Fork. Stuck. I wanted closure for both two important points: the first, of course, is that Allie – and maybe her alone but more likely with some Life Guard (in the military, not swimming, sense) with her, are the one’s to enter Wonderland. Do I skip over securing the shrine? You bet I do. ”Some things Man was not meant to know,” is a phrase which exists for a reason.

The second is something touched on by Aurie first which even young Allie picked up on. For someone such as Fussy, accustomed to autocratic power her whole adult life, NOT acting along those lines would be very odd for her. So, in the midst of hinting at more wonders beyond that wall Allie could not – then – pass, she puts her great-grandmother very firmly into her place.

The end. Thanks for reading and thanks for those with comments and suggestions. I hope to have this published in 6-8 weeks, following editing and copyediting and formatting. Deus vult.

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Weeks later

“Um… Your Majesty, you should…” one of the miners began.

“I’m helping to move some of the rocks and dirt that you and your team have cut through, to get back to my wonderland,” she admonished him.  “Don’t you dare say that physical labor is beneath me or any of us.  All work praises God.”

“Yes.  Sorry, my queen.” He returned to his pickaxe while the rest of the team snickered at him.

“According to the coordinates,” Chief Engineer Sundström called, halting their work, “we are no more than a meter away from breaking through.  I want to verify the airlocks behind us are closed and secure before proceeding.”

He glanced at Alicia, who nodded.  She returned to her shovel work to move rocks and dirt.  We used one of the huge tunnel boring machines to get close, but cannot now that we are effectively here.  The danger of not just contamination but compromising the entire cavern is too great.  So, we, well, these men, have been doing it by hand.  I’ve been making sure everyone who wants meat and beer when off shift gets all they can. 

She smiled, scooping up another shovel load.

It was something of surprise to them when some girl showed up in the tunnel, she thought of just days ago.  More when they realized – and I blame Sundström for letting that cat out of the bag – that said girl in overalls holding a shovel was, in fact, their queen.

News of the political change on her homeworld had gone out just after the meeting in St. Petersburg.  Given the approval of the Old Home monarchs, their representatives on Mars kept their opinions about the Little Girl Queen to themselves and tried to behave.

“And what does Aqua think of all this?” Allie asked Kirry when she was on Central, going through decontamination.

“He doesn’t care; thinks human and demi-human politics are stupid,” the Midwife had replied.  “I am glad, though.  About a quarter of my time is spent on politics when I am supposed to be bringing our world to life.  You are welcome to it, Your Majesty.”

“I’ll make a tour of the main colonies while you get things going with the mining and drilling,” Alicia said to the screen.  They could have talked mind to mind, but the new monarch was older on what things should be a part of historical if not public record.  “I want to be the first one back down there.”

“Understood.  I shall keep you completely informed.  Kira out.  No!  Wait!”

“Yes?” Allie was curious at her sudden tone.

“Just after your ascension, I, well, took a personal initiative to set something into motion,” the Midwife said, a trifle nervous.  Making Alicia nervous.

“And that is?”

“The construction has just begun, but here’s what the final version will look like.  Bye-eee!”

An image was sent just as Kira broke the connexion.  Two images.  The first was of the current state of the Argonath, with the towering statue of the Midwife to the right of the outflow of the river from the Great Canyon.  The left had been roughly shaped into a human form but, as no one could conclude as to whose image should be…  She swept a finger across the screen to the next image.

“Me,” she said quietly to what would be a statue of her nearly two kilometers tall, her gestures imitating those of the other figure.  Alicia sniffled.  “Aurelia, my Royal Sister, was not kidding.  I am to literally be the land.  I’ve so much to learn.”

With Sundström back and the airlocks sealed, she took a break as the team broke through the last of the rock into the cavern.  Some men shored up the opening while four others widened it enough she could stoop through.  Everyone stood aside and looked back at her.

The Chief and several others produced small cameras on a variety of platforms.  I’m not exactly looking the part, she thought, in the dirt and sweat.  Just glad no one will know what I smell like after the last six hours. 

She smiled and walked forward.  Ducking her head, the Queen of Mars stepped into another world under hers.

“I’m back!” she called to the faint light of the cavern.  “Let’s have fun this time!”

***

Some months later

Following her participation in the consecration of the Cathedral of Saint Mikhail of the Russian Orthodox Church in Ekaterinburg, Alicia was kneeling on the floor on the flagstones at the rear of what would be in less than one of her years the Cathedral of Christ King of the Universe in Macon, imperium territory.  Mass over, she stood and slowly made her way out, pausing to speak to anyone who wanted to talk with her.

Until she made her way to the street.  A deep breath from her noseline, she removed it as, again, so many were recording this.

“Emeritus Empress Faustina,” she said first.  “Again, after the funeral a month ago, I continue to mourn the loss of your husband.”

“Thank you for your kind words, Queen Áris,” the older woman said, using the very formal version of her title.  “May we walk a bit?”

Everyone will hear us, Alicia replied.

Not if we stay like this, Faustina replied with a turquoise flash to her eyes.

“Let’s,” the younger put her hand out to the older.  There was scattered applause from the church steps.

Great things, greater than I ever imagined for myself, are being discovered, Faustina began, thinking about the wonders found beyond the sealed wall Alicia had encountered.  Both of our worlds reel in the changes.

I’m aware.  And I am in control of events, for now.

But what if you cannot?  You are very young.  And, as a queen, do rank slightly below an empress…

Alicia dropped her hand.

That is treason on my world, Fussy.  Never, ever, say that to me or anyone else again, or you will be sent to Old Home just as fast as I can toss you there!

Now look, little girl…!

“Security!” Alicia turned back toward the church and called for her small team of guards.

You would not dare!

To her turquoise, Allie’s eyes blazed white fire.

“Try me.”