and something grows.

[rosestolilies.livejournal.com]

[Wherever you are, so long as you're here already, a vine unfurls, and unfurls, and unfurls until it's holding a lifesize mirror. For a moment there's only darkness in it, and then someone steps out of the shadows and into view: a woman.]

You're here already! Isn't it wonderful? I hope it's wonderful. You see, I've been working so hard to make things right; there's still work to be done, of course, but I think it's good enough for now, don't you? I'm so happy to see you! All of you. It's been a long time...

Oh, oh, did I forget to introduce myself? I was so excited.

I'm...

[Her gaze goes distant, her expression misty and faraway.]

I am the Queen of Hearts.

You're going to love it here!

[Without further ado, the mirror curls back up.]

Comments

[uberlikehermama.livejournal.com]

[Vivio blinked, and looked around. And blinked some more. This was not where she was staying.

Oh hey, someone's talking to her.]

Umm... where is here?

[rosestolilies.livejournal.com]

[The Vine curls up again, then produces a little megaphone.]

Why, this is the Gardens, of course!

[forthecamera.livejournal.com]

[Rise has seen many odd things, so thankfully she doesn't freak out but she does eye the vines slightly incredulously]

Um. It does look very beautiful here so far but...

[rosestolilies.livejournal.com]

[The mirror unfurls again for the Queen to shake her finger chidingly.]

There is no but!

[endthiscycle.livejournal.com]

[What the hell. Winry is just gawking. How is that possible?]

[rosestolilies.livejournal.com]

[For now, the Vine stays where it is. The Queen has made her appearance; if anyone's gawking, she assumes it's in awe.]

Video

[hotshot-momma.livejournal.com]

Your eyes went out of focus just before you gave us your title. You okay there?

[She looks around, sighs, and adds:]

Your Majesty?

Video

[rosestolilies.livejournal.com]

Now, now, there's no need for titles here!

I am just fine.

[gotyourpics.livejournal.com]

[Chie's doing her best to remain calm and cool, really, even if she's pretty much just wondering what the hell is going on.]

Can I ask a few questions?

[rosestolilies.livejournal.com]

But that's what the cats are for, darling.

[omniphobe.livejournal.com]

[ Crona doesn't do confrontation, so our lovely Queen just gets her blinking at the life-size mirror with wide eyes, a look of pure horror on her face.

She doesn't know how to deal with people randomly appearing in mirrors! ]

[rosestolilies.livejournal.com]

[ The Queen blows her a kiss before the mirror vanishes. That should make her feel better! ]

[happylittlesong.livejournal.com]

Oh, er, hello? Hello, your highness?

[ Giselle knocks hesitantly on the mirror, like it were a door. She looks faintly perplexed. ]

Oh my. Not to be rude -- heavens, I certainly wouldn't want that! -- and I do appreciate that you must have put lots of hard work into...into making things right, as you said...but if you don't mind too terribly much -- where is this?

[rosestolilies.livejournal.com]

No need for titles! We're all going to be friends here--

Oh! I didn't say...this is the Gardens!

[quackery.livejournal.com]

[Still tied up in the beginnings of shock when the vine begins to unfurl, she watches as it continues to stretch, part of her curious but a larger part frightened. She listens with baited breath, and takes a step forward, trying to reach the mirror before it retreats- futile, in the end.]

Wait!

[rosestolilies.livejournal.com]

...Why?

[sheroic.livejournal.com]

... Dude, like Alice in Wonderland?

Cool! I'm dreaming, right? 'Cause I totally didn't eat any weird mushrooms. Where's that annoying rabbit? [ SHE NOTICES NOTHING WRONG WITH THIS. ]

[rosestolilies.livejournal.com]

Not to worry! The annoying rabbits will be along shortly. Now please settle in!

[shootsfortruth.livejournal.com]

[Naoto's going to keep her cool, because panicking wouldn't accomplish anything.]

I don't even know where to begin. That was hardly a sufficient explanation of anything.

[gotyourpics.livejournal.com]

[Oh cool, so that makes two of us.]

That's why I'm going to ask a few questions.

[ophiuchushadow.livejournal.com]

Eeeeh!? But that doesn't explain anything! Come back!

[Lulu makes an attempt to grab the vine where the mirror came from.]

[rosestolilies.livejournal.com]

[And the mirror reappears, this time with the Queen shaking her head scoldingly.]

Be nice to the Vine!

[border-phantasm.livejournal.com]

[Yukari would like to make the mirror do otherwise. She touches the vine in the place where the mirror was, and manages to get the megaphone. Not what she desired, but perhaps more useful. She speaks into it]

A long time since what? Guests?

