The Cat, no, [i]Alexandre[/i] found himself materializing inside a castle, past the portcullis and courtyard. The cool tile floor was first to meet him as he fully appeared face-down on the floor. Groaning in a mixture of pain and fatigue, he managed to lift himself on his hands and knees, blinking several times to let his eyes adjust to the new environment. Realization hit him like he was being run down by a horse. "No..." He hoarsely whispered out, quickly scuttling to his feet. Everything was different, and yet the same. The floors looked the same, the bricks smelled the same, and the overall environment [i]felt[/i] the same. But there was an underlying sense of [i]dread[/i] in the air. Something was amiss. "Where - where is Charming?" He asked aloud to himself, his voice echoing off the walls; [i]"Charming...charming....charming...arming...ming..."[/i] It was as if his own echo was mocking him by repeating the name of the man whole stole her heart from him. Alexandre could still hear her soft giggle, filled with nothing but kindness and happiness. How she would sneak away to see him in one of the abandoned towers and speak to him, some days for only a few moments, and others, a few hours. "Snow." He said hushedly, as if the name itself held some sort of power, control. Before he could continue his thought, he heard the shuffle of plate boots on the floor, and realized guards were coming for him - and fast. [i]"It's alright, Cat, just disappear!"[/i] He thought to himself as if it was nothing. He closed his eyes and exhaled, waiting for the confused mumblings of the guards as the source of the disturbance had disappeared. However, this wasn't the case. "There he is, grab him!" One voice commanded. Alexandre's eyes opened abruptly and before he had time to react, he was being restrained by two guards while a third held him at swordpoint. "An intruder - how did he get in here?!" The guard with the sword, presumably the commander, barked. "I want those door guards emptying chamberpots!" He said sharply. Turning back towards Alexandre, an evil smile flashed across his chapped, gray lips. "Take him to the dungeon. The Queen will deal with him when she returns." He ordered with a wave of his hand. Without another word, the two guards dragged him across the floor, down the spiral staircase to the dungeons. "Get your hands off me, you ineffectual twits! I'm a personal friend of Snow White's!" He called haughtily, not enjoying the rough treatment he was receiving. All he received in return from the guards was a cruel laugh and a few japes, "Oh, excuse me then, Ser. We'll be sure to put you in the *royal* cell." One said before tossing him into a damp, dank, barred room. Alexandre landed hard on the cold stone floor, dirtying his coat and trousers in the process. The resounding [i]clang[/i] of the door slamming shut echoed off the walls, as if reminding Alexandre of his incarceration. There was no guard posted at the dungeon. It was rumored the cells were magically sealed so as to prevent escape in any form. Alexandre pulled his coat off and laid it down by his feet before sitting down in the center of the cell. The cell was sparsely furnished, with a lice-infested pile of hay serving as a 'bed', a splintered wooden chair, and a stained chamberpot that apparently hadn't been washed out in months, years even. Alexandre tapped a single finger on the stone floor, pondering. Why hadn't his magic worked? Were this under normal circumstances, he could have disappeared instantaneously without even a second thought. It all worked easily - when he was a cat. Could Rumpelstiltskin have tricked him [i]again[/i]? Alexandre sneered. "Can he not just make a proper deal?" He seethed aloud to himself, standing up to pace about the cell. Even as a cat he couldn't stay still for long. If there was any good time to think, this was the best time. The only sounds to accompany him were the scuttling of mice and the random [i]drip[/i] of water on the ground. An eerie silence, empty. A small smile twitched at the edge of Alexandre's lips as he began to remember fond things. From a time before; losing himself in memory. ----------------------------- [i]A few years ago... The Cat sauntered about his new 'home' approvingly, deeming it good enough to live. Though, anything would be better than Wonderland. The Queen had been endlessly pursuing him, no doubt wanting his head removed from his shoulders. He felt, hopefully, that the people here would be friendlier, but he didn't wish to take any chances and was sure to remain invisible when skulking about the main body of the castle. But this wing was abandoned and no one ever came in there, leaving him confident enough