Sean was barely listening to his collage professor as he gave his lecture. His iPad was set up to follow the program that the professor was going over, but Sean was doodling in his notebook. He was drawing what he called Septiceyes. He was getting pretty good at detailing how slimy they looked and smirked to himself. He wondered what he should draw in the reflective surface of the eye. What would an eye like this have seen? Biting his lip, he tried to imagine it, when the iris of the largest eye on the paper dilated. His pen slipped from his hand to hit the paper, causing the eyeball to recoil from it. The eyeball's fluid movement made Sean jerk up from his seat, sending him backward into a dark abyss! Sean then gasped as someone smacked his desk and yelled out. "Mr. Mcloughlin! Am I boring you?!" Sitting upright, Sean took in his surroundings. He had fallen asleep in class. Clearing his throat, he shook his head and closed his notebook of doodles. The people in the classroom chuckled a little, but soon fell silent as the professor looked in their directions. Straightening up, the professor told them all sternly. "If you insist on daydreaming. Do it elsewhere! I'd rather not waste my time on those not here to learn. Now. As I was saying." Sean rubbed his eyes to wake himself up, then grabbed his little portable mouse to wake up his iPad.

Only as his computer awoke; a small chat window popped up on the screen. He slid his mouse across the screen to close it, but words began to type out quickly. "Don't do that." Sean glanced around to see if any of his classmates was pulling his leg, but they were all focused on the lecture. None of them were typing or even looking at their laptops or iPads. On the screen, more words began to type out. "Sean. We need your help." Sean inhaled slowly, then clicked the chat to type back. "Who are you?" The person replied by typing out. "My name is Calculester. There isn't much time. Find the Cheshire Cat with green eyes. He's waiting for you in the courtyard. Hurry, Sean. They are coming for you." Sean raised an eyebrow, typing out quickly. "Who is coming for me?" The response came almost instantaneous, reading out. "The L.G.L.. The Looking Glass Legion. One has found you. Time to run." Sean gave his iPad a confused look, until a picture appeared with the words. "Beware the L.G.L., Oyster." The picture on the screen showed a window with two crossed wings. One wing was white, and the other was blue. Sean didn't recognize the symbol.

That's when someone gasped, and a shadow fell across the window. Sean looked up to see a man in torn black jeans with what looked like two metal containers strapped to his legs. From one of the containers was a wire that was attached to the roof, allowing the man's hands to be free. The man kicked the glass with his knee-high black boots, shattering the window before he tossed in what looked like a pocket watch. The pocket watch hit the floor, then the hands on it started to spin until the watch glowed a bright pink. The man was wearing a tan leather jacket with the symbol on it and Sean locked eyes with him. The man smirked, connecting a set of handles to thin metal blades within the containers on his legs. Everyone got to their feet to look at the watch, but Sean got up and ran for the door. Sean just made it out the door of the classroom, when the watch sent out a pulse that made everyone in the room stop moving. Scrambling to his feet, Sean ran down the hallway as fast as he could. After hearing a loud hiss, Sean risked looking behind him to see the man skid across the tile floor of the hallway. The containers on his legs seemed to have some kind of propulsion ability. The man gracefully rose to his feet, sauntering after him as he called out. "Halt, Oyster! You're under arrest by order of the Red King!"

Sean staggered to a stop, yelling back at the man. "What? I don't know what you're talking about?!" The man raised his thin swords, stating out darkly. "Not my problem. I have my orders." The man gripped the handles of his blades, causing the containers on his legs to hiss loudly as they surged him forward. The man moved down the hallway so fast that Sean barely processed that he was coming for him. The man spun beautifully in the air, bringing the blades out to slash at his legs and throat. Sean's eyes went wide in fear, feeling like this was his end. Until something wrapped around his leg and yanked him off his feet. Sean hit the floor hard as a figure blocked the blade going for his legs with a blade made of playing cards. After blocking the blade, the figure flicked a card at the man's face. The card hit him and exploded, sending him into the cement wall. The figure then whirled around, grabbing Sean by the arm as he began dragging him out of the building. Sean thrashed and tugged against the man, snapping out. "What the fuck is going on?!" The figure stopped, pulling Sean up to his feet to tell him seriously. "They are here to kill you. It's my job to make sure that DOESN'T happen. Got it?!"

Sean gawked at the man. The man was wearing a white cat mask and his eyes were a glowing green. The man's long hair was also green and tied back out of his way to reveal dark brown roots, but his long green bangs still hung down the sides of his face. Sean blinked, pointing at him as he asked. "Cheshire Cat?" The figure grinned, showing off beautiful teeth as he slipped something on Sean's finger, before telling him. "One of my many names. Now run!" The Cheshire Cat shoved him out across the grass as the other man burst through the glass door and slammed into him. Sean rose on all fours, watching the Cheshire Cat fight with the man. It was mesmerizing to watch. The man darted through the air around the courtyard by wires that shot out to grab walls and trees. While the Cheshire Cat stood in the center and would vanish into puffs of smoke to avoid the blades. Whenever the Cheshire Cat reappeared, he'd flick cards at the man that cut at his clothes and face like small throwing blades. One of the cards hit something on one of the containers strapped to the man's leg, bringing him to the ground. Landing in a crouch, the man pulled the card from a thin tank on the container, sneering out to the Cheshire Cat. "Marvin, this is treason! Give back what you stole, and I'll leave your precious Oyster alone!"

