The couple of days after spending the night at Jefferson's place were...odd, to say the least. Ruby quit Granny's Diner which gave me a lot of over time there but then Ruby got rehired there after a day. David, I guess, started to have blackouts and I mean lots of them and oh yeah, Mary Margaret got arrested. Everything is starting to go crazy in our small town. Even Emma was going mad as a Hatter with trying to prove Mary Margaret didn't have anything to do with the murder of Kathryn. That was the hard part of all of this. I know my mother was trying her best to shield all of this away from Henry and myself but that wasn't working at all. I mean, my brother was always with Emma and me, well...I always find myself in bad spots.
Currently, I was sitting at the counter of Granny's Diner, talking to Ruby and waiting for Paige to get out of school for the day. That's all I do on my days off now. Other then go see Mary Margaret at the station or hang out with Jefferson. While I was talking, I heard the Diner door bell ring and the seat next to me move. Ruby turned to who was next to me as he spoke.
"Hot Chocolate with Cinnamon please." I looked over to see Henry sitting next to me.
"Make that two, Ru" I said smiling at her. She just winked at me before walking into the back of the Diner. "Aren't you suppose to be in school, Henry?'
Henry didn't say a word to my question though. He just sat that staring at the counter top. A moment later, Ruby came back with our Hot Chocolates in her hands. Placing them down in front of us, I thanked her and gently patted his shoulder. "Don't worry Henry, we'll find away to help Mary Margaret." I said softly to him, only getting a nod from him. Sighing, I took a sip of my Hot Chocolate and stayed quiet till a voice spoke up.
"I don't think that Hot Chocolate's gonna drink itself."
Knowing it was August, I answered him,"Nah, if he doesn't drink it, I will." I heard him chuckle before turning to Henry.
"You're upset about your teacher, aren't you?" August asked. Before I could say anything, Henry finally spoke up.
"She didn't do it." He said, looking over at August. "Why can't anyone see that?" I frowned placing my cup down.
August looked over at me before looking forward, "Because most people just see what's right in front of them. " He finally looked down at my brother, "And I don't think you're gonna find the answers you want at the bottom of that mug."
"He has a point, Henry." I said sliding the mug of Hot Chocolate away from him. Henry gave me a look before taking his mug back.
"Then where?" He asked, taking a sip of his Hot Chocolate. Finally.
August thought for only a moment before he spoke, "That a book in your bag?" Henry and I looked at his bag to see the 'Once Upon A Time' book inside it. "You know I'm a writer. So I'm partial to finding my answers in the literary form."
"It's just a book." Henry said softly.
"Is it really, Henry..." I said, smiling at him, playing along with August.
He looked up at me, "Yeah, AJ. It is."
August looked between us both before he spoke, "I think we both know that that's not the case." He sent me a smile, "AJ, can you get me a water, please?" I smiled and nodded my head at him.
"Sure." I said then hopped off my seat and walked into the back. Once I got into the back of the Diner, I saw Ruby standing there looking down at her phone. Smirking, I walked passed her and grabbed a water out of the fridge. As I closed the fridge's door, I looked over to see Ruby by my side, making me jump. "Jeezus, Ru! Why do that to me?" I placed my hand over my heart.
She only chuckled, "To see your reaction." Ruby smiled and poked my cheek. "So what are you doing tonight?".
"Seeing Mary Margaret." I said, rolling the water bottle in my hands. I've been visiting her anytime I could; Just to talk or play cards with her though the bars. Ruby gave me a look. "What, Ru?"
She placed her hands on her hips. "Why would you see her?" I rolled my eyes at her.
"Really, Ruby? I don't see why people are so blind, she didn't kill Kathryn." I whispered the 'kill' part to her before continuing, "I mean, she doesn't have it in her to do so." Shrugging, I finished speaking.
"But AJ, the fingerprin-" Ruby began to talk but I stopped her.
