*Chapter 5: Arrival in Wonderland*

*Wonderland*

"Donald, are you sure the ship has landed? All I see is the dark." Moro asked, looking out the window. Amikai opened the door and looked around for anything. Pepper sniffs outside and backs away.

"Maybe we can-whoaaaa!" Amikai screamed as she fell down to the darkness.

"Amikai!" Goofy cried out, looking down.

"Oh, c'mon! Let's go!" Donald said as he jumped down. Moro and Goofy followed him down as they let out a scream. Amikai felt like she was falling slower and slower. All around her are floating furniture. Amikai noticed an upside-down fireplace.

"That's weird." She said to herself. Then, her feet lands on the ground. Amikai looked up to see her friends coming down. She moved out of their way. Goofy lands on his stomach. "That was...interesting." Amikai spoke.

"Yeah..." Moro said, looking up. "Wonder if we could get back up?"

"We'll worry about that later, Moro." Donald replied. "Let's look around and find the-"

"I'm late! I'm late! For the important date! I'm here, I should be there!" A voice spoke from behind. Everyone turned to see the White Rabbit wearing a coat and holding up a watch. "The Queen! She'll have my head for sure! I'm late! I'm late! I'm late!" He repeated himself. He disappeared in the hallway.

"I wonder what he's late for?" Amikai wondered.

"And the queen will have his head?" Moro asked.

"Well, let's follow that fella." Goofy suggested. They ran down the hallway and found a door. Amikai opened it and found another door. She opened the door, and see the doors are getting small. She opened the final door and crawled through. They find themselves in the room. Ahead of them is a small door. Too small for Amikai to fit through. The White Rabbit must've went through there.

"Now, how are going to fit through?" Amikai asked as she examines the small door. She reached for the doorknob and turn it...

"Dohhh!" A Doorknob cried out, making Amikai cry out in alarm.

"Wak!" Donald cried out as he stared at the Doorknob. "Did it...talk?"

"No need to turn firmly now." The Doorknob spoke.

"It did talk!" Moro spoke. "But...how...?"

"Now...what can I do for you?" The Doorknob asked, trying to hold back his yawn. Amikai blinked. She had trouble taking this in, but she must know how to get through.

"Um, did the rabbit come through here?" Amikai asked.

"And how are we gonna fit through?" Moro asked.

"The White Rabbit did come through here, but you must grow small. Why don't you try the bottle over there?" The Doorknob replied. Amikai and the others turned to the table that appeared with a bottle and a box of cookies. Amikai picked up the bottle and saw the label that said, "Drink Me". Moro picked up the box of cookies that all labeled in frosting, "Eat Me".

"Bring those just in case." Amikai told him as she opened the bottle. "Here goes..." She took a sip of the bottle and put the bottle down on the table. Suddenly, she started to grow small. "Whoa! I'm...I'm small!"

"You're the size of a mouse!" Goofy giggled.

"Don't step on me! Just drink the bottle!" Amikai called up to them. They all shared a bottle and shrunk down.

"We're small!" Moro said as he looked around the room. Everything is so big. Amikai ran towards the Doorknob. But he fell asleep.

"Hey! We're small now! Let us through!" Amikai exclaimed, turning the knob, making him yelp. The Doorknob gave her a look.

"Must you be so rude? Oh, you're small now. Oh dear..." He trailed off.

"What?" Amikai asked.

"I forgot to tell you. I'm locked." The Doorknob replied, letting out a chuckle.

"Are you kidding me?" Moro asked.

"But do you have the key?" Donald asked.

"Now don't tell me you left it up there." The Doorknob said as he looked up at the table where the key appeared. Everyone groaned. Amikai realized something. She took one of the cookies from Moro's pocket. She took the bite out of it. She started to grow her normal size.

"Whoa! Watch it!" Donald cried out as he, Goofy, and Moro moved out of the way. Amikai grabbed the key and took a sip from the bottle to shrink once more. She asked nicely to the Doorknob to open his mouth to unlock. After the progress, the Doorknob turned his knob and opened the door for the newcomers.

XX

They all see strange creatures in the woods, the beach, anywhere they go. But they notice the footprints that belonged to the White Rabbit. They follow the trail to the woods.

"I wonder where the rabbit fella was going?" Goofy asked.

"We're gonna find out." Moro replied. "This world is really weird. I mean, look at those!" He pointed at the umbrella vultures bathing in the water. "Now I've seen everything."

"Let's keep going." Donald said, walking pass them.

"Hey look!" Amikai spoke as she found a tree with an entrance to a different area. A labyrinth. "Let's see where this leads!" She ran inside. Ahead of her is a castle. She continues to the follow the White Rabbit's trail.

