Yay! Chapter Two is up. I haven't written as far as I would have liked, because my plan when I started writing this was to get a chapter written a day and tried getting chapters typed while my daughter was napping, but the writing kept me from spending proper time with my daughter. I'm at the start of Chapter Nine written, so it shouldn't be a problem to keep this story going. The story keeps buzzing through my head, my main issue is that the story in my head is like several chapters a head of where I am ahead of the page. But enough with the rambling. Onto chapter Two.
Finding Wonderland
Chapter Two
He sits in a large plush chair, a tea cup in one hand, raised as if to take a sip, the other hand holding the sauce for his cup, his top hat askew as his eyes stare off into nothingness. Seeming to be at a standstill, as if he's waiting for someone's return. Further down the elongated table sits two more occupants, a shaggy sand colored haired male with matching hare ears rising from his skull, on ear sticking straight up while the other flopped over, dressed in what probably once was a fancy dress suit is now dirty and disheveled. His hands idly playing with a spoon and the cups around him. Across the table from his sits a very petite woman with large round ears sticking out form her magenta toned hair, a string like tail dancing around her small slender frame as she giggles at nonsense dancing in her head.
"Hatter." The small woman calls in a mousy voice around a giggle to the man in the top hat. "Twinkle, twinkle, little bat."
"How I wonder where you're at." The man with the hare ears proclaims and tosses a cup when his hand gives a violent twitch. "Uh… whoops." The man says apologetically. He and the woman turn their attention to the man they call Hatter and wait for him to sing Like a tea tray in the sky, so the three of them can repeatedly sing twinkle in merriment.
"Hatter, are you alright?" The woman asks hesitantly. He's been in the daze since the day that Alice disappeared.
"Are you still worried about, Alice?" the man with the ears questions.
"Alice? Is she back, Marchie?" Hatter asks in return and turns his gaze towards hare ears.
"No, Hatter, Alice hasn't returned." The woman answers.
"Dormouse, there is no way for Alice to return." A new masculine voice says. The woman's right ear twitches before she turns to look at a tall male with cat ears, eyes, and tail.
"No one ask you, Ches." The woman snarls in response.
"Cheshire, why cannot Alice return?" Hatter asks as light slowly returns to his eyes and turns his gaze to the new male that joined their tea party.
"After a few years of Alice not returning to Wonderland, White Rabbit closed his rabbit hole. He figures that Alice has died, and will not be returning, and didn't want someone else to stumble upon Wonderland and become our new Alice."
"There will never be a new Alice!" Hatter exclaims slamming his tea cup down onto the table in front of him. The poor cup splinters and cracks before finally breaking apart, leaving only the small handle in Hatter's grasp.
"Of course there will be no new Alice. There will not be the old Alice with the rabbit hole closed in."
"I'm going to skin that rabbit!" Hatter hollers, rising to his feet in one smooth move. "Alice is still alive! I can feel it! That blasted rabbit has no right to prevent Alice from returning to Wonderland."
His three guests watch him go before Dormouse turns to look at Cheshire and crosses his arms across her small chest and glare further more at the feline.
"You should know better than to provoke him, Ches."
Cheshire shrugs his shoulders. "I thought he should be aware that the rabbit closed his rabbit hole, leaving Alice with no way to return to Wonderland."
"But now he's going to kill the rabbit." The one that Hatter had called Marchie points out.
Cheshire turns his amber gaze towards the man and gives a droll stare. "March Hare, would you rather that the man continue on as an empty shell, waiting like some obedient dog for Alice to return only to one day die as a broken man because Alice couldn't make it back due to the rabbit hole being closed in, or know that Alice is trying to return to him and that the reason she can't return is because of the White Rabbit?"
March Hare looks at the cat and closes one eye as if that would allow him a better look at Cheshire. "I'd rather have Alice here. That's when Hatter is the happiest."
A wide grin appears across Cheshire's lips showing of a crescent moon smile of pearly white teeth ending in points. "That's what I thought you would say." The feline comments. He crosses his arms over his lean chest while his tail swishes playfully and yet at the same time leisurely around and about his narrow hips. Slowly his body begins to evaporate, leaving his smile for last. His eerie smile lingers a moment longer before it too evaporates from sight.
Dormouse sniffs at him hotly and turns her attention to March Hare. "He's just trying to stir up trouble to elevate his boredom."
March Hare gives a nod of his head in agreement. "He misses Alice just as much as we do."
"That doesn't give him an excuse to go out and cause trouble. If Hatter goes off and kills White Rabbit then Alice will never be able to return to Wonderland to play with us ever again."
March Hare nods his head again, but remains silent. He knows better than to rile up Dormouse, especially where Hatter is concerned. She's always loved the Mad Hatter, but knows that he will never return her feelings, not with how much he cares for Alice, so instead Dormouse set herself as Hatter's guardian and decided that she'll protect Hatter and everyone he loves to her dying breath. If only Dormouse would realize that's how March Hare feels about her then maybe she could truly be happy.
