Kingdom Hearts

Ch. 14

Wonderland

Trial by Hearts

Sora and Alice were brought into a giant room with paintings of hearts all over. The court room had a large audience chamber with the defendants pedestal placed in front of the spectator seats. There was a jury's seating area to the right of the pedestal and a high platform with a spiraling staircase around it on the other side. In the back of the room was the judges chair.

Several black and red card soldiers trailed behind Hal with axes and spears in hand. They entered the door in two single file lines. The two groups split turning the corners like a proud army patrol. The card patrol circled around the room with the walls at their backs. The last two card guards stood guarding the entrance.

Hal led Alice up to the pedestal in the middle of the room straight in front of the judges' chair. Sora sat in the row behind her. He tapped his finger on his knees sweating like he was in a sauna. The words "Do not meddle in the affairs of other worlds" rattled in his mind.

"Wait here. The trial will begin in a moment," said the one eyed man with an emotionless face.

Alice began shaking grasping her white bonnet. Sora kept watch with a conflicted mind. "This is getting out of hand. Alice isn't from another world so does that mean I can wreck everything and escape with her. If this Queen of Hearts really is the ruling monarch, it would be bad for the world order. Donald and Goofy would know what to do? C'mon guys, I really need a miracle here." They both waited nervously as the spectator seats began to fill.

Citizens from all over Wonderland came in one by one. Almost everyone the gang has met throughout Wonderland was attending this trial. Sora quickly recognized several of individuals entering the room. The Dodo bird walked in smoking his pipe. Tweedle-dee and Tweedle-dum hopped to their seats like a couple of bouncing balls. The Duchess walked in holding her head high in the air. Finally the Mad Hatter and March Hare pranced in drinking tea from a portable tea pot. A unique device that makes tea on the go.

The White Rabbit ran into the court room with a trumpet in hand. He climbed up the twisted staircase and stood upon the platform. He raised his instrument and blew with all his might. "The court is now in session," he said huffing a bit. A door in the corner of the room began opening. The Queen of Hearts walked through it.

The Queen walked up to the judge's seat. She sat down with her eyes closed only to open them when she reached her destination. She sat up straight as the entire hall went silent. The White Rabbit took out a scroll and began to read from it. "Ladies and gentlemen of the court, this girl who stands before us is accused of trying to steal the Queen's heart. Alice. What do you have to say in your defense?"

Sora gulped a bit not knowing what they'd do if she said the wrong thing. Alice stood up firm and spoke without hesitation. "Of course not, I have done nothing wrong."

The Queen's demeaner turned from calm to anger. The court froze before the Queen shouted "Liar. If you are innocent, why were the shadow creatures following your command?"

"They haven't, they've been causing me a hassle as well. I've been running from them ever since I came to this place," said Alice firmly.

"Humph, that's what they all say. Making themselves the victims to cover up the connection," explained the Queen pointing at Alice.

"But your majesty," said Alice before the Queen shouted again.

"SILENCE!" The Queen calmed down and asked, "Do you have any proof?" Alice looked a bit confused not being able to come up with an answer. Sora sat twitching his thumbs not knowing what to do. He looked over to see the French Mouse was sitting down next to him. The Queen smiled "If you have no proof you are no doubt guilty. Off were her head!"

Alice looked on in freight. Sora's heart dropped. "Oh there was no hope anyway. The Queen always has the defendant executed even the innocent ones," said the French Mouse with his paws folded. Sora gulped when the French mouse uttered those words.

"Tonight, at 5:34 and 35 ½ seconds she will be beheaded in the courtyard. So says the Queen," the White Rabbit declared. Ace standing outside grinned showing his sharp teeth before covering his face with an executioner mask. He walked off holding an axe in his hand. Soon the guards quickly swarmed around her chanting tapping their weapons on the floor. "Off with her head," was repeated over and over again. The guards began circling her in a strict formation.

Sora stood on his seat and screamed "NOOOO!" as loud as he could. Alice looked in his direction. "Alice," he screamed again.

Sora quickly summoned his keyblade and threw himself towards the formation. With one strike the cards were thrown through a loop. Tossed aside like a regular group of playing cards. He quickly grabbed Alice's hand, and both began to run towards the exit. The Queen witnessing the event screamed "Off with his head, Hal after them."

The one eyed man walked in front of the Queen's chair. He brought out a card in hand and replied "Yes, Milady."

Sora and Alice bolted down the hallway taking out any cards that blocked their way. But it wasn't enough. The card soldiers were like ants. Get rid of one and more will come take his place. The news spread through the castle. The White Rabbit sounded a trumpet alerting all the guards in the castle.

Swarms of card soldiers began chasing them in waves. Alice looked at Sora who seemed both stressed and tired out. Soon while bursting through a door at the end of the hallway Sora nearly lost his head. Alice pulled Sora back before an axe swung in front of his face. Sora saw his reflection on a shiny axe that struck into the floor. Sora looked up to see the executioner Ace to their left. He was bigger and more menacing then the others. Towering over them like a bear on two legs.

