Finding Alice

by starfallimagination

Alice is a 14 year old girl who lives with her parents and older brother in a dull and ordinary life. Until one night a strange cat leads her outside into the forest behind her house and spooks her into falling down a hole. Alice wakes up in what she thinks is Wonderland but this wonderland is much more dangerous, and nothing like the stories she's read in a book.

12. Chapter 4 The Tale of Cheshire

Chapter 4: The tale of Cheshire

As the sun was almost completely set and very little daylight remained, Hatter, White, and Alice saw a set of blankets and pillows, and even food laid out around a pile of wood. They all cautiously approached it when Hatter pointed out some writing on the ground that was made by an animal with massive claws; it spelled out, 'Curtsey of Cheshire.' Hatter walked up to the pile of wood and grabbed some spark stones placed right next to it and used them to start a fire.

Hatter then signaled for Alice and White to join him as he grabbed one third of the food that was just sitting on the blankets and started eating. As the sun set they all sat around the fire eating in silence. When Hatter finished his food he pulled up a pillow, rest his head on it and fell asleep in moments.

Alice grabbed one of the three blankets and covered him up with it than sat back down starring at Hatter while he slept. "He's completely exhausted" White said.

Alice kept her attention on Hatter and said, "So he's a white knight then?"

"Sort of, he's actually more accurately to say a Paladin. He is probably the first Paladin in existence to not be a white knight."

"I don't understand."

"What do you know about the white knights?"

Alice turned to look at White now and said, "Not much I'm afraid."

White sighed then said, ""Well the white knights were originally a group of people, human, animal or otherwise that stood against the Jabberwocky; the Jabberwocky whom ruled Wonderland freely as they wished even worse then the red queen does now. If the Jabberwocky wanted something, fruit, land, you name it they took it and killed anyone who objected; sometimes they would kill them just for being there.

However not all the Jabberwocky were like that, as the lands started to mutate from the Jabberwockies strange magic certain few came to the realization that they were destroying so many species and lives just so they could live freely. These few decided that what they were doing was the greatest crime in existence and perhaps indeed it was; anyways this small group of Jabberwocky grouped up and tried reasoning with their people to change things for the better but not many agreed most cared nothing of what happened to the lands inhabitants but some did join them.

Still despite gaining more allies of their own kind it was not enough for them to stop the others so they formed the order of the white knights in secret to raise an army to fight against their brothers and sisters. As the White knights grew, some of them began to mutate into powerful enhanced forms of themselves, due to the magic radiation of working closely with the Jabberwocky. These people that changed became known as Paladins and were worth one hundred normal white knights.

And then what happened next is that the Jabberwocky, with the aid of the white knights and paladins started a war with the other Jabberwocky. Not much is known about the war itself unfortunately. As for the white knights they trained rigorously to try and become paladins but few ever could. It is believed that some white knights were so frustrated and jealous of the paladins that they betrayed their people and order and went to the other Jabberwockies to be transformed into paladins themselves but instead what came out were the black knights."

"Wow, I mean no offense but I never knew Wonderland had such a history to it. I mean in the book it's just a dream from a girl with an incredible imagination but here in real life it's so much more."

"What do you mean Wonderland is different in a book, than it is in real life?"

"Well in my world there is this book about a girl with the same name as me and her adventures in wonderland. Except in the book everything is so much more different, Cheshire is in it, so are the Jabberwocky and the chess people but it's not nearly as detailed as this real wonderland. Actually Hatter, you and your brother are also in the book as well."

"Hmm, it's possible that the person who wrote this book was somehow able to glimpse into our world and draw inspiration from it for that story. Anyways I'm afraid as far as knowledge goes I am all dried up. I know nothing about the war with the Jabberwocky only that obviously it ended in our favor. As for the White knights, despite the queens best intentions of keeping people ignorant I was able to find out the truth about her coming to power and how she wiped them out to do so. I'm sure my brother has at least told you that much?"

"Hatter told me about that last part actually, he speaks very highly of you and your bravery you know."

"Yes well it will all be for nothing if we can't stop the red queen."

"By the way White, how do you know so much about the Jabberwocky and the white knights?"

White grinned a little and said, "Have you ever been to the library inside the cottage?"

Alice nodded her head in response.

