Author’s Note: This was pretty hard to write :D Hope you like it, it's waywaywayway different than what I usually write. Hope I can pull it off. Arghh. :D

Disclaimer for the Entire Story: Neither the Twilight series by Stephenie Meyer nor Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Caroll is mine. Blablabla… you know how it goes.

That was what was on every citizen of Wonderland’s lips, as they passed on the terribly shocking news from door to door, speculating and wondering at their land’s future. Would the High Queen choose her next successor soon? Would the next ruler be fair and true, as the current Queen of Wonderland was? The High Queen of Wonderland, Queen Anastasia, had been queen for so long that many people didn’t remember life before her rule.

Crowds gathered outside the Queen’s enormous castle. They milled around the gates, demanding with the guards standing stiffly outside if the rumors were true. The guards, as was their duty, reassured the people of Wonderland that what they heard was, indeed, untrue, and they eventually dispersed uneasily, not knowing what to believe. Tree spirits and flower spirits even left their plant hosts, drifting here and there, asking everyone who crossed their path about the Queen. Even Snow Giants from the far south of Wonderland, who usually preferred solitary life in caves near the craggy mountain peaks of Curio, lumbered by, grunting in alarm.

High Queen Anastasia was much loved, and she was indeed dying.

‘More flower nectar, your Majesty?’ a chambermaid, kneeling by the High Queen’s side, asked nervously.

The High Queen nodded, throat too dry to speak. Her face was terrifyingly pale, as though all the blood had been drained out of her. She lay smothered beneath white sheets, sweating profusely even though her fingers and toes were ice cold. Her gray hair was splayed all over her eiderdown pillow, and a strange cream was spread all over her cheeks, something a Healer had prescribed.

The other three Queens, Queen of Clubs, Queen of Spades, and Queen of Hearts were standing in silent vigil beside her bed. Queen Anastasia was, of course, the Queen of Hearts, and she had been chosen the High Queen, while the others assisted her in her rule. The four of them were sisters, and very close ones. The entire room was stiflingly hot, as the curtains were drawn shut because the light burned the High Queen’s weak, milky eyes. The High Queen was already sixty-five, and her health was evidently failing her.

The High Queen let out a high moan, and the Queen of Clubs, Queen Rasputia, stood up, pacing the room. The other two queens followed suit.

‘We face a dilemma.’ the Queen of Diamonds, Queen Portia, broke the ever-growing silence. The other two nodded in agreement, faces grim. ‘To hope that our sister will survive and do nothing seems foolish. We should immediately select another Queen.’

Her statement was met with hostility. ‘The last time we were to select the next High Queen, utter chaos broke out. I trust you remember?’ Queen Portia said.

‘So you’re suggesting we postpone?’ Queen Makisha, the Queen of Spades, shot at her sister.

‘It’s too rash a decision!’ Queen Portia defended herself fiercely, trying to keep her voice low, speaking in a hushed whisper.

‘Too rash? Sister, Anastasia is dying! If we do not select a new High Queen soon, the whole kingdom will fall into disarray. I’ve instructed the Guards to deflect all rumors now, but I fear we shall not be able to keep it a secret for much longer.’ Queen Rasputia heaved a heavy sigh.

The three Queens once more fell silent, contemplating their impossible situation. High Queen Anastasia appeared to have fallen asleep.

‘Excuse me, your Majesty.’ the chambermaid, curtsied and excused herself, shutting the door of High Queen Anastasia’s private chambers behind her quietly.

‘I suppose you’re right.’ Queen Portia groaned.

‘Anastasia should make the decision.’

‘It can’t be either one of us, as you know.’ Queen Rasputia interjected.

‘I know that.’ Queen Makisha said. ‘We’re far too old.’

‘Ah, but to be High Queen…’ Queen Portia said wistfully.

‘Anastasia was always better suited than us to be High Queen.’ Queen Makisha reminded her. A few decades ago, when Queen Anastasia had been selected as High Queen, Queen Portia had been resentful at first.