Sora couldn't make out an expression because of the black mask over his face. But Alice could see right through it. She knew he was smiling. He seemed to enjoy the art of killing. She pulled Sora away from the monster before a sharp card slid across her face.

Sora looked over to see a cut on her cheek with blood running down it. "Alice your-," he said hesitantly before looking up. Hanging from the ceiling Hal stood upside down with more cards in his hands. Hal had an emotionless face before throwing several other cards in their direction. Sora reacted as quickly as he could lunging towards Alice. He knocked her over on the floor shielding her from the barrage.

"Sora," she said horrified laying on her back.

"Alice run now!" said Sora in pain. He shielded her from the attack only to be struck by three cards that hit his back. Ace in silence lifted his axe and began walking towards them. Hal came down from the ceiling landing elegantly in front of them. Alice was horrified as their executioners came closer to them. Sora looked down at her and did something she did not expect. He smiled.

He laughed and summoned his weapon again. He pointed it towards Hal and cried out "Fire." Soon a burst of flames shot at Hal. It hit him right in the face distracting the one eyed man. Ace lifted his axe above them preparing to slice them in half. He swung his weapon at the two before Sora deflected it with his keyblade. Ace lost his balance and stepped back. Alice looking upon Sora's injuries and felt horrible. Blood was leaking down his back but that didn't stop him. "Alice come on," he screamed.

She looked at the door to see the swarm of cards watching and waiting for an order. Hal brushed the flames away recovering from the attack. "Seize them," he shouted. His troops followed orders heading off in pursuit.

Alice got up as fast as she could. The two friends ran away trying to find the exit. Alice looked over to see Sora struggling to keep up. His injuries were wearing him down. Soon they hit a dead end. Ace and the soldiers were right behind them. Sora looked for a way out till he saw some stairs to their right. They dashed over to it running up the stairs as fast as they could. Sora and Alice kept going up and up until they reached the top of the castle.

The two friends found themselves atop one of the tall towers at the corner of the castle "Sora, what do we do?" she said scared. They stared out the tower window across the horizon looking at all the variety of locations that made up this kingdom.

"They're up here," cried Ace to the soldiers. Sora almost couldn't take it anymore he could hardly run as it is. Soon cards began climbing the staircase. Sora and Alice realized they were cornered. The cards entered the tower surrounding them. "There's nowhere to run," said Ace plopping through the bottom door. Sora looked down to see a moat surrounding the castle. Ace then spoke again "The Queen declared that the girl will be executed in the courtyard and we will abide her orders. But for you boy," he laughed. "You're fair gain." Ace raised his sliver axe again.

Sora looked over to Alice and asked, "Do you trust me?" he lifted his hand for hers.

Alice looked down and understood what he was going to do. But she realized it wouldn't be enough. If they do jump and survive the Queen would send troops to look for them. With Sora's injuries they wouldn't get far. They'd both be caught together. Alice gave a fake smile and walked towards Sora with her hands pressed together. "Thank you, for everything. Sora." The young boy looked confused before a force pushed him back. Alice pushed him out the castle's tower window before Ace could kill him.

Sora looked in astonishment while falling seeing Alice stare at him from above. His body hit the water with a large splash in the moat. Several cards soldiers plopped their heads outside the window to see if he was still alive. They looked down waiting for him to appear in the water. But he didn't emerge. Ace confused after what happened lowered his axe.

Alice stood up straight, her breasts straightened and flexed liked a grown woman. She lifted her arms and said "I happily accept my punishment. The boy is already dead. Leave his body alone." She gave the fake smile again holding her hands out to be cuffed. Ace seemed disappointed probably because he wanted to make the kill himself.

"Very well. Guards take her to the dungeon. Her beheading will take place in 2 hours, 6 minutes, 34 and ¾ seconds." Two guards grabbed Alice by the arms and dragged her away while the rest began singing "Off with her head" again. Alice looked back with regret as the guards hauled her off.

A little bit later emerging from the water. A heavily injured keyblade wielder crawled on the bank of the moat. He rested for a moment as the cold dirty water rubbed against his feet. He muttered after hearing some voices close by. He looked over to see some card soldiers conversing in a distance. Sora with the little strength he had left got up and limped away. The fields that caressed the land around the castle was covered with beautiful blades of grass. When he was in the clear he dropped to his knees. He then pulled his hood over his head before asking himself, "Alice why. Why did you do this?"

He rested a bit more until a familiar twitching sound rested on his ear. He looked up and saw the very thing he dreaded more then anything. A swarm of shadows and one fat heartless surrounded him.

Sora not having the energy to fight stayed still waiting to see what will happen to him next. He soon heard another familiar voice hit his ear. "Thunder," it sounded like. At that instant lighting magic appeared striking the smaller heartless. Destroying them all. Sora could barely make out what it was. He could have sworn he saw a bird flying over them.

The giant heartless was the only one left. The creature turned around to see the bird charging towards it. Then a knight like figure jumped off the beast with a shield in hand. He lunged towards the heartless striking the head of it. The creature was destroyed instantly. Sora then fell unconscious. But before he did, he heard the familiar voice call his name. "SORA."