Panting, Alice leaned against her knees while Ace lowered his sword and gave her a sympathetic smile.

"Would you like to take a break?" he asked.

Alice shook her head and took a deep breath. Gripping the Vorpal Sword tightly, she straightened up. "No, I just needed to catch my breath. Let's keep going."

Raising his own sword, the two faced off again. Ace had been showing Alice some moves and techniques over the past few days. The others finally decided that he was trustworthy enough to remove his chain, so now the real training had begun.

Blocking. Beating. Parrying. It did a number on her muscles, but she refused to give up. As Ace circled around her, she matched his steps. Retreating back as he moved forward. Sidestepping his blows. Changing directions.

"It's very much like a dance, isn't it?" Alice said.

"I suppose it is. Although, I'm much better at this than I am at actual dancing," Ace said with a grin.

"Is that so?"

"Yes, I'm afraid I'm terrible at leading. And I step on toes. The ladies avoid me at the balls for a reason."

Over Ace's shoulder, Alice saw Hatta perk up. He had been sitting under a tree, hunched over his chessboard as he desperately tried to come up with a plan. But now he rose to his feet, staring at her and Ace. The two lowered their swords as he approached them.

"What did you just say?" he asked.

"I'm not good at dancing?" Ace said uncertainly.

Hatta's eyes widened, and Alice worried Ace had somehow triggered the hatter's madness. "Dancing. Dancing. Dancing at balls," he muttered.

Steeling herself for the oncoming rhymes and riddles, Alice was surprised when Hatta broke out into a grin and laughed. While it didn't sound like full-blown madness, it did seem a tad unhinged. Suddenly, he grabbed hold of Haigha and started dancing him about the Forest floor.

"Dancing and balls and balls and dancing!" he sang.

Poor Haigha was trembling and looking to Alice and Ace for help, but they weren't certain what to do. Finally, Hatta released the hare and turned to the others, his eyes filled with electricity.

"We have our plan."

~

They took a chance and had Pierrot leave his post as the lookout in order to discuss the plan with everyone present. Hatta's beautiful chessboard was set out before them as they all sat around it. The pieces had moved about a bit. There was now a white bishop on their side, and the red knight had migrated. Said knight had also gained a tiny blue heart. Ace squinted at the piece for a moment before pointing to it.

"Is this me?" he asked.

"It is indeed," Hatta said, grinning wickedly at Alice.

When Ace noticed the blue heart, he turned to Alice and smiled, causing her entire body to flood with warmth and a tingling sensation. Hatta cleared his throat, drawing their attention back to him.

"So, the plan," he said. "Captain, perhaps you can tell us what important date is soon approaching."

Ace thought for a moment. "The Queen is holding her annual ball to celebrate the slaying of the Jabberwock."

"Yes, she is," Hatta said excitedly.

"What does that have to do with us?" asked Alice.

"Nearly all of Hearts attends this ball. Hundreds of people will be there. What's more, it's a masquerade."

"So?"

"So with so many people in the Castle—their identities concealed with masks—it would be easy for a band of fugitives and rebels to sneak inside," Pierrot said.

"Exactly," Hatta said.

"You want us to attend the ball? Uninvited?" Mary Ann asked nervously.

"It's actually quite fun," Alice said with a smile.

"With the lot of us still at large, the Queen will certainly be on high alert," Hatta said. "However, with all of our talents combined, I'm certain we can succeed."

"What do you need?" Alice asked, eager to begin now that a plan was finally coming together.

"We'll need outfits. Dresses, suits. I can manage the masks if I can get back to my shop for a spell."

"I can lift some clothing from a shop," Alice offered as she raised her hand. "I've done it before, I'd be glad to do it again."

"I'll help her," Pierrot said. "My slight of hand may be useful."

"Good, good. Haigha and Mary Ann can help me back at my shop. Now, Captain," Hatta turned to Ace, "what I need from you is a bit riskier."

"What do you want me to do?" Ace asked.

"I need you to return to the Castle."

"What?" Alice exclaimed. "You can't have him go back! If the Queen discovers that he's joined forces with us, she'll kill him."

"Then he needs to be sure she doesn't find out," Hatta said. "Make up some excuse. Tell them we captured you. We'll put you back in chains if that helps."

