The final fight is drawing near :O There will be Tarrant/Alice fighting, so be warned. I'm sorry to all those who don't want them to, but they have to so I can end it the way I want to. Sorry :s

(This is still in Tarrant's p.o.v btw)

The blistering sun shone down onto the dry, baron land. There were no plants or creatures insight, just a flat plane of dust. My mouth was dry and I longed for a drop of water, but if I was to fight in this heat, I would need it most then. My head pounded and I felt slightly dizzy, but I fought on. Beads of sweat glistened on my body as we slowly moved towards the opposition.

They were far away and I could not make out if Alice was with them, but from the looks of it, there were more, many more people than there were in our group.

"This is preposterous. One could not possibly fight in these conditions." Mirana panted.

"It truly is an atrocious place." Dorian said. "In all of Underland, I have never been in a place worse than this. It is a place like hell."

But if it meant I could save Alice, I would travel to hell and back a million times.

And so we sauntered on. The sun was almost at its peak and I knew I would be fighting for my life all too soon. Mallymkun sat on my shoulder in the shade of my hat. She was unusually quiet, as was Chessur, who floated besides Nivens near the cracked ground.

"Wait here." Dorian said.

Our eyes all turned to look at him, confused. The oncoming crowd was still a couple of hundred yards away, but individuals could be made out and there was no sign of golden hair amongst the red and black. An abnormally tall figure led the way and even though I couldn't make out his face, I knew Stayne had an arrogant grin on his face.

"Making them come to us is a sign of power. And we can gain our strength for a few minutes so we're composed when they arrive. We need every bit of dignity we can get." Dorian explained.

"Ok." I agreed. "Who has the water?"

Mirana took a bag off her shoulder and brought out a flask of precious clear liquid.

"You should have to carry that, my Queen. I would be happy to-"

"I'll have none of that McTwisp. On this journey, we are all equals and I have to put work in too. You are already carrying food, don't take on too much for you to handle."

Nivens looked down, slightly embarrassed. I took the bottle of Miranas hand and opened the lid. I gulped a large amount down and embraced the cooling sensation as it ran through my body.

I sighed internally as I felt the pain in my head ease. I passed the flask on and everyone had a mouthful in turn.

I focused on the nearing mob and tried searching for Alice again. I had no more luck than last time.

Dorian walked over to me and stood by my right side, Mirana took her place on my left with Chessur next to her. Nivens hopped next to Dorian and Mallymkun stood next to him. We stood in silence as we waited for the storm to reach us.

Hours seemed to pass before the army was within speaking distance from us. Stayne sneered at us and his eyes found mine and they narrowed.

"Ready to fight Hatter?" He shouted.

I didn't answer.

"Let me handle this." Mirana said confidently.

She walked forward and Stayne followed her lead, separating from his followers. They met in the centre and stood less than a foot apart.

"How dare you take her. You will pay for this Stayne. And this time, I won't make the mistake of just banishing you."

"It's good to see you too Mirana. I'd say you looked ravishing, but…"

He made a disgusted face as he looked her over.

"Bastard." Dorian growled from beside me.

"You are a repulsive being. Now where is Alice. Our champion's fight, whoever wins gets to take her home. That was what we agreed." Mirana snarled in a voice that seemed odd coming from her mouth.

He laughed maliciously.

"All business aren't you, but yes. One lives, one dies. If you win, Alice is free to do what she wants."

He offered his hand and Mirana looked back at us. I could see no catch in the deal, so I nodded for her to shake. Their hands clasped together and the deal was done.

"But before we start all the fighting, aren't you the least bit curious of how I escaped first? How I managed to kill your sister?"

She gasped and a hand flew to her mouth.

"Iracebeth is dead?" She began to shake and her hand began to edge towards the dagger Dorian had given her despite her protests that she would never need to use it. She managed to calm herself, but her breathing remained heavy and in forced control.

"You don't deserve the life you've been given and I swore never to break my vows, but in your case, I might have to make an exception."

It seemed Stayne didn't think the Queen capable of any form of violence, because she took him by surprise when she knocked him to his feet and drew the dagger. She stood on his arm so he could not reach his sword and I smiled slightly. She was better at this than she had ever let on.

She raised the dagger above her head as Stayne's face became panicked. His followers stood, unmoving, not knowing if they were allowed to attack the Queen. At least they have that much respect for her. I thought.

