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Chapter Text

The most awaited day has finally arrived for the one of the richest and well known families in England that includes strengthening their bond and legacy from another part of the family

Marriage...

"Mrs. Jones the carriage is ready..." The butler said standing beside the humungous desinged doorway lowering his body as he waited for the Jones to come out, Mrs. Mel Jones, the owner of the Mansion was the first to step outside from the door, she smiled as soon as she felt the butler's presence

"Thank you Richard...We'll be going now.." Mel replied kindly, nodding her head before going towards the carriage, Richard instantly whipped his head inside the mansion greeting the other person following Mel's footseps with scowl and complaints written all over her face

"Goodluck at the party Ms. Coraline Jones.." Richard nod at the young lady staring at him

Coraline coughed "Thank you, but I prefer if you haven't said Goodluck at all Richard..." she whispered and the butler laughed at the comment

"Oh dear, you really hated going at those kinds of things haven't you?" Richard chuckled referring to the grand party that they were especially invited with

"I hate that I have to wear this dreadful dress..." Coraline grabbed her teal colored dress as she groaned frustratingly, Richard continued to laughed at his lady's quirky behaviour when Mel perked her head inside the carriage to call her daughter

"CORALINE!" she yelled in demand with an impatient look "GET IN THE CARRIAGE. NOW. Or we will be late.."

Shooking her head in defeat, Coraline plopped her dress down and walked lazy towards her mother, Richard waved his hand as soon as the coachman drove the carriage
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     The carriage travelled across the streets of London towards the  Mel stared at her daughter from head to toe silently watching the outside view in boredom

"You look lovely dear..." she smiled at her just as Coraline turned her head to face her with a questioning look

"I thought you're going to say horrible..." she replied in disbelief

"Though I knew you do not wear in proper.." Mel shooked head and pulled her daughter's skirt upwards, revealing her golden riding boots, Mel raised her brow in displeasure

"They're not going to look at my feet either way.." Coraline replied pulling her skirt away

Mel frowned and scolded her "but still, you are a lady..."

"I would rather fear for getting my feet dirty than this silly old rag mother.." she daughter retorted back but Mel kept her compose intact, she breathe and closed her eyes, Coraline knew what was up to

Here goes the lecture again....

From the mansion and from the carriage...

Just great...

"You are the daughter of the Jones family Coraline, a fine educated lady with a dignity to keep her family's reputation clean and precise, one wrong move could cause us a scene that it could also cause a disgrace to our family..." Mel cleared her thoughts with a stoic impression "Your father would have said the same thing if he was here..."

Coraline shook her head in disagreement and slouched on her chair with groan, not wanting to hear anymore words coming out from her mother's mouth, she glared outside the window again

"Father undertsands me more than anyone Mother..it doesn't matter now, he's already gone..." her face drastically dropped in sadness averting her mother's gaze, her eyes caught a glance towards the grassy meadows and smiled as she remembered those precious times she's been with her father, how they would gallop with their horses from the wide meadows all day long, racing towards the blue lake and having picnic from trees....

She missed those days...

it caused Mel to pursed her lips and stayed silent, continuing to gaze her daughter's frowning face for a moment, she gently took her necklace around her neck and placed it on Coraline instead

"Now, you look more decent.." Mel smirked and fixed Coraline's hair to lift her spirit up

She sighed in relief from her mother's silence, she smiled back just in time the carriage stopped moving

"Looks like are here.." Mel muttered as holding the door beside her, Coraline rubbed her arms in nervousness as she caught a glance of sphosticated amd most likelt full of judgemental people walking around

Mel knew that she is not comfortable with it..

"Come...we'll go together..." holding hee daughter's hand soothingly, Coraline nodded and followed her mother's footsteps outside the carriage
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    Loud chattered voices instantly surrounded her ears once they went inside the grand entrance, people started to gather around them as they spotted them through the crowd, Coraline stayed silent throughout the whole process, only curtised and nodding her head quickly whenever a person asks her

Until she felt a warm palm suddenly touched her shoulder, turning her back at was Salma, one of her childhood friends looking suspiciously at her

"Salma!" Coraline exclaimed causing her mother to turn around

"Oh looks like Salma got invited too!" Mel smiled, Salma curtsied for respect

"Good morning Mrs. Jones.." she greeted "can I borrow Coraline for a minute?" She asked giving Coraline a few suspicious blinks as if she's trying to tell her something

Mel nodded and even before her daughter could ask something, Salma already pulled her away from the crowd and dragged her towards the empty spaced balcony, they went inside and stood

"What in a world are you doing?!" Coraline asked in bewilderment when her friend turned her head to check if there are people lingering close to them around, she sighed

"Coraline, do you have any idea what you have got yourself into with?" Her voice grew from worry

"What do you mean? I am already a mess from the start Salma.." she told her but Salma shook her head

"Coraline...this isn't just a party you know..." she whispered "they invited you because there's a reason why..." Salma gritted her theeth to stop herself from telling her but because of Coraline's dislike of waiting she grunted

"Oh come on Salma what is it?! Just tell me already!"

"You're going to get enganged!"

What?

Coraline blinked her eyes unsurely from what she had heared, staring towards Salma knitting her brows from regret

"What?" She asked again as Salma sighed in guilt

"I manage to get into my Father's office when I heared him talking to Mrs. Jones one night through the telephone, he said that Winston is going to propose to you after the party...." she whimpered "knew it was your mother's Coraline, it was no doubt that it was her, that's why I tried to pull out of the crowd because Winston was already here..once he sees you, you're doomed I tell you!..I am so sorry Cora..that is the only thing I could do right now..."

So her mother knows all along....

It was all about marriage...

Pathetic...

"And she didn't even tell me about this..." Coraline muttered under her breath in bitterness, hands clutching from hatred, she went outside the balcony silently, leaving Salma to look at her worriedly

"Cora-"

"Thank you Salma..I need a moment..."

Salma backed away and nodded as she watched Coraline leaving at the balcony amd walked towards the garden alone.

Is that what she is?

A puppet?

Just to be taken away with some interest without even considering her own feelings?

"Ugh! I HATE THIS LIFE!" Coraline yelled at the white roses in front of her letting out all the anger that stirred her all upshehated how everyone tried to keep it all a secret from her, especially her own mother...

"DARN THIS STUPID MARRIAGE!" she huffed, continuing to walk around as she talked to herself..

"I never wanted to get married in the first place! Did they asked me about it? NO! Not even the slightest! All they cared about is money and that stupid disgusting bloodline!" She yelled, stopping at the large Willow tree, she stared at its gentle leaves flowing through the air it surprisingly made herself to calm down, she whispered in despair...

"This is not who I am..."

Sighing as she walked away, her feet stumbled backwards when she noticed a black feline blocked her direction towards the party, boringkt staring at her with its wide blue eyes, she frowned

"What do you want, cat?" She hissed to threaten it away but the cat stayed from its position neither flinched nor moved, Coraline tilted her head in wonder when the cat tilted its head back to her with a smile, her eyes widen

this feline looks vaguely familiar...

It feels like, she had seen this cat before.....

But where was it?

"You wanted to say something to me aren't you?" She whispered amd the cat nodded to her surprise

"CORALINE!" a voice yelled from behind her disrupting her train of thoughts, she instantly turned back to see a tall familiar man walking impatiently towards her

"Winston?" She asked in wonder, he immediately grabbed her hand and pulled her from his direction

"I've been looking everywhere for you!" He exclaimed as they walked at the garden's exit...

Damnit....

Coraline glared at him until they reached the outside the garden, people were already waiting for them, secretly smiling at the two young people, she caught Salma desperately perking her head up to see her from the crowd with those visible fear from her eyes, Winston bought her towards the large balcony in a hurry

She knew what was going to happen...

Her foot stood frozen, her knuckles grew colder, staring at Winston with his hideous golden locks onky if she coukd punch at him right at this moment, everything will finished...he touched his pockets grabbing a box imside his suit, she saw her mother standing beside Salma's Father with large grin plastered both on their faces and Coraline felt disgusted about that

"Ms. Coraline Jones..." Winston started, showing the hideous red box from his hand and kneeled down with a proud smile but Coraline was not amused

"Will you be my wife?" He asked with a plastic smile that could decieved everyone... but not her

Not this time and never will be...

But what will she choose?

Was this really what you wanted?

Or maybe, what THEY wanted...

Coraline opened her mouth but before she could even answer, a small black figure far from the crowd darted it eyes right towards her

It was the black cat again...

She stared at him for a while and noticed it stood up and grabbed a golden pocket watch tied on its fur, showing the time, it slowly went inside the garden's maze..

and disappeared...

She gasped

"Just say yes damn it.." Winston gritted beneath his smile, people started to look worriedly at each other while waiting for the young woman's reply

"I....." Coraline started, looking at the worried Winston and at her mother...

It's time for her own to choose...

"I need a moment..." she gritted and instantly sprinted away from the crowd, people backed away in shock

"Mrs. Jones, I did not expect for your daughter to be this arrogant!" Salma's father argued but Mel could only ignored his complaints and looked at her daughter running like a madman away from everyone

The black cat ran deeper inside the garden, biting the golden stopwatch, Coraline manage to follow him as she struggled to pull her skirt up

It was now or never...

she had to do it....

The cat had something that could answer all her questions...

"Wait please!" She yelled in frantic but the black cat ignored her plead and continued to ran towards the large willow tree in a hurry

The watch rang amd the cat stopped running..

"Oh thank goodness..." Coraline smiled in relief but before she coukd even grab the feline it flung itself towards a large hole on the ground, she screamed in fear

"WAIT! NO NO NO!" She kneeled down to see if the cat miraculously grabbed its claws from the twigs but there is nothing to be seen but total darkness, Coraline eyes grew wide in terror

"No...please.." she could felt herself cry for her questions could no longer been answered any more, if only that stupid hole wasn't in the way, the cat would have lived....

Is this over for her?

Does she have to accept his proposal and live her life depressed and unhappy?

Maybe this is her life was planned afterall..

When...

She heared something below...

A small echo of a meow, it was no doubt it came from a cat...she gasped

It's alive!

Coraline immediately reached her hand to grabbed him but there is nothing else that she could felt inside, determined to reach that sound more closely, she decided to slid her body on the hole in order to see him, however it was all dark and gloomy

Until her hand slipped...

Coraline screamed in terror as she too, fell into the dark and unknown hole to where she could never be found.

Chapter Text

Everything felt spinning around... especially her head, drowning with fear made her entire body weightless, the cold wind roughly shove her hair at any direction as she was being sucked into an unknown place, minutes had already passed and still, she was in an endless state of falling into the darkness, how much longer did this hole could keep up?

It feels like it's been forever...

Does this even had an end?

And if it does...what's next?

Something started to felt tingly on her feet, slowly creeping towards her own body and down to the feet, it was no in doubt that the vines are starting to feel more thicker and stronger as she fall deeper..

A light suddenly flashed below

It must be the ground!

Coraline immediately grabbed the vines to clung herself from the impact, she closed her eyes and suppressed the stinging pain by the rough vines slipping on her hand, good thing she wore gloves... and fortunately her plan worked succesfully from reaching the end of that darn hole without breaking her bones, she stepped on the tiled floor, eyes wide, staring at the odd place, walls painted with golden desigms and intricate symbols plastered around them, the very unsual place for such a hole could conatin such fashioned hidden room, though it wasn't one of her interests to begin with, what struck her eyes of interest is there are so many, DOORS...

She quickly pulled them one by one but all of them were locked

"What is all with this doors if it is locked?" She muttered, placing her hands on the hips as she backed away in thought, when she felt bumping something from behind, she turned around and saw a clear glassed table with a little opened case box placed at the top, Coraline raised her brow and peered her eyes inside, there was a small black key, she went to grab it in wonder

"It's so small..." she whispered "too small for these doors..." looking at the keyhole one by one, she immediately looked around the place, little did she know...

something is watching her within the walls...

"Are you sure that it was her???" The creature muttered beside the black cat as it peaks there eyes at the blue haired woman, pulling all the curtains from the walls

"Yes, It is her..she looks like him..." the cat replied calmly but its companion only grunted in disapproval

"What do you mean she looks like him...she looks nothing like him! Look!"

The cat sighed in silent frustration and stared at his companion "He wouldn't have given me his watch if he doesn't believe Absolem...plus, I am already late..and I only do what the others told me so.."

"Fine.." the creature replied and stared back at the person "I am still going to bring this girl to Absolem, I had doubts..." she grunted as the cat scoffed

"Whatever..." he mumbled

Pulling the last red curtain, she noticed a miniature door beside the wall

"This must be it..." Coraline whispered and used the key to unlocked it, she groaned "BUT MY HEAD COULD ONLY FIT..." quickly standing up, she went towards the glass table again, searching if there is any she could use to break the wall if possible, a bottle suddenly fell on floor and went she to grab it, staring at the purple bubbly colored liquid inside, something was written on the small paper tied beside the it

"Drink me?" She questioned and snicker in mockery "what is this? Are they trying to poison me?" Coraline rolled her eyes, everything feels all a joke......was this even true? Did she just fall on that hole and transportedly dragged her from this secluded place? Or maybe..was she dreaming?

She's definitely dreaming..

Coraline shrugged "Maybe I'm just dreaming..." assuring herself and opened the lid, without thinking, she instantly gulped the liquid down to her throat leaving the bitter taste on her tounge, she coughed

"It tastes horrible!" She exclaimed, wanting to threw the liquid away when her head began to feel dizzy and her visions started to disoriented, the liquid must have caused her to hallucinate things, she closed her eyes for a moment, letting everything to sink in and opened them again to realize, the room definitely grew bigger

"Did I just turned small???" She gasped in bewilderment, staring at every corner of enormous locked doors when she remembered the miniature one that is open, rushing towards the door, she pulled the doorknob with force but eventually, it did not move nor budge a bit

"Wait..." Coraline stopped and turned her head "where's the key?" Darting her eyes at the large glassed table above, she stomped her feet in anger once she saw the key above

She had forgotten to grab the key before drinking the potion..

"Damn it!" Coraline yelled and rushed towards the table, she lunged her body at the edge of the table to climb up but her strength wasn't strong enough and she would casually fall on the ground many times

She sighed

"I'm an idiot..." she told to her self, resting her legs on the cold floor when she noticed another box hiding under the table, she went to grab it and opened the lid

It was a small blue cake with a name 'Eat me' written on it, she slapped her head and chuckled to herself before eating them, feeling that sweet taste on her mouth, the bitterness from the liquid disappeared instantly, again, her visions began to disoriented, seeing the walls shrink in small sizes and even reaching the ceiling above, Coraline groaned when the chandelier hit her face

"Oh my!" She yelled, unable to move from the cramped space "Seems like I grew bigger this time.." and sighed, looking for the key and grabbed the liquid with a glare

"You better make me small or else..." she threatened the bottle and drank it again with a disgusted cough, hoping that it would be the last time she could ever put it in her mouth, her body began to shrink smaller again just the exact size for her to open the small door with the key, she cheered for herself

"FINALLY, I AM FREE!" Coraline yelled pushing the door away and ran outside, her eyes grew wide from the sight, the very first thing that caughte her eyes where the flowers as it grew bloomingly on the grassy fields along with the tall and large kinds of mushrooms sprouted along the way, colorful hummingbirds suddenly approached her with a confused look and begunbto flutter around in observe her before flewing away, Coraline continued to walked deeper into the odd forest, smiling as she gazed everything around her when she once again saw the black cat sitting on her way, she stopped and looked at him

"I thought you're dead..." she muttered at him thinking that it would speak back to her, the cat raised his brow

"Uh....no.." he replied and Coraline screamed in shock

"YOU CAN TALK?!" she shouted cowering in fear as he rolled his eyes and lifted it's body gently floating into the air like a piece of feather "I could disappear too..." he snicker

"What do you want from me?" Coraline backed away from the floating cat as it grinned at her

"I don't...but someone does.." the cat answered with sly smile, as a mice suddenly appeared from the bushes with a demanding voice

"And you are going to come with us!" The mice chipped, moving it's pink nose as she sniffed Coraline's scent

"IT'S A MICE!" Coraline yelled pointing the small creature as she stared at the black cat rolling its eyes at her "are't you going to chase it?"

The mice placed her paws on her chest with an offended look "MY! HOW DARE YOU!" she hissed, preparing herself to lunge towards the woman showing her small shatp claws, the black cat quickly grabbed the small mice and restrained her

"Ladies please..." the black cat shook his head in annoyance, he looked back at Coraline again "it's better if you close your troubling mouth just for a minute..." he sneered before letting the mice on the ground once again

She stomped her feet "Look here missy!" glaring hard at her "Do you want to stay here being eaten with those large creatures or do you want to follow us? Either way, I don't care what would your choice is.."

Coraline shuddered from the bold personality of the mouse "where are you taking me?" She asked with suspicion but the two creatures only took a glance at each other in silent

"Let's just say....we need you to be verified with someone, who summoned you here...." the cat replied floating as he circle around her with a grinning smile

Without asking anymore, Coraline nodded her head and watched the black cat and the mice went deeper into the forest as she followed behind
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They walked in silent, not even one dared to say anything, only the sounds of birds chirping and leaves rustles from the wind covered their awkward expedition towards the place she-do not-know-where, she could only stare at the two with their low chattering conversations as they looked at her multiple times, she even caught how the irritating mice would observe her from head to toe before telling it to the black cat that possible doesn't even care what sge was telling him about, Coraline already knew that it was her that they've been talking about from the start, especially how to mice would darted her eyes whenever she asks something, until the tension can't hold her any longer

"Where are you taking me, exactly?" She finally asked them and the mice looked at her

"Oh just be quiet and follow us will you?" She gritted, Coraline ignored her and stared at the black cat instead, waiting for his reply patiently patiently, he smiled

"Oh my dear...we are already here.." he replied as they stopped from a hill, Coraline gasped as her eyes saw the wide clear area filled with vibrant grass and dasies, with a large willow tree stood alone at the center

The cat was the first to lead the way as they followed him towards the tree, however the more she stepped closer towards the gigantic piece of wood, the more detailed, clear and vivid the colors of its purple leaves to her eyes as one of the unsual thing she noticed, odd symbols carved from it's trunks and golden vines wrapped its branches with delicate.....she's sure this is not just an ordinary piece of tree and definitely much more ravishing than the willow tree in her own world has...

The cat whispered peeking his head to look at something through the visible holes on its trunk

"I am right here Chesire.." a calm voice answered from above, they looked up to see a man sitting on one of the branches, slightly pulling the purple leaves to take a closer look at them, he smiled "seems like we have a guest..." his eyes peered from the blue haired confused woman beside them

"Absolem, Thank goodness you are here..." Chesire floated towards the brown haired man placing his book on the branches "We bought her here, just as you wanted..."

He flinched when he heard the cat and went looked directly at Coraline, as to her shock, this man could also levitate himself along with the cat as he went towards her with wide eyes

"It's you?" He asked filled with excitement in his eyes as he looked at her from head to toe, Coraline nodded in uncertain

"Uhh..I think?" She shrugged making the man to chuckle

"Oh I'm sorry, allow me to excuse my improper behaviour for interrupting your comfortance.." placing a hand on his chest and bowed down with a smile "I am the Absolem, the forefather of all knowledge in this place called Wonderland...and my real name is, Norman, before I was chosen, not that you haven't remembered.."

That made Coraline to tilt her head in confusion

"Uh...because I actually haven't remembered anything going in this place, at all.." she told him

Absolem paused, landing his foot on the ground, disappointed from her words, he began to question himself

"You haven't?" He asked, figuring out if she was just messing with him or not, Coraline shook her head in a serious manner, the mice snapped her fingers with the usual irritated look "Aha! See! I knew it! She is the wrong Alice!" She exclaimed, pointing her finger at the startled woman behind her

Alice....who?

It wasn't even her name...

"Calm down Misty, I'm sure there's a reason behind all of this..." Absolem closed his eyes, calming everyone down as he spoke, leaving Coraline to blink blankly at them

"Excuse me but I'm not Alice...my name is Coraline...Jones" she added as she sighed, Absolem turned around the willow tree and gazed at the carved symbols on its trunk, he began to mumbled the words, she wondered if it was even a written language

"You are Alice, I am certain of it..." Absolem clutched his hand as he thought deeply "something odd is going on..." he paced on the ground as he begun to levitate towards a specific branch and pulled his eye piece behind his red colored vest, slowly examining the written symbols on the branches...

"Something is causing to lose your memory my dear..." he said as he turned around suspiciously "more like....someone did..." he finished

Her eyes widened

Chesire backed away "but who is it?"

Absolem shook his head in regret "with a heavy heart...even I, the forefather of knowledge... do not know the answer..." he looked at Coraline again "I fear you may have to find your memories on your own dear Alice..."

Collecting Lost memories?

Was it even possible?

'Remember this is all just a dream Coraline' she thought to herself

"But how do I find them?" Letting this charades to go through, Coraline decided to play along from her fantasies, Absolem placed a finger on his chin

"I suggest you should go to the Golden Kingdom...the Gold Queen could help you there..."

Did he just said...Gold Queen?

Coraline hold her laughter at thought as the trio stared at her in wonder, she quickly wave her hand to ignore her sudden change of behaviour

"How do I find this Gold Queen?" She asked, Absolem nodded, stretching his arms towards the horizon, his finger pointed at the deeper part of the forest mostly filled with gigantic mushrooms

"Follow that path and you would reach the Golden Kingdom-"

Misty interfered "Now off you go dearie.." she smiled

"-With these two assistance of course...." he finished, the mice instantly jolted and glared at the man

"WHAT?! Absolem!" She yelled

"I'm going to blame you two if you left her to die.." he retorted as Misty groaned in defeat, he chuckled for he knew that she couldn't refuse once it was his request

"Oh fine!" She hissed and quickly jumped towards the mushroom lane complaining at Chesire as they walked, Coraline followed them but Absolem quickly blocked her away

"Be careful Alice...your journey lies far more danger, don't let your guard down..." he warned her, Coraline nodded

"Thank you....I will..." she whispered and quickly ran towards the two creatures guiding her way, leaving Absolem to gaze at them with worried eyes...
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The three successfully traveled in the Mushroom lane without arguing, venturing the rough path filled with soil and dirt, Misty jumped through the leaves while Chesire would casually disappear whenever the leaves would try to shove him, Coraline wondered back at Absolem's words

"Norman? Is that was his real name?" She asked, shoving away the leaves in their way, Chesire nodded

"Yes, Before he was a human" he replied when he felt she was about to ask another question, he finished "all humans in Wonderland had the opportunity to become one of the protectors...but of course, the previous ones needed to prove if that person is worthy for that role..."

