Well, LOOK WHAT I GOT DONE! :D Sorry for the delay. I have but one excuse: School! Yes, the school year is comming to an end for me and that means two things. One, lots of homework. Two, no time to work on writing. This has to be my shortest chapter yet (999 words not including this A.N) so please don't hate me for it! ...Nah, I take it back. Be mad. I would if I waited forever for something and it turned out to be horriably short.

Chapter 7~ Supposed to be dead

Almost all of Underland stood in the ball room of the White Queens castle. Even a few flowers had themselves put in pots and carted to the meeting. In front of the crowd stood Tweedledee, Tweedledum, the March Hare, Mally, and most importantly, The Mad Hatter. The White Queen walked out to face the crowd, her arms no longer held up high. Even her dress seemed limp. With a word, the people, plants, talking animals, and whatever lived in Underland became silent.

"Tarrent?" the White Queen said softly. "Would you like to tell us all what has become of our champion?" Hatter slowly took his place next to the old Queen of Underland.

"To put it simply..." he began. "Alice is gone." those three words sent the crowd into a mad frenzy.

"Where is she?!" someone called. "Has she just gone home?" one of the flowers called. The White Queen took over.

"Please, everyone!" she shouted. Silence washed over them. She took a breath and lowered her voice. "Alice is no longer with us. She was-" before she continued, she looked over at Hatter. He nodded, telling her to say more. "She was taken by the Black Queen and was sent to her death." she finished, quickly leaving the room. No one spoke after that. Most left except for Alice's closest friends in Underland. Hatter just sat on the steps of the platform, shaking his head. The March Hare was just twitching, Mally had left, and the Tweedles' walked around in circles muttering to one another. Alice never left Hatter's thought for a moment, but soon he found himself thinking about the letter 'M' again. Murder, memories, moron, Malice... he shook his head again and stood up. Not Malice. Alice. For some reason, the Mad Hatter started walking out of the castle, away from the garden, and out to the door Alice first came into Underland through. Hatter opened the door and stepped in.

"Fate...?" Hatter echoed the White Queen, a bit puzzled by what she had told him.

"Yes. Tim is not the only living force in this world, Tarrent. He can hopefully tell you what happened to Alice. The key will be on the glass table. Fate is behind the largest door." It seemed strange to Hatter that Fate, like Time, was more or less human. All he could do was take the queens word for it and make his way out of the castle.

On the glass table sat a key tied with a strip of red fabric. One trip. That will be all, though. That's what the White Queen had said. He grabbed the key and un-locked one of the other doors. A gust of wind hit him, almost sending his hat flying off his head. Keeping a firm grip on the key, he walked into the huge room with only one person sitting in it.

"I was expecting you, Tarrent." the person said. "I'm guessing you are here about Alice, correct?" the person, a young girl, rose from her chair. Her hair was white, like Times. He wasn't the only one who controlled an essence of the world.

"I'm looking for Fate." Hatter asked. The girl laughed a bit.

"What can I do for ya?" She paused, waiting for what she said to sink in. "I am Fate." she smiled, holding out a hand. Hatter stayed still, so she put her hand back at her side. "Lemme guess... You're looking for someone and I'm supposed to give ya a message and what-not. It's about Alic-" he cut her off.

"Don't mention her again. I'd rather forget than suffer for her." Fate sighed, then paced around the room.

"Ok, then... My message simply is this: Things are never what they seem. See past the lies and the truth will show its self once again." she gave Hatter a smile, winked, then walked out into the expanding white of the room. Before she vanished, she paused for a moment. "You know, Hatter." Her voice seemed mystic now. "Alice-" Hatter winced at the sound of her name. "-is not the one to save Wonderland this time. I know she did before, but now... I see someone else in the final battle. And whoever that is, does not live." In a few moments, she vanished and Hatter was left standing in the garden. The key was replaced by a small piece of paper.

Things are never what the seem. See past the lies and the truth will show its self once again.

Fate

The note was crumpled up and stuffed into Hatter's pocket.

All Alice could think was 'what will happen after this?' The Black Queen had given her the potion, and she drank it without any trouble. Her head felt light, and she sank to her knees. The Black Queen knelt down to her. The only thing Alice wanted to do was strangle her. If she was going to die, her killer was going with her. The Black Queen put her hands on Alice's shoulders.

"Don't die yet, Alice. The truth must be known." she whispered something to her, then backed away as Alice faded away. "She must be stopped." Those where the last words Alice heard before she faded away into nothing. In a few moments-to Alice it felt like years- she re-appeared in the garden of Underland. The Cheshire Cat appeared before her.

"Hello Alice. I suppose you had a nice trip?"

"I'm not sure... What happened, anyway?" the cat floated around for a moment.

"You are now part of a war bigger than any of us could imagine. The drink was a symbol of it. Take a look for yourself." he flicked his tail at Alice's arm. She looked down at what was a scar. It had been erased and in it's place was a raven symbol. "Now, before you go running off, you must remember one thing: You are supposed to be dead."

I have been thinking for a while about chapter 8... I'm going to split it in two. Not that it's long... Truth is, I haven't started re-writing it yet. Once again, review. I know some of you will, but it's just a reminder for thoes of you who forget things like that.

One more thing... I don't own Alice in Wonderland. I haven't said that in a while, but it's the same. Plus, it IS a bit boaring to read disclaimers in every chapter. Now... on to clearing things up a bit. The Raven is something that poped into my head while watching another version of Alice in Wonderland(Alice 2009). It's a symbol of something I won't explain until chapter... 9, maybe? I'll get to it when I get to it. It will be a bit descreet in Chapter 8 because -WARNING- that's KIND OF a 'fluffy' chapter.

~Wolfcrystal ;)