Chapter 9

I wasn't always a spirit," Jack said in a quiet tone. "Before that I was just your average kid, whose family had settled down in the colonies."

"You were human once?" Alice asked. She had assumed he had been born into what he was, and grew into his immortal state.

"All spirits were someone else before they became spirits. I told you about Bunny being a Pooka warrior, remember. It's our actions in our mortal life that get us chosen to become spirits later on."

"And this fear is one left over from your mortality?" Alice asked, understanding dawning on her.

But Jack shook his head. "No, it's a fear I gained when I was getting my immortality."

Sensing there was a story behind that, Alice was unsure how to ask about it when it seemed very personal to Jack.

Fortunately, he began to explain without her asking. In a expressionless tone he said, "When I was human, my family and I lived it a small village in the American colonies, back before the Revolution. We were just your average shepherd family from that time. I had a Pa, a Ma, and a little sister. Our village was in Pennsylvania, so it was always really cold in the winter. That didn't matter to me, because I always loved playing in the snow with my sister. Then one winter, my sister and I got ice-skates for Christmas. We were so excited to go use them, we went strait to the lake nearby once Pa said it was frozen over. My sister was so eager to get started, that she started skating around before I could fully check if the ice was thick enough."

He stopped talking for a minute, staring into the swirling vortex around them without really seeing it. Alice didn't push him, knowing it was taking a lot to confess this.

"When the ice started cracking under her, that was one of the scariest moments of my life," he finally continued. "I got as close to her as I could before it started to crack under me too. I took my skates off, and did the best I could to keep her calm. I managed to talk her into playing hopscotch to get her off the ice. But hopscotch was hard for her to play in skates, so I was able to use this," he held up his staff, "to pull her to safety. But in doing so, I slid myself onto the thin ice, and it broke under me. Next thing I knew, it was night and I was being pulled from the ice looking like this," he pointed at his pale skin and hair. "Along with ice powers, a new name, and was invisible to the world."

Alice stared at him. She didn't know what to say to that.

"I have no regrets," he said firmly. "If I had to I'd do it all over again, but being under that ice…" he trailed off. "I haven't liked deep water since."

"That was very brave, what you did, Jack," Alice said finally. "Very noble."

Jack nodded. "Thanks. I just wish I'd remembered sooner."

"Remembered?" she asked.

"When I came out of the ice I had no memory of my past," he explained. "I think it has something to do with the shock of, well, dying. I didn't remember it until recently, after getting ahold of my baby teeth."

Alice felt that that was simply unfair, but she kept quiet.

They sat in silence for a while. Staring into the vortex and watching the various objects in if float by.

"What was your name?" Alice asked suddenly, breaking the silence.

"Huh?" asked Jack, looking over at her.

"You said you woke up with a new name and appearance. What was it before?" she asked.

Jack thought hard for a moment like he had forgotten what it used to be. "Overland," he said finally, "my name was Jackson Overland. Also, my hair and eyes used to be brown, and I wasn't so pale."

Alice studied him, trying to picture Jack as he'd described himself. She thought the way he was suited him more.

"What about you?" he asked. "Did you look any different outside of Wonderland?"

Alice thought back to her old appearance. "Somewhat," she said finally. "I was thinner, I believe, and my hair was shorter."

Jack nodded, and smiled at her. "Thank you, by the way."

"For what?" she asked.

"For getting me out of there," he said appreciatively. "For listening to me. For trying to distract me from the bad stuff. Thanks for that."

"Well, I'd be a poor friend if I didn't," she said simply.

Alice then paused and blinked. That sentence had slipped out before she could think about it, but she realized that it was finally true.

Any other threat to Wonderland she would have destroyed without a second thought. But with Jack she had taken the time to find out why, and in doing so was able to help him without harming him. He had also revealed his weaknesses and his past to her, despite how personal they were. She was still reluctant to give her trust to him completely, but for now she felt it couldn't hurt to trust him a little bit, enough to take the hand of friendship that he had extended before.

Jack was grinning at her like Christmas had some early. "About time you figured it out," he said teasingly. "But I kinda figured that's what it was. I mean, you've finally been calling me by my name, instead of Frost."

Alice blinked in surprise, and she realized he was right.

For the first time since they had gotten there, Jack actually looked at their surroundings. "Where are we, anyway?"

"Inside a Radula room," said Alice, standing up and gesturing to the giant tea table they were standing on and vortex around them. "There are several of them littered throughout Wonderland. The Cheshire Cat says they are here to test me, ensuring my physical and mental abilities are up to the challenges I'll face. In rooms like these, I usually have to fight a large group of enemies to complete the challenge. However, I've been in this Radula room before. That may be why we haven't been attacked since coming here."

