"Over there is the Haunted Mansion. My word, do they have a full orchestra in there?" Alice muttered irately as the duo walked into a plaza of sorts. To the left appeared to be a restaurant, while to the right was a sinister-looking mansion. Flickering lights were blazing in the windows and loud music arranged in a spooky waltz was echoing from the mansion.

"Are you certain we can't go?" Giselle asked as she walked to were a sign labeled The Haunted Mansion stood. Then, a hand grabbed her by the elbow and pulled hard enough that Giselle spun around to see Alice's grim face,

"Tomorrow we will go to the Haunted Mansion. I promise. Now, let's go before…"

"Before what, Miss Alice?" Giselle jumped when a new voice interrupted Alice. She turned to see a woman in a black and green dress glaring at her, ignoring the fact that her once-tight bun was falling out allowing loose strands of brown hair to dangle and that her dress was unkempt and wrinkled.

"Oh! Hello, I'm afraid I didn't see you there," Alice stammered as she linked her arm with Giselle's.

"Miss Alice, you haven't been here for a long time. The Master missed talking to you. Have you come to visit?" The woman asked dryly. Giselle noticed suddenly that the woman had dark violet eyes, an odd addition to her haphazard looks.

"I am afraid I can't meet the master tonight. I am helping Giselle here around the park. We will be back tomorrow, though," Alice said.

"I'll tell the Master that you and…Giselle…will come tomorrow evening. He will be most pleased to hear from you. Good night, Miss Alice," The woman replied. Then, to Giselle's shock, her form shimmered to a light blue ball of glowing energy that zoomed to the house and vanished through the front door.

"That's no good. Not good at all," Alice huffed, putting her hands on her waist.

"What's not good?" Giselle asked.

"Come on, let go," Alice replied, striding off briskly enough that Giselle had to catch up. They had arrived to what appeared to be a plaza, different buildings made of stone lined the nearby street and the castle glowed across the bridge near the end of the cobblestone road.

"The Master of the house, Master Gracey, is one of the strangest characters in the park. He, well, was 'born' before anyone knew what he looked like or had an associated form,"

"What does that mean?"

"A movie was made, The Haunted Mansion, that gave him a form to take on. However, the ride was in full operation many years before the movie. People believed in him, those who believed the man who hung himself as Master Gracey. This caused a strange phenomena, he was born invisible and unable to leave his attraction," Alice replied, looking over her shoulder.

"When the movie came out, then he could gain a form, correct?" Giselle asked.

"Yes, he could. However, he is still unable to leave the mansion and, due to the strange occurrence, he can take visible form during the daylight hours and actually meet the guests," Alice continued.

"Wha…"

"In a basic sense, he overcame the boundaries that keep us. He had gained the ability to manifest as either a butler or himself and greet people who visit the parks."

"I understood that. But, you said he hung himself…"

"Oh, that's just what people thought and still think today. People think Master Gracey is the Ghost Host that narrates the ride for the guests. However, even if he insists about it, I have doubts. You see, the skeleton is dressed as a butler, not as a…" Alice started, and then she stopped and spun around.

"Something wrong…" Giselle started.

"Sh…" Alice replied. Then, something moved just in the shadow of the sign labeled Liberty Tree Tavern.

"Scar…" Alice hissed, putting one hand into the pocket of her apron.

"Hello, Alice," A new voice growled from the shadow and a lion calmly strode from the shadow. He had thick brown fur and a black mane that swished with every step, a small scar prominent over her left eye.

"What do you want, Scar?" Alice hissed as she pulled out four cards. Giselle noticed they were just four playing cards, similar to the ones she used when playing with Robert and Morgan during the rainy days in New York City.

"I heard from Ursula that a new person was arriving today. Since the princesses are unreliable, I decided to find you. And look, there is the new one standing just behind you," he hissed, continuing to advance slowly.

"Back off, Scar," Alice warned.

"Dear Alice, do you really think of me to attack the new girl on her first day?" Scar growled with a smirk on his face.

"I wouldn't put it against you. Begone now!" Alice yelled. Scar growled angrily, crouching before leaping out at her.

"Dual Spades!" Alice yelped, letting one card free. It burst into two spade-like projectiles that arced and hurtled towards Scar. He growled and leapt to the side. The two projectiles, missing their target, landed with a clang and skidded across the cobblestone.

"Return," Alice said, the two projectiles vanished with a pop and the card, a two of spades, was back into her hand. Scar hissed and leapt again. Alice grabbed Giselle by the arm and pulled so that Giselle was out of the way when Scar landed where she was originally standing.

"Diamond Rush," Alice hissed again. This time a new card erupted into a stream of diamonds that struck Scar. He howled as the diamonds struck his body and he ran, his tail between his legs and howling curses at Alice before vanishing.

"Return," She growled again. The card returned and Giselle saw the Ten of Diamonds before she stuffed it back into her apron.

"Sorry about that. There are many foul people and animals brought to life by belief. Scar there is one of them," Alice remarked with a sigh.

"Yes, sorry about Scar…" A new male voice interrupted and the two girls spun to see who spoke.