Work Text:
“I banish you to the Isle of the Lost!”
The Queen Of Hearts voice boomed through the throne room, echoing off the walls. The voice was angry and so unlike the kindhearted woman who ruled Wonderland.
Seven year old Max jumped at the sound a clutched his father’s coat tighter. Max and his dad had been in their workshop when guards burst through the door and dragged Maddox away. Max had been frozen in shock and stared helplessly as the guards arrested his dad. The guards took him too but not as harshly.
Now they were in the palace in front of the queen herself, Max didn’t understand fully what was happening, only that Maddox had caused some sort of explosion and that he was in big trouble. Max was scared and stayed close to his father, clutching his jacket tightly and attempted to hide behind him.
Maddox laughed in disbelief “You can’t be serious, it was an accident.”
“It’s always an accident, Maddox!” The Queen yelled. “For years you have terrorised Wonderland with your inventions and I’ve turned a blind eye to it for far too long because you were my friend!”
“I was not terrorising Wonderland, I was simply looking for my pocket watch.” Maddox explained. Maddox had a calm demeanour but Max could tell his mask was slipping. He was one more comment away from snapping.
“Maddox you have got to give up this futile quest for this fictional pocket watch.” The Queen sighed exasperated.
“The pocket watch is real, Bridget!” Maddox yelled. “I saw it! If I could just-“
”No!” The Queen boomed. Max flinched and buried his face into his father’s coat. He hated when adults fought.
“I’ve had enough of the madness, my decision is final.” The Queen says. “Guards take him away!”
Guards march over and grab Maddox. Max clutches his Dad as tight as possible refusing to let go. “No! Dad!” Max cries.
Suddenly Max is picked up by a guard and dragged away from his father. Maddox looks at his son panicked. “Max!” He yelled out “Don’t touch him!” The guards begin to drag Maddox out the door of the throne room, Max wriggled around in the guard’s arms trying desperately to reach his father.
Maddox turns to the Queen with rage in his eyes. “You’ll regret this day, Bridget!” He yells “One day I’ll have my reven-“ He was cut off by the guards pulling him out the door and slamming it shut.
Max was sobbing in the guards arms. Why were they taking away his Dad? It was only an accident, his Dad would never hurt someone on purpose. The guard turned towards the Queen “What should we do with the child, Your Majesty?”
Bridget looked at the crying child with sadness in her eyes. He was about the same age as her eldest daughter Red and the sight of Max in such distress made Bridget’s heart hurt. “I will not separate a son from his father, Max will accompany Maddox to the Isle of the Lost.”
Max stops crying and takes in the Queen’s words. The Isle of the Lost? Where all the villains live? The thought of monsters and witches being his new neighbours frightened Max, but at least he gets to stay with his Dad.
A few hours later the guards lead Max to the rabbit hole where he spots his Dad waiting with a few bags and surrounded by guards. “Dad!” Max shouts and runs straight into Maddox’s arms.
“Max?” Maddox says bewildered, he wraps his arms around his young son and looks up at the guards “What is he doing here?”
“Your son will be going to the Isle of the Lost with you.” The guard replies.
Conflicting feelings cross Maddox’s mind, at least he won’t be alone on the Isle but the thought of his sweet, sensitive child growing up on that rotten Isle breaks his heart.
“It’s time to go.” Informs the guard. Maddox scoops up Max into his arms and Max buries his face into his shoulder. Maddox takes one last look at Wonderland and instead of sadness or longing he only feels rage, he swears to himself to get revenge on everyone in this kingdom.
Nine years later sixteen year old Max Hatter walks the streets of the Isle. While once being afraid of this place he has now learned how to survive this place. You keep your head down and you get a good crew of friends which luckily for him included Hazel Hook one of the most feared girls on the Isle.
Max walks into his house and sees his Dad staring out the window mumbling to himself, like always. Max sighs, Maddox has been like this ever since they arrived in the Isle. He became insane and ill tempered, all he cared about was that stupid pocket watch and never made any time for his son.
Max told himself he didn’t care. He ignored how desperately he craved his Father’s approval and love and just tried to focus on not becoming his father.
“Dad, I’m home.” Max says. He has to announce himself as Maddox was spooked easily and unexpected encounters could end up in things being thrown.
Maddox strides over to Max and grabs his shoulders “The pocket watch is somewhere Max, I have to find it.”
“Uh-huh sure, Dad.” Max says now used to his father’s tirades about the pocket watch. Maddox had always been obsessed with that thing but after he arrived in the isle it was all he ever thought about, all he cared about.
Max turns around to make a cup of tea which always calmed Maddox down when he hears a whizzing noise coming from behind him. Max turns around and a pink letter comes flying in the window.
Maddox catches it and reads it, a manic grin spread across his face which made Max uneasy. “What does it say?” Max asks warily.
“Good news, son” Maddox says “We’re going back home.”