After they made it through the labyrinth, they hear trumpets inside the castle. Amikai and the others walked in to see the trial happening. There are cards standing against the walls.

"Court is now in session!" The White Rabbit spoke. The defendant, a girl named Alice, looked up in disbelief.

"I'm on trial? But why?" She asked.

"Her majesty, the Queen of Hearts, presiding." The White Rabbit gestured to the Queen. The Queen looked down at Alice with a sneer.

"This girl is a culprit. There's no doubt about it. And the reason is...because I say so, that's why!" She said. Amikai and Moro listened to her in shock. What is happening here? Did the blonde girl did something wrong or not?

"That is so unfair!" Alice exclaimed.

"Well, have you anything to say in your defense, my dear?" The Queen asked with a sly smirk. Alice crossed her arms at her.

"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!" She told her. The Queen slammed her fists down.

"Silence! You dare defy me?!" She shouted.

"This is so wrong. Should we do something to help?" Amikai asked her friends.

"We should." Moro agreed.

"Yeah, but..." Donald spoke.

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

"Meddling!" Donald corrected him.

"Oh yeah! That's against the rules." Goofy told Amikai and Moro. But Amikai felt bad for Alice. She wanted to help her.

"The court finds the defendant...guilty as charged!" The Queen continued. "For the crimes of assault and attempted theft of my heart..." That caught Amikai's attention. Someone tried to steal the Queen's heart. Heartless. The Heartless is the culprit. "Off with her head!" The Queen shouted. The cards are closing in on Alice. Amikai couldn't take it. She got her Keyblade out to stop this.

"Wait!" She shouted.

"Amikai, no!" Donald cried out. The cards and Alice turned to see Amikai approaching.

"The girl is not the culprit!" Amikai said.

"Who are you? How dare you interfere with my court?" The Queen asked.

"Sorry for barging in, but you are wrong about the girl here!" Amikai exclaimed. "I know who the real culprit is!"

"Oh, do you? Have you got any proof?" The Queen asked, tapping her fingers. Amikai didn't say a word. That's the problem. She needs to bring in the Heartless, but how is she going to do that? "Hmph! Thought so! But...there is something you can do. Cards, lock up Alice!" The Queen demanded. The cards dragged Alice away and put her in the cage. "Bring me the evidence to prove Alice's innocence. Fail, and it's off with your heads! Gather much as you please, and report back here."

"Amikai, what're you doing? We can't be part of this!" Donald hissed.

"We are now." Amikai told him.

"The question is...where do we find the evidence?" Moro wondered.

"Psst! I know someone who could help." Alice's voice spoke from the cage. Amikai and the others walked over. "Go to the woods and find the Cheshire Cat. He may know where you could find the evidence. He helped me before."

"The Cheshire Cat?" Amikai repeated.

"Don't worry, Alice. We'll get you out of this." Moro promised the girl. Alice smiled at him in thanks. The group left the court room.

They are back in the woods. Amikai expected to find the Heartless roaming around the forest, but there is nothing but strange creatures. Donald stopped in front of Amikai, crossing his arms.

"Thanks to you, we're involved in this mess." He said.

"What, you wanted Alice's head cut off?" Amikai asked with a look. "Besides, the Queen claimed that someone tried to steal her heart. It must be the Heartless!"

"But where are we going to find it?" Moro asked. "Either one or more should appear."

"You won't be able to find them here." A voice spoke. The group looked around. On the tree branch, the cat appeared and has a grin on his face. "The shadows appear where they need to be." He said. Amikai got a good look at the strange cat. It must be the Cheshire Cat Alice mentioned before. He may have seen the Heartless.

"Is that the Cheshire Cat?" Goofy wondered.

"Could be." Donald replied.

"You where the Heartless are? Tell us. We need it as evidence." Amikai said to the Cheshire Cat.

"The Cheshire Cat has all the answers. But doesn't always tell. The answer, the culprit, the cat all lie in darkness." The Cheshire Cat said before he disappeared.

"Wait!" Amikai called out.

"They've already left the forest." The Cheshire Cat's voice echo around them. "I won't tell which exit. The evidence is hidden deep in the woods. Just listen for the music. That is all I could tell." Amikai turned to her friends.

"Should we trust him?" Moro asked.

"I...I think we should since he knows." Amikai replied. The Cheshire Cat appeared once again.

"To trust, or not to trust? I trust you'll decide!" He grinned before disappearing.

"What a weird cat." Donald mumbled.

"Deep in the forest. Listen for music." Moro repeated. "Those are the hints. I guess we have to keep walking through the woods until we find the culprit."

"Then let's go! I don't know how long the Queen will wait." Amikai said.

