Hello, I am totally sorry for the long wait D: Hopefully this'll make up for it: 5,225 words. Have fun!
Part 3 of 3
Time focused on the chronosphere, on the rolling waves of the ocean, on keeping his contraption as level as possible, on getting to Alice at the right moment, on ANYTHING but Hatter's crazed and vengeful mutters and abrupt battle-cries and outbursts.
"We nearly there, Tickie?" Hatter inquired with a slightly impatient growl. It was leaning more towards a hunger for vengeance.
Mend the bond.
He snorted in disgust. There was absolutely no bond between him and this, this, this ginger rebel! He grumbled under his breath at Alice's words to him shortly before the tea party-
Alice.
A low and threatening mutter sounded from the hatter in response to the response he was not given. He eyed Time carefully. "The more and more the clock of Underland ticks on, the more and more of her dainty guts will abound," he taunted. "Steady as the sea but fast as the wind! Onward, unhuman specimen!"
"Hatter, please," Princess Mirana scolded in her careful voice. She tried her hand at being the mediator though she had a feeling it would not work. "Now is not the moment to argue. We must find Alice, and to do that we must work together."
Time growled in agreement and at the insulting nickname. He aimed his words at the red-haired man. "A little less chatter, would you?"
"A little less chatter," Hatter mocked without hesitation. His angered laugh grew. "Any sign of the chronosphere, Cog-Man? That red lady does not sleep!" Then he looked at Time from the corner of his eye. "Oh, I'm sure you know all about her and her sleeping habits, ol'Timey!"
A smart retort stood on the tip of Time's tongue but a sudden spark shot through him. The vehicle shook as he shuddered. He nearly lost course but managed to steady the vehicle again- The Grand Clock was starting to break. He hoped Wilkins had some sense back at the Castle to keep the clock ticking, at least better than he did the last time.
Princess Mirana wore a grimace of sympathy for Time and Hatter had enough brains left not to speak.
"We're almost there. I can see the chronosphere now," Time grunted out once he regained control of everything.
They soon came upon the wave - the sinister-looking wave that Time dreaded in entering. All his fears bubbled to the surface: that he would not reach Alice or the chronosphere in time, that Iracebeth would finally win, that Princess Mirana would be lost from her kingdom, that Hatter would go madder, that he himself would purposely keep the chronosphere away from the Grand Clock - to destroy Underland, should Alice not make it.
Hatter squinted at the tattered ground below. He and the other two quickly scanned the earth as they flew over, looking for Alice or signs of yellow hair. "Get a bit closer, Tickie. Can't see anything."
"I get any closer, we'll crash into those trees and Iracebeth will know we're here-"
An obnoxious snort interrupted him. "I think she already knows we're here. You're not the quietest when entering the atmosphere you know- I even doubt you're the quietest when entering anything!"
Out of rage and spite, Time jerked the vehicle, nearly sending Hatter over the edge.
"Both of you, for goodness sake!" Princess Mirana scolded. "For Alice, can we not fight? Or if she is to be in grave peril, are you two going to bicker about who saves her?"
"Yes!" came the unison reply. She rolled her eyes even though they finally agreed on something. But upon hearing the other, both grumbled under their breath and minded their own.
Time spotted a patch of downed trees. He hoped this was where the chronosphere had been landed. He steered for it and steadily landed the contraption. He looked around and didn't see any familiar lingering sign of Alice or the chronosphere.
Then there was a distant scream.
Hatter leaped out the moment the vehicle stopped moving and charged for the thicket. His cutlass in hand and his legs carrying him as fast as they could.
Time watched him go, yearning to follow. But he had to think of the chronosphere and The Grand Clock. If Hatter reached Alice first, she would be in good hands. Hatter could handle it himself, whatever sort of peril she was in. Time didn't need to be in any hurry.
Princess Mirana noticed his lack of need to chase after the scream. She remembered the tea party..
"Something troubling you, dearest?" she asked a little knowingly. She had been watching him watch Alice and Hatter.
He sharply turned his head. His facial features fought to remain composed and act like he had not been caught looking at something he shouldn't have. "N-no, Princess," he said with a tight shake of his head. "Nothing is troubling me."
