"You're lying. Not even you would go through this much trouble just for that. What is it you're really after?"
Chapter Thirteen: Alice
"Why didn't you help him?"
Anastasia scoffed, recognizing the voice. Looking at the banister of her chambers' balcony, she saw the Cheshire Cat, grinning from ear to ear. The mysterious "cat" floated about, asking, "He needed help and you rebuffed him."
"It's not like anyone can. Freya and Giovanni did their best, but he can't be helped," Anastasia told it.
"Why not?" the Cheshire Cat asked.
"Because he's more Heartless than he is human. He just doesn't realize it," Anastasia said.
"Are you sure? You truly believe he's a Heartless?" the Cheshire Cat asked.
"Of course, I'm sure! The darkness that comes from him attracts Heartless. The kingdom was much safer before he showed up," Anastasia replied.
The Heartless weren't really a thing in the Red Kingdom until that child appeared, asking for help. He was pitiful in appearance, wearing tattered and torn clothes in black and looking quite gaunt. The Red King, Giovanni, took him in, but Anastasia noticed how sick he became every time he was in the child's presence. She knew that the boy blamed her for his demise, but Anastasia was certain that the darkness the child produced did the Red King in.
"So, what will you do if he turns on you? On all of Wonderland due to your refusal to help?" Cheshire Cat asked.
Anastasia knew that she couldn't defend her part of Wonderland. Not without help. Unless she got aid from the summoners as she didn't trust Jafar. Perhaps they would forgive the Red Kingdom for the war…
"Another darkness is here. He can help. You just have to check the shores and look," the Cheshire Cat said, disappearing with that stupid grin on his face.
Lotus Forest…
"Okay, we've been going around in circles and I'm sure we passed that bush three times already!" Kiba said, annoyed.
Riku, as an unwilling vassal to the Red Queen, explored the forest and was surprised that he hadn't run into that weird kid in black. He, still dressed in that odd ensemble, looked around and only saw darkness, tall grasses, and the clay dirt path. A few arrows pointed in various directions and Riku remembered one of the guards telling him that the Lotus Forest was known to confuse travelers. He tried to follow his sense of smell, but the darkness of the forest made it hard to locate anything that wasn't the forest or the Red Queen's castle.
"Lost, are we?"
A tan-skinned man in black and red appeared and Riku stared as he looked like those from that world where deserts went as far as the eye could see. His mother called it the World of Endless Sands and the man's appearance fit those that were from there. His peregrine falcon Animus was perched on his snakehead, golden staff and Kiba immediately started growling.
"Well, well, well, this is quite intriguing. A wolf nomad…here in Wonderland," the man said.
"Who are you?" Riku said, getting into his battle stance.
The man smirked, saying, "Jafar. At your service. And you must be…Riku."
Riku became more defensive and Jafar's Animus said, "It's not like he'll want our help, Jafar. We should go."
"He hasn't asked yet, Iago. But I'm sure that wandering in this part of the forest will get to him sooner or later," Jafar said, turning to leave.
Riku, not wanting to continue to go around in circles, lowered his guard and said, "Why are you offering help?"
Jafar turned to face him, the mysterious man saying, "Those that wander into this part of the forest without assistance from those…stronger than the darkness here usually get found by the Queen of Hearts. And you wouldn't want to be found wandering her forests, not without permission. And since you're working with the Red Queen, you'll continue to wander."
"Okay, then. So, how do we get out?" Kiba asked, relaxing.
"You'll have to abandon the Red Queen and can take up my offer or you can wander until the Heartless finds you," Jafar said.
Riku, not willing to jump at it, thought it over. If he did, then he wouldn't know what he was getting into. But if he didn't, then Riku would continue wandering until he probably turned to dust…or a Heartless. Neither choice suited him, but he had to make a decision.
'Okay…Take Jafar up on his offer, but watch my back…' Riku thought.
Kiba nodded and said, "Alright. Shoot. What do you want?"
Jafar then said, "I want you to go into the castle of the Queen of Hearts and find me a keychain. I'm sure that the girl there has it."
"A keychain?" Kiba asked.
