Chapter One: Not Alice
Alicia's Point of View
Disclaimer: I don't own Alice in Wonderland.
Author's Note:Okay, not this chapter, but the chapter after this is really sad and upsetting. But I promise it doesn't stay that way. Two chapters after that one, everything will be better. Thanks!
Okay. I was lost. I was so lost.
I was in the middle of the woods. Even though I was positive it was daytime, it was really dark. There were sounds everywhere, and I wasn't sure who - or what - was making them. My body was really small. I'd had the pishalver, and now I was regretting it. My clothes didn't even fit me; in fact, the only reason I wasn't nude was because of the dress I saw.
Yes, the dress. Upon shrinking, I'd found a small glass box with two little pillows inside of it. One of them held nothing on it, but the other held a beautifully made dress the size of a Barbie doll that would "grow and shrink as" I did.
I assumed Alison had the other dress.
Anyway, I entered Wonderland and got horribly, horribly lost. Originally, I was trying to locate the Mad Tea Party - since that was where my Grandmother had gone for help - but now, I'd have settled for anyone.
"Well, well, well. If it isn't little Alice Kinglseigh. Back for some more mad adventures, are we, love?"
The invisibly purred words gave me the chills. I yelped in surprise, but before I could scream-
A cat materialized. Materialized out of nothing.
It's grin appeared first, and that's when I realized:
"You're the Cheshire Cat!"
"Of course." the cat said, appearing all the way. "And you're...not Alice?"
"No." I said. "My name is Alicia."
"Hm...you're not Alice...but you look like Alice." Chess purred. "And you sound like Alice."
"Alice is my Grandmother." I stated simply.
"Hm...and what brings you to Underland?" Chess asked.
"My little sister fell down the Rabbit Hole, and I can't find her." I said.
"Well, do you need help?" Cheshire offered.
Though I would never admit it later, I said "Yes."
I suddenly wished very much that Chess had not left me alone.
He dropped me off at the edge of the woods, right in front of the Mad Tea Party. I was really nervous to meet the three insane Wonderlanders. Even if it was only just a dream, if my Grandma's stories were true, Alice had lied to them. She'd promised to be back, yet she had never returned. From the way Grandma described them, it seemed to me as though she had fancied the Mad Hatter (or maybe it was just me?). If that was so, then the Hatter would probably be horribly hurt that she'd broken her promise. That being the case, what would he think of me?
But - to my relief - I was too small for them to see me. So I scurried like a common mouse across the damp grass to the table where a Hatter, a Hare, and a Mouse were drinking tea.
The Hare was the first to notice me.
"Oh my- oof- er, Alice!" he sputtered the words out.
"What?" The Mouse asked, looking at the Hare questioningly.
"Alice! It's Alice!" The Hare screamed.
"It's not nice to make jokes, Thackery." the Hatter said.
"But I'm not! She's right there!" he insisted, pointing in my general direction.
"Then why can't we see her?" The Doormouse asked.
"Because she's...well...all small and stuff! Pishalver! She must have had some!" Thackery said.
"Alright then, Thackery," the mouse said. "We'll give you a chance. Give her some upelkutchen and if she grows tall, we'll believe you."
"Speak for yourself," the Hatter muttered.
"Alright Alice, have some! We'll show em!"
Thackery shoved a small pastry (that was bigger than my entire body, might I add) right in my face. I nibbled slightly on it, and felt myself growing tall. And - sure enough - the dress grew with me.
There was an audible gasp from everyone present.
"Before you get excited, I'm not Alice," I said nicely in my very American accent.
"Then who are you?" The Mouse asked.
"She's not Alice, Mally." The Hatter said before I could respond. "Look at her. First of all, her voice. Alice was English. Secondly, her hair. It doesn't...Third of all, her eyes. Alice's eyes were blue. This girl's eyes are almost greener than mine. I'd know if she was Alice- I'd know Alice anywhere."
I felt very said. I had been right when I'd said Grandma had fancied him - it looked like he'd fancied her as well.
"I'm not Alice. My name's Alicia. I'm Alice's granddaughter."
"Granddaughter?" The Hatter barely whispered.
"What you doing 'ere?" The Mouse asked.
"My little sister, Alison, fell down the rabbit hole. I don't know why I'm so worried, considering this is surely all a dream, but I think I'd feel better if I found her." I said.
The Hatter chucked dryly without humor. "Just a dream. Hmph. Just-"
"Like," the mouse continued.
"Alice." the Hare concluded.
"Anyway," I said, trying my best to ignore them. "Have any of you seen her? She looks like...well, I suppose like Alice did the first time she was here. She's seven."
"We 'aven't." the Mouse said.
"Hatter," the Hare whispered.
"What?" the Hatter whispered back.
"Take her to Marmoreal. That's the only place she'll be safe."
"What do I need to be safe from?" I asked.
"Nothing," the Hatter said. "Thackery was just saying that we should take you to Marmoreal because the White Queen would know more about locating your sister than we would."
"I don't know where Marmoreal is," I said, scared.
"Well, that's why we're gonna tell ya," The Hare said, smiling in my general direction.
How many times does a girl have to get lost for someone to realize that she needs an escort!
I was sitting on a rock in the middle of the woods...again.
I was sitting alone, so I started humming to myself. I was sure I was sitting there forever (or at least an hour) before I heard footsteps.
A boy came towards me. He looked about my age, maybe a year or two older. He had silky black hair that hung loosely on his shoulders. He was kind of pale, with beautiful blue eyes and old-fashioned sixteenth century looking clothes.
But the thing that made me notice him most was his smile. It was huge and handsome, and made my heart sing and melt.
"A little lost, are we love?" he purred.
Wait-purred?
"Chess?" I asked in disbelief.
"Yes." he said, totally serious.
Wait-Chess was being serious?
"What happened to you?" I asked in an appraising tone.
"I'm not sure. I just...and then...and now...I'm this." he gestured to himself.
"Well you look...good." I offered.
"Thanks." he chuckled lightly.
A moment of awkward silence hung in the air.
"So...you need help finding someplace?" Chess asked, breaking the silence.
"Yeah...I need to get to Marmoreal." I said.
"This way." he said, taking my hand and pulling me up from my rock. But even when I was standing upright, he didn't let go of my hand. Not that I minded - it was a little chilly, and his hand was big and warm around mine. He seemed to notice my lack of objection, for he smiled slightly to himself.
"So...did things go alright at the tea party?" he asked to strike up a conversation.
"Yeah, I guess. But they weren't as funny nor as mad as my Grandma made them out to be."
"It's been that way since Alice died." Chess said sadly.
It took a second before I understood.
"Wait-" I said, stopping. "Grandma Alice isn't dead."
That made him stop too. "What?" he asked in a mixture of excitement and horror. "But it's been a whole year Underland time. That means it's been almost a century in yours. How is she not-"
"She's old not dead." I said. "It's nearly her one-hundred and third birthday."
"Oh, no." Chess said, shaking his head. "Leesh, this is bad. This is so bad."
"What did you call me?" I asked, ignoring the rest of it.
But then he ignored that. "When Alice died...then...okay. Let me explain." he allowed. "Alice was the only one who could defeat Underland's threats, and the only one who could wield the Vorpal sword. So when Alice, er, 'died' then everyone assumed that the things only she could beat were obviously dead, too. So everyone believes they are safe, but-"
"Since Grandma isn't dead..." I continued in horror.
"They aren't, either." Chess said grimly.
"Is this place truly in trouble again? When will I ever catch a break," a young British voice came from behind us.