She hummed unconvincingly and she saw right through him. "Even if there was, it is not my place to inquire. The only advice I can give is that I wish she knows as well."
Surely he had not fallen out of love for the yellow-haired girl that saved all of Underland on more than one occasion? She approached him with careful concern. "Do you not have the strength to pursue? Are you not willing to bring Alice back to the present?"
"I am willing," he replied. Then he nodded his head toward the dust path Hatter left behind. "But she has her hero there. You heard the mutters of Underland. I am nothing but a broken clock-man."
She tsked and tried, "Why do you think so lowly of yourself? I know all of Underland takes you for granted, but she is not the same."
He didn't reply.
"Is she?"
The corner of his mouth lifted in a half-smile at the thought of Alice's uniqueness and purity. "No, she isn't," he admitted. Then he felt foolish for believing the ginger.
She seemed to read his mind. "He can be a bit overzealous when he's in a mood."
A pause followed and in this pause, she felt the need to speak about- defend- apologize for her irate sister. "I'm sorry."
He let out a short grunt, signaling that he had heard her.. though he had no idea why she was saying such apologies. "The chronosphere is near. I can feel it." He started in the direction the hatter disappeared.
"Iracebeth shouldn't be far then." She followed Time toward the darkening dead woods.
But she continued with her apology- reasoning- discussion. "I can't believe that she would do such a thing! Well, I can- you know what I mean," she said. "After everything we've already been through! I had no idea she still held much hatred for Alice's slaying of the Jabberwocky-"
Then she paused and remembered that Iracebeth had been in her kingdom nearly under lock-and-key. "Oh, and to steal the chronosphere again!" She looked troubled and bothered as she kept wrapping her mind around all that had happened. "All of it is my fault. I allowed it to happen! I swear I was keeping an eye on her. She was constantly in my sights until.. she wasn't. Oh, Time. I am truly, truly sorry."
"You did nothing wrong, Princess," he shook his head. "There was a spy. I was caught having tea time with Alice and her friends. She's not after revenge for her little pet. Rather to get back at me, I presume-"
"Sissy!"
At her voice, Time felt his cogs cool with the calm before the storm. He could not guarantee he would keep his composure. His lip curled in anger and his eyes were hard. Princess Mirana turned.
Her tiny body soon came into view shortly after her big head. "And Time! How lovely to see you both! Have you come to witness the hunt? The chase? The execution?" Her voice was its usual volume and her face seemed to crack in half with that godawful gleaming smile.
Composure, dignity, niceties be damned! Time stepped forward, a new fire in his eyes. "What have you done with her?"
Iracebeth shrugged elaborately. "Why, nothing at all. Brat took off running the moment we landed."
"Liar-" he sneered.
She held up a tiny finger. "Ah, ah, ah," she tsked. "I could still order her back and you can be the gentleman and cut off her head."
Princess Mirana interfered, her tone pleading. "Bessy, you've caused enough. Where is she?"
The woman's large head quickly spun to her. "Don't tell me you care for her too, Sister?" Her temper was starting to rise. She walked toward the white queen and carefully looked her over. "Pity," she began with hate laced in her voice, "-and I was going to forgive you for siding with Time." She raised her hand, intending to strike her sister, and Mirana gasped.
But a solid hit with a good-sized log to her side sent her flailing to the earth. The broken and dead branches and grass cut her skin and she shouted horribly. She looked up with a bright red face at her assailant.
Time was not fazed by her selfish cries - his mouth was in a tight line.
"Wh-what- WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS?!" she shrieked.
He stalked to her then reached down and gripped her collar in an iron fist. "I've had enough of your little games. Where is Alice? Where is the chronosphere?!"
Even in her state on the dirty ground, she had the nerve to turn up her nose at his demands. She was appalled, to say the least, when he effortlessly lifted her, holding her a few inches off the ground until her eyes were level with his. Princess Mirana tried to interrupt - seeing Time's deathly tight grip and Bessy's pleading eyes and pouting lips. But the clock-man shrugged her off.
"Where is she?" his voice was low and full of threat.
Her tone was haughty. "I shan't tell you."
