Disclaimer: I could own but I don't have the money.

AHHH! The smell of the holidays….meaning I've been lazy. I'm sorry my lovely reviewers I am slow lazy and should be punished, but I'm back and hopefully living up to your expectations. This part reminds we of a song called mask by a wonderful shock rock band from Japan, Dir-en-Gray. Oh please excuse the Nazi references, I just liked the idea of having the Red Pieces in their uniforms. I not really good at war scenes so bare with me. The White Knight part was inspired by Fudge's short romance in Saving Wonderland between the prince of the white pieces and Arabella. Fudgers you make me sad sometimes, I cried at that part! I also have the urge to fluff.

"Just like chess." Alice whispered as Hatter and her stood awaiting the signal to move forward. Then in the distance they could see flames burning in the distance, and Alice could see the red pieces. All their eyes glared with a dark fire and their seemed to be made of flame. Their uniforms were all the same; tunics that were a yellow-orange color, with the same color pants tucked in to their burnt colored jackboots. The bishops were in the back next to the King, their mouths covered with a mask to filter out smoke. In each of their hands was a staff and in the other a handful of fire. Then Alice felt a cool blast from behind her, and she looked to see the White Pieces in silver armor that sparkled in the dim light. The bishops of the White Pieces mirrored the Red, only with ice instead of fire. When the air from the two sides mixed stream started to fill the air.

A mist of anticipations hung over the castle as the red pawns marched forward their pikes lowered as they approached. Their knee high boots bang on the ground in a steady rhythm like a heart beat. Then all the white pieces seemed to become as one as they moved forward to stop the on coming threat. All their faces were masks of determination as the marched forward.

Left

Right

Left

Right

Left

Right

Left

Right

Alice could hear the crack of their boots against the ground as they marched one after another. Weapons out as they approached, in the distance the Red King sat upon his horse ordering the troops forward. Then there was a deafening roar as the battle erupted in to full force and all the warriors rushed forward to meet their opponents. Hatter roar was just as loud, sounding like a mad man in the troths of death. His mad laughter filled the air as he rushed into the battle. As soon as he dove in, the sounds of screams and explosions followed causing much confusion among the troops. Alice caught glimpses and flashes at the mad man as he sprinted through the crowd setting off his inventions in a row of red troops. She tried to follow him in to the battle but only managed to get lost in the wall of burning and frozen bodies.

All Alice could barely see or hear as the clash of weapons meeting and the angry roars of the men surrounded her, as they slashed and hacked at any moving mass of flesh near them. Soon the ground was stained crimson as the bodies of both armies started to litter the earth around their still living comrades. Smoke from freshly lite fire spell clouded her vision and scrapped at her throat, causing her to cough violently as she pushed through the crowd. She could hear more explosions and the hiss of steam as the bishops clashed in battle.

"DIE BITCH!" a Red Soldier yelled, rushing out the steam his sword raised high. Then just as he was about run the girl through a mace suddenly swung around and connected with his skull. Alice looked up terrified and saw the White Knight, his armor stained with blood both his and the enemies.

"Go on milady." He said, pushing her back into the battle, " Find the Red King and kill him!"

Alice nodded as she rushed forward again, only to get once again confused in the mass of human flesh. Alice looked around desperately, trying to find the Red King, but pushing against were the still warm bodies of the freshly slain. Determined, she slashed at the red soldiers as she wadded through the mass of bodies, both the blood of the red and white staining her blade and hands. Blood splattered on her dress staining her white apron and turning the clean parts of her blue dress a dark violet. A snarl played on her lips as she moved forward, marching forward like a wild fire through a forest.

Then there in front of her was the Red King upon a regal steed that looked like a cross between a horse and a dragon. His face was stained with red as was his gold colored sword that gleamed like fire in the twilight.

"This is what my brother sends to fight me?" he scoffed, " a little girl?"

