Title: Treasure
Rating: T
Summary: Nick Midnight is a high school girl who's a victim of fierce bullying regarding her appearance and name. On one rainy day she falls into Wonderland and hopes to start a new life. Will she ever find anyone who will accept her for who she is, or will the vicious cycle begin again? Mary Gowland x Original Character
A/N's: Hello, my friends! Sorry this is going up so late in the day, I haven't had time to write until early this evening! I was very stressed out that this chapter would be late.
Anyhow, I have an important question for you guys! In the future, Nick is going to be a song writer - but I want your guys' opinions on how to go about it. I am stuck deciding between crediting the real song in the A/N's and saying that Nick wrote them herself (e.g. Soul Sister, by Nick Midnight) or saying that Nick brought them from her world and transcribed them (e.g. Soul Sister by Train, transcribed by Nick Midnight). All songs will be properly addressed and credited, but I just can't decide between the two options. I'm leaning towards Nick creating them herself and the songs not existing in her homeworld - I don't want to make her a cheater/copyright infringer - but I also don't want you guys to be mad at me
Please tell me what you think in a review or PM! Thanks!
Chapter Seven: Ride the Merry-Go-Round!
"What do you mean, 'cracked-up and beautiful Wonderland', Gowland?" I ask. The juxtaposition of those words isn't very convincing - they don't sound right together… How can something be cracked-up and beautiful at the same time? It's like saying people on drugs are beautiful. Don't do drugs, kids! It messes you up on the outside, but more importantly, it kills you on the inside.
Gowland frowns and shakes his head before coming over to the side of the bed and sitting down next to me. I lie back down and look up at him, and then he begins to speak.
"Let me tell you a story, Midnight… It's something you need to hear," he pauses and takes a deep breath, "Don't tell this to Alice either, she doesn't know the full version - she can't know the full version. I can already tell you're much stronger than she is."
He pats my head, awkwardly, smiling all the same before reverting to the concerned visage and starting his tale.
Long ago, the many current countries of Wonderland were united as one. Under one code and one rule, the world was often related to as 'The Deck', for each of the lands had a specific theme. The southern region had a Castle of Hearts, and the northern region had a Castle of Diamonds. Down in the east, a lord owned a tower that he named the Clover - Club - Tower. Over in the west was a gruesome district called the Spade Arena.
Each territory wanted to be independent, but too many problems would occur from separation: first, the all-beloved King would be unable to rule the lands anymore, and second, each territory in itself had areas that wanted to be independent. One thing would lead to another, and the whole of Wonderland would be independent from each other, with various conflicts spurring on all the corners.
One day, a beautiful girl arrived in Wonderland by accident. No one knew what to do with her, so they took her to the King. No one knew what to call her, so they stamped her as an Outsider. Not that it was discrimination - everyone loved her, fell instantly in love when their eyes laid upon her porcelain face - but they had never experienced a phenomenon such as one coming from the Outside before.
The kind King cherished her being upon introduced, and the Outsider returned sentiment. The new couple was praised by the lands - the royal wedding was spectacular, and there were no objections from any of the million citizens. No problems ever crossed the pair, until the Collapse happened.
During the night, a fuse in one of the lower castle floors caused a fire - a fire that could not be contained or put out. The castle raged in the flames, and most tragically, the beloved Outsider and current Queen - with child - did not survive.
The kind King, struck by the horrid events, became… strange. He survived with great scars on his body and only a single eye, and every day he wore the same funeral suit of midnight black as a cover and as a tribute to his wife and unborn child. Half the time he seemed overly joyed - like nothing had happened - and the other half of the time he was cold and cruel. It was almost as if he became two different people - one hard of heart like a warden, and the other a front for something underneath, like a jester. The changes between his personalities was like from white to black.
Eventually, the King came to stop caring completely about Wonderland - blaming the citizens, the regions, everything in the world for what had happened to his beloved. He retracted into solitary, confining himself to his castle, and letting Wonderland fall into broken countries of feuding territories.
His cold heart slowly began to change, mutate. Running on the same course of time and doing the exact same things in the exact same pattern, his heart became a clock. The King became unable to love, and so did Wonderland. Regard for life was non-existent until the next Outsider came along, and thus began the cycle of everyone loving the Outsider once more.
However, the King would not be involved in this Game. He stripped his lands of everything that remained from his strongest era, and the land became distorted.
"The rest of the tale has never been discovered, as the original copy was ripped about three-quarters of the way through."
This is what he didn't want me to tell Alice? It's a sad tale, but I don't see how it relates to why Boris just tried to shoot me… Wait - everyone loves an Outsider? Regard for life nonexistent… I don't count as an Outsider, since Alice was here first, so is it because of Alice that people want to kill me?
"Don't fret just yet, 'Night. I ain't done yet with the explanation. That was just a preliminary story that you needed to hear," Gowland interrupted my train of thought.
