Alicia In Wonderland Book III: Saving Wonderland

Disclaimer: Yeahh...I don't own AIW:/

Chapter Two

Alicia's Point of View

"Do you have everything?" Chess asked me as we stood in my room.

"I think so." I said, looking around but never meeting his eyes.

"Are you okay?" Chess asked me, putting down his sack to give me a hug.

"Yes." I said, trying to hide the single tear that slid down my cheek.

"Things will work out, Leesh. I promise." Chess said.

"How can you be sure?" I asked him, turning my head around to look intently into his eyes.

"Because...this is true love. And it's not so easily torn apart. We have faced death and pain and loss...and yet here we are. Married. Alive. Today. How could we have gone through everything that we have just to die in the end?"

"I suppose you're right." I said.

I leaned in for a kiss from my husband when Alison burst into the room.

"Guys! We're leaving."

I sighed, and turned to face my sister. "Alright. We'll be out in a minute."

"Alright." She said, waggling her eyebrows at me. She smiled evilly, and skipped out of the room.

"We should go." I whispered, getting ready to leave the room.

But before I did, Chess kissed me.

And that would have normally thrilled me...but there was something different about this kiss. Something that Chess wasn't showing on the outside. But I knew him - I knew him so well. I knew that what I felt in that kiss was fear. Fear that we would lose each other again. Fear that this kiss would be our last. Fear that things - despite his mushy explanation - would not work out.

"I love you." he whispered.

"I love you too."

"Alright. So it's a four day journey from here to the Castle of Hearts, not counting food breaks and sleep. So - if things go according to plan - we should have the White Queen back in her castle in about a week's time." Hatter said, looking around at all of us during his explanation.

We had left Leila's. We could still see her little house in the distance as we walked away. There was a mutual tension in the air, but it remained unspoken.

"How exactly are we planning on beating Stayne? Just saving the White Queen won't force him from power." Alison said.

"The throne was never Stayne's." Chess explained. "The only reason anyone is letting him rule is becuase both of the Queens are 'missing'. If we bring one of them out of prison, Stayne won't have a choice. He'll have to step down."

"Oh." Alison said. "I thought we were just going to kill him."

"Ali." Grandma and I both said in a scolding tone.

"Sorry." she said sheepishly. "But...I mean, c'mon. Was it really so far-fetched of me to think that?"

"I suppose not." Grandma admitted.

"Anyway," Chess continued. "We shouldn't be worried. As long as we're careful...things should be okay. We shouldn't have very many run-ins with Knights as long as we don't go directly through the Mainland. And I can get us out of any situation if our lives are at risk."

I had honestly forgotten about Chess's little talent. If something happened, he could get us out. That made me feel about a million times better.

I was aware of Hatter and Alice carrying on their own conversation, but I was too focused on watching Chess to really hear what they were saying.

Alice's Point of View

"Hatter." I whispered.

"Yes?" he asked.

"I know what Chess said...but I can't help but be a bit worried." I admitted.

"I know." Hatter said, smiling at me. "I know you Alice. But you are strong. You are Underland's Champion. You can do anything."

"You have far too much faith in me." I said, blushing.

"No." Hatter disagreed lightly. "You don't have enough faith in yourself."

I didn't know what to say to that, so I settled for taking Hatter's hand in my own. It felt so wonderful to be with him again! So normal...like I'd never left Underland at all. Yet also like I was dreaming...this is what would normally happen in my dreams. So it was truly hard to believe that it was truly happening at all. But...his hand felt real and warm around mine, and it was easy to push all thoughts of dreams and reality aside.

Alicia's Point of View

We had been walking for about an hour. None of us were feeling tired. Yet. And being tired was unavoidable, we all knew that, but we also had a responsobiliity, so we'd just have to suck it up and deal with it.

Things were very quiet. No one had said anything for a while, actually. We were all focusing on getting out of the Outlands Valley. That was where Leila lived, and that's why it took so very long to get there from the Mainland. Once we were out of there, it would be a straightshot to the castle.

Anyway, like I was saying, it had been very quiet.

Which is why we all screamed our heads off when we heard a rustling in the bushes in front of us.

"Leesh...what's that?" Alison asked me, moving from her spot in front of me to hiding behind me.

"I don't know." I whispered back.

We heard the sound of a growl, and we all backed away.

Whatever that thing was...it was creeping the heck out of me and everyone else.

"Alicia...back up." Chess said, putting an arm in front of me protectively.

For once, I didn't call him on his overprotectiveness.

And then-

And then- a cliffhanger! Lol, I hope you liked Chapter 2!

~PeachyKeen13