.

.

Wonderland burnt and burnt and burnt, with hedges and trees in flames while turning grass black like dirt. The creatures ran and ran, screaming, and the sky was turning red like blood as the smoke rose and tainted it's clearest-ocean-blue sky. The roses in the gardens bled, and he dare not ask why the queen was so happy to see them finally red. Who would tell him, anyway? Everyone was far too busy trying to live, running away in fear of the endless fire which they'd never escape.

Wonderland was red, bleeding, bleeding red - it seemed fitting in a beautiful kind of way. This place was so insane; it was fitting that something so normal and explainable should destroy it and the hearts that walked along it. They were still running away, even though there was nowhere to run, they continued to try. Didn't they all know everything was going to burn, burn away? There was no where to run. There was nowhere to hide. It would probably hurt less to accept it instead of trying fruitlessly to escape. No one ever escaped; no one ever got anyway.

The queen's palace was what was taken first; he decided to start it there. It had been fitting to burn the pretty heart cards that mocked him so and bowed to their queen. The hedge to the rose trees to the queen's pretty dress burnt in a pretty fire. The white rabbit ran, leaving his pocket watch behind, but there was no doubt in his mind that that rabbit would burn. The cat had led him there; opened a portal; ensured this place to hell. That cat had a look on his face that was scheming; it wouldn't surprise him if he wanted this to happen.

Next was the locus forest. Oh god, how the flowers screamed as the flames increased and increased; calling him things like weed and dirty. He had heard worst though, had been called nastiest things by people, those words meant nothing. Hell, they could even be seen as compliments.

He bet that in Wonderland, even weeds had hearts.

Flames rose from the ground as he walked it, he spread his fingers, taking in the intoxicating heat. It obeyed his command, bending to his will. The fire would dare burn its master. Several cards ran past him without sparing a glance. He was a nobody, after all, what had he expected. Surprisingly, he let them be. They were going to burn anyway, they would be punished.

He came to an archway on hedges and three creatures ran past him muttering things about it being a tragedy on his unbirthday. This place was where he had been heading all along, to her. She was his everything, perfection. She was waiting for him. Maybe burning down Wonderland wasn't a part of her plan, but what had she expected for him - for him to come and ask politely to take her away? He was never one for asking nicely, he took what he wanted and destroyed whatever stood in his way.

As he entered the hedge lined with red roses, he dodged the flames that rose to his waist. They were getting more violent, even towards him, as his interest in them hindered and lingered on her and only her. The flames were like a jealous girlfriend or, more correctly, ex-girlfriend, because his non-heart belonged to her.

And there she was. Sitting at a long table, all by her lonesome, surrounded by fire that was swore never to touch her.

Unfazed by the flames, she stared at him with almost longing eyes. She was expecting him for a long time – waiting there in the tea party for his unavoidable arrival. Ash and dust were making her pretty blue and white dress dirty but she didn't care. Her pretty hair was getting filthy but the only think she could think about was him.

A cup of tea sat, cupped in her hands, as she swirled slightly, and then smiled at him. "Would you like some tea, Axel?"

"Of course, Alice."

.

.

.

NOTES:

1. 4/1/09: Fixing up all old fanfiction.

2. Axel/Alice is mad love.