Hello everyone! I'm back and alive. So sorry for being gone so long. I know I've been apologizing a lot, but I do mean it. I spend a lot of time in the hospital, so it gets tough doing what I want sometimes. *coughalsogotlazyanddidn'tcomebackhereforalongtimeguiltycough* Sadly I had the whole ending of this story typed on my iphone, but then a moron tried to update it and DELETED IT ALL! Oh so here's the retyped version. Guess I should thank him though, because I think I like this version better than the first. x3 So he graduated from moron to stress toy 3 lol jk jk~

So I will admit that I had forgotten some of the things that I've written in this story. So had to go back and reread it all to make sure I don't leave out or spoil anything important. x3

O-kay~ *cracks knuckles*

Now to answer some questions that I didn't answer before:

To k – I will admit that Aura will find a way to Clover. But how and why and what happens will remain a secret until the time has come.

To Guest – Lol yes, Alex and Peter will be meeting each other a lot in Clover. They'll definitely have something in common that brings them together. All I can say is, "The poor souls…" lol

Disclaimer: I do not, shall not, never have, never will have ownership of Joker/Clover/Heart no Kuni no Alice. Does NOT belong to me!

Now time for the story~!

Ahh no wait… If anyone has questions, feel free to ask! Love you all!

NOW time for the story~! Yay~!

-CHAPTER EIGHTEEN-
-THE END OF HEARTS-

-3RD POV-

"Honestly, that girl barely touched her food," said a disappointed Alice as she finished up the dishes. She really couldn't understand how such a small and frail girl could move around so easily with so little food in her belly. It wasn't good for her. She'd need a good scolding later.

Alice then thought back to the conversation she had with Peter in the maze at Heart Castle. One of the role holders was responsible for bringing Alex to this world. One of them has to have her vial and has brought her here for a reason. Maybe a lovesick moron like Peter, or maybe this particular role holder had different plans. But she couldn't think of any good reasons.

Alice walked around the outside of Hatter Mansion for fresh air while trying to decipher the mystery.

So far, everyone she's spoken to in the past month has never met or even heard of Alex before coming to Wonderland. Could one of them be lying? Was Alex arriving in this world all an accident? It also felt like Nightmare was hiding something from her. She hasn't been able to speak to him much lately, but everytime she'd ask about Alex he'd try to change the conversation. That was suspicious indeed.

"Maybe Nightmare's the culprit," she whispered to herself. She'd have to keep a sharp eye on him.

There were a few times when she wanted to share her worries with Blood. But then would he take her seriously and help, or just tease her like usual?

No, he'd definitely tease her…

Alice sighed while looking up at the sky. It was a beautiful day indeed. But wasn't it always in this Wonderland?

"Ace, do you think you could keep an eye on Alex?" Julius asked while on one of his rare coffee breaks.

"Ahaha! Wow, that's really rare of you, Julius. Don't tell me you've fallen for the kid," Ace teased.

"Don't be ridiculous! I'm asking you this, because she might be mixed up in something dangerous," Julius said in anger. "I won't be able to concentrate on my work if she keeps coming to me," he then added.

Ace laughed then smiled gently at Julius.

"Okay, okay. You have my word as a knight. I'll keep both eyes on Alex," he said with a smile on his face and determination in his eyes.

Julius stared at the knight wearily. Was it right to ask Ace to do this? He wouldn't screw up a simple task like this, would he?

-1ST POV-

"I just don't get it. Julius was so nice to me when I wasn't feeling well, but now when I talk to him he's all like be quiet or leave me alone. Or don't you have someone else to bother? Man the guy's so cold, but that just makes me want to be with him more," I said as I sighed while walking alongside Boris in the forest. A month has passed since the ball, and we had become good friends… well I think we have.

The cat sighed while looking away.

"The clockmaker is all you've been talking about for the past few time periods," Boris said in a grim voice.

"Not true. I was just venting a little…" I said then sighed again.

"Nya, sounds like you might actually like the clockmaker since he's all you talk about," Boris said while frowning as he looked up at the sky.

"I do."

*pause*

"You what?" Boris asked, staring at me with wide eyes.

"I like Julius," I said calmly while looking up at Boris like it was the most natural thing in the world.

*twitch*

"H-how? You admitted it so easily! You're pulling my leg."

I stared calmly at the flustered Cheshire cat.

Maybe Dee and Dum were rubbing off on me. In all honesty, back then, I would have never admitted my feelings so easily. But now, with all those love missions and watching them confess their love to Alice almost everyday, it just felt so natural.

"But only you know this," I said while waving a finger at Boris. "You can't tell anyone, okay?"

"Exactly why are you telling me about this secret?" Boris asked as his kitty ears and tail fell. He was not happy about this at all.

"I don't know. Maybe knowing about my secret love will get you to stop with your playboy pranks," I said with a grin.

"Tch. Way to hurt, Alex."

I laughed and gave Boris a pat on the back.

"You'll get over it. So how long until we reach the Amusement Park?"

Boris and I had agreed to head to the Amusement Park to enjoy the rides while we came up with ideas to get the twins together with Alice. Having fun and coming up with love missions at the same time… I FELT SO EXCITED!

"Nya, we'll be there soon," Boris said while hugging me from behind.

*excitement meter drops*

"H-hey! No physical contact you!" I said as I started to feel irritated.

"You hurt me bad, Alex. I need some comfort," Boris said while nuzzling his face against my neck.

The nerve of this guy! Even after knowing I love someone, he still hits on me? ? ?

*twitch twitch*

"P-P-PERVERT! ! !" I screamed at the top of my lungs.

"MRRREEOOOOW! ! !"

The sounds of cat in agony could be heard throughout the forest.

Boris laid on the ground, shivering in pain.

"Don't blame me if you can't have children anymore," I said with crossed arms while glaring at the Cheshire cat.

Honestly this guy!

*giggles*

I spun around in surprise.

Was that my imagination?

"Damn Alex, that's playing dirty," said Boris while recovering from the incident.

"Sorry, but I don't want you hugging me. I have someone I like after all," I said in a stern voice.

"Tch, whatever."

Boris got up and walked ahead of me.

"Hmph," I said while following him.

*giggles*

I turned around to see nobody there.

"Do you hear that?"

"Hear what?" asked a gloomy Boris.

"N-nothing," I said nervously.

Julius and Nightmare said Aura couldn't come here anymore, right?

"...lex..."

Were they right?

"..ome...Alex..."

They were right, right?

*giggles*

Aaaaand that's the end folks! I hope you all enjoyed the story. *bows* x3

So Alex's journey in the Country of Clover will be a different story which you'll find information about in a few days.