AN~ Most of this chapter is pretty pathetic, but I can't really make it better.

Kawthar: All right, but once I'm not in the same house as a computer again, my update rate will decrease.

Alice took a deep breath. The entire populace of Wonderland was standing in the clearing in front of her, in the very space she had played croquet on the day she became an everafter, waiting for her to give them a speech.

"Hello, everyone," she said.

There were muttered greetings from the crowd in return.

"Have you all heard from the outside world recently?" She continued.

Shouts of assent returned in reply.

"And have they asked you to join the Scarlet Hand?" She asked, glancing at Mr. Clay to see if she was doing this correctly.

He nodded as the crowd shouted that there had been Scarlet Hand recruiters in the area.

Alice turned back to face the crowd. "Well, I'm here to ask that you not join them. In fact, you should avoid these everafters at all cost."

"Why?" The March Hare asked. "Why should we listen to you and not them?"

"Because I can bring back your people." Alice replied.

"Which ones?" The Duchess asked.

"For starters, the Cheshire Cat." Alice said, displaying the cat carrier. "He's in here because he's been bad, but if you want him back..."

The crowd began muttering among themselves.

"I can bring back the Hatter, too, and the card soldiers." Alice said. "Maybe even more people, if you give me time."

The crowd continued to mutter.

Clay stepped forward. "We'd also seal off most of the entrances to your land, of course, and open up a new one in Ferryport Landing. No one would get in unless you wanted them to."

He didn't mention that this would also keep people from getting out into the outside world.

Alice waited a few minutes, then said, "Well? Is this acceptable?"

The King of Spades stepped forward. "We find this arrangement suits us perfectly. There have been far too many drop-ins to Wonderland in the past two centuries."

"Really?" Alice asked. "Who?"

"Aside from you?" The Knave of Clubs asked. "No one, really. But one is enough for anybody."

Shaking her head at the brains of the Wonderlanders, Alice let herself be led to all the known portals in and out of Wonderland, which, over the next several days, she and Mr. Clay sealed up all the entrances except one, a mirror which they reconfigured so that it opened into Mirror in the Grimm's house. After they did this, they returned home and waited for the others to come back.

Marian and Robin had finished their powwow with the Indians successfully, and, after Peter attained a large supply of pixie dust- no one asked where it came from, they didn't want to know- the crowd was heading back to Ferryport Landing.

Once they completed the long journey to the town, Marian and Robin returned to the fort to introduce Charming to the Indian chief. The two had a short meeting, and without further ado, the indians set up their teepees in a semi-circle around the back door of the fort.

The slowly developing army was surprised when, the next morning, all the remaining inhabitants of Neverland appeared, carried by the free pixies, who, through Peter, explained that they were all here to fight against the Scarlet Hand, which had begun burning Neverland shortly after the others left. The Pixies had escaped with some of their more treasured possessions and all the inhabitants, and they were eager to fight. Charming accepted them with grace, and they quickly began expanding the fort.

Daphne and Snow were in the Emerald City, preparing for their meeting with Ozma. Daphne wore a pretty dress borrowed from Dorothy, and Snow wore one of Glinda's left-behind gowns from when she and Oz had left to explore the wide world.

"Enter." A girl's voice called from behind the big doors.

Daphne and Snow walked through the big doors, both of them unnaturally subdued by their grand surroundings. Inside the grand room, a collection of people were seated at a table, at the head of which was a beautiful young girl.

"The Tin Man says you have business with us." The girl said. "What is it?"

"Are you Ozma?" Snow asked.

The girl nodded. "And this is Dorothy, her aunt and uncle, the Shaggy Man, the Wogglebug, Tik Tok..."

As she continued through the table, Daphne's hand crept closer and closer to her mouth until she was biting down on it hard.

"Is there something wrong with you?"Dorothy asked.

Daphne pulled her hand out of her mouth and shook her head. "I just do that when I'm excited."

Snow gave her a look. "Anyway, may I explain why we're here, your majesty?"

"Just Ozma is fine, and go right ahead." Ozma smiled.

"Thank you." Snow smiled. "We're here to ask you if you would please, if anyone from an organization called the Scarlet Hand comes here with a proposal for you, please turn them down. We can offer you something you want in return."

"Why should we do this?" Ozma asked. "What have you to offer?"

"We can keep people from finding your country." Snow suggested.

Dorothy shook her head. "The forgetful desert surrounding our country keeps that from happening."

"We could..." protect you from the Scarlet Hand." Daphne said.

Ozma shook her head. "We have no need of that.

Daphne and Snow looked at each other.

"Do you have any other ideas?" Snow asked.

Daphne shook her head.

