When Hatter and Alice awakened the next morning, Jabberwocky had disappeared from his room, from the castle, and from the capital itself. Furious, the Bandersnatch and the escort of soldiers mounted their horses and scattered, essaying to find their lost King.

Jabberwock chuckled grimly to himself as he heard a distant, strangled shout in Shadowlander. He had traded his clothes to a rough, young Wonderlander. Shrugging the dirty leather jacket on tighter, he pressed up against the wagon he was walking besides, hiding in the dark shadow that was cast across the dirt road.

The peasants gazed at him in solemn curiousity, knowing this black-skinned stranger was a Shadowlander, one who should not be in their midsts. However, he had paid for their silence, a gold crown to each of them, a whole month's wages stuffed into one simple secret.
They were expected to hide him if any other Shadowlanders came.

The night before, he had found out that Maynard had disappeared from the castle also, and this had set him to thinking of his own escape. He knew that they would be angry and come search for him, but he told himself he would not be found. He wanted to be free of the royal obligations, return his happy, rather free life.

A Shadowlander pounded down the road past the wagon, calling his name vainly. "Lord Jabberwocky! Lord Jabberwocky!"

Jabberwock chortled happily, took a piece of hay from the wagon, and began chewing on it.
A little peasant girl came up to his side, asked softly, "Sir... We need that... That's for the cows... Not for you..."

Blinking, Jabberwock stopped chewing at it, glanced down at her, and then smiled apologetically, "I'm sorry..."

"It's okay... Just don't eat all of it, please... The cows like it too, you know..."

Jabberwocky reached a hand down into his scruffy, rucksack pants and drew out a small pouch. Digging a silver coin double the size of his thumbnail out, he handed it to her. "I'll keep that in mine."

The girl's eyes grew wide, "Sir! No! I can't take it!" She tried to shove it back into his hands.

Jabberwock sniffed, "It is nothing."

"But... I could buy a goat with this..." The child held it in her hands as if it were a priceless diamond. "Or a lamb..."

"Then buy one..." Jabberwock grew distracted, his eyes turning a light sapphire as he watched the girl's imagination sparkle. Instantly, his mouth watered, his stomach squeezing in hunger.

The girl clamped the the coin to her chest happily, "Oh, thank you! Thank you!"

Jabberwocky licked his lips before asking, "Are there any cows around here?"

"Yes, but they're not my family's... They're the Ortegoras... Brian is one of them... And he hit me."

"That's... mean..." forced Jabberwock.

"Yeah, it is. I don't like it."

"Actually, I have to go somewhere now. I'm sorry." Jabberwocky stepped away from her before nodding to her, "I might see you later."

"Okay... Thank you... I hope you come back, Mr. Shadowman..."

Jabberwock managed to find his way to the outermost field of the Ortegoras. As the little girl had said, the peasant family had cows.
Licking his lips, Jabberwock lurked at the edge of the trees, eying the bovine. At the moment, they were nothing, animals just chewing their cud...
But for a dragon, they'd be delicious.

Changing to his dragon form, he skulked about in the shadows of the trees, his black scales camouflaging him , regarding an unsuspecting cow that had wandered too close to the fence that seperated forest from pasture.
He waited patiently.
Finally, he pounced forward, surprising the cow, who barely had time to turn. However, it was too late. Scooping it up in his jaws, Jabberwocky swallowed it down whole, choking it down, and then retreated back to the safety of the forest as the other cows ran in terror.

Clacking his jaws together, his hunger now satisfied, he slid forward, his scales clinking together as he moved. Travel went faster if he was in the change, and he wanted to leave the capital far behind. It'd be harder for them to find him the farther he was...

After a few minutes of trotting forward, Jabberwock heard voices, low and dull. Lowering himself to the ground, he crawled forward, eyes glittering in golden curiousity.
Two boys, one sixteen, one thirteen, sat in the clearing, wrestling playfully. "C'mon, Brian! You're stronger than," The boy to the left flipped the boy down onto his back, "this!"

The thirteen year old, Brian complained, "You've got more than a few years on me! How am I supposed to beat you?"

"You just don't try, do you?"

"I do! I do!" Huffing, Brian crossed his arms, and turned.

Jabberwock bared his teeth as the boy saw him, hissed softly. Brian's jaw dropped before he began to stammer, "H-h-hey... There's... There's a big... There's a big thing over there..."

