Chapter 13

"Kidnapping Alice"

As Alice grew worried over what Peter had said to her, she needed to understand that she had a life to lead and that's all there was to it. She had to go home tonight and there was going to be no one to stop her…or so she thought. Just as she was about to leave, Alice failed to realize that just outside Hangman's tree, the armies of Davy Jones, Captain Hook and the Queen of Hearts were surrounding the premises armed with weapons, shackles and anything that would be used to capture criminals.

"Everything is in place, your highness," said a card soldier as the Queen looked devilishly at the tree. "All we have to do is wait until she is out in the open."

"If any of those boys are with her, dispose of them," replied the Queen. "I don't want any interference whatsoever."

The card soldier saluted his sovereign and returned to his post. A few moments later, several of the Wonderland inhabitants were taking their places nearby. This made the Queen feel even more giddy as her subjects were now supporting their sovereign in this mission that she was spearheading.

"Care for some tea while we wait?" asked the Mad Hatter to his fellow Wonderlanders. "You never know how long she'll be in there."

"Half a cup if you don't mind," replied the March Hare as he sliced open a teacup and the Mad Hatter poured him a glass. "It's a shame we have to do this to a guest of ours."

"She was rude," retorted the Mad Hatter, giving his friend a dirty look. "Besides, what would you do if someone left your tea party before it was completed? Besides, we've never had that happen to us until now."

"I know, I know," sighed the March Hare. "But, something is telling me that we are going too far here. The Queen offered us a chance to become the most respected citizens of Wonderland and this is how she offered us immortality: by going after a little girl who embarrassed her in a croquet match."

The Mad Hatter and his friends looked at each other for a moment and felt like that they should just give up right then and there. But, at the same time, they all had to remember that if they were to back out now, then they could be the ones to lose their heads next for treason.

Meanwhile, Alice was still debating whether she could return to London or stay in Neverland with Peter forever. If Alice were to return, she would have to face the prospect of growing up and leaving her childhood behind. She had her parents, her cat Dinah and her family and friends who would all be wondering where she was if she didn't return to them.

"We can take you back to London if you want to, Alice," said Slightly. "The last girl and her brothers who were here had the same dilemma as you. After a while, they did return to where they came from."

"I know, I know," sighed Alice, nervously pacing back and forth. "But, Peter, I…I love him."

"We know you do," said Nibs. "But we know that you were not born and raised in Neverland like we were. We can take you back tonight. The ship is offshore."

Alice was grateful for all of this support that she was receiving and the Lost Boys started their way towards Hook's ship with Tinker Bell following suit as they needed her pixie dust to raise the ship. At the same time, Peter was listening in on the matter and thought that Alice was joking when it came to leaving him.

"They'll be back," he said to himself as he laid down in his hammock. Alice was just about to leave when she walked back the room where Peter was in. She wanted to say goodbye to him, but she didn't want to hurt his feelings again.

"Goodbye, Peter," she whispered and followed the lost boys out to the commandeered ship of Captain Hook's. "I'll always remember you."

So, Alice followed the lost boys out and just as they were about to get within a hundred yards of the tree, a loud cry came out and the Lost Boys readied their weapons at the source of the cry.

"What was that?!" cried Alice as more and more cries came out from around them.

"Your worst nightmare," called a voice and a platoon of card soldiers and pirates emerged from the bushes and attacked the group. The lost boys tried to fight back, but without their weapons, they were powerless to act and were beaten down as quickly as possible. With the lost boys subdued, the card soldiers seized Alice and ripped off her pinafore apron in the struggle. They slapped shackles on her neck, wrists and ankles as the Queen of Hearts approached her.

"Well, well, well," laughed the Queen of Hearts evilly as she approached Alice with Captain Hook and Smee flanked on each side of her. "Hello, my dear. It's so lovely to see you again."

Alice was scared, but she tried to stay brave although it wasn't working. She was captured and there was nothing she could do about it. Alice's silence made the Queen cross and she slapped Alice across the face in reply.

"How dare you not answer me, child!" she screamed. "When I say something to you, you answer me!"

The pain of the slap caused Alice to form tears in her eyes. She wanted to cry out for help, but it was no use.

"Take her back to my ship," ordered the Queen and Alice was dragged by the card soldiers while Hook's pirates gathered the unconscious lost boys and tied them up together before they were dragged off as well. Before she left any further, the Queen of Hearts turned to Captain Hook and Davy Jones with a cold glare of death on her face.

"Blow up this tree!" she said to him and Jones. "I want no interference from anyone…especially Peter Pan. As for you, Jones, you are free to deal with Peter's friends, Jack Sparrow and that red bearded pirate as you wish. I don't want them getting in my way."

Jones smiled evilly as he returned to the Dutchman to carry out his Queen's orders. It was a small victory for the Queen, but soon the tide would switch back to the favor of the good side.