A/N: A shorter chapter today! The next chapter will be much longer, I promise. Thank you so much for the reviews you've given! (: More? –getspokedbyThackery- Oww, alright, alright!

On to story!

Chessur was grinning delightedly. Of course Alice would choose his brilliant idea over stupid old Mad Hatter's. He stole a glance back, his grin widening as he saw the dark miserable look on Tarrant's face. He couldn't help but let out a small audible chuckle, as he drifted alongside Alice, ignoring the angry snort from behind.

"A penny for your thoughts, Chessur?" Alice's voice echoed from beside him, "You seem to be enjoying yourself."

Chessur shot her a mega watt grin. "I just enjoy smiling," he rumbled, "It's ah – part of being a Cheshire cat."

An angry snort from behind was to be heard again. "Part of being a Cheshire cat? Oh I do beg your pardon!" Tarrant sounded highly annoyed and Chessur delighted in his irritation.

That would teach him for trying to experiment on me. Chessur pondered to himself.

How he detested the Hatter. He regretted wholly bringing Alice to the Clockwork's lair. He made very sure it wasn't six o'clock, and he thought Alice would only help the March Hare out while the Hatter remained there. He was so very wrong.

Sighing, he turned to glance at the unusually quiet March Hare. The brown Hare looked very under the weather and a long scowl was replacing his usual happy grins.

"Perhaps you'd tell me why you're so quiet today?" He inquired the Hare, a sly smirk on his face.

The Hare shot him a fierce glare. "I'm not talking to any of you." He stated. "I didn't have my tea this morning because of all of you." He snorted before crossing his arms over his chest and rolling his eyes.

Chessur let out a low rumble from his throat. Trust the Hare to be unhappy about such a smallish matter.

The cat eyed Tarrant for a moment, the Hatter's face also in a tight lipped scowl. He grinned. Poor Tarrant. Not.

"It's a pity isn't it?" He called out to the Hatter, smiling coolly. ("Yes it is." said the Hare)

Tarrant looked up at the cat, a gleam in his bright green eyes. "I don't really care." He snorted at Chessur, gritting his teeth. "I'm not into tea."

The Hare gave a choked gasp and said let out a loud 'hmmrph!' before ignoring them both.

Chessur knew the Hatter was in no mood for a quarrel, but Chessur was not going to let him off the hook so easily. That's for calling him scrap fur. A distant thought of a piece of scrap fur floating in mid-air and saying; "Hi there! I'm Chessur!" made him pissed.

"I was talking about you, Tarrant." Chessur began slowly, drifting towards the angry-looking Hatter. "It's a pity Alice won't give you a chance."

Tarrant's face went a blotchy red. It was – to the cat – a good sign.

"She doesn't trust you, you know." The cat purred, smirking, "I don't think she ever will."

The Hatter's face darkened. "Whatever." He growled, stuffing his hands into his pockets, and looking away.

They continued walking in silence for a moment.

"What do you want, Tarrant?" Chessur mocked, puncturing the silence. "I don't believe you're here to actually help us kill the red queen."

Tarrant's glare was now fixated on him. He looked sorely defeated for a moment when a sudden gleam reentered his eyes and a playful smirk emerged on his lips.

"I actually am, you see, Chessur." He began playing with a loose strand on his jacket. "I decided to help, considering none of you here know much about the Red queen. I was – was I say again – her faithful old Clockwork, and she entrusted me a lot of secrets. Things that you, cat, don't know."

He looked up, a fake innocent smile on his face.

"Anyway, don't you know I adore little Alice? How could I possible stand there and watch her die from the wrath of the red queen?"

Now it was Chessur's turn to frown darkly. He remembered the little incident between the Hatter and Alice before they set foot out the house. Adore? Was the Hatter trying to prove something? Of course he was! Why was he ever so close?

"Ever so touch Alice again and I swear I will kill you." Chessur hissed, dropping his voice to a whisper. "Don't think I don't know what went on just now, Hatter." He unsheathed his claws. "You sneaky little monster."

The Hatter feigned a look of puzzlement. "Why, what exactly do you mean, Chessur? What did I do to Alice?" He declared loudly, catching Alice's attention.

Alice turned around to glance at the Hatter and the cat. "What?" She gawked, blinking confusedly.

"Nothing, nothing. Tarrant's just being silly." Chessur pressed a paw over the Hatter's mouth as he tried to speak. "Just continue walking straight, we'll be there very soon." He smiled kindly at Alice, who shrugged and looked away.

Swiftly, Chessur lifted his paw off the hatter's mouth before the latter could bite him. "You are an emotionless heartless droid," he snarled softly at Tarrant, poking a paw at his chest. "Trust is not earned by lo - mutual attraction," He hissed, "If you break Alice's heart, I'll break your face."

Tarrant grinned. "Jealous are we, now?" He chuckled. "Oh, Chessur, don't let this get in the way of our lovely friendship!" He made a mad grab for Chessur's paw.

Chessur pulled back, a long frown on his face, before floating back to Alice's side.

"Did he hurt you?" Alice whispered to the cat, her face worried and anxious.

Chessur blinked, shocked at her sincerity, and smiled warmly at her. "No, not at all." He placed a paw on her shoulder. She did not tense or flinch away, but took his paw in her hand.

"Great, I thought you two were going to start a cat fight behind. No pun intended." She breathed a sigh of relief, giggling.

The cat shrugged. He glanced back at the Hatter, who was looking curiously at them both, an unreadable expression on his face. Their eyes met for a moment, and Chessur was surprised to see a flash of envy in those bright green eyes before turning into venom.

That Hatter was unpredictable.

Alice looked above. The clouds were still the very same, dark and black, contrasting with the red blood sky. It was a little terrifying, but it was going to be a familiar sight sooner or later.

She pinched herself. So, it wasn't a dream. She was really in Underland and she was about to rescue Nivens.

Alice pictured in her mind, a happy pair of dancing tea lunatics behind, singing songs with a fluffy Cheshire cat floated beside her, telling her they were going to have a game of hide and seek with the White Rabbit Nivens, while they trekked across the green lush forests under the beautiful blue sky.

She sighed, taking a glance at the real scene and beheld her. A scowling Hare, a depressed looking Hatter trailing behind a bony cat and her, trekking across a dead withered forest.

It was far beyond what she expected.

"Not far now." Chessur broke into her thoughts, nudging her shoulder in a friendly manner. He grinned.

"You've gone quite mangy Chessur," Alice tickled his chin, "But your grin's a comfort."

"Glad to know it helps." He purred, beaming.

"We're all in trouble." The Hatter hissed from behind. "Its not too late to turn back!" He sounded angry, "If we all get captured, I'm killing all of you!"

"Stop being such a baby, Tarrant." Chessur cooed, not turning back to look at his enemy, "We won't get captured."

"Alice," Tarrant growled, "Slap that stupid cat beside you."

Alice rolled her eyes and scratched Chessur behind the ears. "I'd slap you first." She drawled.

The Hare let out a squeak. "I can see the castle!" He gasped, jumping up and down. "We're reaching! TEA TIME!"

Everyone rolled their eyes at that.

A strong huge castle loomed ahead of them, looking isolated and empty. It was the white queen's old headquarters.

Alice felt a shudder come from her left, where the Cheshire cat floated demurely. "Are you ready, Alice?" He asked quietly, looking at her.

"Not really." She answered truthfully, feeling afraid.

"I'll protect you." The cat meowed, his voice crisp and sincere.

Alice wondered if he had said that to the white rabbit before the guards captured him.