Alice stopped smiling and eyed the Cheshire Cat.

"What do you mean, not for long?"

"Wonderland is in danger of disappearing forever and you are our only help."

"What do you mean...disappear?"

The cat sighed. "You must seek The Oracle and find the truth."

"The Oracle? That silly caterpillar? He knows nothing."

"He knows the truth" purred the cat. "I'd seek him out, if I were you."

Alice looked around. She was standing on a floating island-like mass and below it was a wide rushing river.

"Well, how am I to get to him? I'm up here and he no doubt, is somewhere else."

The Cheshire Cat slunk to the mouse hole and sat beside it. "Do as the little creatures do."

"Oh cat, you've gone mad, I'm much to big for that hole" she protested.

"Nonsense" said the cat "You're in Wonderland, don't forget it. Perhaps the fungus among us will help you out." With that, he disappeared.

~*~

"Has she woken up yet?" asked Dr. Wilson hopefully.

"No" Nurse D replied.

It had been nearly half a day and Alice was still in a coma-like state. Here and there she would mumble a phrase or turn about in bed but she seemed that her mind was in another world.

"Perhaps you should talk to Dr. Rose" Nurse D added helpfully.

A scream echoed through the halls.

Nurse D rose from her seat. "Who's screaming like that?"

A nurse rushed into the room and asked Nurse D and the doctor to help restrain a new patient. They exited the room and again Alice was alone, left to her delusions.



~*~





Alice picked up a purple mushroom. She studied it carefully, turning it around in her hands. She tore a piece off the cap and stuffed it into her mouth. She suddenly felt very dizzy, and she felt herself growing smaller. Soon she was just as tall as a blade off grass.

"Good thing I didn't eat too much, I would have disappeared altogether" she said to herself, and headed towards the mouse hole. She jumped into the hole and her dress puffed up with the rushing air. Alice was floating gently, like a feather for what it seemed like a very long time. She knew this because she had recited 'The Jabberwocky' twenty-five and a half times before she reached the ground. When she got to the part about the tum-tum trees, she landed with a thud.

She stood for a minute, staring blankly at the wall of the cave she dropped into. Once again the cat appeared.

"Alice" he persisted, "You're not on holiday, please don't dawdle." Just as quickly as he showed up, he disappeared, leaving Alice on the path to The Oracle.



*Okay, sorry this chapters a little rushed. I'm not so good with middles. Anyway, please review.*