I'm on time for this chapter but don't hold me to be consistent.
Warning for Dawn in general. My beta loves Wonderland and I enjoy violence occasionally, so she is no longer harmless or innocent.
TW: Mild Violence...I think.
Enjoy.
"Where exactly are we going?" Madison asked as she followed behind her determined best friend.
"I have no idea," Dawn replied as she continued her stride, "I need something that will trigger my memory. Something that will make it come completely back."
"So we're just supposed to walk around until that happens?"
Dawn rolled her eyes and rounded on the older girl, "Do you have any better ideas?"
"I'm still coming to grips with the fact that we're in fucking Wonderland. Are we going to meet Alice soon?"
Dawn opened her mouth to call Madison a moron, before she furrowed her brow. She had to admit that it was rather strange to have a memory come back while she was awake, at least when she was asleep she could pretend that it was just a dream.
Closing her eyes, she allowed her mind to reveal the images that were pushing at the edge of her sub-conscious.
"Are you not going to ask why this woman deserves death?" the Red Queen asked with a small smile on her face at The Hatter's willingness.
Dawn shook her head, and from her bowed down position replied, "I need no reason to not follow your orders my queen. Except…"
The queen quickly held up her hand and replied, "Of course, for an assassination contract, I will pay double the usual rate. Assuming that you actually have the will to go through with it."
She nodded without any sign of resistance and the queen smiled gratefully.
"I would also greatly appreciate it, if this could be made your priority, this woman has been quite the nuisance, or should I say will become quite the nuisance if left unchecked."
"Simply tell me her name and realm and it will be done, my queen."
"Alice Kingsley of Earth."
Dawn smiled as she got the tenth weird look from a citizen of Victorian London.
She of course knew exactly who her target was, and though it was rather odd that she would be murdering Alice, she sincerely didn't care whether or not some little girl got to live through the adventure that had been supposedly written by a man on acid.
Moving through the streets she finally found her destination, Bethlehem Asylum, or as most of the world knew it, Bedlam.
With the conviction of someone twice her age, she strode her way up the steps and straight into the unguarded building.
The screams that filled her ears didn't bother her as much as she knew they should have, but then again she wasn't the only person gaining joy from this place. There was a decently long line of people waiting for their chance to view the insane people of Bedlam.
Making her way to the front of her line, she clicked her fingers, which quieted the protests of those behind her and walked straight through the doors and into the asylum.
Making her way down hall after hall of locked doors, she finally came to the row of what seemed to be private rooms. Apparently even in mental institutions, the richest still got the nicest things.
Finally she made it to the one that she was looking for, peering through the window she saw a blonde teen clutching a pillow and whispering to herself.
Dawn took a moment to note what the great Alice of Wonderland had been reduced to. She considered that she could probably do nothing and the Red Queen would know no different, there was no way that this girl could pose any kind of real threat, but then she knew that these heroes had a tendency to defy possibility.
It was for this reason that after her slight hesitation, she held her hand over the lock which promptly turned over, allowing her the access that she wanted.
"Wonderland is real, Cyrus is alive, Wonderland in real, Cyrus is alive…" Alice frantically whispered to herself.
"You're right about the first part, but your genie is very much dead," Dawn replied.
Alice sat up, instantly on the defensive, "Who are you?" she asked in a hoarse voice.
"Would you like a clue?"
The pale girl took a moment to look over the somewhat familiar outfit and nodded.
"Why is a raven like a writing desk?" she asked mockingly.
Alice's mouth dropped open and said, "Wonderland is real?" in such a pathetic voice, that Dawn almost felt bad, almost.
"It's quite real."
"Cyrus is dead?" she breathed and shook her head, "He can't be dead."
"Falling from a cliff often does that to people," Dawn chuckled, "As does not having a heart."
Alice began to hyperventilate at the idea, seemingly not recognizing the other girl coming towards her until she was standing directly over her.
"Don't worry, your pain will be over pretty soon," Dawn assured, just as Alice lifted her tear stained face towards the Mad Hatter, she sank her hand into her chest, and violently ripped out the glowing red organ.
"Who are you?" someone called from behind them, and Dawn closed her eyes in frustration, she had sincerely hoped that she would be able to avoid the orderlies. The Red Queen had told her to do this by any means necessary, so after a deep breath, she turned to face the man.
His eyes instantly went to the glowing red organ and all the color drained from his face and a moment later, he found himself magically pinned against the wall.
