ALICE AFTER WONDERLAND: CHASING THE DRAGON

*This story follows the events of Burton's film many years later.

CHAPTER 4

Alice found herself in one of the many forests of Underland and suddenly Alice remembered all of the dangers which Underland held… Alice began to walk tentatively through the forest, the strange impossible trees and shrubbery all brought back memories that flashed before her eyes, and even though the night was incredibly black and the world she had known had changed Alice couldn't help but smile at the thought of being back where she belonged. Alice hoped that the Mad Hatter would be waiting at the edge of the forest ready to welcome her back and from there he would invite her to a tea party for her unbirthday. At the thought of the Hatter waiting ready to greet her Alice began to run through the forest, like the meadow she had left to enter Underland the forest seemed to go on forever but Alice didn't care, she had never been happier.

Eventually Alice reached the edge of the forest; Alice looked for the Hatter, turning on her heel numerous times to look in every direction. Alice's gaze darted everywhere looking for the brilliantly orange hair and remarkably white face of the Hatter but she found nothing. Alice felt her heart sink; she had desperately wanted the Hatter to be there for her. Alice fell to her knees and tried to keep her tears at bay; she didn't want to believe that even in Underland she was alone. Alice had all but lost the fight with her tears until a spark of light from the corner of her eye caught her attention. Alice quickly rose to her feet seeing something she hadn't noticed before. The White Queen's castle, though it wasn't as she had remembered it still bared some resemblance to what she had used to know.

Seeing the White Queen's castle encased in a bubble of light in the distance made Alice realise that the light she had mistaken for moonlight was not moonlight at all but the light from the White Queen's castle. Around the bubble of light the sky seemed to be day. Alice tilted her head at the sight and then looked back to the forest; suddenly the forest seemed more foreboding to Alice and a chill crept up her spine at the thought of having been standing alongside the trees within it. Alice slowly backed away from the forest as it seemed to appear increasingly threatening with each passing moment. Alice forced herself to look away and back to the White Queen's castle. Slowly Alice began to take her first steps forward toward the castle in the distance. Another chill crept up Alice's back forcing her into a sprint. As Alice ran she glanced around at her passing surroundings, everything had changed, the colours were darker, monuments were broken, stone floors were cracked, the air was abnormally cold and then Alice noticed the worst of all; the one thing that she had instantly known upon returning to Underland… Underland was dead.

Alice could see the White Queen's castle ahead of her. It was a straight line to the courtyard gates. Alice was out of breath but forced herself to keep running; she knew that Underland was completely devoid of life, save for perhaps whatever lived within the White castles walls, but even so, Alice felt as if she was being chased. Alice closed her eyes as she ran, running as fast as she could to distance the fear that was following her. Suddenly Alice felt a warmth; a natural warmth. She stopped and opened her eyes; she was within the bubble of light surrounding the White Queen's castle. Alice looked back of the wall of the bubble seeing the dark forest and cracked stone ruins of the wasteland that she used to know.

"Alice, is that you?"

The sound of a familiar voice was like music to Alice's ears. She turned and saw the White Rabbit. Alice smiled at the White Rabbit before realising his greyed fur and ruined clothes. Her heart instantly sank upon seeing his pitiful state.

"It's me." Replied Alice softly.

"I'd say you were late but… I'm not quite sure…"

Alice watched as the White Rabbit pulled out his pocket watch, its metal was dull, the glass face was shattered, the hour hand was missing and the minute hand showed no sign of life. Alice's face had fallen into the softest, most caring expression that it could adorn as she stared at the White Rabbit holding his pocket watch.

"Oh, I'd say I was late… Very late…" she replied, her gaze turning to the White castle in the distance.