Hello everyone.
So I've decided to rewrite my old fanfiction: Alice Back through the looking glass.
This is a fanfiction I wrote over a year ago and managed to complete. But now when I read back on it, I feel like it needed to be rewritten.
As I said when I finished it, I wasn't too happy with the story of my old fanfiction. I felt as if the plot was too complicated and was quite hard to follow, so it will be different as to the original, and that the layout of the paragraphs made it pretty hard to read. Nevertheless I'm still grateful to those who reviewed, followed, and favourited. It was my first ever fanfiction and it helped motivate me to write it.
But I think you guys deserve something better, or at least an improvement of the original fanfic. So this is: Alice and the looking glass. A rewrite of Alice Back through the looking glass.
As like the original, this is based in the 1951 version, the Disney animated version, as the characters from it too. This is intended to be a sequel to that film.
One more thing, do you think I should keep or delete the original fanfic? If you want to, please let me know in either a review, PM, or maybe I'll create a poll. I'll put the link up if I do. Thanks again, and Enjoy.
Alice in Wonderland belongs to Lewis Carroll and this version Disney.
It was the 1800s in the country of England. The buildings of old Victorian London outside the window were all stacked and placed like pieces of a chessboard, and apart from the occasional chimney sweeper, and the fumes from factories off in the distance, as this area was more of a residential higher class one, there was nothing really that interesting going on. Much to the dismay of young Alice, who was wishing for anything to get herself out of the loop of boredom that her homework was giving her.
The young blonde girl with a black bow in her hair, wearing a blue dress with a white apron, leggings, and black shoes, laid on her stomach in the middle of her room with a pencil in hand and a book on the floor that she was, somewhat reading.
It was given by her elder sister, who privately tutored and home schooled Alice. Though the young pupil hardly ever paid attention, and especially now, after that bizarre adventure she supposedly had, in a whole other world of her own.
At least, she thought it was her own. To this day, weeks after the event, the young girl still didn't know whether she actually did go to a place, which she nicknamed Wonderland, or if it all was just a dream.
Ever since she came back that day from the lake area with her sister, and began mentioning some of the things she had seen, or quoting some of things she had heard, a lot of people started referring to her as 'that girl with mad ideas'. She had heard them say this when they thought she wouldn't be listening, often making her frustrated
Either they be servants or a member of her own class, they put it down to her imagination, and making a small joke about it like some of the servants did, or some would quietly suggest that she was going mad and needed help. As the place of 'Wonderland' wasn't exactly something she kept to herself. She would accidentally mention it's name sometimes in conversation.
Speaking of dreams, Alice was absent mindedly daydreaming right now, not fully realising it until her cat, Dinah, poked her nose against Alice's hand.
"Hmm? What is it Dinah? Oh!" the blonde then saw that on the page she was currently on, she had been drawing pictures of the creatures she had met in 'Wonderland', including the white rabbit, the caterpillar, and the March Hare.
"Oh, well that will hardly ever do for a study book now will it." She proceeded to rub off the drawings with her eraser, after which she just sighed and said "Oh I wish my sister didn't give me so much to do Dinah. She wants this done by tomorrow, and I hardly think that's an appropriate deadline."
She put the pencil down and began scratching her pet. "You might have like Wonderland Dinah" said Alice changing the subject. "There was an ocean full of fish, and two poems about them. 'How doth the little crocodile' and 'the Walrus and the carpenter'."
The cat looked up at her confused, to which Alice answered "That last one was about oysters." She sighed again and stood up. Carrying her cat in her arms she walked over to where she kept a small box by her bedside, next to a handcrafted necklace. Inside the box were some treats for Dinah that she'd kept, and the feline happily licked them off Alice's fingers.
"How am I supposed know the capitals of all these countries?" She asked again referring to the study book. "It's all complicated and nonsense. Then again, it's nothing compared to-, never mind."
Just then the young girl heard: "Alice! Alice could you come down."
She stood and picked up her pet, holding Dinah in her arms. "Coming mother!" she called back. "Come along Dinah" Alice almost sounded like a mother herself. "Let's hope whatever mother wants with us it doesn't take too long. We have to be at the meeting point at four O'clock."
Stepping down the stairs of the three story house, the girl either nodded to or greeted every servant she passed, replying to the ones who greeted her.
"Ah there goes the young mistress" a middle aged stumpy servant woman called out, holding a pile of laundry. "How are you then Miss Alice?"
"I'm very good Mrs Langton" Alice replied remembering her manners.
"Chasing white rabbits again are we?" the servant woman joked with her.
"What? Oh. Not really Mrs Langton. My mother's calling me."