"No Ruby. I'm right. Shh." I grinned. "Now I need to take this to August, laters." I turned to walk out from the back. When I got back to the counter, I saw Henry finally smiling again. First time today, really. Placing the water down in front of August, he smiled at me.
"Thank you, AJ." August said nodding his head at me before standing up and reaching over to tap on Henry's book. "Remember what I said, kid." With that, he left without another word. Making sure he wasn't coming back, I went over and took his seat next to my little brother.
"What was that all about?" I said, watching him pull the 'Once Upon A Time' book out of his bag.
Flipping through his book, Henry spoke,"Finding poof to help Emma believe." As he went though the book, he turned to a page with a blonde woman on it, holding a sword in her hands. Looking closer, I noticed she was wearing a blue riding jacket with white riding pants and black boot. I quickly placed my hand on the page before he flipped it. "AJ, what's-" Henry looked at me before looking at the page.
"Who's that, Henry?" I said staring at the page, trying to figure out who that was. Henry laughed quietly.
"Oh! Thats Alice: The Savior of Wonderland" He said back, smiling proudly at me. I only looked at him before sliding my hand a crossed the picture. I guess he could knew what I was going to ask because he started to read the page out loud to me.
-Wonderland: Many Years Ago-
Standing in the middle of the large arena, Alice stared up at the Red Queen, who was sitting in her throne. She had fought everything that the Red Queen had thrown at her and more. For the Red Queen, the battle for Wonderland was coming to an end but for Alice...It was only beginning. Staring down Alice, The Red Queen screamed to her guards to bring out the one thing that all of Wonderland was afraid of. "Bring in the Jabberwock!" With that one word leaving her mouth, the ground became to shake. Everyone in the stands began to hide. The March Hare, Cheshire Cat and White Rabbit hid behind The Mad Hatter, shaking in fear. But Alice stood her ground. Smirking, the Savoir of Wonderland drawed out her vorpal sword ready for the creature coming her way. The steel door flew up and the guards run out of the cave as a loud screeching cry pierced everyone's ears. Moments later, the Dragon-like beast clawed its way out and stood up tall. Almost as tall as the highest tree in Wonderland. Alice's eyes widen as the monstrous beast stretched out its large bat-like wings and stared down at her. She looked up, seeing her own fear in its blood red eyes as beast bared its teeth at her. Hissing, the Jabberwock was the first to try to strike but Alice rolled out of the way and swung her mighty sword at it; cutting the monster's snake-like tongue off. The monstrous beast groaned in pain before swinging its tail at Alice; hitting her and throwing her to the ground. The vorpal sword flew out of her hands when the Jabberwock's tail hit her. Now dazed, Alice slowly stood up to her feet and looked around to try to find the Jabberwock.
"Alice! Above you!" The Hatter yelled, making Alice look up and roll out of the way, before being smashed into the ground by the Jabberwock. The Savior looked at the monster with wide eyes before quickly running away from it. 'Think Alice think!' She thought as she ran from the beast and slid under pile of broken rubble before the Jabberwock caught her in its giant claws. As the Red Queen's monstrous beast tried to break through the pile of rocks, Alice moved to the back of the pile and looked out a small hole, searching for her vorpal sword. Finally spotting it, she crawled out of the pile with Monster busy on the other side and ran straight for the sword. "Idiot, she's getting away!" The Red Queen Screamed at her pet, making it look up from the pile and growled seeing Alice running for the sword. Before the Jabberwock reached her, the Savior grabbed her sword and spun around, facing the monster head on.
Meanwhile, in the stands, Alice's loved ones watched on in horror as she faced off against the horrible creature. When she turned to face the Jabberwock, everyone at once felt chills run up their spines-even Jefferson did. "What is she doing, Jefferson!" The White Rabbit yelled, grabbing ahold of The Hatter's cloak. Jefferson wondered the same thing as his Alice swung her sword at the monster. "Slaying the Jabberwock." He said down to the Rabbit, praying that he was right. His Alice was the Savior, he knew she could save this place. Once in awhile, everyone's shock, the claws of the devilish beast came too close for comfort to Alice's head for them. With only the March Hare covering his face, the others watched as the Savior fought on.
