A/N: Thanks for the reviews everyone, especially SweetieRainbow, sami1010220, somethingratherrandom, VampireloverD, lotus-bugxm9, BlueNew113, Summerrayah, and Umino Akiko for great advice. I will take it to consideration.

Chapter 2: The Name is Alice

"Ahhhhhh! Oh my not againnnn!" Alice screamed as she fell down the endless hole. It was a feeling like no other. When she was a child, she often wondered what it might feel like to fly. She now imagined that this was the closest she'd ever be to flying as she descended the continuous vertical tunnel, dodging random objects like a rocking chair and a clock. She was ever so happy to find no grand piano in her way down.

Bouncing once more on the iron rod bed, she grabbed a hold of a pink parasol, and opened it, finding her journey quite less worrisome with a graceful landing in the small room with the many doors. Feeling more confident than once before, she grabbed both the potion and key off the small glass table and bent to open the tiny door. She popped the cork out if the bottle and consumed the shrinking potion. Grabbing her now very large dress, she held it tightly to her body and entered the door.

Alice was sure that Wonderland would have become familiar to her by now, yet she couldn't help but stare in awe of the wonder of the world around her—the endless sky with cotton candy clouds and the giant trees and mushrooms that towered her. Alice looked about for the main path, and quickly found her way through the forest.

She wondered where that cat had gone when she saw two round bobbing objects wobbling her way.

"Tweedles!" Alice shouted in excitement as she recalled her tumbling friends. The smiled at her and mirrored their joy with welcoming waves.

"Alice!" they cried together and ran to her position, launching a double hugs her way. "You're back" Dee said with Dum finishing "already?!"

"Yes, I suppose I couldn't stay away a moment too long. Where is everyone?" Alice returned the hug, while she noticed Wonderland was rather quiet.

"Well, after you left, the White Queen decided to have a grand celebration," Dum said in a matter-of-fact tone as Dee responded, "in your courageous honor of course".

"Really? Had I known about this party I would had never left." Alice said more to herself than to the twins. She could just imagine the people of Underland rejoicing in the rightful reign of the White Queen and the slaying of the Jabberwocky. Alice had definitely regretted leaving so sudden. She wondered how everyone was taking her apparent departure.

"Tweeds, how about you escort me to the celebration, I'm sure everyone will be pleasantly surprised at me return." Alice was particularly interested in seeing a certain someone.

"Oh yes, Miss Alice. But wait, you are still very small from that potion." Dee searched his pockets for something, and pulled out a napkin. Inside was a tiny cake that read, "Eat me."

"oh no, not this again. I will be sure to only taste it, I don't want to be as large as a house again!" and with hesitation, Alice nibbled the corner of the cake, and slowly grew to her normal height. Clutching the layers of fabric, she adjusted her dress to fit her properly. The looked to the Tweedles for direction.

Dee offered as he took the lead, and Dum looked to Alice and told her if the huge celebration that was at the Queen's castle. He told her of all the fancy white decorations that hung upon the walls and the masses of delectable food there would be to eat.

"Oh it all sounds wonderful Dum, but why aren't you two there to enjoy the party?" She asked, stumped by why the twins alone were wandering about the lonely road.

"Well, the Queen said we were supposed to find something here to bring to the party." said Dee as they approached him White Castle. "Yeah, I hope she won't be too upset that we didn't find anything," Dum replied sadly. Alice was sure that they did intact find what they didn't know what they were looking for and giggled.

They continued down his path when suddenly, the once bright blue sky was shaded by a huge dark blanket filled with large bright stars. Alice noticed how fast the transition was from night to day was as opposed to back in the Otherland, where night took a couple hours to complete.

They reached the castle's large white gates and were greeted by no other than the White Rabbit, who instead of entitling them in a warm welcoming Alice and the Tweeds, was tapping on his pocket watch and stomped his rabbit foot, repeating in a parental voice, "you're late, I daresay the latest you've ever been Alice!" then, lead the trio to the grand hallway, where they could overlook the festival hat was occurring on the ballroom floor.

Now, Alice had been to her fair share of balls, and though she rather pretend to be sick on these special parties, she never really enjoyed these gatherings because it usually meant dancing with an obnoxiously dull partner and using proper etiquette all night long, yet, what she saw on that marble dance floor was quite another story. Yes there were people dancing, but they were moving radically to a beat unheard of to Alice's unexposed ears. It was a noise like no other—the type of noise you'd hear if you were banged pots and pans while lightning bolts shot out the sky and frogs croaked in a pond during a summer's night. Whatever it was, it was coming from a small band of animals with a large mushrooms head, flower stems, large green leaves, and strange shells. And everyone enjoyed it. They were dipping, bobbing, jumping, and shaking to the strange beats as their feet could hardly keep up with the music.

