Alice Liddell had wandered into the richer part of London, where the ladies and gentlemen dressed finer, there were no odd smells, and there was not a prostitute in sight. She had been on her way to find and collect her old stuffed rabbit when a dilema paused her quest and sparked her interest.
"...But mother, I hate the color! And my hair just won't do what I want it to!" A very whiney voice complained from an open window. Alice rolled her eyes and huffed.
"How vain and petty it is to complain about a color." she said to herself. She had only a couple old, ragged dresses and had no right to be picky with what she wore. Her black hair, which used to be a pretty auburn color but grew back black since having it shaved in the asylum, barely reached her shoulders. The whiney girl should be grateful she had any hair at all! How odd it felt to walk around with nothing on her head.
Alice couldn't help to think, though. To think about how her life would have been had her family not perished in that horrible fire. Would Alice be like that girl? Having fine dresses and long, beautiful hair, and complaining if something was not to her liking?
Suddenly, Alice saw herself. She was wearing a beautiful emerald dress that matched her eyes. Her sister, Lizzie, stood behind her as she brushed Alice's hair and styled it as their mother often did. They were talking about some boys from down the street and giggling. The scene made Alice feel like someone was gripping her heart and squeezing it. It all seemed so silly and unneccessary, but Alice wanted it more than anything in the world.
Out of nowhere, the scene errupted in flames and burned away, as if she were looking at a photograph. Around her were the burning remains of some old building and sitting before her, with his perpetual grin in place, was the Cheshire Cat.
"Enough delusions of vanity and could-have -beens, Alice. Wonderland needs you. FInd the Rabbit." Alice gripped her Vorpal Blade harder and set off in the direction the Cat disappeared.