Kingdom Hearts

Wonderland

Ch.11

The Cheshire Cat

Back at the shore, Donald dragged Goofy by the collar away from the crocus race. The animals were still running in circles despite the tide crashing upon them. "C'mon Goofy, we have to catch up to Jiminy and Sora. I can't believe he'd just run off like that."

As they reached the forest their wet fur and feathers became completely dry the moment, they crossed the grass. Goofy stood up to see some broken branches down a path. He said to Donald. "I think they went this way." He pointed down the path with broken twigs.

Donald not trusting Goofy on where to go replied, "No way. They went this way I'm sure of it." Donald walked in the other direction getting Goofy to trail him. Unaware that the way Goofy pointed towards was the path where Jiminy was taking a nice long nap.

Donald and Goofy went the other direction trudging along the path. They followed the narrow path surveying the trees. The trunks and the branches around them became twisted the more they walked. After an hour or so Goofy finally spoke up rubbing the back of his neck nervous, "Donald, I think we're lost."

Donald shrugged it off and replied, "Don't be silly I know exactly where I'm going."

Another ten minutes passed before they spoke again. Donald stopped in his tracks seeing a strange creature walk in front of them. It seemed like a small yellow flightless bird walking out of the brush. But what weirded them out was that it had an orange shovel for a head. It stuck its f lat snout into the earth digging up some dirt. It kicked what appeared to be its eggs into the hole before resting on them like any mother bird would. Donald immediately turned around. "Goofy, I think we're lost," he said sincerely.

"Huh didn't," said Goofy before Donald interrupted him.

"Come we got to find a way out of here. This is place is a mad zone."

"Maybe we can ask someone for directions," suggested Goofy.

Donald not to fond of that plan replied back, "Who we going to ask? The shovel head over there?"

"Well about that cat on the rock," said Goofy he pointed to a large boulder off the beaten path.

When Donald turned looking on top of the boulder there was no cat at all. "What cat?" asked Donald.

Goofy looked again to see there was no one there "Hmm, I could have sworn there was a cat with a grin there."

"A cat with a grin, really? This world is playing tricks on you, the sooner we find Sora and Jiminy the sooner we can leave." Donald turned away from Goofy straightening his hat.

The two continued onward down the path. The cat appeared before Goofy again standing on top of Donald's head. Donald didn't seem to notice the cat standing on one paw. The cat had purple and pink stripes with a huge grin on its face. Its eyes and teeth almost seemed to glow. "D-Donald," said Goofy stuttering.

"What? Is it the cat again?" said Donald turning his head around ignorant of the cat still on his hat.

"Yes," replied Goofy as he pointed towards it. Donald looked up annoyed seeing there was no cat above him. Goofy explained the cat disappeared right before him.

"Goofy are you going mad or something," claimed Donald angrily.

"Oh you can't help that. Anyone would go a little mad from listening to a voice like yours all day," said someone from a distance.

Donald looked around to see the grinning cat leaning against a tree. "Wah," said Donald realizing Goofy was right.

"Hey, what about my voice?" said Donald as he stepped forward towards the cat. In a brief second the cat vanished leaving only its grin in place. Donald charged towards it slamming his face on the trunk of the tree. The cat appeared again without its grin until its smile returned to make the cat complete. He laughed at Donald's misfortune as the duck straightened his beak. He turned towards the cat demanding "What's the big idea?" said Donald bring out his staff threating to fight.

"Oh nothing of the sort," said the cat egomaniacally.

"Let me guess you're looking for someone. Aren't you." He gave a giant grin and pointed it towards Goofy expecting an answer.

Goofy answered back "Well yeah. We're looking for our friends Sora and Jiminy. Have you seen them?"

The cat rubbed his chin trying to remember. "Hmm, unfortunately I haven't seen them. But if you want to find them they're that way." He pointed to the right path in the forest.

"Huh, I thought you said you didn't see them?" said Goofy confused.

"Well just because I didn't see them doesn't mean I don't know where they are," explained the cat.

