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~Tomoru

Last time

It's time, Rose.

"A-Are you the incubus? N-Nightmare Gottschalk?"

"Hurry now. Don't be afraid."

Chapter 2: Potion of the Game

It had been many turns of time since the Mortician had slept, but he easily recognized the world of dreams just as well as he recognized a gear. He also recognized by the smudged, dulled colors that shifted about him as he stood on pure nothingness, that this was no dream of his design, though it was familiar none-the-less. The Clock Master crossed his arms, his monotonous expression glancing around the shifting void.

"You've been sleeping more often since Alice was in our world, Julius," Nightmare pointed out, materializing to the side of the other man.

Julius craned his head only slightly to look at the other Role Holder. He did not allow his expression to flinch as the name struck a cord deep inside him. "You hardly visit my dreams, Nightmare," he pointed out in a fashion that held an underlying, 'What are you doing here?'

Nightmare gave a chuckle. "I came to give you this." The Incubus nodded toward the other's closed arms.

"Hm?" Julius looked down at his top most hand, feeling the contours of an polygonal object. His brow furrowed with questioning when he show the heart shaped stopper peeking out of his closed fist. Upon opening said hand, his notion was confirmed. "The Medicine of Hearts?"

He did not ask what the liquid was for. He knew very well.. All the people of Wonderland did. But...there hadn't been an Outsider of any sort since Alice left hundreds of time shifts ago. It was almost heartbreaking to think that there would ever be another.

"You'll be having a visitor very soon, Julius," Nightmare informed him. "This visitor will be a very special one so try to look approachable. This one is not so bold as our dearest Alice." He smirked at his own banter. "I believe it's time for you to wake up."

Nightmare vanished and the dream world slowly faded around Julius. As he felt wakefulness pulling at his consciousness, he unfolded his arms and looked at the bottle containing the pale pink liquid, holding it by the topper as though to examine it in some source of light. His hard, monotonous eyes fell slightly.

"Alice..."

When the master of the only neutral territory in the Country of Hearts woke at his desk, he found that the potion was indeed pressed into his palms.

The fall was so long that the brunette began to wonder, as her screams died in her throat, if she would ever stop falling, if the world would ever stop rushing past her. Or maybe if she was in a dream again? The mirror, the voice, the fall, maybe it was all just a dream within her first dream. With this thought, she told herself to open her eyes. She found, however, that this task was easier said than done. It was like opening your eyes on a rapidly spinning ride at an amusement park. It felt so much safer to leave them closed, but you want to see what is blurring past you. Clenching her teeth and hoping her heart wouldn't burst through her chest, she forced her eyes opened. Immediately upon opening her eyes, she was blinded by a bright light that was coming rapidly toward her. Abruptly, she registered the light as the end of her fall. Whatever lied beyond that light...

A cry rippled from her vocals as the fear of making contact with hard ground road her anxieties. On an action that was the purest reflex, the covered her face and head with her arms and squeezed her eyes shut once more and waited for hard earth, icy water, whatever pain would meet her at the bottom. She felt a moment of warm and then there was no longer wind wiping her curls into unmanageable tangles. There was no longer that heavy, heart-wrenching sense of falling deep in the pits of her stomach. All this was replaced by the feeling of chilled cobblestone resting against her front. Confusion echoed through her. For a moment the thought that she was truly dead shocked through her like a single bolt of lightning but it was a thought quickly left to vanish in the corners of her mind. She rationalized that, if she were truly dead, that she would not feel that pain of her rapidly pounding heart in her chest.

Eyes still squeezed tightly shut, she shifted up onto her forearms, holding herself up slightly. She bit the inside of her lip to quell the anxiety she felt almost twisting inside of her. Okay...Count to three, she told herself, her mental voice reaching no octave higher than a whisper. She amended that she would open her eyes and take a look around. Inhaling and exhaling slowly to calm her heart rate, she began counting.

One...Exhale.

Two...Inhale.

Three!

She forced her eyes to snap open. Amazement replaced what was once fear as the sky-reaching tower filled her pupils. Rose pushed herself up onto her knees, her gaze glued entirely on the tall building. Her heart raced for a new reason. She couldn't believe her eyes at all. Slowly, as though a hasty motion would make the world around her fall to pieces, she stood. She looked around, finding herself in the middle of what reminded her of the balcony of a storybook castle, though quite a bit larger. Her movements almost tentative, she found her way to the high-edge of the platform. Taking in another deep breath, she dared look out over the platforms stone edging.

