No one will probably notice that this fan fiction has been updated. I don't have anything else to say really.

~Follow Me Down~

I give myself very good advice
But I very seldom follow it
That explains the trouble that I'm always in

When Alfred attempted to tell his parents of the wonderful world that he had visited, of the vibrant characters that showered him in affection and attention, he had the feeling that they did not take him seriously. Why should they, when these were the words of a child? Had they came from an adult, they may have been classed as insane. Alfred's parents however only took this passionate fascination as part of the child's imagination, to keep him occupied and content while they were getting settled into their new home and taking care of little baby Matthew. To try and answer the sunny blonde's thirst for answers on his new fantasy, his mother bought him a book titled 'Alice's Adventures in Wonderland'. Well he dedicated himself to reading the book cover to cover, despite tripping over some of the more difficult words here and there. And in most cases, he could recognise some of the characters. Though the door mouse in these book wasn't quite as entertaining to his own Dormy, but he could understand this nonetheless. His characters, the ones he knew, were rather unique and much more animated than first glance.

His Hatter for instance was not some older middle aged man with a bumpy nose and buck teeth. Even though he was young he could say that his Hatter was pretty cool and handsome! He gave him sweets and in return Alfred would politely drink the man's tea. Hatter always had time to listen to the boy and would quite easily tell his two friends to be quiet in favour of listening to the young boy's words. Alfred also enjoyed listening to McHare as well - his accent and words were so odd! The hare man knew so many strange poems and songs that he would sing with his beloved mouse friend...

Alfred didn't want to show his new found friends his book, in case he may have insulted them with it (how he could have, he had no idea but he didn't want to be rude anyway). With the amount of time that Alfred spent with his new friends and with his family in the real world, time seemed to slip so suddenly. Before he or anyone else knew it, Alfred was now a healthy ten year old boy, playing and laughing with his now five year old brother. Of course, while Alfred was happy to play with the curly haired blonde, he refused to share with his sibling his secret Wonderland. It may have been selfish, but he thought that since he found it he should be able to keep it his secret. He wanted to keep Hatter, McHare and Dormy all to himself. He should be allowed to anyway, finders keepers!

But still... as he grew older, he couldn't help but notice...changes in his wonderful world...

The blood that appeared on his friends' clothes.

The scars and stitches tracing Hatter's skin.

The way the flowers seemed to wilt away.

And he wasn't sure if he liked them.

xXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx

The beautiful blonde haired woman stood atop her balcony, gazing out onto the kingdom below. Wonderland it was called, yet all she saw was a graveyard. A graveyard perhaps because of the thousands of people that died each day. Did anyone care? No, no one but herself cared. Why was that again?

'Because...you are an Outsider aru...'

The words of the Oracle rang in her ears. Yes, she was an Outsider, she came from the Upperland...yet here she was now, King of Hearts, King of Wonderland and why? Because she had killed the last queen, killed her to ensure the freedom of her friends. Yet her friends were no longer alive, like everyone else they had died and had been replaced. All that she fought for, it no longer existed. So what was the point of her rule anymore? What had she become?

"Ahh...mon cher, what are you doing out here? You will catch a death of cold, non?"

The woman turned ro the blonde man who had spoke to her, robes as red as her own. This man was her Queen, he had been the husband of the previous King, until she herself had killed her. Now, by law, he was married to her but she did not love him. She had figured out by now that even though he was the Queen, he held no love for whatever woman he was made to be with. Oh no, he was much more interested in the male servants of the castle. A jealous ripple went through her but she shook it off.

"Something feels wrong...I don't know why though..." the King replied, gazing down yet again.

A smirk crossed the face of the Queen. He removed the ruby broach from his crisp white shirt, and in his hands it turned into a subtle dagger. "That is because my dear, your reign has come to an end. I no longer need you...I shall be grasping this land now, and Outsiders are no longer welcome."