"A black and red keychain with an odd blue eye token. It belongs to me and the girl in the Queen of Heart's castle has it," Jafar said.
Riku didn't believe him, but if it was a way to get Alice and get back to Sora and Kairi, then he'd have to agree. So, he did. Reluctantly.
"Then, it's agreed," Jafar said.
He waved his staff, creating a portal that radiated with dark energy. Jafar warned, "When you enter, do not stop moving. Unless you truly wish to turn into a Heartless."
"Yeah, yeah. Whatever man," Riku said, running through.
As he did, the teen felt as if he was running against the wind. Riku saw images of a priest with silver hair, fighting a group of sword-wielding warriors, a butler with dark hair, fighting a large shadow beast, and a youth in black wizard's robes fighting a horde of Heartless. The last thing Riku saw was a horned shadow and a violent roar scared him into fleeing for his life.
The silver-haired teen tumbled into a hedge maze, filled with red roses. Just as Kiba stepped towards one, Riku heard, "Do not approach the hedges!"
"Huh? Mister Jafar?" Kiba asked.
"It's 'Lord Jafar'…Do not approach the hedges, unless you wish to be trapped as a garden topiary," Jafar's voice rang in Riku's head.
Kiba stepped forward and yelped as iron spikes popped up from the ground. Riku's heart raced and Jafar said, "Also, mind the traps."
"Now you tell me?" Riku said, annoyed.
Jafar didn't seem too reliable in making sure that Riku didn't get killed before finding Alice and that keychain. Seriously, if it gets too dangerous, Riku thought, he would just leave. Jafar can find that keychain himself and the Red Queen could find Alice…
"GAH!" Riku screamed, falling to his knees.
He looked at his chest, seeing the yellow and black X glow ominously. Jafar's voice sighed and he said, "And you made a deal with Anastasia. And since she's placed you under contract, you can't even think about leaving without completing her mission as well…"
"What is the deal with this place?" Riku asked, in pain.
"Wonderland, that's what it is. A place that threatens to take even the most mentally strong's sanity with every passing second," Jafar replied.
Riku got up, the pain subsiding, and said, "Fine then…Just tell me where the traps are…"
With Alice…
After playing cricket, having high tea and even getting new outfits, Alice stood in front of a brazier with a small, weak flame in the center. The girl was in the sitting room of the Queen of Hearts' palace and was dressed in red and white instead of her usual blue dress. She was even given a crown with a heart-shaped ruby in the center. The Queen of Hearts, Cora, sat on a lavish red sofa and waved her hand, making the flames on the torch grow in power.
Alice backed away and Queen Cora told her, "Now it's your turn, child."
"Um…Are you sure this is a good idea?" Dinah asked, fluttering around in dove form.
"It is if you wish to learn to defend yourself," Queen Cora told her.
Alice was nervous, as she hadn't a clue what the queen meant by "magical potential". And if there are people after her because she had it, then…
"I don't know if I should…What if…? What if I can't control…?" Alice asked.
"Don't worry. Control will come eventually. Just try to make the torch light up," Queen Cora said, sounding supportive.
She watched as Alice closed her eyes and imagined the torch on fire. After a few seconds, the girl opened her eyes and saw that nothing happened. The small flame in the center was still tiny and Alice said, "Um, I'm sorry, Your Majesty. I can't get it to light up. I've never used Fire Artes before…"
"Don't worry. Keep trying," the queen said.
Dinah perched herself on the shoulder of the sofa and asked, "You make this look so easy. How?"
"Well, I've had many years of practice and you have to have respect for such power. And then you must believe that you deserve that power. For someone like you, that power is innate," Queen Cora replied with a smile.
Alice sat next to her and asked, "So…what do you do with power like that?"
"You can use it to get whatever you want…Well, most of what you want. You can't try to bend the rules of natural law…or supernatural law…Unless you wish to end up like the sorcerer Maden Kalos," Queen Cora said, her smile disappearing.
"Who's that?" Alice asked.
