Alice blinked awake slowly, shoulder on fire and eyes unusually heavy. She tried to sit up, but something lay on her chest, holding her down. Moaning, she glanced to her right.

Jabberwock lay by her side, slumbering, his arm draped over her. He was curled so that his feet stayed on the bed and one of his legs was hooked unceremoniously over hers. His warm, moist breath blew onto her shoulder with every rasping breath.

Alice stiffened, unaccustomed to such… company in her small bed. Slowly, she tried to pull herself out from under him.

Jabberwock snarled darkly in his sleep and pulled her into a tight hug, almost like a teddy bear. His face dug into her long golden hair, his arm crushing her into his chest.

Alice wriggled at the faint pain, finally just shouldering him gently, "Hello? Wake up?"

Sniffing, Jabberwocky only tightened his grip.

Alice struggled against his hold, "Wake up! You're crushing me!"

Jabberwocky only growled softly in the back of his throat, responding to whatever happened in his dream.

Desperate, Alice reached up over her head and pulled at his hair.

Jabberwock jerked awake, inhaling Alice's hair, and started coughing, releasing her as he choked, "Ah, Alice…" Sitting up, he shook his head, a small smile creeping onto his face, "You don't mind that I joined you last night, do you?"

"I'd like it if you told me."

Jabberwock hefted himself up over Alice, missed the edge of the bed, and fell flat on his face. Snarling, he propped himself up, "First things first: bigger bed."

Peering down at him, Alice frowned, "You're really going to… sleep with me? I mean… uh… isn't that a bit… weird?"

"What?" He looked up at her with confused eyes, "That's how we do it in the Shadowlands, so we can protect our children if a night terror attacks."
"Oh…"

Staggering up, Jabberwock yawned groggily and stretched, a series of cracks escaping his spine, "How's your shoulder?"

Alice reached up and itched at the black scab, "Fine… how's Hatter?"

"He and March went back to their home in the forest."

Alice's face fell, "Ah…"

Sensing her sadness, Jabberwocky suggested, "Do you want explore the town? I think that would please you."

Alice glanced up and nodded enthusiastically, sadness disappearing, "Oh! Can we?"

Happy that Alice's gloom vanished, Jabberwock grinned broadly, "Anything for my daughter!"

Jabberwock glanced up at Alice as she shifted atop the horse-fly, waiting for her to settle before hefting himself up behind her in the saddle. His cloak draped behind him, accenting his black fancy clothes that nearly blended into his skin. Grabbing the reins from over Alice's shoulder, he glanced at the guard who accompanied them, "Demeric, isn't it?"

The guard nodded meekly, "Yes, sir…"

Leaning back into Jabberwocky, Alice pulled at her blouse. Jabberwock insisted that she change into 'proper riding clothes'. He lent her one of his loose white button-ups and some of his half-knee breeches. However, the breeches pulled up to about four inches above her belly button and the shirt tucked into it but still hung rather loose. Sighing she asked, "Will I have to ride these every time I ride?"

Jabberwock's left hand clasped hers, the other tugging the reins gently, "Just until I have one tailored for you." Glancing at Demeric, he nodded to the card.

Demeric trotted his palomino horse-fly to the gate and called up, "Open the gates!"

The soldiers atop the battlements hurried to comply. Slowly, the gates began to swing open, groaning.

Suddenly, Alice heard Jabberwocky chuckle. Before she asked what struck him funny, he dug his knees into their steed's midnight black sides. The stallion whickered and thundered forward, charging through the gates with clods of dust flying up behind them. Alice clung tightly to the saddle, terrified as they flew down the street, Jabberwocky leaning into her as she laughed.
Demeric barely started after them before they rounded the corner. Diving out of the way, townspeople stared after the fluttering red cape. Alice clutched his arms and screamed, "You're going too fast!"

Jabberwock smiled pointedly, "Too fast? Let me show you fast!" Jutting his knees in gradually, he laughed gleefully as the horse neighed and put on an extra layer of speed. The steed now dodged the people, veering to avoid the gaping obstructions.