Before the King could react, her Queen had physically stabbed her in the back. Yet, unlike the Wonderlanders, she would not return. She was an Outsider, and for Outsiders, death was the final sleep. Her body crumbled to the black and white checkered marble floor, the red blood greatly amusing the Queen. His smirk remained on his face, looking up at the sky as dark black clouds invaded the sky. The war of suits...it was beginning...and he had started it, much to his glee.

"Kesesese...finally got rid of the bimbo your majesty?"

The Queen turned his head to look at his general, a monstrosity of a creature. His body mostly resembled that of an Outsider, yet there were parts of him that were crudely malformed. His hands were sewn on claws with dark silver scales, similar darkly scaled wings adorned his back and a viciously thick scaled tail swished back and forth behind him. His eyes were a bloody red, tiny slits hinting at the madness that threatened his general's madness. His hair was just as silvery as his scales and though the man was clearly deranged, he was the Queen's most loyal subject.

"Oiu I have...and now is the time to take action. I want my Hatter returned to me, and his precious little Outsider to be killed. Is that understood?"

The malformed man gave a nod, his sickly grin showing rows of sharp dagger like teeth. "Ja, of course your majesty~"

With a whoosh of air the winged general was gone and left the Queen with the bloody remains of the King.

xXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx

"It's time to go to sleep Alfred..."

Though normally Alfred would whine at his mother, he reluctantly nodded his head as he cuddled into his pillows, his pet cat Hero curling up next to him. Alfred's mother smiled down at her eldest child, cradling the equally young Matthew in her arms. She pressed a kiss to Alfred's head before carrying Matthew out with her. She forgot to shut the door as Alfred drifted into his safe haven...

Something was oddly different when he arrived in his Wonderland this time though. The faces of his friends seemed to be strained, as if they were forcing the smiles on their faces. Their words didn't have the same joyful banter. He had to know what was wrong. "Are you guys mad at me or something...?" asked Alfred with an adorable pout.

Only the clatter of their tea cups answered him. McHare and Dormy wouldn't meet his gaze and eventually he turned to look at the Hatter. The man who was so usually vibrant seemed...downtrodden. "...Wonderland isn't safe for you anymore Alfred..." muttered Hatter as he put down his tea cup. "You have to stay away for now..."

Now this was odd, what was going on? "I...I like it here, I don't want to leave..." whined Alfred, looking around at his friends.

"It's...it's for yer own good laddie..." McHare answered for the Hatter.

In his moment of upset, Alfred faded from his dream, stirring in the real world. His blues eyes glanced out his open door to hear crying...was Matthew having a nightmare...? He sometimes spoke in his sleep...but he was easily dragged back into his dream...

His eyes widened as he heard the smashing of tea cups and pots, a sinister voice was laughing as he noticed that McHare and Dormy were standing in front of him and Hatter, as if ready to face. "H-Hatter...?" whimpered Alfred, not sure what was going on. Was there...was there fire...? The forest was burning! Why weren't they running?

"Save yourself Alfred!" Hatter insisted, pushing the boy away from the fiery scene. Alfred stared wide eyed back as he stumbled, he could make out a hideous creature with flaring red eyes glaring at him...Again he was awake, but not quite. His blue eyes noticed someone standing in his doorway, someone he didn't recognize. He quickly shut his eyes, afraid that this person would hurt him. They must have left because he heard the person creep away...he wouldn't forget those red eyes...

Screaming woke him again. Fire, there was fire everywhere. He coughed as the smoke was trying to fill his small lungs, quickly climbing out of his bed. Alfred couldn't escape, the flames were setting his door alight. The young boy heard the shouts of her parents, telling him to try and escape.

"SAVE YOURSELF ALFRED!"

Alfred covered his mouth to try and stop the smoke, somehow managing to hear the mewls of his beloved cat Hero at the window sill. The window was open, he could escape through there! He scrambled for the window, the heat making him dizzy...but...he couldn't...faint now...The last thing he remembered hearing as he collapsed onto the snow covered grass from outside his burning home...was a dark laughter ringing in his ears...

'Kesesese...'

End of Chapter

This one took on a more darker tone I supposed...

Heavily inspired by American McGuee's Alice.

R&R

LadyCaledonia