The castle had finally settled into an uneasy quiet. The throne room's debates and warnings from earlier still lingered in everyone's minds, but exhaustion had won over. One by one, Wonderland's champions retired to their resting places—some in the castle's grand chambers, others claiming odd corners or hallways as their own. Even the White Queen had retired to her chambers, her worried thoughts locked behind her pale, serene expression.

But the Mad Hatter sat wide awake, perched on the edge of an oversized armchair in the corner of the White Queen's drawing room. His hat sat crooked on his head, his fingers drumming against his teacup, now long emptied.

"I can't let it go," he muttered, his voice a low, nervous hum. "Darkness or no darkness, Alice is still gone... and no one's doing a thing about it."

Across from him, the White Rabbit sat slumped in a cushioned chair, his pocket watch dangling from his hand. His eyes were half-lidded with fatigue, and he looked as though he might nod off at any moment.

"Hatter," the White Rabbit said wearily, "you know we must focus on this 'darkness' first. We're already stretched thin as it is. This isn't something we can ignore."

The Mad Hatter sprang to his feet, his movements sudden and frantic, sending a stack of mismatched plates clattering to the floor. "Focus on it? Focus on what, Rabbit? A shadow? A whisper? No, no, no. It's Alice who's missing. And without her, there's nothing to fight for. Wonderland needs her. We need her."

The White Rabbit straightened, glaring at him. "And you think we've forgotten that? Of course we need her! But what you're suggesting—"

"I'm suggesting," the Mad Hatter interrupted, leaning in close, "that we ask for a little help. From someone who might... see things differently."

The White Rabbit's ears twitched nervously. "Don't say it."

"From the Duchess," the Hatter finished, a mischievous gleam in his eyes.

The White Rabbit's fur bristled, and he leapt from his seat. "Absolutely not! She's dangerous. She's unpredictable! And she's locked up for a reason!"

"Dangerous, yes. Unpredictable, certainly," the Hatter said, waving his hand dismissively. "But she's also clever. And she knows things—things about magic, about the Well, about the way Wonderland works. If anyone can help us find a way to bring Alice back, it's her."

The White Rabbit shook his head firmly. "No. Out of the question."

The Mad Hatter's expression softened, his voice dropping to an almost pleading tone. "Rabbit... I know you're scared. I know this is risky. But we can't just sit here while the others chase shadows. If there's even the slightest chance of bringing her back, don't we owe it to her to try?"

The White Rabbit hesitated, his paws clenching around his pocket watch. His heart thudded in his chest as he looked at the Hatter, who, despite his wild eyes and mad grin, was deadly serious.

"It's wrong," the Rabbit murmured. "And I'll regret it... I know I will."

The Mad Hatter smiled wide, clapping his hands together. "That's the spirit, Rabbit!"

"Don't call it 'spirit.'" The White Rabbit groaned, rubbing his temple. "Fine. I'll do it. But if anyone finds out, you're taking the blame."

"Wouldn't dream of doing otherwise," the Hatter replied, adjusting his hat.

With a flick of his pocket watch, the Rabbit murmured an incantation under his breath. A shimmering portal opened before them, swirling with hues of silver and violet.

"After you," the Rabbit muttered bitterly, glaring at the Hatter.

The Mad Hatter tipped his hat and stepped through without hesitation. The White Rabbit followed close behind, the portal closing soundlessly behind them.

When they emerged on the other side, they found themselves standing in the dim confines of the Duchess' cell. The chilling air immediately clung to their skin, as if urging the two to come back from where they came.

And there, still slumped at the far end of a cell was the Duchess. Her disheveled hair spilled like tangled vines around her pale, gaunt face. Her eyes, shadowed and sunken, peered out beneath heavy lids with a glimmer of sharp awareness. Though exhaustion seemed etched into her every feature, there was still an undeniable edge to her—something dangerous, something coiled tight, like a predator waiting for the right moment to strike.

At the sight of her visitors, her gaze narrowed, and a slow, deliberate sneer tugged at the corner of her lips.

"Well, well, well," the Duchess drawled, her voice low and gravelly. "What have we here? The Mad Hatter and the White Rabbit. Two pests sneaking into my humble abode." She leaned forward, her lips curling into something between a sneer and a grin. "To what do I owe the... pleasure?"

The Mad Hatter grinned, unbothered by her intimidating presence. "We need your help, dear Duchess. It's about Alice... and the Well of Wonders."

The Duchess' eyes glimmered with sudden interest, though her scowl remained firmly in place. "Alice, you say?"

Slowly, she rose from the floor, her movements deliberate and measured, like a beast uncurling from a long slumber. Even in her disheveled state, she seemed to tower over the two of them as she stepped closer, casting a shadow that swallowed the dim light of the cell.

The White Rabbit took an instinctive step back, clutching his watch tightly to his chest as if it might shield him.

The White Rabbit took an instinctive step back, clutching his watch tightly.

The Duchess tilted her head slightly, her expression unreadable save for the faintest curve of her lips—a smile, or something close to it. "Well, now… that took you long enough." Her voice dripped with dry amusement. "I was expecting you lot a bit earlier."

