Baby, Welcome to Wonderful Wonderland

Based off of "Baby Love" by LucianKnight (permission was asked and has been granted)

Prologue / Teaser


The shallow "tick-tock" of each clock seemed synchronized, as each face looked as disinterested as the rest. Those of the faceless, buzzed about, enjoying large varieties of teas and tea time snacks. It was one of the rare times that bullets and bombs weren't being strewn about. Red was not mercessly staining the ground or the people around-unless they had clothed themselves in the suggestive shade. The inner gardens of the Hatter Mansion had not been so busy or lively in a very long time. Not since the hypnotic, and melonchalous "ba-thump" came to their land. But that was all in the past. Countless time changes, April seasons, storms and bullets had gone by since then.

Those who had fallen for the outwordly charm, felt like it would never end, they hoped it would never end, and they hoped she would have stayed with them- but, dreams must end. And that's all it was to her. A dream. A dream is one of the cruelist things someone can do to themselves. For when you wake up, you are left with the one thing more cruel than the dream itself; reality.

That's why she had come here in the first place. To escape that reality that had left her heartbroken and her mind even more so. The very reason that she wished to return home, was the reason that Peter brought her here. Her dearest older sister, the light of her life, and the very woman she idolized, was alive in her mind but in reality, she laid six feet under the soil.

When she finally remembered, when she pushed past the heart ache and opened the lock to the deepest part of her mind, she didn't crumble like Peter and Nightmare had feared. Perhaps all the bloodshed and the reality that the residents of Wonderland faced on a daily basis made it easier for her to accept her own. That her sister, six feet under the ground, surrounded by flowers and a soft bed was easier to accept than a world where no one had hearts. Where no one felt they had any value, all they were, and all they had were clocks and the roles assigned to them.

She made her choice, she accepted her reality, and she returned to it.

For the people of the Country of Hearts, and the few of the Country of Clover, they were left with their rule ridden reality, where time, and the clocks no longer mattered. Where no one bothered to argue and fight for their individual value. Because that was her normal, not theirs. Clocks could be fixed, roles could be reassigned, and rules would help guide them. Because that was their normal.

Soon, everyone fell back into the "normal" routine, and the mesmerizing sound was pushed to the backs of their minds. They found themselves living the same lives as before. They would meet regularily to fight, as per the rules. They would hold meetings, as per the rules. They would host events, such as today's "tea party", hosted by Blood Dupre and his Mafia family- as per the rules.

Everything is as it was.

Blood didn't enjoy having his private estate over run and cramped by the other Role Holders, and he especially detested the faceless roaming around as if they were something special. But, it was the rules. So he sat, with his back facing most of the crowd, and his table set out in front of him with elegantly designed saucers, cups, and flatware laid out. No one other than the March Hare, the Gate keepers and the Queen of Hearts herself dared to sit along side him.

Blood sat with his chair slightly tipped back as he sipped on his favourite tea, trying to suppress the urge to purge his residence of all the lower life forms. He didn't even have it in him to galavant his power and superiority to Gowland. Every now and then he would look up, to watch his "secret" sister, sit with poise and proper posture. Just having her near helped ease his anger and anxieties.

Vivaldi, enjoyed the scheduled visit with her astranged brother. It was one of the few times that they could meet without hiding, or without trying to kill each other. They had successfully fooled everyone in their country by having them believe they were nothing more than role holders that just happened to have a role at the same time as one another. It took quite awhile but finally, everyone that knew of their shared DNA were no longer here- thanks to a few bullets. And for that, she gratefully sipped on her favourite tea, that Blood so thoughtfully had prepared for her.

The March Hare was stuffing his face with every carrot riddled treat and dainty on the table like it was the regular tea time. He paid no mind to the scowl upon the Queen or Prime Minister's face, caused by his lack of decorum. But the treats were too good to hold back on. Every bite was instantly followed by another.