to stay corporeal. He hopped up on the large, dusty, yet comfortable double bed, curling into a ball in hopes catching a nap before exploring some more. Sleep came to him in restless fits, until the Cat decided he wouldn't get reprieve tonight. He lifted his head slowly, his tail swishing from side to side. His large eyes seemed to lower to the key that hung from his neck. The feeling of the cool metal against his warm fur only seemed to remind him of what he had lost. He pawed at it, as if hoping that his touch would bring her back to him. But he was just a Cat - a cat without friends and without hope. He laid his head down on the bed once more, trying to will himself to sleep. The oak door suddenly creaked open and a woman hurridly entered the room, immediately starting to go through the drawers in her haste to find something. Her long, raven black hair reached halfway down her back, a stunningly beautiful contrast of her snow white skin and ruby red lips. She wore a dress of royalty, a black leather corset restraining her chest and back only for the powder blue dress to fluff out where the corset stopped and her natural, tiny figure began. The Cat was quickly taken off guard as the door swiftly opened with a woman pouring through the threshold, obviously in a hurry. Knowing it was too late to become invisible, he simply tried to curl up even tighter in hopes she wouldn't notice him on the bed, though he kept a single eye open to watch, just in case. She paid no mind to the cat, seemingly lost in her own thoughts of her reasoning behind visiting the abandoned wing until her delicate fingers finally happened upon a small childs tiara, beautifully crafted in the finest diamonds and silver that scattered the small amount of light that trickled in through the stained glass windows. She paused, letting out a breathy laugh as her nimble fingers traced a few of the diamonds, content and relieved now in finding that of which had been lost to her. Only then did her doe-like eyes happen upon the curled up cat on the bed. She smiled sweetly at the feline and brought herself over to sit on the edge of the bed, letting her hand scratch the cat behind the ears, her other hand holding fast to the tiara in her lap. Just when he thought she would leave the room, her eyes landed on him. Large, kind, caring eyes. Most any other person would most likely have shooed him out. She sat down next to him and began scratching him behind the ear, causing his head to lift up and get a better look at her. Against his better instincts, he began to purr at the touch; a strange feeling, having only been a cat for a few days now. "And I don't suppose you had something to do with this did you?" Snow White asked the cat jokingly, not at all expecting a response back. In response to her question, he tilted his head and began to speak, "No, not that I recall. I prefer to simply *watch*. Stealing isn't in my nature." He finished calmly, his smile seeming to curl eerily. Snow White quickly retreated her hand the moment she heard a voice coming out of the cat. "Oh! Oh I'm so sorry I thought-you can talk!" She returned her hand to her lap and stood up from the bed, turning to face the talking animal, just now realizing the grin the cat wore somewhat unnaturally on his face. "Did...did Regina do this to you?" Snow then asked, not so much surprised that there was a talking cat in her castle anymore, but already gathering that magic was involved and was already trying to get down to the bottom of it's origin. "No harm done." He replied neutrally, standing on all-fours and stretching. "Yes, yes, I can talk. Most convenient, considering my *current* plight." Upon mention of Regina, the Cat shook his head 'no'. "Ah, your step-mother. No, she wasn't involved. I doubt she knows I exist. This was done by another - the Queen of Heartssss." He hissed, holding on to the last 's' of the word 'hearts'. There was no need to frighten the girl by mentioning The Dark One, especially since she seemed to respond well to his being there. Relief washed away Snow's worried expression and she moved to sit back down on the edge of the bed again, though giving the cat his respectable distance. "The Queen of Hearts?" She asked outloud. "Then...then you must be from Wonderland!" She quickly observed and tilted her head to the side with interest. "What...why are you here?" The Cat sauntered over, closer to her before sitting back on his haunches, his tail swishing about. "The Queen, God bless her, doesn't much like it when people don't fear her." He leaned in slowly, "I didn't fear her." He said coldly before straightening his posture once again. "She wanted me executed. I looked...much more comely