Disclaimer I do not own Alice in Wonderland characters.

"This midsun has gone on quite a while, don't you think my dear?" The March said to the Hatter.

"It is because the hostess herself has yet to arrive."

"How queer, morning and night put together as one. This is a first." Elliot and Dimitri had matching tuxedos on. "Why don't we have a party like this, darling?"

"Aren't the tea parties enough for you?"

"Well yes but…"

"Who would we invite anyway? Most here are servants, if not; it's those like us, from other territories. I do not understand why she even hosts this if it always ends in an argument. That idiotic wench."

"Forgive, my dear, this ball is for the oyster."

"I know it is for her but I doubt she'll even like this entire charade, it isn't her style and you know it."

At that moment, a young woman descended from the stairwell, her arm intertwined with the Queen's. She was a beauty. Her bouncy, brown curls framed her heart shaped face and brought out her eyes. The teal dress stuck to her pale body as if it was made to fit her every curve. The soft smile on her face light up her eyes, a golden brown.

Clarity Cheshire, dressed in a gray tux that strangely matched her dress, awaited for her at the foot of the stairs. When she reached him he took her hand and led her to the usual crowd.

She appeared in front of Brandy, Dimitri, and Elliot as an angel. Up front she was even more stunning. There was something about that intriguing smile, and the way those curls bounced, that seemed inviting and warm, almost familiar.

"You all seemed to have seen a ghost." Her laugh was like bells.

"Hallory?!" they all said in unison.

"Yes, it's me." She giggled like a little girl.

"Wow. It's a change, to see you like this." Dimitri said.

"I know."

"Honey, you look adorable!" Elliot said.

"Thank you." A slow song was playing. Clarity looked at Hallory.

"May I have this dance?" He extended his hand.

"Certainly." Clarity took her to the dance floor leaving the rest of the group in awe.

"You have bewitched me, Hallory Rose."

"Have I really? It's all thanks to the queen; she's the one who made me beautiful."

"Whether or not Her Majesty brought out your beauty, it was always there. You were already an intriguing creature. He blushed as he talked.

"Don't fall in love with me, Clare." I joked.

"I dare not, for your heart already belongs to another dweller of this land." His cat tail wagged just a little and his ears popped out.

"To whom?" He had struck my curiosity like always.

"You'll see soon enough, but first a toast." He twirled me around once and I was suddenly standing on top of the stair case next to the Red Queen. I had a glass of champagne in my hand. She clinked her glass with a heart-shaped silver tool.

"Welcome all to the Black Castle. We hope you are enjoying your night. Let us toast." She raised her glass. "To our dear oyster, Hallory Rose, and to forgiveness, because without it you become ugly." She sounded like a makeup commercial, "That ugliness is hard to replace. We must confess our grudges to once again become beautiful." She drank and everyone did the same. The drink tasted like strawberries and kiwis. Then the glass was knocked out of my hands. The Red Queen looked at me boldly.

"Now that we have forgiven it is time you trained." She clapped her hands twice and we stood on the giant chest board in the castle gardens.

"If you are to be our savior you must kill the Jabberwocky." The midsun blinded me. The queen no longer wore a dress but instead a stylish version of a boxer's outfit. I was wearing something similar.

"We'd like to teach you all the skills we know, but that would take much too long. Instead I will teach you what is necessary for you to survive, and win." She motioned to the box at my feet. "Open it."

I reached down to it; inside the box was a sword brilliantly crafted. The hilt of the sword was made out of pure onyx that had been smooth down to show your reflection. It was a simple black hilt that fit into my hands comfortably. The blade, however, was more outstanding than the hilt. Wonderland was represented on it. Carved neatly into the blade was a hat, a teacup, hearts, a clock, a smile impossibly round, mouse ears, and the paw print of a wolf swirling among other designs.

"Now," the queen said, "let the training begin!"