"But—"

"I'll do it," Ace interrupted Alice.

Alice turned to the guard. "Ace, you don't have to do this."

He smiled down at her. "I want to help with this rebellion. And if this is what I must do, so be it."

Alice pursed her lips together, still unhappy with the decision but unable to argue further. "We need you to work with our other inside source," Hatta continued, tapping the red bishop with the white heart. "The White Rabbit will assist you so that we may slip in unnoticed. I doubt we'll get past the guards, so we'll need to find another way inside."

"Shrinking Cake might do the trick," Alice said irritably, still cross about Ace being put in such danger.

"Very good, I'll leave that to you."

"And once we sneak in, then what?" asked Mary Ann.

Hatta turned to Alice. "I think that is best left to our thief with the Vorpal Sword."

Alice's stomach sank as their eyes turned to her. True, she had been practicing her fighting skills for days now, but that didn't mean she was ready to use them against a person. Against the Queen. And she still wasn't certain that she could handle actually killing someone. Was that really the only option?

"I recommend trying to negotiate with her," Ace said. "Tell her that you don't want to end things in violence if she is willing to abdicate the throne."

"And if she won't?" Alice asked.

No one seemed willing to speak the words. But they all knew. The Queen was not going to step down. She would not negotiate with Alice. And Alice would have no choice.

She would have to kill her.

She would become a murderer.

Was that any way to begin her rule?

"When should we start?" Pierrot asked, breaking the heavy silence.

"Tonight," Hatta replied. "The ball is in three days. We need to get our supplies, have our pieces in place, and act." He glanced around at the group. "Are we up for this?"

Mary Ann was the first to speak. "Yes. Let us put an end to this madness once and for all."

"Here, here," Haigha said.

The others nodded their agreement.

~

After the meeting, Ace prepared for his return to the Castle. Alice hated to see him go, both because she enjoyed having him so nearby and because she feared for his life. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she stood before him.

"Please be safe, Ace," she said.

He smiled at her, and as he wiped away her tears with one hand, he pulled something out of his jacket with the other. It was the handkerchief he had given her back in the prison cell. He handed it to her. She ran her thumb over the embroidered A and glanced up at him.

"I'll be fine," he said. "I have to stay alive so that we can be reunited again." With one last smile, he turned to Hatta and Pierrot. "I think my story will be more believable if I return a little worse for wear. Looking like I went through harsh treatment as your prisoner may gain me a little sympathy."

"Of course, allow me," Hatta said.

Before Alice could even protest, Hatta had swung his walking stick at Ace's jaw. "Hatta!' Alice shrieked as the guard stumbled back.

The madman shrugged. "He asked."

Ace cupped his cheek as he turned to Alice with a strained smile. "It's all right, Alice. This will make it easier for them to believe me."

Alice stood on her toes to brush her hand against Ace's now swollen jaw. It was already turning red, and there would likely be a sizable bruise. "Yes, well, I think Hatta enjoyed it a bit too much," she said, glaring at Hatta.

Another shrug, but he did not try to hide his grin. Ace placed his hand over Alice's. "Don't worry. Bruises fade. It'll be fine."

The tears began again, but Ace did not remove his hand from her own to wipe them away. His own expression was somewhat reluctant as he gazed into her eyes. Would this be the last time she would see him with his head still on his neck? It was too horrible a thought to dwell on, so Alice looked down at her feet and handed the handkerchief back to Ace.

"You keep it," he said. She looked up and found a sad smile on his lips. "If I can't be there to wipe your tears away myself, then that will have to do."

Hatta gagged in the background, but Alice ignored him. "Stay safe, Ace," she said.

He pulled her into his arms and held her tightly. "You, too, Lady Laurens."

A grin broke through her sorrow, and when Ace finally let her go, she found that the tears had at last ceased. Ace took hold of his coat sleeve and pulled it hard until a rip tore through the fabric. Ruffling his hair, he stooped down and picked up some dirt. When he had covered his face and clothing in it, he turned to the rest of the group.

"What do you think?" he asked.

"You look as though you've made a daring escape," Pierrot said.

He turned to Alice and raised his eyebrows. "Well then. Good luck."

Without hesitation, Alice leaned against his chest and planted a kiss on his cheek. She reveled in the blush that rose in his cheeks. "And good luck to you, Captain."