‘Tomorrow.’ Queen Rasputia said. ‘Tomorrow High Queen Anastasia shall choose her next successor.’

‘Yes.’ Queen Portia nodded.

‘I suppose you hope it’ll be your daughter, Princess Alice.’ Queen Rasputia said slyly, nudging her younger sister, Queen Portia with her bony elbow playfully. Queen Portia was always the more ambitious one of the four sisters.

‘Of course I do.’ Queen Portia smiled slightly, bending down slightly, gown rustling, to give her sister a small kiss on her wrinkled cheek. ‘But we shall have to see.’

---

‘The Black Queen was completely unstoppable, as you can see from this illustration here… she killed mercilessly and during that time, the whole of Wonderland fell into poverty. The High Queen then, Queen Geraldine, your mother’s mother, was thrown off the throne…’

White Rabbit droned on, pink nose twitching nervously like it always did, using his soft white paws to point at something in a large, leatherbound book. Alice was sitting haphazardly on her chair, her behind becoming increasingly numb. Her tutor, the White Rabbit, was giving Princess Alice her daily princess lessons.

‘… and of course, after the Black Queen was sealed inside the Crystal, Wonderland eventually returned back to normal, and your aunt, Queen Anastasia was chosen to be High Queen.’ White Rabbit peered closely at Alice, who was drooping lower and lower onto her small desk, looking rather miserable and clearly not listening to him. His whiskers twitched in surprise. Usually, Alice sat raptly at her desk, listening eagerly to what White Rabbit had to say. Not today. She appeared dull and listless, quite unlike her usual energetic self.

‘Alice!’

Alice started, blinking rapidly. ‘What?’

‘Haven’t you been listening to a single word I’ve said?’

‘Er… I heard some bits.’ Alice said sheepishly, feeling ashamed of herself.

White Rabbit frowned. This was highly unusual. History was Alice’s favorite subject, something which surprised White Rabbit, given that she was barely twelve. Princess Alice, daughter of Queen Portia was, quite possibly, one of the brightest princesses White Rabbit had ever tutored. Her mind was clear and alert, and White Rabbit had grown to be rather fond of this black-haired ball of pent-up energy.

‘I was just telling you about the Black Queen.’ White Rabbit sat down in front of her.

‘What!’ Alice said in dismay. The Black Queen was one of her favorite historical figures. She was wicked, terrifying and evil to the core, which was what made her so fascinating.

‘Teach me again.’ Alice instructed, trying make herself comfortable.

‘I think I’ll try again tomorrow. Run off, Alice.’ White Rabbit said, sighing slightly.

‘Really?’

‘Yes. I think Jasper might still be waiting for you outside.’ White Rabbit named the handsome young squire whom he thought had taken quite an interest in the young princess. He’d seen them playing together before, and there was no doubt that this young Jasper was smitten with Alice.

As long as he knew Alice could never be with him, White Rabbit mused. He supposed the close relationship between these two children could be tolerated, though Alice would probably be seeing much less of him when she eventually turned thirteen, an age in which Alice would have to be properly trained for her duties as Queen.

‘Whatever will I do with you, Alice?’ White Rabbit ruffled her already-messy hair gently, sending her away.

Alice shrugged playfully, gave White Rabbit a tug on his fluffy tail and a fleeting kiss on his soft as she always did, and skipped out of the room, using Magic to open the door of the large, musty library in the process.

‘I told you not to use Magic for opening doors!’ White Rabbit called after her, groaning and shaking his head. Alice had been using Magic for everyday things, from enchanting her fork and knife to cut up her venison at mealtimes to levitating a comb for combing her hair when it got too tangled. She also been more mischievous lately, choosing to play tricks on various monarchs when they came to visit, pulling away chairs just as they were sitting down, or making a jam tart splatter onto their faces. Queen Portia wasn’t pleased with this behavior, but Alice simply couldn’t be controlled.

