Duchess scowled as she piloted the Scarab over Wonderland's dense forests. Lucan Spade had been very clear in his instructions. If she was to come to the Diamond City, she had to come alone and tell no one.

Of course, she'd told Jack and Giacomo. And she had complained to the Spade about the indignity of someone of her rank and position piloting herself. On that issue, he had remained unyielding. "I suggest you learn to fly yourself then if you wish for answers, Duchess." She mimicked his painfully proper tone, leaning forward and scanning the horizon for the ruins.

At least piloting a Scarab was not all that different to piloting a boat. The controls were even more intuitive, and if it weren't for the fact that people would notice her leaving Wonderland City in a Scarab, she would use one to go to her little hideaway as often as she could. It was certainly easier than dragging a boat ashore.

She looked forward to this aspect of the mission. In all of her time working for the Queen of Hearts, there had never been any reason to think of the Diamond City. It was anathema, a remnant of the past that was better left there. Now, thanks to Elisa Club, there was reason to believe the city held greater secrets than any of them could have imagined.

Unfortunately, the ruins were exactly that – ruins. As Duchess set the Scarab down, she was disappointed to note that all she could see were jungle-covered lumps and pieces of broken stonework here and there. She should have known better than to expect something pristine and wondered if there was any way for Princess Azkadellia to recreate the image she had conjured here.

As always, Duchess took a moment to compose herself before facing a target. She inhaled deeply, then let the breath out slowly as the ramp lowered. "Lord Spade!" she called acerbically the moment she caught sight of him. "I realize your family holdings in the south have made you fond of arboreal settings, but this is a bit much, isn't it?"

"Your wit is always missed, Duchess." He inclined his head towards one of his shoulders. "May we search your transport? It is purely precautionary, I assure you."

She waved a negligent hand and strolled down the ramp. "Now, I must know why you chosen this place, of all places, to seize." She didn't even have to feign disgust when he helped her down, only for her high-heeled boots to sink into the soft, mossy ground. "And why you insisted I had to come out here as well. This place is hardly civilized."

"May I remind you, Duchess, that you were the one who required information. I was as accommodating as possible," Lucan observed coolly. "And perhaps you should have dressed more appropriately."

"Please. This place should change to suit my needs rather than the other way around, don't you agree?" She watched him visibly roll his eyes. Good. She needed to make sure that he underestimated her, but then, it wasn't difficult. They always did. "Why aren't there any roads?"

"Broken apart by years of neglect, I assume. Will you accept a pair of boots from one of my men, or shall I have one of them carry you?"

Duchess sniffed. As if she would sully her dignity by having someone carry her. "Neither. I can manage. Now, are you going to tell me why you've chosen this godforsaken place or not?"

"In due time, Your Grace. In the meantime, I wish to get your opinion on something." He led his way through the undergrowth. Duchess picked her way through carefully, eyes keen as she peered through the foliage. The more she could bring back about how many men he had here and what they were doing, the better.

"Through here? Lord Spade, there could be…creatures here." But she followed anyway. Though the growth was dense, she was dismayed to see that his operation was of no small scale. He must have recalled most of his soldiers from his lands, and they were all hard at work exposing many of the old buildings and beating back the forest.

"There have been a few jabberwocky sightings, but my patrols have been able to fight them off. You needn't worry for your safety here, Your Grace."

"Answer my question, Lord Spade," Duchess sighed, grateful that she had at least chosen to wear her riding habit. "You could have left this city for Jack's crazed champion. They're well suited for one another."

He waved a negligent hand. "This city is far too valuable to leave in Sir Charles' hands. I have decided to let Jack Heart keep that decaying wreck of a city. I mean to make Wonderland great again," he continued, stepping into a cleared area. "The people of Wonderland demand it. The key is this city."

"Sentimentality, Lord Spade? I hardly expected that of you." She glanced around. "What is this place? Surely it's not the Diamond Palace."

"I was hoping you could tell me, Your Grace. This was the area being investigated by Elisa Club shortly before she fled the city." He knelt by an exposed section, and Duchess recognized the signs of excavation in the neatly dug trench. "Did she report anything to Jack?"

"She's a Club," Duchess pointed out, walking over to what looked like one of the few remaining standing columns of Elisa's so-called gryphon pavilions. The librarian had been right – this building was not meant to accommodate humans. "Who can say what excites them? Especially her."

"Elisa Club is the Head Librarian. I have to assume everything she investigates is of import."

