Good evening my fellow readers! And welcome to chapter 14 of our story.
I must tell you that I had to combine two chapters together because I am in a hurry to finish this fanfiction up. There are other stories I had thought of, and I want to get to them before I even have second thoughts about them.
Also, there are some parts in this chapter that felt a little rushed that I had to go back and rewrite them as I was typing the chapter out )X
Anyway, let's see where this cliff hanger leads to in this chapter!
Disclaimer: I do not own Pandora Hearts, or The Little Mermaid story, they all belong to their rightful owners.
…
The Little Chain Chapter 14: Mystery Maiden, Pool Of Tears
Oz sat on the stone bench by the Vessalius' gardens. The atmosphere around him was mostly quiet, with the only sounds being the cries of the bugs and insect's.
The late night was a dark and cloudless ocean of midnight blues and twinkling whites and yellows. The thousand's of stars shine above the prince as the cool breeze passes by.
However, the blonde didn't pay that much heed to the world around him. Contemplating as he looked down at the golden pocket watch in his palms, as it spilled its beautiful melody in the night.
Oz thought long and hard about his feelings towards Alice and his savior, deciding which one is best for him.
Just then, the sound of footsteps approached him as he takes his attention away from the watch to see who it is. Reim stopped in his tracks as he blinked at the blonde, Oz turned back to his train of thought.
"Pardon my rude approach Oz, but what seems to be troubling you this late at night?" Reim inquired.
"Oh, nothing to be concerned with. Just can't seem to find sleep, that's all." Oz said. Reim looked at him queerly, and he could tell what was on the boy's mind.
He smiled. "Oz, if I had to choose, I would settle with the one that's not just a fantasy vision." He said matter of factly. Oz blinked at his valet.
"The girl who is made of flesh and blood instead of an apparition. The one who has the power to heal the lonely ones." Reim pointed out. He then giggled. "And who is right before your eyes."
The prince blinked as his valet turned to one of the windows of the mansion. Reim was then out of site as Oz looked at the window that was still lit.
Seeing Alice as she brushed through her long beautiful locks, with one of her innocent smiles. Poor Oz couldn't stop smiling passionately as he made a long sigh.
Once the voiceless brunette was out of site, Oz's smile dropped as he returned to the pocket watch.
He closed it, cutting off the beautiful tune; as he tightened his hold on it, staring at it with his now narrowed eyes. He rose from his seat, and started to walk off somewhere…
The prince finally stopped when he got to his destination. The lake where he met Alice.
As a cold wind was passing by, Oz looked towards the lake, and then he focused on the watch in his palm. He knew what his answer should be.
Gripping the watch, he took a few steps back, and used all his might to throw the watch out of his reach. The timepiece flew into the air like a bird, and crashed into the dark waters where it will never be discovered by anyone for the next hundred years.
If you didn't know what the prince's answer was, it was something like this. 'Forget this mystery girl; I like this mute girl I found at the lake.'
After Oz sighs for a moment, he start's to make his way back to the mansion.
"Oz…"
Oz suddenly heard a faint voice call out his name. He pauses and looks back the other way. Only finding no one, or anything, in site. Oz blinked and continued his journey back.
Giggle
He then turns back around, this time a little startled. The prince then scanned his eyes all over the lake, finding no trace of what made that sound. Narrowing his emerald eyes, he began to start walking back.
Unbeknownst to him, a glowing body started to rise out of the water, standing on top of the surface as its feet made ripples.
Just when Oz thinks that no more strange voices will accrue, he gets an interesting surprise. A distant voice, that was singing, caught the blonde's attention.
Oz stopped in his tracks as he gazed at the strange floating orb in the middle of the lake. Observing it closely, he saw that it was, in fact, a female.
She was glowing white like an angel, her long white locks swimming around her, and dressed in this little white dress. But that wasn't the only thing that surprised the prince.
Her voice, her beautiful angelic voice!
Oz, getting anxious, took a step back. But as he was about to retread, the mysterious female, still singing, popped up right in front of him.
Before Oz could think of what to do next, the female gently put her hands on both sides of his face. The blonde was too scared to move.
Still continuing to sing her song, she moved closely to his lips, stopping just a few inches. Then a single stream of smoke snaked its way out of her mouth, and into the blonde's.
Oz started to twitch as he felt her breath burn its way to his head.
Just then, his eyes started to change emotion as a fog starts to cover up both the iris and pupil. The prince is suddenly relaxed and emotionless.
….
The large golden sphere rose slowly into the dull morning sky, casting sunbeams in every direction while it illuminated the city.
The sunlight streamed through the trees in the backyard of the mansion, lighting up the multiple colored leaves, creating a brilliant warm colored statue that moved magically when the breeze blew.
