Arthur observed Hatter carefully as the lunatic ran full speed towards him. Arthur knew that this would be no easy fight and he would most likely end up the loser, but he wasn't about to give up. Winston Churchill never surrendered … so why should he?
"His advantage, my injury … my advantage, his rage" He thought, swallowing hard
He readied himself
"Prepare to die, Other Me!" Hatter shouted
"First point of attack, block his arms …"
Arthur grabbed hold of Hatter's wrists. He looked at Arthur in surprise as he was still moving towards Arthur
"Glasgow Kiss"
Arthur head-butted Hatter hard, making him cry out in agony
"Apply blow to the gut"
Arthur kicked Hatter in the stomach, letting go of his wrists. Hatter went flying and landed on the ground several yards away. He got up and spat out blood
"You can't have [Name]! She is mine!" He shouted
"Interesting assessment. I don't know which is more embarrassing … your denial, or the fact that you're losing to me and I'm wearing a dress" Arthur said
Hatter snarled
"You're cocky, now … but you won't be once I cut your throat and make you into cupcakes! I won't make the mistake of leaving you to die slowly like last time … I will make sure you are dead, Other Me … and I will make your friends watch" He said, unbearably angry
"They'd probably bring popcorn …" Arthur said, shrugging

Hatter was becoming irritated. He charged at Arthur again
"Dodge …"
Arthur moved out of the way, positioning himself behind Hatter
"Apply blow to the back …"
Arthur kicked Hatter and pinned him to the ground using his body weight. Hatter began to wriggle around, hissing
"Release me, you cretin!" He growled
"I can't do that. I am going to take you home … and you're going back to where you belong" Arthur said
"Why are you so desperate to take me alive?!" Hatter hissed
"Because we can't conceive a child … unless we're whole again" Arthur said
"YOU LIAR!" Hatter screamed
He began to wriggle around more, but Arthur kicked him in the back of the head, knocking him out cold
"B-bastard …" He breathed
Arthur bent down and tied Hatter up with thick rope, which he hoped would keep the maniac bound tight until they got back home
"Arthur!"
He looked up and saw [Name], Emmy and Becca. He stood up and smiled
"Rescue Mission complete!" Emmy said, smiling
[Name] hurried over to Arthur, starting to cry
"Arthur!"
"[Name], I missed you so!" He said
She hugged him and burst into tears
"I thought I lost you …" She breathed
"Yes … and I, you …" He said, holding her tightly

-Meanwhile-

"Aiya, this dungeon is like a maze, aru!" Yao Caterpillar complained
Cheshire Kiku punched a guard, knocking them out
"Hai, but we must persevere and find the Queen of Hearts … and the Hare if possible" He said
"It's not often we team up like this" Yao Caterpillar said
"Hai … and I don't like it" Cheshire Kiku said in a flat tone
"Why do you hate me so, aru?"
"You're trying to take Emmy from me …"
"No I am not, aru!"
"I've seen the way you look at her!"
They looked at each other
"Maybe we should split up, aru …" Yao Caterpillar said
"Wh-who is there?"
They both looked up and followed the sound of the woman's voice to a dark, unkempt cell. In the corner was someone who looked like Belarus, but she was wearing an elegant, royal dress and she looked like she had been crying
"Caterpillar … you find the March Hare. I'll get the Queen out" Cheshire Kiku said
And with that Yao Caterpillar was gone and Cheshire Kiku began to pick the lock on the cell door
"You must be the Cheshire Cat …" She said
"Hai" Cheshire Kiku said, smiling
"I heard Arthur Kirkland has returned to Wonderland … is this true?" She asked
"Hai" He said
"Oh … I have missed him so. But I heard Hatter say he had died" She said
"No, he still lives. He is fighting Hatter as we speak" He said, unlocking the cell door
"Oh, How I have longed to speak with him …" She said, standing up

To be Continued