• Roberta held the clam as they went down the elevator. Akisu was crying like there was no tomorrow and Alice tried all she could to cheer him up.

    "The descent must be bothering him," Eugene finally concluded.

    As the elevator landed, there was a ruckus outside the door. Eugene got in front as the doors slid open and helped Roberta and Alice along the wall. The pirates passed, running along the cavern mindlessly. They didn't even pay attention to the three islanders.

    Alice looked up at the ships that were docking inside the cavern. Large, magnificent things full of pirates dressed as playing cards. Three of hearts, five of clubs, all kinds, she even saw double of the same card. As the family slid along the wall, she caught sight of a different man. He wasn't dressed as a card but like a clown. He saw her too and watched her carefully, trying to figure out who she was. He didn't look human but she couldn't quite tell in the dark. She could only see his watchful eyes and the bright colors of his uniform.

    Some pirates bumped into them and Eugene split off to protect Roberta and Alice. At the ledge, Roberta knelt down and laid the clam into the water.

    "Live! Survive! Flee to a place where the Trump Pirates will never reach!" Roberta gently pushed the clam as Akisu wailed. Just then, Alice and Roberta were siezed by a small group of pirates.

    "Look at these pretty girls!" one said as he pulled at Alice's hair and put a sword to her throat.

    "What shall we do with them?" another asked and they all bursted into mischievous laughter.

    "Get your hands off my wife!" Eugene shouted but a pirate slugged him across the face.

    "You shall do nothing to them! Let me see the blonde one," the clown walked down the path towards the hostages.

    The pirate that held Alice turned to his commander and displayed her to him. She stared fearfully into his face. The long, diagonal scar, pale skin and pointed ears. His smirk displeased her even more. What was he thinking about doing?

    "Your name wouldn't happen to be Alice, would it?" he rubbed his chin with his thumb.

    "Yes... My name is Alice..." she whimpered, afraid of the sword at her throat.

    "Release her and her companions!" their commander shouted, pointing to the pirates holding Roberta and Eugene. "Do you have the slightest idea who she is!?"

    Some of the pirates shook their heads and shrugged their shoulders.

    "She's a princess, you bunch of scoundrels!" he growled then turned to Alice, grabbing her hand. "Forgive me, princess. I am responsible for this troop of pirates."

    "I'm a princess?" Alice looked down at the kneeling clown with a confused look on her face.

    "Yes, a man named Chester P. Cheshire told me so," he looked up at her, looking for confirmation.

    "Chester told you?!" Alice couldn't believe that Chester had spread this outrageous rumor. But what if it was true? "Why are you invading the island?"

    "My king is looking for a place to settle a kingdom and rule his pirates from a stronghold. This island would be the best place as Mr. Cheshire says," the clown explained, still on his knee.

    "I can't believe this..." Alice let go of his hand and walked towards Roberta and Eugene, who were holding each other. "What are we going to do?" She whispered to them.

    "We can't fight back, Alice. There's too many. Look at all the ships still coming in," Eugene took Alice into their embrace so he wouldn't be too loud. "We have to live it out and hope for the best."

    "The Trump Pirates are not to be messed with Alice, do be careful," Roberta told her.

    Alice nodded. She understood the importance of the situation and she turned to the clown, "We will do what we can, but leave my people alone."

    "You are quite simple, my princess," he grinned to himself, "I will have to consult with my king before I can guarantee anything."

    "I am returning to my palace," Alice played along with the clown, "You will find me there when you have reached a conclusion."

    Roberta and Eugene followed Alice into the elevator, proud of the young princess they had raised themselves for the past year. She walked with her back straight, chin up and arms at her sides as if to impress the jester pirate. When the doors shut and the elevator started to go up, Alice's shoulders slumped and she felt the weight of the island on top of her. She had their fate in her hands, the pirate clown would believe anything she said. She was the princess.