The colorful rays of sunshine came through Alice's bedroom, leaving a warm garden on her sheets.
Asleep in her soft crib with a warm smile on her angelicate face, dreaming of a beautiful love story with Oz.
Raven is also asleep in the princesses' room, snoring a little on the couch with an arm masking his eyes.
A loud knock then broke the silence as Raven woke up with a jolt as he quickly hid under the bed. Alice wakes up groggily.
"It's Mrs. Kate Alice, I'm sorry to wake you. But the prince wants' you to come downstairs. It's a strange surprise." Mrs. Kate said.
The brunette wiped the sandy beaches away from her eyes, her stomach rumbles with the furious of a dragon. Raven crawled out from under the bed and looked towards the clock, it read 6:30.
"Who has a surprise at this hour?" he asked. Alice looked down at the sheets, with a perplexed look upon her face.
What was the prince's surprise? The brunette couldn't find the answer in her thoughts.
"Alice! Alice come down here! I've got something to tell you!" The two chain-people suddenly heard Oz's voice echo from downstairs. The both of them looked at each other queerly.
Alice then gets out of bed and grabs a robe, and then she hurries downstairs with Raven following after her.
After a couple of minutes, she finally comes dashing down the long flight of stairs, Raven watches behind the upstairs walls.
As Alice is walking down, she sees Oz, Reim, and Mrs. Kate; but she then notices an unfamiliar female with them. When she finally is at the end of the steps, she gets a closer look at the mysterious maiden who was grasping onto Oz's left arm.
She looked oddly similar to her as she had the same styled long hair as hers, except it was a snow white color. Had the same lavender eyes, but with a gentle look. She wore an almost off shoulder long sleeve white corset gown where the skirt was a simple silk material that was so long that it dragged out on the floor around her. And there was a tulle fabric that was over the skirt that stopped half way. Her long sleeves were also a tulle material as the sleeves spread out as they went further down her arms. She also had blue flowers and ribbons in some areas on her dress.
She looked like a very beautiful angel, but there was something about her that seamed devilish to Alice. The brunette turned to Oz for an explanation.
"Alice, I would like you to meet Valerie. I just met her last night. She's a loner who travels all around America. What an adventurous girl she is." The prince introduced, smiling towards the brunette. The maiden, name Valerie, smiles sweetly at her. Alice gave the both of them queerly looks.
Alice then notices something odd about Oz, it wasn't the way he talked or his facial expressions, those were normal. But what didn't seem or feel right were his emerald eyes.
Most of the time, his green orbs were bright and shining with mischief; but right now they were completely hazy and dark. So very cold and transient, something that was hidden, forbidden, saying something she could not interpret.
The white haired maiden, still smiling innocently, clings tightly to Oz. The prince continues. "Well, the point is that she says she's the girl who rescued me in the city fire. I didn't believe her at first, but when I got a good look at her, her appearance matched my saviors description!" he exclaimed. Alice's eyes began to widen.
Valerie released Oz's arm as he walked towards the brunette. "Can you believe it Alice!? The girl I've been searching for is finally standing next to me! And the best part is, we've decided to get married on board a ship, next to the bay, this afternoon at sunset! Alice, I want you to be there, I-"
Alice suddenly draws back in the most shocked expression anyone has ever seen. It read, 'completely paralyzed by the horror of it all'. The voiceless brunette grips each side of her head, mouthing out 'No' in disbelief.
'No. How can this be?' Alice thought. "Why is everything collapsing around me?'
Alice looks over to Reim and Mrs. Kate, it wasn't hard to tell that they were distressed about the situation, but there was nothing they can do about it. Raven is also shocked as he watches from upstairs.
Angry, crushed, and confused; trying to fight back her tears, she couldn't take it anymore. Now screaming without a voice, she races out of the room.
Somewhere inside, Oz could sense his soul mate's presence; and he was trying to reach out for her as his eyes, still clouded, widened and he was about to follow after her.
"Ali-"Valerie sees this, and quickly pulls the prince back before he could even say the brunette's name.
She pulls him into an almost kiss, and breathes out a little stream of smokes into his mouth. Oz's eyes settle back once again as he is back into his hypnotic trance.
The white haired maiden smiles sweetly at him as she strokes his neck. Valerie then looks down at her glowing necklace that was hidden between her breasts, lifting it slightly as a diabolical smile crosses her face.
It was the potion necklace that held Alice's voice.
….
It didn't take long for the late afternoon to arrive as the invited guest boarded the brightly decorated wedding ship.
Everyone was excited and relived to see the prince get married to the 'supposed' girl of his dreams. All but the little chain who was watching the scenery from the far off docks of the San Francisco bay.