"Ah you and that imagination of yours, such a good girl." The servant carried on with her duties and Alice just smiled in return, ignoring the comment and continued on her way.
Stepping into the dining room, the girl waited patiently while her mother was instructing some servants, whom were carrying plates and dishes. "Be careful now, those plates are expensive, ah Alice, there you are."
"Hello mother."
"I'm glad you're here actually. Now as you know, your father and I have some of our friends from the other side of London coming around who will be joining us for dinner tomorrow night."
"Yes mother" Alice replied, half paying attention.
"And they have arrived today, and are staying nearby."
"Mm-hm" the girl's mind began to wander, as she slightly bent her knees at the same time.
"And they-, Alice?"
"Hmm? Sorry?" the blonde snapped back into reality.
"What are you doing?"
"Oh, just curtseying mother."
"Curtseying? Why?"
"Well it saves time while you're thinking, I learned that in-"
"Oh Alice not that silly little 'Wonderland' dream again" sighed her mother shaking her head.
"It wasn't a dream mother, honestly. I really did fall down a rabbit hole, and into a rather insane world" the girl proclaimed rather politely to her parent.
Sighing again and kneeling down to her level, Alice's mother put a hand on her shoulder and spoke with a soft voice.
"Alice, the only thing that other people will think is insane will be your stories about this little 'Wonderland' of yours. You have a very active imagination and are very creative, which I'm proud of, but you can't say or talk about these things in front of other people, and especially our guests. It's good for children to pretend but actually claiming to have been there will make people think you belong in the madhouse. Understand?"
Alice didn't say anything for a second, although she did want to protest deep down, it was best that maybe she just nodded and said "Of course mother." Maybe she did have a point. Alice had, often by it accidentally slipping out, talked about Wonderland more than she should've.
Then Alice remembered "Wasn't there something you wanted me for mother?"
"Oh yes, right. Like I said we have some of our friends coming round, and they've just arrived outside. Whilst I'll greet them, could you say hello to their daughters? Out of common courtesy of course."
Alice tried not to let her face fall. "Oh, those girls?" In truth, the young blonde was not happy about that at all. The only reason she played with them was because they were the daughters of her father's business friends, and her parents thought they would be good playmates for her, but Alice however could not stand their company, given how they often treated her.
But again, Alice could not disobey her mother, directly anyway, so she put on a smile and replied "Of course I will mother."
"Thank you so much Alice" the woman gave her daughter a brief smile before walking away, and after she was out of sight, Alice let out a small groan.
Dinah poked her head out of her owner's front apron pocket and glanced up. "C'mon Dinah, we'd better say hello to the girls before we head out."
XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX
Stepping outside and down the stairs of the house, Alice was not looking where she was going, and bumped past a servant boy, accidently knocking the chimney brushes out of his hand. "Oh! I'm so sorry about that. Here let me help you."
"It's no problem Miss, I'll pick 'em up and-" both the servant boy and Alice looked up at each other, and realised who the other was. Quickly remembering there were people around, they continued talking like they didn't know each other.
"Um, here you are" she handed him the last brush.
"Thank you Miss Liddell, I'd best get going now." He nodded as Alice watched him walk off. That's when she also heard another voice from behind down by the pavement, which made her eyes roll.
"There she is talking to the household staff again" a condescending voice came.
Alice turned and walked over to greet the daughters of her parents friends, who had just stepped out of a carriage. Their parents stepped out and were ushered by the staff.
"Hello girls" Alice curtseyed. She wasn't pleased, but she wanted to remain kind and have good manners.
"Why hello Alice." There were a total of four girls, all wearing high class dresses like Alice. "So nice to be in this neighbourhood again."
"Bear in mind, I have heard that this side of the river has gone downhill in quality recently" another girl commented.
"Not to mention it's inhabitants" said another giggling.
"Normally you'd expect them to dress a little fancier, and I'm talking about the ones of our class!" the four girls giggled at this joke, all except Alice of course, looking at her dress in her hands.
She huffed. "Hm. Well I don't think my dress is awful or tattery, now if you'll excuse me I'm heading out." She turned her back to them and began to walk away.
"Off on her own? Well that's unsurprising" the rich girls giggled.
"Oh she's not on her own, she's probably going to meet that white rabbit of hers, and have a tea party with a Hare!" they all laughed again, and Dinah poked her head out once more.
"Don't listen to them Dinah, I'm don't like being among mad people anyway."
XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX
Through the residential streets of the city, Alice was in a short run across the roads and past the houses. The bell by a nearby church then struck and it's bells rung, alerting the girl to the time. "Oh Goodness! Four O'clock, I'm late, I'm late, I'm late."