The gate keepers, Dee and Dum, continued to talk back and forth with each other. They didn't talk to any one else, because they didn't need anyone else. They continually discussed how they wished to go play with the "cat". But they would have to wait for the party to be done- as per the rules.

Gowland, easily blended in with the faceless, chatting and making the best of everything there was. He insisted on joining the string quartet that was entertaining the larger crowd. But as soon as three notes came from his violin, faceless workers of Blood quickly shut that down.

Boris, being the mischievous cat he was, was taking the opportunity to openly explore the grounds of the Hatter Mansion. He often did so whenever he pleased, but this time it was much easier, as guards, and the gate keepers were leaving him alone.

Julius was minding his own business off to the side, away from everyone else, waiting for the first opportunity to leave. But he would have to wait for it to end- as per the rules. He would never admit it, but he was one of the two individuals that were impacted by her absence the most- at least at first he was. He slowly went back into his own routine, missing meals, skipping any sort of a break countless time changes at a time, and not allowing anyone inside the Clock Tower. However, that didn't stop the Knight of Hearts.

Ace still continued his side work for Julius, as well as his duties as the Knight. He came and left the Clock Tower as he pleased, coming as often as he could (once he found his way), and leaving shortly after. Even now, he stuck beside Julius, trying to get him to socialize more, but mostly relishing the reactions he gained because of his relentless behaviour.

Off on his own, looking to his large watch that was attached by a chain, was the one who was most affected by the absence of the outsider. Trying not to allow anyone to touch him, he scowled at everyone through his round frames. He had fallen to a new depth befitting to his reputation before she came. He was cruel, begrudging and short tempered to those who he saw as lower than him. After all, he was the Prime Minister. He was above all, except for the Queen. If the rules would have allowed it, he would have drawn his gun and shot down servants who approached and spoke to him without any consideration of their status.

The only solace in her returning was that she would remember him. In his and Nightmare's attempt at "helping" her forget her sister, it also meant that she would forget him. He spent many occassions in her world, watching her on Sunday afternoons, reading and talking with her beloved sister. But the pain Peter saw in her once her sister died, made him take action. He wanted to see her smile again and if removing her sister, and him, from her memories meant that could happen again- he was willing to risk it. But...it didn't go as planned, and she chose to remember, she chose to keep her deceased sister and the little white rabbit in her memories forever. So, she left.

Everything is as it should.

"My, my..I think the Clockmaker is eager to get back to work, Blood." Speaking lightly to the side of her already tipped tea cup, Vivaldi, took the last sip of her still warm tea. Her eyes were barely able to take in her surroundings as she tried to focus on the cup in front of her. Her long lashes clouded most of it, but she could still clearly see the long haired shut in slowly make his way over to the table.

"Hn, it would seem so." Blood, was surprised Julius lasted this long, and honestly, Blood himself wanted to end it as soon as it started. But without a good reason, the time of day cannot be changed, and the party cannot end. But, even if he did not like the clocks being repaired, it was still considered an important role, an important job. Which should warrant a good enough reason to change the time, thus ending the party. Using his pinky as a cushion, Blood gently set down his cup and saucer. Just in time to look at Julius with the side of his eyes, not bothering to turn to face him, but giving enough sign that he is willing to talk. "Wanting to leave already, Mortician?"

Ignoring the blatant attempt at an insult, Julius cleared his throat. "Yes, unfortunately, I do not get the luxury of taking such breaks." His eyes roamed over the March Hare who had crumbs and icing surround his mouth, and over the gatekeeper twins who all seemed too eager for the party to end.

"Brother, he's telling Boss what to do."

"-Yes it would seem that way brother."

The two of them practically had their hands full of whatever could be used as weapons, since theirs had been confiscated earlier. Their fists eagerly clutched onto butter knives and forks that had been placed on the lace table cloth.

"Dee, Dum, that's enough. I was just thinking that this had become boring." Setting down his chair so it was on all four legs, the time changed from afternoon, to sunset.

