The next day dawned bright and late, the sun finally peeking over the cliff head around 9:30. But the town of Imaginine did not share the sun's apparent bright joy. Instead, they were exhausted of watching for the escaped murderer, watching out for the young ones.

But now they ventured out, dressed in somber clothing, to witness the execution of March Hasan Hare.

Alice had not been awakened, for Cheshire, as well as the governors, had deemed it unnecessary for the girl to see a beheading.

March shivered and tried once more to break out of the guard's grasp, but was rudely snatched back. Growling, he spat through his visor, "Curse you all! I hope Hatter guts you!"

Chesapeake rolled her eyes and waved a hand. The guards yanked a black cloth bag over March's head.

As they entered the main square, guards parted the crowd, who booed and hissed as the condemned assassin passed. Yells came, "Kill him!"

Hatter watched quietly from the roof top of a house, cloaked and disguised. Under his cloak, he felt the child he had captured shuddering, but Hatter kept him quiet. He must wait for March to reach the platform and executioner. And then… He'd give the signal, and the Jack of Diamond's troops would strike. The Rat's soldiers were shadowing the main gate across town, ready to let the main army in.

Hatter sneered.

The Imagineers had built their own trap, their own grave.

March stumbled up the steps of the platform to where a stout, short man in a black suit and veil stood holding a heavy axe. Following him up, Chesapeake and Lyona nodded solemnly to the crowd, and Lyona began, "People of Wonderland! We gather today to execute the convicted criminal March. Is there any objection?"

"Kill him!"

Lyona sighed and, turning to the executioner, nodded slowly.

The guards roughly shoved March down, placing his head against the wood and pulling his neck chain-armor down to expose a sweaty furred neck. Groaning, March muttered from beneath the bag over his head, "Do it quick. And don't you dare let my body rot out here!"

The executioner hefted his axe, ready to bring it down…

When a dagger thudded into his throat, and he choked, and he fell back off the platform, clutching at his neck. Immediately, guards surrounded the governors, bristling as they glared up at the cloaked figure on the rooftop. Chesapeake hissed in anger, "Guards!"
Guards started running through the crowd for the house.

Hatter pulled back his hood and tipped his top hat with a hand, the other hidden and gripping the struggling boy, "Hello, again. Didn't think I would miss an execution, did you?"

Leaning to White who was on his right, Cheshire muttered, "Did he come back for March?"

"I guess…"

Hatter cast a lazy glance at the guards below, "If any of you come any closer, you'll be sorry." Roughly, he threw the cloak back and lifted the child high, unsheathing a crescent sword that Jack had provided him with.

Lyona's eyes grew wide and she barked, "Stand down!"

The cards halted, at attention.

Eye twitching, Chesapeake snarled, "What do you want, Hatter?"

"To trade." Hatter's hand was choking the boy slowly, "A life for a life. And a bit more."

Lyona waved a hand, and the guards unbound March quickly. Pulling the black bag from his head, March threw it down, cursing, "Darn it, Hats! You near let me lose my head!"

Hatter smirked and ignored his comrade, "Give him a sword!"

Another nod, this time from Chesapeake, and a guard handed a sword to the Hare grudgingly. March snatched it away and held it at his side, gazing up at Hatter respectfully. Hatter had control here, and he shouldn't do a thing without Hatter telling him so.

"Now… where is Alice?"

Shaking with anger, Chesapeake pointed up the hill to the north, "Give back the boy now!"

Hatter smirked, eyes glinting, "I didn't come to give. I came to take." Raising his sword, he whistled.

Instantly, dark cloaked men stood on the roofs surrounding the square, bows trained on the crowd below. The crowd drew together with a collected gasp as other black cards emerged from the alleys, swords at ready. Chesapeake drew her slim silver rapier as Lyona's hand scooped up the discarded executioner's ace, and snarled, "You monster! At least let the women and children go!"

From across the square, the Jack of Diamonds sneered and held up a hand, "Kill them. All!"

Hatter grinned and threw the boy down into the crowd, quickly following, spurned by the cries as the cards swept forward to attack.

The square was immediately in chaos.

The black cards cut forward, swiping down any free Wonderlander that got in their way; the deadly archers on the rooftops sighted out the rebels and picked them off with carefully aimed bolts; Hatter and March… didn't really care who they killed; Lyona and Chesapeake led the charge against the black cards and assassins, calling up the Imagineers with a cry, "FOR ALICE AND WONDERLAND!".

And the ordinary people between the two sides fell to the sword.

The cards surged out of the side alley and ran for the gate, where four Imagineers glanced up, startled, from their posts.

The fight was short-lived, the white cards slashed down in minutes. Growling, the Rat bounded forward and started cranking the gate open. The iron work gate slid open slowly, and a black card captain whistled down the tunnel leading to the outside of the cliffs.

A pause, and then a corresponding whistle echoed back, followed by the tell-tale sound of marching. Minutes later, lines of black card stopped before the gate and saluted.

"Permission to enter, sir?"

The Rat nodded and spread his arms as he addressed the army, "Burn the city!"

A loud roar, a ghastly cheer, issued from the cards, "Burn the traitors!"

The Rat smirked and motioned with a clawed hand, "Kill everyone but Alice!"

"Kill the traitors!"

"Take their heads!"