Time scrutinized her, and he grew disgusted with himself for falling for this miserable and wretched witch. He felt hatred spark within him and he wanted nothing more than to end her right then and there... but Alice would not approve. That act could cause her loathe him, to never wish to see his face again. Though Alice did not like Iracebeth, she was hardly the type to wish death upon someone.
He growled in frustration.
Her fingers prodded at his gloved ones. "But just this once, can't I keep the little chronosphere? It is the key to your heart, my sweet. And I've always loved you."
Time released her with disgust.
Her feet hit the ground unexpectedly and she stumbled a bit before the weight of her head brought her down. She fell to the ground and Princess Mirana was at her side. "Get off me!" she seethed at her younger sister.
She stood clumsily and started towards Time. She grabbed his coat, clinging on even as he tried to move away. She shouted in his face. "She's dead! HAHA HAHA, YOUR LITTLE SELFISH BRAT IS DEAD!" She let out a mighty and hearty laugh. "You'll never find her body! Fed it to the wolves! She died just as you landed!
"There is no one but me left for you! NO ONE!"
He refused to believe her. He had been manipulated by her so many times, he just knew she wasn't truthful. "Your lies will never work on me," he growled. He tore her hands away from his person and pushed her away. "Where is the chronosp-" He let out a groan as the pain was sudden and traveled through his circuits. His cogs burned with stress and his blue eyes flickered. "Give it to me!"
But she didn't listen.
He turned sharply on his heel, his coat whipping the air. He needed to focus.
If Iracebeth wasn't going to give him any answers, he needed to find them himself! He couldn't waste himself and dillydally in struggling to pry information from the red queen. He couldn't mess this up. His yellow-haired girl could be anywhere! And Hatter could have been no help at all. "Alice!"
Thin fingers wrapped around his wrist and he turned dangerously to the shorter woman. She seemed unfazed. "You really think she is here?" She let out a brief laugh of triumph. "You really think that I'd-" She suddenly shut her trap and whipped around to her sister. Her mouth stood agape and she let out an indignant cry. "Giv-GIVE IT BACK!"
Princess Mirana bravely stepped back, a golden sphere in hand. "No."
Time saw it. "Hand it here!"
Iracebeth argued. "No! GIVE IT TO HIM AND WE ARE DONE, SISSY! DONE!"
The younger of the two shook her head with much apology. "I'm sorry, Bessy. It's for your own good." She tossed the object to Time.
The moment his gloved fingers wrapped around the sphere, a terrible shooting pain wracked his body. He had never felt anything like it before.
It surprised him and he nearly dropped the chronosphere. He vaguely heard Iracebeth say something along the lines of "now's my chance! Move Mirana! It's mine!" He staggered for a moment before he collected his wits somewhat.
He had the chronosphere.
Now it was Alice he needed.
He stumbled down the path Hatter took, into the dark forest, and into the unknown.
Deep in the dead forest Alice stood, looking around for a way to get out. One way to outsmart your enemies is to get lost. Well, she got lost and now couldn't seem to get unlost.
With vague light trickling in from the leafless branches above, she caught sight of glowing red eyes in the thicket. She may have outrun Iracebeth but not the creatures that could smell fear. Her hands gripped a fallen branch and she swung at the leaping red eyes.
Paws knocked against her chest and she fell to the ground, landing painfully on the uneven rocks and dirt. She struggled to stand and swung again as another leaped. The branch struck its solid body but did nothing to stop it. A pair of powerful jaws snapped the fragile branch and she picked up another, carefully backing away from the growing pack. A cross between a gasp and a cry tore through her as three charged for her, jumping into the air, teeth bared, eyes merciless.
She ran without thought, blinding cutting through the tangled forest. In her haste, her foot caught on a root and she landed sharply.
"This isn't a dream. This isn't a dream," she repeated to herself as she grabbed the nearest broken tree limb. "This isn't a dream. They can hurt me." She held it out in front of her in time to impale one of the bloodthirsty hounds. Its dying cries filled her ears but she managed to push it off. She grappled her way to her feet once more.
She had no time to recover before another creature crashed into her. Time-
She looked to the skies.
She hadn't heard anything! Not even the boom of him entering the atmosphere. No, he hadn't- he couldn't have left her behind. He wouldn't! It wouldn't be like him!