[rosestolilies.livejournal.com]

Since...people...

[A pause.]

You'll love it here.

[thevenusian.livejournal.com]

[Minako splutters into the mirror for a moment before she becomes capable of doing stuff like words. She's still agitated, on high alert. It's not so much the magical plant mirror as the whole scene change that has thrown her, though.]

... who are you? Wait, hold on, where is this? What––

[ Voice ]

[marsmakeup.livejournal.com]

_{[There's some spluttering, then--]}

Minako-chan?!

[Voice]

[marsmakeup.livejournal.com]

_{[Okay, Rei is used to weird shit like this but usually it entails being abducted by the Forces of Darkness(TM) or similar.]}

Hey, your majesty, would you mind explaining where exactly 'here' is?

_{[She is considering transforming and just setting everything on fire--except she needs to find her pen first. Where is it...?]}

[Voice]

[rosestolilies.livejournal.com]

Please, please talk to the cats! They should have a scroll for you.

Oh, but don't worry about this "your majesty" business.

[bugcharmer.livejournal.com]

What...?

_{[Nausicaä seems to be in shock for the moment. She just stares at the mirror and then leans forward.]}

Where are we? What are you talking about? How did I get here-?

[rosestolilies.livejournal.com]

You'll understand in time, my dear. Now, why don't you talk to the cats?

[licensedforsex.livejournal.com]

[Lou doesn't remember getting here, but waking up in strange place isn't really uncommon for her. Waking up alone, however, is. She takes a minute to take everything in.]

'Queen of Hearts'? Nice place. It reminds me of Thoolia.

...I hope you're not thinking of becoming my competition....

[rosestolilies.livejournal.com]

Competition? We're not here for that at all!

[jormunvector.livejournal.com]

(If this is some sort of divine punishment, then someone has a truly sick sense of humor.)

[espadatres.livejournal.com]

[It isn't the eternal blackness Hallibel expected, but it's still... bizarre as can be. She silently stares into the mirror for a moment before turning and walking away.]

[aunomdedieu.livejournal.com]

[ Caprica stares in considerable shock at the mirror — mirrors don't just do that. It's only at the very end of the Queen's speech that she gathers herself enough to step forward a little, reach out toward the glass — but by then it's vanished. ]

What—

This doesn't make any sense.

[rosestolilies.livejournal.com]

[The mirror reappears, with the Queen tapping her chin thoughtfully.]

Now that I think about it, this experience could be confusing to some people...

Well, what's past is past! Talk to the cats.

[moonmartyr.livejournal.com]

[ There's only one question that matters right now. Gripping hold of the vine, Chikane tugs, as though urging the woman to come back. ]

What have you done with Himeko!?

[sunsanctuaried.livejournal.com]

I'm fine, Chikane-chan, don't worry.

Um, but I'm not sure where we are though.

[elbowpower.livejournal.com]

Wait!

[With the mirror disappearing, Belle will be left kneeling sadly beside the vines.]

Wait, please! You can't leave! I have to know where I am!

[rosestolilies.livejournal.com]

[The mirror swiftly reappears.]

Darling, I wouldn't leave. I'm here the whole time, in the Gardens with you!

[rather-beblind.livejournal.com]

[Mag seems rather taken aback by all this, but rather than be afraid, she looks... pleased.]

It's... lovely... more lovely than I ever could have imagined. The sky is clear... I'd never realized it could be that color...

[The mechanisms in her eyes begin whrling madly. She's recording everything she sees.]

[espadatres.livejournal.com]

[Hallibel pauses in her walk when she hears this one speaking and looks upward. It is, by far, the most beautiful sky she's ever seen, and that's the catalyst she needed to start letting the fact that she's somewhere strange to sink in.]

Where...?

[guitar-zero.livejournal.com]

[This one kind of wakes up and looks blearily at the mirror as it speaks to her. When it's done, she plops unceremoniously back down on the ground and rolls over, dismissing it as another crazy dream.]

[withascroll.livejournal.com]

[Eventually, there will be a persistent nudging from a cat, who will be holding a scroll. But Yui can enjoy her nap until then.]

[not-giga-drill.livejournal.com]

... excuse me, but inter-dimensional kidnapping is a severe offense. I'm going to have to ask you to return everybody to where you've taken them from.

[thevenusian.livejournal.com]

I-interdimensional?

[nicesetsuna.livejournal.com]

I don't care if you were working hard on this place! I want to go home now.

[rosestolilies.livejournal.com]

Don't be silly!