I'm VERY sorry about the longer wait for an update. I just bought the next book of my favorite book series and I kinda got, uh, well. . . I had to read it. And finish it. :) Not to mention that finals are next week. :/ I'm sorry, and because I made you wait, I will shut up now.

Disclaimer: I still don't own anything of AiW. Lewis Carroll, Disney, and Tim Burton do.

Inspirational song: "New Divide" - Linkin Park

. . . . .

Alice stood in the front of the White Army, waiting for the ultimate action to begin.

They had already arrived at the edge of Tulgey Wood and at the scene of the Checkerboard Battlefield and still there was no sign of the late Red Army. What were they to call them, anyhow? The Red Queen's former Guards were now loyal to the White Queen, so what was the title of the Red Queen's army?

Alice looked around, still seeing no red. Bandy shifted his position from underneath her, growing restless. Alice sat upon him dressed in her armor with the Vorpal Sword attached to her side. To her right stood a brilliant and majestic white horse whom had the privilege of bearing the White Queen atop him. She rested on him gracefully, yet even Alice could still see that she, too, was becoming more and more worried.

The army that stood behind Alice was enormous, to say at the least. It was the entire White Army and almost all of the former Red Army combined, with a few of Alice's special friends here and there.

Mallymkun once again would be riding with Bayard; it was simplest for her and they made a great team. The March Hare twitched every other five seconds with worry and the Cheshire Cat's constant disappearing and reappearing wasn't helping him much. McTwisp was waiting at the end of the front line for the arrival of the other army. He would, once again, be announcing titles and such. The Tweedles stood side by side next to the White Queen's steed, gripping their wooden swords tightly.

Everyone was there except the one Alice needed most.

No one had heard from Hatter and his absence worried Alice more than the battle she was about to take great part of. At least she knew that he was being fed and was kept far from the Red Queen and her personal wrath. Chessur had been exceedingly gentle and kind to Alice about the whole situation, and for that she was grateful.

A man coughed from behind her, clearing his dry throat. They were all on edge. Alice's creeping thoughts never left her.

What had the Hatter gone through so far with the Red Queen? What was he going through right now? Alice didn't know if she was to be hopeful or pessimistic on the idea of the Red Queen brining Hatter with her to the Checkerboard Battlefield. Alice didn't know what to think.

All of a sudden, Alice heard McTwisp's horn blow and his voice call out. "Red Army in sight!"

Everyone craned their necks to finally get a view of their opponents as they marched up their last hill. Alice studied their front line as they strode nearer and nearer.

Very different from the carrier-like contraption the Red Queen was held in last time, the woman was actually walking with her army. She had on a very plain and weathered dress. Her chin was held high and her fists were clenched at her sides. A look of calm was plastered onto her face. Beside her stood the grotesque Knave, Stayne, dressed in all black armor and a red cape. His glinting sword was already unsheathed and his eyes looked hungry, so ready for the bloodshed to begin.

On the other side of the Red Queen stalked the baffled and confused Hamish, adorned in gray and black armor with a red heart above his own.

Alice couldn't help but to cringe at the pang of remorse she felt for him. Why hadn't he heard her- truly understood her when she had attempted to explain the truth of the situation to him? All Alice wanted right now was for Hamish to suddenly realize what he was doing and to run over to their side and apologize for his wrong-doings. Of course, he doesn't know who he really is standing next to!

Hamish met her gaze and his brow furrowed, probably thinking the same thing she was. They both believed that the other was acting wrongly. But Alice knew better.

Alice shook her head before her eyes went back to scanning the army's front line. She heard several gasps around her as they processed the same thing Alice was looking at. There were horrible creatures there, acting as the Red Queen's troops. Huge ones, gross ones, spiky ones, loud ones, slobbering ones, colorful ones. . .

It was as if every child's personal Boogie Man had come to life and was about to attack Alice and her friends.

One thing Alice did notice about the Red Army was that although the troops seemed brutal, strong, and skillful, they didn't seem to be the brightest of creatures. They bumped into each other quite a lot and gazed off into nothing as they came closer to their clash.

At the front, two troll-like men each held shackles in one of their fists. They were dressed only in loincloths, so Alice quickly averted her eyes to whoever was hanging their head low in between them. Indeed, she could tell it was a man. . .

As if feeling her gaze, the man looked up with yellow eyes and Alice gasped, fighting back hot tears.

Hatter's arms were positioned out, because of the shackles, and shaking from lack of energy. His clothes were dirty and his hair could never have been messier. The color underneath his eyes was a coal black and reflected how Alice must've felt at that time. Her heart sank. There were bruises on his cheekbones and was even an open wound on his chin. Doubtlessly as a joke, Hatter's top hat was pinned to the front of his shirt with one of his own hatpins. His eyes. . . They were a sallow, sickly yellow and only brightened when they met Alice's.

Alice inhaled a great lungful of air and tried to release some of the tension in her body. She'd be fighting for Hatter today, on this Checkerboard Battlefield. And she would win.

