The author makes absolutely no profit off of this work of fan fiction, and no copyright infringement is intended on the franchise of Heart no Kuni no Alice and Doctor Who. Some of the elements in the story have been incorporated belong to chaos-dark-lord but I have received permission to use them from Wonderful Wonderful Science and its sequel Wonderful Wonderful Science: Diamond Dust. There are also references from the M-rated one shots she has published, and are canon in this story.
Erin blinked owlishly through the rectangular glasses, decorated with a fancy butterfly wing design at the sides of the frames and a small box attached over one of the lenses, which had just given to her by the Berceuse. "So I'll able to see these wavelengths, or the 'flow' of mana because they have augmented reality capacities like Google Glass?"
Aria nodded. "My own optic implants have different lenses." Her eyes flickered various shades of lights and colors one after another until returning to olive-green. "Mana is energy and it can be detected with a composite spectrum analysis. Infrared, ultraviolet, electromagnetism...I managed to pinpoint the wavelength." She then pointed at the item sitting on Erin's nose. "Those glasses have enough technology to allow for a visual representation of the wavelength, although they can't detect all of the details." The second Outsider then released her clenched fist, she revealed a wilted flower sitting in the middle of a metallic hand. "Now look at this. Can you see the mana?"
The fourth Outsider nodded. "I can. I see the flower as if some dust was floating away. Is that what mana actually looks like, it really can't be seen?
"Can you see UV radiation? Can you see in the dark?" Aria taunted the other woman and then lowered the flower in her hand down to Erin's height. "The best way to refer mana in this experiment is radiation, which is used to permeate the cells and matter in this world. Now, pay close attention to what I will be doing because you're going to try it after me." The Berceuse sternly looked at the almost dead plant. "Love and will are our power and our price in this world. Just focus your will and determination or just emotions into a finite statement and concentrate on what you want to happen. Makes sense?"
"Got it."
Satisfied with the answer that she received, the speakers around Aria's neck began to emit a soft melodic tune. The fourth Outsider watched in fascination as multi-colored strings like lines and notes in a music pentagram surrounded the flower, first pouring inside its faded petals and then encompassing it entirely. Moments later it appeared as if it had just been freshly plucked from the ground. "Wow."
Aria smirked at the Outsider's astonished expression and handed another half-dead flower to Erin. "A song is not needed, but I discovered that I can make mana 'ride' on the sound's waves, energy on energy, making it easier to use and direct for my purposes. I can even make it jump and amplify it through various nodes to create an area network of effect." She then gestured towards Erin's open palm and crossed her arms. "Now it's your turn. Show me what you can do."
The college graduate looked at the Berceuse with a bit of uncertainty, though swallowed her anxiety and just sang with no musical number in mind. But when the gaze of the hardened soldier of fortune looked down at her hand, there was no trace of mana within the plant whatsoever.
The blonde mercenary frowned and tapped her chin. "So it doesn't look you're able to transfer mana with this method. Instead we might need to try something you enjoy and place all of your heart into it." She hummed thoughtfully before an idea came to mind. "According to Aegis, it seems that the sphinx included some questions regarding to a television show called...Doctor Who? I remember reading about that old show. Maybe we got stored in our databases somewhere, possibly even the episodes that come after your time..."
"Yes…. But who is Aegis?" Erin blinked and thought about it. "...And why would the sphinx even say those things instead of the traditional riddle?" A small frown then appeared on her face. "I wasn't too fond of the new episodes that came out. I preferred the Tenth Doctor since he seemed a bit more human while the Twelfth was...like a giant kid who couldn't even tell sarcasm when someone insulted him."
"10th? I thought there were like 30 or 40 doctors." I Aria continued her evaluation, ignoring Erin's other questions.
Erin looked at the mercenary in surprise. "No. There's supposed to be thirteen in total. Unless the writers decided to expand it further for more viewing ratings."
"Only up to your point in time. Remember I come from a farther point in future than your time" The Berceuse eyes flickered in a small display of what sci-fi would have looked for someone coming from the times the other foreigners did. She then shrugged "Anyways, try saying some quotes that really have had an impact on you as a person. It might be more prominent for you than a melody. Focus on what you want to happen to the flower on a cellular level. Mitochondrias are an excellent target to focus where the mana should flow into." The Berceuse then perked for a second and waved her hand in a dismissive way. "Oh, and don't ever try to use negative emotions. That causes anti-mana, but that is a lesson for another day."
