The Tumultuous Teapot of Tarrant Hightopp

AN: Hello readers! This is my first Alice story, but I will make the author note short and sweet! I will go back and forth between Alice and Tarrant SO you will have to read thoroughly! Furthermore, I request five reviews before I post the next chapter! Feel free to critique away! MUCH love, MJ

Disclaimer: I do not own AiW at all, but the teapot concept it solely mine and so are the tea fueled rages!;)

Chapter 1: Earl Grey

Tarrant watched as Alice slowly faded from his world and back into the boring and mundane world from she once came. She could have stayed, she SHOULD have stayed, but she didn't and this just left Tarrant MAD. Not the sort of fun mad, but the absolutely enraged, livid, COMPLETELY BONKERS, mad. Tarrant began to pick up stones and other rubble left over from the battle and began to heave the remains everywhere his strength would permit. He was mad, angry that ALICE would dare leave him. She was his tea companion, his riddler, and more importantly HIS Alice. A new feeling began to arise in his chest making the infuriated Hatter become even angrier. The forceful throwing began to become more vigorous the stones began to hit innocent bystanders of the Hatter's rage. Mirana began to slowly approach her irate friend with decorum and caution.

"Tarrant, you must calm down. Alice needs to solve her own riddles in her world. You must give her time, and she will be in Under-" The gentle Queen was cut off by her once happy go lucky friend.

"Ah don want chur PITY, you snargfilly centifly! Tha lass is not comin' a'back! NOW leave me before ya loose yer head!" Tarrant snarled in his deep brogue, he was enraged that Mirana DARE to rationalize to him why that girl would leave him. Tarrant did not care WHO he insulted and he had enough of the shocked atmosphere he was in.

The Hatter began to curse in his deep accent again as he retreated the scene, stumbling to make his way back to his tea table. He trudged back cursing everything in the world he lived in, and as the insults began to fly from his lips so did the rain from the covering clouds. The rain poured all over the Hatter as he found his tea table.

Tarrant began to destroy every element of that girl that remained. Teacups smashed against unsuspecting trees and tablecloths ripped into shreds. Tarrant went to grab another teapot to smash into anything when a familiar smile appeared above his hand. The cat's body appearated, and that's when the Hatter spoke "what du you wan ya blasted cat? Ya betta leave unless ya wan to end up sliced like ma tablecloth!" Tarrant threatened. The cat's expression remained unfazed as he nonchalantly said "If I were you I wouldn't smash THAT teapot. It may be important later, well unless you ever want to see Alice…" The Hatter quickly intervened by throwing the teapot straight at the cat.

The cat caught the teapot and set it on the ground and then disappearing from the hostile scene. Tarrant was past the point of no return once the cat had the audacity to say HER name. The only thing that slightly soothed the Hatter's anger was the recognition of the now chipped teapot. It was blue, but not the blue of sadness. It was the beautiful blue, the one that described her. Tarrant now recognized it. The first time that beautiful specimen of a teapot was introduced to him was when he first met that girl. She was so small and had brought nothing with her, no books, or tea, but the only thing she had was a teapot delicately placed in the ivory hands.

She had given it to him, and told him thank you for the lovely tea. The beautiful little girl kissed him on the cheek and then left him. Every time that lass, so full of muchness, came to visit she would query about the teapot which had the highest place of honor at his table. The memories Tarrant began to recollect on, began to create sharp pains in his heart…so sharp that he began to convulse in pain, and our dear Hatter passed out in the pouring rain with the teapot gripped in his hands.

~o.O.o.~

Many days had passed as Alice Kingsleigh made her way through the dull streets of England. She had rejected Hamish's proposal of marriage, and now had to fend off her mother's disapproval. Alice wanted to open new trading routes in her father's company, and think about maddening business adventures not some silly boy's stomach problems. Alice skipped over the puddles in the cobble stone street as she quickly made her way to her Aunt Imogene's auction. Her Aunt had died just a week ago after she refused Hamish and she had requested that all of her thing be sold.

Many say that Aunt Imogene died of her madness, but Alice knows better her Aunt had told her why she was what her world called 'mad'.