"Please…I have a family," he pleaded.
Dawn looked down to the heart in her hands and sighed as she crushed it, ignoring the scream from behind her, she walked towards the man.
"As heart-warming as that is, it really wouldn't do to leave witnesses."
His scream joined all the others that filled Bedlam.
"Dawn?!" Madison called as she shook her distant friend. Said friend began to blink rapidly and realized that she had just come out of a memory, "Sorry," she said in a hoarse voice.
"Did you remember anything important?"
Dawn shook her head and began to walk forward, "Let's just say that we won't be meeting Alice."
Emma sat in the diner and absentmindedly stared at her hot chocolate. Everything had officially fell apart. Regina had stopped talking to her, she had no idea where Dawn was, the only thing going for her was Henry, but her wasn't be very helpful at the moment as he stared at her.
"Will you stop it, kid?" she finally snapped.
Henry didn't even blink at the hostility and said, "Are you going to check on mom?"
"Why can't you do it?"
"Because I'm a kid, she won't tell me everything," he replied as if it should be obvious.
"And she'll probably bite my head off when she finds out that I have no idea where Dawn is." Someone stumbled next to them, and two sets of green eyes turned to the waitress who was never normally off-balance.
"Are you okay, Rubes?" Emma asked as she quickly stood to help her regain her balance.
Ruby quickly nodded, "I just lost focus…did I not tell you that Dawn is staying with me and Belle?"
Emma instantly felt her superpower flare up, the wolf was definitely lying, something she knew she would never do if she believed that her 'pup' was in danger. She knew that she should question this more, but at least she finally had some good news to take to Regina, at the very least she had something to actually go and talk to the brunette about.
"Did she say how long for?" Emma urged, she knew that Ruby at the very least had some inkling of where she had gone.
Ruby shook her head and replied, "I'm sure she'll come back whenever she finds what she's looking for."
The blonde narrowed her eyes at the brunette, who quickly turned on her heels and went back to the counter, completely forgetting that she was taking coffee over to a patron.
"Go to your grandparents," Emma said.
Henry nodded and stood from his seat, "Call me and tell me what she says."
Regina sat in her study practically glaring at the vial in front of her. She would've been ecstatic to get the memories back she had of her daughter. Problem was that she didn't have many memories it seemed. Not enough of her and her daughter, where they knowingly knew what they were to each other. Staring at it only reminded her of the unforgivable betrayal. Yes, Cora was cruel but Regina never thought it would be to this extent but then again she did and not too deep down she knew.
Being lost in her thought gave Emma the opportunity to slip into the mansion. She shut the door quietly and frowned. Most of the lights were off which wasn't like Regina at all. Just to annoy the older woman, she turned on all the lights as she went in search for her girlfriend.
"Where's Henry?" Regina questioned as soon as Emma reached the door way.
"Hey, Regina. Nice to see you. I missed you too," Emma sighed. She walked over and sat across from the brunette. Regina only glared at her. "Fine, forget I'm here…Henry is with his grandparents."
"Good…" she looked like she was going to say something else but stopped. Emma already knew.
"Dawn and Madison are with Ruby and Belle," Emma explained shortly before the vial caught her eye. She leaned over and picked it up, "Is this that memory potion thingy you were talking about?"
"Yes," Regina seemed growl behind clenched teeth. "I would appreciate it if you put it down. The ingredients to that potion are rare to find. It is the only one I have."
"Yeah, super important. Got it," the blonde said putting it back. "You still haven't told me why you need that anyway."
"Because there is something I need to remember Emma. When I'm ready to tell you what's happening, I'll let you know." Her tone sounded grave and Emma didn't move to argue with her. Things between Regina and most people these days were complicated so she didn't even bother with wondering anymore. If Regina said leave it she tried to leave it for as long as she could. Though this time it didn't seem good enough.
"I thought we were past this, Regina. We talk to each other about this kind of stuff, not bottle it up. I told you about my fucked up shit," Emma said in frustration but still walked to the door.
"You told me months later, Miss Swan," Regina said stalking towards her. Unlike most times when they invaded each other's space, Emma found herself backing away instead of holding her ground. The brunette looked to be in a fury and it only made Emma wonder what the hell Cora said to her to invoke this reaction in her. She was all too familiar of how hard it was to engage that woman in a simple conversation but Regina had equal amounts of sass and condescending quips to bear a talk with her mother. Something this time was different. More intense, emotional even.