The Mad Hatter squinted at the Duchess, suspicion flickering in his mismatched eyes. "Expecting us? What do you mean by that?" he asked, his voice sharp but tinged with curiosity.

The Duchess raised an eyebrow, her smile curling into something faintly mocking. "Questions, questions. Always questions," she murmured, waving a hand dismissively. "But we don't have time to waste on such trivial things now, do we?"

The Duchess turned her sharp gaze toward him, her expression unreadable. "Perhaps by now, you've figured out what's happened—the Well of Wonders is closed."

There was a beat of silence.

The Mad Hatter's hands clenched into fists at his sides, his voice rising with frustration. "You're playing with us, Duchess! You've known all along and you didn't bother to tell the Queen!" He stepped forward, his hat askew, his temper boiling over. "And you had to wait for us to come here—"

"Do you want to save Alice or not?" the Duchess interrupted, her voice cutting through his anger like a blade.

The Mad Hatter froze mid-sentence, his breath hitching in his throat.

The White Rabbit blinked, ears drooping slightly as the weight of her question settled over them both.

The Duchess remained calm, her pale face unreadable and her dark eyes steady. "Because if you do," she continued slowly, "then I suggest you stop yelling and start listening."

The Mad Hatter's shoulders sank, his anger draining as quickly as it had flared. He adjusted his hat with shaking hands and muttered, "Fine. I'm listening."

The Duchess watched him for a moment, as if testing his resolve, before speaking again. "The Well of Wonders does not open of its own whim—no matter how dire the need. To unlock it, you need a key."

"A key?" The White Rabbit perked up, his ears twitching. "What kind of key?"

The Duchess let out a humorless chuckle. "The kind that is as ancient as it is." She began pacing the length of her cell, her heavy steps echoing softly. "The key however, is shattered. Its pieces were scattered across Wonderland long ago—hidden, lost, or perhaps even forgotten. A safeguard, you might say, against misuse."

The Mad Hatter's eyes narrowed. "And you know where these pieces are, do you?"

The Duchess stopped pacing and turned to face them, her lips curling into a wry smile. "I know where to look—which is more than any of you can say. But there's one small problem."

The White Rabbit swallowed nervously. "What... problem?"

The Duchess spread her arms wide, the chains around her wrists clinking as she moved. "I'm here, you fools. Locked away in this dreary little cell." Her dark gaze pinned them in place, sharp and unyielding. "If you want my help, you're going to have to get me out."

The Mad Hatter blinked, tilting his head. "You want us to free you?"

"Is that so hard to believe?" the Duchess replied coolly. "I can't fetch the pieces of the key while rotting in here, now can I?"

The White Rabbit's face paled, and he clutched his pocket watch tightly, as though it might offer some comfort. "You're asking us to break you out? That's—"

"Exactly what you need to do if you want to save Alice," the Duchess interrupted sharply. Her eyes gleamed as she leaned forward, a dangerous edge in her voice. "Or do you plan to waste more time arguing while your friend remains trapped and Wonderland crumbles?"

The Mad Hatter's expression grew solemn, his gaze dropping to the floor for a moment before lifting back to meet hers. "You know where the key pieces are?"

"I do."

"And you'll help us?"

"If you help me."

The White Rabbit glanced nervously at the Hatter. "This is madness…"

The Mad Hatter smirked faintly, his usual eccentric grin returning, though there was a hardness behind it. "Madness, Rabbit? I thought we were well acquainted with madness by now." He turned back to the Duchess. "All right. We'll help you. But don't think for a second we trust you."

The Duchess's smile widened ever so slightly. "Trust is overrated," she said smoothly. "But for now, our goals align. Let me out, and we'll find the key together."

The White Rabbit sighed heavily, his ears drooping as he shook his head. "I can't believe we're doing this…"

The Mad Hatter clapped a hand on the Rabbit's shoulder, his grin turning mischievous. "Believe it, dear Rabbit. Now, let's see about getting our Duchess a taste of freedom."

The White Rabbit's nose twitched nervously, and he adjusted his spectacles with a trembling paw. "Wait, wait, wait. Could it be that you're planning something against the Well of Wonders?" He turned sharply toward the Duchess, narrowing his eyes.

The Mad Hatter silenced him with a raised hand, his grin strained but still firmly in place. "No time for questions, no time for plans." He shot a glance back toward the darkened corridor behind them, where faint sounds of movement whispered through the stone. "The others might wake up any moment. And if they do, they'll have questions—questions we don't have answers for."

He turned back to the White Rabbit, his gaze unusually stern. "Do you want to waste time arguing while they come looking for us? While the guards notice us sneaking about? Or worse—do you want them to lock us up alongside her?"

The Rabbit's ears flattened against his head, and he clutched his watch tightly as though it were his last lifeline. "But—but—"

"No 'buts,' dear Rabbit," the Hatter interrupted, his voice sharp and unyielding. "We made our choice, and now we act. We'll find a way to get her out. Quickly, quietly, and with just a touch of flair." He tipped his hat with a flourish, though his movements were far more tense than usual.

