After Aries heartfelt experience with Hatter Leo, she figured she could explore the rest of the castle since she was already there. She walked around and walked into many different rooms. One was full of artwork, another full of sculptures that look like all the Celestial beings, including a full statue of the 12 Zodiac guardians. In the center of the piece was the Celestial King.

"I guess this shows all of the spirits that are here in this place, as well as other places." Aries thought as she walked in. She looked closer at the Zodiac statue. It went in order the Zodiac goes during a year in a circle starting with Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius and Pisces.

"Wow, this is amazing. It looks like all the spirits from back home, it even has me!" Aries giggled as she saw the statue of herself, but then she realized that these were the guardians of Wonderland, so the Aries statue was actually Rose. She walked over to Leo's statue. It was him in his Mad Hatter outfit, and he was holding a charm, a pendent, shaped like a star. She looked at him close. "I promise...I get back home soon..." she whispered as she backed away from it.

She viewed the other Zodiacs and saw that they all look like the ones she met earlier. The only one she couldn't understand was Aquarius's and Scorpios. She hasn't met them yet. Aquarius was holding a scepter and Scorpio had a cape. "That's a bit strange. Maybe their apart of the knights or something." she guessed. She looked at the other two she hasn't seen yet.

Capricorn and Cancer. The other two spirits she hasn't met yet. However, one of them walks into the room "Hey, who are you? Where did you come from? State your business." they said in a stern voice.

Aries turns around and sees Capricorn and greets him. "Hello there sir. I'm Aries. Pleased to meet you. I'm here to admire the statues in here. I find them to be simply lovely." Aries curtsied.

"Well hello there Aries. It's a pleasure to meet you as well. I am Capricorn and I am one of the security knights of this palace. And yes, this is a fine exhibit isn't it? I have always admired their majesties statues in here." Capricorn smiled as he joined her.

Aries heard him say majesties, so she figured one of them was the ruler of this place, but she didn't bother to ask yet. "Y-Yes, it is lovely. I've always enjoyed seeing Hatter Leo's statue...I've heard many stories about him..." she mentioned.

"Ah yes. Hatter Leo. The kingdoms finest jewelry maker. No one has seen him in a very long time. There was an incident that caused him to go into hiding. No one was able to find him since." Capricorn told.

"Y-You don't say..." Aries said quietly as she walked back quietly.

"Ah! I just realized something!" Capricorn blurted out, scaring Aries.

"Ahhh! W-What!?"

"You look just like our fair Lady Rose. Our very own Aries of Wonderland, well before what happened to her." Capricorn pointed out. "In fact, you're the spitting image of her. How peculiar."

Aries wanted to run away before Capricorn realized who she was. "O-Oh...I see well um I best be g-going on...I- um...have to go somewhere else n-now...It was ve-very nice to meet you...bye!" she said as she ran out the door.

"My, she really is like Rose-dono. I wonder if she...it can't be. Karen threw her down that well. That can't be our Rose-dono...can it?" Capricorn wondered. He stayed in the room to look at the rest of the statues hanging around.

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Aries ran away as much as she could before she crashed into someone, paint and brushes and other art supplies flying everywhere.

"O-Oh my! I'm sorry! I wasn't looking where I was going...here let me help you.." Aries rushed to pick up all the pieces.

"Eh, don't worry about it little lamb. It's was all an accident, ebi" the person said.

"Ebi? That's what Cancer says...is it him?" Aries thought as she looked up "It is him!"

"I was heading to my studio anyway and things were about to fall. I'm just glad I now have some help, ebi." Cancer mentioned.

"S-Still...I'm really sorry I knocked everything down. Please let me help you." Aries offered.

"Much obliged Miss. Can you tell me your name little lamb? Ebi." he asked.

"I'm Aries, Aries the Ram. It's nice to meet you." Aries said as she held some of the art supplies and followed Cancer.

"A pleasure Ms. Aries. I'm Cancer, the kingdom's royal artist. I create all the artwork and sculptures that are around the kingdom, in and out of the castle."

"I guess that's another way of using his hair cutting talents" Aries thought.

"So...what were you going to make today Mr. Cancer?" she asked.

