Disclaimer: No copyright infringement intended. All I'm doing is mixing Stephenie Meyer and Lewis Carroll's characters in Tim Burton's world while adding a dark splash of my own imagination.

Chapter Five: Nivens McTwisp

After Alice and her friends had breakfast, Edward announced that the White Rabbit would be picking Alice up to take her to the Red Queen's castle for tiffin.

"Did he come by earlier?" Alice asked Edward. "I didn't hear him."

"Oh, no, the Red Queen sent the Knave of Hearts to extend her invitation last night," Mallymkun informed her.

"Is that why you made me the new dress, Edward? Because you knew I would be going there?"

"In a way, yes," Edward admitted, "but also because I wanted to give you a present."

Alice grinned. "Thank you, Edward; you're very thoughtful."

"Oh, yes—very thoughtful," Mallymkun deadpanned.

Edward smirked crookedly, gazing at Alice as he tried to convey that he was only as thoughtful with her, but Alice knew that already.

Shortly after, White Rabbit finally arrived to take Alice to the Red Queen's castle. Alice smiled upon seeing White Rabbit, noticing that he, too, hadn't changed much. He looked dapper as always with his perfectly tailored suit, matching bow tie, and large pocket watch that dangled around his neck.

"Oh, White Rabbit!" she exclaimed, as she walked over to him and leaned down to give him a brief hug. "It's so good to see you."

If the White Rabbit could blush, he probably would, but instead, he simply chuckled nervously. "Alice," he said, "I can see that you haven't changed much throughout the years."

"Do you really think so, White Rabbit?"Alice pondered. "Everyone keeps telling me that."

"Why, yes, you're still as charming as you were when you were a child," he told her. "But let's get going, shall we? The coachman is waiting for us outside."

Alice nodded, looking over at Mallymkun who had been standing nearby. "I'll be back later, Mally."

"Be careful, Alice," Mallymkun whispered.

"I will," Alice agreed. "Take care of Edward, alright?"

"Ha! I always do," Mallymkun quipped, causing Alice to chuckle.

White Rabbit then followed Alice out of the March Hare's home before heading to the Red Queen's castle in the carriage she'd sent for Alice. After a few minutes of silence, Alice decided to ask White Rabbit a question that had been running through her mind for a while.

"White Rabbit, can I ask you something?" Alice inquired.

The White Rabbit stopped in his tracks, turning to look at Alice. "Of course, my dear; is something the matter?"

Alice sighed. "No, not really, but I'm just curious about something that Absolem said."

"'Curiouser and curiouser'," White Rabbit quoted, chuckling. "That was something that you used to say when you were a child."

"I remember that," Alice admitted, smiling, "although I haven't said it in quite some time."

"Oh, well, now that you're back in Wonderland you can say it as much as you'd like, but let's get back on track, shall we? What did you want to ask me before?"

"Well, after I arrived yesterday, I spoke to Absolem, and he said that there was a war going on?"

White Rabbit nodded. "Yes, that is true."

"Then why haven't I seen any fighting going on?"

"Because it's a silent war, my dear," White Rabbit explained. "When the King and Queen of Hearts died in a fatal accident, their daughters couldn't agree on who'd take the throne. Victoria of Crims—the Red Queen—should have been rightfully granted the throne since she is the eldest of the two, but Isabelle of Marmoreal wouldn't have that. Therefore, she enslaved creatures of the land to build her a castle, and once it was completed, she appointed herself as the White Queen."

Alice frowned. "And couldn't anyone have done anything about it?"

"Well, when the King and Queen of hearts still lived, they had two battle creatures in their possession: the Jabberwocky and the Bandersnatch. Isabelle took the Jabberwocky, and with it, she threatened anyone that dared to defy her."

"Including the Red Queen?" Alice asked, incredulously.

"By that time, Victoria had already set up her army of knights, so neither Isabelle nor the Jabberwocky got near her castle, and that's how the land was practically split in two."

"I still don't understand why they continue fighting if they have split the land already," Alice told him.

"Well, it's fairly easy why, child," White Rabbit reasoned. "They want to be in control of all the land."

"That's nonsense," Alice observed.

White Rabbit sighed. "It truly is, but what can one do besides adjust?"

"So, what is the Red Queen doing to retaliate if it's still a war?"

"At the moment, nothing that I know of, but knowing Victoria, she's been plotting her revenge for awhile. Everyone has been living in fear, waiting for it to happen, actually. Nobody feels safe anymore, and that's why there's so much hostility in Wonderland."