If Alice fell down a dark hole to find the "rabbit" with a pocket watch, she must've severely damaged her head. And if that's the case, then who's to say that everything she saw in "Wonderland" wasn't a delusion brought on by the fall? After all, there really is no tangible proof that she had been there.

Do not think of such ridiculous things, Cytalie Rosalie Bennett! Your duty is to be concerned with your studies and your family status as Neopian nobility.

Talie fell. She didn't know how long she was in that pit, but when she awoke, she was under a giant oak tree, much like the one she just fell through. Bright rays of sunshine pierced the green leaves and struck her face.

Talie blinked. A little girl a year or two younger than her was sitting calmly next to Talie. As soon as Talie wiggled her body, the little girl looked down.

Hullo, Alice!

Talie's stomach growled. You must be hungry, Alice! Here, I'll take you back to my house so we can eat!

The little girl fearlessly took Talie's hand, and led her out from under the trees. Talie looked around, this didn't look like the East side of Meridell anymore. There were large houses that looked unlike any mansions in her country.

Talie took a closer look at the little girl. She didn't have the features that most Neopians had. No large ears, wings, or claws. Talie was unsure what to make of her.

Um, what's your name? Never let it be said that her parents didn't teach her manners. And why do you keep calling me Alice?

The little girl looked back at Talie and giggled. I'm Rachel, don't you remember? She pointed at Talie. And of course I'd call you by your name! She turned her head to face forward once again.

Unable to argue a point which she did not understand, Talie decided to look at her surroundings, and her guide, a little more closely. There seems to be trees and grass and water and air just like in Meridell, but the creatures are so different. Talie thought she saw what looked like a tiny Pteri fly overhead, and resisted the urge to call out to it.

Then there was Rachel. She had long brown hair tied in two bouncy ponytails on each side of her head. She was in a flowery sun dress, like Talie, but seemed much more comfortable in it. She walked with an assurance in her step, yet she seemed to be hiding something. Rachel would often glance worriedly at the windows and doors of houses they passes by.

We're almost there! Rachel said. On top of a hill, there was another large house, close to the size of Talie's mansion. They walked up the steps, and Rachel knocked on the door. A tall lady opened the door and let Rachel in without a word. Apparently this was the custom of this strange country.

Talie suddenly found herself in a quaint bedroom with a window looking out at a small pond. She eyed the small table with teapots set in an orderly fashion, and the many plushies in the room.

Er, Rachel? What part of Neopia is this? Talie asked nervously.

Rachel tilted her head. What's Neopia?

Talie's face sank. You know, she smiled weakly Neopia? .

Rachel squinted at Talie, as if she was examining her every detail. What are you talking about, Alice? Her face suddenly broke in a smile as if that didn't matter. Oh, it's been so long since you've been here! I'm so excited to play with you again!

Rachel took Talie's hand and dragged her over to the miniature table with the tea set. Let's have some tea with our friends, shall we? Rachel asked cordially. She pulled out a frail-looking chair for Talie to sit in, and grabbed one for herself.

Talie looked around. There were plushies of every size and color in this room, but one caught her attention. It was a white furry creature with paws and a fluffy tail. But the most striking feature were its pink and white ears. Just like mine.

What's this?

Rachel frowned It's a rabbit, Alice, they're my favorite animals. Talie's eyes widened. Is this the "rabbit" in the story I read only hours before? How could this be? They were imaginary creatures, existing only in faerie tales!

Are you okay, Alice? Rachel asked, concerned.

Why are you calling me that? Talie was frightened. Who is this girl, and what is this place? How can she get back to Meridell?

Here, Alice, Rachel said, taking control of the escalating situation. She grabbed a red crayon and a piece of paper, and wrote down Alice. See, that's your name.

No, it's not. argued Talie. She took a green crayon out of the box, and wrote on the other side Cytalie.

Rachel studied the name for a long time, then looked up, triumphant. She crossed out the "y" and the "t", then drew an arrow that moved the "C" in between the "i" and the "e". Alice, she stated.

Talie was furious. No, my name is not Alice! It's Cytalie, Cy-Ta-Lie! She shot a look at Rachel, then dashed out of the room. Far behind, Rachel was racing after her, and crying for her not to leave.

