A/N: Well here's chapter 9! So please read and review! Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I don't own any of Lewis Carroll's, Disney's, or Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland anything. The plot and characters I create are mine!

Rating: T

*In Underland*

Tarrant was sitting at his tea table as usual. He yawned and stretched in his favorite green chair.

'I must've fallen asleep...' He thought.

He glanced around the tea table as if noticing it for the first time. Thackery was nowhere in sight and there seemed to be an eerie fog surrounding the area. Something didn't seem right so he knocked on Mally's teapot to wake her up. After receiving no reply, he opened the lid only to find her missing as well.

'Hmm…maybe they headed to see Mirana…' He thought.

The eerie fog was growing thicker and Tarrant didn't like it one bit so he decided he'd head for Marmoreal as well.

He strapped his claymore on his belt and started for the Tugley Woods. He had not taken but a few steps away from the tea table when he heard something in the foliage nearby. It sounded rather large in size, whatever is was. Tarrant tightened his grip on his claymore as the rustling drew closer and something emerged from the fog.

At first, he saw an outline of someone a head or two smaller than himself. As the fog cleared to where he could make out the person more clearly, he loosened his grip on his sword.

"A…Alice!"

Alice had emerged from the fog and continued to walk toward him.

"Alice, you came back!"

Tarrant ran the rest of the way to her and enveloped her in a hug. When she didn't respond, he grew concerned and slowly withdrew from her. That's when he noticed she wasn't wearing a normal Aboveland blue dress. Instead she was wearing her armor from when she slayed the Jabberwocky and she was carrying the Vorpal Sword strapped to her hip. He frowned.

"Alice, why are you wearing your armor? You aren't going to fight anything are you?" He asked, dreading the answer.

"I'm afraid so Hatter, Mirana sent McTwisp to find me once again. I've agreed to be her champion once more." Alice said determinedly.

"You don't have to fight anything Alice! Mirana promised me she wouldn't force you to do anything you didn't want too! We don't even know what or who the threat is and if there is any!" He stated and then began to wonder why he sounded almost saner than he usually was.

Alice looked at him and smiled.

"Hatter, I assure you this is my decision. I haven't lost my muchness you know?"

He smiled back at her.

"No, you haven't at all it seems! Will you be staying with us this time Alice?" He glared at her with the smallest amount of hope.

Alice looked as if she thought about it sincerely and spoke.

"What a wondrously mad idea! But I still have things to do and questions to answer in Aboveland." Alice stated a little bit too joyously and Tarrant noticed.

"Alice…what exactly are the things you have to do and the questions you have to answer and the things that need answering and the things that need doing? You seem to say the same thing every time you leave! Are you ever going to stay?"

"Hatter!"

"I'm fine!" He snapped but he wasn't, he was furious.

"I'm sorry Hatter but I can't stay…ever…I'm getting married."

"M…Married! To WHOM?" He could feel his eyes changing to a furious orange-red.

"I'm sorry, I've said too much! I must be going!" Alice said and disappeared into mist as he reached out for her.

He was heartbroken and fell to his knees.

"ALICE, PLEASE COME BACK!" He screamed in anguish.

Then he heard a knocking sound. He looked around confused.

"Hatta! Are yew awake?"

*Hatter's workshop*

Hatter awoke with a start and clutched his heart. After taking in his surroundings, he realized he'd fallen asleep while working on a few orders for the upcoming ball. He sighed with relief that he'd only had a bad nightmare and that Alice was still going to be there soon. He only hoped that she hadn't found anyone that she fancied yet and if she hasn't then he vowed he wouldn't let her slip away this time without knowing the full extent of his feelings.

He heard the knocking at his door once again and got up to answer it. Mally had been the one that had been able to wake him up from his disturbing nightmare.

"I'm so sorry Mally, it seems as though I fell asleep while working on a hat. If I hadn't been asleep I would've gotten to the door much sooner and I'm so glad thatyou woke me up because I was having such a horrible..."

"HATTA!"

"Dream...sorry! What did you need Mally?"

"McTwisp 'as found Absolem and they've returned tew consult tha Oraculum. There will be a meetin in tha throne room. Miwana sent me to tell yew!" Mally stated.

Tarrant straightened himself up and put on his trademark hat and followed Mally to the throne room.

*The White Queen's Throne Room*

Queen Mirana had her servants bring in a long table for her most trusted subjects to review the Oraculum. Everyone piled into the pristine throne room and took a seat. Absolem landed on the table to right of the White Queen. Tarrant Hightopp made sure to sit next her on the left so he'd know the full extent of what they were up against. Mally sat on the table next to Tarrant and Thackery sat next to Mally.

Across the table McTwisp sat next to Absolem and the Tweedles fought over which seat they were going to sit in until they received a cross look from the Queen. Chessur just floated above everyone.

Once everyone was seated the Queen spoke.

"Now that everyone's here, shall we begin?"

"Where's Absolem? I thought he was the reason we're here?" Tweedledum said.

"Boys, Absolem is right next to me, he transformed on Frabjous Day." Mirana said hoping that would answer the question but they continued.

"I thought Absolem was a blue caterpillar and not a blue butterfly?" Tweedledum said.

"Contrariwise, he is a blue caterpillar, I'm sure of it." Tweedledee said.

The rest at the table rolled their eyes and Absolem was starting to grow impatient.

He flew over in front of them and gave them a harsh look and said.

"Klotchyn! I've transformed, that's just what caterpillars do! Now be quiet so that I might find out why I was dragged all the way back to Underland!"

