[b][u][i]Butter Daisy Forest[/i][/u][/b]

While Tylissa was focused on the Mad Hatter and Black Rabbit's fight, and Arthur appeared to ask her questions while also keeping tabs on the fight, yet another human, Tyler Blackmore,  approached them from behind, and tapped lightly on both of their shoulders before Tylissa had a chance to answer Arthur. Should they turn to see him, he would immediately place his finger in front of his mouth in a shushing motion before taking a quick glance at the two still fighting, ensuring they didn't notice them, tilting his head behind himself, and taking a few steps back, so as to signal the two other humans to follow him away from what was going on.

Upon running far enough away from the battle at hand, Tyler stopped with Tylissa and Arthur supposedly at his side.

"[b][color=1a7b30]...We should be safe for now, but not for very long. There's a lot more monsters in these woods than just those two. ...I'm guessing you two were also dropped into this world; through a mirror while you were dreaming, right?[/color][/b]" Tyler asked them.

[@AdmrlStalfos19] [@Godlikeblade]

--------------------------

[b][u][i]Hatter's Sanctuary[/i][/u][/b]

It seems everyone was reacting about as...well, as the White Rabbit expected them to. He wasn't meant to show him what he really was, but alas, it was probably better this way. Rather they figure it out and let out their expressions of shock, fear, and...the rather intense sorrow the child seemed to be feeling. ...Was he [i]that[/i] terrifying? The thought was slightly disheartening as he looked down at the grass, but only for a second. There was no time to show it, as one of the humans decided to get cute with the "subtle" disgust in his words towards the rabbit.

"[b]Well, yes. If my strain was even nearly as terrible as your attempt at Sarcasm, that [i]would[/i] be a problem, I suppose.[/b]" The White Rabbit said to Hector. Unnecessary? Most likely. But he has a sense of pride to keep in tact, and if someone, human or otherwise, decided to challenge him, he could not just back down from it.

Alice and Adam were quick to notice the boy's breakdown into tears after seeing the Rabbit's hideous insides. Adam thought it odd how this boy was trying to lead them one minute, only to break down into completely in the next. But it was easy to think about and comprehend; Adam has seen his type before back in the Orphanage. He was a child with an inflated ego who thinks he knows best for whatever reason, only for a reality, be it disciplinary measure, other kids' action, or something as unfortunate as this, to crash it down to earth. Best thing to do in this case is to let someone else comfort him, like Cronic apparently did until he calms down. Alice, on the other hand, turned to Snow, dropping down to also comfort the boy.

"[b][color=2e3192]There, there...It'll all be fine.[/color][/b]" She said to him, in as gentle a voice as she could muster. She then looked at the others as they press the Rabbit for answers, noticing someone from the back who reached the front to ask him about it as well...someone she didn't realize was there while they were being chased.

"[b]Now where in the world did you come from? You weren't with the others that were summoned here...and that form...[/b]" The White Rabbit said, looking at Gale, his eyes scanning him from top to bottom to top again. Before he could go any further with this man however, another girl decided to jump into the conversation, asking for a way to get back.

Honestly, she had a good point; it was somewhat surprising that no one bothered to ask that question before her. Everyone else seems to be focused on why they came here as oppose to how they can get back. Focused more on what they're here for, rather than running to escape. Is it because they still believe this is a dream they can wake up from even after what's happened to that other human, or could it be that they actually have a sense of immediate duty buried somewhere in their subconscious?

[i]What an interesting race, these humans...[/i]

"[b]I'm sorry my dear, but for now, leaving is not a possibility. The Looking Glass is a one-way door to this realm from your dreams, at least for humans like yourselves. The ones responsible for all of this made sure that only Shadows are allowed to access the Looking Glass both ways. [/b]" The White Rabbit said.

"[b][color=fff200]By which you mean [i]you[/i] made sure only you...'shadows', are allowed to go both ways.[/color][/b]" Adam quickly stated.

"[b]Such a rude implication. I'll have you know, I would not have wasted time and effort to bring you all here if there was anything else we could have done.[/b]"

"[b][color=fff200]But you [i]did[/i] bring us here, as you just admitted.[/color][/b]" Adam then said, a cocky smirk on his face as he did so. The White Rabbit sighed as he looked directly at Hector and Adam both, seemingly pinching the area between his eyes.

