Alice smiled at Coraline as the three left the tower. At least they lent her a winter coat, how Gray found one was unknown. But the bluenette and Cat agreed it would be useless to ask. The snow crunched under their feet as they slowly made their way towards the forest in order to change the season. Cat was inside of Coraline's coat just like he used to do with Wybie.

Coraline shifted, "So...who is Vivaldi, exactly?"

Alice giggled, "She's the queen of hearts. She can seem a little harsh, but she really is a nice person who loves cute things. Just like Gray!"

Coraline gawped at her with wide eyes, "A queen?! Oh my God, I can't meet a queen looking like this! Look at me, I'm filthy!" Coraline started to prattle on about her attire while Cat sighed in annoyance, 'why do humans place so much on appearance?'

Alice smiled and patted Coraline's head, "Don't worry Coraline, she's very nice and maybe we can ask if she can give you some clothes." Coraline settled down at that, but she was still uncomfortable about the whole thing.

It had been so long since a creature or person from another world gave her something. Soon enough they arrived to the colorful circus in the middle of the forest. Cat jumped from her arms walking by her side as children and other performers whizzed by. The blonde was greeted by faceless children along with Coraline. At last, Joker arrived with a pleasant smile, he seemed happy to see them both there.

"Lovely to see the three of you here, it's been a while." said the man pleasantly.

"Sure, sure. Look, did you have anything to do with the Beldam?" asked Alice seriously. Coraline did not understand, why would Joker have anything to do with it?

"No, you fucking bitch! We ain't got nothin' to do with the wench spider! She even blocked us." exclaimed the mask.

"True, we cannot play in the dream world anymore. Such a shame really." added the jester.

"Well...uhh...could we go to the heart castle?" Coraline wanted desperately to stop talking about this.

"Well, I can make it spring." answered the red head calmly "but it will not be for free."

"What do you want?" asked Alice icily.

"Nothing much. Only the coat" said Joker calmly. "After all, she will not need it there."

"Sure..." Coraline started to take off her coat looking back at Cat who nodded.

"Ugh! will you hurry the fuck up?! We don't have time for this bitch!" yelled a similar voice coming from his hip.

"Now, now, Joker, calm down," said the jester as he received the coat. "It will wait for you when you go to winter. Now, you can go to spring"

It wasn't too long before they appeared at the gates of the castle, and Coraline gaped at the gushy décor as they were led inside. The throne room, that was where they got to. Around them, it was filled with hearts and candles. Guards stood with numbers and hearts on their chests. And at the middle of it all, a woman of average height, with dark violet eyes and purple-black hair with six large ringlets. Her lips in a shade of maroon and a beauty mark on the lower left side of her chin. Her elaborate gown focused on a red and black color scheme her crown was small compared to the ones Coraline had seen. Her dress consisted of a wide-skirt mainly focused on red and accented by a black bodice and bows. The gold heart accessories and her crown with a matching scepter in hand gave off her authority. With this ensemble came a giant heart-shaped collar to frame her head.

One of the faceless soldiers announced their arrival a booming voice, "Your Majesty, Alice has arrived with guests!"

Coraline wasn't expecting the woman to rush to Alice with unbelievable speed "Alice! Why have you not visited us in so long?!" She blinked, seeing Alice's 'guests'. "Oh? And who are these?"

Alice smiled and pointed to each, "These are Coraline Jones and Cat."

The queen smiled and shook Coraline's hand, "It's very nice to meet you, Coraline." Cat coughed, bringing attention to himself. Vivaldi raised her eyebrows in surprise at the apparently talking cat, but went with it, "And of course you as well Cat. We are Vivaldi, the queen of hearts."

"Vivaldi, I was wondering if you could give Coraline some clothes." She gestured to the muddy raincoat and outfit, "This is all she has."

Vivaldi put her hand on her cheek appalled and astonished, "What?! No girl so cute should be forced to run about in muck-no offense meant dear-! Follow us!" The queen grabbed Coraline and dragged her up to her room. Cat behind them shook his head, still finding human behavior ridiculous.

None of them expected Alice, who usually dressed so simple, to be into forcing frilly stuff on others. She even had tried to make Cat use a bow and a renaissance collar. Coraline sighed as she pulled the disgustingly frilly dress up over her head, "I...I really don't think this sort of thing suites me very well!"

Alice pouted as she held up another pink, froofy dress, "What? Why?! You look so cute in them!"

Vivaldi chuckled and soon confiscated the dress, "You've had your fun Alice; now it is our turn."

Vivaldi held out another dress, "Coraline has such pretty dark blue hair. She needs something to compliment, not contrast. Here, try this dear." Coraline gratefully took and pulled on the dark blue sundress with a white ribbon across the middle and little white roses on the hem. She wasn't entirely sure how Vivaldi managed to come up with so many dresses that fit her perfectly in two seconds, but she felt that this was a world where it was better not to question things.