"Well before I left to spy on the queen I would spend a great deal of time in there searching for any knowledge I might be able to use against her one day. I found nothing on her but on the top floor, as the books were older and older I found a series of massive books that were literally half of my size. They were ancient and dusty, weighed more than me at the time, and were written in a dozen languages, only one I could understand.

These ancient books actually take up the last couple shelves on that top floor of the library and from them is where I learned all that I have told you. Still I never was able to finish the entire series of them. I simply didn't have the time, my chance to infiltrate the house of cards undercover had come and I dared not miss it. You know its funny actually, on the days I wasn't learning as much as I could about the queen and her empire or thinking about March I was wondering what was in those last few books I could never read. When the queen is slain and Wonderland is free though the first thing I'm doing is running back to that cottage, flying up those stairs and finishing those books."

Alice started to laugh when White was finished talking, it was something about how serious he was that to her just seemed so funny. For a moment White only glared at her then he joined in laughing too. Struggling to speak through his laughter White said, "Well actually I guess it is hilarious now that I say it aloud. The first thing I do after freeing Wonderland is run home to read some ancient dusty books."

When the fire was down to low embers Alice settled under Hatters blanket and snuggled up next to him. White slept alone but did not mind it. As Alice closed her eyes and went to sleep her dreams were filled with utter strangeness.

Her first dream she was back at the cottage having tea outside except everyone was upside down floating in the air. March grabbed the tea kettle next to him and turned it right side up as the tea starting flowing up from it and into his upside down cup. The next dream she was on a massive chess board with Hatter and Cheshire except the squares were colored blue and green. Every time one of them stepped onto a new square they were launched over a hundred feet in the air and would float back down to the ground slowly like a feather.

Alice played around in her dream flying high into the air then falling back down safely again. Then March came hopping along, literally; as Alice waved at him while he approached. She landed on the same square that launched her up and remained on the ground watching March hop closer and closer to her.

Finally March arrived at the chess board and started hopping on the chess board coming towards Alice but none of the squares launched him up. When March was almost to Alice he suddenly changed direction from her and started hopping away again. Then March made it to the end of the board and when he hopped onto the last blue square he was launched high into the air; so high that Alice could no longer see him.

She starred at the sky waiting to see if March would ever come down, in a few moments he did but he was falling faster than she or the others did when they were launched into the air. Alice's heart began to race as March came closer and closer to the ground no sign of slowing down at all. And then March landed right in front of her the sounds of his bones snapping and breaking; Alice screamed and woke up from her nightmare back outside with White and, Hatter.

Hatter who was sitting with White talking rushed over to her and wrapped his arms around her, calming her down and telling her everything was alright. Her heart was racing fast for a while but soon enough she calmed down and then told Hatter and White about her dreams. The two of them looked grim for a minute after hearing about her dream but soon enough reassured her that it was nothing more than a nightmare and they would see March soon enough.

After they rolled up the blankets and scattered the ashes from the fire as best they could, Hatter, White, and Alice carrying the blankets and pillows under their arms continued walking down the road. They walked in silence and only stopped a couple times to rest their feet until finally they reached the ancient border lines that were home to the ancient ruins of the chess kingdom. A message was clawed into the ground just like before with the blankets and fire; this one read, 'Throne room.'

Cheshire floated in the air starring at the bones of the last Chess king; he sighed and said out loud, "I should have been by your side at all times my old friend. And now look at you, slain at your very throne and I can't even bury you properly. But don't worry someone is coming who can and then I will finally be able to make up for my past mistakes."

Alice, Hatter, and White arrived at the throne room and saw Cheshire floating in the air just a few feet from the king's skeleton. They called out to him but he did not answer, so they walked up to him and he seemed to be in some sort of trance. For a while they were all studying him silently until Cheshire suddenly spoke up starling them all, "I'm sorry how long have you all been here?"

"Not long," Hatter replied. "What happened to you, you were like hypnotized."

"I was just thinking back to things long since past." As Cheshire spoke he looked sad, sadder than any of them had ever seen him, like he was on the verge of tears.

Alice and Hatter lost all their anger they had been building up towards him and it was replaced with empathy. Whatever it was that made Cheshire sad it must have been terrible. Then White spoke up bringing all their attention back to the present situation, "Well than Cheshire it's time you started talking." He said.

"Yes of course but first I have a favor of all of you to ask." Cheshire said his voice still carrying its deep sorrow.