Coraline nodded in awe "Oh I see...but why are they calling me Alice then?" She asked and shrugged "who is she? I mean... Coraline and Alice sounds different...only an idiot could mistaken that name the same.."

Misty chuckled at her reason for the first time "You know...you had a point there Missy.." shooking her head, Coraline grinned as she was finally befriending the mice

Chesire rolled his eyes "All we know is that, you had a greater purpose in this world...something that could help us..."

Knitting her eyebrows, Coraline frowned "but what was it ev-" she tried to ask them, but instantly stopped as soon as she noticed the two stood frozen the ground with a catious look on their face

Was it something she said?

Misty looked back at Chesire, widening her eyes, she felt something moving on the ground

"Do you feel that Chesire?" Misty asked, perked her large ears as the cat nodded

"The ground is moving..." he whispered

Coraline looked towards the small lake beside them, Misty was right, the ground was shaking and the water began to form a small ripple as it repeat the for again, until, it grew bigger and stronger by the minute

WHEN...

A sound of a loud trumphet alerted everything on the castle including the rainbow hummingbirds flew in flocks towards the sky, chirping in panic overwhelmed the three, both Misty and Chesire's tail went upwards as the terror in their eyes only to made her felt fear more

"It's-" Mist shouted

"THE CARDS!!" Chesire finished her sentence

"RUN!!" he loudly screaned alerting both Misty and Coraline to ran faster into the forest....

The danger is about to begin....

Chapter Text

Events happend so drastically, at first, everything was all fine and no out of ordinary...but why did it come to fleeing with their lives at stake from the sudden ambush by god who knows what they were running away from? they drag theirselves deeper within the mushrooms, hoping to confused those chasing them, it wasn't even her intention to ran away but her own body tries to tell her that she has to...

Gasping from out of breath, they struggled to keep their legs to sprint away, letting Coraline to ran ahead of them, the Chesire floated through the leaves as Misty crawled in a flash on the ground when she could feel the heavy footsteps approaching towards them

"What are we even running away from!?!?!" Coraline yelled turning from behind from the bushes, the rumbling sounds made her startled and almost tripped her foot from the rocks

It's getting closer!

"THE RED QUEEN'S CARDS!" Misty shouted

Sounds of slashing and metal clinking alerted their head to look behind them, there appeared the menacing stampede of metal soldiers riding on white horses, some would leap through the large rocks with great speed holding their deadly swords and spears throwing directly towards them

"LOOK OUT!!" Chesire glanced at the flying spears above as it fell down to hit them, within an instant, they flew their body in scatter before the spears could impaled them on the ground

Coraline groaned with thud and Misty quickly stood up to her feet

"I'll make a diversion, you two go on without me!" She ordered them, however, Coraline doesn't felt quite sure about this..

"But-"

"GO!" Misty shouted and scampered away from them without hearing Coraline's yells, she tried to follow the mice in worry but the Chesire pulled her arm just as the soldiers went passed through them following Misty, he grunted "We don't have much time! Hurry!" He pleaded

Coraline had no other choice but to hope that the little mice wouldn't get in any harm with the sudden plans

Is this what Absolem told her about?

They continued to run farther away from them until they left through the Mushroom lane, Chesire leaded the way and went through the dark thick fogs of the forest to blend themselves in the dark, running in silent, their surroundings started to darken as they moved deeper..

The time where they both thought that everything is safe, they heard a neighing horse behind them as it stomped its hooves in fury, Chesire instantly alerted Coraline to never looked back until they had reached the exit

"Chesire, it's gaining on us!" Coraline exclaimed as they finally escape through the fog, Chesire smiled at her

"Don't worry! We lost them inside!"

Or so he thought....

A large net suddenly appeared garbbing towards them, without any warning Chesire risked his life by pushing Coraline away from the net but he got captured instead

Coraline stumbled on the ground as she witnessed the cat struggled to escape himself by disappearing, crawling desperately towards him, she started to pull the net away but it grew tighter as he tried to move

"You can't Alice! The net contains magic... It barriers my ability to escape.." he shook his head "I'm so sorry Alice.."

"THIS IS ALL MY FAULT!" she yelled as she continued to pull the net harder, the cat gazed at her sadly

"No...I failed you to deliver to the Golden kingdom, it's mine..." he replied with guilt

his ears perked in a sudden and caught the sound of another group of soldiers approaching closer on their path, he quickly ruffled his black fur and a pocketwatch fell on the ground

"Take that.." he insisted "listen to my final instructions Alice..this is very important, it's our only way.." Coraline garbbed the material and wore it around her neck

"Give this to the person with a green hat and golden spectacles, his name is Hatter... you could trust him, he will help you along the way.." he gave her instructions as he stared on her sorrowed eyes "NOW GO!" he shouted and Coraline nodded hurtly before standing

standing up from the ground, she screamed when a large coal colored stallion blocked her path, the man railed his horse to take a closer look at the woman with his dark brown eyes, while the other was covered with his long black hair and heart shaped eye patch, she stared at him in horror, his eyes gleamed with intimidation and quickly grabbed her hair to avoid from escaping

"WHO ARE YOU?!" he gritted, clutching her hair tightly, Coraline screamed from the pain and slapped his face, he grunted, succesfully letting her go and ran away

He covered his jead with a groan and darted his eyes at her "That little brat..." he whispered, pulling his horse commanding to follow her, it sprunted its sturdy towards the woman

Coraline continued to run even though she knew that man could still captured her any time soon..

But she promised to never looked back...

She stopped when a large wall of dirt blocked her way...

Its a dead end...

"No, please!" She whispered, trying to reach her hand omat the edge of the wall, she turned around and saw the horse coming closer towards her, she closed her eyes and breathe

"It's just a dream, it's just a dream, it's just a dream.." she repeated many times under her breath, pleading to herself to wake up before this nightmare of her own would kill her, the man smiled in sinister, raising his horse to stomp her down

"End of the line, girl..." he muttered lowering his horse down when a large colored powder was thrown into his face causing him to lose balance and fell on his horse

Opening her eyes again, she saw herself still in one piece and the man was already on the ground from the unexpected attack, shouting in pain, to her surprise, she looked above the wall to see a figure reaching a hand to her like those fictions she would often read in her library cliches

"Grab my hand lassy!" The figure spoke in a hurry, Coraline quickly accepted the offer and grabbed the hand, finally being pulled up from the wall, she stared at the figure who was actually another oddly looking man

"Thank you!" She sighed but the man shook his head and placed both of his black gloved hand on her arm with a sternful look

"Thank later, for now...we run.." he told her and grabbed her arm towards the forest once again
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     Running for miles away from the whole fiasco happened a while ago, they finally left from the forest, stopping from one of the nearby logs, they breathe for a moment, Coraline placed her hand on her chest as she sat and catched her breath

Finally....

the man placed his hands on his hips with a smile of relief, adjusting his hat  joyfully  "Wow, what a day! I haven't even started my daily exercise and I found myself jogging.." he told to himself with a laugh, he glanced back at the woman panting heavily

"Are you alright missy?" He asked

She nodded "Yes, yes...I'm alright...I...thank you.." whispering weakly

The man shrugged "Nah, it's nothing, believe me, I've seen for more worse than this..." he paused and frowned "though...I am not quite sure if aimed my ammo at his face correctly..."

"Ammo?" She stared at him, blinking his eyes at her and smiled

"Nevermind dear.."

He's weird..

Coraline shook her head silently, slowly turning her back away from the man, she began to walk a few steps, alerting him to whip his head at her

"Woah woah woah there Lass!" He stood in front of her "where are you heading to?"

"I need to go and save Chesire..." she said blankly causing him to stare at her eyes wide from her reply, his voice suddenly changed to worry

"Chesire?" He muttered "What happened to that furball?" He persisted, she bit her lip in regret because it was her the reason...

She rubbed her neck and looked away "He pushed me away from the net...and got captured instead..."

She finally said it in fear that he would blame her, but he had the right to do so

It was her fault all along

But instead, he shook his head

"Poor Chesire...I should have gotten sooner..."

After hearing his reply, Coraline groaned "I really hated this stupid dream.." she hissed

He looked up "Ah....wait..a dream you say?" asking her in confusion

Coraline ignored him and meddled with her own thoughts, when an idea came to her mind

"maybe....if I hurt myself, I would wake up!" She grinned and turned to face at him with a determined look, she stared silently

"Hit me.."

He blinked

"What?"

"Just hit me!" She scowled at him, pulling his arm to force him to slap her, he refused amd crossed his arm

"No can do Missy!" He pouted

She groaned and for a minute, Coraline slapped herself unexpectedly, letting a hurtful scream as the man frowned and covered his own mouth as if he could felt the pain of the sore redness from her face, she closed her eyes and opened them again, hoping that she'll see herself inside her own room and bed

But alas, it was still the same oddly looking man with his ridiculous polka dotted tie standing in front of her

"Oh my god..." she whispered "it's real..."

"You're frightening me.." he crouched away as he whispered

She sighed sadly "so....it did happened..."

Coraline lowered her head as they both felt the overwhelming solem around them, she stared at the ground, blaming her own gut for following him in the first place....if it wasn't for her, Chesire might have lived...

He might have....

Something moved slowly on her neck as it dangled around her, it was the pocketwatch that Chesire gave it to her before they parted, she wondered why it was so valuable not to lose it...

"Give this to the person with a green hat and golden spectacles, his name is Hatter... you could trust him, he will help you along the way.."

That was his last and important instruction....

A man named Hatter..

With green hat and golden spectacles..

but who was this person?!

"If I may, I think you should dipped your head on the bulagoon lake over there, maybe it would wake you from your "dreams"" he qouted causing the woman to looked at him like some kind of a lunatic

"Excuse me?" She spat as she glared at him adjusting golden spectacles, the man started to ramble again but Coraline ignored his reply...

There's something....familiar with this man...

Golden spectacles...

Just like what Chesire said...

She squinted her eyes with concentration staring at him, when she noticed his hat had the exact same color from what Chesire told her along with his golden specs that displayed at the bridge of his nose..

she gasped

"YOU'RE THE HATTER AREN'T YOU?" Her voiced raised in suprise as he stopped talking and snapped his fingers

"HOW DID YOU KNOW?!" he replied back to her like a childish way

he noticed how she quickly pulled a long golden chain on her neck, slowly handing it towards him

"I believe this is yours..Chesire told me to give it to you and said that you'd help me..."

Acceptingly grabbing the pocketwatch from her hands, the Hatter stared at it, showing his reflecting from the polished gold

"I gave this to Chesire because of Absolem..." he muttered

"I told him to use my pocketwatch once he saw the Alice from Absolem's tree of knowledge...the Alice that would save us all..." he stared at her "and he gave it to you..." pointing his finger at her, Coraline slouched from the hint of his words

His eyes widen in happiness, without thinking, he grabbed both of her arms darting his eyes closer towards her

"You're Alice? THE ALICE?" he asked, almost like a madman closing his face almost an inch at her..

Coraline flushed in embarassment and pushed his face further away from her, this man is clearly far from understanding the word "privacy"

"Are you mad?! You're too close damn it!" She groaned, Hatter porperly fixed his sloppy spectacles and grinned, touching his face from bewilderment

"YOU'RE THE ALICE!? I can't believe it! Norman is right all along!" He laughed and began to ramble nonsense

Coraline waved her hand to have his attention "hello? Miss Alice here!? And I need help to get to the Golden kingdom..."

Hatter stopped and looked her, metting out a small awkward chuckled and stood clearing his throat

"Erm right right...I forgot..I'll lead the way..." he smiled

Coraline nodded with a smile "thank you..."

"But first!"

He grabbed his pocketwatch from his pocket and saw the time reached to three pm, he closed the lid

"Would you like some tea dear?" He asked, curtsey of respect towards her

Coraline looked at him for a moment and much to her humiliation

Her stomach growled

Definitely not dreaming!

The Hatter chuckled "I'll take that as a yes..."

Coraline covered her flushed face

"Thank you..."

Walking away from the gloomy part of the forest, Coraline felt the sign of relief from able to found another ally from this place but the worry from her heart stills longed for the two, worried as death could also be their fate from the grasp of the evil people..

And she hope that it won't happened again.....

Or so she thought...

Chapter Text

After accepting the Madhatter's invitation, Coraline could felt her mouth watered just by imagining those scrumptious meal just waiting to be devourd inside by their stomachs, it's been while she haven't eaten beside that horrible potion and a small nibble of that growing echantment cake...

Imagine, from the warm day, eating and drinking being surrounded with different kinds of fresh flowers and a fancy laced tables filled with various desserts with luxurious teacups and pots, guests would then giggle from the joyous atmosphere around them

It was all a dream come true for Coraline to have that kind of tea party...

Passing through the small foggy swamp, the Hatter held her hand carefully as they stepped on one of the floating rocks

"Here we are, our dear Alice.." the hatter grinned, showing his brightening eyes from the excitement, welcoming his guest to his grand celebration, she smiled back, turning her head as she imagine what the party looks like....

It was rather..the opposite of what she expected...

It was gloomy and cold around them, instead of different kinds of fresh flowers, it was surrounded with burned debris of houses and lanky table with torned covers, broken chairs and scattered cups and pots scattered all over the table...

At least the desserts looked fine..

but the taste however, deeply concerns her

"So! What do you think eh?" Asking with anticipation, the Hatter smiled widely, waiting for her answer

It was a disaster, if she would tell the truth, it wasn't even looked like a tea party from the start!

But from the looks of his eyes, she could tell that he was excited...

"It's....." Coraline looked at her eyes towards the hare throwing the cups at the two old ladies as they blocked it and threw plates at him instead

"It's loud..." she grinned uncomfortably, the Madhatter clapped his hands

"Just the right compliment!" He cheered and walked towards the table, clearing his throat to gain their attention, the hare and the two old ladies stopped in an instant as soon as they heard his voice, quickly, they hid their thrown cups and plates behind them

"Hatter! You're back!" The hare stared at him walking towards the the end of the table with his googly eyes when he caught a woman following from behind, he snickered "ohohoho! Someone bought a new doll to join with us!" Causing the hatter to shook his head

A sound of rustling teapot turned all their heads to see a familiar mice popping her head from the inside

"A guest you say?" She said darting her eyes towards the woman, she gasped

"Coraline!?" She asked in surprise as the woman also looked in shock

"Misty?!" Coraline breathe and went towards her "how did you escaped?!"

Misty sighed "Hatter found me hiding beneath the rocks from the red Queen's soldiers...I just got my luck on the side.."

The tall white haired woman adjusted her specs to looked at Coraline closely "She's a pretty one! Where did you find her?"

Coraline smiled "Hello....I'm-"

"Forcible, This is Alice.." Hatter interrupted, leaving everyone to gasp as Coraline stared at him

"ALICE?? AS IN...THE ALICE?!" The Hare shouted and Misty shushed him to shut his mouth, they stopped and stared at Coraline in confusion

'Why is everyone calling me THE ALICE?!'

She sighed as she looked at everyone's questionable stares at her

"This would take long..." she smiled and began to tell everything about what happened
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     Far from the forest, the menacing eyepatch general marched towards the large sturdy mountains of Wonderland followed with his red trrops holding the captive Chesire helplessly shoved inside the enchantment cage as they carried him, his eyes dilated in fear when he saw the familiar structure stood at the mountains, it was the Red Kingdom

The general opened the door with force, stomping his feet in rage as he approached the throneroom when he heard a sharp ticking of fingernails on the chair, looking boringly at him

"Queen Agatha..." he whispered but the Queen kept silent, gazing at him with those cold lifeless eyes...

"Where is she, General..." her voice was flat and emotionless as she asked him but he continued to bow down as he answered

"I....." he breathe and closed his eye"I haven't captured her yet, your Highness, only the filthy Chesire is now in our hands..." he gritted in regret

She stared at him, bowing down in disgrace to himself..

he could feel her presence coming closer towards him, she stopped and stood in front, slowly reaching her hands to grab his face, feeling her cold palm touching on his warn face, she made him look at her bitter eyes glaring at him as if glowing red began to appear from her irises

"I am so dissappointed in you, Kubo..." she whispered, he couldn't agree more

"As I do my Queen..." he replied back
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     Telling her story piece by piece, they sat silent while sipping their tea as they listen, Coraline explained everything Absolem told her, about the loss of her memory and how she would able to collect them back, she turned her head towads the Hatter

"How did you even found me after you rescued Misty?" She asked

Hatter grabbed the teacup as he explained "I was strolling towards the willow tree to visit my bud Absolem when I saw Misty and heard your high pitched scream, so I followed it and found you getting stomped with....erm.." he stopped talking from the moment he was about to describe the heartless one eyed man that tried to kill them

Coraline tilted her head to check him worriedly

"Hatter?" She whispered, but he continue to stayed silent, head lowered and holding the teacup with his trembling hands..

Misty sighed and finished the sentence herself "it was him wasn't it?"

He nodded his head

"Who what who?" Coraline shook his arm

"Kubo..." Misty answered for her

"His name was Kubo.." Hatter sipped his tea again

That one eyed man...

"Kubo...so that's his name.." Coraline whispered to herself

"Aye, such a shame, I handsome young man like him is really such a waste from defending that loathsome Red Kingdom..." Forcible spat

Coraline's eyes widened "There's a Red Kingdom?" She asked in bewilderment as everyone nodded

"But not as important as the Golden kingdom!" Misty shoved the topic off "My, everything was all jolly back there!" Turning her head towards the hatter sipping his tea

Coraline whipped her head in curiosity "you mean...everything wasn't all chaotic before?"

They nodded in sync

"Indeed my dear! Wonderland hasn't been this...terrible" April frowned and turned her head towards the Hatter grabbing his pocketwatch, she pointed her finger towards him

"He was once a great party planner before all the ruckus happened, oh, poor fellow, if only the ambush doesn't exists back there, she might as well survived..." April muttered when Forcible covered her mouth for the first time scolding her

"Your words April shhh! He might hear you!" Forcible warned causing her twin to cover her own mouth

She might survive?

Who could that be?

She wondered on her seat as she stared at him in wonder when he suddenly flinched in surprise

"Blimey look at the time! It's late!" Hatter screamed, showing his pocketwatch to everyone, he stood up throwing his tea away when the Hare laughs, Misty nodded her head in return

"It's time for us to go ahead then!"

They all smiled from the moment

Coraline stood up and cleansed her muddied dress "It's been a pleasure meeting you..." she grinned as everyone nodded, leading Hatter the way, she stepped away from the table when something beneath them was moving....to be specific, it was shaking

Hatter turned his head towards the cups when he notice the a small ripple of vibration formed from the brown liquid, the table began to to shook uncontrollably, Misty froze as it was the same feeling that she had felt back

"Not again..." she complained

The sound of stomping hooves and metal clanging started to approach them from the foggy view, Hatter instantly rummage from his pocket searching for something, grabbing a small bottle from his glove hand

"Drink this.." he demanded in panic towards her, it was not until long when Coraline noticed it was another purple liquid, she glared at him

"I am not drinking that" she spat back but he shook his head and opened the lid, shoving the bottle towards her mouth without a warning, the bitter flavor began to fill her entire taste, causing her to coughed uncontrollably until she could felt her environment began to grew bigger

"Sorry Lass.." he whispered as he gently grabbed her small body and placed on his hat

"What did you do that for?!" She kicked the Hatter's hat and shushed her, running back to his seat..

The roops of the red Queen began to appear from the distance, he breathe, sensing his other companions shaking in fear

"Act natural..." he calmed and grabbed  the nearest teapot from his seat with his eyes gazed at the large black stallion trotting approaching towards them with its master unmounting himself armed with his long deadly shamisen on his back

His eyes wandered around before he gave his attention towards the group most especially the familiar presence at the end of the table

"Well, well, well...if it isn't the lunatics..." he scowled at them but ignored his comment, they continue to babble when Misty stomped her foot to distract them "AND YOU ARE LATE FOR TEA!" She yelled, darting her eyes at the General walking silently towards the Hatter

"I am not here to join with your petty mournful celebration...I am here for other reason..." he stopped beside the Hatter

Coraline peaked her head to take a look at the person above her, she gasped

"So that is Kubo..." she whispered to herself when he eyes suddenly went to look at his hat unconsciously, Coraline quickly moved her body to cover herself

The Hatter chuckled "And what would that be?"

"A girl, with a blue hair, happens to be running around this part of the forest..." The General looked at him in boredom "I suppose you have seen her wandering around here.."

Blue hair?

'He was definitely talking about me!' Coraline thought in fear, hiding beneath the ribbons on Hatter's hat, she could felt his small chuckled

"And? What if there was a blue haired girl running around?"

The General glared "I supposed you haven't knew the prophecy about Alice....." spatting his words at the "confused" Hatter in front of him, he continued "I already knew Absolem's prophecy, THAT girl we are speaking of is THE ALICE..." his eyes darkened as he tried to explain to him but the Hatter only laughed and mistook his words as a fallacy

"Ooh poo! There is no such thing as THE ALICE anymore, Wonderland is already ruined!" The Hatter laughed causing everyone to flinched from his statement, the General however, is unconvinced

"Don't play tricks on me Hatter, I know that you and Absolem are the most in good terms before we were chosen with our roles, I am not a buffon to be easily entertaine with your silly acts..." He growled at him, stomping both of his hands to silence everyone and pulled the Hatter's clothes closer to him, hearing his small yelped as his glasses disarranged from the bridge of his nose, both eyes interlocked with each other producing various kinds of emotions, mixed with fear and hatred

His voice became more threatening than before

"Once I knew that you are helping Alice...I swear that I would not hesitate from cutting your head off from your body..."

Coraline covered her mouth, cowering herself inside the fabric more, she closed her eyes

The Hatter stared at the General's gloved hand, still pulling his clothes to reaching his warning to his eyes, when he smiled expectedly...

"Would you like some tea, Kubo?" He asked with his calmest looking at him as his eyes widened...

His hand gripped in hesitation..

Kubo....

