The truth is, I have NO idea when they story'll end. But I know HOW it is going to end. The 2nd to last chapter will be heartbreaking. The last might be little comfort. So go on your merry way, pleases!

The slapping beat of footsteps against dirt had become familiar to Elizabeth.

The time she had spent in Wonderland had been the most time she'd ever walked in her life. Being a non-athletic person, her legs hurt nearly every night before bed. Elizabeth smiled. She enjoyed being in Wonderland, yes, but she wasn't sure what might happen when this was all over.

Conversation had been peppy ever since they had found the Role Holders, smiles heard in ever word. Laughter rang through the forest like bird calls. Even Blood was making nice conversation, remembering the abuse he had suffered before they started walking.

"So, once we get to the castle-"

"Maybe we can all settle down for a night-"

"I hope there's tea there-"

"Yeah, the raspberry flavored one."

Elizabeth gathered enough to know that there really was no plan, once they arrived at the Heart Castle. Secretly, even though Joker and everyone else were inanimate objects that could magically speak, she was excited to see the castle. I wonder if the Queen has pretty dresses, Victorian ones, even. I wonder if there are servants like in the Mafia's mansion.

"We're here!" And overjoyed voice said. Looking around, it was, yet again, Styrr. "I haven't been here in months!" Elizabeth, Yuki, and Leanne all gaped at her with wide eyes and open mouths.

"Months? You're telling me you've been living in that tent for months?" Yuki asked, staring at her like she was the plague itself.

"That's disgusting," Leanne added, wrinkling her nose.

"Well, we slept in the Hatter Mansion and the Clock Tower sometimes, too," Styrr added, making everyone sigh with relief. The castle was adorned with so many hearts, it was amazing. Every space was cleverly filled with a heart. Walking up to the castle doors, one of the maids recognized Styrr, saying, "Miss, do you need a guide to your room?" Styrr laughed.

"Well, if you're willing to show us, Yetta." Following the maid, Elizabeth gazed up and down the grand hallways of the Heart Castle. They weren't as heart-adorned as the outside, but they were neat, clean, and royal-looking.

"Here is your room, Miss- er, I mean Styrr." The maid named Yetta bowed. Styrr smiled and waved.

"Thanks!" She called after the departing maid. "I know people. And I insist on them calling me by my first name..." She turned the doorknob to reveal a room. It was surprisingly pink for the red-obsessed girl and the psycho mass murderer's room. There were large collections of fancy Mardi Gras masks on the walls and racks of swords all over the place.

"Wow, it looks just like it did last time!" A joyful shout sounded from the little card in Styrr's jacket pocket. Everyone laughed, in spite of their plan-less minds.

"Elizabeth can sleep on the couch," Styrr thoughtfully said, "and I'll sleep on the floor. Leanne and Yuki can have the bed, I guess." She shrugged. Elizabeth manuevered over to the couch, it was in an almost separated room with a bookcase. Elizabeth yanked the blanket off the back (and of course, it was red) and laid down on the couch.

"If you're aiming to suffocate me, you're doing a pretty good job." A mocking voice said. She jumped, and immediately felt a fresh wave of guilt. Joker was still on her hip.

"Ah- sorry!" She apologized. Joker made a scoffing noise.

"Yeah, I know. I didn't mean to snap like that." He said, apologizing after Elizabeth had. "Goodnight," he said after a while. Elizabeth fell asleep almost instantly- she didn't know how tired she was.

OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoO

Again, she wasn't in the blackness of sleep.

Why couldn't she just have a peaceful night?

She was on a sailboat in the middle of a blue-green lake. The sailboat wasn't huge, only around ten feet long. It was heavy white plastic, with a handle towards the end and a bunch of ropes that she didn't know what to do with. The boat was still, there was no wind, and the water was cold.

She wished Joker was there.

"Fantasizing again, aren't you?" A voice said from behind her. Nightmare was sitting opposite her on the little boat. "It'll get you nowhere." He coughed once, and snapped his fingers. Suddenly there was enough wind to set them off at a gentle pace.

"Please tell me you know how to steer this thing," she said desperately. He grinned a huge grin. "Oh. My. Freaking. God. You don't. We're going to die. We're going to tip over and drown and die. I'll never see Joker again. I'll never see anyone but YOU and we'll both be so dead-as-a-doornail dead!" She screamed the last part. Nightmare chuckled.

"Drama queen, aren't we?" A voice came from behind her. She felt herself yanked backwards, landing in the water. "Stop freaking out. You're not going to die." Yuki's long brown hair tickled Elizabeth's wet face. Her face tinged red in embarrassment and exhaustion.

"C-can you h-h-help me up?" She chattered. Yuki pulled her aboard her little boat. It was tiny- way less than hers. The sail said 'bug'. "You h-have a small boat." Yuki handed her a towel.

"Thanks for offending me." Yuki frowned, while Elizabeth apologized. "Don't worry, I'm just yanking your chain. Get back on your boat." A shove from behind made Elizabeth barely miss the water and tumble back on to her boat. Yuki climbed aboard.

"Well, now that I'm wet and totally pissed at you... why am I here again?" She asked, tone every bit as mad as she was.

"We wanted to ask you something," Yuki's voice was uncomfortable. Elizabeth shrugged.

"What are you planning to do when this is all said and done?"

The question hung in the empty, wordless hair.

"Well..." Elizabeth squirmed. "I guess I'd go back home..." Yuki's eyes flashed. "What's wrong with that?" She asked defensively.

Nightmare took over from there. "If you go back, you'd have to take Yuki and Styrr with you." Yuki slumped. "All of these Outsiders in Wonderland, it's just too much. It's not that we don't adore you," Nightmare shot a look at Yuki, who smiled in return, "but if you all go back, it would be like Wonderland was normal. It needs normal- too many Outsiders for too long doesn't do well to anyone. Styrr's here, so more people are being killed, I'm spending less time in dreams, and if you fall for Joker, less circuses will be performed. Everyone's on overload." With every word, Yuki slumped down more, and Elizabeth's eyes filled with more and more tears.

"I don't want anyone else to be unhappy," Elizabeth started. "Styrr would be really depressed if she went back." Yuki sat up again.

"You don't remember." She said softly. "It's no surprise." Her brown eyes filled with tears, bowing her head so her hair fell in her eyes.

"What?" Elizabeth said, alarmed. "Remember what?" Yuki climbed aboard her 'bug' boat with Nightmare and sailed away.

"What don't I remember?" She screamed after them. She only heard sobbing in response.

Confused, Elizabeth sat down on the boat. There was, once again, no wind. The lake was cold, green, and menacing.

She jumped in the water, and woke up.

HOW'S THAT FOR A CLIFFHANGER? yaaaay!~ I guess. Not much to say.