Having this forlorn expression on her features.
Her favorite red dress she was wearing, that she wore on her second day, didn't change anything.
Tired of looking at the painful setting, she walked away from it to find something more…uncivilized, that she can visit….
After walking for a while, she found her way to the meadow where she stopped by an isolated oak tree. Raven and Gilbert eventually followed after the brunette.
Alice pressed herself against the bark of the tree, the poor girl couldn't hold back the painful sorrow anymore as she began to shake heavily, breathing in and out painfully in the process.
She then sighed as a pair of tears raced down her cheeks; as more streams of salty tears flowed down, she slid her body down the bottom of the tree.
Alice hugged her arms and knees close to her as she buried her face into the red fabric of her sleeves.
In this kind of situation, she would be crying out loud like a hurt little child; but due to her being muted, you could only hear heavy sobs and intense pants.
Her crying was both ferocious and noisy. She blinked briny tears from her once beautiful violet eyes to now bloodshot ones, her thick lashes stuck together in clumps as if she'd been swimming. The tears made wet tracks down her saintly face and dripped from her stubble, wobbling chin.
Clear watery snot streaked from her flaring nostrils down her red mottled skin to her open quivering lips. Her hands opened and closed, rhythmically clenching as if there could be some violent solution to her pain, if only she could find it.
Gilbert nuzzles up to his broken hearted best friend in a comforting gesture, getting teared up himself. Raven leans his left foot over to her, overcome with emotion.
A lot of things were going on in Alice's mind; one of them was feeling broken.
She had never been this heart broken in her life, not even when she knew what a heart was. More heart broken then when her Uncle destroyed her artifacts.
Another was Oz choosing someone else.
'Why would he do that all of the sudden?' she thought. 'I thought he really loved me…after all we've been through.'
Something still didn't feel right; she would be able to tell by reading his eyes. You would always find the emotion that boy was feeling! Deep in her mind, she knew that was not Oz saying those words to her. But her heart said otherwise.
The last thing was summing up what she did.
The little chain gave up her family, friends, and the Abyss world just to live some kind of silly fantasy with a soul mate thrown in. She now felt completely guilty for running away from, not only her uncle and sisters, but from everyone who lived in the Abyss realm. She felt so guilty for leaving them to have a search party formed to find her. And ended up making a deal with the witch to be with her once soul mate.
She cried even more when the thought of her failed mission came in. Even if she failed to get the prince to share the same feelings as her, there was still no use in running away.
Instead of staying in the mortal world or returning to her home, she would instead join with the other unfortunate souls in the witch's lair. Turned into an unrestful ghost and be lost forever with the only feelings of being heartbroken.
The voiceless princess then thought about something else, another way of describing love.
Love is the one thing that can keep you strong and alive, but it comes with a bad price. Love is merely a word which resembles something that we strive for; if we were a race that could not speak we would still find this mystical bond between two people.
Some would go their whole lives looking for this bond. Some dedicate their lives with no prevail, some find it and lose it. So when you find love, you are a step closer. When you find love, you are happy now, and you know you will be happy forever.
But as many people know, knowledge can only ever be best guess, in all humans' ultimate wisdom, our only true uncontrollable downfall is that nothing lasts forever. So when we find love, the thing that can define a person, the one thing that can make you happy on darkest days, the one thing that seems unbreakable and stable in such an unpredictable and destructive scary world. When that is gone you are alone. When you return to the line, you are tired, fed up, and defeated.
So to sum it up, love is a damned emotion that only takes advantage of people.
Alice looks up from her stained sleeves, revealing her burned face that the tears made. Looking over the horizon, she thought of her last words to say.
'What can I do
To stay who you are?' she mouth the words, singing.
'What would I do
Just to stop these tears from falling?
What would I do just to stop myself
Saying don't leave me…?' she sang as more tears were forming.
'I had a dream
I had a goal
But now they will never be whole…' she sang as new tears dripped down her cheeks.
'But I can see
I'll never be
Part of your world…' she finished. Alice then returned to her sleeves as she cried some more.
….
Break strolled down the docks of the city's bay, humming a delightful tune to himself.
As he comes towards the wedding ship, he suddenly hears a girl singing. "My, look at me, a little bride. Don't I look divine?"
The one-eyed man looks toward the ship with a puzzled expression. Break could have sworn that the girl's vocal sounded a lot similar to Alice's.
"Who do you suppose?" he asked himself.
The mad hatter wasted no time to investigate this as he jumped onto the side of the boat, and climbed his way to the window were the voice was emanating from.
He then peers into the little porthole carefully to find a little white haired maiden, alone in her cabin donning a beautiful wedding dress.
