* * *
Some hours later, Queen Sally descended the Palace staircase to find Aeryn staring long and hard at the large map of Mobius that hung on the wall. Sally shook her head at Aeryn's single-minded focus. Her father was the same way. "Sometimes," Sally mused "I forget that Aeryn is adopted. She acts so much like him that she may as well be Nikolai's own flesh and blood. If they weren't two different species, that is."
Sally decided she might as well introduce herself to her old friend's daughter.
"Aeryn?" Sally asked kindly. Aeryn was so intent on the map that she failed to notice Sally's arrival.
"Queen Sally." Aeryn said formally. Sally smiled and shook her head.
"You are my children's friend. And the daughter of an old compatriot; there's no need for titles. Just call me Sally." Aeryn nodded.
"Very well then, Sally." She said hesitantly, not being used to address a world leader in such an informal manner. Sally smiled and attempted to ease her discomfort.
"Homesick?" Aeryn shook her head.
"No. I was just...looking."
"I can see that." Sally responded as they both turned to the map. "You know, when I was still at Knothole, fighting Robotnik, I never imagined for a minute that Mobius would look the way it does now."
"No, I suppose not." Aeryn agreed. She turned her eyes to the western portion of the map, which depicted the United Restored Kingdom of Acorn. It was colored a light blue and covered most of the Western land mass. As she turned her eyes eastward, she saw her home republic, which was one of over a dozen republics in the SSSR; Which was colored a bright red. Besides the red SSSR and the blue Acorn Kingdom, there were several nations colored in green, these signified the League of Non-Aligned Nations; a loose alliance of nations like Mercia, Downunda, Albion, the Floating Island, the Mysterious Cat Country, Tundra Island, the Trusteeship of the Flicky Islands, and almost in the direct middle of the map was the island of Avalon.
"The world was a very different place when my father was King." Sally continued. "You wouldn't see all these nations occupying a map. All of Mobius was essential one kingdom, and the Kingdom of Acorn was the seat of the King of Mobius."
"For me, the world always looked this way."
"For some, like many of my Ministers, they cannot accept the way this map looks. They would have me try to push the clock back to when Mobius was one kingdom again." Sally said in annoyance.
"With all due respect to your Ministers, they are fools." Sally chuckled. Such blunt honesty was in short supply in the Royal Court, and thus was always appreciated when it presented itself.
"I once knew a young man from my days in Knothole; he would have said the same as you, only less tactfully. He was convinced that he had all the answers..."
"If you are thinking of the young man I think you are, then I would say that he was probably right." She smiled. "Of course I am his daughter, so how could I say anything different?"
Sally laughed as she wistfully thought of days long by. "Aeryn, I'm afraid I have to go now. I have an appointment with the Prime Minister about Parliament's plans to increase trade with the League of Non-Aligned Nations. But it has been a real pleasure talking to you."
"The pleasure is all mine, Sally." Aeryn responded. "My father has always spoken well of you. He still has a picture of you from his Knothole days. He keeps it on his desk, right next to his pictures of his other friends." Sally smiled.
"I hope I manage to talk to you again before you have to leave, Aeryn. I don't often find such insightful comments around here. Perhaps you'd like to consider becoming a member of Parliament?" Sally suggested. Aeryn just snorted at the suggestion.
"No offense your majesty, but I'd rather look for an honest job." Sally laughed.
"You know your father made the very same joke once, all those years ago. You are indeed your father's daughter."
"Thank you." Aeryn answered.
"Well, good-bye Aeryn. Have fun."
"Thank you Sally. I'll try."
* * *
Some hours later, Queen Sally descended the Palace staircase to find Aeryn staring long and hard at the large map of Mobius that hung on the wall. Sally shook her head at Aeryn's single-minded focus. Her father was the same way. "Sometimes," Sally mused "I forget that Aeryn is adopted. She acts so much like him that she may as well be Nikolai's own flesh and blood. If they weren't two different species, that is."
Sally decided she might as well introduce herself to her old friend's daughter.
"Aeryn?" Sally asked kindly. Aeryn was so intent on the map that she failed to notice Sally's arrival.
"Queen Sally." Aeryn said formally. Sally smiled and shook her head.
"You are my children's friend. And the daughter of an old compatriot; there's no need for titles. Just call me Sally." Aeryn nodded.
"Very well then, Sally." She said hesitantly, not being used to address a world leader in such an informal manner. Sally smiled and attempted to ease her discomfort.
"Homesick?" Aeryn shook her head.
"No. I was just...looking."
"I can see that." Sally responded as they both turned to the map. "You know, when I was still at Knothole, fighting Robotnik, I never imagined for a minute that Mobius would look the way it does now."
"No, I suppose not." Aeryn agreed. She turned her eyes to the western portion of the map, which depicted the United Restored Kingdom of Acorn. It was colored a light blue and covered most of the Western land mass. As she turned her eyes eastward, she saw her home republic, which was one of over a dozen republics in the SSSR; Which was colored a bright red. Besides the red SSSR and the blue Acorn Kingdom, there were several nations colored in green, these signified the League of Non-Aligned Nations; a loose alliance of nations like Mercia, Downunda, Albion, the Floating Island, the Mysterious Cat Country, Tundra Island, the Trusteeship of the Flicky Islands, and almost in the direct middle of the map was the island of Avalon.
"The world was a very different place when my father was King." Sally continued. "You wouldn't see all these nations occupying a map. All of Mobius was essential one kingdom, and the Kingdom of Acorn was the seat of the King of Mobius."
"For me, the world always looked this way."
"For some, like many of my Ministers, they cannot accept the way this map looks. They would have me try to push the clock back to when Mobius was one kingdom again." Sally said in annoyance.
"With all due respect to your Ministers, they are fools." Sally chuckled. Such blunt honesty was in short supply in the Royal Court, and thus was always appreciated when it presented itself.
"I once knew a young man from my days in Knothole; he would have said the same as you, only less tactfully. He was convinced that he had all the answers..."
"If you are thinking of the young man I think you are, then I would say that he was probably right." She smiled. "Of course I am his daughter, so how could I say anything different?"
Sally laughed as she wistfully thought of days long by. "Aeryn, I'm afraid I have to go now. I have an appointment with the Prime Minister about Parliament's plans to increase trade with the League of Non-Aligned Nations. But it has been a real pleasure talking to you."
"The pleasure is all mine, Sally." Aeryn responded. "My father has always spoken well of you. He still has a picture of you from his Knothole days. He keeps it on his desk, right next to his pictures of his other friends." Sally smiled.
"I hope I manage to talk to you again before you have to leave, Aeryn. I don't often find such insightful comments around here. Perhaps you'd like to consider becoming a member of Parliament?" Sally suggested. Aeryn just snorted at the suggestion.
"No offense your majesty, but I'd rather look for an honest job." Sally laughed.
"You know your father made the very same joke once, all those years ago. You are indeed your father's daughter."
"Thank you." Aeryn answered.
"Well, good-bye Aeryn. Have fun."
"Thank you Sally. I'll try."
* * *