Alice pleaded, "Please! Please stop! I'm- I'm scared!"

Eyes snapping to narrow slits, Jabberwocky hissed into the wind, "Almost there…"

They burst into a large square in which a gallows stood solemnly in the center. The two guards who sat by the gallows leapt up in respectful fear as Jabberwock reined the horse-fly to a prancing stop and jumped off with a broad smile on his face, heedless of the rotted corpse in the noose but fifteen feet away, "How goes the guard?"

The two guards saluted, "Good, sir!"

Turning to Alice, Jabberwocky frowned, "What's wrong, Alice?"

Alice couldn't wrench her eyes from the grisly corpse. Trembling, she brought a finger up and pointed, "Th-th-the-"

Jabberwocky glanced at the body, cocked his head to the side, "What about it?"

"It's- it's- its-" Losing her balance, Alice started sliding sideways off the horse.

Jabberwock caught her and set her gently on the ground. Whirling to the guards, he ordered, "One of you dispose of the corpse. The other, take my horse back to the stables. And tell Demeric that we don't need him."
"Yes… sir…"

Grabbing Alice's hand, Jabberwock pulled her quickly down a side street, We must get out of here before Demeric catches up."

Alice finally regained her voice, "Wait! Why are we trying to get away from him?"

A lady ahead saw them, paled, and instantly seized her child and pulled him aside. Jabberwocky glared at them with cold eyes before answering, "The guards always send someone with me… Every time. But, today," He took a deep breath, "today it'll just be you and me."

"Couldn't you have asked?"

Jabberwocky shrugged and quickened his pace, "They'd have sent someone anyways."

They'd been wandering around the capitol city for about two hours when Alice saw the sign for a candy shop. Glancing up at Jabberwocky, she asked excitedly, "I'm hungry! Can we get some candy?"

"Huh?" Jabberwock ripped his eyes from a group of young children playing up ahead, mouth watering. He glanced at her and muttered, "Whatever you want, as long as it doesn't involve going in that direction."

Alice cheered and ran to the candy shop's door, Jabberwock quietly following her.

Hubble just finished shrugging on his long coat, buttoning up its tall collar, and setting the tricorner hat on his head when the door swung open. Turning around with a word of welcome on the tip of his tongue, he froze.

Alice bounded into the warmth of the house, followed by the icy presence of the tyrant Jabberwocky. Gazing at a horrified Hubble, Alice smiled at him, not recognizing the Imagineer. Behind her, Jabberwock scowled, eyes flashing dangerously, "We're not interrupting something, are we?"

Hubble squeaked, turned, and ran to the kitchen, "Mother! There's… customers!" He didn't know what else to say.

Peering out of the kitchen, Hubble's mother saw the Jabberwock and paused, eyes growing wide before she curtsied hastily, "Milord!"

Jabberwock sat at the table, unhooking his cap from around his neck, "Good afternoon." Leaning back into his chair, he set his feet on the table with a little smirk.

Alice took a seat to his right and glared at his feet.

Scrambling out, the candy lady asked fearfully, "Do you want anything, Milord? Milady?"

Jabberwock nodded, "A glass of water, please." Glancing at Alice, he watched her curiously.

Alice grinned brightly and asked, "Do you have chocolate?"

"Yes, Milady, do you want some?"

"Just a bit, please."
Before the shop keeper could turn away, Jabberwock cocked his head as something rushed into his mind. He pursed his lips, "Well… actually… do you make sours?"

"Yes, sir."

Jabberwocky smiled and removed his feet from the table, "A bag of those."

"Yes, sir." Bowing, the lady rushed into the kitchen and rattled of the order to Hubble, who immediately set to work. She came back a minute later, holding a glass of water in her shuddering hands. Approaching the table, she set it in front of Jabberwock.

Jabberwock grabbed the lady's wrist before she left and set his other hand on her forehead. Baring his teeth, he ordered, "But I'm hungry now. Give me a bit of imagination."

Alice snatched his arm and yanked it away, "No! No eating imagination!"

