HEY! This is AIWF88 bringing you another chapter of Two Girls in Heartland! Yay for chapter 7!

yeah not much else to say really…

I don't own HNKNA! Everything, except Jay and Ray, belongs to QuinRose!

Chapter 7: Seasons Settle

Jay's P.O.V.

When we got back to the Tower, the temperature was beginning to drop rapidly so I felt like a human popsicle when I got inside. The inside of the tower was quite for the most part. I saw a few faceless workers running around here and there, but it was nothing like when I first arrived here with all the busy workers running around. Nope, it was calm, peaceful, and quiet.

Damn it! It so boring here! I thought sipping some hot coco in front of a fireplace I never noticed before. Well then again, I only just got here two days/time periods ago and only stayed here for a few hours so I could have missed this place.

Alice sat next to me reading a book she barrowed from Blood and looked like she was almost done. I looked at the title for a minute and then turned my attention back to devouring my hot coco. Mmmm! Coco~ Sadly though, with in a few short minutes it was gone.

I got up and asked Alice where the kitchen was. She told me it was just down the hall and right across from Julius's workshop. I frowned. Julius? Wasn't he the guy who fixed the clocks? I don't think I've met him yet…

"Umm he's the clockmaker, right?" I asked. Alice looked up from her book and nodded.

"Oh, that's right, you haven't met him yet. Sorry. But yes, Julius fixes the clocks. He should be in his office right now working, but I wouldn't disturb him." Alice warned. I nodded. That's right, he's a workaholic… I thought remembering how in the manga he was almost always at his desk fixing the clocks that Ace delivered in a blood stained cloak.

I shivered trying to picture it now. Alice gave me a weird looked as I walked out of the room and to the kitchen. I looked behind me and saw the door was open. I took a quick peak and saw that the desk was empty. I frowned. I wonder where he went…

"Can I help you?" a gruff voice asked from behind me. I jumped and turned around to see a man with long navy blue hair, glasses, wearing a black coat standing behind me.

"Umm no. I was just looking," I said nervously before walking into the kitchen. Gary was also in the kitchen signing some papers; don't know why he was signing them in a kitchen though. I said 'hi' and he nodded acknowledging my presence, but didn't look up from his work.

I shrugged and froze. Wait. Why did I come to the kitchen again? I mentally asked myself. Oh that's right! HOT COCO! I smiled and found the coco powder, milk and boiled the water.

"Yo Jay! Whatcha making?" Ace asked smiling as he entered the kitchen with his blood stained cloak and carrying a small bag that was also dripping blood. I pinched my nose to block out the nauseating smell of blood. Gray looked up from his work and glared at the knight.

"You're getting blood on the floor." He said.

"Sorry about that mister lizard~ just came back from another job." Ace laughed.

"Ugh Ace. You reek!" I exclaimed. He just laughed. I then noticed an odd red mark on the side of his face and frowned.

"By the way, what happened to your face?" I asked blankly.

"Oh, I got lost in the maze with your friend Ray and sexually harassed her. Then I said she looked desperate. And after I that, she kicked my face sat on top of me and held a pair of scissors to my throat and started making out with me!" he said happily.

Gray and I both started at him blankly.

"Yeah…I believe everything except that last part." I said blankly. He laughed and nodded.

"Haha yeah, I just wanted to see your reaction when I said that." He said casually. I walked over to him and flicked his forehead.

"No harassing my friend, or you'll have to deal with me." I deadpanned. Ace nodded rubbing his forehead. Gray walk over to get a closer look at the giant red mark Ray had left on the side of Ace's face.

"Your friend must be a pretty good fighter." He mumbled. I shook my head.

"Nope~ She's not very good in fights." I said remembering all the times I would pick on her and then she's try to hit me, but then instantly shy away when I threaten to punch her. She can be such a coward. I thought happily. Gray just stared at me like I had grown another head and then back to the red mark.