She let out a strangled cry of frustration.
Iracebeth!
What if the woman had threatened him? Manipulated him? Forced him to make a godforsaken deal? What if she had prevented him from finding her? If ever she escaped from this, what if Time had been locked into the most dreadful marriage bond with Iracebeth?
Alice couldn't bear to think of it. Agony took over and she unconsciously began to build up the idea in her head-
and death was looking more and more pleasing.
Her feet stopped moving and she stood still, ready for whatever was going to happen to happen.
"Alice!"
Her head turned quickly to the direction that voice came from. Time- He was coming for her! His voice sounded angry and frustrated and worried and pleading all at once! Her feet came to life with newfound fire and she ran.
She soon came to a clearing in the heart of the forest where a broken and charred lodge still stood. She mounted the porch and turned. More light filtered through the trees and she was able to see the pack of ten wolf-like creatures bound up the way towards her. She braced herself for the fight.
The first one was easy to dodge, so was the second.. but by the fifth, Alice was heaving for breath. It had been so long since she had had any such adventures. The sixth knocked her down-
She held the branch out in front of her, struggling to push off the creature whose jaws were clamped tightly on the wood. Its menacing growl reverberated through her chest but its howl of pain filled her head.
"Oi, lad! That's mine!"
Alice let out a slightly manic but mostly relieved laugh as Hatter pulled his cutlass from the hide of the wolf-like creature. It ran off the moment he unstuck it.
Hatter leaped down from the rails of the porch and let out a murderous laugh. "Hello, Alice!" he greeted, his eyes wild and fierce.
She grinned herself and found her strength in seeing her best friend. He pulled her up and soon they were fighting back-to-back. All had been well that is until Hatter - being the clumsy Underlandian he was - made a wrong move, took the wrong swing, and found the jaws of a creature around his boot.
He let out a surprised cry as he was flung from the porch to the ground.
Though she was nearly out of breath, she attacked the creature before it had the chance to chase after its now-helpless prey. She saw Hatter was slowly recovering from his bump on the head but matters for her weren't any better. She struggled in keeping her ground, but her legs were like jelly.
The wolf jumped onto the porch and she shakily backed away. Then she lost her footing, falling from the structure, onto the dirt below flat on her back. She tried to regain her breath but she knew it was the end for her.
Those gleaming red eyes stared back at her, daring her to scream one last time. She shielded her face from the sight and braced herself for pain and then death.
But an agonizing howl pierced her ears and she lowered her arms.
The porch was lit by a steady but angry stream of blue light. She watched - her mouth agape and eyes wide - as the creature spasmed horrifically and burned to death. Her eyes raced to the other end of the platform and saw Time standing still. His eyes were hard and unfeeling. His hand gripped the rail of the porch. She swallowed - he had sent a current through, killing the animal... and saving her life.
She met his burning blue eyes and struggled in tearing them away.
Adrenaline was the only thing that kept her going now. She crawled toward Hatter who was drunkenly sprawled out and muttering incoherently.
"Hatter! Hatter!" She shook him. "Can you hear me?"
He mumbled dazedly and looked up at her, a lopsided smile on his face. "Ali-ce," he slurred. "Ali-ce!" He tried in sitting up and hugging her. "Ali-ce! Fine you in day seeing!"
She laughed lightly at his disoriented state and the physical pain she tried to mask as he roughly embraced her. "Yes, Hatter. Are you alright?"
"Good as a day new," he replied.
He found amazing leverage and pulled himself up - only the state of his head and gravity didn't agree. His knees buckled- Time caught and steadied him. He pawed stupidly at whoever it was that broke his fall. "Why, thank you, whoever you are.." He turned his head and saw the side-burns of the clockwork-man. He sprung away - or tried to.
"You," he sneered. "Talking in circles, no not I am wont!" He pointed a finger at Time and growled, "Mutter and utter, unusual flutters- whispers and truths of lies! That beastly beast! Child of terror and grim- Redhead seeks revenge - avenge for revenge! Ha! Tea party, oh tea party- somebody lied."