"I like this one better." Alice pouted while Vivaldi held out a pair of white sandals for her. As Coraline slipped them on, Vivaldi pulled out countless other dresses, ranging from light to dark, all in the blue and purple color scales and shoes to match. Coraline was a little flustered at Vivaldi's insistence that she take all of them, but the older woman wouldn't take no for an answer.

Then, out of nowhere, the words that Alice dreaded the most were heard.

"Alice, my dear! I heard that you were near!" Alice jumped as she heard the sound of the queen's room's doors banging open, thankfully, the girls were in Vivaldi's closet. That place was more like a room than a closet, but it still was hidden in the wall. Why was Alice so bothered and afraid? Wouldn't she be friends with everyone? Cat and Coraline looked at each other unsure about this.

Alice leaned over and whispered to the other girls, "Quick, hide me!"

Vivaldi nodded, shoving all the frilly dresses that they made Coraline try on on-top of Alice. A man with white hair and matching ears atop his head burst through the door. His eyes red hidden behind round, frameless glasses. His clothes consisted of pink, ruffle-collared button up and a red jacket accented by brown trim and white gloves. His tie had a splash of white and blue and a backward clock design at the bottom of it. Slacks were brown and his shoes are a darker shade of the same color. His smile turned into a frown, "Where is my Alice?"

"White, don't be rude! And knock before you enter a lady's quarters, would you?! This is Coraline and Cat. Coraline and Cat, this is our useless Prime Minister, Peter White."

Coraline held up her hand awkwardly, not sure what this guy's deal was, "Hi?"

"Hello you two, now have you seen Alice?" He seemed annoyed and disgusted by their existence to which Coraline raised a brow.

Coraline smiled as well as she could under the circumstance of being put on the spot, "She uhhh...went into town to buy stuff for Cat! Yeah, she left because Cat was hungry and wouldn't leave me alone!" Coraline chuckled nervously.

"Oh! Well, I'll catch her next time. I have a perfect place for us to dine!" And then the rabbit man left, much to the relief of others.

Cat looked to Coraline from the little stool he'd been sitting on, a dull look in his eyes, "Seriously?"

Coraline glared at him, "Shut up! It was the first thing I could come up with!"

Vivaldi sighed, "Ok, you can come out now Alice."

Alice emerged from the pile of dresses, shaking lace and petticoats off her. She grinned sunnily, "Thanks!"

They gathered up the dresses that Coraline had approved and they said thank you to Vivaldi before departing. As they entered the maze, Alice carried Cat, petting him behind the ears, while Coraline carried the bag. Alice telling the girl about her adventured in this place and that she needed to be careful. Cat suggested Coraline and Alice to get weapons. But they were interrupted soon.

"Yo, Alice! Who are these new little friends?" A voice from above called. All three heads looked up at a guy with pink hair and cat ears who was perched on the wall. He had a golden piercing on his ears, tail and one golden ring on his belly button. Right above his belly piercing, there were three black triangles, possibly tattoos. Many gold chains and rings decorated him. Black skort with a couple of random zippers on it, along with a print of a cat head on it and a White "X" on the side. A sleeveless black crop-top with zippers on the front. With it, a choke collar attached to one of his gold chains. Along with wrist belt on his right wrist and another on his upper left arm to match. On his right hand, a black fingerless glove, and on his left a black sleeve that stretched from his wrist to right below his shoulder. And finally, a striped fur boa that was constantly wrapped around his arms and shoulders. A punk?

Alice smiled and called up, "Boris, these are Coraline and Cat!" She turned to say two, "Guys, this is Boris Airay, the Bakeneko."

Cat tilted his head up at the man, "A cat?"

Boris' eyes widened and he grinned, hopping down, "Whoa, a talking cat? That's cool. So your name is just Cat?"

Cat turned his nose up, "I don't see why humans feel the need to put names to everything. I'm me, and me is all I am."

Boris hummed, "True, true...hey, you guys wanna go to the amusement park?"

Coraline looked at Boris, "The amusement park?"

Alice and Boris nodded and Coraline grinned widely. Cat flinched as the girl yelled, "AWESOME! I WANNA RIDE THE ROLLER COASTERS!"

Alice laughed, "Ok, calm down Coraline." She turned to Boris, "Sure, we have time."

Boris took a wrist from both girls and pulled them along, "Come on, I'll lead the way!" Cat groaned in annoyance, not sure what this park was, but sure it'd be loud and annoying. 'I'm only a cat, not a human baby sitter!'

