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Lesson 4: Sprinkle some Deja vu on your amnesia

"So let me get this straight, I'm the princess of Hearts, and I was stolen by the Queen of Spades so that she can take over all of Wonderland. The King and Queen are in hiding, but everyone knows that they're in the castle somewhere. And my favorite food really isn't peanut butter. I knew they were lying to me about that! But what does kidnapping me do for any bad guy?"

I feel like I just got stuck right into a video game. Except I have no weapons and no one is helping me. At all. I mean, Riku is the only one who tells me things that I can understand, not that Goofy wasn't trying, but it's just so difficult to understand him.

"If the Queen has you, then there is no heir."

"And that means what?"

"What happens when there's not a defined ruler in a kingdom?"

"Mass chaos that results in someone's head being chopped off?"

So he gave me a funny look for that, but I'm pretty sure that Europe had a problem with decapitation. Maybe that was just during the French Revolution…

"Close enough. So if the heir went missing some while ago, what will the kingdom do if their beloved King and Queen meet with an unfortunate turn of events?"

"You mean they 'accidentally'" I made sure to make quotation marks with my fingers for that, "managed to fall off a cliff or something?"

"Or ran into a spear. Or drank some tea laced with poisoned mushroom. But yeah, died in something unfortunate that wouldn't be traced back to Maleficent."

And he thought decapitation was weird. I thought Wonderland was full of "Off with your/her/his head!"s. He definitely just came up with two ways to kill someone and spouted it off like it was nothing. Now I have to wonder what is really wrong with him. I mean, he's mad too, I guess he just hides it better. Besides the ears and tail and that creepy entrance and the way he says weird things in a creepy voice and… okay so he is crazy and it shows, but at least he's something to look at.

"So the royal family is going to be knocked off so that Maleficent can take over when the country needs a leader, so that she won't have an entire country's resentment when she starts her reign?"

"What are they teaching you in that school, rubbish? Why would Maleficent care about a country's resentment? I mean, it would only get a little blood on its grass, nothing big enough to get mad about. It's the people's resentment she has to worry about."

Is he dumb? I definitely just said that. Or did he just imply that the land it's self is alive? Now that I think about it, with all the talking doors and changing ceilings, it's no wonder that the ground doesn't just pop up for tea and cookies right now. Better not say anything, just incase there are some trees that just happen to need introduction.

"And why should I care now? I'm back, so I can go in, tell the monarchy that I'm here, then go back home."

"What?"

He's got the scariest face on, like he'd eaten something rotten and molding. Only, I know he's making that face because of that suggestion I just made. Shoot, I knew it, he's insulted. There goes the only person who could help me, and that's the second person I've offended today, three if you count the door, but that thing had it coming.

"Why Princess, you can't ever say you're going back! It's your destiny to defeat Maleficent and restore madness around Wonderland when you rule as Queen!"

Wow, that's some destiny that's been dumped on my head. And what if I don't want to beat up the woman I've been thinking of as my mother for the past couple of years of my life. And Queen… what!

"Queen! I can't be Queen! I can barely talk in front of a class of thirty, let alone tell hundreds of people what to do and be a figure-head and all of that!"

I hate crowds. I've never been a public speaker, nor had I ever wanted a job where I made lots of decisions. I was hoping to get a career in track, or maybe being a secretary or something easy like that.

"Technically, it's mostly cards you give orders to."

"But Queen?" I screeched, pulling at my hair. This is too much. I collapse in a chair, put my face in my hands, and start crying.

I think I'm being too dramatic, but I'm so out of it that I don't care. I don't care if I'm sobbing with a mess of tears and red faces all in front of a good-looking guy. I can't take any more surprises about my supposed life or what I'm 'destined' for or anything else. I just want to go home and eat some depression food. Like ice-cream, or maybe even pie. I don't even think this is a dream anymore, because I know I can change my dreams, and they're not changing now.

I inhale sharply as I feel an arm encircle my shoulders and feel the warmth of Riku's body as he hugged me. And let me tell you, it feels awfully good. I'm beginning to really like this guy; he makes me feel all warm and comfy. He's distracting me from this mess I'm up against… and I love it.