Queen Cora gave a questioning look, but said, "I'm sure that your people wouldn't want to remember such a man…especially after he betrayed you all for the Red Kingdom's offer…"
Alice felt dread and the queen explained who that person was. Maden Kalos was a man, desperate to bring back someone he loved. He fell into darkness, betrayed Madain Sari, and started fighting on the side of the Red King of that era. But then he betrayed the kingdoms of Wonderland, falling into darkness and leaving many places in ruins. Originally six kingdoms, Wonderland was reduced by half to three and then to two after the demise of the White Queen. Ever since Heartless roamed the lands and terrorized places outside of the Red Queen and Queen Cora's control. Or so the Queen of Hearts said.
"He tried to use the Princess of Heart of these lands to open the way to bring back his wife…but…" Queen Cora said.
Princess of Heart? So, Queen Cora's daughter, Alice wondered? Is that why she was doting on her so much? She did have pictures of two girls in her room. But neither was blonde like her. One had red hair while the other had dark hair.
"I lost my daughters when the darkness attacked Wonderland. But neither was the princess. And when you arrived, you brought hope that I would be reunited with them," Queen Cora said.
Alice looked down, realizing that the woman knew she wasn't from Wonderland…or Madain Sari. The queen told her, "Your real name?"
"Alice…My name is Alice Windsor…" Alice said truthfully to Dinah's chagrin.
The queen didn't seem too surprised or offended that she lied. Instead, she said, "Better. Now that you're telling the truth about yourself, I'm sure that you can get the torch to light."
Alice looked at it and walked towards it. She then stared at the tiny flame and saw it grow a little. The girl turned back to see the queen staring at her. Almost as if she believed she could light it.
"You can do it. I know you can, Princess…" Queen Cora said.
Alice turned back to the small flame and something told her to put her hands around the brazier. She then had a vision of a young woman in white and blue hooded robes doing the same. Her eyes were glowing with a white light and the veins in her arms were glowing the same. Focusing on what the woman did, Alice held her hands around the brazier and the flame changed color from yellow to white.
Queen Cora watched as sparks of white light came from the girl. The sparks then turned into an aura that surrounded her and the white flames grew larger and larger until they reached the ceiling. Cora stood up, not wanting to have her home burned to the ground. But something told her that the flames wouldn't do such a thing.
Alice then cupped her hands into a ball shape and the fire coalesced into a white sphere of light. The girl's eyes were focused on it and were glowing white. She looked just like the ancient princess, Alessandra…But if she did, then this girl truly was…
"Alice! Alice! Snap out of it!" Dinah yelled, the dove Anima flying next to her.
She couldn't let anyone get near the girl, Alice. She was one of the seven that needed to be protected and cared for. And if they find out who she really was, then…
"WHOA! What is that?"
A silver-haired youth appeared, alongside him a wolf Animus. He was dressed as one of Anastasia's soldiers, but that yellow X could only mean that he made a deal with her. Foolish child, the Queen of Hearts thought.
Before she could fire off one of her spells, or Artes as Alice had put it, Alice shot the sphere of light at the silver-haired boy. It struck him in the chest, sending him flying into a wall and falling unconscious. The yellow X Anastasia placed on him disappeared and his Animus faded in an out of existence.
Cora approached, wanting to rip his heart out and return it to Anastasia. But Alice ran in front of her and yelled, "No, no, no!"
"Move, child," Cora told her.
"No, please no more ripping people's hearts out. He...He's a good person!" Alice said.
How could an assassin sent by Anastasia be a "good person"? Sure, the girl was powerful, but she was certainly a bad judge of character. Not wanting to send the child flying out of her way, as she needed her, Cora said, "Fine. I won't rip his heart out. But I need to know what he's doing here, in my domain."
Alice sighed in relief and Cora called for the guards. The card soldiers appeared, taking the silver-haired youth and dragging him to the dungeons. She will find out why Anastasia sent him to assassinate her.
"What…in the…?" the Red King said, seeing a cloud of darkness billowing from Lotus Forest.
