Hey, sorry it's been a while but I've just started uni and it is hectic.

I need to make clear before the chapter that this chapter that is NOT the Hatter's story (though I may write one about him if I ever find the time). Still I do really like his character so figured he should be included in at least one scene.

Disclaimer: All characters belong to Lewis Carroll, Tim Burton and the Disney Corporation.

Ethan was pretty sure they had lost the scent and were wandering aimlessly. They were heading too far north, they'd already passed the wormhole to Overland. There wasn't much left after that. He'd been snooping about looking for answers and discovered that an emissary of the unicorns had shown up. He was quickly taken into custody and was found to have been carrying a spoken message from his superiors.

The message was from the unicorns, wherever they may be, telling that they had made no attempt to abduct or harm the Queen and that they had no member in their species currently names Alias. The army had not released the unicorn and was pressing for further answers. There had been at least a hundred witnesses of the unicorn appearing and taking the Queen with him so they were still lead suspects.

Also thanks to his spying skills he had discovered the royal crown had changed again, those who knew (the elders, the higher ranks and him) were getting more and more concerned about what was happening to their poor innocent Queen. Ethan had never personally met her but it would still be a great shame if she died. Even if she hadn't got personally involved, having a decent regent had certainly helped give moral during the long recovery.

They briefly stopped after about six hours of riding. His horse shuffled off fairly quickly and Ethan glared after it. Horses were so moody.

He decided to get some of the food which would passed around this time of the day. On long treks there could be long periods without sustenance so if you had any sense you grabbed what you could while you can. He scanned the area looking for the right place to go when a voice interrupted him.

"Excuse me," said an unfamiliar voice nearby.

Ethan turned automatically to see a man approaching and blinked checking if there was someone behind him. Was he talking to him? No-one but Jonathan ever talked to him.

The man was tall, thin and extremely...bright. Kind of like a clown.

"Hello," the man said and Ethan stared at him.

"Oh, hi," Ethan replied realising he was staring.

"Ah, I was just wondering where do you get the food round here?"

"Oh that was just what I was looking for," Ethan said his eyes darting around in search, desperate to do something useful.

"Ah, excellent we can find it together. What's your name?" he asked turning his head which had the most amazing orange hair.

"Simmons, Ethan Simmons,"

"I am The Mad Hatter but you can call me Tarrant," he smiled a little too widely and Ethan vaguely wondered whether he was wearing lipstick.

Ethan smiled back. This was probably the friendliest interaction he'd had with anyone in years. What a nice – if slightly odd looking – man.

"I hear you're from the Queen's court?" he said thinking back to what he'd heard of the man.

"Ah yes, I am hatter for the queen. Though now I cannot make hats for her and have come to rescue her."

Ethan smiled at the confidence in his voice which almost suggested he was going to save her singlehanded. It was nice to see someone positive for a change. Most people in the army didn't know the form of the crown meant the Queen was still alive had given her up for dead.

"Well, we must be getting close we can't go much further North."

"Alas," the Hatter said with a shrug. "I'd rather hoped the Queen might have gone to Overland."

Ethan's eyebrows shot up. "Why ever would you want to visit Overland?"

When he moved into the Thorntyne residence Jonathan's nurse had told them stories about Overland amongst other things. Unlike Jonathan, Ethan had never been fond of those tedious stories and not just because Jonathan's nurse had a really grating voice. It sounded dangerous up there and too...lifeless. It just seemed weird that none the animals couldn't talk, what did they do all day?

"I have a friend there."

"Oh," said Ethan puzzled. It was technically illegal to travel to Overland without a regent's consent, they would have to be someone important. "Who?"

"Alice."

That made Ethan stop in his tracks. "Alice, as in 'The Alice'?"

"Aye," said the hatter with a smile his voice suddenly different. "The Alice."

Ethan had never seen The Alice but he'd been told the story of her victory over the jabberwocky so many times he pretty much knew it by heart. He did not envy her that task. He had never thought to himself that this was the same Mad Hatter as in all those stories. A lot of hatters were mad, it wasn't uncommon, apparently it was an effect of the glue or something similar.

"So you-"

"Ethan!"

Ethan turned, there was only one person in the army who remembered his first name. Jonathan was coming towards them eyes on the hatter cautiously.

"Ah, who is this?" the Mad Hatter said cheerfully not looking at all intimidated as most people were when they first met Jonathan.

