Joker in Twisted Wonderland

Prologue 2: Different World, Same Rebel Spirit

"There, there, now that you've calmed down, can you tell me what's bothering you?" Crowley asks as Ren's cries began subsiding. He was using the handkerchief that the masked man had lent him.

"I... I'm sorry, I just... *Sniff*." The boy tries to say and sniffs a little.

"At the very least, can you tell me where you are from?" The man asks next.

"Tokyo... Tokyo, Japan." Ren answers immediately. Morgana gives him a look of understanding, deciding to keep quiet.

"Oh, umm... I am afraid I've never heard of such a place before. I can take a quick look. You stay here for now." The dean tells him and goes looking through the books and maps in the library.

"I've looked, but there's nothing." He reports after Ren comes over, his tears now dry. "Nothing, not one single thing! Nothing on maps, no in the historical records, not a shred of evidence. Either you're pulling my leg on where you come from... Or you two are from another planet/world." He continues and states.

"That, actually sounds right." Morgana says. "Technically, this isn't the first time we've dealt with something like this." He then admits.

"What? Oh, never mind... Still, this is a problem... Do you have anything on your person? Any form of Identification? Like license for magic car? Name on a shoe?" The crow-masked man says then asks. At that, Ren searches his pockets finding them both empty, which he shows Crowley with empty palms.

"Oh dear, this is a problem... If you are in fact from another world, there's no guarantee we'll be able to get you back. Oh, I can only imagine how worried your parents are... and the damage they can sue us for." The dean says with a groan.

"Doubt it. They were long gone when I got home." Ren says and admits in a sad tone of voice. He sniffs and wipes at his eyes again, recalling the empty house.

"Huh? Whatever do you mean?" Crowley asks, looking concerned. The boy sighs.

"Since I could remember, my parents never wanted me. I was the product of a loveless marriage, and my birth didn't help. I was always alone. Then, a while back I got caught up in an incident and had to leave my hometown for a year.

"I guess, it was the last straw for them. When I returned home no one was there, then I found a note from dad saying he and mom finally divorced, and that since I was technically an adult, I was on my own." The boy explains.

"How... Unacceptable!" Crowley exclaims, sounding outraged. "Are you telling me that they just left you to fend for yourself?! Good gracious! You may almost be an adult, but you're still young and need guidance! How selfish!" He rants and Ren himself was surprised by the man's anger.

"But, what to do with you? With your, "unknown power", I'm not sure you can be allowed to attend the school... However, as an educator I can't in good conscious toss a penniless youth out onto the streets, especially with no place to go..." The dean then says, contemplating his options.

"Hey! What am I?! Chopped liver?!" Morgana asks, annoyed at being left out.

"Oh!" The dean suddenly exclaims. "I just remembered, there's a dormitory here on campus where you can stay. It admittedly hasn't been used in some time, and is in need of repair...

"But it does have its charm and should be good enough for you to sleep in until I find a way to get you home." He explains and suggests. Ren and Morgana look at one another, then turn back to the dean.

"Okay, I guess we can work with that." He agrees with a shrug.

"Excellent! Ah, my graciousness knows no bounds. Truly I am a model for all educators!" The dean suddenly sings praises to himself, with the boy and feline looking at him with dumbfounded expressions.