It's been a long time he haven't heard his name being called out in sincerity....

the General instantly let go of his grip and shook his head from the sudden nagging pain, he turned back away from them gritting his teeth

"The Kubo you knew before....is already DEAD..." he replied without looking at him anymore, though, he knew, those bitter words affected the vulnerable Hatter on his seat

Walking back and mounting to his horse, he took a final glance at everyone especially to the sadden Hatter before he scoffed and signaled his steed to go away

The soldiers followed his trail as they walked, leaving the foggy mists behind, they sat silent on their seat, not a single one tried to speak

"He did change..." he whispered sadly, reaching his hat and placed on the table for Coraline to move away

He stood in wonder, remembering those horrible words that came through that man's mouth, was he really gone as what he said to himself?

Was he?

"I'm done..." Coraline muttered already regained her normal size walking towards him with Misty by her side, she smiled "shall we?"

He nodded his head in an instant, agreeing to move forward

Waving their hands for a goodbye to the other people, the trio continued to walk on their journey towards the Golden Kingdom....

Chapter Text

They walked in silent inside the cold foggy swamp, letting Hatter lead the way as Coraline followed him from behind, gazing his tall figure from a far when a thought of question came to her mind

She turned her attention towards Misty sitting on her shoulder, she whispered "About Kubo..."

Misty instantly shook her head to stop her "Don't even think about it Alice..."

Coraline scoffed and shrugged her shoulders "I was just wondering why those two were acting like they knew each other!"

Sighing, Misty closed her eyes and whispered hurtfully "Because they did..."

Hearing the replied pain and faint voice, Coraline lowered her voice  immediately...

"Can you....tell me about it?"

Misty nodded sadly

"It was 5 years ago..."
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     Before the destruction of Wonderland, it was once the most joyous place for all the people who lived here, the happiness that the kingdom bought from the land spreaded across the entire place and not a single person ever felt any sorrow or hate to each other, until that one festival arrived.....

Celebrating the grand Coronation, Everyone from the entire nation was there to witness the newly Crowned Queen of the Red Kingdom, the eldest..Princess Winifred

Everything is at feast, dancing, laughing and chatting with all their heart's content, spending their most joyous moment to everyone

But it did not last long....

A group of soldiers arrived, including Her older sister, Princess Agatha..

She stated herself as the worthy heir of the Red Kingdom and forced her younger sister to surrender the crown to her

But the newly crowned Queen refused to....

That is, when horrible things happened...

Everything is on fire, destruction, pain and the screams of innocent people surrounded the place, Princess Agatha ordered her men to kill everyone

including her own sister, her own flesh and blood

That is when Kubo stepped in...

As one of Princess Agatha's allies..

And not as the Queen...

Hatter, Absolem and the Engineer could not even believe their eyes from what they saw, their friend, their brother, had already chose a side

Breaking their bonds as one....

He tried to kill Engineer but Queen Winifred interfered it and manage them to escape with them, including herself....
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     "And because of that...Princess Agatha ruled the red kingdom on her own...while Queen Winifred created her own kingdom...." Misty finished

"It was the Golden Palace isn't it?" Coraline answered and the mice nodded her head...

"Indeed..."

"And that is where he are heading to.." Hatter muttered making the two them looked surprised

Misty raised her brow "are you listening the whole time?"

Hatter chuckled and nodded his head

"They wouldn't call me the Hatter if I don't eavesdrop at everybody.."

"Heh, of course you are..." Misty rolled her eyes

He turned his head towards Coraline "Actually Alice...that place where we held the grand celebration, was actually where we had the tea party a while ago..."

Oh...

So that explains the surrounded burned houses and debris...

"Anyways! we had a long way to go, so you ladies should take rest for some time..." he added, placing both of his hands on his head with chuckle

Misty whispered towards Coraline's ear

"We'll talk later..."

Coraline nodded her head in approval, clearly, he doesn't want to hear about the whole thing, it's better to stay silent for now...

But the cold eerie wasn't helping either way...

Finally stepping from the cold fogs, the trio silently scooted themselves on each other to not lost their companion's sight, Misty sighed

"OI I CAN'T SEE!" she squeaked and squinted her tiny eyes from the foggy surrounding when Hatter instantly told her to keep quiet, he reached his hand towards Coraline

"Take my hand Missy.. we can't risk you from getting lost here.."

And surely she doesn't want to, Coraline quickly grabbed his hand as her palm clutched locked to his, in fear, they began to walk in caution

Walking side by side, Misty sighed in relief for she no longer had to crawl on the soiled path but rather clung on Hatter's shoulders tightly and securely

Coraline on the other hand, have to keep caution

"What are we even doing?" She asked in wonder, noticing they began to crouched from the fog, covering them

"It's pretty simple actually, enemies might come and attack us..." Hatter commented even before Misty could, the mice glared

"Showoff.." she teased

Hatter snicker in amusement when a snap of twig alerted his hearing, crouching his body to hid himself from the fogs, something was up

The two instantly felt his sudden change of gesture, he placed his finger on his mouth to refrain his two companions from making any sound, Misty quickly tucked her self on Coraline's dress, Hatter quickly placed his ear on the ground with caution

That is when he saw the pebbles began to shake uncontrollably every second

He quickly stood up alerting his two companions

"RUN!"

The two bolted in fear, clinging their lives to each other as Misty was securely tucked on the prophecied Alice's dress, the young mouse had to hold on to the navy fabric in order not fell down onto the ground as Hatter manage to hold her Coraline's hand along away, running through the foggy path, she could only rely his careful pulling as she followed him to the unknown area of the forest

"I know that sound..." he breathe in fear as he continue to ran towards the clearer are of the forest, Coraline could only look at him from behind, waiting for his answer when Misty turned her head and witnessed the galloping speed of the familiar black stallion from behind, Hatter almost stumble himself when he caught a glance from the familiar raven haired Man

Misty screamed, the stallion hovered lmost to the point from crushing them

"IT'S KUBO!" she alerted the two figures but the General paid no less towards the rodent, instead his eyes darted toqards the blue haired woman with feiry urge to capture her, he smiled wickedly

"Alice..." his dark and cold whisper made her to shiver down to her spine, a sudden explosion of powder suddenly directly aimed towards the General, blocking his sight

"RUN ALICE, WE HAVE TO GO NOW!" Hatter interfered, holding the spare ammo from his hand, he pulled her once again towards the old oak tree

Kubo cleansed his face and grunted when he realized that his prisoners were no longer in front of him, he grunted

"You can run, but you can't hide Alice from me Hatter!" He screamed and reared his stallion towards them

Coraline turned around to see how fast the stallion was, every moment of second, he was getting close towards them

"He's gaining on us!" She alerted him just in time they arrived at them Bagoola lake, they halted in fear

Hatter turned his head for any signs of old boat to let them pass through the other side of the forest but alas, neither a broken debris nor pile of drifted wood could be seen from around, only ashes of fallen tree braches and dried leaves

He has to think fast

The time is running

And he's approaching...

If he kills her...

Wonderland will be doomed once and for all....

Pulling out his hat in a blank stare, he instantly flinched, an idea came to his mind as he quickly grabbed something inside his hat in a haste. He pulled out the same old purple liquid and looked towards Coraline in a confused state

He shoved the purple liquid down to her throat without any heed of warning

She cough irritably and wiped off the bitter taste from her lips

"W-what are you doing?!" She complained in wonder but the Hatter could only look at her in the eye as he waited for the potion to work

Her eyes started to lose vision, the area began to form in unnaturally bigger

She turning smaller again, almost the same size as Misty looking confusingly towards the enormous Hatter of front of them, he gently picked them up and placed them inside his hat, Coraline began to felt the situation..

He didn't drink a potion yet.

"Wha-" she gasped "Hatter, what's going on?!" Her voice grew worriedly when Hatter started to walked towards the the lake without a word, Misty grabbed his large hand forcefully

"Hatter! You didn't drink any potion yet!" She exclaimed, though the Madhatter ignore her words and grabbed a piece of paper in his pocket, giving tiwards the mouse and could only smile sadly at her

"Give this to the Engineer alright?"

Misty could felt a heavy sensation through her shoulder as she stared in terror, she clenched her teeth

"I'm sorry lassies but..the potion
all that's left, was enough for one person..."

One person?

That means....

"No, We are not leaving without you!" Coraline yelled but she was quickly pulled away by Misty, restraining her in the process, Hatter turned his head towards the young mouse eagerly

"Take Alice to the Golden Palace for me..." he ordered with a nod, Hatter wasted no time and threw his hat with great force towards the lake

"Hatter you idiot! Nooooooo!" Coraline squirmed successfully through Misty's grasp, desperately ram towards him, she tried to jumped off the hat when a strong pull came from Misty failed her to do so

"Don't you dare let his sacrifice go to waste Alice!" Misty hissed, pulling Coraline closer to her when she could felt her own eyes started to water "you can't let our sacrifice go to waste, please...." she whispered hugging Coraline more tighter

Coraline gritted her teeth in guilt, looking towards him for the final moment

First was Chesire....

And Now....

It was Hatter....

she couldn't take the fact that everyone had to sacrifice their lives just in order for her to reach from the Golden Kingdom...

Was she even that special that taking their lives is worth it?

She can't even say no yo an arrange marriage...

But why...

Why do they have to gonso far for all of this?

Coraline closed her eyes as she embraced Misty in solemn, both shared the same pain as they knew another ally was on the hands of the wretched kingdon...

they finally landed on the waters safely, moving towards the other side of the forest

Hatter sighed in relief

A snort of an animal from behind him caused his head to turn around with a glare

He knew exactly who it was

Kubo had finally reached them.

But it's too late for him to catch Alice

That is all what matters

"Seems like your little tea Party is over..." The General mocked with deathful glare

Hatter began to slowly grabbing something from behind, revealing a black and golden patterned cane on his hands, the raven haired general smirked because of this

"Oh, you're serious?" Kubo mocked again, but the Hatter stayed silent, preapre his position, Kubo did not even dared to grab his weapon when Hatter suddenly leaped off and thrust the cane towards him

Kubo skillfully blocked the Madhatter's attack and punched right towards the stomach instead, causing Hatter to fell down on the ground and the soldier cards approached him, mercilessly grabbed his hand and tied them around with blocked enchantment, the General proceeded to laugh

"Look at you, I don't even have to use my shamisen just to defeat you...how pitiful..." he shook his head and watched as the the Hatter could onlt glare at him and spat the blood on the ground

Kubo smirked and turned his horse around

"Taje him to the castle men..." he ordered and let out a menacing grin

"He'll be a fine test for my torture..."

The soldiers pushed the helpless Hatter away from the lake, he turned his head on the waters with a sad smile

"Please be safe you two...."

Was the last thing he could say before meeting his own doom awaiting from the red kingdom.

Chapter Text

The sound of muffled cries of a person reached through her ears, from the other side of the room, she saw how her mother helplessly sat on her bed with tired soulles eyes, those visible tears running down on her cheeks made herself to wonder in thought

"Mother? What is it?"

Noticing a crumpled paper on her mother's hand, it was a letter

"Coraline, you're Father is dead..."

Dead...

Dead...

Dead...

Dead...

Wake up...

Coraline, Wake up...

Alice...

Wake up!

______________________________________

"Alice wake up.." a loud squeak voice alarmed her from opening her eyes an instant, slowly regaining her consciousness, it must have been one of her servants, preparing her garments and clothing for another usual day

"It's....a dream?" Coraline whispered, slowly bringing herself to sat up

That was a horrible dream

"You can leave my room at peace, thank you..." she muttered and yawn

"What are you talking about? We were inside the hat Alice..." the figure replied unamused

Wait, a hat?

Coraline instantly rubbed her eyes and turned her head towards the figure standing beside her, it was Misty with a concerned expression on ber face

"Oh...it was you Misty.." she sighed and shook her head "I thought...it was just a dream..."

The young mice knitted her brows after hearing the woman's disdain tone voice

"I'm sorry Alice but...everything actually DID happened..."

Turning her head the inspect from around her, everything was enormous

So it wasn't a dream....

Hatter's sacrifice did happened...

"Why would everyone would risk their lives just to protect me?" She asked bluntly towards the young mice as she lay on the hard fabric beneath them with a gloom, Misty could only look at her, unsure unto what to say, she gently caressed her long slim tail out of habit

"....well, wonderland has brought here...you're Alice, just as what Chesire told us..." she replied placing her tail on the ground, Coraline turned her body to face the young mice with a questionable expression

"I'm Coraline...not the Alice you we're been calling me for the very first day I met you...I was just a commoner like everyone else that fell on the hole accidentally..." she whispered and sighed

Misty perked her ears in surprise

"You mean...you're just a normal person? Nothing any strange abilities within you?"

Coraline shook her head

"Oh Chesire..." Misty shook her head in disappointment "this was all just a misunderstanding afterall...I thought, there's hope..."

I am the misunderstanding...

And Coraline blamed herself for that

If it wasn't for her impulsive behaviour...

Everyone might have been alive...

the two sat inside the large hat in silent, the deep grief of sorrow started to fill in the air around them, not even one dared to say a word, how they both wished that this all just a nightmare only trapped from their endless slumbers but everything is too late, it all happened out of blue amd there is nothing they could do but the move one

"Sacrifices must me made..." Misty whispered, enough for Coraline to hear them, she smiled sadly

"Yeah..sacrifices..." she whispered back as she remembered her father again

"If that's the case...then, we should still ask for the the Golden Queen's help" Misty quickly stood up and cleansed her worn off clothes from all the dirt clinging on her torn skirt, she gently reacher her small paws towards Coraline with a smile

"If you are really not the real Alice....you still need help, come on! Let's go and continue towards the Golden kingdom and meet her majesty!"

Misty is right...

Coraline couldn't help but to smile warmly at her, offering a palm to help her stood up, Coraline took the young mice offer in appreciation, standing by her feet with a raised brow

"You know, I though you and I couldn't be able to see eye to eye..." she chuckled

Misty rolled her eyes "Maybe that's the reason why Wonderland brought you here, to control a temper of a hotheaded mouse.."

The two instantly laughed in unison as they both shared the same thoughts to each other, the feeling of warmth comfort surrounding them grew more stronger than before

"Let's go then..." Coraline urged, stepping her shoed towards at the edge of the fabric the climb up when asomething felt a small quake beneath them

And a voice

Coming to approached them

The grouch shook uncontrollably as she could the ground was being lifted upwards, losing their balance both her and Misty stumbled back on the ground in panic as the hat was being moved to different kinds of direction, not to mention, she could felt her stomach about to give out if this unwanted shaking would continue any longer

"Hold on! I think I knew who owns this!"

A light voice baffled them but unable to see who it was, Misty patted Coraline's shoukder when she began to notice the young woman's face began to look paler than Hatter's tablesheets back at the tea party, she groaned and shouted

"HEY! STOP SHAKING US YOU BUFOON!"

Misty's anger caused the hat to stopped moving, Coraline could finally be able to breathe calmly

"Alice are you alright?" She asked worriedly as the woman coughed

"Wait...I heard someone familiar..." the voice replied

The hate began to moved closer to a larger figure above, Misty lifted her head to see a familiar redhaired man wearing a large spectacles as well, her eyes widen

"N-NEIL?!" she squeaked, causing the man to raise his brow in confusion when he suddenly notice those large ears and long tail of a certain mouse, his eyes brighten

"Wait.. Misty?!" He shouted in shock as Misty cheered in happiness

"It is you lad!! OH THANK GOODNESS!" As the two reunited in happiness, Coraline stared in confusion in what was happening between them when the redhaired man noticed that the young mice was not alone

"And who's this lovely companian you are with Mist?"

"Oh Neil, Chesire brought her here, this is Alice!"

Hearing the name made the man to  widen his eyes in surprise as he held the hat closer to his chest in happiness

"By the Gods! Absolem's prophecy is all coming back again!"

Misty nodded in agreement

"But we're not sure yet, we need the see the Queen for a trial first..."

Wait, a trial???

Coraline perked her head in confusion, disrupting the conversation between the two

"Wait hold on! No one has ever said anything about trial.." she remarked sofly nervousness starting to gather up inside of her as she though if this trial that they've been referring to

What kind of trial? Was it to lose her insanitt like the rest of the others? Or was it a very difficult task that she'll up in a very tight situation, who knows what the wonderland has been stored for her...

Neil chuckled "Well, you do now! And I shall bring you to the Golden Queen..."

Misty clasped her hand in relief as she thank him helplessly

"Dear Neil....thank you, thank you so much..."

"Now..." he smiled and turned around, expecting another person to arrived, his eyes wandered and back to Misty

"Where is Hatter?" Neil asked happily only to recieved a gloom drop of faces of the two, sensing the distressed look on their faces, he know something was wrong..."

Coraline stared sadly on the ground "Those red soldier jerks...they took Hatter away from us..."

A heavy pound suddenly struck on Neil's chest as soon as he heard those words

Red soldiers....

"No...it can't be..." he whispered in disbelief, trying to assure himself that they were only to fool him but from the sincerity in their eyes, no lies nir decieve was seen from their words

"They took Chesire too..." Misty added, clutching her hand to calm herself

They took two persons, two important persons...

Without them...

Wonderland will no longer be the same...

Closing his eyes, Neil went to grab something from his satchel and handed towards them

"Eat this...it'll refurn you to your normal size in no time..." he told them with a stern and serious voice before carefully placing them on the ground and clutched the hat tightly

"I promise you, I'll deliver you to the Golden Kingdom...and break the cursed Wonderland once and for all.."

Coraline smiled sadly towards Misty, both knew that their life amd devotion had always been this place, taking risks and danger theybwere no different to Chesire and Hatter...

That is when Coraline decided to herself

May or may not be the Alice she was after the trial

She'll do whatever it takes to free Wonderland from the hands of the Red Kingdom

And lucky for her

She had allies on her side...

Chapter Text

With Neil's help, the three manage to arrived from the place that they've been longed to reach upon travelling  The Golden Kingdom

And it was indeed a perfect name for such Kingdom, hight dominant structures made colored with white and gold, the intricate patterns plastered around each towers tuurned the palace even more majestic

Neil brightly welcomed the two after they had reached the end of the golden bridge, Coraline stared in awe as for the very first time, she had witnessed the grand golden structure of the palace, while as Misty, she proudly smiled on Neil's shoulder

The walked inside the palace without any signs of threats around them as if it was meant to be visited by people

Taking a step from the grand entrance, the guards smiled as soon as they saw Neil and pulled their golden spears, even their armory was made of pure gold, Coraline's flabberghasted eyes stared at the guards as they let them in so easily without even trying to make an excuse

"This place looks....friendly.." she whispered to Neil as they walked side by side which he nodded in return

"Nothing in this kingdom have we ever heard of people committing crimes dear Alice...everyone is safe here.."

Walking towards the grandhallway, she witnessed the spendid golden ceilings and grand chandeliers hanging from above as large windows with abstract colred glasses where placed carefully on them, even the white marble floor was cleaned and translucent, almost seeing one's reflection of stared at it

Absolutely breathtaking

It feeks as if she was in heaven as Angels sang from above

Not even her own Mansion could defeat this one

"Wow...this place is...AMAZING..." loss of words, her eyes continued to gaze at the abstract glassed windows

"Pretty neat don't you think so Lass?" Misty giggled, sitting on Neil's shoulder

"Wait until you see the throneroom..." he replied with a chucklas they stopped in front of a large door guarded by somewhat guards but this time their armors where purely made of white metals

This is it....

The throneroom

They saluted, Neil nodded and gradually opened the door for them, Misty noticed how Coraline's hand shook unnaturally, the young mice jumped towards the blue haired woman to comfort her

"Don't worry lass, I'm sure the Queen will help us..."

The woman shook her head

"No Misty, I wasn't worry about that...I was more terrified about the grial that you were talking abour a while ago..." she replied nervously "I do not have the slightest idea on what to do about it..."

Misty sighed in regret "If only I knew of the answer to that Alice I would have already told you about it...especially that I was just a common spy...I do not know what trial the kingdom had in stored for you...

Coraline smiled and nodded her head "it's okay Misty, this is path is for me to do alone..your prescence and everyone is enough for now.."

The door opened slowly and as expected, she gasped in amazement upon to what she saw

Large pillars of white with scribbled language writtem upon it, reaching towards the golden chair placed at the center of the room, Coraline noticed someone so majestic was sitting on the chair, her smile grew wide as soon as she saw them walking towards them but from at this moment the woman stood up and walked towards them, pulling her gown as her golden ruffles drag softly on the cold marbled floor the light shone on her red colored hair in awe as her white silver crown shone her power from the eyes of the people...

Coraline noticed that this was no mere person

But a Queen...

Neil and Misty bowed within an instant as the womam stopped in front of them, leaving Coraline staring at the enchanting woman with a warm and welcoming smiled towards her not even bothered that she didn't curtsied nor move at all

"Your Highness..." Neil stated and stood up, the Queen slightly nodded her head

"Oh shush Neil, stopped being so formal, your making our guest felt nervous.." she chuckled as she noticed Coraline rubbed at the back of her neck

"Queen Winifred, we had delivered you Absolem's prophecy..." Misty answered looking at Coraline in assurance, the Queen tilted her head in amusement

"...I cannot believe it...you two had delivered us the Alice that Absolem was talking about!" She exclaimed holding grabbing the blue haired woman's hand in surprise

"I am so proud of you two..."

Neil and Misty exchanged glances

When...

The sound of banging and claging of machinery from the other side of the room disrupted the grand reunion, the door opened with great forced along with black smoke surrounding the white palace into a dark and foggy scenery, the people coughed in surprised, except the Queen looking tiredly at the figure standing on the door with a frustrated look on his face

He stepped out of the thick smoke to reveal another odd looking man with his dark messy hair with a pair of gauntlets and unproper tie dangling on his neck, his eyes gleamed towards the frightful animal beneath him

'Oh great, another odd person to deal with' Coraline thought to herself when she could see her own self towards the Queen's reaction

It amuses her in some way...

"Everything is gone! Destroyed! Smashed to pieces! What have you done you little midget?!" The man yelled, hovering his tall posture towards the frightful hare struggling to ran away towards him

"Sire, Sire it was an accident!" The Hare cried in despair as he crawled away on the floor when he noticed the Queen was standing in front of them with a silent stare, he immedietly scurried of towards her and hid beside her golden ruffles

She rolled her eyes at the tall man standing ridiculously and was about to grab the hare besid her when she raised her hand

"Engineer..." she softly told him, causing the man to flinch and bowed down in defeat, Neil smirked at his two companions

"Heh...can't deny to will of the Queen.."

Misty and Coraline giggled

"Your Highness..I apologize about that..."