It was a fond day in London, England perfect for an afternoon picnic in the backyard of her Aunt's house. Aunt Imogene brought a various assortment of sweets that were unknown to Alice but tasted sweeter than anything to grace her lips. Aunt Imogene began to ask Alice all sorts of riddles that Alice found most pondersome. Then Alice saw it. The beautiful teapot. It was blue, a very light blue, and it positively glistened in the sunlight. Aunt Imogene saw that it caught Alice's eye and commented on it. "Ahhh, I see that you have found my teapot, dear." Alice nodded to her Aunt who examined the little girl's assessment of the pot. "Has anyone told you the story of little girl blue and Her lover the milliner?" The Aunt asked. The blonde shook her head as her began to look at her Aunt inquisitively. "Well you see this teapot has what everyone would call a 'twin', but I know better to call it, its rightful name. That teapot has a lover. A long time ago there was a young woman no more than twenty that met this man in a little hat shop outside her town. Once the two met they fell madly in love, but had to keep their love a secret because the woman was promised to wed the king of the land. The two would have late night tea parties, and spend hours together before the young woman had to have morning tea with the king. One day the king asked the woman if she had anything her heart desired. The woman could not say a milliner because he would surely pay for it with his life, but she wanted to always remember her fond late night tea. So, she asked the king if he would give her a beautiful teapot that she could have forever. The king happily obliged and had the best crafters create a most beautiful teapot. When the day came to pick the teapot for the soon to be queen, the artists and the teapots were presented upon a table before the fair lass.

Hundreds and hundreds of teapots were presented before the lady but only one stood out. The teapot was blue and looked as though someone had captured the sky on the pot. The lady asked to see the creator of such a wonderful piece of art and when the potter arose she met eyes with her lover the milliner. "What was your inspiration for this teapot? It looks too simple." The King asked as he snorted about the design. "Well you see Milord, I have a lass that I have met many times now and she is the most beautiful in all the land. Day and night we spend together under the sky. That sky protects us, it shields us from danger and captures our memories. That sky is as beautiful as she, so I wanted to craft something to know for her to know of my love for her." The Milliner said not breaking eye contact from his love. "I see.. does this teapot please you my love?" The king asked looking at his future bride. The lady smiled and nodded trying not to let too much emotion play across her face. But not all was well in the land. As the fair lady, and the milliner began to meet someone followed the two lovers and they were caught. The King had immediately cast the poor milliner into the gallows.

The fair lady married the king and spent much of her time in the forest she once loved. And one day as she was walking back towards the castle she passed the rubble of the milliner's old shop. The slight glimmer of porcelain caught the Queen's eye. The moved past what was left of the charred rubble to find a teapot. That looked like her dear lover the Hatter. The top of the teapot was a hat and the body of the pot looked like many pins, needles, and various fabrics. The most peculiar thing about the pot was what lay inside it. The Queen found a small piece of paper rolled inside that said: "Where roses may be red and violets blue, I shall forever love you my queen, my love, protected by the sky of blue." The Queen brought the teapot back with her to the castle and it remained by her side until she died." Aunt Imogene finished her story when she soon heard her sister calling for her daughter's leave. "Thank you for the story Aunt Imogene" Alice said as she began to leave. "What story love?(AN: she's mad;) remember) And here it seems that little girl blue needs a new home take it." Aunt Imogene gave the small girl her teapot. Alice then knew it wasn't madness that made her Aunt mad, but one of a broken heart.

Alice broke out of her fond memory as she approached the auction. The young lady took her place in one of the many chairs set up. There was a fairly large crowd at the house and the auction began. There were various pieces of furniture that was richly decorated, but the only piece that Alice took any interest in was a teapot…It was the lover of the other teapot and it looked exactly as her Aunt had described it. No one else bid on it they were so quick to cast the lovely piece aside, so Alice received the new beautiful pot and after the auction ended she quickly retreated to her flat to avoid any family members (particularly her mother). Alice cleaned the 'milliner teapot' and set it delicately on her dresser. It was just as beautiful as her Aunt described it. Curiosity got the best of the dear girl and she ventured to look inside the teapot to find a familiar thimble in her teapot. "What a peculiar place to put a thimble" Alice said aloud as she examined it more thoroughly. She took out the thimble and recognized it belonged to none other than Tarrant Hightopp. She knew then that Underland was closer than she thought.