As the lady stumbled back, Jabberwock sighed dejectedly, "You never make it easy, do you, Alice? Do you want me to leave this one and go drain the children in the street?"

"No! You shouldn't just pick on people who've done nothing to you!"

Jabberwocky leaned back, smile twitching at the corner of his mouth, "People live to serve their King. Without their King, they are nothing."

Meekly coming forward again, the lady set a bag of green hard candies in front of Alice, scared of approaching Jabberwock again, "For the King, Milady."

Alice slid it over to Jabberwock, who opened it and popped one of the sours into his mouth. He nodded happily.

From the kitchen, Hubble called in a strangled voice, "Mom!"

The lady hurried into the kitchen, leaving Alice and Jabberwocky alone.

Jabberwocky offered the bag to Alice, "Want one? They're good."
"No, thank you. I don't like sour stuff."
The only sound for the next few minutes seemed to be the occasional click of a hard candy against Jabberwocky's pointy teeth. Sighing, Alice started wondering how her mom and grandma fared? Did they worry? Closing her eyes, she envisioned the happy reunion they would have when she got back.

Jabberwocky's hand clamped onto her head, and, instantly, he started to devour the images with ravenous intensity. Cringing, Alice escaped from his hold for a second and pushed the thoughts away. Harnessing the pain and holding back tears, she glared at him, "I said no eating imagination!"

Jabberwock looked hurt, and his voice grimly retorted, "You tempted-"

Slamming open the door, Demeric glared in with an unhappy red face, "Sir! Finally!"

Jabberwocky spun in his seat, pounding his fist against the table as he snarled, "Bliddy guard! How'd you find us?"

Ignoring his King's question, Demeric sighed and closed the door behind him, "Sir… it's unsafe for you to go out without us! You know that from what happened last time!"

As Jabberwock muttered in sullen anger, Alice asked, "What happened last time?"

Jabberwock answered, voice monotone, "Some rebel shot arrows at me. Not that it worked."

"What happened to-"

A smile splitting his face at the memory, Jabberwock said softly, "I ate his mind. Then I gave Hatter the body."

Alice grimaced, "That's horrible!"

"No, actually, it was quite entertaining. Hatter had never eaten a man dead for a week before."
Frowning, Demeric coughed to interrupt, "May I remind sir that he has an appointment with the regents today?"

Jabberwocky scowled, stood, and then paused before grinning, "Demeric, stay here with Alice. I'll go back to the castle. You just bring Alice back whenever she feels like it." Rushing past the card, he exited.

Alice started up, "Wait! I don't have any money to pay!"

Shushing her, Demeric explained, "You're royalty. Royalty doesn't pay. Last time someone asked him to pay, they ended up with his sword in their gut."

Alice stared at the guard, "But-"

"I know what you're going to say. Yeah, yeah, Hatter and March kill most of the people, but Jabberwock has his fair share to cherish to. You disrespect him, anger him in the least, and –BAM!- you're dead!"

"But… Hatter… he got into a fight with Jabberwocky… So why didn't-"

"Why isn't he dead? 'Cause Jabberwocky needs him, and Hatter's probably one of the only people that Jabberwocky considers a friend. Lucky for him too."

Jabberwock glared up at the guards atop the gate battlements as they slowly opened the gate. Inside, he raged. His perfectly fine afternoon with his daughter had been ruined! Stupid guard! Fuming as he passed through the gate, he let his mind wander to the matter at hand. The regents from different areas of Wonderland were her to report. Great… Just to spite them, he had wandered through the streets longer than necessary, so he wouldn't be surprised if that stupid guard and Alice came waltzing back home in a few minutes.

"Oh, Jabberwocky!"

Freezing at the leering voice, Jabberwock glanced about, muttering under his breath as he fingered his sword's hilt.

Suddenly, the Cheshire Cat flickered to visibility atop the north battlement to Jabberwock's right, the only stretch of wall without a guard patrolling its high walkway, "Forgotten me already, shadow?"

Turning to the Imagineer, Jabberwock unsheathed his sword with a scowl, " Cheshire, what are you doing here?"

"I've come to collect." Cheshire's grin grew wider, although it looked a bit pained.