She sighed

"Do not fret Engineer, I am not here to scold you this time...we had other things to do..." turning her attention towards the other people, the Engineer followed her direction accordingly as the Queen pulled Coraline to introduce her as he bowed down

There's still some sympathy left inside of him afterall

He looked around to see the hare peaking his head from the Queen's dress, the Engineer glared at him

"I'll be deal with you later..."

"Eggs..." the Queen silence him and thus the man instantly closed his mouth after she turned around to face the guests as if nothing unusual just happened

"Now...where were we? Oh right..back to you dear Alice...we shall finally proceed to the trial.."

There was it again

That heavy ache of fear she felt on her stomach as her feet reluctantly move on the spot

"T-That early?" Coraline asked as she thought of this peculiar "task" is much more terrifying than her mother having her to a stupid arramge marriage without her knowing...

The Queen smiled and as she turned around

"Come Alice....I wanted to show you something..." walking away to lead them, the Engineer followed behind the Queen's tracks as the other trio followed the two persons as well, with a look of confusion towards each other

______________________________________

     Out from the peaceful kingdom, the wretched Red palace had already brought their prisoner from the dark eerie throneroom of the Red Queen, her own palace was different as what her sister does, it was much rather terrifyingly alluring, only the blazing heat of the fire serves as the light of the palace, red caroets and curtains draped every walls amd floor of the  castle, she smiled wickedly as soon as her servant threw the prisoner without any care on the floor

"Kneel before the Queen, peasant.." the soldier demanded but the prisoner kept continued to stood up, until he was being forced down with the other soldiers to kneel down in the process, he gripped his shackled hands from all the bruises and wounds that the metal had caused on his wrist, he stayed silent as he looked at her playing her fingers on the armchair in delight

"Well well well...seems like I get to capture one my sister's little puppets as well...."

"Aren't you one as well, your highness..." he spoke in sarcasm that caused the Queen to glare at him

"Watch whom you're talking with, Hatter...one wrong word and you'll end up lose your head.."

Hatter scornfully smiled from her words "why? aren't I already?"

"Wise words Hatter...let's see if you'll continue to be like that once I poured out everything you had been hiding towards us..."

Standing to approached him, Kubo slowly walked towards behind her to prepare keep an eye on the prisoner

"Tell me slave.." she whispered in threat and kneeled down to looked at as the red liquid fell on his face "tell me where Alice is..."

"Never..." he spat back

With a wicked smile, Kubo noticed how Agatha stood up and went to her seat, waving her hand towards the guard, he pushed the Hatter down on the floor and some started to blew punches on the poor man's body without thinking

To his surprise, the helpless hatter kept silent, taking all the beating and ruthluss hits as he closed his eyes from the pain

But why...

Does it have come to this..

And why does he felt..

Empathy....

His mind swarmed with questions as he stared back towards the guards continue to beat his once companion, those dull and blank senses began to tickle him, coming all those emotions back together again

Kubo moved his hand to reached out to the victim

"Hatter..." he whispered in fear but was suddenly cut out when the Queen glared back as her eyes glowed red, something stops him to do his own will, the nagging pain began to submerged into his brain

"You've done well my General...now it is time for you to sleep.."

He stopped from his tracks from the bewitching enchantment acted upon him, his knees went weak as his mind felt it was going to explode, he struggled and fought the internal pain that has been eating him alive but it was too much, too much a human to endure

Those emotions that he felt for a minute, suddenly began to swept away like a temporary state...

Seeing the horror that his friend had gone gone through, he stared back at Kubo in distress as he noticed the look of empathy was no longer to be seen, only those cold and blank eyes...

It wasn't even Kubo's decision to be her on her side

It was her plan all along

She's been using him...

Controlling him

Every deeds and actions was everything hers

"You...you're controlling him..." Hatter whispered, limping his leg to move closer towards to Kubo but the guards manage to grabbed him by the arm and pulled him away but he refused and reluctantlt pushed himself to call out to the General

"YOU HEARTLESS WITCH! WHAT HAVE YOU DONE HIM!!!" He screamed in terror almost breaking down into tears, the Queen laughed in amusement as she saw how he desperately tried to wake the General up

"No use Hatter! You're not the who's in control.." she smiled as she went towards Kubo standing clamly beside her as she let him stroke his raven hair through her petite fingers "isn't that right, my General?"

"Yes...my Queen.." he whispered and turned his head towards the guards

Hatter breathe in disbelief, shaking his weak wounded head "You are so cruel...why..why are you.."

"To kill my sister and regain the throne as the only QUEEN of Wonderland!" She yelled and pointed her guards towards the prison

"TAKE HIM AWAY..."

With that final word, the soldiers dragged the helpless Hatter towards the darkest depths of the castle awaiting for his interrogation, all the torturous ways to let him spill out his secrets and for awaiting for the time of his death

But no...

He will not let her knew about Alice

He took an oath and he shall act accordingly....

He knew that in a matter of days, the red queen will gladly celebrate her succession as she the world could witness the downfall on one of her sister's loyal subjects, taking his life

And off with his head

Chapter Text

The three wondered as they stared at the two mighty figures in front of them

"Where is she taking us?" Coraline whispered but the young mice could only shrugged in confusion as well

walking from an empty halllway as the Queen leaded the path, she smiled as soon as she caught a glance of the thick magenta colored curtain drapped loosely on the way, pulling the fabric away, she smiled towards her guests in excitement

"My friends...I welcome you, to the Hall of Prophecy..."

Now, it wasn't just Coraline turn to gasped in amazement, Neil and Misty also stared at the grand room surrounded with colored galssed walls, large portraits and artifacts were neatly placed from a mebled pillar, protected with a glass carved box but the first thing that attracted their sight was the grand statues much larger than a size of an actual human person to be precise

"My golly..." Neil whispered as he turned around, speechless and suprised, he had never seen this part of the castle once in his entire life!

"Your Highness..this is..." Misty gasped as she covered her mouth

The Queen Chuckled towards the reaction of the three

"The real reason why I called you here was because this room...is a very sacred place...only the royalty and the four Legions of Wonderland had the access to get inside this part of the palace..."

Coraline tilted her head "um...the four Legions?"

The Engineer and the Queen exchange glances and suddenly smiled softly towards each other

"Come this way Alice..."

The Queen went towards a large red curtain covering the most part of the wall, the Engineer then proceeded to to pull the lever beside the pillar, moving its hinges and ropes from above, the curtain began to move away, showing a four large portraits placed side by side to one another

Though, there was something familiar with those portraits

It seems, she had seen those faces...

The Queen raised her arm pointing at the first portrait "These are the four Legions that I had mentioned a while ago...also known as the guardians of Wonderland and the they had their own roles to protect this realm..."

Pulling the curtains up, Coraline instantly recognized those blue ocean eyes and his purple colored vest, holding something from his hand of some sort of book, definitely it was that man back at the willow tree

"This is Absolem..."

"Ah, Norman..." The Engineer smiled

"The Forefather of all knowledge in wonderland, he's the main source of keeping Wonderland's history to exist, without him, we wouldn't be able to connect to this realm...."

"Wow I never thought that he was so powerful that what he looks from the outside..."

The Queen chuckled at the blue haired woman's astonishment, they proceeded to the next portrait but even before she could order to pull the curtains again, she halted and let put a small sad sigh

"And I expected for you to know this person already...'

Revealing the dark crimson red of the portarit, his dark raven hair tied neatly as it drape into his shoulder, an instrument of what they had called a shamisen placed on his hand, but his feiry earth brown eye filled with such intimidation is what instantly made Coraline to recognize the face

"Kubo? He's...he's one of the four Legions?"

The Queen nodded her head

"The Forefather between the balance of peace...and chaos...he was the reason why chaos is shrouding Wonderland...Norman was the one who was trying to repel his ability...and to our concern...Absolem couldn't be able to held on much longer..."

"A loyal trustworthy General but most importantly, he was a good friend to us.."

"...or so we thought.."

"in the end-"

"He betrayed us all.." The Enginner cutted out and closed the curtains of to cover the red General's face, he proceeded to pull the other portrait, revealing his own face plastered on the wooden frame with his genuine grin, equipped with different kinds of machinery surrounding him

"And that was..me..the Forefather of all Inventions..." he smiled sadly

"machines are my entire reason why I was still alive...it was my passion to built things...but as the time goes by..I-" he sighed "I just, don't feel that same burning pulse of desire within me..."

Rubbing his arm in regret, the Queen approached him from behind and patted his back to comfort

"And we have the last one.." she muttered and pulled the curtains on her own

Coraline stood in silent as soon as she saw the last remaining portrait

"Hatter..." She whispered as she gazed at his lighthearted smile towards a familiar cat that she had quickly noticed to be the chesire that saved her back, wrapping its body around the man's shoulder with his usual grin

"The Forefather of all life and Happiness...he keeps Wonderland to be festive as what once had but...he could even barely make everyone else put their smiles on their faces..."

Seeing how his smile from the portrait, she couldn't help but to think that the smile of his portrait, was real and genuine

It was different than what she had seen of him this current of time

"How did you knew about him Alice?" The Queen asked in wonder

"Chesire sent me to find him...that's how we met and he took me to his tea party..."

"How's the pastries by the way?"

"Eggs..." the Queen warned him knowing what the Engineer had meant, she turned her head back towards Coraline

"Was he here with you?" He peered around

They shook their head and nervously looked at each other

"Hatter is..." Coraline whispered

"Gone..." Misty finished

The Engineer and the Queen widened their eyes in disbelief

"What? Gone?! Gone where?!"

The mouse winced in pain

"He sacrificed his freedom in exchange for protecting us...a-and now..h-he's captured back at the red kingdom..."

"Oh my dear wonders...i-it can't be..." Neil covered his mouth in horror, when the queen breathe, almost stumbling back, he immediately carried her weight to pull her up, they could hear hear her weak voice refusing what she had heard

However, the Engineer kept silent...gripping the wrench on his hand, he gritted his teeth and looked at the portrait of his dear friend

"That's it..." his voice hardened is pure hate he turned around without any care less "I knew this was going to happened, and I just let it get away!!"

"Eggs, what are you going to do?" The Queen interfered "I know those eyes, I know that you're planning something! Whatever may that be, please... don't think something irrational..."

He stopped and scoffed at the idea

"Ha? Irrational? As you say so your highness, let's think rational, let us do nothing about it, let us wait for your sister to eventually ended up rolling Wyborn's head along with the other prisoners fate then!"

"Eggs..." Neil whispered

"NO. I CAN'T LET MY FRIEND DIE." He demanded, stomping his foot

Coraline and Misty helplessly watched at the scene

"I'm going to save him!"

"Eggs, if you take one more step..." the Queen boldly raised her voice

"I order you, not to take another step or else..."

He stopped

"I am taking another step, I am willing to take everything...I am willing to lose what I could manage to...but I can't lose what I had already had and became a part of my life as well.."

Disobeying the Queen's orders, he stepped on the doorway, looking through those teal glassed irises darting through him with worry and fear

he sighed

"I'm sorry Winnie but...we are already at war....."

The Engineer finally closed the door

_______________♡♤◇♧______________

     The Queen's kindness offered her a place to say, sendinf her to one of the grand rooms in the castle, Coraline found herself in awe as she walked around the room and towards the enormous bed at the center

This ia definitely bigger than the she had from her home

All thanks for the Queen, she had manage to found a safe place to stay from this chaotic unknown wonderland

She started to doubt if she was still dreaming

Troubling with questions, she found herself lying on the bed after dinner

Still thinking if following the cat down towards the rabbit hole was the right choice

She can't sleep

Not without answers

Wearing her nightgown, she quickly stood up and wriggle her feet to put on her shoes in irritation, thinking on how to occupy her sleep deprived problems, oh...if only she could wake up to find herself on her own bed, her own room and seeing ger servants dashing out to pester her with unneccessary of thing after this

But it seems, she was trapped and the only thing to was, to save Wonderland

A thought suddenly came through her  mind

The Hall of Prophecy....

Maybe that could help her find her answers...

Quickly turning the door around, Coraline wasted no time and dashed outside of her room, returning back to the place of the the Wonderland's history

__________________♡__________________

     There was no one inside the hall, as much to her relief, who knows what would they have think that a woman rumaging through the place in the middle of the night as if she would perform an evil scheme from this place

Evwnthough it was so sacred, there were no doors to protect the place

She sighed through the empty halls, only the sound of her clunkingshoes echoud through the space, it was hollow and silent not like the wonderlamd she just saw during the daytime, she wondered

Does this what would they felt of wonderland is dead?

She quickly shook at the horrible thought away

Queitly stepping her on the cold marbled floor, she stopped at the particular last portrait that the queen had showed them

She pulled the curtains away to reveal Hatter and Chesire's face again

"Oh, Hatter..." she whispered sadly, gazing her lonesome eyes towards the bright enthusiastic ones, she wanted to their faces again, she wanted to see them

She wanted to make sure they're okay...

"You missed him too, weren't you?"

Upon the aware that she's not alone from the room, Coraline turned her head to see the Engineer sitting on one of the golden chairs behind the darkness with his cold and toneless voice, he was troubled

"I guess you can't sleep either, milady?"

"Seems like we had both troubled minds then..." they chuckled

Smiling towards the Engineer, he stood up, walking calmly towards her, hands placed back, his eyes sadly stared back at the portraits as he let out sad sigh

"We we're like brothers, the four of us..." he muttered "we used to be sync to one another before the fall of the Wonderland happens..."

"Seems like this place was very different from what I had seen today huh..."

"Oh, very much...this wasn't this dull either...even at night you could see the Aurora Borealis floating through here and thousands of golden fireflies would eventually appear every single night..."

Golden fireflies?

Coraline gasped

"wow...that would have been so...magical..."

"Yes...would have..." Eggs muttered again

"But we can no longer saw them...it feels as if a part of wonderland is already taken away from us..." he gritted his teeth in dissappointment before turning his ash blue irises towards her

"I should have been serving for the Queen, to please her and her people with my inventions...my passion, my talent...was purpose to serve good..."

"But now...." he stopped and shook his head in frustration

"I was doing this to hurt everyone...for the upcoming war...and that is what I hated the most..."

Regret and guilt filled through the air causing the two figures to stood in silent, afraid to say another word, Coraline could only watch Eggs solemly gazed through the portraits with his cold and lifeless eyes

She knew from that moment that his purpose were no longer relevant to the situation anymore, their roles becane so twisted that one had to force themselves to act accordingly as what they had been ordered to

She had never thought that destroying of Wonderland could affect each and everyone and the only thing that they had hoped to ressurect the once place was to find Alice....

"Eggs.." she muttered his nane for the first time, froze in surprise, the Engineer quickly turned his head to look at her

"I'm going too....I'm saving hatter as well-"

He smiled and patted her shoulder

"Well then, I am very much oblige to join you from the rescue then..."

Before the leaving, the Enginner curtsied in respect like a fine gentleman as he was, he took a step towards the door leaving her alone the hall of Prophecy once again

Shutting the door close, Coraline looked back at the portrait of her dear friend

"Now I understand why you two had sacrifice yourselves, it was not for me...but for Wonderland..."

Everyone was willing to take a sacrifice....

And yet, her doubts of being the Alice is still a question...

Either way..

Coraline had already grew fond of them

"I will save you Chesire and Hatter....I promise..."

__________________♤__________________

     It was cold and damp, the trickle and drops of the waters from the carved walls of the underground part of the palace, the red kingdom's prison cell

Cell by cell there was none a single space without prisoners, old people, women, slaves or even children are no exceptions, all terrified, all trembled in fear whenever someone comes to look at them, especially him

He stopped at the last part of the block, seeing the sight of the large armored guard standing by the cell, he heard a heavy pound inside

"General Kubo..." the guard saluted diligently "ever since this juvenile arrived from the cell, we haven't heard a single word..."

"Did you and your slaves tried everything?"

"Yes...and we are almost out of options as well, he is a one stubborn hell of a Hatter..."

To his amusement, the General chuckled as if he already knew that this was going to happened

He quickly shove his hand away

"Leave the cell for now, just enough until I am done with him..." he muttered and tbe guards immediately went outside, Kubo let out a sinister laugh

"I would like to have a talk with my dear.....brother.."

And there he was, lying on the cold dirt floor, bathing with his own blood as his tattered shirt exposing some of his freshly new wounds that the guard had whipped against his back, the shackles around his hand and foot had preventrd him to move on his own, the Mad Hatter could only breathe heavily from all the pain that rushed through his body

He slowly lay on his back with a tired groan

"Hello, Hatter....how is your morning routine going on?" The General mocked him at the sight but the prisoner kept silent and continued to look at him

"I suppose you do know why I came here today?"

Hatter glared back

Kubo could only roll his eyes at him

"Oh come on Wyborn, I was trying to cheer you up..." he chuckled as he watched the motionless Hatter looked through the other direction

"You had a very funny way of showing it..."

"But isn't that what you like? Something Fun? Isn't this fun, Hatter?"

"Fun? You call this fun?!" Hatter exclaimed and looked around in fear

"Kubo, look around you...people are being mistreated, like slaves and even children..."

"These people had no respect to the wonders of the Red Kingdom.." he replied "And you know the rules...serve with loyalty...or die with your dignity..."

"This isn't like you, you've changed.."

"People change, Hatter...especially the ones who were broken..."

"But there are still people than wants you to piece you all back together agai-"

"Did I hear someone trying to pester my General?"

Stopping from their arguments, the two men whipped their heads in an instant from the distance, listening to every heel cluncking on the stone cold floor, it was the Red Queen, escorted with her guards and slaves

"My Queen..." Kubo bowed down in respect, however, the Queen did not care any less and proceeded to gave her attention towards the cell as to where Hatter was inside

"how's the prisoner going along?" She asked without taking her eyes of from the prisoner

"Not a single word of information, your Highness..."

She sighed

"Your performance is very disappointing, General..." the Queen commented not moving an eye towards the prisoner

"I beg of your forgiveness your majesty...."

"Agatha!"

Hatter cried out, scurrying towards the rough metal bars to get in close towards her, however the General and the guards manage to pull the Queen away

"Move away you filthy protestant!"

"Address her as your Highness, Hatter..."

But as usual, he cared no less on what the others would say

"Agatha, please...stop this..." he whispered, gripping the bars tightly in desperation "this isn't you....this is not the Agatha I knew back then..."

But the stare of her eyes remained cold and lifeless, blocked with her own rage and revenge from eveyone

She leaned down to look at him

"That Agatha you cared about so much...is already dead, Hatter..."

What had happened between with these two?

They look so, lifeless...

"And it wasn't even my decision to be the Queen-"

"YOU ARE....YOU CHOOSE MY SISTER OVER ME! YOU, ABSOLEM AND ENGINEER, ARE ALL TRAITORS!"

But the pleading Hatter continued to shook his head and his voice trembled

"No we wasn't! It was your father alone that made the decision!"

"LIES...EVERYTHING YOU SAID ARE LIES!"

"I am telling turth with my whole heart and every fiber of my being that we dearly loved you and we would never betray you and your sister-"

"Now once again, my sister is the only one you see! Everything is about her! How could you do this to me!"

"THIS ISN'T ABOUT YOU, AGATHA!"

"EVERYTHING IS ABOUT ME! I AM THE QUEEN! THE RIGHTFUL HEIR TO THE THRONE AND NO ONE WILL STOP ME..."

"Agatha, Please!" Hatter cried

"DO NOT CALL ME THAT, YOU USELESS MUTT!"

seeing the rage of from her eyes, he scurried back in fear as her magic begaun to glow around her sending out electrifying bolts swarm at every inch om the cell

All the prisoners backed away, including the captured forefather

However, before the Queen could fully let her power loose, her energy ran out and fell towards Kubo's arms

Softly, and somehow caringly, he looked at her weakening state, gently brushing his hands on her silky long blacl hair

"General..." she whispered

"I am here, my Queen..." his voice is soothe and gentle in reassurance

he ordered the servants to hold her for a minute, Kubo quickly turned his head in rage towards Hatter

"You had done enough, lunatic..." he spat in unison as he kneeled down to face him

"Being my fellow brother in war, you are our tactic defense, a genius in providing protection...but your potential would only gone to waste because of that weakling sister of hers..."

"By the name of Wonderland, do not call Winifred a weak..." Hatter retorted betweem his gritted teeth

"There is a way if you want the four us to be together again..." Kubo muttered, forming trap on his words

"Tell me, Wybie...." he started

"Tell me where Alice is...."

The Mad Hatter could only look him in dissappointment, dragging the chains on his feet hand, he made his way from getting closer towards Kubo eventhough he was aware that there were several guards that were silently observing him from afar, Kubo did not even flinched or even Wybie no longer care on what they would do to him

He looked dead straight into the General's eye, fueled with rage and determination

"Never."

He answered making Kubo raised his brow unamused

"She's the hope of Wonderland, my hope to fix everything and I would do everything that I can to protect her and for those people that deserved to be saved from this nonsense behaviour lf yours..."

"How can you be so sure that she was the one?"

"As clear as I how I see the world is dying, Kubo.."

"you had a very poor taste of serving someone..."

To his surprise, the Hatter laughed

"Serve? Aha! Serve!? Look at yourself General, do you think she would ever appreciate all your efforts for serving her?"

He stayed silent from the embarassment, other prisoners began to listen, peering their heads and ears from the commotion

"And yet, you still give her all the disappointments and failures, Where's Alice? I haven't seen Alice around... oh blimey, now that was indeed dissappointing..."

"Y-you've gone, mad..."

"Aren't I Kubo?" he asked as his eyes twitch unnaturally "AREN'T I?"

It didn't took him a few seconds to realize that the General had already knocked him down on the ground with his cold armored first

Hatter froze and looked at his broken spectacles on the ground

"I WOULD RATHER DIE, THAN TO JOIN WITH YOU..."

The General breathe in panic amd closed his eyes, as soon as he did his face went back to being stoic and emtionless once again

"Very well...."

"If that is what your wish, how about we shall grant it then..."

With a look from his eyes, the guards immediately grabbed the Hatter by the shoulder and forcefully pushing him by the wall

"Beat him..."

"HATTER!' Chesire shouted in alarm at the side of the cell when the guard suddenly pulled out the whip again

"Heed this Hatter..." the General whispered as he heartlessly pulled Hatter's hair "Tomorrow at sunrise, your execution will be serve.."

"Any last words?"

