Batman: The Animated Series: Jervis and Alice FanFiction: A Frabjous Love Story
This is an entirely different story that I wanted to write that strays away from my other ones. I've always wanted to write my own story of Jervis Tetch and Alice Pleasance from the animated series where they finally end up together. I know many others see the Hatter from that show as sympathetic as well compared to other darker takes on the character. I know Jervis really loved Alice in the episode "Mad as a Hatter" and did not mean what happened between the two of them to happen and Roddy McDowall gave the best and most sympathetic performance as him. I wanted to give my own take on what happens if they end up meeting up again and start anew and live a happy and loving life together after all. I absolutely do not own Batman: The Animated Series which belongs to Warner Bros. and DC Comics. Enjoy!
A Frabjous Love Story
Synopsis: After getting released from Arkham Asylum on good behavior and completing all rehabilitation exercises, Jervis Tetch a.k.a. The Mad Hatter decides to reform and try to start a new life free of crime. During the same time, his former secretary and love interest, Alice Pleasance gets divorced from her husband, Billy Travers after he cheats on her. After they accidentally bump into each other, Alice tells him that she knew he never meant any harm and she forgives him. They become reconnected and eventually start to fall in love. In the end, both of them live happily ever after and Jervis finally found his perfect Wonderland with the woman that he loves.
Chapter 1: New Beginnings
It was a sunny day in Gotham City and just outside of the city, there was Arkham Asylum for Gotham's criminally insane residents. Although, one of them would prefer to be called mad rather than criminally insane. Jervis Tetch, otherwise known as The Mad Hatter, is being released from the asylum today on accounts of good behavior and cooperation, along with successfully completing all rehabilitation testing. Ever since he was last thrown in Arkham by Batman, he decided that this was no way anybody should live and wanted to truly better himself by doing everything he needed to do in order to become a member of normal society once more. Jervis was currently in his cell gathering all of his belongings which included his Mad Hatter costume, his mind-control technology, his tea kit, and his copies of his two favorite books, Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass. Dr. Leland stood outside his cell waiting for him. "You all set, Jervis?", Dr. Leland asked. "Yes, Dr. Leland. I'm ready to go.", Jervis answered with a slight smile. He gathered his stuff and left his cell for the last time. "I'm really proud of you. You're going to do great things.", Dr, Leland said to him. He shook her hand and replied, "Thank you for your kind words. I couldn't be where I am now without your help.". He was escorted out to the exit while passing through the cells of all the other Gotham rogues on his way out such as Scarecrow, The Riddler, Two-Face, Poison Ivy, Harley Quinn, and The Joker. They all said something to him as he walked past them. "I fear what your life will become if you fully reform, Jervis.", Scarecrow said. "How long will it take for the Mad Hatter to end up right back here once more? That's a riddle only you have the answer for.", The Riddler said. "I wonder what chance hold in store for you, my friend. Will you officially go straight or will you be back here in a week?", Two-Face said. "Good luck, Jervis.", Poison Ivy said. "Don't forget to smile, Jervy!", Harley said. "Hats off to you with your new and better life, my good sir! Hahahaha!", Joker said and laughed. Once he got to the exit, Jervis left on his own into the city. As he was getting farther away from the asylum, he couldn't help, but remember everything that has happened ever since he started his criminal career as the Hatter. Sometimes he wishes he would've thought of his own identity instead of using the name of a character from his favorite story. He wasn't one of the rogues that ever did too much harm compared to Joker and Scarecrow. He definitely never killed anyone in his criminal life, other than taking a few shots at the Bat. His main crimes were when he trapped Batman in his dream machine, used his mind-control worry men to get rich, and control various animals and performers of Haly's Circus to commit robberies for him. But he'll never forget how it all started. It all started with the love he had for the one true friend he ever had, his secretary, coincidentally named Alice. It was even more of a coincidence that she was a blonde girl too. Growing up, Jervis never had any friends and his parents never made much attention to him. Most of the other kids made fun of him for his appearance, especially his overbite. So, he spent most of his time in his room experimenting with technology or reading whatever he could find from his parents' book collection. After he read just about everything, he came across the last book he didn't read yet which was Lewis Carroll's classic fantasy tale of a girl named Alice who fell down in a rabbit hole and ended up in a weird and magical world called Wonderland. He figured he would read it just for fun since he normally didn't have anything better to do even though it was a kid's