"Were not doing anything for you until-"

"My friend over there," Cheshire said interrupting White and pointing at the chess king. "I would like you to give him a proper burial; I have already dug the grave and can refill it. I just need you guys to carry him to it for me; it will only take a few minutes."

Alice starred at the king then back to Cheshire and said, "Why can you not do it yourself?"

Cheshire sighed, floated a little bit closer to the king and reach his paw out to touch him but as soon as he got within a couple feet of the king a strange force zapped him and prevented Cheshire from coming closer. "An ancient and powerful magic protects the throne from my kind, it's been weakened over the centuries and I can break through it but I fear damaging the king in the process."

White approached the throne, leaned close to it and sniffed it a little then said, "Serves you right."

Hatter shoved White aside and gently put his arms under the king's skeleton and lifted him from his throne, then nodded to Cheshire to lead the way. Cheshire leads them to a nice empty field not too far from the throne room where a rectangular hole has been dug into the ground. Its several feet deep and Hatter still holding the king's skeleton sits down on the ledge first then drops into the grave careful not to hit the king on the walls.

Then Hatter gently put the king down onto the ground and climbed out of the hole. As soon as Hatter was out the dirt around the grave began falling into it filling it up, pushed by an invisible force. The dirt filled the grave perfectly and gave no sign of any digging in the area, then violet flowers began to rise up from the king's grave, they sprouted all around it forming into a cross.

"He always did like the color purple." Cheshire said. "Please wait for me back at the throne I just need a minute to myself."

Everyone exchanged looks but did as he asked and returned to the throne room. A few minutes later Cheshire appeared in front of them all, he looked much less sad now but despite his best his sorrow still showed on his face. "Now then I shall tell you the truth about me and all the plans I set into motion after the fall of the chess king. I only ask you do not interrupt me while I am talking and hold all questions until after my story."

Cheshire disappeared right before he was about to start his story then came back moments later with a tray of food and cups of water. He knew everyone was impatient; so he did not stall any longer.

"Now then the first thing you need to know about me is I am a Jabberwocky; White here was able to figure it out a most impressive accomplishment I must say. Anyways though for a very long time I had believed I was the last of my kind until recently, when we invaded the house of cards.

I knew something was wrong the moment we stepped inside but I wasn't sure what it was, but as I used my powers to cloak Hatter I immediately sensed something was starring at me, responding to my magic. When I figured out what it was I had to run far away from the castle otherwise she would have been woken up and all of you would have been slaughtered for sure. The presence I detected was my sister, for a long time I had thought she had vanished from the whole of Wonderland but instead she was just hiding deep underground.

I presume that she used up so much of her magic before that she was forced to rest and had so little left that I was unable to sense her unless I was mere feet away from her. However over time and long rest she has recovered her strength but stayed in her hibernation waiting for my magic to resonate with hers and wake her up. She may have only acquired a sniff of me but it is enough to begin her waking process, which means time is not entirely on our sides like before.

Now then the next thing you need to know is that we Jabberwocky are born in pairs, had it been any other Jabberwocky then it would not have responded to my presence but this one is my sister, my twin Jabberwocky; we were born in a pair as all the other were. Me and her were born at the start of the great war with the Jabberwocky and the white knights. We were too young to fight so we sat on the sidelines in a manner of speaking and watched every battle that took place.

Cheshire and his sister Emurla watched from the skies as the last battle of the Great War was coming to an end. They knew that the Jabberwocky were done for this was just going to be their last stand. As the White knights and Paladins surrounded the last few Jabberwocky one of them started to run away but was chased by a single Paladin.

While Emurla was busy starring down at the last two Jabberwocky fighting, resolved to take down as many white knights with them as they could Cheshire was busy chasing the battle between the last Jabberwocky and the single paladin. Cheshire chased them far from the where the other two were now defeated and kept following them until finally they stopped at forest of jagged rocks that reached the skies. Cheshire lost sight of them for a few minutes when they entered the rock forest, but soon the rocks started collapsing as the Jabberwocky and the Paladin rammed each other into one of them shattering its base.

After throwing each other around some more, destroying half of the jagged rock forest the Jabberwocky and the Paladin stood facing one another, to Cheshire it almost looked like they were talking. Cheshire curious as ever at this started to come closer and closer to them despite the dangers of being noticed when the Jabberwocky opened its mouth again and lightning shot out aimed for the Paladin. The Paladin barley managed to dodge the attack by rolling to the side, and then ran for the Jabberwockies head.

