Chapter 24: Welcome To Mystery

AN: So I have a new more reliable beta so once I write a chapter, it'll be more quickly edited. But only if I'm consistent in writing them in the first place, eh? XD ah well. Enjoy! Keep an eye on my profile for updates.

-April 10, 2009-

Kassy's POV

I heard the small whimper escaping my lips even as Elena released her hold on me to suddenly let out a scream. The army of shadow heartless doubled, surrounding us in a circle, slowly creeping closer. The boys dove into their own fight with individual heartless.

Sylvia bared her teeth, backing up with Hazel, a long staff appearing in the brunette's hands, and a fairly sized book in the blonde's.

"I don't know about you guys, but I almost feel... guilty about-" Sylvia began.

"Not alone." Hazel frowned, "And you gotta remember everyone's agreed they're cu-"

Making my own noise of agreement, I backed up with Elena, who groaned, a step behind me, guns materialising in my hands. A pair of twin swords appeared in Elena's hands,

"L-Let's just get it over with and worry about that creepy, seemingly unanimous, feeling later." Elena suggested.

Red nocturnes appeared; the fire spells sent our way sending every female in a different direction backwards. I noticed a large group of shadows pounce on Hazel, whose book had slid further away.

I screamed, shooting my gun haphazardly in her direction, "Leave her alone!"

All at once, every one of the shadows paused and slowly turned their heads to me, antennae twitching. More fire balls sent our way broke the shocked silence. With weapons in hand, everyone dove in until every last heartless was gone.

Sylvia gripped my shoulder from behind, hissing in my ear, "What the fuck was that?"

I wrapped my arms around myself, biting my lip, turning my eyes away from her as she forced my body to face her, "I-I don't know..." I recalled what had happened similarly on the island.

Sora, Donald, and Goofy ran over to us. Donald tapped his foot impatiently, grumbling, "Come on. We need to keep moving. Lucky enough those shadows had better things to do than fight us."

I grit my teeth with a nervous laugh. Sylvia curled her hand over my shoulder, tightening her grip to a painful notch, "Let's go see what we can discover." I shied away from the smirk on her lips, "Shall we?"

I caught Sora's worried glance between us. I gave him a weak smile and allowed Sylvia to all but shove me forward to follow Donald and Goofy to the opening in the wall next to the talking doorknob.

When we emerged from darkness, the first sight that met us was the sight of the backs of a group of large card soldiers blocking the entrance of a hedge archway. On closer inspection, the area looked to be one of an outdoor courtroom.

The white rabbit we had been following earlier came running up a winding staircase to the top of a podium, putting a trumpet to his lips. Panting after playing a short tune, he called out to the gathered crowd, "Court is now in session!"

A small blonde girl with a black ribbon in a blue dress and apron frowned, "I'm on trial? But why?"

The rabbit ignored her, "Her majesty, the Queen of Hearts, presiding!"

A pudgy woman with a bun of black hair and in an intricately designed black and red dress was sitting on a large throne at the back of the area, holding a fan before her face. She spoke out loudly, "The girl is the culprit. There's no doubt about it. And the reason is... because I say so, that's why!"

"That is so unfair!" The girl protested.

"Well, have you anything to say in your defence?" The Queen of Hearts smirked.

"Of course! I've done absolutely nothing wrong! You may be queen, but I'm afraid that doesn't give you the right to be so... so mean!" I smiled at her courage.

"Silence! You dare defy me?!" The woman growled, slamming her fists down, literally shaking the ground beneath our feet. I gripped onto the closest person to me to steady myself. I met Sora's smile with an embarrassed one.

"Hey, guys, we should help her out." Sora's smile faded to a frown as he turned back to the scene before us.

"Yeah, but the-" Donald was cut off.

"We're outsiders, so wouldn't that be muddling?" Goofy asked.

"Meddling." Elena corrected almost immediately.

"Oh, yeah. And that's against the rules." Goofy chuckled.

"The court finds the defendant... Guilty as charged! For crimes of assault and attempted theft of my heart..." The Queen turned to her card soldiers, "Oooooff with her head!"

"No! No! Oh, please!" Alice cried, clutching her hands together in fear.

Sora ran past the cards, the rest of us in tow, "Hold it right there!"

The Queen leaned forward across her throne stand, demanding, "Who are you? How dare you interfere with my court?!"

"Excuse me. But we know who the real culprit is!" Sora exclaimed.

Both Goofy and Sylvia spoke, "Uh-huh. It's the Heartle-" Where as Goofy covered his own mouth with his hands. Elena and I slapped a hand on hers.

"Anyway. She's not the one you're looking for." Sora pointed to the young blonde girl.

"That's nonsense. Have you any proof?" The Queen growled, fanning herself with her heart shaped fan.

"Uh..." Sora's hand slowly lowered.

The Queen then proceeded to order the girl into the golden cage next to the Queen's throne, "Bring me evidence of Alice's innocence! Fail and it's off with all your heads! Gather as much or little evidence as you please. Report back here once you're ready."

Sora was the first to step away from the group to head through the exit near a two of spades, however the Queen stopped us. My eyebrows furrowed. What? But there was nothing else she said...

"To make sure you get evidence and don't dilly dally, one of you will be captive as well."

I felt Sylvia shoot my arm into the air before she had even finished speaking, "She volunteers as tribute!"

A dark blush crept over my cheeks, "Syvy, no, wait-"

She was pushed away by two cards as they grasped each of my wrists and threw me into the cage with Alice. Tears sprung to my eyes, as my head smacked quite hard against the bars.

"We'll be back soon, Kass." I heard the frown in Elena's voice. The cage became shrouded by a red velvet curtain.

I rubbed my eyes and my aching head before smiling unsurely at the girl in the cramped cage, "Hi..."

"Hello..." Her smile was bright and genuine, "I'm Alice."

"I know." I said without thinking. It took a few moments before her expression registered, "I-I mean... I'm Kasandra. Or Kassy. Or whatever you'd like"

"Okay, Kasandra." Her smile returned, "What do you mean you know?"

"I-It's complicated..." I bit my lip, "I've heard of you is all. Friend of a friend and the like. Let's leave it at that."

She nodded after a moment, "I'd like to thank you for saving me. I seem to always be finding trouble."

I shook my head with a smile, "It's normal. I think this place is a bit strange. Trouble might be inevitable."

She giggled, "I guess you're right." I asked her about where she came from and listened to her story.