Damn it. She had hoped that the other woman's investigations had gone quietly, but perhaps that was too much to ask, especially in Wonderland City's gossip-rich climate. "And I suppose you want me to find that out, too?" she asked acidly. "I'm hardly interested in the ramblings of a Club."

"Her ramblings might prove to be of some significance, Your Grace. I would be much obliged if you can discover what they are."

The meeting certainly gave her plenty to go over as she flew the Scarab back to Wonderland City. Duchess didn't like the implications of Lucan Spade's new strategy. She expected him to deal with Quox and Merry Land in exchange for military aid in conquering the rest of the Wonderland. He was, after all, a soldier. Though the Hearts and the Clubs did not have the means to match military might in such a situation, Duchess knew that she could possibly undermine those alliance efforts if she could just get those envoys alone.

This, however, was a new and unexpected ploy. She had chastised the older man for trying to appeal to sentimentality, but the truth was that she was worried. This spoke to a longer game and a play for legitimacy that she had not expected from the Spades. If they were thinking to dazzle the people of Wonderland with visions of greatness from the past, well…

Duchess could not help but think this did not bode well for Jack. Pitting Hearts against Spades was one thing, but Hearts against Diamonds? That had all the makings of a disaster.

She pushed the Scarab faster. If Lucan Spade was looking to use the past as a weapon, then so would they.

No matter how much she didn't want to.

After the initial furor over the news of the Spades' occupation of the Diamond City, things settled down in Amakek Elen'sior. Raw couldn't help but be bewildered. In his mind, taking back the city from the Spades would be a good way for the gryphons to reveal themselves to Wonderland once more.

Unfortunately, no one was listening to him.

"It issssssss not ourrrr placcccccccce to rrreclaim the Diamond Ccccccccccity," Aset told him when he broached the idea. He had sat in on a council meeting and could not believe not one individual had suggested to take the city back. "Humanssssss rrrrazed it to the grrrrrrrrrround and it isssss the humanssss who mussst rrrraise it once morrre."

"The right humans," Kera muttered, crossing her arms. "Certainly not the Spades."

"Spade lands are here in rainforests," Raw said slowly. Once he'd entered Amakek Elen'sior, it hadn't taken long to figure out just who had been behind his kidnapping. "Why not take action against him?"

Again, Kera and Callan exchanged those infuriating looks, the ones that told Raw that while he was on the cusp of something strange and potentially world-altering. Yet he was helpless to do anything. He couldn't go to Wonderland City to see Az lest he reveal the presence of the gryphons. He couldn't convince the gryphons and their humans to take action. "Fine, fine, not your place," he said with a scowl.

"Humanssss brrrrought this upon themssssselvessss, Viewerrrr," Mahes reminded him. "They musssst fix it."

Raw's paws clenched, his claws digging into the pads of his palm. It was one thing, he thought, to be neutral and not want to intervene. Especially if the problems were not of their own making. The Viewers had been much the same in the initial civil war between a possessed Azkadellia and Queen Lavender. However, the war had swept all of them up in the end. "Gryphons and humans share this country," he said, frustrated. "Can stand and watch if Spade bring war?"

"We don't know exactly what Lucan Spade is doing-" Kera began.

"If bring Quox? Merry Land?" Raw overheard the news in the camp and knew that there was an increasing Quoxian military presence at the border. "How long can stay hidden? Not forever." He saw Callan frown and glance away, Good. Someone had to think about the consequences of Wonderland being swallowed up. Even with their position in the jungle, even with their so-called protection, the gryphons and their ilk would not last long.

Aset bated, her wings flapping slightly. "Mind yourrrrrr placccce, Viewerrrrr. Therrrre is morrrre herrrrre than you know."

"Raw place with Azkadee!" Raw cried. "Need to help my queen, and your king. Jack Heart is good man. He tries."

Kera shook her head. "Jack Heart is not our king. Not yet. He has to prove himself."

"How?"

"There are ancient ways. Prophecies," Callan said slowly. His brow was furrowed, as though he was deep in thought.

"How can do if does not know?" Because if Jack Heart had no idea that Amakek Elen'sior was even there and that the gryphons even existed, how was he supposed to know these so-called ancient ways? Raw thought back to the events in the OZ and despaired. What good were prophecies anyway? "Trust me." That was a phrase he'd picked up from DG. "Have prophecies in OZ too. Only bring much suffering."

