Dormouse - Prince of Wondermare - Main Story

Dormouse - Prince of Wondermare - Main Story

Chapter 1 - His Drowsy Eyes

Kingdom of Wonders, Wondermare, Sleepy Valley... 

As a bright light was emitted, a single prince woke up in front of me again... Is what was supposed to happen. Even so, the cute curly-haired prince was... 

Dormouse: Fuwaaah... Morning... already...? I'm still sleepy... Zzz. 

After yawning widely as he rubbed his eyes, he fell asleep again. 

MC: W-Wait...! Are you okay? Are you feeling unwell? 

Dormouse: No... I'm just sleepy... Mm, good... night... Zzz. 

MC: Eh? Wait, wake up! At least tell me your name-

As I wasn't sure on what I should do, I couldn't do anything else, but shout at him. 

Dormouse: Mm... I'm Dormouse of Sleepy... Val... ley... Zzz. 

When the prince addressed himself as Dormouse, I shook his shoulders. Even when I called out his name, he wouldn't wake up at all. 

MC: D-Dormouse-kun! Wake up! If you sleep in a place like this-

Dormouse: Mm... I'm sleepy. 

After I shook Dormouse-kun as he opened and closed his eyes... I somehow escorted him to Sleepy Valley... 

A few months later... When I received an invitation from Sleepy Valley, I visited the castle. 

(Dormouse-kun.. I wonder if he's doing well.) 

As I remembered his vacant eyes... 

Dormouse: Huh? Alice-chan, you're here again...? 

When Dormouse-kun came out from his bedroom, he rubbed his sleepy eyes as usual. 

(Alice...? Is he mistaking me for someone else? More importantly, his complexion looks even worse than the last time we've met...) 

As Dormouse-kun had bags underneath his eyes, he grumbled... 

Chapter 2 - The Existence of "Alice"

Dormouse: Huh? Alice-chan, you;re here again...? 

(Ailce...?) 

As I stared at Dormouse-kun, he widened his sleepy looking eyes. 

Dormouse: Huh...? Aren't you... Alice-chan...? 

When he looked at me, the round ears on his head slightly went up. Although, he immediately started to doze off... 

Dormouse: ...!

Suddenly, he hit his soft looking cheeks with both of his hands. 

Dormouse: Then, who... are you...?

MC: I'm MC. I woke you up in the nearby meadow before... 

Dormouse: MC-chan... That's right, now that I look at you, you're different than Alice-chan...

When I slowly explained the details, he somehow understood. Although, since Dormouse-kun really doesn't look so good with his head swaying occasionally as he was moaning, I... 

///Choices///

- Don't fall asleep! (☼)

MC: D-Dormouse-kun... Don't fall asleep!

Dormouse: Yeah... Don't worry... Besides, I can't sleep... 

MC: You can't sleep? 

Dormouse: Yeah... 

- Lack of sleep...? (☽)

MC: Have you been lacking sleep...? 

Dormouse: ...Yeah, I can't sleep at all... Even though my favorite thing to do is sleep... 

MC: I'm sorry, could it be that I woke you up? 

Dormouse: ... 

Dormouse-kun mumbled as he shook his head. 

///Choices///

Dormouse: I, Alice-chan... Ah... I made a mistake... Uhh... Maybe it's some kind of insomnia from being awakened by MC-chan? Or something like that... 

As he gripped the hem of his clothes with his fingers that were sticking out from his long sleeves, he hung his head down. He looked like a small animal... 

MC: I see... 

Dormouse: ...? 

When I extended my hand without thinking, I gently petted his soft, angelic curly hair. 

Dormouse: Are you worried about me...? Ehehe... MC-chan, you're so kind like Alice-chan... 

(The Alice that he mentioned earlier.. Who could that be?) 

As Dormouse-kun looked at me with his big eyes that were like yarn, he smiled innocently. That innocence and cuteness gave me a warm feeling and made me smile...

Dormouse: Huh? But, you're not Alice-chan... Where's Alice-chan? 

MC: I don't know, but... Alice? 

(Is it someone that Dormouse-kun knows?) 

Dormouse: Before, we were laughing a lot at the party with my friends, Marchia-kun and Mad Hatter-san. But, at that time, Alice-chan was looking after me... So, I need to thank Alice-chan, but... What do I do? 

His tail lightly wagged left and right. 

(Mad Hatter... Is he talking about the Alice from the fairytale? That's right, this place is called "the Kingdom of Wonders"...)

