They stood, frozen at the scene. Only able to hear the fists of Grey on the floor and Julius' choked sobs. That was until Nightmare and Alice entered, the former reading each and every mind. "Vat ze hell happened?!" he asked/yelled.
Coraline handed him the buttons and recited the note. It hadn't been easy because of Alice ripping it. "Juliet mentioned something about Lorina wanting Alice and Edith trapped. I wasn't able to understand much."
"Those are my sisters" whispered Alice. "No, this can't be real! Lorina would never do such things!"
"Now there's a pair for each of them. Alice's are teal, Dee's are blue, Dum's are red, and Coraline's are black. ...We need to ask Nix about all this" said Cat from his place on the edge of the bed. Nightmare stared at them, unable to believe what he had just heard. Yet, it successfully made Alice come back from her breakdown.
Coraline threw her hands up in the air, "But how?! Nobody exactly knows how she vanished! And she seemed to know more about everything than any of us!"
"How do you know this Coraline?" asked Alice.
"Yeah, how could the Bandersnatch hide a bunch of secrets? She's only a little girl!" said the twins.
Coraline crossed her arms and turned to the incubus, "And a scaredy-cat to boot. Nightmare, when she got here, could you read her mind?"
Nightmare rubbed at his temples, " Now zat you mention it; nein. I couldn't"
"That's because she hides her secrets," Coraline said as factually as she could. "It doesn't matter now! We need to find a way to make Nix talk."
"Pierce or Boris would be able to make her talk," said Julius, worried and distracted by his sister's disappearance. His voice raspy from his breakdown.
"Whatever it was, I need to find that mother fucking bastard that took her away again! My sun...I couldn't do anything!" Gray was furious, Alice was about to comfort him when heavy steps caused them all to turn.
"Hey, guys! Guess who I found out there! Jabberwocky and Mr. Joker! And guess what else- they came with me!" Ace announced as he randomly walked into the room.
"Ace!" Exclaimed Julius getting up. Ace looked at him and immediately frowned. He let Julius hug him as he did it back. It was rare to see this kind of affection between them, much less Julius or Gray breaking down to pieces. Not even Nightmare had coughed up blood.
"What happened?" Murmured Ace uncharacteristically calm.
"She was taken" answered Gray from the floor, looking back at the intruders. His eyes were fierce, dark, Alice, and Coraline felt fear for their lives.
"Maybe that's why Onyx was so stressed and running" mused Ace a little. Playing with his lover's hair. " when I tried to catch her and ask what happened she turned feral and scratched me."
"What!? YoU tOuChEd thE Bandersnatch?!" yelled the Joker and Jabberwocky in unison.
"What's so bad about it?" asked Ace, as he let go of Julius confused.
"Show me where she scratched you!" demanded the Jester side of jabberwocky also known as Brianna.
Ace shrugged and rolled up his sleeve, showing off the thin, pale scars on his forearm. Jester frowned and touched it delicately, "Ace...she cursed you. Now that the beldam is out there, she may be able to activate Nix's true form, and then she'll go in killer mode...and then you'll be the-!" before she could finish both red-headed females coughed violently. Just like Nightmare did usually, blood seeping from the corners of their mouths. The shock consumed everyone again.
"What do you mean?" asked Coraline, grabbing her shoulders and giving her a little shake.
"She'll try to activate our true forms and make Wonderland hers!" the Warden managed to spit between her coughing. Their hands flew to their chests, clutching at the fabric, "PleSE sTOp Her!" they screamed and disappeared just as Juliet had before.
The Joker's stared at the spot their sister had been moments before. "WHAT THE HELL?!" yelled the warden joker, Benjamin.
White the jester, William, turned to the others and growled, "What just happened?!"
Coraline and the other's explained the situation as well as they could. Joker, if we can settle for an understatement, was pissed but once they all calmed down they discussed a way to get answers soon. The only course of action was to make Nix talk. but as they were thinking of how they would do that, they were interrupted by a soft tapping at the door.
Coraline cracked the door to see Nix standing at the threshold, looking tired, scared, and guilty. She looked up with eyes full of sadness, "I can't tell you anything about the Other Mother, but I'm sure this will help. Open it with the key and read it carefully."
