Once Again : Part 3 : Return to the Future

part 4 : The Ball

Alice wore an ice blue dress, and helped Hatter pick out a navy blue suit to wear. Alice lightly brushed Hatter’s hair, and they left for the ball. They arrived at the doors, and marveled at the scenery. The queen was standing with Iracebeth at a table on the sides of the ballroom. Alice spotted Piper sitting with Mally at the table as well. Alice smiled at Piper as they were walking up to the table. Hatter looked around.
    “I’m going to go get something to drink.” Hatter said to Alice. “Don’t go anywhere.” Alice raised an eyebrow and smiled as he walked away. Piper and Mally laughed. Alice turned to them.
    “What?” Alice asked.
    “I don’t know how you can stand living with him.” Piper said. “Especially his laugh.” Alice gasped jokingly.
    “What’s wrong with his laugh?” She asked, furrowing her eyebrows. Mally cleared her throat. Piper raised an eyebrow. “Ok, maybe the snorting IS a bit off-putting, but I don’t see what you’re talking about otherwise.” Hatter soon came back with two cups, he handed one to Alice. Alice couldn’t help but think about her conversation with Piper and Mally, and snicker as she took the cup from his hand. Hatter tilted his head slightly.
    “What is it?” Hatter asked. Alice covered her mouth.
    “Nothing.” Alice answered, sipping her drink. “Just a joke Piper told.” Piper widened his eyes as he looked at Alice. Mally sighed.
    “I’m going to the restroom.” Mally said walking away. Hatter and Alice waited until she was far away from them. Once she was out of sight, Hatter and Alice looked at Piper. Piper looked like a scared deer. Alice and Hatter looked at him more intensely. Piper put his hands up.
    “What did I do?” He asked them. Alice sighed.
    “You asked Mally?” Alice asked. Piper’s ears fell.
    “Nae…” He said, ashamed. Alice looked confused. “…More like she asked me…” Hatter raised his eyebrows. “I guess she could tell I was gonna ask, and so she just asked me.” Hatter shook his head.
 “Cat eagallach.” Hatter mocked. Piper gave an irritated look. Alice walked away from the table at the call of the white queen. Piper looked at Hatter.
“So I’m the scaredy cat?” Piper asked sarcastically. “What about you, huh?” Hatter snickered.
“Really?” Cheshire asked, popping up next to them. ”You called him a scaredy cat?” Hatter looked at both of them.
“What?” Hatter asked, sipping his drink. Chess grinned.
“Tell me, Tarant, have you and Alice ever kissed yet?” Cheshire asked smugly. Hatter’s cheeks turned from white and purple, to solid pink.
“No…” He answered honestly. “But that’s none of your blasted business.” Piper shook his head.
“Malarkey!” Piper called. “If you and Alice get to look into my business when it comes to Mally, then you can’t say anything about this.” Cheshire floated upside down.
“I’m sorry,” He said to Piper. “Mally? Our friend Mallyumkun?” Piper’s face was pink now too. 
“Whoops.” Hatter mocked.

P.O.V.: Alice talking to the white queen at the ball:
   
“You look lovely Alice, I thought you were wearing the dress you had years ago.” Mirana said as Alice walked up to her.
    “Actually,” Alice said. “Hatter made it for me.” Mirana and Iracebeth looked at each other with that suspicious look on their faces. “What is it? Why does everyone look like that when I mention him?” Alice asked. Suddenly Alice heard Piper from the table. 
    “Malarkey!” Piper yelled, then they didn’t hear anything but muffled talking.
    “I wonder who he’s arguing with…” Alice said.
    “Tell me, Alice, have you and Tarant kissed yet?” The red queen asked. Alice turned red and shook her head. “Figures with all that lipstick he’s wearing.” Alice thought for a moment.
    “Iracebeth…” Alice said. “Hatter doesn’t wear makeup.” Iracebeth looked at the Hatter standing at the table with Chess and Piper. She looked at Mirana.
    “That’s his skin,” Mirana said. “He’s a Hatter. Talk about it, Alice is starting to look like one too.” They both looked at Alice. Alice shook her head with a smile.
    “I guess it has something to do with living in Hatter’s house.” Alice said, remembering what Piper and Mally said.
    “Well that’s ok.” Mirana said. She looked at where Piper was sitting. “Piper!” She called. Piper came up and stood in front of the queen.
    “Aye your majesty?” Piper asked. “Can I help you?” Mirana thought for a moment.
    “Maiden’s wish?” Mirana asked. Piper’s face turned white.
    “I’ll be r-right back…” He said. “Aye… I a-almost forgot.” Piper ran away on all fours, hesitantly. “Maiden’s wish?” Alice wondered. “A code word?” 
    Piper ran to his room in the castle and climbed to the top of his tall shelf. He moved a couple of small boxes and picked up a dark navy blue top hat with a cherry red ribbon wrapped around the base of the hat. Piper climbed down and dusted off the hat. Once he observed that the hat was still in good condition he ran as fast as possible back to the ballroom. Piper grabbed Hatter by the arm and dragged him to the side of the ballroom.
    “What are you doing?” Hatter asked. Piper put the hat up into Hatter’s view. Hatter was stunned. “M-My first wearable h-hat…” Hatter said, taking the hat back. “Thank you… but why…?”
    “You might need that soon.” Piper said, looking at Alice. The queens and Piper had a plan, a big mischievous plan, a plan to unite two hearts closer, and it was going just as it needed to.