Chapter 10

The Question of Friendship

(3rd Person POV)

Months have passed since the first flakes of snow fell upon the Enchanted Forest for the year. As the days rolled by, the frost slowly melted into the wet moist soil and the sounds of birds sounded again through the fresh green leaves. Spring has come and in the west region of the Dark Kingdom, a young girl was running amongst the cool chilly air and tall fir trees.

A man was also amongst the trees, searching this way and that for his daughter then..."I found you!"

The young girl giggled and replied, "Now it's my turn to hide. You can seek."

The former Mad Hatter, Jefferson, lowered his voice and said, "I'm sorry my dear Grace. I'm afraid playtime's over. Instead, do you think you can use that nose of yours to hunt for mushrooms to sell tomorrow at the market?

Grace nodded her head and the pair walked back to their home in the woods. As they neared their cottage, Grace gasped and quickly squeezed her father's hand. "Whose carriage is that?"

Looking at the black carriage that was parked outside the cottage, Jefferson answered in a glum voice, "It's the Queen."

Grace frowned and said in a hushed whisper, "In our house? Do you know her?"

Jefferson was suddenly reminded of his encounter with Regina when she was still young and a newlywed queen. Regina had sought help from Jefferson and the Doctor for she hoped that Daniel could be raised from the dead. However, Jefferson and the Doctor both failed in their mission and right now, Jefferson wished that he had done the right thing all those years ago. The whole ordeal was a manipulation. The Doctor had made a deal with him in the desire to take an enchanted heart back to his world to conduct experiments. Jefferson knew that Daniel wouldn't be raised from the dead because the Doctor wasn't even trying. Therefore, he had done nothing to help Regina other than give her false hope. Now, Jefferson felt as if he was paying the price, seeing the Evil Queen's carriage right outside his home.

"Stay hidden in the woods, like our game. I'm going to find out what she's doing here."

Grace sighed and walked towards the dense trees. After making sure that Grace was well hidden and not sneakily looking at the scene, Jefferson slowly approached his house and pushed open the door. Cringing as it groaned, Jefferson walked into his cottage to see the Queen standing in the middle of the space, holding Grace's tatty pink doll in her hands.

"I'd like to say you're looking well, but I'd be lying. Poverty doesn't suit you but alas, I have a job for you."

Jefferson grumbled, "I don't do that anymore."

"Oh I'm aware. You've hung up your hat. Why?" After a pause, Regina continued in a sickly taunting voice, "Is it because of your sweet daughter Grace?"

"Because of my work, she lost her mother. And I don't want her to lose her father too. You out of all people should understand."

Regina narrowed her eyes at Jefferson. "And why would you say this?"

"Despite what you may want people to believe, the King wasn't Daniella's father was he?"

"Is it really that obvious?"

There was no reply. Finally, Regina spoke up again, "Well, then. You would also be aware of the fact that a single parent would do whatever it takes for their child's future hmm? What kind of future does your daughter have here with you? Do this one last favour for me, and you can give her the life she deserves."

Jefferson looked towards the doll that Regina was clutching in her hands. "You don't abandon family. That's what Grace deserves. Now, please leave."

"All I need is your hat to get me somewhere. Do it and I can change your life."

"Where do you need to go?"

"Wonderland."

Jefferson frowned, "What business could you possibly have there?"

This time, Regina broke her gaze with Jefferson and said, "You don't abandon family...Look. I'll have Grace stay with my daughter until we come back. Do we have a deal now?"

Jefferson's expression remained unchanged.

"I see. Hard living has strengthened your resolve. Well, it's a shame that I couldn't convince you, but I understand. There's nothing more important than family."

Just as Regina turned to walk past the Hatter and leave the cottage, Jefferson cut her off by moving his body to the side. "Fine. I'll do it. But you have to swear that after we come back, Grace and I will be living a better life than this sham."

Regina nodded but Jefferson shook his head. "No. That isn't enough. Swear. Swear and promise me that you will keep your word."

"Hmm. Forceful aren't we?"