"My plans are now coming along perfectly as my final design." She sang, twirling her wedding dress as it fanned out.
She then picked up a small knife that was sitting onto a dresser; she brushed her fingers along the blade.
Then she saw a fly pass by her and landed on the wall, she then grinned and threw the weapon towards the insect. It stabbed right through the little creature as the weapon stayed stuck onto the wall with the lifeless fly hanging from the end of the tip.
She giggled like a child at this.
Break was a little stunned at the maiden's choice of killing the harmless creature. She looked like an innocent angle, but what was odd that she showed a sign of having taste for blood.
"Very soon I'll have B-rabbit and the Abyss and mortal world will be mine!" she sang, as she jumped onto the dresser holding the mirror and danced all around it; knocking and stepping onto objects that were placed on the dresser.
The maiden then adjusts the mirror to face her and laughs into the refection.
Breaks eyes widen as he sees, not the image of the white haired maiden, but the witch of the Abyss, Charlotte!
"The witch!" he whispered. "I must tell the others!" Break then got off the side of the boat, and used his transporting magic to transport to the mansion where Alice was…
By the time he came to the Vessalius house, he searched through the entire home and couldn't find her. Panicking, he thought of the second place she would be at, the meadow.
After another transportation, he got to his next destination and finally found Alice and the boys sitting by a tree.
"Alice!" he called as he ran up to them. The three chain-people look up to see their white haired friend running up to them.
"Alice!..." he panted. Break then noticed that there were tear stain marks on the brunettes face, and her cheeks were pink with a hint of red. Below her eyes were undried tears and her violet eyes were pink.
"Pardon me Alice, but why do tears stain such a pretty face?" he asked.
Raven sighed. "It's very frustrating to say. But the prince found this white haired maiden and said that she was his savior, and now they're getting married on board a ship this afternoon. That's what all of us are very broken about."
Break shot up. "The white haired maiden! Then you must listen to this!" All three of them focused on the one-eyed man.
"I was strolling down by the docks, and I heard someone singing with a familiar voice. I looked into the mirror; her refection was that of the witch Charlotte! Singing with a voice that didn't belong to her!" he exclaimed. Everyone's eyes widen.
"Do you know what this is all coming to!? Oz is marrying Charlotte in disguise!" They all react in shock and surprise.
"You're not playing with us right?!" Raven asked.
"Do I ever joke around like that when it's an emergency?!" Break said.
Alice looks out to the bay; the ship is just barely visible on the horizon. "How will we stop her in time?!" Gilbert panicked.
Raven and Alice try to find an answer desperately, Raven then looks at Gilbert, and a blub then goes off in his head.
"Gilbert! Transform into your chain form!" he commanded. The small raven haired boy blinked.
"Wha-?"
"Now boy!" Raven demanded. Gilbert did as he ordered and turned into his other form.
His chain form was that of a black stray cat. He had this dark glow on his fur and his honey colored eyes glowed. Gilbert suddenly grew larger till he was the size of a saber tooth tiger. Weird.
"Alice! Get onto his back!" Raven said. Alice hops onto Gilbert, holding him by his neck to stay attached.
"Gilbert! Get her to that wedding ship as fast as your chain form can carry you!" he said. Gilbert nodded.
"Alright!" he then takes off in the direction of the ship. Raven then turns to Break.
"Break! Send me to the Abyss! The king must know about this!" Break nodded and created a portal by tapping his cane to the ground.
"Raven, what can I do to help?!" he asked.
"Find a way to stall that wedding!" Raven answered. He then jumped into the portal and vanished, leaving the one-eyed man to think of how to stall the wedding.
He then found the solution as he smiled. "Hmm, well I think it's time that me and the little lady meet one another." He said as he opened his cane a little, showing a strange shining metal.
He then made his own portal to transport to the ship and jumped in.
…
A few moments later, the musicians began to vocalize the wedding march, signaling that it was time for the wedding ceremony.
All the guests stood up and looked towards the door, where the ring bearer was standing next to the flower girl.
As the ring bearer slowly walked down the aisle, the flower girl tossed the white petals. Once their job was done, the ring bearer walked over to the corner near the side where the prince stood. With that response, the bride walked slowly and gracefully down the aisle, holding a beautiful bouquet of white flowers.
Everyone gazed in her direction and smiled widely, noticing how beautiful she looked.
The maidens dress was a long sleeve corset on top, but a ball gown at the bottom; a silk bow rested on her lower back connecting the corset back with the ball gown bottom. The sleeves covered below her shoulders to her wrists. An icy blue veil with light blue edging on her head, flowing down past her in a train.
It was a breathtaking site.