He, along with the five other rulers of Wonderland, watched on horseback as a familiar figure stepped out of the darkness. Behind him were hordes of Heartless, all with red eyes instead of the usual yellow. The figure, clad in black and gold robes and white hair poking from underneath his hood, glared at the six rulers and their armies with glowing, red eyes. He grinned, revealing his fangs, and said, "You…why are you in the way?"
The Red King, rode up to him and said, "Lord Maden…please, what happened?"
"You lied…You said you'd help…But you…lied…" the man…or monster, Maden Kalos, said.
He saw the other armies, seeing the card soldiers from the King of Hearts, the red kingdom's soldiers, forces from the White Queen, forces from the King of Clubs, the knights from the Black Queen, and the mercenaries from the Queen of Spades. The forces totaled around 60,000 strong, but the Heartless came from the darkening cloud. Their numbers were immeasurable. If only those from Madain Sari and Lufenia had answered the call.
The Red King didn't know that Maden had betrayed them, believing the Red King or King of Hearts would be able to help him get his wife and children back. They didn't know that he instigated the war by lying to everyone. And when the Red King found out the truth, he spoke with Cid of the Lufenian and the two confronted him. Maden then escaped, fleeing into the shadows, and now…
"You said you'd help me, but you couldn't. Why didn't you tell me that you couldn't?" Maden asked.
"You gave none of us a chance! We tried to tell you that what you're doing will destroy the world's balance. No one should attempt to bring someone who was long gone from this world back. You know the three rules. You can't make anyone love you. You can't bring back the dead or change the past. You knew this…if you were truly among the summoners of Madain Sari," the Red King said.
Maden looked away, muttering, "Useless humans…"
He then held out his hand and a black key-like sword appeared. It was the ancient Keyblade, the Darkgnaw. The Red King rode back to his forces, yelling, "Everyone, ready yourselves for attack!"
They did and the most violent battle in the history of Wonderland began…
"That was quick. Why did you think that going straight to the Queen's chambers would be a good idea?"
Jafar's voice woke Riku and the man sounded disappointed. He was surprised that he could still hear him as whatever that blonde girl in red did destroy the X on Riku's chest, which he found was his connection to Queen Anastasia as he could barely feel her power. The youth remembered getting sent flying into a wall and the queen attempting to rip his heart out. After that, nothing.
"Did you at least spot the keychain?" Jafar asked.
Riku muttered, "No."
"Well, this is most disappointing. I would go and get you out, but…" Jafar said.
"But you're scared…" Kiba added.
Jafar scoffed and the doors to the dungeons were opened. The blonde from before ran towards Riku's cell and she said, "Oh, thank goodness! I thought the queen ripped your heart out already!"
"Um, who are you?" Riku asked.
"Oh. I'm…I'm Alice. And this is Dinah. And you're in the Queen of Hearts' palace," the girl, Alice, said.
She was looking around for something and Kiba said, "This is Riku and I'm Kiba."
"Nice to meet you. But we have to get you out of here before the queen puts you on trial," Dinah said, morphing from a dove into cat form.
She…That Alice girl's Anima was just like Naminé, a shapeshifter. Was she the same as…?
"Oh…If only I had a key, I could open this cell door…" Alice said.
"A key…? Quickly! Ask her for the keychain, boy!" Jafar yelled.
Alice looked around and said, "A keychain? What keychain?"
She could hear Jafar too, Riku thought. Dinah then said, "What about the one we found at the Tea Party Garden?"
Alice checked the pockets of her dress and pulled out a black and red keychain. The token was the same as what Jafar had described as it was a blue eye token. Its appearance was hauntingly familiar, but Riku had never seen such a thing.
"I only came here to find you and that thing. That's all," Riku said.
Alice waved her hand over the door lock and it opened with a click. She was surprised, saying, "I didn't think that would work."
"That power…" Jafar said before going silent.
A loud explosion and the palace was rocked. A bad feeling formed in the pit of Riku's stomach and he got up, saying, "We gotta get out of here and back to the Red Queen."
"What? The Red Queen? I thought Queen Cora told me…" Alice said, clutching the keychain.
"Alice, she told me to come here and find you. And I need to bring you to her so I can go back to my friends," Riku said.
