Alice closed her eyes, the image in the mirror beginning to flicker, and her resolution crumbling in a matter of seconds as she saw the White Palace instead of her own image. She pressed her hands to the glass, and her fingers slipped into a freezing cold space. So she hadn't imagined that - the cold hollow- it was there, it was real, as real as Wonderland had ever been. She next slipped an arm into the glass before a leg made its way through, and she fell through the glass completely, eyes wide in shock but the cold making her unable to scream in shock, her teeth chattering before white lights danced in front of her. Reaching out a finger she touched one, which latched on to her finger before the rest swarmed her, stinging, before they shone too bright for her to see any more.

When she woke up, she was in a garden of people who looked shocked, crowding her uncomfortably and staring. All carried white flowers, until a girl dressed in red with crimson curls laughed, her rosy features creased in humour.

"Hello, aged Alice! About time you saw sense and returned." Her eyes glistened with mischief that seemed more than a little darkened. Alice quickly stood up to tower over the girl, who snorted as she did so.

"Looks like your dress came back as well. It customised itself well…."

Alice looked down to find a flouncing skirt that went to just below her knees, black socks pulled up and little white shoes delicately tied, the bodice of the dress heavy with lace. It was almost absurd, but very lovely as a dress. She nodded absently before a well-known figure caught her eye and she felt her heart flutter painfully.

Hatter.

That lopsided smile, she remembered. She remembered it so well. Her eyes filled with tears before she turned her head to the side, wiping them before they could be seen, hearing the ticking of the constant clockwork underground. Her eyes landed on a tree with white leaves and trunk, a clock face hammered into its centre with hardened sap oozing around it. Quickly she concentrated herself and turned back to find White standing there hopefully, eyes wide and trembling with tears that looked to be about to spill, before the pale child hugged her waist and her arms instinctively went around her, rocking her back and forth, before a hand landed on her shoulder gently.

"Hello, Alice," Hatter said softly, his eyes gentle and shining. She smiled back slightly but her heart hurt again.