A/N- The climatic chapter you all have been waiting for. I have to admit this story is turning out a lot differently than I first planned it, but I don't seem to mind.

Warning- this chapter is a lot more graphic and violent than previous chapters. Just a fair warning…

Chapter 20- The Madness

On and on the rescue party kept walking, each step getting them closer and closer to their destination. Though there was lots of tea and pleasant conversation, one member of the party refused to join in.

I'm coming Alice, I'm coming. Please, wait, Alice. Please! Stay with me! I promise I will do better! I will get us a house and a garden, and I won't let anything happen to you ever again. I promise, Alice. Please wait, don't…

"Hatter?" Mallyumkin crawled down onto his shoulder.

"Mhm?" He grumbled, coming out of his mixed thoughts. It had been hours since the man had said a word to them, or done anything remotely mad.

"What happens if Alice doesn't come home?"

"So ye've snuck a look at the Oraculam, I see…" Tarrant narrowed his eyes at her. They were burning orange. He reached in his waistcoat pocket and tightened his fingers around the potion bottle.

"I was worried, Hatter, and after I heard what Chess said…"

"Just stop. I'm fine." He closed his eyes tightly, trying to rid himself of the Madness.

"Are you?" Mally questioned angrily. She then hopped onto McTwisp shoulder instead.

Hatter sighed in distress and sped up his pace to distance himself from the others. Now he had scared even his closest friends away. He swatted branches out of his path angrily and continued his mad pace. When he came to a clearing, he decided to a stop. He then took off his hat and fidgeted with it in his hands anxiously, bending the brim with his shaking fingers. His boot toyed with the gravel floor beneath his feet, subconsciously. When he realized what he was doing, kicked the floor angrily, causing a shooting pain in his foot. Limping over to a rock, he sat down. The Madness began to speak to him once more.

No wonder Alice chose someone else, she doesn't need a raging old madman who can't take care of himself, let along her. Just look at yourself. She deserves better. It's good she finally figured it out.

Sadly, he stood up from the rock. What the madness was telling him was true. If she didn't want him anymore, it would be cruel for him to chase after her. He looked around his surroundings and noticed that he was now quite a bit away from the rest of the party. He also noticed a large lake beside him.

He sat on the edge of the water, dangling his feet over the edge. He then leaned over and looked deeply into the glistening water. There was his own reflection, blazing hair, worn skin, demented eyes and all. It all made perfect sense now why Alice preferred someone else.

But then was something else in the water: something light and beautiful, swimming about his feet. "Angelfish…" He said in wonderment. It wasn't just any lake. It was the lake.

He took in his surroundings once more with wide eyes. Sure enough, it was the same lake he had visited not a month ago. And there, hidden inconspicuously in the corner, was their cave.

Wasting no time, Tarrant stripped himself of his jacket and shoes and waded into the water.

Voices called to him from the shore. "Tarrant, where in Underland do you think are you going?" Chess called from land. He had to make sure he was a safe distance from the water at all times.

Ignoring them, the Hatter continued to drudge on through the water until he was inside the cave.

Darkness surrounded him, except for one star that shone as brightly as ever. The Alice Star, he mused. It all seemed so very strange to Tarrant, for had they just been there not a few weeks ago, and the cave had big full of stars. Another new oddity he noticed was that for some unknown reason, the Alice Star's light seemed to be pointing in one direction. Down.

Tarrant wrinkled his eyebrows together and waded over towards the beam of light. He reached his hand out into the light and touched the watery surface. All the sudden, the water began to swirl at his touch. All around, the water pushed against him. He struggled against the current with no avail. He paddled towards the mouth of the cave, but the water kept pushing him back towards the light. For some reason, this is what scared him the most: the light. He tried his best to stay out of it, but with one final wave, he was directly in the middle of the beam. He remembered voices calling frantically to him from the entrance of the cave. And then there was darkness as he was being pulled down under the water.

And then, as sudden as it disappeared, there was light. He quickly swam towards, hoping to reach the surface. But once he reached it, it was air at all. It was glass.

His dream. He was where he was trapped in the water just like in his dreams. He anxiously looked above him, hoping that Alice would be on the other side, like she always was. If he could just see her once more… He could not see anything. The water was blurring his vision. Instead, he began to bang on the glass desperately, his lungs screaming for air. He hit the glass with his fist once more and then clung to his stomach in agony. And then he felt it. A large bulge in his waistcoat pocket: The potion.