Erin did that, vehemently reciting philosophy from the Tenth Doctor and other characters while she watched,some of those same strings appear around the flower, though they seemed a little….shaky, unstable, small and weak compared to the strong and steady flow that Aria produced.
"What you've done would be considered mini incantations. In my case those are small chantings that have little but have finite effects. Similar to magic spells in video games." She huffed and massaged her temples." After spending almost a half an hour of Erin using this method, the Berceuse halted the session." This is a really good progress all things considered, but it really doesn't give the result that we need for you to use mana at its full capacity." The Berceuse crossed her arms. "I'd like if we had more time to monitor and research the process better, but there should be other ways to do this. The question is how to narrow it down without wasting too much time."
Erin stared the Berceuse with a slightly glum look on her face before she went into the kitchenette. "I hope we'll figure it out soon."
Aria smiled a little, following the Outsider just to lean against the marble counter as she watched her guest began opening up random cabinets. " Don't get too upset. In comparison to the other Outsiders you are improving exponentially." The Berceuse looked curiously at what Erin was doing, paying attention to Erin's furrowed brow. "I doubt they could even comprehend the science jargon I rattled off to you as casual verbal interchanges, let alone manage to mold mana." Aria winked at Erin, digital hues flickering ever so slightly. "Let's take a small rest before trying again. Sound good?"
Erin made eye contact with the Berceuse before she nodded, holding up a tin can of Earl Gray Tea. "Would you like some? Don't really care much for the stuff myself but I could use a break from hot chocolate and water as you might from your...preferred beverages through the time period." The fourth Outsider remembered seeing Aria gulp down alcohol quite often in their brief meetings with each other, and promptly pulled two clay mugs from an adjacent cabinet where she found the can. "I don't know how mana affects a person when it's constantly used, but you must be tired after this lesson.. Or from your normal activities. Especially with everything that is going on with that portal opening up all of a sudden."
"I'll take you on that offer." Aria replied, taking a seat at the breakfast bar so she could see what else Erin was doing. "And to answer your question, using mana constantly is indeed very tiring. If you don't have enough will to sustain the amount of mana, then it can drain your life away." She half exhaled and half hummed. "But using it to teach you is no big deal. Especially when I might need to go out at a moment's notice." The Berceuse then twisted her head to crack her neck and proceed to start cracking her fingers, one by one.
"Makes sense." Erin then decided to ask something that she've been wondering. "Um… If you don't mind me asking...what exactly is your relationship with the Bandersnatch? He is supposed to be a Frumious Beast, an actual competitor to the Role Holders in terms of strength and wit, right? Why do you still exercise caution around him when it seems that he has no qualm with following your orders? Like a puppy I might add. Is it because you have a contract with him as well?"
"The Bandersnatch?" Aria blinked. "Well, he's what you call a Frumious Beast; they're faceless who have roles too, the oldest ones actually, except that they are mixed with their Holders you could say. They are their Roles. There is no difference between a Holder and a role for them. If there's nasty stuff that's gotta get done, they're the guys you want to go to." Aria began to pull out a cigar but stooped and put it back in her pocket. "But does not change the fact that they are monsters. The Bandersnatch is meant to devour the afterimages whose clocks have been destroyed beyond repair, else those would become monsters too. And yes, he has a deal with me." She shrugged her shoulders.
Erin blinked in surprise. "Oh. Well, that makes sense. If they take care of deeds that would be considered horrible by the people of this dimension, it makes sense that they'd be monsters. Did you want any cream or sugar with your tea? I can understand that the Bandersnatch can be dangerous...but doesn't it unnerve you a bit on how such a dangerous creature can act like a faithful puppy to you?"
"No. Just want it straight as it comes out of the kettle." Aria leaned on the bar, using her own breasts as pillows for a second. "As for why the Bandersnatch seems so.. dedicated to me, I can guess partly it is from the effects of the Game, but …there's something else. He seems familiar to me and albeit myself, I find his presence not that threatening." She extended her hands towards Erin, holding her hands open and expecting for that tea. "He also willingly made a deal with me that really made him my puppy, and I have no idea why."
