A/N: I have no idea where this one came from. I was searching through old Halloween costumes and found my Snow White one (which sadly no longer fits…) and suddenly this chapter was born. It's just a silly one that made me laugh. I hope you enjoy it too!

It was a well known fact that I have always been a dreamer. Both in the dream-when-asleep, and the ambitious-when-awake senses.

The nightmares concerning the Frabjous Day and the Red Queen were finally beginning to stop. It took well over a year for it to happen, but they were always followed with my sweet Tarrant singing Outlandish lullabies to me, so they weren't all bad.

Not long after our first anniversary, I fell asleep with an uneasy feeling. I had never had this feeling before, so I didn't know what to expect. I was sure it would be another nightmare about those terrifying days, but instead …

*hazy dream sequence beginning*

"The Queen wants you to marry! Run! Run as far as you can!" a man yelled at me. He appeared to be a huntsman of some sort, but he reminded me so much of my father.

"What?" I asked. "The Queen?"

"Queen Helen! Princess, you must get away!"

I was confused. Why would the Queen want me to marry?

"Princess, are you listening? Dream yourself away!"

"Father? Is that you? Are you talking about Mother?"

"No more questions. There isn't time. I wish you well, fair princess. Dream and run and find your prince elsewhere. This world does not hold him. Hurry! Before the Queen finds you and forces you to marry the troll!"

"The troll? Hamish? But, Father, I –"

"Go!" he screamed. "I cannot help you further!" And with that, he ran off. I noticed then that I was in the forest behind Lord Ascot's estate.

"The rabbit hole," I said to myself. "Wonderland must hold my prince."

I hurried along the path and jumped straight into the hole in the ground. The usual objects didn't fly past me, instead there were wedding gowns and rings and flowers and cakes. A voice called, "Don't become a spinster!"

Finally, I landed, but not into the room of doors. Instead, I was in a meadow. A small cottage was off in the distance. Suddenly, a storm began to rage.

"Perhaps they can give me some shelter," I sighed and I made my way to the house beyond the stream.

I knocked on the door, but found no one home. Figuring they wouldn't mind sharing a roof with a poor, lost (and apparent) princess, I let myself in.

I found a terrible mess inside. A table filled with broken cups and saucers, dreadfully old scones and spoiled milk.

"Who on earth could leave such a mess?"

Just then, the door burst open and a motley crew of creatures came in.

A floating cat with a grin wider than his face, a tiny dormouse, twin boys determined to push the other over, a hare who looked terribly paranoid, a jittery white rabbit who glanced at his watch every five seconds and a bloodhound shaking his head at all of them.

"Excuse me, miss, but would you care to explain why you are in our house?" the cat asked as he circled my head.

"I'm very sorry, but I needed to get out of the rain," I replied, still in awe of the crowd before me.

"Rain? What rain? I ain't seen any rain," one of the twins said.

"Right, contrariwise, the rain ain't something we've seen," his brother added.

"But, it was a terrible storm! It was just a few minutes ago. How did you miss it?" I asked, rushing to the window only to find that the yard before me was perfectly dry. "Curious," I whispered.

"Pardon me," the dog said. "But you look familiar, miss. Have we seen you here before?"

"Before? Perhaps. I've been to Wonderland once before. This time, I was sent here to find my prince," I replied, suddenly aware of just how crazy that sounded.

"A prince? You're a princess, aren't yeh?" the mouse said, curtsying.

"I … well, I suppose so." What a curious dream!

"Well, as long as you're with us, you might as well make yourself at home. No princes here, but we shall help you find your way," the cat said, disappearing and reappearing constantly around me.

Introductions were made and I began to feel more comfortable around them. It was strange, but they were very inviting. They insisted I stay with them and let them help me find the prince.

"Who is the prince?" I asked.

"There isn't one," Tweedledee (as I learned his name was) answered.

"Hasn't ever been one," Tweedledum said.

"Then who am I looking for?" I wondered aloud.

"You'll know when you find him, I'm sure," Bayard said, circling and then laying down.

"Princess, you should get some rest," Mallymkun told me. "Head upstairs and sleep for the night. We'll talk more later."

I did as I was told. After a long night's sleep, I returned downstairs to find the ragtag bunch attempting to clean the messy table.

"A princess should not have to see such a mess," Bayard explained.

"Really it is not a problem. I'm grateful to have a place to stay."

"Will you be all right while we go to work?" Mallymkun asked.

"I believe so. Where do you work?"

"In the tea mines, o' course!" Thackery said, as if the answer should have been quite obvious.

"Now, don't let anyone into the house while we're gone," Chessur said, only his mouth visible in front of me. "We want to keep you safe on your journey to find your prince."

"Yes, I shall be fine. Have a good day," I called as the seven marched out towards their work in the tea mines. How curious.

I decided to work on cleaning the place up a bit. I wanted to repay their kindness … and it did look a bit like a disaster area.

After I had finished the table and was just about ready to move onto the dishes, there was a knock at the door.

"Who is it?" I asked from the sink.

"Um … a kindly old beggar woman. Could you let me in for a spell, to rest my weary feet?" a voice replied.

"How strange for an old woman to be out here," I murmured to myself. "Then again, how strange for a princess as well."

I walked to the door and gazed out of a small hole. Sure enough, a strange, short woman with bright red hair and an abnormally large head stood there. Her clothes were in tatters and it looked as though she had been walking for some time.

I remembered Chessur's words, but what harm could come from this old woman? I let her in and showed her a chair.

"Thank you, child. You are too kind," she replied. "Would you like one of my apples in exchange for your compassion?"

"They do look delicious," I said and I reached out for one.