Hope surged through him as he ripped open his pocket and fumbled with the cap of the bottle. He lifted it to him mouth with one last fatal breath, and swallowed.

The next thing he knew, he was slammed against a floor, couching up the water that had filled his lungs. He looked around himself with relief. Not only had he survived, he had reached his destination. He was in the Hall of Mirrors. And in front of him, was Alice.

Elation came over him as he rushed over to where she was seated in the overly large chair. Then he noticed the chains.

Kneeling before her, he quickly began to work on them. "It's okay Alice, I'm here." He lifted her bruised hand to his lips and kissed her palm, before looking up into her eyes. They were blank and strangely distant, as though they couldn't see him at all. "Alice? It's me…" He began to panic, and placed his hand on her cheeks, drawing her face to his own, giving her no choice to look at him. Their eyes connected and the Hatter smiled hopefully. But his joy was quickly wiped off his face. Nothing. "Alice… Please…" Hatter sobbed, holding on to her hands tightly between is own.

"Strange, isn't it? When someone you love doesn't care about you anymore." A greasy voice rang through the hall.

"Alice…" Tarrant whispered softly into her hands, pressing kisses all over them.

"I knew you'd come…She won't listen." Stayne said haughtily as he circled around them.

"Alice…" Tarrant's eyes pleaded with her once more. Why won't she look at me? Standing up slowly, he laid a hand on the arm of the chair and leaned towards her. Stayne shoved Tarrant aside before he had a chance to touch his lips to hers.

"Don't you see, madman? She's mine now." Stayne said with a triumphant smile, sitting down on the chair and placing Alice on his lap.

A wave of sadness flew over the Hatter as he lay helplessly on the ground. He looked up at them, seeing the image he had seen so many times in the Oraculam. "Alice, is this true?"

Alice did not say anything, and only stared blanking down at her husband. And then, for a second, confusion flicked over her face. And then, as sudden as it came, all expression was gone.

"I told you she wouldn't speak to you." Stayne drew the hair away from Alice's neck and began to place slimy kisses along her collarbone, wrapping his arm greedily around her waist.

Alice's eyes flinched shut and Tarrant looked away in disgust. "Stop it, Stayne." He growled as he got to his feet.

"Stop what, Mad Hatter?" Stayne taunted as he groped at the woman in his arms.

"Get yer greasy 'ands off me wife!" Hatter hollowed, withdrawing his sword. Jealousy, distress, and hatred billowed into his mind as the Madness took over.

"Oh, so you don't want to play nice anymore, do you, Hatter?" Stayne stood up, carelessly tossing Alice to the side. She flopped to the floor like a ragdoll, her head hitting the floor violently. The chains around her wrists, however, did not let her body stray far.

Hatter gasped when he saw Alice's limp body hit the floor, his eyes glowing a dangerous red. He growled and slid his broadsword along Stayne's own.

Stayne lunged at him, the Hatter blocking each swing with skill. Alice sighed from the floor. This drew Hatter's attention, and gave the knave the opening he needed Stayne attacked quickly and hit Tarrant's weak spot. His shoulder.

The Hatter cried out in agony when the wound reopened, struggling to stay on his feet. Placing his sword in his opposite hand, he continued to fight through the pain.

"Are you sure you don't have any riddles for me instead, you raving lunatic?" Stayne sneered down at his sworn enemy as they pared, crashing blades and dodging each other's blows.

"'ere's one!" Tarrant said through his teeth, pushing down on Stayne's sword before pulling away. He began to walk backwards and looked around at the mirrors wildly, his own crazed self reflected in them. "I am what many want most, but a disease among men. Even though I should be satisfied, I strike and strike again."

Hatter looked madly around himself, his eyes swimming as he pressed against his open wound. What has he done? He didn't want Alice to see him like this; he didn't want to be like this.

"Well?" Stayne asked impatiently, coming at his opponent.

"Revenge." Hatter whispered, looking over sadly at his wife. No, he wouldn't, he couldn't…He glanced down at his sword and threw it away from him.

Tarrant ducked just in time to miss Stayne's sword slashing at his head, almost meeting its target. Instead, the sword pierced one of the mirrors. Shards flew everywhere. Stayne clutched at his eye, his chest oozing with blood. Tarrant was ashamed for having started the fight and afraid what would have happened if he hadn't drawn out of the Madness. He looked over to see his injured opponent and quickly limped over to Alice, hoping to escape.

But to his surprise, when he reached her Alice was standing. And she held Stayne's sword to his chest.