"Well I heard a rumor going around about this girl that suddenly appeared. She even found Hatter Leo after all these years. She brought him out of hiding and I think I saw him earlier, going back to his shop. I was going to create something for him to commemorate his return along with this girl. From what I heard, she looks like Rose. Ebi." Cancer said excitably. "Now that I said that, you look like the rumored girl. You wouldn't be her, right?"

Aries panicked. She didn't want to stuck with him all day, or bring attention to herself. She quickly made something up. "U-Um...no...I'm not her, but if she looks like Lady Rose, I'm sure it shouldn't be hard to do." she said, hoping she covered herself up.

Cancer looked at her. "Yeah, that is true. If this girl does look like Rose, I should be able to paint her up easy. I'll just create the outfit myself."

He bought it. She was so relieved. She walked with him to his studio and put everything down where he wanted it. "Alright Mr. Cancer. I'll leave you alone so you can get started on your work" Aries smiled.

"Yes. Thank you again for the help little lamb. Ebi. I hope to see you soon. I want for you to behold my masterpiece of Hatter Leo later." Cancer told her.

"I'll make sure I do. Goodbye now." Aries waved goodbye as she walked out of Cancer's studio. She closed the door and sighed. "Phew...that was a close one." she sighed in relief. "I better start moving again. I still haven't found Aquarius and Scorpio yet." Aries said as she continued her way around the castle.

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As she walked around even more, she has learnt more and more about Wonderland. There were stories on the walls and there's pictures of all the spirits together. She saw a few more pictures of Leo and Rose together around as well. She walked around the corner and saw Jellal standing there, holding a pendent. She figured she say hello.

"Hello! Jellal-san! How are you?" Aries greeted him.

Jellal turned around to see a friendly, familiar face. "Ah, Aries, it's a pleasure to see you again. How was visiting the rose garden? Was it what you were expecting?" he asked.

"Yes. It was simply lovely. Thank you. Where did you get that pendent? It's beautiful." she asked him.

"Oh. This pendent. Well I got it from Hatter Leo not too long ago. I wanted to give it to Erza a bit later. I asked her out for dinner later and I wanted to give her something to tell her my feelings for her." Jellal stated.

"Awww that's so sweet." she looks closely at the pendent. "A strawberry? That's unusual."

"Y-Yea...Erza likes strawberry cake, so I figured...why not a strawberry pendent?" Jellel chuckled nervously. "Do you think she'll like it?"

"Of course I do. I think she'll love it. After all it's one of Hatter Leo's special love pendants." Aries smiled.

"That's great to hear. I was so nervous if she would like it or not. I wasn't so sure." Jellal sighed with relief. "So Aries, what are you doing in the castle? I didn't think you would head here after the garden." he asked.

"Oh, well, after the garden, I somehow managed to stumble into the castle entrance, thinking I would be able to get out. I guess not. So I figured I can explore the palace a bit before I leave." Aries told him.

"Ah! I see. Well where have you managed to stumble into?" he chuckled.

"Well, I found my way to Leo's workshop first, then wondered into a few art rooms and the room full of sculptures, as well as Cancer's studio." she told him.

"Wow, you found yourself many places. And the best places to stumble upon might I add. I've always adored the art work that lives in this castle. It tells so many stories." Jellal shared.

"Hehe, yes. Art is always a lovely thing to come across. The stories it tells is the best part of it all." Aries giggled.

While the two were chatting, Erza appeared out from one of the corridors, not expecting to find anyone there. She was all dressed up, ready for her date with Jellal. Her sister, Kagura, made sure she look her best for her first date with him. Erza walked down the hall, hoping to meet Jellal outside, but instead found him talking to Aries. She immediately blushed.

Jellal's attention moved from Aries to Erza and he couldn't believe how beautiful she looked. "Oh Erza, you look stunning." he said as he walked closer to her. "Here, I got you something." he presents the necklace to her.

"Hello Jellal...t-thank you..." she looks at the pendent that's in front of her. "Oh my...Jellal, its beautiul...where did you get it?" she asked as he put it around her.

"Hatter Leo made it for me." he smiled.

"Hatter Leo? I thought he was in hiding?" she asked. "He's back in the palace making his jewelry?"

