Disclaimer: I do not own Xenosaga so don't sue me!

I've decided how I'm going to go about doing Combat in this story. (only when necessary. otherwise it's going to basically be like when you turn the A.I. off in the game.) When she is going to fight it's going to end rather quickly with the newest weapon she has.

Chapter 2: Pandemonium

It was rather odd to see the expression on Shions face as she looked around to try to find a pathway to the area which she assumed was the mine judging by the rather large sign over the door with the same word carved into it. There were no step ladders, or stairs, and when she looked down she saw only some rather unplesant looking green water that probably wasn't rather safe to the touch for her. She frowned crossing her arms and tapping her foot before putting her finger to her lips in though. Perhaps he knew that she was in need of his help perhaps not, but either way the familiar white haired boy whom she had often refered to as the Cheshire cat appeared with the same self satisfied Grin on his pale face, he sat on the ledge, crossed and uncrossed his legs again and spoke, "Hanging Ropes are a as Good as step ladders for those who know how to use them." He said gesturing to the several hanging ropes that made a line that seemed to go straight to the mines. She frowned suddenly relizing something which she had wondered for a long time but had not the chance to ask the boy.

"Cat?" He was at that moment about to fade out as he usually did but then turned to look at her his expression not wavering.

"Yes?"

"Do you have a name?" She asked with a frown of curiousity.

"Yes, I supose I do, though I doubt anyone has used any of our names in such a long time that it would be of little importance." He replied.

"Well, What is it? I don't supose you Fancy being constantly refered to as Cat all the time do you?"

"Wilhelm." He replied in an almost irritated fashion. "Now hurry, The Red Queen will wait, but I'm afraid Rabbit might not." He added, hoping this would get the girl moving. At the rate things were going Wonderland did not have much time and she did not need to sit around chatting.

"And the Rabbit?"

"What of him?" He replied almost frustratedly.

"Does he have a name as well?"

"Kevin. Now please do hurry!" He urged and she nodded grabbing the nearest rope as he faded from her sight. She held on for a minute thinking of just how to get the next one before swinging slightly, just enough to get a firm grip with one hand and then repeating the procedure. Until finally she found herself near the entrance to the mine, and swung one last time before letting go and hitting the ground with another unplesant thud. She mentally growled "I seem to be landing like that alot lately." She said to herself as she stood up, dusting her dress off as she entered the mine to look for this creature who could help her enter the fortress of doors. Help her get small enough to chase after the Rabbit...and help her gain a small portion of her sanity as well.

"Hello?" She looked around before a rock fell catching her attention and she quickly darted over to see what it was. A young girl dressed in a tattered white gown with Long red hair and slightly weary blue eyes peered up at her.

"Why do you pursue me to this deserted place?" She asked as she backed farther into the corner as though to try to make herself invisible to Shion.

"To Benfit from your Wisdom." Shion stated finding it the best way to phrase it. She was almost certain that if she had started it off with 'to find a way to enter the Fortress of Doors' the small girl would have ran for her life. Though she still seemed to 'live free' the girl seemed quite cowardly.

The Girl Scoffed at this "Even blurred vision is valued by the blind," She stated softly as she stood up and looked to Shion with tired eyes. "If I were wise would I cower in this Slag heap?"

Shion shrugged absently at this frowning "I supose not." She stated.

"I'm not Wise girl," She continued "I've just grown old."

Shion frowned at this, the girl herself did not seem that old but perhaps it was merely because the females of the race aged a bit more gracefully than most of the males she had seen? She puzzled over this before deciding to present her case. "I wish to get small." She stated "About this big." She held her fingers up to present the size she wanted to get to.

"That I can manage." Stated the girl with a frown "For a small price." She added.

Shion narrowed her eyes at this not sure what the gnome woman meant by this "But I have nothing of value."