But Raw could tell he'd already lost them – the gryphons, at least. This was what came, he thought, from years of isolation, resentment, and staunch adherence to tradition. There was of course reason to resent the Hearts for all they had done but the Queen of Hearts was gone now, leaving her son - her good son - to atone for his family's mistakes. Wonderland had to unite but it couldn't do that if its people remained in the shadows.

"We wait, Viewerrrrr," Mahes rumbled. "We wait forrrr championsssssss. Asssss it ssssshould be."

"Then let Raw go," Raw entreated desperately. He had changed so much in the last few years. He couldn't stand to wait and let events pass him by. He needed to be able to do something. At the very least, he could be with Az. "Won't talk about gryphons or city. But someone has to help."

"This is for your own safety, Ambassador Raw," Kera told him as she followed Aset and Mahes out of the room. Callan lingered for a moment, seemingly reluctant to go.

"You have a point, Viewer," he murmured. "Rest assured, I will talk to Kera. We would be wise to listen to you. Too long has Wonderland been torn apart and we should not suffer it to remain that way, lest it become worse."

The door closed behind him, leaving Raw in another prison. Of course, he had leave to wander around the city and talk to its inhabitants. But he was under no illusions. He was just as trapped here as he had been under Lucan Spade.

Bravo. Raw's head whipped around. The cat was sitting on the windowsill, idly washing itself. Such an impassioned speech. I was impressed.

"Who are you?" Raw asked. He had not seen his traveling companion for several days, not since he'd woken up.

The cat yawned. Boring. Ask another one.

Raw lowered his shields again, wondering if he would be able to sense anything now that he wasn't distracted by thunderous gryphon minds or slowly dying.

Nothing. If he wasn't looking straight at the cat, he would have thought that he was alone. He could sense the emotions of the guards three rooms down, but the cat might as well not be there. "Why can't Raw sense you?"

Better, but still boring.

He bared his teeth in frustration. "Why not give straight answer?"

The cat flicked its tail. Because that is not in my nature, Viewer. I was not made to speak plainly. It stretched and leapt from the windowsill to the bed. None of us are, in my family, but I suppose I am worse than all of them. Still, we are not here to give you answers. Where would you all be if we were so forthcoming? The cat widened its eyes at him and for a moment they shifted, going from slitted feline gold to endless black and filled with stars.

Raw staggered backwards. Every child in Nonestica knew that such eyes could not belong to anything mortal. The Nonestican pantheon was wildly varied, but besides familial ties they were also marked by their immortality – eyes that contained the universe itself. And because he was in Wonderland, there was only one possible identity for the god sitting in front of him. "Cheshire," he blurted.

Oh very good. I was beginning to wonder if the poison had stolen your wits.

Cheshire. The trickster, chaos incarnate and the most volatile of all gods. A fitting patron for a land whose people were known for the depth of their emotions. Why should such a god have an interest in him? He was not of Wonderland. Lurline was his goddess.

Still. There was a god with him now, a god that had somehow deigned to help him escape from Lucan Spade's clutches. "Can take me to Azkadee."

It began washing again. I suppose I could, but that would go counter to…well, most plans. You are exactly where you need to be, Viewer. And you needn't worry about your future queen. She is doing quite well for herself.

Raw let out a small roar. "Cannot do anything here!"

I meant what I said. It was a good speech. Keep talking. Someone will listen.

It grinned at him then, that wide, unnatural grin, and disappeared.

Raw growled and fought the urge to throw something at the wall. He was beginning to think that extended exposure to the wilder Wonderlander emotions was starting to interfere with him. It was not like him to be so argumentative and forward. He usually left that to Glitch.

It had to be these Wonderlanders, the ones whose emotions were truly unfettered.

He thought of Jack and how the king was so very desperate to keep that fundamental part of him reigned in. What kind of king would he be if he allowed all of that emotion to come pouring through?

The kind Wonderland hadn't seen in generations. The kind it so desperately needed.

Az hesitated at the door separating her room from Jeb's, her hand poised to knock. It was ridiculous that she was so tentative. She knew that Jeb would never turn her away if she needed him.

It had been another long, fruitless day in the library. The more theory she read, the more she was convinced that none of the theorists actually knew anything about the subject they were writing on. Most had no magic of their own and gleaned their information by observing others who did. It was disheartening to think that even here in Wonderland, where she was surrounded by hundreds of years of knowledge, there were no solutions for her.

