Hatter and Alice Journey into the Netherworlds

By Ldynwaitin

Chapter One

Hatter's hand gently stroked Alice's hair. They were lying on a small grassy knoll at the top of a tall hill. Below them, they could just see the giant chess pieces that still stood in the Knight's Kingdom. It had been over two weeks since they left the Black Rose castle. Choosing to stay in Wonderland with Hatter, Alice went back to her world to tell her mother of her decision.

Her mother was at first hurt, but she realized just how deeply she was in love with Hatter, and she could see that love mirrored in Hatter's eyes. She was frightened that her only daughter was going to a place so far from home, but knowing what it was like to love someone as much as she did her father, she gave her, her blessings. With one stipulation, that she would visit her as often as she could. Alice gladly accepted that promise, for she and Hatter had a secret. Knowing that money was useless in Hatter's world Alice sold her business and used the money to buy the abandoned building that housed the forgotten wonderland mirror. In a weeks time she had the broken floors fixed and a proper fence put up to guard the place. They now had a secret way to and from wonderland. At the end of the two weeks, after many tears Alice said goodbye to her mother, and her world. Her thoughts were now of making a new life with Hatter in a world as foreign to her as her world was to Hatter.

"This could be a good thing," Alice said. She took his arm and hugged it around her stomach. "When I took up martial arts, I never imagined I would be using my skills to fight alongside a resistance and help a prince become the ruler of a far off land, a very, VERY far off land."

Hatter squeezed her tight, he reached down and kissed her on her head. "Did I tell you how grateful I am that you decided to stay with me on my world?"

Turning in his arms, she lay on his chest, her eyes glowing in love. "The choice was easy," Smiling evilly she added, "After all, Charlie makes the best Barbeque Borogrove I've ever had, where will I find that in my world?"

Playfully slapping her on her back, he pulled her up. Her hand traced his lone dimple that smiled at him. "I love that smile." Tilting their heads, they kissed. A kiss they held for a long time, for deep inside they knew the quiet time they now shared would soon be gone. It was Alice that broke off the kiss, laying her head on his chest she released a heavy sigh and tightly hugged him.

"I love that hug," he softly said.

Alice hugged him tighter, "I wish this moment would last forever."

"Don't say that," he scolded her. "Remember what happened to my ancestor. Thanks to the red Queen he was stuck in perpetual tea time."

"It wouldn't be so bad, as long as you were there."

"Don't worry, I'm not goin' anywhere."

Alice slightly frowned. "Hatter, you know why I've had a bad record with liking guys? It was because they never wanted to commit, never wanted to stay."

Hatter looked deep into her eyes, "Alice, I swear, I will always be here for you."

"Promise?"

"Promise with all my heart, Alice, your record has officially been broken."

"I'm holding you to that."

She stuck out her hand, laughing he shook it, Alice was surprised as she felt a small shock from his touch. Dropping his head to the ground, Hatter squinted his eyes, "Now that's done, I hate to say this, but we need to get up. I'm sure Charlie has been waitin' for us for some time now."

Alice groaned as Hatter began to stand up. She remained sitting on the forest floor. "Can't we wait just a little bit longer?"

Hatter extended his hand to her, "Sorry Alice, but duty calls, also my stomach. I'm hungry. Last thin' we ate was cold pizza before we left your world."

Reluctantly Alice took his hand and stood up. She glanced back at the flying pink horses they flew from Wonderland. She was thankful that Charlie was such a crafty inventor, it saved them hours of travel time getting to the Knights kingdom.

Rushing to catch up with Hatter they slowly made their way down to Charlie's camp. Once they approached the camp, Hatter brightly smiled. He saw a blissfully sleeping Charlie lazily swinging on his hammock. A soiled rag bear clutched tightly in his hands, he was snoring loudly in a singsong. Quietly creeping up to him, Hatter pressed his mouth on his ear and moderately shouted, "When's supper?"