The other boy looked, froze, and then began to back away, "What the bliddy heck is that?"

Snapping his jaws, Jabberwocky clawed forward, directed a mock snarl at the two.
Brian began shivering in horror, "That's... that's..."

"Jabberwock..." said the other in terrified awe.

Jabberwock taunted them by clacking his jaws shut over the two. One boy fainted straight away. The other fell to his knees in horror, covered his eyes.

Without another sound, Jabberwock bounded away, hoping they would keep their mouths shut. That had been fun though, to scare them, to make one of them faint clean away. He must have become such a boogeyman to the locals, to incite this type of fear.

Changing back, he started humming to himself, trotting forward deeper into the forest.

Alice bounced the baby in her arms as she cooed lovingly, "Ooh... you're so beautiful! Beutiful baby! Oh, yes!" She bent forward, kissed Ash on the nose.
An innocent, ecstatic laugh giggled up from Ash as it waved its arms around. One hand gently hit her cheek, stayed there, and then made a fist around a lock of Alice's hair.

Alice laughed in glee and rocked the baby lovingly in her arms. Behind her, Hatter was toying with a piece of pale fabric, a needle held in his mouth as he regarded the cloth with confused eyes. Finally, he pulled the needle from his mouth and complained, "I can make a hat, a masquerade suit, but I can't make a sock. How odd is that?"

Zero and Tick sat in the corner, wrestling each other. Knocking Tick down, Zero grabbed the cat's tail, pulled it happily. Tick hissed angrily.

Alice twirled around, the baby's laugh boosting her happiness, "It's okay! Oh, isn't that right, Ash? Daddy can't make a sock for you. You'll forgive him, won't you?"

Hatter chuckled, "What about a little hat for him?"

"That'd be cute."

Hatter laid back on his bed, held the cloth over his face, and began folding it, eyes glittering as he remembered how a baby's bonnet should be like. As he pinched a fold in the fabric together, he reached into his pocket, drew out some white thread, and quickly threaded the needle using just his one hand.
He started sewing as Alice came over. Sitting down next to him, she peered over and joked, "Please don't tell me that you're going to make an itty-bitty top hat."

"I think that would actually be much cuter than a baby's bonnet, but I've never done a miniature of anything. Baby's bonnets are already small... so I'll stick with that."

Ash gurgled in Alice's arms, his small arms waving about. Happily, Alice kissed him again, "Yes, you'll be so cute with a bonnet. You'll like that, won't you?"

Tick bounded over, trying to escape Zero. Leaping up, he sniffed loudly at Ash before purring, his tail flicking up and down.

Alice petted him, "Hello, Tick."

Zero trotted over, grabbed Tick's tail, pulled him off the bed. Tick yowled in surprise before ripping away from Zero and diving under the bed.

A little driblet of spit slid out of the baby's mouth, and Alice wiped it away.
Hatter's fingers twitched quickly as they stitched up the corner of the cloth with amazing, experienced speed, "You know, I haven't made a hat for a long time, and, suddenly, I'm making a baby's bonnet. It's rather unusual." He knotted the string, tugged at the sides of the cloth to make sure it would hold, and then flipped it over.

"It'll be cute, don't worry. Even if it isn't, Ash can make it look cute."

"Oh, like those knitted baby clothes that May made for the little kiddies? Those are atrocious. Purple does not go with gray."

"I agree."

"And May said she was going to make something for Ash, too... It'll turn out to be some horrible yellow color. I think Ash would look better in black or gray or white. She should make a little black suit for him."

"Why don't you do that?"

"A little suit? I told you, I've never done anything smaller than me pretty much. Hats my size, suits my size, nothing ever one or two sizes away from mine."

Alice laid back, snuggled against his side, "You could try. I'm sure you'd be sort of good at it."

"I'll try later."

"Okay."

Zero stuck his snout under the dust skirt, snuffling around for Tick. Suddenly, he stiffened before he slowly pulled out his muzzle. Tick was hooked onto it, his claws digging into the natural cracks his father's metal skull possessed. Amused, Zero licked his son's ticking underbelly before pawing him off and, grabbing his tail again, dragging Tick to the corner again, ignoring the annoyed yowls.

Ash burbled happily. His green eye and his blue eyes sparkled brightly as he smiled.
Hatter grinned softly, dropped the fabric, and leaned over to take Ash's little hand. Rubbing it softly, he pressed his lips against it and kissed his son's hand, "You're right, Alice... Ash is very cute... We've created a masterpiece, haven't we?" He transferred the kiss to Alice's hand.