"Haha Mr. Lizards all confused~" Ace teased and Gray glared at him. I tilted my head to the side slightly confused as to why there were now sparks flying between them. Do these two hate each other or something? I'll Ray sometime, but for now…I walked back over to the steaming teapot and poured it into a mug filled with more coco powder than there needed to be. I poured the milk into the cup to help it cool off a bit and walked out of the room, hearing the sound of metal clashing behind me.

That night I found myself with Ray in the dream realm. Nightmare was floating above us looking a little concerned, but it soon vanished and he smiled at us.

"Ah, Ray. I believe this is the first time we've met." He said happily. She looked at him blankly but nodded.

"Yes, I take it you're Nightmare." She said monotonously. He frowned.

"Well, someone's not in a good mood." He mumbled. Ray's eye twitched.

"I just spent half the day with a perverted knight trying to find my way out of a maze." She growled and looked to me. I put my hands up in defense.

"What are you looking at me like that for?" she just rolled her eyes and shook her head. She looked like she was about to start ranting, but didn't.

"Nothing." She mumbled and crossed her arms. Nightmare just sighed and shook his head and continued to look at Ray.

"You do realize blaming her and Alice for that is a bit childish…" he said. Ray instantly looked up and glared at the incubus. If looks could kill…

"Wait that's what you were thinking?" I asked a little pissed off by that. She shifted her weight and looked away. I just rolled my eyes. Always someone to blame…

"Well let move on from this before you two start fighting. How are you two enjoying Wonderland?" I shrugged.

"It okay, I guess." I replied.

"It's different. Definitely more interesting than our world." Ray said smiling. Nightmare nodded seeming pleased with her answer.

"Have you two decided on staying or leaving yet?" he asked.

"Stay." Ray said immediately. I looked at her weird and shook my head. Already decided on that…that's very much like Ray now isn't it?

"I'm not really sure yet." I said telling the truth. I'm not like Ray who gets bored of reality and spends every waking minute trying to destroy our world, I for one actually don't mind it. Sure this world is fun, but I also miss my family. I still need sometime to decide.

Nightmare nodded. "I see, not everyone can make their decision quiet as quickly. As a matter of fact, I don't believe their has ever been an outsider who as ever made their decision quite as quickly as you did Ray…" Nightmare mumbled out the last part.

She just laughed. "I highly doubt there's ever been an outsider who want to escape their world quite as much as me."

"True that." I laughed along with her. Nightmare smiled and shook his head.

"I also have one more thing to ask you two: just how much did you two know about Wonderland before you came here?" Ray and I both stopped laughing and looked at Nightmare. He looked half serious and half amused.

"I'm Nightmare, I know about these things, I'm already aware that you both knew about the game before you both came here. Well you more so than your friend." He said turning to Ray. I looked at her as well.

Her expression was blank and emotionless as she stared at the incubus. Just what is she thinking? It's true that she knows more about the game than me, and she was already a fan of the book and had seen every 'Alice in Wonderland' or 'Through the Looking Glass' movie ever made, even the crappy ones they put on Netflix.

"A lot." Was her only reply. He nodded. "Yes, I can see that." Nightmare than turned to me.

"It seems you're waking up Jay." He smiled. Sure enough, the world around me was starting to collapse but when I looked over to Ray, she seemed unaffected by the dream world cracking up around me, as if I was the only one who saw this.

"Also I have to add one more thing before you wake up Ray," he added turning back to my now emotionless friend, "I suggest you learn how to play card games."

And with that I fell. That last this I saw before waking up was the look of sheer terror on Ray face.

I sat up in bed and shivered. Learn how to play a game of cards? What do cards have to do with anything? I wondered. A cold breeze blew past me. I looked over to my bedroom window, which I was sure I had closed and frowned. Underneath the window was a pile of water and slush.

"What the hell?" I mumbled getting up to close the window. My eyes widened at I looked outside. The world around me was like something out of Narnia. Everywhere I looked there was sparkling white snow and long icicles. I smiled. Winter was one of my favorite seasons. They only downside was the cold.

I love snow; it was one of the best things in the world. And for the past three winters, the area where I lived had been getting a lot of it. I had more snow days over the past few years than I have my entire life!

