Here I am, in a world of chaos, fighting my way to the everlasting dream. There's a light in the distance, that just seems to float farther and farther the longer I spend my days here. Despite wanting to leave, I had a life here that I could not leave behind, besides, what's life without a game of cards? 

        Exiting the palace, constructed with red towered buildings, that flushed across thousands of acres of land. It was not the most unusual day, then again, a usual day was something I wasn't familiar with. This particular day, I was headed for the Willows, they owned a bakery just over, the glass heeled house. The monument for the death of Cinderella, a shock to everyone in town. Anyways, The Willows were a sanctuary, a place for people to play. It wasn't just any old game, it was poker. But this kind of poker wasn't dealing with something as simple as money, on this poker you were betting your title, your life. And something about that appealed to me, more than dressing up or singing in front of an audience. It somehow made me feel like an equal, not the daughter of the Queen, but simply a girl.

        I hid behind the tree, that once that grew coins, holding a dark hood over my head. It was a ritual I would have to go through almost every day, for if anyone resembled me outside of the gates, I would be lugged back in an instant. As the daughter of a world-know queen, I wasn't given much freedom at all. But I used that to my advantage, allowing myself to follow down a sketchy pathway, indulge in an occasional game, and torture others with my exceptional ability to play archery. Yes, I played archery, almost every weekend, over by the hills of the the Mad Hatter's tea Palooza. Sometimes, I would go over simply to relieve myself from the fights me and my mother have. They are long and serious, and somehow she finds a way to manipulate me. The things I do, placing my life on the ledge of a house is something she has influenced me to do. And now I can't bring myself to the stable ground. 

        I saw my chance dance, when the visitors of our masked ball arrived, holding their puffy skirts to the side, as they all looked through the puddles, adjusting their looks every five minutes. I looked at them smiling, knowing that that life would never be mine. How I wished life could bless me with the features and pois that they have, a disappointment to my mother.  Instead, she was stuck with me, a girl who has no symbol of her mother, a girl who would rather perform any other activities but croquet. Oh, how my mother loves Croquet. It wasn't just a game to her, sometimes she went as far as exiling people that beat her. Losing is a concept she is not familiar with, and I have to admit, sometimes I'm scared of her myself. Even though I'm her daughter, nothing gets in the way of her desires. I can remember one faithful day, I had been caught playing a game with the children from the villages or the poor, as my mother would say. In that fight, I had felt my innocence leave, something I've wanted back now for a long time, but no matter how hard you try, it's gone, forever vanished. I remember her dragging me through the streets, yelling at me over and over. And then she stopped, as she took out her set of cards. And that's when I knew, she wouldn't care if I was her daughter, I was the same as every other person in this kingdom. 

        Finally, I made a skip for it, creeping against the entrance of the strong golden empire, My plan began to awaken. As the guards' vision was full of the princesses, I changed my demeanor and blended with the crowd.  Waiting outside for me was a game, a game I was so ready to play.  And I was so close, just inches away from escape. Nevertheless, I had to unravel this out, carefully. As everyone's heads turned to welcome the new visitors, I knew this was my escape. I crammed behind the Ravens carrying the dark navy carriage, and carefully unhinged the gate. I had almost made it out when a firm hand startled me on my shoulder. Of course, Why am I not surprised, it's him again. He's always following me. 

        "Kiana?! Where are though leaving for? What about the ball this afternoon? You better not forget, the Queen wants everyone's attendance!?" Mr. Forechestor, the rabbit, tapped on his legs as he frantically waited for my response. I stared at him, open mouthed, a million lies flowing through my head, zero being placed in my mouth. His face held the same, his strained blue eyes complimented the suit he was wearing. He gestured for me to talk, taking subtle glances at his watch.

        "Mr. Forechestor, there is no need to remind me, I promise I will be on time." I smiled,  allowing him to come walk with me on the grounds of the palace. That was a lie, unless the queen could track my whereabouts, and force the invitation down my throat, I was not going. His face seemed unbothered, but tired and old. I haven't seen a time when that man wasn't hopping around town. In some circumstances, I felt horrible for the life he had to live. Then again, it was his choice. 

        "So many things to do, I wish you well if you decide to skip-Oh flubberfeathers, I gotta go help set up!" I courteously smiled, and I felt my heart bloom. Finally, he let me go! I had made it! I watched him wave goodbye, as he hopped away to the rose garden.

I laughed, as he turned to leave, a true excitement in my life. A true laugh. But just as I thought everything was fine, he was no longer hopping. He had stopped and turned towards me as if a sudden thought had mixed into his decision. As if he was thinking long and hard, if leaving me was really worth it, If you ask me, I would say yes in a heartbeat. I watched, as he walked back, his face now droopy, as he ran his paws through his fur. 