She used her magic whatever way should could to keep it in check. Per Jeb's request, she shielded their people and placed listening spells all over the palace. Every day she did spells of seeking and finding, using every possible method to try and determine Raw's location. That search still remained frustratingly vague. It was as though a veil covered him, protecting him from her sight.

But with the Spades' takeover of the Diamond City (and she shuddered at the thought of that beautiful, dignified city in the hands of that cold, hard man), there was no possible way to go and search for herself. Most of the southern portion of Wonderland was wild rainforest and most of it was controlled by the Spades. Neither Jeb nor Jack would even hear of some sort of attempt to penetrate the wilderness to find him, not with the situation as it was.

And Az had very few other distractions. Elisa Club was back but constantly ensconced in her office working on something that Az was not privy to. The Duchess was also busy, but she at least made time to help her exercise the horses in the morning.

Simply put, she was feeling lonely. She missed DG's smile and lightness, her father's warmth, and her mother's gentleness. She missed Glitch's humor, Tutor's guidance, and Raw's steadiness. She missed the hills and plains of the OZ despite the similarity of Wonderland's lush greenery.

Even in the Red Rocks she had never felt such isolation. Amongst the Vedu was family, her abu's unfailing support, Rajah's strength, and Amirah's kindness.

Here in Wonderland she only had Jeb, and she was the one to blame for pushing him away. Her demons still haunted her, shadows of the past that never quite lifted despite everything she had overcome since the Double Eclipse.

Frankly, she was tired of it. By pushing Jeb away she was giving the witch power, power she swore she would never hold over her again.

What she had with Jeb was beyond anything she could have ever dreamed or hoped for. It was worth fighting for.

So she knocked.

The door opened almost immediately. "Az? What's wrong? Are you all right?" His eyes scanned her, concern clear as he took a protective step forward. Even when they were at odds, she was his sole priority. The knowledge made her heart clench.

This was Jeb, who held half of her soul because she refused to accept a life without him in it. Jeb, to whom she had already given her entire heart. If she could give both without a second thought, why couldn't she do the same with her body? She was under no illusion that it would be easy, but she had faith that they could get through it together, as in all things.

She stepped forward and reached up to cradle his face in her hands, pressing up on her toes to bring her forehead to his. "I love you, Jeb Cain," she murmured, pouring every inch of certainty she had into those words. "I am sorry I hurt you. I promise I won't pull away from you again."

Jeb stiffened in surprise at her touch, but the tension left him with every word that escaped her lips. He sighed deeply and gathered her into the circle of his embrace and she went eagerly, burying her face in his shoulder. She had missed him so much. "I love you, Az. You couldn't push me away if you tried."

"Do you promise?"

"Promise." He took a deep breath and withdrew slightly, blue eyes solemn on hers. "And you have to know. We don't have-"

"I want to," Az interrupted quietly. "I want to have beautiful experiences of it with you Jeb, because I love you. The only touch I want to know and remember is yours."

There was so much light and joy in his eyes as he bent to gently brush his lips against hers. "How can I say no to that?" he murmured. "But we will do it slow, Az. This must be done right."

She fell asleep in his bed that night, tucked snugly in his arms. It was the best night's sleep she had since coming to Wonderland.

The next morning, they took breakfast together and went over the current situation. Az told him of her frustration with the magical theory and her ever-increasing worry about the state of her powers. "I am beginning to think that the only person…or rather, creature that can answer my questions is a dragon itself."

Jeb looked faintly amused. "Oh? And is our next expedition to be the Impassable Mountains?"

Az rolled her eyes at his teasing. "Well, according to Wonderland gossip the dragons could still be in the Spine."

"Well. What's another mountain range." He sobered, leaning across the table to take her hand. "Az. We will come up with a solution. I don't care if we have to create an entirely new system of magic by ourselves, we'll do it."

His determination and belief buoyed her and she raised their joined hands to her cheek, overwhelmed. How could she fail with Jeb by her side? "Well. I certainly believe that Tutor and Glitch would be up for the task."

"Keep searching," he counseled. "There may yet be an answer. If not, then we will go hunting for dragons. Or go to Ix."

"I've always wanted to see the City in the Clouds." But now was not the time for musing on future travels, not when they were embroiled Wonderland's political turmoil and were very far from home. "What is happening in the Diamond City?"

"Our informants say Spade is trying to legitimize his bid for the throne in taking the city."

"Can he really appeal to the people's sentimentality?" Az asked. "Wonderlanders strike me as emotional, but not overly sentimental. And so much has been dulled under Heart rule."