"Yes, he is. I saw him awhile ago myself." Aries pointed out to her.

"Oh hello there Aries. It's a pleasure to see you again. What a nice surprise." Erza greeted the pink lamb. "And that's wonderful to hear. I guess he found something that brought him back to life after the whole Rose incident."

"Yeah I guess so. I thought he wasn't there, and I thought that he'd have a spare pendent out that I can use, but I found him there instead." Jellal told her as he finished placing the necklace around Erza.

"Thank you Jellal. I love it. I'll treasure it always. Now do we have a dinner date or not?" Erza teased.

"Yes we do mi'lady. We'll see you later Aries. Have a wonderful evening." Jellal bowed to her.

"Yes, enjoy the evening Aries." Erza smiled.

"Thank you very much. Enjoy your date you two." Aries waved to them as she watched them walk away. "Well that was nice to see them again. I might not get to see Ms. Lucy here though...she lives in the middle of the forest with Natsu-san." Aries said to herself. "I guess I better keep going. I still haven't found Plue yet and it's getting really late." Aries continued to walk along the corridors, hoping to find something, anything that can help her get home.


She continues to walk along, finding her way to the dining room. There's a layout of sweets there. "Oh my, where did all this come from?" she wondered. "Why the royal baker no less." a snickering voice told her.

Aries turned around to find Happy, who appeared out of nowhere again, scaring her. "Ahh! Stop doing that! I don't like it..." Aries shook.

"Well I find it funny, Fluffy." Happy laughed "So have you met everyone yet? Are you satisfied yet?"

"...No...I want to go home, but I also want to say with Hatter Leo..." she admitted

"Oh? And why is that? You know you don't belong here, yet you want to stay instead. How peculiar of you..." Happy said with a curious face.

"It's just that...since finding out more about Hatter Leo's past...I wanted to help him feel better, to not feel like he's alone. Since I came here, Leo became happy again...from the stories that I heard about him...I just can't leave him. I don't want to take that happiness away." Aries worried.

"But my dear Fluffy, you know that you can't stay forever, you have to go home. Besides, it's not like you have a choice to stay or not." Happy snickered.

"Wait...what do you mean I can't stay...what are you talking about...Once I find Plue, I can get home...right?" she asked in a worried tone.

"Oh I think you'll find out soon enough. I'm not going to ruin the surprise for you. It wouldn't be a surprise if I told you." Happy chuckled. "We'll it's time for me to leave, I'll see you again soon, my dear Fluffy." Happy chuckled as he slowly disappeared, leaving nothing but his smile behind, then vanishing into thin air.

"Wait, what are you talking about..." Aries spoke to herself, once she realized he was gone. "Oh dear...I hope nothing bad happens to me...I can't stay here, but I want to..." She was so confused with herself. She couldn't get herself to make up her mind. "Ughhh, why is this so hard."


"Because your feelings for Hatter Leo are strong young ram." said a mysterious voice.

"W-Who's there? Wh-Where are you...what do you mean?" Aries asked, very scared of the sudden voice that spoke to her.

A figured formed beyond her. It was Crux the Southern Cross, but with mouse ears, for some odd reason.

"W-What are you talking about? How can I have feelings for Hatter Leo already? I just got here." Aries asked him.

"He reminds you of someone from back home, am I correct?" Crux told her.

"Y-Yea..I guess he does, but Hatter Leo is a different person...not like the one I know. I don't see how I can fall for Hatter Leo so quickly. That can't be possible." Aries refused to believe.

"Maybe so, but he sure has taken a liking to you." Crux mentioned.

"That's only because I look like Rose...He probably doesn't even love me for me, only because I look like her." she said with a sad face.

"Don't underestimate yourself Golden Ram. You are worth much more to him, then your resemblance to Rose. He took a quick liking to you because of a certain quality that you possess that Rose never had." Crux told her.

"Are you serious? What quality would I possibly have? I'm slow, clumsy, weak, easily scared, stutters too much, and I'm utterly useless to him. What can I possibly do for him...Besides, I'm sure Rose had all the qualities that Leo would want..." said Aries doubting herself.

