Chapter Two: Unhappy Reunion

Her lips were twisted into an angry frown. None of the card servants dared to speak a word as the Queen of Hearts marched down the halls of her castle.

How dare he! She thought angrily. How dare he come like that! How could he? How could he?!

"Um, Your Highness?"

Vivaldi turned and gave an evil eye to the card messenger that had dared to speak to her.

The card struggled to keep from trembling in fear. "P-P-Peter White has arrived with A-Alice."

Vivaldi's face relaxed some. "Alice?" Ah, yes... Alice will make us feel better. "Send her to our room."

The card messenger bowed quickly. "Yes, Your Highness."

Dear Alice... She will make things better after seeing him.

Vivaldi turned to the card servants behind her. "Bring some tea to our room and no one is to disturb us until we say they may."

The servants bowed and hurried to obey her command. No one wanted to have any heads rolling that day.

"Now, Alice, don't mention the Ace of Spades to the Queen," Peter instructed as they entered card castle.

Alice nodded absentmindedly as she glanced around at the castle. The rose gardens were looking lovely. It was tempting to just run away from Peter White and explore the gardens.

"Please remember that Alice."

Alice blinked. "Um, remember what?"

Peter White sighed. "Alice..."

Alice tried to smile innocently.

Peter White could feel his heart melt. Of course, he would repeat everything for Alice. He'd do anything for her. "Alice, it is very, very, very important for you to not mention anything about the Ace of Spades to the Queen."

"Why? And who exactly is the Ace of Spades?"

Peter sighed. "Just don't mention him to her."

"But why?" Alice persisted.

"Because," Peter hesitated. "well, because he is the Ace of Spades."

Alice raised an eyebrow. "You have something against Spades?"

"Everyone has something against me."

Alice shivered as a hand rested on her shoulder.

"Spades!" Peter growled. Instantly, his pocket watch turned into a gun.

Spades laughed. "Now that wouldn't be a good idea, Mr. Rabbit. You might destroy Vivaldi's precious gardens not to mention her castle."

Alice turned her head ever so slightly to see Spades.

"Hello, Alice." Spades gave her an eerie (yet somehow familiar) smile.

"H-Hello?" She cocked her head slightly. "Have... have we met?"

The Ace of Spades laughed. "Perhaps we have."

Alice glanced over him. If he had red eyes and light brown hair instead of his jet black hair and black eyes, he would look like the Ace of Hearts. Well, that and if he wasn't wearing the Spades symbol.

Peter White sent a few warning bullets at the knight.

The knight merely laughed as he pulled Alice in front of him as a shield. "Don't shoot the foreigner, Mr. Rabbit. You know that won't do at all with the rules."

Peter White bristled with anger. "Let... go... of... Alice!"

Alice covered her ears. "Stop it!"

Peter's ears drooped. "Alice?"

The knight laughed again. "Look, you've scared the poor foreigner."

"Did not! I didn't scare you, Alice, did I?"

Alice pushed Spades to the side. "Would you two please stop it?!"

Spades raised an eyebrow. "Stop what?"

"Fighting!"

Spades frowned and narrowed his black orbs at her. "I see..."

Alice stiffened as the knight approached her. His steely gaze bore into her and gave her an uneasy feeling.

The knight smirked. "Well, I'll be taking my leave."

"And don't come back!" the rabbit yelled as he shot a downpour of bullets at the Ace.

Alice put her hand over her heart. What is this feeling? This... feeling...

Peter held out his hand to Alice. "Let's go inside."

Alice pursed her lips slightly and somewhat reluctantly accepted the rabbit's hand. She still didn't care for Peter, but at least he had a more comforting presence than the dark-haired knight.

Spades let his smirk change into a firm line as he left the Castle of Hearts. This outsider... she had caused more problems than he had thought. He had to do something about her.

"Spades? What are you doing here?"

Spades felt the smirk return to his lips as he turned to the Ace of Hearts. "Hello, Hearts. It's been awhile."

The Ace of Hearts frowned slightly at the darker knight. "Why did you come here?"

"Now that's not a nice way to greet me." Spades frowned.

Hearts let out frustrated sigh. "Hi, Spades."

"I suppose that's a better greeting. And as for the reason why I am here, it is to check on you."

"There's no need for that."

"Oh?" Spades put his arm around the younger knight's shoulder. "I think there is."

Hearts' frown deepened. "And that would be?"

"Alice."

Heart could feel his heart throb. "A-Alice?" He forced a laugh. "Why would you need to check on me because of her?"

Spades' eyes narrowed and bore into Hearts' red ones. "You've changed for the worse, brother."

Hearts narrowed his eyes at Spades. "Have I now?"

"Yes... I've tolerated your recklessness of trying to remove yourself from your role, but this. This is too far." Spades drew out his sword and let the tip barely touch his brother's neck. "One wrong move and I will not hesitate to kill you or the foreigner."

The Ace of Hearts felt his heart throb once again. He took in a deep breath then let his eyes narrow as he gazed back into his brother's eyes. "We will see who kills who."

Spades raised his eyebrow. "Will we?" He smirked with satisfaction and sheathed his sword. "Now that sounds more like the Ace of Hearts I want to see."

Hearts glared at his brother.

Spades smirked again then turned to leave. "Be prepared next time, dear brother. I won't go lightly on you if you fail me."

Hearts clenched his fists as he watched his brother leave. I don't want to fail you... but this isn't who I want to be.

"This does not look good. Not good at all." Nightmare frowned as he puffed on his hookah. He had just heard some disturbing news from Julius.

"Something wrong, sir?"

Nightmare glanced at his assistant. "I think I need to visit Alice, Gray. Keep an eye on things here until I return."

The lizard raised an eyebrow. "Is it the rabbit causing problems again?"

Nightmare shook his head. "I almost wish that was the case."

Gray pursed his lips.

The caterpillar sighed and breathed deeply into his hookah. "The Ace of Spades is seeking to stir trouble again."

Gray frowned slightly. "Will everything be all right?"

"I hope so."The Incubus continued to smoke his hookah. This reunion is not a happy one... but perhaps this will turn into a good thing. Ah, Alice. It seems we must depend on you for things to turn out right.

Author's Note: Taaaaah! So happy to have this story up and posted! Special thanks to Koo Kid for being my editor for this chapter. :D Aaaand yes I gave Ace a brother. X3 I hope ya'll liked that. I decided that both of them have the name Ace and sooo to avoid confusion they are called "Hearts" and "Spades" so you will know which Ace is being spoken to or talked about. XD Oh if you are able to, please check out my profile and vote for which story you'd like me to finish first.

Author's Response to Reviews:

Koo Kid-Haha Peter is so lucky that Alice has a weakness for his bunny form. I thought you did a really good job on keeping everyone in character. It was so good that it seemed almost like I was reading an extra chapter from the manga rather than a FanFic. ;) I really enjoyed reading this, please update soon! :)

Isn't he? Haha. Aw thanks so much! I really try hard to keep characters in character when I write fanfics. :D I hope you enjoy this update although you've already read parts of it several times XD

22MD- ooh i really liked this. update soon

Teehee! Thanks! I hope this update was soon enough for you. ;)

supersushicupcake- wow! this is really good!

Thanks! :D I hope the rest is just as good. :3