A Song Named Alice

Chapter 31

Chapter 31

I finally got a new chapter up, yeah! (I believe that there are only three more left, so we're almost there. Please stay with until the end!)

In the end, I helped Time out; I fixed his problem completely. However, as I was leaving, when I peeked behind me, I saw a face on him unlike one I've ever seen before. Even now I want to think I saw an illusion. How could someone I've known my entire life, a grumpy and cruel person like him, so much like a demon, smile like that? It was like he drank an elixir of joy. 

I did my half of the deal. So I wanted to hope, no, trust that Time would somehow bring Pleasance back, despite the possibility of it now. But he hasn't. I haven't even seen him since he broke free from his lonely cage. 

I knew that Time was a cruel, cruel man, but he never broke a promise. He isn't that type of man. Oh, how could I have been so wrong? How could I have trusted him? I am the ruler of Asgard, yet I am as gullible as...as...as a starving cat! 

Pleasance, it's a wonder how you considered me a friend, as I am the one who constantly hurt you and trusted your life to a liar. You truly were the best friend I could ever have.

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As Alice blinks her eyes open, stiffly waking up, Loki wraps his arms around her, holding her in a tight embrace as he gingerly whispers her name into her ear. 

"Who're you calling Alice?" she asks as she forces him into a lighter hug. 

He loses his smile. "No," he bemoans, "Don't tell me, you couldn't have forgotten everything again. Please no." Cupping his hands on her shoulders, he stares into her strangely dark eyes. Then, reluctantly, he stands up. 

She follows him up. "Edwin?" she questions. 

His eyes light up in a bright flash of joy, his smile reaching the sky. He grabs her hands and pulls them to his chest. "You mean you remember...everything," his voice excites, "All of it? Me-Raven-Erik-Meg-your own name? Oh, Alice, do you really and truly remember?" 

Alice fakes a puzzling smile while she wraps her fingers around Loki's palm. "What do you mean "remember?" Did I ever forget? Come on, what are you talking about Edwin? And why do you keep calling me Alice? Really. I'm Lacie." 

Loki pulls himself away from Lacie, keeping their hands together, and watches as the smile she can't contain anymore grows as large as his. He dazzles himself in the rekindle of hope he had long ago. 

Lacie giggles at his stare. "Yes, I remember everything, Edwin. From before and from when I was Alice. And let me guess, I bet you got my new name from that song you like to listen to, Alice. Am I right?" 

He smirks, a grin that reddens his ears. "No," he explains, "I didn't get it from there, not exactly. I got it from your name. See, when you rearrange the letters in your name, L-A-C-I-E-, you can spell Alice. I've finally scored a point on you, Lacie." 

She laughs again. 

Then, without thinking for even a second, he blurts out his happiness. "Lacie, oh Lacie," he says while his heart flutters at the very mention of her name, "I'm so happy right now, I could just kiss you!" 

Lacie flushes from ear to ear, half wondering if he actually has the guts to go through with his words. Her eyes desperately seek to look elsewhere, engine up staring at the floor; and she remains silent. 

Loki, upon realizing his words, turns as bright of a red as Lacie's. "I, um...well, you see, I-I actually..." he tries to reassure her, but his words fall short.