AN: Okay, so I came up with this idea upon seeing SyFy's ALICE, with Andrew Lee Potts (fangirl squeal) and loved it. R&R plz. It is nothing like the movie, but the idea behind it is sort of the same.

PROLOGUE:

"Alice dear, pass the butter please." The blonde looked up at her sister upon hearing her name being spoken. Her golden curls bounced forward from the momentum. She gave her sister a dazed look, confused as to what had just been asked of her.

"Huh? I'm sorry Margret, what did you say?" Alice asked, suddenly aware that she was at dinner with her sister. Margret gave a sigh and tried to smile at Alice.

"Pass the butter. Alice, are you well?" Margret said as Alice handed her the glass dish.

"I'm fine Margret, I was just lost in my thoughts is all," the blonde said, taking up her spoon and dipping into the dish in front of her. She took in the meaty flavor that was lined with vegetables, which brought her back into reality completely. Margret only sighed and shook her head. An awkward silence fell over the two sisters for what felt like hours as they ate their dinner.

"What were you thinking of, Alice?" Margret asked suddenly. Alice locked eyes with her sister and set her spoon on the table.

"It's father's birthday today," Alice said sadly. Margret's jaw clenched tightly; and Alice watched as her hands fisted slightly. A clanking of dishes stopped either woman from saying anything right then. Margret thanked the servant who collected the place settings from them. "I think it would be nice to honor his memory, don't you think?" Alice added as soon as all was silent again. A chair scraped the ground, and soon Margret was standing tall and proud, her jaw still clenched.

"I will not have father mentioned in this house. Am I understood?" she said angrily.

"But why?" Alice complained. Her chair scraped the hardwood ground as she stood up to face her sister.

"Because father was a fool, and I won't have my own sister taking the same fate as he, I suggest you retire for the night Alice," Margret said. And with that she left the room. Alice sank into her chair and sighed. Her father's madness had nothing to do with honoring the fact that it was the day of his birth. Alice put her middle fingers and index fingers to each temple and rubbed circles. Margret had been more irritable recently, and it had started to give Alice headaches.

"Would you like me to draw you a bath this evening Miss Alice?" the servant, Millie, asked suddenly. Alice looked up at the brunette and shook her head.

"Not tonight Millie, just prepare a basin of water please," Alice said calmly. Millie respectfully bowed her head and began to make her way into the hall. Alice sat in thought for a few seconds and then she turned back to Millie. "Actually Millie, do draw that bath. And use the lavender oils. I think Margret needs it tonight," Alice said. Millie turned back around and bowed her head again.

"Yes Miss Alice, may I do anything else for you?" she asked. Alice stood and made her way over to Millie.

"Yes actually you can help me with one other thing. Help me out of this dress," Alice said with a chuckle. Millie laughed quietly and the two made their way up the grand staircase leading to the bedchambers.

-0o0-

Alice rubbed her face with a towel, ridding her face of the ridiculous chemicals that Faith and Fiona Chattaway had put on her earlier that day. She faced the slab of glass that hung on the wall over a basin of water. Her face was rubbed red, and it slowly returned to the pale peachy color that it usually was. Her curls were plaited together into five separate strands and two loose strands framed either side of her face. She sighed and made her way into her bedchambers where the bed was prepared for her to climb in and sleep.

Alice made her way over to the bed and reached underneath it, where her father's keepsakes rested in a wooden chest carved with his initials, C.K. for Charles Kingsley. Alice opened the box and pulled out the first item, a golden pocket watch that he never could live without. Among the other items in the box there was a few letters that he had exchanged with her mother in their courting years, a map of Europe, and a journal. Alice removed the journal and opened it to the first page, where her father's name was signed. She fingered the elaborate calligraphy and flipped through the pages. As she reached the last piece of thick tan paper, which had always been blank before, was no longer blank. Alice sat down on the mattress and read the words on the page. Alice, I'm alive and well. She gasped, her father was alive. Where was he? Suddenly, her father's elaborate calligraphy began to fill the page again. In Underland. I'm here in Underland. Alice gasped at the name. Was this the same Underland from her childhood? The same one she happened to land in when she was nineteen? She had endless tea parties there… met the two queens, met the Hatter.

Alice's heart began flipping in her chest at the thought of the Hatter. His vibrant orange hair and bright green eyes filled her mind. She held the book to her chest and sighed. Bread and Butterflies filled her abdomen. She thought about her promise so many years ago. Now she could keep her promise, and go back to the place she left those many years ago.

"You could stay…"

The bread and butterflies in Alice's stomach acted up with more intensity than before.

"What an idea… a crazy, mad, wonderful idea."

She wondered if the Hatter still remembered her.