The Woman chuckled softly at this "You have your nerve, and your health, mine are almost gone, I've seen far to much suffering." She stated with with a frown looking at the girl expectantly. Shion nodded at this but still frowned slightly "So what must I do?" She asked as the girl looked around and then motioned for Shion to bend back down so that she could whisper in her ear. "In the card gaurds compoud, A Particularly rough Diamond hold the key," She began Shion unsure of where this was leading "retrive it, and I shall return the favor." She finished before looking around and then darting off "Find me when you have it." She called before disappearing from Shion's view. Shion frowned as she walked through the mines a little farther, before coming to a mine cart. She assumed that this would be the method of getting to the overseers residence. The Card Guard Compoud. So she jumped rather quickly into the cart and it began to speed down the railing.

Shion looked around as her hair blew behind her to see the small miserable gnome population bluring past her. This ride lasted several minutes before she saw her destination come into view...and the tracks end. She prepared to Jump over to the small platform as she neared the end of the tracks and jumped quickly, Stumbling slightly as she grabbed the edge and then tried her best to keep silent. She quickly made her way into the complex to see the card gaurds, though quite unhealthy looking, were busy guarding what appeared to be a Diamond on the table. She frowned as she hid behind one of the heart shaped statues in the room and her foot hit something rather sharp. She winced and tried not to speak as she looked down to see what appeared to be a deck of playing Cards...rather sharp playing cards. Suddenly Wilhelm, the Cheshire cat, appeared beside her leaning casually up against the wall his clever smirk the last thing to appear as it was often the last thing to disappear from sight as well.

"Fifty-Two pickup is a stable of Juvenile humor." He stated with a rather large, morbid smirk growing on his pale face "But when the deck slices and dices it's no laughing matter." he add with a smirk.

"Are you saying?" Shion tilted her head to the side with a confused expression

"Sometimes the best way to avoid being seen is to eliminate those who would see you." He added sounding rather amused.

Shion nodded leaning to the side and crouching with the cards in her hands as she picked on out of the deck not paying attention to what was actually on the card. Aiming it rather quickly at the nearest card guard and throwing it. Hitting him right in the neck and quickly cutting it's head off in a rather morbid display. They looked at their fallen commrade and then around in a rather confused as to where, and what had just beheaded their unforunate comrade.

Unfortunately none of them would live long enough to see it. Shion Quickly began throwing cards hitting them in the only places they needed to be hit to die automatically. Usually either the side of the head or taking their head off completely. Such a suiting end for the poor creatures. In the end none of them were left standing and Shion collected her cards with much disgust putting them back in the deck which she then stored in her pocket, next to her knife. Quickly grabbing the Diamond of the table she headed back out to find a door that had not previously been there. Stepping back through it she found herself back at the mine. The Red haired Gnome was waiting for her there and motioned for her to quickly get there. Unforunately it seemed that her destruction of several of the card guards had not gone un-noticed and several red ones were standing at the tops of the towers.

They of course were easily disposed of in the same manner as their black counterparts and she ran quickly jumping over the water to greet the small woman once again.

The red haired Gnome looked at her expectantly and Shion gladly handed over the Diamond she had been sent to retrive resulting in a look of great Joy on the womans face as she examined it.

"You have the Key! Very resourceful! Rabbits judgement is not misplaced, he is not fool!" She proclaimed happily to which Shion laughed softly "I certainly hope he is not." She added almost humorously.

"Use the key to free my clan from the oppresive burden they carry," Said the woman to which Shion suddenly frowned, "Any fight against the Queens Tyrany is a good fight, They have suffered much." Finished the woman who obviously hadn't been paying much attention to the brown haired young womans frown as Shion crossed her arms,

"I'm Sure they have," She said humorlessly "I'm really very sorry for them Miss.." She looked to the orange haired woman expectantly.

"Nephilim." Replied the small Gnome woman

"But what about me getting small?" She asked once again demonstrating the size. Nephilim nodded at this suddenly taking Shion's hand and leading her though yet another strange door much like the one leadering her out of the Card Guard compound. Through a small Cave Shion found herself looking at what appeared to be a blimp with a small bicycle to steer it attatched and a basket behind that bike. Nephilim motioned for Shion to get into the basket and before long the small village was getting smaller and smaller in the distance...