"Regina-"
"There are some things we do not have in common, Emma, and I think you should respect that. So don't act as if it wouldn't be fair to give me my time," Regina snarled shoving the blonde out of the threshold of the study.
"Regina, just talk to me," Emma tried only to have the door slam in her face with her seething girlfriend shouting, "Go home, Swan!"
"I'll check on you tomorrow, then," Emma mumbled to herself and walked towards the front door.
Regina listened to the retreating footsteps until she heard the front door open and then close back. She felt guilty for yelling at Emma but frustration and detestation only lead to the inability to participate in civil conversations. Not being able to understand the situation for what it was only made her even more upset. Hopefully, she could grasp some sort of reason from her lost memories. She snatched up the vial and drunk it.
For moments nothing happened and anger turned into boiling rage. The vial was flung to the wall and the liquor cabinet was about to be next to be destroyed if it hadn't been for the crippling pain that overtook her head. It was a relief that it worked but the throbbing that brought her to her knee in front of the coffee table was nothing relieving. Regina gripped the table with both her hands as the once nagging memories came to the surface.
"I have a feeling you will be a quiet one," Regina said softly as she walked the length of her chambers. For one the baby always seemed to be pleasantly quiet in her mother's arms. Then there was the fact that the newborn slept constantly and as much as Regina wanted some awake time with her during the day, her just existing was good enough. For now, she was content with holding her child as she slept for however long babies did. Only from time to time did she stir from her sleep just to look up at her mother. Right then happened to be one of those times.
Regina walked over to the balcony, careful to stray away from railing she once fell over. She had in no way been trying to attempt suicide but she also could say that if she had, there was nothing to live for anyway. But now there was a child who needed her and she was more than willing to provide anything she wanted. She looked down to the intrigued brown eyes staring up at her and smiled at the loving look she was receiving. Having a child was an amazing feeling until she realized that she was still step mother to Snow White but she wouldn't let her ruin this. There was too much need to love her actual daughter than to waste time on hating Snow.
There hadn't been much time to worry about what would happen when the king and his daughter returned. Snow snuffed out attention constantly and no doubt the baby would cause problems. But no blame would be put on Snow, it would go all to Regina but she wouldn't dare let a thing happened to her child. She wouldn't be her mother. She'd be better and give her whatever she wanted. To feel free and to love and to know love. It had been a dream to be able to give all she hadn't had to her daughter.
The tiny girl against her chest made her feel things she hadn't felt in a long time. Or just things she hadn't ever felt in her lifetime. This was a new sensation. A new feeling. The moment her mother accepted that proposal, being a mother was unpleasant. Now with this child that was her own, that she wanted, she would enjoy motherhood. Her daughter would actually enjoy time together.
"How's my granddaughter?" Her father questioned walking into the room, breaking through her thoughts. Regina turned around and practically beamed at him.
"She's wonderful."
"Her mother looks very pleased," Henry said with a smile.
"I am happy," Regina admitted gently handing her daughter over to her father. She caressed the baby's head, "She makes me happy. I have a future now."
"You've always had a future, darling."
"Not one that I wanted," the younger woman said in a whisper. She turned back to the balcony and continued as her father cooed at the baby. "A life trapped in this castle with Snow and Leopold for the unforeseeable future is nothing I will ever look forward to."
"She's got your eyes," Henry said distractedly but that didn't seem to bother his daughter in the least. In fact if they talked about nothing except Daniella for the rest of their days she'd be just fine with that. "That's only one of many things from her mother that make her beautiful."
"Thank you, daddy."
The moment was interrupted by the newborn beginning to fuss and fidget in her grandfather's arms. Without hesitation he shifted the swaddled girl back to Regina who chuckled at them both.
"She's modest too. Must have gotten that from you," she smirked before starting to rock the baby once more. This time she slipped in a lullaby. Not even a minute later and the fussing was gone. Henry cleared his throat to get her attention.
"So you've forgotten something. Quite an important something."
"What?" Regina asked urgently. Her father was quick to quell her worry as he picked up a familiar blanket. Regina sighed in relief that was quickly followed by a gasp. She'd spent weeks working on the blanket and had been adamant about Daniella being wrapped up safely in Regina's handiwork but then there this little bundle of life that she'd created and the blanket was over looked for the baby.
