Cirque: I told you I would! :D
Lune: You did . . . for once.
Cirque: There SHALL be Akuroku…eventually. XD And I made a HUGE mistake in the last chapter…no one has noticed it so far, but if you do, just imagine it happened somewhere between the dimensions of pagebreaks. :P
Dedicated to terra hotaru and XIIIAnonymous. Yes, it's for you too! :D
AKUROKUBUTTSMEX. Now that I have your attention, I have announcement to make. I appreciate the hits and alerts, but reviews even are better. And since I don't get much, I'll make a deal with you guys. The 20th reviewer gets to have a oneshot dedicated to them. If you're the 20th reviewer, just request a pairing (yaoi, please), and what kind of fic you want it to be (Humor, romance, angst, friendship, even CRACK. =P). PRETTY GOOD DEAL IF I DO SAY SO MYSELF. XD
Disclaimer: Nope, actually, I don't even own some of the locations here… (LGW! :D) But I do own the Garden of Death! :3
Chapter 3: Mad Tea Party
Huh? That smile. . .
"You! You were the one that helped me!" he said, pointing at the disembodied smile. "And my name's not Alice, it's Roxas!"
"Mhmm…" a body then appeared. No head still, but the smile was still there. From what he could see, he could tell that it was male… and, was that…?
"Is that a tail!" asked Roxas.
"Why yes, all cats have tails, Roxas-whose-name-is-not-Alice." It only grinned wider. Then, his whole face appeared.
Roxas wouldn't deny it. The cat-person was indeed good-looking, but what really caught his attention is his hair! It was spiky and red, like a burning flame. A pair of teardrop-looking tattoos was beneath his eyes, and cat ears were on top of his head as well. Frankly, he looked very human, save for the ears and the tail, which were in shades of purple in pink. One would say that it would clash with the red, but he surprisingly made it work.
"That's a very pretty dress." He said, looking at it.
"I'm not sure if I should say 'thank you' or 'fuck you'." Roxas retorted.
"I don't mind either one," he whispered.
"What!" asked Roxas.
"Nothing Roxas~"
"Hmph."
"I'm the Cheshire Cat, call me Axel." he said.
"Um, thanks for helping me back there, Axel." said Roxas. "Without your help…I don't know what might've happened."
"You could've died, that's for sure!" Axel said cheerfully.
"I know that," said Roxas, sounding annoyed.
"Then why did you say you didn't?" he asked.
"It's an expression."
"You should say what you mean and mean what you say!" he smiled.
"Whatever." Roxas said, not caring. "Anyway, would you tell me, please, which way I should go from here?" he asked, looking at the various arrows and signs that pointed, well, everywhere.
"That depends a good deal on where you want to get to," said Axel.
"I don't really care where –" said Roxas.
"Then it doesn't matter which way you go," he said.
"–as long as I get somewhere," finished Roxas.
"Oh, you're sure to do that," he said happily, sitting on the branch, swinging his legs, "if you only walk long enough."
"Ugh, this is getting nowhere!" said Roxas, throwing up his arms in annoyance. "Alright, just tell me where these paths lead to." He said, pointing at them.
"Okay then!" he said, still grinning. "In that direction," said Axel, waving his right hand round, "lives The Hatter."
"And over there?" asked Roxas.
"Over there," he said, waving the other hand, "lives the March Hare. Visit either you like: they're both mad."
"But I don't want to go among mad people!" remarked Roxas.
"Oh, you can't help that," said Axel. "We're all mad here. I'm mad. You're mad."
"How do you know I'm mad?" said Roxas.
"Well, you must be!" said Axel, grinning wider (if that was possible…). "Or you wouldn't have come here."
"It was an accident! There was this hole in our backyard and everything… Augh! Never mind!"
"You better choose quickly, because I have a feeling we'll get company soon."
"Company?"
"Your Majesty, there is a message for you from his Lordship, Marluxia." said Xaldin, bowing deeply, holding out a golden bowl of flower petals.
"That nymph? What does he want?" the Queen asked, sitting cross-legged on his throne, resting his chin on his hand.
"I feel that it is better if you see for yourself, sir."
"Hmph. Bring that over here," motioning the servant to come closer.
