A/N: Whew, and here be the second chapter. Or more commonly referred to the chapter that is second. Or perhaps, the chapter that is of the second coming. Eh, whatever floats your boat.
Quick note though. It may grow more confusing as to whom I'm referring to (Alice and the Mad Hatter having switched bodies and all), so I'm going to try to explain it a bit.
For example:
The White Queen spoke to Alice, and then threw a golf ball at the Mad Hatter's head.
This indicates that the White Queen is talking to Alice (who is in the Mad Hatter's body), while throwing said golf ball at the Mad Hatter (who is in Alice's body). Follow me? If anybody is confused at all, please tell me so that I can try to fix it!
Anywho, I would like to thank everyone who has reviewed, faved this story, and/or put it on their alert list. In return, I shall do my very best to keep things as lively as possible. *Insert curtsy of choice here.* Well, I think I've blabbed enough for now. Please enjoy!
Disclaimer: Still don't own anything. Just this here plot is all.
"Are you sure?" Mirana questioned. "Are you completely certain of this?"
"Yes Your Majesty," the Mad Hatter (or rather the Hatter that was in Alice's body) confirmed. "I do in fact... have a scar on my left knee."
"What does this have to do with anything?" Alice sighed.
"Simple curiosity," the White Queen shrugged as she sat on her pristine throne. "Now, onto the matter of your… predicament."
"Now just a moment Your Majesty," the Hatter interjected. "I wouldn't call this a predicament in the least."
"Regardless," she said. "I think that I might have an idea of how this… matter came to be. Tell me, were the two of you touching in any way? A brush of the shoulder, perhaps?"
Recalling the moment where she had attempted to leave Underland, Alice creased her orange brows in concentration. Indeed, there had been a moment where the two of them had touched. That's it. It had been when she had been about to leave, and the Hatter had placed his hand on her shoulder. Why had he done that anyway? Just that question alone was enough to puzzle her. In any case, he surely had no idea of the consequences of that action.
Seeing that Alice was deep in thought, the Hatter said what was needed in her stead. "You are correct Your Highness."
"Ah, then that makes the matter much clearer. You see, Jabberwocky blood is a fickle substance, it having properties that can grant any wish and all."
"Wait, are you then saying that Alice wanted us to switch bodies?!" Turning to Alice, the Hatter then exclaimed to her, "That was terribly rude of you!"
"Excuse me?" she questioned, raising her bushy eyebrows.
"I can't think of any more rude thing than to take somebody else's body! I understand how you could be envious, but this was uncalled for!"
"Envious?" Alice repeated blankly. It was true that she admired him… but envious?
"As I was saying," Mirana said pointedly, shooting a glare toward Alice's body. "If one is to make a wish using the blood, then his or her mind must be completely free of all doubts. However, the balance can be easily disrupted."
"Even by someone else's touch?" Alice said, tilting her head slightly.
"Especially by that," the White Queen nodded.
"Why?"
"That, unfortunately, I do not know," she sighed. "Like I said, it's a fickle substance."
"Indeed it is," a voice chuckled as a cat's head suddenly appeared by the Mad Hatter's body. "You've changed Alice. Although, I'm not sure if I like this new look of yours." Rather than retorting as he had predicted, the occupants of the room just glared at him. "Can't any of you take a joke?" Chessur huffed, the same grin plastered on his face. "Bloody layabouts. Well anyway, I've come to offer you a bargain," he purred, flying around the Mad Hatter's currently golden head. "I'll give you some advice concerning your situation… but I'm afraid that I'll need some encouragement on your part."
"What do you want?" Alice sighed.
"… I really do like that hat, you know."
"Very funny," the Mad Hatter muttered. "You can play your jokes later Chessur... Besides my hat wouldn't look nearly as good on you as it does on me."
"Oh, don't be like that," Chessur sniffed. "You're just being selfish is all."
"Don't be ridiculous. It's just that… that it's mine! And you can't have it!"
'They're just like children fighting over a toy,' Alice smiled, trying to hold in a giggle. Suddenly she noticed that her head now felt considerably lighter. Looking up, she saw the Cheshire Cat grinning above her with the Mad Hatter's hat placed on his own head before he disappeared entirely.
"Blasted cat," she heard the Hatter mutter.
"He'll return it eventually," Mirana said airily.
"Aye. Well," he said, clapping his hands together. "Best move on. So Your Highness, do you know of any way to cure this?"
"But I thought you said that this wasn't a predicament?" the White Queen questioned, eyes glinting.
"I never said such a thing!" he said, as if he were horribly offended at the notion. "After all, there's nothing like belonging where one should be belonging, otherwise things would be longing to belong in places that they do no belong in. And that is truly ridiculous."
It was here that Alice was unable to hold it in any longer, and began to roar with laughter. She couldn't believe that she had been about to leave this place for dreary old England and its rules. However, when she looked up, she could have sworn she saw a strange expression flash across the Hatter's face. An expression eerily similar to the one he had made when she had called him a dream when they had stood together on the Queen's balcony.
And that truly unsettled her.
A/N: I have to admit, this is a pretty fun fandom to write for. Anywho, in the next chapter! Baths and Stars! … As well as the possibility of a certain cat owning up and returning a certain hat, which he certainly stole without any certain reason.
Oh yes, and another note. I'll be soon moving this story to the new Alice in Wonderland genre called "Alice in Wonderland, 2010". I'm sorry if this causes any inconvenience. But please, continue reading! It makes me feel happeh!