Alice In Onederland

Louis and Zayn had gone back to their respective places but I chose to stay at the Tower with Liam. From what I gathered, each territory (the Carnival where Louis lived, the Palace where the Queen and Niall were, and Hatter Estate where Harold Hatter stayed) were in a perpetual war with each other. The Tower was the only neutral area as Liam was the one repairing each territories troops. It was against the “rules” to destroy the Tower. People with roles were replaced by the Faceless, who Liam hand selected and sculpted faces for so others would know their significance. “You may only leave when the game is finished”, Liam explained, puffing on his hookah. “Once there is a decided victor, you may return home. But of course, you may want to hurry. Your body will only last so long without you inside of it.”

“What?!” I wailed.

“You don’t really believe that you can dream your life away, do you?” Liam wondered. “Oh my, child. You have much to learn.”

“This is the worst dream I’ve ever had”, I grumbled. “People with guns. Disregard for anyone not deemed ‘worthy’ of unique features. I don’t like it-”

“Alice, dreams are the creation of your subconscious mind”, Liam said, hardly leaning forward. “Something inside of you has created this for a reason. You did this. If you don’t like it, why did you do it?”

I recoiled. How dare he accuse me of creating such a thing? I would never create someone like Niall. I’d never heard of a cat with more than one tail. I could never fathom a world where people could be so strange. “I’d like to leave and find somewhere to stay”, I muttered. “I need sleep.”

“Of course, you’re cranky because you haven’t slept”, Liam reasoned. “There is a guest room upstairs you may stay in. The Palace might be the most guarded but even they risk being infiltrated. This is the safest place to be-”

“Because of the rules”, I grumbled. “People break rules.”

“Nobody breaks rules at the Tower”, Liam assured. I stared at him warily before being shooed upstairs. The room I entered was surprisingly cozy; a bedroom with a lit fireplace and hand sewn quilt on a bed with a wooden frame. After taking off my shoes, I plopped down in the bed and let myself sink into the plush mattress. My feet hurt and my eyes were heavy. A stain glassed window splashed colour into the room despite the moonlight and that’s exactly the last thing I saw before I fell asleep.

~~~~~~

“Alice?” Someone shook my shoulder, disrupting my sleep. “Alice, get up! I want to do something today!”

“What is it?” I whined. Forcing my eyes open, I saw the Cat-Man, Louis, standing over me with a big wide grin. He was dressed in flamboyant leggings with a diamond pattern on them in green, gold, and purple that was matched with knee high gold boots. He was also wearing a purple crop top, fur jacket over a green blouse. “And what are you wearing?” I laughed sleepily.

“Festival clothes!” Louis beamed with a tail flicking happily. “Get up! We’re going to the Carnival!”

“Carnival?”

“We’re hosting a party in your honour! It’s The Day of Other Lands, when we celebrate the other worlder that’s come to visit us!”

“I haven’t a thing to wear”, I mumbled.

“It’s alright! I brought you something.” Louis stepped to the side of my vision and gestured to a gown similar to the play dress I was already wearing only this one was dyed the same as Louis’s funny outfit. “I asked Niall for permits to host a friendly gathering at the Carnival today and when I said it was for you, he sent out for a seamstress immediately. White seems to really like you.”

I forced myself into a sitting position and rubbed my eyes. “Yes, it’s quite bizarre”, I yawned. “Is Liam going?”

“No, Liam has work to do.”

“What’s all this work people are talking about?”

Louis’s fuzzy eyebrow (which I just realized was adorned with soft gold glitter) quirked. “Don’t you know about the game?” he wondered. My face must’ve answered my question because he laughed. “For an other worlder, you’re a bit daft”, he giggled. “The game is like… Well, you know there are territories, eh? Each territory negotiates to expand or make allies. So we’re always talking to each other or trying to shoot each other. But regardless, it’s just shite stuff. Fillin’ out paperwork like letters and contracts, denying them, meeting in person to have tea and try killing each other. It’s a lot of fun! Taylor seems to like you. Maybe you should ask her if you can accompany her to a meeting sometime?”

“And Liam participates in this?” I guessed.

“Oh no, Liam looks over death tolls, stockpiles information and records that come from the meetings, and all the boring stuff! But this isn’t about the game. Get dressed and meet me downstairs!”

“Can we have breakfast?” I asked.

“There’s a pastry shop on the way in the square. We should stop by there!”

I nodded in agreement so Louis could leave. Silently, I slipped into the dress which fit just right before trying to fix my hair and brush my teeth. When my Mary-Janes were buckled on my feet again, I walked downstairs to find Louis watching Liam curiously. “What’re you doing?” I whispered, noting Liam was asleep. Louis’s tail wagged and he grinned.

“Looking for his antennae”, the cat purred. “Rumour has it, he has a pair with a second pair of eyes under his hat but he’s too embarrassed to-”

“Leave him alone”, I sighed. Louis cackled over the snoring Liam, who was passed out in his chair as I shooed the cat outside. We walked to the side of the town square where Louis got us two fresh made honey buns for our journey on the orange paved street to the Carnival.

When we got there, I was surprised to see not only the faceless, but Zayn, Niall, Queen Taylor, and a few other people I didn’t recognize. “We even invited people from other Kingdoms!” Louis squealed. “That woman over there-” he gestured to a grandiose blonde woman in high heels and a bizarre get up- “is Madame Gaga of Clovers. That man is Ed, he runs the park. See her? Ariana is an affiliate of the Hatter so be sure to keep away from her. And him, with the rainbow hair, Sir Michael Clifford is the Knave of the Kingdom of Diamonds. That’s why you’ll see him avoiding Zayn so much. Zayn’s so pompous about being an elite card where Mikey couldn’t give any less shite about his-”

“Alice, the people are pleased to see you!” Queen Taylor beamed. “Madame Gaga, would you allow the people to introduce you to Alice of Other Lands?”

Madame Gaga pulled out a small pair of opera glasses that she squinted through to look at me. How she saw through them behind her large green glasses, I didn’t know. “The clovers are intrigued”, she said smoothly. “Your name is Alice?”

I curtseyed and nodded. If Queen Taylor was introducing me to this woman, then I’d assume her title of Madame wasn’t so appalling as I thought it was. She carried herself with the same elegance Queen Taylor did, insisting Madame Gaga was queen in her own right. “That is correct”, I smiled. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Madame Gaga.”

“The clovers are equally honoured to see such a curiosity”, the woman replied. Queen Taylor gripped my hand.

“May the Carnival be open to all!” she cheered. “May all the people of the Lands of Jeu de Cartes take pleasure in leisure in the Day of Other Lands!” Without Louis or Ed touching a button, the Carnival gates opened and welcomed people beyond its threshold. For a second day in the Kingdom of Hearts, this day seemed to be off to a rather fun start.

Notes

So obviously, I picked really mainstream, easily recognizable pop stars for the other roles but I don't listen to a whole bunch of mainstream music (unless it's 70's, 80's rock), so if you have any suggestions, I'll find a role for them somewhere :D

And yes, The Day of Other Lands is going to be strongly based on Mardi Gras. I fucking love N'awlins.