"So Sorry, I'm late," hummed a voice from long ago, as a hand emerged from the shadows. The other joined it on an adjacent tree, then, between them, followed a pair of recognizeable ears, then the head to which they belonged, to which also belonged a face changed much over the years. His eyes seemed occupied, darting back and forth between the Cheshire Cat and the others, both desirable, and less so. He had yet to see this "Hattie" for the first time, but given the obvious resemblance to his counterpart: the hat, the mad spark in his very presence, the familiar fraction, mixed with the air of evil Undoubtedly, he looked upon the horrible half of what used to be the Mad Hatter.
As for these dreamers who were in the midst of it all, that was the story that Wil O'Haire, the White Rabbit, would have to spend some time considering.

"I see much has changed while I was away, Cat," he muttered, staring at the conniving kitten in the treetop. "you've learned to speak out of riddle while I was away.

A warm feeling washed over Rin as the Cat's words set in. Slowly, he stood, and approached Luka, about to offer help, but pulled away. I can't. What if I.... what if I hurt her? he asked the cat. He must be the Cheshire Cat, Rin thought to himself.

Luka looked up at the creature in front of her, and she could see now, through flickers in the illusion, that it was Rin. Determined, pushing her fear aside, she got up and threw her arms around him, convincing herself that it was him. She let him go, taking a step back, then whinced and clutched at her arm. "I knew I should have gotten a dog," she muttered, looking at her arm. It was bleeding heavily- more then any normal cat bite should have.

Cheshire was watching these fights; he started pawing at his ear. He heard Rin’s words as he shouted out, "Love, like, help! A beauty will tame a beast." Another voice was heard as his ears picked it up and they turned to the noise. His eyes watched the fight while his ears listened to the new words. That grin appeared on his lips once more. Jumping down from the branch he walks backwards, to then turn on his heals, shifting to human. "Change.. time changed, practice..." he kept that grin as he walked towards that old friend of his. "The White Rabbit is late, always late, wonder why."

"But what if by not trying something, you hurt her anyway," Wil proposed, focusing on everyone at once, and no one as well. He hardly looked at Rin though his words were meant expressly for him. "The only thing you can do is try, or stand by, but tick tock, your time to choose is never much."
He looked on as the children finally got a hold of themselves, and he seemed to calm down slightly, as his eyes only occasionally darted back towards the evil hatter.
A smile graced his solemn face as the Cat addressed him. "Wonder's the name of the game, isn't it, Cat . . . for instance, I wonder what exactly these children are to do against our old friend Alice. And why are you being so helpful all of a sudden? Suit you for the moment?"

Cheshire thought about the words that floated in his head. "Hmm a wondrous game indeed. The kids.." he paused to watch the kids, titling his head he looked back at Will. "roots. They'll need to blossom." He climbed a tree near by to then hang by his legs over the side of a branch. He sung back and forth for a while and then stopped, playing with his hair as he was up side down. he shrugged to the last parts. "Entertainment, don't wana go insane." He smiled devilishly and then laughed.

Hattie's limbs contorted and twisted as he gasped in pain under the pressure of Rin's body. His puppet dutifully distracted Luka from her realization and made to attack the human in disguise, hissing and spiting. Hattie wiggled more and bit his lip as pain shot through his torso again, but was distracted by the abrupt presence of another Wonderland inhabitant. He recognized it as the original Cheshire Cat. The cat spoke and he looked to him with a gleam of contempt in his eyes as the cat simply threw his tactfully woven web aside. He began to smile, then grin as he watched the cat chatter and then the White Rabbit arrive. Hattie then began to laugh, reaching and arm up and taking his hat off. He began to cackle as he quickly flipped the hat so it faced Rin, sparks and smoke pouring out, startling the human. Hattie then bucked upward, throwing the shocked boy off him, quickly jumping to his feet. His puppet kitten moved to him, a snow-white blur that darted to his shoulder as he moved about in what seemed to be a dance.

"One and one and one is three, add two more, no room for me! Over is the time for fun, but the dance has just begun! Hold your breath, or has it fled? No matter, for it'll be off with 'er head!" He quickly spoke, stopping his little dance to face the group once more. "A word askew, for now, I bid you... adieu." He gave a bow, a small ball rolling out of his hat, tumbling across the dirt until it rested at the feet of Luka, suddenly bursting into a smoke screen as it stopped. By the time the smoke cleared, Hattie and his puppet were on their way back to the dark castle.

Rin stumbled back, landing on his tailbone with a grunt. He stood slowly only to be tackle-hugged by Luka. He managed to keep his balance, rubbing his temples as he addressed her. Uh, are you alright? How much does it hurt? he felt like he was going to faint, just from panic. He felt dizzy. Luka was hurt. There was a cat boy less than a meter away from him. And he was in Wonderland...