I quickly got changed, ran down stairs and then went outside. I paused for a moment then jumped head first into the nearest snow bank laughing. Alice, Gary and Julius all looked out the open door to the Tower and stared at me like I had finally lost it. Please~ I lost my sanity when I was in the first grade and accidentally ran into a brick wall.

No, seriously, that actually happened.

Julius looked at Gray and Alice. "Whose the insane girl with the weird hat and glasses that just ran down the stairs and jumped head first into the snow?" They both sighed.

I got up out of the snow and walked over to the three tower residence. "Sorry about that, I saw the snow and just had to jump in it. Oh, and to answer your question, I'm Jay Kat. One of the new outsiders." I said introducing myself to Julius.

He stared at me for a moment then turned around and left to get back to his work. I frowned. "Well someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning…" I mumbled. Honestly, Julius's foul mood is ruining my good one.

"Don't worry he's always like that." Gray mumbled glaring down the hall. Does Gray hate both Ace and Julius? I wondered.

"Umm Jay?" Alice asked. I turned my attention back to her and smiled.

"Yeah?" "I know you wanted to go into the snow and all, but did you really have to dive head first into a snow bank?" Alice asked. I nodded.

"Yep, what else was I suppose to do? Just lie down in it and make snow angles?" I laughed. Alice just shook her head. Suddenly we all heard another small crash. We turned around to see Ace pop out of the nearest snow bank.

"Yeah! Snow bank diving! This is much more fun than cheery blossoms diving!" Ace said happily. I turned back to Alice and Gray grinning widely.

"You see! Ace has the right idea!" I said. They both just stared at the two of us and walked away. Ace came up next to me looking puzzled.

"What's their problem?" He asked. I just shrugged.

"I guess they don't like snow." Ace nodded.

"Wanna go dive in more snow banks?"

"Fuck yeah!"

Ray's P.O.V.

I stared at the incubus realizing what he meant. Shit! How the hell did I forget such a Goddamn important fact about April Season!? I mentally slapped myself. Nightmare shrugged.

"Not sure, but I would recommend finding someone that can teach you how to play at least one card game like 'Go-Fish' or 'War' or even 'Old Maid'. " Nightmare suggested. I glared at him before sighing.

I knew he was right. I haven't picked up a deck of cards since I was five. And even then I hardly ever played. I hated card games, I don't know why, but they always annoyed me. Probably because I never had the patients to sit through one.

I looked around and saw the dream realm starting to crack. "I guess I'll be waking up now." I mumbled. Nightmare nodded.

"Until next time, Miss. Carson." He said. I closed my eyes and felt myself fall. When I opened my eyes again and found myself in the guest room at the Hatter's mansion.

I sat up in my bed and looked around. Everything looked the way it had when I fell asleep. I got up and walked over to the window and slowly opened the curtains. My eyes widen as I gazed at the beautiful scenery around me.

All the leaves on the trees had turned bright rich shades of reds, oranges, yellows, and browns. The grass didn't look as green as it once did, but still held a certain charm. And I also noticed some pumpkins popping up here and there.

I smiled taking in the view. Fall wasn't my favorite season, I was more of a summer person, but I could still appreciate it. But my favorite thing about the fall, the one thing that summer didn't have: Halloween. I love, love, love Halloween! It was my favorite holiday. Hell, I loved it more than my own flipping birthday!

I tried looking beyond the tops of the trees to see the other territories, but only the Circus tent. I frowned. It was almost like the other territories never existed. I couldn't see the top tower like I used to, or the tips of the roller costars and Ferris Wheel of the Amusement park, or the towers of the Heart Castle.

I frowned. April Season really has come…

I heard a nock at the door. I turned around and before I could say 'enter', the twins followed by Elliot came barging in. I felt my eye twitch as the twins ran up to me. I didn't even tell them to come in.

"Hey! Ray-san! Did you see? Did you see?" Dee asked excitedly.

"Yeah! It Autumn!" Dum shouted sounding just as excited. I nodded.