"[b]Hatter help me, this is going to be more painful than I thought... Yes, I was the one who brought you all here to Wonderland, whether I wanted to or not. Regardless of that, however, no matter if it was myself, Hatter, or even the Black Rabbit out there, the point would still remain: Once you are brought into this world, you cannot leave. ...When you dream, your consciousness enters a state isolated from the body as you enter the ethereal realm shaped from your mind. The Looking Glass locked onto you, and thrown your consciousness from your dreams to here. But contrary to what you think, we did not choose all of you specifically. We detected multiple humans with the potential, regardless of who they are, and we sent a looking glass to bring you all here.[/b]" The White Rabbit explained, muttering the first sentence under his breath before returning to a normal tone of voice, and a normal posture to explain the rest.

"[b][color=fff200]...What? Are you saying we basically got chosen at random!?[/color][/b]" Adam asked, annoyed and frustrated at the idea that this is happening just because of some sort of bad luck they all apparently have. Not helping matters was Rhys having the gall to essentially try and discipline him and Hector for getting justifiably frustrated at this...[i]thing[/i]. Not helped was Hitomi's utter display of Naivete. The fact the Rabbit saved their lives doesn't negate what he just admitted, that he was the one who threw them all into this mess in the first place, and by the sound of things, for no good reason. That said, the White Rabbit looked at Rhys and Hitomi in relief; seems some of these humans were more sensible than the others.

"[b]Good to see at least some of you can think rationally.[/b]" The White Rabbit said after Rhys and Hitomi made their statements.

Meanwhile the chinese girl, Meredith, asked her question, making him raise an eyebrow in utter bewilderment.

"[b]...Alien? What the devil is an alien? ...Well, Odd terminology aside, that is a proper summary yes. We are native here, this is a world connected to your own, and indeed as you already saw, we are currently at war with other shadows like the Black Rabbit.[/b]" The White Rabbit responded to Meredith's question. Next up was Hitomi's questions.

"[b]It's hard to explain the physics of this world. I can only say, that they are the same as in your world... until they're not. As for the other part of your questions...That is easier to explain, but I don't know if you will be able to...understand it. To put it simply, this world is connected to the hearts and minds of all living things in your world; a realm that exists in an immaterial way to your world with only a rare number of known ways to connect them. The Looking Glass entering your dreams, is one of those ways, albeit to a lesser extent since it does not reach your world directly.[/b]" The White Rabbit explained. Alice, who was trying to calm Adam down while the White Rabbit was answering questions, looked to the ground after the Rabbit finished. Something about the Rabbit's explanation just now striking her as odd...Though she could not, for the life of her, put her finger on why. Deciding that it was not important for the moment, she shook away the thought, and decided to toss her own hat (no pun intended) into the ring.

"[b][color=2e3192]...Hey Rabbit, I know this is sort of an obvious question, but can't we just will ourselves to wake up? Regardless of how real it feels, this should just be a dream, right?[/color][/b]" Alice asked the Rabbit after trying to calm Adam down.

"[b]...Haven't some of you already try that yet? ...The short answer is no. Your consciousness was brought out of your mind through the looking glass, and made its way to Wonderland. Meaning it your consciousness is separated from your mind and body at this very moment. I believe you humans call it, a comatose. Surely you've dealt with this phenomenon while you were in the real world by now.[/b]" The White Rabbit said, sighting after he asked his question, then taking a deep breath before speaking again.

"[b][color=2e3192]We're....We're all in comas?[/color][/b]" Alice asked.

"[b]Quite right... You are still attached to your five senses because your consciousness has taken physical shape in this world.[/b]"

"[b][color=fff200]You're not making any sense...[/color][/b]" Adam said to him, getting more and more bitter by the second. That word, "Phenomenon" was something of a trigger, gave him a terrible feeling, and it didn't take long for him to figure out why.

"[b]In this world, emotions, thoughts, egos and whole consciousnesses like yourselves manifests a physical form and can interact as if in your own world as a result. We shadows can take the shapes you see before you now because of this very reason, and likewise, there can be some with enough...idealism, to shape themselves how they see themselves. ...For example...[/b]" The White Rabbit then said. Before he could finish his sentence, he grabbed what appeared to be a gun from the pocket of his little red coat, a olden-styled flintlock pistol more specifically, and fired it, just above Gale's head, just grazing the skin of his forehead. But instead of blood, out instead came some sort of glowing white substance in its place.

