Bayard's nose was to the ground as Winthorp held onto the dog's leash, his pale blue eyes glaring around the forest as his free hand traced a thin scar that lined across the bridge of his nose and extended out to each of his temples. Alice had indeed blinded him on the battlefield, but thankfully Time had gifted him with sight once more. It was far from perfect however.

The White Knight's vision was reduced to mostly shapes and shadows thanks to Alice's handiwork. He loathed that he had to rely on the guidance of the Bloodhound, but Mirana promised to look into restoring his eyes to full capacity.

If he brought back Alice.

The Knight had his doubts on the White Queen's proposal, but truth be told he would capture her regardless of the reward. The real question was if he would bring her back alive as Mirana wanted. Time wanted her dead, and maybe if Alice was dead the clock master would be more present in Under again. Suddenly the hound stopped at the base of a tree and looked back to the man on the other side of the leash.

"The trail ends here," Bayard announced and looked ahead. "The criminal known as Alice has been joined by someone with evaporation skills and I'm unable to pin her scent down." Winthrop frowned at the statement, tightening his hold on the leash.

"Nonsense, what about Stayne's finger?" the Knight asked.

Bayard brought his head down and pushed the stones burying the severed digit aside and nudged the earth until the finger was visible. Enclosing the finger in his mouth, Bayard turned back to Winthrope and butted his head against the man's armored thigh.

Winthrop didn't need to see to know what the dog was asking of him. Reaching down, the Knight took hold of the saliva covered finger and threw it into the forest, letting out an agitated roar as well. Bayard was startled by the reaction and went low to the ground.

"I can try to pick the scent up again," Bayard suggested. "Or if we went back to Marmoreal my pups might be able to track the assassin better."

Winthrop shook his head and sighed heavily as he pulled out a handkerchief and padded down the sweat droplets that had formed on his widow's peak. Returning back to the White Kingdom would be a sign of defeat.

"No, I don't think that will be necessary, Bayard. If I think to know Alice half as well as I do, we may indeed be able to find her with that Hatter," Winthrop stated. "Do you know the way to his home?"

With a snort, Bayard nodded and dragged the White Knight forward, leading the way to Tarrant Hightopp's home.


"Tick, tick, tick, tick, tick…"

Thackeray ticked and rambled as he led the band of individuals along the path to Time's doorstep, swinging his pocket watch in from of his face as he trotted along. Behind him, the rest of the group was staggered with the Mad Hatter bringing up the rear of the convoy.

Alice would turn her head every now and then to see his eyes glaring at her. They were green at least, but he was by no means fond of sharing the road with her. She wasn't sure if a smile would soften his gaze or make matters worse so she would turn her head back front.

"At least he isn't trying to kill me for the moment," Alice stated. Nivens nodded in response as he hopped beside her, now wearing a butterscotch colored waistcoat that Tarrant had made out of a set of curtains.

"I think that is really all any of us can ask from Tarrant, although I do wish he would have reconsidered the color palette that he was working with," said the White Rabbit. "Still, things are much better than I would have predicted."

Turning her gaze back over her shoulder, it seemed that the Hatter was in conversation with Chess. Alice was tempted to hold back so she could hear what was being said, but a fine prick to the back of her heel from Mallmkun's needle prevented her from staying in one place.

"Keep moving, tyrant," barked the Dormouse.

...

"I cannae believe ye, Chess," muttered Tarrant, his gaze on the back of Alice's head. "Consorting with the Black Queen. I thought ye were neutral and such."

"More neutral than you know, my friend," the Cheshire Cat spoke as he perched himself upon the Hatter's top hat. "Neutrality hasn't exactly won me any favors as of late. However, I doubt that knocking on Time's door will elevate my status with anyone," the cat continued as he kneaded the air, not daring to pluck a single stitch from the top hat. "But it will at the very least make for a good story."

Tarrant scoffed. Out of everyone here, Chessur was the only one with a true advantage. He was uncatchable. Should things go south or reach a point that no longer met the cat's wants or needs he could just evaporate himself out of harm's way and call it a day.

"I don't know how you loss yer head," Tarrant said with clenched fists. "The Black Queen- she-"

"What did she do?" Chess asked, boredom evident in his voice. The question irritated the man, mostly because he didn't have the answer.

"Well, obviously she cannot be good!" Tarrant nearly shouted, drawing the attention of Alice back to them. He very much disliked it when she looked at him. Her eyes made him feel funny. Like somehow he should apologize to her. When Alice's gaze turned back forward Tarrant continued his baseless argument. "The White Queen said-"

"If the White Queen said that hats were no longer to be worn on every fifth day on account of it being odd, would you listen?" The question stopped Tarrant in his track and he removed his hat to get a better look at the cat but the furred friend was hovering over Tarrant's shoulder now.