He came closer to the throne and bent down on one knee, holding the bowl up.
"Wilting dandelions? That only means…"
His eyes then widened, then were filled with anger.
Alice! It's a male this time, too…
He stood from his throne in rage, slamming his palms on the chair's arms.
"KNAVE! COME HERE THIS INSTANT!"
The humongous doors leading to the Throne Room opened, revealing a boy with silver hair with a blindfold, dressed in black armor.
"You called for me, Your Majesty?" he said, bowing deeply.
"I have received news from Marluxia that a new Alice has arrived in Wonderland. Gather your men if you need to and eliminate this Alice at once! Search all of Wonderland if you must, BUT I WANT THAT ALICE'S HEAD ON A PLATTER!"
"I understand, my Queen."
He bowed once more, then left.
"Ugh, this news has made my head hurt…" he sat back down on his throne, rubbing his temples. "Bring me Saïx!" he called out.
Five men entered, each holding a chain that was attached to a man's limbs, one on his neck, one each on his wrists, and one each on his ankles. However, this man had pointed ears, much like an elf's, and a dog's tail. He also had four parallel scars stretching across the side of his torso. The men were trying to hold him back, as he was struggling to get to the Queen.
"Xem-Xemnas! Xemnas! Xemnas!" he was panting, while struggling to get close to the throne. The men, however, were pulling back on the chains.
"Let him go," the Queen said, waving his hand.
The men let go of the chains, and instantly, Saïx made a beeline for the Queen, leapt into his arms and sat on his lap, nuzzling his cheek.
"Xemnas…" he mumbled.
"That's a good boy," he said, patting Saïx's head. "LEAVE US!" he shouted at his subjects, and they all exited through the huge doorways.
"What company?" asked Roxas.
"Well, Roxy, ("My names' Roxas!" he interjected.) as of now, I feel that almost all of Wonderland is out to get you!" said Axel (who was still grinning cheerfully…).
Roxas's eyes widened in shock.
"Me! Why me?"
"Because you're the new Alice!" he said with a smile.
"Ugh…is there anything normal about this place?" he sighed.
"Unfortunately for you, Roxas," he said with his Cheshire grin, "this place can be anything but normal."
"I kinda got the hint when I got here."
"Now, hurry hurry! Choose! Both are in the house of either most of the time anyway."
"Um, what?"
"Hmm…I think they're hanging out at Zex's place…it is Friday after all…"
"Isn't it Saturday?"
"Nope!" he said grinning. "I suggest you take the path on your left, which is to my right. That path will lead to The Hatter's house."
Roxas then noticed that Axel's ears started to twitch.
The Knave went to the highest point of the castle, a tower that only had one entryway, one window, a lone chair with intricate designs in the middle of the small room, and a balcony.
He closed his eyes (though you couldn't really see it, as he was blindfolded.), and stretched out his arms. He rounded his palms, and a dark orb was forming between them. It leapt from his hands, then whizzed past the castle, and rounded all of Wonderland. It went around the Valley of Mushrooms, past the Volcanic Plains where the Jabberwocky roam, and through the Chessboard Desert made of lava and ice. Finding no Alice, it rounded to the Garden of Death where Marluxia dwells, and into Tulgey Wood.
'Alice.'
WHOOSH!
"Ah!" Roxas covered his eyes, because of the strong wind. He caught sight of a dark orb, circled him a few times, then it whizzed around, back into the direction from where it came.
"What the heck was that?" he asked Axel.
"Riku…" he mumbled.
"Riku?"
"The Knave…The Knave of Hearts."
His Cheshire grin vanished, then came back in a split second, but Axel had a dark look in his eyes. His nails became longer and sharper.
'Claws!' Roxas said to himself.
"He's coming." said Axel.
Back at the tower, the orb returned to its master.
'Tulgey Wood.'
He stretched his palm into the empty room of the tower, and a dark portal appeared. He readied his wing-shaped, dark-blue and red blade, then stepped inside.
'Alice…'
A dark portal appeared in front of Axel and Roxas. Roxas stepped back, gripping his key, nervous. Axel jumped down from the tree, in front of Roxas in a protective position.
