Destructive Memories

Forgive me everyone, for I have been lazy! And now I present another chapter with almost 4,000 words. Am I awesome or what? If you saw Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland(I owns me a copy) then a lot of speech here will be very similar to the movie.

14. The Compendium and the Warning

Alice was horrified. She clung to the chair in the middle of the room to keep balance. After she and Gray had exited the secret room, Alice had done her best to look in every possoble place for Nightmare. He wasn't anywhere to be found.

" Hey Alice, why's this guy so important? Does he know somethin' we don't?" Boris asked, his pink tail swaying behind him. Looking through the window, Alice gave a nod to no one in partcular." You might say that. He.. knows something that I don't, but he said that when I was ready to know, you all would tell me," she glanced at Gray, who turned away from her. Boris's eyes widened. So that's it, he thought.

Gray walked closer to her, staring out at the burning sky." You know as well as I do, the best chance you have of seeing him is in the dream world. Just be patient and wait for him. Sometimes, it's not you who has to be ready, but those who guide you," he looked down at her with concern.

Maybe that's true, but if you could feel the guilt running over me, you'd be impatient too.

KNOCK
KNOCK

"Huh? Who was that?" Boris exclaimed. He pulled on his hood and sauntered to the door, pushing against a peep hole Alice hadn't noticed. They could hear Boris grumbling to whoever was outside. Squinting, Alice saw a shade of red through the peep hole. " Alice, it's for you. Want me to let him in?"

Alice nodded.

Boris pulled the door open and a flash of red burst through." Oh Alice~ It's wasn't a dream! You really came back!" Peter grabbed her up in a hug, picking her up and spinning around the room." Yes! I did! Now put me down already!" she demanded. Placing her back down properly, Alice grabbed her stomach and waited for the inevitable... Avoided.

Breathing out a sigh of relief, Alice straightened up." Peter, why are you here? Isn't it remotely safer at the castle?" Peter grinned." Dander is danger wherever you go. And I recieved a message last night. It was for you, but he came to me instead. I found it rather odd," Peter muttered, placing a finger under his chin. Alice gasped at him." You saw Nightmare last night? What did he say? Is he in trouble!"

" I don't know, my dear, but his message overall was cryptic to say the least. I believe with no doubt at all he has foreseen something perilous and is trying to report it," Peter replied.

They gathered close to Peter, waiting to hear the message from their departed friend." He sent it in a dream script, here." Peter reached within his cloak and pulled out a scroll. It was see through like a ghost, and was outlined by a pale blue. Peter glared at it and opened his mouth.

My friends,

I must warn you. I've seen the motives of the Jabberwock's next move. He's playing with us, merely like a game of chess. He's aligning the pieces to his advantage and getting ready to move in for the kill. I'm afraid of what Wonderland will suffer through if he succeeds in his plan. Our time is drawing near to either fight, or perish within the fire. It's urgent that you tell Alice of her role here, she must be, and this I stress, must be prepared. You all know what role I refer to. I hope you can forgive me. Undoubtedly, I won't be able to help her prepare for the day we fear the most. The dream world is falling apart and I must stay in order to preserve as much as possible. When there are no dreamers to dream, the existence of my world is threatened, just like I am. Prepare her for the day when she slays the monster, and don't let her fall before then. Many thanks to all those who will participate in Wonderland's triumphant return.

Alice's blood froze, a frigid chill running through her spine. What day? What role? I don't have a role. What are they talking about? Peter rolled the scroll up, placing it back inside his cloak, then brought out a second scroll, much larger than the first." How did you get that? I thought it had been destroyed years ago," Gray exclaimed.

" What is it?" Alice asked, curiously gazing at the scroll. Peter unrolled it, and all the pictures painted on the page started moving in a rythmic pattern." This is the Calendar of Wonderland, our Compendium. It tells of each and every day since the beginning. Alice, the day that Nightmare refers to is here," Peter further unrolled it, placing it on the floor for everyone to see. A girl with long hair stood on a pedestal, a sword held high above her head. Across from her was a dragon with massive wings and razor sharp teeth, drawing closer to the girl.