"May I ask, Is something wrong?" I plastered a fake smile, this cannot be happening. I had jinxed it. Why does this always happen to me?

        "I am not falling for this, you must come in right now. I am in charge of attendance, and by the Queen's favors you must get ready right now." His voice was stern as if this time he wasn't going to let me go. 

        "Did she really tell you that? Or was it the "Of with your head" that's motivating you?" I was exasperated, my voice tinged with annoyance. He is lips twisted, he was already exposed to the "unruly" way I talk. He had known because every single day of the ball, he would always drag me along, forcing me into the arms of the tailors and makeup specials.

        "It's funny you say that because it will become "Off with my head" if you don't come right now!" He spoke sternly, as he looked through the golden leafed attendance, checking mine off at the very bottom. Kiana Delilah Wiseworth. 

        "Come on Mr. Forechestor, It's not common for you to act like that, let me leave. Maybe then I and Mother won't fight tonight." I pleaded as I watched for a change of guilt in his face, but there was none. 

        "I think not. I don't have all day Kiana, I have to clean the windows, and had out a letter, and possibly even meet the Mad Hatter. All the things!" He went on about this list, just thinking about it made my brain hurt.

        "I'm sure you have many things to do, but just one ball, Please! I promise I'll go next week. It's just I have something really important right now-" He began pushing me back, leading me back home. "Oh come on! I haven't missed a single one yet!" I sighed, accepting my inevitable defeat. It wasn't that I hated the balls, I hated everything that came with it. My mother, who I only see at meals, and princes, who are- I don't even have to explain it- and the big poofy dresses that I'm going to deny made me itch like crazy.  This time though, I had prepared the perfect dress, in fact, the best revenge. 

        "Which is why you're going today. Yoo-hoo, could you please take her for me!" He beckoned for one of the knights. My palm met my face, and I looked back. In the distance I saw it, the game, going on, being played without me. I was sure If I had gone through the gardens I would have made it on time, I had just wished I had thought of that earlier. 

"Must you always be so snippety," I grumbled, as his tiny figure turned a grey mist in the wallowing distance.

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   Following that evening, My body was forced to take the shape of a tight red corset, the bodice taking my ability to breath with it.  And slowly they layered thousands of red carded skirts around my suffocating waist. By the time, I had time to breath, someone was already powdering my face, and strangling my hair. I wasn't given the choice of what I was to wear, and without my consent, they made my face an unrecognizable entity.  The only thing about this I was okay with, was that Rebecca was here. She was the light in my life, she was my purpose. I remember crying in her room, after my mom and me had gotten into a fight. And it was the only time I felt loved, cared for. She was one of the maids who attended to the castle, and probably one of the only people who didn't resemble me to the witch of a mother that The Queen of Hearts was.

        "I'm sure he had reasons, Kia. It wouldn't make sense for him to force you into something you don't like without a purpose." She lined a black eyeliner into a wing. I closed my eyes, inhaling sharply, remembering the sudden change in his tone. Something was happening tonight, something important. Something that included me, it rattled me that I would only figure out during the ball. 

   "But why? What was so important that I had to be there?" I questioned, as I peered out the window looking beyond at the guests conversating and caterers' setting up the party. Everyone seemed to be in a rush, as the staff skidded from the supplies bird inside. Everything seemed unorganized with servants running different ways and I knew it was for good reason. The Queen started the ball exactly at eight-thirty, just a minute later, who knows what would happen. 

        "You make me realize how happy I am that I do not affiliate with royalty." She spoke subtly, moving my curtain bangs from out of my face. What she said didn't really make sense to me, she spoke as if what she said wasn't really what she meant at heart.  I wonder what she was thinking, putting me forth, always suffering in the back. It was never about her, she always focused on me and for some reason I felt some sort of guilt building up, like I had taken her entire childhood for my lollipops and daises. 

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        "But you are right now." I smiled, looking up at her as she glided a maroon gloss over my lips. I tried to lighten the mood, but it seemed as if she was a lost cause, a soul lost at sea. I looked at her face for some sort of indication, recognition to convince myself she was happy. She must've noticed, because she quickly tried to smile back, but I could see right through the lie. 

        "I meant with dances, you know. Getting ready, affiliating with the men... I'll never be able to experience it. It wasn't for that purpose, Kiana, it's all you." She sighed, as she capped the gloss, almost loosing grip of it.  I looked back at myself in the mirror, watching my olive skin glow in the lit candles next to me. I had to make the choice, I had to ask her. Or I would forever hold myself back for it. 