In my mind, I remembered what I read in "Alice in Wonderland".

MC: Is Alice's home somewhere? What's her address? 

But, Dormouse-kun shook his head any times no matter what I asked. 

Dormouse: ...What do I do... I... I'm always sleeping, so I don't remember anything. 

As it looked like he was gradually beginning to doze off again...

MC: Would you like me to search with you? 

Due to my curiosity, I suggested that to him by instinct. 

Dormouse: Really...? MC-chan... You're so kind. 

then, Dormouse-kun and I went out to search for "Alice"... 

Chapter 3 - The Whereabouts of "Alice"

We first went to the town of Sleepy Valley to search for "Alice". Contrary to the name, "Kingdom of Wonders", there were heaps of modern buildings in town. 

Dormouse: ...Fuwaah. 

Due to insomnia and lack of sleep, Dormouse-kun wasn't completely conscious. 

MC: Hey, Dormouse-kun, do you know any of Alice-san's friends? 

Dormouse: ...I don't. 

MC: Then, how about places or shops that Alice-san goes to often? 

Dormouse: Hmm... Ah...

MC: Do you know? 

Dormouse: Uh, no... Just now, I was thinking that I might go to sleep if I count sheep... Fuwaah. 

As his mouth opened widely, a tear appeared in his half-opened eyes. 

(From the looks of the town, it might be impossible...) 

Towards Dormouse-kun, I...

///Choices///

- It's only for a bit, so try your best (☽)

MC: It's only for a bit, so try your best. 

Dormouse: ...Uu... Okay, MC-chan. But... I'm already sleepy... So sleepy... 

With his head jerked up, he quickly tried to keep his eyes open repeatedly. 

- If it becomes hard, close your eyes (☼)

MC: If it becomes hard for you to stay up, you can close your eyes. That's the only remedy I can think of. 

Dormouse: ...Okay, I'll... do that... Zzz. 

Grabbing the hem of my clothes, Dormouse-kun closed his sleepy looking eyes. 

(How cute...) 

///Choices///

(He looks so sleepy, yet... Why does he have insomnia? Still, how troubling... I can't look for Alice-san by myself.) 

When I thought about it for a bit, I asked Dormouse-kun a more detailed question about Alice. 

MC: Do you remember the last time you saw Alice? 

Dormouse: Uhh... Last time... The last time I saw her... Zzz.

MC: Please, won't you tell me? 

Dormouse: Uu... Probably... In front of the big tree that's in the center of town...? 

MC: A big tree... 

As I widened my eyes, I accompanied Dormouse-kun as he was unsure when he walked towards the center of town. Although, over there was the tallest building in town... 

(Did he get it wrong because he was half-asleep?) 

MC: Dormouse-kun, we couldn't find the big tree, but... Do you have any other ideas? 

Dormouse: Let's see, I feel like we went to the park in the forest outside of town. 

MC: Then, let's go take a look there. 

Then, we walked over to the park. Although, over there was... 

(This place, instead of a park, it's a vacant lot for a building...) 

After that too, we continued going to all sorts of places that he mentioned could be a clue, but what Dormouse-kun said were kind of off point. 

(Why...?) 

As I was a little confused, towards the sleepy Dormouse-kun, who had his eyes closed... 

///Choices///

- Are you half-asleep? (☽)

MC: Are you half-asleep? 

Dormouse: ...Mm... I'm sorry, my friends always tell me that. 

Dormouse-kun's ears and tail went down as he hung his head down. 

- What you said were wrong (☼)

MC: Dormouse-kun... Somehow, it looks like what you've been saying were all wrong. 

Dormouse: ...? 

Being honest, I explained to Dormouse-kun how things were different compared to what he said. 

Dormouse: Hmm... I'm always sleeping, so... I probably didn't remember it well? 

While the two of us were unable to understand, time went by. 

///Choices///

(We won't be able to find her if we keep on searching like this...) 

As Dormouse-kun was waiting at a bench, I went to ask a townsperson. When I found a flower shop that wasn't too far, I called out to the employee at the storefront. 

MC: Um, do you know someone named Alice? It seemed like she has lived in this town... 

Shopkeeper: What are you talking about? Alice disappeared a long time ago. 

MC: Eh? 

(Disappeared...?) 

Shopkeeper: Are you an outsider? If you want to know about Alice, try asking the queen in the castle. 

It looks like the queen, Dormouse-kun's mother, is the most informed person in the kingdom. 

(Dormouse-kun being wrong and Alice disappearing... Just what is going on?) 