" That..that's supposed to be me?" Alice glanced at them. They all nodded." No.. you're all wrong. That's not me, it can't be. I couldn't slay anything even if I wanted to."

Gray put his hand on her shoulder." Alice, whether you want to believe it or not, that's you. It's hard to believe, especially when it happens so suddenly, but you need to step forth and accept it. I can't imagine what would happen if you don't."

Alice cringed." Why? What would happen!"

"Well," Boris started," I've heard a few juicy rumors from the old man about a special portal the Jabberwock's been trying to open. My guess is that portal leads back to your world, Alice. If you don't stop that guy, he'll do to your world what he's done to ours."

Alice shuddered. The thought of the Jabberwock coming into her world made chills run up and down her body.
" Alice, darling, what's the matter? You seem so scared now," Peter inquired. Alice glared at him.

" Oh, so now I'm supposed to take on this so-called role of monster slayer like it's a normal thing? I'm supposed to save this world like I do it all the time and you all are just going to force that on me without any thoughts or doubts about what might happen. What happens if I die! If that thing kills me, what are you all gonna do? Just try again and hope for the best? I hate to burst your little bubble, guys, but I'm not slaying that thing. I don't even know how to fight, and this creep as a freakin' army! And what do we have? Broken lunatics and blind madmen? Yeah, that'll get us real far. And yes, I'll say it with no regrets at all. I am pathetic. I'm a pathetic, useless, lazy freeloader who doesn't understand anything about this world or it's rules. I don't know why you have roles and kill people, I don't know why there's a war going on, but you have to understand that.. that.."

"What?" they all said in unison.

"You can't rely on me.. not anymore. I've seen too much. I've been broken down, just like everything else. If I hadn't grown so weak and fallen into the dream world, Nightmare would be here with us now, but he's not! It's my fault and if something happens to him, or you, then I accept whatever punishment or guilt or whatever. I can't fight that thing and win...

.. I can't put the weight of a world's hope on my shoulders and promise something good.. because it won't happen." Hot tears dripped from her eyes, trailing down her cheeks." Nobody's ever wanted me to do something important because nobody's ever expected anything out of me before. But when I came here 10 years ago, you were all.. so kind. You didn't expect anything out of me even though all you ever did was be nice. But now that you need that, I can't deliver. I'm too scared to promise a world good things and fill it with more hatred. If I fail..

" If you fail, you fail. That's all there is to it, my dear~" Peter interupted." Alice, believe me when I say we all know what you're trying to say. All Roleholders have tried to be the champion. We've all fought the Jabberwock, we've all lost to him and we're all still alive. What I mean is, that," Peter pointed to the Compendium," that picture isn't drawn with us. It's drawn with you. You are weilding the Vorpal blade and you are the one wearing the armor. That's all there is to it. Nothing more, nothing less."

Placing a finger under her eyes, Peter wiped away the tears straying from her eyes." Alice, until that day comes, we're all gonna be standing right beside you, so don't worry," Boris grinned at her.

"Yes," Gray chimed in," we'll all help teach you ways to fight, and you will find one that suits you best."

Alice could have cried harder but held her tears back." Thank you for believing in me but.. I can't do it," Before they could say another word, Alice bolted from the room." Alice, wait my dear!" Peter sprang after her, leaving the little group and Compendium behind. He grabbed the door before it shut, forcing it open with a strong heave. Alice sat on her bed, tears falling off her face.

Peter closed the door softly and made his way over to her. Sitting next to her, he placed his palm over hers." My dear, what's bothering you?" he asked obliviously." This world. That's what bothers me," she choked out.
" Then.. why did you come back?"

Alice shook her head." I wanted to see everyone again. My world is horrible. Everything is the same, the memories, regrets.. betrayal. It's all the same. But I told myself Wonderland would never stay the same. Everybody would still be the way they were, but time would never wait for anyone."

Peter sighed." It doesn't, my dear. It truly doesn't. But this role, it's not something you can pretend doesn't exist. It's as real as you or me, and it's waiting for a champion, just like you and me. I say this out of courage. Fighting that beast is nothing to smirk at, and we all understand your hesitation. But someone worthy has to step forth Alice. No one else can do it but you."

So I've been told.

