[Brown and Blue]

"Congratulations on your return, all," the Caterpillar announced, looking over those present with a critical eye. Standing a good six feet, seven inches, the blue-haired male towered over all but the Hatter who still stood on top of the table. "And especially to you, dear Sir Hat. I see you have finally taken revenge on the Queen for our lovely Lily."

Tilting his head slightly to the side, he focused on the Hatter, taking a drag from his cigarette with only slight reluctance. Cigarettes were nice, but could not compare in the slightest to his hookah, which was most definitely not made for traveling. Thus, the cigarettes were his only option.

Shifting in his seat, the Hare blinked at his surroundings in stunned disbelief. This looked like his lawn and this that he was sitting at, his table and all his tea things. Had he not just been in the arms of Sato in Hopeless? The fact that he was wearing a different dress didn't seem to phase him at all.

Yes, the Hatter was up there on the table, but he was already feeling a little mad and that could very well be his imagination once again. The one he could never seem to conjure in his madness was someone he was sure to find in one of the tea pots.

Shooting out of his seat, he scrabbled for the closest one, finding only tea. That wasn't it. Which one was his favorite? Not the pretty jade one to his right, that wasn't it. Where was it?

Where was he?

Did he hear snoring? That was it! Diving for the delicate, blue-patterned one, the Hare snatched it up, listening closely at the spout. Yes, there was snoring and the only one he knew small enough to fit in a tea pot and wasn't standing a few feet away in all his blueness was the Dormouse. Plucking off the lid, he peered in, knowing exactly what he would find.

Inside was a tiny cushion and on that cushion was his dear friend Dormy, whom he snatched up after putting the tea pot's lid on the table. There was his little friend, so tiny and drowsy. The March Hare put down the tea pot and cuddled the little mouse with one hand to his face. The other hand was idly drifting to the desert stand where they kept the little cakes that made the consumer grow to a greater size. It was right next to the bottle of the shrinking potion, of course.

"Do~ormy~y! I missed you!"

[Mr. Dormouse]

Mr. Doremouse was awoken by a sudden movement. He felt a hand close around his body and lift him from the cushion he has been sleeping on for quite some time. Still half a sleep and rather in a panic he moved his old little body in an attempt to free himself. 'N-now what on earth is happening?' His eyes wildly shot across the table and its immediate surroundings, but everything was a blur. The poor creatures glasses were still lying next to his pillow. Then he felt himself being crushed against a smooth, rather fleshy substance. He tried to get away from it, not knowing what was happening, until he heard a very familiar voice call his name.
'M-marchy is that you?' the old and by now very much trembling mouse asked.

[Spade Siblings]

Leon, feeling rather awkward, followed his friend and the Jack as they carted the Royals of Heart to the castle. What he really wanted to do was grab Clover and shake it until she told him what he wanted to know about why he kept avoiding Nyuriel like it did. Mercutio surely wouldn't mind, not the knowing and the show should the green Royal ever fess up. The cat had been right there! The cat had definitely been hiding something, but he was too distracted by his friend and then the Hatter and now the running.

