First of all, if you haven't noticed, this chapter says CHAPTER 7. I changed the author's note to chapter 6, so if you didn't notice it, you might want to read it first. Just sayin'.

I haven't got the Lena oneshot done yet, so you get three chapters of this today! I have exams this week... *sob*

"Alice! You're back!" Erinn reached out her arms to snuggle Alice, but halted when Marine glared at her, and made the 'shhh!' gesture.

"She fell asleep, so we're just going to report to the King tomorrow." Erinn nods, and leads them downstairs to the staff's rooms. She tries to convince the three to let Alice sleep in her bedroom, but, fearing that Erinn might find a hoof mark anywhere on Alice's body, they refuse and escape to the room that Iris shares with Sheila, since it has a bathroom that is connected to Marine's room.

Sheila let out her long held breath, "We're so lucky that Erinn's too busy being the hostess! Gosh, my heart is still pounding...!"

"Should I go make some tea, Sheila?" Iris smiled at her friend, who shivered at the suggestion.

Marine stepped in, after putting the sleeping Alice in her bed, "No! For the love of the Almighty himself, please don't make any kind of congestible substance ever again! The last time you made ANYTHING, you gave everyone stomach trouble for weeks!"

"...You didn't need to be so harsh, Marine..." Iris pouted, and trailed her finger around in the dust in the corner of the room.

"No, I really did. You need blunt advice sometimes, and I'm the girl for the job. I love 'ya and all, but you are a terrible cook. Now good night, I'm going to bed."

Sheila waved at her as she walked back into her bedroom, and closed the door to the bathroom softly. Marine stared at her little guest who was resting on her bed. Since Marine has her own room, there's only one bed.

Oh well, we'll just share. It's not a big deal anyway, we're both girls. Marine chuckled softly as she situated herself between Alice and the wall. Alice instantly clung onto her, like the little child she is.

Marine sits against a large tree in the clouds. She had no idea where she was, but she felt a certain bliss, just watching the clouds go by. Oddly enough, there were little angels running around; the boys having mock sword fights, the girls gathered into little groups, gossiping and giggling at the boys.

"...It's really peaceful here." Marine sighed contentedly.

She heard rather dark laughter, followed by an oddly deep, yet unmistakably female, dark muttering, "'Das wha' they want'cha 'ta think, kid. 'Dis place is 'orrible. I hate it here."

Startled, Marine turns to see a tiny child playing with a doll of some sort. How had she not noticed this little girl here before?

The girl had stunning silver hair that was so bright it was nearly pure white, and when the girl turned to peer up into Marine's face, Marine almost woke up from the shock. The girl had one pure white eyeball in her right socket, and the left eye was almost similar; no pupil, no iris. The only difference was that there was a red lightning-shaped zigzag in her eyeball. Marine wondered if this girl was blind.

Again, the little girl shocked her by speaking, "'M not blind, kid. I can see'ya just fine."

"...W-why are you over here? Shouldn't you be over there with the other girls?" Marine pointed to the angelic girls, who were now silently watching the two of them.

"'M not allowed 'ta play with d'em, 'cause I got no wings." She points to her back, which is indeed bare of any wings. "Papa's gunna' make sum fo' me, 'n then I can join him down with 'da mortals."

She points off vaguely into the distance as if it were obvious where she was pointing. Marine can't see exactly where she's pointing, so she gets up and walks to the edge of the platform. Her eyes widen at the view; she can't see the ground, it's all clouds for miles as far as she can see. She hears soft footsteps coming from behind her.

"If 'ya see 'ma Papa, tell 'im 'dat 'm gettin' tired 'o waitin', 'kay?" Marine didn't quite understand what the girl was asking exactly, until she felt a small pair of hands roughly shove her off of the tall building.

"Maaaaaaaaarine! Wakey wakey!" Sheila pounded on the door, trying to wake up her friend. It's a wonder that Alice was able to get up way before her, what with having been trampled by a horse the day before.

Marine jolted forward, her body coated in sweat. That... what was that?

She shook her head. It was just a dream. Calm down. Let's go take a bath, talk to Alice, and then we'll report to the King.

She made her way into the bathroom, locked both doors, and let the water run, soaking herself in bliss as she tried to decide what all she should ask their little charge.

. . . .

"Morning, Marine~!" Alice sings as Marine makes her way into the kitchen. Marine stares at the little cheery girl, who was munching on a fried egg sandwich that Erinn probably made for her.

"...Yes, good morning, Alice. Are you feeling alright?" Alice raised an eyebrow, her smile dropping for just a moment.

"...I'm fine, why do you ask?"

Perplexed, Marine leans onto the counter where Alice is seated. "Well, y'know. You got trampled by a horse and all..." Her voice was a whisper, just in case Erinn were to walk into the room.

"What are you talking about? I wasn't trampled by anything; I never have. You're weird, Marine~" Alice laughs at the now thoroughly confused Marine. "Are you sure you didn't just dream it?"

Maybe I did dream it up... How could a little girl even flip a horse? Geez, what was I thinking! Marine shook her head. "I must have. I had such an odd dream last night."

Before Alice could ask what it was, Sheila bolted into the room, tackling Alice off her stool, hugging her to death.

"GOOOOOOOOOD MORNING, ALICE~!" Iris calmly walked into the kitchen behind her.

"Indeed, good morning to the both of you. Sheila, I don't think Miss Alice is breathing anymore. You should let go of her." Sheila looked at Alice, who was now blue in the face, and let go immediately, standing up.

"S-sorry, Alice." Alice sat up, shook her head to clear her mind of the rampaging thoughts, and grinned at Sheila, making the girl relax immediately. After all, who couldn't feel relaxed after being grinned at by one of the cutest little girls they've ever seen?

"It's okay, Sheila. Can we go to the castle now~?" She turned to Marine, and gave her Alice's own puppy dog face (which doesn't include the eyes).

Marine sighed, "Alright, fine. Go get dressed, and then we'll go."

The entire time this scene had taken place, Alice was only wearing a pair of underwear and some socks. Somehow, nobody had noticed until Alice had asked to leave.

Alice squealed, and ran back to Marine's room. The three remaining girls wondered if there was any danger from Alice running around in that state.