Guess what, readers! I just rewrote this chapter from scratch! It was hell-in-a-box to do, but I love the result. The original made me gag, so here's Chapter 1: Revised!

Don't own, don't sue. Flame and you die.

Chapter 1: Down the Rabbit Hole

Sometime in everyone's life, they wish for a grand adventure. Be it fantasy or reality, most don't really care which, just as long as it's a trip into the unknown. Some girls wish they were really princesses, and that a brave knight was coming to liberate them from their life of pain or boredom. Some boys hope to become strong so they can protect the ones they love. And sometimes, when their hearts are filled with sorrow and loneliness, they wish for something to take them away from angry and abusive parents, hateful teachers, or even the school bully. They crave the attention and belonging that you hear about in stories, and it hurts them to think about the hardships they must face tomorrow.

And once in a while, a lonely child has their wish granted. Sure, it may not entail a magic broom or a trip into space, but it is an adventure they would not trade for the world. It could be anything from a visit to a long lost relative to a trip around the world with a parent. The memories made during those adventures are deep and full of lessons that help them through life's betrayals. But even if the memories are painful and full of doubt, the one who experienced them would not wish them away.

For what does not kill you makes you stronger in the end. When being bullied by an older kid at school, a child is forced to learn how to stand up for themselves. It is never easy, but the child usually gains new friends in the end. To get what you want, you must work hard.

See, the reason why I'm telling you this is…well, it's because I experienced one of those adventures. I was chosen to jump from one dimension to another, in order to save someone from their death. I had the choice, just like anyone else, to say no.

But I said yes. I didn't turn away, or cower in fear. No, I agreed, and I stepped into another land that few people on Earth even knew about.

Alas, I'm getting ahead of myself. I should probably start from the beginning, so you don't get lost.

It was an abnormally humid that 8th of April. It was 2009, and it was my junior year of high school. Of course, I was on spring break, and a group of friends and I were on a short vacation in Florida. We had decided on spending four days of our break from school in Orlando, Florida, and that meant one thing.

Disneyworld.

We had park hoppers to Magical Kingdom and Universal Studios, but we also had a pass to one of the few places I'd always dreamed of visiting. Animal Kingdom. To get up close to the Tree of Life was one of my dreams, and this trip was my dream come true. Sure, I'd eventually have to leave it, but I knew I would never forget standing next to it. I mean, the Tree of Life symbolizes life itself, and the many animals carved into its sides only prove my point.

"Hey, Ariella! Pay attention, will you?"

I blinked as my friend Kay waved her hand in front of my face, jarring me from my peaceful thoughts of the tree.

"Hmm?" I murmured. "What's up?"

"Are you still jetlagged or something?" my second friend Claire asked from the bus seat behind me, arching an eyebrow. I grinned and shrugged.

"I don't think so. I just couldn't sleep well last night."

"Was it the thought of being in a strange place, or just the fact that you were jumping out of your skin about going to Animal Kingdom?" my third friend Emery asked sarcastically.

"Both, but mostly the latter," I replied.

The girls just sighed and shook their heads, then went back to reading their park pamphlets. I'd known these girls for almost two years now, and they were my only good friends, aside from a few I saw only once a year. Kay wore her long blonde hair in a high pony, tied with a shoelace with pink skulls on it. Her blue eyes seemed full of confidence, and I guess I envied that about her. Whenever she was assigned a group project, she immediately snatched up the role of leader and guided the group to a good grade.

Emery and Claire were two of the nicest people I knew from my school. They were sisters, born a year apart, with brown hair and hazel eyes. They were into comic books and martial arts, which is where I learned my meager skills from. They were nice, but a little hot headed at times. Of course, every sibling relationship has some…issues, and theirs were no different.

Sometimes I wondered how I met these people. I had moments where I felt completely cut off, especially when they were talking about certain bands or movies. All three of them were artists, while I was a noob-ish writer. They liked those crazy horror movies while I enjoyed a good love story. They knew karate, judo, and Taekwondo (Claire, Emery, and Kay respectively), while I only knew self defense. It always gave me a massive headache when I lingered too long on it, but I still look back out of curiosity.

"Okay, so I've got this all planned out," Kay said with an evil grin. Everyone locked onto her and watched her point to several places at once on the pamphlet map. "First up is the Oasis, because we all love the animals to death."

"Dibs on the lemurs," I said automatically. Kay bopped me on the head with the pamphlet and continued.

"After that, we'll check out some of the games and lesser roller coasters, and then we'll take on Expedition Everest. Then we'll head to the Tree of Life."