Hatter jumped back as Charlie rolled in his hammock and fell to the ground. Clutching his teddy tight to his chest, he leaped up. Seeing Alice and Hatter standing before him his face glowed in joy.

"You came back!" he shouted.

"Told you we would," Hatter replied. Alice rushed up to Charlie and hugged him tight, "I gave you my promise we would."

Bowing his head in appreciation, Charlie stepped back, "Well I really wasn't sure if you would show up or not. I must say that I am very happy to find that you kept your promise." Embarrassed when he realized how tightly he was clutching his bear, he moved back and reverently placed it within a small box, next to the hammock. Placing a blanket over the bear, and tucking it in, he rubbed his hands in glee.

"Good to see you, Hatter," he reached out and took Hatters hand. Clutching it with both his hands, he enthusiastically shook it.

Hatter tilted his head, "Did you really think we wouldn't come back?"

"The thought had occurred to me, after all why would a young couple like yourselves want to spend time with a broken down old Knight like me?"

Alice gave him a scolding look. "Charlie, you're the most wonderful Knight I've ever known."

Charlie shyly looked away, "I'm the only Knight."

"There you go," Hatter said, "she wasn't lyin'."

"Tell me, how does it go with Prince Jack and his bid to become the next King of Wonderland?"

Hatter shook his head, "Not going well Charlie, not going well. The Suits and White Rabbits are all split up, they don't know who to follow. And, apparently from what I've heard, Sir Leon and Lord Corn may have brought an army."
"The scoundrels," Charlie cursed. "While we were busy fighting off that cursed Aden, I'd bet my armor that they must have paid a visit to the Midas room."

"You'd win that bet, Charlie. Before we left the Black Rose castle I saw some gold plates sticking out of Lord Corn's jacket, and Sir Leon holdin' a small sack," Hatter admitted. He walked up to a fallen tree and sat down. Taking his hat off he began to twirl it in his hands. "If the rumors are true, unless Prince Jack can find a powerful benefactor I don't see how he'll be able to stand up to Sir Leon and Lord Corn's armies."

"Then he'll need an army for himself," Alice declared. "It's a shame the Knights were all killed off by the Queen of Hearts."

Charlie stumbled over to where Hatter was sitting. "Being a Knight was such a noble profession," he sadly said. "Why there were thousands of us at one time. When the Queen first declared war, they fought bravely. In fact, I do recall an entire battalion was lost in the Netherworlds."

"The Netherworlds?" Alice asked Hatter. "Where are those?"

"Remember I told you of No go areas in Wonderland when we first met," Hatter reminded her, Alice nodded her head. "Well the Netherworlds is the main part of the 'No' in No go. It's the bottom, the under in Wonderland."

Alice recalled looking down from one of the high buildings. The ground below was so far down it caught her breath all she saw was darkness. She wondered if anything existed so far down.

"So then, what is the plan?" Charlie asked Hatter.

"Well, after supper we'd get a good night's rest and tomorrow mornin' we'll pay a visit to Moxie's. With Grypht gone the dance club is all hers now. I imagine she'd still have connections, be in the know of what's going on."

"Splendid idea," Charlie enthused. "Well, I'm off to catch supper."

As Charlie began to walk away, Alice cleared her throat. "Charlie, don't you think you should…" her eyes moved up and down. At first Charlie was puzzled, feeling a coldness on his feet he quickly realized that he was only wearing his long underwear.

"I believe I should dress for the occasion, if you'll excuse me."

He rushed over to another section of the camp. Alice sat next to Hatter, putting his hat back on his arm protectively draped over her shoulder.

Alice nodded towards Charlie, "He's really excited."

Hatter grinned proudly, "Yep, seems the rebellion has added some years to his old life."

Hatter was surprised to hear a familiar voice say, "I have the both of you to thank for that." Looking up he saw a mustached man standing before him whirling a cane. He quickly jumped up and rushed over, "Cayto," he happily greeted the small man. "Good to see you."