Before the Jabberwocky could turn its head to attack again, the paladin raised his right leg up above his head and then brought it smashing down on the back of the Jabberwockies neck. The Jabberwocky gave out a loud cry and fell completely limp, it was dead now. Its body turned to stone and then fell apart; as Cheshire filled up with anger and sorrow for the death of the last warrior Jabberwocky he began to transform into a massive beast preparing to launch from the skies and attack the paladin; when his sister appeared out of nowhere and stopped him.

Cheshire lashed out at her but she dodged the attack and told him if he went he would be killed. Cheshire looked down and saw reinforcements swiftly running towards the Paladin, they were some distance away but it wouldn't take them to long. Cheshire sighed then looked up at the moon that was full and glowing green. Something about it calmed him down entirely and he and Emurla flew away from the battle.

Cheshire and Emurla wandered around alone for a while until one day Emurla decided she knew a good way to get revenge on the people of wonderland for killing off all the other Jabberwocky. Cheshire followed his sister to a small village filled with all sorts of people for a moment he didn't know what she was going to do then she transformed into a massive green tiger with glowing red eyes and started terrorizing the village. Cheshire watched the scene from above with disinterest; he neither aided his sister nor tried to stop her.

Emurla took Cheshire all around Wonderland searching for places with weak defenses for her to terrorize as her revenge for the war, but Cheshire had no interest in these people they were innocent. But Cheshire did want revenge so he set out to the chess kingdom while his sister played around terrorizing people. Cheshire knew who was responsible for the death of his people, the white knights so he set out to kill their king.

When he found the Chess kingdom he transformed into a wolf like creature and focused on turning invisible. Carefully Cheshire walked through the massive arch that was guarded by two white knights carrying spears. Cheshire knew his invisibility was working when they failed to notice him and he walked down the clean stone path that lead to the chess kingdom. As Cheshire walked throughout the chess kingdom invisible searching for the chess king he began to admire the beauty of the place, everything was so clean and well designed.

For a while Cheshire almost forgot why he had come to the chess kingdom in the first place when he accidentally bumped into someone and saw that it was a white knight patrolling the streets. Cheshire swiftly ran way careful not to make the same mistake and focused entirely on finding the king. Eventually Cheshire found the throne room by following the areas with the most guards; and to Cheshire's great surprise the throne room was basically a massive white and grayish room with an even count of black and white tiles on the floor.

There were some columns on the sides of the walls to support the ceiling and two sets of staircases going up on the sides in the very center of the room. The floor that was made out of black and white tiles was filled with various large strange looking statues of some sorts that Cheshire did not know what they were; in fact the only piece Cheshire did recognize looked like a horse from its upper body and head. As people dressed in nice clothing moved the pieces around Cheshire studied it and realized it was some type of war game.

While Cheshire was busy studying the game some one unknowingly walked into him and fell. Cheshire was so caught by surprise that he lost his concentration on his invisibility and the guards throughout the room charged at him. Cheshire fought off the basic guards easily but then some of them transformed into paladins and easily subdued him. The more Cheshire wrestled control from them the harder they pushed him down and the more it hurt, Cheshire was starting to regain control though as he began growing larger and the paladins went to hit him until the king shouted "Halt!"

The king's voice boomed throughout the throne room and was so powerful that everyone in the room completely stopped everything they were doing and looked at him, even Cheshire and the paladins. As the king stood from his throne and approached Cheshire he noticed that the king was a young man, the youngest in the room in fact. The king stopped a few feet away from Cheshire gave him a sympathetic look and then told the guards to take him to the dungeon.

Cheshire struggled as best he could but was unable to escape from the paladins grip as they took him to a dark and empty area filled with metal bars that formed a type of holing area. They took Cheshire to a corner far away from the holding cells and threw him into it. Cheshire hit the wall hard but recovered and went to run but when he got a few feet from the wall he hit an invisible force field and was stopped. Cheshire tried going to the ceiling but the force field reached up there as well.

As the Paladins left Cheshire tried everything he could to break through the barrier but only exhausted himself and gave up. He sat in silence for a while, alone in a dimly lit dungeon with nothing to do. Time passed unknowingly for Cheshire and for a while he thought that they would leave him in there to rot until the king came down to visit him. Cheshire growled as he approached and said, "Leave me alone."