The White Rabbit let out a groan, burying his face in his paws for a moment before looking up, defeated. "You're mad, both of you."

"Thank you," the Mad Hatter replied cheerfully, though his grin didn't quite reach his eyes. He turned back to the Duchess, his voice dropping to a whisper. "Now, Duchess—stay close. If we're going to pull this off, we'll need all the silence Wonderland has left."

The White Rabbit took a steadying breath, his paws trembling slightly as he adjusted his spectacles. "Duchess, come closer to the bars—as close as you can."

The Duchess raised an eyebrow but complied, dragging herself to her feet and stepping forward, the chains around her wrists clinking softly in the silence. "I hope this isn't one of those tricks where I lose an arm."

"Just do as I say," the Rabbit snapped, though his voice still quivered. He glanced over at the Mad Hatter, who was already shifting with nervous excitement. "And you, Hatter, come here. Close. No, closer!"

The Mad Hatter sidled up beside him, peering curiously at the Rabbit's watch. "What exactly are you planning, dear Rabbit? A bit of Wonderland magic, I hope? Or perhaps a tiny miracle?"

Instead of responding to them, Rabbit muttered an incantation, clutching his watch tightly..

The room darkened slightly, the shadows pooling around them as the Rabbit's words grew stronger. The hands of his watch began spinning wildly, and the space beneath the Duchess's feet began to tremble.

The Duchess looked down, her smirk faltering. "What in blazes are you—"

Crack.

A sharp fissure opened beneath the side of her cell, creeping toward the White Rabbit and Mad Hatter as though the floor itself were giving way. The Rabbit stepped back just in time as the crack split wide open, revealing a dark, swirling void below.

"Hold on!" the Rabbit yelled, clutching his watch tightly.

The Duchess barely had time to curse before the ground vanished beneath her feet, and she fell. The chains that had bound her rattled violently before breaking apart entirely, vanishing into the void with a metallic clatter.

The Mad Hatter blinked down at the hole, his grin spreading. "Oh, what fun—!"

He didn't get to finish the thought before the Rabbit grabbed him by the sleeve, and they tumbled forward together.

The sensation of falling was strange and weightless, as though they'd been swallowed by Wonderland itself. Colors blurred and twisted in impossible spirals around them—violet, green, blue, and white—as the sound of rushing wind filled their ears.

Then, with a thud and a flurry of leaves, they landed unceremoniously on a wooden floor.

The White Rabbit groaned, untangling himself from the Mad Hatter's coat. "Ow… I hate doing that."

The Mad Hatter sprang to his feet as though the fall had been nothing more than a mild inconvenience. "Marvelous!" he exclaimed, brushing off his hat and placing it back on his head at a jaunty angle. "I think I enjoyed that."

The Duchess, now free and on her knees, let out a deep, shuddering breath. "Well, that was pleasantly unexpected." She rose to her full height, taking in her surroundings. Her dark eyes narrowed. "Where are we?"

The White Rabbit rubbed his temples, his ears twitching. "The Hatter's house. It was the safest place I could think of on short notice."

The room was as eccentric as one might expect—the Mad Hatter's parlor. A mismatched assortment of teacups sat on every surface, steam still rising from some as though they'd been waiting for guests. A crooked grandfather clock ticked against the wall, though its hands spun in random directions, and teapots hung like chandeliers from the ceiling.

The Mad Hatter clapped his hands together with a grin. "Welcome, welcome! Tea, anyone? Perhaps a biscuit?" He spun to face the Duchess, his grin sharpening. "Now, Duchess. You promised us pieces of a key—where are they?"

The Duchess turned her attention to him, one brow arching high with an expression that was both dry and amused. "Ah the keys!" She tilted her head as though considering her answer. "Well, before we begin any grand adventures, I have a condition."

The Mad Hatter's grin faltered, his brow knitting. "Condition? What condition?"

She smirked faintly, folding her arms across her chest. "I haven't had a proper meal in days. You want me to traipse about Wonderland hunting for keys? Then you'll feed me first."

The Hatter blinked, seemingly thrown off balance by the very idea. "Feed you?" He looked over at the White Rabbit, who groaned softly in frustration.

"Now is not the time for tea parties," the Rabbit muttered, his ears flattening against his head.

The Duchess leaned back, unbothered by their protests. "No food, no help. Simple as that."

The Mad Hatter gave her a long, appraising look, then turned on his heel and gestured grandly toward the chaos of his kitchen table. "Very well, Duchess! You've come to the right place—this is the Hatter's house, after all. Sit, eat, gorge yourself silly! There's no shortage of snacks and scones here!"

The White Rabbit sputtered. "Hatter, you're not seriously—"

"Oh, hush now, Rabbit," the Hatter said with a dismissive wave, already rummaging through the teetering stacks of teapots and plates. "You heard her. She needs food to function, and function she must if we're to find the key. I'd wager she's less likely to run off on a full stomach."

The Duchess grinned faintly, stepping toward the table with slow, deliberate steps. "Wise choice." She lowered herself into a rickety chair, crossing her legs as she watched the Mad Hatter with amusement. "I'll take whatever you've got."