Talie ran to the bottom of the staircase, then realized that she was about to run into the tall lady who first let them in. As she closed her eyes and waited, the crash she expected never came. After a minute or so, Talie opened her eyes, and saw that she'd stopped at the doorway, but the tall lady was directly behind her. What? Why?

Before Talie had time to examine her tangibility, the tall lady sternly walked up to Rachel, who had stopped sprinting as well, and reprimanded her. Rachel, stop running through the house! I have enough to clean up without your messes added to it!

But-but- Rachel stuttered.

None of your excuses, Rachel! If you're not careful, you'll fall into a hole- the stern lady suddenly stopped. She shot a quick glance at Rachel, and then left the room.

She…she can't see me, can she? Talie asked Rachel, who was tearful by now. Can anyone see me? Talie asked Rachel. Rachel shook her head sadly.

Talie looked down at herself in horror. I'm invisible.

Why can no one see me? Talie asked desperately. Wait… how come you can see me?

Rachel brightened up, then walked up to Talie. Silly goose, I've always been able to see you! Then her voice dropped a notch as she leaned in closer. But Ms. Getsby doesn't take my friendship with you so well.

Who is Mrs. Getsby? Talie asked, all animosity forgotten. Does she know me? Talie was suddenly filled with hope that she would escape this strange and scary place.

No, she doesn't know that you're here, even though I talk about you all the time.

Talie's face fell.Please tell me you know how I can get out of this place…

Rachel looked confused, then saddened. You've always come and go as you pleased, Alice. I don't know how to help you leave, and I don't know how to convince you not to.

Seeing the forlorn look on Rachel's face, Talie's own eyes softened. Well, maybe I can stay here for a bit, at least until I can find a way to go home.

At this Rachel smiled weakly again, and hugged Talie around her waist. Oh, thank you, Alice! I promise we'll have lots of fun!

Talie remembered the rabbit plushie she saw in Rachel's room. Rachel, what exactly is a rabbit? She paused. Why does it have ears like me?

To her surprise, Rachel giggled. You've always had ears like a rabbit, Alice! She looked up thoughtfully. I never really thought about it, but I guess that's why I've always loved bunnies!

Taken aback by the girl's unabashed admiration, Talie couldn't help smiling herself. Have you ever read "Alice in Wonderland", Rachel?

Rachel shook her head. I can't read yet, but I think I might have the book on my bookshelf. Do you want to see it? Talie nodded. Perhaps this would be the clue that she needed. But before the started up the stairs once more, Talie's stomach growled.

Rachel's eyes lit up. Oh, how silly of me! I promised to get you some food before we came back. Come with me. She turned in another direction and headed toward a room that looked to be a kitchen. Do you still like cherries, Alice?

Talie nodded. She was slowly beginning to respond to "Alice" more and more. Rachel placed a huge plate of the reddest, juiciest cherries that she has ever seen in front of Talie. Talie's mouth watered.

Without thinking, she grabbed one and stuffed it in her mouth. Rachel giggled again. You must be really hungry! Her mouth now full of cherries, Talie just nodded once more.

Only after Talie finished half of the bowl did something occur to her. Rachel, how come I can walk through people, but I can still eat cherries?

Rachel looked baffled as well. But that's the way how it's always been, Alice. Don't worry about it, I'll just tell Ms. Getsby that I ate the cherries. she assured Talie. Talie shook her head. Ms. Getsby was the least of her worries. It seemed there were more rules to this new world than she realized.

After wiping her face with a wet towel, Talie and Rachel headed upstairs. Rachel removed a big picture book from her little bookshelf, and handed it to Talie. Ms. Getsby told me this was my favorite story to listen to when I was little.

Talie looked at the cover. It read "Alice in Wonderland". Talie breathed a sigh of relief; at least the words were recognizable.

Talie opened the ragged book, and the first phrase that caught her eye was "…when suddenly a White Rabbit with pink eyes…" Talie looked at herself in the mirror. Her eyes weren't pink, thank goodness.

As the story went on, Talie noticed details and similarities that she hadn't before. Like how the rabbit was the one who led "Alice" into the rabbit-hole, but now, apparently the rabbit (Talie) was the one who fell through the rabbit-hole. There was a tea party, a smiling "Chestshire cat", and a Red Queen. Talie glanced at the miniature tea set on Rachel's table.