"That's right Alice, do it for me…" Stayne managed to say from his sad position on the floor.

"Alice, don't do this." Tarrant pleaded, noticing the maddeningly red tinge that had taken over her eyes.

Alice's sword shook, her hands trembling. Her eyes shifted anxiously between the two men, changing colors.

"Alice." The orange-haired man called softly, placing his hands cautiously out in front of him.

Alice slashed her sword violently, confused and scared. "Alice, it's me." He continued sadly, attempting to reach for her again. "Tarrant."

Alice's eyes seemed to lighten slightly at his name. "Who?" She finally managed to croak out.

"Tarrant." Hatter said with a light smile, placing is hand on her sword. "Your husband."

Alice stilled and finally looked at him in the eye.

She blandly looked at him and then slashed her sword violently again. The sword grazed Hatter's fingers, leaving sad shallow cuts all along them. She began to come at him now, sword raised above her head. Tarrant quickly ran over to his sword, and swore under his breath.

Great, now I have to fight my own damn wife!

"Alice!" He lisped out, barely catching his breath because of the pain. Her sword pressed roughly onto his. "Alice, please!"

He quickly back stepped, and wiped the sweat from his brow before blocking another blow. "Alice, you're poisoned. Please, I don't know how much longer…" He sighed, not being about to finished his sentence because of her next move.

He was now on his knees in pain, the only thing between him and death was his sword held above him. He held on to it with one hand, the other clutching his wound. Alice continued to press harder and harder, the madness completely taken over her mind.

Finally, the Hatter felt his grip begin to give out. "Alice?" He whispered, looking up at her sadly, as he tried to find the woman he loved in the Madness. "I love you."

And then suddenly a woman with a very large head appeared through one of the mirrors. Several odd creatures continued to attack her as they chased her into the hall. Following all of them in, were several white chess pieces.

"Alice?" Chess asked desperately, noticing the scene before them. Alice was standing viciously above the Hatter. His arm was shaking as though give would give out at any moment. Several guards had restrained the red queen and moved to grab Alice as well.

The Hatter looked up sadly, seeing his wife being held by the guards. Groaning, he stood up tossing his sword aside. He then walked over to where she was being held.

She had begun to get scared. Her eyes were shut tight as she twisted and turned to try to escape from her captives. Carefully, he took her thrashing head in his hands and placed his forehead on hers, as an attempt to calm her down. His lips brushed her forehead softly. Alice's eyes opened at the contact and connected with his, mad colors swirling until they came to a yellow-green. "What is the 'hatter' with me?" She uttered sadly.

"I'm afraid-" He began to explain, but stopped himself sadly, stroking her cheek in his hand. He then glared daggers at the soldiers who still held onto her arms. "I think I can take care of my own wife." He said heatedly. The pair quickly released Alice. He then wrapped his arm about his wife's shoulders and led her towards one of the mirrors.

Suddenly, a hand grasped around Alice's ankle, pulling her down. Tarrant looked at the hand in horror, noticing its owner was none other than Stayne. He rushed to save her, but was surprised when her knee bashed into the knaves face violently. She stepped over him, the Hatter's sword grasped in her hand as she pointed its sharp edge at the man below her. She leaned down and grabbed Stayne by the collar. Placing the sword against his throat, Alice whispered venomously in his ear words the Hatter could not quite make out.

"Stop, stop please! I will do whatever you want!" Stayne whimpered nervously, his eyes darting to the blade at his neck.

"I want you to leave and never come back." Alice threatened. Her fists clenched into his black collar, tightening her grip. Without a second thought, she slide the blade across his neck and he was gone.

"Alice!" A worried voice cried. She looked up, scared yellow connecting with her own. Alice looked down at the man in her grip, stunned, blood seeping through her fingertips. She stared into the man's lifeless eyes, tears welling up in her eyes.

Tarrant quickly walked over to her, placing his hands over hers. Blood quickly stained his hands as well. Confused, Alice let go of Stayne and looked at her husband. Her eyes seemed to beg him for forgiveness, water spilling onto her checks. Hatter took the sword away from her gently and then drew her into a strong embrace. He wiped away her tears with his thumb as he rocked her softly back and forth soothingly.

"Hatter?" A worried voice called from the floor. Mallyumkin tugged on the leg of his trousers. "Is Alice mad?"

"All the best people are." Tarrant said sadly, leaning over to kiss Alice's cheek. He then led her out of the destroyed hall, never to return.

So, what do you think?