(A/N) - This is short. And stupid. Forgive me - Randall and my novel are sharing most of my brain right now - think of this as a ... coffee break from the two. Not that there won't be effort put into this - believe me, there will be, just ... give it time! And many thanks to my reviewers! :)

Chapter 2 - Strange Face In A Strange Place

Everything was bright. She was in sunlight again! Before she could rejoice, she fell on her bottom, right onto a cushiony red velvet pouffe with a loud "Oof!!"

"Rabbit!!" a voice called, loud and shrill. It frightened Alice, and she immediately scrambled to her feet, ducking behind a large fence-like archway, covered in vines. Her blue eyes went wide when she'd realized she was in some kind of palace, with black-and-white checkered floors, and elaborate furniture, tables and chairs, all red and gold.

'What could this place be?' she thought. She didn't know anyone lived in the meadow behind her house! After all, there was a lake not so far off ... and was she underground right now? No, she couldn't be! She looked up, squinting. There was the sun, the same old sun from her world, hiding behind some clouds.

"Coming, your Majesty!" a nasally voice with a sort of British accent responded.

Alice turned, wide-eyed, to see what appeared to be a man in a rabbit suit with rollerskates. He rolled into the courtyard, and stopped suddenly at the sight of Alice. His ears went up in fright, and all she could do was stare right back.

"Rabbit!" the woman's voice called again, "There you are! I thought I told you to send out the invitations for croquet this evening! I just stopped by the Hatter and the Hare's to see if they had enough tea for the event, and they said they didn't know I was planning a croquet game this evening!"

As she spoke, Rabbit's eyes kept glancing nervously in Alice's direction, and he had quickly rolled up past the archway when the Queen made to approach.

"What is the matter with you?" she asked, appalled, "Did you send out the invitations or not?"

He laughed nervously, and held up the handful of envelopes, "Almost done, your highness."

"Very well then. Do hurry up!" she said impatiently, and turned on her heel and left.

Alice peeked up and caught a glimpse of red as the Queen turned the corner.

"What are you doing here, little girl?"

She looked up to see the Rabbit peering down curiously at her, and pretty much frightened at the sight of her.

"I'm not little!" she retorted as she stood, and he stumbled backwards on his skates, nearly falling, "I'm almost seven years old!!"

"Shh!!" he hissed, "She'll hear you!"

"What is this place?" she asked.

He blinked, "You mean you don't know?" he asked, "This is Wonderland. And right now, you're sitting right outside the Red Queen's throne room!"

"Is that bad?" she asked.

"If she finds you, it could be!" he whispered frantically, and took her by the hand. She rushed to keep up as he rolled out of the courtyard as fast as his wheels could take him.

"Is she mean?" Alice asked in a huff once Mr. Rabbit stopped in the middle of the forest just outside the palace. "She sounds it."

"She can be," he shuddered, "I don't know how she'd react to a newcomer - you're certainly not from around here, and if she found a stranger in her palace like that, well I ... I-I don't know how she'd react!"

"I don't mean any harm," she assured, "I mean, I didn't even mean to come here. I just sorta fell ..."

But the Rabbit really wasn't paying attention; he was shifting nervously on his skates, "I'm late!" he announced suddenly with a sort of squeak, "I need to give out the rest of these invitations before the party!" and he skated off.

"Wait!" she called after him, but he'd soon disappeared.

Alice sighed. This seemed to be a common attribute in grown-ups lately. No matter how much she read and tried to be as smart as them, it still didn't keep their attention on her for very long.

(A/N) - Kill me. Go ahead. You know you want to. And there is more, just ... not enough yet. Please review and feed thine muse!