Alice stood up, smoothing out her wrinkled apron and walking over to the snapped table against the side of the wall. It had been repaired several times over, and somehow it stood strong before her. Reaching out, she gingerly picked up a small glass object, glancing at it and back to Peter." Peter, will you try this on for me?" she asked. Peter tilted his head to the side." What is it?" Before he had a closer look at the tiny object, Alice slid it onto his face.

Peter gasped. The world was as clear as crystal, every detail in the room was noticable, especially Alice. Removing the miracle from his face, Peter looked at it carefully." Alice, where did you get these?" he asked in disbelief." I made them. Julius helped me. I was sad when we met, you said you couldn't see anything because you didn't have the glasses you needed. I had spare time, more than what I have now, so I thought I should give them to you before anything.. happens."

Peter's clock was ticking a mile a minute. His Alice made something so important for him. He was on cloud nine. He propped the owl-glasses onto his nose and jumped on her. It was the old Peter, that much was certain, mostly by his devastating bone crushing hug. Maybe that's how he fought his enemies. As if it was a reflex, Peter let go and stepped away.

" Hide."

" What?" Had she misheard him? Peter grabbed her shoulder and pushed her onto the ground beneath the bed." Peter, what are you doing!" " Shh! That vile creature is here." Alice's eyes widened." The Jabberwock is.. here?" She swallowed hard. The odds weren't in her favor. " No, not him. In my opinion, he's much worse than the Jabberwock," Peter hissed." Stay here until one of us comes back for you. Don't make a single sound." With that, Peter bound from the room, his hand on the sheath of his sword. The door shut behind him, a faint locking sound on the other side.

If it's not the Jabberwock, then who?

Realization hit her like a bomb. That mask.. God, please don't let it be him.

BANG!

The door shattered into a million pieces." Alice! Run away!" a voice shouted. Without wasting a minute, Alice scrambled out from under the bed and ran to the exit as fast as her legs would go. In the other room, Peter and Gray were pulling their arms towards themselves, motioning for her to come to them. Alice turned her body and positioned her body for a sprint..

..too late. Something snatched her by the arm." Alice!" Peter screeched. He lunged forward, his sword over his shoulders ready to slice through anything. As the edge of the blade came down, Alice waited for an impact to hit but it never did. Peter had lowered his sword, the tip touching the floor. Alice tried to turn her head, but something sliced her neck. A trickle of blood started to flow from the cut. Alice tried to reach up and wipe it away, but something still had her wrists.

"Ace, I'm telling you one time and one time only," Peter spat at him," Let. Her. Go."
Anger smothered his voice and a fierce gleam flittered in his eyes. Gray was the same, holding silver knives at his sides and a dangerous look gleaming in his gold eyes." Why are you here, you pompous ingorant outcast," Gray snarled at him." Why not here? Why not now?"

Alice's stomach twisted at the snake-like voice. It was so distant, yet so familiar. It made her sick. And the sword underneath her neck didn't make her feel any better.

" Let go, Ace!" Alice thrashed wildly in his arms, pushing and shoving as hard as she could. As she was about to elbow him in the stomach, his hand slapped down on the back of her neck

And everything went black.

The swaying of her arms woke her up. They were dangling over something and her hair was twirling around her face. Footsteps echoed through her ears as a low breathing sound filled the air. Ace is probably the one carrying me right now. Glancing around, Alice saw that she was in a forest/cave thing. It looked like a cave, but had flowers and tiny tree saplings sprouting everywhere. Moss was growing, and if she hadn't seen it with her own eyes she wouldn't have believed it. A tiny waterfall. That's cute, I guess. But how did all this get in a cave of all places.

Her body stopped swaying. With gentle handling, she was placed on the ground carefully. It was cold, and felt good against her skin after being around nothing but flames. Suddenly, a hand pressed against her cheek and cold water ran her neck, reviving the burning from the cut she felt earlier. She grimaced, hoping to mislead him into thinking she was still alseep." Alice, wake up," Ace called to her. Of course it didn't work.
Slowly leaning up, Alice wiped her eyes with her hands, rubbing away the sleep that lingered." Haha~ All you ever do is sleep, you need to be more active."

This is definitely Ace 101.