As I was confused, I returned to where Dormouse-kun was and we headed to the castle... 

Chapter 4 - The Reality He Was Unaware Of

-Flashback-

Shopkeeper: What are you talking about? Alice disappeared a long time ago. Are you an outsider? If you want to know about Alice, try asking the queen in the castle. 

-Flashback-

(Just what is going on?) 

When we returned to the castle, Dormouse-kun looked up and wagged his tail. 

Dormouse: Huh? Suddenly, we're back at the castle? 

MC: Are you okay? Even if you're not sleepy, do you want to lay down in bed? 

Dormouse: Uu... I'll go do that... Fuwaah... 

Dormouse-kun returned to his room as he walked unsteadily. 

(His complexion doesn't look so good due to lack of sleep this whole time...) 

I tightly gripped the front of my chest. 

(First off, I need to ask the queen about Alice-san. Once I do... I might find out something about Dormouse-kun's insomnia.) 

After that, I requested for an audience with the queen and was given permission to go to the office. In the slightly dim room, a lamp was faintly flickering. Also, in the center of the room, there was a large wide bed. 

(A bed... In the office?) 

Baby: Fuweh... Zzz. 

In it, there were 10 newborn babies sleeping as they were curled up closely. 

(Wow... How cute!) 

Queen: Welcome. The lady who woke up Dormouse. Please pardon my appearance. 

As the queen was holding a whining baby, she spoke to me clumsily. 

MC: Not at all, I should be apologizing since it's nighttime. But, I have a question for you... 

Queen: Anything at all, if it's something that I can answer to. 

I told the queen about what Dormoues-kun said in town. Then... 

Queen: ...It looks like he still doesn't know about Alice's disappearance.

After the queen made a sad look, she quietly closed her eyes. 

MC: Alice disappeared...? 

When the queen looked at me, she spoke a little. 

Queen: Alice's appearance in Wondermare is what made it the Kingdom of Wonders. 

The girl that suddenly appeared, "Alice", brought forth this kingdom. It seemed like Alice was the center of everything being created and the people that have gathered here, which gave the name, Wondermare,  to this kingdom... 

Queen: Just as what Dormouse said, Mad Hatter-san and Cheshire Cat-san too. Everyone seemed to have loved Alice. Of course, Dormouse too. Alice doted on him a lot. But... 

On the day that Alice suddenly disappeared, the world rapidly changed. The green trees turned into a bunch of gray buildings and the beautiful twinkling stars became dazzling bright neon lights. 

MC: Is it because of Alice's disappearance? 

Queen: Yes. Dormouse is always sleeping like his younger mice brothers, right? Above all that, he got attacked by dream eaters... So, he's unaware of the world changing because of Alice's disappearance a long time ago. If he finds out about the truth, who knows how sad he'll become. 

-Flashback-

Dormouse: But, at that time, Alice-chan was looking after me... So, I need to thank Alice-chan, but... What do I do? 

-Flashback-

(If he finds out about Alice disappearing...)

After I thanked the queen, I left the room and headed to where Dormouse-kun is. 

As Dormouse-kun was lying on the bed, he rubbed his red eyes with a huge book in his hand. Then, when he saw me... 

Dormouse: Ah, it's MC-chan. Hey, read this book to me. 

I... 

///Choices///

- Sure, what would you like to me read? (☼)

MC: Sure, what kind of book would you like me to read? 

Dormouse: Let's see, this one. The cover on it looks exactly like Alice-chan. 

- Is it all right for you to be up? (☽)

MC: Is it all right for you to be up? 

Dormouse: Yeah... But, if you read to me, I might get sleepy. 

///Choices///

His innocent smile made my heart ache. When I sat on a pillow, I read the book to Dormouse-kun. The book was "Alice in the Kingdom of Wonders", it was a children's story that consists all of the events in this kingdom. 

Dormouse: Fuweeh... Somehow... I feel like I've heard this story... But, I don't know... But, I know Alice-chan... She was reeeeeaaaally nice. She would call me a good boy and pet my head. Just where did she go... I want to see her. 

(Dormouse-kun...)

Seeing his happy face made me remember what the queen said. 

-Flashback-

Queen: If he finds out about the truth, who knows how sad he'll become.

-Flashback-

Dormouse-kun, he doesn't know anything about the world changing and Alice disappearing... 

(I wonder if I should tell him the truth... Or maybe...) 

When I thought about it, I was unable to come up with an answer... 

Sun End

Moon End