"Well, if you can't offer anything we can use, I'm afraid we can't agree to this." Ozma said.

"Who ever said they had nothing to offer?" A voice from behind Sow and Daphne asked.

Daphne and Snow turned and gasped.

"It's the wizard!" Dorothy shouted.

She and the other girls ran for Oz, and Daphne had to remind herself that they didn't know the Oz she did. The wizard in the books was good, and kind.

"Ozma," The wizard said, pulling her back, "These people have brought me back. I have been in the Scarlet Hand for several years now, and they could not bring me home, what I wanted more than anything. They could not bring Glinda back, either, but I don't doubt that these people can bring her back to you, too. I advise you to, at all costs, avoid the Scarlet Hand."

"Thank you." Ozma said, turning to the others. "I accpet your proposal. What do you wish us to do in return for our wizard?"

"Stay here, and keep all those from the other magical nations in your area inside your kingdoms." Snow said. "We ask nothing more than that you stay out of our wars. In return, we will do our best to bring Glinda back to her home, and the Scarecrow, too."

"I accept." Ozma said. "You may return to your home successful."

Sabrina and Puck gaped at the full-blown party inside the Golden Egg. Streamers were hanging from every available surface, the room was full of people, and a big banner hung from the ceiling, stating, "Welcome Home, Puck!"

Sabrina stared. "Did you tell them we were coming?" She asked.

Puck shook his head.

At that moment, Mustardseed appeared. "Welcome back, brother!"

"Hi..." Puck said. "What's all this?"

"Your birthday/welcome home party!" Mustardseed said. "You're four thousand today! Congratulations!"

Puck smaked his forehead. "I'd completely forgotten. Happy birthday, Mustardseed!"

"Wait-what?" Sabrina said. "It's both your birthdays?"

Mustardseed nodded. "We're twins, didn't you know?"

Sabrina shook her head. "Bozo here isn't very forthcoming with personal information."

"You never asked." Puck said. "And I figured that, if you didn't care, I wasn't going to offer."

Sabrina rolled her eyes. "Of course I care. But I didn't want to pry. And after the whole incident last time we were here, I figured it'd be better if you told me when you felt ready."

"Well," Mustardseed interrupted the budding argument, "I believe that, once your birthday party is over, Puck, you'll need to explain to Sabrina, and you can tell Mother and I why you're here."

"Right." Puck said. "Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go hide from the people..."

Mustardseed grabbed his arm. "No you don't. These people haven't seen you for a decade, and I know someone in particular who's missed you."

"Who's that?" Sabrina asked interestedly.

"Just an old friend." Puck said, spotting someone in the crowd. "Nobody interesting."

"Don't be like that." Sabrina rolled her eyes. "They have to be interesting if you hung out with them. Besides, I want to meet your friends."

"Perfect timing." A voice said from behind her. "You just have."

Sabrina turned, seeing a pretty girl around her own age, with long black hair and pale skin. She was thin, shivered constantly, and carried a box of matches in her left hand.

"Way to stop by and see me last time you were here." The girl said. "I didn't even know you were back until your brother asked if you'd come by. Heck, I didn't even know you'd left until Mustardseed told me!"

Mustardseed grabbed Sabrina's arm and pulled her away.

"Let's let them sort it out on their own, shall we?" He asked.

"Sure." Sabrina said. "Who was that, anyway?"

"The Little Match Girl." Mustardseed said. "She's always been sort of infatuated with my brother, and they were good friends before he left. She's not particularly happy with him at the moment, though, so you're not seeing her good side."

He gave the match girl a soft look, and Sabrina grinned.

"You poor thing." She said. "Everybody always notices Puck first, even though you're right behind him, doing all the work."

Mustardseed shrugged. "Oh well. Don't tell me you wouldn't have done it, too."

Sabrina grinned. "Well, he does go out of the way to get people's attention."

Mustardseed smiled back. "I think it's because Father rarely noticed him unless he was doing something loud, obnoxious, and/or bad. He needs a lot of attention, and he acts out to get it."

"And you just sit in the background." Sabrina said softly.

"I don't mind." Mustardseed said. "I get a lot more done when not everybody has their attention on me."

"But you deserve it." Sabrina said. "Puck never did anything productive until he moved in with us, and you've been working all your life."

"But I live in a family full of people who need the spotlight." Mustardseed said. "Someone needs to give a little, and none of the rest of them will, except Peaseblossom when she's in a good mood. Besides, I'm the youngest, and destined to be at the end of the line for everything."

Sabrina rolled her eyes. "Honestly, Mustardseed, you're trying to get rid of most of those stupid old traditions, take that mindset along with it!"