"Oh my-" she barely managed to squeak, her eyes widening and one hand coming to cover her agape mouth.

Far off, she could see a high-flying Ferris wheel and the expansive arch of a large roller coaster. In a slight different direction she could make out a castle with a heart theme constructing its towers. Then, through the trees, she found mansion that held so many rooms, its windows made it glimmer.

"I'm...in..." she stumbled. "I'm in the Country of Hearts. I'm really here..." It was just as her grandmother had describe. Three territories; The Heart Castle, the Hatter Estate, and the Amusement park, and in the center of it all-Rose turned back to the tower that dipped into the clouds-the Clock Tower. "I'm...really here."

The green-eyed girl reached into the pocket of her black dress, finding the folded letter tucked safely inside. Looking at the door that led into the tower, she gave the letter a squeeze. Absently, her other hand checked for the strap of her backpack. Finding it was still secure on her shoulder, her fingers wrapped around the straps, as though to ground herself. She swallowed hard. This was it. Once she walked found her way inside that door, things would start, just as her Grandmother had planned. She tried her very hardest not to think of what could possibly be waiting for her in this world that had made up almost every dream and nightmare she could recall throughout her life as she approached the door.

Stalling, caution got the better of her. Knowing of the confrontational nature of the inhabitants of this world, at least for the most part, her most current worry was that she would walk in on a fight with guns raised. She pressed her palm against the door-one hand still holding the letter between her thumb and forefinger-then place her ear so that she could try to hear sounds from beyond the heavy wood door. It was...strangely quiet save for the ominous, inharmonious ticks and tocks.

"I-I guess no ones ho-!"

Rose was cut off by the door, very suddenly, opening. Due to her balance being dependent on the sturdy door, she fell forward, the ear and palm that had been pressed against the dark wood finding the fabric of a well-tailored suit and a rythmatic ticking pulse against her ear. This was all momentary. With a cry of fright and startlement, she retreated back a step, her hands finding her jolted heart. She found herself face to face with a dark blue eyed man who, for only seconds, wore an expression of surprise before he crossed his arms, his face falling stern with the action.

"I-I, uh..." the brunette attempted to form a coherent thought, but failed in doing so.

For a single moment, Julius thought he saw Alice standing before him but the illusion was soon broken by the freckle-faced, ultimately timid girl before him. Mentally, he shook his head, annoyed with himself for holding onto his attachment with the last Foreigner for so long. He still found it hard to believe how deeply that girl had effected him. She had left a mark so deep on him that he wished, just as many other Wonderlanders wished, that Alice would return. And, he supposed, that single hope was the reason he saw Alice in this child for a split moment. Looking at her now, he realized how much younger she must have been. Her face was not yet sharpening with womanhood as Alice's had, not to mention the copper dust that danced across her nose and cheeks. Then her hair was so many shades darker than Alice's had been, more of a thick maple than a dark gold and this girl's hair fell in long curls past her shoulder blades rather than a straight cascade.

With the differences in mind, he was moments away from receiving the girl in a fashion similar to how he had received Alice, demanding she leave, but then the Mortician recalled the words of Nightmare about a special visitor. The Medicine of Hearts in his pocket felt a bit heavier than it had before.

"Who are you?" he asked, bluntly, breaking the silent stare down he was having with the young teen who, he observed, looked as ready to bolt as the Dormouse when the Cheshire Cat was present. "What are you doing here?" He was not prepared to make a fool of himself because of this girl, who may or may not be the Foreigner that Nightmare had hinted was coming, despite how likely it was, considering there was no other role for her to fill that he could bring to mind.

Rose had the words in her head, an explanation-My name is Rose Hargreaves. I'm Alice's granddaughter.-but her lips refused the words. She opened and closed her mouth, trying to force the words past the back of her throat, but they refused to come. Under the scrutinizing glare of the cobalt eyed man, she chewed her bottom lip.

"Well?" Julius asked, his tone betraying his annoyance as he raised a single brow.

Flinching under his tone, Rose gave up on speaking for herself, on being brave, on betraying her introverted nature. Her eyes darting away from him, she pulled the folded letter out of her pocket and held it out with both her hands, almost as though she were offering it to him in exchange for not harming her any further with his inapproachable demeanor. The man with long navy hair tied back in a ponytail looked from the girl to the letter, then back again once, before taking it from her. Once it was gone from her fingertips, the brunette pulled her hands back as though she were avoiding a burn. She folded her hands in front of her and weighted.

