Ten- Pandemonium
Being back in my room at Marmoreal, made me feel more at home than I had felt in a long time.
As I folded up my red dress and gripped my warm pyjamas, the feeling of accomplishment filled me.
It was finally over, everything. The story was finished and all that was left was to maintain the peace and amnesty of Underland for the rest of its days.
I glanced over at the clock on the mantle displaying that it was two thirty in the morning.
I couldn't sleep.
I began to ponder if maybe I had some chronic sleeping disorder… but that would be silly.
I placed the dress into a nearby chest of clothing I had gathered from my old wardrobe in Crims- filled with various red coloured clothing.
I closed the chest and locked the latches, turning away and smiling.
That was the last memory I had from my life in Crims.
The red guards had all been converted to white and Crims was now going to be turned into a museum, commemorating all the years of Underland and all of it's great hero's and heroines.
The story of Alice was of course one of its main exhibits, but there had been rumours of an Arietta exhibit in the making which I am of course very fond of.
I crawled over to my bed and lay down, running my hands through my long blonde hair.
I suddenly thought to my mother, down in the library on her own with her fierce eyes locked onto the Oraculum.
I closed my eyes and smiled, knowing there was no way she could get it.
I awoke the next morning, feeling surprisingly sore.
I bathed and changed into a quaint light green dress.
It felt good to not have to wear red all the time.
I made my way downstairs, eating a large breakfast and hurrying out to the grounds.
I slipped off my shoes and walked along the soft, delicate grass- the bristles tickling my toes.
I walked along the grassy pathway, until I came to a large rotunda of which was occupying a small Dodo.
I walked up the small wooden steps and grinned at the Dodo as I walked over to him.
"Hello there," I said, as he lowered the book he was currently immersed within.
The Dodo looked up to me and a slight smile appeared over his old beak.
"Why hello Miss Arietta, how are you today?" he asked, almost as if it were difficult to maintain a natural conversation with me still.
I cleared my throat, my hands held behind my back.
I was slightly nervous about conversing with someone of whom I had thought as my enemy for what seemed like so long.
"I am very well, thank you Dodo," I replied, courteously. "I was just pondering as I saw you, as to what you will be doing now that the Great War is over. Will you move out of the castle?"
The Dodo shifted slightly and adjusted his glasses.
"I am Miss Arietta, I most certainly am."
I hastily sat down beside him, the Dodo seeming even more uncomfortable.
"Where are you going?" I enquired, curiously.
"I am going off to find my son," The Dodo replied. "I gave him up after my wife was killed by The Red Queen's forces. It would be delightful to be able to see him one last time."
"What do you mean 'one last time'?" I asked, puzzled.
"No-one lives forever Ari, I am getting old now… too old to be hanging around here," The Dodo explained. "I shall find my son and than my time will end."
"You can't be sure-"
"Yes I can Ari, I has been foretold," The Dodo cut-off. "Just like what has happened to you has been foretold and what will happen to everyone else. Sometimes, you must just go with the flow."
The Dodo picked up his book and escaped back into its world, queuing for me that it was time to leave.
I stood up and walked off, my hands behind my back as I wondered gleefully through the gardens, trailing my hands along a row of flowers until I spied two little men sitting under a tree arguing.
"No, she said it was this way!"
"Contrariwise, she actually meant the other way!"
"Hello Tweedles," I said, walking over to them and smiling kindly. "What ever is wrong? You seem very troubled?"
The Tweedles were silent, looking over to me and not catching my eye.
One nudged the other, who nudged him back before they both grunted,
"The Queen gave us a riddle for us to complete and we don't understand it," Tweedledum admitted quietly.
"Well, what was the riddle?" I asked, hopeful.
The Tweedles looked to each other, scratching their heads.
"Err, I don't remember…?"
"Me neither…?"
I laughed, which caused the Tweedles to smile faintly.
"I am glad to know that I can still laugh," I admitted, grinning down at them. "So, Tweedles. What will become of you? Will you stay in Marmoreal?"
"Mmm… yes," they both said, almost sadly.
"We have no where else to go," Tweedledee said, sadly.
My eyes saddened.
"No-one else to love," The Tweedles agreed, together.
