Just Business

Hatter was used to seeing Dodo's angry, but not the intense hatred that his eyes displayed as he gazed at Arthur."What. Is he doing, here?" Dodo asked.
"Is that any way to speak to your King?" Arthur responded.
"Our King died long ago. What's standing before me now, is a coward." Dodo said firmly.
"Coming from the mouth of a fool, I am hardly insulted." Arthur replied. "However, belittle me again and I shall be forced to kill you."
Dodo stifled a laugh. "You didnt answer my question."
"My son is getting the ring. We are off to war."
"~~~~~~'s with 'im." Hatter murmured.
"Dont suppose you mentioned the war to her." Dodo responded.
Avoiding eye contact, Hatter slowly shook his head. "She wouldnt want me fightin' if she knew about it." he said peeking up beneath his eyelashes.
"Well we need all the help we can get." Dodo replied.
"That so?" Arthur pressed curiously.
Dodo smirked at what he implied. "Your wife's corruption runs rambant. The people of Wonderland are sedated and blissfully so. Few have remained free of her influence." he responded.
"Well these 'few' must be gathered if we're to go into war." Arthur said.
"Couldnt agree more." Dodo replied dryly. Arthur smirked smugly. "I'll begin the preparations immediately." he moved away from Arthur but Hatter was quick to follow.
"About March..." Hatter began.
"He's busy distracting the Queen I hope..." Dodo replied.
"Actually he's busy starving in a cage." Hatter said. Dodo stopped and faced him. "Arthur has him caged in the forest. I tried to free 'im but Arthur pulled his gun out at me."
"He has a gun?"
"Yeah and does he like waving it around..."
"That is why you brought him along.." Dodo realized, resting his fists on a table.
"Yes." Hatter agreed, hands on hips.
"And where did he get the gun?" Dodo asked glancing at Hatter. Hatter grimaced and Dodo had to supress a groan. "Your childish ways are going to doom us all."
"Excuse me for not being 600!" Hatter responded earning Arthur's attention.
"Now's not the time for you being an imp." Dodo said causing Hatter to frown. "We are going to war. Can only hope your girl doesnt get caught in the crossfire."
"Whaddya mean?" Hatter asked stepping closer.
"The Hearts are no longer noble. They are power-hungry manipulators. The less there are," Dodo paused to glance in the direction of Arthur. "the better Wonderland is."
"You suggestin' we kill 'im?"
"I'm suggesting we knock him out for now....If he isnt tragically killed in battle....then we lock him away, with the rest of his family." Dodo replied. Hatter just studied him silently causing Dodo to sigh. "Regrettably, his knowledge as King is valuable. Killing him by our own hands would be a mistake.." Dodo explained handing him a flask. “Here I’ve mixed bliss with a sleeping draft. Get him to drink it…”

"If you say so." Hatter muttered. "Hey Arthur!” he called moving away from Dodo. “How about a drink to sackin' your ex eh?" he grinned.
Arthur smiled galiantly, and took the flask without hestianting…but when he raised it to his lips, he didn’t take a sip. “Mm, what a fine drink this is…” he said studying the flask with false admiration.
“You like it?” Hatter encouraged.
“Very much so…” Arthur replied, pretending to drink more. “Is it from the oyster world?”
“You would know wouldn’t you, aye?” Hatter said. “Been there more times than me.”
“Undoubtedly. But time in the forest makes a man forget…”
“Not to mention you’ve entered your twilight years…”
A curt smile traced Arthur’s lips as he and Hatter stared off. Then Arthur began to laugh and Hatter swiftly joined in. The next moment Arthur slumpt to the ground. Hatter exhaled in relief, turning to help Dodo rally the troops…not noticing the smile fade off Arthur’s face as he cracked an eyelid open.

*****
The way the wind coursed past you while Jack guided the mechincal flammigo through the air, reminded you of the whirlwind that had landed you in Wonderland. It seemed so long ago now….

