Disclaimer: Don't own anything except original characters. All material (c) to respective owners. I write these for fun and make no profit. They're just random plot bunnies that live within my strange mind.

A/N: Almost done, know its been a while but I guess I can only write when I have time to do so. Inspiration is few and far between lately. Real life is a whirlwind of chaos so I hope to get my stories finished and others up. For now this is what I managed, hope it at least satisfied you for now. ^_^

Chapter 10: Two Worlds Collide

Erazabeth had not been eased by the news of an unknown girl in Underland, despite the reassurances of her lack of skills and the fact she was not Alice. She had ordered Stayne to train the men harder, her servants regardless of their obvious disloyalties to her, waited on her as if nothing was different.

Most were in the Knave's service, but upon his order to keep suspicion down, they all waited on her as if nothing was different. They had even managed to take back her castle and land where the original hell had started. Repair work on the forgotten castle was going smoothly, her gardens being restored and her thrown room. For the time being all was well.

Her fear of the unknown girl would be dealt with; she would send an assassin without Stayne's knowledge and destroy her before she became any sort of problem

Alysia taking her time that day made her way tiredly to the training field she had grown very intimate with. Several weeks straight with Hatter and Mallymunkin's training was wearing on her very being and yet she was getting much better. He rarely caught her off guard anymore and he had recently been trying to teach her his hat trick move.

The peace they shared had remained, but the pain of her not being Alice never faded from his eyes. She had gotten used to the madness that was Underland, including the occasional flying object when the March Hare was active.

Groaning she painfully settled against a beautiful tree, with fair yellow blossoms before her eyes found Mallymunkin working on some of the new moves for Alysia's training. She was never an athlete or gymnast, but now she could probably win a gold medal if given the opportunity. She was in the best shape of her life and had noticed most of her body was solid muscle, any sign of remote flab being long lost weeks ago.

"You look ill." Alysia glanced up slowly to the voice above her and spotted Cheshire staring down at her, his green eyes with a familiar gleam and his smile wide as ever.

"No, just tired…this was much harder than I thought it could ever be Cheshire." His smile disappeared with a concerned look; none of them had considered that the wear on the girl would cause her to look so sickly.

Alysia glanced up to speak and found to her disappointment Cheshire was gone, she had grown fond of talking with him and Mctwisp. Their helpful encouragement had stopped her many times from biting of Hatter's head, the peace being an ease to all of them and yet it was just one word that send them both of the edge.

Hatter finally made his appearance talking with the feline that had left her, Mallymunkin stopped in her work and the three friends gathered. The discussion being Alysia's health, the very lack of it and how exhausted she appeared each day and how regardless of their need it would be useless if she grew sick.

Alysia slowly slid down the tree and come to rest her head on her knees, she could wait them out and decided it the perfect opportunity to rest until she had to again begin her training. Hatter silently walked across the distance to her side, kneeling down he saw her eyes were closed and frowned.

There was darkness under them, her hair floated limply down her back and her whole look gave of weak, tired and ill. He knew nothing of her world but in their world he was sure she couldn't handle how they worked, her body had yet to adjust to her new home.

"Alysia?"

Hearing Hatter's familiar soft voice, she did not open her eyes, but did acknowledge she was aware. "Hmm?"

"Are you well?" Reluctantly she opened her eyes and froze noting he was closer than she was used to and intensely studying her.

"Well?" confused she saw his eyes were a pastel yellow and tilt her head seeing the concern in his expression. "Just wearing down is all Hatter, I'll be fine once we start."

His eyes changed to a soft green, it was clear he didn't believe her but seemed reluctant to admit it. She rubbed her eyes sleepily before hearing the familiar thundering of the Bandersnatch coming their way, smiling she made a face when the beast licked her face forcing Hatter to fall back on his backside and wipe the slobber from his own face.

"Morning Bandersnatch," She offered ruffling his coarse fury head and noting Hatter smile wryly at the animal, it had been common for the creature to do this each day for the last few weeks. "Start?"

"Very well," Hatter gave in even though he could see she shouldn't be working herself so hard.

Alysia was way off her game that day, he had easily caught her several times and this being the case she found she was much more tired than she could have guessed. The last time, Hatter caught her weapon and pulled it away from her; he placed his sword back and noted her watching him.