Mad Hatter
He forces his way past the castle gate, through the guards, and to the audience chamber of the Red Queen, more fondly called the Queen of Hearts. Her own personal knight, called Knave, stands to the right of Queenie's plush red velvet throne. Hatter clenches and clenches his fists at his side while the queen looks down her angular nose at him. Her lips have a red heart painted on them, giving the illusion that her lips are always pursed, as if permanently unhappy with the world.
"Where is the rabbit!?" Hatter demands in a huff. His heart pounding a rapid staccato against his breast bone as his panting breaths saw in and out from between his parted lips.
Queen of Hearts watches Hatter in silence for a moment before opening her mouth to speak. "I believe your rabbit is back at that swamp you call a tea party, waiting for your return." She answers finally.
"Not March Hare, you heartless wench!"
"Watch how you speak to my queen, Mad Hatter. Otherwise you might lose your head." Knave states calmly in a dull voice, his hands on the sheath and shaft of his trusted sword should the need to protect his precious queen arise.
Hatter glares back at the knight and thinks of a rancid response, but keeps it to himself, knowing that Knave means business and will do anything to please or keep Queenie safe.
"I am here for that blasted White Rabbit that you keep in your court." Hatter revises vilely. "I desire to skin that beast alive."
"What has he done to warrant such violent urges, Hatter." Queen of Hearts demands in turn.
Hatter turns his gaze form the Knave back to the Queen. "He has closed his rabbit hole that allowed Alice into Wonderland."
"White Rabbit did it under my orders."
"Why would you order such an action!? Alice cannot return to Wonderland if the rabbit hole is closed!"
"What your tongue, Hatter, or lose it along with the rest of your head." Knave warns. Hatter only glares at the knight and feels confusion wash over him when Queenie raises a hand as if to silence the two of them. After a long moment and Hatter and Knave don't speak a word, Queen of Hearts drops her hand back to rest on the arm of her throne.
"It has been right year since Alice has left Wonderland. Since she has started visiting Wonderland she has never gone such a long stretch off time before returning." Queenie begins to explain.
Eight years? Has it really been eight years since Alice has left him last? It's only felt like a few months since her departure.
"After such a long absence I have concluded that Alice must have died in a horrible accident and thus not returning to Wonderland. Not wanting another little girl or boy to come along and stumble upon the rabbit hole and find their way to Wonderland and try to take Alice's place, I ordered the rabbit to close his rabbit hole to prevent such a thing from happening."
"But it prevents Alice from returning to Wonderland!" Hatter hollers balling his hands into such tight fists at his sides that his nails leave half-moons in his palms.
"Alice cannot return if she's dead!"
"She's not dead! I would feel it if Alice died!" Hatter argues.
"Silence!" Queenie demands in such a raised voice that it echoes throughout the audience chamber, causing Hatter to cringe at the echo of the Queen's voice. Wanting to give a biting remark so bad that Hatter has to wonder how he manages to remain silent even while he glares at the curvy woman on the throne. Queen of Hearts might be the ideal vision of what a man wants in a woman, the right height, the right amount of curves all in the right places, but he's not Alice. She is not his sweet, precious, irreplaceable Alice.
"Alice is dead. It can be the only reason that she hasn't returned to Wonderland."
"Something has to have happened to her. Maybe she has amnesia. All I know is that Alice isn't dead." Hatter argues in return.
Queen of Hearts delicately raises an eyebrow at the man in the top hat standing before her. "What makes you think that, Hatter?" She asks in a softer voice. One that doesn't bother Hatter's ears.
Hatter rolls his eyes and heaves a heavy breath. "I already told you, Queenie. I would feel it if Alice were to die?"
This seems to peek the Queen's interests. "Have you and Alice preformed the bonding ceremony?"
Hatter shakes his head. "Alice was too young to perform the ritual. She wants to, but—"
"If you haven't performed the ceremony than how could you possibly know that Alice is Alive?"
"What does it matter to you, Queenie? Only someone with a heart would know what I'm talking about." Hatter argues. "It will save me a lot of time if you tell me where the damn rabbit is."
Queen of Hears raises a slender hand to press a couple of her fingertips delicately against her flawless cheek. The vibrant red of her nail polish a stark contrast to Queenie's ivory toned skin and raises a well-manicured crimson brow at the man standing before her.
"Pray tell, Mad Hatter. What is it that someone with a heart would understand that someone without a heart cannot? How can one simple organ have such a major part in what tells you that Alice is still alive?"
"Though we might not have performed the bonding ceremony, our hearts are still tied together. Through the love that we have for each other. But love is something only someone with a heart can understand." Hatter explains as he glares at the Queen. He doesn't know why he bothered coming to the heartless wench to ask about the blasted White Rabbit's whereabouts. The bitch loves to draw out giving answers, and walking around them until she feels it's the right time to give her answer. Hatter often wonders which she enjoys more; the mind racking stalling or being the reason someone losses their head. Often times, like now, Hatter would have to say it's equal.