////Thumping onto the flowerbed, you had barely had a chance to catch your breath when Hatter's curious voice had spoke: "Hm. A snowglobe." You had been about to strain your neck when he came into view, clenching the damned device that had been the bait trapping you into another world. His brown eyes studied you intently as they so often did. "Hello...They call me Hatter." he had said."Like the Mad Hatter?" you murmured. Hatter had frowned then walked closer to you. "I am not mad, you understand? The only thing that makes me mad is when people call me the Mad Hatter!" he responded. "…Sorry. Where am I?" you asked."Wonderland." Hatter answered. You had stared at him a second then started to laugh. "That’s funny." You giggled. Hatter laughed too. "I’m serious." He said, the humor disappearing from his tone. /// Hatter held out a decorative pair of gloves in your favorite color. "What are those for?" you asked."Did you forget the symbol branded into your hand?" Hatter responded glancing down. Frowning you had studied the ink blot on the back of your palm that Hatter had called a 'brand' marking you as an oyster.///"People from your world have powerful emotions. The emotional state of Wonderland, has always been diluted. When the Queen of Hearts took power, she wanted to change that and she did. Her white rabbits kidnap people from your world and bring them here, where they are drained of those emotions." Dodo answered. "Drained?" you repeated."For what it’s worth, they’re not aware of it. They’re put in a hypnotic state where they’re only allowed to display a certain emotion, such as joy." Dodo had explained. "That’s awful." you had replied. "Hence the Resistance ~~~~~." Dodo responded. "That's why we need the ring back...It contains the Stone of Wonderland, which powers the mirror that goes between our worlds. You must convince Jack Heart that our intentions with the ring are good. That we will see to it, that all oysters will be returned to their world and the balance of Wonderland restored.,,,Before he was murdered by the Queen of Hearts, the Red Knight reined over Wonderland using the ring and mirror to retrieve any cures from your world to use for the illnesses that befell us here."//"Oh and should you meet the Queen." the stranger contuined, causing you and Hatter to pause. His eyes stared into the distance a moment before meeting yours with a smile plastered on his face. "Tell her Arthur sends his regards." he finished. -- "The Stone of Wonderland cannot fall into Arthur's grasp. He would spread war, dominating both worlds and others yet to be discovered." Caterpillar warned.-- "You’re…you’re the Red King.." Hatter realized, though it sounded like a question. "I was." Arthur agreed. "You will take back from her what rightfully belongs to me - the Stone of Wonderland." -- "Are you mad? The whole point of the Resistance is to stop this…emotional crap!" Hatter said. Arthur pointed a finger. "By draining oysters! Read the fine print boy." He replied. "No. I don’t trust you. Jack give us the ring." Hatter said holding a hand out. Arthur’s attention snapped to his son. "You have the ring?" he asked urgently. "No." Jack answered. "No?!" Hatter repeated. "But…" you stammered. "I have the box; the ring is still in my room." Jack replied. "Hatter and myself will round up the Resistance. Jack take the girl back to the Casino and get the ring….If you stay missing for too long your mother will know something’s up." Arthur said. Hatter went to kiss your cheek but his lips hovered over your ear instead. "Steal the ring from Jack." Hatter whispered. ////

Now as the flammigo coaxed to a stop towards an upper level of the Hearts Casino, you wondered how exactly you would be able to do that. As the flammgio screeched to a halt, you crashed into Jack who barely seemed aware - he merely turned his head in your direction, waiting for you to get off the metallic bird so he could too. Jack walked a few feet to an odd window then peered down at his room. Without even looking at you, he popped it open and lowered himself inside. You hestiated, but saw he was holding his arms out to help you down. "Quickly!" he said in a polite hiss. Gripping the windowledge best you could, you swung down allowing Jack to catch you. He shut the window as you glanced around his blinding white room. "We need a cover," Jack continued as he started toward a black nightstand. "Follow my lead." he added before you could even speak. You noticed he had pulled out a pale-blue bottle from the nightstand drawer.
"What emotion is that?" you murmured as he took a swig.
His voice was pratically a whisper: "Bliss." Your eyes widened as he pocketed the bottle. "You wont be drinking any I'm afraid," Jack said, his gaze on the door. "Mother's taught the Suits how to tell when I'm lying, most bothersome." he sighed contently. "Thankfully the Suits are hapless when it comes to emotion. I have the feeling that she drains them too but..." He trailed off, grabbing your waist and pinning you against him as a black-robed man leading a herd of men in suits marched inside the room. "Ah, looking for me gentlemen?" Jack smiled.
The leader, the one in the robe, seemed to need a moment to regain composure. "My Liege. We did not know where you had disappeared to..." he said.
"You fretted for nothing Club. Just went for a ride amongst the sky, right darling?" Jack responded shaking you playfully. You forced a smile at the 'Club' as Jack stroked your hair. "Now, please go and take the Suits with you..I'm sure I've wasted enough of your time...Dont want to displease Mother."
"No, no we dont...." the Club agreed. He bowed his head, gestured at the suits to turn around.
Jack released you once they had all left, his head slightly tilted, a dreamy look on his face. "Number 4's been working out..." he mused.
You blinked. "What?" you blurted.