Then he pointed to himself and brought that finger to his lips. "Spill I did not to that wicked witch of red! I never would and never could! Ali-ce my true and good friend- never to wrong, never to deceive but-" He cocked his head and looked at Time, his eyes alight with mischief. "But- what of you, ol' tickman of time?"
Time's mouth was in a firm line. Insults. That's as far as niceties would go with Hatter. And so much for the bump on the head - the idiot seemed just fine to him.
Alice watched the two.
"Age as old as Underland time!" A low laugh startled to rumble. "Moments and moments, our traitor is full of moments! But when the moments stop, only will Time end- his hands taking life as quickly given!"
Then he looked at Alice who took a step back. His voice was grim and grave and sent chills down her spine, "The day the yellow-haired girl weeps is the day the broken clock-man dies. And the vengeful hatter shall be unleashed - to take back his Alice, the rightful Alice!"
Alice looked at her old friend carefully and cautiously, her brow slightly creased. "Hatter, you don't mean that..."
He turned to her - his eyes glassy, his voice throaty, "Alice Kingsleigh belongs in Underland!"
She shook him. "Hatter!"
"Wha-oh! Right. I'm fine." He blinked then properly looked at her. He took in her wide and frightened eyes. "Oh, dear... Ignore my blabbles, Alice-" He looked up and noticed Time watching him coldly. He tried to shrug off the clockwork-man's look with a little chuckle. "Oi, Tickie. Say we get back to that contraption of yours.
"And I'd be much obliged if you'd drop me off at my house-"
Alice had the chronosphere which she promised she wouldn't steal again... very teasingly as Time watched her and Hatter climb into the sphere. He had to let her and Hatter leave together for Iracebeth was still ranting and raving and flailing and shouting and screaming and driving him and Princess Mirana mad. She was volatile and he wasn't about to have her harm Alice again.
His eyes followed the sphere as it flew into the sky then disappeared.
The journey back to Princess Mirana's kingdom was one Time hoped he could forget. He - and Princess Mirana though the woman would never admit it with her sister near - were grateful when the vehicle touched down on the same patch of trees he had downed not hours before.
Iracebeth was the first to step off the contraption, all pouts and screams and cries of unfairness. She stomped up to the stairs and proceeded to render every one of the guards deaf.
Princess Mirana followed obediently. But she remembered Time and turned around, "Thank you so much. I am deeply sorry for all the trouble she has caused-"
"-SISSY!"
He winced. "Perhaps you'd better get back."
She curtsied. "I must," she said with determination. Then she rested her hand on his shoulder. "All will be well between you and Alice. She is different."
He inclined his head. "Thank you, Princess Mirana."
She nodded firmly then hurried away to the guards who were attempting to control a spewing Iracebeth.
Hatter sat down on the steps of his porch and Alice followed. Both were quiet for a moment - much like the flight there - then he cleared his throat. "So, what is it between you and him?" he asked.
His tone wasn't angry or disgruntled much like his insults had been towards Time earlier. He seemed genuinely curious. She shrugged slightly and looked at him with a faint smile on her face. "What has you so curious, my dearest friend?"
He scoffed as if she should blatantly know. "He stopped us at one minute to tea time! Remembered it like it was yesterday! Alice, men like that don't change- would he be considered a man?" Then he muttered the answer under his breath, "More like a bunch of broken gears and screws piled together in someone's wastebasket."
Alice sent him a hard look but didn't say anything.
He equally glared back. That sleazy Time-being and his bestest friend! Together?! Blah! He shuddered.
"Hatter," she scolded.
That sleazy Time-being and his best friend.. together... Then it had him thinking. "You won't forget me, will you, Alice?"
She was suddenly sent back to their conversation.
The one she and him had during the whole Jabberwocky confusion, the wrong Alice, the right Alice, what she should and should not do- when she had been adamant that Wonderland was nothing but a dream- and that he and none of the others were real. She remembered his face and it held the same sadness as it did now.
But his eyes were dark with loathing of change but then light with some hope.
Except this time she wasn't determined to prove she was right, instead she was confused. "Hatter?"
"It's always been us," he said quietly. "You'd visit Wonderland just to see me, and we'd have adventures-"
She smiled softly at him and tugged at his hair. "Those adventures will never stop! I'm never going to abandon our friendship, Hatter.
