.
CHAPTER 10
.
This was becoming the end of the council. They were tired, cranky and couldn´t afford to waste any more time not containing the attacks, accounting damages or looking for Aria. They had spoken of all the old possibilities to reach Diamond, but all those had already been tried in the past when the country was lost so long ago and none had served then.
.
-So you can´t reach there Boris? – Dee asked quite eager to settle things, he and his brother were not happy because as a punishment for making the deal against Alice´s life, Blood had "volunteered" him to guard the clock tower.
-Wish I could. But with no one there to give me permission I can´t. And even if someone was there it´s time is different and I can only go through space. So I can´t open a door there.
.
Julius had an idea but it was send to the back of his head when Alice spoke.
.
-DOORS! That´s it! What about the doors in the forest?! – She said and everyone silenced.
-That´s stupid. – Maybe not so silent thanks to Joker´s comment. Because he/them hadn´t spoke much during the council – Only a foreigner can open or cross those doors.
-And you must REALLY wish to go somewhere specifically – The other Joker added - But you are secretly glad the Aria´s gone, aren´t you?
.
Everyone was taken aback by such accusation, but some pondered on it, including Alice herself.
.
-I´m not…! –But she wasn´t so sure.
-Of course not! Alice understands perfectly well how much Aria is needed right now. Without her, clocks won´t ever be repaired. And Wonderland will eventually die. –Nightmare reminded everyone of the dire situation – And if Alice opens that door she might truly reach Diamond.
-tsk! "Might" you say. She may understand it but that does not mean she wants it. In any case it would be useless because she´s useless -Joker said.
-You dare say that!? –Peter had his gun out already before the queen put him at ease with a hit of her scepter.
-Of course she is and you can´t deny it. –This was the opening Joker had waited for- Because surely (AN: insert sarcasm) she can navigate safely through Diamond on her own and find Aria, a highly skilled mercenary that no one has been able to find or track, even in their own territories in all the time she has been in Wonderland…
-And definitely once she finds Aria, (and she will do so before Aria leaves this world for good) she will just have to ask nicely for her to return here. To a place she clearly does not want to come with people she does not want to see. She said something of the like… what it was? – The other Joker took the word from himself and snapped his fingers to make the illusion of Aria appear in front of everyone as she had been at her performance at the concert.
.
…See how the game of life is never won, you only play
Bore her and you will find you're crumpled up and thrown away
Clinging to fate and blaming it when life won't go your way
Such a laugh HA! Life is just a game…
.
Followed by Joker snapping his fingers and her voice resounding:
.
…"It´s just business. My last business with you! So I gotta make it good. You are risking me for Alice, exchanging my safety for hers. If you are using me as a disposable mock I have no reason to treat you all as anything more than cash cows and this but another mercenary job"…
..."Maybe this world has finally bore me. I just experienced a catharsis moment that is phasing to a memetic mutation. I have more important stuff to do back in my world. GAME OVER! " ...
.
-That is not true! Hadron may be many things, but she is reasonable and always acts on reason. Even for this she probably had a reason!– It had been Peter the one who spoke of, surprising everyone that "he" off all people had spoken in Aria´s favor. But after seeing her last precious memory he couldn´t let her return to her world for various reasons. Such behavior was specially noticed by those aware of his other duties towards the foreigner´s most precious memories; they would have to personally speak with the prime minister later for that.
.
-And Perhaps Alice has something "Oh so valuable!" that it may interest Aria´s greed above everything else? – Joker used his counter argument and continued with this tirade.
-Or if the negotiations fail as it sure would. Alice can then defeat and capture her; a veteran fighter (even if she claims NOT to be a frontal fighter) with years of experience, a wickedly clever mind, unaccountable amounts of knowledge, higher technology and absolutely no regrets or restrains. – Joker was somewhat enjoying this. He had truly made her sound terribly fearsome ^_^
.