"We're going back to the tea party?" His voice quavered just a bit as he stared up at his best friend once the exchange was complete. Even the weakest Wonderland creature could feel as the world's power shifted to the Clubs. What would their distant and reluctant neighbors in the Chess Kingdoms think?

~~~

Johanna kept her lips sealed as the Hatter returned along with the headless Red Queen. It was obvious what Clover was up to now, but that didn't quite concern her. No, the Joker of Wonderland loomed large over her, seemingly distracted by the table set for tea and his return to his companions. Then the Caterpillar was there, at her elbow, and poisoning the air around him with the stench of cigarettes. His arms were imprinted on his torso as tattoos, so he wasn't as creepy as he had been the last time she saw him.

Scooting to the other side of Mercutio, she clung to his arm and watched with wide eyes as two of the scariest denizens of Wonderland chatted like a couple of old biddies.

Mercutio smiled slightly at the princess before escorting her down to the other side of the table. Closer to the Hare and Dormouse, yes, but at least they weren't sitting at the Hatter's feet. Thankfully, the area was cat-free and that relieved him greatly.

"May we join your party, Mr. Hare?"

[Hatter]

The Hatter looked around one more time, He was home. His pale blue eyes looked over at the blue creature a smile covered his lips.

"Oh? What may you be speaking of? Me it was not I who did but the Green who took so thus the deed is not in my hands but it's"

The Hatter then glanced towards the March Hare who was now playing with the little guy. Still in the same odd position from before the Hatter's smile left, jumping down he leaned forward holding his hand out towards Johanna

"Hello maiden, what brings you around here dear royal? I haven't seen your keen come near here in a long time... not to the area where the red bloods used to rule..."

A sort of laugh escaped his lips, his eyes turned to the Hare once again. Then back to everyone else, yes all the wondrous creatures were back, back with changes... many of them as a matter of fact he liked that. He took of his hat pulling out a small tea pot and screamed in delight.

"Tea for all, today I am in a good mood shall we party till this here place reaches night fall and if not then may us all figure out why is a bird like a writing desk."

His eyes wiggled around to see all that were there.

"My, we might need more shares, the girl on the table is like a cake feel free to cut her through... I am sure no one will miss half of their body..."

he let out another giggle.

"She is full of red syrup"

[Brown and Blue]

"Of course," the Caterpillar assured him, knowing it was better to leave the subject alone than to pursue it with the Hatter. The man would remember or he wouldn't and that was all there was to it. Taking another drag, he padded a little closer to the table to eye what was offered. The Tea Trio had invited him to tea whenever he stopped by unlike that awful girl, Alice. Yes, that one there on the table looked very much like the silly girl. It probably was and it seemed like the Hatter was interested in her jam or syrup as he called it now.

Considering how you looked at it, when it came out, it was syrup and then as it congealed it attained more of a jam-like consistency. He picked up a butter knife and poked her to see if anything would happen. From the way she arrived, it seemed as if she was dead, but then she wasn't pale enough to be dead. He took another drag of his cigarette.

"Here, Dormy," the Hare said shortly before presenting one of the tiny cakes to him. "Of course, it's me! Who else would it be? Just in time for a big party! Yay!" Looking up at the Hatter, he smiled widely and felt his head fill with air to the point where he wondered if he would just float, float away. He blinked slowly, smile still on his lips but curving up more and becoming sharper.

If it was a party, then he was wearing the wrong sort of things and would need to go change. The Hare put Dormy down and skipped away to his house. What he needed was there, he knew. Pretty, pretty things for such a lovely time of year.

[Mr. Dormouse]

Finally being released Mr. Dormouse bustled towards the tea pot in which he had been sleeping, holding the cupcake in his right hand. He climbed into the pot and put on his glasses after which he peeped out over the brim of the tea pot. Surely, there had not been this many people here for a long, long time. With some effort he climbed out of the tea pot and sat himself in front of it; still panting from the effort. 'I *huff* am *huff* getting to old for this.' He examined the cup cake in his hand and carefully took a bite; it would not do to grow too much. Apparently the growing and shrinking process started to hurt as one got older. For the bones don't stretch as smoothly as when you are young. He grew a couple of inches and then made way towards the Hatter. He made a small curtsy as he passed Johanna 'It's a pleasure to see you again, madam'.
As he stood in front of the Hatter he asked: 'Hatter! Where on earth has everyone been? It was really lonely and quiet here without the usual hustle and bustle! How have you been my dear friend?'

[Spade Siblings]

"The Green bade me here and now the Clubs are in power. I don't fear the Hearts in any case," Johanna responded to the Hatter levelly, taking deep breaths and keeping in mind her lessons on public relations.

The Hatter's words allowed them to sit and drink, but if if the his mood changed the permission could be revoked. This was the Hare's place and the silly, little thing was less likely to fluctuate like the Hatter. Unfortunately, the Hare had run off without answering.

The little thing had seemed quite unhinged.

