Mirana of Marmoreal, now once again the undisputed queen of Underland, sat quietly in contemplation at her desk. So much had changed in only a day. When she had awoken this morning she had no champion and faced the possibility of defeat in her uprising. Defeat followed by Iracebeth's wrath. Then Alice, that brave and wonderful girl, had stepped forward to be her saviour.

Events had transpired far too quickly after that. She had tried to reason with her sister telling her that they did not have to fight, that no more blood had needed to be spilled. Racy of course would have none of it. Despite the fact that she had to have known that she would lose the Red Queen had decided to make one last stand. She tried to defy fate, an event so clearly recorded in the oraculum and yet she fought it. She gambled and lost. This meant that rather than show her sister mercy from an honourable surrender, Mirana was forced to exercise little lenience.

She knew her subjects desired Iracebeth's blood an honestly she could not blame them. But nor could she give it to them. She could not harm her sister. Upon the battlefield she had cited her vows as the reason for her act of kindness but that was not it. Her subjects would believe it to be because of her vow never to harm any living creature. Her sister would no doubt assume it was because of the vow she had made years ago to her in private. The answer however, was far less complex.

She had spared her sister purely out of guilt. Guilt and love. Emotions that she had become accustomed to whenever she thought of Iracebeth over the years. She had much to atone for. Of course, no one could be allowed to know the intricacies of her past, she had an image she was now forced to uphold, but hiding ones sins did not erase them. As for Racy, poor dear Iracebeth, nothing could fix her mistakes there. Thus her sister's exile was done for both of them. By not having to look at Racy ever again Mirana could hide from at least some of the guilt. Possessing the crown however meant that she could never part from the emotion completely.

The newly restored queen removed her crown to look at it. It was beautiful and simplistic and oh so not worth it. She could never admit it to anyone but she had been glad when Iracebeth had taken it from her all those years ago on the Horovendoush day. She had originally claimed the throne in spite and by losing it to her elder sister she had felt immensely relieved that the ordeal was over. However, her sister proved to be the monster that Mirana had claimed she was and the people had longed for the peaceful reign of the younger princess once again. And Mirana could not tell them she did not want it. Her thoughts flickered back to the start of this whole disastrous conflict.

'Miwana I can't do this anymore' the crown princess broke free of her sister's passionate kiss and gazed sadly into her chocolate eyes.

'Do what exactly Racy?' the younger woman was relentless in pulling the other towards her and was now biting and kissing along her neck.

'This! I am engaged it is unfair to Mikael'

'Why he's had me too seems only fair if you ask me' Mirana chuckled darkly.

This was apparently the wrong thing to say as her retort was met by a fierce slap to her face. Mirana's eyes instantly darkened as she grabbed her sister's chin and roughly brought her face millimetres from her own.

'You are lucky I swore never to harm you sister, but if you ever try anything like that again I will not be so kind. Vows be damned. Is that understood?' Iracebeth visibly shrank under the taller woman's intense scrutiny. Eventually she managed a small nod. Mirana gave a cruel smirk. 'Do you swear dear one?' She made no attempt to hide the sadistic glee from her eyes.

'I promise I'll never harm you again'

'Good' and just like that Mirana's darkness was back under control as she kissed her sister almost tenderly.

'But Mikael-'

'Do not marry him then. You are mine not his' as if to prove the point her hands slid under Iracebeth's dress sliding in between her legs.

'But father-' again the elder princess was cut off.

'Will not force you to marry so far below you. So I guess you have a choice between me and him and from experience dear you do not want to be forced to bed that every night for the rest of your life. Now enough talking'

Mirana had cut her off then by claiming her lips for her own. Not that Iracebeth would have been capable of any coherent speech as her sister slid two fingers inside her.

Mirana came out of her daze with a scowl. When she had ordered her sister to make a choice she had no idea that Iracebeth would not choose her. Her sister had gone ahead and married Mikael. The unworthy vermin. Truth be told that should have been the end of the matter but Mirana had not been used to not getting her own way.

The rumours started not long after her sister's wedding. Strange disappearances and unspeakable acts of cruelty all attributed to the next in line for the throne. At the same time Mirana had suddenly been presented in a whole new light. News of her charity, kindness and purity spread like wildfire, the flames fanned by the discontent surrounding her sister's now tarnished reputation. The final straw had been a well-placed rumour that the 'mad princess' may have had something to do with the death of the king and queen. That final blow had been so very low and yet at the time Mirana had not cared. Now however she regrets it with all her heart. In less than a day after that particularly damaging report Mirana had been hastily crowned as queen of Underland. Iracebeth had been furious.

Not that anyone had paid her much notice. She was left quite alone and therein had been the next fatal mistake. Iracebeth gained formidable allies. The Red Queen took the crown. Mirana had fled and much to her surprise was not pursued. However, the damage had already been done. The new queen found she was unable to trust anyone after her baby sister's betrayal and became paranoid, enemies were everywhere coming for her, coming for her crown. Even Mikael was not safe from her suspicions. Convinced that her husband was going to leave her for Mirana, Iracebeth had executed him. The man known as Stayne had helped to encourage this and by professing love and adoration gained favour encouraging her to do many unspeakable things. Mirana herself had felt nothing but satisfaction at the news of Mikael's death.

That was then. Oh it had been fun at first but what had started as a simple act of revenge by a scorned lover had quickly spiralled into something that could never be undone. The White Queen for the first time in her life felt remorse for her actions. Guilt and shame threatened to destroy her and had very nearly driven her insane. It was then she made an oath to herself; never would she act in such a shameful way again. For the rest of her life she would take no action that was fuelled purely by her own desires, and if possible she would protect her dear sweet 'Racy' from any seeking retribution for crimes that would not have been committed if not for her own need for satisfaction.

Frabjous day had been an incredible test to her resolve. As predicted many wished for Iracebeth's death yet thankfully were content with exile. That had been painful. The second test had taken the form of a young indecisive champion. Mirana had longed for Alice. The girl was beautiful, young and strong-willed; everything Mirana used to look for in a conquest. She knew Alice had felt something too. It would have been oh so easy to command her to stay and deep inside she knew that the girl would have obeyed, but that would have been selfish. The girl had needed to return to her own world. Thus in one day all her oath's and vows had been put to the test.

And now the White Queen was alone. A wistful smile crossed her youthful visage as realisation struck her. Loneliness. This was her punishment. What greater sentence could be cast upon a creature that was lust incarnate? Whose crimes had been based around lust who had both destroyed with and been destroyed by lust? It was only fitting after all. Iracebeth and Alice were gone, her crown was restored and her solitude was to be endured.