Alice stepped slowly into the open; into Underland. She looked around with new eyes, scanning every surface and refreshing all her memories of this place. It was beautiful.

"I understand that you will want your time to readjust, but there is a reason I was sent to retrieve you, you know." McTwisp intruded into Alice's thoughts. He handed her a small piece of what appeared to be normal cake, but she knew better and took a small bite, gradually growing back into the long dress she was pulling around with her.

"Of course, it's just so good to be here again." She replied looking around once more.

"Hello Child," A familiar lazy voice came from behind Alice, the voice of Chess. His head was visible, floating at the height of Alice's shoulder with a wide grin pulling at his thin lips. His electric blue stripes shone brightly against his otherwise silver hair.

"Chessur," Alice exclaimed. "Do you have any idea why I'm here?"

"Ah, yes. The purpose of your visit, I'm afraid, involves more politics in which I do not wish to find myself implicated." Chess answered vaguely, glancing at McTwisp whom was twitching with impatience. "Why don't you, my friend, make your way to the castle and inform them that our champion has returned." Chess purred to McTwisp. "I will escort Miss Alice, if she is indeed still a Miss, to the Hatter."

"If I'm still a Miss?" Alice asked in confusion. Even for Alice it was an odd thing for Chess to say.

"Well I assume that there are many male suitors in your world interested in such a pretty young woman." Chess purred his compliments with a never changing grin that simultaneously calmed and frightened Alice as she informed him that she was indeed still a Miss.

"Well then, let us be on our way. You will know where to find her, yes?" He asked the Rabbit, still waiting impatiently to be on his way, but not staying in time to hear an answer before he was floating down a rough wooded path in the direction of the Hatters home. And then it hit her, I'm going to see Hatter! The thought brought an immediate smile to Alice's lips and put a skip in her step as she hurried to follow the quickly fading cat.

"We should be there soon," Chess called back to Alice after walking a long way. "Perhaps I will be invited for tea." He mused to himself.

The sound of laughter echoed from ahead, and Alice couldn't help but dash toward the familiar sounds. Finally she reached the clearing, but it was something from a much earlier memory than she'd expected. The same long row of tables sat covered in cakes and pastries and colorful teacups and pots. It was just like the vague memory Alice had of her childhood here. Seated at the table were Mallymkun the dormouse always armed with her tiny sword, Thackery the March Hare, and seated at the end of the table was Hatter, a cup of tea frozen halfway to his mouth.

"Alice?" He asked, his voice sounding small. Alice couldn't reply but her smile was wide and she held her breath as she waited for her friend's reaction. "Alice is it really you?" Hatter's bright green eyes were wide, never leaving Alice's face.

"Well I hope so, or else I am really rather insane." Alice replied. "But of course if I am not indeed Alice then I shall never tell you how a raven is like a writing desk, and in that case this Alice we speak of would not have kept her promise to you. She did tell you she'd return, didn't she?"

A wide toothy grin spread across Tarrant's face and he swiftly jumped atop the table at which he was seated, making his way across, barely avoiding the many dishes and desserts spread across their tops. "I knew you would come back Alice. But do you really know the answer to my riddle my dear Alice? Do you know why a raven is like a writing desk?"

"I haven't the slightest idea."

The hatter grabbed onto Alice, pulling her into a great hug. "And you're not too small or too tall!" Hatter exclaimed excitedly, and in a quieter more private tone "You're perfect."

"But Hatter, do you know why I've been brought here? No one will give me an answer." She asked glancing back to see Chess, sitting at the long row of tables holding a cup of tea.

The smile that seemed as if it could be permanently etched into Hatter's face was suddenly gone, and he held her away from him so that he may look her in the eye. "They haven't told you?" He was quiet again, his big eyes looking downcast and wet as if Hatter were to be brought to tears by the subject. "I thought for sure you would know already why you are here." All Alice could do was shake her head, more confused than ever. Why did Hatter look so sad?

"The white queen is dead." Hatter said quietly, as if to himself. "We need our champion, because our queen is dead."


Another short chapter… sorry! I was still in the mood to write after I posted the first chapter so now its past 1:30 in the morning and I'm STILL writing. Anyways I hope you liked the chapter even though it was pretty short and not my best writing. I would love to hear what you think so write a quick review :) Thanks for reading!