Chapter 2

A Wild Goose Chase

Alice's back hit the ground hard; she flinched on impact and gasped for air as she felt somewhat winded. She listened half heartedly as Cyrus also made impact. He landed on his front, not too far away from her. He wheezed a little as he too felt breathless. Alice sat up and her actions were soon mimicked by Cyrus. She glanced at him then averted her attention to their surroundings.

The portal had disappeared. She assumed the white rabbit closed it after they had disappeared through it. All that was left was bitter silence. She paid closer attention to her surroundings. They were surrounded by trees and many lengths of nature. She could feel hard cracked dirt beneath her legs and she assumed that the location that they had been dropped at encompassed a high climate. The wind howled as a light breeze touched her skin. She tilted her head up and noticed that the sky was black.

"Well I'll tell you something," She said turning to face Cyrus, who was now on his feet and offering her a gentile hand to help her up. "I'm rather happy that we went shopping for vegetables today. It looks like we're camping out tonight."

"I take it that we're eating stew tonight then?" Cyrus asked taking what Alice said as a hint. He watched carefully as she patted herself down in frustration.

"Stew," She returned to confirm, now entering into her bag to collect their belongings.

Cyrus stood back a little and slightly shivered. He knew that no magic was within this realm. He too then began taking in his surroundings. He wondered why the white rabbit didn't portal them into the town he'd mentioned. His eyebrows knitted together in frustration. He ran his fingers through his dark brown hair and succumbed to Alice's suggestion of stew.

Cyrus sat across from the fire that Alice had started. The stew was boiling over it in a small grey, half rusted, cauldron. He watched Alice as she stirred the stew indulgently. The sound of wood on metal created a hollow clang. Her hair was tied back in a tight plait and her eyes gleamed electric blue in the fire's light.

"So, who are we here to call upon?" She asked warily, now looking at him.

"I was told that his name is Rumplestiltskin." He replied with his chin leaning on his left hand.

"Who?" She asked shuffling and consequently hearing the dirt and dead leaves crunch beneath her legs.

"I don't know." He shrugged his shoulders. "It's just the name that the white rabbit gave to me."

"Well that isn't much to go upon." She rolled her eyes.

"It's hope."

"I know." She backed up trying not to hurt his feelings any more than she already had. She felt scared for him. Cyrus must have acknowledged this because he moved to her side and took both of her hands into is.

"Believe Alice." He hushed. "Time has brought your heart to me and in return time… will give you my mind, body… and soul." He smirked and Alice smiled. He kissed her lips gently and she noticed her hands began to feel clammy beneath his.

"I love you Cyrus."

"I love you too." He smiled, his teeth gleaming white. "Now let us eat this stew, before it over boils!"

The following morning the two found themselves walking on a long tarmac road. When they first entered onto it they found a green road sign that stated the town name upon it. They were pleased that they were given sufficient confirmation that they were on the right path. They had been walking for a good hour or so and no car had passed them. Alice, who was from this world, thought that it was extremely weird. She constantly kept her eyes on their surroundings. Cyrus's eyes widened as he witnessed what lay ahead of him.

"We're here," He halted pointing into the distance. Alice turned to see a clock high in the sky in the distance, nothing more; nothing less.

"Is that the time?" She gasped. "We slept in far too late."

"You have to account for the fact we've been walking for an hour or two."

"Very true," she acknowledged.

As they kept walking down the tarmac road Storybrooke came closer into view. They had past acres of open land and forests to get there. They began to see brick houses and large plant gardens. Everything lured Cyrus in. He had dreamed of lands like this. It was lands he had never seen before. He was fascinated by all the buildings. To him their houses looked like mansions and it sent him into a daze. It was then that a person of small height crossed their path and Cyrus crashed directly into them.

"Excuse me," Cyrus said and the short person stopped to look at them. "We're looking for someone who goes under the name of Rumplestiltskin." Alice giggled slightly at the fact Cyrus was getting right down to the point.

"Then you're a few months too late, he's gone." The man said with his eyebrows knitted together. He took in the sight of the two unfamiliar looking people before him. They seemed peculiar to him.

"What do you mean gone?" Cyrus pressed gesturing with his hands.

"Who's asking?"

"Sorry my name is Cyrus. I've come from afar land to find the man in question. I was told he could help me." He said almost pleading to gain more information. The wind blew strikingly hard and Cyrus felt his hair move in the breeze.

"Then like I said, you're a few months to late. He left for Neverland a while back." He said in a monotone blunt voice and slightly turned to walk away.

"Neverland?" Alice echoed confused.

"And who are you?" He said now turning to face Alice.

"I'm Alice. I'm from this world, but have lived in Wonderland for a while."

"Wonderland? The realm in which Cora ruled as queen of hearts?"

"Yes, that would be the right one. She also left a few months ago, never to be seen again." Cyrus said and Alice was shocked he knew so much.

"What do we call you?" Alice asked politely.

"Call me Grumpy." He sighed.

"Well Grumpy, it's nice to meet you." Cyrus said holding out his hand. Grumpy looked at his hand and hesitantly shook it. Cyrus felt Grumpy's red skin against his.

"It's no business of mine of course, but what do you desire from the dark one? He's not prone to handing out favours… Unless that is… you have something to give in return." Grumpy asked intrigued.

"The dark one," Alice echoed again, "I told you the white rabbit couldn't be trusted. That doesn't sound good, Cyrus. He's led us knowingly on a wild goose chase."

"I'm willing to do anything, Alice." He said smiling at her slightly and turning back to Grumpy. "I'm a genie; Wonderland is not my home realm. I go wherever my curse and owner takes me. I was told this… dark one… could free me of this curse and I am more than happy to pay the price of magic." Grumpy nodded slightly.

"Well being a genie yourself, I'm sure you know of consequences." Grumpy began.

"Many years of consequences," he sighed.

"Come with me… I know someone who can help you." Grumpy finished.