Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Author's note: So yeah... it's been two years now since I updated I'm so sorry. I had no time and I ran out of inspiration. The inspiration has returned and the story is now going to follow a different path to the one it was previously going to follow. I'm going to try and update every month, but if I do disappear again then you can rest assured that one day I will return again. I will never give up. Enjoy :)

The Wrong Rabbit Hole

Chapter 10- Battles

Alice was locked in her dreams. She ran, but from what and to where she knew not. Darkness surrounded her, but in the distance there was a glimmer of light. No matter how hard she ran it never got any closer. Why had she been left in this darkness? So long had she longed for the brightness of Underland, yet still she was held back from it. Branches whipped at her face and roots tripped her, but when she looked there was nothing only darkness. She fell to the ground in despair, there seemed to be no hope. What could she do now? It seemed all she could do was wait in her despair for either the end or help. A sad smile crossed her lips as she thought about how Hatter would say she had lost her muchness.

'Hatter' she sighed. He had been within her grasp; she had felt his arms around her. But then the darkness has come and he had left her. Or had she left him, she hardly knew. She could not tell what she had dreamt and what was real anymore. Here sat the champion of Underland in the darkness with no hope, she gave all her hope to Underland and had kept none for herself. She couldn't continue like this, she couldn't support the hopes and fears of Underland on her shoulders, it weighed her down too much. Could no one help her? Could no one see she was only a girl and as fearful as the rest of them. She was only one person; she could not do this alone. Perhaps that was why she lay here because she could not bear to return to her responsibility, to Underland. The weight pressed down on her and she could barely raise her head. In the distance the light grew dimmer.

Mirana sat beside Alice. She looked down upon the girl despairingly. Mirana needed to know the information that lay in her head; she needed to know about the coming army. How was it that Alice has escaped? Mirana hoped that it was because they had a friend and ally within that oncoming storm. But Alice would not wake, so Miriana could only hope. Mirana had healed her wounds, but she could not heal the wounds of the mind. That was where Alice lay, within her mind. Miriana could not assist her; it was a fight she must win alone. Alice would decide her own fate and Miriana knew also the fate of Underland. Without Alice Mirana could not win, but as a small sigh escaped her lips she admitted to herself that the chance was not much greater with Alice.

A gentle knock on the door lifted Mirana's attention from Alice. The door opened and Hatter stepped inside. The life that had come back into him when he had rescued Alice was starting to fade. Mirana realised sadly that Hatter's fate also lay with Alice. It would seem they could not live without each other. Mirana gave a small nod as she rose and left. Hatter did not speak to anyone these days except to Alice. Often she heard his voice through the door, but she never listened to the words he poured out into Alice's ears. It felt too private.

Mirana walked slowly to her balcony, she nodded as she passed many grim faces on the way. Underland was short of smiles these days. No enjoyment could be found by anyone with the doom pressing so hard upon them. Upon reaching the balcony she looked out upon her army. From there it looked vast and impressive, but she only needed to glance into the distance to see the coming army. Even from this distance she could see it was larger. Mirana sighed again as she thought to Alice. There was nothing to do now, but wait.

Hatter sat in a daze, everything he did felt dream-like as though he wasn't truly there. But in truth he wasn't, he was with Alice wherever she was. Alice battling with her mind much as he had before. But Hatter could feel she was losing. The further Alice felt the more he felt himself slipping. They were connected.

"You have to fight it Alice. Find your muchness." He murmured to her. But he knew she could not hear him. He had spoken to her everyday since her rescue, but there was never a response. He wanted to save her, but he didn't know where to start. His head started to droop and Hatter tried to remember the last time he slept. His head dropped and he awoke upon a stripped lawn in front of a grand white house.