Jack slowly returned his gaze to you as he spoke. "Number 4, he's...." Jack paused as his eyes met yours. He inhaled, turning on his heel. "Not important." he breathed retreating to the nightstand. Sweeping his hand across the surface then patting the leg, a secret compartment popped out from the side of the nightstand. Jack carefully picked-up a ring, the ring, the Stone of Wonderland. There were hieroglyphics set in steel surrounding the band, the stone itself a breathtaking blue, was partly concealed despite it being bobbled by a copper covering. You werent sure if Jack's mouth was open in awe or if he was about to speak, but either way it snapped shut just like the secret compartment - hastily kicking the leg of the nightstand to hide the ring from a new visitor. "What is it now Club?!" Jack demanded, his 'bliss' clearly worn off.
"The Queen wishes to see you Sire." the Club responded. Jack scowled, marching past you and following the Club out of the room.
You waited a moment, then copied his motion with the nightstand. The secret compartment popped open and the Stone of Wonderland gleamed beneath your gaze. There was a definate aura about it that made your heart race. Did it have this effect on everyone or was it because you werent from this world? Biting your lip, you tucked the ring beneath your glove then closed the secret compartment. Now came the tricky part - escaping without Jack. You glanced a the window, debating for the briefest of seconds if you should try flying the metallic flammigo. Right. Supressing a sigh, you went to the door opening it just a crack. Aside from a red carpet and a marble hallway that sparkled, there was no one in sight. You walked down the hallway as swiftly as you could without qualifying as 'jogging'. The hallway curved and you were about to curve with it when you came face-to-face with Jack.
"Going somewhere?" he asked. There was the smallest hint of knowing-sarcasm to his voice. His face was so blank that he suddenly reminded you an awful lot like Arthur.
"T-To find you?" you responded.
A false smile appeared on his features. "Oh? Wouldnt make more sense for you to wait until I got back?" he hummed.
"Well I wasnt sure how long you'd..." Your sentence was cut short by Jack's hand closing around your throat.
His cruel gaze bore into you, a sneer etched on his lips. Jack's free hand whipped off one of your gloves causing the ring to tumble free; you could've sworn the floor shook as it touched down. Jack's grip on you tightened as he bent down to retrieve the ring. "Long enough for you to escape hopefully." he guessed studying the stone.
"I...."
He slammed you against the wall, his face mere inches away from yours. "Listen to me girl. I will not hand over the throne to my deadbeat father...but nor does my mother deserve it. Wonderland will soon be mine...just as soon as they destory each other." A smirk surfaced then he smacked you with such force that you fell to the floor. "SUITS." he called down the bend of the hall. When they marched up, their gaze was already on you. "She betrayed me. Tried to steal the Stone of Wonderland." Jack announced studying the ring. The Suits yanked you to your feet. "I should behead her but," Jack paused to sigh as he pocketed the ring. "I was so fond of her." he murmured with fake compassion. His blue eyes darted to the Suits. "So stick her with the twins instead." he ordered.

“Twins? Let me go!” you screeched, thrashing best you could as you were carried away from Jack. The Suits didn’t even look at you. Straining your neck, you cast a glance over your shoulder at Jack. He stood exactly where he had been, one hand pocketed, shaking his prettyboy head from side-to-side as if you had truly wronged him somehow. “Dirty trait-OW!” you howled as the Suits literally threw you into a green room. Landing on all fours, you barely had a chance to glance at two identical old men when the floor lurched upward. Eyes traveling skyward, you screamed as a glass bubble locked down around you, leaving very little room to move. Breath caught in your throat you looked in the direction of the twins just as it started to snow. Glancing at the glass sky again, you screamed at the twins hovering over you. As one bent down reaching for you, you realized with a numbing sensation that you had somehow shrunk to fit inside a snowglobe! A wrinkled hand half the size of the globe cupped around your little world causing a vibration that made you fall flat on your back as the snowglobe soared through the air to the eye-level of the old twins. "You betrayed the Prince." said the twin holding you. "You're working with the Restiliance." the other said. "Tell us, what are their plans?" they said together.
"I didnt betray him! He betrayed me!" your shouts echoing off the glass walls of your prison.
"The Prince betrayed his own mother?" - "Surely you can come up with better than that."
"I......I dont know what the Resitliance is doing!" you called.
"But you know where they operate from." - "You must."
"I-I dont!"
"Too much lying." - "Time for flying."