"I see?" I'm still a bit confused about this whole thing, but I believe I'm getting the main idea.
I shift a bit in the bed, and sit up to lean against the headboard. Wonderland seems so surreal, with its unique conventions and history. Even this set-up feels like a bedtime story.
Looks like I'll just have to see what Gowland has to say.
_~|TREASURE|~_
It's taking me a bit of time to adjust to all the new information about Wonderland that I've just been given: all the citizens have clocks instead of hearts - which explains the importance of Julius's role -, everyone in every territory is at war with others…
In the back of my mind, the Tale of the King is bothering me. The King hates all of Wonderland, and does all of Wonderland hate the King? I noticed Gowland's face twitch whenever he mentioned the King during his retelling of the story.
"Gowland," I pipe up, quietly and solemnly, "Does everyone hate the King?"
He looks shocked at my question, and his glasses slide down his nose comically in astonishment. "Wh-why would you ask that?"
"The Tale of the King wouldn't end like that if the King wasn't still around. Why would anyone but him want to stop people from knowing about the distortion in his area?"
Gowland gulps and I instantly feel like I'm asking too many questions. Damn my curiosity.
"Among the rulers of certain territories, a few of us believe the King still is here and has influence. However, there are those, such as the Hatter and the Queen of Hearts who are obstinate and refuse to believe the speculated person is the old, kind King." Gowland looks away, and gets off the bed to pace around the room.
I get this sinking feeling in my stomach. It's not pity, but instead genuine sorrow. The more I think, the more I think I'm not as strong as Gowland thought. I only realize that I'm sulking - I was so carried away -when Gowland asked if I was alright.
"Sweet pea?"
I shake my head and slap both my cheeks. "Sorry I'm out of it, but I just can't help feeling for the King, you know?"
Gowland twitches a bit, but then seems to get past whatever ill-bred feelings he has for the King and nods in understanding.
"Hey, how 'bout I play you a song to cheer you up?!"
I smile and nod, "Sounds great!"
_~|TREASURE|~_
Does not sound great!
Whatever it is that he's attempting, and horribly failing, to play, I don't think it's healthy for human ears. This instance is like in that one Harry Potter movie in which the 'Melody' was an underwater song that pierced eardrums when played above sea level.
"Gowland, please stop!"
I can tolerate horrible playing in small increments - I do play with newbs in the school orchestra - but this was plain painful. He's playing so loud that he can't even here my complaints, I bet he can't even hear what he sounds like.
I pretend to be old, and I scream "That's not music, that's just noise!", but he still can't hear me anyway.
Thinking, rather trying to think, I decide I have to stop this myself.
I walk over to where he stands and clamp my hand around the neck of his violin. The murder weapon utters one final screeeeeeeech before Gowland stops completely in confusion.
"What? Did you try saying something Midnight?"
I was going to retort something nasty, but my attention was stolen by a glimpse at what the violin he was playing looked like.
"Gowland, what the hell is this?"
"It's a violin!~" he replies cheerfully.
"THIS SHIT IS NOT A VIOLIN! WHERE DID YOU GET THE IDEA?"
"What?! OF COURSE IT'S A VIOLIN! WHAT ELSE WOULD IT BE?"
"Hell, I don't know but this IS NOT a VIOLIN. It's not even the right SHAPE!"
"Hon, let me tell you a few things-"
"Don't tell my how to live my life!"
And then the two of us stopped and stared at each other in silence; and then the two of us started to laugh uncontrollably.
"That was the stupidest conversation I've ever had in my entire life!" I exclaim.
Gowland was laughing so hard that tears were beginning to form in the corner of his eyes. His raucous laughter rang throughout the room, lighting up the darkened corners with happiness. I don't know how he does it, but the Tale of the King is being pushed away and only light feelings are rising inside me.
"Well, you may as well prove me damn wrong, so whadda ya say? Let me take you out for lunch, and then the two of us can go to the Music Store."
His proposition kept me off guard - never have I been invited anywhere by anyone before. I can feel the heat rising in my face as my cheeks begin to blush - "Let me take you out" are words I've heard on television in some crappy romance drama series, but never in real life. This Wonderland, though violent and most definitely 'cracked-up', is indeed beautiful in my eyes.
"Mm, sure," I manage quietly. Never have I been this nervous - I'm not quite sure I know what's going on with me.
Well, that's a lie - I know what's going on, but I don't know how to deal with it.
"Let's be on our way, sweet pea!"
"Let me take you out"
Mary…
_~|TREASURE|~_
Honestly, this is not what I was expecting.
Not only does the Amusement Park region have an amusement park, but a shopping square, a gallery of restaurants, a few museums, a selection of hotels closer to the park; all the things of an urban downtown area of a city. There's a ton of people, and the entire area is bursting with excitement. It's remarkable!
"Impressed, sweet pea?" Gowland asks.