She headed down a path way into a little grassy lake park area. It was the same area where she first saw the white rabbit, and where her sister sometimes took her lessons outside. On the small bridge over the lake, a boy sat there on the edge looking down into the water, playing with a stick in his hands. That same boy Alice had bumped into earlier carrying the chimney brushes. He managed to get here first obviously.
"Reggie!" she called out.
The boy turned his head. "Alice! You're here!" he stood up.
"Sorry I'm a bit late" she apologised. "But I had to speak with those, very ungraceful, daughters of my parents friends. My mother asked me to of course."
"I saw them. They didn't say anything to you did they? I mean, not anything, too harsh?" the boy asked concerned.
"Oh, just the usual y'know. I'd rather not talk about it."
"You shoulda said somethin' back I reckon. I've heard you insult them behind their backs before, and I'll say, given how creative those insults are, I'd happily spend my half penny pocket money to watch you say it to their faces, over any swordfight" Reggie chuckled.
"Yes, well as amusing as that sounds, it would be an awful thing for me to do. Especially, and unfortunately, if they are guests." Alice then remembered. "Reggie, would it possibly be alright if I ask you the capital cities of a few countries?"
The boy and girl walked across the bridge and onto the grassy park area. Reggie, like Alice, was a twelve year old child. He had hazel scruffy hair, wearing a brown open jacket over a dirty white shirt, along with brown trousers and shoes.
He was a member of the working class. Both he and his mother worked for Alice's parents at her house. He usually worked as either a chimney sweep or a cleaner, in addition to attending school of course.
His father was part of the redcoat army, away overseas in the British military. Having joined years ago, he managed to work his way up through the ranks, which earnt his family enough money to at least live on, hence why Reggie was able to afford to go to school. The bad side of that was, Reggie's father was hardly ever allowed to come home, only on certain occasions.
He would instead send his wife and son letters, like many soldiers did, which were delivered by boat and to their families. Reggie kept them, hanging them up on his bedroom wall along with newspaper headlines of the empire's victories.
Alice and Reggie continued through the little lake area and it was almost breathtaking. The lake/stream that travelled under the bridge and through the fields shone and glistened in the sunlight. Some of the trees by the lake side had leaves that drooped down, touching the water. Lily Pads and plants grew on the stream as many colourful flowers grew among the tall grass of the field, as well as one rather large tree.
Alice rested herself on a higher branch, much like she did just before she first saw the rabbit. Reggie was sat at the base of the tree on the ground, reading some pieces of paper in his hand. It was necessary for the pair to come here, as it was secluded, and hardly anyone came by. You see, being in two very different social structures, higher and working, it would never be allowed for the pair to be friends with each other.
They had no choice but to keep it a secret, only talking to each other as friends when no one else was around. If they were in the company of others, then they would speak to the other in a servant, and employer's daughter sort of way. And they were excellent at hiding it, being friends for six years now. This was a big reason why these meetings were so important.
"So Copenhagen is the capital of Denmark?" Alice repeated slowly.
"That's right."
"Denmark? That would be the Dutch one wouldn't it?" asked Alice.
"No Alice the Netherlands are Dutch. Denmark is Danish" Reggie corrected, whilst flicking through the papers he had in his hands.
"Hmm, well that's strange. Normally the names are connected. You know, England is English, France is French, Prussia is Prussian, but the Netherlands are Dutch? Peculiar."
"Of course there are more capitals other than the European ones" Reggie reminded while looking at a map of the world which was on one of his papers, and certain areas of it were marked with British flags.
"I wonder what the capital of Wonderland was" Alice absent mindedly remarked.
Reggie glanced up at his friend, only to see her staring in the direction of where she claimed to have fallen down the rabbit hole. "Alice?" She didn't respond. "You're looking at the rabbit hole again."
The girl realised what she was doing and quickly turned away. "I'm sorry, I just, I just wish there was some unusual thing running round the bushes or the river. Anything just to prove, mostly to myself, that I am certainly not mad and that it wasn't all a dream." She leaned forward and laid on her stomach, balancing on the branch, running her fingers through her hair like a comb. "Do you think I'll ever be lucky enough to see one?"
"You make your own luck in this world Alice" replied her friend. "You can't obtain it from something like a, pardon the pun, rabbit's foot. It'll bring you as much luck as it did the rabbit." Reggie leaned back against the branch. "But I do believe you."
"You do?" she looked down at him, slightly surprised.
Reggie stood up so he was almost at her level. "My pop writes letters to me remember? He has done for years." A wide smile grew on his face, and he had a long distance look in his eyes.
"And the sorts of things he'd tell me about Alice. He'd write about big brown furred creatures in Canada, that could stand on their hind legs. Long necked creatures in Africa with spots. And these leaping animals in Australia that could box each other" he chuckled. "If creatures like that exist in the world, then it's not hard to believe something like a smoking caterpillar, or sea captain Dodo exists."
