Chapter 25

Aerrow

We came upon an area that was filled with smoke. It was very difficult to see. We all had to join hands, though I was very reluctant to grip Ace's hand.

"What's your friend like?" Lady asked me as she walked beside me.

I smiled at the thought of her. "She is very nice."

"And tough." Junko put in.

"And awesome." Finn commented.

"Smart." Piper said.

Radarr let out a sad chirp, probably trying to put in his input about Alice.

"And beautiful." A gloomy voice said behind us. I glanced a look in Stork's direction. Stork, you really do love her. If you don't tell her, I'm gonna have to force you. I thought jokingly.

The possibility of Stork actually being able to read my mind was impossible but I couldn't help but think it towards him.

I suddenly bumped into the Dark Ace as he'd stopped suddenly. Lady stepped forward and said, "We're here" in an almost ominous way.

The smoke was so thick that it was nearly impossible to see beyond my own arm length.

"Where is here?!" Finn asked in an annoyed.

"Here…is…here." A voice said, speaking rather lazily.

"Chesh," Lady said. "Can you get rid of Abuhlom's smoke?"

"As you wish, My Lady." Chess said. He floated up into the smoke and vanished.

Seconds ticked by before, finally, the smoke had dispersed completely. I saw that we were at the base of the largest tree ever. I swear this could've held Atmosia above the Wastelands. I saw Chess before a rather large man with a pipe. The strange part was that this man had blue skin and a rather long beard. Even stranger was…

"Holy crap!" Finn shouted. "He's got e-eight legs!"

Thank you, Finn. I thought sarcastically. Yes, this blue-man in fact had eight, long, hairy legs and a thorax that began at his waist. A humanoid spider-like being.

"How very observant of you, young human." The spider said. His voice sounded almost precise to the sky knight of Terra Rex, Harrier. "What is it you seek?" He was a bit of a slow talker but I suppose it was normal, seeing as Lady and Chess were unaffected.

"Hi, Abs." Lady said. "These people need to find their friend. Her name is Alice. Do you see her anywhere?"

Absuhlom stared at Lady with an emotionless gaze before puffing some smoke. "I can see her." He said.

"Really?!" Stork asked, stepping forward beside Lady. "Please, where is she?"

Absuhlom smiled at Stork. "Infatuated, I see."

"You haf no idea." Lady said coyly as Stork turned red.

Did all of Wonder just know Stork had a crush on Alice or something?

"I see Alice. Her gold eyes and brunette hair." Absuhlom said.

"That's her!" I shouted, and the Storm Hawks cheered.

"She is hidden away though. You must find her treasure." He said. I stared at him, wanting to know what this "treasure" was. "A music box. Painted green and embossed with gold."

"Are you certain?" Stork asked.

"Quite, seeing as years ago, she asked that I hide it." He said.

"What?" I asked. "What's that mean?"

"Are you saying that Alice has been here before?" Piper asked.

Absuhlom took another puff from his pipe and inhaled deeply. As he exhaled, he said, "Yes."

"How?" Dark Ace asked.

"Put it simply, she came here in her dreams. I cannot recall where the box is. Except that it is guarded by a terrible beast."

"Why do we need the music box?" I asked.

"To wake her up." Absuhlom said bluntly. "She is deep in a sleep that has taken her mind to what she wish was but was destroyed by Hatter." He inhaled another puff. When he exhaled this time, a stream floated before Stork and Lady. I stared as the smoke swirled in a large circle before us all. The smoke on the outside solidified into a grey frame while the inside became glass.

In the window…

"Alice!" Stork gasped.

Alice

"Alice!" A voice shouted. I froze up, my pencil ceasing its scratching as I listened closely. Silence had settled in my room. Why did that voice sound so familiar?

Almost three months had passed since graduation. I ended up getting a job at a flower shop in town to save money for college. I didn't know what I wanted to be at all. I decided I was gonna get my generals done online, maybe I'd figure it out after that.

At this moment, I was sitting at my desk, writing down some chores I needed to take care of before my parents got home.