Suddenly, Benvolio had a sinking feeling as he remembered what the date was. It was the third month of the year, March, and they were visiting the Hare just like Clover had insisted, a welcome back party. The little thing wasn't called the March Hare for nothing.

Was it just him or did it feel like something was watching him, something behind him with ill intent?

[Smoke + Mirrors]

Clover had left them, run off with Mercutio and Leon as it so often did. His knee-jerk reaction was to follow them, but there was something very off about his perceptions and opinions of the beings around him.

Perhaps it was just him but it was getting rather warm and his teeth ached.

He really had to sit down because the world was starting to wobble disconcertingly and no one else seemed to notice it. The wobbling, that is, and not how green everything was. Just staring at the green tablecloth was making him want to find something else just as verdant to pin down and ravish.

Oh, those were not good thoughts or rather they were too good thoughts that he could never ever act on. His madness was growing and growing and he hoped with every last bit of his least mad bits that Ilmarien had no idea about his madness and never would. No one needed to know, especially not the Club Royal, particularly not the Club Royal, just about anyone but the Club Royal.

Now was the time to escape, flee, get the hell out of there because Clover mentioned returning. If he saw Clover like this, there was little to no chance that he wouldn't stalk over to it and do his best to peel it out of its clothes to determine whether the Club Royal was a prince or a princess. Finding out which it was wouldn't stop him from sniffing down the place where its unique scent was strongest and perhaps - very much - trying to see if it tasted as good as it smelled.

Shaking his head sharply just made him more dizzy and he could tell he was panting slightly, almost growling as he tried to stop almost-hyperventilating. Did he taste green? If he did it would be all over. He'd be headless in seconds or perhaps chained up like the Hare was - would be - once he returned.

There was a bowl of cream nearby and, while it wasn't water, it would serve its purpose. He lapped at it, thankful for the cooling effect it had. His eyes were almost closed, keeping an idle eye on the attendants.

[Brown and Blue]

Now that he was properly attired, the Hare returned with a skip in his step. It was pure luck that he found the things that he really wanted to wear in that old chest at the end of his bed. Decked out in a button-up white shirt, green tights, black rufflebums, a simple black vest, and a bright green tie, the Hare couldn't help but do a few cartwheels to express his joy.

Nobody had noticed him yet, so he slunk around to where Nyuriel was pouting. Ignoring the smoky tail, the Hare wrapped his arms around the cat boy's chest, giggling softly at the feel of a warm body stiffening in his grasp.

"Nyu~u," the Hare purred, rubbing his cheek against the convenient muscular shoulder. "You feel like I do, don't you? Help me out and I'll help you out." His tail twitched as pleasure coursed through his body. It didn't make any sense that snuggling up to someone when he already felt like he had a fever could feel so good.

[Mr. Dormouse]

As he heard the Hare's voice Mr. Dormouse's ears twitched. He had heard that tone in the Hare's voice many a time and basically.... it meant trouble. He turned around and as he adjusted his glasses to see what was going on, he saw that the Hare had changed into a green outfit. Yes, they were indeed in for trouble. "H-Hatter.... I really think that you ought to get a rope out... I-I believe it's that time of the year!"

[The Dutchess]

Standing in the awe of it all, the Dutchess blinked a few time, her dull grey-green eyes sparkling remarkably in splendor. She was back at home. The table full of tea sets mixed and matched. The Hatter in front of her like so. The Hare running amock and finding the infamous Door-Mouse. She was back in the madness...her home.

"But...But...WHAT HAPPENED!", she exclaimed suddenly outloud.

She was unaware that it was quite silent besides the small chatter here and there, and sadly, she was looking rather...what was the word...indecent. Wearing a white jacket with red trim with no shirt underneath, her cleavage of youth was showing drastically. A pair of tight red red paints were encasing her thick thighs like so and adorned on her feet were adorned with white boots to fit, oddly they were too big. No big dress, no heavy headdress. She was light as a feather and snug as a glove, except for her bossom, which honestly felt quite rather nice. A blush flushed over her cheeks quickly for a breeze could be felt around her breasts.

"I do say that it is quite chilly...", he stated before she attempted to climb down the table, only stumbling off and catching herself on a chair beside her.

Landing as gracefully as she could, she dusted her pants off, not like they were dirty of course, and made way over to the hare. Hopefully he would know of what was going on and what had brought them back to their home land. All she could think about now suddenly though were if her pig of a son were left on the other world. She dear hope not...

[Hatter]

The Hatter looked at the mouse before his eyes darken and a wicked grin adorned his face.

"Indeed we best..."

The Hatter nodded glancing at the bun, his hands moved up gracefully and with a quick movement he took off his hat pulling out a set of chains. Stepping down quickly he appeared behind the Hare placing the chains on him then whispering lightly upon the cat's and bun's ears.

"Now, if you dear cat do not wish to be chain I suggest you take a walk back to your side of the kingdoms... as for you bun... your chair will be calling you soon..."

Moving back he giggled.

"Now, who is up for some tea >: D"

[Smoke + Mirrors]

