Wondrous Nightmares
by Bloodysword99
Recommended song: If my heart was house- Owl City
Fanart: TBA
ARCH 2:
Memento Furor
(meaning Remember Madness in Latin.)
Chapter 7: Right Place In Mind and Heart
'Boogeyman, remember when we first met?' The little Alice questioned the tall gentleman while they were basking under a delightful shade of trees and having a nice tea party. For a moment, Pitch looked at the girl quizzically as he set his tiny teacup down. He smiled at the girl's whimsicality. Always such odd questions but that's what made Alice so special.
'Yes, child, I do.'
The girl stared at the Boogeyman before brushing the rough wool of her stuffed rabbit. And a second later, she spread this innocent smile like the true magical angel she had always been. She then handed a bronze key to Pitch.
Alice's room key. He stared at it; stunning golden eyes wide.
'You're always welcome to play anytime, Mr. Black. I love spending time with you.' Her purity was too potent. It practically seared the Boogeyman's, cold dark heart. He didn't have it in him to tell her a key was not necessary because the Nightmare King could teleport through the darkness to any location he desired. So, Pitch just accepted the girl's gift and patted her head with fatherly affection.
'Peculiar little one, aren't you, Alice?" Pitch humored.
She giggled at the Boogeyman's acceptance of their newfound friendship.
Alice was eight years old. And this conversation took place days before the Fire burned her home.
It seems really strange. Out of all the memories, Alice remembers that particular one while they were both falling into Wonderland.
Pitch and Alice were falling from a bizarre sky. The heavens were littered with broken enormous pocket watches, toys, playing cards, wild jungle trees, flowers, butterflies, gears, teapots, fine Chinaware, living room furniture, beds, tables, lamps, and other bits and pieces of junk. It was as if the world had gone upside down.
"Is this how you go to Wonderland? I'm astounded you don't get sick," Pitch yelled while they free fall to their doom.
"Well, at least I can breathe, unlike your Shadow-hell express!" She answered cleverly. And to think she was falling endless into the Wonderland abyss. And she still had moxie.
When Alice and Pitch stopped bickering and looked down to the 'end' of the skies of junk, the girl simply spread her arms and she burst out her powerful surge. Butterflies consumed their vision and they found themselves slowly descending like feathers. Both of them landed safely in a beautiful paradise, the Vale of Tears. It was a forest utopia of blissful nature. This place is what Wonderland originally looked when Alice was a child. Pitch and the little Liddell would play here all night and occasionally have tea with the Hatter and the March Hare.
"It hadn't changed a—what am I wearing?" Pitch noticed his attire. It was still his black robes but different. It had additional features like golden metal braces and gilded silk. Around his neck, crossed on his chest, and snaked around his waist, it seemed like more of an armored robe now. And Alice's wardrobe had changed as well. A Blue dress with a white blood-stained apron, wearing a striped black and white socks and combat boots. With her hair completely redone, she looked more elegant and resembled her sister.
"If you're going to a party, then, dress the part, I suppose," Alice said.
"Indeed. You're certainly dressed for your doom." A voice purred.
It was then the Cheshire Cat had materialized before them. And Pitch had rolled his eyes seeing him again. Out of all the characters, they had to see that insolent tabby. Plus, from the look on Alice's face, it seems that she doesn't want to see the feline either.
"Oh what a joy." Pitch hissed in sarcasm.
"Blasted Cat, don't try to bully us, we're very much on edge." She said.
"Good. If you're not on edge then you're taking up too much space." The Cat purred.
"As cryptic and as irritating as always." The Boogeyman murmured in false enthusiasm.
"Abandon that hope! A new law reigns in this Wonderland. I say you watch your manners, especially you, Boogeyman. Best be on your guard." The Cheshire's warning was serious but the tall grey gentleman merely rolled his eyes again, obviously shrugging the cat's counsel.
"Do you ever make sense, cat?" The girl asked.
Only a grin was the feline's reply before he dissolved into nothingness.
Both of them huffed in annoyance after the Cheshire disappeared. Seconds later, Pitch and Alice ventured through the Vale of Tears. And with the girl's Wonderland skills, she was able to jump and float through obstacles and crags. Pitch had no trouble since he could just melt into the shadows and glide through. On the way, they found fragments of Alice's memories in peculiar glass figurines. Pitch thought it was the side effect of her madness returning. Alice's mind began to deteriorate, it was no surprise her memories were shattered and scattered throughout Wonderland. It was possible to restore her sanity if they could manage to piece together all her memories. Maybe things might clear up. So, they seek out more of them as they went further into the forest.
In their passing, Alice also stopped at the violet potion waterfall to get her shrinking powers. The Cheshire Cat appeared to instruct her and advised Pitch to take the bath in the Purple Potion as well but he claimed he didn't need it. After all, he could just melt into the tiny shadows to get through keyholes and other small secret doors. They continued on after…
"Pitch, what are we doing here exactly?" Alice asked as they were jumping from platform to platform.
"We're making sure your mind isn't breaking again." He replied.
"Are you that worried about me? For a minute you sounded like Papa." She smiled.
Pitch coughed ineptly, covering his embarrassment. True, the Boogeyman cared for the girl like a daughter but he didn't want to admit it, not out loud, at least. He still had a reputation to uphold. Pitch can't let anyone know he's going soft. And more importantly, he can't allow Alice to be a weakness that others could use against him. He'd soon die before anything happened to her because of him.
"Look!" Alice pointed at a pile of old dragons just ahead.
Both of them ran to sight, and what they found was the Cheshire Cat grinning from ear to ear. They were sure if the feline was glad to see them or just wanted to irritate them.
