"So, uh, how did you get here, Alice?" Kurow asked, trying to fill the awkward silence between them.
"Why, I fell." Alice replied, brushing twigs and leaves out of her blonde hair. "I was chasing the White Rabbit and I fell down a hole, and I found myself here."
Alice turned to face Kurow, "What about you? How did you find yourself here, Kurow?"
Kurow jumped from a raised part of the ground, helping the small girl do the same.
"In all honesty… I don't know." Kurow breathed a sigh. "Last thing I remember, I was in my room, waiting for my brother to get back. He went to island nearby to see what was up with it. Then…"
Kurow's pace slowed, trying his hardest to recall, "Everything went dark. And when I woke up here, I got attacked by those weird shadows, and this thing appeared." He made a small gesture with his left hand, the strange weapon still there.
It was definitely an odd sword, it that was what it was. From the hilt, it appeared to be a wing, sharp feathers an array of dark hues. The guard on the it seemed to be a pair of feathered, smaller wings. From the end dangled a keychain, the charm like the one Kurow wore around his neck.
"Then I heard you, and here we are." Kurow finished. He tucked his free hand into his pocket. Silence creeped back over, but a more comfortable one. The two continued through the forest, seeing no more of those creatures.
I hope the others are alright… Then again, that cat said this place was huge. Someone might be here and I wouldn't even know it…
They finally broke out of the forest, neatly trimmed hedges lining a walkway. The path off into three more ways, Kurow peered down the right as they reached it, seeing nothing but a darkened entrance.
"Oh my. It looks like a court in here." Alice remarked. She had gone to the left, and Kurow followed suit.
There were four podiums, one on each wall of the hedges and one in the middle. The one on the farthest hedge seemed to have a birdcage to the left of it.
"Weird. It doesn't look like anyone's here either…" Kurow thought to himself, walking through the arch. A loud clanking sound came from behind him, and what appeared to be sentient cards, What the hell?, blocked the way, brandishing spears.
"Aha! You see, thieves always return to the scene of the crime!" The furthest podium now had someone sitting there, a woman with black hair pulled into a tight bun wearing a black and red checkered dress.
"Thieves? Miss, this is the first time we've been here." Alice stated, hands clasped together.
"A likely story! You two will stand trial for your crime - as soon as that confounded rabbit arrives!"
Alice and Kurow were forced towards the middle podium, which laid closest to the ground. The cards backed away, though they still blocked the way out. Kurow dispelled his weapon, mentally gauging how the cards would fight. If the reason arose, he could at least keep them busy and buy some time - long enough for Alice to get to safety.
"What, exactly, gives you the right to send a kid to court?" Kurow said, making a slight motion towards Alice.
"I am the Queen, boy, and I'll send anyone I see fit to court!" The Queen waved her heart shaped wand, as if to emphasize her point.
Because that's a great reason…
As if on cue, a small white rabbit dashed through the card soldiers, a trumpet in hand and breathing heavily.. He ran to the podium on the left, paused to regain his breath, and played his trumpet.
"Court is now in session! The Queen of Hearts presiding!"
The Queen leaned forward, her voice booming, "You two are the culprits, I know it! And the reason is - because I say so!"
Kurow scoffed.
"Well, that's hardly fair! We've done absolutely nothing wrong!" Alice gave a small huff. "I'm afraid being Queen doesn't give you the right to be so… so mean!"
"Silence! The court finds the defendants guilty as charged! For attempted theft of my heart!"
"In the physical, metaphorical, or romantic sense?" Kurow muttered. Alice stifled a laugh.
"Off with their heads!"
"What?!"
"Hey,wait a second!"
Kurow's eyes widened, recognizing the voice.
"Sora…?" Kurow blinked, seeing the brown haired boy push his way through the guards, two unfamiliar people at his sides.
"What is the meaning of this? How dare you interrupt my court!" exclaimed the Queen, slamming her fist down.
"Sorry about that, but we know who the actual culprit is!" Sora said, his voice firm.
"If somethin' tried to steal your heart, it was probably a Heartl-" The taller of Sora companions began to say, covering his mouth before he finished.
"T-They're not the ones you're looking for." Sora assured, hands balled into fists.
The Queen narrowed her eyes. "Do you have any proof of your claims?"
"Well, not physical proof…" Sora said, scratching his cheek.
"We can find some though. Just let us leave to look." Kurow said. He glanced at Sora, raising an eyebrow.
The Queen seemed to think that over for a moment, then she waved her wand again, motioning to the small group.
"Very well. However," she pointed towards Alice. "Until you find your evidence, the girl stays."