The king stopped and without a word did as Cheshire said leaving him alone. The king returned again several days later and Cheshire told him to leave again and the king left in silence just like before. Soon they fell into a routine that lasted months where the king would come and Cheshire would tell him to leave and he would do so in silence without saying a thing.

One day the king returned after some time and before Cheshire could speak he said, "I suppose you want me to leave again?"

The king took Cheshire by complete surprise and Cheshire decided he was tired of playing this game so he said nothing and let the king approach him. The two sat in silence for a long while until the king finally said, "I am deeply sorry for your loss of your people. I wasn't around when the war started but ultimately I was the one who ended it, it was by my hands the last Jabberwocky was slain, until you came along."

Cheshire was so angry by the king's story that he shouted for him to leave before he could finish his story. The young king sighed and did so apologizing to Cheshire on his way out. Cheshire sat alone again wondering if the king would ever return but much to his surprise the king did return much sooner then he ever had before. The king returned carrying a tray with 3 different tea pots and several cups. He poured 2 cups of tea from each pot, one for Cheshire and one for himself, and then passed the cups to Cheshire through the invisible force field one at a time. The king told Cheshire what cup contained which type of tea and started to drink his won tea. The first couple cups of tea Cheshire tried he hated then the 3rd one he thought was decent.

The king returned everyday with new teas for Cheshire to try, and they would sit around drinking tea and talking about different things. A lot of time had gone by as the king would visit Cheshire everyday bringing him new teas to try, until after over one hundred different types of tea Cheshire found the one that was right for him; Moon berry tea. The king had little taste for it but when he discovered how much Cheshire enjoyed it he made sure that plenty of it was around and gave him as much as he wanted to drink.

As days turned into weeks Cheshire and the Chess king drinking tea every day talking became good friends without even realizing it. The king was older now looked more like an adult and soon trusted Cheshire enough to let him go. As soon as Cheshire was free on instinct he ran far away outside and soared high up into the air, he would have continued going too until he looked down at the chess kingdom below him. It was a sight to behold just as beautiful from the sky as it was from on the ground. Cheshire stayed in the air admiring the kingdom until night had fallen, and Cheshire made a decision he never thought would be possible before, he returned to the chess kingdom.

Cheshire took the form of a nearby cat he saw and started wondering around inside the castle looking for his friend the king. As Cheshire searched around the castle he got strange looks from every one he passed and noticed that people were starring at him, but he did not know why. It wasn't long until the king found him and said, "You have got the basic idea of a cat down but you forgot the fur and the eyes, and the fact that they are not purple." Then the King placed a mirror in front of Cheshire and he was shocked to see how wrong he had gotten it; the form Cheshire had then is the same one that he has kept for so many years, that of cat with purple skin and no fur, and glowing purple eyes.

The king laughed a little as Cheshire focused on changing his appearance again and said, "My friend keep that look I rather like it." Then he led him up to his room and while they waited for a servant to bring some tea the king said. "I suppose you have not really had much practice at shape shifting have you?"

Cheshire told him he never really had much need of it before. The king scratched his neatly trimmed brown beard and said, "I was not sure if I would ever see you again my friend." Cheshire smiled at him and said, "It had crossed my mind to never return but where else would I find that delicious tea." The king then laughed a good whole hearty laugh and soon Cheshire joined him in it.

The king was a full grown man now and as him and Cheshire spent full days and nights together they're friendship grew ever stronger. Cheshire who never slept always stayed by his friends side while he rested, trying out new shape shifting ideas silently in front of a mirror. One morning Cheshire was practicing disappearing parts of his body for the fun of it when the king woke up and said, "You know for the all this time we have known each other I have never known your name; mine is Aaron."

"And mine is Cheshire." Cheshire replied.

Cheshire soon learned that Aaron had a nasty habit of pulling pranks on people, even Cheshire. When Cheshire learned how to do pranks of his own he and Aaron would start pulling pranks on each other or team up to pranks the citizens of the kingdom randomly.

One day Aaron told Cheshire he wanted to live in a small home that was several times larger on the inside than it was on the outside, somewhere where he could get lost in just by trying to find his own bedroom. After hearing that Cheshire set out so build him a home just like that, he would leave every night when Aaron slept and begin construction on what is now the cottage that later became home to March Hair and White Rabbit. Over many years Cheshire built it, slowly adding more to it waiting until the day it was just perfect to show it to his friend.

