The twisted landscape of Wonderland weighed heavier on Alice with each passing step. She and the White Rabbit moved through the eerie silence, the once whimsical land now an unfamiliar shadow of its former self. Everything was wrong—the air felt thick with gloom, and even the flowers that used to sing and hum as she passed them were now wilted, their voices silenced by the spreading decay. The vibrant skies had turned into a muted, oppressive gray, and the fields that once stretched endlessly in colorful bursts were now bleak and barren.

Alice couldn't shake the feeling that something was deeply wrong. Her thoughts kept returning to the Knave of Hearts—his assistance with the Jabberwocky's defeat, the accusations against him. It didn't make sense.

She cast a glance at the White Rabbit, who seemed to shrink more with every step. His usual anxious energy was dampened, replaced by an almost resigned sadness. She felt the shift in Wonderland's very essence, as though something far more sinister than the Jabberwocky now lurked beneath the surface.

"Rabbit," she began hesitantly, "do you really believe that the Knave caused all of this?"

The White Rabbit's ears twitched slightly, but he didn't answer right away. His small feet padded softly over the brittle ground. After a moment, he sighed.

"I... I don't know what to believe, Alice," he admitted, his voice small and uncertain. "The Knave, he fought with us against the Jabberwocky. He was an ally. But... well, there are so many witnesses. So many who swear they saw him meddling with dark magic. The Queen herself is convinced."
Alice frowned, her mind racing. "But that doesn't sound like him at all. We fought together! He wouldn't... I don't know, it just doesn't add up."

The Rabbit's nose twitched as he glanced at her, sympathy in his eyes. "I hate to think it too, but Wonderland has fallen into ruin, Alice. The Knave left after the battle and we haven't seen him since. And then this darkness spread. People talk... and the rumors grow." He hesitated, glancing around at the twisted, dying world surrounding them. "There's no denying that something terrible has happened. But whether the Knave is truly behind it..."

Alice set her jaw. "There has to be another explanation. I refuse to believe the Knave is the villain everyone says he is. I'll find him, and I'll get to the bottom of this."

The White Rabbit gave a small nod, though his uncertainty remained. "I hope you're right, Alice. For all our sakes."

As they went on, a familiar sight caught Alice' attention. They were approaching the Mad Hatter's place. Alice's heart fluttered with a mix of anticipation and dread. This was the place where she had once shared a few peculiar yet fond moments with the March Hare and the Mad Hatter. Surely, they would still be themselves, even in this changed Wonderland. They had to be.

But her heart sank at what she witnessed. The tea garden was in worse shape than she remembered. What was once alive with oversized mushrooms, teapots, and chairs scattered about in charming chaos now lay in disrepair, the mushrooms shriveled and the chairs overturned, rusted with age.

"Do you think they're still here?" Alice asked, her voice wavering slightly. She didn't want to admit just how much she feared the answer.

The White Rabbit twitched his ears, glancing nervously at the tea house. "I… I hope so. But nothing is the same anymore, Alice. Let's not hope too much."

As they approached the entrance, the door creaked open by itself, as if inviting them in. Alice swallowed hard and stepped forward, the White Rabbit close behind. Inside, the air was thick with the scent of stale tea and dust. The long, mismatched table was still there, though most of the teacups were chipped or shattered, and the chairs sat at odd angles, as if abandoned mid-conversation.

At the far end, the Dormouse lay curled up, sleeping peacefully in a teacup, just as Alice remembered from her last visit. His tiny snores filled the air, and the gentle rise and fall of his chest brought a strange sense of comfort amidst the eerie atmosphere of Wonderland's current state.

But further down the table, past the mismatched teapots and overturned chairs, sat the Hatter. His once vibrant energy seemed drained, his posture slouched as he stared blankly at the teacup in his hand. His signature hat was askew, and the gleam in his eyes was dim, a shadow of the mad delight that usually danced within them.

"Hatter?" Alice called out softly, her voice trembling.

The Mad Hatter's head lifted slowly, his eyes dull and unfocused. "Alice?" he asked, blinking as if trying to clear a fog from his mind. "Is it really you?"

"Yes, it's me," Alice replied, taking a tentative step forward. "What's happened to you? To Wonderland?"

The Hatter's lips curled into a lopsided grin, but it was devoid of his usual manic energy. "Oh, my dear Alice… Madness has spread. And it's not the fun kind."

Alice's heart tightened as she took in the sight of the Mad Hatter, so different from the chaotic but joyful friend she remembered. She walked closer, her concern deepening. "Madness? What do you mean?"

The Hatter let out a weary laugh, swirling the teacup in his hand, though his movements were sluggish, almost mechanical. "It's the darkness, Alice. It's crept into Wonderland like a shadow, twisting everything. And the March Hare…"

"What about the March Hare? Where is he?" Alice asked, her voice laced with concern.

The Mad Hatter's grin faltered, and his eyes clouded with sorrow. "He's gone madder, Alice. Ever since the darkness began creeping through Wonderland, something snapped inside him. He's no longer the March Hare we knew."

Alice's concern deepened. "But why haven't you gone after him? Surely he needs help."

The Mad Hatter sighed deeply, his eyes looking distant. "I tried. Oh, I tried! But he doesn't recognize anyone anymore. The shadows have wrapped themselves around his mind, twisted his thoughts. Every time I've gone to find him, he just runs deeper into the forest, away from anyone who tries to help." He paused, his fingers tracing the rim of his teacup. "And now, I'm afraid I'm too late."

Alice felt a lump form in her throat. "But we have to try, Hatter. He's still a friend."

The Hatter looked at her sadly but nodded. "Alright, but we have to be careful Alice. The woods have changed. They're darker now, full of whispers and things that weren't there before."

Alice turned to the White Rabbit, who had been silent, his ears drooping. "We'll find him together. Maybe there's still a chance to bring him back."

The White Rabbit swallowed nervously, adjusting his waistcoat. "If we must, then we should hurry before the darkness claims him completely."

"It was all that Knave's fault!" the Mad Hatter suddenly burst out, his voice sharp with frustration. "Ever since he let out those shadows, everything has gone awry. He's making Wonderland fall apart!"

Alice frowned and shook her head. "Not you too, Hatter. There must be an explanation for all of this. Surely the Knave hasn't gone that bad."

The Hatter threw up his hands, his teacup clattering to the ground. "An explanation? What explanation could there be for all this madness? He's at the center of it all…all these darkness that's spreading!"

Alice sighed, her heart conflicted. "I just don't believe he would do this, not after everything we went through together. There has to be more to his story."

The Hatter's eyes softened, though his usual manic energy still buzzed beneath the surface. "I wish I could see it your way, Alice. But Wonderland... it's being consumed by darkness. And everyone's saying it's the Knave's fault."

Alice felt her chest tighten. "It just doesn't add up," she murmured. "But we can't think about that now."

The White Rabbit, still clutching his pocket watch nervously, chimed in with a soft murmur, "I hate to break this. But if we are to save the Hare, we must do so soon!"

Alice glanced at the darkening woods, feeling the weight of the journey ahead. "You're right. First, we find the March Hare. Then, we'll uncover the truth about the Knave."

The Hatter gave a shaky smile. "To the woods, then. Oh Hare, I hope you're alright my friend."

Alice reached out and took his hand gently. "We've faced worse before, Hatter. We'll find him. And maybe, together, we can figure out what's happening in Wonderland."