Once the bride reached the end of the aisle, she took her place standing next to Oz. As soon as everyone was in place, the choir stopped vocalizing, and the bishop spoke.
"Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today…"
Gilbert ran down the streets of San Francisco like mad as Alice kept her strong hold on him. With the wedding ship looming in the distance.
"It's okay Alice! We're almost there!" Gilbert said.
Right at the same time, the two came across Oz's friends; Elliot, Leo, Sharon, and Echo walking calmly down the side walk. The four teenagers noticed them and a surprised look is plastered upon their faces.
"What the hell is that!?" Elliot exclaimed.
"Alice!? What on earth?!" Sharon said. Gilbert stopped in his tracks beside them.
'Hey guys.' Alice mouthed. Elliot glared at the brunette, arms crossed.
"You have better have a good explanation for this."
Gilbert responded back. "No time for questions and answers, right now we're in a serious hurry!"
All of them jumped when the stray cat spoke. "Did this beast just talked!?" Elliot cried.
"Look I know your confused and freaked out, but this is an emergency! You got to come; the prince and Alice's life are in danger! The prince is marrying an evil maiden on board a ship!" Gilbert exclaimed.
The teenagers were drawn back at this. "Oz is in trouble?!" Leo asked alarmingly. Both Gilbert and Alice blurted out "yes!".
"Well what are we standing around here for?! We must help Oz and Sister Alice!" Sharon demanded. Everyone then jumped onto Gilbert and he took off in a flash.
"There still better be a logical explanation for this!" Elliot exclaimed…
"It is the construction of their love and trust into a single growing energy of spiritual life…" The minister continued.
While the priest was finishing the speech, Valerie/Lottie looked towards the setting sun that was now halfway set.
Knowing that the little princess and her friends were unaware that she had cancelled a part of the deal where the brunette had to get the prince to confess his love for her, and kiss her before the year ended.
She, instead, moved it up to today; right when the sun set down. The witch had been waiting anxiously for this moment to come.
The minister began to exchange the vows. "Do you Oz Vessalius; take Valerie to be your wife? Will you love her, comfort her, honor and keep her, in sickness and in health, for richer, for poorer, for better, for worse…"
The maiden then focused on the prince, she then made the most vicious smile on her soft innocent face.
"Keep yourself only onto her as long as you both shall live?" The priest asked.
Using her hypnosis spell, she commanded him to say. "I do." Valerie/Lottie smiled happily at her plan becoming successful.
Just as the minister began to exchange the vows to her, the witch suddenly felt a strange presence that was coming onto the ship.
Unexpectedly, there was a noise that sounded like a doorway opening up that was echoing from above. The guests looked up to see an unexplained worm hole above the ship; and the next thing you know, a man shoots out from the entryway and lands on one of the column statues. He then draws his sword, which was a cane in disguise, and fires like an arrow and aims towards the bride.
By the time Valerie turned around to face Break, it was too late as he swoops in for an attack. He almost cuts her as his sword slices through the bouquet alternatively, the white petals swimming around the maiden.
The witch glared back at the one-eyed man.
Break then jumps up into the air and draws out a deck of cards, as if he was playing poker. The white haired maiden is mystified until he dashes the 20 cards at her and they shear through her dress and gazed some parts of her skin.
Just when things couldn't get more chaotic, as if the wonderland full of wacky things came pouring out of the gateway, leaving the ceremony completely disrupt in a wild comic frenzy of activity.
Valerie/Lottie growled and reacted quickly when she grabbed one of the guard's swords. But even before she can think of what to do next, Break beat her to it by smacking her with his now sealed sword in different directions.
As the maiden is struggling to rise off of the ship's deck, Break summons his next onslaught. "Alright children, play nice."
A little army of small dolls charge after Valerie and latch onto her body. The one at her shoulder blade sinks its teeth into her skin. The witch screams out bloody murder as more began to bite onto her body.
Having to find her strength, she rises on her feet and wrestles to get the dolls off. "Get the hell off of me you son of a bit-!"
She was then silenced by a rope of color scarves that wrapped around her mouth.
Break put a finger to his lips. "Mind your language little missy."…
The six teenagers finally arrived at their destination. They immediately hopped off of Gilbert as he shrunk himself to a normal size cat, and Alice ran up the ships gangplank…
Valerie/Lottie ripped the colorful scarves from her face, and snarled towards the one-eyed man. She then grabs her sword into her reach.
"I will not be stopped by a damn reckless fool!" The maiden then charges at him like a mad man and swings the blade at him.
But Break dodges the attack with his cane, and the two began their sword fight. It didn't last long as Break flung the weapon out of her grip swiftly.
