Prologue

A few weeks earlier...

The Queen's screams echoed throughout the castle. Puss's green eyes narrowed. He ran down a castle corridor that led to the throne room.

"OFF WITH HIS HEAD!" The blood curdling scream reverberated off the stone walls sending chills throughout to all who heard.

Puss entered the large open room and accessed the scene before him.

The Queen of Hearts was on her feet pointing her finger at the Hatter, who was on the floor pleading for his life.

"Your Majesty, I beg your pardon! I-It won't happen again. I beg your mercy!"

"ENOUGH!" She turned towards the guards. "KILL HIM! OFF WITH HIS HEAD!" She turned and walked back to her throne. As she sat, she yelled his name. "PUSS! PUSS!"

He appeared next to her throne, quick as a flash. "Your Majesty?" He bowed.

She turned to him, her eyes blazing, but her voice, suddenly, deadly calm. "I've had it with this Hatter. I want his head!" She watched as the guards picked up the pleading figure and began dragging him out of her courtroom. "See that my order is carried out. Understand, Puss!"

"Si, Your Majesty. I understand." He took off his feathered hat with an elaborate flourish, and flashed his charismatic smile. "I will oversee the act myself."

Her mouth curved in a strange sadistic smile, and she nodded him leave. Puss backed away, and left quickly.

Off with the Hatter's head. The Queen had spoken.

Chapter 1

Oncie stared out the huge picture window in his office. He could see the woods, with their mind-boggling creatures, many twisting paths, and strange colors. His eyes roamed past the woods to the castle on the other side. Involuntary shivers went up his spine. "I thought home was the worst life could get for me…and now…" He shook his head, trying to stop the thoughts. "No. You promised you'd get of there, and you did." Voices from his childhood rang in his mind.

"You're not like them, Oncie. When you git the chance you take it. Promise me you'll leave. Promise me that you'll git outta here."

"I promise, Grandpa."

He'd kept his promise but was it worth it? Oncie let the question hang in his mind for a few seconds. He remembered the ridicule, neglect, and workload that'd always been put upon him as a boy.

Yes. It was worth it. For the few precious weeks of freedom he'd had before being trapped in Wonderland.

He inhaled slowly. That notion didn't make life easier, in fact it made him feel more melancholy, but he turned and grabbed his guitar- his red electric guitar, not his old black & white guitar.

"Come on, Oncie. Live with it, you're stuck here…at least try to make the best of it." He mumbled to himself. He plucked at the strings of his guitar, and decided to go out and practice in the woods. He still had time before he was needed in court, time to be himself, and to not be the Mad Hatter.

Three Weeks Earlier…

It was time to go. Oncie stood on the porch of his house. His grandpa's old wagon stood in the front yard, fully loaded with a bed, food, pots & pans, and a few changes of clothes. He didn't have much to take really and figured he'd buy things he needed on the way.

"Oncie!" His mother stuck her head out the front door. "Are you still plannin' on leavin'?" She glanced at his wagon and turned her nose up in disdain.

"Yes, mom. I'm really doin' it. I'm leaving." He added the last "I'm leaving" as much for himself as his mom.

"Well, alright. I'll call the children," she said in exasperation. She slammed the door shut, and Oncie heard her yell at the top of her lungs. "Chillldrrrunn! Come on down here. Your brother's leavin'!"

He felt his heart race for a few seconds, waiting for their response, but all hope was squashed at the annoyed groanings and replies he heard back.

"Awww, you know he's gonna come back."

"Yeah, he won't get very far. Prob'ly won't make it to the fence."

"Oh, I dunno, I'll give him about lunch time."

Oncie, tuned them out. The sting of their words hitting hard, it never got any easier. He glanced to his right and saw the old white porch swing gently swaying. The corners of his mouth lifted a little. At least he had some good memories… He walked over and gently sat down. Time to say his last goodbye.

Memories of his grandpa sitting in the porch swing came flooding back. Grandpa, the only soul who'd ever been kind to him growing up.

"You did good, Oncie. Don't let them tell ya otherwise."… "Oh, don't let them git you down. Chin up, I'm sure you'll show the lot of them in due time." How many times had his grandpa encouraged him throughout the years? But it was one particular moment that Oncie wanted to think of right now, a moment about a promise.

Oncie had been sitting on the porch floor listening to one of his grandpa's stories of his younger years of peddling on the road. During the story Oncie's mom came out and threw a huge fit about somethin' or other, Oncie couldn't remember the details…but he did remember the look of pain in his grandfather's eyes as she walked away. Tears brimmed in the old man's eyes. "I don't know where I went wrong with her… what did I ever do…?" Turning to face Oncie, he'd looked his grandson right in the eyes with such a deep passion that Oncie had never forgotten it.