"May Wonderland forgiven you for your sins..." he weakly told him

The General grinned and took the Queen to his arms again

"Likewise, Hatter..."

And with that, he left, carefully holding the unconscious Queen oitside the prison cell as each prisoners would hid their bodies and faces as he passed through their cells

The guard proceeded to raised the whip higher and beat the young forefather once again

"Please! Let it stop!"

"That's our Forefather, please!"

"He's doing nothing to you, let our leader go!!"

The prisoners cried out one by one, trying the guard to stop his actions while the others could only cried out from the pain

Chesire could do nothing but to witness the torture that his dear friend had gone through, including amongst pther prisoners, watching helplessly from the fall of one of their dear leader

But he didn't nor cried in pain, he endured it all, everything sting, every slashes were all just a part of how Wonderland was, a corrupted side

"No, I shall bear this mine... and mine alone..." he whispered as he looked at the defenseless prisoners

They all had to cover the children's ears from the brutal sound the whip would make they but to the ears of the Red Kingdom?

It was nothing but just a music to their ears.

Chapter Text

As soon as the sunrise set on top of the mountains near the Golden Kingdom, the castle walls had already set their grand window's open and guards prepared outside of the royal court

But it wasn't a preparation for another usual royalty business

But a rescue mission

From the study hall, Alice, the Queen and tbe amogst others had already assembled for their plan

The Engineer, threw a few sets of old scrolls filled with illustrations and written notes on the dried paper

"I remembered all the Red Kingdom's secret floors and doors underground, this shpuld be easy for us to sneak around unless there were guards scouting nearby..."

"How are you sure about this, Eggs?" Neil asked in wonder

The Engineer smug "Because I was the one thay built the castle..."

"including the once I haven't told anymore, however right now...this is the right moment to use..."

They all nodded and proceeded to go through their strategy

"The secret passagemway has two doors one leads to the Queen's chambers and the other was on the prison cell...specifically where Hatter was...but there is one little problem..."

"And that is?" Misty, resting on Coraline's shoulder scrunched up her nose

"We need a code to open the prison cell...it was some sort of spell actually..and only I, a forefather could open it..."

Coraline suddenly shuddered in realization on the hem of her skirt

She quickly roamed her pockets to grab something

"Eggs, before Hatter was captured....he told me to give you this?" Reaching the piece of pamphlet towards the Engineer, he slowly anaylzed the written ink inside the old paper

He gasped in astonishment as soon as he realized the familiar scribbled ink

"By gears and wires...this is..." he whispered "this must be the secret code of the prison door.."

"How in the world he knew?..." The Queen asked in bewilderment

"All I could say that he's one hell of genius Hatter..." Eggs smiled and hid the pamphlet on his armor

"That's it, we're all set! We could save Hatter right here, right now, let's go!"

Eggs quickly stood up and grabbed his enchanted gauntlets on the table when to his surprise the Queen gribbed his arm to stop him

"I'll deliver my soldiers to assist you, Engineer..." her voice tensed in worry

Alice stood up from her seat "We can't let your men risk with this mission your Highness..."

"Alice is right, My Queen, we can't let your men risk their lives...not this time..." he smiled as he implied Hatter's sacrifice, he could feel her hand tightened even stronger, still not letting him go

"But I can't risk you as well, Eggs....we need you..." her voice stayed low as she said those words

"I need you..." she whispered softly

He couldn't help but to place his hand on her as well

"And you won't, Your highness..." he whispered and the Queen finally let go of her hand, still resisting in doubt if that was the decision

"Though we need to get to the garden fast..." Misty muttered as soon as she had noticed a large wall from the map "the wall is humongous, how can we even-"

"You fly...." A voice interrupted

Coraline quickly turned her head to see another familiar figure standing by the doorway with his usual purple vest

Everyone smiled widely of his prescence, no other than the Forefather of Knowledge

"Absolem!!"

"I sense trouble..the willow tree had given me the message that our dear friend has been captured..."

"And we need to do this as quickly as possible, Norman..." Winnie interfered, dragging her golden dress on the floor

Time is wasting, at every second, Hatter's life is getting closer and closer towards death

Norman slowly approached them with his usual calm demeanor, placing a hand on his back, Eggs began to notice his strange behavior

"What do you have there Absolem?" He asked and Norman quickly reached out his hand with a scroll

"A summoning scroll.." he answered "Hatter gave one of his alternate magic in order to use this for an escape..."

Eggs nodded in awe and looked the scroll carefully "we could only do it once..."

"But what shall we going to summon then?" Neil asked in wonder when out of nowhere, Absolem was already standing by his side

"We need to blend through the skies...I say, summoning a the mist phoenix is the only option at this point...the problem is..." he paused as he looked around the each and everyone inside the room, Absolem raised his brow in wonder "Who is going to read the summoning scroll?"

Eggs quicky shook his head

"Oh dear no, not me...I don't want to do that again..."

It was just an old piece of scroll

Coraline had to squint herself because of it

Silent as everyone unwillingly dare to take the scroll from the Engineer's hand, Neil had finally stepped in and instantly brushed his hand through Absolem's causing the young forefather to flinched in surprise

"Give me that, we're wasting a lot of time.." the royal advisor sneered in irritation

"Woah..Neil that was a bit, forceful..." Norman stunned in surprise but the royal servant could only fix his spectacles and wasted no time looking through the castle's gates

Engineer, Alice and the others quickly gathered their weapons and scrolls in order to proceed their plan
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Curious as to what the Royal Servant was about to do, Neil placed a few stones on the ground and scribbled something around it, to her surprised it was another foreign symbol, the same one as what she saw back on Absolem's tree

Neil opened the scroll and began to read

"What was the issue about which is which is going to read it?" Alice whispered at Absolem

"You see, dear Alice...summoning scrolls tends to misuse if one words was even not chanted successfully...that is why need to be very precise and very careful..."

Neil finally place the scroll on his satchel and stepped on the circle, taking a long deep breathe, he raised his arms in position

"OPEN THY GATES OF PORTALS, I SUMMOM THEE!!" He shouted and within a second, green glowing circle suddenly emitted from the ground

Coraline backed away from the intimidating light beneath her shoes

Neil position his hand and threw the scroll on the ground

"By the order of the forefathers I summon thy mists and clouds for the guardian on the sky!"

With the last call of Neil, the ground bursted with green light, flowing out its energy towards pitside the ground and shoot itself right towards the sky, everyone watched in awe as the light suddenly flashed in a circular orb with written symbols also knows as the summoning circle

The wind grew faster, stronger as the earth shookmas well the heavens, a loud cry roared the skies wonderland, swifting its speed from the cloud

Everyone turned their heads up to the sky witnessing the product of the summoning scroll: a gigantic silver winged creature flapped its wings clearing the clouds for its way

"It's the Mist phoenix!" Absolem shouted and within an instant the creature wasted no time and went directly towards them, scooping everyone on the ground the group yelped in fear for the Mist Phoenix had already taken them towards the sky

"Wait! Too fast! Oh my wonders!!" Neill shouted as he gripped the Hatter's hat tightly around his head

"Well it wouldn't be called the guardian of the sky if it wasn't!" Eggs shouted and turned his head towards the phoenix, he whispered something at the creature and it quickly paced its speed up

Coraline shouted as the forced pulled her again, holding her dress with all her life

"I can't believe the summoning scroll worked!" Neil shouted happily

"Neil! Stop yapping and come closer to me!" Absolem scolded him as he pulled the young advisor

"What do you mean by that?" Coraline asked and Absolem interfered

"Only Hatter could summon rare creatures with his summoning echantmenta and specifically, the Mist Phoenix are one of them, summoning scrolls are just an alternate way to use .."

"That is why Hatter is always prepared!" The Engineer joined in "the only thing we couldn't be able to have our full powers was because we are not completed yet, that is where you came for that part..."

"You mean...I was the final piece to regain your magic?"

Everyone nodded in unison

Scooting himself beside Alice, Neil whispered on her ear

"Did you know that Absolem's another ability was to turn himself into a phoenix too?"

Coraline widen her eyes in astonishment, while Absolem could hear their entire conversation, shushed the two

"That would be some other time, Neil, for now...we need to save Hatter..." Absolem worrisdly told them, Misty quickly peeked her head from Absolem's bowtie, she whispered

"We're coming for you, Hatter...."
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     As soon as they had arrived the Red Kingdom, the looming essance of dark clouds and dried forest attracted Coraline's sight, towers painted with crimson red and vines scattered at every posts and buildings, it was almost aa if the kingdom itself was desserted, they could see everything, including the burnt villages and down with card soldier romaing around, trapping prisoners on the square, she noticed the look of Engineer's face, closing his eyes hurtfully, Absolem hid his face behind Neil's back, unwanted to see the view

The phoenix cried out, pointing a particular part of the castle: the royal garden, the only place where flowers and leaves grew

From the invisibility ability of the phoenix, the creature passed through the walls without an alarm, slowly clawing its feet on the ground, the group slid their self off and packed their things for the rescue

"We'll be on the lookout..." Neil caressed the phoenix head as he feed it with fresh fisj inside the basket as a reward

Eggs and Coraline nodded and quickly ran towards the backsideof the castle without turning back

Absolem however stayed and we towards the advisor

"Neil If something happens to you-"

"Norman, I'll be fine..." Neil cutted him off and placed the basket back on the phoenix back "I'll stay low.."

But his faced stayed unsure

"Go, our friends need you now.."

"Fine! But make sure that once I came back, you are in one piece.."

Neil chuckled and bowed

"For the Forefather of Knowledge? I will..."

And with that, Absolem quickly ran to catch up the two while Neil stayed close to the Mist phoenix, echanting with invisibility to keep them both safe

Speeding up their pace the three jumped and glided towards the bushes, one by one, lifting each other's feet, Coraline started to mind off the hem of her skirt for the situation is much more crucial than fabrics amd all pretty things

Eggs quickly grabbed something inside his satched and threw at the brick wall commonly known as the underground dungeon

Holding the small material, he threw the weapon tiwatds the concrete and blasted a large hole, large enough for the three of them to fit inside

As soon as they arrived inside the castle's dungeon, the three crept inside the cold isolated hallway, the only pathway that is kept secret, and probably them had the idea that this hideout existed...

And just as what the Engineer had expected, a hidden code written on a wall blocking their way, to their luck he reached the pamphlet and recited the words, and the walls began to form a large pillars

"I'll take the first dungeon, Coraline, you take the second while Norman goes for the third.." Eggs instructed them and the two nooded accordingly,  Misty immediately set her foot on the ground

"I'm going to search for his cane!" She implied and took another route

As soon as the pillars had formed, the three rushed towards the cells and began to destriy the cold rusty metal with a potion, melting barricade another time

Coraline breathe, hoping that they would eventually found their dear friend as soon as she stepped into the old muck of chambers, dripping cold waters, and lots of rodents lingering around, it was silent and that scared her the most

"Hatter?" She called out to alarmed her dear friend

"Chesire? Where are you two?"

but none answered

Until a scraping chans alerted her and a group of prescence inside the cells began to appear from the bars curiosly from her voice

Coraline steped back in horror as soon as she saw the prisoners tried approach her, helplessy looking at her, children that was wrapped with old dirtied clothes made her heart sting from the sight

And old woman sighed and looked at her

"Are you looking for our forefather, milady?" Her voice cracked, weaking as she held her small granddaughter beside

Coraline nodded her head

"Yes...have you seen him?"

The woman didn't answer and only moved her head for a direction

"Alice?"

Coraline halted when a familiar voice reached out to her at the last part of the block, her heartbeat grew faster as she turned around, hoping that her guess was right

Slowly, her eyes trailed from behind, widen from the full view

It was him

Holding the bars as tightly as he could with a chained hands, he looked terrible at his state

"Hatter!!" She cried and rushed towards him, gripping the bars as well, she gaze at his wounded face,  blood trickled down at his head, staining his tattered clothes, it was horrendous

"What have they done to you?!" Her voice raised in tension as soon as she saw the critical wounds at his back, her hands went directly reaching his face and wandered her fingers at every scraped injuries he had

One of the youngest prisoners leaned his head to answer

"They beat him up miss...they tried everything to spill him information but still....the forefather kept his mouth shut and took all the torture all by himself...for us..."

Hatter could only smile and look at Coraline hurtfully with his injured face

"You made me so worried I thought you're dead..." She worriedly whispered "Chesire...where's chesire???"

Behind the madhatter, a cat wrapped his frail body with chain popped his head, she sighed in relief as she noticed nothing harm had come to the feline furthermore

"You shouldn't be here Alice...you should be back at the Golden Kingdom..." he retored as let the grip of his hand go and place his other hand on her shoulder

"I followed what you said, I met your friends and told them everything..." she whispered softly, witnessing the red liquid slowly leaking down from his head, she gently wipe of the stain from hi cheek

"Why do you risk so much for me?" She whispered when she noticed his hand went way through her palm, holding it tightly

"Because I haven't risk for someone that is mine...." he answered with a smile

And that is enough for Coraline to hear

Telling Hatter to back away, she raised her sword and forcefully swung the weapon on the cell, breaking the lock in process

Engineer manage to catch up behind her, dragging his boots just in time Coraline had opened the cell gates

His face turned palle and his breath hitched in panic as soon as he witnessed his fellow comrade lying on the ground about the lose his consciousness

"WYBIE!" He called out Hatter's name and rushed to his aid, Coraline followed and kneeled down to check on him, Hatter continued to smile as soon as he saw Engineer's face

"What have they done to you?! Who did this abomination-"

"Kubo..."

"HIM?! He did this to you?!" He asked more forceful "I shouldn't have left back at the forest...."

"If you did...we would both in this prison, Eggs..."

"I promise, I will take you out of here..."

In quick thinking, Eggs grabbed a key and insterted the magic barrier chains on Hatters wrist, as soon as the cuffs had no longer sealed amd throw away, the madhatter's limp body on Coraline's shoulder

"Take me home Eggs...I beg of you.." Hatter whispered as they slowly stood up

Eggs nodded upon seeng the dreaded state of his dear old friend

"I will...I will..."

The three slowly went putside the cell, carefullt watching Hatter's breathing, they sighed in relief for his stamina was able to let him walk eventhough his state was dire

Eggs leaded the way and went towards the exit corridor when suddenly he froze

Hatter and Coraline had to look upon Engineer's sudden shift of action

Because

They're not alone

Standing by the alley, his cloak moved from the cold air as his raven streaks covered his other eye revealing his heartshaoed eyepatch, gripping the sword tightly, his eye stared at them deadly, observing every move and every attempts

Eggs gritted his teeth as soon as he realized who it was

"General..." Eggs whispered bitterly

"I never ordered everyone to release the prisoner..." he stated with a cold emotionless tone

"What a reunion..." Eggs whispered and slowly pulled out his mechanical gauntlets

"It seems like we were in a bad time, I suppose?" Kubo smiled

And another prescence appeared from General's behind, sliding his shoes and cold blue eyes towards him

He mentioned

"Actually...it was a perfect time...General..." Absolem answered with a glare

It was it then the reunion of the Forefathers had once again, Collided

Chapter Text

And there was it, the grand reunion that even Coraline herself couldn't believe to see the forefathers reunited once again but not it was not for the cause of proclaiming peace

But to get out

The Engineer stood still and covered Coraline and Hatter from the General's sight

"Ohoh? What is this? A rescue mission?" Kubo scoffed as he noticed how Eggs began to feel more protective

"We are taking Hatter back, away from this cursed place, General..." The Engineer spat back as he saw Misty popping out on the prison's wall with a small key on her mouth, the creature began to trot towards the cell, sensing chesire slowly walking towards her, searching for the keyhole that stops him from enchanting

"And it would be wise for you to let us go, Kubo..." Absolem suggested as he took another step, lowering his eyes towards the broken steel bars scattered on the ground

Coraline swear that it moved an inch

"Oh there you are Absolem, such a suprise for a bookworm like you had the knack to join such dangerous mission..." The General mocked at him

Absolem raised his brow "knack? You seem to forget, that I could repress the chaos you've been causing...you are under me, Kubo..."

"But I could sense your weaking, Norman..." Kubo retorted, swaying his crimson red cloak as he spun around

"All of your powers were no match for me, one dared to try to attack me and look at him now..." he laughed pointed towards the Madhatter "he can't even try to pull a single strand of hair at me.."

Absolem laughed mockingly from behind and responded

"Ah....you're too forgetful, General, if I recall Hatter blasted you back during the war with his defense system...all because you wanted to take the White Knight's Scabbard..."

And Coraline instantly knew, that Norman, was givin them time to walk their way out of the situation, stalling Kubo with all he could

She turned her head to check on Hatter with weak shock plastered on his face, squeezing his bruised hand to alarm him, the two slowly took a few steps beside the cell, hoping that the Queen's General wouldn't able to figure out

"Did you really think I was that blind not see you two for attempting of DIVERSION??" Kubo shouted in rage instantly aim his bow towards Coraline and Hatter, the two froze at the sudden speed of weapon shutting their eyes close from the impact

Eggs rushed towards them and blocked the weapon away with his mechanical gauntlets, saving both Wybie and Coraline's lives in the process

Kubo grunted in displeased before turning his face back on Norman who was already charging towards him, without any warning, Absolem raised his hands and the broken metal bars began to float on its owm, aiming directly the projectile towards the General, he mocked Absolem's precision and easily avoided the bars in the process

"Oh, what's this? Using your ability for such an Absolem like you.." he smiled wickedly "I thought violence wasn't the answer..."

"I do not..." Absolem retorted as he summon all the metal bars behind him "unless the person that I have to take some discipline, then yes.."

"STARTING FROM YOU!!" Eggs screamed in rage, leaping his body towards their foe with his mechanical gauntlets without fear, Kubo immediately sensed the attack and lunged himself before Eggs could even crush him flat on the ground

Absolem wasted no time and ran towards the General, summoning one of the metal bars to penetrate him, cell to cell they fought without hesitation, one rage with hatred as the other rage in guilt

"This is pointless! Even uf you joined forces, you wouldn't be able to defeat me! I AM THE SWORD OF THE TEAM!"

"shut your mouth General! All you care about is the Queen!" Eggs retorted grabbing one of Absolem's metal bars, he attempted to strike the weapon towards Kubo's chest

Kubo instantly clutched the bars just as before if tried to pierce his hear

"I care about loyalty, Eggs!" The General hissed, gripping the weapon tightly "One of the things that you all wouldn't understand!"

"You are giving your lotalty to the wrong person, Kubo!" Absolem shouted back

"AND YOU THINK THAT YOUR'S WAS RIGHT, NORMAN? You can't even tell the which is the real prediction of yours! You doubted yourself!"

Absolem widen his eyes in shock, Eggs turned his head the clanging of the metals drastically fell down on the ground

General had found Absolem's weak points

"Why are you silent, Absolem? Because of what I said doesn't it?! Isn't it true?!"

"Don't listen to him, Norman!!" Eggs shouted, digging the weapon even closer and closer towards Kubo until his focus shifted towards his feet when Kubo's fist raised upwards directing at his face with full blow, the Engineer stumbled on the ground with such force, with such strength

His body shook painfully, trying himself to backu up from the ground but the impact that Kubo had done to him is making him feel weak

The General smiled at the sight and turned his head back at Absolem, still in pure shock

"Face it Norman, you're useless just as your predictions were..." he muttered under his breath, clear enough for Absolem to hear those hurtful words

Repeating over...

And over

Again...

Useless....

"Now watch as your dear home will destroy because of your failure..."

Your failure....

Something inside of him, had finally snapped

"I AM NOT WEAK!!!" Norman shouted in rage and lunged his body towards Kubo, collecting every scraps of metal on the ground and pointing the edges towards Kubo

Noticing how the Forefather of all knowledge began to enrage

"YES! LET YOUR ANGER OUT NORMAN!!" Kubo shouted in excitement

Coraline immediately felt Hatter's body moved in desperation, reaching out his bloodied hand towards his dear

"NORMAN NO! DON'T LISTEN TO HIM!" He shouted weakly and slumped his body back on Coraline

"Please you three! Stop it!!"

But neither of them heard his plead

This is about protecting Wonderland anymore...

Sacrifices must be made

Coraline watched as the Engineer and Absolem furiously raised their weapon towards the impulsive General a very same scene that somehow, a fragment was still inside her thoughts

"You have to go Alice!"

"I can't leave you alone! Not like this!"

"Go home, Alice..."

"Hatter, NOOOOO!!"

Coraline immedtiately snapped back from the reality

What was that?

Something appeared on her mind...

Kubo quickly grabbed his shamisen hidden on his coat but before the general could even manage to take a single blow from his string, Norman summomed a metal bar towards the General's weapon, dragging it on the ground the process

Eggs raised back up from the ground again and sprinted towards their enemy, he manage to grab Kubo's shoulder, unable for the general to move his body for a counter attack

The Enginner grunted as he glared back at him

"DO IT, NORMAN!" he yelled towards Absolem, indicating the proceed of defeating the General once and for all

To Alice surprise, Absolem did not hesitate, instead he nodded willingly and raised the metal bars high into the air without any second thoughts

And lunged towards the General's chest

Kubo closed his eye as he finally accapeted his fate, only waiting for that slow and painful agony that his chest would recieve

But nothing happened

Quickly opening his eye, something had blocked Absolem's magic from fully penetrating him with the weapon

It was a green forcefield

No...

It was someone's echantment!

Eggs and Norman shockingly stared back at the green forcefield that surrounded Kubo, turning their heads back towards Coraline and the prisoner, his eyes glowed bright green, blood and sweat trickled down on his frustrated face as his hand continued to reached out the incantation to stay a little longer

Hatter had used a defense spell on Kubo

"Why..." Eggs whispered  in confusion but Hatter could only look at them without anyword

"Open...thy...gates..of.." he muttered but couldn't be able to finish his words as his body was still weak, Coraline lifted his body back up again

As the two forefathers was still distracted, Kubo quickly ran towards his fallen shamisen and snatched his weapon

Hatter noticed that he was about to use his 2nd lock and immediately screamed back into the heavens

the ground shook and sebris began to fall from the enormous creature approaching from the building, walls cracking running from every walls and corners of the prison until it had finally reached from the ceiling creating a large massive hole and chunks of cement fell down of the ground

Kubo noticed a large debris was slowly falling right towards him, with no time to use his attack at his enemy, he jumped to avoid the massive solid from trampling him

It was the Mist Phoenix, falpping its wings that even the winds it could control with it, along with holding the retreived Hatter's cane while riding on its back with a worried look on look on his face

"Quick! We must escape!" Neil shouted as he hurriedly went down and assisted Coraline from carrying Hatter all the way the creature's back, quickly placing the weaking Madhatter on the soft feather, Neil checked his vitals before telling the other two to jumped back up

Eggs and Norman didn't said anything and only follwed Neil's commands to them, Misty instantly jumped on Chesire's back as the feline could finally dissipate through the air and joined in with the others, going back up at the Mist phoenix the creature shreiked and flapped it's wings again fir better accuracy bac the skies of wonderland, leaving the raging General unconscious on the once again....