She handed Coraline a book made of pink leather and held shut with a strap and a gold lock. As Coraline took it, Nix scrambled into her pocket and pulled out a white rectangle, tears welling in her eyes. She wasn't going to be able to say goodbye to her brother just like last time she vanished "And here's a note from her. I'm sorry...I can't do anymore. I don't want to make the punishment any worse."
As the note left her hand, Onyx grabbed Nightmare's hand causing everyone to be lost in a land of memories. Was this the power of the Bandersnatch?
It was the joker season, the time she loved and appreciated the most. Of course, she could see her friends easily! Jabberwocky and Joker. While Fall in the Mafioso's Territory lacked the bitter chill of Winter, there was still a certain nip to the air. The promise of a first frost that would never come to pass. Crisp, clean, and filled with the crackle of freshly fallen leaves on the ground.
"Amazing" whispered Alice.
Coraline and the rest could only admire how detailed this dream was. Something even nicer than Nightmare's creations. They could see Nix skipping through the forest towards the mansion, her pink scarf and wavy hair dancing with the wind. Her cat ears listening to the songs of the air; As she carried a basket containing two pairs of gloves, and two scarves (one in blue and the other red, the gloves holding the same theme), a handful of freshly made cookies and two thermoses (matching the colors of the other items) with hot chocolate. Nix grinned happily making the others wonder what was going on. The Bloody twins were aware those things were for them, but they didn't remember from when it was.
"Why would she be going to the mansion?" wondered Coraline curiously as they all followed the girl instinctively.
She traveled all the way to the mansion...but what she saw made her freeze in the spot, her basket falling to the floor, forgotten. The twins were cornering a girl and kissing her shamelessly. Nix could not hear a thing, she didn't even notice people were staring at her. Alice and Coraline were horrified, the twins were guiltily looking at the ground, Nightmare, Gray, Julius, and Ace had unreadable expressions. The Joker, on the other hand, was in pain, the twins didn't seem to be, but the Joker was. Memories flowing nonstop into their minds.
The Bandersnatch shakily opened her mouth letting out only one word.
"Why?" The role holders did not get to answer for she sprinted away and opened a door heading home immediately.
Not a word was said for a while as they rushed behind her. A small envelope caught the blonde's attention, she gingerly grabbed the pink item.
"What is this?" she whispered to herself. And proceeded to read it out loud. Nobody even dared to go against it. Perhaps they could read it because Nix wrote it. It made sense.
For: Darren and Dereck Taylor, my dear Bloody twins.
I made these for you, in hopes to warm you up in this autumn season!
With all her love and care
Your girlfriend
Onyx Airay, the Bandersnatch.
"Dee! Dum! Explain now!" yelled Alice immediately after finishing.
"Yes, zis zeems to vee impoghrtant." answered Nightmare pressing his fingers on their heads.
"I know what this is" growled both sides of Joker in harmony. "That girl was a younger Alice, the one that nobody remembers, the one without memories of Wonderland currently here. As all roleholders love Alice, they broke the clock of someone who loved them. The rules were changed just for Alice, yet it was no roleholder"
"We were clock broken..."said Dum.
"That's no excuse," Said Alice furiously.
"It makes sense though, we did not remember Juliet, yet, after Julius and I did, we were not part of the rules anymore" answered Gray thoughtfully.
"Sorry..." they finished in unison.
By the time they were done Alice was fuming. These two made her remember that person who had replaced her in the other world. Both of the twins had been unfaithful to their girlfriend, and the worst part is that the blonde was the lover. her turquoise orbs widened in realization causing her to strike both gatekeepers leaving a red mark on their cheeks.
"Jerks!" Screamed the outsider as the loud slap echoed through all Wonderland. For two whole minutes, nobody moved or said a word. Hallow breaths and wind were the only sounds that could be heard. The tension in the air could be cut with a knife.
"Now that that was explained, I suggest we follow the way she went through," said Cat calmly starting to make his way, with fuming and outraged people and a pair of hurt twins.
Alice sighed, as they all walked towards the circus. Trying to relax from the disturbing event. She also barely realized she had been in a compromising situation with her, now, adoptive sons. Could Wonderland get any worse? How was nobody fazed by that!?