Jeb shrugged. "I wouldn't underestimate people's ability to romanticize the past. The idea of making Wonderland great again would have great appeal. It's not entirely different to what is going on back home."

He certainly had a point. DG had done it first by resurrecting Finaqua, and they were doing it now by rebuilding all over Wonderland. But they had started with focal points, places of great meaning – such as the Northern Palace and Central City. "So he is a threat. We knew this." A thought occurred to her. "Is there any chance Spade was behind the attempted coup? He certainly has the means and motive."

"I thought so as well," Jeb admitted, buttering his toast. "He's good at covering his tracks, though I have heard rumors of him courting envoys from both Quox and Merry Land."

"If that is the case, he most certainly has motive. An alliance with us would certainly give both of those countries pause."

"Not to mention access to the Assassin's Guild."

Az scowled. "So. How is Jack Heart moving against Lucan Spade now?"

He sighed. "I don't know. I've been speaking to Ten and he is extremely opaque."

"Jack has not been forthcoming either." She sipped at her tea. "This situation is becoming more volatile. They must make a move, and soon."

"You do not have to do this, you know," Giacomo murmured under his breath. His dark, keen eyes never left the mirror technicians as they began the startup process in order to activate the Looking Glass. Jack stood nearby, his fingers clenched around the red velvet ring box that held the Stone of Wonderland.

Duchess snorted. "That is a blatant lie and you know it." There was simply no other recourse. The Heart and Club alliance did not have the manpower to remove Lucan Spade from the Diamond City. The OZ could not spare any military forces. Quox and Merry Land were breathing down their necks.

Perhaps Wonderland did need its champions, but she still did not know what they expected to do with Alice and Hatter once she coaxed them from the Other Side. Were they to just send them into the Jade Forests and expect them to somehow stumble upon the Temple of Amakek? Either the forest would take them or Spade's men would.

Gryphons. Duchess rolled her eyes. All of these fanciful notions. Perhaps it was the Princess Azkadellia's fault, infecting them all with her magic. Magic had left Wonderland long ago, though if it was for better or for worse she could not say.

"Still, you do not have to be the one to do this," he began.

"And who would go? Your cousin, who they do not know? The White Knight, who would probably end up wandering the sewers? You, who they would not trust? Jack, who must remain here because he is the king?" She shook her head. "No, I am the only one with the requisite knowledge to pull off this mission. I will bring Alice and Hatter back."

Giacomo merely raised an eyebrow. "I am only thinking of your rather…nonexistent relationship with Alice."

She knew better than to grit her teeth. "As if I would allow anything so petty to override my duty to my country." Still, it was difficult to remind herself that Alice had made her choice and would therefore pose no problem once they returned. Jealousy was truly an ugly trait, but she could no more help those feelings than she could prevent the suns rising. But emotions were easily pushed aside.

Duchess knew her duty. It was all she had.

Jack stepped up to them with Elisa and Charlie close behind. "They are ready for you, Duchess," he said solemnly, offering his arm.

"Delightful," she purred. She was dressed in clothes more appropriate to the Other Side: slim red trousers, a sleeveless red top, and pointed red boots. No, she would not be out of place at all in that city called New York.

"Do be careful, my dear," Jack told her as they paused before the mirror.

"Darling, you and I both know I will be perfectly fine." After all, New York was where Jack's mother had made her complete her training.

He tilted his head in acknowledgement. There was nary a flicker in those icy-cool eyes and Duchess could barely hold back a sigh. There she was, off to retrieve his ex-girlfriend and still nothing. "Still. It is the Other Side."

Oh well. She was so very used to pushing back her feelings of hurt and disappointment when it came to Jack Heart. "You know I relish the challenge."

"I do. That is why you are the one who is going." Jack hesitated for a moment. "I…have faith in you, Duchess."

"I do so appreciate the vote of confidence," Duchess replied, hiding away her surprise.

The technician slipped the ring into the powering mechanism. There was only the slightest ripple in that smooth, reflective surface indicating that the mirror was ready.

She took a deep breath. "Keep this side open," she directed them. "I will return shortly."

And then she stepped through the Looking Glass.

Please review!

Oh my god. I would actually be surprised if anyone was still reading this. I cannot believe it's been three years since I last updated but, uh...grad school. Hey, I got a doctorate out of it, so that's something!

Yes, Alice and Hatter are imminent!

Come yell at me on tumblr: somanyfandomssolittletime.