They don't have much time either way, they needed to go back the Golden Kingdom as soon as possible or else, everything they had sacrificed is done for

Even the mist phoenix could felt the trembling hearts of its passengers, most especially that the forefather of all life was at stake, it hurriedly parted the skies and sped its wings towards back the Golden Kingdom

"Wybie, it'll be fine...don't worry..." Neil muttered as he held Hatter's bloodied hand not even cared less that his vest was stained by the red liquid

Absolem and Engineer looked at each other and turned silent

Beyond the Golden Kingdom, her footsteps grew louder and louder as the time ticks, she couldn't calm yet, not now, not until she could see her friends arrive safe and sound

She nervously placed her fingers on her lips in deep thought

Where were they?

What happened?

Did they manage to save him?

What if they got caught by the hands of her sister and already torturing them

The image of the MadHatter being battered and tortured was already too painful to imagine, let alone seeing Engineer is such same fate is too much...

"You're highness...your health..." her servant worriedly watched the queen pacing back and forth

"I can't just stop worrying about them...I still haven't hear any news..."

"Look over there!!" A guard yelled as he pointed over the sky, the Queen immediately turned her head in panic to see what was the commotiom

Her eyes went wide to relief as soom as a familiar creature flying closer towards them, crying out in vain, she immediately knew that something was wrong as soon as it landed on the ground with such strength that the wind blew almost the leaves and bushes of the castle, guards took the alert and covered the queen in a rush

"You're highness! It's them!!" One of the guards called her

Winnie immediately peeked her herd through the guards to see Engineer climbing down first, a sigh of relief came out through the Queen's mouth

He's safe..

Followed by Absolem, Misty, Neil and Coraline holding Hatter by the shoulder, lifting his weaking head towards her direction, he noticed how the Queen's face drained into dread as soon as she saw his bloodied state

"WYBIE!!" she couldn't help but the scream out his name and shoved the guards in panic

Hatter smiled in relief as soon as she noticed the Queen was already sprinting towards them and couldn't help but to walk weakly towards her in the process

All he could hear was her screams of fear and paranoia when his body finally surrendered and fell onto the ground, however, before he could even face the hard brick floor, tbe Queen manage to hold him as they sat on the ground weeping

"What have they done to you?!?!" She asked as she shook his shoulder

"My sister did this to you? Did she?!" Her face rage as soon as she remembered her sister's face

Holding Hatter gently, the man could only smile as response as his head rested on her arms

"I did everything I could..don't I? Your Highness?? Did I?" He whispered  over and over again until he couldn't abke to hold back anymore, tears flowed down on his cheeks and winced in pain

The Queen held him tightly as she could, didn't care less if her gown would eventually stain with his blood

"You did well Hatter...you did well..." she msutered up all the lain and the tears away as she clung her dear friend
Neil rushed towards them along with a fewguards from behind

"We need to assist him fast!!"

Winnie cried in sorrow as she watched Neil holding Hatter up again, Engineer seeing the distress on her face, slowly went to approach her and gently help her up

Evwn the guards had to carefully carry his limping body to avoid his wounds from getting worse

"Wait!!" Coraline shouted, holding Hatter's hand, he looked at her sadly and caressed her fingers

"It'll be alright lass..." he barely whisper as he whinced in pain "You.. can let me go..."

She had no other choice but to do so

Slowly loosening her grip

Once again, Coraline had let go of his hand

"Easy....careful..." Coraline began to mutter in fear as she watched the guards carrying her dear friend away

Absolem sadly patted her shoulder

"You're brave, Alice..." he told her as he rubbed her back when his gaze widen to see her eyes was soaked with tears

"I am trying....Norman..."

Without second thoughts, Coraline rushed towards the palace doors along with the other group leaving the Queen silently stood alone on the fountain

Eggs noticing the looming aura of the Queen, he stood behind her in worry

"Winnie? Are you alright?" He asked as he tried to turn her face around but her voice suddenly went sharp word of-

"No..."

He flinched

It wasn't the same Queen like he used to look at

Those supposed of light cerulean green isrises was chang inti darker ones that could send people threats to their lives

She glared hardly at the southern part of mountains, a particular tower that was painted with scarler red

"She had done enough...she'll pay for this..."

"Winnie..." Eggs reasoned

But the Queen turned her back away from him as she gritted bitterly before walking away

"If she wants war...."

"I'll give her war..."

And they know that once it was a Queen's words

She won't back down

Chapter Text

the castle's doors busted out in a roar causing the everyone inside the papace to jump at the sudden commotion, turning their heads to see the Royal Advisor rushing in fear, followed my several guards lifting someone by their armored suit

One of the maids screamed as soon as they realized it was the Forefather of Life and Happiness that was bathed by his own blood, sliding his shoes like a lifeless being on the floor

Neil grunted and shoved everyone walking on their way in desperation while keeping his head turning back and on the way just to check Hatter's state

As much to his worries, Coraline had the quicken her pace and walked beaside the guards, never letting her eyes looked away at the person who saved her and sacrificing his own safety

They ran towards the aiding chambers where all knights and brave warriors had to tend their wounds

"Easy now...don't force him.." Winnie plead as she watched the guards slowly carrying Hatter on the bed carefully, just as what she had said so

Eggs had no choice but to comfort the Queen for she had already buried her face on his chest, trembling, both her voice and her body, she began to sob in pain

Chesire with Misty on his back could see a clear view of Hatter from above, the young feline felt weak as soon as he saw his dear friend screaming in pain

Servants frantically bringing all the clean cloth and bandages that could find, psychaiatrists showing all their tools and medicinal herbs to ten those horrible wounds

"He's been poisoned with snowpollen your majesty!!" One of the medical servants cried out in fear

Taken by those words, Coraline stumbled back, lending her body on Absolem rushing to catch her up

"Can we take the pollens out?!" Absolem grunted

but the medical servant defeatedly shook her head for it was to difficult for them to search the pollens circulating inside the Forefather's body

"I'm afraid we are too late..." the servant could only whisper hurtfully in return

A loud lump of body fell on the solid ground, breathing in panic Coraline pounded the floor in hatred as she watched everyone hoplessly praying by some Wonderland's deity coukd save this Forefather

"I have failed being your Queen, now I am bringing my loyal servants into their doom!!" Winnie cried oud in frustration

Neil shook his head as he went to approach the Madhatter, sweating, shaking and muttering nonsensical words thag even Absolem, had to take action and desperately began to grab herbal leaves and putting in as gently as he could on Hatter's wounded body despite his shaking of fear

The servants quickly pulled the two away

"Forefather! This is no use!"

Norman shook his head

"THIS IS MY BROTHER FOR WONDERLAND SAKE! LEAVE ME!" he shouted and shoved the woman away and continued to aid Hatter

Neil squinted his eyes in pain at the sight

"We can't live without him, without him...we can't longer feel those comforting smiles anymore-"

"He has to live...He has to..." Coraline muttered

The ground began to shake in terror, servants around the castle immediately ducked there heads in panic

The Queen look up towards the window

The green field that had been surrounding the kingdom began to flicker out

It was Hatter's magic

If it'll entirely lose its force field

The Red Kingdon could have the advantage upon attacking the kingdom without any problems

They flinched when they noticed Hatter had sprung up to the bed with glowing green eyes that was entirely sure it wasn't him amymore

that loud painful scream made Engineer to cover the Queen's ears in fear

"TAKE IT OUT! TAKE OT OUT FROM ME!!" Hatter shouted and went to slump back on the bed still struggling to move because of the medical servamts restraining him

He's acting like a wild animal at this point

This isn't him...

But his magic was flunctuating

"If we can't do something about this, he'll go insane!!" Chesire scolded them as Misty behind him, could only weep as a reply

"He's our defense- he protected this boarder of wonderland...he has to live.." Eggs gritted

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry I should have been more careful..." the queen whispered in regret

Overwhelmed upon the situation, Corakine watched the scenario around her, as if everything feels so slow...

like a time itself has been trying to let her think..

But something tells her, that it really wasn't the reason why he has to live

Was it really just that his purpose for her?

Or was it something else...

Far beyond the rules, the roles, the responsibility...

She closed her eyes and breathe, letting the droplets of tears from her eyes feel towards the ground

Coraline opened her mouth

"He has to live...."

Everyone stopped as soon as Coraline repeated those exact words again

All eyes on her as they watched her shaky arms trying with its best to support her body

"He was to live...because..."

"He's our friend..."

And that is all what they needed to know

They had forgotten the sole purpose of Wonderland ever since the war begun, the whole foundation of the the own world they created

Was made through trust and friendship

Absolem gasped as a struck of light began to to circle around Coraline, shining ever so bright, everyone stopped moving as the glow began brightwr and brighter as if it was trying to keep the woman away from the darkness that surrounds then

Whispers of children singing, the sound of the clocks echoed through her ears when the light bad negun to wrapped around her, it was trying to tell her something, something that she had hope that it could help them

Then, the light began to create a path, passing people to people, rushing with such speed towards the doorway revaling its rays from the ground, it went outside the chamber halls and went somewhere through the hallway

Coraline, to her senses quickly stood up and all to their fear, she began to pull the unconscious Hatter to her shoulders

"Alice what are you doing?!" Neil exclaimed in fear, attempting to grab the forefather back

"There's no time! We need to follow that light and bring him with us!!"

Everyone looked at each other, unsure on what to do if they'll trust her

Time is running out for Hatter

But what choice do they have

Winnie took the first step and went towards Neil, staring her deep cerulean eyes to his deep brown orange ones

"I trust her, Neil..." she whispered and gently held Hatter to her arms with Coraline's help

The two women struggled as they followed the path but both knew that it will give them hope to save their dear friend, the had to take that risk even if it was just the two of them

Almost stumbling to the ground, they stopped when something avoided them the eventually landing on the floor to see the Engineer, Absolem and Neil took Hatter's body towards them

They all both smiled in relief and went to followed the light once again
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     The light had leaded them towards the hall of prophecy, stopping its basking light towards the fountain that has been surrounded with forefathers statues, Coraline immediately rushed inside, stepping on the warm liquid, soaking her dress in the dress

But there is no time to worry about that

Everyone's eyes were all for Hatter now

Chesire floated to keep his eye on his dear friend, helplessly watched the group of people handling Hatter slowly towards the fountain and placed on the water

She doesn't why she decided that but the whispers from her mind tells her to do so...

And with that, she watched the blood began to mix from the water, scattering its crimson color around clear liquid

Was this supposed to heal him?

But nothing is happening

The Queen kneeled down along with them and checked Hatter's pulse, barely beating

Coraline turned her head in franfic, worriedly that something was missing

A sharp light suddenly struck her eye from a far, a blade purely made of the finest metal and silver was placed on the weapons beside the menacing General's portrait

Taking a few looks at the portrait with pure hatred, reminding how he had let the red soldiers hurt Hatter

She will never forget that traitorous face

Without wasting time, she sprinted and quickly grabbed the sword from its position and hurriedly went back towards the fountain, as much to their wonder why, they all watched, holding Hatter soaked by the fountain

Coraline suddenly raised the sword higher, closed her eyes and gripped the handles tighter

"If this won't work...I'll take that responsibilty..."

And with that said, she struck the sword towards the stone with all her might, piercing the metal from the solid material

Everyone gasped in awe as they witness the sword had successfully pierced my a such a mere sword, much that fact that all the weapons had just been used by the General had been used through battles and had gotten weak

That not even a singke rock could be able to gain a scratch on it

But not this particular sword

Winnie looked towards Coraline and back to the sword, wondering if it was even the sword had the magic to begin with

Or maybe it was Coraline All along....

"Look! The sword is glowing again!" Absolem exclaimed watching the light suddenly dissipated through the waters as if scattering its light on the fountain

Eggs huffed when he noticed the water began to crawl towards his body, to his knees and arms as to here his wounds could be seen, watching how the enchantment liquid began to seep tbe wound without a single feeling of stinging pain he realized

"It's healing us..." he whispered, and watched his comrades getting healed as well, Absolem and Neil...his eyes went back towards Coraline

But nothing has change to her shuffled state

"It's healing everyone...then that means!" Neil shouted amd darted his eyes back to the the unconscious person

Everyone watched and waited until the waters had finally healed Hatter's body, within the last cantation of healing his bruised face

The statue of the Forefather had finally glowed back to its origib
Nal state, radiant green of defense orb began to rise back again

One of the guard hurriedly went to look at the palace's window, smiling brightly he saw the force field had finally went back to original state again

"Your highness! It's back! He's alright!!" The guard cheered and everyone sighed in relief as they all laughed in happiness

Eggs couldn't able to sustain his own happines, quockly pulled out Hatter from the waters and hugged him tightly

"You're safe...you're safe..." he whispered in such ease his voice caused Winnie to smiled at his compassion

"Take Hatter to his chambers! Hurry!" Absolem ordered the servants

Coraline kneeled down in happiness as she watched the maids took Hatter away from the water along with the help of the other forefathers and Neil, the scurried off towards his chambers, leaving her and Absolem alone by the halls once again

"Is this what you meant of danger, Absolem?" She asked unsurely

But the Forefather could only shook his head "It is...by far...one of the dangers that you had to face, dear Alice..."

He stopped and watched the sword still stuck on the stone

"This is your trial...amd it seems you had passed it..." he smiled "You really are THE ALICE..."

"The Alice that can't even protect a single person..." she spat bitterly to herself when to her surprise, Absolem held her hand with smile

"It is Hatter's decision to be as the bait...he wants you to see how much important Wonderland is for him...as we all do...and now, it is your turn to save it..."

With that last smile of assurance, she nodded approvingly, throwing away all her insecurities, her fears, her own doubts..

She watched as Absolem left the room in silent, leaving her now alone with the sword that the calling had chosen her to protect Wonderland

Slowly pulling the handles again, the metal sheath, removing smootly away from the sword as it glow continued to shun the metal

Watching her own reflectiom to it...it was odd to see herself different, powerful and more to herself

And thay struck Absolem's words to her

"He wants you to see how much important Wonderland is for him...as we all do...and now, it is your turn to save it..."

He's right, that is what her purpose for this

And that is what she will do as well...

This is her own calling...

This is her

This is Alice....

Chapter Text

"You imbeciles!" Her voice rage echoed around the cold and dim throneroom, loud enough to made everyone shook in fear as the Red Queen continued to spat sharp words towards them

"You are all useless!"

The general, had nothing left but to bear the moment, could only docked his head as he kneeled down with a surrendered look

"Did you see what happens? The Force field is back again, that nuisance Hattee is still alive! You should have gone off his head from the start!" Her eyes glared back towards the golden kingdom

"But your highness.."

"Enough of your excuses, Kubo!" She shouted causing the man to gulped back his words again

"You had dissapointed me long enough...." she muttered unamused amd proceeded to walk towards the doorway

Did not even care less on how sharp her words towards his

Kubo could only blame himself upon what happened

Because he was weak as well....
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The sun docked above the mountains, stretching its ray towards the palace, greeting the servants and villagers for another day and another talk that happened for the past few weeks

After the incident, everyone inside the palace doubled their guard, especially the queen ordered the troops to enchance the security, guards would them multiple their troops guarding at every sections in and out side the place and the entrance of the village required for deep inspections just to get away from assasins and spies

Hatter had became the talk around the village for his sudden arrival in such a battered state terrified the whole people, after going into the castle

They had never seen him again

Curiosity lead the people into worry

This also leads to Coraline, their newwest saviour as to what they believe in manage to heal the forefather with her healing magic, the speculation of her being the Alice spread like a disease around the kingdom

But upon their concern, it wasn't the time for Absolem and the others to worry about such rumors

Everyone was attentive of their dear friend's recovery that even his own chambers were guarded my the top ranks of knights outside his door, until her was fully recovered

Alas the wounds may have healed his body but not everything had dissapeared just as she had wanted

The sword's healing powers depends on the holder's determination

She had a long way to go

Numbers of persons standing beside the throneroom, The queen sighed in worry, collecting all her energy as dust of purple began to assemble from her palm, it began to glow and revealing Hatter's chambers, as to her guess, still unconscious and laying on his bed with a weaken body, only that moving was his chest from breathing

she wondered when would her dear mentor would ever wake up from this tormenting day

Watching his figure attentively she noticed a woman sitting beside the bed, one hand gently place upon his own

It was Alice...

The Queen smiled as she watched how Alice would try to caress his cheek and tucked back the dangled hair that would often blocked his eyes, eventhough she knew that it wasn't necessary but still, she wanted his rest to be as comfortable as she could

Eggs entered the throneroom to see the Queen's face smiling but the hint or worry was still visible to her eyes

He couldn't able to resist and took a step

"She's been there for hours...and sometimes she never got to rest from waiting..." he told her as he stopped beside her chair

Winnie smiled and vanished her magic as soon as Eggs arrived beside her

"I just...I'm just worried for Hatter's state and it seems that Alice was not into her herself as well..." she sighed and went back to look at the palace doors in front of them

"She's been like that for almost week..." Engineer observed during their visiting hours, Alice would usually been the first person to arrive inside Hatter's chambers..."

"Well...that's how a person acts if they cared for the other person to much..." The Queen replied without breaking any contact from the door

When something caught her attention

It was Eggs small chuckle

She raised her brown in wonder

"Is something the matter, Engineer?" She asked worriedly, when Eggs immediately waved his hands

"No..no..it's nothing, I just...remember something..."

"And that is?"

"How you had also stood by my side after the war as well..." he finished and slowly placed his comforting hand on top of hers

The Queen smiled at his gesture

"He'll be fine, Winnie..." Eggs assured her

"Oh I know he'll be...but for Alice?" Thinking back on what she saw inside the chambers, her face is as clear as the water itself, she was definitely terrified..
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     And the Queen was right to her guess all along

Sitting silently beside the bed, Coraline hurtfully watched the unconscious Hatter resting by the sheets, wrapped with plucked leaves amd clean bandages around his head and across his body, the unsettling image suddenly went inside her head of all the pain torture he had been through that wretched Red Kingdom

That even people whom had th sweetest smiles had the endure the pain much more

Unable to hold her grudge anymore, her hand slightly gripped his loosen one as she tried to tucked back his hair again, softly caressing his cheek as she gazed into his sleeping face, wondering to herself if he'll ever wake up...

All she could was to hope

"Rest well, Hatter..." she whispered amd stoop up to take a small herbal leave to place his forehead and sat back on the chair once again..

Waiting, Hoping and praying that this would end very soon

but this time, she didn't not let go of her hand

And she'll kept that way until he'll be able to move on his own

He was the first person that stayed with her

And she'll do the same as well for him

"Alice.." a whisper echoed through her ears as something was calling her name

Or was it someone....

"Alice?"

To her shock, the voice was rather more forceful and still hoarse, without a doubt, turning her head by the bedsheets, her eyes had finally met his

Joy instantly run through her veins as soon as she saw his shaky hand slowly gripped hers, still struggling to control his body, Coraline leaned closer and caressed his head, letting her warmth to let him felt that she still there

"The...others...Eggs...and Absolem..they.." he whispered weakly towards her as his mind began to wander around what happened after the escape, Coraline smiled sadly and said nothing for a moment

"They were all fine, Hatter...we were all waiting for you..."

She slowly pulled out a bowl with a warm liquid beside the bed, guiding the spoon towards his mouth upon which he did not hesitaye at any secnd gulped down the whole liquid

"Rest well..." she calmed him as se could felt his wary of uneasiness began to tense his whole body

"But...Absolem..." he cried but Alice continued to wipe off the sweat from his face away

until a warm feeling he felt on is forehead, hurtfully as he could felt those trembling lips, Alice had kissed him just to calm him down

"Rest..." she whispered as she let her hand rested on his cheek

Her voice was the last thing he had heard until his energy had finally weakened him, drifting him off back to deep slumber once again

She smiled as soon as she relaized that his sudden wakening is a sign of his recovery and for a couple of days, the scars that her newfound power was finally working, he'll be back as the Hatter she knew in time...

Coraline once again lay her head on the sheets, waiting until the sun had finally set itself beneath the mountains
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     Beyond the Red kingdom, darkness continued to loom over the palace, even inside the Queen's chambers was her fireplace could provide enough light and warmth, stroking her long silky coal hair, a strong sound of whipping caused her to fix her bightgown and we to approach the nearest window

She witnessed her guards forcing each and every servants to provide the damages of the castle by rebuilding the prison, people who had no experience of fixing such structures still had no other choice but to follow her orders or else, it'll be their heads shall be the price

She smiled at the view of the terror written all over their faces, her power and title had finally given her to some good use, unlike to her other youngest sister, she believes that people could be adored through kindess and trust

And look what happened to her, she followed her advice and what did she  brought upon herself?

The crown that was supposed to be hers still ended up towards Winnifred

No matter how much she tried to please people

Winnie was still their beloved PRINCESS

and she loathed it

She hated everyone

Including her own family...

A small knock from the door interrupted her thoughts, turning around through the sound, Agatha continued to look through the window and waited for the door to open, as it creaks, footsteps had also went to approach her, touching her soft pale shoulder as she could felt his breath began to shake, she instantly knew that it was him

"I had failed you..." he simply told to himself while resting his head on her shoulder slowly moving his arms, the silken fabric of her nightgown made his arms to perfectly wrapped around her waist

"I know...." she breathe, still not looking away from the sight beneath them

until her eyes travelled again towards the Golden Kingdom, she glared at the sight

Slowly moving her hand and felt the cold jewelry around her finger, she turned around to face him but the dissapointment from his eyes is still there as well

"I understand, my Queen..."

"Knowing that the Madhatter is alright, the prophecy about that blue haired girl is also true....she is definitely the Alice that we've been Looking for...seems like Absolem is right along..."