I sighed deeply, wishing there was something I could say or do to help them…
"Tweedles, who are they?" I asked, spying two figures walking towards us.
The brothers turned around as two girls walked towards us, looking almost identical to the Tweedles except for stunningly long blonde hair.
"Maybe you should help them find their way?" I insisted, smiling.
Both the Tweedles made a slight gurgling sound, before running over to the two girls, pushing and tripping over one another on their way.
I stood up straight and grinned broadly, as my little boys' grabbed hold of the girls' hands and led them through the gardens, smiling at them eagerly.
From behind me I suddenly heard a loud scuffling sound and I spun around, spying a fluffy white tail attempting to hide behind an all too small flower.
"Rabbit?" I asked, peering around and seeing the furry creature,
The Rabbit lowered his ears, and hopped around and out of his hiding place.
"H-Hello Ari," he stammered, timidly.
"You know you don't need to be scared of me anymore Nivens," I advised, sternly. "I'm not going to chop your head off!"
Nivens shook violently, his hands up to his mouth and beginning to bite his little nails.
"I-It's just… you nearly did chop my head off," he stammered, averting my eyes.
He was completely right.
"Oh… oh Nivens," I said, dropping to my knees and leaning towards the rabbit. "I am so sorry. You did not deserve my pessimism. You are a good rabbit Nivens, and true to your Queen. How could I ever punish you for that?"
Nivens lowered his hands and walked a few steps towards me, twitching his little nose and standing a few steps from me.
With one quick movement, the rabbit kissed my cheek lightly and stepped backwards.
"Thanks," he said, blushing slightly before scampering away.
I stood up and smiled, shaking my head.
How could I have ever left this?
I looked up to the sky as the sun sat in the immediate centre and I knew it would be lunchtime soon, but there was still one more person I wanted to speak to.
I made my way towards the tree swing where I spied the small mouse sitting atop the swing.
How did I know she'd be here!
"Did you want me to push you?" I asked, walking around to face the little mouse.
Swiftly, Mally stood up on the swing- crossing her arms and averting her eyes.
"Mally?" I asked, sitting down beside her on the swing.
"I am cross with you," Mally cried, abruptly.
I sighed.
Wasn't everyone!
"I know you are Mally, and… and I'm sorry," I apologised, glumly. "It is just… I felt as if I was betrayed. And I had to leave, you lot pushed me out, remember! So really, it is I who should be cross with you!"
Mally slowly lowered her arms and looked over to me, guilt filling her eyes.
"You are right," she said. "I am sorry."
The mouse lowered her ears, her tail drooping behind her.
"You know I will always forgive my Mallymkun!" I cried, happily.
Mally opened her eyes, instantly filling with joy and running up my arm to sit atop my shoulder.
"Friends again!" Mally asked, jumping.
I laughed.
"Of course! When were we not!" I asked, smiling. "Now, I am starving! Let us eat something!"
Mally nodded and jumped off my shoulder, scurrying along the ground towards the castle.
I lingered around at the swing for a while, but soon made my way back to the castle for lunch.
I spent the rest of the day with Mally and The Hare, just running crazily around the castle before bumping into Alice and spending some time in the library writing stories.
I sat with all of my friends once again at dinner that night, enjoying a lovely meal which was only spoilt by the fact that The Hatter had not turned up.
"Ali, where's Tarrant?" I asked, as Alice broke into a piece of bread.
"I haven't seen him all day," Alice admitted, shrugging.
After dinner I wondered outside and found myself to The Hatter and my spot and sat down on the chair, looking out at the flowing waterfalls.
The cool night air hit my face and for once in a long time, I was happy to be alone.
"You… you're Arietta aren't you," said a solemn, intelligent voice.
I paused, my eyes winded as I sat up straight.
"Whom said that?" I asked, aloud.
"Who."
"Who what?"
"Who said that," the voice argued. "And that is quite a silly question actually."
"In what way?"
"Obviously someone said that, so to ask 'who said it' seems highly irrelevant."
I lowered my eyebrows.
"Huh?"
"Oh for goodness sake," the voice said, as suddenly a bright blue butterfly landed beside me. "It was me."
I was taken-back.
"A butterfly?"
"Not just ANY butterfly, I am Absoluem," the blue butterfly said, almost angrily.