"Yes!" I nod my head furiously, "This is amazing! You must make so much money with everything here - no wonder you're a Duke."
Gowland scratched his cheek, "Meh, I do alright," he said, embarrassed.
Here there was more than general stores - glassblowing shops, chocolate shops, and even specialty places. I think I passed a 'Kurosaki Clinic and Herbal Medicines', 'Devlin's Dungeon Dice Game Shop', and a 'Wright Anything Agency' earlier, just to name a few.
"I could see myself living here, but I don't know what I could do…" I mutter to myself. This was a really nice area, and I… want to stay close to Gowland. However, I don't know what kind of job I could get. I don't have people skills, and I'm not a very likable person.
"You can stay as long as you want! Don't worry about a thing!"
I stop walking and turn to look at him. "I appreciate the offer, but I don't want to be a freeloader."
He stopped as well, and put his hand under his chin in a thinking pose. "Well, I guess you can't baptize a cat."
"What does that even mean?"
Gowland blinked a couple times before, "I don't really know…"
We laughed together, and everything seems so natural. Ignoring the way I woke up, today's been a good day - and that's a rare occasion for me. First a hug, then an outing… I have to stop thinking about this before I make it obvious. At least the day is only going to get better.
"Well, well."
Or not.
I could recognize that cynical voice anywhere. Only one person could speak and it leaves that much of a bad aftertaste in your ears. Only one person could make my blood boil after just one encounter. Only one person could be such an asshole.
Here comes Blood Dupre.
Walking towards us with his cane in hand, strolling along like he thinks he's a pimp, Blood Dupre approaches us with a devilish smirk crossing his face.
"Seems like we have some role-reversal over here, ne, Nick and Mary?"
I could sense that Gowland was confused on who the 'Nick' was. I hadn't told him my real name as of yet, so that's not really surprising.
I glared at Blood and growled. "What do you want, Dupre?"
"Nothing from someone like you, Nick. I came for the old man."
I huffed and smirked, "I bet you did, Dupre."
Blood made a face and opened his mouth to say something, but he was cut off by Gowland.
"Get outta my property, Hatter. I won't have you infuriating me or my guests, and I don't have time for your whining." Gowland stepped forward and got in front of me, like he was determined to protect me from Blood.
"What a wasted opportunity, Mary. Too bad you don't want to work this out, Mary. Why don-"
I took the confidence to interrupt Blood's barrage of bullying. "I think the two of us get your point, Blood. Gowland said to leave, so get the fuck out."
"Hmm? Oh well, I'll let the two of you get private," he said as he turned around to leave, surprisingly, as we asked; well, demanded actually.
"Oh, Nick?"
"What?" I humor him, annoyed.
A Cheshire grin appeared, "Have you ridden the Merry-Go-Round yet?"
That bastard! I knew exactly what he meant; going to a raunchy middle and high school helps you get accustomed to double entendres, slang, and hidden insults. For the fancy way that Blood dresses, he's not very classy at all. But, if he thinks he's going to let something like that get past me, then he has something else coming to him.
"Oh no, not yet," I say, innocently, "I don't think it's something of my age to be doing. However, I think it's just to your tastes and suits you perfect - did you want to give it a try? I bet you're into that kind of stuff."
I don't have anything against gay people - they make the world more colorful. That doesn't mean I won't flip things to make it insulting to someone else, though.
"Hmph," was the only response I got from the Hatter as he slinked away.
After the short-but-not-sweet fiasco, I look up at Gowland, and I notice that he has a look of realization just now crossing his face.
"Oh… " his face was heating up; I guess he figured out what Blood was really trying to say.
"What a jerk, huh?" Gowland didn't answer so I turned to him again, "Gowland?"
"THAT BASTARD, I'M GOING TO KILL HIM! FIRST HE TELLS EV'RYONE ABOUT MY NAME, AND NOW HE PULLS THIS!?"
I lift my hand to pat his back, and I tap him gently. "Now, now, don't let him ruin your day, Gowland. Let's go out and have some fun."
He immediately stops his raging and looks at me, smiling sadly. He takes a strand of my hair and pushes it back behind my ear, and says, "Now why can't you treat yourself like that, sweetheart? Don't go wasting your niceties on some ol' hick like me."
Why would I be nice to myself? There isn't anything that deserves to be treated well. Gowland's too nice… I guess that's what I like about him, among other things.
"Just 'cause you got a country accent don't mean you a hick, Gowlan'," I say, breaking out my own accent. Hey, what can I say? I'm from the south, too.
"Alright, alright," he says between laughs. "Now let's go find that Music Store, eh?
I cover my mouth with my hand to stifle a giggle, "Let's go!"
I can already feel myself changing here in Wonderland - opening up, being more happy. Hell, even Blood didn't bother me that much today. I've only been here for a little while, but I believe that I can already call this place home.