[Third Person Pov]
Thanks to their quick timing and decisive action, Danny and the others had saved themselves a tremendous amount of time and trouble by not having to navigate the disorienting illusionary maze inspired by Alice in Wonderland.
The three of them continued to pretend to be unconscious, keeping their bodies limp and their breathing steady as they were carried all the way toward the Mad Hatter's extravagant tea party. The journey felt endless, but they remained perfectly still, biding their time and gathering whatever information they could from the muffled sounds and movements around them.
The White Rabbit stood just outside a towering iron gate, with Tweedledee and Tweedledum positioned right behind him, still dutifully carrying their captured guests.
"Pardon the tardiness, Mr. Hatter," the Rabbit announced in his characteristically fussy tone as he strode through the open gate and into the heart of the garden where the tea party was in full swing. "There was some rather unfortunate delay that kept me from my schedule. But rest assured, it has been resolved. It won't happen again."
The garden was a riot of vibrant life and whimsical chaos. Lush green grass stretched out like a perfectly manicured carpet, dotted with colorful singing flowers that swayed and danced joyfully to an invisible melody. Their petals shimmered in the soft afternoon light as they harmonized in sweet, lilting voices. Overhead, pairs of beautifully plumed birds chirped and fluttered together in synchronized loops, their songs blending into a cheerful symphony. The entire grounds buzzed with festive energy—guests in quirky, mismatched outfits merrily chattered and laughed while seated around an array of lavishly decorated tables scattered throughout the garden. Porcelain teacups clinked, silver spoons stirred, and the air was thick with the scents of fresh scones, fragrant teas, and sugary confections.
"You're darn tootin' it won't happen again!" Jervis Tetch exclaimed with a wildly cartoonish cadence, his voice bouncing with theatrical flair. He leaped up onto his ornate seat at the head of the longest table—the grand centerpiece of the entire tea party—his eyes wide with manic delight.
He began cheering enthusiastically, jumping up and down on the chair like an overexcited child. "You brought her! She's here! You brought her! She's here! Yippee! Yay! Yippee-kay-yay!" He clapped his gloved hands together with unrestrained joy, his oversized hat wobbling with every bounce. "The heart of this entire operation is finally here to make everything complete!"
"We didn't know what to do with the extra tagalongs, so I brought them along as well," the Rabbit explained, motioning toward Danny and Robin with a dismissive flick of his hand.
"Splendid! Splendid!" Jervis continued cheering, far too ecstatic to feel even a hint of annoyance. "I have quite the colorful history with those related to the Bat! I'm absolutely delighted they're here to witness this truly historical moment!"
With a dramatic wave of his hands, three elegantly carved chairs slid back from their places at the table as if pulled by invisible strings. The captives were deposited into them with surprising gentleness.
Jervis clapped his hands sharply. "No use pretending to be asleep any longer, my dears. Wakey-wakey!"
The three of them slowly opened their eyes, turning to fix Jervis with sharp, defiant glares that could cut through steel.
Dick and Danny didn't hesitate for even a second. They immediately tried to leap into action, launching themselves toward the Mad Hatter in a coordinated burst of movement—or at least they attempted it. Instead, they found themselves completely glued to their seats. No matter how hard they shifted, twisted, or swayed from side to side, they remained firmly pinned in place, as if the chairs themselves had come alive and decided to hold them hostage.
"What the hell…?" Danny muttered under his breath, his expression darkening. He tried to phase himself out, willing his body to become intangible, but even that familiar power refused to work. It was like hitting an invisible wall.
"Yeah, fuck this," Ember scoffed, her fiery hair flaring up with growing intensity. The flames shifted into a blazing blue inferno that crackled with raw power. In response, the nearby singing flowers suddenly leaped out of their pots in panic, their roots flailing as they ran around in chaotic circles. Their leafy hands waved wildly in the air as they shrieked in high-pitched terror.
"Fire! Fire! Ahhhh!" they cried, crashing into one another and tumbling backward in a heap. Illusionary bees and stars spun dizzyingly above their heads as they groaned dramatically, "Ughhhh…"
"Worry not, citizens!" Jervis theatrically exclaimed, striking a heroic pose. He dramatically swept off his massive hat and plunged his arm deep inside it, rummaging around with exaggerated motions. Random objects flew out one after another as he discarded them. "Nope… that's not it… that's not it either… Nuh-uh… No siree… I'll save this for later… Aha! Here we go~!"
He triumphantly pulled out a bright red fire extinguisher, plopped his hat back onto his head at a jaunty angle, and aimed the nozzle straight at Ember. A thick cloud of white suppressant foam erupted, showering her from head to toe until her blazing blue hair was completely snuffed out, leaving her sputtering and covered in frothy residue.
