A/N: I love how Thackery has this mad tea fetish, gosh. It makes me laugh all the time. A little spoiler for you all, Tarrant and Alice might come to terms with how they really feel about each other, if you know what I mean, in the next few chapters coming up –winks-
On to the installment!
Alice noticed the Hatter had gone silent and wasn't even frowning as they approached the castle grounds. In fact, he had turned rather pale and was biting his lower lip nervously.
She felt bad for him so she backtracked to walk side by side him. "Are you scared?" She asked, tapping the Hatter's shoulder. He brushed her hand aside and pouted childishly. "No." He lied.
"If it does you any consolation, I'm scared too." She told him, "I'm weaponless. You, on the other hand, are not." She poked his elbow lightly. "Where's that cool cane of yours?"
Tarrant's face lit up a bit. "In my pocket," he gestured, "It shrinks." He announced proudly, "I invented it myself." He grinned brightly.
Alice fought the urge to roll her eyes, but smiled stiffly instead.
"Maybe you could lend it to me? I could use it to kill the red queen." She mused, shrugging slightly.
The Hatter glared at her. "Are you mad? No! This is my cane. Get your own." He snorted, "And even if it was actually able to kill the red queen, she would already be dead."
Alice raised her arms waving it in defense. "Alright, calm down. Maybe you could make another for me?"
Tarrant's eyes narrowed. "I am no servant of yours." He growled icily.
Alice frowned, her blue eyes narrowed too. "I'm asking nicely." She folded her arms over her chest, shaking her head. "Why must you be so – so ugh!" She scrunched up her nose in disgust.
Tarrant scoffed, rolling his eyes. "Perhaps you've mistaken me for the old Hatter. I'm not him anymore." He hissed. "I am not your friend. I am merely just here to save my own skin."
The blonde girl sighed, her eyes downcast. "You're still the Mad Hatter to me, you know. Nothing's going to change the fact that you are still my friend." She waltzed up to Chessur, who had now stopped, few feet away from the towering gates of the White Queen's castle.
Everyone halted.
"What now?" The hare gulped, his big brown eyes scared and confused.
"I'll go check for guards." Chessur spoke up, his voice quavering a bit. "I'll be right back." With that he vanished.
The Hare twitched his nose.
"I hope he comes back." He told Alice anxiously. She nodded, glancing up at Tarrant who looked indifferent.
"I hope he doesn't." He commented.
Alice ignored him, eyeing the big castle with awe. It was much like a medieval castle she had seen in her many storybooks. Big towering white and it had carvings of chess pieces on it.
It was a full five minutes before Chessur appeared, a proud grin on his face.
"Cleared! No guards. I told you!" He pointed an accusing finger at Tarrant.
"It's an ambush, you'll see." The Hatter countered, but he didn't sound so sure of himself. He looked at Chessur lazily. "So how exactly are we supposed to get in, tubby?" He asked.
The cat frowned darkly at him. "I'll go in and open the gate." He explained, turning to Alice and Thackery the March Hare. They nodded, whilst Tarrant rolled his eyes, mumbling to himself. He vanished. Within seconds, the gates opened.
Alice's jaw dropped at the sight.
The interior of the castle was the opposite of it's exterior. The opened gates revealed a courtyard of decaying white roses, withering grass, with patches of red paint all over. She blinked a couple of times, distraught.
"Ah!" Tarrant's voice rang out beside her. "What a beautiful sight!" He exclaimed, clapping his hands and as if reading her mind, he whispered in Alice's ear. "That's not red paint, if you're wondering."
Alice gulped.
Chessur was holding onto a rope – the one that enabled the opening of the gate and he beckoned them with a flick of his tail. Alice was the last to enter, her heart hammering wildly in her chest.
The Hare looked completely outraged. "Where's the tea table?" He cried out angrily and began his search for it.
The Hatter was certainly enjoying the view. "Wonderful scenery, eh Alice? Could use a little more blood there though." He remarked, pointing at no where in particular.
Alice just stood dumbly, numbed by the sight. It stung her. No wonder the white queen left. The gates closed behind her and she jumped, courage draining away.
