(A/N: A bit of a before-chapter schmoo-rant. I never realized how close-knit this fandom is. I've read hundreds of stories in the IZ world and in almost every one someone is mentioned as thanks. So I went and looked up that someone and THEY had mentioned someone. Repeat and voila - same result. This led me round and round and round until I reached this conclusion. The ones who truly (Sorry to you who don't fit this category) care about the quality and the work of the writers of this (and probably many other fandoms) are the ones who get mentioned in the author's notes or summaries. And those people (provided they write and don't just have an account to leave reviews (though with the addition of anonymous reviews it makes it rather easy to do that anyway…)) have people they want to thank for hours of reading and weeks of waiting for the next chapter so they could offer some advice on it to improve their writing style. And that made me think: I wonder how many amazing writers started out as fangirls/guys who wrote fanfictions on this site and found that one person who would read their story - every chapter of it - and review with not just sweet encouraging words, but with words that opened some wounds to make them stronger. Wellp, food for thought my dear kiddies! And now back to your regularly scheduled program!)

-x-

Dib sighed deeply, his work finally done. He had searched the entire web for those pieces, those hidden encrypted files that, once he had decoded and descrambled them, had joined together to make this game, this MMORPG called "Looking-Glass". He smiled as the game loaded, the graphics were incredible, so life-like and seamless, no polygonal structure was visible and the people moved like…people. The sound too astounded him (not that he had ever really played any MMOs, they never seemed to hold his attention long enough), every tiny note perfectly in pitch and so lifelike that he looked around for a second, half expecting a bird to fly overhead and drop a bomb right on the shoulder of his coat. He clicked the 'START' button and sat back as the opening sequence played.

A soft meadow scrolled by, all flowers and blue sky. Then it crossed a boundary and changed into a filthy world, one where the ground bled and the trees wept acids, scarring the rocks beneath them. The voice over began, the narrator being a young girl with a pure crystal tone, "This is Wonderland. It exists between the Realms of dreaming and awake. Here your Dreams are real, your deepest Desires manifested. Yet there is something amiss - a fracture in the Realm. The Black Queen's mirror is beginning to swallow everything, devouring the kind world of Wonderland and turning it into her own twisted image, her own Heart's Desire. We need you to return again to Wonderland, O ye the hero of lore, and reclaim the throne as thy own. But beware, the Queen doth creep, she lurks in the shadows and may tempt you. Be pure, be wise, see through the lies. Make hidden Desire come to light and lift the Kingdom from its Plight." The screen pulled back to reveal a small lapin form wearing a vest and clutching to a gilded pocket watch. It smiled and bowed, "Hello Traveler. Welcome to Wonderland. Would you like to take the tutorial or continue without advisement?"

Dib's brow furrowed, 'I found this game and decoded it and pieced it back together. I don't think I need any help.' He clicked on 'NO', 'and it's no fun if I get babied through the game.'

"Ah…well then," his Guide smiled jovially and bowed, "Shall we get started? Please choose your class."

Dib scrolled through the classes, studying their pros and cons. "Knight: a brave and fearless warrior wielding a sword in the name of Good. His heavy armor protects him from many blows but impedes movement." He muttered to himself, "Rook: a strong warrior, quick and formidable. Defense is compromised in attacks, however. Bishop: long-range magic-user. Is useless once spells run out of energy." He scoffed slightly, the thought of a mage running out of power ludicrous, "Pawn: and agile fist fighter. Has no extraordinary skills." He frowned, 'Has no extraordinary skills?' His mouse hovered over each of the choices, Rook, Knight, Bishop, and Pawn. He clicked the mouse and his Guide frowned slightly.

"Are you SURE that you want to go with this choice?" it asked, "Once you choose, there is no going back."

"Of course I'm sure…" Dib rolled his eyes and clicked the button again.

"If you insist…" his Guide seemed a tad peeved at his choice but he seemed to perk up immediately, "Do you wish to create a Sleeper or would you like to use a pre-made Reflection?"

