Summary: Ever wonder why Boris lives in the Amusement park? Why Gowland puts up with him? How Boris met the twins? And how Blood found out Gowland's first name? Well, it all started with the death of the previous Cheshire Cat, Chance.

I don't own Heart no kuni no Alice~ but i do own Chance.

Chapter one: A Cat's death.

It was a normal day in the Amusement Park, bright, sunny, and screams of joy could be heard everywhere. The owner of said Park was walking around with two workers following close behind him. Mary Gowland, age 24, dressed in his Amusement parks colors, yellow and blue, walked around making sure all of his rides were working perfectly. He was also looking for a certain trouble making cat.

"When I find Chance, remind me to kill him." Gowland groaned as him and his workers took a break on a bench. He loved his park to death, but sometimes it was just to big.

"Why sir?" The female worker asked.

"Because he promised he would help me out today! Stupid cat-"

"Who ya callin' a stupid cat?" Gowland looked up to see Chance standing beside the bench. The other was just as tall as him, white hair with teal tips, a black hat ontop of his head covered his cat ears. He wore a black jacket with a teal shirt underneath, black pants and gray boots. He also had a teal and gray fur boa wrapped around his shoulders. "You wound me Mary~ I was helpin'!"

Gowland glared. "Don't call me that."

"When you stop callin' me Chance, I'll stop calling you Mary!" He grinned. "Anyways, all of the rides down 'ere are workin'."

"What else should I call you! That's your name." Gowland huffed. "And why should I take your word?"

Chance put a hand over his heart, acting like Gowland's words had wounded him. "Ouch Mary."

"Chance..."

"I rode all of them~" Chance grinned. "Started when the park opened up at dawn~"

Gowland blinked, he had only been at this since noon, and Chance had been going around since dawn? He gave a laugh, shaking his head. "You're something else Chance."

"Tell me somethin' I don't know!" Chance laughed along with Gowland. The Duke dismissed the workers that were with him. Gowland stood up, slinging an arm around Chance's shoulders.

"How about we go for a drink?"

"Now you're talkin' my language!"

And then the two were off. Gowland was proud to call Chance his friend, or rather his partner in crime. Chance had been the Cheshire cat almost as long as he had been the Duke, the two basically grew up together in the Amusement Park. Chance had even taken Mary's last name, because he didn't know what his was. They both worked to make the park the best place in Wonderland. Since the two had come into power, the Park was getting more and more popular, and they loved it.

"Whoa-" Chance seemed to trick over his feet and get knocked into Gowland, who stumbled abit himself. "Hey, kid!"

A pink haired cat looked up at Chance with a smirk. "Watch where you're going old man!"

"Old man? Why I outta-" Before Chance got to finish the sentence, Gowland was dragging him away.

"It's just a stupid kid, ignore him. We got a bottle of wine with our names on it." Chance huffed, but agreed with his friend and walked off. Gowland pulled his friend to the Amusement park office, where he pulled out the bottle of wine and two glasses. Chance sat down in a chair with a sigh. "What's up?" Gowland asked, handing Chance his glass before pouring himself one.

"Just tired man." Chance mumbled, drinking a sip of the red liquid. "Oh! Did you hear?"

"Hear what?"

"There's a new hatter! That old jeezer finally took more than he could chew." Chance sat straight as he took another sip. "But now it looks like the mafia are looking for the person who shot their boss. So we should be on our guard."

Gowland sighed at the sudden serious subject. "Why should they care? They have a new boss." He took the seat next to the Cheshire, drinking his wine.

"Yeah, but it looks like it's the new hatter's order." That caught Gowland's attention. "I have no idea what he's thinking. Should I go check it out?" Chance said, shrugging off the boa he wore, then proceeded to take off his jacket.

"I don't think I want to get involved in this." Gowland shrugged. "I'm neutral for a reason."

"So am I, but maybe we should go meet with the new hatter? Just to make sure none of that hate comes this way." Gowland considered Chance's suggestion, but shook his head.

"If this new Hatter has a beef with us, he'll come. Until then I'm keeping my neutral status."

Chance huffed. "I'll miss that old jeezer though."

"Yes, he did always have the best tea parties."