Knock, knock. The tapping on my door drew me to answer. At said door, I saw my elder brother. "Hey, Ali." He said. "I got called into work. I won't be home until like midnight." He told me this and I just nodded. Matthew grew concerned and shuffled my hair. "You better tell me what's wrong before I mug you." He joked.

I just stared apathetically and replied with, "I'm not sure. I think it was more a…memory. Maybe?"

Matt smirked a little and hugged me. "Once you figure it out, we'll talk. Gotta go, kiddo. Later." With that, Matt ran down the stairs and out the door.

I stood in my room for a moment before trailing over to my window. I looked outside and watched my brother speed away. Matt won't be home until midnight, Dad is working until one, and Mom is actually going out with her girl friends. Guess I'm on my own for a while.

Looking down the road, I saw something odd. There stood a boy in a strange outfit. I watched him for a moment before the clouds rolled in. I looked up at the clouds in question. "Looks like a storm's coming."

Lightning struck and I looked back at the road but the boy had vanished. "That's weird." I said before continuing with my own routine.

Stork

I watched as she breathed deeply and peacefully in the glass case. It was like she was hidden from the world.

"Where is she?" I asked.

"Only when the box is found can you truly find her." Absuhlom said. He then handed an intricate-looking key to Chess. "This is needed. You'll know when." He inhaled more smoke and puffed it out, vanishing. The window he'd created vanished as well.

I couldn't help but stare. Alice, where are you?

"I know where the music box is." Lady said next to me. "Mr. Inferno has it. Abs told him to guard it wif 'is life."

"Where is he?" Aerrow asked, going into leader-mode.

Lady then pulled out a small map in her pocket. "We're here." She said as Chess floated down beside her. Lady had pointed at the giant garden. The map itself looked like it was drawn with crayon but otherwise was useful. "We need to get here." She said, pointing at a…a…

"Is that a volcano?" Piper asked.

"Nope. It's a snowy mountain." Lady said. "Mr. Inferno lives there because his name is deceiving and it cools him down." She said all this with a childish glee about her.

"We just need to get through the garden," Chess said. "Over the river, and then we're there. Fairly simple."

As soon as he finished saying this, a loud snore roared above us. Somehow, I think it's easier said then done.

"We're gonna find Alice!" Finn cheered. Junko joined in and the two of them whooped loudly.

Lady and Chess went into panic mode and tried to shush the fools but they proceeded to become louder.

"Guys!" Aerrow shouted. "Enough. We've gotta stop wasting time."

The two stopped cheering and everything was silent. Unfortunately, it was far too silent. There was a low growl above us. I looked up and there was a group of lion heads around us, attached to the stems.

"Now you've done it!" Chess said, picking up the Lady.

One lion roared and the others followed, waking the entire garden. "Run!" Lady shouted. Chess then flew away and we all followed.

Anyone gonna murder me for more cliffhangers? I can't help it, I love them too much. Sorry it took so long but I finally figured out how I want the Terra Wonder Arc to go, AND even how the story itself will end. So, be happy about that. Yes, this story will be continuing no matter what because I am a perfectionist and will not allow this to go unfinished. Gonna whore out a bit and beg you guys to check out my YouTube Channel (TobiCrow94) to check out some videos I did over the summer. Sexy PJ Saturday is not gonna continue because it was foolish and those videos would be better with my new characters, one of which will be introduced 8-11-12. Please at least check it out because I'm trying to prove to my mother I can make a name for myself. I love you all! Thank you so much for being patient and just wait a bit for the next chapters. Updates are gonna be weird at this point because I'm still job hunting and I'm having some financial issues I need to handle.

A little "Fun-formation" for you guys...I got a new BF who is super sweet and not a D-Bag like the last guy I told you about. Still a little peeved about it but I literally haven't heard from him since Graduation. I think he died. Love you guys! Thanks for reading. Review and I'm likely to do some shout-outs next chapter. If there are any specific requests you guys have, tell me.

Peace!