Now we get to pick up where we last left off. =)
"How rude of you four to start the tea party without us!" a voice said.
"And with our new friend, too!" a second voice said.
Looking up to see who the voices belonged to, AJ was surprised to see that the group already present was being joined by both of the Tweedles, and, fluttering down from the sky, the Butterflies.
"We would've waited for you guys, but then everything would've gotten cold," John said.
"And that would've made us upset," Alicia said.
"Well, we would've been here faster if someone didn't get lost," Ted said.
"You were the one that insisted on taking directions from the dodo. At least I didn't try to follow the gumdrop trail," Cody said.
"Enough with the senseless arguing you two!" Justin said, as he took a seat on top of the table, while Tyson took a cookie and started to eat it.
After sharing a look, the Tweedles forgave each other and hugged it out, causing AJ to giggle at the sight.
"So, we meet again, Ms. AJ," Ted said.
"I guess we do. What brings you two here?" AJ asked, taking a sip from her teacup.
"We always come here to visit the Hatter and everyone else. They're our best friends and we wanted to come to another one of their fun parties," Cody said.
"I see. I take it the Butterflies are friends with you guys too," AJ said, looking down at Justin and Tyson.
"Indeed we are. And might I say, it's about time that you two finally changed. What caused it to happen?" Ted asked.
"We were rudely called short by our new friend here," Justin said, gesturing towards AJ, which caused her to blush.
"Not to sound mean, but compared to everyone else here, you both are very short," Ted said.
Huffing, Justin went to eating a piece of cake while John, Zack, and Alicia laughed at the exchange between them all.
"And to think you seemed so skeptical about being here," Alicia said laughing.
"I still do. Not to sound mean, but I'm still not used to being in a world like this and being surrounded by really nice people," AJ said, looking down at her hands.
"Are there not nice people back where you come from?" John asked, pouring a cup of tea for Justin and Tyson.
"There are, it's just not as many as there are here. Mostly the nice people are my family members and a lot of my co-workers that have become like brothers and sisters to me," AJ said, smiling and blushing.
"Really? You must be very close to them if you see them all that way," John said.
"We are. In fact, me and two of the girls that are my closest friends are always doing silly stuff with each other. Not to mention, we're always there just to be able to help pick each other back up if we're in need of having a friend around," AJ said, smiling as she thought back over all of the fun times she would have with Alex and Kaitlyn.
"They sound like very good friends to have around. Maybe they could be the ones to help you with your dilemma. After all, friends don't let friends just struggle through problems they have to deal with," John said, giving AJ a warm smile before turning his attention back to the others.
Taking in what John just told her, AJ sat mulling over everything that the residents of Wonderland had told her as the tea party continued around her. She was still deep in thought when two other guests joined in the party.
"Oh boy! Look at this!"
"I see, I see! A tea party with all of our friends and our newest little buddy."
Looking around to try to find where the voices were coming from, AJ knew that it was Ches and Shire, but she couldn't seem to spot them.
"Psst! AJ! Over here!" a voice excitedly whispered.
Following the direction of the voice, AJ soon saw that the Cheshire Cat girls had joined in.
"Ches! Shire! So nice of you both to join us!" Zack said happily.
"How could we not? It'd be poor manners to miss a party our friend was having," Kaitlyn said.
"It'd be even ruder if we left our special guys all alone," Alex said, skipping over to hug Cody.
Looking around, AJ slowly started to see that having all of her new Wonderland friends were acting and behaving a lot like her friends back home. There was something about this scene before that had her thinking back to the first time she ever really got the chance to meet most of her other friends.
"Alex, where are you and Kaitlyn taking me?" AJ asked.
"I'm being a good friend and taking you both to meet all of my friends. It's not a large group, but we're close," Alex said.
"Wait. You sure it's a good thing to be introducing NXT rookies to actual roster members?" AJ asked, feeling a bit shy.
"Sure it is! After all, I'm an actual roster member and I'm friends with you two," Alex said, grinning.