"You won't remember me…"

She thought about how she said she wouldn't. But what was stopping him from forgetting? It had been five years after all. There were no guarantees of how long it had been in Underland, nor how long the Hatter himself had perceived her absence to be. She bit her lower lip in a sudden wave of gloom and guilt. She had left him… she had passed up the opportunity of a lifetime, and she had left him.

"Be back before you know it."

That was the cause of her gloom. She hadn't returned before he knew it. And now her seemingly alive father was somewhere in Underland. And she was going to find him, and the hatter.

*Meanwhile, somewhere in Underland*

"She knows now. There's no doubt she'll be coming here," Charles Kingsley stated triumphantly, staring into the one way looking glass that gave him a perfect view of his daughters. Illoslavic Stayne gave Charles a smirk and put a hand to his shoulder.

"That's what I wanted to hear Charles."

"Now will you keep your end of the deal?" Charles demanded.

"There's no doubt in my mind that you'll be home with your daughters, or rather, daughter soon enough," Illoslavic laughed. Charles' expression turned downcast almost immediately. He didn't know why he had agreed, but he knew that it was utterly selfish of him to trade his freedom for his daughter's. But he'd been in Underland for years on end, hoping that one day he'd see both of his daughters again, even if it was only for a day. He would see Alice, and he would be free. But is it a fair trade? Charles found himself thinking as he watched Stayne make his way out of the room.

*Meanwhile… Somewhere ELSE in Underland*

"Majesty, you requested my presence?" Tarrant Hightopp said getting on one knee and bowing to the queen, Mirana.

"Yes Tarrant, I just wanted to request that you make a hat and some clothes," Mirana said gracefully. She made her way forward and met up with Tarrant in the middle of the room.

"A hat and some clothes? For who pray tell am I to make these garments for?" he questioned, his gaze following the queen as she moved about the room.

"Why for you of course!" Mirana stated, surprised that the Hatter didn't know this before. When he failed to speak, Mirana turned to him and a looked of sympathy crossed her face.

"Hatter you haven't changed your clothes since Alice left five years ago," she said.

"Five years, nine months, twelve days, three hours, fifteen minutes and forty-two…forty-three seconds," Hatter said in a sullen voice. Mirana's face stayed the same.

"She's coming back Tarrant," she said reassuringly. Tarrant's green eyes lit up with hope. But it quickly faded.

"How do you know?" he asked. Mirana made her way over to a table off to the side of the throne room, with Tarrant following her.

"Absolem came to me with the oraculum last week. He told me it had opened up, and if you'll look with me…" Mirana said, gesturing to the scroll on the table.

"Alice… what is she doing?" Tarrant asked, staring at the picture. Alice was there, her arms around someone's back, they were on a horse, and the man wore a hat.

"She's going on adventure… with you Tarrant," Mirana explained. Tarrant stumbled back and caught himself on the arm of the throne.

"I can't believe it," Tarrant muttered in his lisp. "When does it say that she'll return?" he added. Mirana sighed.

"That it doesn't say I'm afraid. Soon, which is why you need some new clothes, and I think Alice will fancy some as well," Mirana said. Tarrant bowed and made his way to the door. "Tarrant…" Mirana said. Tarrant stopped in his tracks.

"Yes highness?"

"There is one catch about her return..." Mirana said sadly. Tarrant turned around, his eyes no longer green.

"What's the catch?" he asked. Mirana averted Tarrant's gaze as she told him.

"You must pretend you don't know who she is…" Tarrant's eyes turned a deep murderous red.

"Why? I've been waitin' fer her fer years! And you tell meh that I cannae…" Hatter cried, slipping into his outlandish accent.

"Tarrant… please, it's for her sake." Tarrant sighed and removed his hat, the grease from his orange hair shining under the lights.

"I've been waiting for five bloody years for Alice to return here. Five bloody years to take her into my arms and hold her close and tell her that she's my Alice, and that I missed her... Highness, why is this so?"

"Absolem didn't say. He said that Alice isn't returning for her sake. Her father is here, Stayne has him. And she wants to rescue him, but I figure if you love her as much as you're showing, then she'll love you in return whether you remember her or not," Mirana said. Tarrant took in the information.

"It's a test then?" Tarrant confirmed.

"You could say that, for the both you. Do you accept the terms?" Mirana asked.

"I will your majesty, for Alice, now if you'll excuse me, I must go make some new clothing and hats. Yes hats, good day your majesty." Mirana sighed as she watched Tarrant leave. She knew that she'd need to make him forget. For his sake, for Alice's sake… and for the sake of all of Underland.

*Back in Upland*

Alice awoke the next morning happier than she'd been in a very long time. Today's the day. She thought to herself. Today's the day I return to Underland… to the Hatter… and to my father. Her thoughts ended when there was a knock on the door.

"Miss Alice?" Millie's voice rang out.