        "Rebecca? Do you want to go to one? A ball," I asked bluntly, and I watch her eyebrows raised, as if she was surprised I had asked her. I wonder why she was surprised, did she think I was never capable of asking her? That I was never truly her friend? This entire time, I had been selfishly complaining about going to balls, when in reality that had been her dream all along. And I felt so selfish for doing that, for making her suffer through it. 

        She looks back at me, her ginger bangs falling across her paled face. Her face looks confused, as she doesn't know whether it was worth it to do so. Like she's not sure what to do in this situation, because saying yes could cost her job, her life. And she's wondering whether to make that sacrifice. 

        "It doesn't matter what I want Kia, I am not the princess of hearts." We sat together on my chair, held up by vines on every side. It swung back and forth, as Rachel laid her head on my side. There was silence, one unlike others, a comforting one, before I embraced her holding her close. I would never forgive myself for this, for not knowing what she was going through, the least I could do was make it better. 

        "Rachel, I'm going to tell you that a ball is nothing like you think it will be. All of it, it's toxic, it's everyone looking down on you for not being civil, or smart, or pretty enough. But I'm not going to stop you, in fact I would court you to the ball. I want you to go, maybe balls' are   just not for me, doesn't mean they aren't for you." I whispered, and I watched her face brighten slightly. 

        "But.. I don't want to get you in trouble more than you already are with you're mother-" She objected.

"Stop, Just stop it. Not everything is about me, Rachel. Sometimes you've got to learn to follow your own dreams. Come on, let's go choose a dress!" I offered a hand, she grinned holding on to it, before yanking me back on the bed. 

I laughed, as I fell on top of her, " How about the one Candia wore last year?" She stifled a laugh and I felt my heart warm up. This was who I missed, the girl who always smiled and took nothing to heart. 

"You mean the one who died from flowers on her dress last year, no thanks!"

        "Let's go look in my mothers room!" I hopped of the bed, looking at myself in the mirror. My dress was covered in cards of hearts from the top to the bottom with strips of gold at the top and middle. I may not be wanted by my mother, but at least then I could choose any of the dresses I desire, even if it means her wedding dress. 

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        "Kiana Wiseworth and Demetri Fallentoe." I announced to the knights, as they began checking the floor length list, dragging the list up every few seconds. I had always thought it would be useful to have two lists, but no one ever listened, so now we're stuck here watching them look for my name for minutes on end. 

        "Demetri? She's not on here, I'm sorry." The taller one spoke, checking the list once more. Of course, Mr. Forechestor never but her name on it, when I find him I'm going to make sure he gets a piece of me. Frantically, I hid my right-hand behind my back, swirling my index finger as my last resort. I had only learned how to do simple magic, anything was foreign to me. 

        "Are you sure she's not on the list? She might be exclusive." I bit the side of my lip, my plan was either going to work or flop. 

        "I don't have confirmation from the queen, to let her in..." The man spoke sternly, crossing his arms.

        "You know what you also don't have, a bloody nose. But I can get you one." I raised my head, holding eye contact. 

        "Oh, here it is Demetri Fallentoe! Must've skipped over it. My mistake, Sorry Miss Wiseworth." He scratched the back of his head. I smirked, thank the Wonderland that my spell had worked, I wasn't ready to throw in any punches today. 

        I gestured Rachel in, her emerald green dress complimented her glinting eyes.  I followed behind her, walking with my face held high. The Ballroom itself was gorgeous, with golden incarvments made across the dome ceiling. Tables aligned with charcuterie boards on every corner of the room. Even the great chandelier was on, making it's biggest entrance. Whenever the Queen had turned on the chandelier, it meant she had news to share that night, and for some reason I felt like I already knew what it was. 

"Wow, This is what you complain about? This is marvelous." Rachel's widened, as she twirled around getting the entire picture in. 

"I guess, It's okay..." I shrugged, as I watched her drift away. 

        As the guests made their entrance one by one, the ballroom slowly filled up, filling up with thousands of people. I hid in the corner, watching as Rachel got asked to the floor for the first time. I remember my first dance, Philip, it was to my disgust when I figured out all princes were exactly the same; rude and egotistical. I wished I had that same passion for love that I had years ago, but I just can't seem to get it back. 

        As I saw, Rachel glide along the floor, I felt some sort emptiness, a feeling of loneliness she described hours ago. A type of guilt for feeling jealous, It was then that my mom had approached the stage. Her hair dazzling, and her dress outstanding any other dress here. I was eager to hear what she had to say this time. I moved to floor, to hear her voice better. 