Alice felt slightly drained of energy, but she didn’t care. She was free! Free from the stuffy confines of the library and now she had at least an hour until the Royal Dinner with some important counts and countesses Alice had no care for. Jasper wasn’t waiting outside the door, as White Rabbit had assumed. The hallway was deserted, and Alice sped down the well lit hallway, zooming past beautiful tapestries and sculptures, skidding on the shiny marble floor. She had a vague idea where Jasper would be, and she was going to find him.

‘Alice!’ an elderly maid scolded when Alice accidentally barreled into her, making her upset her basketful of clothing.

‘Sorry!’ Alice slowed down, concentrated hard and made the clean linen tablecloths neatly fold themselves in midair and thump back into the wicker basket. Bigger magic such as this drained her of more energy, and she lightly skipped past the Great Hall now, giving the gigantic portrait of the Royal Family rendered in oils by the Royal Artist hung above the Great Hall a cursory glance, hating how she looked like in the enormous oil painting.

She ran down a long flight of stairs, the hem of her muslin dress lightly skimming the steps. Alice hated dresses. They were so cumbersome! Having to hold her dress up every time she walked was such a bother, learning how to hold it at exactly the right angle and right grip nearly killed her.

She passed by her father, King Krisel, who whistled cheerily at her and called, ‘Dinner in sixty minutes, don’t forget!’

‘I won’t!’

A pair of guards in shiny armour who stood still by the translucent glass doors of the Main Entrance swung open the door silently, giving her small smiles from behind their helmets. Alice had always wondered how they managed to stand there all day, it must be terribly uncomfortable.

Sure enough, when Alice reached the horse stables, sidestepping mini-mountains of poo (her mother would never let Alice hear the end of it if she accidentally got any of it on her satin shoes or dress - it wouldn‘t be the first time if she did), Jasper and a few other squires were assisting their knights, grooming the shiny coats of their steeds. The horses were simply huge, and they towered over Alice.

‘Jazzy!’ Alice ran over, forgetting about her dress.

Jasper turned around in surprise, and he smiled widely when he saw Alice running over, cheeks flushed in excitement and a white ribbon in her hair. ‘Alice!’ he returned enthusiastically, dropping his brush and turning around.

The other squires snickered quietly, and Jasper blushed.

He gave Alice a deep bow when she approached, as did the other squires, who were giving her looks Jasper did not like. He knew exactly what was running through their minds. Alice, though only twelve, was fast turning into one of the most beautiful creatures they had ever seen. There was just something about Alice that drew everyone to her, Jasper included.

‘I already told you all that I don’t need bows.’ Alice said reproachfully. ‘They make me feel strange.’

‘Yes, my lady.’ they chorused.

‘Alright, so… go back to your work! Except you, Jazzy.’ Alice said hastily, as Jasper obediently went back to getting tiny nits off the horse’s coat.

‘I’m supposed to be cleaning Sir Bertram’s horse.’ Jasper said, torn between wanting to run off with Alice and doing his duty. He would’ve done the former without a second thought if not for the other squires, Jon especially, giving him glares. It was evident that they would certainly rat Jasper out if he went off.

Alice understood. ‘And I order the rest of you not to say a word about this! I mean it!’ she tried to sound authoritative but she failed.

Jon, one year older than him and hated his guts, gave him a sour look.

‘Alright then.’ Jasper laid down the brush carefully, rejoicing. More time with Princess Alice! This was turning out to be a good day.

Alice gestured for Jasper to follow, and he did so. Alice grabbed his hand and they ran, oh, how joyfully they ran. With the wind whistling past their ears, sifting through their hair and billowing through their clothes, Jasper could almost forget about this exhausting squire duties, pleasing his knight Sir Bertram and the fact that he knew he could never have Princess Alice, future Queen or High Queen of Wonderland. After all, he was just a lowly orphan boy.