"Well, obviously you are, but isn't it just because of a storyline?" AJ asked.
"Why would I act like you both are my friends when I think you both really rock? I've only known you both for a few short months now, but you two are closer friends to me than mostly anyone else on the roster," Alex said, smiling.
"She's right AJ. After all, it isn't often that you actually meet really awesome people that have no problem being around you, knowing about all of the odd quirks you have," Kaitlyn said.
Listening to what her best friends were telling her, AJ agreed and let Alex lead her and Kaitlyn to the catering area where she walked up to a group of the Superstars and Divas. "Hey guys!" Alex said.
"Alex, what's got you so happy today? Were you finally able to get the game you've been hunting months for?" John asked.
"Already being shipped to my house. I should be getting it in a few days. But that's not the reason why I'm here," Alex said, grinning.
"Then what's the reason?" John asked.
"OK, remember how Vince has me mentoring two of the Divas from NXT? Well, I've brought them here to introduce them to you and the others," Alex said.
"Awesome. Now, where are they?" John asked, looking around.
"What do you mean, John? They're right behind-"Alex was saying, before she turned around and saw that they weren't there. "Excuse me for a minute," Alex said, before dashing off to find AJ and Kaitlyn. After finally finding the two hiding behind one of the equipment crates, Alex stood looking at them with her hands on her hips. "For shame, you two."
"What are you talking about, Alex?" Kaitlyn said, looking down at the ground.
"I thought you guys were so stoked about meeting my friends. Why'd you two run off?" Alex asked.
"We're just really nervous, AJ more than me. I mean, it's one thing to go to a simple autograph signing and meet these guys, it's another to actually be face to face with them and talking to them," Kaitlyn said, blushing.
"Kait, AJ, they aren't gonna hurt you two. And even if they did, they'd be without a hand or their whole arm by the time I'd finish with them," Alex said.
"You'd really do something like that for us?" AJ squeaked.
"Pffftt! Of course I would, AJ. I don't let any of my friends get hurt without me being there to help them. And even if I had to deal with some of my other friends just because they hurt you guys, then I'll just tell them why I did it. Now, will you two come out of hiding and come meet my friends?" Alex asked, pouting and flashing her puppy dog eyes.
Looking at Alex, Kaitlyn and AJ agreed and walked back with Alex to the group she had gone to before. "Hi again, everybody!" Alex said, smiling.
"Hi there, Alex!" everyone said, laughing.
"I'd like to introduce my new friends to everyone. Everyone, this is AJ and Kaitlyn. They're both two of the WWE's latest Diva finds. AJ, Kaitlyn, these are all my friends, John, Alicia, Layla, Zack, Ted, Cody, Kofi, R-Truth, Justin, Tyson, Natalya, Dylan, and last but not least Punk," Alex said, making all of the needed introductions.
"I can say on behalf of the two of us that it's so awesome and such an honor to get to meet all of you guys. It's not every day you get to meet people you only see on TV," Kaitlyn said laughing.
"It's nice to meet you both too. From what we've been seeing of you guys in the ring, you both have lots of talent. Not to mention, Alex has been training you both well," Punk said, smiling.
Blushing, Alex playfully socked Punk and said "You're just saying that Punky."
Taking notice of the fact that AJ was looking down at the floor as everyone else was talking, Zack nudged her and asked "Hey, you okay there little bit?"
Jumping at the sound of Zack's voice, AJ bashfully said "Not so much."
"Do you feel like talking about it?" Zack asked.
"It's not so much there was something bad to happen to me. It's just that I've got really bad shyness and being around so many people is making it kick in like mad," AJ said blushing, as she played with the bracelets on her left wrist.
"You shouldn't have to be so shy with us. After all, there's nothing about us that's scary in any way, shape, or form," Zack said, putting a hand on AJ's shoulder.
Looking up to meet Zack's gaze, she saw Punk walking over to sit with them.
"Man, Zack. I knew you were a real catch, but trying to hit on a poor thing like AJ when she's got a deer-in-the-headlights look right now? That's just low, man," Punk said laughing.