"Cup of tea, straight as it comes from the kettle. Coming right up!" Erin responded with a small smile, now entirely focused on procuring some tea for the both of them. Was it odd...to consider possibly the most dangerous person in Wonderland as more of a friend than an ally at this point? It was not uncommon to thank either with a nice cup of tea for everything they have done to help someone, especially an amnesiac basket-case like herself. Or is it wrong to even think like that as well?
After the college graduate grabbed the whistling kettle off the stove and poured piping hot water into the mugs, she remained oblivious to Aria's slightly widening gaze as the Berceuse watched Erin's every move.
"Um, Aria? Is something wrong?"
"Look at the cups." Aria snapped her fingers and the vision on the glasses Erin is wearing reactivates.
Those four words were all it took to make Erin's sadness dissipate to utter shock when she saw what Aria was referring to. "Y-You're kidding me!" Erin sees that there was definitely a more substantial amount of mana radiating from the mugs than their prior experiment with the flower or what the mini incantations produced. " I-I did that from just making tea?!"
Aria grinned wolfishly at the Outsider, excitement evident in her olive-green orbs. "I think I know what our next lesson is gonna be, Erin."
Erin looks up between Aria and the cup of tea "Could the art of cooking...be the answer? "
"There's only way to find out."
Erin eyed the Berceuse cautiously before taking a small sip of her tea, handing the other mug to Aria. "Right...but what exactly should I made since the recipe might make a difference in the amount of mana being produced?"
The second foreigner rubbed her hands together in glee. "That's the beauty of science: trial and error until perfection is reached, or pretty fucking close! We can definitely start with easy recipes, and then get into more complex ones that require more concentration as well as dedication. Shit, it's like Christmas from the XX century came! And I'm not even religious!"
"...Hurray?"
Three time periods ticked by as the two women fussed around the kitchenette, using almost all of the pantry items to make different recipes that were a staple back in Britain, such as blueberry scones and even greasy fish and chips. Constantly, Aria's eyes flickered and showed her information received from transmissions. Nonetheless, she kept track of the activities and even tried her hand at cooking, something she admitted she hadn't done in a while.
However, the food Erin cooked were passable in taste and presentation, the dishes themselves admittedly were plain and simple compared to the food from the Berceuse's original culture. After all, The United Kingdom had never been known for its cuisine, whereas the food from Aria's countries was deemed as humanity's heritage back on in her own dimension. Except for the baked goods of course, Erin's country topped on that branch of food apparently at least in personal taste.
Just when things were about to get interesting, Aria received a new transmission through the comm system. The Berceuse turned to Erin and smiled apologetically.
"Sorry, but I do need to deal with this...unexpected development on the field. It seems I'll have to offer that dream demon a deal and prepare for possible occurrences on the front lines." She smirked devilishly at the thought of extracting some much needed compensation onto Nightmare.
A small shudder crawled down Erin's spine at the bloodthirsty expression on Aria's face, but tried to brush it off. "Um, all right. Did you want to stop the lessons until things are straightened out?"
"Oh, there's no need to do that. I've already called in a substitute teacher just in case this would happen."
"Huh?"
Erin's astonishment, Aria's shadow rose from the floor and took the form of an ocelot. "Erin, this is Aegis. He will be answer questions that you might have."
"Greetings." The ocelot nodded, the deep male voice with a thick Russian accent coming from the shadows. The fourth Outsider blinked at him in surprise before she smiled sheepishly, waving a hand at the sudden intruder. "Er, hello?" Aegis just lowered its spotted head again in another nod, ears twitching at the sound a bell going off.
Aria sniffed the air. "Something smells good."
"T-Thanks." The college graduate murmured, swiveling on the ball of her foot towards the stovetop.
"Save one for me. I'll be going now." Aria turned the the ocelot. "Aegis, start colloquial speech pattern. Report as needed. Support request for Erin Oswald acknowledged."
"Order confirmed."
Without any more words, the Berceuse left without a single sound and when Erin turned around with two patches of freshly baked cupcakes from the scorching oven she found herself alone except for the ocelot creature.
She blinked in surprise, but tried to brush it off and continue making the final touches on her latest batch of sweets - one being red velvet and the other flavor dark chocolate, both she had learned from Uncle Sal when he was alive - Aria's monotone voice suddenly emitted from the ocelot.
"I just thought of an experiment, Erin. I have two lab rats that I would like you to test these cupcakes on: Elliot and Leo."