"I'm gonna sit out on the roller coaster, okay?" I said quietly. "I get motion sickness on those things."

"Fine, fine," Claire said with a roll of her eyes. I smiled gratefully at all three of them, my stomach feeling much calmer than it had a few minutes before. Getting near a roller coaster would be enough to make me puke, after the crap I went through on my junior high field trip to Valley Fair. That had been hellish.

Soon the Tree of Life loomed into view, its branches clearing the treetops easily. I could feel the butterflies come back, but this time they were okay. I was excited, and I couldn't help but grin during the rest of the bus ride to the park. I'd only been to Animal Kingdom once before, when I was thirteen, and I'd instantly fallen in love with the place. The animals, the attractions, the movies…the Tree. It was all heaven to me.

The bus screeched to a stop outside the front gate, and everyone piled out at once. Savoring the feel of the misty, post-storm air on my face, I walked slowly towards the gate with my friends urging me forward. I tried to ignore their protests, but it became impossible when Kay started pinching me in a 'playful' manner.

When we made it inside the park, Claire and Emery shot off for the gift shop, making Doctor Who references all the way. I laughed at their actions, but stopped when I heard the words, "Look mommy, it's a lemur!" from a nearby kid. Spinning on my heel, I whipped out my Canon EOS digital camera and snapped two shots of the nearest lemur, who was giving his tail a bath. I bit my lip and snapped several more shots before sneaking back to where Kay stood by the gift shop.

Once Claire and Emery were done gawking at the prices of the souvenirs, we headed for the Oasis, where they kept all the animals. I was taking so many shots at once that I thought my camera would explode from overuse. Good thing I had my laptop back in the hotel room, though. I'd need to upload all the pictures to it once we got back.

Thunder rumbled in the distance, a sure sign that the park would close soon. Or at least the rides would. The theaters and the games would still be open for play, and the animals would just take shelter, like the humans.

Suddenly I found all three of my friends had clamped their hands onto my arms and shoulders, and were quickly steering me away from the Oasis and towards the rides. I didn't start protests all that much until I realized they were guiding me towards Expedition Everest.

"Girls, I don't know what you're thinking, but I don't want to go near that roller coaster."

"Oh, we won't make you go near it," Kay said with a smile. "No, you're just going on it."

I immediately dug my heels into the pavement and yanked out of their grip. "I'm not going on it! You can't force me!"

"Shut up, Ariella. You're making a scene," Emery said with a glance at the people around us. They were sending us curious looks, but nothing more.

"I don't care. I'm not going on it. I thought we agreed on that." I glared at them, but they just shrugged.

"Come on, Ari, don't be a party pooper," Kay said. "It's just one roller coaster ride. It's not we're going to make you go on all the rides."

Memories of Valley Fair bubbled to the surface of my mind, and I found tears pricking my eyes. I hated remembering how helpless I felt in that place. I was always scared of heights, scared of falling, and scared of getting hurt. I was always easily bullied, and going to Valley Fair that year had only proved it.

At the time, I'd had more friends, but they weren't really my friends. They'd called me a chicken and had forced me on five of the large roller coasters, including the Power Tower. For me, that stupid tower had been my breaking point. My fear of falling had kicked in, and I'd fainted right before the machine had started traveling up.

When I woke up, I was in the park's infirmary, my mother of all people at my side. She said I'd gotten heat stroke or something stupid like that, and that my friends had gone back to the school. I later found out that my friends had been embarrassed by my fainting, and they went as far as to tell me they were never my friends. They just hung out with me to make them look better.

That was the first time I'd felt like killing someone on the spot.

"Why…why are you doing this?" I asked. It was the same question I'd asked the other girls that day after Valley Fair.

"Because it's fun."

I felt my heart lurch into my throat. That answer…that was the same answer the girls had given me that day.

"You're all the same," I hissed, glaring at the three of them. Through my tears I could see them looking at each other with strange expressions, and I added, "You're all the worst. You're just bullies!"

I turned and stalked off into the crowd, ignoring the girls' calls for me to come back. I just kept pushing through the crowd until I found myself at the path leading to the Tree of Life. I felt like I couldn't breathe, like my throat had just closed up, and my vision began to swim. Keeping a firm hand on the wooden railing, I walked down the steps and took a right into an Employees Only path. I ducked the chain barrier and kept walking, only coming to a stop when I reached the base of the giant tree.

