Author's Note: Enjoy!

Disclaimer: HnKnA- not mine. Martella, Iris, and plot- mine.

Chapter Ten- The New Hatter

Iris- the Clock Tower

The sun has come up and I put on one of the other dresses Vivaldi gave to me. This is made in the same fashion as the one from yesterday but it's a teal color.

I check on Martella and see her lying in her bed with her leg in a splint and bandages on her hands.

"Hi Iris," she greets when she hears me enter.

"Martella! What happened?" I ask her.

"I tripped with the tea on the stairs, but Julius helped me and took care of everything. He's so nice," she smiles and gazes off daydreaming.

"Are you still coming to the sleepover?"

"Of course, it's the first one I've been invited to. Julius found some crutches for me and said he'll help me down later."

"I think someone likes you," I tease her. She blushes and turns away.

"I don't know what you're talking about," she rejects my statement.

"Whatever you say. Martella and Julius sitting in a tree-"

"Get out," she throws a pencil at me. I dodge it with ease.

"Do you need anything else, Juliet? Should I get Romeo for you?" This is fun. "Go away Iris!" I leave her alone and head out to go tree running, grabbing my bow before I go. I want to check out the mansion, it's the only part of Wonderland I haven't seen yet. First, I need to go find Boris. I promised him we'd go together.

It wasn't too hard as he was waiting right outside the Clock Tower.

"Where do you want to go?" he asks.

"I was thinking about checking out the Hatter's Mansion."

"Okay, race you there!" We run up the nearest tree and take off through the branches.

When we arrive at the gates of the mansion we see Vivaldi waiting there.

"Hi Iris, Elliot, Dee, Dum. We have business with Elliot about the new head of the Mafia," Vivaldi explains. So that's what Blood did, he ran the mafia. A bit dangerous but pretty cool.

"Wonderland's decided who's going to be the next hatter?" Elliot asks as he walks up.

"We believe so and we think we need to have a celebration to welcome this new hatter," she confirms, "all the role holders and the two foreigners are invited. Tea will be served this afternoon at two at the castle and then in the evening the foreigners and we will have our sleepover."

"Oh about that, Martella hurt her hands and leg, so it might take a while for her to get to the castle," I let her know.

"That's fine, we will wait for her before the celebration and announcement. We already had servants bring invitations to the other role holders."

"That's good. Then she should be getting ready now. I'm going to see if she needs any help. Bye, everyone," I wave goodbye and climb into the nearest tree.

"Wait, Iris, what are you doing?" Vivaldi calls after me.

"Tree running. I get around faster this way and I'm more coordinated up here," I explain.

"Well be careful. We will see you later." I smile and start running towards the tower.

"Wait for me!" Boris grins after me. I pause so he can catch up and we take off back to the Clock Tower.

When we get there, Boris heads back to the Amusement Park to get ready. I walk up to Martella who is already getting dressed but her hands still hurt too much to zip up the dress. She looks really nice in the long red dress with silver lace. I help her and then go to put on one of my new dresses. I choose a black one with dark purple lace, I secretly hope Peter likes it.

I pack my stuff for the sleepover and go down to see that Martella has done the same. Julius and I help her down the stairs.

He got dressed up too. He's wearing a black long coat outlined in gold. It suits him. I hand Martella the crutches and we walk to the castle where everyone else is already there.

There is one face that I haven't seen before. He has red hair and a mask on his belt.

"Nice to meet you, I'm the Joker," he says kissing my hand and Martella's.

"I'm Iris and this is Martella."

"Hey s***head, you forgot to introduce me," I jump because the mask talked. The cussing is a bit put offish too because I haven't heard it in this world, but in quite used to hearing it all around school.

"Please excuse him, this is also the Joker. You can call me Red and this is my brother Black. We run the circus," he tells us. I'm about to ask more when Nightmare comes up to me along with someone else that neither Martella or I have seen.

"Nightmare, you're really here!" I exclaim.

"Yes, and this is Grey," he replies.

"Nice to meet you, I'm-"

"Iris. Nightmare already came running to me saying that you changed your dream on him. Very clever. We're going to the hospital after this if he doesn't runaway again," Gray tells me. Then looking to Martella he asks, "And you are?"

"I'm Martella. Nightmare, you didn't seem sick when you talked with me," she says questioningly.

"It was one of my better nights."

Martella was about to say something else when Julius says that the tea's about to start. I sit between Peter and Boris. Martella takes a seat beside Vivaldi and Julius. After a bit of tea and cake Vivaldi stands up and calls for everyone's attention.

"As you know, we've been needing a new Hatter. Wonderland has waited for the right person and one has been brought forth, if she accepts," she looks directly at me.

"Iris, you are the new Hatter that Wonderland wants."