For one long, horrendous moment, Nyuriel thought that the Hatter was telling him to return to the Chess Kingdom and his heart stopped beating in his chest. No one could know about that. He wouldn't go back for anything.

There was no way.

Then, he reevaluated what he had heard and decided that the Hatter was simply telling him to leave the Cheshire's usual roaming grounds, which he was quite glad to do. Thankfully, he had yet to lay eyes upon his relative. Supposedly, the longer he lingered, the more likely the chances of just that happening rose. The same was true for meeting Clover, though, and that gave him pause.

[Brown and Blue]

"No," the Hare breathed, previous sensual actions bleeding straight into panicked viciousness. Snarling, he pulled back, trying to escape the manacles, but only managed to bruise the firm chest of the man he had just been cuddling. "No~o!"

Nothing gave way and all he got for his actions was a reaction from the cat and pain in his wrists. That was completely expected, but he never liked it. Pulling and tugging, he continued to try to escape, but it was proving uncomfortable and futile. None of this seemed to faze him in the least as he kept struggling despite the complaints from his fellow prisoner.

[Mr. Dormouse]

Mr. Doremouse watched his friend struggle for freedom. It was quite the painful sight indeed. He could not help but shake his head whilst saying "oh dear, oh dear...."
I-It's for your own best you know", he said after he noticed that the Hare was not about to give up so easily. "H-hatter, please do be careful with him. You know it's not his fault".
All of a sudden a type of drowsiness overcame him... This was not exactly the time to take a nap, yet he could not help but feel exceptionally tired.

[The Dutchess]

The sound of chains brought her back into focus. Blinking a few times, she looked over to the hare and frowned.

"Whatever are you chaining him up for Hatter!", she asked in a harsh tone.

Stepping over to the three, she looked at the hare and shook her head.

"Just calm down now. Would you like a cup of tea by chance. That always calms you. Im sure it will help. Actually I know it will. How bout I go and get that for you huh?"

Turning around she stepped to closer to the table and lifted up a cup of lukewarm tea.

"It may not be the hottest but it will have to do love. Here, take it and calm down now."

The duchess looked up at the Hatter with a worried look and frowned once more.

"Please tell me what is going on. Of all people Im sure you can make sense of what has taken place in the past few days", he voice was semi-frantic but over all she was trying to have self control in the state and appearance she was in.

She felt ridiculous. But pretty.

[To grin like a Cheshire Cat]

The Cheshire cat had been teaching at a local school regarding science and physics ever since he departed from Sin City and said his farewells to the hatter. That was the last person from wonderland that he saw and perhaps the only one he thought. Making his way north towards Hopeless he tried to get several jobs until he landed one as a teacher in a small town on the outskirts of White City. There he did his best to keep a low profile and not get involve with the dealings of the royals though he did wondered once in a while about his cousin. That small brat that he loved to tease as a young one, pulling on his tails until his fur would become red as the flames of fire.

It wasn't until recently that he was told about their eventual return to Wonderland and the tea party to be held for such a commemoration. His yellow eyes always looked to the moon and wondered what was better, to be back in a timeless land or to finally make of his fate one where he would be able to die freely. It wasn't his choice it seemed, and he could not do much but wait as the date approached with thoughts of the world he was living in. Here he was human again, once more able to teach the young minds of all that his mind could not hold like a cat that held the world in its eyes.

The Trip was similar to the very beginning, a twisting slide that he fell into along with his fellow mates though he was the last one to make it there and subsequently one of the last one to make it back into wonderland. Like the Mist, only his eyes were seen at the beginning and covered in a veil of air before his presence was long gone as well. The sound of laughter, of conversation and exploits of the mouse was heard across the land that everyone called home. Such was the calling of the Caterpillar who welcomed them back and the chains that kept the hare in his seat.

The colors of green came flooding into his senses, the unusual coloring of the moon that he always masked with his white grin came back to the present. He was back into the woods that he called home.  His eyes looked to his hands that were still human not knowing when he was going to be turning back into his normal Wonderland body or if he was to remain like this. The woods were his home, the branches his yard, and the air his playground but also his prison.

That delightful grin upon his lips began to appear as his thoughts soon began to emerge together as he watched the moon dance back an forth like the grin of the cat he was before. His body leaning against the bark of the tree as he sat on a branch up high. The sounds of the cards were heard somewhere in the distance, but it was so shallow, so silent to his thoughts that raced. The Cheshire stretched his legs out into the branch, his left leg hanging over the road that Alice once walked through.

"Whisper into the Loud crowd of silence..."

He closed his eyes resting for now alone on the woods that held his secrets, his memories, his desires altogether in the reflection of the moon against its surface. The Cheshire cat was back, once again to play with the air, to be the sane Cat that he himself kept captive in his own madness.