But as the years went by King Aaron grew older and older and Cheshire being a timeless being knew nothing about ageing. It was only when he saw his friend had grown white hair and his eyes slowly losing the color to them when Cheshire realized what was happening and Aaron had to explain to him that he was simply growing old. Cheshire feared he would never finish the cottage in time to show Aaron it but he never gave up until the day the queen of hearts attacked the chess kingdom.

She came out of nowhere and had a swift and powerful army of strange card shaped soldiers with armor on. Cheshire could smell the magic on them; they were the work of his sister Emurla. As Cheshire used his magic to blast them away to protect the kingdom his sister appeared, she was angry that he destroyed her "pets" and felt betrayed that he was siding with the white knights; the two fought for a while after that until the queens army retreated and so did his sister. Cheshire wanted to chase after her but then he remembered his friend Aaron, the chess king.

Cheshire searched for him until he finally found him, he was uninjured but looked tired, Cheshire pleaded with Aaron to go with him to the cottage and leave the war to him and the others but he said no that he had a duty as king. As the card wars waged on it took its toll on Aaron, he could not battle like he used to; only command his troops and advise his generals. But the red queen's army was too large and she even had the aid of thousands of black knights.

As the battles raged on Aarons heart grew heavy with another war, as did Cheshire's from fighting off his sister to protect the white knights. His sister was weakened from using her magic to make the card soldiers and the black knights but still she was a challenge for him. Cheshire did not want to harm her but some battles he almost killed her, and as the war waged on winning out in the queens favor he set out to find and kill the queen and end the war once and for all; that was the biggest mistake of his life.

After the battle that had almost killed his sister Cheshire thought she disappeared somewhere far away and he spent the rest of his time with the king aiding him as greatly as he could never leaving his side until he saw that if the war was not over soon Aaron would be too weighed down from it and die, so despite knowing something was wrong Cheshire searched for the red queen to kill her. He finally found her hidden away in her castle that was previously shrouded by his sister's magic.

As Cheshire went to strike her down he could sense his friend was in immediate danger, he teleported back to the castle right away deciding to deal with the queen later and that's when he saw a black knight transformed into a dark paladin impaling the king with his hand. The king could not even get up from the throne fast enough and fell back on it bleeding from a lethal wound. In his rage Cheshire blasted the dark paladin with a powerful force of lightning, completely destroying him and leaving nothing left but ashes.

Cheshire went to help his friend but found out about the force field around the throne prevented him from even touching the king, tears wept down his face as he did everything he could to get to his dying friend but was forever stopped only a few feet away from him. He whispered something to Cheshire in his dying words but Cheshire could not hear him. When he finally turned away from his greatest friend he could sense nothing but card soldiers and black knights all around there were no survivors of the white knights, and in his great rage he used his awesome powers to destroy every card soldier and black knight in the entire chess kingdom, unfortunately Cheshire also destroyed the kingdom itself.

Very few things remained of the chess kingdom after Cheshire's rampage, some statues and the throne mostly. Afterwards he set out to hunt down and destroy every last Black knight and dark paladin that he could find. It took him years but Cheshire finally killed them all, afterwards Cheshire went in search of his sister in order to finish her off as well. Cheshire found no trace of his sister anywhere in Wonderland but something called him to another world and he answered that call thinking it was his sister; that is how Cheshire found himself in Alice's world.

Cheshire never found his sister again until recently, and his traveling between worlds exhausted nearly the rest his my power so he knew he would have to wait until he could kill the queen and avenge his friend so Cheshire decided to settle down and that was how he came across Hatter after many years of wandering around aimlessly, Hatter who resonated with the energy of the paladins and reminded him so much of his friend king Aaron; so Cheshire stayed with Hatter and developed a new friendship with the young boy. However something kept calling him back Alice's world and after several years he decided to return and when he found nothing again Cheshire decided to pull one last prank before leaving for good. And Alice's home was simply the closest to his portal to Wonderland; as well as she was the only one who woke up from him calling her.

Cheshire lured her into the woods to make her run around chasing him a bit but somehow she managed to find her way to the portal and when he appeared behind her, she was so spooked that she accidentally fell down into it. Cheshire dived down the portal after her to catch her but he wasn't fast enough and she fell somewhere down in Wonderland. It took Cheshire some time to find her but when he did he didn't know how to approach her or tell her that he would be unable to send her home for many years; so Cheshire sent March down to the village where she was to find something he made up so that March would find Alice and bring her safely to the cottage to live with them.