The two finished up their wine, both a little tipsy. However they were aware enough to get up and walk it off. The Park was closing, crowds of people leaving. Gowland and Chance said their goodbyes to a few regulars they got to know. However they were interrupted by a worker. "There's a kid who got in here without paying this morning. We finally caught him." Gowland sighed, going back to work. He walked with Chance close behind him back to the office. To their surprise, it was the pink haired cat-boy that had ran into Chance earlier that day.

"Well kid?"

"Well what?"

Gowland sighed again. "Look, just pay up and we won't have to call your parents."

"They won't pick up. They're never home." The child huffed, crossing his arms over his purple shirt. "They don't even know I'm here." Chance looked at Gowland, who seemed unsure on what to do. The Cheshire took over.

"Hey kid," The boy looked up at him. "Did you notice anything wrong with any of the rides?"

"Huh?"

"You heard me." The boy thought for a moment.

"Well...the teacups weren't going as fast as they normally do..."

"Is that your favorite ride?" The boy nodded.

"I love it!" He grinned.

"Well. Promise to pay for two days tomorrow if you come back, and you can ride the teacups as much as you want. How does that sound?"

"Awesome!" The boy jumped out of the chair. "Thanks old man!"

Chance growled. "Hey, it's Gowland. Chance Gowland."

The boy nodded, "Okay! Thanks Mister Gowland! Can I go home now?"

"Sure kid." Chance patted the boy's head, "I'll walk you home." With that the two cats left the building, and Gowland sighed.

"That cat, thinking he can solve everyone's problems...You." He pointed to the worker in the room. "Get a team to the teacup ride. If people aren't screaming louder tomorrow than they were today, it's on you."

"Y-Yes sir!" And the worker quickly rushed out of the office.

"I need another drink..."

Gowland was actually surprised that the kid had come back the next day with two days worth of entrance to the park. He couldn't help but smile and let the kid run over to the teacup ride. Chance smirked and wrapped his arms around gowland's shoulders from behind. "Mary~"

"What?"

"I'm bored."

"Go ride something. Or better yet, help me with that paperwork you promised me you'd do!" Chance groaned.

"No." Gowland rolled his eyes. "I might head out today. We're running low on food for the stalls, not to mention our refrigerator."

"Take a few workers and head into town." Chance smiled and ruffled up Gowland's hair. "Hey!"

"See ya Mary~" Chance chuckled as he pulled his arms away from the duke, starting to walk away to gather workers.

"Hey, Chance." The cat turned around. "Stay away from the Hatters."

"Yeah Yeah." Chance blew off the warning and went on his way.

By the end of the short day, the stalls were restocked with food and no sign of trouble from the Hatters. Though Gowland did get a letter from the new leader, asking him and Chance over for a tea party. He wasn't quite sure what to do.

"We should go." Chance said, looking over his friend's shoulder and at the letter. "I mean, he invited us."

"I'm not sure..." The letter stated that it was only to be him and the Cheshire cat. That means he couldn't bring any of his workers with him incase something went down.

"You want to stay neutral right? Then maybe we should try and get on this guy's good side."

Gowland sighed. "Fine. Let's go. You guys able to close up tonight for us?"

"yes sir! Don't worry about it." One of the female workers said with a smile. "Go on!"

Gowland nodded, putting the letter into his pocket before looking at Chance. "Let's go." Chance nodded, walking after Gowland as they left the park.

The two hardly ever left the Amusement Park territory, there was really no need to. There was a town that was still in their territory that they could get supplies, clothes, food, anything really. Why bother going out of the territory if you had everything you needed? Gowland and Chance didn't have a good relationship with the Queen of hearts anyways, the previous hatter was nice enough, and Julius in the clock tower was alright to, even if they didn't talk much. The two soon ended up outside the large gate of the Hatter Mansion, the two gatekeepers lead them inside and two the back garden where the tea party was being held.

"A tea party at night?" Chance whispered to himself. It indeed was against the previous hatter's morals. He believed the day was for pleasure, and the night was for business. But Gowland reminded himself that this was a different Hatter.

"Boss, The Duke and Cheshire Cat are here." One of the servants informed the man at the end of the long table. Though, Gowland wouldn't call him a 'man' at all, he looked like a kid! 'He can't be older than 16...' the thought as he looked over the boy. He hand longish black hair, wore one of the previous hatter's white suits, along with his trademark top hat. Perhaps it was just one of those things passed between replacements?