story. Once he started reading it, he became more involved in it then anything else he ever read. Mainly because of the idea of going to an entirely different place where everyone and everything was weird like him and a place that he could get away from the harshness of the real world. He read it and its sequel Through the Looking Glass about a hundred times overall in his life and he imagined that he was the one who fell down the rabbit hole and ended up in a world of his own every time he read it. He did try to make something of his life by going to college and graduating with a degree in Neuroscience and was employed by Wayne Enterprises. He remembers when he first met the big boss, Bruce Wayne, he was a very kind man who welcomed Jervis to the team. He was definitely nicer than the woman who was in charge of his department, Marsha Cates, who he often viewed as the Queen of Hearts because of how much an angry, nagging bitch she was. She made his life a living Hell at his workplace and continued to not really have any friends. He spent most of his time in his office where he was focused on his work, especially when he was tasked to find ways to enhance the brain's potential using microchips. He tested it on some mice which he discovered can allow him to control their minds. He at first didn't mean any harm to the mice by doing this. He was astounded at his discovery and wanted to keep it a secret. He liked the idea of being in control of something for once in his life. He'll never forget the day he met Alice; it was one of the happiest days in his life. He was just taking some notes when Cates came in in her usual pissed off tone. "Tetch! Stop what you're doing! I want you to meet your new secretary.", she said. He was startled by her entrance and slightly jumped being the shy one that he was. "Oh...yes, ma'am. Anything you say.", Jervis said as he followed the redheaded woman out into the hallway. It was there that he went wide-eyed as he saw the most beautiful woman he had ever seen in his life. Cates walked Tetch over to the smiling blonde girl who was clearly just as nervous as he was seeing as how she was excited for starting her new job. "This is your new boss other than me, Jervis Tetch.", Cates said to the girl. "It's very nice to meet you, Mr. Tetch!", she said as she extended her hand out to him. He just stood there in silence for a moment as he was completely awestruck at the beautiful woman in front of him. "Come on, Jervis! Shake her hand!", Cates told him. He snapped out of it and shook the girl's hand. "It's very nice to meet you too,…...I'm sorry, I didn't get your name.", Jervis said. "I'm sorry. My name's Alice. Alice Pleasance.", she said still smiling. He then felt something even more as her name was the same name of the main character in the story that helped him get through life, especially with how much she looked like Alice from the story, but as a grown up woman as his new secretary was in her mid 20s while he was in his mid 30s. "Glad to have you here, Ms. Pleasance.", Jervis said as he smiled as well. "You can call me, Alice.", she said while still smiling. "Okay, Alice.", he said. Jervis and Alice just stared at each other for a moment before Cates broke the silence. "Okay, well I'll leave you guys to it.", Cates said as she walked away. Alice couldn't help, but notice that he seemed really tense and asked him, "Are you alright, sir?". "Yes. I don't know why, but I guess I'm just a little nervous is all.", Jervis said while scratching the back of his head. "Oh, I'm always a little nervous too. Like now since I'm starting a new job. But I promise, I won't let you or Dr. Cates down. Anything you need me to do, you can count on me.", Alice said. "I'm sure you won't let me down at all.", he assured her and that seemed to help her a bit. "This will be your desk, but we don't have to get into all that hard work nonsense on your first day. You can arrange the desk however you wish.", he told her. "And anything you need to help you out at all, just let me know.", Jervis said to her. "Thank you so much, Mr. Tetch.", she said while smiling at him. "Please, call me Jervis.", he told her. "Okay, Jervis.", she said while still smiling at him. He then returned to his office and felt like his heart was going to beat out of his chest. He never felt like this about anyone before. He started to think it was just because of her name and appearance or the fact that she seemed like a really sweet girl who actually showed him respect unlike other people. But he truly felt like he already made a special connection with this girl even though they just met. He decided to forget about it for now and get back to his work. Back in present day, he made it to the city where he wanted to start anew. If only things could've ended differently between them. He felt like he lost the one true friend he ever had even though she didn't feel the same way about him. He realized he did take it too far by mind-controlling ordinary citizens just to give the illusion of him being a man about town or having them play out his Wonderland fantasy. Especially when it came down to mind-controlling her. That's the one thing he regrets most of all. He only wishes he could truly say sorry to her, but he thought like that would ever happen. But only if he knew what would happen to him real soon.