"Nasty things." Chessur commented, as he floated over to her. "The palace isn't a place I like to be."
"I beg to differ!" The Hatter joined them heartily. "I love it here!" He looked positively delighted and Alice wanted nothing more than to slap him. She gave him a disgusted glare. "Tarrant!" She scowled darkly.
There was a rustle. The three of them turned to the direction of the noise. There was a very silent pause as they watched their surroundings carefully.
"Did you hear that?" Alice punctured the silence.
"No." retorted the Hatter sarcastically. "We didn't. That's why we're all stiff and looking out for danger."
Chessur relaxed. "Probably Hare." He guessed, shrugging. There was a loud clanking noise. Alice's blood froze.
"Or not." Chessur turned to the left, "Oh snap."
Alice knew why the cat had said that for a group of red chess pieces holding onto spears, one of which was holding a grumpy Hare, had entered the courtyard and was eyeing the three of them closely.
"This is nice." The Hatter remarked.
Alice examined the chess pieces slowly, a wary look on her face.
"Well, well, well! If it isn't Clockwork!" A red knight hopped forward, thrusting its spear dangerously at Tarrant, who squeaked a bit.
"And you've brought a few friends, I see!" He eyed Alice and Chessur coolly, his gaze lingering longer on Alice, who shuddered.
"Hey! It's that cat who was following the rabbit!" A pawn called out.
Chessur went quite pale.
"Chessur, how glad I am to see you. Come to save your little bunny friend?" The red knight snorted.
'THUMP!' The Hare was thrown roughly onto the ground.
"I'm afraid we can't talk this over a cup of tea. (The Hare gasped angrily) The castle is out of bounds. Anyone who trespasses will get executed." The knight hissed.
Alice pressed herself closer to the Hatter and the cat, while the Hare grabbed onto Alice's leg anxiously.
"Wait! Hold on!" The Hatter spluttered, "Including me? I have been a faithful servant to the queen – ah – " He stopped when Alice, Chessur and Thackery glared at him. "Until now." He finished glumly.
The red knight let out a cold high laugh. "Faithful? I highly doubt that. The red queen gave us specific orders to kill you especially, you traitor."
The knight moved closer. "She was so very disappointed at you." He told Tarrant coldly. "You'll be the first to die, Clockwork."
"Remembered when I said I love this place?" The Hatter whispered to them, "I stand corrected." Alice pinched him harshly and he let out a terrified yelp. He inched back, whimpering a little.
How we they going to get out of this mess? She looked expectantly at Chessur, who was on the verge of disappearing. What kind of strong brave men were they? Alice groaned inwardly.
She felt a tug on her dress.
"You know, I'd like some tea before I get executed." The Hare whispered.
Oh the madness of them all! "Honestly, Hare!" She hissed impatiently, "Of all times?"
The cat's brows rose and the Hatter shrugged.
The Hare pulled out something from his pocket. The Chess pieces all edged closer, pointing their swords and spears at the Hare, probably anticipating a weapon of some sort. Alice looked at him in disbelief as he pulled out a packet of instant tea.
She groaned.
"Dry instant tea." The Hare explained to them all, "I'm going to take it before I die, at least."
Alice swore if she had the chance, she would kick the March hare all the way to some distant land.
"My dear friend," The Hatter murmured, frightened, "I don't think now is such a good time for tea."
The Cheshire cat, watched, his face unreadable.
"Anybody have water?" Thackery inquired, suddenly oblivious to his surroundings.
The chess pieces backed off slightly, all roaring with laughter.
Alice frowned and was about to speak when Chessur cut her. "I'm afraid you'll just have to swallow it whole." He purred to the Hare.
The Hare shrugged and poured the tea packet into his mouth, crunching it delightedly.
The knight rolled his eyes. "Enough madness." He pointed his spear at the Hatter, "Time for business."
The Hatter looked as if he was about to faint and he gripped on Alice for support. "I don't want to die," He mumbled to her, "I'm still so young! So beautiful!"
Alice nudged him fiercely. "Use your cane!" She hissed urgently.
