I left the caterpillar and the mushroom who shortly after, decided to sprout wings and fly around the caterpillar before perching herself on his…well, they'd be legs to me. I pushed brambles and leaves out of my way as I ventured deeper into the forest, cursing myself for not asking Sebastian or the Cheshire Cat where I was supposed to go.

"I should have asked them or…" and I choked up at the thought of my little Ciel or Jonathon…or Daddy. They could have told me where I was supposed to go, and yet.

It was at that point that it began to rain in Wonderland. I lifted my head to feel the drops on my face, certain I had felt this before…in the dream. It unnerved me how that dream had affected me. It was almost as if…Wonderland wasn't real and that dream had been. The rain picked up and I ran for cover under a tree, wishing I had another dress to change into.

"Hey!" someone snapped and I turned around, looking for the person.

"Whose there?" I asked through chattering teeth when I couldn't see a person.

Teeth showed, a little pointed. Then black shoes and a blue suit which was followed by a blue eye and an eye-patch. The Cheshire Cat looked more than annoyed, so I stepped away from him and into the rain. The moment I stepped out, a leaf that was weighed by the rain decided to drop the water on me, soaking me through. I gasped at the feeling before wiping my eyes.

"You should get under cover," the cat said after a moment and the shock had disappeared.

"No, I'm fine," I chattered as I started walking again, "it will stop soon enough."

The moment those words were said, the rain got heavier still so I wrapped my arms across my chest and started moving. I would find somewhere to warm up and then go on with this trip.

"Master!" a voice snapped, "what exactly was your intention?"

"I didn't mean for her to get soaked!" the cat snapped back, "she bumped into me!"

"You were invisible, master!" the voice replied, "of course she bumped into you!"

"You told me I can't call her Elena," the cat said simply.

"You want her to remember you?" the voice asked, "she can't here, not until the very end."

I walked further away, and spotted a small cottage. I ran for it, slipping twice in mud before I was at the door and hitting it hard. It was opened by an angel with lavender hair who looked upset when she saw me.

"Oh dear, you must be freezing. Come in," she said and let me walk past her.

A fire was lit in the corner with another angel standing nearby, his wings glancing off the floor. It appeared almost as if there was a scar down one of his wings, like it had been ripped off. He turned his gaze to me and smiled at me.

"It's really coming down out there," he said and I nodded, "I'm certain Angela can find something for you to wear."

He helped me out of my wet clothes and wrapped me in a wool bathrobe. Angela ran me a bath which I enjoyed, feeling the cold being leeched out of my system and replaced by only warmth. I was dried and Angela helped me into a new corset and underclothes before putting me in a mint green dress with gloves and a black coat. The dress went above my knee as did the coat and I put on pale tights and then dark brown boots. Angela tied my hair up in a ponytail before bringing me into the living room and giving me some water.

"The rain appears to have stopped," Ash said after a moment.

"That's good," I said as I put the glass on the table, "thank you for your hospitality. I must go on with my trip."

"The next stop is the crossroads," Angela said as she walked over to Ash, "be carefully, there can only be one choice made."

I waved goodbye to them and left their small cottage, and started walking to my right. It was an odd road and stopped to be divided into a crossroads, offering two paths. One to the Mad Hatter with a small doll over the sign with a strange hat and the other was to the March Hare with a picture of a hare on the sign. I touched the doll gently and wondered whose idea had it been to direct people like that. Also, which path was I supposed to take?

"Should it be to the Mad Hatter or to the March Hare?" I asked myself, "which will help me?"

"The Mad Hatter could tell me where to go," I said after a moment, "he might be crazy enough to think I'm someone else…like…"

No person came to mind as I tilted myself to look down the left path, and towards the Mad Hatter. I looked behind me for a moment before deciding it was up to me. I could always turn around and come back, right? I walked to my left and followed the path straight, hearing a crow caw through what appeared to be a waste land. A dog barked and I turned to see a big black collie run to me.

"Julius!" I said as I dropped to hold the dog, put my hands through his fur and feel him lick my chin to my forehead. I laughed, and realised I hadn't laughed like that for a very a long time. I pulled back and Julius sat down, tilting his head to the side as I mirrored him.

"That's my boy," I said as he barked.

I stood up and put my hand out, and Julius moved to put his head under my hand before sitting again. He licked my wrist before putting his head on my hip. I rubbed his ears and his tail wiped with ground. I laughed again before looking down the path to the waste land.

"Am I going the right way?" I asked Julius.

"Woof!" he replied and I laughed.

"Better go speak with a Mad Hatter then," I said around a giggle and walked with Julius down the path.

(Ciel's POV)

It had been Sebastian's idea to give Elena a guide, in the form of her dead dog Julius. The black collie had appeared like thin air to lift his nose to the air and find Elena. He had then run at a mile a minute to get to her, which had only demonstrated their relationship.

"She really loved him," I said as the dog licked her face.

"He was a gift from her biological father," Sebastian said.

"A demon hound?" I asked.

"Far from it," Sebastian replied, "he was simply a dog, a black collie the size of a medium writing desk, but that is a dog."

"Julius," I said as Elena tilted her head to mimic the dog, "what is she doing?"

"As a child, she often played with her dog. Alice knew Julius but hasn't actually been in his company before."

"Elena is coming out," I said and Sebastian nodded, "how did you know that would work?"

"I didn't," he answered, "it was a hunch."

Elena stood and looked out on the path to the Mad Hatter, Julius at her side to give her support and keep her safe. This was the dog she had cried over, the dog that she had spoken about fondly to Sebastian. This dog loved cats…and now, he loved Elena as his everything. He would give his life for hers, as he had done in reality. I had no doubt this dog would do the same, if Elena was stuck in a building in Wonderland.

"Am I going the right way?" I heard Elena ask Julius.

"Woof!" he replied and she laughed.

"Better go speak with a Mad Hatter then," Elena said before she started walking with Julius down the path.

So Alice or rather Elena, has been given something back. The young master seemed truly surprised that Julius was that size…I hadn't imagined it either. I had thought she described a small dog…not a small push cart. Though will Julius help or hinder her? She still has quite a trip to go…