"[b]Hiding your true self does you no good here.[/b]" He said to Gale. Adam staying silent as to try and comprehend what just happened and why.

"[b][color=2e3192]...You hurt him.[/color][/b]" Alice said, as if asking the Rabbit if he comprehended what he just did.

"[b]But not killed him, important difference. He'll likely experience some pain in that area, but he'll be fine. Unfortunately that other boy back there...I'm truly sorry for that, it should never have happened.[/b]" The White Rabbit said, rather solemnly.

"[b][color=2e3192]Sorry...? You don't mean...[/color][/b]" Alice said.

"[b]...Yes, if you die in this realm, your consciousness loses its shape and returns to the sea of souls, the collective unconsciousness that all life is connected to. ...It may be difficult for you humans to properly understand what that is and what it means for you. Therefore, I'll be frank with you and say this as simply as I can: Die in this world, and your physical body, in your own world...will never wake again.[/b]" The White Rabbit then said. Alice looked with shock at this revelation, remembering all too well what that Black Rabbit did to Guiren.

"[b][color=fff200]...So you're telling us, that you randomly selected us, and threw us into a death trap we can't escape from? ...Why? You still haven't answered that. Why bring us into this? What did we come here for!?[/color][/b]" Adam asked, his patience now razor thin at this point.

"[b]To help us. We know what's been happening in your world, we know why it's happening, we know about the Lost Children, and we need your help to rescue them.[/b]" The White Rabbit said.

"[b][color=2e3192]The lost children...?[/color][/b]" Alice asked. Adam clenched his fists as if to ventilate the anger rushing through him. It was just as he thought when the Rabbit similar phenomenons, now essentially confirmed.

"[b][color=fff200]P3 Syndrome. ...You're basically saying, we all got hit with it, and that the other kids are here too?[/color][/b]" Adam asked. The White Rabbit simply nodded.

"[b]The Children entrapped by the melody of the Pied Piper, the Lost Children, were taken to this world and were immediately captured as soon as they arrived. Like us with you, it was no accident. They were drawn from their own dreams to Wonderland, then were captured like they were sent here to be.[/b]" The White Rabbit said.

"[b][color=2e3192]Captured by who?[/color][/b] Alice asked.

"[b]...The Queen.[/b]" The White Rabbit simply said. Alice looked to the ground the instant he said that, putting her hand to her chin in contemplation.

"[i][color=2e3192]The Queen? ...Why does that...sound familiar?[/color][/i]" She thought. Adam, on the other hand, scoffed at this notion. This world is clearly inspired by the Lewis Carroll novels, so of course there's a queen at the center of the conflict.

"[b][color=fff200]Which queen? White Queen, Red Queen, ...Queen of Hearts?[/color][/b]" Adam asked the Rabbit.

"[b]If I had to define her, I would have to say all of them, and yet none of them. She is simply the queen, and the only one. She rules over Wonderland, and is responsible for the situation that currently plagues your world, the children being kidnapped from their dreams ultimately being by her orders, and are currently held captive in her castle as we speak. That is why I summoned the Looking Glass and brought as many humans here as I could, by which I mean all of you. We need your help in rescuing the lost children and bringing them back to your world.[/b]" The White Rabbit explained.

"[b][color=fff200]We?[/color][/b]" Adam asked, an eyebrow raised.

"[b]The Queen has all of Wonderland under the unrelenting grip of her rule, but not all of us shadows are in support of that rule, or in support of her. This garden is a Sanctuary created kindly by our leader, the Mad Hatter, hide those among us shadows who wish to resist and rebel against the Queen's dominion. I, The Dorm Mouse, Bandersnatch out there, and every other resident of this garden have gathered into a rebellion against the queen and her army of loyalists. We do not agree with the Queen's ambitions, nor with her use of the children to further complete them. Likewise, once the Black Rabbit informs her of your arrival, she will surely send her soldiers after you. Whether you like it or not, we are on the same boat. If you can assist us in this war, I am certain we will be able to get you, and the children, back into your world. So...I would like to ask you all to help us fight the Queen.[/b]" The White Rabbit explained.

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