The edges of his vision clouded. He probably wasn't in as much pain as Luka, but he was never one for tough situations. he was never in the spotlight. He was never in charge. Always behind the frontman and the guitarists, doing his thing...

Che... chesshy... and Hatter... we need to find a place t-t-to crash... He stumbled to the side. Like, right now... He muttered.

"I have no objections to getting some rest," she said, realizing how very tired it was. She looked up at Rin when he asked about her arm, and shrugged, opening her mouth to speak when suddenly she noticed the little ball at her feet, seconds before it blew up. She fell back with a short scream, then coughed violently. "Oh, good grief," she choked out. "Hasn't that guy ever heard of not smoking?!?"

Cheshire turned as Hattie spoke to leave. Bowing as well, he grinned and hissed lightly. "Meeting soon." He nodded and then turned swiftly when he heard a loud notice. Seeing the sparks, he walked over to Luka and Rin. "Tired.. Fight, get up. Time to go down to where it all wonders." He titled his head and then lifted Luka up into his arms. "Wil, will you join or shall you come late?" he laughed softly and then with his tail, pulled Rin up and onto his feet. "Come, walk, lightly, come." He spoke, Rin would be able to walk, but because Cheshire’s tail was wrapped around his waist, Rin would not have to use up that much muscle.

((It's Wil, with one L. I'm weird about these things, XP))

Wil sighed as the evil hatter left. He had hoped to figure out just what happened to wonderland when Alice returned. Of course, he knew what happened in the Land of Chess, the world behind the lookinglass, but as for his home, he could not know.
"I'll attend, I do believe . . . The children may benefit from a translator fluent in both riddle and reason. And I shan't be kept in the dark about what has happened here any longer. Where shall we retreat to? Perhaps my former abode would suffice? It would be a mite run down, but a cozy home no less."
Wil's manner was likely none like the children had ever envisioned for Wonderland, a taste of taste from the rock bottom of the rabbit hole. Though they all knew, he might be the only one who could show them just how far the accused rabbit hole goes.

Tem woke up. His hands were clasped around Tam’s and she opened her eyes as well. They both sat up together and yawned simultaneously. “Good morning” Tem said. “What shall we do today?” Tam asked. “What we did yesterday.” Tam nodded and both of them got up. They had been traveling for a while and had just crossed the barrier that divided wonderland.

The woods were ringing with noise. They had noticed the cries of the plants. Tam was leaning against a tree, placing her face on it’s bark to listen for the news that it’s sister trees were calling out with. She pulled back and smirked at Tem. "Looks like both Hatters are here, along with some strangers from the otherworld," she said. With an afterthought, Tam added ",there's blood and fighting as well." Tem nodded and grinnned ",let's not miss out on the fun, shall we?" Linking their arms together, the duo ran off to the source of the forest's woes, while still being able to fall into synchronized steps. Reaching a group of unfamiliars, they both wore identical masks of surprise. Hattie was bested and had fled from this odd group. What were they? Tem and Tam recognized Cheshire and Hatter but the two children were new. Their curiousity was roused and felt unsated. Stepping out from the shadows, Tem drew out his sword and Tam drew out her pistol.
Pointing their weapons, they smiled lightly and asked together ",Welcome to Wonderland. We are Tem and Tam. Might you introduce yourselves before we hurt you?" Tam cocked her gun to emphasize their point.

"My, my . . ." muttered the Rabbit as he seemed to vanish into thin air, leaving nigh but a ghost of himself in his place, just long enough to miss it. ?"Aren't you two early to anger. I assume you two swine in disguise."
Wil was obviously there, but the twins would have to rely not on sight to spot him. "I believe the two of you have a special date. I suggest you not miss it. Doing so may cost lives."
It was then that they would notice it, The voice, not coming from the heavens, but from below.

Cheshire titled his head and smiled at the new arrivals. "Well my little devils.. bye." He waved and then walked back off to where he was headed. He didn’t have the time of hands to fight them. "Wil, do the honor, take care dark twins. Fun galore." He smiled and still carried Luka in his arms and Rin on his tail. He hurried off down the path looking for a safe place to put the kids down.

Tem turned his focus on the rabbit while Tam looked at the cheshire who was running away with the otherworlders. That would not do, they still wanted to meet them. Tam, the cat is leaving with the strangers, would you shoot him in the legs?Tam aimed the pistol at the retreating cat but lowered it. Now, now, this is not Dark Wonderland brother. We're supposed to use diplomacy, right? This is unfamiliar territory. Tem considered her words. He had never used diplomacy except with stronger dark wonderlanders; he supposed that wonderlanders from the other side could be treated with the same respect. Untill there is evidence to show otherwise. Besides, the child-looking rabbit alone was a threat that they did not anticipate.