"That is a preposterous thing to say," Tarrant grumbled as he set his hat back on his head but didn't move, allowing the rest of the group to distance themselves. "Mirana would never say such a thing, but if she did there would be a good reason for the rule."

"Other than her marriage to the Knave, what crime has Alice committed? What good reason is there for the outrage against her?" Chessur asked. "What do you personally have against the woman?"

Tarrant frowned as he stared at the back of the woman's head, trying to pick out something that was worthy of dislike. The way her hair was unraveled? The shade of blue she wore? Maybe the sound of her voice? Alas, none of these were verdicts that should result in wanting to wage war.

"I'm not sure, Chess. But when I find it, I shall tell you," Tarrant grumbled before moving again, his steps fast and heavy to catch up to the rest of the group, adjusting his pace only after he had passed Alice. Their eyes met briefly but neither acknowledged the contact, turning their gazes off the trail.

Tarrant folded his arms over his chest as Mallymkun climbed along his pant leg, ascending up to the man's shoulder and nestled herself into the fiery hair that grazed his shoulder. Folding her own arms over her chest to mimic her friend, the mouse cast a glare Alice's way and leaned closer to Tarrant's ear.

"I still don't think we should trust her," Mally muttered without fear of her volume. "You give the word 'atter, and I'll go over and pluck her eyes out!"

"I can hear you," Alice retorted to the threat without looking at the pair. Suddenly Tarrant let out a high pitch giggle which did catch the woman's attention.

"It's rude to eavesdrop you know," chided the Mad Hatter. The comment nearly made Alice go over the edge in frustration when the ramblings of Thackery increased.

"We're here! Tick-tock, tick, tick, tick-tock," shouted the March Hare as he jumped in place pointing to a single gray door that stood in the open.

They were where all the landscapes met. The sea to the north, the desert to the west, the plains of the east and they were emerging from the forest to the south. Alice was the first to approach the lone door and circled it in confusion. Where in the world did it lead to?

"Curiouser and curiouser," Alice whispered as all but Thackery drew closer to the door. Alice lifted her head and looked to the March Hare for guidance but it was clear he still took the order of not following Mirana very seriously as he plopped himself down onto the earth and continued ticking away.

"Maybe it's best if I go in alone," Alice started. "I'm not sure what I will find in there, but I would be much more comfortable with risking my head and not all of yours."

"That is fine by me," Nivens quickly replied, already backing away. "I will simply wait here with Thackery for your return. Best of luck to you, Alice."

Alice nodded and turned her head to Chessur who gave a single shake of his head winning a smile from Alice. She then turned to Tarrant and Mally who both gave the woman hostile stares.

"You invited me on this journey," the Mad Hatter reminded. Mally nodded as she got to her feet and placed her baled up paws onto her hips.

"And I go where he goes!"

Alice did not fight either of them on the issue. Instead, she turned and opened the door, thankful that it wasn't locked.


Stepping inside, the group was welcomed to the enormous library that Time kept. Alice was unsure if any immortal could have the ability to read all these books, but given that they were intruding upon Time's home, she believed that he not only found the hours to dedicate to the task, but could also make up extra moments just to sit and read.

Alice led the way, though she had no idea where she was leading them to. Rows upon rows of bookshelves took up the seemingly endless building. Her eyes could not find a wall nor the ceiling that enclosed this palace of books and trinkets.

"I wish I had a map," Alice said and as soon as the words came out of her mouth, maps and scrolls of all sorts began to fly off the shelves and collided with the uninvited guests.

"Now look at what you've done!" Tarrant shouted, bewildered by the assault. "You've upset the library!"

Chessur was unphased by the commotion, allowing the parchment to pass through him as his friends suffered the plight of being slapped and buried underneath the maps. Floating above the shelves, the cat observed how endless the library truly was, and all the maps that had yet to find their way to them.

"Alice, I don't mean to alarm you, but you may be buried alive if you don't do something quickly," warned Chessur. The woman grunted in frustration as she pulled a map off of her face and looked up to the unscathed feline.

"I don't know how to stop it!" Alice shouted, but no sooner had she spoke the papers all ceased to move in their direction and fell to the floor, ending the chaos. "... Oh."

Tarrant gave a sigh of relief. It would be a sad and sorry end to be buried alive. "That was closer than I would have liked," remarked the hatter as he checked himself for papercuts. "Wouldn't you agree Mally?" Tarrant asked but was met with silence. Looking to the shoulder where the Dormouse once sat, Tarrant only found the stitches of his jacket. "Oh taffy, Mally!? Where have you gone?!" Cried Tarrant digging through the papers at his feet.

Alice and Chessur joined in the hunt as well, sifting through and calling out for Mally until Alice pulled out the white mouse from a stack of papers. Mally let out a dramatic gasp for air as she was pulled up above the sea of papers and went slack in Alice's hand, exhausted from fighting through the parchment.