Cayto brought out his hand and eagerly shook Hatters. "Good to see you too, scrounger, did you enjoy your last adventure?"

Hatter pushed his hat back and scratched his head, "Well Cayto, I have to admit it did have its moments."

Alice slowly moved up to Hatter. "I wanted to thank you for your help. It was because of you I was able to say goodbye to my father."

Cayto brushed her off, "Tish tosh Milady, I was just helping a friend."

"Soo," Hatter's eyes lit up in revelation. "Charlie was the friend you spoke of."

Cayto turned and looked over to where Charlie was dressing. "Yes, I've known Charles since he was just a small lad. I recall the day I first saw him, all bedraggled and frightened as a wet kitten. For many years I was his only friend."

"That's how he survived all those years alone in this forest," Hatter said. "It was you that helped him."

Cayto sadly smiled, "At first I watched after him constantly, but through the years I did move away from him. After all he needed to learn how to fend for himself." Smiling proudly he declared, "He did turn out to be a splendid knight, don't you think?"

"Yes he did," Alice agreed. "We would not have been able to defeat Aden or Mad March without his help."

"Oh, I'm so glad to hear that," Cayto said. "He felt so embarrassed when he ran away from you scrounger. He never forgave himself for his cowardice."

"Well I don't think I've told him enough times how much he's made up for it." Hatter admitted.

"I know," Cayto quickly replied. Hatter noticed something in his voice, an oddness that told him that this mysterious man had something that needed to be said.

"Cayto, is everythin' all right?"

"Oh yes my dear fellow," his large grin grew from ear to ear. "Actually everything is right, it's so very right for you to go on the most wonderful adventure of all."

"Adventure?" Alice nearly shouted. "What do you mean?"

Winking, Cayto began to walk back, "You'll see, just you wait scrounger. Very soon the Wonder in Wonderland will be back again thanks to the two of you," he cryptically said as he began to disappear. "The adventure begins with the first jump."

"Oh no you don't," Hatter shouted. He rushed up to grab Cayto before he disappeared, but he was too late. All he held in his hands was grey smoke. He threw his fist in the air, "Damn you Cayto, stop with your puzzles and tell us what you mean!"

Not even a wisp of the man remained, "Blast, that man is a pain in the backside, he's always leavin' us with riddles."

"Oh, so Cayto was here," Charlie said. Dressed in his chain mail, he rattled as he walked towards them. "I agree, he can be a pain sometimes, and a blessing. Why I remember the time he fell in one of my traps, he was so angry with me but he forgave me." Looking at Hatter and Alice a crooked smile blossomed, "Good friends always forgive."

"Yes they do, Charlie," Hatter released a deep breath. For now, he would have to put Cayto's cryptic words on the back burner. They had a kingdom to win for Jack Heart.
"Well now, I have supper to catch. I'll be back in a jiff. We'll all partake of a splendid feast and rest well, for tomorrow we shall ride upon my magic steeds to Wonderland and visit Moxie's dance club." Stumbling away he mumbled, "You know when I was young I was a fantastic dancer. My Nan said I could charm the feathers off of a Borogrove."

Alice took Hatters hand, he could see concern etched in her eyes. "What do you think Cayto meant?"

Hatter pulled her closer to him, "I wouldn't worry about it, Alice. Let's just take this one step at a time."

Alice would keep silent about Cayto's visit for now. But deep inside she worried exactly what he meant. That night as he slept, Hatter tried to push back any thoughts of Cayto's visit. For now, he would keep an eye out on Charlie as well as Alice. It was common knowledge that he was working with Jack Heart now. Something that Hatter knew put him, as well as anyone with him in great danger. He would keep his senses on full alert for any danger that may be waiting for them. Lord Corn and Sir Leon would not hesitate to get rid of any of Jack's friends. Right now, that included Alice, Charlie, and a former teashop owner.