Maybe they hadn´t thought about that one out. What were they to do once they found her? Their plans hadn´d gone beyond the "go to Diamond and bring her back". She probably wouldn´t be cooperative... The answer to some of them was clear, they would think of something once they reached that point.
.
-And once captured, Alice will surely find a way to bring her back or to force her to chance her "orders" regarding the clocks. –Joker was nearing his true purpose – Just as Aria said…
.
Once again the illusion of Aria´s voice was heard:
.
..."You can ask Joker. Torture does not work on me"…
.
-Face it, you might as well try to catch a Bandersnatch or face the mirror to find the unicorn. - Joker finally reached what he had to say to set things in motion. - (Morons responding in 3…2…1…)
-Hey that´s it! The unicorn! – Gowland was the first to think about it. – Well, the seal!
-What?- Pierce was confused and so were the majority.
-What are you talking about old man?- Boris looked as ignorant as Pierce of what was going on.
-NO! –Nightmare objected.
-But that´s the all of us to reach Diamond!- The park owner countered.
-But it´s too risky, Alice can´t…. –Clearly Nightmare knew something that the others didn´t.
-What is it that Alice can´t? – Blood was not in the mood.
-The seal of the unicorn? – Vivaldi needed to confirm her suspicion because such thing might be too much.
-It might be possible –The king pondered at the queen´s side.
-Huh? – Ace didn´t get it.
-What are you talking about? – Alice didn't get it either.
-Let me explain –Gowland scratched his chin – Really long time ago, back when even Spades was still there…
-Spades? –Alice interrupted
-Let him speak dear. I´m interest in what M.A.R.Y. considers it might be useful for everyone to know instead of finding a way to reach Diamond –Blood hushed her with a finger to her lips.
-That´s what this is about! –Gowland didn´t liked Blood´s interjection either – The point is that long ago there were two roleholders, one in each side of the mirror, even more insufferable than Blood that wanted to kill each other even more than I want to kill him, and they started to acquire other roles to increase their power…
-Cut the story short M.A.R.Y. What´s the point anyways? – Blood didn´t exactly care for Gowland´s wellbeing either.
-Shut up and listen hatter! – Vivaldi ordered.
-When those two where fighting each other to get the role of the White king, and before they could unbalance everything even more; Wonderland created the seals of "the lion" for the looking glass and "the unicorn" for this side of the mirror. A sort of temporary ambassador role duty that could be assigned to a roleholder to represent it´s side of the mirror and a "diplomatic" key to allow anyone to cross to the other side, and that included retinue. At that time they used it to have those two fight freely and kill each other. After that and a little while after, and because of the obviously danger of such items, the seals were "sealed" away, and to ensure that they would only be used only under the direst of circumstances it was decreed that only a foreigner with pure motives could find them. – Gowland finished.
-And if there exist something like that why don´t we all know about it and you do Gowland? – Grey was quite suspicious of it.
-Because despite his uncouth manners, lack of refinement and atrocious appearance, he is still nobility however dreadful such is- Vivaldi explained (and took the chance to express her opinion of the park owner).
-So If can get that and then you can cross to Diamond? Where it is? – Alice spoke before anyone started another quarrel.
-It´s not so simple… - The king muttered clearly distressed.
-Because Wonderland would test you. To prove that your motives are pure you´d have to first find yourself and face all that which would get you lost from your way to your objective, in this case the seal- It was the queen whom answered why that was.
-So Alice is truly useless for this… what other ways to we have to reach Diamond? – Ace cracked his neck and that settled it. If he was sure someone was more lost than him then it was a lost cause.
.
.
Or was it settled? Alice was feeling bad and reconsidering her uselessness. She wanted to help because she felt it had been at least partially her fault all this mess. And Joker knew how to give her the little "push" she needed.
.
.
.
.
-Why did you made him swear that "by his role" ? – Armalite asked while they waited to see what reaction the ice encasing the king of Diamonds would have.
-Because I don´t trust his word. Because when a roleholder swear something by their role they are bound to fulfill it as a role duty. And because I´m a paranoid jerk that likes to takes precautions.