"Not that one," she yelled, startling me. "Nor that one!" She reached a bit and pulled out a different one. "This one … this one is perfect for a beauty as yourself."

"Well, thank you," I said with a smile and took a bite. It tasted fine for a moment and then I felt my throat constrict. Poison! She actually poisoned me!

"Why?" I squeaked out as I fell to the ground, clutching my neck.

"Because you will not steal my kingdom, you wretched brat! Underland is mine and no one will take it from me! Good bye, Alice!" And with that, she ran from the cottage, leaving me to die alone.

But I didn't die. I fell into some strange sleep. I heard everything going on around me, but couldn't react. After what felt like forever, I heard my new friends return and gasp at the sight of me on the floor.

"I told her not to let anyone in!" Chess yelled.

"Wha' did it to 'er?" Mally asked.

"Looks like she took a bite of this apple," Nivens whispered.

I heard Bayard take a long sniff at it. "Poison. But who would want to poison a princess?"

"Red Queen!" Thackery shouted. "Downal wit the bluddy beig heid!"

They fell silent. I began to fear what they would do with me, not knowing that I wasn't exactly dead.

"I wonder who her prince was," Chess finally said.

"We should look around for one," spoke Dum.

"Perhaps he can save her!" exclaimed Dee.

"An' where are we gonna find a prince?" Mally yelled at the boys. "Underl'nd doesn't 'ave a prince!"

"Then we need to find someone like a prince," Nivens suggested.

"An' where we gonna find tha'?" Mally asked with a chill to her voice.

"Maybe it's not just a royal prince," Bayard thought aloud.

"'ow many other types o' princes do yeh know?" the mouse snipped.

"Well, I don't know of any," the bloodhound snapped back. "But there must be something to save the girl!"

"Spoon!" Thackery yelled.

Chessur sighed. "Earwicket, do shut up."

"Don' tell Ears teh shut up!" Mally screamed.

Suddenly everyone began arguing with each other and I felt very guilty for being the cause. Why did I let that woman in? Why did I eat that apple? Why was I in this world to begin with, looking for a prince that didn't exist?

Just then, there was a knock at the door. I tensed at the mere memory.

"It's the Hatter," Nivens said softly.

"Hello everyone! I just stopped in to see if anyone wanted some tea and … oh dear. Why is there a girl sleeping, or worse, on your floor?" a new voice, presumably the Hatter, questioned.

"She's dead," Thackery spoke matter of factly.

"Then the question remains, why is she on your floor?"

"She's a princess and she's been poisoned, no doubt by the Red Queen," Chess explained.

"Downal wit the bluddy beig heid," the Hatter said in a funny accent.

"Well, the crown prince of haberdashery is finally … on the same page as …" Chessur began, fading of for some reason, as if he was thinking about what he just said.

"Chessur, what did you say?" Bayard asked.

"Crown prince!" the cat said. "Oh dear, Tarrant, that means that you're the one! You certainly are the crowned one here with that … beautiful … hat."

"Off my hat, feline! And I'm the one for what?"

"To wake the princess!" Dum and Dee said together.

"And how am I to wake a girl who is no more?" Hatter inquired.

"Kiss the princess to wake her up! Must be a kiss from her prince!" Thackery said. I could hear him bouncing around as he shouted what should have been considered nonsense. But all those fairy tales did agree with his theory …

"Well, while she is stunningly beautiful, even in death, I don't know her. It would certainly be awkward to kiss her," the Hatter rationed.

"What's worse, an awkward kiss or a beautiful but dead girl?" Chessur drawled, as if the question and its answer had no consequence to him.

"I suppose you make a good point."

I could almost feel him getting closer to me. What a brave man to try this on someone he had never met … and was, well, dead. He gently lifted my shoulders and lowered his head. I could feel his breath on my nose. I was nervous and excited all at once.

"Hello, princess," he whispered. "My name is Tarrant Hightopp. I hope you don't find me too forward for kissing you like this, but if it will save your life, I would like to think that you could forgive such a bold move, but even if not, I will understand why and –"

"Hatter!" everyone cried.

"Oh dear, sorry."

And with that, he pressed his lips to mine. I felt the darkness rush away quickly and I opened my eyes the second I was able.

"What beautiful blue eyes," Tarrant sighed.

"What handsome green ones," I replied with a smile. He wasn't what I expected him to look like, but he was terribly handsome in his own way. I felt I was a lucky princess. "So, does this mean you're my prince?" I asked.

"Well, I've certainly never been called that in my life, but if you wish it, then I shall gladly take the title."

I couldn't believe how I was feeling so quickly, but it was obvious to me already that Tarrant Hightopp was my prince. He helped me to my feet and my friends cheered.

"Tarrant, I cannot believe you did something right," Chessur said, floating around Tarrant's head, but just out of reach.

"Bloody cat," Tarrant murmured and then turned to me. "What now, my princess?"

"Well, I suppose it's a happily ever after," I said, really not knowing.

Then suddenly …

I gasped and sat up in bed.

"What … what a curious dream," I whispered.

Beside me, Tarrant stirred and sat up with me. "Sweetness, what's wrong? Another nightmare?"

"No … not a nightmare, but certainly a strange dream. With a very happy ending."

"I'm glad to hear it, my princess. Lay back down so I may hold you."

I smiled at what he called me. He had never done so before. I put my head back on the pillow and sighed. He put his arm around me and I smiled with complete contentment. "Good night, my prince."

End note: from the last chapter, the quotes were:

"Stay on target!" from Star Wars (I don't think anyone got this one)

And

"Royalty (The Queen) is never late, everybody else is simply early." Queen Clarisse Renaldi, from The Princess Diaries 2.

To those who guessed, thanks for playing!