Alice went to dodged again as giant claw flew passed her. She was learning that the Jabberwock was slightly slow for its size and its weakness was its neck. That's why it would only attack with its claws and tail. Getting an idea, Alice ran under the beast and headed to a large fallen pieces of the arena. With the Jabberwock behind her, the Savior reached the pile of large rubble and started to climb up the side of it. Once at the top, she quickly hid behind a large pillar that still stood as the creature climbed up to her level. Taking her chance, Alice ran to the stairs, almost getting bit by the Jabberwock but luckily it missed. The staircase to the top only took a moment but little did Alice knew, the Jabberwock reached the top first. Alice gasped when she reached the top but quickly ducked under the creature again and climbed up the side of it. The monstrous beast didn't like that very much. When the Savior reached the Jabberwock's back, the beast started to thrash about, trying to shake her off. With the shaking and thrash getting worse, the monstrous beast finally threw Alice up into the air but that's exactly what she wanted. As she was thrown up into the air, Alice swiftly raised her sword. "Off with your head!" She Yelled as she started to fall out of the sky, crashing down the vorpal sword on the Jabberwock's neck; cutting its head clear off. The cries from the Red Queen was heard from all over the arena as the head of the Jabberwock rolled off the side of the pile of rubble. Smiling, Alice finally stood up and raised her sword into the sky in Victory, showing Wonderland that the Red Queen cannot defeat the Savior of Wonderland.
"Alice"
-Storybrooke: Now-
"AJ? Hey AJ?"
I felt someone shaking my shoulder, making me blink my eyes a few time. Looking over, I saw Henry staring at me with his hands on my arm. Did I fall asleep while he read the story book? "What happened, kid?" I said rubbing my hand against the side of my face.
"You just zoned out then I was reading the story. Are you okay?" He asked a little worried. I only nodded my head at him then stood up from my chair.
"Yeah I'm fine. Don't worry; I was listening." I said smiling softly before looking over his shoulder at the book again. "Hey Henry?" He looked up at me as I slid my leather jacket on.
"Yeah Sis?" He questioned.
I started to tug on my scarf as I spoke, "So why was the Mad Hatter and the others there in the arena? What was there reason of being there?" I asked him. For a moment, Henry just stared at me then quickly looked down at the couple of pages he just read.
"Uh, AJ." He said after a minute of flipping the pages then just stayed on the page with the picture of the 'Savior of Wonderland' on it. "It doesn't say anything about the Mad Hatter or any other Wonderland creature in this chapter." I looked at him with a confused look on my face.
"Henry, I heard you reading. He clearly was in it." I said crossing my arms over my chest, "I swear Henry, if you're lying to me..."
"But I'm not!" He said pushed the book in front of me, "See! It says nothing about him. I swear!" As he spoke, I looked through each paragraph, trying to see the name "Mad Hatter" show up anywhere but there was none. I started to feel a cold chill run up my spine. The name wasn't there.
Closing the book, I back away from the counter. "I-I gotta go, Henry." with that, I hurried to the door.
"AJ, wait! Your rememb-" But It was to late, I already ran out of the Diner. To be completely honest, I was freaking out. I swear I heard him say Mad Hatter when he was read that but why wasn't his name in the book! I needed sleep or something. Letting out a shaky sigh, I quickly headed home, leaving my Blue Harley at Granny's. I would've went back for it but I didn't need to hear Henry tell me who he thinks I am-I mean, that can't be true...can it?
Woooo, okay. SIDE NOTE: Yes, I skipped a chapter but for good reasons. I wanted to get to Hat Trick sooner and plus there's going to be one more chapter before that even happens. BUT Anyway, AJ is slowly remembering Wonderland and the Mad Hatter! La Gasp! That's great!...Or is it? Truly, I dunno yet and I'm the writer XD. Well, I hope you all liked this and don't forget to review, follow or favorite.
-Sara
xoxo