(Note: I'm having one of those numb days so if this chapter is... bleh... don't flog me! Plus, SpongeBob's on so I'm probably only going to be half paying attention to my fingers typing. They seem to have a mind of their own sometimes... 0.o)

Alice dreamt that the hatter had come to save her from the Jabberwocky. In fact, she had dreamt up an entire alternate ending from the battle with the jabberwocky up to current life. She had never gone back to China and she had been living in luxury in the white queen's palace as reward for reclaiming the Red kingdom. In the dream, Alice was the mother to a beautiful daughter by name Faye. Father to Faye was the one and only Tarrant Hightopp. Only, the dream suddenly became a nightmare as Stayne took her darling daughter and slew her mad husband.

Tarrant slowly looked up from his nap, his large eyes violet from worry. She tossed about in her slumber and Tarrant dared not wake her, for fear Thackery would try to run him out of the infirmary again. He wanted to be near his Alice.

She rolled over and opened her eyes. His eyes widened and his grasp on her hand tightened. "Where am I?" She asked.

"The infirmary," Said Tarrant, relief evident in his voice. "What were you doing so far out of the kingdom? Far enough to find Stayne and Iracebeth? What were you thinking, Alice?" Alice's eyes widened and suddenly teared over. She rolled over and put her back to Tarrant. "Alice... What's wrong?"

"Stayne," She whispered.

"What did he do? Tarrant demanded, standing with clenched fists.

"He told me what he did to you in the red queen's dungeon... I'm so sorry. I didn't know that's what they would do to you." She replied in a small voice.

The mad man calmed down a little. He exhaled and sat on the bed near her hip. "I knew you had to make it to Mirana. It didn't matter what happened to me."

Suddenly a thought dawned upon her and Alice turned to look at him, "Tarrant, where's Stayne?"

Tarrant moved to the side so Alice could see past him. Stayne was on another bed in the large room. She grabbed his hand and pushed him in front of her as a reflex. Tarrant looked back at her and raised an eyebrow. Pain tore into her arm and she gave a small whimper. She recomposed herself and released his arm. He looked back at her. "Alice, what happened?"

"Well, I was walking around to clear my mind and I found the bandersnatch. I decided he needed a change of scenery and so I untied him. He took off running and before I knew it, we were at that strange door that I came through to get here the first time," She said.

"Door? What door?" He asked her curiously.

"The one at the end of the Cheshire cat's little road." He nodded in understanding so she continued, "Then Stayne was there, and he hit the bandersnatch! Tell me my pet's ok!" She looked up pleadingly.

"Luckily he's got a very hard head. At the end of Cheshire's road? That's inside Underland. That-"

"Let me finish please..." Tarrant nodded, "He told me that he hurt you... And then he-" She paused and gulped... "I don't want to tell you anymore." She announced, remembering how the fight ended. She placed her hand over her eyes so she wouldn't be tempted to look into his green orbs. She knew he would make her spill her guts if she looked into his eyes.

He brushed his palm against her forehead and held her hand, "Alice, what happened to your arm?"

"This... stick with a chain and a ball at the end... He swung it at me and I put my arm up."

Alice looked over when Tarrant didn't say anything. He was standing over Stayne with red eyes and black under his eyes. His fists were clenched. "When ye wake up, aam gonnae beat ye intae heel an' watch ye burn alife fur whit ye did tae 'er..." (When you wake up, I'm going to beat you into hell and watch you burn alive for what you did to her...) "Ur Ah coods jist dae it noo ." (Or I could just do it now.) He grinned.

Alice watched as Tarrant grabbed a sharp tool from the tray beside the bed and raised it. "Tarrant!" A voice shouted from the door way. Alice looked over to see Mirana, greatly shocked.

"Yer highness, he was tresspassin' in underlain efter bein' exhiled. he shoods be punished. he also attacked ahlice. if ye willnae dae anythin', Ah will."(Your highness, he was trespassing in Underland after being exiled. He should be punished. He also attacked Alice. If you won't do anything, I will.)