Erin looked up from the counter to the avatar with half amusement and curiosity. "I had a hunch that Mister March would be would be a guinea pig after the trouble that he has put the both of us through, but why Leo should be included in this experiment as well, Aria? I may not still be on… good terms with the bloke...but I admit that I feel a 'little' guilty for trying to poison him."
Aria immediately responded. "First of all, two lab rats can easily offer different results, especially in opposite environments. In this case, when Leo got injured at the Spring Festival, I had to injected him with mana so his healing could accelerate. He should be used to it by now, so the mana you'll be giving him will be a power boost and I want to see the effects caused by mana different than mine. It may be useful when things get dicey on the front lines and the data will be invaluable. Secondly, you're not poisoning anyone unless you want to. Using mana to de-stabilize the molecular structures on this world is too advanced for you at the moment. With this, we're just testing a reaction. I might do the same myself with my dogs given the chance. The more data we collect from these experiments, the more we can exploit and use it to our advantage over this world."
The ocelot then jumped by where the cupcakes rested on the counter and curiously pawed at them in a fluid move; the innocent gesture looked cute but unsettling, its eyes changing the color of their glow constantly.
Erin blinked at the ocelot in surprise before she sighed, dividing the cupcakes evenly and offered a piping hot one to Aegis.
"Want to try them?"
The avatar stared at the confectionary for a moment until it opened its jaw, dislodging both fangy maxillary and expanding their size to swallow it one bite. Aegis munched on the treat twice and gave an opinion with his strangely deep and masculine voice. "The cupcakes are fine. Would taste better if there was more icing. Do you have any other leftover?"
Erin blinked at Aegis in surprise. "There's more icing on the counter. But...how can you taste the cupcake when you are, well, pardon my rudeness, when you are made from the Berceuse's shadows and technology?" Bright green orbs saw him staring at another cupcake, his tail swaging eagerly from side to side. "This one had much more icing on it than the previous one." and handed it to him.
Aegis opened its jaw again, devouring the second treat and licking his lips and whiskers. "You're not being rude Erin, it's a legitimate question. And to answer it for you, I can 'taste' the mana and analyze the molecular composition of things in this world, it just takes a simple spectrum analysis."
Erin tilted her head to the side slightly at the response. "I guess...that makes sense." She then stood up and went back to dividing up the cupcakes into even portions. "Aegis...or Aria...do you think that I've changed at all since I came here? I know it's been a long while, but I can't help wondering if I really making a difference in myself as a person...or am I still indecisive and naive like Alice Liddell, who can't even tell the difference between a genuine love for someone and friendship?"
A momentary silence fell upon the room until Aria's voice came through Aegis. "You have changed, Erin Oswald. In the beginning, you wanted to learn the truth. Instead of turning away from it as Alice would have done, or delude yourself into willing ignorance like that other girl, you accepted it. However you have yet to reach another stage in this new life because you haven't made a decision and move on with it. But that really doesn't matter right now since it's not your Game yet, so you still have plenty of time to figure out what to do."
"Y-you really think so?" Erin would have liked to see the Berceuse's face, but she could not decide whether a smile or straight face on Aria's face would be more insightful.
"I wouldn't have said it if I didn't think that would be the case, Erin. You should know that by now." Aegis watched in mild fascination while the fourth Outsider released a small sigh. "That's...a relief. To be honest, that is one of things about Wonderland that I really don't like. The pressure to love someone in an allotted amount of time. But since the current Game isn't mine, I have a little more time to make her decision. I just hope...that Leo can wait that long. If he continues to survive as he is doing now, I mean." Erin said while finishing icing the other cupcakes.
"Now think of someone that can't biologically love, but is stuck handling assholes who don't take 'no' for answer, all while her Game is going on. At least not all of them know I exist." Aria said before Aegis tilted his head ever so slightly to the side and continued with his own voice.
"Since we're on the subject of romantic interests, why not take a break from these lessons and deliver some of the cupcakes to Leo? He should still be stationed right near the portal with the Bandersnatch and the others." Erin raised an eyebrow at the ocelot, ignoring the slightly burning feeling on her face.
"That sounds nice, but is it really a good idea to head into an area where other Role Holders might try to kidnap or use me as a hostage?"
"You won't be going alone. I've already taken the liberty of contacting Ava and assigning her to be your escort for the next four time changes." Aegis rolled on his back and exposed his belly, his thick Russian accent purring. "I'll be going with you too."