"But how do you know it's them if you don't know what they look like?" said Goofy.

"Oh just forget it Goofy, he's trying to trick us." Donald walked to the left path refusing to turn his head.

"Oh don't go I can help you get to your friends faster," explained the cat.

"Really?" said Goofy.

"Just leave it Goofy," said Donald trudging down the path.

"Oh don't worry about him, he always act this way. So can you help us?"

The cat leaned up against the tree brushing his claws. "Oh I can't help you. But he can." As the cat spoke, the two heard a large meow coming from a distance. But it sounded more like a horn instead of a meow.

As Donald and Goofy faced the direction of the sound. They saw the trees begin to bend as a fairly large orange cat with bright shining eyes dashed towards them. Donald and Goofy couldn't believe what they were seeing. A cat bus. It stared and peered at Goofy waiting for directions. "This thing well take you were you need to go. But remember it's a one way trip. So which of yours friends is more important to you." The cat laughed as it slowly disappeared from tail to grin giggling.

Donald still being stubborn insisted they move on and forget the bus. "Donald this maybe our only chance to find Sora. We have to go," said Goofy. Donald refused to speak as he folded his arms. Finally giving in he turned around and stood next to Goofy.

The bus stared at Donald not blinking once. It then spoke in a louder garbled up voice "What is your next destination?"

"Remember Donald, one ride who do we want to find more?" said Goofy reminding Donald.

"That's easy Jiminy definitely," said Donald.

"But Sora has the key," asked Goofy surprised at Donald's response.

"Don't you remember he ran off without us. He brought this on himself. Besides he can take care of himself and Jiminy can't fight," said Donald with a straight face.

"I guess you got a point," said Goofy agreeing to Donald. As the two choose their answer the bus called "Next stop Jiminy Cricket." The name of him appeared on top of the cats head as a door opened allowing the two to come board. Goofy stepped on the soft fur when they entered the bus. The interior was completely soft and cozy like the outside of the cat. The two sat down on the comfy and bouncy seats as the bus took off. In blistering speeds it climbed to the treetops and skated across them like it was the wind. Donald and Goofy looked out the window to see the world at its finest. They were awe inspired at the sites that made up the world. They could see everything even a great castle covered in hearts at the edge of the forest surrounded by a huge garden. They noticed the sky was made up of dark and light red squares like a decorated ceiling. Something they never even seen before. They stared ahead of them to see where they were going. In front of them was the edge of a cliff. Where the cat was running straight towards.

Donald and Goofy screamed until the cat came to a complete stop at the edge. The two sitting in their seats sighed "Phew."

Then the cat coughed them up like a hair ball flinging them off the edge. They were thrown off the cliff screaming "Yaaahhooooo." The cat gave a troll face as Donald and Goofy plummeted to their doom.

Back to Sora and Wendy, the two walked down a path while Sora lead defeating any heartless that attacked them. They eventually came upon a nice house with its door wide open. The house was red and white all over with a heart ingrained above the door. Curious, they walked towards it stepping foot on the white wooden porch. They turned to the each other. "Do you think we should just barge in?" asked Wendy.

She looked around the messy home. The rug was thrown to the side all curled up. The wallpaper was peeling off the wall and the desk with the mirror was completely covered in dust. Broken appliances like pots and pans were scattered across the floor.

Sora was about to answer until a plate came flying from the door whacking Sora in the head. He fell over as the plate shattered to a million pieces. Sora was knocked out much to Wendy's shock and displeasure. Her hair rose up and she covered her mouth. After what happened to her friend Wendy charged in the house demanding an apology. She followed the broken kitchen ware into a room which made her sneeze uncontrollably. After she cleared her head, she saw who was throwing those plates. It was a tall cook with a giant nose and small eyes tossing the items behind him while cooking a dish with way to much pepper.

Alice sneezed again before seeing someone else in the room. Sitting on a rocking chair was an ugly woman in purple Victorian garb holding a baby with a cork in its mouth. The woman held the baby as she glanced at it. She cried "Pig" then went back to nursing the baby.