Dib bit his lip in deep thought, suddenly wishing he had taken the tutorial. 'Sleeper I'm assuming is a custom-made avatar of your choosing so a Reflection must be a randomly generated avatar….I think if I take too much time playing this Gaz'll find me out and when she does, she'll kill me for keeping this game a secret from her…so I guess I'll go with-' he clicked 'REFLECTION' and shuddered slightly as his Guide stared at him with cold, unblinking pink eyes.

"Generating Reflection…" it noted chipperly and a small ornate hourglass rotated, transferring its sands from top to bottom and vice versa. "Finished!" his Guide smiled and Dib just stared. When they meant Reflection - he didn't think they meant THIS.

On the screen was an accurate representation of Dib. His avatar, his Reflection, was four-foot nine like him and had his scythe-shaped 'do and mahogany eyes beneath rounded glasses. This wasn't just accurate; it was SCARILY accurate, perfect down to the very details.

"Now, to proceed; there are very few playing this Game as it is very exclusive, only the brilliant or the forcible know of this Game. Therefore beware those who you encounter…they may not be who you think they are…" his Guide stared at him again (Dib was sure it was AT him and not out of the screen…he didn't quite know why though…a hunch?) and then smiled, it's whiskers twitching, "I'll always be here if you need me, just ask." Then it disappeared as the spawning area loaded.

Dib gaped, around him (his Reflection) was a large field similar to the one in the opening but more of it was okay and not all…evil and stuff. He moved his Reflection around experimentally and smiled, it moved like him too. Then he frowned, something felt off…

The music changed and became a menacing piece in a minor key, throbbing with bass and low reeds. A large rat lurched up, balancing on its hind legs, red in the eyes and slavering at the mouth. 'Holy crap!!! This thing is HUGE!!!' Dib moved his Reflection to dodge and then duck, 'Think…what would Gaz say?...'

An image of Gaz popped up in his head, unbidden and growled, 'Dib…I WILL KILL YOU IF YOU DON'T TELL ME ABOUT THIS GAME!!!!' Dib jumped, his Reflection dodging again. He focused his mind on Gaz again, thinking about her L33T 64M3R 5K1LLZ this time. This time the image was less scary, 'Left click on the monster, right click on "ATTACK". Look up shortcuts in the "HELP" section next time you WHINER!!!!'

He shuddered, "A little TOO realistic for my tastes…" he muttered to himself, loving her as an older brother would nonetheless. He followed her instructions, left click the monster (which locked on to it and opened up a small scrolling browser interface), clicked 'ATTACK' , and sat back and watched his Reflection do the rest.

The Game-Dib raised his hands in the air and lashed a quick jab to the monster, lowering its health slightly. Then it repeated, almost automatically dodging another slow swipe from the rat. This went on and on ad, after about thirty or so jabs, the rat fell. "KO!!!!" Dib grinned and pumped his fist excitedly. Then the rat's corpse shimmered and, in the place of the dead monster was a card. Dib('s Reflection) picked it up. It was the joker. "Odd…" Dib tilted his head and watched in amazement as his Reflection glowed, the text "30 EXP EARNED". He sighed contently; maybe this WAS worth missing a few nights of sleep over.

-x-

The Rabbit reported angrily, "Madam, another has arrived!"

"Is he worthy of me? Who is he? His class - his alignment - TELL ME…"

"Erhm…" the Rabbit sweated slightly, "He is Dib and he's a Free Pawn…madam…"

There was a furious silence, "A FREE PAWN?!"

"Y-yes madam…"

"But why? All the others have picked something worth a little more power or promise than a PAWN…And FREE?! There has NEVER been a Player of Free alignment! This is unprecedented!!! Very unprecedented…" the silence that followed ended prematurely, "Keep a VERY close eye on this one."

The Rabbit bowed, "Yes madam."

"You may leave." And he did.

-x-

(A/N: So…I like this one. Lately I've found myself becoming rather Dib-centric in my fics…gotta break free of that before it becomes a ZADR-centric…of course, I AM a fangirl and I DO like me a steamy ZADR now and then…NO!!! No ZADR for Illisandria! *smacks face with own hand* And now back to your usually mundane lives…but, before we do…R&R lest the Black Queen's mirror devour your soul and corrupt your God-given form into that of a filthy monster (on the outside…on the inside you'd be goo…). Ta~)