Before the witch could react, the mad hatter used the tip of his cane to jab her in the center of her forehead with such instance force. The impact sent the white haired girl flying across the deck and crashed into the table that held the vast wedding cake.
Alice, following the rest of the group, finally makes it onto the deck; and come across the aftermath of what had happened.
Valerie/Lottie tries to fight her way to stand on her twin legs, being completely covered in a dish full of yummy goodness.
A large tea cup then hovers over her and covers the witch in hot steaming herbs, rinsing off all the ingredients of the dessert.
Just then a vase comes out of nowhere and smashes like an egg on top of her head; sending her falling on her back leaving an open wound between her head and forehead.
Thinking that the maiden is out cold, Break zooms over to her corps body and reaches to her necklace.
Unknown to the one-eyed man, the witch only lost conscious for a split second and reaches for the knife close to her.
Both Alice and Gilbert see this and try to warn the mad hatter. "Break, watch out!" Gilbert shouted.
By the time Break had a hold on the pendant, the maiden slashes her knife on the area where his eye is missing. Causing the mad hatter to fall backwards on the floorboards.
Valerie/Lottie laughs evilly for victory and grabs his cane and smacks him, sending him flying a little on the deck.
"I've had just about enough of you!" she cried. She then walks over to him and proceeds to finish him off.
Thinking fast, Alice looks towards Gilbert for the answer and sweeps him off the surface, and throws him towards the witch.
Before she could hit Break with another assault, Gilbert lands on her face and attacks her with his sharp claws.
"Get the necklace Gilbert!" Break exclaimed as he held onto his bleeding socket.
Both Gilbert and the maiden wrestle each other as the raven haired boy struggled to get the necklace off.
While the witch was distracted, Break hurried to pull out his hidden pocket knife. Rapidly, he saw his target, her foot, and stabbed through it. The witch screamed bloody murder and Gilbert quickly removed the necklace off her neckline.
Everyone watches as the locket flew in the air and shatters by Alice's feet. The only thing that was left was the voice that belonged to the little chain.
As it sung the brunette's beautiful melody, the witch's spell breaks its hold on Oz and he comes out of the cage prison he was in. The fog in his eyes disappears, returning to his dispositional emerald ones; shaking his head, he looks towards Alice.
The crowd watches as the glowing light moves over to her and passes inside of her. She sings the last note of her melody and she touches her throat.
Oz looks at her with a surprised grin. "Alice?"
"Oz!" she said back with a smile. Everyone gasped.
"You're…your voice, you can talk!" Oz said. The two soul mates ran up to each other. "It's you; you're her, my savior!" He exclaimed.
The couples embraced each other lovingly, as if they were suddenly separated and finally together once more.
"Oz!" The maiden cried. "It's a trick! Stay back from her!" Everyone reacts in shock as the maidens youthful voice changes to a much older one. The witch covers her mouth shockingly, and then grips both sides of her head.
"I can't believe it was you the whole time!" Oz said.
"Oz…I-I…" Alice stuttered. The two then slowly pull in for a kiss, just as the sun was disappearing.
"Oz stop!" Valerie/Lottie cried.
Their lips were only one inch away when the last rays of the sun were gone. Alice then gasps, as if a sword plunged through her, and stands on the tips of her feet. She then slowly falls to the ground as a couple of pink static electricity swam around her body. Oz was half shocked and bewildered.
"Yes! You're too late B-rabbit!" The witch cried in laughter. She then takes a makeup mirror and slides it towards Alice. Oz looks at it strangely.
"See for yourself!" The maiden cried.
He watched as Alice's refection changes to that of her humanoid black rabbit form. Oz observes this transformation in wide eyed disbelief as Alice looks at him with the most miserable emotion on her face.
"A deals a deal!" The witch cried evilly.
Everyone turns to look back in the direction of the maiden. They are horrified as she transforms from a young angelic girl to a completely different female that was near adulthood with a deranged appearance.
In a furious chase, Lottie zooms in on the little chain, laughing wickedly. Panicking, Alice reaches for the prince.
"Oz!-" It was already too late as the witch grabs her whole body and moves away from the blonde.
"Alice!" Oz exclaimed. The witch's wild coral eyes meet his emerald ones.
"Sorry for bargaining in without notice. But me and the little lady have important businesses to attend to." She said, reaching for something inside her coat.
"Bye, bye Oz boy." She cued. Alice struggles helplessly as Lottie throws a handful of powder to the ground, creating a cloud of smoke.
"Alice!" Oz cried, sprinting towards them. By the time Oz caught up to them, it was too late as he went right through the fog of dust. Finding no trace of them.
…
Lottie, with both her valets, dragged Alice, who was back wearing her old clothes, as they flew in the Abyss realm.