"Given that you're desperate enough to seek my help, I would say that you only have this one choice."

"You have my word."

(Daniella's POV)

"The Hatter's coming now? And with his daughter?!"

"Yes. I'm sorry for the short notice but at least, you'll be seeing your grandfather soon right?"

I nodded but several questions still remained unanswered, "How long will you be gone for? What am I allowed to do with Grace?"

Mother shrugged her shoulders as she finished braiding my hair by attaching a ribbon at the end of the plait. "I won't be gone for long, it depends on what obstacles are stationed at the palace of your grandmother...but Grace seems like a nice girl. You can go anywhere on the castle grounds, oh and just make sure to not leave the premises without any guards if you decide to venture out of the boundaries a little..."

"I know the rules Mama."

My mother gave me a peck on my cheek before she stood up from the chaise. There was a faint patter of approaching footsteps. Jefferson and Grace were here.

Mother was the first to speak. "Jefferson. So good to see you looking more like yourself; with that in your hand."

"Your Majesty, just a reminder that I'm only doing as you please because of my daughter."

I watched Mother refrain from an eyeroll. Then, she replied, "I understand." Next, she turned towards me and said, "Come, Daniella."

I stood up and walked towards Mama whilst observing the Hatter's daughter. Grace was around the same height as me. She has golden blonde hair and pink rosy lips. As I approached, Grace did a little curtsy, most likely due to my mother's strong gaze. As Grace stood up again, my mother spoke, "Grace, you'll spend some time with Daniella until your father and I return from our little trip. Also, you're not obliged to call Daniella by her full title. If she wishes so, you can use her given name."

Grace nodded and I silently exhaled in relief. Although I've been living as the Princess for several months now, I certainly still felt awkward whenever someone calls me 'your highness'.

Jefferson cleared his throat and spoke, "Your Majesty, are you ready?"

"Of course. Now, let's open that box of yours and see what it can do."

When the Hatter opened the leather box, he took out a top hat made of black velvet. Around it, there was a long trail of maroon coloured silk. Then, my mother teased, "I do so like a man who dresses for the occasion."

Ignoring Mother's remark, Jefferson gaze swept over everyone as he said, "Step back. I'm going to create the portal."

As soon as everyone had stood back, Jefferson carefully placed the hat on the ground and in a quick flick, spun it smoothly. As the hat begun to build momentum, black billowing smoke clouded around the hat's open space. The smoke rose into the air and I stood next to Grace's side, watching as the clouds came around our knees.

Above the wind, Jefferson shouted, "After you!"

My mother glanced at the Hatter and extending her hand said, "Together."

Jefferson took the hand and jumped into the portal, dragging my mother along with him.

Grace and I both watched as our parent fell into the void. After their heads disappeared into the void, the smoke around us started to fall into the hat. Soon enough, the black billowing clouds and wind cleared. We were left staring at the hat which had erased all trace of it's magic.

Cautiously, I stepped towards the hat and peered into it. I turned my head to Grace and asked her, "Do we just...leave it here?"

Grace shrugged her shoulders. "I'm not sure. I haven't seen my father use his hat before. He's always kept it locked away in the box. I'll leave it here if I were you, just in case anything happens."

"Alright. So, um, what would you like to do?"

Grace dipped her head to one side and stated plainly, "You're asking me, your highness?"

I felt my cheeks flush a little as I replied, "You can drop that title..."

"Sorry. So, um, Daniella...do you want to go to the spring market? I already went there yesterday but..."

I finished the sentence for her as I whispered, "but you couldn't pay for the delights?"

I watched Grace look away, biting her lips as if in embarrassment. "Grace, you don't have to be ashamed because of that! We can go to the spring market if you want to. You can get anything you want. Afterall, your father is on a very important mission for my mother and I right now."

Grace's eyes lit up as she smiled. "Really? I can?". There was a moment of hesitation before she reached around me and gave me a brief hug. When we parted from each other, I saw Grace's face suddenly fall. "But Daniella, are we allowed to leave the castle?"

