Rated: T for general fluff, probably M later
AN: Omg, I came home from work today to an in-box full of fave/alert/review notices! You like me, you really like me! Anywho, moving on. I know this seems to be moving a little slowly, and for that I apologize, but I don't want it to sound rushed, so I'm just kinda taking it easy. I hope I'm not boring you too much! Please keep up all the alerts/faves/reviews! And feedback, I love feedback!
PeersHitInMoscow- It kinda is, for the time being... but don't worry! There will be actual non-dream-sequence fluff eventually... it's just gonna take a while to get there!
BErinHaribo- I know what you mean, I actually agree with the way the movie ended. This is just what I think would have happened afterward.
Tarrant woke to the sounds of birds singing sweetly. He yawned, stretched, and stood, looking around. He remembered leaving the tea party, and walking through the woods, and stopping to gaze up at the stars. He hadn't paid much attention to where he had stopped, however. But now, in the cheerful mid-morning sun, he saw that he was in the center of the abandoned, ruined Hightopp clan's home village. There were the charred remains of buildings, all around. The Hatter looked around somberly. This was where he had meant to be, but to unexpectedly wake up here was a bit unsettling.
Still, his spirits perked up a bit as he took stock of his surroundings. He ventured around the area, walking through the non-existent walls from building to building. Where there once was only death and decay, now there were signs of life once more. The grass was growing, the trees slowly sprouting new leaves and buds. Long, draping vines had begun to overtake the skeletal frames of houses and shops, almost creating new structures. The pieces that had fallen to the ground were now covered with moss and mushrooms. Here were some crocuses whispering to each other; over there, a few daisies laughed giddily.
Tarrant smiled now, glad that the place was beginning to heal, now that the cause of the original wound was no more. Thanks to Alice, he thought. He remembered now, as he came back to where he'd begun, that this was where they had stopped, on their way to the White Queen. It was then that the Hatter had told her of her missing Muchness. He had also told her, in brief, of the decline of the Hightopp clan. Or at least, he'd meant to. He still wasn't sure how much he had said out loud, and how much had merely replayed in his mind. He looked down at the stump he'd been sitting (well, sleeping) on, remembering how miniscule Alice had been, standing there mere inches tall. Cute, in the way that all miniature things are. The Hatter smiled for a moment, looking around again.
A very depressing thought hit him just then. He was the last of his clan. If he were to die, there would be no more Hightopps in Underland. Ever. For all of eternity. The thought was so staggering, that Tarrant fell back onto the stump, his eyes wide and unfocused. The color turned a yellowish green, almost going to orange, shifting back and forth, as his emotions swayed and swirled within him. Anger, despair, frustration, regret, longing... all those and more passed through his mind and heart.
Of course, there was a way to prevent the end of his kind. If he were to have a child... But no, the Hatter shook his head. He wouldn't bear a child just to carry on his blood. If he were to meet someone, fall in love, and in the natural course they were to have a child together, that would be acceptable. But who would he possibly fall in love with? There were a limited number of non-animal females with whom the Hatter could imagine holding a conversation with, let alone falling in love with. Still, he did feel some responsibility for continuing the glory of the Hightopp clan. Oh well, he thought lightly, I suppose I shall have to simply live as long as possible.
As he sat there, basking in the warmth of the sun, a curious thought tiptoed to the edge of his consciousness, slyly making itself known. There is one female whose company you enjoy... As soon as he thought it, the Hatter told himself to forget it. He didn't think of her like that, regardless of what his friends thought. And even if he did, it was doubtful she thought of him that way; and in any case, she was in Otherworld. No, the Hatter refused to tarnish the memories of his dear friend with such... inappropriate thoughts. Determined to switch trains of thought, he walked over to the daisies, to strike up a friendly chat.
Alice smiled as she sipped her tea. Hatter would love this, I shall have to bring some with me when I return. She had been in China for nearly a month now, negotiating on behalf of Lord Ascot's company. It had been slow going at first, partially because women were given even less freedom here than in England, and so the idea of a woman in a business took some getting used to. But eventually they had given Miss Kingsleigh a chance, and found that she was at once more daring and more level-headed than most of their usual associates. She silently thanked the Hatter for her success, for it was her memory of him that had helped her through the hardest bits. Anytime she felt like she was loosing her nerve, she'd hear his voice in her head.
"Alice," he'd say in a playfully reprimanding tone. "Don't tell me you've gone and lost your Muchness again? *sigh* Well then, I suppose I shall have to coax it out of you..." And with a wry smile, she would feel her courage rise once more, and be ready for anything.
Negotiations were almost wrapped up now, and soon Alice would be sailing again, heading home to help Lord Ascot settle things on their side of the world. Once a stable trade between London and Hong Kong was set, it would be smooth sailings, so to speak. Alice knew it wouldn't take her long to secure her mother's continued comfort for the rest of her days. And once that was accomplished, she would feel comfortable leaving without regrets. As for how to disappear, she had that planned as well. She had toyed with the idea of faking her own death, but she couldn't bear the thought of bringing such pain to those she loved. Instead, she would write letters to those most important to her; Lord Ascot, Margaret, and of course, her mother. Each letter would be tailored to the individual, but one common thread would run through all: the truth. Or at least, as much as they needed to know.
She would tell them that she had achieved her father's dream, and now had to seek her own. She was traveling to far off lands, most likely never to return. She would ask not for sorrow, but for joyful memories, and well wishes. In addition, Lord Ascot's letter would include ideas for the future of the company. Margaret's would warn her to keep a close eye on her husband. And as for Mrs. Kingsleigh, her letter would end with the following:
"I must confess, dear mother, that as you may have presumed, I am mad, bonkers, off my head, and have been for quite some time now. But as a very wise man once told me, long ago, all the best people are. Fairfarren, Alice."
Later that night, Alice lay in bed, murmuring quietly in her sleep, a tiny smile playing on her lips. Though she had once dreaded her nightly dreaming, she now looked forward to it greatly, sometimes retiring early just to hasten the dreams. They were different now, and yet the same, in that they all took place in Underland. Sometimes they were memories, either of her childhood visit or her more recent one, but other times they were completely imagined. The Hatter invariably played some role, not always in the spotlight, but quite often. It was not unusual for Alice to wake up in the middle of the night, sweating and panting, before a dreamy look crossed her face and she hurried back to sleep as quickly as she could manage. Her maid had mentioned once or twice that she would sometimes talk in her sleep, or even moan; Alice had turned beet red, and the maid had had the decency to change the subject. Tonight's dreams were fairly innocent, however; a tea party with Thackary Earwicket (the March Hare) and of course, the Hatter. Chessur even floated in and out, as he was wont to do, admiring the Hatter's hat with an eerie tone. Alice giggled in her sleep, shifting for comfort, before settling down again.
ANpt2 - Okay, Im not sure how I feel about this chapter... darn you, elusive plot bunny! get back here and help me! Feedback please???