Wendy not knowing what to make of this situation walked over to the old woman and spoke to her. "Excuse me, why is your cook throwing dishes around. He conked my friend on the head and knocked him out cold?"

The lady ignored the girl as she tended to the baby. The vulgar woman looked up at the clock noticing where the arrows pointed "I'm late, I'm late. The Queen will have my head for sure." The woman rushed out of her chair and ran towards the door with the baby still in hand. Before leaving the house she glanced at the baby a second time. She turned to the door and tossed the baby back into the room. Outside Sora suddenly became conscious again blinking his eyes. The vulgar women quickly stepped over him placing her boot on his face rushing off repeating the phrase. "I'm late, I'm late." She dashed down the path leaving the door to her house wide open. Sora was left with a giant boot mark on his face.

The baby came flying in the room landing straight in Wendy's arms. The baby smiled at her sucking the cork in its mouth. Wendy looked over to see the cook completely oblivious of what happened. He kept adding more pepper to the pot and tossing items over his head. Wendy concluding this is not a safe place for a baby and decided to bring it out to Sora.

Sora recovering from his injuries pressed the huge bump on his head. He looked up at Wendy standing over him holding the baby in her arms. He stood next to her as she caressed the baby, Sora came closer to get a better look. Wendy blushed as the twos shoulders began to touch.

"Um Wendy," asked Sora.

"Yes dear," replied Wendy. Not meaning to say that Wendy's face blushed all red, embarrassed at what she said.

"Why are holding a pig?" he asked. Alice still red questioned what he said stared again at the baby. She realized the cork the baby sucked upon was a pigs snout. It oinked and wiggled out of Wendy's arms falling to the ground. It squealed running off into the woods leaving the house behind. Wendy's face turned red hot as she saw it leave.

Sora laughed at her "Wendy your face is like a tomato," laughed Sora. As he did a piping hot teapot came flying out of the house slamming into Sora's head.

After collecting her feelings, she stared at Sora half unconscious on the wooden floor. They both caught the others eye and began to laugh. Wendy helped Sora up and sat him down on a porch chair. After a few minutes the two set off on their next destination.

As they made their way back to the road, Wendy looked up to the tree across the path. "Sora look a smiling cat," she said pointing to the tree. On it sat the stripped cat with a wide smile.

Sora was shocked at what he saw a cat that could grin. "Woah, what kind of cat are you?" he asked.

The cat turned its head to at a 90 degree angle. "Why I'm a Cheshire Cat" it replied. It turned its head to a 180 then a whole 360 degrees.

"What happened to the baby?" it asked.

"It was a pig," replied Sora. "It ran off into the forest."

The cat waved its tail along the neck of the branch answering back. "I thought that would happen."

Sora just remembering his friends asked the cat for directions. "I'm looking for my friends so we can leave here. One's a dog a-"

"Yes, a dog, a duck, and a bug. If you wonder where they are, they went that way," interrupted the cat pointing to the right.

Sora relieved replied back, "They did."

"Did what?" said the cat.

"My friends went down there," said Sora.

The cat crossed its arms, "No one went down that way."

"Huh, didn't you just say," said Sora perplexed.

Wendy grabbed Sora's shoulder "Don't bother he's mad," she said.

"But if you want to find your way. You should talk to the Mad Hatter. He knows a thing or two about everything." He showed them to a fork in the road with a sign that pointed to the Hatter's house.

"But we don't want to go among mad people," said Wendy.

"Oh you can't help that we're all mad here," said the cat giggled as it slowly disappeared.

"After a while you get used to characters like him," remarked Sora.

"You're right," concluded Wendy.

"Man I hope other worlds aren't as insane as this," said Sora. He froze realizing he said something he shouldn't. He slowly turned his head hoping she didn't get it.

Wendy stared at him asking "Sora you are from another world. Aren't you?"

