This is just cause I wanted to. I'm looking out for the best interpretation of these characters in mini stories and/or artwork. I'll grant 30 chocolate bars for that!

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Chapter 3

Cheshire Cat

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Cheshire Cat is known for the mysterious aura that surrounds him. He always smiles like the topic or event is a big joke. Senseless is what many of the creatures there say. "He thinks nothing of the sort," they always say, "He probably doesn't think at all," Though it doesn't seem like so, it hurts him very much. The grin is nothing but a facade; a disguise over his true feelings. It hurts like always. Sometimes the pain grows unbearable, and he's left with nothing but hate. Still, the smile has never left his face, even with all that pain. Everyone still sees that smile.

Len only sees hate. It's what always sends shivers down his spine, the smile that only says hate. It was an uncanny feeling, and he finds the feeling worst than the fear he had over the years. The feeling of guilt; it hurts more than fear. The boy felt it before, but it wasn't as bad as the guilt that formed from the hateful smile that belong to Chesire. The feeling remained as long as the memory of the grin remained.

"You're slowing down, 'Alice'," Rui kept on saying that day. Len finds it slightly annoying that they kept calling him "Alice", but decides that it should be okay for that must be the name of the one who's dreaming. But he isn't sure that he is the one who is actually 'dreaming'. He heard Cheshire say it himself.

"Everyone else may think you're Alice, but I'm not convinced," the cat would say, and if he remembered correctly, Cheshire mentioned that the Mad Hatter also disagrees. But if he is, he needs to find out how to wake up. Pinching doesn't work, he tried that enough times already. He thought that he should find his memories, but Cheshire said, "That could be an answer, but it's not the right one,"

Whether it was the right one or not, the boy wasn't sure. He assumed that it isn't, but Len thought he should try to do so anyway. To gain a little insight to what is what is not. He told this to Rui, and she decided that it wouldn't be any different from past dreams. So then the quest begins; to whether it will benefit or not, they must try at least. And who rather to join their journey than Cheshire Cat.

"I never expected this from you of all people, 'Alice'," he said as they went on, "Normally people would do a troublesome act and get caught by the Red Queen. It's a mystery whether they lost their heads or not, but one thing's for certain, the dream would end there,"

"The Red Queen is that stubborn, short-tempered woman that cuts everyone's head off, right?" Len asked as they walked.

"Rather ruthless than most dreams," came the Cat's answer, "She got rid of her executer and how she does so? She beheaded him herself, and does so for everyone she punishes. She chops off her head without warning, so it would be preferred not to temper her,"

"What gave her that sudden change?" the boy asked Cheshire, who answered with that same grin of his.

"It's the corrupted dream mist known as soot," He answered, "It's what created most of this Wonderland,"

"'Soot'? As in that black haze that formed the scythe?" Len asked in wonder, referring to the scythe Rui used against the White Rabbit, who's name still has yet to be told.

"Yes, that's what we call the black mist. Other kinds of mists have other names, such as white mist we call 'sparks'," Cheshire said, "'Soot' and 'sparks' are rare in Wonderland, and for a reason too. 'Sparks' are what form the heavenly dreams in Wonderland, and 'soot' works the opposite way, creating nightmares. You may get a bit of each in Wonderland, but never by this much. Your 'dream' had the most of this mist in the history of Wonderland, and is what makes many of the normally harmless characters in these dreams much more menacing,"

"You know a lot about Wonderland, but what does 'soot' have to do with my supposed dream?" The boy continued throwing questions at the cat, and eventually noticed the distress building up between them and stopped.

"I don't really know," he answered, "The one's who know the most in this dream are the Mad Hatter and Kaito,"

"Kaito?" The boy asked, puzzled by the name.

"He is the one who smokes these mists, creating more of these bases for specific mist to form. Lazy, but truly all knowing," He said with a cheerful smile, "He hates me with passion, however,"

The two continued to fiddle around as the three continued to walk. Rui could care less of what they're discussing, but still decides to put her focus on the main priority which is finding the memories. But there is the same disturbance as before; she doesn't trust Cheshire to the least bit.

He was hiding something, something important. She wanted in on the secret, but they aren't exactly on equal terms. Especially now when Cheshire is eyeing her every move; he was just as suspicious of her as she is of him. Just then, a bloodcurdling cry rang out through the thick woods. The noise frightened Len, and he hid behind Cheshire, who faded away only to appear by Rui's side. The boy was still panicking, but decided to only cower in fear.

"The Bandersnatch is coming; it's pathetic howls are rather close you know?" Chesire pointed out to a cautious girl.

"I am aware that it's coming, Cheshire," she said in an infuriating manner, causing the cat to back away slowly, "If you know what's good for you, you'd stay back. Otherwise, I might accidentally cut an eye out,"

Len took notice that Rui had said 'I' instead of 'it' and despite his trembling, he said to her, "I w-won't forgive you if you did so, R-Rui," His stuttering only earned a sigh from the girl, and the black haze was once again crafted into the scythe she used against the White Rabbit.

Cheshire laughed and vanished the same way as before. "Nine lives in counting, I'd like to keep them all if you'd please!"

As his voice resounded, the snarling Bandersnatch appeared. It was a sick, disgusting creature; it was fairly large, and resembled what may as well be a cross from a cat, a dog, and a goat. It's mouth held many long, yellowed teeth that could shatter bones, and it's dog legs up front could tear through flesh with it's claws that could not be withdrawn. The last half looked almost unreal, it's goat legs in the back were crossed from thick fur to slim scales, and it's cat like tale armed like barbs.

The boy was petrified on the spot whilst Rui charged at the creature. She took a swing right at the left eye of the Bandersnatch, and blinded the beast there, as it writhed in pain, she swung at it's right paw and delivered a clean, deep cut. The Bandersnatch was enraged at this point, and swiftly struck Rui with it's good left paw. She collided with the distant tree which snapped under the force of the blow.

Len cringed not only from the sight, but from a strange feeling of being stabbed over and over. He watched as Rui struggled to get up from the rumble, and he winced again. It felt like he was the on the struck the tree in place of the March Rabbit. What...?

"You two are much closer than you think," Without warning, Cheshire struck the wounded Bandersnatch. In place of his bare hands are what looked like giant cat paws with even larger claws armed at the end of it. The Bandersnatch howled in pain as Cheshire leaped up and tore at his face, soon going on to shredding the rest of it's body. In the end, the frightening beast was nothing but a bloody mess of pelt, flesh and bones.

The boy was sickened by the sight, and turn to Cheshire, who was no longer grinning. Len was terrified; the shadowy figure of the cat who always grinned is now standing before him in a way that could have made the Bandersnatch cower in fear.

"It's a question of exactly what are you, 'Len'," He said his name with much hatred, "I know you aren't 'Alice', but...

...exactly what are you?"

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And thus the mystery begins. Cheshire is convinced that Len isn't 'Alice' but is he right? If so, then who is the one dreaming?

And now for the cast announcement.

March Hare: Rui

'Alice': Len

White Rabbit: Piko

Mad Hatter: ?

The Caterpillar: Kaito

The Red Queen: Meiko

Cheshire Cat: Cheshire

These are the roles in the story, but then again, who is truly the one dreaming? Find out at the end of the story, if you dare... *smirks*

Special Thanks to: TwistedParadox

Winners of the identity for the White Rabbit: TwistedParadox

Now review for next time!