"The Vorpal Blade is swift and keen, and always ready for service." The Cat said as a weapon impaled in the bones of the creature lifted itself off and floated towards Alice. The girl took the blade and ran her fingers against its fine embroidery. A marvelous weapon. And as the girl swings it, the blade chimes with brilliance and raw power. It was fine craftsmanship and right for Alice's structure and arm capacity.
"I didn't come back here looking for a fight." The girl said to the cat.
"Well, that's too bad because I think we don't have a choice," Pitch murmured summoning his tall dark Scythe.
When the Cheshire Cat dissolved, a monster emerged from the murky pools of black gunk. It was a blub creature with the face of a doll and had screws and machinery stuck to its back. An awful sight and definitely didn't belong in Alice's Wonderland. And deserved instant annihilation. With a hack of Pitch's scythe, the creature was tossed back and Alice dashed in a burst of butterflies for the final finishing swing of her Vorpal blade. No monster had a chance. Not long after, they managed to get through half of the Vale of tears. And unfortunately, they saw the Duchess in her open area kitchen. Well…
"Pitchy!"
"Oh no," he cursed.
There were many twisted things in Wonderland even before Alice went mad. Besides a smiling sarcastic cat, a cryptic caterpillar with a bad smoking habit, A hatter who is obsessed with tea, and a turtle cow hybrid who is a train conductor, there was one particular character in Wonderland that Pitch finds revolting. The Duchess. It wasn't just the way she looked or her carnivorous diet. It was her obsession with the Nightmare king. The way the Duchess fawned over him and the sticky love drunk gazes he received.
She was so clingy when they first met. He tried his best rid of her but the duchess was like a parasite worming back his way. Alice, who was very young at the time found it cute...in a disgusting sort of way.
"Nothing has changed. The duchess seems to fancy you like a new dish on the menu. She could just gobble you up after she fattens you up with her love. Figuratively speaking; hopefully." Alice teased.
"I would rather hang or actually be eaten as an Hors d'oeuvre. Just not by...her." The Boogeyman muttered darkly while trying his best to stay in the shadows.
"Pitchy my king, I knew you couldn't stand us being apart!"
Pitch shuddered. It was a good thing had a strong stomach to walk into her kitchen with the help of Alice. And that sneaky girl could only snicker at his misfortune.
"Time apart makes the heart grow fonder. I really, truly, wished to be a part. Possibly forever."
He made his insult very blunt but with a subtle charismatic tone but the duchess is too infatuated to mind.
"Oh, Pitchy my little pig snout!"
"We are in a bit of a hurry. What can you tell us?" Alice interrupted. And as the golden opportunity came, Pitch reeled back as far as possible from the ugly woman's lips.
And, the Duchess made an irritated grunt before going back to her kitchen duties. As she stirred the stew, her expression changed dramatically. A second ago she was happier than a schoolgirl but when Alice asked she became very serious. Seconds later, she explained what tragedy has befallen.
"A train has been terrorizing Wonderland, Alice. Not pretty. Making noise everywhere it goes and destroying anything in its path."
"The Looking Glass Line? It's hardly a weapon of mass destruction especially if the Mock Turtle is the conductor." Alice said.
"I doubt that wimp is behind this. He's as terrifying as soup." Pitch made his clever statement and crossed his arms. Everyone knew the Mock Turtle was a meek little creature. The hybrid is practically scared of his own shadow and couldn't influence terror even if his shell depended on it.
"Not the Looking Glass line, Alice. A new abomination prowls about, highly dangerous and ruthless. Loud and deadly. The conductor? Certainly not the Mock Turtle. Maybe the Hatter knows a thing or two." The Duchess said.
With the Duchess's helpful words, her pepper grinder, and a gift basket of pig snouts and teeth for the trip to the Hatter's Domain, She called out to Pitch in a hushed tone, trying not to attract Alice's attention who was currently occupied by the basket of teeth.
"You're risking your very existence." The Duchess warned quietly.
"A regular occurrence when it comes to Wonderland, isn't it?" Pitch said, recalling his last visit when he and Alice defeated the Red Queen and her tentacles.
"This is different; Once you go deep enough, there might not be a way back. Alice's mind isn't exactly the safest place at the moment." Her words of caution were a good note but the Boogeyman wasn't interested.
"I appreciate the encouragement, Duchess, but I can handle this," Pitch claimed confidently. The Duchess sighed before shooking her head.
"You're blind to the danger, Pitchy. I'm not sure if that would be your strength or your demise." The Duchess said as she held her ladle and tapped it against Pitch's chest. "Your heart is in the right place. But is it ready to change for Alice's sake?"
Both of them glanced at the innocent Alice. The lady Liddell caught their gaze and stared at them quizzically.
"Are you quite done?" The girl asked; ignorant of their conversation.
Pitch and Alice left the Duchess' kitchen and continued through their journey. But the Boogeyman's mind was on a journey of its own. He thought hard about what the Duchess said. He was blind to the danger, which he can admit but a change of heart? He can't wrap around the idea. He noticed his change and he never really cared. But thinking back, Alice had completely re-educated him on the laws of wonder and purity. She had shown him what true imagination was like. What a child was truly capable of. All these years as the Nightmare King, he never knew, but when he met Alice, his perspective had changed, and also…his heart.
"Pitch?" Alice noticed the Boogeyman's absent mind.
"Yes, child?" He asked meekly.
There was this thick and eerie silence as they kept their gaze on each other. Alice then broke the silence with a simple question.
"Do you remember when we first met?"
It made his heart twist at the memory.