The group had been wandering through the forest, listening for anything. But Goofy found some footprints on the ground. They lead to the gate to a tea party. They could hear music coming out from the teapots. Amikai pushed through the gate and see two figures singing together. They are singing about a unbirthday. But they must've seen a Heartless coming through here, haven't they?

"Excuse us." Amikai called out. The two figures turned to her and her friends. One is a short man wearing a large green hat, he is the Mad Hatter. The other is a March Hare.

"No room! No room! No room!" They both cried out, rushing towards them.

"But there's plenty of room." Goofy spoke.

"Ah, but it's very rude to come here without being invited." The March Hare told him.

"It's very, very rude indeed!" The Mad Hatter giggled.

"We're here to look for a culprit for the Queen's trial." Moro told the duo. "Have you seen anything unusual coming through here?"

"Unusual?" The March Hare wondered, using one of his ears to scratch his head.

"Ahh! You must mean this!" The Mad Hatter exclaimed as he brought out a pink box. "It appeared while we were having a tea party!"

"Umm, not what we need-" Amikai spoke.

"What's in it?" Goofy took the box and opened it. A Heartless appeared! A soldier. Goofy cried out in alarm.

"Lookout!" Amikai cried as she got her Keyblade out.

"Oh good heavens!" The Mad Hatter gasped as the Heartless run all over the table, breaking the cups and teapots. The soldier ran out of the gate to get back in the woods.

"After it!" Moro yelled.

"Sorry about this." Amikai said to the Mad Hatter and the March Hare. She followed her friends out of the party. From the trees, the Cheshire Cat grinned. He couldn't wait to see what Amikai and the others are in for.

XX

"Cards! Seize that creature!" The Queen yelled as the Heartless is dodging the cards. Alice's cage is broken, and she found a way to escape. But more Heartless appear around her. She gasped as a shadow leaped towards her but got hit by fire.

"Run! We'll handle it!" Moro said as he got in front of her.

"Are these creatures the culprits?" Alice asked.

"Yes! They're Heartless! Now, go!" Moro told her. Alice thanked him and ran off to leave the court.

"Get them, you fools!" The Queen shouted. Amikai, Donald, and Goofy appeared on the scene and see the Heartless fighting off the cards. "What is the meaning of this?!"

"Those are the culprits! Alice is innocent!" Amikai said, pointing at the Heartless. "They steal hearts!"

"I don't care what they are! Cards, off with their heads!" The Queen shouted.

"What? We have proof right in front of ya!" Goofy exclaimed.

"No! She means off with the Heartless' heads! Not us!" Donald corrected him.

"Guys, come on!" Moro called after he destroyed the soldier. "Alice is this way!" So, they all left the fight to look for Alice. The Queen noticed them leaving the court. She growled.

"Trying to get away? Now it's off with their heads!"

Alice made it to the White Rabbit's house she was once trapped in. She hears noises from behind and see Amikai and the others catching up to her. Amikai is out of breath as she held the Keyblade.

"Things were getting crazy back there." She said. "Are...are you okay?"

"I'm fine. But what are the Heartless?" Alice asked.

"Well...they're bad guys." Moro said, but he didn't want to give her better details. And she can't know where they came from either. "They steal hearts for power."

"And they tried to take the Queen's heart." Alice said.

"Well, all it matters is that the mystery is solved." Amikai said. "I'm glad you're safe."

"Thank you for helping me. My head will be gone if you hadn't shown up." Alice said with a smile. "Now...I wonder if I should go back home from here? I remember that I come this way before."

"Well, how about you wait here for now? If you see any Heartless or the Queen, just run and hide." Moro said.

"But do you want to stick with us?" Amikai asked.

"Those Heartless sound dangerous and I don't want to be in the way. I can find my way back. Thank you again for your help." Alice said.

"Alright. Then let's go and fight off those Heartless. I get a feeling the boss of them is here." Moro said walking off. Amikai walked beside him.

"You mean like the one in Traverse Town?"

"Yeah. There's always big ones in charge. So, be ready for it."

The Doorknob closed himself after the group walked in the room where they come in. On the table, there is the Cheshire Cat. He looked like he had been waiting for them to arrive.

"You found the culprits. How wonderful. But more shadows will be here." He said.

"You know something, don't you?" Moro asked.

"Yeah. Tell us something we don't know." Donald said, agreeing with the teen.

"I won't tell. But you will see." The Cheshire Cat said, pointing above the ceiling. Everyone looked up to see the giant Heartless. The Trickmaster. "Are you prepared for the worst? If not, too bad." The Trickmaster landed on the floor.

"You...you tricked us!" Amikai yelled.

"Tricked you? Nothing of the sort! The Cheshire Cat is always here to help the weak." The strange cat said with a wide grin. The Trickmaster uses its matches to light up the fire.