Alice looked around and saw the March Hare and the Dormouse doing some kind of odd waltz, while Bayard and his wife were pouncing together near their pups. She even saw Chessur floating above another group cats, though they were spotted and feisty. The White Queen was sitting on her throne gazing happily at her pupils enjoying heir well deserved celebration. Alice wondered if the Queen had foreseen her returning to Wonderland, and decided to ask the Queen about whether or not she could go home again, if that was what she wanted.

There was one person though that was absent from the festivities. Hatter was nowhere to be seen from the dance floor and Alice couldn't help but feel a tinge of sadness to not see him having fun with everyone else. Attempting to ignore her sudden sadness, she linked her arms with both Tweeds, and descended the large staircase, and while she gracefully reached the dance floor, everyone turned in shock and waved, clapped and shouts delightfully at Alice's return. Alice waved back at everyone and made her way to the Queen's throne.

"My Queen, I have returned." Alice said as she curtsied politely and smiled up at the Queen.

"Alice, our courageous champion, I knew you would return to us!" said the White Queens as she winked to Alice, "Everyone, we have our Alice back once more!" she rejoiced and stood next to their champion. After everyone returned to their dancing, the queen motioned for Alice to sit on her right side.

"So Alice, what brings you back to Underland once more?" the White Queen asked smoothly, while staring at Alice at the corner of her eye. Although Alice had believed the Queen expected her return, she was uncertain as to what she was implying. Her pale face with the dark lines of her lips and eyes were quite a contrast to the subtle pink in Alice's cheeks, yet Alice thought Her Majesty one of the most handsome rulers of her time.

Gazing about the room to avoid eye contact, Alice measly replied, "It was actually quite an accident, I suppose," and wanted to add more, yet, even though she had wanted to return, she did not consciously force her feet towards the Rabbit's Hole, yet, she found herself there anyway. She turned to the Queen to gauge her response.

The Queen quirked an eyebrow and gave a suggestive look Alice's way, replying after a moment of silence, "Peculiar, it is not, that the place you left turned out to be the very place you soon were to return? I wonder what, or who, enchanted you to return?" Her voice was as thick and silky as the cream Alice often put in her tea, and full of implication as the Queen's previous look.

Instead of directly answering her question, Alice thought for a moment, and insightfully replied, "Well, perhaps my head wants to stay in Otherland, while my hearts wishes to stay here, in Won—Underland." To this, the Queen giggled and modestly agreed, "Perhaps so."

"What an odd thought, to live in one world without a head, and in another without a heart? My dear Alice, however would you manage that?" laughed the Cheshire cat, who suddenly appeared in between The Queen and Alice. His grin extended a mile wide and his whole body was revealed from the smoke and he floated onto the Queen's lap. "Your Majesty, how can our brave Alice be so silly with her thoughts?" he laughed again, purring to the soft pet of the Queen's hand.

The Queen giggled, and continued to pet the large cat, "Maybe she is as mad as a hatter…" and she turned to Alice, who understood the underlying meaning in her voice.

Alice decided that the awkwardness of the conversation was too much for her, and excused herself to the treat table, where she gazed upon the thousands of delectable goodies to eat, nearly all were drizzled in a white sauce to match the theme of the party. Alice poured herself a glass of white wine, and while about to take a sip; she noticed the apparent silence of the entire ballroom. She noticed the masses of creatures turn to the look at the grand staircase, and she fixed her eyes on quite a vision.

A tall man, seated on a brown horse was dismounting the creature, and removed his gloves. He had long brown hair, and gorgeously green eyes that were full of question and wonder at the party around him. He was followed by a slightly younger rider who remained on his black horse. His build not as robust, but his indifferent look told Alice he cared not a bit to be here.

As the older man descended down the staircase, the dancers parted the ballroom so his path to the Queen was clear, and the Queen Stood slowly in wonder at her unexpected guest. "Alcide, you have returned to my kingdom once more. Oh has the time flown by ever so quickly!" She held out her arms and left her throne to warmly welcome Alcide, who bowed in her honor and returned her look of joy.

"My Queen, I do agree, the clock has been my aid through the years, yet tis the day for celebration, as your wicked sister has finally been vanquished!" Alcide shouted and turned to the crowd, who cheered along with his remark.

The Queen was a bit taken back by his remark, yet embraced him just the same, "Well, as you know Alcide, I couldn't hurt a living thing, but I assure you my poor big-headed sister will not trouble the people of Underland once more," and to this even Alice clapped happily.

"So your gracefulness, where might our great warrior be, so might shake the hand of such a noble man?" he spoke, looking about for a strong defender. The Queen simply replied, "She," and pointed toward the girl clad in a makeshift pale blue dress.

