Yeah! I know the submission is over but I just wanted to get this out and be done with it, irregardless if this chapter would be considered for the contest or not ^^ Unfortunately it's not the end and I forsee 2 more chapters at least :/ Oh well, here goes! And thanks to all my reviewers, I really appreciated the comments, and hope you'll enjoy this next bit as well :)

Disclaimer: I do not own anything HnKnA except my storyline.

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Chapter 2

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Ahhhh…

Alice sighed as she drank in the rich aroma of the black tea cupped in her hands. The weather outside was cloudy, cool and fine, and exceptionally decorated and delicious pastries laid out in a grand view before her. She was surrounded by gorgeous walls of roses and she was sitting beside the attractive owner who had the beauty to match.

It was serene and relaxing. Her day couldn't get any better, but strangely enough, something was missing…

"Where's Peter?" she asked curiously. Usually, her over-obsessive stalker would appear right about now. And it wasn't just today. She had been enjoying this kind of peace in the castle for quite some time already, so she realised.

"Working." Vivaldi curtly replied as she savoured her tea with a delicate sip. Alice nearly choked.

The words 'Peter' and 'work' just don't rhyme.

"Yes, We know it's disturbing, isn't it?" The ravenette replied and took another slow sip, as if reading the foreigner's mind. "But there is nothing We can do when White insisted on taking up the Castle's gardening projects. Since then, he has been on it every day."

"Gardening? But Peter doesn't like the dirt." Alice pondered as she laid down her cup on the saucer. "Why would he want to handle such a thing? Was he serious?"

"He was particularly adamant when he approached Us about it. He was so serious it's not even funny." The Queen pulled at her brows in equal puzzlement. She placed her own teacup down and rested back into her chair before continuing coolly.

"We do not know what he is up to nor do We bother, as long as the rose garden is properly managed. And it has turned out surprisingly wonderful."

Alice thought she saw a fleeting smile on Vivaldi's lips when she said that.

"Actually I did notice. The number of blooms has increased; even the scent of the rose is more fragrant than before. Are you actually telling me Peter did all that?" Alice asked, totally bewildered.

Putting a graceful hand to her chin, the Queen of Hearts just smiled and said thoughtfully, "We wonder…"

"Me too…" The younger girl agreed as she stared into her own reflection in her cup and wondered at the insane possibility that was the silent White Rabbit, and wishing she knew what was going on in his mind right now.

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%#$!... It's not here either!

Thought a dirty looking rabbit-eared man. Peter wiped a hand across his face, realising too late that he has smeared dirt on his cheeks again.

Darn it! Peter grumbled to himself as he looked at his soiled gloves in disgust. How he wished he could curse out loud to the whole damn world for making his life miserable. He had left his red jacket neatly folded on a nearby bench; the sleeves of his pale-pink shirt folded to his elbows as he knelt down on the grass and return his attention to the rose bush he was tending to with utmost focus.

"L-lord White, if you would tell- I mean, show us, we could help you in your search." A faceless servant offered nervously as the other gardeners looked up from their work. After all, they had never expected the prim and proper Prime Minister to work with them. Even after their task was done, the White Rabbit would stay back to inspect the garden, always as if looking for something.

Out of pure frustration, Peter points his gun at the shaken servant, inching to shoot to his desire. But he hesitated just a moment, knowing that if he did, the number of gardeners would reduce, and that would affect the productivity of the garden. He lets out a grumble and returns his gun back to his huge golden watch, startling them all with his unexpected action.

Narrowing his eyes at his employees, Peter waved a dismissal at all of them, and like usual, they would look at him queerly before leaving him alone.

Peter made sure that all the workers had left the vicinity before allowing himself to slump to the ground beside the rose bush, weariness and frustration etched on his face. It would be over his dead body before he let anyone know the real reason for his recent activities.

Look at me…what the hell am I doing? He asked himself angrily. Peter crossed his arms on his knees and rested his snowy head on it, clenching his teeth. He didn't want to admit defeat but this was clearly going nowhere. Other than a very pleased Vivaldi, all his time, research and effort on the garden projects have turned up with…

Nothing.

It has been weeks on ends and even though the flowers here grow faster due to the radical time change, he has yet to see anything remotely white among the Queen's crimson roses.

I'm actually sweating for god's sake! And it's all because of that stupid, STUPID story! He silently thought, wishing to kill his King there and then. But he knew he couldn't help it but cling onto that tiny hope; anything that would make Alice recognise his love for her... anything that could get him closer to her heart, he would have it at any cost...

But I should have known better then to succumb to some wishful thinking, let alone a rumour!

Annoyed at himself, the white-haired man slammed a fist into the thick rose bush by his side, scratching skin and breaking branches. But suddenly, something caught his eye within the punched-in hole in the vegetation.

It was a colour, and it wasn't red, green or brown…

It was pure white.

A miracle…it can't be! Peter's eyes grew in disbelief as he cleared and adjusted his specs and scrambled to his feet. It was smaller than the usual but there it was, growing within the heart of the bush, was a single white rose in full bloom.

He had never expected something so wondrous to grow so deep inside and overshadowed by the rest of the plant. Peter gently plucked its stem off and looked at the little flower in his palm with wonder. It looked so small and fragile that he was afraid of destroying it.

But will it work?