"Tada!!" Jervis exclaimed, throwing his hands up in the air with a flourish. The fire extinguisher slipped from his grasp and bounced comically off Robin's head with a dull thud.
"Ouch…" Dick muttered softly, wincing.
The surrounding audience burst into enthusiastic applause and whistles, clearly delighted by the spectacle. Meanwhile, the Mad Hatter bowed with exaggerated poise and theatrical elegance, soaking in the adoration like a seasoned performer who had just delivered the showstopper of the evening.
"Now, since this is a party, you all need to look absolutely exemplary," Jervis declared, hopping nimbly onto the long table and striding down its length with theatrical flair, his boots clacking against the polished wood.
He stopped directly in front of Ember, gently but possessively tilting her chin upward with two fingers. "Especially you, Alice my dear. You're the main attraction tonight. You're the one we're all celebrating."
Ember twisted her head away in disgust, her lip curling with open revulsion. The touch made her skin crawl, and she glared daggers at him, clearly fighting the urge to set his ridiculous hat on fire again.
"Oi," Danny's voice sliced through the garden like a blade, dropping an octave and carrying an icy chill that made the surrounding air noticeably colder. The temperature around the table seemed to plummet.
"Have you ever heard the saying 'play with fire and you're bound to get burned'? Well, here's your one and only official warning," Danny continued, his intense gaze locked on Jervis's hand. "Your hands are on the stove right now. If you don't want to learn how to eat with your feet, I suggest you take them off her immediately."
He leaned forward as much as the chair would allow, jaw clenched tight. "The only thing you should be touching is yourself, you pathetic excuse for a man."
Jervis released Ember's chin, though not out of fear. A dangerous smile played across his lips as he sauntered over to Danny instead. Ember immediately shook her head, trying to rid herself of the lingering, uncomfortable sensation of his touch.
Without hesitation, Jervis raised his foot and brought it down hard, stomping squarely on Danny's face. "I. Am. The. Host!!" he shouted with each forceful kick, punctuating every word. "You are at *my* tea party! You are the *guest*! Guests are supposed to have manners! You should be honored I even let you be a part of my Wonderland!"
By the time he finally stopped, Jervis was huffing and puffing, red-faced and breathless. When he lowered his foot, Danny's head hung low, his face hidden behind a curtain of messy white hair.
Then, slowly, Danny lifted his head. The hair parted dramatically with the movement as he locked eyes with the Mad Hatter for a tense, silent second. A mischievous grin spread across his face.
"Boo!" Danny shouted suddenly, jolting forward in his seat with maximum dramatic effect.
"Ahhhh!!" Jervis shrieked, startled out of his mind. He stumbled backward in panic, arms windmilling wildly as he tripped over an elaborate tea set. Porcelain cups and saucers went flying as he crashed unceremoniously to the ground in a tangle of limbs and spilled tea.
Robin and Ember immediately burst into snickers, trying and failing to hold back their laughter. Danny sat back with a look of pure smug satisfaction, clearly proud of his small victory.
Jervis scrambled to his feet, growling under his breath as his face twisted through a rapid series of indignant emotions—shock, embarrassment, and fury. He dusted himself off vigorously, took a deep, dramatic breath, and forced a composed smile back onto his face.
"You know what? No. No one is going to spoil this grand day for me!" Jervis declared, shooting a sharp glare at Danny. "I will deal with you later, you brat!"
He puffed out his chest and adjusted his hat and coat until he once again looked presentable. "Since today is a day of grand celebration, our dear Alice will finally be born and welcomed home with us where she truly belongs!"
"But as I was saying," he continued, turning his attention back to Ember with renewed enthusiasm, "you, my dear Alice, look far too rogue for a proper tea party. Here, let me help you all get ready."
Jervis clapped his hands twice with a flourish. In an instant, a swirl of giant dancing flowers materialized around them, twirling gracefully through the air while singing a merry, upbeat tune. They carried an assortment of elegant dresses and tailored tuxedos, their petals shimmering with magic. A thick, sweet-scented cloud of sparkling powder enveloped the three captives as the flowers continued their joyful song, dabbing on makeup and adjusting outfits with fluttering precision.
The cloud left all three of them coughing and sputtering. When it finally cleared, the transformation was complete.
Danny and Robin were both dressed in sharp, fashionable suits complete with crisp bowties. Their hair had been slicked back and neatly gelled, giving them an unexpectedly polished and dapper appearance that contrasted hilariously with their annoyed expressions.
Ember, however, looked the most dramatically different. Her wild hair had been straightened and now fell loosely over her shoulders, held in place by a delicate black headband. She wore Alice's iconic long blue dress with its white apron and black shoes, the fabric pristine and perfectly fitted. Her usual bold goth makeup had been replaced with a softer, more doll-like look—rosy cheeks, subtle lashes, and a touch of innocent charm.