Alice giggled, shoved him away playfully, "Masterpieces are for paintings and sculptures! Not for little children!"

"Well, then!" Hatter grabbed her, wrestled her down, being careful not to hurt Ash. "Guess we have a statue for a son! I mean, he's certainly the right color!"

"Ash, did you hear that? Your father thinks you're a statue!"

Ash's eyes were round as they stared up at her face. Slowly, a little gray hand lifted, and he began to suck his thumb quietly.
Hatter dragged his fingers through her hair slowly, whispering, "No, I don't..."

"I was joking!" Alice placed her head on his chest, twisted into a more comfortable position.

Tick escaped from Zero again. Pouncing over to the bed, he leapt up onto the comforter, rushed over to Ash, sniffed at him, and then went to her other arm. Cuddling beneath it, he closed his eyes before purring.
Zero came to the side of the bed, huffed, jumped up, and then nosed his son. Tick meowed loudly, batted a paw at him. Softly, Zero tugged at his tail. Tick hissed angrily, his fur poofing up.

Alice reached down, worked Tick's tail free of Zero's jaws, and then tapped Zero on the head, "No... Be nice to Tick..."

Whirring, Zero's gears quickened. He crawled onto Alice, laid down, and then began to rumble out a satisfied growl.
Hatter lay pinned under it all. Groaning, he reached down, tried to shove Zero off, "Ow! Get off! You're squishing me! All of you are squishing me!"

Zero snuffled, pulled himself farther onto Alice, and then began to inspect Ash. Smelling him, he softly growled before taking the infant's hand in his mouth softly and caressing it with his tongue.
Hatter slumped under Alice, "Alice... could you get Zero off... Please?"

Alice poked at Zero, "C'mon... Get off..."

Huffing, Zero rolled off of her. Attacking the corner of her dress, he pulled at it furiously, growling for her to stand up.
Alice stood up, both Ash and Tick in her arms. Tick purred contentedly, Ash staring at the cat with wide eyes.
Smiling, Alice bounced both of them up and down. "Oh, yes! You like the kitty, Ash? Yes, you do! Yes, you do!"

Hatter took in a sigh happily, picked up the fabric of the bonnet, "Finally... I can breath again..."

Three days passed. On the third day, Jabberwock reached the Crystal Coast, smug that no one had yet found him. He wandered across the shores, stealing out of sight whenever he saw people coming. After a few hours of searching, he found his way to the ruins of Imaginine, where fire and the sword had laid the Imagineer city to waste.
He decided he would stay there for the night before moving on.

Also on the third day, Maynard was found hiding out in the warrens by a small village where he could snatch girls away, have his macabre fun with them, and then return them later, dazed, bewildered, and drugged by herbs that grew abundantly in the warrens.
He was dragged back up to the capital, where Chesapeake and Lyona lectured him on and on about how this was not going to help him in any way. They then sent him down to the dungeons where he'd be branded again for the rapes.
He ended up with seven new 'R's marching up and down his forearms.

Now that Maynard was back in the castle, Hatter became very, very grumpy, for, once he had found his way out of the dungeons, Maynard began to appear around their corner of the castle, looking like a hungry dog searching for a cat he knew was nearby. Hatter moved Alice to a new room on the fourth floor, making sure that Maynard would hear nothing of it. Every time he went out, he would demand that she open the door to no one but him and March and anybody she knew personally.
Pretty soon, after a week of not leaving her room except for meals, Alice grew tired of being cooped up, and so would take Zero and Tick for walks, the two trotting at her side as Ash either slept in her arms or glanced around with curious, new eyes.

The second day she took this up, she ran into Maynard.

She was returning from her walk around the castle grounds, cooing cheerfully to Ash as a bored Zero began bothering Tick's tail again, nipping at it and making his child poof up in annoyance. Tick glared at him, put his tail in between his legs, and ran forward to hide by Alice's dress.
Alice laughed, "Zero! Don't do that! One day, you're going to bite his tail off or something!"

