On a Tuesday evening, after coming home from work, Alice and Hatter were talking about what to do for dinner.
"You know what I'm craving? Barbecued Borogove," Alice stated.
"I was actually thinking about asking how you'd like to visit Wonderland for a couple of days. That would only be a few minutes time here," Hatter admitted. Alice looked to the looking glass that was hung on a wall in the living room since Hatter came through after her.
"Then what are we waiting for," Alice challenged. Hatter took her hand and they walked through the looking glass together. There was no falling this time. It was as easy as walking through a doorway.
"Halt! Who goes there," Charlie demanded.
"Charlie, it's us," Alice exclaimed.
"Lady Alice and Harbinger, you've returned! Oh frabjous day! The stars are aligned in a cosmic ray of hope," Charlie ranted. Just then, the familiar face of Jack Heart appeared in the looking glass hall.
"I was notified of the looking glass being in use. Who has-," Jack stopped short. "Alice. And Hatter. What a nice surprise. What brings the two of you back to Wonderland?"
"Alice and I wanted to spend a couple of days, Wonderland time, to visit. I thought it'd be nice now that we're not being hunted down," Hatter explained.
"Jack, could Charlie be relieved of his duties for the next two days? We'd really like to stay at the fortress with him, like old times," Alice requested. Jack thought this over for a moment.
"Of course, Alice. Sir Charles, you are relieved of your duties for the next two days. I will have a couple of my most trusted suits to guard the looking glass," Jack insisted.
"Come, we'll saddle up Guinevere for you and Harbinger to ride, Just Alice," Charlie chimed. Alice and Hatter followed Charlie to saddle up the horses. After mounting the horses, they were off to the Forest of Wabe. Alice leaned forward and wrapped her arms around Hatter's waist, just as he suggested the last time they rode Guinevere together. Hatter turned his head back to her and gave her a bright smile.
The trio managed not to run into the Jabberwock at all. It was autumn in Wonderland as well, the forest glowed with shades of scarlet, plum, bright orange and golden yellow. A short while later, they arrived to the newly rebuilt Kingdom of the Knights with Charlie's fortress still in the same state she remembered. The sight took her breath away. Hatter assisted Alice with dismounting the horse. The evening was becoming night quickly and Charlie put some wood on the old fire pit to start it.
"I must go catch some borogove if we hope to eat tonight. Shan't be long," Charlie announced. Hatter sat down near the fire to start warming up and Alice came over to sit on his lap.
"This was a good idea," Alice told him. "It is much nicer without running for your life all the time." Hatter laughed at this.
"Well, I'm glad. I am gonna teach ya how to ride a horse tomorrow if you'd like," Hatter suggested.
"That sounds like a plan," said Alice, happily. When Charlie returned with fresh borogove to barbeque, he smiled at the sight of his two friends in love with each other. The oracle told him they were destined for one another. He had no doubt in his mind they were soulmates. That's the reason why he had to knock some sense into Hatter, telling him to go through the looking glass after Just Plain Alice.
After everyone ate their fill, the trio talked for most of the night, catching up with each other. Alice and Hatter learned that Jack had married Duchess and had become a wonderful king, cleaning up Wonderland nonstop until all of the Teas were disposed of and the addicts in a rehabilitation program. Everyone came out of the program refreshed and vitalized, no longer addicted to a quick fix of emotions.
"We are such an odd group of friends but that's what I love. We're a dysfunctional little family who went through a lot together and I wouldn't change it for the world or worlds," Alice remarked. Feeling the love, Charlie and Hatter went in for a group hug that made Alice laugh happily. They all soon went to sleep; Charlie in his hammock and Alice and Hatter snuggled up together in the bed. When morning came, they all woke and ate breakfast, courtesy of Charlie. Alice was excited for Hatter to help teach her how to ride a horse.
"Alright, love, just place your foot into the stirrup and I'll help lift you up," Hatter instructed, standing behind Alice. She pulled herself up and Hatter kept a steady hand on her back, lifting her a bit. Swinging her other leg around, she placed her right foot in the other stirrup. "Keep your back straight, turn your legs inward and make sure your toes are pointed upward." Alice did as Hatter said, getting used to the proper positions.
"Like this," Alice asked, making sure she was doing it right.
"Yes, you're learning fast, love," Hatter ensured her. He demonstrated how to hold the reins properly, English style. Alice repeated his demonstration perfectly. "You're ready to ride, Alice. Just gently squeeze her side with your legs. I'll be walking next to ya the whole time, so don't worry." Taking a deep breath, Alice did as she was instructed and Guinevere began to walk, with Hatter alongside them. "You're doing great, Alice. Allow your hands to bob back and forth with her head to not cause her any discomfort."
"I can't believe I'm actually riding a horse," Alice cheered. Hatter smiled at her proudly. They were approaching a turn on the trail.
"We need to make a left turn so what you do here is lightly pull back with your left hand. You do the same with your right hand if it's a right turn," Hatter explained. Alice pulled her left hand back gently and the horse followed the trail on the left. After a couple of hours riding in through the safer part of the woods, they turned around to head back to the fortress. Once they returned, Hatter instructed Alice to wait until Guinevere was calm and had stopped moving completely before he helped her dismount. "Now move both reins into your left hand. While holding them, grip her mane. It won't hurt her, I promise. Good."
Hatter showed her how to properly remove her right foot from the stirrup and to bring her right foot over to the left side of Guinevere.
"Lower your right foot to the ground and keep your left foot in the stirrup. I'll be right behind you," he told her. "Perfect, love, now use your right hand to lift your left foot out of the stirrup." Alice dismounted and went to hug Hatter.
"That was amazing! Thanks for teaching me, Hatter," Alice exclaimed.
"Of course, my little oyster, you're a natural," he told her. They spent one last night in Wonderland and left for home the next morning. When they returned, only a half hour had passed in her world since they left. It was still night and though they had technically just woken up, they were exhausted from the ride to the looking glass hall. Without bothering to change into pajamas, they collapsed on their bed from exhaustion and fell asleep.
Author's Note: I'm sorry, I know this chapter was super long but it's hard to cover two days in Wonderland in a short amount of words. I thought it'd be a cute idea to have Hatter teach Alice how to ride a horse. Thanks to JillJones123 and PrimevalAngel for their kind reviews and AlwaysHopelessRomantic95 for her proofreading skills.
