Hatter could not help but wonder where everyone had gone off to. The palace had undergone major renovations since he had been there last, running through the maze-like halls with Alice at his side. The white and grey asylum-like corridors were now dark as night besides the barely lit candles in sconces lining the walls. The silence inside was enhanced by the storm outside and he felt a foreboding chill run up his spine.

Despite the fact that there seemed to be no one around, Hatter made his way quietly down the halls, peering into rooms as he passed. At one point he reached a door that led outside and saw card guards facing away, still as statues. While he wanted to know what was happening, a feeling in his gut told him that it would be trouble to ask those fine fellows. Red Queen or no, something bad was happening in Wonderland and he wasn't in a rush to get himself involved.

Music suddenly poured from seemingly everywhere, making Hatter jump with his fist at the ready. When it was clear he wasn't being ambushed, he brought his hand to his chest and breathed heavily. The song was a soft melody that sounded slow and nostalgic. The music was louder where he was headed to begin with so he kept on, going a little faster now that his steps were not echoing around him. The corridor led into a small hall that ended at two large, ornate doors in which the music sounded like it must have been coming from. He could see shadows through the windows and underneath the doors. He made to step forward but he was immediately grabbed by the throat and pushed against the wall.

"What is your business here?" an unmistakable voice asked threateningly. Hatter rolled his eyes and held up his hands.

"Charlie! Let go of me, you overgrown piece of tin!" Hatter strangled out in protest. The Knight quickly moved one hand over Hatter's mouth and a finger to his own lips.

"What are you doing here, Vassal? If you're seen by anyone…if it is made known that I know that you are here-" Charlie started but was unable to finish as they heard footsteps coming from behind the double doors. He promptly shoved Hatter behind a large curtain and stood at attention just before Jack Heart opened the door, looking furious.

"What is going on out here, Charlie? You know Alice and I need uninterrupted time together," Jack said. Hatter fumed. He had just left her and she was crawling back to Jack already? He wondered how she even got there before him as he had gone straight from the apartment to the looking glass.

"Apologies, my liege," Charlie's chin trembled making the hair on his chin quiver dramatically, "I had received a message from the beyond of impending doom…" Charlie went on theatrically until Jack held up his hands for him to stop. He looked completely exasperated standing there in his blood-red suit, shaking his head at Charlie.

"Just see to it that you and the beyond keep the noise to a minimum," Jack said before making his way back through the double doors. Hatter immediately followed him and peered through one of the small windows. Sure enough, Alice was standing in the middle of the large ballroom waiting for Jack. His chest started to ache. She looked exactly like she had when she was in Wonderland last. The blue dress with the tights and boots were the same and even her hair was clipped back the way it was before. Jack approached her, kissed her cheek while taking her hand and they started to talk. Hatter felt like he was going to be sick until Charlie spoke up, almost forgotten across the room.

"It's not her," Charlie said softly with a hint of sadness in his voice.

"What do you mean it's not her? I have eyes, Charlie," Hatter snapped, not amused by Charlie's strange attempts to make him feel better.

"Then you best use them!" Charlie snapped back, "Look closer."

Hatter was annoyed but did as he was told. They were dancing now, swinging around in some kind of waltz he supposed. He wasn't worried about being seen as the room was so dark so when they passed the window he looked closer at Alice. His breath caught in his throat—it wasn't her! She was the same height and build with the same hair and eye color and the same heart-shaped face; but her eyes were not as large and vulnerable looking, her nose not as prominent, and her mouth stood out in a small pout that his Alice did not have.

Hatter backed up to a wall and breathed before a small grin came to his face. It wasn't her, not that it would have mattered in the long run. But then something came to him and he sat forward, turning his attention to Charlie again.

"What kind of sick game is he playing at?" Hatter asked.

Charlie came closer to him and looked around as if afraid someone might hear him. "Sick—I'm afraid—is quite the understatement when it comes down to it," Charlie whispered. Hatter felt suddenly apprehensive, not used to seeing Charlie look so run-down and troubled.

"Charlie, tell me what's going on here-" Hatter started but Charlie pushed him behind the curtain again as both Jack and not-Alice came through the double doors. Jack was fuming about something that must have happened in the ballroom while Hatter and Charlie were talking. Jack had her by the arm and he dragged her into the room and toward the halls opposite them.

"Charlie," not-Alice addressed him with a small smile, looking amused at Jack's anger as she was dragged away. Charlie bowed in response before she was wrenched out of sight.

"Come, vassal," Charlie beckoned as he fell in behind her and Jack, "Don't let anyone see you."

"Charlie, you really need to quit calling me that," Hatter seethed as he followed him.