//------------------------------//
// Nine - Twilight and the Past 
// Story: Fractured Fairy Tails: Return to Wonderland 
// by Unknown Tale 
//------------------------------//

It was now 4pm. Twilight Sparkle waited for the gold trimming on the sky as Time passed by. Time, are you being very slow today? There was no answer. She sighed and turned to face a clock. The tune it played sounded very familiar to something in the past. She can't recall what it was exactly. "What is it playing? It sounds very nice!" she said softly.

Rarity then entered the room seeing a bored Twilight Sparkle in the center looking at the clock. "Ms. Sparkle," she said, "Time will move slower if you stare at a clock all day."

"I'm sorry," Twilight replied. "But why must we have this meaningless battle?"

"Oh, you wouldn't believe me if I told you. But I do remember Chrysalis saying something about you being the young girl who visited Wonderland many times. She said something about calling you Alice Sparkle."

"What's that got to do with anything?" Rarity sighed and showed her a book. Twilight Sparkle in Wonderland.

"You do remember everything that happened, don't you?" Twilight stared at the cover. 

"That book... It wasn't a dream after all. This place is real!" Rarity nodded. 

Twilight Sparkle facehoofed herself. "Oh dear, why did I keep thinking I was dreaming before!?"

"I do not know. But I do know how it happened." Rarity cleared her throat.

"She followed a rabbit down a hole,
she got tiny, and tall,
swam across a sea,
and ran around a course so small.

She met a pair of twins,
who love to sing their songs,
and then met up with the rabbit,
and didn't stay indoors for long.

She got stuck in a house (big surprise),
and managed out with help,
then met the all-knowing,
and knew her real well.

The cat had a big grin,
but didn't scare her off (so glad),
she led her to a party,
and found out everyone was mad!

Then she met a queen,
for a game that the queen led,
but she had been charged with going her way,
and it was 'Off with her head!'

It's a work-in-progress, it'll get better." Twilight Sparkle smiled and said, "It did sum up my entire journey."

Rarity was about to reply when Applejack entered the room. "Twilight, Red Rarity. I want to tell you two, the trimming is near."

"TO THE CHESSMATCH EVERYPONY!" There was much rejoicing... again. Ponies were cheering, running, hollering, and flying all around the castle and then ran out. Discord, Fluttershy, Colgate, Rarity, and Twilight joined the pack. "Twilight, are you sure about this?" Colgate asked one last time.

"I am sure," Twilight replied.