A/N:

Another chapter! It's practically writing itself at the moment, which is a load off my shoulders. Let's see what little David is up to?

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A month had gone by. A whole month of searching for David and the doctor. Together, they climbed the ladders and peaked through the as many doors in Wonderland City as they could with no luck of finding Papa. It was almost as if he didn't exist at all.

David brought up to the doctor, more than once that is father could very well be working in the Casino as that had been his main reason for coming to the city in the first place. The answer he was given was always the same; "I have informed my contacts vho vork in the Casino of your father but they hafe yet to inform me of his vhereabouts." And it was always abruptly refused when the idea came up that they could go to the Casino themselves.

He didn't mind though. The young boy had found himself growing comfortable living with the doctor and his apprentice. They ate well, slept comfortably and got along famously. In fact, as the time dragged by, Dr. Flues had slowly become simply "Al" to him, David wasn't even sure when it had happened. One day he was Dr. Flues and the next he was Al.

There were other changes, besides what David called the doctor happening too. He could now read, as if he'd been doing it his entire life. As it should be, since like Xen, he spent his time—when not looking for his father—in the study learning all he could and he was finding himself there more and more as the days dragged by.

In fact, some would say he had unofficially become Al's newest apprentice. Learning everything the doctor could teach him. Even if it wasn't about doctoring, and in fact in rarely was. On the day in question, he sat at the table, with one of Al's many books in front of him. Legend of the Looking Glass.

"Now," Al said sitting against his desk, staring at his pupils. "Vhich one of you can tell me the origins of the Looking Glass? And vhat happened to it's creators in the end?"

"The Looking Glass was created a thousand years ago by the ancient Knights." David said, with his hand in the air, brow furrowed in thought. "And they were overthrown when the Queen of Hearts seized power."

Al nodded to him. "Correct. And can you tell me vhat powers the Looking Glass?"

Opening his mouth to speak, David found himself at a dead end. He flipped though the book in front of him, searching for the answer. Nothing. Turning to the older boy beside him, he asked silently for help. But Xen was leaning in his chair, not paying attention.

"The Looking Glass," Al said with a sigh as David turned to face him with a shrug. "Is powered by the Stone of Vonderland. The Ancient Knights mined it after the Looking Glass was created. Vithout it, the Looking Glass ceases to vork."

Xen groaned. "Who cares?" He said, still leaning in his chair. "Come on, Al. No one cares about this kind of stuff. What we need to learn about is what we're apprenticing. Not this stupid stuff like history."

"It's good to know about different things Xen." Al replied. "It vill make you vise and can use it to your advantage."

David felt his eyebrow arch. "What do you mean?"

"In these troubled times our enemies are using our stupidity against us." Al explained, looking towards David. "If a few of us rise against them there vill be hope. The greatest veapon ve hafe is our minds. Visdom is the biggest threat."

David looked over at Xen, both of his eyebrows arched. Troubled times? What? The older boy looked at him, and shrugged. Neither of them had a clue to what Al meant.

Al in return looked at them, with a nod. It was obvious that he knew that they didn't understand. There was an awkward silence in the study for what David felt like was forever. The doctor stared down at them, as if in hopes that his words would suddenly sink in. Finally, he sighed. "Let's take a break shall ve?"

Within a flash, Xen bolted from the room. His footsteps thundering down the hallway and back up the stairs until they disappeared. Quietly, David closed his book and got up from his seat. He turned before leaving the study to look at Al, but his back was to him, putting some books away.

There was no use staying downstairs. Al told them to leave, why David wasn't sure. It had happened quite suddenly too. One moment he seemed like he was about to give them a lecture on some type of life philosophy and then the next, he was telling them to take a break. Very unusual. Slowly, he walked down the hall back into the sitting room. Maybe he could run upstairs and see what Xen was up to. That would pass the time. His new shoes making noise as he went. Al had made sure, only after a few days, that he would never have to walk with old and cracked leather shoes for a long, long time.

Al was very kind. Taking him in like he did and offering to help him find his father. Then making sure that he was well fed and taken care of while they searched. Not a lot of Wonderlanders would do something like that. Especially for a poor little boy like him. David smiled to himself as he leisurely walked up the wooden staircase. He was lucky to have chased after him that night.

It was a surprise to David, that as he approached the hallway at the top of the stairs, the bedroom door was shut. Xen had come upstairs only a few minutes ago, it shouldn't be shut. He grabbed the doorknob. Locked. David sighed, not again! He pounded on the door, as hard as he could.

"Xen! Are you in there? Let me in!"

There was no answer. David pounded on the door harder. "Come on! I know you're there! I just want to go in for a minute!"