He took off one of his glove and pricked his thumb on a thorn on the stem, wincing a little as his flesh broke and his blood beaded on the spot. He hovered his wound above the white rose and let a drop drip into its centre folds.

Peter stared in amazement as the rose immediately turned red, as if its velvet petals had absorbed the colour of his blood.

The rabbit didn't have to think twice what his deepest desire was. He slowly opened his mouth and tested his throat.

But no sound emerged. He couldn't hear a thing.

Curses… what went wrong? Peter grimaced and his ears lowered in disappointment, trying to find a way to make it work when suddenly, something loomed over him and a hand grabbed and weighed down on his shoulder, making the rabbit jump in fright.

"Hey Mr Peter! What's there to curse about?" Ace peered down as he asked joyfully.

Ace! What is he doing here! Appalled, Peter slapped his hand away and quickly hid the rose from view.

"Huh? Well I kinda got lost in the maze again, and then I stumbled upon you." Ace sheepishly replied and scratched his head. "Hm? What's that you're trying to hide Mr Peter?" He asked curiously, straining his neck over the Prime Minister's shoulders.

Nothing, now go away you nosey vermin of a knight! Peter snarled as he shielded his treasure from Ace's prying eyes and hands.

"Vermin? But I'm not an animal." Ace stated as- a- matter- of- factly as he looked at Peter, amused. "Now come'on, let me see!" He persuaded playfully as he reached out from behind.

No! Get off my back, germ! Peter tried to shake the insistent man off but the knight continued to follow him around.

"Nope! Not unless you let me see first, ha ha ha!" The brunette laughed as he chased the rabbit-man. Suddenly, Peter stopped in his tracks, nearly causing Ace to collide into him. The white haired turned around and looked at Ace with inquisitive eye as realisation hit him.

We just had a perfect conversation. He shouldn't have heard me say 'vermin' and a lot of thing, yet he understood me; I didn't even need to try to explain!

"Hmmm… Now that you mentioned it, I guess you're right!" Ace's own red eyes widened and stared in astonishment.

You can actually hear me but you didn't realise? Peter palmed his face in exasperation.

Ace cupped his chin seriously as he inspected Peter's mouth. "But you're not really talking, you're lips aren't moving at all. Hey, hey! How are you doing it Mr Peter? Did you take up ventriloquism? Your voice sound higher than I expected, kinda like a girl's, hahaha!"

WHACK!

"Ow… You didn't have to do that Mr Peter, I er… meant that as a compliment?" Ace tried, smiling goofily and unrepentantly as he massaged the bump on his head.

Idiot! And it's telepathy, not some creepy puppet trick. Peter replied as he readjusted and pulled at the gloves on his hand satisfactorily before smiling to himself. It was already taking up much of his restrain to stop from jumping with joy.

That means that it actually worked! I'm wasting time here; I have to find Alice now!

"Alice? I saw her having tea with Vivaldi a while ag-"

Before the knight could finish his sentence, the White Rabbit had dashed off, grabbing his jacket along the way.

"Will you look at that…" Ace smirked as he crossed his arms and watched Peter disappear into maze's garden.

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ALIIIIIICE~! ALICE MY LOOOOVE~!

Vivaldi nearly dropped her cup at the sound as Peter burst into the area frantically looking about for the foreigner. But Alice was nowhere in sight.

Oh, it's only you old hag… Peter thought dryly.

"Old hag? Do you have a death wish White?" Her nerve pulsed in annoyance. The Queen of Hearts then arched a dainty eyebrow at the 'red' rose pinned on to his jacket.

Where's Alice? I heard she was here. The albino eared man impatiently demanded as he continued to search for his love. He could get used to this new found ability of his.

"Humph, with a voice you're even more irritating than before." Vivaldi shot back, the corner of her mouth twitching with displeasure. "Unfortunately, Alice left a while ago for the Amusement Park."

Peter snapped his fingers as he pulled a face. Ah… I was so close in seeing her, how I missed her so much! He hugged his hands exaggeratedly to his chest. The albino hadn't seen her for so long now, that his heart was beginning to ache with accumulated pinning.

"Urg… you gross Us out more than usual too." Vivaldi scowled, rubbing her temples in an attempt to shut his voice out of her mind, ignoring the glare Peter gave her. Then, with a solemn look, she pointed a well manicured finger at his rose.

"And might We suggest that you spend the time you have well, White. The magic isn't forever as We recall."

Being reminded, Peter bit his lips as he registered and weighed her words. He then decidedly gave Vivaldi an appreciative and terse bow before sprinting off into the direction of the Amusement Park.

The Queen lips curved into a knowing smile as she linked her slender fingers together while watching her once-silent subordinate fight for time and for that one meaning to the existence of his entire life.

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"We'd say good luck but We know you won't need it. You are the White Rabbit of Wonderland after all."

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Hope that was ok, though I've got a feeling it's straying off the theme a bit, but what the heck, this was fun to try :p

Exactly how much time does he have left before the magic disappears? Will Peter find Alice in time to tell her the words he needs to touch her heart? Stay tuned and find out next!

My internship is over so I have more time to write so please DO REVIEW, it motivates me so much I might just try to complete this first, or I might just update other stories of mine lol! XD

Again, I'd like to thank you soooo much for reading and reviewing! Till next update! ^^