AUTHORS NOTE: I am so flabbergasted and giddy that I can hardly stand it. THANK YOU ALL SO VERY VERY MUCH. I am so overwhelmed at all the positive reviews…I am so very glad you all like how the fanfiction is going….I will try my best to get back to all of your comments . but at the moment there are so many of you that wish to have me update as soon as possible….i am tied between which to do first….i suppose chapter 3 is in everyone's better interest? Lol you guys are so fabulous!

When I have the time I shall make some artwork for this fanfiction as well. If you would like to see my artwork just visit my profile on

.com/

P.S. I don't own Wonderland or any of the inhabitance…unfortunately.

P.S.S btw you guys should have seen me in the theatre, for the second time, watching AIW yesterday…I was trying my best to keep my eyes glued to the screen and still jot down certain characters or animal names that the internet doesn't supply. All for the sake of a well spoken story…I hope my research has paid off (it certainly is coming first before my college work XD) although there are still some characters I still was not able to get their full names for. I apologize for this.

COMMENTS ARE APPRECIATED AND VERY MUCH WELCOME! 333

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Chapter 3: Third time's a charm…

'Alice…'

That voice…

'My dear, Alice…you've come home…'

She knew that voice…

'Alice…'

Such a silly thing, she wondered why they sounded so anxious…as if somehow she would disappear again. But wasn't she there all along?

"Alice!"

The girl twitched her head slightly in her slow encroaching consciousness. That voice sounded quite a bit louder.

"Oh, I say…" called another voice, "She's starting to wake up!"

"Do you suppose she will remember this time around?"

"She looks older…"

"But prettier, I'd say."

She furrowed her lovely face with irritation.

"Don't crowd her, give her some room…and go tell Hatty she's waking up!"

"And who kicked the queen off her high throne and made you king? I follow no one's orders!"

"Dormouse…" They warned in a hushed tone, "For Hatty's sake, then. He's been the most affected by all of this."

Hatty…that sounds so familiar…

"Oh well…if you put it that way…"

Alice was heard giving a soft sighing sound while she stretched against the soft padding bellow her— her mind deciding that moment to awaken more fully.

The mortal's eyelashes fluttered open to reveal hazy pools of blue; shinning ever softly in the evening glow beyond the draped windows.

It was silent, very silent whilst she surveyed the white marbled room. All the inhabitance, that had so boisterously spoken just moments before, froze, in attempt to blend in and become nonexistent with their surroundings. It was obvious she was lying in a bed. The room was mostly barren expect for a wash basin in the corner and a door, that she surmised, led to the castle beyond. She then surveyed her own person, finding that she still bore the hanfu she had worn at the party just hours before hand. Or at least she thought it was hours, she really couldn't tell.

It was all curiouser and curioser. She bore no scratches of her fall…nor of any dirt she could have possibly acquired while toppling sideways into the medium sized hollow. In fact, she distinctly remembered knocking up against a few roots as she fell… was this the result of a concussion? But the hole wasn't there before she heard the voice taunting her….it was then, when she fell, that she never hit ground.

Flora did not look the slightest surprised when this phenomenon transpired. In fact, she almost called out a farewell…if you call taunting a farewell.

Alice finally peered back up, watching them take a pausing breath. Raising her finger she pointed almost accusingly. She observed the disappointment flicker across each beast's exterior when they surmised she did not remember them.

Pushing her doubts aside, the champion of Wonderland could hardly contain the slow surmounting glee that began to rise within her stomach. If this was a concussion, let her never stop.

"Where…am…I?" She asked slowly.

"The White Queen's castle," spoke the dodo bird, turning his head to study her face intently with one steady eye. "Do you remember where you are, Alice?"

"Ah…" Alice tapped her chin and pretended to think hard, "Memorium, within Wonderland, of course."

There was a shared surprise in reaction around the room before the blonde could no longer restrain herself and gave a light laugh.

"It is so good to see you all again…Mister Dodo…Bayard…and I can only assume that was the Dormouse that had just stepped out?" she smiled sweetly. "I am not sure how I have come to be so easily in your hands, rather than staying back in that dreadful round room in-between our worlds, but I am glad it is so."

Bayard leapt onto the bed and crawled closer with a wagging tail.

"Hello, old friend." She leaned forward to scratch him fondly behind the ears— delighted when he began to make excited whines. He rolled to his back and allowed her to rub his chest and upper belly.