Still no answer. Letting out a little frustrated noise, he thundered down the hallway again. There was no point of walking up all those stupid stairs if he wasn't going to be allowed in the room. What to do now?

He found himself wandering back downstairs into the study. Al sat at the desk, gently rubbing his thumb against a Euro in his hand. His eyes were closed as David slowly and quietly entered the study. What was he thinking about? His home perhaps?

"Al?" David whispered quietly.

The man looked up with a sudden jolt at the sound of David's voice. He smiled as the boy approached, putting the Euro back into his pocket. Readjusting his glasses, the doctor slowly rose from his chair. "Is something wrong?"

David shook his head quickly. "No, Xen's just locked me out of the room, so I thought I'd just come back downstairs for a bit."

Al nodded as David walked back into the room.

"You are learning a lot." Al said. "Far more than I thought you would. I'm fery proud."

David smiled at the doctor. It felt good, the praise.

"I vant to give you something." He said, opening his desk. "A reward for all of your hard vork."

Al pulled out a hat. It seemed to be made of some type of straw material and was brown and old. He held it for a moment, taking in a sharp breath before turning to David, smiling.

"This hat belonged to my older brother, Johann." He said. "He vas a lot like you. It might be a little big now, but you vill grow into it."

With a smile, David let the doctor put the hat on his head. It was a bit big for him and slipped down his head slightly but he was happy just the same. Something about the old hat on his head made pride swell up inside him, it was as if he belonged.

"Now," Al said. "You have been staying here for a month am I correct David?"

"Yes, sir."

Al looked at David for a moment, as if deep in thought. "I think it is about time that ve give you a nickname."

"A nickname?"

"Vhy of course. You'fe been here awhile. And if you hafen't noticed, both Xen and I don't go by our names do ve? He is Xen and I am Al. It seems perfectly reasonable to gife you one vhile you stay vith us."

A nickname? David had never really had a nickname before. Was it necessary? He wasn't sure. He wasn't going to be here much longer. Papa was going to be found any minute. They were still going to look for him. Weren't they? A nickname would be utterly pointless. Get used to being called whatever name they chose and then suddenly having to go back to just plain David. Then again, who did he really know in Wonderland City besides Al and Xen? No one. It wasn't like everyone would get confused if he changed his name? And if Papa didn't like it, when they found him, it wouldn't be like it would be hard to change his name back to David. While he was with them, a nickname couldn't hurt.

"Me dad called me Dave sometimes."

Al looked at him closely. "Dave?" He whispered as he did so. "No. No, no, no. You're not a Dave. Nothing like a Dave. Ve'll hafe to think of something else."

Something else? What other names could he go by, one somewhat similar to his own? David watched Al, as he circled around the boy concentrating hard. He could feel his heartbeat increase as the doctor continued to do so. Al's eyes never moving, as he thought and thought and thought. Finally, the doctor stopped in front of him, still staring at him, then the old hat.

The doctor's eyes suddenly brightened as he looked at the boy. "I've got it!" He exclaimed with a smile, tapping the boy's new hat. "Hatter."

David blinked. "What?"

"Hatter." Al said again, his smile widening into a broad grin. "Vhat do you think?"

Hatter huh? He took the hat off his head, gently feeling the material. Hatter. An interesting idea. It was nothing like his actual name, so that could be confusing. At the same time it was unusual, so it wouldn't be like he'd run into anyone with the same name as him and it would make sense, when he had the hat on.

What would happen though, if he decided to go by this new name and Papa didn't like it? Even worse, if Papa didn't realize it was him? Wait. What did it matter to Papa if they never found him? He probably wouldn't even notice. It had been obvious that Papa didn't want him. In fact, he had made it quite clear that night before he left. David found that suddenly, he didn't really care anymore. A new chapter was beginning. A new life about to begin. Walking out of the study, he gently put the hat back on his head and smiled. He had a new home, a new look and in a way, a new family. David, no…Hatter was ready to start anew.

A/N:

Yay! He's Hatter now! A shorter chapter, but nonetheless just as great to write!

I've been getting a lot of Favorites for this story, which makes me so happy. So, thank you for that! I can't thank you all individually but just know that the favorites are just as appreciated as reviews are! I feel like no one says that enough.

Preview of Chapter Five: Legends and Other Worlds

"The story of the Alice of Legend has actually been retold in other vorlds and places too." Al said. "Alice of Legend is a popular children's story."

Hatter felt his eyebrow arch. "A children's story?" He repeated. "Like a kid's book? Does it sound like a kid's story to you?"

Al nodded, a little smirk playing on his lips. "No, but to those vho live in the Oyster Vorld, that is all it is."