.
Since she had learned that Sydney was a roleholder she had been decidedly nastier, distrustful and arrogant towards the prime minister, making Sydney wonder what exactly had happened between her and the other roleholders (probably White´s fault). Hadn´t he been subjected to her petting and caring before, he would have never guessed that she had a softer side that was very good at cuddling small furry creatures or comforting damaged faceless.
She was acting cold and uncaring and it somehow reminded him of Crysta.
.
-Why are you even trying to get the king back? – Sydney asked.
-To confirm my hypothesis. And because if this works It could be a potential advantage. If it does not then we don´t lose anything. Besides, neither one of us is well enough to start searching for the dodo yet…. Because of that. And because I´m curious and bored.
.
Sydney was still unnerved and confused by her. Her scientific disposition and approach to everything was something unseen by him. It was cold, uncaring and calculating but passionate and desperate at the same time. She had done something to that boy´s clock and it was horrible, but at the same time she had given the runt a chance to be more than what he could have ever been, and even had complied with his unreasonable request(and whatever else she had done at the kitchen he had felt it too and it had made his clock tick with more strength).
For that boy she had been destroyer and savior, but for himself … Sydney had to remind himself that he had put a rope around his own neck and she was the one holding it´s end. The best he could do for now was get information and try to settle things in a way that would benefit the country of Diamond, it was still his duty as prime minister.
.
-Did you meet any other foreigner Sydney? – She took him out of his confused musings.
-Yes, she came here a few years ago and leaved before it was impossible to leave at all.
-Did she do anything outstanding or uncommon? A deal with Wonderland or something? …
-Not that I remember. Why? Are you seeking a role model? – He could be uncouth too.
-Would you like me to act as your average foreigner? Pathetically weak and completely dependent on roleholder´s love and charity?- She answered him mockingly – Perhaps you felt for her and just want a replacement foreigner? Maybe like Peter you don´t want to love another foreigner that´s not like your obsession? Was Lorina such a prototypic foreigner?
-White cant love anyone properly! And what Lorina are you talking about? - Sydney REALLY didn´t like to be compared to White in any way.
-You mean there was another foreigner before me and after Lorina Lidell!?
-Liddell! The last foreigner here was "Alice" Lidell? Didn´t White brought you to Wonderland too?
-mmhhh…. – Armalite meekly said without being noticed
-Alice Lidell!? Blond or light brown long hair, blue eyes, indecisive and unimpressive, frail frame, favors blue dresses, heart shaped cap in her vial… ? "That" Alice Lidell?
-Yes… How do you know that!?
-Aaahhhh... mmmhh… I think you should look behind…. – Armalite tried once more
-Because she is in hearts. How did she came here!?
-Two foreigners at the same time!? Prospentous!- Sydney hadn´t expected that such would be possible
-I appeared in clover, but I was supposed to go to spades….
-You know of Spades!?
-I know a lot if you haven´t noticed!
.
The ice disappeared faster than they had tough while they were busy discussing and not noticing it. The sound of a human body hitting the floor distracted them from their discussion. Since he didn´t turn into a clock immediately it meant he was alive and back after all those years, but still he was freezing and in danger or dying.
.
-Army! Go get some blankets fast! I´ll drag him to guard's room we passed to get here! –She ordered the kid while trew the bloodied rag she had been holding away, to reach for the fallen man. Then she addressed the bunny – Sydney you go to the medical ward and bring an adrenaline shot or whatever you can find!
.
Armalite immediately went off to do as told followed by the bunny who didn´t knew what was going on but comprehended that if the king was alive he was also close to dying just as he had been when he got unfrozen.
Meanwhile she took off her own coat and put it in the floor to roll the king over it so that she could drag him using the coat as a sledge of sorts and got him to the guard´s room where she put him over the mattress nearest to the fireplace to keep help him warm up a bit as he was in high risk of hypothermia. Even if he was a roleholder, he had apparently passed many years encapsulate in ice and if the entire country of Diamond was in such state who knew how bad was the king himself?!
