Alice approached the edge of the village. It was nightfall and nobody was stirring it seemed. Perfect. She left a note at the edge of town and then put her plan into action.

She began to sing a haunting, hypnotizing tune calling this time not to creatures but to children.

Come little children
I'll take thee away
Into a land of enchantment
Come little children
The time's come to play
Here in my garden of shadows
Oooh-oooh

She played a brief interlude on her pipe before singing again she could already spot small forms making their way towards her.

Follow sweet children
I'll show thee the way
Through all the pain and the sorrows
Weep not poor children
For life is this way
Murdering beauty and passions
Oooh-oooh

Another interlude had the children following her just as the mice had as she let them out of town and to the edge of the woods. Blank looks in their eyes.

Hush now dear children, it must be this way
Too weary of life and deceptions
Rest now my children
For soon we'll away
Into the calm and the quiet

At her musical command the children lay down to sleep

Come little children
I'll take thee away
Into a land of enchantment
Come little children
The time's come to play
Here in my garden of sha-aaadows

They were all out now and none would wake until she commanded it. It was like with her scream something within her had been unlocked. Something more powerful. More dangerous. More cruel. She waited till dawn and it wasn't long before in the distance she could here various cries of terror and despair. Yet she felt no pity.

They had made their bed. Now they must lie in it. Soon after a great many people came marching out to the hill some looking terrified some furious.

"Stop right there," she told them firmly. "Unless you want anything else to happen to those children." The townsfolk froze.

"There are more of us than of you!" yelled one.

"Yes, but if you kill me they'll never wake. And I could easily cause more harm before you killed me anyway." She inclined her head towards the bloody bodies of the men who had tried to hurt her. Bodies she'd laid out in front.

"They tried to hurt me and look what happened? Do you want to risk that fate for yourself or your children?"

"Please just give them back! They're innocent!" exclaimed one woman. Alice shrugged.

"So was I. I helped you all. Got rid of the pests plaguing you. And all I asked was payment to help me survive. Yet your leader had me beaten and nearly raped instead. Really I'd say it's him who's to blame."

"Then why punish us?" asked another man. "Why our children?"

"Because it seems the only way to make an impression is to make the same threat to you that you attempted on me. To make an innocent suffer." Alice kept her tone cold as she said this refusing to show any weakness.

"We should never have trusted you," scowled the mayor. Alice snorted.

"I could say a lot about the fact that THAT is what you are getting out of this situation but instead I'll get to the point. Do you have what I asked for in my letter?" The mayor continued to glare as he pulled out a sack of gold.

"Twice your original price." Alice took it checking the contents to make sure the man wasn't lying before pocketing the money. She retreated back so she was just barely outside the woods before letting out a low whistle on the pipe. The children began to wake.

"See. At least I keep MY bargains. Let it be known what happens now if you cross the Piper," and with a last threatening look she disappeared into the trees.

OUAT

Word of the events in Hamlin swiftly spread. Faster than Alice had actually anticipated. Though she supposed that stealing a batch of children in the night did make quite the impression.

That said the story did tend to get a bit garbled often leaving out the fact that she had returned them unharmed.

A part of her felt some guilt. She'd passed the line her father had never wanted to cross with his magic. In fact he'd probably disapprove. But she couldn't say that she hated it.

It felt good to make them pay. Of course, she didn't think she could ever have brought herself to truly harm the children. That was a level even she wouldn't completely stoop to. But there was no reason for the adults that had crossed her to know that.

Work petered out a bit after that. There were unfortunately pros and cons to developing a fearsome reputation. Sure people were a lot less keen to cross you but. Well, they also weren't as interested in hiring you.

Still desperation was a very useful thing and she quickly learned how to turn it to her advantage.

If someone wasn't entirely sure about hiring her she'd perhaps increase the infestation a bit making hiring her the only option. Or if a possible costumer was feeling antsy, before they could object, she'd play a tune to calm them and before they'd be far more...pliable.

Overall, she began to make decent money. If inconsistent. She also still did the occasional performance which always brought fond memories of her parents.

She kept on the move a part of her always fearing that Cora might track her down some day. And another part simply being the Wonderlandian wanderlust that kept her moving from place to place. It even earned her a nickname. The Pied Piper.

She supposed it was less pretentious than "The Dark One."

Speaking of which her mind had been turning more and more towards that favor. The thing was, while she was fairly confident in her abilities as far as defending herself went she had a feeling if Cora, or quite frankly anyone LIKE Cora, because really she'd be kidding herself if she thought that witch was the only person in the world who'd like to kidnap her and abuse her power, ever did catch her, she wasn't sure if she'd come out on top.

Not to mention that while she was making money the wages when she wasn't able to get work exterminating an infestation could be slim and with another winter coming, predicted to be one of the worst yet, well, perhaps if there were a way to make a deal with someone who'd pay her enough to keep her tided over between deals, it wouldn't be such a bad idea.

And lastly, well, she wasn't quite sure why but she felt deep down a desire to utilize her powers beyond what she was already doing and instinct told her this was the right path and the right time.

Yes, perhaps a business agreement with the Dark One was the key.

She just needed not to die negotiating it.

Author's note: And so! Dark Piper from The Best Tea Cup is Chipped is released! Let me know what you think in the comments below please! It really helps! Thanks for reading! Until next time!