BEFORE YOU LECTURE ME, I CAN EXPLAIN T.T! My laptop...and water...and died...and story...and I'M SOOOOOOO SORRY! FORGIVE MEHH! *enters an endless rant of apologize*

Okay, now please let me explain like an adult. You see, my laptop was innocently placed atop a coffee table when BAM, my !#$%^&* sister spilt her ~!#$%^&* coffee on my precious, dearest, beloved, laptop! And like that, *snap*, I was left internetless for years! So, please forgive me, and except this chapter graciously(: I hope it's good!

Disclaimer: I do NOT own Heart No Kuni No Alice.

"Get. Out."

"Oh, come on, Serena! Let me hear just one more time!"

"OUT."

Serena had flown to her feet, her fists raised violently at her sides at the sight of the knave laying face to chest with her across the bed. Her face had turned a brilliant shade of red, her entire body trembled in fury. Serena despised having her personal space invaded. Peter had done enough of that already.

Slumping his shoulders, Ace moved slowly towards the doors which Serena had burst open for him the moment her weary feet had hit the ground. Just as he was entering the lengthy hallway of the clock tower, he came to an immediate stop, turning around and once again entering the young girls room for the second time that evening.

"Actually, Serena. I was thinking that you could use a little lecture."

Serena's wild eyes refocused into the deadly red ones of her offender. They almost appeared to be shadowed in something of mischievous darkness. Just what exactly was the man up to?

"And why is that, Ace?" Serena hissed venomously, her gaze boiling with irritation. Ace took several more steps towards the girl, his powerful body now within inches of her frail figure. His sickeningly sweet breathe filled her nostrils, his sugar-glazed words nauseated her. Serena was unsure of his intensions, but a dangerous feeling within her gut gave her an idea.

"You have left yourself vulnerable, Serena. A young girl, alone in an unfamiliar place; It's very irresponsible, you know," The tall man purred, his breath tickling at her ear. Serena's stance grew uneasy.

"Cut it out, Ace. I've got pepper spray, and I'm not afraid of using it-"

"Have you ever been with a man before, Serena?"

Serena was now forcibly pressed against the walls, pinned and defenseless, and unable to form any sort of logical response other than a sputtered "N-Nope."

"Men can be very unpredictable," Ace continued, his tone slightly lightened, yet still flirtatious. "As well as wild, dominant, possessive…"

Ace was now within an inch of Serena's face, his lashes lightly fluttering across her cheeks. Her breath was heavy, breaking through the threatening silence of the atmosphere. Her heart pounded fiercely in her chest, her mind raced in every direction for answers. How could she react to these sinful actions? Was this the way that Ace normally behaved around woman?

"Ace. Stop. You do not need to do this?"

"Oh, really-"

"Yes. Because I have learned my lesson," Serena confirmed solidly, her tone relocating it's confident pitch. Ace hesitantly backed away, his eyes dancing across the once again functioning victim. She had learned her lesson, just as he planned. Of course, this would never be admitted.

"So you think that it is that simple, Serena. You don't believe that perhaps, I am the type of man who would take advantage of a young woman?"

"No, I don't. You would have five minutes ago if you had actually held such intentions," Serena stopped, a slight smile curling the edges of her lips. "Besides, I see it in your eyes. What you did to me was innocent."

Ace actually appeared stunned, and if not, impressed. She had read him, like a book actually. She knew that he had invaded her for alternative reasons, and that he never was going to hurt her, at least not voluntarily. "Of course not, Serena. I guess I'll be leaving now."

"Yes, you will be. Now, OUT."

"But first, I do request a single favor. Consider it payback for your 'lesson' tonight"

"And what would that be?" Serena asked, an eyebrow raised in suspicion.

"Let me listen to your heart just one more time-"

"You may go, Ace!"

"…Okay, nighty night, Serena!"

Heavy steps carried Serena through the thick forestry of Wonderland. She was exhausted, perhaps even more so than she had been the night before. Her unwelcome visitor had left her restless and on edge for the remainder of the previous night, though she had locked her windows and door in every form possible. The feeling of being watched, the unsettling paranoia; it left her mentally frazzled. Only her incredible fatigue set her mind free of the torture that morning, as well as the mindless, love-struck chatter of a certain white rabbit.

"Oh Serena, my dearest passion flower, I must thank you for accompanying me this morning on my way toward the amusement park on business. Do tell me of your intentions."

"Julius told me that I had to get out and linger. So, here I am," Serena explained to Peter bluntly, her fingers tiredly combing through her tangled hair. That morning, she had not taken the time to shower, change, nor meet any good hygienic measures. She looked terrible, but Peter barely minded. It simply struck him as odd, and slightly worried him.

"Are you feeling well, my princess, or must I take you to a doctor?"

"I'm fine. Just tired. Now, let's just get this over with, okay?" Serena moaned as they finally entered through the front gates of an incredibly fluorescent and wildly enchanting amusement park. Everything was over the top and ridiculous; the rides, the food, the people. Especially the people.

"Well, who is this we have here!" I tall, chipper man asked excitedly and he entered the scene in an eccentric, electric yellow suit and an oddly shaped violin at hand. He scratched at his prickly chin in contemplation, frantically speaking up just as the young girl began to introduce herself.

"Oh, yes! The newest foreigner, of course! Serena, is it? My name is Gowland! Welcome to my park!" The man nearly danced in excitement as he brought the small, seemingly wooden instrument to his chin. "Now, allow we to welcome you with an original piece of my own! I'll call it, "The Serena Song'!"

As a bow mysteriously appeared at Gowland's right hand, he slowly and painfully screeched it across each string of the violin, created an unbearably painful noise. A noise so painful that it nearly knocked the entire park off of their feet and into a coma. Serena winced, clasping her ears for dear life, while Peter angrily pulled a oversized clock from his side and magically transformed it into what appeared to be a machine gun. "How dare you cause my beloved pain, you filthy wretched fool!"