Zero gazed up at her, started to sneeze, but then froze. Eyes glittering, he glanced ahead. He sniffed tentatively before hissing softly and crouching down, his gears rocketing to such a fast speed that the ticks blended together to make one dull whir.
Alice followed his gaze, saw nothing, "What is it, Ze-"

Maynard rounded the corner, tugging at new weights on his wrist angrily, cursing to himself. "Bliddy guards. 'Oh, you have to wear these again!' Argh!" He stopped, banged the metal hard against the wall, growled when they refused to come off. "Those gits! I hate these! Hate, hate, hate, ha-" His eyes rose. Instantly, he stiffened, stared at her.
He had changed. His once meticulously groomed hair was now long and ragged from the dirty ten months he had been away from any bath. Across his cheek and chin was slight stubble.

The hair on the back of Alice's neck prickled in discomfort. "Oh... Hello, Maynard." Her voice carried distaste.

Maynard blinked before smiling softly, "Alice... How are you? I thought of you often."

"I'd rather not talk to you." said Alice bluntly, turned around to walk away.

Miffed, Maynard stalked forward quickly, coming close, and then stopped when Zero snarled at him, "You still have the bliddy dog... and a cat? When did that happen?" His smile was hopeful, as if he hoped to lure her back with small talk.

"His name is Tick."

"Nice name... Whose baby?"

"He's mine and Hatter's."

Maynard's eyes snapped open, wide with disbelief. "Yours and Imagine's...?" he echoed. After a few moments of silence, his eyes grew hard and his face furious, "You pleasured Imagine?"

"We got married." said Alice simply, turning to watch him warily.

The furious glint in Maynard's eyes turned into lustful longing, "Mm... Must have been absolutely... delightful..."

Alice turned around, began striding forward again. Suddenly, dark arms were around her chest, around Ash. Pulling her close, Maynard hissed, "When?"

Alice froze, heart beating hard in nervousness. If she tried to break out of his arms, she might hurt Ash...
"When what?"

"How long ago was he born?"

"... Seven days..."

Maynard mused over this for a few moments before releasing her and stepping back, "Seven days... Imagine must be so... pleased... " His voice dripped malice and lust as his right hand travelled down her front.

Zero hissed furiously at him, snapped at him. Snarling, Maynard released her, stepped back from the huge dog, "Stupid dog!"

Alice shivered in relief before scurrying away from him. At her side, Zero growled in hatred, warning Maynard off as he started to come after Alice. Maynard stopped, eying the Clockwork monster, before calling after Alice angrily, "You can't hide behind everyone else forever! I will get my time with you!"

Alice bit his lip before glancing back at him and asking softly, "Was... that a threat?"

"Say that it was." sneered Maynard, itching at his stomach.

Alice shuddered before striding away. The whole way, Zero cast black glares at the man, daring him to come close so that he could rip his legs off.
Tick was just relieved that Zero wasn't chewing on his tail.

That night, Alice and Hatter lay in bed together, Ash between them. They fell asleep, curled up around their child.
The next morning, Hatter blinked awake, his eyes bleary and cornered with night boogers. Yawning, he sat up, stretched, and then rubbed the blurs from his eyes.
When he glanced up, he froze.

Maynard was bouncing Ash gently in his arms, the baby still asleep. Seeing Hatter awake, he smiled softly and whispered, "Such a beautiful baby boy, Imagine... What is his name?"

Flinching, Hatter snarled, "Ash."

"Ah... Hello, Ash..." Maynard tickled the little baby's cheek before cuddling him close to his chest and lilting, "Imagine... How can something so lovely come from such a monstrosity..." He stroked the infant's head softly, toying with the few black strands of hair.

As he slowly stood, Hatter growled warily, "Don't touch him."

Ignoring him, Maynard slowly raised angry eyes to Hatter and said calmly, "He doesn't even look like you, Imagine... Gray? Is that a recessive gene? There's never been a gray child... It's rather a pleasant color... Calming..." His arms tightened visibly when Hatter took a step closer. "You come any closer and I'll snap him in half!"

Hatter stiffened, quickly backed away. Slowly, carefully, he asked, "What... do you want?"

"Amazingly, I have no idea what. I just... want to touch..." Maynard cradled the baby, his arms loosening, and then murmured, "This could have been my child..."

Hatter grimaced, "And that would have meant that you would have raped Alice. No. I prefer not to think of it that way."

Glancing lazily at him, Maynard said quietly, "I could snap his bones so easily... Cut him open with my claws... I don't think it is your place to be saying threats..."

"It... wasn't a threat."

"Than a slur."

Hatter gulped before pleading, "Will you please give him back?"