Alice dropped her napkin, and felt quite embarrassed to be mistaken for a man, yet though she would have never thought herself as a Jabberwocky slayer. She stood up straight, and decided to not worsen the situation; she made her way silently toward the two nobles.

Alcide stood in shock of such a young, small lady, who had apparently slayed the great beast. Surely the Queen was joking. He turned to the Queen as said, "Her?" to which the Queen nodded her head. Alcide dropped to his knees before Alice and bowed his head, "Warrior, what might be your name?" he asked.

Alice stood in shock of the gesture; surely no one had ever bowed in front of her that way except for the awful Hamish Ascot and his proposal. She responded proudly for a change, "The name is Alice," and curtsied in reply, which caused a low giggle from the crowd. Apparently, she hadn't needed to curtsy when she was being bowed to.

The man arose from his knees and introduced himself as, "Alcide Roughton, Duke of Spades. It is quite an honor and surprise on my part to meet the great slayer of the Jabberwocky." Alcide spoke in an amazed tone, yet even those in Underland could be shocked now and again. Alice returned his introduction, by addressing her origin to be the mysterious Otherland and claiming the confusion of the last few days in such a crazy realm.

To this, the Duke chuckled deeply, seeming quite satisfied with Alice's sense of wonder about the land. He, the Queen and Alice were laughing of the past events when a sudden loud and rude cough brought them back to reality--or whatever it was called in Wonderland, and they all turned to the snobby young man who was still mounted on his horse. It appeared he was less sociable that his companion. The rude man waited patiently for the nobles to receive his complete attention until he spoke," Alcide, is it not rude to make ideal conversation when you have yet to introduce me to this apparent champion?" Yet despite his remark, he made no attempt to reach the group, but rather wait for them to appear in front of him.

"Majesty, I dearly apologize. Queen of Underland and Miss Alice of Otherland, may introduce the Prince of Spades, heir to the throne of the late Red Queen, Daniel Devinshire." He spoke in an operative tone, and quickly bowed, as Alice curtsied and the Queen bowed her head slightly.

"Prince Daniel, how delightful for you to stop by and greet us with your presence. Tell me, cousin, how long has it been since you were just a child learning to ride your steed?" spoke the White Queen, who reveal a certain disliking to the young prince who commanded as if he were already King. Alice noticed the subtle tension, and hoped the night would go smoothly.

"A long seldom decade Majesty, just before your own coronation, was it not?" he sneered. Apparently, the two had some kind of history, maybe a struggle of both power and attention, Alice knew not. But what she did know was that every eye in the grand ballroom was staring in her direction and she hadn't a clue why.

"Alice, Prince Daniel wants to know how you slated the fierce Jabberwocky," said the Queen when she realized Alice hadn't heard his request.

"Oh, well I used the Vorpal Sword to guide me to the beast, and I sort of sliced his head off..." Alice replied ad she replayed the heroic battle in her mind. "And of course I could not have faced the dragon without the help of my many friends and the support of the Queen." she managed as the crowd cheered once more and the Queen smiled down at her.

"It may seem you are quite the little defender, aren't you? Tell me, Miss Alice, what do you plan to do now that my beloved cousin is banished and her kingdom destroyed?" Alice stared in shock at the man, for she herself knew not her next move, or even where she'd sleep tonight, yet here was his prince criticizing her actions. Perhaps if Alice had known this prince was to attend his party, she would have never entered Wonderland once again, and if she knew the consequences of her next words, she might have cut her own head off.

"Well, I don't know Sir, maybe now the people of Wonderland can live without the fear of losing their heads," she spoke, too bluntly for her personality.

The crowd gasped and all eyes were turned to the prince, who narrowed his eyes and said, "Well, we shall see about that, now won't we." he finished, slightly enraged by her remark, he looked to the duke, and commanded him to join him in their return to the Spades Castle. Duke Alcide bowed to the women, and said adieu, then returned solemnly with the prince and they disappeared out of the room.

Now Alice hated to have all eyes on her, but it seemed to be happening to her more often than she liked lately, and she turned to the Queen, who gave her a wide-eyed look and a pat on the shoulder. Then she turned to the crowd, and encouraged them to enjoy themselves for a bit longer. "Alice, my dear, let us take a walk about the garden." She spoke, and Alice followed. Everyone except the Queen and Alice began dancing once more, as the young women walked down the hallway and out to the garden.

Here it is, subjects of Otherland, more stories of Alice's adventures in returning to Wonderland. If you wish to read more, please feel free to comment and review. I hope to have another chapter up soon... oh and please give me some feedback about my grammar. I do my best, but I'm sure I missed a few corrections

Alicia Strange