This chapter is a rework of a one shot I've already posted in my Random Robin story, but it's an important step in this story, so sorry if it feels familiar.

I have decided to fill in all the blanks I can - from Alice's adventures in Wonderland to her friendship and romance with Robin… and well let's see how far I get…

…

After Alice's birthday wish was made there was a moment of disappointment when nothing happened. Then with a crash and a crunch and a world-shaking rumble the roof was torn off the tower. Suddenly gazing down at Alice was a giant troll. Alice's fear suddenly turned to wonder as this seeming kind creature, a broad grin on his hairy face, lowered his hand into the room offering her the freedom she so craved. Her first urge had been just to leap into his open palm and leave her prison… but something stopped her.

It was a big world out there. Papa always warned her it was much bigger than she could even imagine. Out there was a world full of people and oceans and castle and forests and mountains. She needed to take a moment to make sure she had everything she would need to survive.

Her first stop was the cupboard that held all that remained of Gothel's magic flower. The cupboard had magically had been providing her only food and drink for the last seven years. She carefully removed the shrivelled orchid and lowered it into the large leather satchel her father had left behind. She just had to hope the magic would transfer to her bag.

She then hurried to her bedside, there on the table was the white knight chess piece her Papa had given her before he left on his last fateful journey. It was the promise they would be together again. She couldn't leave that behind. She gave the knight a brief kiss and put it into her satchel.

By her bed was also the diary she kept, every night filling in the details of the endless monotony of days. It was already bloated have been patched and expanded over the years. She quickly added it to her satchel too, filled with eager thoughts of the adventure she could now fill it with of the outside world.

Alice then wandered back to the remains of her birthday party. She picked up her Papa's spyglass she'd been using to watch the stars and added it to her satchel. Alice then felt the eyes of her toys on her… well apart from Mr Hatter as he didn't have eyes. Did she want to go out into the world completely on her own? Maybe she should bring someone for company.

Her two dolls were best friends so she couldn't separate them. True, Dolly and Duchess Petunia, were having an argument at the moment which is why Duchess Petunia was sat at the tea table while Dolly was across the room sitting on the dresser, but Alice knew– they would reconcile soon.

She could wear Mr Hatter, and he'd enjoy the adventure, but he could be rather argumentative and people out in the world might find it strange that she was friends with a hat.

Teddy was always very brave and would protect her; he was always very good company during a thunderstorm… but he did have a big appetite too and Alice wasn't sure how much food she would find out there.

Finally her eyes settled on Mr Rabbit, her first, closest and wisest friend… and she felt terrible for not picking him right away.

She scooped up the battered toy bunny and kissed his head.

"Come on Mr Rabbit we're going on a journey." She said excitedly.

"Don't' forget you're cloak…" Mr Rabbit reminded her in his deep plummy voice.

Alice ran back to her father's sea chest and pulled out one of his cloaks, it was black with a surprisingly ostentatious gold trim but it would keep her warm.

Alice took one last look at her prison. These four walls had been the only world she'd ever known; apart from her father's story's and the forest she viewed from her window. Was what she held in her arms all she needed to take from this place?

She gazed at the books on her bookcase wondering if she should take one with her, but she already knew them all by heart and had memorised ever detail of every picture. There would be so many new books out there in the world for her to read and learn from.

She looked across at the stack of hers and her Papa's paintings. Her own painting had been of the dreams she had of the world outside, but she would see it all for real now, she would have no need to hang onto the dream.

Alice stood in the middle of the room turning a slow circle - no there was nothing more that she needed.

She then turned to her rescuer.

"I'm ready." She said firmly.

The troll who had been waiting patiently, smiled broadly and flexed his finger's invitingly.

Hugging Mr Rabbit tightly, Alice said a quiet goodbye to her whole world and clambered onto her rescuer's palm.

…

The troll held Alice gently in his palm and after taking a few paces from the tower, bent down and slowly lowered Alice to the ground. Alice took a deep breath and stepped onto the grass, her first contact with the outside world.

"Thank you, friend." said Alice, turning and smiling gratefully to the Troll. He just smiled down at her, before straightening up and walking away through the trees leaving her all alone.

It was still night, there was darkness and strange sounds all around, but there was only thing Alice wanted to do now she was free - her muscles were already quivering in expectation. Grinning like a mad man Alice ran into the night as fast as she could. She was free. There were no walls, no barriers to stop her any more. Alice was going to run to the ends of the earth if she could.

…