The Clock Master looked at the slightly wrinkled, folded, pale blue envelope. He unfolded it and turned its face toward himself. In neat print and large lettering, To the Role Holders, was written. Julius wrinkled his brow. What was this? He turned the letter over again, finding that the lip was not properly sealed. It was tucked into the opening in order to keep it closed. After a moment of examination, he pulled the lip out of its place and pulled the parchment out of it. He unfolded the paper to find the same neat print as was on the face.

Dear Role Holder,

I'm fairly positive that the first to read this letter will be Julius but this letter is meant for all of you, if you are the same characters I remember fondly. I can't express how much I have missed each and everyone of you. There hasn't been a day to go by that I haven't thought about the Country of Hearts. The memories I made there with all of you made my years in my world joyful. Sometimes I wish I would have stayed with you, but don't worry. I lived a happy and full life here in my world. Which brings me to the sad news I hesitate to tell you. If you ever cared anything for me at all, I know it will break your hearts and I'm sorry for that. My dear friends, if you are reading this, I, Alice Liddell, have died.

Julius stalled in his reading, his eyes retracing that statement as he felt a stab at his heart as his tick skipped a tock.

After I left the Country of Hearts, I returned to the flow of my own world, with some difficulty mind you. Either way, I ended up getting married and having three sons. One of those sons gave me two beautiful grandchildren. I shared my memories with all of you to my children and grandchildren as bedtime stories, but only one truly believed in Wonderland, I think, and she stands before you now. Yes, she is my granddaughter, but I won't tell you her name here. She is a very shy girl and easily frightened. She has trouble connecting when she meets someone new and I think that making her tell you her name will make getting over her introversion a bit easier.

I lived a long life and age is what ultimately took me. When I felt death coming, I called out to Nightmare in my dreams, hoping that he could hear me outside the confines of the Country of Hearts or Clover. I had almost given up hope before he answered my call. I ask him to take my grandchild to Wonderland after I died. Though I cannot say that your world is the safest place, but I believe that, even if only my name makes it so, that the Country of Hearts will be kinder to her than my world could possibly be. Her shyness and antisocial disposition does not mix well in my world. I sincerely hope that, perhaps, you will help bring her out of her shell, if only a little bit. I want you all to become something special to her, as you did to me. She did not make friends in what would be known to her and I as "reality". Save for her distant older brother, I was very literally all the child had. Please, cushion my loss for her. Comfort her as I'm sure she will be willing to comfort you. She really is such a kind, good girl.

I have insisted that she play the Game. You all know which one I'm talking about. Whether she stays in Wonderland when it has ended, I left up to her. I don't know who will give her the Medicine of Hearts but after she takes it, she will become just as I was. I hope that she will learn from you, get stronger, and become a more confident girl when all is said and done.

Please take care of her everyone. I'm counting on you.

With the Sincerest Love,

Alice Liddell Hargreaves

Julius found tears constricting his throat and the feel of a melancholy expression tracing his lips, but his tears did not meet him eyes. Calmly, though he felt an ache deep within himself, he folded the paper back in the fashion it has been before and placed it back inside the colors envelope. He folded it along the middle crease and handed it back to the girl, who had stole a glance at him before quickly looking away again. He tried to allow himself to soften a bit in the presence of the girl, taking to mind what Alice had written about her shy nature as he let out a sigh.

"Tell me your name," he stated, still holding out the envelope in a fashion the was leisure and, he hoped, lacking in the demeanor Nightmare had warned him against.

The freckle-faced girl looked back at the man, her big forest green eyes filled to the brim with uncertainty. She reached to take the letter back, hesitating before grasping the paper. "R-Rose..." she managed, putting the envelope back in her dress pocket as she looked back at the cobblestone platform, her neck heating up with nervousness. "Rose Hargreaves."

Julius crossed his arms once again, giving a slight nod in recognition. "I am Julius Monrey, the owner of this clock tower."

"I know," Rose stated before she realized what she was saying. A blush highlighted her freckles. She glanced up at Julius to judge his reaction, her head sunk into her shoulders, wondering if she had been rude. "G-Grandma told me..."