As she began to bring the blade down, Stayne screwed his eyes shut.

"Mirana! Stop!" Everyone looked at Dorian who had stepped forward and was holding a hand out towards his Lady.

"Don't change who you are just because of him. He's not worth it."

Her eyes were possessed with something I had never seen in them before. Pure hatred. She looked at cowering man on the floor then back to Dorian. He edged closer.

"Now, give me the dagger."

Her eyes widen and became innocent again. All forms of anger gone from them. She slowly handed Dorian the dagger, then looked back down at Stayne.

"Think yourself lucky you're going to have a few more minutes of life. I'm sure Tarrant won't be this merciful."

She started to walk away and he got up, a low, foreboding laugh bubbling from his mouth.

"Whoever said I was going to fight."

Mirana stopped. Something he had said had triggered a notion. Then, horror spread across her face and she whipped around, shaking her head slowly.

"No. Please don't do this."

"Our champions fight, to the death. That was the deal."

"But she will kill him!" She said angrily in a distressed voice.

Something was trying to get through to me, but there was a wall that was blocking it from reaching me, but I wasn't trying to knock the wall down anytime soon. I knew it was bad. I knew exactly what they were talking about, but if I denied it for long enough, maybe it wouldn't be true. Maybe I would wake up from this nightmare. A memory of Mirana and I talking quietly on a balcony after Alice had just woken up filled my head.

'Mould her into a weapon…'

'Won't remember…'

'Stayne…'

The sun was burning my skin and I felt like crying out. We had been right about everything. I was dying inside and out and there was nothing I could do about it.

"It's too late now, your majesty." He sneered sarcastically. "Let the champions step forth!"

A bell was ringing in my ears and all I could hear were muffled words being aimed at me. It was like I was underwater, only I was nowhere near that cool. My whole body was sticky with sweat and people tugged at my clothes. But I couldn't move. I couldn't fight Alice. I would rather die that draw my sword against her.

"Tarrant!" "Tarrant!" the voices were blurred and my vision was no clearer. I felt a cool pair of hands cup my face and I could vaguely see a face in front of mine, but I couldn't recognise.

"Tarrant…me…Mirana…concentrate…no good...help her…please…"

I could only make out parts of what the person was saying. I was about to give into the madness when a voice, crystal clear found its way to my ears.

"What's wrong Tarrant Hightopp? Too afraid to fight."

I came out of my haze in an instant and looked for the source of the voice. She wasn't hard to find, her blonde hair was shining brightly in the sunlight, but I wished I hadn't seen her. She didn't look like my Alice at all. Her beautiful locks were much shorter and the expression on her face much too harsh.

Mirana, who had also turned to look, still had her hands on my face. She let go and turned properly to face Alice.

"Alice, please. This isn't you. You are a good person. You've been manipulated, you have to see that. Don't do this."

She sneered a very Stayne like sneer and I felt sick. He had twisted her so much and she didn't even know it.

"I know better than to believe your little mind games. You destroyed my family, my village, my life. I got rid of your Jabberwocky and now I'm going to get rid of you."

"What? No, Alice, he's told you in wrong. You didn't come from here. You came from another world, from England. Tarrant had his village destroyed by Stayne. Tarrant. You love him, remember."

She growled.

"I do not love him! I would never fall in love with that."

She pointed harshly at me. It felt like a stab would and every word only added to the pain.

"What about that ring on Stayne's finger. Tarrant gave you that. Stayne took it from you."

She looked at his finger and I saw shock on her face. Her expression softened and when she looked back to me, I saw the Alice in fell in love with.

"Don't listen to them Alice, I said this would happen."

The moment he spoke, the hard expression returned, but I wasn't as crushed as before. Because we had gotten through to her. She could remember, she just had to find something strong enough to remember and hold onto it.

I stepped forward past Mirana and closer to Alice.

"I love you Alice. And you love me. You just need to remember that."

"She doesn't love you Hightopp! She loves me." Stayne jibed.

"No she doesn't."

"Yes I do. So don't think I'm going to turn my back on him for one moment. You're going to die for every crime you have committed against this world." Her words broke my heart.

"I have done nothing Alice. Stayne escape from exile. He killed my people and destroyed my village. He's the real monster!"

"Enough! This ends now!"

And she lunged forward into battle.

…