(Cantharis)

As we walked, a few scattered trees began to show up. The further we walked the denser the clusters of trees got. I came to a point where we could barely see each other among the trees. Then, all of a sudden, the trees gave way entirely to a large clearing. There was a large table, left long forgotten in the middle of the clearing surrounded by chairs and stools of all shapes and sizes. There was food rotting and cold tea in the cups and kettles.

"The Mad Tea Party..." Vorpal whispered. "Don't touch anything." '

I frowned. "Why not?" I inched forward, eyes fixed on a clear bottle marked 'Drink me'.

"Just don't!" She grabbed my hand and pulled me along after Cyrille, who was already on his way. I reached out just in time and snatched the bottle from the table, slipping it into my pocket. I don't think anyone noticed, or at least if they did, no one said anything.

Cyrille looked back. "We're almost there. Turn left in a minute." I looked around and we were surrounded by trees again.

I turned just as Cyrille did and Vorpal and Ivan did the same. Cyrille knocked three times on a tree trunk and a voice called from within.

"Enter."

The trunk swung inwards and revealed a vast entrance hall with several doors and a grand staircase. There on the couch sat a man with long blue hair in a ponytail. His eyes were closed and he was smoking a hookah. He had two nearly transparent blue wings drooped behind him. His eyes opened slowly. They were purplish blue. He looked at Cyrille then at me then at Vorpal and Ivan slowly in turn.

"What on earth are you doing here...?"

Cyrille bit his lip. "I-...We want to know what's going on in the Tulgey Wood."

He frowned and tilted his head. "Very well..." He took a long drag of the hookah and breathed smoke into the air. It became chess pieces, symbolizing the red and white queen's armies. The fought each other in the air.

"As you know, the battle between the red and white kingdoms have been going for years without end. The battle field is spreading, unchecked, and spilling into Wonderland. The red army was the first to notice this and decided to take advantage of it. But something in the Wood...It's been corrupting their minds-"

"Haven't they always been corrupt?" Ivan snapped.

"Ah, but don't you see? Both armies think that their cause is the only plausible path. And both armies are willing to die for that cause. And both armies think the other is corrupt. but what's happening in the Tulgey Wood is just short of evil. It's referred to as the darkness. I believe that it's been caused and led by one individual but now...It's an entire force of it's own. no one can seem to get near the Darkness without being consumed by it. Possessed by it. Never released."

All of a sudden, Vincent's eyes rolled back into his head and glowed bright gold. His voice echoed as he spoke. "If it is never defeated, the Darkness will take over all of Wonderland, feeding on the life of every creature within it! It shall black out the skies and relish the sound of children screaming and weeping as it devours them, their families and everyone in it's path! None shall be spared and none shall be able to stand between the Darkness and a state of all mighty power!" He gave a shuddering gasp and his eyes faltered closed. He didn't move or breath for a long time.

Ivan blinked in shock. "Is...Is he dead...?"

Vincent's eyes jumped open and he looked directly over my head as if he saw something else there. "go home, children...This place is not safe for you."

The minute he said this the ground lurched violently, sending me and everyone else sprawling to the floor. Chunks of the ceiling began to fall. I gasped as a particularly large chunk of ceiling came loose and started to fall down at Cyrille's face. I rolled over him and the chunk hit me on the back. He gasped and I coughed as it knocked the wind out of me. I sat up, sitting on him a little. He frowned and straightened his glasses. He sat up, making eye contact with me but was still a bit shorter.

"Are you ok?" I asked.

He frowned and he blushed a little. "Master...Your sitting on my stomach...It hurts..."

"O-oh! Sorry." I stood up and held out a hand to him. When he took it, I pulled him to his feet and dragged him to the door. I shoved him outside and Vorpal grabbed his shoulders to steady him. I was glad that she and Ivan had already escaped. I ran outside and pulled them away from Vincent's tree. The tree cracked and fell. I looked around anxiously. Vincent was not outside with us.

Ivan removed his helmet and bowed his head a little in respect.

More specifically, respect for the dead.

Vorpal's lip quivered a little and tears welled in her eyes. She sniffled quietly and wiped her tears on the backs of her hands. Cyrille looked at the ground sadly and I chewed on the tip of my tail, something I did out of anxiety of sadness.

"W-we can't just stand out here..." I spoke up.

"Right...we should head home." Vorpal turned to go.

I grabbed her hand. "You can go if you want but I'm not."

She frowned. "Then what will you do? This goes far beyond you rule breaking!"

I glared at her and she looked away. My gaze softened. "Don't you think I know that...? That's why I can't go back. I have to try and stop the darkness..."

Cyrille looked at his feet. "If my master isn't going then neither am I."

Ivan smiled. "I can't let you have all the fun, Cat-boy."

I smiled big at the two of them then turned back to Vorpal, still holding her hand. "Will you help me...?"

Her eyes searched mine for a moment before she smiled and squeezed my hand gently.

"I will."

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

AN: *sniffle* good bye, Vincent...I LOVE CYRILLE! AND CANTHARIS! AND VORPAL! AND...well not Ivan so much.