Disclaimer: IF I truly owned Alice in Wonderland and all its OC I would be dead, as that is the state of being (unfortunately) in which Lewis Carroll is in. I DO HOWEVER kinda own the characters I have... invented... from his OC...blah blah.
Hello. It has been awhile. I know I said "I am gonna update every week blah blah blah blah." BUT once again school work has barred me from doing so, making me stay up until the early hours to complete tasks which, quite frankly, are taking its toll on my brain power and capacity. I did however find time on this day (Good Friday) to write and publish this very chapter. ^^
By the way, in approx 1 month and a bits time, I am sitting my very first AS Level. You fellow Brits out there shall know how important these are to get good marks in. For those of you who do not, if I get ANYTHING below AABB in the four subjects I am studying, I may NOT be accepted into University. Therefore, albeit the fact I usually do not stress, I am becoming increasingly worried and to put it bluntly stressed. So... this may not be updated as frequently as I may hope... so sorry!! ^^'
BIG THANK YOU: To all Who read, add to favourites etc and a MASSIVE TA to
Schnook, SnowyReverie, James Birdsong, T.T24 and Jhinra for your reviews. You guys truly can make my day sometimes!! *hugs*
WARNING: Heightened Madness.
Enjoy ;)
Lacie looked out into the wintry street, lit by dim yellow gas lamps rocking in the strengthening breeze. She then cast her eyes down to the watch clasped in her hand, and carefully opened it. She was taken back by the fact that somehow the Romanic numerals on the watch face had changed around in a random, yet what seemed to her, a perfectly normal order.
"What a peculiar watch!"
Lacie trailed off and closed the lid once more; and then waited before reopening it. Once again the numbers had changed into another random order. She smiled at the strange little watch and held it to her heart. She then looked at the closed piano from across the room, bathed in streetlight. She walked over to it and placed the watch upon the mantle piece. She lifted the lid, causing a stifling dust to swirl around her. She had not realised it had been a very long time since she had last played the piano. She took a deep breath and looked at the watch.
Lets see, if it works.
She poised her fingers above the keys and gently began to play the watches song on the piano. The gentle chiming and twinkling filled ever corner of the house and drifted onto the street, making the cold flowers in the window box wake up and stare into the room. The version Lacie played, was the exact replica the watch played.
A purple cat perched in the alleyway of the watchmakers pricked its ears and turned its fluffy head in the direction of the music. He stretched his arms and legs and then settled down to lick his tail clean from any soot, which may have collected on it.
"Oi! You!" The cat sighed and looked to its left. A Caterpillar stood, clearly annoyed. The cat grinned, extremely bemused.
"Yes?"
"You stole my hookah! I demand it back right this timely moment or I shall attack you!"
"Attack me with what?"
"I don't know... something BIG!!!" The Caterpillar waved his arms above his head, which prompted the cat, the laugh.
"My dear, I am afraid I sold your Hookah in a pawn shop. I managed to purchase myself a lovely piece of fish with that sum of money."
"You lie!" The Caterpillar hissed.
"I most uncertainly am not!" The Cat purred.
"You most indefinitely are!" The Caterpillar shook its fist.
"Hmm. Why are you here, dear Caterpillar?"
"The old man wants a word." He nodded down to the street below, where the police were swarming around the Shop. "I do say, he is rather slow this time around. It is most definitely unnerving. I think I may have to start hanging with the other long legged handsomer fellow, to whom I have not seen in a few days."
"Hmm. The poor old blighter. He'll find out at the beginning. And I agree, I think it is time you go back to the younger handsome you. This man is adding age to you, age you don't want adding. Plus the Rabbit misses you, he keeps talking to trees, and I must say, I may have to start disowning him if he keeps doing that!" The cat exclaimed.
"That music is very lovely..." The Caterpillar and cat paused a moment to listen, before exchanging pleasantries and moving on.
The cat jumped down from the roof onto the head of the unsuspecting Policeman, who yelped.
"Cingoli. Shut up." The cat purred. It placed its paws on front of the mans head and leant over to peer into his face, swivelling his head around. "Helloo."
"What did you see?" Cingoli frowned.
"What did I see? Hmm. Well, I saw some soldiers and gave them a chase around London, made them mad, then ate some fish... then I came back here."
"I do not want a blow, by blow account of your day! What did you see here?"
"Oh! That! You could have said, silly strange long person. Well. Let me see. I came back a few minutes after chasing the soldiers and eating fish, to find the alleyway just recently deserted..."