"Well technically, I have to take guards with me but I think we can sneak out."

"Sneak out? But we'll get into trouble...and I certainly do not feel like receiving punishment from the Queen."

I sighed. Grace was right. I guess I'll have to tell my guards to follow me. "Fine. I'll get my guards right now but I'm going to tell them to keep a distance from us, because I don't want to attract attention at the marketplace and I don't think you want to either."

"Yeah, you're right."

I grinned and with a flick of my hand, light purple smoke surrounded Grace and I.

I could practically feel Grace's vibrating happiness as she walked by my side, through the market stalls. We were both clutching a toffee apple stick in one hand and it was the first time that we both tried it...it was delicious! Despite the joyous atmosphere, I was a little scared because I didn't want anyone to recognise me. It would cause chaos and I know that the happy vibe of the market would diminish straight away. Thankfully, the pair of guards who accompanied us stood far away in the distance; just as I had asked them to. Also, I was wearing a hooded cloak that it would shadow my face away from instant recognition. However, I should be fine as I haven't followed my mother on her trips very often. So, the general public still haven't a clue what I looked like, even though they were aware of my existence.

I was distracted by my thoughts as Grace nudged me and said, "Daniella! Come, I'll show you a toy cart that I visited yesterday. There was a beautiful plush white rabbit."

I let Grace drag me over to the toy cart that stood littered with soft plushies and carved wooden soldiers. However, there was a particular doll that caught my attention. She had a beautifully painted porcelain face with lips like red rosebuds. The doll's hair was black and curled in ringlets which complemented the sparkly layered pink dress that she was wearing. The doll was beautiful but the thing that intrigued me most was it's resemblance to the doll that I received from my mother yesterday. My doll has the same face except the dress that she's wearing is a dark shade of purple with black glittery lace. I've named my doll Adelaide and currently, she is sitting in my bed. I didn't want to take her around the palace, in case I accidentally scratched her delicate face as she was the first doll that I owned. I remember being very happy when Mother surprised me with Adelaide yesterday.

I was about to flip over the price tag to check the doll's cost when Grace pushed a plush bunny gently into my view. "Don't you think this bunny is so soft? He would be perfect for my tea parties."

"Tea parties?"

Grace's cheeks reddened a bit. "You know, the make-belief games."

I nodded. Although Grace wasn't a princess, overall she probably had a more enjoyable life than I did. I never really got to play dress-up or imaginary games with dolls as I was put to work by the seamstresses when I was very young and still living in Wonderland. I frowned a little at the scenario that was forming in my mind. If only Snow hadn't told her father the rumours about who my father was! I wouldn't have suffered those years in Wonderland!

Grace must have caught the angry look on my face for she nudged me and whispered, "Daniella? Are you alright? You seem a little...disturbed by something."

Shaking off my thoughts, I forced a smile and replied, "I'm fine." Luckily, I was saved by a woman's voice that weaved through our conversation. "Hello girls, are you interested in any of these toys?"

Grace and I both looked up to see a middle-aged woman peering at us from behind the toy cart. Grace spoke first, "Oh, do you own this cart? Yesterday, there was an elderly woman in your place instead."

The woman nodded and said, "Yes dear. This is my cart. However, yesterday was a little strange indeed. In the early afternoon, I was just returning to this cart after my lunch break when I saw an elderly woman right here where I'm standing. I didn't want to frighten the poor lady so I came up to her and greeted her. She seemed a little startled so I asked her if she was alright. She replied that she was and walked out from behind the cart to where you two are standing right now. Then, she told me that she was just looking for a toy for her grandchild's birthday. Eventually, she picked a porcelain doll and handed over two silvers to me. The doll only cost one silver and five coppers but before I could give her the change, she disappeared! As if she wasn't there at all. It still baffles me right now, as to how she got out of my sight so easily."

Grace nodded along to the woman's story without much thought but my mind was racing. Keeping my head slightly down, I asked the woman, "Just out of curiosity, do you stock many of these dolls?"

