I'm really sorry for being gone for so long. I hate to make excuses but I honestly just haven't found the time to update for several reasons. But I hope I didn't lose any readers in my absence and that this chapter was worth the wait. I am thinking about bringing in a tiny bit of the show Once Upon a Time into this story (if you haven't watched it, you definitely should give it a try. It's a great show!), but I'm not sure exactly how I want to go about it yet. Let me know your thoughts about this.

I do not own any of the characters presented here except for their alter ego. I hope you enjoy!

"My people, thank you for being here today. I am glad to see so many friendly faces here. Knowing that you made time to come here for us fills my heart with joy and makes me so happy that I will someday be your queen. Know this, whatever may happen, whatever may come, I will always stand by all of your sides. This kingdom, this land, is my everything and till my last breath I will do nothing but try my hardest to protect it! Thank you." The Princess of Hearts bowed elegantly holding her dress out and tilting one foot behind her.

Kyoko fiercely began clapping her hands. "That was brilliant. Absolutely brilliant!" she yelled out.

She looked around to see everyone staring at her in shock. Everyone clapped gently in rhythm to one another. Kyoko's face blushed bright red. She had made a fool of herself in front of Moko-san, the princess of hearts, twice! But she didn't understand how everyone else could clap so half-heartedly after that amazing, no extraordinary, speech.

The Queen once again stepped forward.

"You all may once again continue will your pleasure. Hatter, won't you take the princess out to the ballroom floor for a dance?"

"Yes my queen, certainly."

The Hatter approached the stage and held out his hand.

"Princess, may I…?"

The princess took his hand with a smile and stepped off the stage. He led her to the center of the floor and they began dancing as did everyone else as the music once again began playing. He placed a hand on her waist, while she placed hers on his shoulder and then began their waltz. Kyoko watched from a distance, forgotten.

"Wow, Moko-san looks so pretty and elegant." Kyoko mumbled to herself. She kept a smile on her face, but inside, she didn't know why, she felt a strange twisting in the pit of her stomach and her heart was racing just a little bit as she watched the princess and Hatter move gracefully on the floor. The princess's feet moved as if she were walking on a cloud. Kyoko wasn't a bad dancer herself, but she didn't think she could ever duplicate the princess's natural grace.

There was just something about watching your best friend dance with your…your what? Kyoko nervously shifted between her feet. Why was she feeling so uneasy. Maybe it was that one feeling that she used to get a long time ago? Back when she still lived with Sho and would see girls all over him on tv. Jealousy? But what did she have to be jealous of? Oh, that's right! Because the selfish Hatter is keeping the princess all to himself and isn't giving Kyoko a chance to talk to her. Yeah, that's it! She watched as the Hatter spoke to the princess with a smile on his face and twinkle in his eyes.

"I wonder what they're talking about. Wait, what am I saying? It shouldn't matter to me. I should be doing something more important, like figuring out a way to help someone else." With that Kyoko quickly turned her head, allowing the princess and Hatter to have their privacy as they stopped dancing and sat down to talk.

Kyoko walked around, hoping to see someone else, but to no avail, she couldn't find anyone. Even if someone she knew was there, a majority of the guests were in masks and she couldn't go peaking behind them all. Finally she felt a tap on her shoulder. She turned to see her feathered friend there.

"Ms. Woods?"

"Kyoko, we need to talk."

"Ok. Is there something you need?"

"No, but I think I may be able to help you."

"With what?"

"With Peter. You said you needed to figure out what was worrying him. I might have an answer to that."

"Oh really! Can you please tell me?"

"Well, it's a little complicated."

"I can handle it! I just really need to know!"

"Well, when I said I had an answer, it wasn't entirely true, but rather I have an idea. You know about the dark one, right?"

"Dark one?"

"Yes, the one who trapped me into this horrid body."

"The dark one made you into a swan? But how? Who is he?"

"We really shouldn't be talking about this here. The queen would be furious if someone reported that we were talking about him here."

"Then can we go somewhere else?"

Odette nervously looked back at Peter who was once again making small talk with the Queen. She looked back at Kyoko and nodded reluctantly. They made their way to back of the hall where no one else was standing and began talking in hushed voices to be safe.

"You see, he has dark magic. He can do anything. He is filled with pure evil to his core. Some say he was born that way. Others say he was cursed. He hides in the darkness, but watches everyone from the distance. Then when we least expect it, he emerges and changes your life forever. He plays with you as he pleases."

Kyoko felt a shiver run down her spine. She didn't know why, but she felt as if she had encountered this being before. But when?

"So this…Dark One. He turned you into a swan. Why?"

"Probably just because he was bored. He could have done far worse to me as well, but instead he thought it would be more enjoyable watching me suffer to live in the body of a swan. I suppose I should be glad he didn't turn me into a frog like my brother."

"Your brother is the frog prince?"

"Yes, poor boy. He waits all day hoping some princess will come to turn him back into a prince. But anyway, back to Peter."