"Don't be so sure of that Golden Ram. Your heart is definitely in the right place every time. You must believe that you are worth it. Hatter Leo can see it, and so can your Leo. Rose may have been Hatter Leo's love, but it took him a lot long to talk to her before he spoke you in such a way." Crux told. "You bring out the best in both your Leo and Hatter Leo. Never think that you are worthless."

"I-I guess...it's just hard to think about that kind stuff and not think it's all a lie. I was never special in my world, so I wouldn't be here in this one." she doubted

"But my dear, haven't you noticed? When you came here, you've met all these wonderful people. You've managed to bring joy to each and every person you have met here. You even brought together Knight Erza and Jellal. But to bring Hatter Leo back to his senses and his happiness again, it worth more than you think." Crux told her with a smiled. "You've heard of the story about Rose, right?"

"Yea, she was thrown down a well by a gate keeper named Karen and when Karen was punished and thrown down the well herself, Leo became depressed about Rose's disappearance and went into hiding. Nothing and no one was about to find or bring Leo out of his depression. Why do you ask?" Aries answered.

"Well you managed to bring a smile to Leo's face when he met you."

"But that's only because I stumbled upon his tea party and he saw me there. He didn't know who I was until I told him."

"Maybe so, but that incident changed him since. He came out of hiding and everyone was able to see him again. You've brought him back to everyone. He fell for you when you showed off your persistence and kindness to him. A different kind of kindness that Rose never had. That's what he saw in you." Crux told her with a smile.

"...I see...Well...it's still kind of hard to believe, but I'll think about it...I just can't seem to think that there's something else that would change him so quickly." Aries said.

"Maybe it's the pendent around your neck. It might of brought back memories that he had and you changed them, in a good way." Crux guessed.

"How does that work?" Aries asked.

"The heart works in very different ways my dear. Even I don't know how it works." Crux informed her. "But never the less, you've made a great difference and change since coming here. Never doubt yourself my child. I must be off soon. It is almost time." Crux told her.

"Wait! Time for what?" Aries hear a bell ringing "What is that?! What's happening!?"

"I'm sorry my dear but I must go. Please remember all that I have told you. Farewell" Crux told her.

"Wait! At least tell me your name!" she shouted

"I am Crux the Cross and I can see well into your future and into your past, Aries the Ram. Do yourself well and always believe in yourself." Crux said as he disappeared.

"Come back!" Aries tried to keep him there, but he was gone. The bell kept on ringing. "What is that?! I'm getting scared!"

Plue comes running by her "I'm late I'm late! It's almost time!" he shouted as he jumped down another hole.

"Plue!? Where have you been?! Come baaaaaaaaaaaaahh!" Aries fell down a hole that appeared below her. "Kyaaaaaaaaaaaah!" Aries held her skirt down as she fell.


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As she landed, she looked around and saw herself in a dark room, only a light on her. "H-Hello...w-where am I..."

Suddenly the lights turned on and she found herself in a court room. She was sitting in the middle of the court room. Every spirit and every person she has met since coming to Wonderland was there looking at her.

"W-Wahhhh...w-why is everyone looking at me..." she said, scared out of her mind.

"You know dead why you're here Ram!" shouted an angry women.

"Calm down my queen, you need to relax, we are." said a kind man.

"Wait...those voices...don't tell me..." she turns around "it is..." she has utter fear on her face.

It was Aquarius the Queen and Scorpio the King.

"You, Aries the Ram, are here in court for your actions and wrong doings! You will be punished!" shouted Aquarius.

"Oh no..." Aries whimpered.

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Alright, finished with Chapter 8 :3 Finally! Sorry it took so long, I was having writers block for this one. It wasn't easy I'll tell you that. But hey, it's finished and I'm proud of this one. Now seeing where this is heading, there might be only 2 or 1 more chapters left. There isn't much to write once you get to the court part of Alice and Wonderland, even if it's my own made up version of it. I switched the order of most of the places and it was mainly to show off my shippings. I will add my Lories chapter soon. It might be the next one, I don't know ^.^ Anyway, enjoy Chapter 8 you guys 3

- Bunny-chan 3

Next Chapter: Court Ruling until Proven Innocent