"Unfortunately I don't...as they are quite expensive. I mean, one silver and five coppers is enough to feed a whole family for several weeks nowadays. Are you interested in buying this doll? She's the only one from that doll maker that I have left."

"Doll maker?"

"Why of course. I only make the wooden toys here. The plush bunny that your friend is holding right there and the porcelain dolls are sourced from a maker in King George's kingdom."

"Oh alright. I was just curious, but I'm not going to be purchasing anything today. However, my friend would like to have this plush rabbit."

The woman smiled and said, "that would be one silver." As I got out a red velvet pouch that contained our money, Grace whispered to me, "You don't have to..."

I handed a silver coin to the woman and said to Grace, "No, it's fine. I'm glad that I got to spend time with someone nice today."

Before we left the toy cart, the woman winked at me and said, "that was kind of you to gift your friend with that plush toy, little lady; don't think that I cannot tell who you are."

My heart suddenly stopped beating and in a panicked voice, I uttered towards the woman, "What do you mean?"

The woman chuckled and replied, "Well, you don't strike me as a peasant girl. You're nobility aren't you? I can tell with that cloak you're wearing. It's beautiful and it looks as if the cloth has been imported from another realm...but anyways, I could see that you are trying to hide your face. Is it because you've run off from your family to have a little bit of fun?"

Oh thank goodness; at least she didn't see me as the Queen's daughter.

I looked up at the woman and answered, "Well, what you've said wasn't too far fetched from the truth. Have a nice day."

"You too girls."

Then, I linked arms with Grace and we walked away.

"Daniella?"

"Hmm?"

"Should we go back now? I was told by Father that his mission shouldn't take too long."

I nodded, "alright. Hold on to my arm and I'll use magic to take us back to the palace."

I made sure that the woman at the toy cart was looking away before quickly engulfing Grace and I with purple smoke. As we started to disappear from the marketplace, I watched with horror as the woman glanced up just in time to see us leave the place in purple smoke. Her face was etched in a shocked look of astonishment and fear.

As soon as Grace and I both set foot in the castle, a maid rushed towards us. She curtsied to me and said, "Your Highness, the Queen is back and she wishes to speak to both of you."

I asked the maid if my mother was in her chambers and after a nod of confirmation, I used my magic to take Grace and I there.

After the purple smoke cleared, there was one observation that I immediately made. Grace must have had the same thought as me as she whispered under her breath, "Daniella, where's my father?"

I breathed back, "I'm not sure..," as I walked towards my mother who was sitting at her vanity. "Mother you're back. Did you get grandfather?"

My mother stood up and smiled at me. "Yes I did. However, I have to speak to Grace about something."

As Grace walked slowly towards us, my mother began, "Grace, dear, I'm afraid that there has been an accident whilst your Father and I were in Wonderland. He was trapped by the Queen of Heart's guards and unfortunately, I couldn't rescue him for the portal back to our land was already closing."

Grace stood rooted to the spot with her mouth agape. Her eyes roamed over my mother's visage as if they were searching for the truth. Breaking the silence, my mother continued in an indifferent voice, "I'm sorry."

There was another moment of silence before Grace muttered softly in broken words, "but he...he...promised that he would...come back..."

Seeing Grace tear up, I went towards her to give her a hug but she pushed me away as she glared at me. "No, I don't want your pity." I was about to reply when she raised her voice slightly and said clearly to my mother, "If my father didn't agree to help on whatever mission you went on, he wouldn't have been captured by the guards! He is the only family I have!"

I did feel sorry for Grace so despite her struggles against my embrace, I said in place of my mother, "I understand and I'm sorry that he didn't come back to you. I'm sure it was just an accident."

As I entangled my arms from Grace, I looked up to my Mother and asked, "but can't we do something about Jefferson? Mama...you're magic is powerful enough right?"

Instead of what I hoped, my mother replied coldly, "Sorry but there is nothing I can do about the Hatter. The barrier between realms are beyond my power to influence."

I was about to reply but Grace was already shouting in desperation. "Please, Your Majesty. There must be something that you can do. If you can't bring back my father then, send me to Wonderland instead!"