"Kairi, it's not going to be as hard as you're imagining. I'll be there for you every step of the way; I'll even beat down your adoring fans when they crowd around you to see their Queen."

Now that's sweet. I've never had someone say that to me before, well, I've never heard of me having adoring fans either, but my crying turned into soft hiccups, which are slightly cuter than tears will ever be. He's looking at me with those gorgeous eyes; I just want to stay here, staring at his eyes forever.

I know, I know. Kairi, you've only know this guy for about an hour or two, there's no way you could have a crush on him already, but I do! I mean, he's good looking, the ears just make him cuter, and he's been kind to me and took the time to explain things to me properly, unlike some missing rabbits did. And he doesn't make fun of me either, like the Hatter hasn't stopped doing. Not that the Hatter's cute or anything, I would never even think of it… okay his eyes are… but wait… no more thinking brain, focus on Riku!

It's kind-of odd, but I feel like I've known him for longer then just this time that I've come here. If he is right, then maybe when I used to live in Wonderland I was friends with him. Maybe my crush is a roll-over feeling that I regained when my memories were sucked out of my brain or whatever they did to me.

"Riku, were we friends when I was living here?"

He hasn't let go! This is fabulous! I would think I was fanaticizing if I didn't know my face was a mess. In my fantasies, I always look amazing.

"Yeah, you, me and Sora were the best of friends back then. We did so much together, people used to joke that we were like one kid in three bodies. Like, we did everything, wrestled, built forts, camped out in the Tulgy woods. Those were the days."

I'm not exactly happy about the mention of the Hatter, who I refuse to recognize as anything else, and the fact that it sounds like I was just 'one of the guys.' How am I supposed to get him to see the cute and pretty girl that is totally single and sitting right next to him when he sees me as 'one of the guys.' Roar!

"You've really grown these last six years." He comments, pulling away. No! My warmth! Wait, is that comment supposed to be an insult? Is he saying I'm fat? Did he pull away because he was repulsed by my sobbing? Will he not talk to me because I'm old? I think he notices I was glaring at me suspiciously because he added, "In a good way, of course."

That's better.

"So Kairi, are you ready to head off to the castle?"

"The castle. That sounds exciting. Now what will we be doing in the castle?"

Whatever is in the castle must be more fun than here. And I'll be with Riku… I think I might become somewhat of a stalker. Of course, that's how I am with all my crushes… Wait, no getting distracted! And my face is still nasty from bawling!

"You're going to get your memories back so that we can face Maleficent."

"How is being in a castle going to help?" I thought Maleficent had those things, not some castle… unless the castle ate them like the door ate me. "Are they in a box or something?"

He started laughing, not like his mad chuckling from before, but honest laughter that makes me almost want to laugh with him. Except he's laughing at me, which is not a positive thing. No, laughing at one's self is not something I should do.

"I'm sure something in the castle will trigger your memories, we'll just walk around until you find them."

"Alright, let's go." Okay, so the whole walking around with Riku thing doesn't make me happy too.

"She can't go there yet!" I heard from inside the house. And low and behold, out pops the Hatter, with Goofy by his side, bounding over and waving his hands around like a mad man. Which he is, so it suits him perfectly. He looks kind of nervous, like he really doesn't want me to go to the castle.

"I can't go there why? I thought I lived there."

"Riku, don't bring her there." He's ignoring me and pleading with him. He's got a good face for begging, his eyes get all big and he looks almost ready to pout. His eyes would make a fuzzy animal that much cuter, not that I'm looking at his eyes or anything.

"She needs her memories as soon as she can get them to combat the Queen."

Way to go Riku, you tell him!

"But she's not ready yet, her memories are filled with insanity. Too much too quickly may prove to be too much."

He's desperate. Maybe he just doesn't want me to go there because he's hiding something in the castle. Or he doesn't want me to remember something embarrassing about himself, like what he did when he was four or something.

And… they went off into a secret huddle on the other side of the table, even the duck woke up to be in on it. And here I am, in this odd green and pink striped chair, looking over and feeling like a looser. Which I am because I know they're talking about me. They keep looking over at me, and Riku and Goofy have the decency to smile at my questioning look, but the Hatter just glares and Donald… well… he just looks like a mix of tired and angry, which I am beginning to think is one of his only expressions.

