I know its late... but I did my last exam 2day! :D it feels awesome! Shocking fact: Ive had the DVD for nearly three weeks & still haven't watched it :O I know.. its despicable. Blame my family, none of whom want to watch it with me :( & Naomily4EVA for not returning it when she said she would. :P Im very near feeding her to the Narlka& the Bandersnatch... ;) Don't worry, I wont acc her stories are too good for that :)

Disclaimer: Everyone belongs to Tim Burton& Lewis Carroll, except the plot & my OCs :)

Chapter 25 - For Underland

Karik

For what felt like the millionth time I was running, running away from it all. I hardly noticed the added weight of my armour, or where I was going; away from Marmoreal and all those people was enough for me. What did they expect from me anyway? I was just a teenager, hardly grown up! They thought I could just wield a weapon, slay a Monster and save a kingdom, all within a few days of losing the closest, and only, family I knew? Did they not realise the incredible pressure put on me, on top of the uncontrollable grief and rage? Wouldn't anyone snap under such circumstances?

It was all very well for them, for Alice even. She had been upper class in the Uplands, so she was closer to royalty than I. She was used to courage and bravery as well. As I had told Alice, I was a mere tailor from a small isolated village. And they thought if they just threw me into the middle of this mess, gave me a mop and pointed out the dirty patch, I would be able to clean it all up? It was too much! No normal adolescent could stand it.

But are you normal, Karik? A voice whispered in my head. You are one of the only surviving members of the Hightopp Clan, and both your father and uncle were right-hand men to the Queens of Underland, two of the greatest and bravest swordsmen of Underland. And your mother –

'Shut up!' I yelled at that voice, as I kept running. I wanted to be normal now. Adventure had sounded glorious and exciting to me as a child, but now, as I was actually smack bang in the middle of one, I realised it was anything but. And I didn't want it one bit. Ironic, isn't it?

I don't know how long I ran for. I never know. Only that it was dark when I finally collapsed out of sheer exhaustion. Only that when I did so, the lights of Marmoreal were out of sight.

Alice

'Have any of the messengers arrived back yet, Nivens?' the White Queen asked as she paced back and forth.

'Yes, your Majesty,' Nivens said nervously. 'Many of the Knights, um, do not wish to fight in place of the Champion. They – they know that the Oraculum has not prophesied them fighting, and so are unwilling to take his place. They seem to believe that he will return.'

'Drat,' the Queen muttered. 'I was afraid of that.'

'The messenger sent to Kimarrah has not yet returned though,' the Rabbit said hopefully. 'He may still welcome the chance of a fight against his old nemesis.'

'Last time I saw him, he'd adopted a peaceful outlook, and was in fact contemplating taking the same vows as you, Mirana,' Chessur said grimly.

'Kimarrah is the Unicorn, isn't he?' I spoke up.

'Yes, and now our last hope as well,' Tarrant said sadly. 'Mirana, would you at least consider letting me fight?'

'No!' she replied vehemently. 'Tarrant, you are a very good swordsman, and I respect your desire to protect Alice, but you are needed to protect your friends -'

'– and your Queen,' Chessur added, rolling over in the air.

'We need you to lead the charge against the Gold King, if he does attempt to fight, in the event of our victory,' Mirana said, looking at him pleadingly.

He nodded slowly. 'Fine, my Queen. I shall do as you say. But if anything happens to Alice, I will not hesitate to do my utmost to save or defend her.'

Touched by this, I took his hand, and he smiled at me.

Mirana sighed. 'Thank you Tarrant. I suppose I could not expect otherwise. Now it's past midnight, and Alice should be in bed, preparing for the Vicisiterum Day tomorrow.'

'She's right,' Hatter said to me. 'You need your rest.'

I frowned. 'What about everyone else? And the Queen herself?'

'I am not fighting a Monster tomorrow,' she said with a faint smile. 'Do not worry about me; I shall rest, once I get a few things sorted. Tarrant, when you've escorted Alice to her room, could you come back down here please?'

'Of course, Mirana.' He bowed to her, and I called a hasty farewell as Hatter led me towards the door.

I had to admit I was exhausted. It had been a long, strenuous day and I'd felt out of place and in the way in the throne room. I didn't know anyone they were talking about, and hadn't known the places either. Chessur had been kind enough to produce a map and explain the possible Champions and their whereabouts to me, while the others were deep in discussion.

As I had before, I laid my head on Hatter's shoulder as we walked.

'I'm sorry I cannot fight beside you tomorrow,' he spoke with a resigned air. 'But I cannot disobey the Queen's orders.'

'It's fine, Hatter. I understand.' Secretly I was relieved he wouldn't be fighting the Narlka too. But I was terrified that he would get himself hurt trying to protect me. It would be just like him to put his own life in danger for another.

We walked on in a comfortable silence, until we reached the grand staircase, and I inwardly groaned at all those steps. After only a few of them, I stumbled, but Hatter was quick to catch me.

'Are you too tired to walk, Alice?' he asked in concern.

'No I'm fine – I can manage,' I mumbled, but my eyelids were closing as I wearily took another step forwards.