"Will you be there as well, Aria? At the site, I mean." Erin asked.
Aria's voice came from the shadows around and not only from Aegis."Only if there is a very good reason for it."
Erin nodded. "That makes sense. But before I forget, there is something I've been wondering about for a while. I wanted a second opinion on it before making the choice."
"Fire away."
Aegis watched with mild interest as Erin suddenly left the kitchenette to pull out a beaded purse from behind the breakfast bar. Unzipping it, the fourth Outsider pulled out a silver gun and placed it on the marble counter. "I've been meaning to get this thing examined, but I haven't had time. And with everything that is going right now with the Role Holders, I was wondering if you know anyone who could….provide an upgrade of sorts."
Aegis eyes shone for a second as he scanned the item. "That is a gun. I can provide specific data but I'm sure that's not what you want," He chuckled. "If by improving you want to add some silencer to it, that is easily manageable. However, you should perhaps use the Vorpal Blade."
Erin looked at the ocelot in confusion. "The what?"
"The Bandersnatch lent it to you a long time ago. Don't you still have it?"
Aegis questioned, a transparent ear twitching for a split second.
Emerald orbs blinked owlishly until she remembered a silver blade with an elegantly twisted wooden handle, its sides embedded with intricate floral patterns. The college graduate then felt something heavy in her right hand. She looked down and saw the very weapon that she just envisioned moments ago, black tendrils that expanded from Erin's shadow seemingly wanting to pull it away, but the blade glowed and the tendrils relented before disappearing completely.
"W-What the-?!"
"So you do have the Vorpal Blade," Aegis purred in satisfaction. "Do you know what it is and its functions?" Erin just shook her head, still surprised at what just happened.
"Um, no. I just remember holding it at the Spring Festival and acting on its own. At that time...it felt like I was being controlled by it."
"Yes, and that's because you were the one being wielded." Aegis blinked at the fourth Outsider, tail swiveling from left to right. "The Vorpal Blade, along with the Winxy Pistol, are the two most powerful weapons from this dimension. They encase and represent the power from each side of the Looking-Glass in Wonderland; the Unicorn for the Winxy Pistol, and the Lion for the Vorpal Blade. They can absorb and hold mana and cut through anti-mana. But it is in the hands of a foreigner when they become almost unstoppable, because you can keep powering them and they will continue fighting."
Erin raised an eyebrow in confusion. "So, is that why it took control of me back then? Because I was almost like a power generator for the Vorpal Blade and I just keep feeding it?" The dark-haired woman raised the weapon towards the ceiling, the light reflecting off of its sharp edge. "I guess that makes sense. Still, why has it been hidden until just now?"
Aegis shrugged. "Sort of. You were powering it, but since you didn't know how to weld it properly, it simple took matters into its edge and controlled your actions for better results. It is not a common weapon after all; and truthfully, I suspect the Madness that still surrounds you kept it hidden in the shadows before it answered your summons."
"Madness? A-Are you referring to the Madness?"
"I suppose the best way to describe it is a virus. It can infect an Outsider if they inhabit this dimension too long without the support of a Role Holder. It affects each foreigner differently, but the results are still enough to strike fear even in the clock of the most cold-blooded Role Holders. That's one of the reasons why some of these assholes rush the Game to completion, so that the prize isn't completely soiled with Madness. But they never tell you this stuff anyway."
"Like how they would never say that what comes out of their mouth is a lie?"
"Pretty much. Although, I barely noticed the Madness just now. I can't do anything to get rid of it, but Aria has the power to remove it." Aegis raised a paw towards the weapon in Erin's hand, and turned the relic to a silver ring within a quick flash of light. "There. That will make it easier for you to carry it around." The ocelot's eyes then glowed as his gaze soon turned to the pistol still sitting on the breakfast bar.
"As for your other weapon, I'd strongly recommend taking it to Enzo. He owns a flower shop in the town but runs a firearm business on the side for the organization. Pay him a visit before things around Wonderland get nasty, all right?He can also provide you with another weapon, if you desire to do so."
Erin looked at Aegis and nodded, grabbing the pistol and placing the weapon back into her purse after double-checking the ammo and smoke pellets before staring at the ring. "Aria….is it odd that even when I'm not particularly fond of guns, that I feel safe knowing I have one on me?"