"Ah, Mister Gowlands." The teenager smirked up at them. "Please, take a seat." The Duke and Cheshire exchanged a look before going to the other end of the table. It was common courtesy to sit next to the person that invited you after all. Gowland took the chair on the Hatter's right, and Chance sat right next to him. "I'm glad you two decided to accept my offer. I heard you had a good relationship with the previous hatter, and I hoped that we could continue that."

'The talks like the old man...'Chance rolled his eyes, which didn't go unnoticed by the teen. "Something wrong Mister Gowland?"

"Nothing!" His ears perked up, almost knocking off his hat.

Gowland glared at Chance before turning his attention to the Hatter. "I'm actually Gowland, this freeloader just took my name." He smiled, feeling Chance glare at the back of his head but ignored it.

"Ah, I see. Please excuse me then."

"Not a problem, people do it all of the time." Gowland reassured the Hatter. "However my I have your name? I'm sorry, but 'Mister Hatter' is something that passed with the previous."

"Ah, I can understand that. My name is Blood Durpre."

'That's not errie at all...' the two gowland's thought as the table started to fill with small pastries.

"Shall we start our tea party then?"

The tea party wasn't so bad, not as lively as the previous hatter's. Maybe because Blood kept giving the Gowland's glances and trying to start up conversations with the two - which only lasted for moments. One subject seemed to stick.

"May I ask why you're neutral, Mister Gowland?" The duke and cat perked up at this, looking over at the young hatter.

"Why ask?"

"Just curious." Chance snickered, he understood that feeling all to well.

"I just prefer to stay out of people's problems." Gowland said, taking a sip of his wine that he had asked for.

"That's a pretty vague reason."

"It's the truth." Chance shrugged. "Me and m-Gowland decided on it when we got our roles."

"Ah, so you've known each other for a long time then." The two nodded. "I know you're neutral and all, but I feel as if I should warn you." They looked over at Blood. "The person who killed the previous hatter is somewhere in your territory." Gowland almost chocked on his wine.

"Wh-What?"

"That's why I want to negotiate some territory. I know exactly where the man is, and I know you don't want to get involved so if you would just give the plot of land to me, then I can deal with the problem and you don't have to be involved.

Did this kid even know what he was suggesting? Gowland was about to outright say no, when Chance butted in. "What land are you interested in?"

"Chance-"

"The lower half of the town, I believe it is called the 'slums'?"

"There are no slums in my territory." Gowland countered. "Just people who actually have to work to make a living."

Blood smirked. "All the same to me."

Now this guy was pissing Gowland off. "that's where half of my workers live, so I am not giving any of my land to you."

"To bad." Blood frowned and went back to sipping his tea. What did that mean?

There were no further conversations and the Gowland's dismissed themselves from the tea party to head back home. "I do hope we'll see each other again soon." Blood faked a smile as they left his mansion. Once outside of the gates, they both released a breath that they weren't aware they were holding.

"God damn that Hatter..." Gowland swore before turning on his heals and headed back towards his amusement park. "He thinks he can just ask for my territory just like that?"

"Calm down Mary-"

"Don't you tell me to calm down!" He turned and snapped at the cat. Chance blinked, he didn't think he had ever seen Mary this mad before. He seemed to have realized he snapped and sighed. "Sorry Chance...That new hatter just really got under my skin."

"I know." Chance put an arm over Gowland's shoulders. "Come on, let's go home."

The next day Gowland felt alot better, the tea party almost completely forgotten. Almost. The fact that the shooter was in his territory unnerved the Duke greatly. "Maybe it was a bluff to get you to give up some land?" Chance suggested. "This new hatter seems like the kind of guy to do that." Gowland held onto that suggestion and blew off the nerves.

However they came back when one of workers ran up to him. "Some man just walked into the park and started shooting workers!"

Chance grabbed Gowland and they raced over to the entrance of the park. It was at times like these that Gowland cursed himself for not letting his workers carry weapons. The faceless man had a group of his workers at gunpoint, shouting things that Gowland didn't quite understand. "Hey! Put the gun down!" Chance yelled, grabbing ahold of his hat. He took it off of his head and it transformed into a gun, which he pointed at the gunman. Gowland joined him, pulling out his own shotgun. He hated wepons, but this situation sort of called for it.