"Oncie, you promise me, you promise me, that someday, somehow, you'll leave this place."

Oncie had stared back at his grandpa, a little confused and slightly scared. "Leave?"

He grandpa didn't waver. "That's right. You leave. You're not like them, boy." His grandpa gestured to the house and the fields. "You're not like the rest of your family, and that's…that's a good thing." He paused. "Someday, when you're older, you're gonna git a chance to leave. You take it. Don't hesitate a moment, because if you stay here, you'll never get out. You'll be trapped here and be forced into something you're not. You understand boy?"

Oncie hadn't understood completely at the time, but something inside knew there was truth to what his grandpa said. A truth that went beyond what he could comprehend. He nodded. "Yes, Grandpa."

His grandpa eyed him a moment, and looked about to let the subject drop, then started mumbling something to himself. "Aw…well..yeah, yep, you'd better." He leaned in closer to Oncie, his mustache almost touching Oncie's nose.

"Promise me, Oncie. Promise me you'll leave here. Promise me you'll leave when you git the chance." His grandpa's somber tone and searching eyes hit Oncie to the core. So hard he almost felt as if he were searching himself. He was searching himself. He was searching himself for an honest answer, because in this moment he didn't want to say anything to his grandpa that he'd regret, and he didn't want to say something that he wouldn't follow through on.

Finally, after a long pause and deep soul searching thinking, he met his grandpa's strong gaze with a look and words just as strong. "I will, Grandpa, I promise. I promise."

"I promise, Grandpa. I promise." Oncie repeated those words he'd said ten years ago as a ten year old boy. He looked at the spot next to him on the swing. The spot his Grandpa used to sit. "I said, I would Grandpa, and now…now I have the chance. I'm taking it, Grandpa. I'm really doing it." Emotions began to rise up in Oncie's chest. How he wished his Grandpa could be here to see it, maybe even leave with him.

Oncie straightened up quickly as his Mom and siblings noisily came hurtling from the house.

"There he is."

"See I told y' he weren't goin'."

His eleven siblings spilled onto the porch, hanging from the eaves, jumping off the steps, or sitting on the rail, but all of them stared. Waiting for him to make his exit.

Oncie grabbed all that was left of his courage, stood, and forced out a grin. "Yep, here I go." Even though he towered a few heads above the rest of them at six foot four inches, he still felt small in their presence. He slapped his thighs and started heading to his wagon, rambling things that he wasn't quite sure of. "I-I'll be sure to write! And well, I'll let you know where- well I guess, I really can't but umm, I hope to hear from…" He about fell off the porch as one of the twins slapped him really hard on the back.

"Don't worry, Oncie. We know you'll be back in a bit."

His sister, Sal, rolled her eyes. "He says he's leavin' for good." The sarcastic tone proved she thought otherwise. She hopped off the porch railing and made her way over to Oncie. "See ya, bro. We'll miss ya around here." She punched him hard in the arm then leaned up against the porch post smirking.

Oncie held his arm and forced a smile through the grimace. "Thanks Sal, you too." He was hoping she was sincere in her good bye, but he had his doubts. He picked up his last few belongings from the porch steps and started to make his way to the wagon.

"Bye, everyone! I-I'll miss you…" His farewell was greeted with blank stares and some muffled giggles. He made a half-hearted wave then turned to face his wagon. He stared at it and the daunting task ahead of him, then he remembered his grandfather's voice and the promise he'd made. Oncie took a quick breath, adjusted his fedora firmly in place, and then hopped up into the wagon seat.

He made one last firm wave to his family, then clicked the reins. He was off, finally leaving, finally keeping his promise.

Author's Notes: Wow! I'm so excited to have finally posted this chapter. It's taken a leap of faith, a bit of courage, and much prayer to post this story. I want to give a shout out and a huge thank you to A.J. Rhys/Constance Finnigan for pushing me to tell this story, through writing, my YT videos, and in acting it out at times. Thank you so much, Lachina! Thank you also for the editing help.

Okay, very quickly, I want to clarify one thing. This story is not canon in hardly anyway. The only thing that remains the same are the characters' looks and little bits and pieces of their past or personalities.

Oh, it's going to take everything in me not to rush the next chapters, but I'll try to do my best. :)

I'll appreciate any reviews I receive, and can't wait to post the next chapter. Thank you so much for reading!

Love,

OnciePunzie (Violet)

And one last thing... to quote and follow the example of my favorite author...
And to God Almighty, the Author of Life who -has for now- blessed me with these.