The Queen slowly took his hand and looked at him

"How can I be able to marry the strongest General if he can't be able to defeat just a mere lower forefathers? Hmm? How, Kubo?" She asked

"You know, I do not like dissappointments, Kubo. What would tbe people think of me marrying you?"

Kubo immediately knitted his brows and held her hand tightly

"I won't let you down this time, I promise you, yoh're highness...once we destroy the Golden Kingdom, it'll be yours...and you cpuld forever rule wonderland forever..." his eyes gleamed as he said those words, Agatha couldn't help but to smile and reached his cheeks

"I know that you won't, my General.."

And with that everlasting vow, the Queen planted a warm kiss on his lips, feeling tbe warmth of his body to hers hers, their desire to one another could only be seen though their chambers

after they had parted, the two ended up for am embrace, the Queen couldn't help but to smile wickedly towards the Golden palace once again

And the desire of destroying the Golden kingdom is what made them to be dangerous..
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     Sun sets towards the morning mountains again, the roosters immediately cried out for another day to keep everyone else busy

The soumd of birds chirped in bliss, causing her to wake up from the sheets as she could felt the sun rays had stricken her eyes, Coraline immediatelty opem her eyes to notice that she's wasn't inside her chambers

But still inside of Hatter's

She must have fallen asleep yesterday

Quickly roamed her arm around the mattress her eyes went wide in shock for she could not felt Hatter's body

Coraline quickly turned her head around to see his body was no longer laying on the sheets

A sudden shock roamed around her body as delusions of thoughts began to swarmed inside her head

She can't moved nor breathe properly

SOMEONE MUST HAVE TOOK HIM

Rushing through the door and opemed them with great force, the guards from the outside, jolted in panicked as they saw Alice shouting nonesense while running through the hallway

"Milady Whiteknight!" One of tbe guards worriedly asked her but Coraline did not mind a bit and continued to ran through the hallway

The guards looked at each other in confusion until the other shrugged

How could she let this happen?!?!?

She was there

But he was still GONE!

she panted and rushed towards the throneroom expected to see the Queen on her seat as usual

Coraline jumped through doors and stairs and greeted Neil with a tray of herbal leaves that was supposed for Hatter's treatment

"NEIL, HATTER IS GONE!" Alice shouted as she rished towards him, her voice panicked amd the yound Advisor flinched at her gestures

"SOMEONE TOOK HIM WHILE I WAS THERE-"

"Wait what? What do you mean?! Hatter was-" Neil exclaimed but even before he could finish his words

Alice was no longer in front of him, she had already ran towards the throneroom

He couldn't help bit to chuckle and walked towards Alice's direction as well

Taking a few steps a s calmly as he could, he finally reached towards the throneroom to see Alice shaking The Engineer roughly almost making tbe young man to vomit from all the uncooperating movements that Alice is trying to make him to

"THEY TOOK HATTER, EGGS!"

"Alice what are you talking abou- I feel so sick- please let me go!" He cried as he could felt his face started to feel colder

She gritted her teeth in irritation when a pair of footsteps from the balconey made her to stop shaking the weakening Engineer

One of those was the Queen with Chesire around her shoulders both smiling towards her

And the other was his usual curly brown locks and his confusing Hazel eyes looking towards her

Alice couldn't help but to stare back at him

Was it...really him?

"Alice?" The man asked in worry as he slowly approached her

Coraline let Eggs go as he coughed away towards Absolem

Her feet slowly moved towards the man

She's wasn't quite sure if she could say something at this point

Her heart is pounding so much

"H-Hatter? Is that...really you?" She asked and he nodded

"I sensed that you're tired lassy so I wanted to make you some tea but it seems you're already awake-"

"YOU BLOODY IDIOT!" She shouted and went straight lunging her body towards him, giving him the embraced that she had wanted to do for so long

Even Hatter shocked his own words and stopped himself as her sudden actions, frozen in shock his eyes went down to look on her hair

"You made me so..worried you dummy..." she winced and hugged him tighter "I missed you..."

Sensing her urge and desire through that emrace, He could help but to emrbrace her back as well

"I...missed you to..." he whispered

Everyone smiled at the heartwarming view

The two laughed as Alice had slapped his arm again

"Don't you ever do that again.." she scolded him as she pointed him in threat

He chuckled and scratched his head

"The one leaving you inside my chambers or the one I tried to risk myself?"

She rolled her eyes and hugged him again

"Both..."

And he knew that she was right

Winnie smiled and looked towards the colored glaased window, wondering what will the following days going to happened for the kingdom

But if there's one thing for sure

It was step of retreiving Wonderland once again....

Chapter Text

After the news spreaded of The Forefather's recovery, the townspeople overjoyed in around the square, sharing happiness and the good news everyone inside the kingdom began to show appreciation towards Hatter's bravery and they would often bring him gifts and tokens whenever he would try to roam around the palace

As much the Queen's relief, he was back to his usual self again, making jokes, serving tea and often stealing some pastries inside the kitchen and went inside his chambers

But he was still under guarded, Winnie advused him not to go outside until he was fully recovered as to which Hatter would accordingly followed her concerns as he was only allowed to be inside the palace

Chesire continued to walk by his side as well as Misty to keep him company during his wander around

However his eyes was still glued towards the blue haired woman his frequent going outside the chambers was just an excuse to secretly observed her along with tbe others

And Alice did the same thing as well

Whenever the forefather's prescence was there, she couldn't help but took a glance at him whenever he was occupied of other things

And Neil was not amused to this, at all
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     Sunset falls so fast, it was time for another tend of Hatter's wounds

"Neil told me that he busy doing something, specifically the Queen's orders so he insisted to taje in charge of tending your wounds for while..." Alice blanky explain the situation in front of the Madhatter just opened the door from his slumber

she chuckled at his drowsy state, Hatter quickly gestured Alice to come inside

"Umm..Alright then, Alice...come.." he whispered as he scratched his head in wonder

Even his chambers began to feel lighter, the walls and floors had finally returned back from its vibrant colors, seeing the state of this, Alice could definitely say that her dear friend is getting a lot better

Seeing Hatter slowly sat on his bed, she turned her head when something caught her attention at the end side of his chambers

An old sewing machine and many hats with different designs were placed on tbe tables and along them was his hat durinf their first encounter, however it was all tattered and ruined, only reminding them both the horrible chase from the forest

Seeing how her eyes shined in awe towards his works, he grinned in delight

"I see you had noticed my works?"

She nodded and placed the tray on the small shelf

"You made those?" She asked in wonder as she reached for his loosen shirt and began to lift it up

He chuckled as he noticed her eyes couldn't take off from his creations

"Correcto my dear Alice, as matter of fact, when I was still a young lad, I was already a hat maker, well, one of tbe workers by the previous Madhatter of course..." turning his back as he contined his story "I usually create hats and gave it to our friends...though, I did made a crown, once..."

Alice gasped in bewilderment "you made a crown?! From who was it??"

Though her question made him to halt immediately

His mouth shut closed, Hatter suddenly grown quiet, taking a few breaths

"It was for Agatha...the Red Queen..." he shakily replied

sensing how his attitude changes, Alice frowned and changes her attention towards the madecine that she had been preparing, becoming silent as well, pounding everything bit of the healing leaves and placed it along with the other medicinal ingredients inside the bowl

He cold felt the tingling cold on his back began to spread across his body, Alice must have already applying tbe herbs on his wound, the sting jad also began to appear on them

He groaned, causing Alice the flinched for a second, giving him enough time to take a few more breathes before proceeding for another treatment

"It'll go away in time..." she reassured him amd pulled the bandage long enough to wrapped around his body "you are in pain, I know..." she whispered

"I can take the pain on whoever wants me to have it, Alice..." he replied coldly and as soon as she finally placed his shirt down to its usual place

He stood up, picking up his spectacles and walked towards the door, opening the glassed material, the cold air brished through their skin as night finally falls, revealing the grand balcony outside

Alice follwed him from behind just as he watched the glowing green field surrounding the kingdom

"Hatter, don't say that..."

But he couldn't only chuckled at her concerns

"But it's true, Alice..."

"I can take the pain, but the pain seeing everyone else...now that is the worst feeling..."

Is that the real reason why we always put himself at risk?

And that struck her, a memory

Back at the Tea Party

"He was once a great party planner before all the ruckus happened, oh, poor fellow, if only the ambush doesn't exists back there, she might as well survived..."

"She might as well..."

Alice secretly gaze at his troubled face while the wind filled their silent

"Back at the tea party...Ms. April said something about a person-" Alice slowly try to get his attention, making sure that her words won't made the poor forefather in shock

She clasped her hands nervously and bit her lip

"She said that, she would have survived if the ambush did not exist in the first place...." she added, still not looking away from his face when he realized what she had meant, he did not move an inch but Alice knew that he was listening

She sighed and placed her hand gently on his arm resting on the edge of the balcony

"Was it someone you cared about, Hatter?"

Sadly, he smiled and carefully placed his hand on hers as well

He silently nodded

"I see...." Alice told herself and gaze back on the village again, to her curiosity, Hatter began to take a deep breathe

"I-"

Alice turned her back towards him

He's trying to tell something

"I....killed my Grandmother...with my own magic.." he spoke out, slowly his eyes making way to see her reaction

And as just expected, a dread of shock and horror was plastered all over her face

His Grandmother?

Alice stayed speechless, unabale to answer his phrase

Hatter had no other choice but to clear his throat and continued his story

Their story

"It was many years ago..."
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     Fire trickled through the burning embers of wood, the dark smoking gas surrounded the forest leaving traces of shadowy air mixed with human screams around

"Look out!" One of the people shouted towards the few villagers standing in fear as the ruined debris began to fall from its position, right towards them

They screamed in fear as they waited for the impact when suddenly a large green force field and chunks of metal bursted out from the ground

A man quickly grabbed the people away from the burning wood, flying his black feathered cape, the child securely clung his arms around their saviour

"Forefather Absolem!" The child cried

"Neil! Take them Away!!" Absolem shouted to his ally as the redhead nodded immediately

"Norman!! Where are you?!?!" The woman shouted in desperation

Hearing his mother's voice, Absolem rushed in action, savi g his mother from the blazing heat of fire

The Queen and Hatter stood side by side covered with magical barriers around them, surrounding the wounded villagers to protect them

"I ran out of summoning scrolls your highness!" He told her as his hands desperately keeping his magic from protecting the people and the Queen's magic as well

The Queen breathe and watched her entire people suffering from the ambush

Ger thoughts immediately cut off when she noticed a white armoured had approached them

"The White Knight!" The Queen sighed in relief

"I'll take care of the Villagers your highness!" The man assured her as he gripped the scabbard tightly, he turned his head towards Hatter..

"Forefather, I beg of you, take my Daughter away from here..."

Hatter immediately nodded his head nad heed the White Knight's last remaining wish
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"Mother! you and and Mr. Herbert should leave!" Norman shouted

"But-"

"There's no time!!" He demanded

A sharp metal was already aiming towards them

Norman in fear that his dear beloved mother would have taken the aim, his senses alerted him, quickly pushed his mother away towards Neil and swung his arm immediately, using his powers, the metal missed its aim, only leaving a scratch on his arm on the process

He grunted at the stinging pain and slumped down on the grassy ground

"Norman!!"

"Go...Now!" He shouted, covering his wounded arm

Light footsteps made his attention turned back towards the sound amd the scrape of the metal clucking on the pebbles, Absolem immediately knew that familiar stance

"Ah, Norman...how pitiful to see that a mere weapon of a royal guard could easily wounded you..." the man hiding from the smoke chuckled in content

Absolem breathe "a mere scratch is not making me back down you traitor..."

Gripping the sword on his hand, the man revealed himself with his red cloak and dark brown hair freely draping on his shoulder, he smiled wickedly back at the forefather

"Traitor? Am I?" He asked himself and held his sword innocently

"The one who his traitor from this group, WAS YOU THREE!" He shouted and lunged himself towards Absolem when suddenly a thick metal had blocked his way

The Generao gru ted as he noticed the magic once again

"KUBBBOOO!" a scream made his head turned at the side, seeing The Engineer in furious state with his metal gauntlents jumping from beside him, ready to take a large punch

But to the Engineer's demise, the General had avoided his attacks and jumped sideways

"Engineer always full of surprises...."

"Shut up, Kubo...you're the one to talk taking turns..."

"At keast I know what loyalty is meant of!" The cloaked man shouted and lunged his sword towards Eggs

The Engineer quickly gripped the sheathe of the metal with with gauntlet, struggling at the amount of strength that the General had

Absolem quickly stood up and collected every weapons that he cpuld find and took the chamce to throw everything towards Kubo

Ending with a spear it successfully went throigh to injure his arm

Just in time to keep Eggs from getting impaled through his heart

Kubo shouted in pain and watched his shoulder trickled with blood

"Nice one, Norman...just another sparring I see..."

"Oh, I was just wating for him to arrive.." Absolem chuckled bitterly

The White Knight immediately appeared beside the General, showing off the Scabbard, Kubo gasped and rolled his body away from his opponent

Slashing his cape torn apart.

"The White Knight I see..." he smiled watching his torn cape "A worth opponent..."

"This Ends now, General!" The Knight grunted as he held his sword

"If a swordfight is what you wish then so be it!" Kubo shouted and rushed with all his speed

Sending the two men slashing and avoiding hits from the opponents in return
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     "But my father!" The woman cried in pain as she watched her father with all his dear life battling with the most dangerous man

"I'm sorry...but he told me that you should live..." Hatter frowned as he watched the tree opened its trunks

She cried and gripped his sleeves desperately

"When will I ever see you again?!"

He bit his lip in uncertainty, unkmowing what to say for he was wasn't sure at the situation...

"I.. do not know..."

The woman sighed and held his hand before looking at him with those eager eyes

"Please...save wonderland, for us..." she pleaded

Hatter closed his eyes and shook his eyes in disdain

Quickly hugging the woman into his arms for the last time

"We'll try.." he whispered sadly, trying not to break a tear

He had no other choice put to push the woman instantly

Wathing the trees began to close it's dimensiom

He had finally kept the White Knight's wish

Hatter quickly grabbed his cane and watched the horrid view in front of him

Everything was a mess...

However there is one las thing that may able to save them....
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     The two warriors slumped down on their knees weakly after the agitating duel, both panted in exhausted

Kubo wiped off the red liquid staining his mouth

"I am impressed at your swordmanship, White Knight...." he barely said his words when the White Knight had already stomped him on the ground

The Knight pointed the scabbard towards him, closer at his throat "Your chaos is over, General..." he demanded "Now yeild!"

However, the General mocked in laughter, as Absolem and Engineer continued to drove away the red soldier flaunting around and capturing villagers

"You may be strong, holy Knight...but you seemed to forget-"

And that is nightmare had just begun

The White Knight spurted out blood coming out from his mouth

Everyone including the Queen widened their eyes in horror as they watched their White Knight had fallen from capturing the general

Revealing the person that stabbed their hero from behind

"It was my idea to call ruined the celebratiom afterall..."

With the flick of her hand, she signaled her guards to open the red place

But the next thing that happened was not what they had been expected

A strong terrfying roar filled their ears, enormous wings soread across the sky as it went towards the forest

"It can't be..." Norman muttered

Breathing its feiry hit breath and hard scales it was no other than the Black horned dragon

It roared feircefullt and begun to smash everything with its sight

Kubo stood up as he looked at the woman beside him, kissing her bloodied hand in affection, he yelled

"THIS IS YOUR QUEEN!!"

The two figure smiled in content as they watched the hero had finally fallen along with his might weapon

"AGATHA!" Her sister shouted in rage upon what she her older sister had done

She had killed a person

A man...

But the shallow from her eyes could tell everything that she did not care, not even one bit

Not even her sister...

"THIS IS BETWEEN YOU AND ME!"

The red queen boringly looked towards Kubo

"Finish her...my General.." she breathe amd the General without reluctance bowed down his head

"With pleasure..." he smiled and turned his head towards the pertrified Queen

Immediately hearing this, the Engineer jolted and turned his back towards the Queen

"YOU'RE HIGHNESS RUN!" He pleaded

"NO! I AM NOT BACKING OUT, I AM THE QUEEN AND I SHALL DO MY DUTY OF PROTECTING WONDERLAND..."

"Wrong choice, Winifred.." Kubo wjispered and rushed towards her

Winnie quickly summoned a large sets of barrier, creating illusions hopefully to set the pace General slower

"That's no use, Winnie!" Kubo shouted and began to slash her magic

Eggs quickly tackled the General in rage

"You are not touching her!! I won't let you!" He shouted and began to arm to arm pulling Kubo's neck in spite

"You are only hurting yourself, Eggs..." Kubo spat and used his elbow to knocked ther Engineer's stomach, making his grip loosen in the process

"Egggs!!" Absolem shouted

"Shut yoir mouth, Norman!" The Red Queen muttered and began to release her own magic, shooting electric through Norman's body, he shouted in pain as her magic began to ruin him

"NORMAN!!" Neil shouted from a afar, but there is no use, the soldiers avoided him to go any further

Watching Eggs crawled on the grass desperately

Winnie appeared from Kubo's behind summoning her magic to grip Kubo's foot

With an instant, she picked up her hairpin and stab the man's back

Kubo shouted in pain, his rage grew stronger as soon as he saw the Queen ran towards her sister, trying to stop her evil schemes

"You're highness Look out!!" One of the villagers shouted

Hearing their cries she knew that Kubo was chasing from behind her and she knew she was going to die after this

But if this could take bringing down her sister as well

Then she is willing to take that risk

Turning her head towards the man that she had dearly cared for she sadlt smiled at him

"Goodbye, Eggs..."

"WINNIE, NOOOO!!" Eggs shouted

But it was too late, The two Queens had finally clashed to one another creating such light, as it began to explode the ground to pieces

However before it could even destroy them, a flash of green light suddenly blew the two enemies away from the others, inlcuding Winnie that was badly injured of her sister's powers

Kubo opened his eyes to see a large forcefield that wrapped around the Engineer and the unconscious Queen on the ground

Another had finally stepped in the battle

"ENOUGH!" His voice boomed as he stepped in front of his friends to wrapped them with his magic

"Oh look another traitor.." Kubo muttered as he stood up

Watching the three forefathers in front of him, they all struggled to keep themselves to put up a fight

"This is pointless anymore, Kubo! Stop this madness!"

The General laughed at his statement

"madness? Ha! You're the one the talk, Madhatter..." he mocked "you can't do anything here!"

Hatter docked his head at Kubo's words

He knew that he was right

"I know..." he replied

"That's why, I had no other choice but to use this.."

Kubo raised his brow in confusion when he noticed that the Hatter quickly positioned himself and began to shout words, glowing green around him

""OPEN THY GATES OF PORTALS, I SUMMOM THEE!! I ANNOUNCE THY BARRIERS, CLOTHE THY WONDERLAND OF MAGIC TO CLAIM THEIR JUDGEMENT!!"

And with that said, a large green barrier suddenly negan to rise up from the ground, but this time the filed did not wrapped itself around them

But its magic had clothed around the General, the Red Queen and the amongst her guards and the dragon in the process...

Chapter Text

"I-I did it!" Hatter told himself in disbelief "I did it!"

Absolem quickly interrupted at the the sudden shock of realization upon his comrade

"What did?" He asked in curiosity while the others including Neil had begun to evacuate the wounded villagers away from the forest

"My first lock, I opened it! I finally mastered one of the madhatter's ability...." the forefather simply replied looking at the glowing magic he weilded, even to himself we could not believe with a single attempt he manage to create massive forcefield to entrap the red soldiers, including the General, The Red Queen and the Black horned dragon itself

But the general could only look at them in spite

"Your magic is worthless to ours, Hatter" his dark voice reminded him

The Red Queen quickly turned her head towards the menacing Dragon burning everything from its sight, including the Gold Queen's soldiers that sacrfifice their lives to restrain the other enemies from attacking

"Destroy the barrier! Destroy everything within its sight!" She commanded the ferocious beast and within an instant the dragon had begun to burn down the barrier that entrapped them

Hatter quickly turned around the crowd and noticed the citizens had also been watching, one of them was his two assistants

"Amelia!" He shouted as if he was looking amongst the crowd at someone very important

Perking his head up his eyes darted towards the woman

"My grandmother? where is she?"

The woman quickly turned around along with her sister to find his answer but only a shock of pale face they had as a return for they had realized

She's wasn't there

"She's....gone..." the pink haired woman answered trembly

"Gone?! What do you mean gone?!"

until a woman heard made a high pitched scream tiwords the barrier

And that is when everything became a nightmare

An old lady carrying a small child had also been entrapped from inside the barrier

Hatters eyes froze as soon as he turned his head at the commotion

It wasn't just an old lady

But it was his dearly beloved Grandmother

"No...no..." he whispered

Unknown as to what he should do, only the fear of his beating heart was he could hear, not even the screams of the those selfless soldiers had the ability to stop from his senses

his feet began to walk towards the barrier, slowly taking twice steps as his mind couldn't not able to think properly, until he realized, that he was running, out of desparation

"NO! NO!" He shouted as soon as he got close at the barrier

"DESTROY THE BARRIER!!" The General Continued to shout as he pinned down every remaining of the Gold Queen's soldiers

But Hatter had none of his matters of this

He was too distracted by the fact that he was to careless and traped his own grandmother with his own magic

"Mr. Hatter!!" The girl cired out as she placed her hand on the force field that was restraining them to get to the other side

"I...I will let you out alright? Do not worry, I'll shall find a way to this!" He smiled and quickly tapped down the cane to dissipate the forcefield

But nothing happened

The force field was still there

he continued to tap down his weapon, but no matter how mich he tried, the force filed continued to emit its glow, doing its natural protection magic

That is when he noticed the Black Horn began to collect every bit of its energy, as amounts if air bega  ti swirl inside the beast's chest the fire inside its heart had begun to create fire, glowing brighter amd brighter as if it was trying to go beyond with its limits

Breaking the barrier once and for all

Time is running for him

But no matter how much the commanded the magic was no longer listening to his order

He could felt tbe tears began to pour out from his eyes

Gripping his cane tighter, in desperation, Hatter begun to stab the force field

"HATTER STOP!" Eggs shouted from the distance and turned his head towards Absolem

"He made that magic! He could have just let his grandmother go, why can't he?!?"

But Absolem could only docked his head amd gritted his teeth, leaving the Engineer to look at him in a fitted rage

"By Gods Norman, if you kept shutting you mouth-"

"Because he can't!!" The forefather shouted

"What do you mean he can't?!?!?"