Pleasant music and performers invaded their senses, allowing them some distraction from the previous event. They were now casually strolling until they entered the bright, colorful circus tent. Two jesters were sitting there with identical smiles, their hands shuffling a deck of cards. The one on the left was Brianna, and the other William. Brianna's lone eye glancing at the twins with a murderous glint. The twins gulped, having the strange feeling the jester girl knew about the incident, or more like, she could see them now. And Joker, the real one, not the one in the memory, was also angered. The male in the memory noticed his sisters demeanor and glanced at them with a smirk and the same terrifying shine in his lone whine red eye. Nix, was hiding peeking as a kitten through the tent.
"We HaVe BeEn WaItInG FoR YoUr ArRiVal YoU LiTtLe ChEaTeRs" spoke both jesters in unison. They knew this would not be over soon.
"Seems Jabberwocky and Joker are holding back" commented Ace trying to lighten the mood.
"You better believe it" answered the Joker.
"We only came to, play...a wager to see Nix again" explained the memory twins nervously. The jabberwocky nodded and gave her side of the deck to the joker. The male jester smiled at his twin and started to hand them over and start the usual game. The game was silent until the redheads, but before they could leave in shame the joker and jabberwocky grabbed the gatekeepers' wrists preventing them.
"You never miss the sun till it starts to snow. You never know you loved her until you let her go" said the red-headed female to the twins.
Alice frowned, feeling familiar with such words. She had felt it once. And Coraline wasn't happy. Nightmare was shaking gabbing his handkerchief and coughing blood.
"Who do you think you are? Running around leaving scars!" mumbled the joker in dark tone "Collecting your jar of clocks, And tearing love apart?"
"ShE wAs NeVeR mEaNt To LoVe YoU," said both redheads merging their voices with their counterparts. They let them go at last, and they left running.
The amusement park seemed as lively as ever but something in the middle of that cheerful summer territory made Alice and the twins feel unwelcomed. But little did they know what was causing it.
Sitting under a tree crying her pretty amber eyes out was young Nix. She looked fourteen now, Alice supposed she had the same power as the twins. Her small figure trembled and prayed her older brother would not find her at the moment...she needed somebody to comfort her and not get aggressive about it. Coraline wanted to reach out and hug her but Nightmare stopped her.
"Zis is a memoghy, ve coult only touk ze note pecause she vghot it, put if ve try anythink, it vill not vork"
Coraline nodded, and Cat observed silently. Nix needed somebody to hug her and whisper sweet nothings into her big pink cat ears. Ace grabbed Julius' hand.
Everything was interrupted by a pair of strong arms hugging her little form. The Bandersnatch leaned into the male letting her tears and sobs be muffled into the strong chest of the person. Pierce Villers, the dormouse, he was the one, no wonder they were so close.
The scent of coffee and cheesecake invaded everyone's senses. Honestly, they hadn't expected all these things coming only from a memory. Pierce didn't say a word to the childish girl, he only held her close.
"They lied...they said I was their one and only. I hate this, I hate this stupid rule that everyone loves the outsider! I may not have a real heart...but I did have real love." Sobbed the girl reveling her troubles.
"Nix...They were not meant to be with you. You may not remember, but im slowly gaining some of my lost memory, all about the things that happened before this game started. You know Onyx, there is somebody who cares and loves you" said the mouse to the pinkette in his arms.
"Who? My brother? Papa Gowland? They are my family...that does not count" mumbled the sniffling girl. Her eyes widened and a blush spread across her cheeks as she felt herself changing positions and staring directly into that emerald green eye.
"This is so cute!" gushed Coraline and Alice trying not to squeal.
"No." he answered getting closer to the blushing girl. Only inches apart and he cupped her cheeks in his hands. "me"
The distance was closed into a soft and sweet kiss. Her eyes widened at the feeling. Her form changed into a fourteen-year-old. The feeling of this kiss was familiar as if this had happened before.
Memories drifted into the past scaring all those who were invading them. A circus, the dark woods surrounding them, escaping the place and entering this new horrid torture, the things humans used to do, a young girl creating Wonderland and turning queen. And all vanished as fast as it came giving all those present outside of the memories whiplash. Nix's clock ticked fast as she desperately grabbed Pierce's coat.
The male smiled as they both got up holding hands and walking towards the amusement park. They bumped into Boris, and before the cat could lash out at the poor mouse for making his sister cry, Nix told him the whole story. To say he was pissed would be an understatement. Both males holding her hands in a tight grasp walked right into the big meeting between the mafioso and the amusement park owner.