"Sorry. My user is unavailable at the moment," Aegis commented "Pardon my bluntness, but I'll answer your question in my user's words: Don't forget that when you came to this world, your main weapon was that electric baton. You didn't have the stomach to kill unnecessarily and you still dislike it but the nature of Wonderland is to help an Outsider adapt to it, and that is a trait you have above the Role Holders who are pretty much set in their ways. And if an Outsider wants to survive without getting fucked by one of them, she should be able to hold her own ground and fight with no hesitation."
xRVx
Once Ava had arrived at the office in a prompt manner, Erin followed the bartender through the underground until the two of them arrived in the back-room of a perfume shop. Luckily it was not that far from where the portal was located; hovering over the entrance of a tunnel and right in front of what looked like a stage, ready to be used for a concert.
When they did reach the intersection of Ninth Avenue and Penumbra Boulevard, the fourth Outsider tried to stay as close to Ava as possible due to the number of faceless men working and trying to prevent Role Holders from coming near it by building a barricade. It was as if Erin had walked straight into the backstage area of a theater than the center of a war between the Lullaby and the Role Holders. It made her really wonder if was a good idea to come here after all.
"Oh! Look whom I found!" Ava announced in a sing-song voice while pointing out at Leo talking towards a group of men before she not-so gently pushed Erin towards them, a playful smirk on her pretty face.
"The explosions in the amusement park are keeping the marquis occupied for now. We also rallied the radicals at the castle and they went on without we needing to do anything else, but I don't think they'll last long. As for Clover Tower... -" This conversation seemed to go while Leo continued his discussion with a squad leader, at least until he saw both women behind himself and promptly excused himself to see them. He looked at Ava in surprise, then at Erin.
"Ava! Why did you bring Erin here? Did something happen back at HQ?! You know this may turn into a battlefield soon, especially being so close to the front lines!" Leo exclaimed with obvious worry and consternation in his voice.
Bright green orbs widened slightly. I was right. Coming here….was a bad idea after all. Erin thought, feeling guilty for making Leo feel like this, especially when there are other matters that have become more important with each minute that passed between the Lullaby and the Role Holders. Looking at the plastic bag in her hand, the fourth Outsider held it up to Leo.
"I'm sorry. I don't mean to make you worried like this. I just...wanted to give you these since you've probably haven't eaten since this operation began."
If Leo had eyes like the woman standing near him, they would have widened to the size of saucers. "Y-You came all the way to give something so special to me?" The well-dressed faceless felt like a shy schoolboy accepting a token of affection all over again for a moment, before he grinned and took the plastic bag. "Thank you, Erin. I'll definitely enjoy what you've made for me." He took a cupcake in his mouth and gobbled it down with gusto, surprised to feel a power boost immediately.
Erin smiled shyly. "I'm glad you like them." Since she was still carrying the glasses that Aria lent her earlier, she could see the small power boost around Leo. She was sure that his energy would increase if he continued to eat the sugary treats, almost coated with rainbow-colored swirls of mana.
Leo shook his head as he ate another cupcake, this time a dark-chocolate one. "How can I not? Especially that I know that this enjoy this when these cupcakes were made with love and delivered with such care?" He smiled at her. "Thank you. When this is all done, I'll definitely return the favor."
The pair shared another smile and chatted for a little while amongst the bustling crowd, at least until a certain Frumious Beast caught sight of them. The Bandersnatch stepped forward to pull Leo away until he was held back and pulled away to a distance by a buxom woman with wheat-colored hair. Ava smiled at the perplexed male.
"C'mon, let them chat." Ava said "They look cute, don't you think dear Bandy, oh so fluffy and powerful Frumious Beast?"
Bandy is somewhat weirded at her familiarity "Maybe, but all squad leaders must get ready and he is not only a squad leader but also an operation coordinator. " He let out out a small growl. "We're going to receive unwanted visitors way earlier than expected. The Role Holders are finally noticing where the real action is and are coming, so this place will be a big combat zone soon. Erin Oswald needs to get away from here, and quickly."
"Yeah, but you can spare them some minutes." Ava waved her hand dismissively. " How often is it that a foreigner would pay attention to a faceless? It's something that can change a faceless life, right Biggs?" Ava grinned. "Especially when this particular relationship might actually change the entire history of Wonderland?"