"Deserted by whom?"
"My current counterpart and the girl."
"The girl?"
"You know!" The cat smiled in a teasing fashion. "Alice!"
"She is alive?" Cingoli exclaimed.
"No, silly thing. She is alive in her daughter."
"Oh. Ah, yes I remember telling myself about it. Continue."
"I think I may have to return your Hookah, it is having strange effects. Anyway, seconds after they took to the skies-"
"The sky? He can fly?"
"WILL YOU SHUT YOUR GOB? HOW DO YOU EXPECT ME TO TELL YOU IF YOU KEEP INTERJECTING?" The cat growled. "And yes, he can fly. My boy is very talented. In many areas. Anyway...
I wondered through the alleyway waiting and knowing who was coming. I just had to be patient and observe like I was ordered to. Just as my boy took into the air, a dishevelled cloaked and dark figure loomed from around the corner. I did what I do best and concealed myself in the shadows, preparing to vaporise into the shop when needed. I knew where it was heading. It walked to the door of the shop and stepped inside without using the door, which to be honest with you disturbed me. I am supposed to be the only one who can do such things. So I copied him, but I concealed myself as a very garish clock, I am afraid I did not choose well as I looked like a fool, but that is not a tale for here. Although I could tell it to the others at some event or another. The figure walked towards the counter of the old lady, to whom I liked as she fed my biscuits sometimes. All she did was smile at him and inform him the watch was no longer here, like I told her to. I think she was prepared to die, as she believed she had that disease that is spreading after she over heard the Caterpillar and Rabbit talk near the hole. He basically did things even the Mad Hatter would never dream of doing. In fact the Mad Hatter is not the type to even hurt anyone. The, end."
The cat yawned and stretched once more.
"So, this murderer is not the Hatter?"
"Don't be stupid. Of course he is not. I knew as soon as this thing appeared it was not he. The Hatter is currently in limbo as the disease; he is trying to find someone he can actually appear as. No, it is not he; this thing is a new character Cingoli, like you said to the Queen. It is not one of us."
"Whom is it controlled by?"
The cat laughed and floated before Cingoli in a teasing manner, shaking a finger.
"Guessy, guess little man." He purred, before disappearing a wisp of purple fog.
Lacie finished the melody and sighed. The sky was still rather light, and she rubbed her eyes, wondering when everyone would arrive home and most importantly where they actually were. She cast her mind back the day's events and smiled. She flexed her fingers and began to play again. It was pretty much the same tune, but with her own spin on it. Instead a beautiful yet mournful melody, she turned it into something more. Something triumphant and dreamlike.
"Twinkle, Twinkle Little Bat, How I wonder what your at, up Above the world you fly, like a great big tea tray in the sky, Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Bat. Hahahaa!"
A young man lay, in his early twenties, ill with flu in his bed a handkerchief clutched close to his side, stained in blood. His dark hair scattered his elegant pillow, his slightly tanned skin stained in sweat. His eyes were closed as he laughed manically. But then a piano melody drifted through from somewhere outside and he turned his head, his eyes wide open a grin on his face. His brown eyes shimmered in the hope the melody wafted. He jumped out of bed to the window and laughed. He danced around the room, waking the elderly maid who had dosed off by his side.
"S-sir? Are you ok?"
"Most certainly, dear madam! Dance for joy I am a boy!" He took her by the hands and dragged her around with him. He let go and laughed.
"Who am I?" He yelled smiling.
"Sir? Are you sure you are quite alright?"
"Yes, madam! Who am I?" He placed his hand to his ear and waited.
"Mr. Sherlock Holmes sir?"
"Am I? Cool." The man placed a finger onto his chin. "Bring me Tea! Lots of tea!"
The maid smiled and left the room, to prepare tea. She was glad her young master was on the mend and could continue solving his many cases he had awaiting his attention.
Sherlock dashed to his window and listened once more at the melody and laughed. He flung it open.
"Hello WORLD!" He screamed.
"Erm. Hello?"
He peered down to a rather startled old couple, who stared back up at him.
"Have a good day, sir and madam!" He waved as they quickly rounded the bend.
Suddenly, a purple vapour materialised behind him. Sherlock spun around and outstretched his hands to hug the fluffy purple cat before him.
"I AM ALIVE! Rejoice, your joy!"
"Nice to see you to. It has been rather dull you know." The cat purred and closed his eyes, glad the Hatter had finally come back. "I thought you were going to stay as a disease forever!'