I gasped quietly.
I had read all about Absoluem, the wisest creature in the whole of Underland. When I was younger I often wanted to find him and ask who the man at the fair was, but I never did.
"Oh, I am so sorry," I said, hastily. "I did not mean-"
"Oh you are so like your mother, arrogant to the last," The butterfly snapped, sternly. "Anyway, I came here to say… to say…"
The butterfly took a deep breath in and finally said, "…thank you."
"Thank you for what?"
"For saving Underland of course!" he snapped. "God, I come all this way to say thanks and this is the gratitude I get!"
The butterfly huffed before flying off.
"No, come back I'm sorry," I cried, before sighing.
Me and my big mouth…!
I returned to the seat and dug my foot into the grass, feeling the bristles toughing the edges of my legs.
"What a b-b-b-b-b-"
I looked around as the stuttering Hatter walked over to me, tripping over his feet as he tried to speak.
"Brilliant?" I finished for him, grinning.
"Yes," he said, reaching me and looking down to me. "You clever thing!"
He tapped my nose and sat down beside me, causing my stomach to lurch slightly.
"So, where have you been all day mister?" I asked, cunningly. "I feel like I haven't seen you one bit!"
"Well that's because you haven't," he replied cunningly.
I shook my head, smiling.
"But no! I've been around… just…thinking," The Hatter said; his glorious green eyes glued to mine.
"About?"
"Stuff."
"Stuff?"
"You."
"Me?"
"Yes."
I laughed.
"What about me?" I asked, smirking.
The Hatter was silent for a while, biting his lip slightly before continuing.
"About… whether you remember what I said yesterday?" he asked, slowly. "About you?"
My stomach began to fill with butterflies…which was odd considering I had just had a mild argument with one.
"Hmm… no, sorry don't remember," I lied, tastefully. "You'll have to remind me."
The Hatter lowered his eyes and moved backwards.
"You remember, I know you do I've seen that face a thousand times!" he replied, smiling.
"No, I have no idea what you're talking about!" I joked, The Hatter throwing his arms around me and causing me to laugh even harder.
Our laughing slowly faded and I looked up to Mr Hightopp, the man that I met soo many years ago and dreamt one day would be my prince charming.
I looked into his eyes and he into mine and suddenly for the first time ever, I knew exactly what to say.
"And guess what Mr Hatter?" I began, not tearing my eyes of his. "I love you too."
I had planned to say more, wanted to list reasons why and try to make it not too awkward… but before I could even begin to say anything, The Hatter was already kissing me.
Alice had had a dream,
A horrible dream, her worst nightmare.
She threw open the curtains and dressed quickly before making her way through the castle and down to the library, pushing her way through the back doors and opening the enchanted scroll, scanning her brown eyes down to the bottom where her worst nightmare had been written in black ink.
She cried inside, but allowed no sound to emerge.
"You've read the scroll haven't you," said a cruel and vile voice that could only belong to Iracebeth of Crims.
Alice placed the scroll back down and walked over to where the Red Queen had been hung on the wall.
"Do you want to know why Arietta is so important Alice?" The Red Queen said, spitefully.
"Why?" Alice asked, quickly.
"I shall tell you, after all, your father Charlie never did," The Red Queen replied, grinning.
The Hatter met me outside my door the next morning and we walked hand in hand down to breakfast, which this morning only had one absentee- Alice.
"Ari, how would you like to spend the day helping with my royal duties?" Mirana asked, kindly across the table. "After all you, as my niece, are the official Princess of Marmoreal... if you wish that is?"
"That would be lovely Mirana," I said, smiling.
After breakfast, along with all the other members of Mirana's court, I walked into the throne room ready to begin a day filled with royal duties.
"You look exceptionally b-b-beautiful today Ari," The Hatter whispered, as he stood beside me.
"Well, you look exceptionally h-h-handsome today!" I replied, proud of my counter-attack.
All of a sudden Alice Kingsely burst into the room, pushing past us with the mirror containing my mother in her hand.
"HELP ME!" my mother cried, but Alice kept walking.
"Alice…! Alice!" I cried; dashing after my friend as everyone else followed me.
She left the castle and walked all the way to the cliffs on the south side, holding the mirror out over it.