Once the fire was burning she got close to the king to scan him and get a clue to his status. He was as cold the ice that had trapped him but his clock still ticked. Of course she knew that there was a way to help him get warm easier, effectively and faster, but she was not gonna take off her suit off to lay naked with the guy (even if he was a hottie and reminded her a little bit of certain clockmaster, that only made things more awkward). Not because she felt any shame, but because she was still hurt and weak too, and the life support systems of her suit may as be what was keeping her stable and would safe her again if things went wrong. However, as soon her little Armalite and the rabbit came back she injected the man and put Sydney under his head to be used as a heat pillow again despite the bunnie´s protests (that were quieted when she took out a gun and pointed it at the surprised bunny).
.
-Now… this won't be enough… - She muttered and sighed in resignation after checking his vital signs. Unless she did something more drastic it would be useless.
-Maybe a bit of your blood.. – The kid said timidly.
-What do you think I am, a "caballero del zodiaco"!? There are only like 4 litters blood in the human body. I can´t exactly spare any more blood right now… But I can give him a bit of energy. Listen up! Im probably end up unconscious from this or at least I´ll be very weak afterwards. Prepare for it and bring some covers or something.
.
And without more she sat by the king´s side and put her hand over his clock. Then she concentrated and used her "foreigner love equivalent" trick with the full intent of keeping the man alive. But it was still not enough and she had to activate her secondary synch mode which completely drained her.
While she fell unconscious above the king´s body, the kid ran again to get more covers and the rabbit felt some of the effects of her actions and was left wondering what the hell was going on with this foreigner.
Unknown to everyone the bloodied rag had landed over a very big piece of ice that was trapping a very big creature.
.
.
.
.
The council was called to a break from which it wasn´t likely to continue afterwards. Alice had excused herself and some of the roleholders had leaved too. Others took the chance to interrogate the prime minister.
.
-Would you care to explain your change of attitude, prime minister? – Nightmare asked the white bunny with Grey at his side. The bunny´s behavior had been highly suspicious and it could only be related to his access to the foreigners "most precious memories".
-Under no circumstance can "she" be allowed to go back to her world – Peter said adjusting his glasses.
-It cannot be prevented if she wants it –Grey didn´t want her gone, but if the foreigner wished to go then they could do nothing about it. Those were the rules.
-WHAT!? –Nightmare screamed in horror after reading the thoughts of Peter White and knowing the terrible truth. He went pale and had to support himself on Grey. –That´s….
-Nightmare!- Grey immediately tented his boss.
-Tell us rabbit? Why shouldn´t she allowed to go back after allowing me to do my duties again? – Julius wasn´t keen on it either and was suspicious of whatever Nightmare had read from the rabbit.
-You don´t need to know! – Peter wasn´t about to disclose her last precious memory that was hidden even from herself . He turned around to leave- But it´s even more dire than what her plans are.
-Worse than rushing to cause world catastrophes and to die for it? – Julius said. They knew what she planned to do once she was back in her world. What could be worse?
-Yes it is. Damage to her world is inevitable no matter what she chooses. For her own good and our world´s she can´t be allowed to go back –Nightmare said and decided to pay the rabbit a visit in dreams later on.
.
.
While the roleholders were still discussing things, Alice had gone out to ponder things herself. The current terrible situation Wonderland was in, the other foreigner, how she had supposedly gone to Diamond herself, her recent marriage with Blood, etc
She was looking out of a window and thinking about how terribly accurate Joker had been; but he was wrong, she did know how bad things were. And she did want the other foreigner back, didn´t she?
Did she? She had started thinking about the other foreigner quite a bit after she learned more about her, since that sleepover with Vivaldi she had been confused by the latin girl. She had surprised her in many ways and all her stereotypes and preconceptions about latins, women, knowledge, education and everything had been shattered.
