Four Years Ago “If tomorrow comes war, if the enemy attacks, if dark forces arise all around us, all the Cykoslevine people, like one man, shall rise in defense of their free Motherland.” This was the quote still carved into the base of the statue in the center of Tsaritsyn, below the great concrete sculpture of Nikolai Kalaymanov, the revolutionary who led his forces to victory over the Tsar in 1944. It had been over thirty years since he died, and since then, his beautiful Socialist Federal Republic of Cykoslevinia had blossomed into a new union between the neighboring states, calling itself now “Zapadoslavia”. Despite this, the Tsardom had been brought back, with Tess Kalaymanov, Nikolai’s daughter, being named the first Tsarina, though the state did keep its Socialist principles and restrained the powers of the monarch.
Sofiya sat at the base of the monument, contemplating what the world would be like if the Tsardom stayed dead, what she would be, what Zapadoslavia would be, and all the other things that flew around in her mind. She was still fairly young, only being 23, and thought about life and existence quite frequently. Sofiya was awakened from her daydreaming with the sound of boots clacking against the pavement next to her, with a loud, yet calm voice speaking out to her, “My Lady, I bring you an urgent request from your father!”, the man said,
“Please, Tyoma, do away with the formalities, we’re friends.”, Sofiya responded.
The man, around Sofiya’s age, furrowed his brow and balled his fists, “I told you, only my mother calls me Tyoma! My name is Artyom!”, he would grunt through his now barred teeth, “And again, this is urgent, your father wants you, My lady.” Rather reluctantly, Sofiya would get up, chuckling, and follow Artyom to a nearby garden, where her father, Nikolai Kalaymanov II, Tsar of all Zapadoslavs, would be waiting, “Sonyuska, my dear, I have something I wish to speak to you about.” “What is it, Pap?”, Sofiya would respond, “I’m no longer fit to rule the nation, I plan on abdicating the throne, and you will become Tsarina.” Sofiya nearly had a heart attack. 23, she thought, was abnormally young to lead a nation, and by God she was not prepared to do it. “B-b-but pap, I’m not ready! I’m too young! I haven’t prepared! I-” “Hush”, Nikolai would say, cutting her off, “The Duma will be a sort of regency council, they will continue to make and pass their legislature, and of course, I will be here for support if you need me.” Nearly a month later, Sofiya would be crowned Sofiya Nikolayevna Kalaymanov, Tsarina of all Zapadoslavs.