• The castle is finished and Bear King has scheduled the ball for tonight. I am very excited. Bear King says everyone on the island will be there. I will be able to see Eugene and Roberta again. However, I am nervous about dancing with Jorik. He is so clumsy. I am starting to like him. He has promised to take me to Water 7 after the day of the ball. Hopefully he won't break his promise like some people.

    -From the Diary of Alice

    The large double doors opened and Alice hurriedly closed a book in her lap then placed it in a drawer of her vanity desk. She looked in the mirror at the two faces. One fair and white like ocean foam with sandy blonde hair and deep blue eyes like the depths of the ocean. The other face was pasty, stitched diagonally across the face and had painted designs on their face. His pointed ears twitched as he smiled at their reflections.

    "You look lovely," Pin Joker complimented her.

    "This is not the dress I am wearing to the ball," Alice replied as she took a necklace off and placed it carefully in a box. "But thank you," she said, trying to be nice.

    "Oh. So the dress will be a surprise, hm?" he knelt down next to her chair so that he met her eye level. "I can play that game then."

    "Are you really taking me to Water 7 after the ball?" Alice asked him, turning her head towards the clown.

    "Yes, as much as I hate sailing, I will take you tomorrow," he took her hand and kissed it, "I promise."

    "You won't forget, will you?" her voice was seasoned with incoming tears.

    "No, I won't forget such an important thing. I won't be like Borodo and forget about you, Alice. I spent years trying to find you after the massacre, I can never forget you."

    "Jorick..." Alice covered her eyes with her free hand so he could not see her crying.

    "I know, actions speak louder than words and promises mean nothing until they are fulfilled," he stopped, looking for something to say.

    "No, it's just that your whole life, you have been looking for me and in the beginning I was not at all fond of you until I began to remember things," she said through her sobs. "It is I who has forgotten."

    "The trip to Water 7 will help you remember," Pin Joker got up and leaned over towards her, his face just inches away from her's.

    "I hope so," Alice stared sadly into the mirror. She saw Pin Joker's anxious face in the mirror and turned her head so her eyes met his. She took a deep breath, closed her eyes and kissed him.

    The cold, salty water splashed onto Alice's face as she stared out at sea. Why was she here? Did she really think that Borodo would come back? It had been a several months, his promise was broken. Why would he want to show his face now? His bright, handsome face...

    "Are you done yet?" Pin Joker asked as he sat on a rock, waiting for Alice.

    She reached into a hidden pocket in her dress and pulled out a piece of Cone Mushroom. He shook his head pitifully as she nibbled on it. "Yes, I am ready," she said when she finished eating the mushroom.

    He came up to her side and took her hand, leading her up the beach, towards the cavern.

    After the kiss, Alice had the sudden urge to go to the bottom again. She associated the urge with her old habits of waiting for Borodo on the beach. That dream, so vivid, so real. She wanted to run into his arms again and be showered by his kisses. She wanted to run into the sea and be consumed by its vast waters. Go back to where she came from.

    The elevator door opened to reveal a purple cat with a large grin on his face as it preened itself on the floor. Pin Joker sighed and walked in with Alice, pressing the "up" button on the elevator as the doors closed.

    "I hear you two are going on a trip to Water 7?" the cat said, rubbing up against Alice's leg. She mindlessly picked him up and began to stroke his back.

    "Yes, we are. A little vacation," Pin Joker replied, making no eye contact.

    "But why to Water 7, specifically?" Chester purred in Alice's arms, kneading the air as she held him.

    "Bear King coincidentally needed some of his ships fixed, plus Alice and I have been wanting to go on a trip together for awhile. This was a great oppurtunity," he knew the cat could see right through him but what was the point in lying to it?

    "Oh, really?" his souless, yellow eyes darted to the elevator door as it opened. They had reached the top. It signaled the end of the conversation. Chester leaped out of Alice's arms and bounded down the hall, turning a sharp corner.

    "Alice, the ball starts in two hours. Would that be enough time for you to get ready?" Pin Joker asked her after he glanced at a clock.

    "Yes, that will be plenty of time. I do not want you to see me until the ball starts," she looked blankly up at him.

    "Agreed, I will leave you alone to the room then," he said as he opened one of the large doors to their room and let her in.

    "Oh! When you see Honey Queen, will you send her here for me?" Alice asked in the doorway.

    Pin Joker nodded, "I will surely do that, my love."

    Alice blushed when he closed the door, adding a pink flare to her pale face. She was his love, she thought as she opened the armoir and pulled out her ball gown. But was he her love? She was still learning to love him again, after so many years.

    Her blue dress dropped to the floor and she stepped out of its cool circle into the lovely white dress with gold trim, swag and red hearts on the skirt. She slipped on a pair of white slippers with gold bows on them and sat at her vanity.

    There was a soft knock at the door as Alice applied her bright red lipstick to her lips. She hoped it wasn't Pin Joker.

    "Come in!" she yelled, turning in her seat.

    Honey Queen entered the room with a bright smile. Alice had felt beautiful until she entered; Honey Queen was so much prettier than she.

    "You look so beautiful, Alice!" she exclaimed, walking towards her. "Did you need my help getting ready for the ball?"

    "Yes," Alice admitted slowly. Of course she needed Honey Queen's help to make her beautiful. "I don't have the talent like you do to make one's face pretty."

    "Oh, I'll be happy to help," Honey Queen started to powder Alice's face.