A silver–haired, blindfolded being stepped out of the portal, blade in hand.
"Hello, Riku."
"Axel." the man nodded curtly. "And I see that the Alice is behind you."
This guy's blindfolded, what the heck? Roxas thought to himself.
"Where's your army?" asked Axel with a sneer.
"Thought I'd go alone first, just to take a look." Riku answered.
"'Take a look' my ass. You want his head, don't you?"
"How'd you know?"
"My head?" Roxas asked, horrified. He gulped. He was very happy having his head on, thank you very much.
"Roxas!" Axel turned to look at him. "Run to Hatter's place! You'll be safe there!"
"I see, so his name's Roxas, huh?"
Roxas didn't need to be told twice. He took off at top speed to the path on his left, not bothering to look back.
Riku started run after Roxas, but Axel blocked his way.
"I'm your opponent, Knave."
"You know I don't want to fight you, Cat." Riku said, putting his blade down.
"You work for that bastard Queen. I have no trouble ripping you to shreds." Axel said, still not retracting his claws.
"After you vowed to protect me, three years ago?" asked Riku.
"I vowed to protect Alice."
Riku just sighed.
"Ah well, my journey is pointless without that Alice. I'm not stupid, I know I can't enter either of their houses." Riku turned around, then opened a dark portal. "We'll have this battle some other time," he said, then entered the portal.
Axel relaxed, then retracted his claws. He then turned and went after Roxas.
Roxas was almost out of breath, but still ran. He could see the weird-looking house in the distance. He then slowed to a walk as he approached gate.
His eyes widened as he saw teacup headed right for him. He ducked just in time, though, and the teacup smashed into the wall behind him. Teacups and teapots of various colors were flying and swirling around. Pastries and desserts were doing the same as well.
But on the table in the middle, he could see two men (one with rabbit ears, with blond hair, and one wearing a top hat, with bluish-silverish-purplish hair.) making out in front of him. His jaw dropped.
This went on for about a few more seconds, before the man with the top hat's eyes widened when he noticed Roxas staring at them, standing at the gate with his mouth open, and pushed the man with rabbit ears off of him.
"Aww, and it was already getting fun, Zexy." the man with rabbit ears pouted.
'Zexy' fixed his top hat and tie, then cleared his throat.
"Can't you see we have company, Demyx?" he said, gesturing at Roxas.
"Oh! Hello, I'm the March Hare. My name's Demyx!" the man with rabbit ears said, waving cheerfully at him.
Roxas then shook his head, as he was still in shock.
"Uh…um, hi." He said awkwardly. "I'm Roxas."
"I'm the 'Mad' Hatter. Call me Zexion, if you please." The man wearing a top hat said.
"Um, nice to meet you, Zexion."
"You must be the Alice," Zexion said, glancing at his key.
"Oh, uh, I guess," said Roxas.
"Come closer! Don't be shy!" Demyx said with a smile.
Roxas stepped closer to the table.
"Oh, what a shiny keyblade!" said Demyx, pointing the key that Roxas was holding.
"Key…blade?" asked Roxas, holding up the key.
"Come, take a seat." Zexion said, gesturing at the table, swatting at a piece of toast flying near his shoulder.
The three each took a seat on the long table, each taking a teacup for themselves.
As Zexion was about to grab a teapot, the gate then burst open revealing Axel, panting.
Zexion grabbed a teacup in midair, then tossed it at the Cat.
Axel dodged it, then laughed. "I'm late for tea, I presume?"
"Almost!" said Demyx.
Axel stepped inside, then took a seat for himself beside Roxas.
"What happened, Axel? You're usually here early that you can still catch the make-out session!" Demyx said, jokingly.
"Had a run-in with the Knave." Axel said, taking a cupcake floating near his head then taking a bite.
"Riku?" asked Zexion, pouring a cup of tea for Roxas and himself. "The poor kid…"
"Who's this Riku guy anyway?" asked Roxas, taking a bite from a pastry.
"He's a Fallen Alice," said Zexion, taking a sip from his tea.
"Fallen Alice?" asked Roxas.
"Yep!" said Demyx, pouring a cup of tea for himself as well. "You weren't the first Alice that got here."