Both twins griped the snowglobe and shook with all their might. Your mouth filled with snow as you withered form flew from the plastic floor to the glass ceiling several times. With one final shake, a scream finally escaped you as you landed face-first. A sharp pain alerted you that your nose had been broken while the twin’s chuckles thundered beyond your domed prison. Snow continued to flutter down as you weakly pushed yourself up. The snowglobe bobbled as the twins carried you towards a metallic table. You wanted to move but had forgotten how - perhaps your brain had decided your body was broken. Something wrapped around your arm, causing your pounding heart to jumpstart. Your eyes landed on the kind face of a male stranger, sympathy shining on his bland features. "Hi." he said simply. He swung your arm around his shoulders but laid down beside you. "I'll take you to safety." he whispered tugging you along as he crawled. You were too weak to ask who he was.
“HEY!” the twins boomed.
You flinched cowering internally despite a wave of relief as the stranger slipped you and himself through a trapdoor. The snowglobe lurched just as the stranger pulled the trapdoor closed. It took a moment for your eyes to adjust, but once they did you saw you were in an underground chasm of sorts. The stranger hopped down beside you, settling down with his back against a wall. "I'm Colin." he introduced.
"~~~~~~..." you murmured.
"Dont take this the wrong way but...I'm glad to see you." Colin said. "Nice to have a break from the twins for once. They're magical ya know? We're in their playground..."
"What are they going to do with us?"
"Dunno what they'll do with you. Me? I'm stuck here."
"Why?" you asked managing to sit up.
"Why do you think?...Sometimes, I wonder if our world is really that different from yours..." Colin responded.
"I dont understand." you said rubbing your head - bad idea, it made the pain worse.
"I'm....I was....the Prince's boyfriend." Colin replied.
"....So the queen locked you in here?" you asked.
"She tried forbidding Jack to be with me - that didnt work. She tried sedating me like an oyster - Jack snapped me outta it. Finally she told my love that I had dumped him and fled off into the oyster world, as if I would ever do such a thing. Meanwhile she secretly stuck me in the clutches of the twins!" Colin answered.
"Is that why Jack has the ring? He was trying to find you?" you wondered aloud.
"Probably. Little does he know I'm right under his nose.." Colin sighed.
"But why does he want Wonderland?"
"Whaddya mean 'want'?"
"He said he was going to let his parents kill each other." you said.
Colin's green eyes narrowed. "Parents? His father's dead." he replied.
"Er no Arthur's alive..."
"The Red King? Alive? Oh this is not good..."
"Why?" you blurted.
"You have no idea why he was called the Red King do you?" Colin responded.
*******
"We stand on the footholds of a momentous occasion." Dodo began, his hazel eyes scanning his 'warriors' - a bunch of meagle men and woman carrying bommerangs. "The Stone of Wonderland has been secured. It awaits our victory. Too long have we been slaves to the Queen's Instant Gratification. Tonight, the gratification shall be ours alone!" The crowd roared. "Though it will not be instant, we. shall. be. fierce. We shall teach the Queen and all who serve her, true emotion. Our fury shall spawn nightmares for those that remain! We shall not stop unil the Queen is beheaded herself! " Dodo held up a his own boomerrang - "For Wonderland! FOR THE DEATH OF THE QUEEN!!!"
"FOR THE DEATH OF THE QUEEN!" the crowd echoed, Hatter included.
There was a single chorus of clapping that (literally) parted the crowd. Up strolled Arthur causing a small fit of murmurs to sprout. "Well-said Dodo. Always knew you were a natural speaker." Arthur beamed standing beside him. Dodo closed his eyes in a silent curse as Arthur smiled at the crowd. "Yes. It is I. The Red King has slipped past Death's veil to rule over all of you once again....though I’m afraid I'm not as handsome as I was once." he smirked causing a spark of laughter. "I am proud of what the Restitilance has accomplished. And though I am most appreciative of Dodo's help," Arthur slapped a hand on Dodo's shoulder. "I'm afraid, I must relieve him of duty." The smile left Arthur's face replaced with a gruesome leer as he turned his full attention to Dodo. Dodo's eyes stared out at the crowd blankly, his body shaking profusely. Hatter took an automatic step forward but Doris held him back. Millions of blooddroplets appeared on Dodo's skin as if he had a horrid case of chicken pox.....but suddenly he gave out a yell, his skin tearing like a damp piece of paper, as blood gushed from every pore. Flesh rained from his bones, blood spewing from his ribcage as his heart acted like a sprinkler. What was left of Dodo formed a bloodied heap the moment Arthur retracted his hand. His devilish scowl turned to the crowd....then he smiled clasping his hands together. "As King, emotion will be handed delicately. Not as a common partydrink." His frown returned momentarily. "Roslyn's rein of terror has gone on long enough. It is time we dealt with her....ONWARD!" he smiled with a broad wave of his arm.