Time for some more commentary. Well, there's some heated whispering going on over there, with the waving of hands and shaking of fists. Riku seems to be listing off something, as he is counting on his fingers, of which the Hatter counters with a wild poke in the chest. Goofy is looking bewildered, watching the two with wide eyes and mouth half open, while Donald seems to be shouting something that no one is listening to.

Oh, it seems they're going to fight it out. Riku and the Hatter have both made a fist and… and… it's a stand-still. They glare at each other as their fists shake in anticipation and… Go! Riku puts down a rock, but is countered by Sora's paper. And that's the end of it.

"Fine, you win." No, don't give up that easily! He turns to me, "Kairi, we're going to be heading off to visit some people before we visit the castle."

"Are they coming with us?"

Please say no. Please say no.

"Well, gorsh, we'd love ta, Princess, but there's so much we've got ta do, findin' sum more tea an' all." Yes! "But don't ya worry, you've got Riku an' Sora ta come with ya!"

No! It all was going good until that last sentence. Why does he have to come?

"Kairi."

Ah! What's he doing so close to me again! I wasn't thinking that much!

"Kairi, if we're going to go, you have to do something for me."

"Why would I do that?"

I looked over at Riku for some help, but he was having an animated conversation with Goofy and Donald.

"Kairi, I don't think we got off on the right foot."

"What foot? I was hanging on the ceiling!"

He's running his hand through his hair and glaring at me. Good, I don't like you either.

"Look. I know you don't know me now, but we used to be best friends! I just want us to be friends again. Or at least on civil terms with each other."

"Why?"

He looks away bashfully, and then mumbled something I couldn't here.

"What?"

"I missed you."

Awww, that's cute. Let's see, friends with the Hatter means being closer to Riku, which I like. And he looks so pathetically cute right now, I can't help it.

"Fine Hatter, we can be friends."

I stuck out my hand to shake his, and he grabbed it with his gloved one. After a nice shake, he held on, staring at my face.

"Kairi, will you do one thing for me? Call me Sora, will ya?"

"Sure… Sora. We're friends, aren't we?"

His eyes lit up and he started grinning. What? I didn't do anything special. Then, without warning, he sprang. I was enveloped in a bear-hug within seconds, with the air being squeezed out of my being and his cheek pressed up against my hair. I don't think I realized that he was tall enough to do that, I thought he was my height.

"Hey, you two coming? Or are you going to stay like that all day?"

Sora looked up at Riku with a glare.

"So what if we are?"

Okay, that's too far. Blushing I pulled out of his arms and took a few steps away, just in case he was going to attack again.

"Let's get moving, shall we."

Please, let's leave and forget that Sora said that to my newly discovered crush.

"Right. So we're off to go see the Caterpillar."

"What?"

"The Caterpillar should know how to put back Kairi's memories."

Put back? Are we going to unscrew my head and dump them back in? I didn't know it was that complicated to get memories back.

"Sora," Riku interrupted my thoughts, "Leon moved last month, and he didn't tell us where. Remember, we went over for his weekly tea party and he was all moved out."

"Shoot!"

"I can help."

Wait, I know that voice. I turned around and, gasp; it's my MIA friend-turned-bunny, Selphie.

"Selphie!"

"Kairi!"

We rushed at each other full force, when, "wham" I whacked her right in the head.

"What was that for?"

"You left me!"

"Yeah, I'm sorry, I just had no time. I had to tell everyone that you were back. But you had Sora, right?"

So that's why he was there. "He was a great help. Especially when he left me to that door and I got stuck wandering around and…"

I was cut off with a hand over my mouth.

"Let's get going, shall we?" Sora said, keeping his hand firmly in place so Selphie couldn't hear me complain about him anymore.

"Follow me!" Selphie switched moods from suspicious to energetic and started bounding off towards a very foreboding forest off in the distance.

"Here we go." I muttered before running up to catch up.

End Chapter

Happy-kat Hikara