"The first lock! That's the conditions of the first lock of every Madhatters...once they enchanted that force field...the can't use their magic again to dissappear it...only a mere creature or something powerful could destroy it..."

A cold sensation crawled through the Queen's body as soon as she heard those words

"The Black Horn....it's trying to release its fire to break the barrier and Hatter's grandmother was inside with them...that means..."

The Queen and the other three forefathees

"BEGONE YOU USELESS MAGIC-" Hatter shouted in rage

"WYBOURNE!" the sound of his grandmother calling out his name, made him to a halt

"No! I-I won't stop! Not until I saw you two!! I promise that I wont!" Eventhough his arms began to shake in exhaustion he continued to stab the force field in desperation

"You had done enough, my boy..." her grandmother smiled

"Please don't cry Mr. Hatter, we know that you did what's best.." the little girl smiled sadly as she wrapped her arms around the old woman even tighter

But the Forefather could only sob in helplessly front of them

Eventhough he made a mistake

They still forgave him

Punching the force field eventhough it's useless but out of desperation, his grandmother smiled and placed her hand gently on the magical barrier

He couldn't help but to place his hand on the barrier as well, yearning to held those hands one last time

"IT'S GOING TO BLOW!" Queen Winifred shouted as soon as she noticed the creature had finally gathered enough magic around them

Hatter's fear began to worse, without thinking anymore, he slammed his cane towards the magical field in an attwmot to break the enchantment one last time

But it didn't

Instead, the field made a counterattack, pushing Hatter away with sucj great force that his entire body went paralyzed for a second, helplessly dragging his body on the ground without any choice

The Black Hirn had finally blew itself up, erupting massive flames inside the force field, causing the enchamtment to crack like glass, gripping the moment to keep them imprison

But it was not enough...

Flames finally broke the first lock, evading the outer area until it reaches towards the surviving villagers

Fortunately, the Golden Queen manage to create a barrier on her own, covering the villagers and the shock Hatter looking from the flames

Absolem desperately grabbed Hatter's arm to drag him back towards the group but no matter how mich he tried, the forefather's body stayed stiff

"Hatter, let's leave!!" He shouted to his companion's senses

Hatter's eyes began to swell with tears as he look at the ruins in front of him

"NO I AM NOT LEAVING WITHOUT THEM!"

Smoke had filled the entire place once again but his eyes widen at the view to see that the General and the Red Queen was uninjured at the explosions

But there was no sight of his dearly beloved grandmother, nor the child

and that finally struck him

"They're gone...." he faintly whispered

The Golden Queen covered her mouth in fear as she saw that most of the red soldiers died from the explosion only leaving the General protecting he sister

He smiled wickedly "I told you the magic is not powerful enough..."

"WYBIE WE HAVE TO GO.." Engineer also told him and forcefullty began to drag the Madhatter along with Absolem assisting

"NO, UNHAND ME!" Hatter desperately cried out

It's not fair

Everything is not fair

"We are not winning this!!" Absolem insisted as he could hear Hatter's cries

"LET ME GO!"

All he could hear was the General's laugh and the electric shock that the Red Queen conjured from her hands

"EVERYONE RUN!!" The Golden Queen screamed pushing every villagers aways from the deadly magic

But the Red Queen had finally aim her mahic right towards the people, running the thunder witch such great speed

With the last of his senses, Hatter stood up

"LET ME GOOOOOO!!!!"

Something opened deep inside his heart as it clicked

Like a lock just opened from it's shackles...
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a sudden magnetic force made everything to slow down as the ground shook in rage

The Red Queen frowned for her magic had been blocked by another green barrier of magic that seeps outside from the ground

"Was this another trick of his again???" She mocked as she watched a strong wind had surrounded the Madhatter as his eyes glowed green

Absolem and Engineer could no longer hold him

For at this point...

"That's no longer Hatter anymore...." his mouth trembled in fear as he watched the unconscious Madhatter stood up without flinching nor weeping of tears anymore...

Only, a blank stare and glowing green lifeless eyes

Right towards the general

"Hatter?" The Enginner tried to call out for his friend however, nothing made anything to stop the young forefather

Lifting his body up, he floated through the air without any trance of struggling continued to watch the two

The General stood up and noticed the sword that the passed White Knight

He smiled and took an opportunity to grab the weapon

Until something that made him unable to

A green orb had protected the weapon and Kubo instantly knew that the source of magic came from the Madhatter

The sword moved away from the General's grasp as it slowly went towards the magic weilder, the Madhatter could only at him emotionless as he continued to release the green glowing energy from behind

Creating another barrier...

Going higher and higher

Covering another side of the wonderland

"You shall not trespass until this barrier stood still..." the Madhatter implied with such unusual voice as if it came from a different being

As it not being himself.....

And everything went black

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     "And I woke up...with only little memory after that..." Hatter finished his tale sadly, fidgeting his cold fingers just to calm himself

Coraline could only look at him in silent, wondering how much pain does this man to endure, seeing his own grandmother vanished right in front of him, on how much that memory would taunt him everyday

She watched the breeze moved his hair, covering those regretful eyes that stared up towards the moon

"And after that I....I don't know how to make everyone smile when I myself couldn't be able to feel what happiness exactly is...anymore..." he whispered, cluthing his hands tightly

Until something warm had pressed on his cold ones

It was Alice, leaning her head on his shoulder as her warm hand gently placed on top of his

Her eyes sadly looked down on the flowers that attached on the balcony

"Loosing someone you cared about...I know that feeling..." she whispered, brushing her hand towards the golden heart necklace that dangled on her neck, the same necklace that she had kept safe ever since she was a child

The same necklace that her father gave to her before he left overseas...

It was the last of his memory for her

And now, she finally found someone that they both have in common

Sharing the same pain

Of loosing someone

"If I only wish I could turn back time..." she sighed

"Maybe we could make new memories with them again..." Hatter answered

And Alice couldn't agree more that

She sighed and look towards the sky, remembering the prophecy of this place

Coraline could only hope that after this questionable events, this neverending dream would come to it's final stage

If saving wonderland is the only chance of her to wake up...

Then she must

Sighing at the evening sky, Hatter and Alice stared above in silent, watching as the clouds pass through the horizon reminding them that each passing time, danger is getting closer, the war is getting closer

And neither Coraline is ready for that....

Chapter Text

"Have you checked the garden if it was properly trimmed? We don't want the guests to see how unsupervise the palace was..." the Rotal Advisor asked in concerned towards the gardners nodding both of their heads

Neil sighed upon the good news and lowered the feather quill and the scroll that he had been dealing of checking for the preparations of the upcoming ball

Of course, everything was on his, ever since the Queen named him as her Total Advisor, everything that happens inside the palace was brought unto his shoulders

organizing a ball was one of the things that Hatter was supposed to do but Neil, sensing the from the forefather, decided to taken the task upon by his instead

Even Absolem could felt the tiredness from his dear friend's voice but yet the determination of the young redhead is the only thing that keep him going through the day

And that is what made Absolem to be amazed how much Neil could handle the tasks in multiple times

"I hope youbare doing fine handling this tasks, Neil..." Absolem stood behind him, obesering the checks on the scrolls indidicating the completed lists, it was nearly halfway to his surprise

The Advisor chuckled and cleared the dryness sensation that he had felt on his throat from giving each and everyone's instructions

"Still manageable I suppose, Norman...I mean, the ball is getting closer and I can't just let Hatter do this since he was still in recovery..."

Absolem knew that he was right and even if he was on Neil's shoes, he would have done the same thing

That man wasn't capable of handling the party yet, not until he was infull recoverh

With a smile, Norman slowly raised his hand holding with a glass of cool water, giving it out to the Royal Adviser to his wonder before walking through the away

"Drink, and after this rest well, I don't want your pretty voice all sore up for the upcoming party now, do we?"

Neil flinched and somewhat almost stumble as he quickly took the glass of water on the forefather's hand, he had hoped that the blazing heat of temperature could be the excuse of his now beet red face

He docked his head and looked away

But Absolem did not mind about it, not even the slightest and only turned his back, swooshing his purpled cape with grace as he too had realized what just said

Lucky enough that Neil haven't caught of his flushed face as well....
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     Chesire and Misty peacefully snuggled on the Queen's arms while herself had been occupied of talking on Alice about the upcoming Moon Eclipse ball...

"A Moon eclipse ball?" Alice asked again, tilting ber head upon such name for an interesting celebration

The Queen nodded her head "You see, Alice, the existence of Wonderland's magic was all because of the Moon itself...origin says that my great great great Grandfather and his fellow forefathers manage to meet the Goddess of the heavens, she blessed them as a gift and protection to keep Wonderland safe...." she smiled, watching her people through the balcony doing their own tasks from keeping the town in order

"And once the Sun and the Moon would met each other, our powers would gone for the night and by the law of the Goddess that none shall ever had to harm others during that celebration or else the curse shall be inflicting from those persons that broke the order...."

"So that means, everyone is powerless on that day??"

"Indeed..."

Alice stopped and thought for a moment

"But if that happens...your sister might have the chance to take down this palace, your majesty..."

The Queen giggled in expectation of that question

"Oh, Agatha? Even herself was powerless at that point, I know her and I know how much she hates curses..." she causally replied back

"If I were her? I wouldn't be an imbecile for acting up mt wrath ot else, she had to deal with a Goddess herself..."

Watching the Queen smirked at her explanation, Alice couldn't help but to caught a sudden glance of frown after the after she had called out her sister's name

But not a frown of bitterness or hate..

But it was filled of sorrow

Alice immediately closed her mouth because of it, just in time another figure entered the throneroom, it was Neil, placing both of his hands on his back with a stiff posture, seeing the amount of exhaustion from his now ruffle hair and down to his tired looking eyes, the two women chuckled out of pity

"The planning must have beaten you up huh? Isn't it Neil??" The Queen asked in remorse to his fellow redhead

Neil sighed and rolled his eyes

"Ugh, I didn't know how tiring Hatter's work is.."

Coraline chuckled just as Neil went back in standing straight, clearing his throat

"Erm but thay wasn't the reason I was here, I have news your highness, the garden is all good for the ball...the gardeners manage to trim the bushes earlier than I expected..."

"Oh that's wonderful Neil!!" With a bright smile, Winnie embraced the know awoken creatures that she had been cradled for an hour

In excitement, the queen hurriedly ran towards the doors to inspect the final look of the garden, Chesire manage to swift himself away, grabbing misty by his arms through the air and approached Coraline

The queen stopped for a moment just as Neil was holding the handles, turning her head back towards Alice...

"If I were you Alice, I think you should be preparing for the ball too..." Winnie smiled as she eyed Alice down to her boots and her new navy dress that servants had to tailored into much more comfortable attire to walk around

"Oh no your majesty, I am fine with wearing this, you had done so much to me already..." Coraline shyly answered, rubbing her arm

Of course, the queen frowned and raised her hand

"Oh no, I want my White Knight to be in upmost best attire, I will tell my tailors to make you a finest dress for the ball...and I supposed I should add something like..a headdress as well??" Pouting her lips in wonder of what she should add for the attire as well

"Did someone says, headdress???"

With an unknown voice came from the the hallway, everyone immediately turned their heads towards the sound to see Hatter peeking his head beside the wall as if he was been eavesdropping them from afar

He smiled and moved his body away, revealing his Navy blue vest (that Alice couldn't help but to think if he had purposely worn it just for them to have a matching color) and a piece of his golden stopwatch perfectly hanging on his side

Hatter blew the strand of his hair that covered his spectacles

"You seem to be interested about the headdress, Hatter?" Neil asked as the Queen agreed to his question

The forefather smiled, holding his cane as he looked back on Alice, silently observing the blue haired wonder in wonder as if he was already making something up

"As a matter of fact yes, yes I do.." he remarked, gazing at the queen for permission and respectfully curtsied "if the queen wishes for me to make for the White Knight's headdress, then I am happy to be obliged..."

Winnie smiled and in such haste, she nodded her head in approval

"That'll do Hatter, you may..."

And with that one reply, Hatter's eyes shimmered as he watched the Queen stepped outside the castle along with the Royal Adviser to take their own matters

Leaving Him, Alice and the other two creatues standing by the throneroom in silent

Misty and jumped on Hatter's shoulders, pulling strand of his hair to gain his attention

The mice smiled and plumped herself on the forefather's shoulder

"Well? What are we having for?? Let's go and make her something!!!" She exclaimed

"Oh blimey! You're right!" Hatter flinched and quickly turned his head towards Alice before grabbing her hand in excitement

"Come with me Lassy!" He cheered, as Alice chuckled at his enthusiasm before taking his hand as well

The rest of the gang followed Hatter skipping away from the throneroom and towatds his room, eager enough to think another new sets of hats for his collection
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     Far from the Golden Kingdom, towards the high mountains of Red Kingdom, the Red Queen sat alone on the table filled with scrumptious meal that only her was been able to eat, candles flickered at every moment the air would pass through the dining room but none of her servants efforts could arise her hunger that even Kubo standing by her side, noticed her lack of interest....

Agatha instead took the glass of wine beside her plate, sipping every last red liquid inside and waited until her appetite had finally filled her in...

Just in time the doors opened, her eyes immediately looked towards the old large figure standing by the doorway with his awful shade of red suit amd stitched up fabric

But her eyes caught the attention of the scroll that he's been holding..

He bowed down towards the queen

"You're highness..." his voice was hoarse and rigid

"Ambassador Archibald...what brings you here as to you why you interrupted me during my feast??" the queen asked is sarcasm as she looked at the glowing green sickening forcefield from the other kingdom

The Ambassador followed her gaze before clearing his throat

"As you may see tomorrow's will be the day of-"

"The Eclipse yes I know about that" Agatha raised her brown "I was not born under a rock to be told about it, Ambassador..."

Snatcher coughed to break the insult before taking a small grimacing smile towards the Queen

"And by that means, we could not be able use the Wonderland's magic nor even harm our...foes because of the curse whatsoever..."

Ah right the curse...

It was still the least amongst her favorite word

As much as she had wanted to take her sister down and do something about it...

But she had no power under a Goddesse's power

And she hated that feeling...

The General silently watched her stood up from her seat, slowly moving her feet towards the balcony on the diner room, her eyes stared back towards the Golden kingdom insuch concentration

As if she was thinking something...

"Do you have any news about my spoiled sister?" She asked looking back towards Snatcher

"As matter of fact, I heard that your traitor sister was planning to held a ball for the celebration of the Eclipse..and for the announcement of the White Knight of course, heh..." he chuckled nervously at the last phrase

Agatha looked sternly back towards Kubo as soon as she noticed him flinched upon hearing the White Knight

"Ah yes...their victory..." she mumbled out to remind his dissappointment

The General could only absorb the insult and the pain deep inside

"D-do you have something in mind your majesty???" Snatcher interrupted

"A ball you say???" She asked in amusement as the Ambassador simply nodded his head

The Queen smiled for something a btter idea came to her mind

"Looks like I'll be inviting myself from a ball, afterall..."
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     "Hmmmm, no I don't like this color on her...maybe fuschia, huh???" The Madhatter mumbled as he watched all of his rolled up fabrics that was placed on one of the rolling shelves

it's already been an hour and yet not a single idea came to his mind

Alice could only blink her eyes in empathy as she watched the Madhatter struggling of organizing his ideas inside his head

To make matters less stressful on his case, Alice watched all of his finished set of hats neatly placed on a large shelves that almost reaches at the ceiling, hoping that it'll somehow give him the motivation

Fabric colors, sequins scattered everywhere and the mannequins that displayed on his desks attaching some of his unfinished hats, evereything on his surrondings is vibrant and color

Too colorful to be infact

As if everything feels mixed up and unorganized

He must have been doing this a lot

No wonder he was called as the Madhatter

Even his working area looks incredibly madly messy..

"Wow...these hats are amazing Hatter! Who wears this???" Alice asked as she continued looking at every hats

Misty that had been helping gathering the sequins and other sorts of jewels chuckled

"Some of them were mines and some werebfor the other's, these are the collections that I made for the people I made for...I had each and everyone, but it seems that Queen Winifred loves my works more than anyone, I ended up making more than I could've imagine..."

"So the purple one's were hers???" Coraline asked as she saw the familiar looking shade of purple on one of the shelves

"Indeed you are correct!" Hatter grinned in enthusiasm for Alice had guessed it right and went back to snipping on one of the gold silky fabrics that the randomly pulled on the shelves

"Wow...it almost looks like you were trying to make up something by reflecting those hats through the person's personality and then you would try and form them based on what you see on them.." she rambled in bewilderment, slowly analyzing every detail she saw on the material slowly observing the Queen's hat

"and those little details of your sequins, I could definitely see that it was symbolical of some sort.. based on their title or their situation..that's a very creative way to make the hat feels like it was actually them..you could see each and everyone's uniqueness because of how you delivered them..." she finished, but not a single reply she heard

Coraline to her confusion of their absence, turned her head and was greeted at the now wide shock face of Misty, Chesire and most of all, Hatter himself

"Did I said something wrong???"

Misty blinked her eyes in realization, she turned her head towards Hatter who was now looking at her sensing the gaze

"Wait...is that what you've been doing all this time, Hatter? I thought it was just a plain old design to make it look dazzling..."

He looked back at his Hats that he made and back towards Misty

"Yes...that's..that's how I made them, Misty.." he replied in uncertain "And the fact that it was Alice that was able to figure out my way of creating them..I am, I am in pure shock right now..."

Alice immediately scratched the back of her head embarassingly

"Sorry...I was kind off...attentive even in little things...I must have gotten overly excited about your designs because it was just so unique and symbolical to even begin it..." she awkwardly looked at the three

"Should I stop talking?" She asked blankly at them

"Ah, n-no..." Hatter fumbled out, holding the blue fabric tighter nervously "I-I was just..touched, on how you easily seemed to find my ways in things......" he stopped, trying to fins the courage to look at her sttaight in the eyes

"P-Please...don't stop talking..if you dom't mind of course...heh..."

Leaving no words to say from their mouths, Alice continued to uncomfortably look again at the hats while Hatter aggresively fixed his glaases and pulled the fabric out, trimmed it's edges, pulling out the long thin tape that had already listed Alice's measurements, he began to found his way on using the sewing machine that Eggs had made for him as a present

The amount of bashfulness and the flushed face that was both seen between the two, even how much they try to hide it

the two creatures squinted their eyes in suspicion

Seconds turned Minutes and minutes turned to hours as every tine passed by as they all waites for the product to be finish

Alice's interest suddenly shifted towards Hatter's work, listening through the machinery do it's wonders, she couldn't help but to grown curious upon the process of making a the material, that her feeling of uneasyness she had felt between her and Hatter a while ago just dissipated

She walked towards his working table and sat down besides Chesire, tapping the feathers dangling on a mannequin, she chuckled at the creatures sudden change of behaviour, her hands went to stroke his black silky fur as he purred

Alice noticed the small thimble and badages wrapped on Hatter's fingers

He was indeed pouring out his heart and soul on making every pieces of hats

"Ohohoh...here he goes...." Misty cheered on as she had noticed that Hatter had finally formed the figure of the hat, receiving a grin from the forefather, he slowly lifted the material from the mannequin's head and looked towards alice

"If I may dear Alice...can I try this on to you???" He patiently asked

Upon the excitement, Coraline smiled amd nodded her head, standing beside Hatter as he slowly placed the dark blue hat, to his relief

It fits perfectly

He smiled and nodded his head in content, grabbing a needle ans a threat he began to add sequins on the fabric as Alice waited patiently

"That's fast for you to come up with an idea, Hatter..." she smiled, slightly tilting her head so that he could comfortably sew around the hat

"I finally figured you out Alice...I finally reflected yourself from my creation..." he smiled and within a flash he tied the end of the tip of the thread and snipped

"Voila! It's done!!" Hatter cheered in excitement that he quickly pulled out the large mirror beside shelves, revealing Alice's form and his final peace on her head

"So? What do you think?!"

Alice gasped in awe for not only he had manage to come up with an idea at such speed

But he seems to also favored her taste..

She absolutely adored it

"Oh my...Hatter, this is the most incredible thing you had ever done..." she replied as she looked at her reflection side by side for a moment, adoring the golden stars and keys embroidered at the side and the black tie that resembles like a bekt attached the curves of the hat with a neatly tied ribbon at the side

Coraline grinned and both took his hand

"I love it!! It's so madfully creative!!"

This made her to receive the Madhatter's joy as the slightly jumped upon the excitemnet that they had brought for each other, even Misty and Chesire went along as the feline floated around them in circles

"Thank so much for this wonderful moment with you Hatter, it really sees how fast you are recoving.."

Hatter smiled and bowed down

"The pleasure is all mine, Alice...my life is in your debt..."

The two shared a long and blissful smile when the chamber's doors opened to their surprise, revealing the Engineer had jut manage to come and check on them until he had noticed something at the two

Were they laughing???

The two had been quite enjoying themselves with their company, he smiled as soon as he saw that Hatter had made another headdress for someone

It's been quite a long time that they ever get to do things that they had wanted to do for relaxation...

Alice turned her head to face the other forefather

"Eggs! Look what Hatter made for me, isn't look divine???" She asked pointing hat on her head

"Alice, that does looks abosulutely lovely on you.." he smiled admiring the material befire his face went to back to face the Madatter "As much as I enjoyed see you too, I have a message, the Queen would like a word with you, Hatter...alone" he finished the last word with hint of sternful look on his face

She must have finished inspecting the garden

Hearing the Queen's orders, he wasted no time and plomped down the measuring thread around his shoulder, Alice noticed this, his sudden giddy behavious had vanish as soon as he fixed himself from the mirror and grabbed his cane, Chesire and Misty then rested on his shoulders, going back on their regal posture

Everyone had to leave his chambers after he had left, letting the Engineer walked first, they noticed through the hallway's balcony that the sky is getting darker

"It's getting late, Lassy...I think you should go back to your chambers now..you need to rest as well..." Hatter patinently smiled

Alice agreeing on his suggestion, she nodded her head

"Thank you for the time, Hatter..."

"Until then.." he nodded in return

Both bodies turned their backs away from each other, one leading back to her own chambers, while other had been summoned to discuss of matters

And Hatter instantly knew that when it comes to talking to the Queen

It was significant, and the matters were extremely crucial

Leaving by the hallways, he wondered upon what news he would get after his and the Golden Queen's conversation at this very night...