"Tarrant, I don't want to have to punish you. Put that down and step away and I will forget this incident." Mirana announced, reaching a hand out for the utensil in his hands.

His eyes returned to green and he looked at himself. The hatter stepped back and threw the tool to the ground, "What is the hatter with me?" He asked in his old lispy voice.

"I'm afraid I'm going to have to ask you to leave."

He looked up with saddened eyes, "No, I won't do it." He whispered.

"Tarrant, it is clear you can't be trusted without supervision here, therefore if you do not leave on your own I will be forced to have the guards escort you to your quarters."

Alice looked at him sadly, "Tarrant, I'll be out soon. I promise." He nodded, walking to her. He nodded at her and did not acknowledge Mirana on his way out.

She rolled her eyes and sat on Alice's bed, "How do you fair my champion?" She asked. "Are you well enough to tell me what happened?"

Alice wrapped her arms around the queen and silently began to sob into her dress. "Mirana, it was so terrible." She sobbed.

Mirana stroked her hair, "You don't have to tell me just now, but to charge Stayne with anything you'll have to tell me something."

"H-h-he-he tried t-to rape m-me," She cried. Mirana froze. He did what? Mirana prayed she had misheard her. "He attacked me and told me what he did to the hatter."

She stroked her hair again, "Alright, that's enough child. I will have him put in the dungeon until he heals -if he heals. From now on, I don't want you going anywhere without at least two of my most loyal guards."

~~~**Tarrant X Alice**~~~

Days passed and still the oracle had not formed an idea of how to eliminate Alice. She was Underland's champion! He smirked. She was also a good bit of a fighter. Perhaps he could use a girl like her on his arm? Ah, but she was in love with that –that hatter! She'd never fall for a man like himself –unless he made her of course.

The oracle was such a generous man. He found himself thinking so quite often. It wasn't because he couldn't stomach what he did in his horrible day to day life. Oh no! It was because he needed something to keep him busy. He was venturing into Underland this time on nothing more than strict business. He had no intention of returning to the palace... Until he learned the one that he sought was there.

He was smart this time and left his cloak back in the cave. He didn't look so evil when you could see his face. He had peach colored skin that was getting darker with every hour he spent in the sun. His eyes were now a soft brown that suited his face well. Women would usually whisper to each other about the long lean plains of his cheeks or his pale pink lips, but he never need pay attention to gossip –even if it was about him.

He had a muscular build and longish brownish blond hair. All in all, he looked very handsome aside from scars that lead from his left cheek to his jaw line. He usually kept his hair over it to hide the shame his father once bore him. Now that his father was gone and everyone had forgotten either of their existences, he had no reason to cover up the battle would. He made his way up to the large steel gates of the castle.

"Halt," Cried a guard, pointing his spear at the man. "What business do you have here?"

He cleared his throat and in a booming voice said, "I've come to see the bishop. I heard he was here and it is most urgent."

The gates opened and two more of the chess-piece guards stepped out. One took hold of the horse's reigns from the side and led them through the winding world of trees until he had to tie up the horse. He followed the guard, as well as memorized every inch of the castle he walked through. They stopped in front of a small wooden door after what seemed like an eternity of walking. "Follow this stair case and the room at the top is where you will find the bishop."

"Thank you kind sir." He replied and opened the door. He took the steps several at a time and made it to the top in only a few short minutes.

Knocking, he entered the room. The bishop turned. He wore a strange red cap atop his head and black silken robes. Obviously he got good payment from the queen. The old man smiled at the oracle, "What can I do for you, my boy?"

"I need a potion."

The old man frowned, "Ah, no good! No good! I don't do that kind of think anymore!" Said the bishop.

The oracle nodded, "It's nothing big. Please, sir. I would really appreciate."

The bishop sat down in his chair at the window and looked out over the kingdom. "Alright then."

(So this and the next chapter or two will take into consideration the darker side of Tarrant's madness. Just a warning for those who hate violence or something… Don't forget to review!)