"SO did I!" He shrieked. "You know, I think I can appreciate the female people much more now! The EMOTION! I came back as 100 men and 160 women! I was SO confusedly!"
He ran to the window still holding the cat, who just slumped there and really did not mind, and yelled.
"I AM A MAN!"
"Will you shut it, mate?" Someone from the street yelled.
"I AM A MAN, WITH MANLY BITS!" He screamed before shutting the window.
"Sir? What is all the ruckus about?" The old maid set the tea tray on the bedside table.
"LOOK AT MY NEW FRIEND!! I shall call him... Cheshire Cheese." Sherlock held out the cat.
"Good day, dear madam." The cat purred.
"Oh, My GOD! Help! Help! I am insane!" The maid fled from the room as fast as her old joints would let her. Sherlock sighed.
"I may need a new maid... anyway! TEA Cheese?"
"I really do hope that you will not start calling me that! I really honestly in my non cheese like fashion do object!"
"Aw, but Cheshire Cheese, it is so cute. And it means you can accompany me to places and observe in your cheese like fashion!" Sherlock grinned and spun the cat around the room. "How is the March Hare?"
The cat nodded, as Sherlock became serious.
"Not good. Mouse has managed with him so far... but he has seen things, none of us can get out of him."
"Maybe I can." Sherlock stared out the window in sadness, but soon the mercury got to its work and he was laughing once more. "So! What happens now, ringmaster cheese?"
"You my dear are attending a marvellously spectacular masquerade ball!" The cat clapped in delight from the grip of the Hatter.
Sherlock sat on his bed and grinned, as a cup of tea floated towards him and fed him some of the liquid delight within.
"Well then! HELP ME FIND A MARVELLOUSLY SPECATCULAR COSTUME!"
"Please, can we make it a costume of some from of sanity?"
"Yes, sorry!" Sherlock smiled like a guilty child as the wardrobe doors burst open, as though some turbulent force of nature had been finally, let free.
Lacie could still hear the melody play in her head as she sat in the warm rickety carriage heading towards the social gathering one of the many Princesses had thrown in honour of their families Tercentury at the helm of the country. Lacie sat opposite her brother, who stared out the window, a slight smile playing on his face.
"What are you so cheerful about?"
"What are you so gloomy about?"
"You had to ask." Lacie grimaced and folded her arms.
"... I am sorry." Jasper sighed and ruffled his hair. "Everything's become a bit more mad and cheese like recently!"
"Cheese like?" Lacie raised an eyebrow and Jasper just laughed.
"Nevermind. Look, Abercrombie may be there but-" He reached forward for her hands and took them in his. "There will be people there, who would rather die than let him even touch you. Trust me!"
Jasper looked at his watch. "Oh my. How late! We are late for an important date."
"You are such a rabbit, Jas." She found herself saying. Jasper smiled meekly and leant out the carriage. "Edgar, please may we go a bit faster sir?"
"Ooooh yessy yes! Ah!" Edgar howled from the front of the carriage, a Hookah concealed beneath his coat.
Jasper smiled at Lacie.
"Will father be there?"
"I highly doubt it."
"Good." Lacie smiled and Jasper nodded in understanding.
In recent years, they had grown further apart from their father as he had become more and more wrapped up in something that once was. And Jasper knew the Queen was not happy with Frederick. Not at all.
"Presenting Sir Jasper Von Phantom and Madam Lacie Von Phantom."
Jasper and Lacie stood side by side at the top of a flight of long marble stairs, leading to a bursting party below. Lacie smiled through her mask. The theme of the party was fancy dress with the theme of a fairy tale. Of course at the time the most popular fairy tales were those of the Grimm brothers, who had become living celebrities in England. Jasper dressed himself in green, with a mask resembling a frog making him the Frog Prince. Rebecca would have been his Princess, but her illness was still escalading. Lacie had gone as Snow White, her dark hair and pale skin making her the perfect fit. No one else in the room had come as Snow White, but had come as Cinderella, or Rapunzel or even Sleeping beauty. On Lacie's mask, she had cleverly made it out as luscious red apple surrounded by a mirror frame. She wore a golden yellow dress with a beautifully decorated blue bodice, and even though she was unaware of the fact, made her the most exquisite and well dress young girl in the whole city. Edgar stood behind in his costume, as he was sent a separate invitation; much to the surprise yet delight from Lacie, by the Queen, he was dressed as a fine young knight from Sleeping Beauty.