She sat with a completely straight, deadpan face, radiating pure discomfort and irritation.
Danny took one look at her and immediately started snickering, his shoulders shaking with barely suppressed laughter.
Robin let out a long, exasperated sigh, his face twisted with clear annoyance at the whole ridiculous spectacle. "Just what the hell are you doing, Tetch? What is all of this for? Is this some kind of twisted buildup to something bigger, or are you just going through one of your unhinged episodes again?"
"Weren't you paying attention, or have you gone mad like I have?" Tetch shot back with gleeful mockery. "This is a celebration! We're only just setting up the big event. I have all the pieces together to make my dream a reality!" He cheered, snatching up his teacup and thrusting it high into the air in a dramatic toast.
"Twiddle-Dee! Twiddle-Dum!" Tetch exclaimed, slamming his cup down so hard the ceramic rattled loudly against the saucers. "I thought of waiting a moment longer, but I simply can't hold back any longer! Bring her out. Let's get this party truly started!"
Robin and Danny exchanged a quick, confused glance. A heavy sense of apprehension hung thick in the air between them, a growing unease that something far worse was coming.
The two large henchmen disappeared briefly behind a decorative hedge before returning, carefully carrying a massive box between them. It wasn't just any ordinary box — it was an oversized, ornate container designed like a giant doll's package, complete with a clear viewing window on the front and decorative ribbons.
They set it down with a heavy thud in the center of the gathering. Robin sneered, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Aren't you a little too old to be playing… with… dolls, Tetch?"
Everything seemed to slow down for Danny as the horrifying realization began to crash over him in real time. He watched as Tweedledee and Tweedledum — the two hulking figures with the disturbing baby and pig heads — carefully positioned the enormous box. His eyes locked onto the life-sized replica of Alice inside it, pristine and eerily perfect.
Robin's words from back in the Batcave echoed loudly in his mind: 'In just this past month alone, over twenty girls have been reported missing across Gotham… all fitting a similar profile. Young, talented, and eager to break into the scene.'
Danny stared at the grotesque pig and baby faces of the henchmen one more time, then slowly turned his gaze toward Ember, and finally back to the Mad Hatter. Tetch's earlier words replayed like a nightmare he couldn't escape:
'The heart of this entire operation is finally here to make everything complete…!'
'Our dear Alice will finally be born and welcomed home with us…!'
'I have all the pieces together to make my dream a reality…'
Danny's chest began to rise and fall rapidly. An icy shiver raced down his spine, spreading through his entire body like a freezing wave. It was a deeply uncomfortable, nauseating feeling that settled heavy in his gut.
His pupils slowly shrank into tiny, horrified pinpoints as he stared at the Mad Hatter once more. "What the hell have you done…?" he asked in a small, disbelieving voice that barely carried.
"Danny?" Robin asked, turning toward him in confusion.
Danny suddenly started manically thrashing against his restraints, his voice rising sharply as a ghostly wail infused his words, causing the air itself to vibrate with unnatural intensity. "WHAT HAVE YOU DONE!" he roared, violently rocking back and forth in the chair. "WHAT THE HELL DID YOU DO?!"
Robin was momentarily lost, but then the pieces slammed together just as they had for Danny. His expression shifted from confusion to pure shock, matching the intensity of Danny's growing rage. "Tell me you didn't, Tetch!" he snarled, his voice raw with disbelief. "I knew you were insane and not right in the head, but I never thought you'd take it this far!! What the hell is the matter with you?! You freaking psychotic bastard!!"
The Mad Hatter threw his head back and let out a sound that began low in his throat before erupting into full-blown manic laughter. "Hehehe… Hahaha… HahahahaHAhAHAHAHAHA!!"
He cackled wildly, the sound echoing across the garden and sending fresh shivers through both Danny and Robin. Their faces contorted with a mixture of horror and grief as the full weight of the revelation sank in.
"What? What is it?! I don't get it?!" Ember demanded, frantically looking around the room in confusion, her voice rising with frustration.
"The girls we were searching for…" Robin's voice hardened, his expression darkening into something cold and furious.
"That bastard…" Danny's voice cracked, his eyes watering with a mix of rage and sorrow. His tone quickly shifted into a deep, dangerous growl as fury took over once more. "He used them as spare parts to create his ideal version of Alice!!"
Ember's head snapped toward the Mad Hatter, her expression morphing from confusion into pure terror as his manic laughter continued to ring out across the festive garden. The cheerful atmosphere now felt sickeningly twisted against the horrific truth they had just uncovered.
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