A/N: Hey folks! Sorry it has taken so long to get this up! I've started back to college, and have been dreadfully busy… I'm also going back and fleshing out the story in some places, so if you want to have a quick reread go right ahead! I'll try not to be too long in between chapters, but with midterms next week and finals closing in I'm not for sure it will be every week. Feel free to review, they feed my little pet bunny!

Disclaimer: I own nothing. Everything belongs to Lewis Carroll, Tim Burton, Linda Woolverton, Disney, and other parties. Some quotes are from the movie or slightly reworded; I do not own these either only borrowing for the time being. The only thing I own is the idea for this plot, a copy of both movies, a copy of the book, and a Mad Hatter poster. This is for fun, and to get an evil plot bunny out of my head.

Chapter Eight

Tarrant had left the room in search of the Queen not long after he finished replaying the last day and a half from his perspective. Leaving Alice to reflect on the things she had learned. Having heard what had happened since she had fainted was a shock to say the least. Not only had she been in more danger than she thought from an insignificant wound, but she now owed a certain feline and a very special Hatter a huge debt. She only had to find a way to repay them for what they had done.

Noticing the sun slowly rising from through the balcony doors, she slowly rose from the bed and went to the balcony. What she saw took her breath away. The castle grounds were exceedingly more beautiful then anything she could have possibly dreamed up in her head. To her left was hedges cut and placed in an intricate design that could be made out from the height of he room. All around were flowers and cherry blossom trees. To her right she could see what looked to be the beginning of a maze. Trees lined the outer wall of the castle and the road leading up to it. None of that compared to the cliffs lining both sides of the castle. Cut into those cliffs were hundreds of waterfalls. The sun was almost raised and the beautiful pink light was setting in for a peaceful time right before everything woke for the day.

Staring out into the morning, she tried to sort out her confused thoughts. A small portion of her brain, sounding quite like her mother, was trying to tell her that this was only a dream, and she needed to wake up from this foolishness. The rest of her was saying nothing this grand could possibly be a dream. She was torn on what to believe, and with the words of her meeting with Absolem and everything else floating between her ears she was even more confused. After mulling it over for a little longer she decided to leave it be until she had the time to ask Absolem or someone else what they meant.

By the time Alice left the balcony the sun had risen fully, and was getting higher in the sky, and she could now clearly see her room for the first time in the light of the day. While mostly everything was white, she did notice hints of light blue and some black also. The beauty of everything was astounding. It truly was a place for royalty, and made her feel unworthy of such a room. She couldn't wait to meet the White Queen; she could only imagine what the royal was like if this was her home.

~AIW~

While in her musings she failed to notice the door open to allow in two important guests. Seeing Alice standing in the middle of the room lost in her thoughts, Tarrant and the White Queen entered the room. Clearing his throat, Tarrant tried to pry Alice from her thoughts. Noticing this was not working he tried her name, and when that failed he walked towards her, and lightly touched her shoulder. Jumping at the sudden touch, Alice reemerged from her thoughts to find Hatter and the most ethereal woman she had ever seen standing before her.

The woman was in an all white floor length gown. All along the bodice were little iridescent beads creating horizontally draped lines. The organza looked to have snowflakes dancing along the length of the gown and her arms. Around her neck was a choker of pearls, which were also scattered along the dress. Her snow-white hair hung around her face with gentle curls on the end. Contrasting her whole being were darkly painted lips and nails, but nothing compared to the deep brown eyes staring at her from under dark brown eyebrows. They seemed to be pleading for a friend to help her and be there for her.

"Alice, this is Her Majesty, Queen Mirana of Marmoreal." Hatter said to Alice, breaking from her assumptions. Turning to the Queen he said, "Your Majesty this is Alice."

Smiling Mirana replied, "It's nice to finally see you again, Alice. It's been too long, my friend."

Alice, slightly puzzled by this said, " But we've just met. How could it be too long, Your Majesty?"

Mirana's face fell at this. Turning to Tarrant she looked hopeless. "She doesn't remember does she, Tarrant?"

"No, nothing at all." His eyes dimming at those words falling from his lips.

"Why does everyone keep asking if I remember anything? I mean, if this is al just a dream then what would it matter?" She could see the pain emanating from the White Queen, but could not understand why. As far as she knew, they had never met before.

Mirana still looking at Tarrant asked quietly, " Hatter, would you mind if I spoke to Alice alone?"

"Not at all My Queen, just let me know when you are finished." Tarrant said, as he left the room, with a worried look on his face.

Slowly, Mirana walked over to the chair Tarrant had vacated earlier and sat down with a weary look on her face. Alice approached the bed, and sat down facing Mirana. "Your Majesty? Are you alright?" Alice said gently.

Mirana looked up and smiled weakly. "Mirana, just Mirana, Alice. You may not remember, but many years ago we were very good friends."

"Mirana, I've not been here before. I think I would remember it."

"Alice, you may not remember this place, but it remembers you. You have been here before, and it's not a dream. Does anything seem familiar to you?"

"Well Hatter seems vaguely familiar, and so does Absolem. It's like I've had this dream before."

"You still believe this is a dream do?"

"Well, yes, this is just…"

"A Wonderland?"

When Mirana said this, it clicked somewhere in Alice's mind. All of her past visits flew past her minds eye. She saw tea parties, a house of mirrors, playing croquet with a woman in red, talking with Mirana, and many memories containing the Hatter. She couldn't believe that her dream was actually real, and that she was here again. She was so wrapped up in her memories she didn't even notice the tear that fell from her eye, nor Mirana rushing to side, calling her name.

"Alice? Alice, can you hear me? Snap out of it, Alice!"

Looking at the Queen and her long lost friend, she barely could find her words. "I remember, I remember everything."

Hearing Alice's whisper, she let out a sigh of relief. "Its good to have you back Alice. I know you are overwhelmed, is there anything you need?"

"Just give me a moment. I need to sort everything out. I do have one question though, where's Iracebeth? What's happened to her?"

The smile fell away from Mirana, as she heard the name of her sister pass from Alice's mouth. "That is the reason we had to bring you back, Alice. Racie has gone mad. She isn't like she once was. She is cruel and vicious. Most importantly, she stole the crown from me, and is now ruling over Underland. She even has the Jabberwocky as her champion, how I don't know, but she does."

In shock over hearing the plight of her old childhood friend, she solemnly looked over to the Queen. "Mirana, what's happened since I was last here? I need you to tell me everything that's happened since I left?"