I looked at Grace, "No way are you going to Wonderland. It's not a safe place!"

Thankfully, my Mother agreed with me on this point as she said calmly, "Daniella's right. I'm not going to send you to Wonderland but I will keep part of my promise to your father. He wished that you would have a good future so I'm going to send you to a boarding school in King George's kingdom instead."

"A boarding school?! I don't want to go to a boarding school; I just want to be with my father!"

I held my breath as my Mother spoke sternly, "Grace, I will not be talked to in such a manner."

Grace opened her mouth to shout back but I quickly covered her mouth, pleading, "Grace, stop. Please remember who you're talking to..."

Grace's eyes narrowed into a glare as she shrugged me away. After a long moment of silence, she uttered, "Yes, I'm well aware I'm talking to the Queen...but fine. I'll go to the boarding school."

Plastering a fake smile on her face, my mother replied, "That's better. You'll be escorted back to your cottage to gather the things you want to take with you to King George's Kingdom. You will leave tomorrow in the early morning for your new home."

As my mother spoke, a servant came towards Grace's side to take her away. Just before they both turned around to leave, Grace glared at me and shoved her plush rabbit into my hands. "You can have it. I don't want such novelties when my father's missing."

As they left, I felt my eyes burn before a single teardrop fell down my cheeks.

"Daniella..."

Without looking at my mother, I said in a low voice, "I don't believe that you weren't able to save the Hatter."

"Daniella! Watch your tone."

I finally looked up at my mother's gaze as I replied, "there was a complication wasn't there?"

Mother sighed as she lead me towards her mirror. Then, she waved her hand over its surface and a scene played out in front of me;

Jefferson and my mother were running on a brick path amongst tall green grass and large mushrooms that shadowed the sunlight. Yup, this is Wonderland. Then, the Hatter shouted, "The looking glass, there it is!" My mother paused at a mushroom and whist she picked off a piece of it's cap, Jefferson asked, "Regina, what are you doing? We gotta get out of here!"

My mother replied calmly, "There's something I need to do first."

"Are you mad? Do you know what the food here does?"

"I'm well aware," replied Mother as she put the box containing my grandfather on the ground. In a blink of my eye, my Grandpa appeared in his full size beside her. After a quick embrace, Jefferson spoke in a panicked voice, "This is what she took from you? Your father? But you knew that only two can go through the hat...," then, the Hatter's voice dropped, "which is why you didn't tell me about your father."

With horror, I watched as my mother turned around to face Jefferson and say simply, "It's the only way to make sure you'd help me."

Before Jefferson could move, my mother threw a spell at his feet to bind him to his position. "Wait! Wait! Please. My daughter...my Grace. She's waiting for me. I promised her I'd be home for tea."

My mother sneered at the Hatter, "a promise which you now have broken. If you truly cared for your daughter, you would have never left her in the first place. You were right Jefferson. You don't abandon family."

After saying these words, Mother linked arms with Grandfather and walked through the looking glass.

After this, the scene cleared from the mirror and I was left staring at my dumbfounded expression which soon turned into anger.

"You deliberately trapped Jefferson in Wonderland?!"

My mother walked over and sat at her vanity before responding, "I didn't deliberately trap him. I had no choice but to leave him there. It's the rules of the portals between realms. The same number of people entering, the same number of people exiting." No, I wouldn't have that as an answer. "But you knew! You knew that Jefferson would remain in Wonderland! Now Grace is alone, by herself because you've separated her from her father!"

I watched my mother look away and fidget with something on her vanity as she said, "It was the only way to get your Grandfather back into our realm."

I exhaled loudly, "Where even is he anyway?"

"He's resting in his bedroom right now since he's just experienced a stressful few days. Now you, Daniella; you need to stop that attitude of yours. I did whatever it took for your grandfather to return to us..."

I cut my mother off, "but at the price of someone else's unhappiness? Now Grace is angry at both of us! Whilst you probably don't care, I do. She was the only friend that I could have had!"