The gruesome Red Army's marching ceased at the other end of the field. McTwisp quickly scurried to the center of the battlefield with his horn being dragged behind him. All was silent and Hatter and Alice's eyes never left the other's.

McTwisp cleared his throat and blew the horn once, twice. "On this, the Mutando Day*," He started. Alice's brow furrowed at the unfamiliar name. McTwisp continued," the Queens, Red and White once again, shall do battle once more. A battle of the armies shall ensue-"

"Ahem!"

McTwisp fiddled with his horn and looked at the Red Queen, for that was where the interruption had come from. "Y-yes?"

The Red Queen took a step forward. "I have a changing proposition and I would very much like to make it known." McTwisp frowned at her and looked back at the White Queen, who nodded. The rabbit then nodded at the Red Queen. She smiled smugly and continued. "I would, again, like to have act upon a Champion's Battle. Only the Champions," she pressed. "I know this is not set and foreseen, but quite frankly, I do not give a care.

"Now," she went on. "I do have something in turn for you, in your favor, of course. If your Champion is to go against mine, then I shall return your precious Hatter to you. If you decline, his head rolls." She shrugged. "It is yours to decide."

Alice didn't bother to attempt to stifle her gasp and turned to the White Queen, pleading with her eyes that she let her fight alone and with the other Champion. Mirana's gaze met hers and her eyes softened as she looked down at her Champion. She leaned down so that only Alice could hear her whisper. "Alice, I'm not so sure. . . We do not know who her Champion is this time round. . ."

"Please, Your Majesty," Alice begged, yet still tried to maintain her composure for the sake of those around her. "Please, come to terms with me on this. You must!"

"The Vorpal Blade will not do your bidding for you this time-"

"I have been taking lessons and I'm fine enough to take on any troll! What about your vow, Your Highness? You're inability to harm any living creature?" Why did she even have to think about persuading her?

The White Queen bit her supple lip. "But, Alice, we're talking about all of Underland- And I would not be directly harming any such-"

"Please, Mirana!" Alice pleaded. "He's our friend. Surely that means more than anything." Her Queen didn't say anything; she just looked at her, expressionless. "He's our friend," Alice repeated.

The White Queen closed her eyes tightly for a moment before turning to look at Hatter. He shook his head fiercely at the both of them, trying to urge them to fight as planned. Alice hoped the White Queen would choose to listen to only Alice's opinion.

After a lifetime's silence, the White Queen cleared her throat and spoke loud enough for all to hear. "We accept your proposition, Iracabeth of Crims. Send Tarrant Hightopp forward and my Champion will meet yours halfway. Then, our battle may begin."

Alice let out a mouthful of air and looked up at the White Queen while dismounting her Bandersnatch. "Thank you," she whispered. The Queen nodded.

"Please don't let me down, Alice."

Alice set her shoulders straight and walked forward with long strides. Hamish was the one guiding Hatter back to the Whites' side. She was glad to see that he was being fairly gentle with Hatter. But then again, that made her wonder how injured he really was.

When the three met in the center, Alice quickly grasped Hatter's hand, ignoring Hamish for the moment.

Hatter softly squeezed her hand. "Dannae do this," he lisped.

She smiled weakly. "Too late."

Hatter closed his eyes, dropped his hand, and went to walk past her. Seeming to catch a last minute thought, he stopped at her side and breathed into her ear, "Bae careful, love. Dae at least that fer mae." With that being said, he walked back, slowly, to their friends.

Alice sighed and looked at Hamish, who wasn't moving from his spot. His head was down and his eyes shut were shut. He had a frustrated look on his face. "What're you doing, Hamish?"

His eyes opened and his head shot back up. "Oh, um. . . " His brow furrowed and his scratched at the nape of his armor. "Err, well, I kind of have to be here, Alice. I'm sorry."

"No, I meant right here. In the center of the battlefield. I have to do combat with the Red Queen's Champion." Would he go away already? Then again, Hamish never really got the hint to leave whenever he wasn't wanted somewhere. . .

Hamish swallowed. "I don't think you understand, Alice." He must've read the confusion on her face. He sighed. "I'm so, so sorry, Alice. . . I didn't want to, I can assure you. . . "

Alice's confusion only grew as Hamish slowly unsheathed his sword. His remorseful eyes met hers as he raised his black blade to the sky. Alice gasped. "Surprise?" he asked.

McTwisp's voice caused them both to jump. "Champion Alice for the White Queen and Champion Hamish for the Red Queen, both dueling on their Royals' behalf. Begin!"

. . . . .

* Mutando day/ Mutando- Latin for 'alternating' or 'by changing'.

. . . . .

Rachel: OH THE DRAMATIC CLIFF HANGER!

Insanity: How do you know if it's a dramatic cliff hanger? You are not the reader. You (and I) are the writer(s). So, we do not know how to respond to this piece of literature after we have read it (multiple times, perhaps?). So, who are you to say what the readers shall think? I, personally, think that is rude. You are not physic. If anyone around here is physic (and is not me) then it is undoubtedly the March Hare.

Rachel: . . . I agree.

Insanity: With what?

Rachel: Nothing.

Insanity: Exactly so!