Queen of Hearts drops her hand and glances back at Knave with what Hatter can best describe as longing. It causes his dark chocolate brown brows to furrow together with confusion. Could there be something going on between the queen and her knave, but that's impossible since Hatter knows that the queen is heartless.
A quick moment later Queenie turns her attention back to Hatter, that emotionless mask back in place. This is the Queen of Hearts that Hatter remembers most. He barely remembers the times that she had a heart, those times were so long ago that it's more of a dream then memories. Hatter opens his mouth to ask about the Knave.
"Silence. The question you were about to speak is to remain unspoken as well as unanswered." Queen of Hearts interrupt. Hatter closes his mouth and gives a single nod of his head in answer. "Good, Mad Hatter." She teases playfully with a smile pulling at her lips.
Hatter returns to glaring at the woman in the throne. "Will you tell me where I can find rabbit, or do I have to do it myself?" And waste twice as much time?
"What will you do once you find my rabbit servant?" Queenie inquires. "White Rabbit is very efficient at his job, I would hate to have to replace him."
It takes everything in Hatter not to growl his annoyance. "What does it matter to you, Queenie? It's not like you're actually going to tell me where that damn rabbit is anyway." Hatter answers.
"Mad Hatter, but orders of the queen you are to answer any questions she asks of you." Knave of Hearts states, his hands on his sword once again, ready to attack should his queen be disobeyed.
Hatter heaves a sigh and turns around to face the queen, quietly grumbling to himself. "You should rally put him on a shorter leash." He comments and thrusts his thumb in the queen's knight's direction.
"It would seem to me that his leash is the right length. Now tell me, Hatter, what do you plan to do to my rabbit servant once you find his location?" Queen of Hearts answers.
Hatter clenches his hands into tighter fists that his knuckles bleach of color. "I would like to skin the fucker alive, but what I will do is force him to create another rabbit hole so that Alice can find her way back to Wonderland."
"Do you plan to hurt him?"
"Not fatally and not unless I have to. For the most part I'm a none violent person… unless provoked. The one I desire to skin the more than that damn rabbit of yours is that blasted Cheshire Cat." Hatter answers the queen honestly.
"You do know that White Rabbit cannot create a rabbit hole in the same place twice. Therefore the rabbit hole to Alice's world would be in a different location. How do you plan to work around that?"
Hatter represses another growl. This questioning is wasting too much time. The longer it takes for him to find White Rabbit, get said rabbit to create another rabbit hole, and get Alice to return to Wonderland. "I'll employ the blasted Rabbit's help and travel to Alice's world and find her with the rabbit's help and show her where the new hole is." Or have the damn rabbit create a new rabbit hole in Alice's backyard so that they'll never have to worry about a stray child stumbling upon Wonderland.
Hatter knows that the White Rabbit has done recon work for the queen in Alice's world, mostly recon on Alice; to see how her behavior differs form when she's in Wonderland, so the damn rodent should now its way around Alice's world.
Queen of Hearts sits a moment seemingly to think over Hatter's answers. "Since you have no desire to kill my rabbit servant, I shall grant you permission to employ his services for the most likely impossible search for Alice." She answers finally and Hatter feels hope sing in his heart, but he squashes it, knowing that the queen hasn't finished speaking yet. "But before you leave for Alice's world you are to being the rabbit here so I may explain to him what he is to do." She adds quickly.
Hatter feels his mood drop. Of course she would make that condition. He drops his head and takes a moment to collect himself. At least he get to go look for his Alice, and he has Queenie's permission to bring that fucking White Rabbit with him. "One question, Queenie, before I agree to any of this."
"Who said you can question the queen?" Knave demands in a hostel tone of voice. His sword beginning to appear slowly from its sheath. Queen of Hearts raises a hand to calm him.
"It's quite alright, Knave." Queenie answers in a calm voice. Her hand gracefully returns to its resting place on the arm of her throne.
"But, your majesty—"
"The Mad Hatter has more at stake than we do, Knave. After all the fate of his precious Alice hangs in the balance, maybe even her life. Remember, Knave, he claims that Alice is still alive, while the rest of Wonderland that knows of Alice believes her to be dead." The Queen of Hearts interrupts.
Knave of Hearts gives a deep bow as he resheaths his blade. "Yes, your majesty." He speaks softly.
"What is your question, Mad Hatter?" Queenie asks as if the Knave had never spoken.
"Is there a time limit to as of which that White Rabbit of yours and I must work by?" Hatter asks formally, even going as far as to add a bow.
A smile begins to curl the ends of the Queen's lips. "No, playful Hatter, there is no time limit."
Hatter gives a nod of his head. "Now, please tell me the White Rabbit's location."
"I have him in the marshes doing some investigative work for me. You should find him there."
Hatter gives a deeper bow. "Thank you for your aid, Queenie." He says formally before turning around and exits the audience chamber as well as the castle as he starts taking the steps to finding his Alice again.
Alright, that was chapter two! Hoped you enjoyed spending some time with Hatter. Should have Chapter Three typed and uploaded soon! And to think that tomorrow my daughter is turning Thirteen months old! Time sure has flied by! See you next time my lovelies! X3 3