I took a seat next to one of the giant roots and leaned on it. It was cold to the touch and probably not a real tree at all, but I felt something deep inside it. It kinda felt like the glowing embers of a dying fire. It was a comforting feeling, and I sighed forlornly.

"Why is it that my friends always turn on me?" I asked the tree. "Why do they use me? Am I really that pathetic?"

I waited for an answer, but only heard the rustling of the leaves as a gust of wind rushed through them. I shivered and pulled my windbreaker tight around my arms, wishing for a sweatshirt. It may have been summer in Florida, but it was still too cold for sleeveless shirts during storms.

I placed a hand over my necklace, which was a piece of pewter with a large tree carved into it. I'd purchased it at a Renaissance Festival almost a year ago, and I'd never gone anywhere without it. It was my precious treasure, not to mention a huge part of my favorite videogame. Long live Tales of Symphonia!

"If I could meet Martel and Lloyd and the others…oh, that would be a dream come true. I wish I could meet them, travel with them, and get to know them. Maybe…maybe they could be friends with me?" I looked up at the tree and added, "What do you think, Martel?"

Suddenly the sky grew dark, and thunder boomed loudly. I slapped my hands to my ears and pressed myself against the tree. Rain began to pummel the ground angrily in front of me, and lightning flashed close by. I quickly scooted away from the tree, knowing full well that if lightning struck it, I'd be shocked too.

Just as I reached the tar path in front of me, there was a huge crack of thunder right above me, and lightning struck the tree. The ground rumbled unstably, and a large crack in the tree ripped open. I could smell something burning, but I couldn't tear my eyes away from the huge rip in the bark. It looked like a regular cavity, the kind trees usually had, but there was something there. Goosebumps ran up my arms as I approached it. When I touched the bark, it was warm and almost vibrating.

And then I started hearing a voice.

"Ariella…"

I looked behind me, searching the area for people.

"Who's there?" I asked.

"Ariella," the voice called again. "Ariella, this way. Come quickly."

I turned back to the tree and looked inside the cavity, squinting into the darkness for any sign of the voice's source. "Yes? I'm right here."

"Come quickly…you wish…"

I almost turned and ran from that place, but I couldn't move. The magnetic pull from before was dragging me into the tree's cavity. I was terrified and calm at the same time, my emotions clashing with every inch I lost to the pull.

"Where are you? I can't see you."

"Here," the voice called from below. "Shall I grant your wish? Will you grant mine? Please hurry…before I fade…"

"I'm coming," I said as my fingers finally slipped from the cavity's edge. I fell forward immediately, plummeting into darkness. The hole closed up behind me, but I didn't mind. If I was falling, I wouldn't be able to get out that way.

I smiled as my falling began to slow. My fear of falling wasn't awake. I was still calm…which was weird. Usually I would've been screaming my head off for help, but this was different somehow. In a way, I knew I was safe. I wouldn't die when I found the ground.

My fall came to a slow stop, and I floated in place for a second before smacking roughly against dirt. I immediately put a hand to the back of my head, where a bruise was sure to form. It didn't hurt, but it was a rough landing. I'd forgotten to watch for the ground. I'd done exactly what Goofy had done in Kingdom Hearts.

"Down the rabbit hole, I guess," I said to myself as I looked up. I couldn't see the top of the tree, or even twenty feet up for that matter. It was all cloaked in darkness.

"Ariella…"

I turned around as I stood up and came face to face with a beautiful woman in green. The game didn't do her justice. Her sea foam green hair was glossy and long, and her deep green eyes held nothing but contentment.

"Martel," I mumbled, completely in shock. I blinked for several seconds, then pinched myself on the side. I didn't wake up. "Oh my god, you're real!"

"I am very real, Ariella," she said. "I am because you called to me. Your wish awoke me in this world, and I have come to help you."

"Help me? What…"

"Your wish. You wished to meet Lloyd and the others, correct?"

I was struck speechless. Martel, THE Martel was in front of me, offering to take me to Lloyd and the others!

"You mean I can meet them? Really?!"

"Yes, but you will have some…limitations."

"What do you mean?"

"First, you will go by Ari while you are with them. Second, you must not let Cruxis find out where you are from or what you know. And three, you must never remove your Exsphere."

I nodded, barely registering her rules as my excitement escalated. "Yes! I'll do it! I'll do anything to go!"

"Good. Please protect them in my stead. I am…already at my limit. I only have enough power to get you to Sylvarant." She took a shaky breath, then said, "Protect them, Ariella…Now go to Iselia."

"I swear I'll protect them, Martel," I said as she waved her staff over my head. "I swear."