The peach haired woman tied the poor teenager's hands together, pulling her by the extra long rope hanging from her hands. It was like carrying a fish that was still hooked onto the line.
"Poor little B-rabbit. Don't be too frightened." Lottie said, smiling deviously. "Your half of what I'm after. You're merely just a simple key to open something. I have a much bigger plan to-"
"Hold it right there Charlotte!"
The witch comes to a sudden halt and comes face to face with Oswald, pointing his sizable sword at her; while having Raven by his side. Lottie smiles sardonically.
"Oswald! Fancy seeing you after these long years." She said in a flirtatious attitude. She then ran her fingers down his arm. "How's life at the palace?"
He jerked away from her nails and raised his sword to her neck. "Release my niece Charlotte!" he demanded sternly.
"Never Oswald! She belongs to me now!" Lottie shot back. Cheshire and Vincent held onto the princess by her arms. The witch then flashes Alice's contract in front of the king.
"We ladies made a legal deal." She stated. Oswald glared at it.
Alice furiously struggled in the grips of the valets. "Oswald I'm sorry! I was tricked! I-I didn't know-"
The brunette was cut off as the king slashed at the agreement angrily with his sword. It was to no avail as the bond was still intact. Lottie laughed.
"Silly man! The contract is all fair and square, it can't be destroyed! Even for the king!" she said. Oswald was immobile.
The witch turned to Alice, then looks back at the king slyly.
"You know, your niece and I are alike. She is fascinated by collecting human treasures while I was interested in collecting bargains." She said. Lottie then points her palm at Alice and a puddle of light shines under the brunette.
"A chain-person who shares the kings' bloodline is a rare item to possess." Her valets let go of the princess as a group of thick black threads grab her by her hands, feet, and neck. Dragging her down as her colors started to fade.
Oswald runs to her, only to be stopped by Lottie.
"However! I can trade with someone that's even better." She said matter of factly.
The king was in a tight spot as they are in the midst of working out an agreement. Raven becomes horrified as he realizes what the witch is up to.
Alice, now looking like the witch's imprisoned ghosts, realizes too and shakes her head vehemently. "No Uncle! Don't do it!" she exclaimed, started to become week. Oswald was at a loss of words.
"So, how 'bout it my king? Will you give up your own life for your niece's?" Lottie inquired. Oswald pause's, with a regretful feeling on his face.
"You have my word Charlotte." He said solemnly.
Raven gasped. "No master! Don't do this!" he cried
It was too late as the contract rewrites itself, replacing Alice's signature with Oswald's. Alice and Raven watch in horror.
"Ha! Then it shall be!" Lottie said.
The puddle of light released Alice, turning her back to normal, and it switch's over to Oswald as the black threads grab hold of him. This time, it sinks him into the light like quicksand.
The witch laughs evilly as Raven and Alice are terrorized.
"Oswald!" Alice cried.
"I'm sorry Alice. Please save yourselves." Oswald said sorrowfully.
"No!" she cried. The brunette runs to him but is stopped by Vincent as he grips her. "Let go of me!" she yelled. Raven had the same effect as Cheshire held onto him too.
The puddle of light continued to engulf the king into the depths. When it was over, the light faded out of sight. Both Alice and Raven were aghast.
"Master…" Raven said melancholy.
"Oswald…" Alice whispered shockingly. Feeling her starting to become idle, Vincent let her go as she dropped to her knees. The brunette stared at the water motionlessly.
"My, what a masterpiece. I never imagined that the king would react to self-sacrifice for someone." Lottie said, having an impressed feeling.
As she giggled, Alice glared at her furiously, as if she wanted to murder the witch.
"You…" she began, gritting her teeth. The brunette then charged at the witch. "You damn demon!" she screamed.
Lottie turned to the brunette and snapped her fingers. "Down you doe." She commanded.
Alice's throat started to glow pink, and the spell caused her neck to tighten sharply. The chain cried in pain as she fell to the ground, holding her throbbing throat.
"Alice!" Raven yelled. Unable to move from Cheshire's grip. Lottie flew over to the princess' side.
"I'm still going to kill you no matter what spell you use." Alice choked out threateningly.
"Now, now B-rabbit. I still need you for the last pieces of the puzzle." Lottie said. Alice was taken aback.
"What do you want from me? Let me go like you promised!" she coughed, screeching.
"I will keep my word. But right now I still need you for a little while to obtain something." She said.
"What is it that you wish to attain?" Raven growled.
"My, aren't you the intrusive one." She remarked. "Well, since she's called the most powerful chain in the realm. I simply need her power to gain the crystal that governs the Abyss. Only the strongest to handle the crystal's power can take control over it. And this little lady has it to boost me up." She explained. Alice growled.