The faceless man brought his gun away from the workers, and pointed it at the roleholders. "This is fuckin' neutral territory!" Chance yelled as Mary slowly made his way over to his workers to make sure they were alright. "You can't throw a gun around here!"

"I think I can!" Shots were fired and Mary quickly got his workers out of there. He didn't need more blood on the floor than what these two were going to shed. Chance dodged well enough, but ran out of bullet's quickly. He charged the gunman, getting grazed by a bullet or two before he jumped on the gunman. Gowland watched their struggle with his shotgun raised. 'Just get the hell out of the way Chance...'

"Shoot Mary!" Gowland's eyes widened as he saw Chance struggle for the gun. "Just fuckin' shoot!"

"I'll hit you dumbass!"

"So? Get this wackjob!" Gowland growled, his hands shaking. He couldn't...He wouldn't! Even if there were replacements, no one could replace Chance! He screwed his eyes shut, finger laying on the trigger.

BANG.

Gowland's eyes went wide, he didn't pull the trigger, did he? He saw the mand and Chance go down. Gowland ran over to the Cheshire, his shotgun disappearing in the process.

"Chance!" He turned over the Cheshire, seeing where the shot had landed, right over his clock. Gowland picked up Chance. "Come on! Don't die on me damn it!"

"Nice...shot..."

"I-I didn't shoot!"

"I did." Gowland's eyes snapped up. He was amazed to see one of the servants from the Hatter mansion. "Boss's orders. Kill this man at any cost."

"Even at the cost of a role holder?" Gowland picked up the gun the now dead gunman had and shot the servant. "Give this to your boss! Tell him i'm no longer neutral - and if I see any of you guys here without permission I'll shoot and kill each one!" The wounded servant made his way out of the park and Gowland threw the gun aside to focus on Chance.

"...Glad y-you're sticking up for yourself..." The cat coughed up blood.

"Shh..don't talk. It's gonna be alright, the first aid guys are almost here -"

"Don't...bother..." Gowland's eyes saddened. He knew they couldn't do anything, but..."I'm glad...I met you...Mary..."

Gowland chocked back a sob, hugging Chance tightly. "I'm glad too...you were like a brother to me Chance..."

"Me...too..." He coughed again. "Hey...do me a favor..." Gowland pulled away from Chance.

"What?"

"G-Give the next Cheshire th-this.." He coughed as he put park of his fur boa in Gowland's hand.

"But..."

"J-Just do it." Gowland nodded. Chance managed to use the last of his strength to lean up and kiss Gowland on the cheek. "Goodbye brother...S-See you soon." Then his clock stopped, and his body went slack in Gowland's arms. Gowland allowed tears to flow from his eyes as he hugged Chance's body. It slowly disappeared and soon Gowland was hugging his friend's clock. Afterimages appeared around the Duke as he stood up. He didn't say a word as he handed over Chance's clock. He pushed passed the images, going to his workers that had gathered.

"Chance is dead." A few gasped. "This territory is no longer neutral. I expect each one of you to carry a weapon from now on." A few stayed silent, other's mumbled, and other's just nodded. Gowland wiped the tears out of his eyes, about to say something else when screams cut him off.

"GIVE THEM BACK!" Gowland and his workers turned their attention back to the entrance. The pink haired boy Chance talked to was trying to hit one of the after images. "That's my mom and dad! Give them back!" That's when Gowland took notice to the multiple clocks in one of the image's hands. Were there really that many people killed in that small shoot out. "Give them back. Give them back!" Gowland couldn't stand to watch this anymore. He ran up to the boy, picking him up and carrying him away from the afterimages.

"Let me go!"

"You can't get then back kid." Gowland put the cat boy down, knelling in front of him. He boy sniffed, tears streaming down his face. "Listen...I'm sorry but there's nothing either of us can do." The boy continued crying. "You're not the only one who lost someone today." That caused the boy to bring his head up.

"Wh-who..."

"Chance.." That shook the poor boy even more.

"M-Mister Chance..."

"Yeah..." He sighed, pushing his glasses up. "What's your name?" Gowland looked back towards the boy and couldn't help but gasp. Watery golden eyes were staring back at him.

"Boris...Boris Airay..."