She gave me one last smile before disappearing in a flash of light, and I blacked out.

When I regained consciousness, I found I was sprawled out among the upper branches of a tree. I had to take several seconds to think about what had happened with Martel before I realized exactly where I was.

"OH MY FRIGGIN' GOD!!" I shouted, scrambling for the trunk of the tree. "Holy Mother of all that is gaming, I'm HERE!! I'm in Sylvarant!!" I let out a joyful cry and studied the land below. I was in a lone tree in the middle of a huge field of wildflowers. There were so many colors that I almost didn't see how high I really was. But I saw anyway and immediately latched onto the tree trunk again.

"Oh Martel, did you have to drop me in a tree?

I carefully lowered myself to the ground and wandered the area, getting used to the idea that I was no longer on Earth, but in Sylvarant. That's when I noticed my clothes. I wore a light beige vest over a black tank top, with straps that crisscrossed over my chest. My khakis were the same shade of light beige at the vest, and I had a black belt that held a small pouch on the side. My shoes looked like Colette's shoes, expect mine had silver leaves for the buttons, and the inner lining was beige. I even had black stockings and gloves. Everything was snug and fit me like as if I'd custom ordered it.

Once I was done freaking out over that, I began looking for some kind of sign that I was near Iselia. It was probably five minutes before the pillar of light erupted from the forest to my left. So that was probably northwest or something.

"Gotta move it! Can't be late!" I told myself as I began a swift run towards the light. I grinned as the image of the White Rabbit appeared in my head. "I'm late! I'm late! For a very important date! No time to say hello, goodbye! I'm late, I'm late, I'm late!!" And then I smacked myself for making such a silly reference. I would miss people getting my references, but that was okay! I was in a place some people only dreamed of seeing.

As I neared the village of Iselia, I ran over the events that would occur next. First the Oracle light, then Lloyd and Genis and Colette skip class and head to the temple, then the pastor dies, and then the Renegades show up…

"Hail, traveler! What brings you to Iselia?"

I jumped at the voice, then realized I was closer than I'd thought to the village.

"I'm…I want to meet the Chosen of Regeneration!" I said randomly. "I was told she lives here, and I…"

"You're just in time!" the guard said as he adjusted his hat. "She's about to receive the Oracle and begin the journey! You can wait for her at her house."

"Thank you so much! Where is it?"

"Northern corner of the village. It has a large garden out front. You can't miss it."

"Thanks!" I gave him a smile and slowed my run to a walk, savoring the smells that began to assault my senses. I could still smell wildflowers, like the ones from the field I'd woken up in. I could smell someone's dinner, which I assumed to be a very well made beef stew.

I kept walking through the village, finally finding the schoolhouse, when I smelled something strange. I couldn't identify it easily. It wasn't a smell from nature. It was like…metal. Rust? Or weapons? I frowned and walked over to the nearest person.

"What's that smell?" I asked.

The person, a young woman a few years older than me, replied, "It's the smell of the Desians. They carry the smell of all the people they've killed. It's disgusting." She coughed and walked away, covering her mouth with a sleeve.

I sighed and wandered the area, waiting for Lloyd, Genis and Colette to emerge from the schoolhouse. The Desians…they were horrible monsters. They killed loved ones and ripped families to shreds, all in good fun. The Renegades were just as bad. They were liars. But then…so was I. I would have to lie about everything. My past, my home, my family.

I needed a story. I needed one now, and I needed one fast. There was no way I'd be able to lie my way out of any questions on the spot.

My city of origin would be Luin, of course. It's going to be destroyed, so I'll be able to keep traveling with them. I lived there with a friend, but that friend fell ill. Of course, that friend will be my way of remembering Martel, so there would be no real connection to Luin. My past? I'm an orphan, because my real parents suck. I'd rather not have parents. I just lived with my friend for as long as I can remember.

I ran over several other key points, then heaved a sigh of relief. I was safe.

I cast a glance at the schoolhouse, then did a double-take. I couldn't see anyone wearing red. Was Lloyd even in there?! I walked to the north gate and peeked inside. Of course…Lloyd wasn't there. Which meant he, Colette, and Genis had already left for the temple!

I booked it though the gate and headed for the beam of light at top speed.

"Down the rabbit hole I go!"

The revision is done! And it was completely by chance that I thought about the 'Down the Rabbit Hole' theme. I love Alice in Wonderland, and reading over this just made me grin. :D

I'm gonna go work on chapter 14 now! Have a lovely day!