Seeing that they hadn't lost the smallest member of their band of travelers, Tarrant, Alice and Chessur all took in a breath of solace and released it at the same time. Without being prompted, Alice restored Mallymkun to Tarrant's shoulder. Tarrant's green eyes were not as harsh on the woman now and he tipped his hat ever so slightly at her. Alice smiled in response but quickly turned away again.

"Now then, I don't suppose I can ask for directions can I?" Alice pondered.

"Whatever the case, I think whatever you ask should be as specific as possible," Chess noted as he hovered over her head. "You were rather lucky you asked for something so light. If it were books instead I don't think we would be having this conversation."

Alice nodded in agreement as she and Tarrant trudged through the maps. She would have to choose the words she used here much more carefully. Once they cleared the worst of the pileup, Alice focused on what it was they were after.

Finding Time, but she couldn't just ask for Time. Who knew what that would send their way. Books on Time, how to tell time, anything that included the word or name.

"I wish," Alice started, the rest of the group leaning in closer to her, anxiously waiting to hear what Alice had to ask. "I-, I wish," she said much lower.

"I WISH TO KNOW WHO IS DISTURBING MY LIBRARY!" Boomed a voice from several floors above. When the voice finished its echos all of the trespassers were lifted from the floor and sent barreling up, all screaming at the forceful wind carrying them up and up and up until it dropped them like stones on a rug in front of a fireplace.

Tarrant was the first to sit up and meet Time's face, which was twisted in contempt for the unwanted presence.

"Tarrant Hightopp! How dare a lowly fabric worker intrude upon my domain!" The man who was regarded as a deity scolded. "I ought to ensure you never accomplish another stitch again!"

Alice propped herself up and placed a hand to her head. Only in Under could she injure her crown so many times, but she was just thankful that she wasn't knocked out for once. Looking over her shoulder Alice witnessed a terrified Tarrant and Mally cowering beneath a tall man, who had salt and pepper colored hair. The man looked vaguely familiar, but she couldn't place where she saw his face.

"Please Time, have mercy on me! Why, I only wished to remember some of the days you gave me!" Tarrant uttered as he removed the hat from his head. The man standing before him raised his finger and opened his mouth, prepared to say something that might seal the Mad Hatter's face, but Alice spoke first.

"You're Time?" Alice asked as she got to her feet. Time's eyes went from Tarrant's face to the woman's and he paled in her presence and took a step back.

"Alice?" The man whispered, shaking his head. "You shouldn't be here! I order you to leave at once!" Time shouted. Instead, Alice turned towards the fireplace and seized a poker from the stand and advanced upon Time causing him to back up, tripping over Tarrant's foot in the process and he fell to the floor.

"Tell me Time, why?!" Alice shouted as she stepped over Tarrant and met Time with the poker's tip right on the man's nose. "You've tried to kill me on more than one occasion, had all of Under wage a battle over who knows what, had Ilosovic murdered, and I want to know why! Why did you make my friends forget about me!" She recalled having seen his likeness at the battle in the Outland city, and she was furious to say the least that Time was truly on Mirana's side.

"Because I cannot control you, Alice," Time said honestly with his palms flat on the floor, accepting that he could not protect himself from the determined woman." At first, I thought I would enjoy the chaos you bring to the land, keep me guessing, but then you started doing things I didn't like, and convincing other people to defy me. I couldn't have that so I needed you to go away," he said looking down. "Truth be told since you've left I haven't held as much control as I once did. I fear that I'm losing my touch, my powers don't work like they used to."

While Tarrant, Chess and Mally all looked to Time with pity, Alice had a look of malice towards the rather pathetic looking man.

"Our lives are not just some chess game for you to play!" Alice shouted, enraged that Time truly just saw them all as some silly pawns. "You can't kill people just because they don't do what you want them to do!"

Time stared at Alice with a blank face for a moment and then blinked. "Well, of course I can. That's how I've always done things." Time replied simply.

Alice pulled back the poker with the intention of inflicting harm upon the man but stopped as Time raised his hands in defense.

"Wait, wait, wait, please! Perhaps we can come to a deal or an agreement of sorts?" Time pleaded, making Alice narrow her gaze in suspicion.

"Can you make my friends remember who I am?" Alice asked as she prodded the man forcefully and he shook his head. "Can you call off Mirana's ill will towards me? How about Stayne? Can you bring him back?!" Alice shouted and Time continued to shake his head. Alice raised her arm again and Time inched back.

"I can't bring him back, but I know who can!" Time bawled, staying Alice's hand once more.

"Who?" Alice inquired as she relaxed her arm to listen to the man's feeble attempt to save himself, watching Time as he carefully got to his feet again.

"Well, the only person who can talk to those no longer with us," Time responded. "Death." Alice was taken aback by the answer as Tarrant rose to his feet and Chessur made himself visible again.

"Death? You know Death?" Alice asked in a whisper. Time scoffed at the question as he placed a hand on the railing behind him.

"Know him? Child, Death is my brother."