"I'm just doing my job as a concerned friend to help open her up. It isn't often that we actually come across shy people here. Well, Alex is, but she's an exception to that since she's still a kid," Zack said.
"Hows about I help you out? Why don't you go chat with Alex, Kaitlyn, and the others and I'll stay here and work at getting AJ to open up?" Punk said.
"Sure thing. Maybe I can woo Kaitlyn with my funny charms," Zack said, moving to go join the others.
Laughing at Zack as he left, Punk turned to look at AJ and said "That Zack. He's such a funny guy, isn't he?"
Casting a sideways look at Punk, AJ said "I guess he is."
"I'll bet you don't even remember me, do you, AJ?" Punk asked.
"Of course I do. You were one of the commentators on NXT. How could I even forget about you? Next to Naomi, you were the only other person that would shut Michael Cole's mouth when he started griping about having to watch me and the other girls do our challenges and have our matches," AJ said.
"Correct you are. Now, I've heard that you are quite the geek," Punk said.
"Well, duh. Everyone's known that about me since NXT," AJ said, rolling her eyes.
"So, you wouldn't mind it at all if I said that Superman is the best superhero in the history of comic books and mankind?" Punk said, smirking.
Leaping up from her seat beside Punk, AJ said "Are you freakin' kidding me? How could you even say that when it comes to superheroes? Everyone knows that Batman is so much more of a hero than Superman is! After all, it's next to impossible to take down the Big S unless you've got your own store of kryptonite somewhere. At least with Batman, you don't have to get your weapon of choice from all the way in outer space."
"So if you were to put Batman and Superman in a death match against each other, who would win?" Punk asked, standing up.
"Well, when you say death match, I guess it'd be safe to gamble on the side of the Man of Steel. But that doesn't mean a thing. Batman is a way better hero just because of the fact that he's got better weapons and he doesn't have to rely on special powers like all of the other heroes do," AJ huffed, crossing her arms across her chest.
"If you say so. Now, do you think we should move onto another topic of discussion?" Punk asked, smiling.
"Sure thing. What would you like to talk about?" AJ said, smiling back.
As Alex and the others looked on as AJ and Punk chatted about more of the things that they shared interests in, Alex couldn't help but laugh.
"I just knew that you guys would love meeting AJ and Kaitlyn," Alex said, grinning.
"How could we not? They're both really awesome, but now the hard part is going to be tearing AJ and Punk away from each other," John said, laughing as everyone kept going with their conversations.
AJ hadn't even realized that she was really deep in thought until she heard John frantically asking for the time.
"Does anyone happen to know what the time is?" John asked around.
Hearing a throat clear behind her, AJ spun around to see that it was the very person she had been looking for.
"Umm, if any of you had watches or clocks on hand, you all would know that each and every one of you is late for the big meeting," Punk said, tapping his watch.
"The big meeting! Everyone, we forgot about the big meeting!" John said, jumping to his feet.
"Oh no, we can't be late! We'll surely lose our heads if we're late!" Alicia said, following John's lead.
One by one, everyone hurried to get to their feet and gather at the fence. Confused, AJ looked around and before everyone was gone, she called out to them.
"Hey guys. Mind filling me in on what this big meeting is all about?" AJ asked.
Stopping to look back at AJ, Alicia said "We all have to report to the execution of our friend, the Jester. Our Queen doesn't seem to care at all that he's funny, even though she hired him to act as her own personal entertainment. So, he's having a public execution that we all have to attend."
"That's so awful. Would it be fine if I tagged along?" AJ asked.
"Sure. Maybe if there are enough of us there, we can try to help save the Jester," Zack said.
Leaping up from her seat and dashing to join the others, AJ suddenly couldn't help but let her curiosity take over her as she thought ahead to seeing the Queen of Wonderland and having to witness an execution. All she kept thinking about were plans to try to stop things before a kind person had to needlessly die.
As always, don't forget to R & R. =)