Maynard's eyes suddenly glowed with an inner, predatory light, "Oho! You've grown soft, Hatter! This is pathetic!" Stepping back, he lowered his head to Ash's head, kissed it softly, and then mumbled, "Your father is weak, little one... You should be ashamed..."

Hatter glowered at him, "Please."

"You never used to say 'please'. What you used to say is 'I'm going to tear your bliddy head off'... What happened to that?" Maynard went to the opposite side of the bed, gazed down at Alice, and then continued softly, "Did dear Alice steal if from you? All your anger and hate? Or have I gotten it? I feel so... angry right now..."

Hatter saw his brother's hands close around Ash's neck, roared, leapt for him. Startled, Maynard dropped him onto Alice's chest as Hatter hit him full-on.
Alice jerked awake as Ash let loose a wail as he awoke. Seeing the men struggling just a foot away, she grabbed up her baby, scooted to the opposite side of the bed, stumbled up, and retreated to the corner where Zero and Tick was just coming awake.

Hatter's eyes flickered from yellow and green to black and then back again as Maynard tried to latch hands around his neck. Teeth bared in a excited, hate-filled smile, Maynard bore down on Hatter, ignoring the punches in his determination.
Falling into madness, Hatter screamed his hate, swung out, knocked Maynard back. Instantly, he leapt forward, following this intruder who dared threaten his family.

Zero staggered up, growled, and placed himself between Alice and the two fighting men. Horrified, Alice stammered, "Z-Zero! Go help- go help Hatter!"

Zero refused to move. However, Tick bounded forward, but, instead of engaging Maynard, he ran around the fight, assessing this battle from all viewpoints.

Maynard laughed as he met Hatter's charge by raking his claws across the man's face. As Hatter clapped hands over his face, startled by the pain, he grabbed Hatter's shoulders, drove his knee up into Hatter's groin.
Hatter fell to his knees, letting loose a pained screech. Before he could stumble up, Maynard kicked up harshly. His foot connected with his enemy's face.

Hatter fell backwards, gasping as his nose gushed blood. Smiling victoriously, Maynard strode to his side, knelt, and whispered, "Imagine... You're such a weakling... I'll make sure you're buried somewhere nice after I take Alice for myself..." He started to stand.

Hissing, Hatter lurched up, tackled the surprised Maynard down. Before Maynard could react, he dug his sharp teeth deep into Maynard's neck.
Maynard froze as Hatter started to chew. His eyes rolled backwards in inward pain as he gasped.

Tick went beserk, fuzzing out like a sea urchin as he saw what was happening. Sprinting back to Zero, he cowered underneath the rumbling Clockwork creature.
Hatter moaned with pleasure, drawing himself up to arch over Maynard as he tasted blood for the first time in many months. Tears rolled down Maynard's cheeks as he raised his claws, tried to shove Hatter off, but Hatter wouldn't move, too obsessed with the taste.

Alice was in tears, as was Ash in her arms, "Hatter! Stop it!"

Hatter did not recognize her voice. To him, it was a distant echo. All he needed to worry about was restraining this impudent as he had his meal.

Slowly, Zero padded forward, sniffing warily at the metallic scent of blood in the air. Coming close to Hatter, he regarded him for a moment before suddenly charging Hatter and knocking him off Maynard.
Yelping, Hatter quickly stumbled to his feet as Maynard hastily crawled to the door, his throat gushing blood from the good sized hole in it, and letting himself out. Instantly, Hatter licked his lips, started stalking to the door.

"Hatter!" wailed Alice.

Pausing, Hatter turned glazed, black eyes to Alice before sniffing and exiting the room, intent on finishing his meal.

"Zero! Get him!" demanded Alice desperately, gazing at her pet pleadingly.

Zero sniffed, went to the door, nosed it shut, and then called a gruff order to Tick. Hastily running over, Tick jumped upon his father's back, stepped through the gears, and then reached up to bat the lock to the 'locked' position.

Alice stared as Zero turned, growled a warning to her, and settled down in front of the door so she wouldn't be able to leave.

"Z-Zero..."

A friendly snarl, as if to say 'You're not going out and neither of them is coming in. You need to be safe.'

Ash finally quieted in Alice's arm, glared at her with watery eyes. Gulping nervously, Alice forced a agitated smile and brushed away a hair lock from his face, "Oh, hello, Ash... I'm... sorry if we woke you..."

Ash just stared up at her, his blue eye and his green eye confused.