Alice just simply smiled at this. She knew at least with him she wouldn't have to justify and prove her sanity. Her smile then dropped however when Reggie said "You know I wish I could tell you more about this. I haven't received any letters from father in the past two months. My mother told it was because the ship carrying the letters had sunk, and would take a while for the next batch of letters to come through."
Alice turned away, a worried and guilty look on her face. She couldn't tell him what had happened. "Um, yes, I'm sure they'll come through eventually." She got off the branch and down on the ground, walking with her friend stepping through the flowers, and holding some in her hand, before both laying down on their stomachs next to the stream.
"You know, now that I think about it, I don't think I would like to return to Wonderland. Last time I was there, I nearly lost my head, thanks to a completely unfair trial, accompanied by a biased jury and idiotic witnesses, who made it look like that I was the one who caused the Queen to lose her temper" Alice ranted without raising her voice.
"Is that what happened?" asked the working class boy, fiddling with some broken twigs.
"Well I did call the Queen a, pardon my language, fat pompous bad tempered old tyrant" the girl turned away slightly embarrassed.
"You called her that?" Reggie laughed. "That's you all over Alice, you can be as well mannered and polite as a vicar, but you know how to use a viper tongue when angry. Amazing how you can say that to a Queen but not to those girls who make fun of you." He finished putting together the twigs which turned out to be a small model boat, that he released onto the water.
"Well perhaps you could've showed those cardmen guards a thing or two if you were there" Alice joked.
"Maybe." The boy, whilst still looking at the twig boat, asked seriously "Do you think I'll be a hero one day? Like the ones away in the empire? Like my father?"
"You mean going to foreign lands and fighting?"
"Anything. The newspapers always talk about how the brave soldiers discover new lands, fend off attackers, help out the natives of said lands by getting rid of troublemakers, in exchange for goods and resources." He continued. "Perhaps one day, maybe I'll even be like the fairytale heroes. Fighting evil soldiers with a sword, outsmarting the bad guys, defeating an evil tyrant, rescuing a damsel, anything like that y'know?"
Little did both children know, Dinah was on top of the tree branches, eyeing up a bug crawling on a leaf, preparing to pounce.
"Well if one wants to achieve something Reggie" Alice proclaimed offering a piece of advice, "One must keep his eye on the ball, and pay attention to the things that'll get him there."
That's when Dinah pounced and missed, falling out of the tree and into the running stream that the branch was dangling over. "Dinah!" Alice suddenly remembered as she heard the splash. Her cat had climbed out of her skirt pocket and onto the tree, she completely forgot.
Both children got up and rushed to the part of the stream Dinah was struggling to keep afloat in. "Reggie we have to do something! She'll drown!"
Thinking quickly, the working class boy ran down the side of the stream and jumped onto a rock in the middle of it. The current of the stream was going quite fast, so he had to be quick when grabbing her.
Looking for something to assist, Alice grabbed a long stick off the ground, and threw it to Reggie. "Reggie, catch!" It was just thick enough for Dinah to grab onto.
Kneeling down, Reggie steadied himself and lowered the stick. "Okay, if I can just-" he was cut off, as the rock he was on was too slippery, and he himself fell into the stream.
"Reggie! Dinah!"
Luckily, the long stick dropped and hung between the rock and the stream bank, to which a small paw emerged from the water and grabbed onto it. Alice knelt down and pulled the stick towards her, taking the soaked cat in her arms. "Oh Dinah, I'm so glad you're safe! I'm so sorry! You're soaking wet." She used her apron to dry off the shakened up feline and rubbed her face against the cat's.
Reggie managed to pull himself out of the stream and onto the bank. He briefly glanced over at Alice holding and comforting Dinah, and turned back to the floor trying to rinse his sleeves. "Some hero" he remarked about himself. But he felt an arm pull him into an embrace and realised Alice was hugging him.
"Thank you Reggie" she said not caring how wet he was. Realising that it was getting dark, as it was the time of the year when it became darker earlier, both Alice and Reggie decided it was best to leave and return to their homes, especially since Reggie was in need of drying out.
Walking across the bridge and back into the suburban area, they said their goodbyes to each other. "My mother's going to throw the book at me this time" Reggie had finally managed to rinse out his jacket as best he could.
"Are you going to be alright?" Alice had already wiped his face dry with her handkerchief.
"I'm more worried about you. What with all those important guests around, to bad there isn't a passage to Wonderland in your house" Reggie figured running his hands through his wet hair.
"Yes, well who knows Reggie, if there is anything that the land nonsense taught me, is that anything can happen."
