Long live the czar

[Envy]

It was a beautiful spring morning in Moscow. Sun was shining without any hindrance, causing the buildings to be basked in sunlight. Especially the Kremlin looked marvelous, despite the hardships it had had to endure from time, battles and other smaller factors. And in this morning, there were already people working there. Most notably there were many guards, which was only natural for such a place. Yet their skills of observation weren't high enough. This was evident by the fact that there was an intruder on the inside.

But it wasn't their fault for not noticing him. Most humans aren't trained to deal with shapeshifters. They wouldn't even think that that janitor over there was that guard over here only moments later, whose name seemed to have slipped from their minds. Changing her form when necessary to proceed on his goal. Cameras were a nuisance, as it was the unrelenting observer that couldn't be tricked. Luckily the place wasn't full of them. Otherwise Envy would have never reached his goal.

It wasn't a grand goal or anything like that. Just a simple and plain room, next to a much grander one. So why go there? Well... no matter how you look at it, you must have a place to be in before making an entrance. This room happened to be such a place. After he had checked that it was safe to transform, he proceeded to do just that.

***

The palace had gotten quite a redecoration since the selection of new Czar. But no matter what would be done to it, the throne room would always look magnificent. This area didn't have many guards in it at the moment, as nothing important was happening there at the moment. In fact, there was only one guard. The other one was getting something to eat. The one that was present enjoyed the silence. Nowadays, the was too much noise all around, all the time. Due to that, silence was very precious.

Click-clack

Click-clack

Click-clack

The guard turned around to face the source of the echoing clicks and clacks. And what he saw left him dumbfounded. "But..." He tried to start a sentence but was stopped by the feeling of a feminine finger being pressed against his lips. "Shhh. We don't want to spoil the surprise, do we now?" A delicate whisper, with a request, made by an elegant lady. Her dress, resembling those worn long time ago (yet managed to look fabulous even today), was black and left her collarbones bare. She figured that she had taken a liking to outfits like that. The woman withdrew her finger. "Now, why don't you go and invite the Czar? I have a feeling he'll be pleased to see me". The lady walked past the guard, who would (after a slight delay due to confusion) start to run in his search for Czar, as there was no doubt that he would need to hear about this.

And so, the woman walked up the throne. After deciding that it was fit to be her seat, she seated it. Her impressively long, aqua hair rested behind the back of the seat. Her legs were crossed. She was leaning on the armrest with her right hand. Her enchanting blue eyes looked calm, as they waited for her host to enter her eyesight any moment now. And her blood red lips... they were smiling. Envy was smiling. And thus, Alena was smiling.

Vanity was smiling.

And she was waiting...

[Kit Estenial]

The day had started fabulously enough with rays of sunlight slicing into the Czar's bedchambers. His ears, white and fuzzy atop his snowy white, lengthy hair, twitched at the warmth. His red eyes fluttered open as he sat up, stretching out his deliciously muscled body. He stood out from his satin sheets, pure red against pure white. He stood up and scratched his neck, yawning with his tattooed tongue in its center. He was bare as he stood in the window, looking down at his new dominion. Czar...from street rat to king, a trademark Aladin story. He could feel the country beneath his feet, as if it had a pulse that stemmed from him. A heart of a nation...it was almost funny. At least he knew it was safe, at least, he couldn't drain himself of blood. He chuckled at it, padding his way to his wardrobe. It felt like a red morning, so his favorite red kimono was slipped on. This one had three animal attributes sewn in: a bat's wing, tiger strips, and a serpent's coiled body. It summed him up beautifully.

With no staff around at present, Kit went about a morning routine he had since his arrival here. First, he brushed his hair, this time wrapping it up in a ponytail. Then came the filing of his nails and fangs. Then, but not least, his smoke. He burned incense in a small bowl and bathed in it. It smelled of cherries and lotus, like Aerugo in springtime. He'd have to visit sometime. As he sat on his bed, slipping on his straw sandals, a uniformed officer burst into his room. No knock or anything, how rude these military types were. Maybe he'd make Drachman military forces take etiquette classes as part of basic training now..."Sir...Sekre-....Alena is here."

Oh, how he smiled and smiled. Today promised to be an interesting day.

***

Kit's presence was announced by two armed guards opening the massive double doors. He stepped in quick, rapid steps on his red carpet. Red and gold adorned every inch of the palace in some way or another under new orders from the Czar. There she was, in that Victorian dress with that blue hair...sitting in his throne. He didn't like that. She gave it up, she couldn't just take it back, that's violation of playground rules. He smiled a bit though, sauntering up to her with hands in place inside his kimono sleeves. She looked very fetching sitting there though. "Well, Vanity, what a pleasant surprise....couldn't find any other seat, so you decide to take mine? You should know better, you're supposed to ask first." He laughed some, tail swaying behind his back.

"But with all seriousness, why are you sitting in my seat...what are you doing here in the first place, didn't you...go off somewhere to live a happy life or something?"

[Envy]

Vanity watched as her host arrived, coming to see his valuable guest. He didn't look too happy by her presence. She, on the other hand, looked very pleased.

"Well, Vanity, what a pleasant surprise....couldn't find any other seat, so you decide to take mine? You should know better, you're supposed to ask first."

Vanity did not respond. Instead, she only smiled more. The previous czar who had supposedly disappeared without a trace reappears and the current czar is concerned with the fact that his seat is taken. She could only hope that he was opening with a joke.

"But with all seriousness"

Which seemed to be the case.

"Why are you sitting in my seat...what are you doing here in the first place, didn't you...go off somewhere to live a happy life or something?"

Once again, Vanity didn't answer right away. Her gaze was fixed upon her own hand, which was gently moving back and forth on the cold armrest of the throne. "I simply wanted to feel it for the last time. Permission didn't seem necessary". She slowly raised her gaze at Kit. Her eyes questioned something about him. "But you shouldn't be that rude to your guests. After all, you have just been blessed with my presence in your palace. Your seat being occupied is a minor matter". Vanity's form raised itself from the throne slowly, causing her long hair to waver slightly. She looked this new czar into his red eyes, framed by his white, long hair.

"But with all seriousness, I have certain things to discuss with you. In private, if possible. It's not like I doubt my own guards". Her eyes briefly focused on the guards, who were simply standing and listening (and understanding, if they did know Amestrian). They could hold their posture rather well, considering the situation. "I just feel like it's best for them to not know". One of the guards twitched a little. It was such a small gesture. Yet still, it was something that made her smile a little.

[Csilla Angelis]

{BUMP}

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