A/N: I almost forgot about this story! Nah, just kidding.

Disclaimer: Me no own.

Ali

Tarrant sat in the food court in front of a stand labeled Thackery's Falafel Cart, trying to establish a conversation with the owner, when a small chime greeted him on his comm.

He read the contact number, and saw Chessur's name.

He groaned, and answered it.

All he got was an automatic message that said, "You, Tarrant Hightopp, have been expelled from the Hatter's Association. This punishment is permanent, and you may not be reaccepted into this associa-"

Tarrant frowned, and shut the comm off before it could finish the message.

He groaned, and walked away, throwing a small coin into Thackery's can to compensate for his lunch.

Tarrant decided to stop by to see- whatever her name was.

He mounted his motorcycle, and rode all the way there, this time, not being chased by the police force.

Hamish greeted him at the door.

Tarrant said in his thick lisp, "Um, where is... um... what's her name..."

Hamish nodded, and said, "The fifth element?"

Tarrant nodded.

Hamish smiled his wide, fake smile, and said, "Right in there. Can you wake her up? It's been about four days, and she won't wake up!"

Tarrant smiled, and said, "Thank you."

He walked inside, and saw her asleep on the couch, still in her bandages.

He sat down next to her, but Hamish piped in, "But be careful! She's the universe's most treasured possession!"

Tarrant whispered, "Hey, wake up!" and gently stroked her cheek, but she stayed sound asleep.

He repeated, "Wake up," and shook her shoulder a little bit, but to no avail.

A wild thought sprung up in his mind, and he leaned closer to her.

He planted a soft kiss on her perfect lips, and she automatically threw him off of her.

She grabbed a gun from the nearby table, and aimed it quickly at his head.

She said in a demanding voice, "Kamindin dalloonipular salimundaray konup!"

Tarrant's eyes widened, and he raised his hands, saying, "I'm sorry! I shouldn't have kissed you!"

She just waved the gun, and babbled some more.

Tarrant asked out of curiosity, "What's your name?"

She tilted her head, and Tarrant could almost see an enormous question mark appear above her head.

He pointed to himself, and said, "Tarrant Hightopp."

He pointed to her, and shrugged.

She understood this, and said, "Aliamundookanip toolanipareenixin."

Tarrant blinked, then said, "Do you have a shorter name?"

When he saw that she couldn't understand, he said, "Not blehblehblehblehblehbleh-no. Short."

She nodded, then paused.

She said, "Ali."

Tarrant smiled, and said, "Ali."

Ali smiled, and lowered the gun.

She ran over to the kitchen table, and grabbed an enormous plate full of roast chicken.

She stuck an enormous forkful into her mouth, and said with a cheeky grin, "Shi-ken!"

Tarrant smiled, and said, "Yes, chicken."

Hamish walked in, and said, "Ah, she's awake. Good. Now, Ali, is it? Where are the stones?"

Ali nodded, and started gesturing as she babbled to explain where the stones were.

Absolem started translating; "The stones were hidden, with someone who could be trusted by the Kingsleighs. The stones contain the shards of a sword, called the Vorpal Sword, which Ali must use to slay the Jabberwocky, and along with it, evil. They switched the trunks, and hid the real stones far away where no one would suspect them."

Ali nodded, and went back to noshing on her chicken.

Tarrant smiled, but Hamish said, "Ali, do you want to get out of those bandages?"

Ali tilted her head, but Tarrant grabbed a bit of her bandages, and simulated taking them off.

Ali nodded, and grabbed a small bundle of clothes from the trunk beside her.

She ran out of the room, and came back in a few seconds later with a cut-off blue tank-top and short black shorts on.

She had pulled her long, thick blonde hair back into a huge ponytail, and was now crouched in front of a television screen, watching a rapid-fire lesson in Basic.

Once she was done watching the lesson, she turned to Tarrant and said in her soft, shaky voice, "I can t-talk like you, now, Tarrant."

Tarrant smiled, and said, "You talk very well for someone so new to the language."

Ali smiled her toothy smile, and hugged Tarrant around the neck.

Tarrant was a bit stunned at first, but then he slowly returned her hug.

Ali smiled, and said shakily, "Tarrant, you a-are my friend."

Tarrant smiled, and said in his light lisp, "And you are my friend too."

Ali smiled, and said almost teasingly, "But Hamish is an i-i-idiot!"

Absolem gave a small chuckle, but Hamish turned bright red, and left the room.

Tarrant smiled, and said, "Ali, I've got to head home."

Ali frowned, and said, "No..."

But Absolem said firmly, "Ali, he must go home, and you must learn your lessons."

Ali frowned again, but latched her arms around her best friend for one last hug before he left, and said, "Come back."

Tarrant whispered, "I promise I'll come back, Ali."

Ali smiled, and waved good-bye to him as he left.

Far away, on a far side of town, a short woman sat in her desk, and said, "What are your orders, my darling Jabberbabywocky?"

A thick, deep voice filled her ears, saying, "Find the shards. The fifth element cannot be allowed to find the pieces that complete the Vorpal one."

The woman turned around in her chair, revealing an abnormally large head and large heart-shaped hair piece, and said, "I understand."

She turned to her metallic card-soldiers, and said firmly, "Find the stones. We cannot allow them to slip from our grasp again."

A/N: Hee hee hee hee hee hee hee! Cliff hanger!