"I suppose so… " The Bandersnatch started before he did a double take and gaped at the woman while his eyes widened and his fur ruffled. "Wait, what!? How did you called me!?"
Ava chuckled. "As if the 'Fa' key tattoo on your shoulder isn't enough clue." she flickered his forehead. If she had eyes she would be rolling them. "More importantly, when are you going to tell a certain someone who you really are? She misses both of you." Her smile turned sad for a moment "Our Lady misses her top lieutenants, you were her right and left hand since the very beginning. And she refuses to take any other lieutenants who are qualified to fill that role."
The Bandersnatch frowned at the faceless woman and turned away, his tail, although ruffled, went between his legs. "When it's time. Right now, with things the way that they are, it would put it at a disadvantage for Our Lady to be distracted by anything else. And I'll be damned if we lose the portal to those fucking Role Holders. Once all is settled and we have won, I'll tell her. Although I'm not sure how she'd react."
"We won't lose the portal, Biggs." She patted his shoulder. "And I guess I'll keep on calling you Bandy for now then, so chill out! Besides, we don't just have our Sun to guide us to the way of power and happiness~! We have more power than any territory with two foreigners."
"Erin still has a lot to learn about us and this world." Biggs commented. Ava pouted and lightly punched his shoulder. "But she learns fast and she is smart. "
Ava hummed in agreement. "True! Still a little inexperienced, but Erin also has a very good presence to ease our leader. Even though I understand why Our Lady pushes herself as she does for all of her cards, she needs to do more than just work. Go out, have some fun, or at least indulge herself in a diversion that is fun and not involving experiments in the lab. The Madness is always crawling and waiting, all the stress does not helps her in the slightest. In a sense, the Moon is in the sky for the purpose to support our Sun, and vice versa~!"
"There's a reason why she's being called the 'little moon' by the Lullaby and even myself, Ava." The Bandersnatch smiled.
"Really? I thought it was because she is cute as a button~!"
The Frumious Beast snorted and shrugged his shoulders. "Bleh. I prefer women to be born-leaders and to be... fully developed in more than one area. " He then scratched the back of his head and wagged his tail. "But we all know I have only eyes for our leader. Always have, always will. And trust me~" He winked. " She is very well developed everywhere."
Ava raised an eyebrow. "I didn't need to know that, asshole. Still, Erin a much better for Leo. He happens to adore women who are petite, at least that's what I've heard recently!" She sniggered.
The Bandersnatch's eye twitched. "Don't you do anything else besides listen to gossip?"
"For your information, my business thrives on it! How else will I make a living? Selling candied apples in the town for ten time changes?"
Just when their conversation was about to continue, both of them saw a certain blue-haired Role Holder and their expressions hardened. The Bandersnatch glanced at Ava. "Get Erin Oswald away from here while there's still time. I have a feeling that things are about to get interesting and messy around here."
Ava nodded and walked over to Erin, giving the Outsider a small smile as she patted the college graduate on the shoulder. "It's time to leave, my dear. I'd like for us to stay a little longer, believe me, but-"
"I-I understand." Erin said as she looked up at Leo. "Please...come home safe and sound." The young woman almost flinched when a gloved hand rested on her cheek, with Leo smiling down at her in an almost loving manner.
"I'll be alright. Just follow Ava and get someone where safe, okay?" He then placed his hands over her shoulders for a few seconds. "Please be safe."
"Okay." Erin nodded and smiled back, her heart beating just so slightly faster. The Winxy Pistol inwardly cooed at the adorable sight before she was suddenly summoned by a Lullaby operative. Casting a glance back at the pair, Ava quietly sneaked away and hoped that whatever it was that they needed did not take long. She preferred meetings that were short and to the point.
Meanwhile, the Frumious Beast was trying to get Julius to pull his own weight around the site but the Role Holder refused. "I've done enough as it is trying to make sure Ace doesn't do anything stupid while we're here. I even claimed to the public that this 'performance' was my event because the last one had been interrupted." He then crossed his arms with a deep frown, his mind venturing back to the Spring Festival. "And it seems like you have all the help you need to get the portal stabilized before that train arrives." Cobalt-blue orbs looked around. "Still, why the need to do it here when almost every person could see it from any high point in the vicinity?"