A look of calamity appeared on Tarrant's face. "Oh… right." He was reaching for his pocket where he stowed his cane when all of a sudden, the Hare started bouncing uncontrollably and pounced onto the red knight, his metal feet kicking on the chess piece with fury.
The Hatter looked utterly relieved. Alice gasped at the sight of the sudden deranged Hare, who looked so hyper and twisting jumping kicking at all he could attack.
What in the world?
All the chess pieces started panicking and soon, chaos ensued.
"What was in that tea?" The Hatter looked as confused as Alice. She glanced at the packet on the ground. "It just says dry tea. Add water." She grunted, bewildered.
Chessur let out a throaty purr. "Dry tea makes the Hare hyper-active. He destroyed half of his own house when he ate just a packet of dry tea." He waved a paw, "GO Thackery!" he encouraged.
The hare had kicked a rather large bishop into two and was still pouncing and jumping even though there were only a few chess pieces left. A litter of broken pieces were scattered all over the floor.
"This is absurd!" Alice growled, nonplussed.
There were a few more cracks and 'ows!' before all the chess pieces laid on the ground, broken and unmoving, like a bloodied battlefield.
The Hare sat on top of a bishop's head. "Tea works wonders." He grinned proudly.
Alice couldn't help but grin. "Well done, Hare." She clapped, sighing to herself. "Not thanks to them though!" She glared at the Hatter and the cat, scowling.
At that moment, the Hatter was eyeing the cat slyly, an I-told-you-so look on his face, busy-mocking the cat to acknowledge Alice's words.
"So…" He began, unfazed by the cat's glare. "No guards, hmm?" He smiled wickedly.
"Maybe… I was mistaken." Chessur grumbled, shaking his head.
"You wouldn't listen to silly Tarrant." The Hatter grinned.
"Go on. Say it." The cat looked defeated.
"Say what?" The Hatter looked overjoyed, and was grinning as wide as a Cheshire cat smile.
The cat glared at him, frowning deeply, furious at the Hatter.
Alice watched them bicker with a raised eyebrow.
"Get over with it." The Hare ordered, folding his arms and exchanged exasperated glances with Alice.
"I… told you SO!" The hatter bounced happily around Chessur, "I told you so, I told you so, I told you so!"
Chessur pulled a face. "Let's go. Nivens is probably locked somewh-"
"I told you so!"
"-were in the castle. We have to spilt up an-"
"I TOLD YOU SO!"
"SHUT UP TARRANT!"
"I told you so." The Hatter whispered, delightedly grinning.
"Hatter." Alice warned, nudging him.
"We will spilt up and search. I'll go with Alice." Chessur announced, nodding at her.
"I should." The Hatter countered, glaring now, "I know the castle better."
"No, I don't trust you!" Chessur sniffed at him, pointing a paw and shaking his head.
"At least I won't disappear when she's in danger!"
"How dare you…"
"YOU KNOW WHAT?" Alice cut them both, with a dagger stare, feeling impatient. "I'll go with Tarrant. You can go with Thackery, Chessur. I can keep an eye on Tarrant, and you can keep an eye on Chessur, Hare."
Thackery nodded and saluted.
Chessur frowned. "Are you sure, Alice?" He glared at Tarrant.
She nodded. "Trust me, Chessur." She sighed, before looking at the Mad Hatter, who was smirking in victory.
"Okay. We'll take the west wing, you two take the east. Whoever finds the white rabbit first, get him and we'll meet back at the Hare's house." Chessur commanded.
Alice agreed, rushing over to give the Hare a hug, while Chessur and Tarrant glared at each other.
"Promise not to run away, Chessur?" She turned to the cat, who nodded lightly.
The hare snorted, "I can take care of him and myself! My kicks of terror are beyond awesome."
Alice went over to link arms with Tarrant, who blinked in surprise and smirked viciously at the Cheshire cat. Chessur's face darkened. "Are you sure you want to go with him, Alice?"
She nodded.
They all nodded back, albeit the cat nodding reluctantly.
"Great, before we go, I'd like to say one last thing." The Hatter beamed.
"What?" They all asked.
"I TOLD YOU SO!"