A/N: I saw Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland just this week and you know what? I loved it so much I went and saw it twice :D I especially loved Alice and the Hatter, and in my opinion, there was something more between them than just, ahem, friendship :D So here is my newest fanfic all about Alice and Tarrant. Enjoy!:)

Disclaimer: I do not own Alice in Wonderland or any of its characters (But if I did, I would have left the kiss in the bloody script!).

Painting Flowers

Chapter One. The Poison

Alice took the flask filled with the Jabberwocky's blood from Queen Mirana's hands. "This will take you back home, if you wish to do so" The White Queen smiled a sad smile, but a true smile none the less. The girl in armor nodded and smiled in thanks. Opening the tiny bottle, Alice examined the purple liquid and sniffed at it. It smelled perfectly horrid, but she guessed that was the price for returning back to Otherworld.

"You could stay, you know"

Alice turned and looked into the face of her friend, the Hatter. He looked very hopeful and for a moment her heart gave a weird lurch. His eyes, Alice thought, were one of the most wondrous things she had ever seen.

"What a mad idea, a brilliant, marvelous, mad idea." She smiled at him and his entire face lit up as if she had just given him the greatest present in the world. "But I can't. There are questions to be answered and things I have to do in Otherworld…"

Tarrant looked at her with sad eyes now. In fact, he was wondering why his heart suddenly hurt so much. She was only a friend, a dear friend, a beloved friend. His heart nearly stopped as he realized another fact that was so obvious it could have been written in the sky for all he cared.

"You won't remember me"

It was not a question. It was a fact.

Alice looked him in the eyes "I will. I promise. I'll come back here someday."

A bittersweet smile played over the Hatters face. He knew she would forget him and go and be happy in the world above them, but he didn't want to fully admit it to himself right now. He had her word that she wouldn't forget him. That would have to suffice for now.

"Hatter, why is a raven like a writing desk?"

"I haven't the slightest idea." They grinned at each other.

He leaned forward, and he almost thought he had enough courage to kiss her on the cheek, but decided otherwise.

"Fairfarren, Alice" he whispered in her ear.

Alice held her breath that moment. She knew she had to leave now before she could change her mind about leaving this wonderful place and the wonderful people and creatures in it.

The Champion drank the Jabberwocky blood in one go.

One more smile, one more look at the Hatter, and she was gone.

Climbing out of the rabbit hole was a more difficult task than Alice had imagined. When she finally stood, she took in the nice smell of the flowers and trees surrounding her. It was a pretty day full of sunshine. She took one more breath and headed back to the gazebo, where Hamish and the rest of the guests would be waiting. She had decided to be completely honest with everyone, and after she had declined Hamish's offer of marriage and given everyone a piece of her mind, she felt truly confident of herself and as Hamish's father made her the offer to become an apprentice in the Company, she couldn't have been happier. After a month of planning and organizing, the ship Wonder set off to China, with Alice on it.

"Ready to set sail, Captain!" a sailor called.

"Well then, let's be off, boys!" the captain, a rather burly man with gray hair called. "Miss Alice, be sure to wave goodbye to your family, you won't be seeing them again so soon."

Alice, radiating with happiness and filled with anticipation, smiled at the man "Thank you, sir. I'll be over by the railing"

Finally, after all the time that had passed, Alice had the chance to fulfill her father's dreams and actually, her own.

I wonder if China will be just as beautiful as Wonderland…

Smiling at that thought, she waved to her mother and her sister, wishing them all the happiness in the world and saying she would come back safely.

The ship set sail, and Alice stood at the front of it and inhaled the salty sea air. Once again she thought of Wonderland, wondering how the Hatter and the rest of her friends were doing. Suddenly something fluttered by her shoulder. It was a beautiful blue butterfly. Alice smiled, realizing who that butterfly was.

"Hello Absolem"

"Stand forth, Tarrant Hightopp"

It was a fantastical view to behold. The whole court was assembled in the great hall of Mamoreal. The Tweedletwins, the Cheshire Cat, the little Dormouse, the March Hare and Bayard stood way up front near the place where the Mad Hatter would be knighted.

Knighted.

At the sound of his name, Tarrant gave a sweeping bow and took off his hat, kneeling down on one knee. A beautiful pure white sword lay in the White Queens hands.

"For your outstanding courage and undying loyalty to my Kingdom and myself, I knight you, Tarrant Hightopp, to one of the White Knights. You will return once more to your position as Royal Hatter at Mamoreal. Stand now, Sir Hightopp." The Queen lowered her sword, which she had placed gently one one of Tarrant's shoulders. "Thank you for all you have done" she said quietly as he stood once more and bowed to Mirana. The crowd cheered and the men threw their hats into the air as both turned to look at their friends. The Hatter beamed and thought he might dance the Futterwacken later on.

"Let this be a joyous day!" Mirana now spoke to everyone "And let us not forget how Alice Kingsleigh freed us all from the Jabberwocky and the tyranny of my wicked sister!" More cheers erupted and the Queen smiled benevolently.

Tarrant, on the other hand, wasn't as cheerful on the inside anymore as you might expect of someone who was just granted knighthood by the queen. At the mentioning of Alice, his whole frame became a little smaller, his eyes looked sadder and his heart grew sore. Yet on the outside, no one really noticed these changes since he still had a smile plastered on his face.

The girl who had defeated the Jabberwocky had also kinda defeated his heart.

A/N: Thank you for reading! Reviews would make me dance the Futterwacken.