Adopting a less menacing tone, Tem and Tam said
"We are not angered; merely curious at what you are hiding from us. There is no need for anyone to fight here."
Remembering the rabbit's previous insult, Tem's thoughts wondered. Tam, what are the chances that my sword can skin an invisible bunny? Ignore it brother, Tam replied, insults are but petty words.

With that, the twins lowered their weapons and sheathed them. They held out their hands in the appearance of goodwill and peace but were confident in the knowledge that they could draw and fire at anytime.

((I was alluding to the real duchess' son, who turned into a pig))

The earth opened up just behind the twins, and out popped the white rabbit from his rabbit hole. "Nothing hidden, nothing kept, nothing saved. Merely we hide the lives of the true spirit of Wonderland. We keep nothing but our promises, and we save naught but what Alice imagined for this world. The two of you oppose those ideals in following Alice now, instead of her innocence. We'll have little to do with your lot, I'm sure you can comprehend why."
Wil's words seemed to hide truckloads of different thoughts and emotions amid the turbulent worry. No matter how he carried himself, however, this was the extent of the depth he would allow them to travel. It was not there place to explore how deep the rabbit hole goes.

Oh my god... Rin muttered in disbelief. Kay, can we just go? Instead of gathering a huge group of loud, stupid magical people? I mean seriously! I thought we were trying to lay low! He kicked a rock by his feet.

The twins couldn't really understand the rabbit's words and they both sighed. Obviously they could not get close to the otherworlders without getting into a fight with the rabbit but if anyone was to start the fight, let him be the one. "What exactly do you mean by 'your lot'?" Tem demanded."We owe no loyalty to the dark Queen" Tam added."Our necks are only for ouselves" they said.
How funny..do they think that they are the innocent ones in this whole affair? Tam craned her head back to get a better view of the strange children, so this was Alice? Why were there two? Perhaps Alice split into a pair; it was not odd for people in wonderland to have that ability. However the pair was far from identical and one of the Alice's had an ugly face on that denoted her annoyance. Angry people were never fun to meet. "Very well," Tem and Tam sulked ",we will leave."They wove back into the forest from the path where they appeared from and went on with their travel. Just because this rabbit said they couldn't travel down that path doesn't mean that they can't go see the "normal" wonderland" through another entrance. Maybe sometime into the future when the Alices weren't so sour, they might be able to meet those them one day without the rabbit shooing them away.

(sorry i've been away for so long)
Hatter turned to look at the rabbit and cat "hello Cat, and Wil"COLOR="darkgreen"] Hatter turned and looked at the twins "oh no, not the twins" Hatter sighed.

Luka frowned and got to her feet, casting a wary eye over all the newcomers. After that disastrous thing with Hattie (which she would beat herself up for for a long, long time) she refused to trust the next person who walked up without reason. She stayed close to Rin, her arm still bleeding but not gushing like before.

Cheshire watched everything, zoning in and out at weird place. However, once he saw that all the evils were gone he looked back down at Luka and Rin. Seeing Luka’s poor arm he sighed softly and kissed her arm. "Sit!" he changed into a cat and swiftly ran off into the woods. He took the short cut in the trees; he soon arrived at the Underground. Finding some medical supplies, he grabbed them in his mouth and headed back. Changing into a man as soon as he made his way back. "Arm!" he took her arm and swiftly cleaned the wound, then wrapped a new cleans bandaged around it, soon finishing it off with a purple sticker of a cat with the Cheshire’s smile. "Stay still the arm, rip no, hurt." He nodded and the walked over to the Hatter and Wil. "Gone?"

Rin frowned as the corners of his vision clouded again. Although he was happy Luka had received medical attention, he was impatient and wanted to get to shelter as soon as possible. He sighed deeply.

Throwing the doors wide open with a loud crash, The Queen of Hearts stormed into her throne room. Frusterated she let out an ear piercing scream. Where is the Hatter when I need him.. She began to pace back and forth. Not being able to take the indoors the Queen turned around and thundered off to her garden.

Chess appeared out of midair, sitting in a tree in the Queen's garden, where she could see him. "My Queen," he purred, sliding out of the tree and bowing to her. "You seem.... angry. What is it that clouds your Majesty's lovely face?"

Hattie clenched his hands into fists and let out a deep breath as he looked up at the castle, his cincher untied, his coat and hat dirty and mussed, and his bare feet covered in mud. He glared at the guard's rectangular form and pushed the great doors open just in time to hear the shriek of the queen echo throughout the stone walls. He winced a bit and sighed, contemplating slipping away for a cup of tea before facing the unpredictable woman. He glanced to one of the large mirrors that lined the hall, tying the laces of his cincher, smoothing his coat and righting his hat. Once he found himself presentable, he quickly made his way to the throne room. He walked through the open doors only to be greeted by an empty room, the guards still as stone by the Elegant, empty chair and wide doors. Hattie smiled to himself, maybe he could have tea after all! hopped a bit and did a flip, landing on his hands as he rejoiced a bit.