That night, Alice Kingsleigh made her way down to one of the many studies, having seen candlelight from within. Holding a candle of her own, she walked through the dark and silent hallways until finally reaching the room she was looking for. Alice knocked, then pushed the door open to find Alice Liddell bent over the Oraculum, re-reading the prophecy over and over again.

"Can't sleep?" Alice Kingsleigh asked, walking in and setting her candle down on the table.

Alice shook her head. "I can't stop thinking about this...this...prophecy, or whatever it is. Especially the last stanza. 'Both shall crumble soon...under stenous discord.' Alice, do you know what this means?"

The blonde walked towards the desk, looking over her friend's shoulder. "Yes, but look. 'Until the door is shut and peace is restored.' See? That means that if we can shut this door, than everything will be alright again."

"I know," Alice Liddell shut her eyes, then opened them again. "But, I can't help but feel it's something more. Something to do with me. Wonderland reacts to my feelings and mental state."

Alice Kingsleigh gave her a knowing look. "And you're worried that you're slipping." As the other girl nodded, she continued. "Alice, I think you would know if there was something wrong in your mind. I'm telling you, this change has got to do with what the Oraculum foretold. Wonderland and the real world are colliding, that's bound to bring some changes, isn't it?"

"I suppose..." Alice Liddell didn't look quite convinced, but she rolled up the Oraculum and placed it back on its pedestal. "Right then. I suppose we should both get some sleep, we're setting out tomorrow, after all. Good night."

"Good night, Alice," she waited until the brunette had left the room, then departed to her own chambers.

"Good Lord, Alice!"

The stables echoed with Margaret's shriek as she watched her sister lead the Bandersnatch inside. Alice had invited her to see her and Alice Liddell off, which meant staying in the stables while her younger sister prepared her mount. Obviously, Margaret had been expecting a horse, not a huge spotted monster with a mouthful of fangs.

Alice laughed a little. "It's alright, Meg, he won't hurt you," she stroked the beast's head, causing it to let out its own version of a purr. "See?"

Margaret looked unconvinced, keeping her distance from the Bandersnatch as Alice slung bags of supplies for her trip over its back. "You really are mad, Alice..."

"Well, Father always said the best people are," Alice said lightly, vaulting herself onto the Bandersnatch's back.

"Really now? Is that why you're in the company of known lunatics?"

Taken aback by this sudden change of tone, Alice turned to look at her sister over her shoulder. "What? You mean Alice?"

"Of course. Everyone in London's been looking for her. Just like we've all been looking for you. You know Mother's worried sick about you," Margaret scowled. "And you've been here in your little fantasy land without so much as a 'good-bye' for any of us?"

Alice slid off the Bandersnatch, walking over to her older sister. "Do you think I'm not guilty, Meg? I wanted to say good-bye to you, and to Mother, but I couldn't. You don't understand what happened that night. Alice-"

"You were more concerned for that...that...maniac than you where for your own family?" Margaret asked, disbelievingly.

"Meg, please," Alice looked at her sister with an anguished expression. "You don't understand, I had to save her first. They were going to kill her, Meg! Or, make her suffer some fate worse than death. I heard those doctors talking about what they were going to do to her. I don't care if she's mad, she's my friend. Wouldn't you have done the same for one of your own friends?"

Margaret paused, turning away from her younger sister. "I don't have friends anymore," Alice was suprised to hear her sister's voice break, and in just a moment, Margaret was sobbing. Immediatly, Alice put an arm around her shoulders.

"Oh Meg...it was Lowell, wasn't it?"

She nodded, with another sob. "Oh Alice...I...everyone found out. I always thought my life was perfect, but now..." Margaret sniffed. "I'm sorry for being so cross...it's just, everything's become so confusing. "

Alice gave her sister a tight hug. "It's alright, Meg. I shouldn't have-"

"No," Margaret wiped tears from her eyes, straightening. "You're happy here, Alice. I can see that." She looked downward and sniffed. "I can see it when you're with that Tarrant man." She gave her sister a small smile, but there was still a touch of sadness. "You're in love, aren't you? So far from home..."

Alice leaned down and clasped her sister's hand, just as the elder would do when they went walking down new garden paths. "There are a lot of things I need to share with you. There's a lot of happiness you've missed."

She let go. "Unfortunately, it'll have to wait. I must be out, Underland needs me. I promise when I get back, we'll...We'll fix things." She gave Margaret a hopeful smile. "Don't be afraid for me."

Margaret watched the Bandersnatch turn and start its slow gallop out. A shudder ran through her, but it wasn't fear for her sister's safety. It was the thrill of admiration.

"Well, what do they do?"

In the Hatter's workshop, Alice Liddell picked up a small sized teapot, turning it over in her hands. It was oddly metallic, with a single red eye in the center. Steam issued steadily from its spout, and its surface was hot to the touch. On a small table in front of her was a staff with a horse's head on the end, and a pepper grinder, similar, if not identical to the Dutchess' old weapon.

The Hatter smirked, taking the teapot from her. "Well, I'll have to show you, my dear," and with that, he tossed it towards a nearby wall. It hit with a loud 'clang' and fell to the floor, where it lay. Alice raised an eyebrow.

"And just what do you expect me to do with that? Throw it at people? Honestly, Hatter, I expected better from you."

He held up a finger, silencing the brunette, and pointed towards the teapot, which appeared to be shaking. Alice watched with interest and started back as it exploded, shooting boiling tea in all directions.

"Well, that's useful. What of the others?" she picked up the now regenerated teapot and let it shrink in her palm, before placing it in her pockets with her other weapons.

"The hobby horse works very much like your croquet mallet, though it lacks an electrical current. And I believe you've seen the Dutchess use this," the Hatter gestured to the pepper grinder.

Alice nodded, taking the new weapons with something of a wicked gleam in her eye. Having heard about her journey, the Hatter had quickly presented her with his latest inventions, the Hobby Horse, Teapot Grenade and Pepper Grinder. Alice had been leery at first, but had finally accepted them. After all, she wasn't exactly sure what she was going to encounter on her little trip. With an acknowledging nod to the Hatter, Alice walked out to one of the gardens, where Gryphon stood, waiting for her. He knelt, letting her climb onto his back, and began walking to where Alice Kingsleigh waited with the Bandersnatch. At the huge paws of the beast, Rabbit stood, nervously checking his pocket watch.

"Do hurry up, Alice! We're quite late!" he burst out as Alice rode up.

"I didn't expect to see you here," Alice Liddell replied dryly. "Wasn't this a journey for just Alice and I?"

"I'm the one one who knows how to navagate Yur Mine," Rabbit explained. "Now, please! We should have left ten minutes ago!" Nervously, he checked his watch again, before dropping to all fours and setting off at full speed. Both girls exchanged glances, before riding after him, into the wilds of Wonderland.