Alice just glared defiantly at him, her face contorted into a mask of rage. " I will stop you and the queen for causing any more harm!" she screamed defiantly, but with her throat raw from the smoke, her scream became little more then a whisper. The Red King smirked at her, as he dismounted his steed. The beast snorted out dark smog as he led it toward Alice, its red eyes just as cruel as those of its master.

"You believe that you can defeat me little one?" he asked, "then follow me in to the deepest darkness and fear itself to gain your prize."

Then suddenly the Red King and his horse were engulfed in red hot flame that swirled around him then vanished leaving Alice on the outskirts of the battle field. The ground was scorched where had stood, and Alice soon realized that see may have bitten off more then she could chew. Then there was a loud roar of triumph from the battle. She turned to see Hatter holding up the head of the Red Queen and the Red Pieces that had not been killed were retreating in the distance supporting their wounded comrades as they fled after the King. Alice couldn't believe it as fast as the battle had begun it had ended.

"Revenge!" the White pieces yelled, hoisting their weapons into the air cheering on the Mad Hatter. He was grinning madly as he threw down the bloody head, which brust into flames as soon as it hit the ground. This caused another triumphant to rip through the crowd followed by the White Kings strong voice addressing the recent victory.

"Comrades in arms! This is just one small victory in our long war against the Reds and the Queen of Hearts, but for now we punished them for robbing of us of our beloved queen," he said, " and we have our new friends to thank for this victory and we will aid you the best we can in finishing off the Red King."

As soon as he had stopped speaking, a low chant started to fill the air; Alice could barely hear it at first but then it grew louder and she could hear to names, 'Hatter and Alice'. Hatter smiled at her and rushed toward her. He grabbed her hand and raised it in the air along with his, beaming and the excited crowd. The chanting of the army grew louder, as Alice's vision started to blur before she blacked out in Hatter's arms.

She awakened a few hours later back inside the white castle; the Mad Hatter was lying next to her asleep. His body twitched on occasion as if even in his sleep his madness and past haunted him. Alice pushed his hair away from his face and kissed him gently on the forehead before sliding off the bed on to the floor. Her stocking feet moved lightly on the floor as she moved out in to the hallway. Once outside of the room, Alice was surprised at the quiet of it. There were only a few house members bustling about the halls. A few greeted her softly as she passed before quickly returning to their task.

Then out of the corner of her eye she saw a glint of silver catch in the dark moonlight. Much to her surprise, Alice had found a balcony overlooking the chessboard lands. Already leaning against the railing, was the White Knight. He had taken this armor off and was stand bared footed in some loose pants and shirt. Alice could now see his full form and was shocked to see he was in fact not the old man of the books, but a young man with close-cropped blonde hair and silvery eyes.

"What are you doing up so late?" he questioned, smiling at her with a hint of amusement.

Alice smiled back before joining him on the rail, "I couldn't sleep any longer." she said, "you?"

"To nice of a night, or as nice of a night we've had in a while." The Knight said, then added " you look so much like her and you sound the same as well."

"Like who?" Alice asked, already know whom he was talking about.

"The original Alice," he said, "we meet when she came to the Looking Glass World all those years ago, I was barely out of training. I remember had my head in the clouds making up all those foolish inventions."

"And you said you could always think better when your head was upside down." Alice said, staring at him intently. He laughed suddenly, shaking his head.

"Oh yes, I did tell her that." he said, "I'm not really surprised she told you."

"Exactly, a friend of hers wrote it down after she returned and it was published as a book ages ago," Alice said, " and before she died she would read it to me before she was taken away."

"She was a good girl," the Knight whispered, " so are you."

"Thank you."

Alice soon found a strong arms wrapped around her, and a warm body pressed against her back. "Please let go of me." Alice whispered, pushing him away from her. Knight nodded stepping away with a slightly hurt look in his eyes.

"I guess I should have expected that, after you all you may seem the same but you're not her."

"Yes, I am not my great aunt, good sir," Alice said, "and I can not return your feelings."

"I am aware of that." Knight said, " but I will always care for you my lady and if you are ever in trouble please do not hesitate to ask."