The silver-haired male released a low growl and bared his pearly-white fangs at the Clockmaker. His personal dislike for Julius could not be more than obvious in the icy voice he used to address the Role Holder. "Don't forget that you did sign a contract that your Role must enforce, even if you are killed and replaced. But then you would damn the replacement too. Of course, I don't have a problem with something like that because I am more than willing to devour anyone even my other selves." The Bandersnatch smiled toothily. "And thanks to Aria, I don't even need to devour your roles before it roles eats you away."
Julius involuntarily flinched but his expression remained hard.
"In any case, it would be in your very best interest, Undertaker, to keep your nose out of places it shouldn't be or else you'll just miss your chance to talk to the Berceuse~. Then again it may not happen of course, given how busy she has become all of a sudden. And FYI, never question the Berceuse and her actions." The Bandersnatch casually flexed his poisoned talons in the air. "That's just being rude."
"And what if I am? I have a right to know what is going on in my own territory!" Julius's brow furrowed.
"A right that you need to earn, not demand like a snot-nosed brat. And it may be your territory in name, but now it's part of Aria's domain. You've never cared for it after all, and from here on out it belongs to my Lady's forces, who've been managing it since the Spring Festival." The Bandersnatch smirked at the Role Holder's expression, though it dropped slightly when the damned eyesore of a male holder specimen saw Erin talking to his subordinate.
"What is she doing here?" Julius demanded. "That woman could be killed!"
"And how is that any of your damned business? It's not as if you care, given to the fact that it's not even her Game. " The Frumious Beast raised an eyebrow. "She'll come and go as she pleases, and it so happens that she wanted to pay someone a visit." He then sneered. "Unless the Lady is right and you actually want her t-"
"Don't. Even. Finish. That. Sentence." Julius returned the sneer with a threatening growl, a scarlet hue spreading across from his nose to the tips of his ears. "I was very clear before on who I truly care about, wasn't I?"
"Why not? If you really have feelings for Erin Oswald, then I have another legitimate reason to kill you~!" The Bandersnatch growled again, raising his clawed hands and taking a position to attack Julius. "You couldn't have Alice Liddell, so you moved onto Aria as soon as she set foot in Wonderland. But it wasn't enough, was it? You betrayed her for the slip of a girl who rejected your feelings in the first place! Such a greedy, greedy bastard~. So insatiable that not even one Outsider can satisfy you for long. You sicken me. Just as you sicken my dear Lady."
"ALL I WANT IS FOR ERIN NOT TO BE BROKEN! IS IT REALLY SO AWFUL THAT I DON'T WANT THAT SAME FATE BEFALL ONTO THIS OUTSIDER?" Julius roared. "I KNOW I MADE A MISTAKE, A TERRIBLE MISTAKE! I KNOW I COMMITTED A TERRIBLE SIN THAT MIGHT NEVER BE REPENTED IN THE EYES OF YOUR SUN. MY SUN. AND UNTIL THE END OF TIME ITSELF, I WILL CORRECT WHAT I'VE DONE BEFORE ERIN GETS DRAGGED INTO THIS MESS!" Once the Role Holder finished his rant, his breathing was erratic with a hand firmly coiled around his wrench, ready to fight the Bandersnatch if needed be. However, his blood ran cold when the sound of gunfire echoing across the area reached his ears.
BANG!
BANG!
BANG!
BANG!
The Bandersnatch turned to his men and yelled. "TAKE COVER!"
An explosion occurred, then another. But the second one was smaller than the one he just heard near the border of the Hatters' territory. The Bandersnatch shot a nasty glare at the surprised Undertaker. "Get your ass moving! We're being attacked! Find the idiot knight and make sure those bastards don't cut through the front lines! Especially the Hatters! It's your territory, right? Go take care of it like the Role Holder you claim to be!"
And that is exactly what Julius did.
Hello everyone! I sincerely apologize for the long-awaited installation of Red Velvet to be published until now; work has gotten busier after the New Year, so now I'm at my job six days a week! Nonetheless, I can say with absolute certainty that this story will continue. Thank you so much to the readers who have waited so patiently, I couldn't have come through without your support! And so without further ado, here are a few words from chaos-dark-lord!
Chaos-dark-lord: Hello and great year to everyone. As you can see we are working hard on advancing this story. Stay tuned and tell us what you think. Who do you think it's attacking? And are you glad that Leo is back or are you wondering where Elliot is? See you on the next chap.