"Alice, it is so good to see you again." The dodo bird ruffled his feathers, "In fact, we planned on never seeing you again…your wish seemed so final….so absolute."

She nodded slowly and sighed, "Yes…I know…I thought I could no longer return either…"

"Then why? Why did you wish to return? How were you even able to…?"

Shrugging her shoulders, the female took to focusing on the pale patterns of the bedding.

"I cannot tell you how…because I haven't the slightest, myself. I thought… you could possibly tell me…"

"Oh... only the White Queen may have an idea."

"How, did I get here…at the castle by chance? Not that I am complaining," she added, snuggling down to signify she wasn't planning on leaving anytime soon. "Or did I just arrive suddenly?"

The dodo bird opened his beak to respond when the door was suddenly pushed open ever so slightly.

"Alice!"

She gazed over Bayard to find the dormouse squeezing through the crack between the frame and the door.

"Ah. Hello, Dormouse." She smiled and rested her chin to her hand while peering through her eyelashes to unknowingly give off a sultry look.

She hadn't noticed the door open further, eyes glued to the mouse that had scampered across the room to continue up the treacherous folds and creases of the bed linen. She giggled and leaned down to peck his forehead fondly after conquering his mountain.

"I do believe I am very glad to see all of you."

"…..Fair falling, Alice?" came a soft masculine voice.

"Actually, it was quite dreadful," she fumed, "I bonked my head and everything. But I don't seem to have a scratch on me any…where…." She seemed to trail off as a few things clicked into her brain. Gasping her eyes shot up to meet electric green. It was her turn to stare without movement— her lungs forgetting to breathe entirely.

"Alice?" The hatter stepped forward nervously, seeing her face flush from the lack of oxygen. He gave a strait look, "Alice….breath," he commanded.

She sucked in a breath instantly before scrambling off the side of the mattress.

"…Alice?" He seemed very fond of calling out her name although she assumed it was due to the rising of his nervous twitch, produced by her slow cat walk towards him. 'Alice,' was probably the only thing his panicked mind could think of. He fiddled with his fingers, giving a lost look as he opened his mouth to remark about some insane thing in order to distract her.

Of course Alice wouldn't have anything to do with it and rushed at him with all her might.

"Hatter!"

He made a light squeak when she collided with him. Stumbling backwards, his arms about her waist, the mad hatter attempted to regain his balance and keep her from getting entangled in anything on his mismatched person.

Alice didn't care though. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed daringly close. It was a good thing she could only see the wall, if their roles were reversed she would be able to view the others who were currently giving Hatter sly looks.

"Did I not say I would remember you?" Her fingers played with the orange fuzz at the back of his head. Had it gotten longer?

"You're terribly late you know…." Hatter pulled away to look her up and down slowly before a very bright and crazy smile crept onto his features. "Naughty. I think a game of tag is in order…"

The dormouse leapt off the bed and scurried out the door, "TEA TAG!"

There was a large tug-a-war for the exit. Alice was almost knocked off her feet. It was lucky for her that Hatter was use to such unpredictable occurrences that he was able to catch her instantly once more.

"I am going to need to get use to expecting the unexpected, again. What's tea tag?"

There was a soft snorting giggle and then Hatter tilted his head curiously. He produced a cup of tea and held it up on his palm for her to see.

"Run…and you shall find out, Alice."

Her eyes looked a bit wide as she stared at the cup. What an odd way to welcome someone back who you haven't seen in such a long while…then again this was Wonderland…and Hatter was, quite factually, insane.

"But I should warn you…" He continued in a deep British slur, eyebrows giving him a darker appearance as they furrowed in concentration at her form. "I am the king of tea tag…"

Her heart pounded, the butterflies in her stomach causing her to blush. Turning, with a whirl of blonde locks, she ducked and exited the room just as the teacup came crashing at the very spot she had been only seconds before.

It was good to be back.

…

So how did I do with hatter? Alice didn't really give him much time to say anything completely Hatter-ish but….I hope you all still liked it. o3o

END NOTE: I wanted to apologize for the misuse of the Kimono. A reader has brought it to my attention that I misrepresented it to signify a garb of the Chinese culture. I whole heartily agree! I was wrong in doing so, but I failed to mention that when I was researching the kimono or a kimono-like garb of the Chinese, I could not find a name specifically related.

So for everyone who caught that, I am really sorry.