"Lookout!" Moro shouted as the Trickmaster shoots fire at them. He got out a wand to use his magic.

"The wielder of the Keyblade..." The Cheshire Cat spoke once more. "Should be able to use a little magic, right?" Amikai looked down at her Keyblade. She forgot she was given magic. She must use it. The Trickmaster shoots fire at Moro, but he uses Reflect to block it. Amikai aims her Keyblade at the Trickmaster and uses Blizzarga. But missed as the Trickmaster dances out of the way and swung its arm at her. Amikai screamed as she flew towards the wall.

"Amikai!" Moro called out.

"We need to freeze that Heartless!" Donald says as he uses his staff to use Blizzarga.

"Donald! Put me out!" Goofy hollered as his pants is on fire. Moro hurried over to Amikai who grunted. Amikai slowly got on her feet, looking up at the Trickmaster.

"We must use Blizzard together. After it freezes, you use the power of the Keyblade to stop it!" Moro said. Amikai looked at him and made a nod. After Donald puts the fire out from Goofy's pants, Moro and Amikai joined them. "Together!" Moro said, aimming his wand up. Donald and Amikai point their weapons up. "Ready...aim..." The Trickmaster was ready to fire at them until Moro gave command. "Blizzard!" They all use Blizzarga to freeze the giant Heartless. The Trickmaster is now frozen.

"It's frozen!" Goofy said.

"Now, Amikai!" Moro says as Amikai got her Keyblade ready. It's glowing and she used Strike Raid. The Keyblade strikes through the Trickmaster. It collapsed on the floor, falling to pieces. It vanished and a heart is set free. "All right!" Moro cheered.

"Good going, Amikai!" Goofy said with a smile.

"That'll show that Heartless!" Donald praised.

"Oh goodness." The Cheshire Cat said to himself as he witnessed the fight. Amikai wiped her forehead and heard a Doorkob who spoke.

"Now that creature is out of the way, I can finally sleep." He opened his mouth to yawn, but something is inside his mouth. A glowing keyhole. Amikai and the others watched in awe. The Keyblade started to glow, and a beam of light went out and hit the keyhole. The sound of a click is heard. The Doorknob closed his mouth and shut his eyes.

"What was that?" Goofy wondered.

"I don't know..." Moro said.

"Sounded like something closed." Donald guessed. Then, a piece of paper came down towards Amikai's feet. She picked it up. One of Ansem's reports! "Hey, that's a report of Ansem!" Donald said.

"Oh, right! They are scattered to different worlds." Goofy said as he remembered Aerith told him and Donald about the reports. Amikai hands the report to Donald.

"Bravo! You're quite the hero, young wielder." The Cheshire Cat spoke from the table. "But don't think you've stopped the shadows. You have a long way."

"Cheshire Cat...who are you?" Amikai asked.

"Who, indeed?" The Cheshire Cat asked with a grin. "Follow the shadows, and you will find the darkness. Some go this way. Some go that way. But as for me, myself personally, I prefer the shortcut." He vanished.

"...What?" Amikai asked, throwing her hands up. "What does he mean?"

"Never mind that. Let's go back to the Gummi Ship. We have another world to visit!" Donald said. The group ate the cookies to grow back to their size and return where they arrive. Now they have questions about the mysterious keyhole...

"That darn cat..." One of the voices in the shadows grunted.

"It needs to shut its big mouth!" Another voice spoke. The figures watched Amikai and the others climbing in the Gummi Ship. "They sealed one of the Keyholes."

"Do not fret." Maleficent spoke. "The girl cannot possibly seal all of them. The Heartless are too strong. And we have the assistance of stealing the princesses." Her eyes move to the right as a scared princess was shoved into the light. It's Snow White. "Speaking of which..."

"Now, hold on a minute!" A male voice spoke. He walked out of the shadows to reveal himself. He is no other than Hades. "Are you saying we shouldn't worry about the kid? She just sealed one Keyhole! And she will be coming for more! There is one in my world! Hello!"

"If you worry so much, why don't you take care of her yourself?" A voice laughed. "I wouldn't mind having her in my snake and spider stew!"

"Silence!" Maleficent said with a look as she brought her staff down. Kokoro appeared next to Snow White. He took her by the arm to take her to a cell. "Be sure she is treated well." Maleficent told the teen.

"Right." Kokoro said, not looking at her. He gave Snow White a sorry look before leaving the room.

"Sheesh. A downer, isn't he?" Hade said. "Hmm. You know, I just had a thought of what I could do to use that Keyblade..." Plans form into his mind as he excused himself. Maleficent couldn't help but to smirk after Hades left. Things will be interesting.