"No, I'm talking about the real world and this world. I just assumed there were more," he hesitantly tried to explain his case.

Alice stared at him wrapping her hands together. "I know you aren't from this world or anyone I've been too."

Sora giving in confirmed her suspicions. He put his hood over his head knowing the mistake he made. "Wendy promise you won't tell anyone."

Wendy smiled, "It's okay already knew you were different the moment I saw you."

"R-really?" said Sora hesitantly.

"Yes, you're the first normal person I've met since I got to this world," she said blushing.

Sora realizing what she is talking about said "You're from another world too?"

"Well, yeah I thought it was obvious," she said while poking her breasts."

Ha-ha, guess I'm a bit slow," said Sora. "So where are you from and how did you get here," he asked.

"I can't say, but I know I can never go back," she replied somberly.

"Did you lose your world to the heartless like mine?" he said softly.

"Wait your world is?" said Wendy before grabbing Sora by the waist hugging him. The two sat down together as Sora told her everything. About Destiny Islands and the keyblade. Wendy grabbed Sora's arm as they laid on the grass staring up at the red tilled sky.

After the story, Wendy thought about what he said and what he is supposed to do. "So your key will open the door, what door is it?" she asked.

"I don't know what it means, but I have to find my friends Donald and Goofy so they can take me to other worlds. In order to find my other friends and family. They're out there somewhere I just know it. C'mon let's get going."

Sora got up helping Wendy to her feet, he started down the path to the Hatters place. Wendy stayed silently in her spot twiddling her thumbs. "Sora," she said quietly. Sora turned around to see what's wrong. "I'm so sorry. I lied to you. My real name is Alice."

"Really why did you say your name was Wendy?" he asked a bit confused.

Alice put her hands behind her back hesitant to talk. "I can't tell you right now but promise me you won't tell anyone my real name," she pleaded.

"I promise," he said smiling holding up his fist. The two went back down the path towards the Mad Hatters home. Unknown to them that a familiar eye was watching them. The man stood up and turned around cloaked in shadows. He raised his hand as a cloud of darkness enveloped in front of him. He walked into the void and it disappeared as soon as it was summoned.

Back at the cliff, Donald and Goofy kept falling and falling as the two landed smack down in a body of water around a rocky beach. They both swam to the surface catching their breath. "That's it, I'm never trusting a cat ever again," said Donald waving his fist towards the bus but it was gone.

Near the shore the two heard crying. They paddled to the shore to see who was weeping. Just as before their fur and clothes became dry the moment they stepped on land. They followed the sound until they came upon its origin.

Behind a few large rocks stood a turtle with a cows head crying. "What is that?" cried Donald looking upon the creature.

"Why that's a mock turtle?" said a voice from above. Donald and Goofy looked up to see a half eagle half lion sitting on top of the rocks.

"A Griffin?" said Goofy in disbelief.

"I didn't know they existed on other worlds," he said staring back at Donald.

"Either did I. I thought they were legends. But no world ceases to amaze me especially this one.

The Griffin spoke in a sophisticated voice. "Yes I am a Griffin and you are a duck and dog" it replied smiling.

"Excuse me why is that Mock turtle crying?" asked Goofy.

"Why because he has no more lessons to go too. He'll explain everything," said the Griffin as it flew next to the Mock Turtle. The poor thing still weeping as Donald and Goofy walked over.

"Are you okay?" asked Goofy concerned for the creatures feelings.

"Oh, oh, no more today. What to do?" it said sobbingly.

Donald spoke up, "The Griffin told us you're crying over 'lessons.'"

"Yes it was my favorite time of the day. 10 hours the first, 9 hours the next, and 8 hours the next. Until no more," cried the Mock Turtle.

"Yes that's why it's called LESSons," explained the Griffin.

"I was once a normal turtle," stated the Mock Turtle.

"Really tell us how you became what you are," said Goofy as he sat down on rock.

"Oh, if you insist," remarked the Mock Turtle whose eyes have finally gone dry.

The three sat down to listen to the Turtles tale.