Boris, out of nowhere opened a door, pulling them all in. And at the other side an amusement park awaited. By the entrance was a man in his 30's with green eyes hidden by oval glasses and red hair in a braid. He wore brown pants, a White work shirt with a yellow vest and jacket over it. The yellow jacket had light-blue diamond shaped pattern down the sides of it and music notes on the ends of the sleeves and the front of it. The belt that he wore was a bit eccentric, brown, but has carousel horses attached to the sides in the front. Honestly, Coraline expected something lighter, it was summer here apparently.

Boris waved and yelled, "Hey! Old man! I brought Alice and some new outsiders!" The man turned his attention towards them and smiled at Coraline and Cat. He soon trotted over to them, and stuck out his hand, "Hey there little lady, I'm Gowland!"

Coraline shook his hand, grinning, "I'm Coraline, and-"

"I'm Cat." Everyone looked at him, surprised. "What? I want to introduce myself sometimes."

Gowland quickly recovered from the shock of a talking cat, "Well then, it's nice to-"

He was cut off by a squeak. They turned and saw A young boy, around Coraline's age, with his orange and yellow hair covering his right eye. A small hat attached to his head and a blue eye sparkling with tears. He wore a lot of green and seemed not to have slept in a long time due to the bags under his eyes. Coraline couldn't help but feel sorry for him.

The poor boy was pinned down by Boris, the latter of which was holding a fork and knife. "Now then rat, calm down!"

"BORIS! Leave him alone!" Alice and Coraline both yelled in unison.

Boris looked up, sighed, and got up with an annoyed expression. The boy with fuzzy round ears ran away.

Coraline looked at Alice in fright, "What he seriously going to eat that kid?!"

Alice frowned, "Yeah...Pierce Villers is the Dormouse, and Boris is the cat. They...don't mix well."

Coraline blinked and looked down at Cat, who was practically drooling, "CAT! Don't you even think about chasing that poor boy!"

Boris and Cat whined at the same time, "But it's in our nature!"

The girls laughed and rolled their eyes at the far too compatible for Pierce's safety duo.

The group had a fun day of going off the roller coaster until they puked. Well, Cat and Alice did. Coraline and Boris were laughing and betting on who would barf next. But, after a long day of fun, the three had to say goodbye to the amusement park cast. But, before they could leave, Boris grabbed Coraline's wrist. She looked back a bit confused and slightly blushing. She wasn't used to this happening unless it was the crazy beldam.

"Hey...Uh, I hope you had fun"

"I did..." Coraline felt awkward "What do you need Boris?"

"I was wondering...would you come back here in three-time changes? I wanna show you more things"

"Uh...sure"

He let her go, and she quickly walked towards Alice who had an amused grin and eyes sparkling. Cat smiled and shook his head. Coraline, on the other hand, glared at them, crossing her arms. It wasn't a date, and she refused to speak about it, no matter how much they prodded. And thus they headed back for the tower. Of course, they did have to go with Joker, and he kindly let them go and gave Coraline her coat back.

As she threw open the door, Alice announced, "Julius, Gray, Nightmare! We're back!"

Nightmare looked up from the ground, where Gray had him pinned, and smiled, "Did you have fun?"

Coraline grinned and held up the bag of clothes, "It was the awesomest day of my life!" She couldn't help but think, 'I haven't had this much fun since the incident"

"And...she got a date with Boris!" said Alice excitedly.

"No! Shut up!" Her cheeks were red in embarrassment.

"Coraline, it is not good to lie" scolded cat while he licked his paw.

Coraline couldn't contain her yawn. Alice patted her shoulder, "Looks like you had a little too much fun, huh?"

Coraline gave a weak glare, "There's no such thing as too much fun!"

Gray chuckled as he tossed the writhing incubus over his shoulder. "Dinner is waiting for you three in the dining room. Good night."

The three all said night to the two as Gray hauled them off and they headed into the kitchen to see a plate of grilled chicken on a bed of pasta. Coraline's mouth watered as she sat down and started tucking in. She spotted an open can of tuna on the table and set it down for Cat, who was patiently waiting below. Alice seemed relieved, mumbling something about Gray not cooking. Maybe the man was as bad as her father.

While they were eating, Coraline mused, "...Hey, I didn't see that one guy with the ponytail. What's his name again?"

Alice swallowed some pasta, "Julius. And it doesn't surprise me. Mr. Rapunzel almost never leaves his tower. Always work work work with that man."

Coraline tilted her head, "What does he do?"

Alice slowed in her chewing, "Umm...remember what I told you about everybody here having clocks instead of a heart? Well, when they die, the clocks are left behind and they're taken to Julius to be fixed."

Coraline felt a small chill creep up her spine. That's right...everyone here had been so nice to her...it was easy to forget that they weren't like her. Having polished off her plate, Coraline excused herself and stumbled up the stairs to her room, face planting into the bed. She was tired but...she couldn't help but be afraid. What if SHE was in her dreams again? Coraline blinked and shook her head. No. Even if she did come, Nightmare would protect her. She...she was safe here.

...Right?