Another explosion and Alice nodded, saying, "Follow me!"
The two ran off, leaving the dungeons just as Shadow Heartless appeared.
Cora, appalled that the dark forces would attack her domain, marched through the halls with her soldiers, attacking any Heartless that dared to come after her with various magical arts. She even summoned a flame sword to her hands, slicing Soldier and Bandit Heartless that came too close. She was the Queen of Hearts, so their attacking her would prove useless.
Heading for Alice's room, the queen needed to keep her safe, lest they had a repeat of when Maden attacked Wonderland, looking for Alessandra. But when the doors to her room were opened, the girl was nowhere to be found. Cora's eyes widened in shock and she ordered, "Find her and eliminate any Heartless you find."
"Yes, Your Majesty!" the soldiers said, taking off.
She took a deep breath and mentally scanned the palace. She sensed Alice and the would-be assassin of Anastasia's rushing through the Rose Garden. With a single thought and opening a dark portal around herself, the queen vanished in a plume of red and black smoke. Reappearing at the gate to her domain and stopping Alice and the assassin, Cora said, "Enough!"
"But Your Majesty! We have to find a way out of here before the darkness…" Alice started.
Cora shushed her and Riku said, "Oh come on! You don't see the dark clouds above us! We have to leave and get back to Ana…!"
"I don't care that you're Anastasia's pet, boy. You're not leaving with the Princess…" Cora said, brandishing the flame sword.
She swung, releasing a wave of fire. The silver-haired boy held up what looked like a Soul Eater and it created a barrier. The fire dispersed and Alice yelled, "Your Majesty! Please! We need to…!"
A powerful explosion pushed the trio back into the garden and everything went dark. Cora summoned a staff to her hands, got up, and slammed it into the ground, creating a barrier. As long as her piece of Wonderland was safe, she was fine.
The woman watched as the darkness dispersed, a light coming from behind her. The silver-haired youth was no longer holding a Soul Eater. Instead, it was a weapon in the shape of a key…the Way to Dawn? He collapsed, the weapon disappearing in sparks of light.
The surrounding gardens had been destroyed, with many of her favorite rose bushes turned to ashes. She looked back at the boy and saw that Alice wasn't next to him. She couldn't even sense her anywhere in Wonderland. The darkness…it didn't take her…did it?
"Your Majesty!"
The soldiers found her and all looked to be accounted for, but none the worse for wear. Dispelling the barrier Cora ordered, "Go and find Alice and bring her back here. Failure will not be tolerated."
They bowed and ran off. Cora then used her power to lift the unconscious boy and Animus from the ground. They looked exhausted, but she had to know why he had that Keyblade. Without a word, the two and Animus disappeared in a plume of red and black darkness.
With Jafar…
Pleased with himself as he had found both the Darkgnaw keychain and a Princess of Heart, Jafar walked through the halls of Hollow Bastion, prepared to give his report. He also was able to keep his side of the bargain with the boy, at the cost of losing a potential ally in that boy Riku. But that Riku didn't seem too bright on the workings of other worlds, so it wasn't that much of a loss.
"So, you really did find her?"
A flock of ravens appeared, coalescing into a dark plume. A blonde woman in an all-black armored dress appeared and she had a smirk on her face. Jafar bowed, saying, "Hello there, Grimhilda. What brings you to Hollow Bastion?"
"I heard that Maleficent found another of the princesses. What does that make it? Two?" Grimhilda said.
Jafar was miffed, as he was given no credit in finding the girl. But at least they found what they were looking for. And gained another ally.
"Well, I'm here as I suspect a certain maiden in my realm may be one of the princesses. I was looking for assistance," Grimhilda said, looking around and seeing all the dark and Heartless-worshipping décor.
She didn't look pleased and Jafar was about to mention that he had nothing to do with said oddities in that castle when he heard, "You found…?"
The boy…or shadow he found in Wonderland spotted the pair. He quickly went to Jafar and asked, "You found…my good luck charm?"
"Yes. Here it is…" Jafar said, handing the boy the odd keychain.