The music stopped all at once, and the faceless knew that the party was over. All trying to mind their manners, and their clocks, each made it out of the garden and out the gate of the mansion. Fighting was still prohibited, as per the rules, but they didn't want to take their chances. In what seemed like seconds, the garden area had already been cleaned up and emptied- all except for the role holders. Even though the party was over, the next host needed to be decided, and each had to show their gratitude to their host- as per the rules.

With a hearty laugh, Gowland broke the silence. "Well, Blood, I must admit, this was more fun than I was expecting."

"I thought you would enjoy a brief look into what success really is, Mary." Tilting his overly decorated hat up, Blood turned to get a better look at Gowland, who was ready to blow a gasket, and Blood's brains everywhere.

"Woah Woah! Gowland! The rules!" Appearing from whatever meschevious adventure he was on, Boris appeared behind Gowland. He looped his arms under and around Gowland's elbows, keeping him from pointing his gun at the mafia host.

"Come on, Cheshire, let the man have some fun." Smacking Boris on the back, Ace was all in favour for a rule to be broken, all so he could fulfill his duty that he so often complained about. Even if he didn't like the role forced upon him, he enjoyed enforcing it upon other's. Carrying out the "justice" and punishing those who broke Wonderland's rules.

"We would like to have some fun too! Wouldn't we brother?"

"-Indeed we would, brother!"

In complete unison, Dee and Dum stood up on their chairs, each placing a foot on the table and pulled out small pistols from their hiding place.

"What deplorable manners. Do not forget you are in the presence of the Queen!" Finally stepping in, Peter pushed his glasses back into place with a gloved hand. His brows were furrowed and his eyes darkened just like they always did before performing a punishment.

"Now, Prime Minister, there's no such need for that nasty look." Finally standing, Blood adjusted his buttoned coat.

"-I suggest we pick our next host before heads roll, Hm?" Even though she loved the colour red, especially when it rushed like a waterfall, she was somewhat grateful that somehow each role holder hadn't changed. Somehow, despite all the fighting and time that had gone by, each one of them were just as they were when she was here.

"I tend to agree with her Majesty." With his arms released, Gowland's gun disappeared and his anger over Blood's abuse of his real name gone. He was back to his care-free front. "If memory serves me right, it should be my turn to host next?" Flashing a large smile, he already had plans of new rides and thrills to entertain everyone with.

With a sigh, Vivaldi stood up from her chair and smoothed out her over the top designed dress. "-It would seem so, as per the rules."

With a twitch of their ears, Boris and Elliot looked off into the same direction. Peter, however, ignored his twitch, keeping focus on her majesty, the Queen. For Peter, it had become normal to hear such things, his mind forcing his own ideals to keep him happy- to keep him from going mad and returning to her world. But he knew better, it was all in his head.

His left ear twitched once more when he heard it again.

Even more peculiar was that at the same time, Elliot's ears straightened, all to hear better, and the tip of Boris's tail twitched. With his ears trying to turn in the direction, Peter finally turned himself, to share in the same hardened expression as Boris and Elliot.

"Do ya hear that?" His eyes narrowing, Boris's tail twitched again as he picked up the sound clear as day. But it seemed those without the animalistic features hadn't picked up on it yet.

"Hn.." Nodding his head, that was all Elliot could munster up between the food stuffed in his mouth and he desire to keep listening.

"What is it, Peter?" Catching on to the pattern of their line of vision, Vivaldi, looked off to the back of the gardens that was full of long hedges and where it eventually lead the the secret rose garden.

But, Peter didn't respond. He stared off, focusing on the small sound that seemed to affect him in such a huge way.

ba-dump

ba-dump

ba-dump

Everything was no longer as it should.


As stated at the top, this is a teaser only. I have a main story for "Samurai Champloo" that I am going to finish before I really start on this one. Hopefully I will be able to pick this up in later February or March 2018.