Wonderland || GRISHAVERSE

01

The Queen didn't acknowledge Genya's appearance, continuing to chatter to her servants about the sun summoner.

"Apparently she's Shu, so someone should get a Shu translator."

Genya moved up to Tatiana and began working on tailoring her appearance as she did every day. Her hair livened up, the strands becoming brighter as the grey hairs disappeared. The wrinkles seemed to seep back into her skin as her whole face travelled back to the Queen's youthful days.

"You should work on Alicia before the Shu girl's arrival. Those eye bags do not do well for her complexion," She snapped, her now crystal like eyes scrutinising every flaw in Alice's appearance.

"I happen to think Alice's eye bags are marvellous, adds more colour to her face."

They were definitely prominent enough to rival the colour of the fabrikators' kefta.

The red head nodded in return, but even a blind person could sense the permanent loathing that was always apparent on her face around the Queen.

"I'll be sure to come by tomorrow morning before the demonstration."

The Queen let out a 'hmph' noise.

"You can leave now," she dismissed, instantly going back to gossiping with the other servants.

—————

"Stop that," Vasily snapped after Alice adjusted her dress for the fourth time in the last 10 minutes.

Currently, the two stood almost shoulder to shoulder in the throne room at the Grand Palace. Beside them sat the King and Queen of Ravka (looking as bored as ever). A translator for the Sun Summoner stood right beside the queen whilst the Apparat loomed over the King's shoulder.

True to her words, Genya had touched her up that morning. Her usually frizzy curls now looked akin to silk and was pinned up in some elaborate braid with a few curls framing her face. Her eyebags (alongside the rest of her facial flaws) had disappeared to leave smooth skin underneath. This included her array of freckles, which Alice was strongly against but the Queen always got the final word.

Her dress - which was blue to match her mother - sat stiffly on her body. The multiple layers underneath did nothing to help this fact and was the current reason of her constant adjusting. There was always one bit that didn't sit right against her body.

Fortunately, she was able to sneak on her lucky charm. A necklace made up of 6 corks strung up on a piece of string. It laid comfortably around her neck, hidden by the layers of clothing. Had any of her present family members seen it, Alice was sure that they would've had it incinerated. Uncaring that the seemingly useless junk brought comfort to the strange girl. It was a pleasant reminder that it didn't matter how much she disliked this world, for she had another world full of wonder. All to herself.

Alice shifted between her feet as people finally flooded into the throne room. They stood in perfect lines, with the army men closest to the royal family.

"Head up, you look like a mouse," Tatiana's voice hissed in her direction.

"And what's wrong with mice!"

"I happen to like mice," the princess mumbled back, so the rest of the room wouldn't be able to hear her.

Alice sucked in an anticipated breath as the doors opened once more.

"Here they come!"

"Is it wrong for me to be excited?"

"Is that a veil?"

The Darkling and who Alice assumed to be the Sun Summoner entered first. She was decked in the first army clothing and a tacky veil that covered her face. Shorter than most, the Sun Summoner didn't look like much. But Alice knew enough to know that physical appearances could be deceiving.

"Just kill her now and be done with it!"

"Shut up, I'm trying to listen."

Whispers travelled around the large room as everyone judged the young girl. From the corner of her eye, Alice could see the Apparat and the King conversing.

There was a tense silence where everyone watched the girl remove her veil.

"Are we sure she's the sun summoner?"

"They've got the wrong girl."

"It's a fake."

Alice made no show of hearing them, keeping her curious gaze on the girl. The two made eye contact for a split second, but the girl very quickly dropped it. Her eyes twitching around the room in a nervous manner.

Slouched against his throne, the King spoke first.

"I thought she'd be taller."

"I thought she was Shu," The Queen verbalised. Her face pulled in a slightly disgusted expression. " Well, I guess she's Shu enough."

The Sun Summoner turned towards the Darkling almost fearfully. Mortified at the way they were speaking of her.

"Tell her... Oh, I don't know. Good morning."

The translator opened her mouth, before the Sun Summoner interrupted.

"I don't actually speak Shu," she paused, before deciding to add on "Your highness."

"Then what are you?"

Alice flickered her eyes towards her eldest brother as he accidentally hit her with the bag he was fiddling with. Her elbow reached out, digging into his waist in retaliation. He hissed quietly, aiming a glare at the side of her head.

Fortunately for them, no one was paying attention to the squabbling siblings. Every eye was on the Sun Summoner whilst she nervously glanced around her as if searching to find the answer to the Queen's question in the cracks of the walls.

"She is Alina Starkov," The General spoke up "The Sun Summoner, moya tsaritsa." He bowed his head in respect, Alina shadowing his movements.

"She will change the future," he lifted his arms "Starting now."

Shadows crept up the walls, easily engulfing the large room.

"Run him in!"

"Get out!"

"Shut it!"

Alice gripped her wrists tightly, hoping to ground herself as the shadows surrounded her on all sides and they raised in volume. Her eyes searched helplessly through the darkness. Every sound in the room seemed to pause as everyone waited with held breaths.

It began small. A single glowing orb of light from the centre of her body. And then it exploded. It came out of the Sun Summoner in waves, similar to electricity as it reached every crevice of the room.

Yelps of surprise came from all over the room and everyone reached to cover their eyes.

"Get rid of her!"

"Get rid of both of them! They will only destroy the world together!"

They all mixed into one, until no word was distinguishable over the cry of another. Alice was no longer covering her eyes, but her ears. The grumble of sound only grew louder and more frantic until they all chorused.

"The Sun Summoner will destroy us all!"

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1555 words, so a bit of a short one to start off with. You don't get much of Alice talking but I did want to do her meeting with Alina.