then. But I escaped. Right at the headsman's block, high marks for timing. Anyways, I turned into a cat and ran away. Exiled from *all* of Wonderland." He explained in a tone that wasn't unkind. Snow raised a tentative hand before running it over the cat's back in a simple stroke. "You are very brave." She commended him, seeming to take the news unnaturally well. She returned her hand to her lap and let her gaze wander from the cat to the tiara she held in her lap. The Cat shook his head once again. "No...no, I'm not brave. Bravery and I are not on intimate terms, you see...but thank you." He finished simply. Snow turned to look back at the cat and broke into a sweet smile. "You might not think so, but your heart is true...I can tell...and you sir, are indeed brave." She nodded once, affirmitively, indicating that it wasn't to be argued over any longer. "So...you *turned* into a cat? You mean...you weren't cursed into becoming one?" She asked, letting herself change the subject. "To be completely honest, much of it was a blur. I remember the feel of cold steel at my neck, learning its mark whilst preparing for the strike. Then, there was a flash, and next thing I knew, I was running away with twice as many legs as before. And this....grin.." He added, disgusted. Snow couldn't help but to laugh softly, not at his own expense, but because she was imagining the obscurity of the events that he had described. "Well...if it's any consolation, I rather like the grin. I think more cats should smile the way you do." She kept her smile and then once again moved to stand, though still facing the cat. "My step-mother may be Queen of this castle, but I am still a Princess. You are welcome to stay here as long as you like, as long as you stay out of Regina's way. She doesn't take too kindly to guests..." If the Cat could blush, he most likely would have; if not at her compliment, then at her laugh. It was a sweet sound, like the soft singing of a beautiful bird. "Your kindness is noted, Your Highness. If there's anything I'm good at, it's staying out of the way." He reassured her. He was surprised by himself. How open he was, how...*friendly*. Were it anyone else talking to him, he would have been cold, wicked even. But this girl was different; and in that moment, he wished he was human more than ever. Snow offered a small courtsey to the cat upon the bed, still holding her radient smile. "Please...I'm Snow. Snow White." "A pleasure. My name is-" the Cat stopped himself, finally realizing that he didn't even remember his own name. Is that all it took? A few days of traveling was all it took to forget one's own name? Or was it his current choice of body? Whatever the case, he didn't know what to call himself. "Call me, the Cat. No...the *Cheshire* Cat." He finally decided, his voice gaining more confidence as he finally made his choice. "A pleasure Cheshire Cat." Snow said, using the name given to out of nothing but respect, not even hesitating to question why he hadn't given his real name. She just accepted it, trusting him with his secrets. He looked her in the eyes before speaking next. "Snow White. That's a lovely name. Quite beautiful." He complimented, still purring quietly in he background. "My mother named me." Snow then said, a bit softer than her already soft voice usually spoke. The chimes of the castle clock quickly brought Snow to attention, and after counting the strikes she sighed. "I have to go, but I'll be back tonight and I'll see what kind of supper I can bring up here to you." Snow hurried over to the door that she had entered in and looked back to the cat. "It really was nice meeting you...Cheshire..." She smiled at him once more before slipping out of the room, closing the door gently behind her. "And you...Snow." The Cat responded, sighing quietly when she left. Acting as though nothing happened, he returned to the center of the bed, curling in a ball to sleep; finding it come much easier to him now......[/i] ----------------------------- As Alexandre saw the memory come and go, he was either unaware of or unwilling to take notice of the fresh tears that had begun to stream down his cheeks. That first meeting was one of many between him and Snow. Everyday she would come to him, sometimes for a few minutes, sometimes for a few hours, in this very castle. Sneaking food to him when she could and both of them always having a story to share. [i]'She was my best friend...'[/i] Alexandre thought to himself, too tired to talk. [i]'My only friend.'[/i] He added bitterly. [i]'And now she's gone forever...'[/i] Crawling to the center of the cell, he curled himself up into a ball, clutching at his key as he willed himself to sleep......