"Yes, well, that's alright. We'll have plenty of time to use that, won't we Daniella?" She questioned as the baby gurgled with something of a smile. "Plenty of time."
Jefferson stumbled out of the Queen of Hearts palace and fell heavily to the ground.
He had agreed to her plan to make her daughter believe her to be dead, but he was unsure whether he was more afraid of the Evil Queen or her mother, and he had to say that he didn't enjoy that feeling. He felt utterly powerless, trapped in a feud between two powerful women.
"Hello Jefferson," a voice came from behind him.
The man swallowed hard and looked up at the hooded figure, "Who are you?"
"The person whom you seem intent upon pretending to be," Dawn replied.
Jefferson felt himself being pulled by an invisible force and eventually managed to balance himself on his feet, "I have no idea what you're talking about," he sputtered.
"You stole my hat and now everyone in the Enchanted Forest believes you to be the Mad Hatter," she growled as she invaded his personal space.
"I didn't steal anything, a rabbit gave me that hat."
"And the White Rabbit has already been punished, but that does not give you the right to use what is mine!"
Jefferson let out a ragged breath as pain began to bloom in his stomach, the figure was not even touching him and somehow managing to torture him in the most painful way that he could possibly imagine. He tried to fall to his knees, but found that he was being held in place.
"W-what do you want?" he trembled, desperate for the pain to go away.
Dawn tilted her head and inspected the pathetic man, "I want my hat back."
"C-Cora will kill me, if I cannot go back to Regina," he cried.
The pain suddenly went away and the figure grabbed him by the collar, "You know the Evil Queen?" she growled.
"For longer than I would care to mention," he breathed.
"And you are not afraid of her?"
Jefferson shook his head and Dawn released him, allowing him to fall to his knees.
The girl took a moment to think things through. In the two years since she'd taken up the mantel, she'd had a string of pathetic apprentices who managed to either get themselves killed or were too afraid of getting killed and ended up dying by her hand. This man, however, didn't look like he was going to wet himself at the mention of the Evil Queen, so he was already braver than her past failures.
"How is it you are able to use my hat?" she asked, almost as if she were changing the subject.
Jefferson shook his head, "I don't know, I just touch it and it works, though it doesn't always take me to the right place."
"Are you prepared to die for that hat?" she asked.
The man looked down at the ragged piece of felt, he knew that he should probably say no, but he loved his profession, especially the financial stability that it gave him and his daughter. He would rather die now than wait for the Queen of Hearts to crush his heart anyway, so he nodded.
"If you truly care so much, perhaps you could be the person that I am looking for," she said almost to herself.
"Meaning?"
"Meaning, I am offering you the chance to become my apprentice, I will teach you my craft. Never again will you find yourself in the wrong realm. You may continue…your little business in the Enchanted Forest, but you will also serve me and by extension the Red Queen."
"What's the catch?" Jefferson asked cautiously.
"For now, the only catch is that if you refuse, my punishment will be more severe than anything the Evil Queen and Queen of Hearts could inflict put together."
The man furrowed his brow and thought for a moment, "What does Regina have to do with this?" he asked as he realized that the mention of that name seemed to have almost disarmed the mysterious figure.
"Nothing!" Dawn roared.
"But…" before he could finish, one of his knees gave way from under him, and his face violently hit the concrete beneath them. He closed his eyes as pain began to rush through his broken nose.
Dawn leaned down and said, "Answers are not part of our deal, you will do well to remember that."
Jefferson took a deep, steadying breath and replied, "Yes master."
Dawn opened her eyes and took a deep breath. Looking over at the other sleeping bag she had conjured, she saw that Madison was still asleep. Sitting up, she sighed deeply. She had thought that being in Wonderland would help, but it was only making things so much worse.
She was beginning to wonder just how she could hate Regina knowing all of the terrible things she had done for a pile of coins. But she told herself that it was the Evil Queen's fault that she became the Mad Hatter in the first place, if she had just left her mother alive, she would have grown up as a normal Enchanted Forest peasant.
Turning on her side, she tried to close her eyes again, but found that sleep was far away.
She was sure that it would be this way for a while until she could find what truly made her happy. She knew that being the Mad Hatter was a thrill at the time, but now it just seemed like a life of misery. Being with Regina had been the happiest months of her life, but each of those memories were now tainted.
She had to find something new, and she would cross every realm until she found it.