Marvin gave the man a shrug, telling him bluntly. "I can't do that, Captain Sharp. The time has come to fix Wonderland... and it starts with HIM!" Captain Sharp rose to his feet, snapping out as he pointed his sword at him. "You'd defy the powers of wonderland?!" Marvin lifted his chin, replying in a cold voice. "There is only one true power in Wonderland." Captain Sharp narrowed his eyes on Marvin, replying simply. "Then you leave me no choice. I'll kill him and take it back by force!" Captain Sharp let out a loud whistle and two men moved into sight along the rooftops. They were dressed the same as Captain Sharp, but one had bright red hair and broader shoulders. While the other one was slender with green hair. Captain Sharp pointed to Sean, ordering loudly. "Cadets, Kill him!" Sean swallowed as he saw them draw their blades. Marvin pulled out a card and flicked it to produce a black top hat out of it. Snatching the hat, he reached inside to pull out a white rabbit and yelled out. "Sean! Follow the rabbit!" Marvin tossed the white rabbit and it landed across the grass gracefully. Sean didn't think about it, he just ran toward the rabbit, who dashed off at full speed. Sean could barely keep it in sight but didn't look back.

Behind him, Marvin engaged Captain Sharp in another fight with swords. While the two Cadets jumped off the roof, their containers hissing as they shot through the air after him. The rabbit made sharp turns that the Cadets had trouble making, then led him out into a large open meadow of flowers. Sean had to squint to see the rabbit's long ears above the flowers. Even with no buildings or trees to attach too, the Cadets would jump and use the containers to pulse themselves forward faster. They were gaining on him. Just as one Cadet reached him, Sean saw Marvin appear in a burst of white smoke to grab the Cadet's arm, flipping him to the ground. The other Cadet managed to slice Sean's arm with his sword, causing Sean to tumble into the flowers with a scream. The green haired Cadet stopped, raising his sword as he uttered out without mercy. "Off with your head, Oyster!" Sean raised his hands in the insane hope of blocking the blade. Marvin rushed up beside him, snatching up some flowers, before blowing the pollen at the Cadet. The Cadet jerked back from the pollen but fell back to the ground unconscious. Sean rolled over, holding his breath as he crawled away toward the white rabbit that sat at the edge of the woods.

Staggering to his feet, Sean began chasing the rabbit into the woods, until it came to a little hill at the base of a large ancient looking tree. The rabbit scampered off inside and Sean dropped to all fours to look inside. There was a faint warm light at the end of the tunnel, but the tunnel was narrow. Barely big enough for someone of his size. Shaking his head, he uttered out. "Oh, fuck no! I'm not going in there!" Marvin swirled into view beside him, yelling out. "What are you waiting for?! Go! They can't follow you in this entrance!" Sean pointed to the hole, snapping out. "I'm claustrophobic! I'm not going in there! Are you insane?!" Marvin kneeled next to him, giving him a wide grin as he answered a little unsettlingly. "Yes. Very much so. Now go in there whole or stay here and lose your head. Your choice, but there is only one way!" Sean glared at Marvin, muttering out. "Better a quick death, than to be suffocated by a tunnel collapse!" The sound of hissing drew close, and Marvin growled out. "Alright. My way it is." Sean blinked and Marvin slapped him to the ground. Grabbing him by his belt, Marvin shoved him into the hole and Sean screamed in a panic.

Once he was in, Marvin spun in a whirl of white smoke before turning into a white cat with green tiger stripes with bright green eyes. A sword swung down but missed Marvin as he ran into the tunnel. Putting his paws on Sean's feet, Marvin tilted his head and told him. "See you at the bottom, Sean." Sean's voice broke as he asked in horror. "What?!" Marvin began to push him farther in and Sean clawed at the walls, screaming out. "NO! STOP! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!" Marvin continued to push him, until Sean felt the ground vanish under his back! With one last scream, Sean fell backward into the hole! Sean covered his head with his arms, feeling the sensation of falling. He thought it would be a short fall and he'd break his neck, but he just kept falling on and on. Parting his hands, he peeked out briefly before seeing the endless dark abyss below him. Covering his eyes again, he pleaded out. "Oh, please god! NO!" Sean started to hyperventilate, he wanted to pass out before he reached the bottom. From around him, he heard the calm voice of Marvin ask him. "Are you just going to imagine yourself falling forever?" Sean didn't uncover his eyes when he whined out. "What are talking about?!" He felt a paw touch his hand and pulled his hands away from his eyes in shock.