'I don't believe you,' he said sceptically.

'Honestly, I'm fine,' I replied, raising my head to smile at him.

'Alice, even Champions get tired sometimes. It's nothing to be ashamed of.' Then, in one quick movement, he had swept my feet out from under me and was carrying me firmly up the stairs.

'You don't have to do this, Hatter,' I said sleepily, but I couldn't have resisted if I wanted to. My heart was beating wildly, and the irrational side of my mind was smiling shamelessly.

'It's the least I can do for you, dear Alice,' he said softly, and continued to carry me along the smooth marble corridors. My eyes slipped shut, and I wrapped my arms around his neck to secure myself. I felt him hesitate as he reached my door, and then he went in, and carefully, gently, laid me down on the bed.

'Thank you, Hatter,' I murmured drowsily, reluctantly letting go of him. 'Goodnight.'

'You're welcome,' he whispered back. I wished I could see his eyes, but I was too tired to open mine. Before I sank into the welcoming embrace of sleep, I felt his lips softly kiss my forehead, and then his parting words; 'Fairfarren, Alice.'

Smiling unconsciously, I slipped into strange, wonderful dreams of wild-haired, gloriously mad Hatters, battlefields, fearsome Monsters and nursery rhymes.

Karik

When I woke up, it was past dawn, and the sun was already high in the sky. I leapt up, thinking there was something I had to do, or was late for doing, and then I remembered, and sat back down again. There was nothing I needed to do; no one I needed to see. I was free of people telling me what to do, and to choose my own path. This freedom was unfamiliar, but my first impression of it was…empty. Almost…meaningless.

I fiercely shook such thoughts from my mind and tried to focus on where I was now. Far from Marmoreal, in any case. On another mountain. Was Underland full of them?

Then I began to think about what I was to do now. I could become a hatter or tailor in a nearby village. Or go back to my own, home village? But – as a Harper or a Hightopp? Could I hide my identity again, for the rest of my life? Or try to make a new life, somewhere? And forget all my old friends – and my only family. A tear glimmered in my eye as I realised I was truly alone now.

'Do you know what I loath more than stupidity, even?' a calm voice asked. 'Self-pity.'

My head shot up in shock, to see the blue butterfly and his hookah situated on a rock. 'Absolem?'

'How many time do I have to tell you insufferable young people; nothing is ever accomplished with tears!' he sighed irritably.

'What are you doing here?' I scowled at him.

'You're not seriously considering going back to that village, are you?' he asked coolly, ignoring my question.

'It's none of your business whether I am or not.'

He surprised me by chuckling. 'Stupid boy; it is everyone's business whether you are or not.'

'It's my life!'

'True, but the consequences of how you live it affect others, and in turn affect everyone.'

'So you mean to say; I will never be free to make my own choices?' I asked bitterly.

'Freedom!' he snorted. 'What is freedom without responsibility? What is work without play? All work and no play is not advisable, but neither is all play and no work. Freedom of choice is a birthright, and all very well, but to achieve it completely, either you must close your eyes and ears to all around you, or live alone, far from them. You see, Karik, in any world, we must all look out for one another. Which is not what you are doing now!'

'Perhaps you're right about freedom, Absolem,' I said quietly, 'but you're not right about me. I can't slay the Narlka. I can't be a Champion. And it's unjust of everyone to ask it of me.'

'Do you call it unjust, stupid boy, to want to save your Kingdom? To want to rid the world of an evil presence? You are not seeing clearly, Karik. We respect your grief, and mourn for you loss, but your self-pity is blinding you. For have you not always run from any danger that presented itself? A trait you inherited from your parents, I believe.'

'Don't bring my parents into this!' I growled.

He ignored me and went on; 'Do not deny it, Karik Hightopp. Your parents were good people undoubtedly, but they ran from their fears, and you ran with them. Your mother ran from Stayne when she discovered herself with child; she ran from Witzend after the tragedy of Horunvendush Day. She ran from Tarrant when she was told of his existence. And as you grew, she continued to run and hide from her identity, and taught you to as well.' I glared at him, barely managing to keep my temper. Seeing this, he softened slightly. 'I do not tell you this to turn you against her; far from it. But to know the Way to your Future, you must take lessons from the Past.'

'And my father?' I asked rigidly. 'How does he come into this lesson?'

'He ran too,' the butterfly said matter-of-factly. 'All those years, he ran and hid from his conscience, until Death's approach, and your mother, brought it back for him.' Suddenly his voice became low and urgent. 'You must listen to my words, young Hightopp. To find your identity, and the courage to fulfil your destiny, you must shake off that legacy, but pick up another. Remember; no matter how much they ran, they fought too. Fought to stay alive. Which is what you must do. To be Karik Hightopp, you must be Less of Others, but More too. You must not forget your identity.' With these words, he began to fade into the smoke.

'No! Wait!' I cried, as my thoughts raced and my head spun. To be Less of Others…More too… Fought to stay alive… Shake off that legacy… 'Absolem, I need your help!'