Is this all a dream?

Questions raced through Talie's head as she lay down next to Rachel in the blue frilly bed. Rachel offered to share her bed with Talie since Ms. Getsby has the guestroom, and "she wouldn't be happy" was all Rachel said.

Talie wondered when and if she was going to get back to Meridell. What if she was in this world for the rest of her life, only able to be seen by one person? Talie shuddered at the thought. As nice as Rachel was, it would be very lonely for Talie to stay here.

Psst, Alice.

Talie automatically turned around to face Rachel. What?

Rachel's voice sounded excited. I think that since I think you're Alice, but you think you're Cytalie, maybe we can both agree to disagree. You're Talie to yourself, but your Alice to me. Rachel grinned at her wonderful plan. Talie couldn't help it, she also broke in a smile.

Okay, agreed. I guess I'll just have to be two sides of the same coin, Talie conceded.

M'kay, Rachel mumbled, already sleepy. Talie brushed back Rachel's bangs and took a long look at her face. For a little sister, she wouldn't be so bad. Talie thought.

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Morning came and the aroma of pancakes wafted into Rachel's room. Talie sat up groggily. She shook Rachel.

Rachel, I think it's breakfast time, Talie informed her. Rachel rubbed her eyes, and then the two girls went down stairs, following the smell of freshly cooked pastries.

Rachel sat down in a chair and motioned for Talie, who was hesitant, to sit next to her. Don't worry, Rachel whispered, I used to eat with you all the time; Ms. Getsby won't notice. Talie sat down.

After a huge breakfast, which included pancakes, scones, jelly-filled doughnuts, and cereal, the girls decided to spend the day outside. As they walked, something else occurred to Talie.

Rachel, why aren't your parents here?Talie asked, curious. Rachel's mind seemed far away.

Talie thought Rachel wasn't going to answer, and decided to let the topic drop. After a few more awkward moments of silence, Rachel suddenly said, I don't know why Mommy and Daddy are never home. They used to love this place. Rachel paused. But then, one day, Mommy and Daddy had a fight. Mommy stayed here with me, but Daddy left.

Talie looked at Rachel with sympathy She's just like me, with neither parents at home to keep her company.

But then, Rachel continued, interrupting Talie's thoughts, Mommy left as well. She told me to wait for her, and wait for Alice, because Alice would always take care of me. I waited and waited, and now you finally came, Alice! Talie was surprised by the change in her tone of voice. Rachel, at least it seemed, was back to normal.

This left Talie with a lot to think about. Who were Rachel's parents, and why did they think this "Alice" will protect their daughter? Where are Rachel's parents now?

It was then that Talie noticed Rachel pulling an object out of her bag. It was a toy wand. It looked a lot like the broken Wand of Supernova that Talie used to play with herself.

This was your favorite toy, Alice! said Rachel. Talie held the wand; something in her memories was stirring…

Alice! Wait! Please don't leave me! A girl that looked very much like Rachel chased after another, slightly taller girl. The other girl had short brown hair with light brown rabbit ears that were similar to Talie's.

Please, Alice! Rachel was crying now. But the girl just continued to run toward a forest, which Talie recognized was the place where she first awoke.

The vision changed. Rachel was tugging on the frills of the girl's dress, as she seemed to ready herself to jump through a large hole next to the trunk of an oak tree.

Alice, I promise I won't ask you to play anymore with me if you don't want to! Please, just stay here with me! I don't want to lose you- At that, the brown-haired girl shot one last look at Rachel, then tilted toward the opening. Rachel's grip slipped, and she watched as the girl plummeted downward into the darkness…

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Talie's mind whirled. She blinked, and she was suddenly back to normal, standing next to Rachel. She looked at Rachel in confusion. Rachel, what just happened?

Talie, the daughter of a Neopian noble family during the Meridell Civil War era, was trapped in a place that rarely allowed variance. But upon finding a strange pit in the middle of a forest, she falls into another world. Talie meets Rachel, a strange little girl unlike any Neopian she's seen before.

Talie can't fully put her trust in Rachel, despite her friendly demeanor. What secrets are Rachel harboring? Will they be the key to help Talie return to her time?

Now Talie must unravel a story that has been locked in time, and she must learn to depend on the people she's grown to love.