Marvin the cat grinned at him, chuckling out as he sat comfortably on a book that fell at the same speed as him. "Relax. The portal senses your fear, and you are scaring it." Sean opened his mouth to say something but settled for saying something different to himself. "This is a dream... I never woke up..." Marvin shrugged, answering teasingly. "Maybe you did. Maybe you didn't. Doesn't really matter now. Here is where you are. So, you're going to have to just... survive. After all, if this is indeed a dream... you can still die in it." Sean glared at Marvin, grumbling out. "Thanks for your help. What the hell is going on?!" Marvin inhaled calmly and Sean found himself doing the same. As his heart stopped racing, he stopped falling as fast and the tunnel started to illuminate with a warm candlelight glow. Marvin smiled at the change in scenery, then regaled to him casually. "I know this is a lot to take in. So, I'll try to make this brief. Wonderland is in trouble. And if you don't help me fix it, then those horrors will spill out into YOUR world through every looking glass." Sean shrugged, asking nervously. "Why me? I've never even heard of Wonderland."

Marvin's eyes were guarded a bit, but he told him swiftly. "I can't tell you what I don't know. I only know the powers that have taken over Wonderland want you dead. And my job is to make sure you got here safely." Marvin licked his paw, looking over his sharp nails a moment. Upon looking back at Sean, he told him coolly. "And for your information. Everyone has glimpsed Wonderland at least once in their lives. You Oysters have many names for it. Dreamland. Fantasyland. Imagination land. Candyland. We call it Wonderland because it is full of wonders. It isn't just one thing. It is many things for many people." Marvin reached out to touch Sean's hand, applying just a little pressure to turn him over as they seemed to gently float down into the abyss. Lowering his hands, he looked at the walls that were lined in shelves with many different curiosities. Some had watches. Others had toys and books. Furniture began to float up past them, and Sean touched a few to see if they were real. They felt real. Sean pulled his hand back, noticing now that he was wearing a ring that he'd never seen before. Marvin gave him another bright grin, his tail swaying behind him as he informed him calmly. "That is the stone of Wonderland. It powers the looking glass and will help you navigate through Wonderland. But be warned, little Oyster. The Red King wants that back. And he will be hunting you for it. You must not let him have it at any cost."

Sean flexed his fingers around the ring, asking a bit sourly. "Why is everyone calling me an Oyster? I'm human and I have a name! You've said it! And what am I supposed to do with a stolen- AH!" They suddenly stopped falling, causing Sean to land on the dark ashen ground. His legs weren't ready and buckled under him. Which caused him to roll out of a stone fireplace and into a large square room. Sean groaned as he laid across the cold tile floor. Marvin's book stopped in the air, and he hopped gracefully off the book, uttering out softly. "Mind your step." Behind Marvin the book thudded to the floor of the fireplace, puffing up dark ash. Pointing to the ring, Marvin said regally. "Take that to the four corners of Wonderland. Use its power to purify Wonderland of its horrors. By then, I will find you." Sean sat up, uttering out as he pulled the ring off. "Oh no! You do it! Take it back! I wanna get out of here!" Marvin blinked slowly with an unfazed expression, upon retorting dryly. "I can't do it. The only way back to your world is through the royal looking glass. Which the Red King holds in his possession. I barely made it to your world with my head and it wasn't without help. You wanna go home? You'll have to help us."

Sean put the ring back on and got up to head for the fireplace. He wasn't going to be suckered into this. He was going to crawl his way back up the fireplace. Stepping inside, he reached up and found his hand touching a mirror. He started to bang on it, but it was thicker than it looked. Sitting just outside the fireplace, Marvin told him flatly. "You can't go back up that way. It's a back entrance. Not an exit." Sean huffed, stepping out of the fireplace as he muttered out to him. "Alright. Fine." Sean looked around the square room. There were no other doors or windows. Just a chandelier with lit candles hanging from the center of the ceiling. Gesturing around, Sean blurted out in shock. "There is no way out... Are we stuck in here?!" Marvin moved to sit in the center of the room, regaling pleasantly. "You're only stuck if you can't get out." Sean scowled at Marvin, who chuckled and told him with his chin held high. "Wonderland is not always what it seems. Nothing is impossible. Sometimes going backward is the only way to go forward, and sometimes... if you sit long enough. Things start to unravel themselves." Sean hefted a sigh, telling him sternly. "It's a land of nonsense... Great. I'm never getting out of here."

Marvin pointed to the ring again, telling him coolly. "The stone of Wonderland is ancient. It only works if you believe it does. The power in the ring is gone. But you, little Oyster, are the power source it needs to recharge." Sean's jaw dropped and he started to ask more, but Marvin started to vanish slowly now as he told him seriously. "I have to go. I can feel them searching for me. I can tell you no more. You must seek out the March Hare. At the Mad Hatter's party. Break him free and Illinois will help you. When in doubt... follow the white rabbit out." Sean shrugged as Marvin vanished completely, yelling out after him. "Wait! How am I supposed to get out of here?!" When no reply came, Sean looked around the room and mumbled out under his breath. "Just great... I've officially lost my mind." To Be Continued...