Jack stood up too, and let out a whistle. "Guess that's something to be grateful for." Then he smacked his forehead. "Oh, right. I completely forgot why I was coming to see you in the first place."

He reached into his pocket and pulled a brightly colored card, and then handed it to Alice.

She took it and read message inside it. "You're Invited to the Guardians of Childhood Summer Solstice Celebration," she read aloud. She looked at Jack questioningly.

"The Guardians all want to meet you after hearing me tell them about you," explained Jack. "The Burgess kids will be there too." He paused and studied the disinclined look on her face. "You don't have to come if you don't want to. It's still a few months away. But it's one party with my friends, you might even have fun."

Alice looked at the card reluctantly. "I'll think about it," was all she said, though she didn't actually have any intention of going. "We should get you back to the tunnel," she added.

Jack winced. "Right, back into the breach."

Alice held out her hand. "Keep your eyes closed," she said patiently. "I'll lead you there. It can't be far from where I found you."

Jack still didn't look happy about going back to the Deluded Depths, but he took Alice's hand in his. "Alright," he said resolutely, "I trust you."

And for the first time since he'd met her, Jack saw Alice smile.

*A*A*A*

As Alice led the winter spirit back towards the rabbit hole, she didn't notice the Cheshire Cat watching them go.

The Cat nodded his head, pleased with the outcome of this misadventure.

Out of all others in Wonderland, the Cheshire Cat was the one of the very few who truly cared for Alice's well being, the only other being the White Rabbit. The Cat had watched over Alice since the day she created Wonderland, and would admit to being fond of the girl and wanted what was best for her.

Which was why he had taken certain steps when Frost had appeared in Wonderland. After watching his actions in the Hatter's Domain, he had deemed the boy reckless and foolish, but for the most part harmless. His friendly disposition and humor had really been what had caught the feline's attention. He had been quite surprised when Frost had nearly accomplished something in minutes, that none had been able to do in over a century. He was almost able to make Alice smile.

Later when he heard the boy's vow to come again to see Alice, he had stepped in and (in his own way) encouraged Alice not to keep him out.

The Cheshire Cat knew Alice better than anyone. Wonderland had been able to provide her with much for her over the years, but there was one thing it lacked that Alice quite desperately needed. Human companionship. Grant it, Frost was no longer human, but he came close enough. A grinning cat and a perpetually late rabbit could not provide the companionship that Frost had been able to provide effortlessly since his arrival.

So the Cat continued to observe the two immortal teenagers from a distance, keeping a close eye for any threat Frost could provide, and to make certain Alice continued to remain pleased with his company. For if he wore out his welcome, the winter imp would find himself facing severe punishment for any crimes.

But the feline was very pleased to see that Alice's budding friendship with Frost was proceeding along like he had hoped, even with a bump or two along the way. Frost had proved himself to be a kind individual, who genuinely wanted to gain Alice's friendship. And lo and behold he had managed to succeed in gaining it, if a bit tense and tentative for now.

So the Cat continued to watch and wait in order to see how it all played out. That party Frost had mentioned held promise. Perhaps a little more convincing would be in order…

*A*A*A*

Deep in the decrepit Dollhouse section of Wonderland, hundreds of Slithering Ruin gathered together outside the wreckage of the Infernal Train that housed their creator.

Their oozing bodies slipped through the tiniest cracks of the wreckage until they reached their master.

The Dollmaker looked at his forces with his empty black eyes, before turning his head towards one of his pinned arms.

Sensing what he wished of them, the Slithering Ruin swarmed into the thin area between the Dollmaker's arm and the twisted metal that kept it in place.

Once there, the Ruin began using its burning acid like qualities to eat away at the Dollmaker arm, making sure to stay within the metal as it did so, so that there was no outward evidence to be seen the next time Alice came to check on him.

The process was agonizingly slow, as the Dollmaker had made the Ruin so that it wouldn't burn him easily. What was the point of having a weapon that would cause harm to its user? But now the Dollmaker required the Ruin to do just that in order for him to escape. Though the process would most likely months for the Ruin to completely eat through all four of his arms and both of his legs.

The Dollmaker lay back and did his best not to writhe in the agony he was in. It was excruciating, but if his plan came to fruition, all the pain would be well worth it. Besides, he had his other Ruin Forces and Doll Girls out in Wonderland searching for, and constructing his replacement parts once he was free, as well as causing distractions to keep pesky Alice from discovering his plans.

Soon the Dollmaker would have his vengeance, and Alice and the rest of her Wonderland would suffer for it. For now, it was only a matter of Time.

*A*A*A*

A/N What do you think, too sappy? Well Jack and Alice are now officially friends, and we know why the Cheshire Cat had been avoiding them. Dun dun duuuh, the Dollmaker is starting to make his move.

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