This is my story.

Everyday is the same thing for me. I live in a small house by myself in the mysterious world of Wonderland. I can't say I don't enjoy this place... My life is rather simple.

I work for the Queen of Hearts as one of her many grounds-keepers. I don't particularly like my job, I'm not a huge fanatic over plants and gardens or whatnot... But it's better than nothing I guess.

For such a wondrous world that I live in, you would think that my life is interesting, some twists, something new each day. Well, not for me. Everyday it's the same thing: Get up, toss on my white tee and blue jeans, throw my shaggy brown hair in a ponytail and walk the dirt path to work. Work in the gardens, water the plants, maintain the greenery, and make sure everything is perfect for Her Majesty. When all is at it's finest, I walk back down that lonely dirt path back to my house, have a bite to eat and find some sort of way to entertain myself for the night before going to bed. Although sometimes the schedule at the castle changes. If there is a tournament or game near the area where I'm working, I'll take a break and watch.

To be honest, the most variety I find would have to be my walk to and from the castle. I've taken that path so many times, and I never know who I might run into. The Queen's servants off to chase some innocent soul for the questioning or beheading, a talking animal, a disappearing cat, sometimes I think I've felt as if I've seen it all.

In fact, there's one thing lately that has peeked my interest. On my walk to the castle, about two-thirds the way there, there's another dark path in the trees which the entrance is shaded by a bunch of branches. A couple times on my way home, I've stopped to peek inside the branches, but all I've ever seen is darkness. I can't say I'm not interested... I just don't know if I can risk there being something at the end of the path that I know I would regret finding.

I find myself peering into the trees whenever I pass it, but I won't dare go searching for anything.

---

It's a Tuesday afternoon, a little after three. I was just informed that the work for the day is finished due to a Croquet game in my sector of the grounds. I finish most of my work around four in the afternoon, sometimes five since I enjoy taking multiple breaks to lay in the sun and do nothing.

As I walk to the exit I hear the Queen exclaim a few choice words to her opponents, followed by a couple threats. I walked through the gate of the kingdom and work my way down the dirt path. I pulled my hair out of the messy ponytail and slid the hair tie onto my wrist. I noticed myself coming up to the dark path and then slowed down to take another peek inside.

Oddly enough, before I could approach the entrance I noticed a younger man walk up to the darker path and push through the branches to get onto the joining path. I stopped in my tracks and watched the boy. He looked no older than twenty-one, no younger than seventeen. He had dirty blond hair with was pulled into a short pigtail in the middle of his head. He had on a plain, light blue tee with old jeans which had dirt and grass stains on the knees and backside. I watched him walk through into the darkness and waited for a few moments to see if he would come back, but nothing changed.

I pulled away from the bushes but was still afraid to go into the forest. I wanted to follow that boy, but I couldn't get myself to push back those first few branches. I turned back down the path and continue to my house, finding myself with something to do for that evening.

---

The next day I seemed to rush to the castle. I looked down the dark path, but continued walking onto the Royal grounds. The whole day I had my mind on that one path and that boy I saw. Can you see how boring my life is now?

When I finished watering all of the plants and doing my tiresome job, I noticed that the time on the clock in the courtyard only said 3:45. I took a couple extra minutes to look at the clock and make sure I had read it correctly. I couldn't have finished that fast, could I? I pulled my hair out of it's ponytail and went through all of my chores, making sure I hadn't missed one. To my surprise, I had finished everything for the day.

I left the grounds and walked down the path, still baffled that I could have finished so quickly. How could I have finished so fast? Maybe I should go back, I must have missed a section... No, that's impossible, I covered everything, I'm sure... Now that I think about it, I didn't take so many breaks. It must because it's cloudy today, that's the only way that--

I didn't notice myself space out to the world around me, and walked into someone on the path. I stepped back from the other person and blinked a couple times to pull myself back into reality. I noticed them drop a couple things on the ground and I knelt down to pick them up for them. "O-oh, I'm so sorry, I wasn't paying attention," I said as I grabbed a pair of clippers and a patterned pair of gloves.

The other person knelt down frantically as well and grabbed the other things that had fallen. "N-no, I'm fine, I wasn't looking either," He said, and noticed him standing back up quickly.

I looked up and noticed the blond from the day before. I stood up and looked back down at his items in my hands. It seemed as if we both hesitated before he reached over to grab his things.

"O-oh, sorry, here," I said, handing him his tools.

The young man quickly grabbed his things and held them close to him, as if he was trying to hide them, "No it's alright, thanks."

I looked down at the things in his hands and pointed at them slightly, "What are the clippers for?" I asked, wonder what he was doing.

He shook his head vigorously and walked past me, "N-nothing! They're nothing," He assured, but I knew he was hiding something. "I have to go, sorry for running into you," He said, forcing a faint smile then walking down the dark path.

I watched him leave and smiled lightly myself, "It's okay..." I said, though I doubted he heard me. I waited a few more moments as if he was going to return again then turned back in the direction of my house and began walking slowly.