"That is fine by me." Alice said calmly.
"Alice-"
"It's quite alright, Kurow. I know you'll be able to disprove this Queen's ridiculous claims." Alice gave a small smile. "Do be careful though."
Kurow nodded, turning to face Sora. "Let's start looking I guess."
The group of four exited through the archway, and once they passed through it, Kurow slumped against a hedge, letting a huge breath.
"You okay, Kurow?" Sora crouched down beside him, gently resting his hand on his shoulder.
"Yeah… as soon as my heart calms down… That was worse than the presentation we had to do last year for the whole school…" After a moment, Kurow's breathing evened out. "Anyways, um, introductions."
"Oh, right! Kurow, this is Donald," Sora waved to the shorter one, "and Goofy!" he motioned to the one who had said something during the trial.
"Goofy, Donald, this is one of my friends, Kurow!"
"So… what were you about to say? About the Queen's heart?" Kurow asked, directing the question to no one in particular.
"It was probably the Heartless. They're these things without hearts, and they keep trying to take other people's' hearts so they can make more of 'em." Sora explained. "We fought some before we got here, so I guess they're all over this world…"
"So that's what those things are…"
"Hey, Kurow? You haven't seen Riku or Kairi have you?" Sora asked, eyebrows knit together.
"No, I was kind of hoping you had. Unless they're lost here somewhere, I don't think we'll find them here." Kurow said, standing up and brushing dirt off the back of his pants.
Kurow walked over and peered through the pathway he and Alice had come through. "We should probably start through here. This place had a lot of paths in it, so something might be hid."
"Alright, let's go! The sooner we clear your's and Alice's names, the better!" Sora said cheerfully.
"So, this is called a keyblade? Weird name." Kurow muttered, turning the weapon in his hands. "And you guys are working together so you can find this King guy and Riku and Kairi?"
"That's about right. Our ship lets us fly to other worlds, so that's a plus too." Sora said.
"Can you two stop chatting and help me up?!" Donald exclaimed, his grip on the platform loosening.
"Sorry. Donald, give me your other hand." Kurow instructed, crouching and reaching out a hand. Kurow pulled him up, setting him down on the other side.
"Why are we up here again, fellas?" Goofy asked, tone worried, looking down at the drop.
Doing his best to keep looking up, Sora replied, "That box over there - I think that's what the Cheshire Cat meant, about the fourth one being tricky to get."
"D'you really think you can make that jump Sora?"
"No problem Goofy! I've cleared gaps bigger than this on the island!" Sora assured him.
"No, you haven't. You fell flat on your face trying to jump from a tree to the bridge." Kurow reminded the other boy, face completely neutral.
"Okay, yeah… But that was one time! I can do this!"
"Please be careful. Riku and Kairi would have my head if I let you get yourself hurt."
Sora turned to face the direction the box was in, balancing on the faucet handle. He seemed to judge the distance, then jumped.
Kurow closed his eyes, bracing himself.
"...Hey, this one's all scratched up! They look like claw marks…" Sora called, causing Kurow to sigh in relief.
"That's the last clue, isn't it?" Goofy said, scratching his head.
"I think so." Donald replied.
"So, uh, one more question."Kurow began. "How do we get down from here?" The group was a good way off of the ground, objects small in the distance.
His question was met with silence.
"What in the world was that?!" The Queen recoiled, the box Sora had chosen showing a ghostly image of the Soldier Heartless.
"Is that enough proof that Kurow and Alice are innocent?" Sora prompted, a proud look on his face.
The Queen furrowed her brow. "Silence! My word is law here! And I say anyone who defies me is guilty!"
"That's just ridiculous!" Kurow countered, his voice surprisingly steady. He glanced at Alice, who the Queen had put in the cage by her podium.
"Guards! Seize them at once!"
The podiums disappeared in a puff of smoke, and a small tower in their place. One card soldier walked up to it and spun the wheel, which raised Alice's cage.
Sora ran over to Donald and Goofy, who had been abruptly tossed on the ground. "You guys alright?"
"We're fine, Sora. But we gotta help Alice!" Goofy replied, readying his shield.
Donald brandished his staff. "Let's get 'em, you guys!"
"Right!"
Kurow summoned his keyblade, and made a dash for the tower, only to be blocked by the soldiers.
"Don't let them near that tower or it's off with all your heads!" The Queen yelled.
After a few moments of Kurow keeping the guards busy, Sora gave one last swing of his keyblade and the tower collapsed, the cage hitting the ground.