She had never seen anything of what the other foreigner used or dressed in either, certainly she had never seen a woman wear armor like that, or armor at all. In fact she couldn´t recall seeing a woman not wearing a dress until she came to Wonderland and some of the clothes here, she had considered scandalous at first.
She hadn´t known how to act properly in this place and that had helped her lost state. Lorina had always inspired her to be the perfect lady, but how could she even strife for that in this world if she didn´t know what a perfect lady was like here?
Lorina would have found a way immediately … And Aria had done so. She had been amazed that the other foreigner had found a place here so fast and without anyone's help. For what she could see, Aria had fit in this world like a glove.
The other foreigner was not ladylike by choice (at least to what Alice considered to be ladylike), she had seen her be a social butterfly like her sister during that ball event. She was very good at dancing (however scandalous that dancing style was), she was smart and capable and strong mentally and physically and seemed to know exactly what she wanted. She was not lost into taking decisions or doubting her presence in this world or her stance in life, and she certainly didn´t care about what other acted, said or felt about her. She had the courage to go on her own and pursue her objectives. Alice had actually blown and asked her if she didn´t feel any shame, when Vivaldi gave them the undergarments for the sleepover.
.
-A true lady knows how to keep her dignity even when she had taken off her clothes.
.
That had been her response. Something so perfect that it might as well have come from Lorina´s lips.
She could not deny it, she was somewhat envious of Aria. Just as she had secretly been so of Lorina, her "perfect" more lovable older sister.
.
-And what are you going to do then? Clocks won´t be repaired and this will become barren. Won´t your life with the hatter become desolated too? No business for him, no servants for the mansion…. What future could you or he have? – A voice she truly feared sounded behind her.
-Joker! – She palled, and before she could get away he grabbed her by her wrist.
.
Joker snapped his fingers and they were in an elevator that led them to a corridor in the prison. Alice was unable to get away from his strong grip until he threw her in front of a cell.
.
-If you are really sure then look - Joker said and forced her to look at the cell after forcing her to eat a candy.
.
Inside the cell Lorina was waving at her, and clung to Lorina´s skirt was a smaller girl half hidden, looking straight at her with hate. Such hateful view turned into the moment Aria had come out all wounded in the basement of the mirror´s house and had pointed her gun at her.
.
-Edith! - Alice was horrified that she had forgotten Edith, her little sister.
-But you are happy that you are away from her hate, right? Just like you are happy that Aria is away and your uselessness can be pitied rather than questioned and shunned- Joker´s voice was broken by another scene he had not expected.
.
What appeared from the deeps of Alice´s mind and memories next were her memories of Diamond and Joker saw why she was so fearful of himself as his present and the prison triggered the release of her memories after the potion he forced her to eat in that candy freed them.
He had harassed her mind with her own funeral waiting for her back home, had shown her how she´d always end up lost, had scared her with that faceless make on her...(AN: Basically all that happened in the Diamond games).. and had even sent her to Spades by sinking her in that crystal, of course his other self from Diamond went to cut the strings holding her there and sent her back to Diamond and then she found her way back to hearts. But it had been staggering to see himself chop himself with an axe (not that he hadn´t tried killing his other self for fun or to see if he could kill himself). But it was even more strange to see that there had been more than two of himself in Diamond and one was not from that country but from Spades, where the other half of that Joker had expected Alice there with the role of queen. How was it possible!? Spades had disappeared before he had been born!
Joker forced her away from the cell and drag her to the end of the corridor.
.
Then they entered a room with a really big mirror. A mirror she had seen before at the basement of the mirror´s house in the amusement park.
.
-She doesn´t need to come back to Hearts after all. You just need to procure a way for any of us to get there and things will be fine. You just need to wish to get the seal of this side of the mirror and you can go on with your precious romantic dream with the hatter. – Joker said and pushed her in front of the mirror knowing that fear of him and this place would block her tough from trailing away. He just needed for her to think about getting that relic and the way would be ensured. Either that or her memories of Diamond would tell the incubus how she went there – Just get that seal and everything will be alright for you again. You don´t have to fear getting lost, you already decided where to stay, haven´t you? If you don´t… then Wonderland will die and you´ll be left alone. Do you want that? or do you want o know what happened to your sister? Aria came from your world. So she must know and she is the only one that can fix all this. You need her! she can answer your questions. She can free you from your fears!