It pulsated with dark energy and Grimhilda looked…horrified. Which was out of character for her as she was known as the Evil Queen in her world. The boy smiled and said, "Th-Thanks…"
After getting the keychain, the Darkgnaw, back from Jafar, the boy happily ran down the halls, wanting to show Maleficent. She was helping him in controlling the vast darkness within him. She already taught him how to open dark corridors, teleport using them, and even helped him summon his first Heartless.
The dragon-sorceress-fairy-lady told him that darkness didn't need to be feared as long as it was controlled. And opening himself to accepting it was key. The boy could've sworn he heard that before. But he didn't know where.
Just as he made it to the Lift Stop leading to the second floor, pain filled his chest and the child collapsed. It…It was happening again. He was about to turn and everyone in Hollow Bastion was about to be in danger. The keychain disappeared and a flood of memories overcame the boy. He fell onto his stomach, his body turning into a plume of darkness.
"Maden, please! Don't!"
"Quiet! You know nothing!"
"Please, I know that you want Lady Azura to return to you, but you can't…"
"Why not? Why can't I break the laws to get my wife and children back?"
"You'll only open yourself up to darkness and if you do…then the world risks its end!"
"…How?"
"You're more than a summoner from Madain Sari. You're what our ancestors feared…greatly feared…So, please. Don't do this…I beg of you. Come back to us."
"Ma-Maden…? My name…"
The darkness the child had turned into coalesced and disappeared, revealing a young man with long, black hair, covered by a black and gold hood. His summoner robes were the same color and he was very pale, as if he had never been out in the sun. He got to his feet, looked around with hazel eyes, and saw the perpetual dusk skies of Hollow Bastion. As if the land was locked in a time loop.
Behind him, a corridor of darkness appeared and Maleficent stepped out. He didn't bother to turn around and asked, "Did you know this whole time?"
"What do you mean, child?" Maleficent asked.
Maden looked at her and saw that she had a serious expression on her face. Not her usual, half-attempt to be kind expression. Her Anima, a yellow-eyed raven named Diavola, stared at him and the dragon-like fairy said, "I only found out who you were five seconds ago. Your memories are returning?"
"Yes…" Maden said, not sure if she was about to ask something he was going to refuse to do.
Maleficent seemed to relax and said, "Since we've helped you regain parts of your memories and a semblance of control over the darkness, you…"
"Owe you? Whatever for?" Maden asked.
"For everything that has transpired. I know you refuse to help us find the rest of the Princesses. But, doing so will be worth your while," Maleficent said.
The young man shook his head, not believing her. The dark fairy then said, "Are you sure? You're not willing to help us bring back those you've lost?"
Maden froze, remembering how long ago, he wished to bring back his wife and children. They perished during a plague and he wanted them back. He wanted them back so badly that he…he…
"N-No…" he said, clutching his head.
The memories were fuzzy at best. But he had a feeling something terrible had happened. Maybe that's why he was a…
"If you help us, we can help you. We need to find all seven Princesses to open the Final Door. Beyond it lies untold wisdom. Wisdom that can help you break the laws of magical artes…Something you attempted long ago, but lost yourself before you could do so," Maleficent said.
"Hey! Don't listen to her! Snap out of it!"
That voice…It sounded familiar, yet foreign at the same time. Maden shook his head, his curiosity outweighing his suspicions. If he could get to that Final Door, then…maybe he could…
"No, no, no, no! Don't!"
That voice again. Why didn't it want him to bring back his wife and children? They were all he had in Madain Sari. And he had a feeling he couldn't return after whatever he was trying to remember transpired.
Maleficent seemed to be waiting for an answer, but that voice was so distracting. Annoyed with it, but needing to reply, Maden muttered, "I'll think about it."
He then disappeared into a dark corridor, trying to find any other place but the castle to think.
Okay, well, that's the end of the Wonderland Arc. Like before, Alice was taken away, but this time it was Jafar's doing. And another character from Disney appears in this, Grimhilda. According to some sources, that was the actual name of the Evil Queen in Snow White and the Seven Dwarves.
Anywho, leave a review?
-miano53