"Yeah. That means that the land has settled, right?" they nodded. I mentally cry/sobbed. I really don't wanna go back to that creepy Circus! And I especially don't want to play a stupid card game! But I also want to see Jay and Alice again…why do these sort of things only happen to me?

"Oi! Raaayyy-saaannn!" Dee said waving his hand in front of my face. I snapped out of my thoughts.

"What? Oh, sorry! Deep in thought." I said laughing nervously. They frowned.

"Are you alright Ray-san?"

"Yeah, you seem a bit 'out-of-it'"

"Well, I did just wake up." I laughed. They didn't look convinced and continued to stare at me. "Seriously guys, I'm perfectly fine!"

They looked at each other and shrugged. I sighed and looked back out the window. Elliot crossed his arms.

"What's wrong Ray? Do you not like Autumn?" The hare asked sounding a little disappointed. I looked at him and quickly shook my head.

"No, no! I love Fall! I mean sure; I'm more of a summer person, but Fall has Halloween and Thanksgiving! Well…actually I'm more excited about Halloween… since it's my favorite holiday… you Wonderlanders celebrate Halloween, right?" I couldn't remember weather or not they had Halloween in Wonderland.

Elliot frowned. "Wonderlanders?"

"Of course we celebrate Halloween!"

"It's the best holiday ever!" the twins shouted answering my question. I fist pumped.

"Yeah!" I said happily. They have Halloween here! I guess I pick the best territory to stay at. Haha Jay would be so jelly right now.

"Well, you seem happy this morning, Miss. Carson." Blood said entering the room. I nodded.

"Wonderland has Halloween! Of course I'm happy! Fall is the only season when I can Cosplay as much as I want without my parents or anyone else criticizing me." I said proudly. They all stared at me strangely.

"Ray-san, what's Cosplay?" Dee asked. I blinked and looked at each of the role holders. They truly don't have any clue what Cosplay is? Well this is sad…

"Well 'Cosplay' means 'costume-play' or as in you dress up in the outfits your favorite amine, or TV show characters wear for no reason. There are even big convention where a bunch of Cospayers can get together hang out read manga, or even some times people can put on some plays or act out cretin scenes from the manga or anime." I said giving them a crappy explanation.

They nodded trying to make sense of what I just said, but I think they got it.

"I see. Do people in your world do this 'Cosplay' thing quite often?" Blood asked. I shook my head.

"Nope~ " I chirped. Blood looked like he wanted to say something else, but didn't. I looked outside one more time and sighed.

"Well I need you all to get out of the room now." I said remembering I was still only in my nightgown.

"Why?" Dee asked.

"Because I need to get changed, duh!" I shouted. Blood left immediately, while Elliot had to drag the twins out. I sighed and shook my head. Those two…

I walked over to the nightstand where I kept my outfit, only to find it missing. My eye twitched. And I ran back outside.

"Oi! Blood?" I asked catching up to the mafioso.

"Is something wrong young lady?"

I nodded. "Yeah, I can't find my outfit, do you know where it might have gone?"

He thought for a minute and then nodded. "Yes, one of the maids must have come in while you were sleeping and taken it down to get washed."

"Where would it be now?"

"Hmm…I'd check the laundry room on the fifth floor, but you might want to put on some cloths first." He said pointed to my nightgown. I sighed and walked back over to my room and opened the wardrobe.

My twitched as I stared at the arrangement of frilly dresses. All pinks, purples, yellows and pastels. Of all the things why must it have been pastels?

"Oh joy…" I mumbled stepping into the large wardrobe trying to find a dress that would best suit me.

After about an hour or so of dress browsing, I found a cute black, grey and purple-checkered dress with black lace trimming that ended at my knees. It had two black leather straps just around the waist and black and grey straps with black lace. I found a pair of knee high black boots and a black chocker to complete the look.

Not bad… I shrugged. I quickly brushed my hair and tucked my side bangs behind my ear and ran up to the laundry room on the fifth floor.

Unfortunately, my cloths were still being washed and had yet to be dried so it would be some time before I ever got them back. And with that in mind I went down stairs and outside to find the Hatters arguing with Peter.