They walked down the grandesque royal stairs into the crowd below. Jasper smiled at his sister, before excusing himself and entering the throng with Edgar at his side. Lacie stood and began to talk to a unknown noble group before someone interrupted.
"Excuse me, but are you Lacie Von Phantom?" The womanly voice came from behind her and Lacie frowned as the group of young girls, to whom she was talking to, gasped and bowed before hurriedly making a leave. Lacie turned around.
"Yes, why who is-" She gasped as she recognised the young woman stood before her and bowed low. "Your highness!"
The girl in red laughed kindly and shook her head. "Please, please. Friends call me Eliza, although I do not seem to have many!"
Lacie stood up from her bow and smiled.
"I can see you are Snow White! Can you make any guesses to whom I am?" She spun on the spot.
"Rose red perchance?" Lacie chuckled.
"Yes! You are the first person to say that, everyone else thinks I have just come as myself!" The Red Queen laughed. "How is your father?"
"Oh, you know..."
"Head deep in his own worries and work? Inconsiderate of those around him?" Eliza grimaced.
"Yes, well known." Lacie smiled.
"I have known your father for sometime now. He is very readable."
"But you are so young!" Lacie exclaimed.
"Don't be ridiculous!" Eliza laughed, but did not reveal her true age. It may have shocked the poor girl. "Anyway, I must warn you Mr. Abercrombie is here somewhere, and I believe he has placed himself extremely near the dance floor and if I were you..."
Elize leant closer.
"I would keep on that mask and dance with anyone who has not come as the Wolf from Red Riding Hood!"
"What?" Lacie spluttered in laughter.
"I know. I though it would be amusing to inform him you were arriving as Red Riding Hood. So he came as the wolf! Anyway I really must dash, and I hope to see you very soon, dear." Eliza smiled and placed her rose red mask on her face and dashed away through the crowd. Lacie danced with some Handsome Princes and Ugly beasts each one making her night slightly more interesting. She enjoyed the company of others, and enjoyed meeting strange new people.
As she made her way from the dance floor someone dressed in White neared Lacie, with feather protruding from her back. She floated towards her and smiled.
"Why!" She exclaimed. "Lacie Von Phantom!"
She kissed Lacie on both cheeks and grinned down at her. "What a pleasure! Can you guess?"
"Er... the... Swan, Princess?" Lacie mused.
"Yes! Why how good you are! But you are a mystery to me." Before Lacie could tell her, the White Queen interrupted. "Anyway, I would like to introduce you to someone, to whom I have been informed."
She bent closer.
"Knows you full too well! Sir Abercrombie."
Lacie nearly fainted as her fiancé emerged from the crowd dress in an opulent brown, with a wolf's mask placed upon his cruel face.
"Hi, Miss Lacie. Would you like to dance with your future husband?" He smiled down at her. Lacie tried to back away, but people blocked her, unaware.
"Well... you see-"
"She had promised the next dance to me!" A familiar voice exclaimed. Finely Del Gatto, with one chuckling Sherlock Holmes at his side, stood behind her ready to take her away from the Jabberwocky; both fully prepared to save the girl, who had saved them both.
Authors Notes:
I really enjoyed writing this chapter and I think it was all because of the scene with Sherlock (Mad Hatter) and the Cat. I think Sherlock will become a most interesting character. I actually never intended to include the Mad Hatter at ALL and just leave him as an airborne disease, but because I had mentioned Sherlock Holmes in the last chapter I really could not resist, turning the most famous (fictional) detective of all time into the Mad Hatter. Plus, The White Rabbit and Caterpillar are close friends and so are the March Hare and Dormouse, and I felt the Cheshire cat was left out... so I made this all happen!!!! (Yay!)
There is also an option to do something else to both characters.... teehheee ^^
So basically, it is because of Lacie ( that is now her name!) that the Cheshire Cat was truly awakened, but also because of her why the Hatter was also awakened. MUWAAAHA.
I honestly have no idea what was flowing through my mind when I made Mad Hatter call the cat: Cheshire Cheese... it sounded funny to me... but I am slightly weird.
!!! PLEASE REVIEW !!!
By the way: The triumphant version Lacie plays on the piano from her own imagination was inspired by this:
.com/watch?v=e2IWrVVbpiM&feature=related
And Pandora hearts was the inspiration for the watch and general Look of Lacie, albeit some difference. Even though I Have renamed my main character Lacie, I was inspired by the book and the three Treacle sisters the Dormouse talks about. I know the song is called Lacie, but I was originally inspired by the book. ^^
xNancyx