.
Alice was utterly scared, his words and his presence drilled her mind and the though of Edith nagged at the back of her thoughs more than her memories of Diamond. She wanted to get out of there and away from him! But he was also saying the truth. If she could get that seal or get Aria and make things right….
.
-I want to make things right! And if the seal of the unicorn achieves that I want it to be used! I want Aria to be reached!- She managed say while trying to get away from the red head.
.
She turned around but the mirror wasn´t there anymore. Instead, a big door stood opening. Nothing but bright light was coming from it.
.
-AHHHH!- before she could do anything , either turn around or move forward she felt herself being kicked inside. The only thing she heard while she fell down was the sound of the door closing solidly above her.
.
.
.
.
If Bunsen were capable of rolling eyes at the humans and comprehended what that meant he surely would be doing so at the moment.
Biggs and Wedge had taken him to the cafeteria to feed him and had engaged in a discussion of what to do while the kitten ate and rest. Then they had gone back to where they found the kitten and entered a painting but could only get out back to the museum. They weren´t sure which painting Bunsen had come from, so they needed to check them one by one. So they picked up whatever they deemed necessary and started to check one painting after another, but many were unmoving . It seemed that they would have to wait till the painting regained their magic to enter them.
However Bunsen could enter those just fine and seemed to reprehended them for not being able to do so.
In the end the kitten got tired of waiting for them "couldn´t they see that their boss or whatever they called her was in need?!" . So he went ahead and through a painting and ended up in a place that had lots of mirrors and doors floating everywhere. He of course could not open door, so he got close to the mirrors. Some let him see the other people that was always around Biggs and Wedge near a train; he saw a black bunny being used as pillow by a sleeping man with long hair; in other he saw a frozen bunny man with brown ears being surrounded by faceless humans and finally he saw a big cat with mane looking at him "what did humans called those cats? Lion?" .
He considered that the big cat looked cheesy and not as regal and awesome looking as himself despite imitating his own moves, but at least another cat could understand what he was saying. So he got close to "speak" to the other cat and found that he could cross that mirror just like he could enter the window painting things. Suddenly the lion disappeared and he could see "his" human falling over the body of a man. He didn´t hesitated and jumped into the "window".
.
.
.
.
Ain´t Joker quite the conniving and manipulating master mind when he needs to? XD he basically drove the conversation to let the others mention those seals and taunted Alice into truly wanting to help and then (literally) throwing her right at it.
I remember that in Ace´s manga they are in clover and when Alice offers to open a door so Ace can reach Julius, Ace says that it is useless. In some of the other manga (I think it was Boris´s) when Alice is about to reach for one of the doors, Peter comes screaming for her to stop and its then mentioned that they couldn´t follow her.
"The lion and the unicorn" they appear in heraldic, child´s rhymes and the looking glass book. And despite being commonly used to represent England and Scotland they also represent the courage/strength and the purity/fairness and things like that. But in this Wonderland it was a device created to get rid of such powerful and troublesome people...
However now roleholders will have to find other ways to reach Diamond. I already have ideas for Julius & Ace, and Grey thanks to Nightmare . But I still need ideas for the others.
Meanwhile Aria just proved her hypothesis and brought back the king (and maybe something else) (can someone imagine her screaming "IT´S ALIVE!" in Dr. Frankenstein way? I do). Poor Sydney, he REALLY committed the strangest form of suicide possible… or maybe he´ll think of something (or something might happen) before she vivisects him, because he have seen (and experienced) that she is not so bad.
And does anyone wanna take a guess of what could possibly be so terrible that Peter would be the one claiming for her stay in Wonderland? and more importantly is people even reading this fic?