Chapter 22

Aerrow

Alice continued to glared at the spot Mad Hatter was once in. I saw her trembling with anger.

"Mad Hatter?" Dark Ace asked. I sent a glare towards him. This man shouldn't be near my friends…ever.

"Long story short," Alice said with a monotone voice. "He's the man who killed my family." She was silent for a moment before she said my name.

"Yeah?" I asked.

"Is my spare blade in the ship?"

"It's right here." Junko said. He brought the girl her energy blade as she tossed me mine. "We thought you may need some protection."

Alice took the blade and activated it for a moment. She inspected it, then mounted it on her back after deactivating it. "Thanks." She then ran off towards the temple.

"Alice, get back here!" I ordered.

"I'm sorry, Aerrow, but I hafta settle this once and for all!" She shouted back.

Alice

I climbed up the stairs effortlessly. Of course, I say that and yet I've only climbed a quarter of it. Who the hell has stairs this high?

I'd already climbed what I would estimate would be the same length as the Condor's runway. These stairs seemed to go one forever.

Over and over, I played the questions I'd ask Hatter in my mind. From within, strange music echoed out to me. That tune that was so very familiar.

My palms were sweating with anticipation. I had this! I've been ready for years and even Aerrow helped me…even if it was without his knowing.

I got inside and had come to an instant halt. The room was a pit! I stood at the edge, trying to balance myself.

I looked down it. Nothing but blackness below. A gentle breeze coming up. My hair blew from my face as I stared down it. A gust of wind pushed up then became extremely strong! I staggered back from the edge as the wind blew.

"Shit!" I growled, though if someone were near, my voice would be indubitably drowned out the wind. Looking up, I watched as the wind blew a strange mist out of the opening up top. The disguise of the terra was built within.

Aerrow

She disappeared into the temple quickly, not even a second glance. Did she really think that fighting that mad man on her own would solve anything?

"So, what are you all waiting for?" The Cyclonian said.

I stared at him in shock. "Just what're you talking about?" Piper challenge, getting in a battle stance.

"She's your teammate, isn't she?" He said.

I glared at him to which The Dark Ace met it daringly. In normal circumstances, I would've attacked him, fighting him to the death as we always did. However, it was in that instant, Radarr jumped from my shoulder and started to run towards the temple. He climbed up five steps exactly before looking at me.

A huge gust of wind came from the temple, sending a strange fog into the air. This must be why we couldn't find this terra. It is made to be kept hidden from the world. I looked down at the cabbit before he ascended the stairs in a desire to help Alice.

"He's right." I said.

"What?" My entire team said.

"Think about it," I said. "This is Alice, a headstrong, stubborn, goofball, Earthling who just wanted an adventure since she was a child. A man took away her family just the same as what happened to ours." The Dark Ace didn't seem to be affected by those words save for a shift in the emotion in his eyes. "She's just the same as us and needs us, even if she denies it a thousand times over."

Finn stood straight. "Then what're we waiting for?" He said. "Let's go help our spazz!"

We all ran up the stairs quickly. "I'm coming too." I heard a voice say as someone ran to my right.

I looked over and saw Dark Ace. "Why?" I asked, half-angry and the other half curious.

"She saved my life once. If need be, I'll repay that debt." He said simply.

I stared at him then up the opening ahead with a smirk. "And here I thought you were without honor." I said, mocking Harrier's voice and morals a little.

As we entered, I saw Alice standing with Radarr on her shoulder. However, she was extremely close to the entry and we were running hard.

I hit her first, then Stork, Piper, Finn, and Dark Ace. We gained our balance quickly but the finisher was when Junko hit us. All of a sudden, we were tumbling down a huge pit that stood at the entrance.

All of us screamed in shock and fear. "Guys, join hands!" I said quickly.

Alice grabbed Dark Ace and Stork's hands. Finn found Junko and Piper while I grabbed Dark Ace and Piper's hands. Stork and Junko grabbed hands.

Alice

The wind was intense as we fell down that pit. I was afraid but it felt amazing. I remember the feeling of flying on a skimmer with Aerrow for the first time. It was so much fun. It still never officially forgave him for being an ass to me but it was okay.

The shouts of the people around me soon faded as a light appeared at the bottom of the pit.

"Alice…" A woman's voice said.

I closed my eyes as I let her voice echo. It was so familiar.

"Alice, wake up! You'll be late!"

I opened my eyes to see a woman (about 36) with golden brown hair. Her silvery eyes stared down at me lovingly. "You silly girl." She said. "I swear, you sleep like the dead." She playfully ruffled my hair and began to leave. "Get your scrawny butt dressed. I made your favorite." She sang that last part.

I stared at her in shock. "Mom?" I asked, trying to understand what was going on.

The woman turned to me with concern. "What is it, sweetie?"

"What day is it?"

She smiled. "It's May 19th. You're graduating today. You have a surprise waiting for you downstairs so hurry it up or you'll lose this opportunity."

Alice's MOM? Inception much. Okay. I don't know if my readers are still alive or not but I'm gonna keep writing because I like this story and my OCD won't let me just leave this hanging. I'm not going to do a silly monologue between me and the Hawks. So, I'll just ask for reviews. Please? They let me know if anyone is actually reading this. Tell me what you think, flame me, love me, or whatever you guys wanna do. Just give me a sign that you're out there. If you're lucky, I may do a one-shot just for you! Gotta go now. Peace!