---

I started to notice a pattern with this young man. Around the same time the past few days, he would make his way down to that path. On Thursday, I found myself rushing with the work once more. Not that I enjoyed it, but the sooner those hedges were trimmed, the sooner I could see if this pattern continued. Sure enough, once I was done all my work it was 2:30 in the afternoon.

I left the castle in a rush, I was determined to meet that young man once more and see what he had with him today. But once I got to the dark path, I saw no sign of the blond. I felt something inside me flutter, as if I was a child who was promised a sweet treat after supper, only to find no treat waiting for me. I waited at the entrance a few moments, hoping that maybe he'll come at any minute.

Again, I was shot down with disappointment as I heard or saw no sign of him. I turned back towards the entrance and figured I just missed him. My curiosity hit it's peak once more and I carefully pushed away a branch to the opening, trying to be quiet as if I was crossing some one's territory. I pushed through the guarding branches and soon found myself encased in the shade of the trees and many leaves and branches. I hesitated before taking my first step down the dark path.

The shaded path was cool and peaceful. As I walked in deeper, I found it wasn't as dark as I thought it was from the first glimpse at the entrance. I came to a curve in the path but continued walking. There were a few branches pushing into the narrow path that I easily pushed past.

Not too long after the curve, I noticed a bright, luminous clearing. I almost stopped dead in my tracks at the beautiful sight, the shaded path lit up as rays of the sun shown down onto the clearing. I took a few steps and approached a white wooden fence at the entrance to a beautiful garden. I could see so many brilliant colours of red, blue, purple, orange, yellow, pink, in all the different shades of a spectrum.

I could see so many different types of flowers, most I had never seen in my life, but they were all so gorgeous. The white fence encased the whole garden, but I could barely tell since the garden was so evolved. Part of the plot was under shade from the afternoon sun, but most of it was still being hit by the golden rays. The grass looked so soft and welcoming, and there was a small pond in the back corner, but I couldn't tell in there was anything living in it or not. There was a small shed near the back with a clean window that looked like it was well maintained.

As I admired this delicate garden, I didn't notice someone walk up behind me. Apparently, neither did he.

I heard a gasp and a couple things fall to the ground from behind me, I spun around and leaned back against the short fence to see the blond looking at me with wide eyes. I stared back at him in shock, having forgotten about him as I walked into the clearing.

It seemed like we were staring at each other forever until I finally swallowed the lump in my throat and stood up properly, "Is this your garden?" I asked, not wanting to seem rude.

The blond bit his lip and looked to the side. I noticed his face growing a couple shades redder and then hung his head, "Y-yes..." He then knelt down slowly and picked up his gardening tools. "It's my garden..."

I felt myself twitch lightly as I wanted to help gather his things, but he had quickly gathered them before I could do anything. "Really?" I asked, still amazed at this creation.

The blond sighed and stood up, his face still a light shade of red, "Y-yeah, go ahead, make fun..." He said, looking down at the ground.

I paused then gave him a slightly confused look, "What do you mean? I'm not going to make fun of you. Why would I do that?"

The blond continued to look away, "Because it's a garden... A garden made by a boy. Doesn't that seem... wrong to you?" He asked, glancing at me from the corner of his eyes.

I didn't hesitate when I shook my head at him, "Not at all, I think this garden is... well, beautiful. See, I work as one of the grounds keepers for the Queen and--"

"Y-you work for the Queen?!" The blond said in an outburst, dropping his things once more and sounding upset. "P-please don't tell her about my garden! Please! She'll destroy it if she finds this!" He pleaded.

I watched as the young man's expression changed into a frightened look and he held his hands close to his chest, as if he was begging me. I shook my head once more, "N-no! Of course I wouldn't tell! I would be crazy to tell her to destroy something so magnificent."

The blond blinked and dropped his hands slowly. Another blush grew on his face as he continued to stare at me with blue eyes. "M-magnificent? Really..?"

I nodded once more, not moving my gaze from him. "Are you kidding? This garden is more ravishing than hers will ever be. I'm not one for gardening, but I know for a fact that this tiny plot is more beautiful than her entire courtyard," I said, being truthful about every word.

The blond looked down at the ground, and his face grew more red. I could get a better view of him here, he had bright blue eyes that stood out from the rest of his face. He was a bit tanned from being out in the sun so much, and his hair looked like it had bleached from the sun as well. A couple strands of short hair were pulled back behind his ears, not able to reach the pigtail at the back, but some longer pieces hung over his face as well. He was wearing a faded purple tee that almost looked grey, and the same stained jeans from the day before.

I couldn't help but smile at him when he looked back up at me. He seemed to hesitate, but he then smiled brightly as well. It was easy to tell just from his smile that he was the creator of the gorgeous garden.

"I'm Vivan," The blond introduced, still smiling softly. "And you are?"

"Lumaria," I said, still smiling back at him. "My name is Lumaria."