"Oh…" The Tweedles both said in understanding.

Absolem flew back to his place by Mirana and took a long puff out of his hookah and exhaled.

"Roll out the Oraculum Mirana." Absolem stated.

Mirana reached down to retrieve the sacred document and unrolled it so Absolem could get a good look.

Absolem polished his monocle and looked down at the images before him. At first, he saw Alice embracing a man that looked very much like their Hatter except he had longer curly hair that fell past his shoulders. He smiled warmly for a split second and went on to the next day on the age old calendar. It showed the Red Queen and her Knave in exile but they appeared to be spying on a meeting of the Toves. He frowned deeply.

"I was brought back to Underland because Iracebeth and Stayne are spying on a group of Toves?" Questioned Absolem calmly.

"Yes Absolem, what can it mean?" Mirana asked.

"It could mean anything Mirana, the message is not clear what their intentions are. The message could mean something or nothing at all." Absolem said.

Hatter was growing impatient.

"Wewd yew stop yer silly riddles an give us an answer?" Tarrant said slipping in and out of his brogue.

"Patience Tarrant, wouldn't want that temper to get the best of you…" Chess taunted.

"FIGHT!" Thackery yelled.

"Stop da both of yew!" Mally intercepted. "Let Absolem explain!"

"What I mean Hatter is I don't believe their intentions are good but I can't rightly say whether this means they are plotting something or whether they are just being curious."

While Absolem, Hatter, Mirana and the others were going back in forth with the meaning of the picture in the Oraculum, one of the Tweedles noticed something strange going on with the sacred document.

"Look Dum, do you see what I see?" Dee asked tugging his brother's arm.

"Contrariwise, I believe I do! It's a picture drawing itself out."

When the drawing was done it revealed a large dragon-like creature much bigger than the original Jabberwocky. This one had sharp spikes on the ends of its tail.

Both boys gasped.

"I believe that would be a Jabberwocky!" Dee said.

"Contrariwise, it don't look like no Jabberwocky I've seen, no how!"

"Does too!"

"Does not!"

"BOYS!" Mirana yelled which made everyone silent.

She seemed to float over to the twins.

"What you are two fighting about?" Mirana asked.

They pointed to the new drawn picture.

Mirana gasped as her hand seemed to desperately grasp her at her heart.

"No...not good intentions…Absolem…look…"

McTwisp did what he did best and fainted.

Hatter noticed the picture and it was everything he could do not to lose it. Instead he gripped the sides of the table until his knuckles turned red. It was clear to everyone in the room that he was thinking the worst. His colors took on a darker tone.

Absolem took another draw from his hookah and glanced at the image and nearly choked.

"This is not good! This Jabberwocky is a female!" Absolem said.

"WHA'S THA SUPPOSED TA MEAN?" Tarrant roared.

"It means that this Jabberwocky is three times larger than the original and it is far more deadly. See those spikes on the end of her tail. They are filled with a deadly toxin that could kill several strong citizens of Underland with one drop." Absolem stated solemnly.

"Absolem, how long do we have until this Jabberwocky is a threat?" Mirana asked.

Absolem took a look at the date.

"Three weeks from the day the Champion arrives is when this chosen one will transform into the ever dreaded Jabberwocky." he said. "As to when we'll have to fight it, I'm not certain."

"Alice will have to fight it won't she?" asked one of the Tweedles.

Mirana chose her next words carefully keeping a close eye on the Hatter.

"If Alice chooses to fight it will be her choice and hers alone. I will never force any living creature to do anything against their wishes. That being said we still need to start preparing for an upcoming battle. McTwisp I need you to tell the White Knight General to start preparing our troops and to send word to our Underland's neighboring kingdoms and allies to ask for assisstance. If there's going to be a fight then I want everyone to be prepared."

"Are we still going to throw a ball for Miss Alice?" Tweedledum asked.

"You fool, we are going to war and we won't have a ball no how!" Tweedledee said.

Mirana thought about it for a minute.

"No, Dum might be on to something...we still don't know how big a threat this could be or even is. After all, the Oraculum only showed a picture of the Jabberwocky and nothing else. We have no way of knowing who's side it's on. Besides I want the ball to be a celebratory thank you party for Alice and all that she has done for our kingdom. This will also be a great chance to meet and great our neighboring kingdoms before we discuss business."

Tarrant knew that the Queen meant every word of what she said and that she would not make Alice fight this time. However, he couldn't shake the feeling that his dream or nightmare rather held some truth to it.

"I believe our meeting here is done until we have further information. I promise I will keep all of you well informed if something changes. Until then brush up on your fighting skills and prepare yourselves for the upcoming ball. Fairfarren!" Mirana said as she rose and left the for her chambers.

Tarrant still had a downcast look and Mally noticed as she walked on the table to him. It was well known that she didn't really like Alice that much in the beginning. She had always loved Tarrant but she wasn't blind. She knew that their relationship would never work and that he had eyes for their Champion. In fact she knew by just the way he would look at Alice that he loved her even when he didn't know the words to describe what he felt.

"Hatta, it will all be fine, I promise! Nay harm will come tew the lass!" Mally said meaningfully.

"I hope you are right Mally..." He lisped as he picked her up and put her on top of his hat and began their journey back to the Windmill.

A/N: Sorry it took so long, got writer's block on top of juggling college, my life as an Army spouse and we just had our first child(son) in March so life's been crazy but fun, but I want to get this story finished soon so no more delays I promise! Oh also I was doing some family history and it turns out I have a great-something grandfather by the name Absolem! I thought that was weird! LOL!