"Come in, Millie," Alice said, sitting up in her bed. The servant made her way into the room. She curtsied before Alice and then stood again with her hands in from of her dress.

"Lord and Lady Manchester request your attendance at breakfast," Millie said. "I'm here to help you get ready, if you wish." Alice got out of her bed and stretched.

"That would be lovely Millie, thank you," Alice replied, giving the woman a smile. Millie made her way over to the wooden chest of drawers that rested against the side wall to the right of Alice's bed.

"What would you like to wear today Miss Alice?" Millie asked. Alice put a hand to her chin and thought of the most comfortable thing she could wear to Underland.

"I think my blue riding gown in acceptable for today Millie, thank you," Alice said. Millie made her way into the walk in closet and pulled out the dress that Alice requested.

"An excellent choice Miss Alice, and will you require your riding shoes and helmet as well?" Millie asked.

"Yes Millie," Alice said. She pondered the helmet for a moment. "Actually Millie, just the boots will be necessary, no helmet today. I won't be going far," Alice said. Millie began to protest.

"I don't think that Lord Manchester will approve of that Miss Alice," she said. Alice gave Millie a look.

"And since when do I give a rat's ass about what Lowell thinks?" Alice snapped. Millie lowered her head at Alice's sudden outburst. "Please Millie, I can deal with Lowell if he protests," she added in a softer tone.

"Yes Miss Alice," Millie said.

*At Breakfast*

"So Alice dear, did you sleep well?" Margret asked as she ate a piece of bread and butter. Alice set down her cup of tea and smiled at her sister, who also seemed happier than she was the night before.

"Very well actually, I think I'll go riding today actually," Alice told her sister. Lowell smirked while eating away at his food.

"Be sure to wear a helmet Alice," Margret said. Alice nodded slowly.

"I assure you I won't go far, I don't need a helmet today," she said. Margret sighed and continued eating. She knew that nothing would convince her sister once she had her mind set to something there was no changing it.

"Alice, you really must wear your helmet," Lowell piped up. Alice gave a disapproving look to Lowell. He didn't back down from his evil smirk. But Alice had ammo, so she simply dabbed at her mouth and stood up.

"Thank you for inviting me to breakfast Margret," Alice said in as ladylike of a tone as possible. "Lowell," she added in a scowl. Lowell scowled back before Alice left the room.

"Must you be so mean to her Lowell?" Margret asked. The couple ate their breakfast in silence after this.

*Later*

"So Alice, where are you headed today?" Lowell asked out of nowhere. Alice ignored her sister's husband as she tightened the girth and readied herself to get up on the saddle.

"It's none of your business Lowell," Alice said coldly, pulling herself up onto the horse.

"I'd say it's all of my business, considering you're riding a horse that I bought with my money, and you're riding it out of my stables," Lowell said. Alice looked down at her brother in law.

"Now that's where you're wrong Lowell. You see this is my horse; which was given to me by Lord Ascot. Now if you'll excuse me," Alice said, digging her heels into the horse's sides. Lowell grabbed the reigns, causing the horse to stop.

"You're a funny girl Alice, come now, tell me where are you headed," Lowell smirked, his eyes glowing with lust and anger. Alice struggled to get the horse going again, but Lowell held firm on the reigns.

"To see Lord Ascot, I have some trade things to discuss with him," Alice lied. Lowell let go of the reigns and the horse calmed down.

"Then allow me to accompany you," he said, as lustful as before. Alice dug her heels into the horse's sides again, cantering off toward the gates.

"No thank you Lowell!" she called out as she rode away. Lowell clenched his fists, and got onto a horse of his own, the letch wouldn't get away with defying him!

*At the Ascot Estate*

"Well Alice, this is it…" she said, looking down the rabbit hole that she'd fallen in five years before. She readied herself to jump in, but something stopped her.

"Alice?" a familiar voice rang out. Alice turned around and saw Hamish Ascot standing there, in the arm of a woman.

"Hamish, hello," Alice said nervously. "What are you doing here?" Hamish raised an eyebrow.

"I could ask the same, after all this is my property," he said. Alice gulped and tried to think up a good excuse as to why she was on Ascot property.

"I came to see your father, to discuss business and stuff," Alice said. Hamish kept his eyebrow raised.

"Well I can assure that he isn't out here. He'll be glad to see you I'm sure. Shall I tell him you're here?" Hamish offered. Alice swallowed the lump in her throat.

"No thank you Hamish, I can see him myself, I just felt a little light headed and needed a moment," Alice said. Hamish nodded at Alice.

"Very well then, good day Alice," Hamish said, nodding to Alice before walking away with his lady friend. Alice watched him go. He was acting strangely out of character… Alice thought to herself. She turned back to the rabbit hole and readied herself to jump in once more. Here we go Alice. She thought as she jumped, and soon enough she was falling back into Underland.

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