'You have my help, stupid boy. Or did you not listen?'

'I did listen!'

'Then use it!'

'But – '

'Fine; here is a parting gift of help. Did you never wonder what the true meaning of "Vicisiterum Day" is? It means; 'Time Again', stupid boy. Fairfarren.'

I began to cough violently then, as the smoke rose and expanded around me. And when I recovered and looked up, Absolem was nowhere to be seen. I sighed and sat on a rock, pondering his words. They had shaken me greatly. I had not looked at running as my way of defending myself. It was just something I did. And I had to stop it. My determination and courage were back, and I welcomed them like old friends. As always, Absolem was right. I wt would be selfish to stay here any longer, when I was needed – by everyone – elsewhere. Even if I didn't succeed, I had to try.

But then I groaned aloud as I remembered what had spurred me to leave. I couldn't fight. But I could try. 'That damn sword,' I muttered to myself, and then stopped as, like a jigsaw puzzle, the pieces fit together in my head. Shake off that legacy, but pick up another. Less of Others, More too. I had to throw off the legacy of running away, but not forget my family either. I had to remember who I was and whose son I was first and foremost, no matter whose Champion I was.

But I needed the sword. It would still be at Marmoreal! And I needed Chessur's potion to get to the battlefield! I looked around fruitlessly, for any sign I might have missed that showed Marmoreal to be nearby, but there was nothing.

'If you're looking for something from Absolem,' a little bellflower piped up crossly, 'he left something behind that rock. It's crushing my friend.'

'Thank you!' I called, making my way over. Then I laughed out loud with happiness. Absolem really did know everything. There, lying serenely on the grass and on one little bellflower, was Stayne's black sword.

I reached out a hand to grasp it, but an invisible force stopped me. I frowned and moved my hand closer, but was once again repelled. Absolem must have placed some kind of magic around it… of course. To fulfil my destiny, I had to remember my identity. Such was the way of things in Underland.

'My name is Karik,' I said aloud, remembering how Alice had done it, and I smiled as I realised time was repeating itself. 'I am a hatter and tailor, and fifteen years old. I live in Underland, and fifteen years ago my entire clan perished on the Horunvendush Day, apart from two. My only living family are the Cheshire Cat and the Mad Hatter. My mother was Elzara Hightopp and my father was Ilosovic Stayne, right-hand man to the Red Queen. I'm Karik Hightopp, and I am the White Queen's Champion.'

As I said it, it felt like a great weight had been lifted from me. I grinned and held my arms out wide, embracing my identity. This is me.

Then I grasped the handle of Stayne's sword – mine, now – and swung it through the air, delighted by how light and easy and right it felt. This was the sword for me. I'd been a fool to think I could wield any other. I held it tightly in one hand, while with the other reached under my shirt collar for the small vial, and raised it to my lips for the third – and final – time. Echoing the Lion's words, I said, loud and clear; 'The sight of the Jabberwocky's demise.' And then I raised my sword in preparation, as the mountain and the bellflowers vanished into wisps of smoke around me, and I felt myself being transported towards my friends, and the Evil that awaited me.

Alice

'Are we ready to go?' the White Queen asked, as she climbed gracefully onto her white steed. I was already mounted on the Bandersnatch next to her, while Hatter stood beside us, determination and courage burning in his eyes.

'We are,' Nivens confirmed.

'Is everyone here?'

'Yes!' Mallymkun cried, tapping her foot impatiently.

''Cept for tha' young bugger!' Thackery cried, throwing a teacup at a tree.

'That young bugger's not coming, Thackery,' Hatter said gently to his friend. My heart ached as I heard and saw the sadness evident in his tone. 'and try to save your teacups. They might be useful later on.'

The Hare's eyes bugged. 'Naught coming? But – but the Oraculum -!'

'Was wrong,' Mirana cut him off shortly, in a cold, clear voice. 'It must have been mistaken. I'm only sorry we wasted time on the wrong Karik.'

'He was the right one,' Chess insisted stubbornly, appearing next to us. 'He'll come. I know he will.'

'You've been saying that all night, Chessur, and he's not here,' Mirana said, a hint of anger colouring her usually sweet, gentle voice. She took a deep breath and calmed herself, before crying out; 'To the Battlefield, dear friends!'

'For the White Queen! For Underland!' Hatter shouted, his eyes glinting dangerously, and the soldiers repeated the cheer valiantly.

The horses neighed in agreement, the Bandersnatch roared, and Bayard howled. Then the Queen's horse moved forward, and I gently nudged the Bandersnatch forward too. Mallymkun jumped up onto its head, brandishing her hatpin, and the Hatter strode purposefully forward in front of us, once more wearing his kilt into battle. We locked eyes for an instant, but there was no comfort to be found in either of them; only a grim determination, which was reflected in the aura that surrounded our party. So different to the aura of positivity and confidence that had accompanied us on the Frabjous Day, and yet on we marched, away from the comfort of Marmoreal to face the wrath and fury of the Gold King.

I love reviews! :) Thank you all SO MUCH for letting me get to 60! :D

xxx