"Fallen Alices are those who have tried to defeat the Queen and failed to do so. Those who Fall work for him."
"Fallen Alice…what's an Alice anyway?" Roxas asked Zexion.
"An Alice is someone who falls into Wonderland, destined to fight the Queen of Hearts, Xemnas."
"Me! Fight!" asked Roxas, standing up from his chair, shocked. "But…I don't know how!"
"You have no choice. You can't get home if you don't" said Zexion.
"Don't worry!" said Demyx. "We'll help you!" he said, smiling.
Roxas sat down, defeated. Then, he coughed, breaking the silence.
"Um…Xemnas? Isn't that…you know, a guy's name?" Roxas asked, confused.
"That's because he is a guy," said Axel, taking another bite from his cupcake.
"Then why is he called 'Queen'?" Roxas asked, now really confused.
"The never were any kings in Wonderland." Zexion said. "Only Queens hold power. Kings were powerless, politically and magically speaking. They're only they're because they're married to an heir. Heirs to the throne, no matter the gender, usually choose not to marry and become Queen."
"I see…" said Roxas, taking a sip from his tea. "Why do I have to fight this Xemnas guy, anyway?"
"'Cause he's a total jerk!" exclaimed Demyx.
"He has beheaded many innocent people, for entertainment." Zexion said. "He's also very unjust and cruel, not bothering with trials ands hearings… just goes and beheads the convicted."
"And what's this thing? It's a key…but it's also a sword of some sort," said Roxas, holding up the object.
"That's what you call 'Keyblade'," said Axel, munching on a cookie. "All Alices are bestowed with one."
"But what's strange is," said Zexion, "is that yours isn't at full power yet…"
"Usually once you arrive at Wonderland it already is at its most powerful." said Demyx.
Then came a few seconds of silence. Only the sounds of munching and sipping were to be heard.
"Look's like you had a run-in with Marluxia…" said Zexion, noticing his tattered dress, along with the cuts that he recognized were from the vines. "We'll get you some new clothes later."
"Um…"
"Don't worry, it won't be a dress" said Demyx, winking.
"That place with Marluxia…I could hear the flowers speaking…what's with that?" he asked.
"That's the 'Garden of Death'!" said Demyx. "Marluxia's in charge of that place."
"They speak to the Alices, begging for the fall of the Queen."
"'Garden of Death'?" asked Roxas. "Why 'Death'?"
"All restless souls that the Queen has executed become flowers, and are guarded by Marluxia so that they cannot escape and help Alice." said Zexion, taking a piece of toast.
"Xemnas has ruled for 107 years… it's time that he stepped down from his throne."
"One hundred seven years!" exclaimed Roxas, then he coughed. "Shouldn't he be…you know, dead, by now?" he whispered.
"Oh, nah," said Axel. "That's about seventeen years in your place."
"Then…uh…how old are you guys?"
"I'm 183. Young and strong, baby!" said Axel. (he stood on the table and did a pelvic thrust…)
"179!" exclaimed Demyx.
"185," said Zexion.
"And…how old are you back at 'my place'?" asked Roxas.
"Well, Axel is, I believe, 18 years old, and 3 months. Demyx is 17 years and 11 months, and I am 18 years old and 5 months…" said Zexion, counting his fingers.
"I see…" said Roxas.
"We've been part of the Resistance since we we're young. Around 7, or 8 years old at your place," said Zexion.
"Uh…"
"Humans age faster than us," said Demyx. "So don't worry, we could already fight back then."
"Okay then," replied Roxas.
"Well then," said Zexion, standing up from his seat and putting down his cup. "Tea time's over."
Axel and Demyx also did the same.
In Zexion's hands, dark swirls of purple and black appeared, then a huge book materialized.
Demyx put one of his hands up, holding a blue charm of some sort, and a stringed instrument of some sort appeared.
Axel stretched out both his arms sideways. Flames were on his hands, then two spiked wheels replaced them.
"Stand up, Roxas. Ready your weapon too," said Zexion with a grin.
Wait… what!
Cirque: And yet, another cliffy! :D
Lune: Now they're really out to get you…
Cirque: Pfft…I'm the writer. I can do what I want.
Lune: If that's what you say…