"Alice, what are you doing!" I demanded, as myself, The Hatter, Mirana, The Rabbit, The Hare, Mally, The Tweedles and The Dodo caught up with her.
"Alice, stop!" The Hatter cried, concern flooding his face.
Tears appeared in Alice's eyes as she held the mirror over the falls, knowing that if she dropped it she would have murdered someone.
"Alice why are you doing this?" I asked, stepping forward. "I know she's terrible, but she doesn't deserve to die! Nobody does!"
"If you had heard what she'd said," Alice said, through her tears.
"Tell her Alice," my mother said, spitefully. "Tell her the truth; she has a right to know youy know. Or would you rather I tell her about her father?"
"My father?"
"Yes dear, your father. Charles Edward Kingsely. Also known as Charlie," my mother explained. "My first love."
My eyes widened.
Alice's father… was also my father!
"What?"
"That's right sweetie," my mother began. "He knew all about Underland. He came here first as a child and then many years later. We met, and instantly fell in love. This was before I… was evil of course. Just after mommy and daddy told me I was no longer going to be Queen, Charlie told me that he was leaving me, for another woman. He had fallen in love with a woman named 'Helen' in the other world. So, I decided I wouldn't tell him that at that time I was in fact expecting a child- I was expecting you. See that's why I've always hated Alice soo much, because of her dreadful father and what he did to poor old me."
I looked to Alice who was in tears.
"So… so you're my sister?" I asked her, shocked.
"Half sister," my mother corrected.
"But why is this a bad thing?" The Hatter asked, suddenly.
"You should have heard how mean she was!" Alice cried. "How she insulted my father! Saying he was worthless and just a freak! How rude she was being about Margaret, and my mother! And then, about me! She is a vile creature who we should have killed right from the start! I do not care whose mother she is! Or the fact that she had a slight romance with my father! She deserves this."
I looked over to Mirana, who was not even making eye contact with Alice.
"Alice, please don't," The Hatter pleaded, hopeful.
"Do it Alice! Kill me!" my mother demanded, loudly. "GO ON DO IT! WHAT ARE YOU SCARED! No… you could never do it, you're just a coward. A coward and a cheat; just like your father. He deserved what he got Alice- everyone gets what they deserve in the end. But not me, oh no. And it was all because the Great Champion was scared!"
"NEVER!" Alice cried, flinging the mirror off the cliff and down into the waterfall, my mothers shrill screams filling the air.
Not a word was spoken until the last scream sounded when Alice broke down in tears.
"Alice," I said, stepping forwards but The Hatter pulled me back. "What?"
Mirana stepped forwards and looked down at one of her oldest friends.
"You know what happens now," she said, slowly. "You murdered another being who was of no current harm, and by the rules of Marmoreal you will be automatically banished from Underland forever."
I gasped loudly as well as everyone else.
Alice looked up, wiping her eyes and nodding.
"I know," she said, sadly. "I guess I could not change what was prophesised after all."
Tears began to form in my eyes and The Hatter gripped my hand tightly.
Suddenly behind Alice a large swirling portal appeared, ready to take her back to her world.
Alice began to tear up once more and looked over to us.
I couldn't handle it anymore; I ran over to her and gave her a giant hug, knowing I would never see her again.
"Oh Ali," I cried. "It's alright, I forgive you."
We broke apart and Alice smiled slightly.
"I'm glad someone does," she said, before looking back to The Hatter.
"Goodbye Tarrant," she said, tearfully. "You'll always be my bestest-craziest friend."
The Hatter smiled, yet his eyes turned golden.
"We shall meet again, lil' Alice," he said, bowing and attempting to smile.
"Well," Alice said, looking towards the portal and taking a deep breath in. "Goodbye Underland. Oh and Mirana, if I could have one last request…"
Mirana nodded.
"… can I forget everything," Alice finished.
"What, no! You'll forget me!" I argued. "All of us!"
"Less to miss I guess," Alice argued, solemnly. "Mirana? Please."
Mirana nodded once more, and beckoned towards the portal.
"Goodbye everyone, I'll miss you," Alice said, grasping my hand once more before stepping into the portal and for suddenly, everything went dark.
Okay, before you say anything read onto the epilogue! I promise it'll be a happy ending! :P MikiChik x