Alice went home and prepared for her trip at sea. Home felt the same. Like a jail cell. Her Mother was pleased that she would be leaving on a journey to continue her Fathers work, but she still would always be nagging. She would never understand Alice, and would probably have been happier if Alice would have accepted Hamish's proposal. That is what was expected of her since birth, but nothing ordinary was enough for Alice.

She went into her Father's study and sat at his desk the night before she was set to leave for China. The soft light from the fireplace flickered on her face. She recalled memories of sitting on her Father's lap as he told her stories. Stories of far-off places he had been, some real, some imaginary. She missed him dearly. There was a compass and journal on the desk. He would bring home so many things from his journeys. "Father I hope I make you proud." She imagined he was there with her now, but this time she could tell him stories.

She brought the journal and compass back into her room. She vowed to write to Hatter in her journal everyday, so that when she saw him again it would be as if he didn't miss a thing. How else would she manage with the boring trip to China any other way but by telling jokes and telling stories to Hatter? She also planned to bring her Fathers compass to keep in her coat pocket to help guide her.

Hatter was wondering around Underland by himself. All he wanted in life was tea, top hats and Alice, but without Alice, top hats, and tea weren't any good anymore. He thought Alice made everything wonderful. He wouldn't even dare make a hat, Alice was his inspiration now, without her, he couldn't make a thing. He tried to picture her somewhere in Aboveground happy. Living her life, going on journeys, and going a little Mad once in a while. Seeing her bright smiling face in his mind just made him walk faster, deeper and deeper into the thick dark woods of Underland. One thought he had made him stop right in his tracks. He pictured Alice in the arms of another man. Hatter felt like his heart broke in two at that very moment. He thought, why would she like a Mad Hatter anyway? Brave, beautiful Alice could be in the arms of another man right now and Hatter would be in Underland all alone. His eyes turned into a blazing red. He felt his blood begin to boil and sheer madness set over him. He started uprooting plants from the ground and throwing them all over.

A Dodo bird sitting up in a tree noticed that Hatter had really gone stock raving mad.

"Hattar, whatin the world are ya doin that for?"

Hatter stopped and looked up menacingly at the Dodo bird.

"Wow, ya really look frightful Hattar. Really what bee's the mattar?

Hatter looked up at the Dodo bird and began talking in his Scottie brogue. "Mah Alice has left underlain. Withit 'er Ah hae naethin'. Mah life is em'ty." There was such sadness in his words along with uncontrollable anger.

"I'm sure Alice will come backin see ya. She seemed to fancy you a lot."

"Aye fur now. But she will faal fur someain abovegroond suin, an' she will surely forgit abit meh." The anger left Hatters words and so did his accent. "I'm nothing but a Mad Hatter. I almost hope that she doesn't come back. She belongs aboveground."

The dodo bird grew tired of trying to cheer up the Hatter and flew away.

"Naethin tae doo now but go hoem." He walked slowly through the forest back home.

Hatter felt no one else in all of Underland could understand what he felt.

Once home he sat in his tall sitting chair outside, at the table he first met Alice. If she did return he hoped that she would find him there, and they could sit together for tea. So he would wait, and wait.

"Goodbye Alice."

"Bye Mother. I hope you will be well while I am gone."

"I will be. You would make your Father proud if he were here to see this."

"I know, that's why I'm doing it." She kissed her Mother on the cheek and boarded the sail boat that would take her to China. It was like the ones she had seen in the books her Father would read to her, but she had never actually seen one in person.

Ascot met her on the deck. "Hello Alice. Are you ready to begin?"

"I'm ready."

"I will be on the other ship. I just wanted to make sure that you settled in ok. You're going to call this ship home for quite sometime, so make sure that you are comfortable."

"I'll try to make myself at home. I brought everything I need." She put her hand in her pocket and felt her Fathers compass, while her other hand grasped firmly on the journal. Her suitcase had been brought on board by the ship workers already. She walked around the ship getting acquainted with it. It was so big and beautiful. She admired the craftsmenship of the boat. She thought of all the fun things her and Hatter could do on that ship. It would have been so much more fun if only he were there she thought. "Oh now I must stop thinking about Hatter every second of the day or else everyday will be nothing but misery"

Ascot boarded the other ship and they sailed off into the setting sun. At first Alice had to get used to the rocking. She was feeling the usual nausea and dizziness. Her stomach twisted and turned. She ran over to the side of the boat and threw up everything she had eaten. One of the ship workers saw her and said "don't worry you will get used to it." He said.

"Thank you, I hope that I get used to get very quickly then."

He laughed. "My name is Afton. Been working on this ship for three year's now. At first it wasn't so good with all the vomiting and what not, but now I love it. So don't worry we all do it." Alice smiled and introduced herself.

"So your Father was the one everyone always talks about? The visionary?"

"Yes he was a visionary, and a great Father."

"Too bad I didn't get to know' em"

"Well people say we are a lot alike, so in a way you will get to know him through me I suppose."

Afton was tall, dark and muscular. His hair was dark amber but the sun had brightened it. He was unshaven and his hair was long and unruly. Alice couldn't help noticing he was very handsome. After all she was attracted to unruly hair, Hatter had the most unruly hair that she had ever seen. "I'm feeling a bit better now. I'm going to go explore the rest of the ship. I'll be seeing you." Afton nodded his head at her. If Alice only knew the thoughts going through his head she would have blushed. She walked up to the bow of the ship. The breeze was cool and blew through her long golden hair. It was twilight, and the stars were just becoming visible. She wished on the first star that she saw, that her voyage would go smoothly and that she could be home soon, in Wonderland.

"Queen it's the Hatter!"

The queen stood up from her white throne.

"What has happened to him?"

Next chapter is coming soon!