The stopped arguing as I approached. The twins ran up to me and hug golmped me to the ground.

"Dang it! Please don't do that while I am forced to wear a dress!" I shouted trying to push the twins off.

"Aww!" Dee stated.

"Yeah! No fair! No Fair!" Dum finished, but they obediently got off. Elliot walked over and helped me off.

"That's some outfit you picked…" He mumbled looking at my punk goth dress. I nodded.

"Yeah, it was the only one I could find that wasn't frilly of pastel." The twins came over to us carrying a basket of mushrooms. I also took note of the purple and black powder on there hands as they held the basket up for me to see.

"Look Ray-san! We found a lot of mushrooms!" Dum said holding up a red one with yellow dots.

"Yeah and there poisonous too." Dee said with glee. I smiled and picked up a bright green mushroom with dark purple spots.

"Really? How do you know it's poisonous?" I asked interested. Dum reached into his pocket and pulled out a small red book and handed it to me. I took it and looked through it. On each page it described each mushroom and the effects it had on people.

"Coo!" I said handing the book back Dum. "Did you guys note all these yourself?" I asked. They nodded proudly.

"Yeah, it took a while and we had to use up a lot of the faceless people to get our results, but it was worth it." Dee explained. He also went into further detail on how they were able to test each of the mushrooms and what they were going to do with them.

I listened with great interest on how each poison worked and how they were going to grin them up into powder.

"Wow! That sounds like fun." I said happily. They blinked.

"Really? We thought all outsiders hated violence." Dee said.

"Yeah, onee-san does." Dum finished.

"Well I'm not Alice. And no, not all people from my world hate violence. It's not the answer to everything, but I think everyone needs a little violence in our life's, if we didn't; everyone would be a bunch of hippies." I shrugged. I had nothing against violence or murder or anything of that sort. It was wrong, yes, but it was going to happen. There's really no way to stop it.

"Well that interesting and all, but check out these." Elliot said holding up a basket of carrots. Blood looked like he was about to get sick while the twins just stared at him like he was a idiot. Peter just rolled his eyes. I looked over the basket and smiled.

"That's cool to Elliot, are planning on making carrot dishes with those?" asked sweetly. He nodded.

"Yep, you wanna help?" he asked. I shook my head vigorously.

"No thanks. The last time I tried to cook something it grew eyes walked off the plate and tried to eat my dog. It wasn't the best mother's day, but probably better than most." I said recalling last year's mother's day. The police had to come in and said that I should stay away from all cooking utensils.

Elliot just stared at me before slowly moving the carrots away from me. I laughed and told him that he doesn't have to worry about something like that ever happening with his carrot dishes.

After a few minutes of watching Blood debate with Peter for negotiations, nothing was really solved and he left saying he had to go look for Ace.

Blood left to get done some work and Elliot had a bunch of papers he needed to sign. So that left me alone with the twins.

After a few minutes of sitting around and doing absolutely nothing, I began to realize why these two always ditched work; It was the most boring thing in the flipping world!

"Oi Ray-san?" Dee asked. I glanced over to him.

"Hmm?"

"Can we grin the mushrooms into power so we can use it for poison?" Dum asked. I shrugged.

"I guess it would be okay as long as we do it here. Technically you wouldn't really be ditching work." I mumbled.

"Yeah!" they both cheered. I just laughed as Dee went to get something to grin up the mushrooms, while Dum stayed with me by the gate and explained the process of making mushrooms into poison. Not the best thing someone should be teaching me, by hey; this is Wonderland.

That's Chapter 7 it's not as good as I hoped it would be but it's the base for the rest of the story building up with some plans I have for later chapters. So yes, Ray can't play cards-not even Go Fish-and you will see her lack of skills later on in the story XD

And snow pile diving! Oh Jay Jay…I think I mentioned earlier that she was based off of a good friend of mine, and the sad thing is if she was in Wonderland and saw freshly fallen snow, that would be the first thing she would do… So yeah…

Well, let me know what you think!

Please R&R!