• All the clocks in the castle chimed, the sound carrying on through the halls and into the main room where people stood around and chatted their mouths off. They were all dressed in formal clothes, nothing really fancy since it was all they could afford. All of their different colors stood out against the black and white checkered floor. The huge, hulking figure of Bear King appeared at the top of the balcony and everyone went silent, including the clocks.

    "People of Clocktown! To celebrate the completion of Trump Castle, I invited everyone in town to the ball! Now that the clocks have rung six o' clock, it is time for the fun to begin!" he threw his arms wide and everyone began to clap, especially Pin Joker, Skunk Ace and Boo Jack who were in the crowd.

    The guests began to pair up and dance around as the musicians began to play. Skunk Ace found himself a sympathetic dance partner while Boo Jack pigged out at the buffet table. Pin Joker leaned up against a wall, waiting for Alice. He refused to dance with anyone else.

    Suddenly, Honey Queen poked her head out of the curtains behind Bear King and whispered something to him, causing him to turn around and let out a belly laugh.

    "Ladies and gentlemen!" the musicians ceased playing and everyone stopped to listen, "I present to you to lovely princess of our castle..." everyone waited anxiously. Pin Joker stepped away from the wall and made his way towards the staircase to greet her. "Alice!"

    A tall, young girl stepped out from behind the curtain wearing a bright white dress with gold trim, red hearts and a red corset. Her hair was let down as usual but a gold tiara sat elegantly on top of her head. Her face was powdered and blushed pink, gold eyeshadow decorated her eyes, bringing out the blue. Her lips were red like blood and when she saw Pin Joker's face, they spread into a smile.

    Gasps filled the room when the guests saw her at the top of the stairway, glistening like a precious gem.

    Pin Joker saw the girl he used to know ten years ago. The girl he kissed at the masquerade party, the girl he held hands with in the garden, the girl he was going to marry, walking down the staircase towards him. He stared up at her, mouth agape. She was so beautiful!

    "May I have this dance?" he asked her, holding out his hand as she reached the last step.

    "I would love to," Alice grinned, laying her graceful hand in his. He saw that her fingernails were painted bright red, like her lips. She went so far to look this good.

    He led her out into the middle of the floor, raised her hand in the air and put one hand at her waist. She was surprised that he remembered so well. She was even more surprised as he led her in the dance. Forward, right, back, left, forward and so on. She smiled up at him to express how proud she was.

    The room was so bright and loud with sounds, it soon made Alice's head ache. All the different colors seemed to swirl together as Pin Joker passed her off to Eugene.

    "Alice, are you feeling alright?" Eugene asked her as they danced.

    "Yes, I'm fine," Alice grinned awkwardly and muffled a giggle.

    "You didn't have anything to drink did you?" he seemed concerned.

    "No. No. Nothing to drink," Alice stared at her feet as the moved across the floor. Something did not feel right.

    "Have you been eating those Cone Mushrooms?" he whispered as if it was taboo.

    Alice nodded. What was so bad about the Cone Mushroom? Suddenly, Eugene pulled her away towards Pin Joker who was talking to Skunk Ace by a pillar.

    "She shouldn't eat those mushrooms anymore!" Eugene whispered harshly to Pin Joker.

    "I tell her that all the time," Pin Joker replied.

    "They are very potent when taken for a long period of time. Plus, they can make one hallucinate," he explained, "She could be suffering from an incurable disease."

    Pin Joker was hurt. He didn't want anything to happen to Alice. "I will make sure that she doesn't eat anymore then."

    "Good. What she really needs right now is to lay down and rest," Eugene handed her over to Pin Joker.

    Alice leaned heavily on Pin Joker as he held her, she felt so dizzy. She could feel his heart beating fiercely like he was worried. He took her by the hand and led her towards the staircase.

    She gazed out over the swarming crowd as she climbed up the stairs. In the midst of the rainbow, she saw him. She saw Borodo. He was almost not physically there, like he was made of mist. He flashed her a smile before she disappeared behind the curtains. He had came back for her.

    Pin Joker could tell the drugs were kicking in when he laid her down on the bed. She was giggling and staring at nothing as if it was the most wonderful thing. He pulled up her vanity chair and sat by the bed. He was determined not to leave her side in her state.

    "Alice, close your eyes and go to sleep. Tomorrow we will go to Water 7," he whispered as he took her tiara off and ran his hand through her hair.

    "How doth the little crocodile improve his shining tail, and pour the waters of the Nile on every golden scale! How cheerfully he seems to grin, how neatly spreads his claws, and welcomes little fishes in with gently smiling jaws!" she sang as she mimicked the movements of the crocodile spreading his claws.

    Pin Joker watched her sadly, blaming himself for letting her go on to become like this. Chester, in his cat form, leaped up onto the bed beside Alice and laid against her.

    "She's mad, listen to her songs!" he exclaimed, grinning.

    "I know," Pin Joker murmured, burying his head in his hands.

    "I should've told you a long time ago but I didn't think she would eat them to this point," he observed her as her eyes began to flutter.

    "Too late now," Pin Joker growled.

    "Twinkle, twinkle, little bat. How I wonder what you're at. Up above the world you fly, like a teatray in the sky. Twinkle, twinkle little bat. How I wonder what you're at," Alice sang sweetly before she closed her eyes.

    "Oh, Alice," Pin Joker stroked her face before he got dressed and slipped into bed beside her.