That is when Hell broke loose. Peter fired his gun mercilessly, not once making contact with Gowland's flesh, but just barely missing. Gowland had created a gun of his own, transforming the once violin into yet another piece of murderous weaponry. Serena backed away slowly, not wanting to take her eyes away from the dangerous scene, but wanting to preserve her life all the same. Just as a stray bullet nearly pierced her through the heart, an unknown figure flew from the shadows and pulled the girl straight to the ground, cushioning her fall heroically but painfully.

"Uh, sorry about this. How about I take you away from here-"

"Yeah," Serena interrupted forwardly, allowing the unfamiliar guy to lead her away from the sudden warfare. "I'd rather not stick around any longer for this one."

The young man which led her away held no resemblance to any appearance Serena had seen before. He was certainly tall, but didn't nearly tower over her like the other men of Wonderland so far. His eyes were an eccentric golden shade, which were heavily detailed with speckles and quite extravagant. Even his light skin was exceptionally flawless, almost resembling that of a porcelain doll, but what really labeled his appearance as extraordinary was his fuchsia colored hair which flowed across his left eye and to the bottom of his neck. His tattoos, his piercings, his apparel; he was truly a picture of Serena's ideal style, if not, better.

"So, your name is Serena, correct?"

"Yeah, that's it," she agreed, permitting the boy to sit down with her at a quiet bench. They were now towards the back of the amusement, hidden enough to allow Serena a few hours of relaxation. "So, what's your name?"

"Boris Airay." He introduced himself warmly, a wide, toothy smile spreading across his features. He was undeniably handsome, just as every other man in Wonderland, but he held a certain appeal to Serena. Perhaps she'd understand better once she got to know him better.

"Nice meeting you, Boris," Serena admitted politely before entering her question mode. "By the way, how did you figure out my name?"

"Gowland told me. Word travels fast around here with all the territorial negotiations and such lately. The war has been getting quite brutal, as you probably could've noticed."

"I guess so… but what's the war about anyways?"

"Wish I could tell you. But quite honestly, it's all just apart of the game. The game-maker probably has some sort of reasoning, but I'll be damned if any of us understand."

Once again, Serena had been thoroughly confused by more of the Wonderlandian vocabulary. Unfortunately, she still did not truly understand the alternative world and it's purposes, and quite honestly, she wasn't quite sure yet whether it was any better than what she had been experiencing at home. Of course it is, Serena. Don't think like that.

"Okay, I must ask!" Serena burst through thick silence of her thoughts quite abruptly, slightly startling Boris to a short extent. "Are you part cat!"

"…"

"…"

"Yup!"

"I knew it!"

"How'd you figure it out," Boris questioned enthusiastically, his expression literally quite wondrous. Serena laughed, launching a pointer finger directly at the soft pair of feline ears sitting atop the young man's head.

"Those may have given me a hint, as well as the tail," she laughed, only leading Boris's smile to further expand. He really could be brightened by something so incredibly simple. It released a couple pounds of depression and exhaustion from the girl's heavily burdened shoulders. "Thanks, Boris. You really made me feel better."

"Sure, Serena! We'll have to play sometime soon, okay? I think that stupid rabbit is here to collect you, now." Boris's ears slumped as the boisterous Peter entered the scene heroically, sweeping an unprepared Serena away from the bench and into his arms. Serena was again entered an immobile state, traumatized by the permanently scarring event. Being carried had now topped the girl's list for the world's most despicable actions.

"Peter. I highly suggest putting me down."

Serena was seriously hissing this as if a venomous cobra, poison and fury interlaced with her words. A shiver literally ran down Peter's spine, a physical suggestion to put the soon-to-be flailing girl onto the solid ground. "Very good, Peter. We may now go." Serena's jaw was still clenched, but she had lowered the daggers in her eyes to an extent. Peter kept his distance as the fled the scene, distancing himself wisely from the irritable foreigner.

Serena waved her goodbyes to Boris and Gowland, wishing that she had decided to venture towards the amusement park alone that morning. Who would have thought Peter would become some violent, sociopath killer? She couldn't quite blame herself for this one, and she was still far too exhausted to lecture Peter, so she simply let the issue go.

"Serena, my precious gem, where may I escort you now?"

"The clock tower. I am pooped," Serena yawned, her eyes drooping shut with each footstep.

"Would you prefer to be carried by thee handsome knight- Never mind." Peter dropped the idea as a dark, murderous gaze met his own. Even amidst his most brutal of killings, he hadn't nearly expressed such hatred in a single glare. He understood that now was a time to give Serena her space.

"Well, I'll see you around, then," Serena grumbled as she slammed the clock tower door behind her without Peter's response. "Damned rabbit."

Serena nearly crawled up the stairs to her room that night, unable to steadily make her way up without falling multiple times. Julius had been so involved in his work that he had barely noticed her arrival, never mind her dysfunctional, drained body. Two days in this mad world and she was already falling apart.

I wonder if they have a therapist around here, Serena thought without the slightest bit of humor. I'm going to need a lot of help if this is only the beginning of it.

With that, her head hit the soft pillow with a quiet thud, and she was out like a light.

DO YU LIIIIIKE? i do, i think(: ANNNWAYSS OMG, I FORGOT TO SAY/ASK: HAVE YOU ALL SEEN THE MOVIE! WONDERFUL WONDER WORLD! I DID, ON YOUTUBE, AND IT WAS MUTHERRRRFUGGING AMAZING! I MEAN, I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND A SINGLE WORD, BUT WHO CARES, RIGHT!

anyways, review please? i love you all bunches. 3