Lottie turned to the brunette. "Now you be a good little bunny and help out dear old Lottie to get her wish." She requested. Raven scowled.
"Don't you dare use her to achieve your goal!" he shouted. Lottie turned to Cheshire.
"Cheshire, take him out. He's annoying." She ordered.
The valet snickered and whacked Raven in the head with his massive paw. The king's valet fell to the shallow waters and lad there motionless.
"Raven!" Alice choked out.
"Come along children, we have work to do." Lottie said.
The witch and her servants began to travel to their next destination, while they dragged a helpless Alice with them.
…
Break, Gilbert, Oz, Elliot, Sharon, Leo, and Echo walked along the greenery of the meadow; as Break and Gilbert told the teenagers everything, the Abyss, Alice, etc.
"And that children, is what is happening right now. Any questions?" Break concluded.
"Dear me, Sister Alice really is something." Sharon said.
"To think that there are other worlds besides ours. Now that's a discovery." Leo said.
"My head hurts from having to believe all of this Elliot said, holding his head.
"Good lord, I…never knew there was so much more to Alice…then just being part human." Oz said.
Break smiled. "That there is young one." He said.
"But…to be honest…I'm not all that surprised." Oz said. Everyone blinked at the young prince.
"I am." Elliot mumbled. Break walked up to the young blonde.
"Do you mind if I ask a question prince?" he asked. Oz shrugged his shoulders. The mad hatter took it as a yes.
"After learning the truth, do you still wish to save Alice?" Break asked.
There was a long pause between the two. Oz took his eyes away from the one-eyed man and looked down.
Thinking about his question, the young prince had flashbacks playing through his thoughts on the times he spent his moments with the brunette he had grown to love.
The memories were filled with contentment, significance, and tenderness. No matter what darkness tries to overcome them, nothing can shatter those precious recollecting.
Once Oz found the answer, he looked back at the white haired man.
"Well, to me, Alice is as important as the sun." he said. Everyone blinked.
"What do you mean?" Break inquired.
"She's always honest with her feelings, angry when she wants to be, crying when she wants to, and always happy and smiling the most." Oz explained. "It's all strange for a girl like her, but in reality, her being like that is extraordinary to me."
Break smiled while Sharon, Leo, Echo, and Gilbert did the same.
"But, what I'm grateful for her doing the most is that she filled up that empty part of my heart. I didn't know if anything else would be put inside my heart like that, I thought I would live the rest of my life without a special someone. But Alice changed that, when I'm with her, I don't feel all that alone anymore." Oz said. "She saved me, physically and mentally."
"So, you wish to save her no matter what?" Break asked. Oz nodded.
Elliot walked up to the prince. "Do you realize the danger your about to face? You can't possibly go to the Abyss, you'll die!" he exclaimed.
"You don't understand Elliot." Sharon said.
"I don't understand? I DON'T UNDERSTAND!" Elliot snapped.
He then pointed at everyone. "YOU all don't understand! Oz is going to march off into the face of death, because of that wrench!" he declared.
Elliot then turned back to the prince. "Oz don't be a fool, I-"
Oz, Break, and Gilbert were nowhere to be seen. In their place was a portal hole that would lead to the Abyss realm.
"Oz?...Their gone!" Elliot said. He went towards the portal and dropped to his knees.
"Great, he went ahead and did it!" he exclaimed. "My brother! My god forsaken friend!...That idiot!" Elliot then buried his face into his arms as he let out a frustrated growl.
"Oh Elliot." Sharon said as she walked passed him. Elliot looked up.
"Hey!" he said as he walked up to her. "Where are you going?" he asked.
"I'm going with Oz." Sharon said. She then entered into the doorway as Echo and Leo followed after her.
"Echo is going too." Echo said as she walked into the entryway.
"Not you too!" Elliot said. Leo turned to him.
"Elliot, it's about rescuing a loved one. There comes a time in life when one must take fate into one's own hands. And like Edwin, Oz, who marches into the face of death. We, Edgar, too go to help him as his friend to save his soul mate. Holy Knight, volume 19, chapter 13, page 230." Leo said.
The valet then entered into the gateway, leaving Elliot wide eyed and very baffled. The teenager looked around.
"Let's all go crazy!" he cried. After he raised his hand to his brow in frustration, he ran into the portal. "Hey! Don't leave me here bickering!"…
…
:Sigh's: Oh Elliot.
As I said, some parts felt rushed; but you probably can't tell anyway.
I don't know what else to say…
Yay, Alice's voice is back? Oz and his friends now know her secret? We know a little more about Lottie's plan?...IDK
Ok, just two more chapters people, TWO more chapters and we're in the clear!
See you next time!