Alice saw it again. That hideous, blood stained mask that concealed his eyes. His bloody yellow cloak wrinkled over his shoulders and curled around his legs. He was sitting Indian-style on a patch of glittery moss, just like she was." What's wrong? Do I have something on my face?" Ace asked blindly. Alice's brows went into a v-shape. She sat on her knees and glared at him." Ace," she started, her voice low and drenched with hate for the masked man," Are you really that stupid? Did you really just ask if something was on your face?" Alice mentally smacked herself. This is Ace I'm talking to. And I know how he'll act so why am I trying?

Ace laughed at her." Haha, that's not nice Alice." Her fists were vibrating with anger." Not.. nice? You think I care about being rude right now? You're the one who kidnapped me and almost slit my throat! You should be apologizing to me," she shouted. Ace held up a gloved finger. " You're the one who almost slit your throat. You moved, not me," he corrected her. Who does he think he is!

Alice grabbed her head with her hands, hoping to stop the headache that was coming." Ace, just.. just shut up, okay, just shut up. Do like you always do and get lost, or better yet, I'll be the one that gets lost," she said, standing up and walking towards the exit of the cavern. As she stepped into the narrow tunnel, a hand clamped down on her arm." I didn't bring you here just so you could leave."

He pushed her against the wall and leaned on her, pressing his head against her chest." I can't stay away from it, this magnificent sound. I gave up all my hope, all my hope of Wonderland becoming something worth living in, because it never worked. But I heard this sound, and my hope came back, because you are the champion who'll save us from him."

Alice didn't budge when he snuggled closer to her. Instead, she put a hand on his head and ruffled his brown locks." Ace, Knight of Hearts, you are a strange man," she sighed. Ace leaned back to look at her, his signature smile plastered on his face." Yep, I'm a strange one, but I'm not a Knight anymore," he said gleefully." What? But you have to be! It's your role." Ace shrugged." When Jabberwock took over, the main roles were cast aside, just like the abilities, so therefore, I'm no longer a Knight. Isn't that great?" he said again, his voice filling up with happiness.

Ace is a total nut, but if my memories serve me properly, then he was more than happy to give up his role as Knight of Hearts.

"Hey Ace."

"Hm?"

" Do you know where the.. Vorpal sword is?" she said the words with hesitation, like she may have been cursed by using it in vain.

Ace pressed closer against her, his arms wrapped around her waist tightly." Of course I do," he answered. Alice mentally smacked herself.. again." Could you tell me where it is?" Ace smiled against her chest." Of course I could," he replied. This isn't going anywhere.

" Will you tell me where it is, then?" she asked as polite as possible, holding back the screams rising up in her throat. Ace leaned back, looking at her again." What do I get?" he asked. Alice looked puzzled and he read this expression easily." If I tell you where the sword is, what do I get in return for helping you?"

Alice thought for a minute, a finger placed under her chin." I'll let you listen to my heart. Whenever you want. And I won't complain or try to get you to leave," she added. Ace's mouth curved into a cheshire cat smile, and Alice swore the mask's eyes were shining brightly. " Alright," he held out his hand and she took it in a handshake." Okay, so where is the sword?"

Ace, for the first time in his life, looked like he knew what he was thinking about." If I remember correctly, it should probably be locked away somewhere at the Hatter Mansion."

" Okay, let's go get it then," Alice jumped up and pulled Ace up with her." You actually want me to go with you?" Ace laughed at her." I thought you hated me," he smirked. " Technically, it's a very thin line," she deadpanned.

" Well, you're probably right. If some lackey jumps out and kills you, then I can't listen to your heart beat," he thought out loud.

Well, protection as a prize is better than none at all, I guess.

As Ace walked behind her, Alice's heart beat jumped up a notch. I'm really gonna fight that thing. I can see myself fighting but..

.. why can't I see myself winning?

Well, it's not bad for a long awaited chapter. If you want to know why the armor isn't already together, it's because the game(yes, I own that too) requires you to find both the sword and the armor(which are freakishly far away from each other) before you fight the Jabberwocky.

Well, what should happen next? Should they get attacked and forced to stay at the mansion or should somebody die, etc.. ? What do you think?