Change of Plans--A Heart no Kuni no Alice FanFiction

Part 03: Finding a Friend

Boris' shortcut through the woods had proven very useful to me, despite all the brambles and branches in my way.  I soon found myself on the outskirts of the woods in practically no time at all.  I emerged from the trees in front of a humongous mansion--and trust me, I've seen some pretty big mansions and manors in my time, so I know what I'm talking about.  I probably would have marched right up to the gates if it hadn't been for the two boys lounging out front.  They each carried a large axe in their hands, each glinting dangerously.

Definitely don't want to get got by one of those beauties, I told myself as I hastily retreated behind a rather large tree stump.  With my back to the trunk I pulled a case of bullets out of my bag.  Resting the bag on the ground I loaded the bullets into my pistol with slightly unsteady hands.  I'd face two armed opponents before--but their weapons hadn't been axes.  I cocked the gun, wincing at the loud noise.  Peering cautiously around the tree, I saw the twin boys look around lazily.  After a tense moment, I put my pistol back in its holster.  Taking a deep breath I stepped out of the woods.

"Look, Dum," the boy in blue said to his brother, "a visitor just came out of the woods."    They both watched me curiously, standing straighter as I approached.

I stopped a few feet away from them, keeping my features arranged in a calm mask.  "I was told that Alice was staying here," I said, my voice level and unafraid.  "I was wondering if I could talk to her."  I kept my arms loose at my sides, making sure my stance was non-threatening and at ease.  It was a trick I had learned to not only keep myself calm but also my opponents.

The twins looked at each other, identical expressions of surprise on their faces.  "The stranger knows Big Sister, Dee," the red twin whispered not-so-quietly to his brother.

Dee nodded.  "But we don't know if she knows him," he pointed out with a sweet smile that sent shivers down my spine.  I instinctively reached for my gun, my danger senses tingling ominously.

"Let's save the trouble of asking her, shall we?" they said in deadly unison, swinging their axes at me.  My fear was immediately replaced by instinct--I dodged the blades with only centimeters to spare.  They swung again, this time at my legs, and I flipped backwards.  I lost my hat in the process but luckily my pins stayed firmly in place.  I drew my pistol, firing a very disappointing shot that only managed to get Dee's hat.  I prepared to shoot again as the twins rushed at me.

"Stop!"

My finger had been tightening on the trigger when the voice called to us.  Dee and Dum froze, identical looks of guilt on their faces.  They slowly turned to face the owner of the frantic cry as she ran towards us.  I straightened up, keeping my finger on the trigger but pointing the barrel of the ground to the ground.

"Dee, Dum, what have I told you about attacking random passerby?" she scolded, resting her hands on her hips.  She glared at them, the look in her eyes saying that she demanded a response.

Dee and Dum shrugged.  "But he says he knows you, Big Sister," they chorused, "So he isn't random at all!"

"We would have asked you if it was true--" Dee said, glancing at me.

"--but we didn't know where you were!" Dum finished, also looking in my direction.  I ignored them both, taking a closer look at the brown haired girl.  I couldn't believe it--Alice was standing right in front of me!

"He knows me?" she asked curiously.  She looked over their shoulders to get a better look at me and did a double take.  She gasped and her hands flew up to her mouth.  "D-d-donovan?" she squeaked, slowly dropping her hands.

She thought I was Donovan?  I threw back my head and laughed, finding the idea extremely amusing.  "Wow, I guess I look more like him than I thought!" I gasped, trying to contain myself.  "Alice," I chuckled, "it's me, Ron!"  I slipped my gun back in its holster as I walked towards her.