChik x