Alice's plan to overthrow the Queen of Hearts is thwarted by a dashing pirate with a hook. Years later, after the curse is broken, they reunite once again.
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slowly editing! You'll see at the end of each chapter if th...
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I've been walking for about ten minutes when I walk up a steep slope and find a large tree house nestled in with the winding trees. The tree house is beautifully crafted with two stories and even balcony with more flowers growing on them. I stare at it for a moment in wonder before approaching. As I go to knock on the door with stained glass windows, it swings open and a man looks at me, seemingly in shock. The man is wearing a peculiar top hat and has curly brown hair that reaches past his ears. He simply stares at me.
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"Hello." I say softly, hoping to break the awkward silence, with a small smile.
"Alice?" He breathes out and tears form in his eyes as a large grin overtakes his face. Before I can ask him how he knows me he's pulling me into the tightest hug I've ever received. My eyes widen and I hesitantly laugh along with him as he spins me around. He puts me down, putting his hands on my shoulders to look at me properly.
"I know you don't remember me." He says somewhat somberly.
"I-Have we met before?" I ask with a kind smile. I don't know what it is about this man but I do feel a strange connection between us, as if I already know him. I can't recall ever even seeing him before, let alone knowing him though.
"Yes. My name's is Jefferson. I-i know you don't know me but you said once you would help me. You promised. I need you to keep that promise, Alice." He says emphatically with pleading eyes.
"I'll help you however I can, though I'm unsure what I'm even helping you to do." I say with a chuckle and a reassuring hand on his own that's still resting on my shoulder. His entire face lights up and without a second to say anything else he pulls me into the tree house by my hand. I let out an embarrassing yelp at the sudden movement but try to keep pace.
As we enter what must be the dining room I see a table covered in porcelain dishes and tea cups with little finger foods. Sitting at the table are two...people? It feels rude to call them animals. Though I imagine if I were an animal, I probably wouldn't be offended if someone called me one. Maybe I would only be offended if a human called me one. What kind of animal would I be?
I snap out of my racing thoughts when I see the white rabbit I had been following down the rabbit hole. My eyes light up in recognition and right as I'm about to say something the other guest hurls a tea cup right at my head so I duck.
"You're late for tea!" The other guest shouts and I realize he's a hare. I look at him affronted.
"How can I be late when I was never invited to begin with?" I ask incredulously. The hare looks terrified and hides behind his ears.
"Alice, this is McTwisp." Jefferson finally chimes in, gesturing towards the white rabbit.
"Welcome home Alice." McTwisp says with a genuine smile I raise my eyebrows in surprise. Home. the word warms my heart in a way I haven't felt since before my father passed.
"I've met you as well?" I ask in delight. McTwisp nods his head proudly in response.
"And this is The March Hare." Jefferson says, pointing to the hare who'd nearly cracked my skull open with a teacup. At the mention of his name he hides under the table. I let out an amused laugh unintentionally, a feeling of fondness coming over me. A feeling that's old, like a memory that's not my own.
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We all sit at the table having tea and talking when I decide to ask Jefferson a question. "What exactly do you need my help with." The mood immediately drops and Jefferson's face turns deadly serious.
"The Queen of Hearts." He says, voice filled with malice and hatred. I furrow my brows in concern.
"The Queen of Hearts?" I prod skeptically. "Like the card?"
He nods his head, not looking at me, lost in a memory. "She's the queen of this land, and she destroyed my life and everyone else in Wonderland." He says darkly, making the hairs on my arms stand up.
"What did she do?" I ask softly, placing my hand over his, grounding him back to the present. He looks at me sadly.
"I have a daughter, Grace." He tells me and I feel shocked but I'm immediately filled with sympathy, assuming the worst. "I traveled to this land to help someone, so I could make money so me and my daughter could live comfortably. "But I was betrayed, left here at the whim of The Queen of Hearts." He pauses to pull down his shirt, showing off his neck to reveal a large scar that wraps around his neck. I look at him in shock, eyes filled with sympathy.
"Why haven't you stopped her?" I ask, voice quiet.
"Because only you can stop her. You must take the throne." He says emphatically. My heart skips anxiously at his words.
"Me? I can't even tie a corset, let alone overthrow someone that powerful." I say through an incredulous laugh. He looks at me, eyes intense with sadness.
"You don't believe anymore." He says, almost to himself. "You have to! We're all doomed if you don't!" He shouts, his face turning panicky and I feel my heart rate pick up speed.
"Believe?" I say with a disbelieving laugh. "This is all just a dream."
At that, he gets up, standing behind me with his hands on my shoulders. "Even the queen knows you can defeat her, that's why she cursed you. She cursed you so you would forget everything about Wonderland." He says with a squeeze of my shoulders. I look up at him for a long moment in consideration.
"I want to wake up now." I say firmly, closing my eyes tightly.
When I open them, I'm still here.
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