"TWEEDLE DEE, TWEEDLE DUUUM! YOU LITTLE SHITHEADS HOW DARE YOU!" yelled the enraged cat, causing everybody to glance at him. His pistols pointing directly at both boys who were terrified. The Tweedles immediately took a defensive stance waiting for Boris to strike. But before he could do it a young version of Alice was in front of the twins.
"Boris! Don't do it!" yelled the human girl.
The true Alice stared in horror, her head pounding. She knew, oh she was remembering her time here. Lorina brought her, she said it was the world for Alice to be happy. Of course, the blonde had no idea what she was causing. Nix glared at the younger Alice, the clock stealer, and breaker.
The name of Liddell resounded bitterly in her mind, that last name...Wonderland would not have been made if it were not for them. Tortures passed through her mind making the young Bandersnatch feel dizzy. The pain, her clock hurt, and her eyes saw red. Everyone watched wide-eyed as the once small shy girl transformed into a catlike creature. Grayish pink fur along with amber enraged eyes, they were glowing, everyone shivered. The climate was turning cloudy, and the tremendous creature walked slowly and elegantly as if she were eyeing her prey carefully.
"The true Bandersnatch..." mumbled the Roleholders as Coraline and Alice hugged each other in fear. The Tweedles were frozen, knowing they caused it. Everybody knew it would pounce and raised their weapons determined to save Alice. The blonde closed her eyes waiting for it to end.
"NO! NIX! STOP IT ISN'T WORTH IT!" they heard the dormouse yell. Nobody would react, it seemed too late. Again they were proven wrong when Pierce hugged the thing and it slowly turned back into its human 14-year-old form. The girl stood there stunned with no emotion in her eyes.
"I see..."
The time rushed away, showing her coping with the dormouse. And soon, her moving into the joker forest, helped by the Jabberwocky. Now, here in the middle of it, she was breaking a pair of dolls looking like the twins, and suddenly she noticed one made with cloth instead of porcelain. Identical to her. Coraline gasped.
"No...oh god no!"
Nix grabbed it, confused. She stared at it for some minutes, yet a sound brought her attention. A squeak, similar to Pierce's. A small smile made its way on the girls face, running towards the door, excited. She had the power her brother had, and grabbing the handle, she tried to open it. But...it was locked. A dark key with a button on the top captured her attention, and without hesitation, she opened it.
"Its a trap! Oh no...no no no!"
But they couldn't see the scenes. Not anymore...But they could hear it all.
"Dear Onyx, wouldn't you like to not feel pain? Wouldn't you want love to come back?"
"I have love! I have it in my world! You are not my mother! Nor the queen! You are nothing you disgusting spider! Let the other girl go!"
"Edith is no more, it's only me...Lorina Liddell...Now, if you won't stay...I WILL MAKE YOU!"
And they were back, in reality, Nix faded without so much as a word. Coraline stared in front of her, where Nix's small and delicate body had previously been, and gulped. It had been intense, nobody was sure what to think anymore, how much was true or a lie? The twins were guilty, yet, there wasn't much time to meditate what had occurred.
The twins rushed up to the blue-headed girl, "...What should we do now?"
Nightmare pulled the children back to the center of the room, "Gheet ze note."
"I agree" said Gray seriously.
"I'll do it!" said Ace, grabbing the note and clearing his throat. "...Darn useless children. Never send a child to do a woman's job. But I can assure you all, that their punishment is most befitting of their disloyalty. And don't think that you can save them. I'm immortal, unstoppable. And nothing will stand in my way. Dear Alice and our beloved will finally be mine! With love, your Mother."
Everyone stared at each other in horror. What in Wonderland could the Beldam have planned this time? For once, Ace was staying silent with a serious face. He put down the note, handing it to the dream demon. What they had seen gave them the reason as to how they got trapped, each was following something. Nix, following Pierce. Jabberwocky looking for Nix...but Juliet? It seemed it was Edith according to what she mentioned before vanishing.
"My God, those poor girls!" exclaimed Alice, on the brink of tears. Julius looked, shockingly, like he was about to explode from rage, "We need to destroy that thing!"
"SIS?! NIX, WHERE ARE YOU?! ONIX!" Everyone froze as they heard Boris yelling around the tower. Coraline wanted to cry, she couldn't tell him. It pained her, and Cat knew, sitting on her legs trying to comfort her. Nightmare sighed, knowing Boris was going to win the game. When the Bakeneko got to the door, he poked his head in and looked at everyone with curiosity. Coraline couldn't look up, horror, anger, and sadness making a cocktail in her bodies.