"My mindset does nothing to Oberon's will." Mustardseed said. "Puck got the kingdom, Titania got their personal posessions, Peaseblossom got quite a bit of money, and I got the leftovers."

"Trying to convince him to take the spotlight for once?" Momma asked from behind the counter.

Sabrina nodded and sat down, swivleing her chair. "He won't listen, though."

"Never does." Momma said. "Honestly, sometimes I think he's afraid of attention. Whatcha want to drink, sugar?"

"Surprise me." Sabrina said.

Momma raised an eyebrow. "You never struck me as the kind to say that."

Sabrina shrugged. "I'm trying to prove to Puck that I'm unpredictable."

"How is our illustrious king?" Momma asked, mixing something up under the counter.

Sabrina rolled her eyes. "Slightly more mature than he used to be. Still annoying. Still a jerk. Still my best friend."

Momma let out a barking laugh, putting a drink down on the counter in front of Sabrina. "Must not be much to choose from in that town of yours, then."

Sabrina shook her head, sipping her drink. "Nope, most people anywhere near my age hate my family's guts. Kinda puts a damper on friendship."

"I can imagine." Momma said. "How's the drink?"

"Mmmmm." Sabrina replied.

Momma's laugh was cut off abruptly when she said, "H-hello, your majesty."

"Hello, Momma." A cold voice said from behind Sabrina.

Sabrina turned, already knowing what she'd see.

"Hello, Titania." Sabrina said.

"Sabrina." Titania strained her mouth to form something that could maybe be thought of as a smile- if one had a very good imagination. "Thank you for bringing my son back home. It's the best birthday present you could have given him."

Sabrina glanced at Puck, who was still arguing with the Little Match Girl. "Doesn't look like he's having such a great time to me."

"But he will soon. He'll get settled into kingship, maybe even grow up, let Mustardseed grow a little, too, have a nice, normal life..."

Sabrina laughed. "Sorry, I don't think that'll ever happen. For starters, I've never known an everafter to have a normal life. Plus, I don't think he's staying."

"What?" Titania asked.

"Well, you can ask him yourself, but..." Sabrina trailed off as Titania stormed towards her son.

Sabrina, Momma, and Mustardseed watched as Titania pulled Puck away from the Little Match Girl an started muttering at him angrily.

Sabrina shook her head and laughed. "Poor guy. He just can't win."

"Well, I think you're about to get your own earful." Mustardseed said. "Look who's coming over."

Sabrina turned to look where Mustardseed was pointing. The Little Match Girl was headed straight for her, an unreadable look on her face.

"Hi." She said, once she reached Sabrina.

"Hi." Sabrina said.

"I don't think I ever introduced myself." She said. "I'm Renee, the Little Match Girl. From the Hans Christian Andersen story. And you are...?"

"Sabrina Grimm." Sabrina said. "I've used some of your matches."

Renee smiled. "They're quite popular. Expensive, though. I wish I could make more of them at once, but the materials are so hard to find. I don't believe I've heard your story."

"It's not documented." Sabrina said. "I'm the multiple greats granddaughter of Wilhelm Grimm."

"Oh, so you're a human." Renee said. "I'm surprised. Puck doesn't normally mingle with the... less-than-powerfull."

Sabrina ignored the jab at her reputation. "Well, maybe he's changed."

"Not that you should exactly be an ordinary human anymore." Mustardseed interjected.

Sabrina glared at him. "You knew about that? A little warning might have been nice!"

Mustardseed shrugged. "I didn't know until recently, and I had no way of contacting you. Once you left, I started researching, because it's such a rare occurrence."

"What are you two talking about?" Renee asked.

"Just something that happened the last time I was in Faerie." Sabrina said.

"Oh." Renee said. "On the subject of Puck changing, I don't think he has."

"Why not?" Sabrina asked.

"Because he hasn't changed at all in the three centuries I've known him." Renee said.

"Well, he has in the time I have." Sabrina said.

"No offense, but I don't think he has." Renee said. "He doesn't change, and I think I know him a little better than you do. You've known him what, a year?"

"Less, actually." Sabrina said. "But he has changed."

"How?" Renee asked.

"He's nicer, more mature, and less irritating." Sabrina said.

"He told Mother he was leaving last time." Mustardseed said. "Granted, it was the day he left, but do you blame him for not giving more notice?"

"Not really." Sabrina said. "Considering what I know about your mother."

"True." Renee said. "But I still don't think he's changed."

"I have something to prove it." Sabrina said. "He came back."

Mustardseed smiled at Renee. "She's got you there. He never would have before, not of his own free will. Last time he was in a fever-induced coma."

Renee made a face and decided to change the subject before she lost the argument too badly. "Why did he come back?"

Sabrina gave her a simple one-word-answer. "War."