"Thank you." she whispered then slipped away again. As she walked she mused over the recent turn of events, and even though she repeated the conversation over in her head she still couldn't believe it, both the White Knight and the Mad Hatter had fallen in love with her aunt and her. Maybe history likes to repeat its self here as well. She thought continuing her exploration of the halls.

Back inside they room Hatter was lost in a fit full sleep, fractured dreams and memories clouded his mind as he tossed and turned on the bed.

"Such a dreadful day." The March Hare said, emptying the nearest teapot into a rather large cup. The Dormouse nodded sleepily, trying his best not to fall asleep on the table once again.

"What do you think Hatter?"

Hatter suddenly snapped to attention, having to been lost in his increasingly irregular thoughts. "Yes, it is rather dreadful." he said, numbly. He was hiding something under the table and would glance downward ever once in a while, then glance upwards again when Hare called to him.

"Your still not thinking of building clockwork are you?" the March Hare asked.

"Of course, the Queen needs reliable soldiers," Hatter said, " she doesn't have enough card guards to spare, so why not build some?"

"I've seen your attempts my friend, those Marionettes you spend so much tinkering Time on." The March Hare retorted, "you'll never create enough or some good enough to show the Queen."

"I don't just what to help the Queen," Hatter said, an insane smile suddenly appearing on his lips, "I want Wonderland to last forever, including you my friends."

With one swift movement Hatter had pulled a knife out from under the table, and was at his friend's throat slashing away at the Hare furry neck. Then with an equally quick movement he attacked the sleeping Dormouse. Hatter hauled his tools out from under the table and began to work fast to preserve their life before it slowly dripped out of them. As he begun to work he noticed something odd, instead of the earth toned cloths of the March Hare, he tearing at a blue dress and white apron.

Hatter's eyes grew wide with panic as he looked at his victim and he saw the familiar face of his beloved Alice. He face craved till it was almost unrecognizable, her blond hair stained with blood that dripped down from her neck and face.

"ALICE!" Hatter screeched, tears starting to form in his eyes as he worked desperately to revive her. But even with the clockwork in place she was died. His hands dropped helplessly to his side as he stared in shock and horror at his lost love.

"Alice, no." he whispered, "I'm sorry Alice, I'm sorry. Forgive me, please."

"Now, now, my servant." An icy voice whispered, soothingly, "You were just following orders."

Hatter turned and to his horror was the Queen of Hearts. Her long dress scrapped the ground, the blood staining the white fur edges. She wrapped her whip around his neck and pulled him closer. He could smell the disgusting mixture of rose and decay that seemed to seep from her very core.

"I killed the only thing that was important to me." He said, but his voice sounded distance as him he wasn't the one speaking.

"No I did."

Hatter turned away from the Queen to see his reflection standing over the dead Alice. His black hair covered his face, but hear the amusement in his voice even though he could see the expression.

"Did you think you could get away from us forever?" he asked, draping himself over the real Mad Hatter, " Our Queen always knows where her servants are, and you'll never ever be fully rid of me, after all with out me you're just the Hatter."

"Get off me." Hatter hissed, as his reflection nibbled on his neck and ear.

"Why so you can go and kill your self?" the reflection said, "I don't think so I want to do that my self."

His reflection smiled at him, holding the knife he had used in the murders of his past as was slowly raising it just before…

Suddenly Hatter's eyes snapped open, sweat plastering his red hair to his forehead and face. His eyes darted from side to side as he tried to make sense of what had just happened when he realized it had been a dream. Then he moved his hand to side to find where that Alice had vanished. He sat up quickly and then soon saw the door open and Alice enter the room.

"Sorry, I wanted to explore some more." she said, seeing his worried look.

"No it's alright." Hatter said, " I was just had a very strange dream."

Alice nodded joining him on the bed. She pulled him closer allowing him to pull her tight against him. Before long she was a sleep again her thin arms wrapped around Hatter. He kissed her gently, but was still thinking of his dream.

"Alice, I will protect against all evil," he whispered, "even if it is frommy self."