Julius did not seem bothered by her statement, rather, he wondered how much he would actually need to explain to the girl. "Well, Rose, I think you should come in." He stepped aside from the door to allow her access into the tower.

Rose hesitated before walking inside. Gripping the strap of her backpack, she dully reminding herself that now there was no turning back, though she wasn't sure she could have turned back before her encounter with Julius. After the young girl entered, Julius closed the door and returned to his desk. He sat down and began to work on another clock. Because he had been sleeping more often since Alice was in the Country of Hearts, he had found himself getting behind on his work far to often. Rose looked around the interior of the tower. Diagrams, notes, and many clocks lined the wall, some with awkward hands and faces. She looked over at Julius at his desk, which was cluttered with tools and parts as well as broken clocks. The owner of the tower, as though he felt her eyes on him, glanced up from his work at her. Rose stiffened.

He motioned to the empty seat conveniently located in front of his desk. "Why don't you tell me what you know about this place?" It was not so much a request as a statement. His eyes falling away from the girl, he placed his glasses on the bridge of his nose and continued working, heavily aware of the potion in his coat.

In response, Rose nodded and seated herself in the plain chair. She felt rigid in her seat, her eyes looking elsewhere in the room. Her cheeks felt heated as she struggled to begin. "W-Well..." she stumbled. "I'm an Outsider or Foreigner. I-I don't really have a residence in this place." She searched her mind for what her grandmother had told her, attempting to make sure that she didn't say something wrong and make herself look like a fool. "Um..." She wrapped her fists in her skirt, the black making her skin appear paler than it truly was. "Th-There are three territories that are currently caught up in a Civil War of sorts, a-a three way power struggle." Nervously, she pushed a curl behind her ear. "Those territories are Heart Castle, ruled by the Queen of Hearts, Vivaldi, the Hatter Estate, run by Blood Dupre, and the Amusement Park, managed by Mary Gowland." She cast a glance toward Julius, who hardly seemed to be listening to her as he peddled with his current project. "T-That is...unless their clocks were broken and they were replaced?"

Showing a sign that he was paying attention, Julius shook his head, never taking his eye off the clock he was fixing a gear into. "I don't believe a single Role Holder has been changed since Alice was here." Idly, he wondered how Rose felt about his work. With some ache, he remembered how Alice had been accepting of it, despite her value of life.

The brunette nodded. "Oh, r-right." Her eyes found her lap again. "T-Then there is this place, the Clock Tower, which is neutral in the power struggle.

The Mortician put down the clock he was tampering with and his screwdriver. He rested his elbows on his desk and folded his hands . Over them, he tried to make a proper judgment of Alice's granddaughter. This proved to be a difficult feat, considering her timidness. "And what do you know about the game?"

Rose lifted her head slightly to look at him, her thumb rubbing the uncomfortable, rough fabric of her dress. "Well, that is..." She could recall her grandmother often mentioning a game she had to play, but she knew little about it because Alice herself had a minimal understanding. "I-If I were to take the Medicine of Hearts, I would not be able to leave Wonderland. Um, I would have to refill the bottle by meeting and interacting with the residents of this country." She blinked, feeling as though she had forgotten something. "Oh, a-and time is random. It can be n-night time then noon in moments and everyone, i-in some way, has feelings for Foreigners." She looked up at Julius again, whose eyes were truly trained on her now. "R-Right?"

He nodded, removing his glasses from his nose. He put them down on his desk then reached into his coat pocket, his fingers making contact with the cold glass of the heart stopper before wrapping themselves around the vial. He removed it from his pocket and placed it on the table in front of the girl. The girl gave a small note of surprised. She hadn't expected him to have it, but relief overtook her surprise. At least she wouldn't be forced the way her grandmother was, right?

"As I'm sure you've guess, this is the Medicine of Hearts. Whether you drink it or not, that's up to you." He removed his hand from the vial. It rolled once before becoming stationary on one face. "Your grandmother claims to insist you play, but I see no reason to force you." He picked up the clock and his screwdriver and began working again.

Rose looked at the vial as it was illuminated by the light outside that had shifted from morning to twilight in a single moment. Unsurely, she picked up the vial with two fingers, as though it threatened to turn to acid under her touch. Soon, it came to rest in her palm. She looked at the vial, contemplatively. The Country of Hearts was a dangerous place. Did she really want to risk this game?