"Yes, did the Dark One do something to Peter as well?"

"I'm not entirely sure, but he was saying something about him being glad that someone has finally come to defeat him."

"Defeat him? But who would be able to defeat someone so powerful?"

"That's the thing. I think it's you!"

"ME!" Kyoko but her bottom lip as nearby people glanced at her for the outburst with furrowed eyebrows.

"Hush child. Yes, you. Who else could have Peter meant? You're the only new arrival here. You must be the one!"

"But…if he really has that much strength then…how could I ever defeat him?"

"That you must figure out on your own. I'm sorry."

Kyoko sat in the same spot for what seemed like forever, just thinking about what Odette had told her. The Dark One. Who was he? What did he want with everyone? And what can she do to stop him? As Kyoko's mind swirled with these questions, the Queen once again rose to speak.

"My people! This day is indeed meant for a grand party as this! Thank you for welcoming my daughter, Princess of Hearts, with love. She will now return to her quarters."

Everyone bowed down as the princess returned to her army of bodyguard who once again encased her with their bodies surrounding her as they led her away. Kyoko pouted. She didn't even get a chance to talk to the princess at all. Kyoko watched as she walked away.

Kyoko felt a tap on her shoulder, breaking her from her trance. She turned around to see the Hatter standing in front of her. Kyoko scrunched up her face in annoyance. But why was she so annoyed? She herself didn't know. She then forced a calm smile on her face.

"Yes, may I help you?"

"I noticed you were standing here all by yourself so I came to give you some company."

"Oh how nice of you, but I'd rather be alone." Kyoko tried to keep a composed face, but she really didn't want to be near this man right now.

"I see. Alright then. I hope to see you later."

The Hatter gracefully grabbed Kyoko's hand and planted a small kiss it. Kyoko squeaked and quickly yanked her hand away, clutching it to her chest, wide eyed. The Hatter grinned and walked away with a smile on his face. Kyoko watched him go and then slowly looked down at her hand as if to check that it hadn't somehow changed. She squeezed her hand back to her chest again and took a deep breath, closing her eyes. She felt woozy all of a sudden and her face felt hot.

Why did the Hatter do that? I suppose he was just being a gentleman. Even Peter greeted the Queen with a kiss on her hand and I have seen men do that before, so I guess I shouldn't get so worked up about this.

Kyoko opened her eyes and watched as the party endlessly continued. Her mind was a mess. Getting back home. Helping her friends. The Dark One. The Hatter's kiss. Kyoko tried to shake the thoughts away, but it was no use. She just knew she was wasting valuable time and had to get back to action soon. She had to help someone soon. She had gotten such a great opportunity to help so many with this endless day, yet here she was stuck at a party. But so many people were here to help to.

"Let's see, I already took care of Miss Woods. I…I think I'll leave Tsuruga-san till later. And President seems to want me to defeat someone, which I don't know how to do yet. That leaves, Moko-san! But where did she go?"

Kyoko walked over to the flight of stairs and looked up at the spiraling wonder above her. Which floor was the princess on? Which room was she in? The last door in the corridor of hearts. Kyoko remembered the Queen's warning once again. Could that room be the one the princess was in? There was only one way to find out. She looked behind her to make sure Tsuruga-san was nowhere in sight and began walking up the stairs. Each step made her feel more confident that she was going in the right direction. She was out of breath by the time she reached the fifth floor. She looked down the hall and in the distance she could see the large pink door standing there. She was cautiously towards the door.

She had heard that saying before that the closer you get to something you need to, the father it gets, but today it seemed so true. The door didn't seem to get any closer. How did she make it to it last time? She was getting nervous. She stopped in her tracks and looked ahead of her at the door so far away. She closed her eyes and broke out in a sprint, only to crash face first into something. She opened her eyes, rubbing her forehead, confused. She gasped as she saw the door right before her. How did she get here so fast? With determination, Kyoko grabbed the doorknob, shivering at the coldness of the metal, and turned it, swinging the door wide open.

She stood with pitch black darkness before her. She couldn't see a single thing. She slowly stepped inside the room a little more, her hands reaching out to feel for a lamp or a person, anything.

"Princess?"

Kyoko jumped and put her hands to her ears as she heard screeching scratching. Kyoko reached out her hands again and felt something against her fingertips. Glass. She put both her hands to the surface and gasped in horror at her realization. It was a window. She peered through it, seeing nothing but a faint light: the moon clouded over by dark clouds. It was nighttime.

I hope everyone liked the chapter. I want to point out that unlike in Once Upon a Time, the Dark One will not be Rumpelstiltskin, even though he's my favorite character on the show. I am not planning on stealing any ideas from the show, I will simply be using it as a light reference here and there. Also, this fanfic may feature a few characters from outside fairytales such as Odette, but it will still mostly be focused on the world of Wonderland. If you have any comments at all then please do let me know what you thought. I would love to hear from you! See you in my next update, which hopefully will be soon! And Happy Thanksgiving to those who celebrate!