The army began streaming in through the gates, yelling victoriously as they drew their swords, axes, and spears. With every line came a torch-bearer, whom the others flocked around to light their own flames.

They'd burn this city to the ground!

Alice woke blearily at an enormous commotion outside and blinked tiredly. She had fallen asleep in soft breeches and a white flowing shirt the governors had provided her with. Quickly forcing herself up, she ran to the window, threw open the shutters, and stared out in horror.

People were fleeing to the ships as their houses burned, their friends and family ruthlessly cut down. Below, in the street, black cards were fighting hand in hand with the Imagineer soldiers.

Gasping, Alice ran downstairs, heedless that she had no shoes or socks, nor clothes suited for the street. As she rushed to the door, she paused to grab a kitchen knife from the table. She ran into the street, looking like a ghost for all her white pajamas turned her to.

Immediately, she was noticed by the rebels. A card found his way over and ordered breathlessly, "Run for the ships, Alice! Run!"

Alice turned to the harbor, deciding to listen to the soldier.

A battlefield was no place for a scared, little girl!

Just as she began running, March sprinted round the corner ahead, sword red and dripping.

He spotted her and charged, " Alice! Stay right where you are!"

As he neared, the card soldier placed himself between the angry Hare and Alice, "Get away from here!"

Alice spun and ran. The card lunged at March, but, grinning wickedly, March leapt up over the sword. With one solid whack, he cut the rebel's head off. Ignoring the corpse, he quickly caught up to Alice and grabbed her roughly, "I told you to stay!"

Alice tried to pull away, eyes widening with fear, "Y-you're not going to try to kill me, a-a-are you, March?"

March tugged her close and proceeded to bat the knife out of her hand, "Don't need that now. Nah… I'm not going to kill you, but I've just raced my heart out to get here before Hatter does. He had his mind set to 'saving' you." Half-dragging, half-running, he began to pull her down the street, growling, "I don't want that."

Behind them, a call: "We've got the Alice girl! Draw back!"

Lyona and Chesapeake were fighting for their lives.

Their opponent?

Hatter.

Hatter dodged a swiping axe slash from Lyona and sneered, cloak fluttering like black wings behind him as he countered Chesapeake's stab, "What's the matter, guvnors? Not fond of the death penalty?" Lunging, he whacked Chesapeake's head with the flat of his blade.

Chesapeake stumbled back, dazed from the blow. Recovering her balance, she growled, "You're playing with us!"

Hatter smirked, "Ah… is the little pony hurt?" He glanced at Lyona, who hesitated to attack, and said, "Well, go on! I'm enjoying this fight! Good practice!"

Cheshire, meanwhile, was fending off enemy cards, backed by White Rabbit's cane-sword and Hartland's broadsword. Swiping out at a black card, Cheshire yelled, "Retreat for the ships!"

White shoved a card away, who fell down dead, "What about Alice?"

"Hubble's gone to get her! Just go!"

Hatter, across the square, had both of the governors at his mercy. Holding a sword down at their throats, he smiled widely, "I won't kill you two today, but if you ever threaten March again, I swear, I will eat your faces off!" He turned and crowed, "Burn the ships! Let none escape!" Grinning, he ran for the street he knew led to the main gate, away from the harbor.

March had Hatter's prize.

March and Alice hurried down a street. Behind them, the black cards were fighting off rebels trying to rescue Alice. Snarling, March rounded the corner, dragging Alice behind him, "Rat! Where's-"

He froze when he saw Hubble and the Rat locked in combat.

Hubble had accurately predicted where March was taking Alice, but hadn't counted on the Rat being there. Now, he fought a losing battle.

The Rat was quicker, stronger, and more ruthless. Swiping the blade out of Hubble's hold, he threw the rebel down and drew back his sword to deliver a killing blow.

Alice scrambled forward to try a help the downed soldier, but March beat her to it. Plunging his sword deep into the Rat's belly, he snarled as the Rat gaped at him in disbelief, "I've been waiting a long time to do that!" He ripped the sword out. The Rat fell back, gushing great gouts of blood as he fell dead.

Hubble staggered up, face pale, "That-"

Smirking, March growled, "For the tea. But now…" He punched Hubble hard in the face and smiled as the card went down unconscious, "That's for your own safety." He paused suddenly, ears twitching, then spun to Alice, "You! Stay with me!"

Alice was about to ask 'Why?' when Hatter ran around the far corner.

Seeing Alice, he stopped and pointed at March, "Give her to me!"

March put himself between the love-sick hunter and his prey, ears back in annoyance, "So you can kill her? I understand why, Hatter, but-"

Roaring, Hatter charged them, "Jabberwocky can't-"

"What?"

Hatter froze as Jack appeared behind March, bow at ready. Face splitting into a cruel sneer, the Jack of Diamonds growled, "What, Hatter? Is it just me, or are you trying to kill our protégé? Jabberwock wants her alive."

Hatter sullenly sheathed his sword, wary of the bow, "There is no reason to keep her alive. Let me eat her."

"No!" March growled, "We take her to the Jabberwock! At least she lives for a bit longer!"
Nodding, Jack glared at Hatter, "You'll stay here and finish the battle. Me and March will go ahead. With Alice."

Hatter snarled and turned away, furious.

Once again, he had been cheated!