"Where would I be without you? I'd have no imagination. I'd be stuck behind a desk working for some aristocrat in London! I would have always listened to my mother and I would have never found my courage to leave Hamish." She grinned. "I would have had a very, very boring life without you, Tarrant."
He smiled to himself at that.
She looped her arm through his and rested her head on his shoulder. "You know you'll always be important to me. Nothing will ever change that." She glanced at the sky. "Not even a few gears and screws lumped together. You'll always be my best friend, Hatter."
"Ali-ce, the right Alice," he mused. "My Alice."
She smiled contently.
Time returned the chronosphere to its post - she had arrived just minutes before, safe and in one piece. He stepped back and watched the Grand Clock come to life again. He exhaled softly - everything was in order again, time in Underland was set straight once more.
He saw her face in the corner of his eye. She was also watching the Grand Clock. Her mouth was parted slightly in awe. Then her head turned toward his-
He turned and stalked down the platform to.. he had no idea where to. He just couldn't look at her. He couldn't look at what he had done.
She watched him for a bit. She noticed the slight slump to his shoulders - something no other could have possibly seen. She knew he blamed himself, but it wasn't his fault.
A short while later, she caught up to him but he did not turn his head. She caught his gloved hand and he stopped walking.
"Time." Her voice was soft and he let go of a breath - a breath he did not need for he was not living, but with her, he felt alive.
"It wasn't your fault," she said quietly.
He looked at her. His blue eyes flickered with uncertainty.
He wanted to believe her but her beautiful face was speckled with cuts and welts. And such injuries would not be there if he had paid some mind to that sputtering second. He looked to same injuries of her hands...
He took her hands in his and traced the small cuts on the perfect skin of her palms. His mouth was set into a careful line as he studied her new imperfections. She didn't blame him, she accepted these new scars... with great reluctance, he must too.
Alice watched him closely, surprised at how gentle his touch was.
His eyes flicked briefly to hers before he turned her hand palm down and-
His gloved fingers stopped short, just above the slate-shade scar starting at the tips of her fingers, across the back of her hand, up to her arm, and most likely ending at her shoulder. His fingers shook slightly as he traced the ruined flesh. His mouth curved down slowly and his eyes suddenly could not reach hers.
"It's okay," she tried. She turned her hand in his and grasped his gently. "I'm fine."
"My little yellow-haired girl," he began, a tick in his voice. It sounded similar to regret. "It'll be permanent."
"I do not care," she shook her head. Her eyes met his as he finally looked up.
He lifted his free hand and a gloved finger softly outlined her jaw. "Whatever you say, whatever words of comfort you try to give, this is my fault. This never should have happened-"
"It's in the past," she cut in. She wanted to wipe away the guilty crinkle of his brow. "The present matters now-"
"I thought I'd lost you," he said, his voice cracking. "She could've killed you."
"But she didn't and you didn't." She reached up and rested her palm on the side of his human face. He slightly leaned into her touch, his eyes turning soft. "I wouldn't be here if it weren't for you and your connection to the chronosphere."
He shook his head and looked at her with conviction. "You are my chronosphere, Alice. You are what keeps me ticking. When I found the chronosphere, I felt something else, and I realized that it was you who was calling me. I was not searching for the chronosphere to power the Grand Clock. I was searching for you, th-the piece of my broken cog heart that keeps me going.
"I don't wish to lose you. I.. I cannot go on without you."
"Oh Time," she breathed. She caressed his cheek with her thumb.
Then she saw something flicker in his blue eyes.
Her breath hitched.
Hesitation and nervousness mingled in his eyes but he had an air of determination.
He leaned forward, gloved hands softly on either side of her face as if she were made of glass, and pressed his cool lips to her warm ones.. If he were living and had feeling underneath his skin, he imagined she would be quite warm and perhaps even hot as her cheeks were flushed with shyness.
Alice's hands went to his faux-furred coat then she felt her eyes flutter close as she let the kiss seal her forever to the wonder of Wonderland and Time.
I had fun :) might've been too soon on some points, but I had fun writing it.. for the most part!