"Fire!" Flames bounced from card to card, making them scatter. Sora and Kurow rushed over to the cage, the cloth rotating - to show it was empty.
"Where did she go?" Sora wondered, scanning the immediate area for any sign of the young girl.
"Maybe she found a way out when we were fightin'." Goofy suggested, tone optimistic.
"Or maybe she got kidnapped while we fought." Donald countered.
"You idiots! Find out the culprit who did this! I don't care how!" The Queen ordered, nearly leaning out of her podium.
The cards saluted, having regained themselves after dousing Donald's fire, and scattered in search.
Sora let out a sigh. "Whatever happened, we should get looking for her. Before the cards find her."
"As if being cryptic as hell wasn't bad enough…" Kurow muttered, rubbing his temples.
The upside down room had, surprisingly, no Heartless anywhere inside it, despite the Cheshire Cat's words. He had talked about the room with the still sleeping doorknob, and the party had made their way back there, only to be ordered on top of the table by the cat.
"Come on Kurow! It could've been a lot worse, I think." Sora said, ever the positive one.
"Probably. But this is still pretty damn bad, Sora." Kurow grunted as he heaved himself onto the table, turning to help Donald up.
"Are you prepared, my friends, for the worst? The boss of the shadows should be here soon! If you aren't, well, too bad!" the Cheshire Cat disappeared once again, and as if on cue, a very colorful Heartless dropped down.
It jumped over the table, nearly knocking the group off. In what Kurow thought to be it's hands it carried what looked like unlit torches. As it started towards them, it juggled the sticks.
"What the heck is - Wak!"
The Heartless swung it's weapons down, causing the table to collapse and the group to crash down. With a flourish of his staff, Donald cast a Cure for the party, slightly wobbling on his feet after the fact.
"Where did it - oh no." Sora's face paled. The Heartless must have gone directly to the fireplace after destroying the table, because it's torches were now lit. With a wave, a flurry of embers were sent towards them, making the four scatter.
How are we supposed to fight this thing? It's huge!
"Sora!" Donald called, "Use that magic! The ice!"
"But - you saw what happened when I used it!" Sora yelled back, dodging out of way of a larger fireball.
"Just focus! Put your heart into it, Sora!"
After a moment, Sora took a breath and squared his feet. Goofy threw his shield, keeping the Heartless' torch away from the brunet. Blue and white particles gathered at the tip of Sora's keyblade, and with a cry of, "Blizzard!" a chunk of ice shot from it, the recoil knocking Sora back a bit. It hit the Heartless dead center, fracturing itself on impact. The Heartless shuddered, and fell to the ground with a crash! After a moment, it's body faded, a large heart floating away as it did.
"It… It worked…?" Sora gave a small laugh, "It worked!"
"I think... I'll just stop questioning things at this point." Kurow laughed, giving a small smile at Sora's ecstatic display.
"Do you heathens even know the meaning of silence? Honestly…" The doorknob, having likely woken up from the sound of battle, yawned loudly,
Sora tilted his head, eyebrows knit together. He gave a startled noise as light gathered at the tip of his keyblade, eventually condensing into a beam, and shot towards the doorknobs open mouth. A very audible clicking noise was made as the doorknob fell back asleep.
"What? What was that?" Donald said.
"It sounded… almost like something being locked." Kurow said, hand on his chin as he thought.
"Hey, fellas, look at this!" Goofy walked over to them, a small object in his hands.
"Uh, no offense, Goof, but what are we looking at?" Kurow asked.
"It's a gummi block, Kurow. Our ship is made out of them." Sora replied, looking it over. "It doesn't look like the ones we saw before, though. Maybe we should head back to Traverse Town and ask Leon? Once we're done here?"
"We should. Now we just need to find Alice!" Goofy said cheerfully.
"If it's Alice you're searching for, you'll have no luck here. She's gone, off into the darkness and shadows!" The Cheshire cat chided, appearing and disappearing again on the mantle above the doorknob.
"Aw man…" Sora's shoulder slumped.
"Don't worry Sora! We might find in another world along the way!" Donald said, already heading towards the exit.
Sora let out a breath and drew himself back up. "Yeah! And that means, we need to head back to Traverse Town and Leon and those guys!"
"Uh, question. Who's Leon?"
"He's a friend of ours! Come on, Kurow, wait 'til you see the town!" Sora took his hand, dragging the other boy towards the exit, Donald and Goofy on their heels.
How ironic one of my least favorite worlds ended up being the longest chapter so far, lmao. And I gotta admit, though, Alice is pretty fun to write. Feel free to let me know if you spot any grammatical or spelling errors, I'm not the best at catching them!