• Alice's toes sunk into the sand as she ran across the seashore. Her heart was beating faster than the tide. There he was, standing in the water, stretching his arms out, waiting for her. She was so excited, she didn't bother to pull up her skirt when she ran through the water. Alice fell at his feet and looked up at him, embarrassed. He simply laughed and helped her up. She kissed him a million times, one for each moment she had missed him. He held her like he did the night before he left, like there was no tomorrow. She cried into his chest, she was so relieved to know he was okay. Suddenly, they heard a crashing sound from the island and they both looked up to see the pillar and the top of the island crashing down into the sea on top of them.

    Alice sat up, her chest felt like it had been pushed down on by something heavy and she tried to catch her breath. Regaining her senses, she looked around. The rolling green hills, tall windmills and the valley of twisted houses below.

    "Are you alright, my dear?" Pin Joker asked, turning onto his side and resting on his left arm.

    She nodded and swallowed, realizing that she had woken up from a dream to a nightmare. The townspeople were enslaved, building machines for Bear King while she, the princess, sat up here on the hill with her courtier as if nothing was happening.

    It had been three months and two weeks since she told Pin Joker that she needed time, six months and three weeks since Borodo left and a year and a little over two months since she first arrived on this island. Time sure did fly by while she was on Clockwork Island.

    "You really need to stop eating those mushrooms. Who knows what they're doing to you," he touched her arm and ran his gloved fingers down to her hand, grabbing it and holding it up to his lips.

    "I use those mushrooms for medical purposes as they have a wide variety of herbal remedies," she replied bluntly, watching him as he kissed up her hand, her arm and scooted up next to her, heading for her neck. She put a finger to his mouth and stopped him. "Control yourself, Jorik," Alice scolded him.

    He stared up into her emotionless face as he blushed embarrassingly. She never seemed to feel pleasure or happiness. Ever since he started courting her, she had never offered to smile, laugh or enjoy the time he spent with her. It was like she was dead inside.

    "Alice, what is wrong?" Pin Joker asked her as he sat up next to her, "I have tried all I can to cheer you up yet you are so glum. At least tell me something emotional."

    Alice looked out over the valley and then looked at him, "You really want to know why I am so unhappy?"

    He nodded instantly.

    She sighed. Pirates were so dumb. "I was in love with a man and when he left on a business trip, he promised to return in six months. It's been six months and two weeks. He's broken his promise. On top of that, when your pirates came to our island, we had to send my little brother away to sea so he wouldn't die in the invasion. He was only a month old! Who knows what's happened to him!?" Alice's eyes watered over and she hid her face into her knees.

    Pin Joker grimaced. Now he had to console her. Cautiously, he wrapped his arm around her. "There, there. I'm sure your brother is fine." He magically produced a handkerchief in his hands and handed it to Alice.

    "You don't know that..." Alice muttered through the handkerchief.

    "Oh, Alice. Do cheer up," Pin Joker stared at her, watching her intently, waiting for her to smile at any random moment. "Let's head back towards the castle. Maybe a game of cards will cheer you up."

    "Nothing will work, Jorik. I long to see them. Borodo and Akisu. If I hear that they are in good health, then I will be happy," Alice told him as he helped her up off the ground.

    "I can still try to cheer you up," he said optimistically.

    He remembered all of the times he had ventured to see Alice. He would try to impress her with magic tricks and Chinese proverbs which he would often pronounce wrong and either the Cadys or Alice would correct him. It would embarrass him to have to be corrected, especially in front of Alice. He wanted to be perfect, like he used to be before he received the scar on his face. Maybe then, Alice wouldn't act like she does now. Uninterested.

    Pin Joker had his arm wrapped around Alice as they walked up the small path to the top of the hill. Since they took over the island, they put mines all over the hillside so no one could approach the castle area. Only the pirates knew where this narrow path was located. She gazed up at the half-finished castle, like a bunch of jagged bowls stacked on top of each other. Bear King intentionally built it upon the island's key so he would have control over it. No one could do anything about it but live with the fact that they had lost.

    "Alice!" a woman's voice called out.

    The couple stopped at the top of the hill to see a woman running towards them. She was beautiful, shoulder-length blonde hair, blue eyes, full breasts. Alice looked at her with envy. She wanted to be like her.

    "What is it, Honey Queen?" Alice asked when the woman approached them. She wore a long harlequin coat split in blue and white with pink polka-dots, on her legs were a fishnet stocking and a pink stocking. Her corset was yellow with black lace and black Q's on the breasts. Why couldn't Pin Joker leave Alice alone and go to this woman?

    "They just finished your room. Come! Come! Let me show it to you both!" Honey Queen grabbed Alice's hand and led her towards the castle. Pin Joker quietly followed behind the two women.

    They walked into the castle, through the glass halls and made their way up long staircases. Alice found the castle a curiousity, the architecture was amazing and the interior design... who knew that Bear King loved such complicated things! The floor was tiled with black and white marble. It made Alice dizzy whenever she walked on it and watched her feet.

    Honey Queen pushed open two large white doors with two black diamonds on them and revealed the room inside. Pin Joker smirked as Alice stared in awe at the new room. Her room. Their room. She pushed the thought out of her mind and looked at all the luxuries of the room.

    A giant golden bed sat in the middle of large, glass paned windows that covered one wall. The bed had a red canopy with curtains hanging down to the floor. The floor was white marble with lovely black and white rugs scattered across it. On one wall was a large white armoire with red hearts on the doors. Next to it was a red vanity desk, complete with perfumes, make-up and everything a young woman needs.

    "I supplied the room with beautiful dresses and accessories!" Honey Queen winked as her reflection appeared beside Alice's in the mirror of the vanity desk.

    Alice couldn't hide her excitement. Her mouth curled into a grin like that of a child who had received a treat.

    "Oh my goodness! I knew it would cheer you up!" Honey Queen hugged Alice.

    Pin Joker rushed up beside the ladies, hoping to see Alice's smile. He chuckled. All Alice needed was a fancy room to call her own. He was sure she didn't like living in that little shack in town. He watched as she explored the armoire with Honey Queen, examining the dresses before they shooed him out so she could try them on.