        "I applause for every guest who has come! And to my daughter who has come...as well." I watched her eyes' narrow to my dress, and suddenly I felt a burst of self confidence shrink. I watched as everyone's faces turned to me, and I could here their mimicking whispers fill the room. "Did you see what she's wearing. "Completely unacceptable."

        My face heated up, I never felt so embarrassed, but still I wore the dress proudly. I wasn't going to let my mom hurt me again, not this time. And suddenly, I was so prepared to make my debut and wipe away all those smiles plastered on their faces. I desperately needed a drink, I picked up a glass of wine. Technically I'm underaged, but also I technically don't care at all. 

        "I am so happy that all of you came, and thanks to all my staff who helped with this ball today. I am so proud that I can have a staff to rely on at any time. And because of all the events going on this week, there is one last major thing I would like to announce, in terms of my daughter. I would like to congratulate my daughter-" Could it really be? Could she really know? I never told her but someone could've overheard me telling Rachel, or-

        "Ahem. I would like to congratulate my daughter on-" She looked to the side, as if expecting something to happen, for someone to pop up. Prince Philip stood in front of me, and suddenly he began to kneel down. He slowly removed a navy blue box, revealing a diamond ring. This cannot be happening, This cannot be happening, This cannot be happening. But it was, right in front of me, with my very eyes. 

"I would like to congratulate her for her engagement!" The glass slipped from my hand splattering across my entire dress, my mom's dress. 

        "Oh my god, I'm so sorry. I-You will have to excuse me." Frantically, leaving behind the mess I created, I began running towards the balcony on the east side,, an escape from this moment that is holding me against my will. My mother had led me into a trap, that was why Mr. Forchestor had forced to me to attend today, she had arranged a marriage for me. And now on the floor, standing on one leg was Prince Philip, being told that I was in love with him. But I wasn't. And now my worst nightmare had come to life, and I was standing right between my dreams and my mother. 

        I burst the doors open, catching my breath on the balcony, spiraled with vines from head to toe. I couldn't let myself breath, I was holding on to dear life, with nothing but my own warmth to comfort me. I wanted so dearly, to love my mother, I wanted so dearly to be the image she wanted me to be. But I couldn't do. I couldn't throw my life away so easily.

        "Once I get married, I'll never be able to do anything, I will forced to a life of eternal motherhood, I'm not sure what to do. I-I..." I rant to myself, the light shining against my moon-kissed skin, my arms placed on the bricks for support.  I felt myself slipping from reality, And I couldn't do that, not now, I needed to hold on.

        "You could leave." A voice arose form behind me, and swiftly I turned around. Someone had followed me, but I couldn't make out who. 

"Excuse me? I don't know who you think you are but-" I rose from the shadows, catching my breath. 

        "You don't need to know who I am. I for one, have a preposition for you." The figure came into the light, revealing a costumed knight, his metal gleaming against the light. It was one of the knights from those schools, I saw them practicing just acres from the Archery range. 

"And what is it that you need? Money? Marriage? Sex?"

I heard a deep chuckle, "I'm serious, I've been watching you."

"Well that's not creepy at all." I rolled my eyes, wiping the tears that had once fallen on my face minutes ago.

        "I meant your archery, I've seen the way you play. " His answer surprised me, This man seemed to be watching me for a while. Despite I have never seen him before, somehow I felt a deep trust in him. 

"And how do I play?" I scrunched my nose, twirling my hair as I watched him limit the space between us. 

"Like you're dealing the cards." His hand rubbed the chin of my face as he searched for my eyes. 

"That is what life is, a game. " I exhaled, moving away from his touch, I could feel his presence burning into my skin. 

        "I want to come to my school, for Knights. You could train to be one." My face dropped, there it was, my dream being handed to me in the midst of the night. And I got to make the decisions whether to leave 

"You know already, that I cannot leave. And I'm stupid enough to leave with a stranger in the middle of the night, you know." I scoffed, looking up at his face. 

        I watched him unlatch his helmet revealing a notorious black hair, and alluring icy blue eyes, brighter than the sea. His hair fell perfectly to the sides of his face, before pulled me closer. 

                I felt his breath exhale on me before he spoke, "I'm Finn, and you?"

                "What are you doing?" 

                "Making myself known to you." He smiled, his dimples popping into place. 

                "Come on, just accept it, I'm not coming." I crossed my arms, rolling my eyes. 

I hear him chuckle, deep and dark, before he speaks again, "Fine, then shall we make it a game?"