"Uh this is my cousin John- Lieutenant Thorntyne," he replied changing tack half way through his sentence. He didn't like the look on his cousin's face.

"Ah, so you're the Mad hatter? I've heard a lot about you," his cousin said sounding perfectly civil. Most people would think it was genuine but Ethan had known Jonathan since he was a child and knew his cousin was on his guard. Why though?

"Yes, I've come to join the forces," the Mad Hatter smiled. "I was just asking your cousin where to find some food before we set off again."

"It's nearer the back of the tents, look for the men in the blue shirts but you should probably visit the blacksmith first, it is advisable to wear some armour, combat is still a definite possibility. I need to talk to you Simmons," Jonathan said and all but lifted Ethan off his feet pulling him away from the hatter.

"Hey!" Ethan shouted wrenching out of Jonathan's grasp. "What was that for?"

He looked back but the hatter had disappeared into the crowd.

"I don't trust him," his cousin said.

"What?" Ethan exclaimed. "He's wasn't trying to hurt me. We were just talking."

"They say he's mad," Jonathan replied as if this was good enough reason to deprive Ethan of the best conversation he'd had in years.

"Who cares?" Ethan didn't mind if the hatter was a total head case. He'd take any kind of friendly interaction from absolutely anyone. Beggars can't be choosers.

"Mad people can be dangerous."

"You are a total arsehole you know that?"

"Ethan, I'm just trying to take care of you."

"You want to take care of me? Then stay out of my face!" he shouted shoving his cousin in the chest with all his strength. Jonathan didn't budge an inch. Ethan didn't care and stormed away as he felt tears pricking at his eyes.

Jonathan headed back to Gideon as they began marching again.

"What's wrong?" Gideon asked seeing his expression, he was as good at reading Jonathan's expressions as Ethan. Jonathan had got Gideon as a foal and whilst they may not be the same species Gideon was sort of Jonathan's best friend.

"Had a fight with Ethan," he shrugged getting on him.

"What else is new?"

Jonathan smiled downwards. The stars would stop shining and the sea would dry up before his horse would see appeal in his rider's cousin.

"What happened?"

"I dragged him away from the Mad Hatter," he said as they began walking.

Gideon frowned. "Is that the same Mad Hatter-"

"Yes," Jonathan nodded.

"Well, isn't he one of the good guys?"

"I know. I just don't want anyone to hurt Ethan and I've never really classed 'Mad' people on my list of safe people."

Whatever Gideon said next was lost on him at the sight of a nearby horse. Or rather, who was riding that horse. It was Malcom. Jonathan looked away, not wanting to look like he was staring. He'd always had somewhat...unacceptable feelings towards Malcom but he'd gotten good at hiding it. That was one of the great things about having dark skin, when you blushed no-one really noticed. And it was Malcom's fault really, he was too friendly and too good looking.

Gideon quickly cut off from what he was saying catching glimpse of Malcom on his horse (Peridot). Gideon was – Jonathan thought – the only person who probably knew he was gay. Neither of them had actually voiced it but Jonathan was fairly sure Gideon had figured it out. He wasn't too worried if he had, he trusted no-one more than his loyal steed.

Gideon discretely moved away from Peridot and her rider. If Malcom ever found out...Jonathan would never be able to look him in the eye again. Malcom wasn't married but Jonathan would guess he was straight. That was the irritating thing about Malcom, he seemed to flirt with everybody; men, women, dogs, cats so you could never tell who he was into.

Not that it mattered, either way Jonathan was taking no action on his feelings. He had told himself a long time ago that he was keeping what he was – who he was – to himself. And that hurt more than anyone knew.

They rode on and on passing the battleground of the Frabjous day which he would have quite liked to explore further in another situation. Eventually on the horizon he could see the Outlands. The daunting theory he'd been trying to avoid was starting to become reality. It explained why the Queen's kidnap hadn't been seen on the orraculum. He just hadn't wanted to believe it. No-one had.

Many of the horses seemed reluctant to continue, it wasn't surprising, the Outlands gave off almost an aura of despair. Regardless they marched on until they could go no further, till they reached the barrier and stood at the edge of Underland. All he could see was an endless wasteland devoid of life. If death were a landscape this would be what it would look like.

Gideon shook his head in discomfort. "So...our Queen is in the Outlands?"

They both knew what that meant. No-one escaped the Outlands. "She's dead."