Feeling uncomfortable, Boris asked, "Have any of you seen Nix?"
As calmly and delicately as she could, Coraline explained what happened since the Julie incident. She was shaking, terrified that Boris would hate her, her heart clenching in her chest. As expected Boris fumed and growled.
"I'm sorry...we couldn't" Boris realized what the bluenette was saying, relaxing a bit he ran and hugged her tightly.
"It's ok...it wasn't your fault Cory..."
"So what do you suggest Nightmare?" asked Ace in a cold voice, almost sounding like Julius.
The incubus pointed to the pink book in Coraline's hand, "I zink ve shoult do as Nix told us and open ze puk."
Coraline carefully unlocked and opened the book. She flipped through a few pages that seemed rather dull, atypical little girls diary. Also, it contained recipes for things for the twins and then Pierce, pretty little poems filled with sorrow due to her broken clock. That was until... Coraline saw beautiful drawings of weapons made with needles and the key. Flipping a few pages, she found and read some text.
I'm sure that someday this diary will help someone kill her!
I'm scared, I've been hiding here, but none of the doors seem fazed by my power. Oh Boris, Pierce, I'm so so sorry. If she finds me...I have no idea what she will do. So, I will hide this somewhere safe. I heard Pirce's voice, and as always, curious I tried to open it up. Only the key with a button let me enter into an amazingly amazing world.
Where all of my dreams came true, and everyone loved me. But I couldn't get out, I was locked in the Otherworld. And soon we noticed this wasn't as amazing as we thought it was... We were there for a long time. I'm not sure how long, but one day, I decided to investigate some things about the Beldam.
She, of course, noticed this and took my clock. Since then, I was forced to put doors in each territory and hide from my family and friends. As the victims entered, I watched them. I was always ready to attack her if necessary. Writing this without her knowing was difficult, but I managed to finish in time. This is one of those times when she lets me free from my mirror form, I stop being a statue for her convenience. The others won't be able to.
Now that I explained how the doors came here, this what you have to do. Try to make the weapon in my drawings using the key and hide the latter so that she won't find it. Then enter the world and play a game with her. If you win, pull her eyes out and stab her in the heart (or at least where it should be) 10 times. That should destroy her and free everyone once and for all!
Beware the beldam brother
the voice that screams
the claws the catch.
Be safe my dear lover
for she has trapped
the frabjous Bandersnatch.
Onyx.
They kept on staring at the drawings. Coraline had seen some pretty pictures in her time, but this was amazingly detailed. It was especially impressive considering it was the work of a little girl. "Boris, I hope you know that your sister is really smart, talented, and brave! How could she find all this out without being caught?" asked Coraline in awe.
"Yea...she always was" murmured Boris nostalgically.
"Hmm...hey Boris! Would you mind if I marry your sister?" asked Dee, Dum immediately getting furious. "No way Dee! She's mine!" yelled Dum.
Boris promptly knocked their heads together, "None will marry her! You fools aren't worthy!" yelled Boris. "Plus, you lost her! So nope, you will not get her"
"He does have a point," said Alice seriously.
"Julius...can I have your blessing," said Gray, awkwardly shifting and blushing like mad.
"Yes, you may. After all, you both love each other and are happy, so I will not interfere" consented Julius.
"OK, BACK ON TRACK PEOPLE! WE NEED TO START THE PLAN!" hissed Cat.
Coraline sighed and rubbed her temples, "...Ok here's the plan. All of the roll holders that care for the girls who disappeared will enter the different doors on each territory. Once we all enter, we need to find the center of the world and start a game. A game where we will find the bodies, the clocks, and eyes of our friends."
Nightmare frowned, "Vait, vat too you mean py eyes?"
"I've got a pretty good idea that was their punishment," said Coraline with a shrug.
"Ok, we've got that all down...we should make a meeting! Get everyone here!" said Alice.
After the meeting, they all agreed on entering the doors of each territory. Honestly, it had been one of the few times not bound by rules that all agreed in something causing a truce. Blood hugged Alice, worried about her safety. Boris made sure Coraline remembered her lessons, and once set up, it was time for action.