"Daniella, I know this may not be what you wish to hear but life isn't fair and it's not our job to make sure that everyone gets what they want. There is no such thing as equality, life just isn't fair as it should be. I've learnt from the worst lessons but sometimes, you just have to do what benefits you. In this case, I had to leave Jefferson in order to return to this realm with my father. Alright, look; I know that you may be upset right now, but at least your friend is being sent to a prestige school."

"She's not my friend anymore, thanks to you. But Grace could have been my only friend! She was nice to me unlike everyone else I've met in my life. I loved spending those few hours with her, and that was something that I've never got to experience since I was either an orphan in an orphanage full of jealous kids or in a castle where no one dares to socialise with me."

"That can be changed easily..."

"No! You can't force someone to care for you! That's not how friendships work!" The anger in my voice suddenly felt good and I unleashed it, not caring how it made my Mother feel. "Oh so you've never seen it before? How the children of the servants and maids scuttle to one side when I approach? It's because they fear you...and after what you did to Grace; I think I agree with them. Separating a child from their parent and thinking that it's alright is just cruel. I didn't want to think of you as the Evil Queen but it seems like I was blind to what you do and who you are. I thought that maybe because I'm your daughter, things would be different...I thought that you would perhaps think differently and act differently because I'm with you now. Shouldn't you know what it feels like for a child to be separated from their parent?...but it's clear. You don't know what it feel like..."

I paused before I muttered in between my inconsistent breath, "which means that you don't love me."

"Daniella, I..."

The thoughts that raced in my mind suddenly became chaos. Mother doesn't love me. I'm just her property, like I was the property of those seamstresses in Wonderland. No one loves me. Maybe I'm cursed. Maybe I'm cursed to live in pain. To live in solitude. Why did I ever think that someone nicknamed with 'evil' would ever care for me? Why? Why? Why...

I felt an overwhelming heat enter my body and as it churned inside me, voices filled my head. It blocked out my mother's voice as she spoke to me. The voices pounded against my skull, repeating what I've just said to my mother. It got louder and then... it was too much. Screaming, I threw Grace's plush rabbit towards the fireside and as it fell onto the wood and caught on fire, I raised my hands to watch dark purple hues radiating from it. I directed the heat in my body and my mind towards my hands. Then, I flicked my arms through the air to release the magic and there was a horrid crackling noise before all the mirrors in the room exploded. Shards flew everywhere and my legs gave out. I immediately fell to the floor with my dress pooling around me. My body shook as it curled up, sobbing. What I didn't realise however, was that none of the shards hit me because coming out from my mother's hands, was a barrier spell that surrounded us both.

(Regina's POV)

I helplessly looked at my daughter's shaking body that was curled up on the floor. Even though she was only a child, ten years of age, her shaking body reminded me of when I first became queen as a teenager. I bent down to hug her but she shuffled out of my reach. "Daniella, I'm sorry that what I did upset you. I didn't know that it would bring such a large impact on you..."

My heart dropped as Daniella muttered, without looking at me, "You're not sorry. If you regretted what you did to Jefferson, you would regret doing all those things you've done to the kingdom. You would regret ripping out all those hearts. You would regret killing and hurting all those innocent people."

My mouth dried up as I tried desperately to find the right words to say. However, I didn't know how to respond to my daughter's words as I didn't even know how I felt.

"See? You don't regret what you've done."

Before my hand could turn Daniella's face towards me, she disappeared in a cloud of purple smoke. I was left staring at a vacant space where Daniella was sitting. With tears dropping down my cheeks, I surveyed the room. The mirror shards that lay on the cold marble floor wasn't enough. Grimacing, I leashed every ounce of pain from my body onto my hands. Then, with one clean motion, I swiped my arm through the air and the glass chandelier that hung above the room fell. Crystal fragments flew towards me as the chandelier skitted across the floor.

Besides my father, the only person in the kingdom who wouldn't give me that name finally said it. Maybe that's who I am, and who I'll always be. The Evil Queen.