Jabberwock's eyes narrowed to slits of yellow, "It depends on what you want to collect." At the thought of the treasure, the richness of Cheshire's imagination saturated mind, he felt his mouth water, "Come down, cat. I want to eat your imagination."

Cheshire slipped into his invisible form, but Jabberwock's eye turned to a deep red heat-seeking color and watched him leap down to the ground.

Charging forward, Jabberwock roared, "Die, you blasted cat!" He lunged, stabbing at the invisible tiger.

Cheshire ducked under the blade and rapier and head butted Jabberwock harshly in the stomach.

Stumbling back, Jabberwock heard the gate creak open a bit more and couldn't help but glance over. Alice with that stupid guard.

Glancing back, he felt his blood chill. Where was Cheshire? Instantly, he looked wildly around and froze before roaring furiously, " Alice!"

Alice glanced up at him just before something swept up under her legs. The next instant, she rode astride Cheshire, who ran swiftly down the main street, " Cheshire?"

"No talking!"

A thunder of hooves behind them distracted Alice, and she glanced back to see Jabberwocky galloping full-tilt after them on his midnight black steed, a long glaive in his hand, face furious.

And he was gaining.

Alice gripped onto the purple fur tightly and muttered, "He's gaining."

Forcing a laugh, Cheshire growled, "A horse does have a bit more speed, "

Drawing nearly side to side with Cheshire, Jabberwock, guiding his horse with his knees, swiped out with the glaive, aiming at Cheshire's hind legs.

Cheshire jumped to avoid the blade, lost valuable speed.

Stabbing again, Jabberwock hissed angrily, "Give me back my daughter!"

Cheshire veered away to avoid the attack, "Come get her, shadow!"

Snarling, Jabberwock jerked the reins to his steed to the side. The horse-fly whinnied and, coming close to Cheshire, snorted derisively. Jabberwock took the glaive and threw it harshly.

Surprised, Cheshire tripped as the glaive's tip pierced his side, sliding to a stop on his other side with a yowl of pain.

Jabberwock leapt off his horse instantly and stalked over, shaking with rage. Grabbing Alice, he yanked her out from beneath the writhing tiger, and, dragging her away, whispered, "Are you okay?"

Alice trembled, "Y-y-yes…"

Growling, Jabberwock whirled to Cheshire, who tried to drag himself away. He stormed over. Enraged, he grabbed the glaive and forced it deeper with a snarling smile, "Now…" He left the spear buried deep into the side of Cheshire and, straddling the tiger, dug his claws deep into his head, "Let's kill you."

Cheshire howled as Jabberwock started draining his mind.

Staring in horror, Alice leapt up and tried to yank Jabberwock away, "Stop it!"

Jabberwock snarled, "He tried to take you from me!" Furious, he dug his fingers in farther and the hungry look in his eyes intensified, "He tried to take you!"

Cheshire's eyes opened, full of pain, and he hissed through his smile, "Think you can drain all of me, Jabberwock? I dare you to try!" Extending his claws with an agonizing grin, he buried the deep into Jabberwock's neck.

Jabberwock, shocked, released Cheshire and reached up to tear the claws from his neck.

Taking his chance, Cheshire leapt up and bounded away, knocking the glaive from his side.

Snarling angrily, Jabberwock staggered up, hand cupped over his wound. As cards finally caught up, he pointed down the street and demanded, "Follow him and bring me back his head!"

The guards nodded and galloped down the way he pointed.

Alice leaned on his back, sniffling in fear at his anger. Balling her fists into his cape, she shuddered and buried her head into his back.

Jabberwocky turned to her, rage subsiding into worry, and embraced her, "Oh, Alice… I was so scared for a moment…" Sweeping her up, he gently set her on his panting stallion and swung himself up behind her.

Alice leaned back into him as he urged the horse-fly into a slow trot. She could feel his glare passing over her head, his eyes still dark. "Are-are you mad?" she asked tremulously.

Bringing up a hand to steady her, Jabberwocky cooed, "No… not at you… you're my princess."