"You are too tired for this today."

"But-

"He is right Alysia; you can't work yourself to this extent." Intervened Miranna who had come down at the request of the Mctwisp via the Hatter. "You're body isn't used to Underland or the difference from your world and I fear you haven't had the necessary sleep for all the work you've accomplished.

"I don't know enough, this is-

"You've learned well Alysia; don't argue with Miranna and rest." Hatter tried getting looks all around including a stunned descendent.

Since she started she had never known Hatter to argue against her training, now he was arguing for her welfare over the safety of Underland and it stunned her so much she gave into the waiting queen at her side, the white queen smiling softly as she led the exhausted woman aside.

Miranna had given Alysia a sleeping potion with healing in it in hopes of getting her back on her feet. The Hatter coming in not long after seeing the queen watching silently over the sleeping woman, a warmth in her gaze he had seen given to Alice many times. He found he was getting used to the idea of Alysia being there in Underland, he just had not gotten over the fact his Alice was gone.

"How is she Miranna?"

Her dark eyes found the long lost Tarrant Hightopp, one she had not seen since Alice chose to fix her life and had never returned. "She will sleep, I had forgotten how hard it is to get used to Underland when being from above. Alice had made it so easy; Alysia doesn't quite have all her ancestors talents. She will gain what she needs in time." She covered her lips in fear of upsetting Hatter; she had forgotten his pain since she noted his better changes.

He winced, but said nothing to the subject of Alice. "She may have more than we ever thought." He offered reluctant to admit he saw Alice in Alysia each day during her training.

"Tarrant, may I say something?" He was not so sure he wanted her too; he felt a strange need to flee but nodded allowing it. "I know you loved her, she loved you and chose to spare you the pain of knowing she had forgotten until it was too late. Alice would not have wanted you to be unhappy, Alysia can stay…perhaps you can care in time?"

His eyes turned slightly pink, she had known the anger and hurt was just under the surface and wished she had kept it to herself. The peaceful Hatter was much easier to deal with. Slowly he turned to leave, hearing Miranna's soft apology before he disappeared to the gardens. It had been his sanctuary since and probably would remain.

Alysia slowly opened her eyes, the full moon causing her to blink. Groggily she glanced around her darkened chamber for signs of life. Slowly it all come back to her, she wondered how long she had slept and how much her training would have suffered. She jumped seeing a figuring lingering in the room, staring out into the night.

"Hatter?" It was strange he was there watching over her, it was usually Miranna or someone else when she was in this sort of shape. She heard him ranting to himself. He sounded furious, frightened and confused, three things she was so used to she let him be and rolled over to face away from him.

She would let him be.

"Awake?" Alysia heard him and slowly rolled back to face the window.

His eyes were eerie in the dark, changing quickly enough that she could not catch the colors. She was reminded of that morning at his worried look and smiled for his benefit, she was still very tired and reluctant to move.

"Somewhat." Alysia answered seeing a faint turn of his lips. "Thank you for stopping me today, otherwise I may have passed out on the ground." He shrugged still focused on his darker thoughts of the days. "How long have I-

"Three days." Hatter saw her startled look and indicated the potion bottle at her bedside. "Miranna tried to adjust you to Underland, the easiest way is to sleep." She eyed the clear bottle with distaste; she remembered the bitter taste of the potion before shifting to the edge of the bed.

"Another thing I don't have." She saw him nod, she did not have to say why she was not like Alice, and both had an understanding. "What do I actually have?" she sighed rubbing her face and realized she did not ache as she had before; the potion seemed to work on that too.

Hatter saw her green eyes were full of self-loathing, his conversation with Miranna the day she took the potion still too fresh in his mind. "Determination," He had three days to mull over her words, he would not say no to her suggestion but the pain was still too great to give it any thought.

Alysia chuckled softly; it had been the trait her mother hated most. "Is that a positive aspect on my character?"

"It's your personal muchness." Hatter saw her smile falter, her eyes searching him for signs of change.

She had not heard this tone before; it was a sort of acceptance and bitterness rolled into one. She felt ill at ease, but found her lips lifting into a smile nonetheless. He bid her goodnight before leaving her to her own thoughts.