Dear Ocean

Chapter 10: Anastasia

After the party I go to bed, contemplating my life as usual. Sometimes I wonder what it would be like to just run away and never look back. I know I would go to Celestia, but how would I get there? I have no money of my own and therefore no way to run.

Something pulls me out of my thoughts. My mom says "I know it's 5 am but I have something to tell you. I now think you're old enough to handle it. As you know, you were adopted. The emperor wanted a male heir but I compelled him to adopt you. What you don't know is that you are half Nova. With all this spy business going on, it would be much safer for you in Celestia. The emperor will soon hire spies to seek out Nova in Warriarcia and instate mandatory DNA tests. He will kill any Nova he finds. His own daughter is not exempt. I called a car that will take you to the airport. Here are plane tickets to Celestia. Your aunts will pick you up at the airport when you get there. They'll help you hide your identity so the emperor won't find you. "

I ask, "Will you be in trouble for helping me get out of Warriarcia?"

"Don't worry about me. Just go. Right now."

I get dressed, put on a hoodie to hide my face, and I walk outside and get in to the car. I have fantasized about this moment for so long, leaving Warriarcia and never looking back, but I never imagined it would be under these circumstances. I certainly never imagined my parents would help me escape.

Soon enough I get to the airport. Security is lax in Warriarcia so I am pretty much able to just go in the airport. I look at my ticket and find what gate my flight will leave out of. I go to the gate, keeping my head down, and wait for boarding to start in 10 minutes. When I actually get on the plane I watch a few movies and then a tiny island comes into view. Celestia. As the plane touches down I get a text from a number not on my contacts.

Hey Anatasia. This is your aunt Elaine. Your mom gave me your number and I just want to let you know that your aunt Becky, your cousins and I will meet you at baggage claim. We'll be holding a sign that says "Welcome Anatasia"

When the plane touches down I go to baggage claim, and see a family with a sign that says "Welcome Anatasia." I walk over to them. I say, "Hi, I'm Anatasia. I think my mom gave you a picture of me so you would know who I am. " A woman with short black hair says, "She did. I'm your aunt Elaine." A woman with long black hair says "I'm your aunt Becky and these are your cousins Polaris (Poli for short), John, and Lily." The kids next to my aunts who all have similar dark brown hair say "Hi.". Aunt Bertha asks, "Do you have any luggage?" I reply, "No. I figured it would be best to travel light. I only brought a carry on." Aunt Elaine says, "Well, let's go home" We leave the airport and get into my aunts' car. I look out the window and I'm very impressed with what I see. The buildings are made of colored glass and they are lit up at night not from electric lights but from the reflections of the stars in the glass. It's absolutely beautiful. When the car stops at a house I look up. The stars in Celestia are so clear that I feel like I'm looking at the entire galaxy. When I go in the house Aunt Aylssa says, "We haven't had time to get your room ready since you came to us kind of suddenly. For now you can sleep on a mattress in Poli's room."

Poli's room is beautiful. The walls have murals of stars and planets. Poli says, "I see you like my room."

"I do. It looks so awesome."

"Thanks."

"Did you do these murals?"

"Actually, I did."

"You have a lot of talent."

"Thanks. Painting is kind of a hobby. My true passion is physics. That's why I painted planets."

The next morning I wake up and find breakfast is already done. Poli is eating pancakes and says "My moms are early birds." I eat some pancakes and ask Poli, "What are you doing today."

"My friend is coming to meet you.

Her name is Olivia and she started an organization to help refugees like you. In fact, she is a refugee. She really understands what you're going through.

Soon enough, a girl with long dirty blonde hair comes in. She says, "You must be Anatasia. Hi. I'm Olivia." Olivia says, "I think we should start with giving you a new look so no one will recognize you. Just in case. Call it a make-under."

Aunt Elaine drives us to a clothing store. We buy an entire new wardrobe for me,which includes pants. I've never actually worn pants and I'm kind of excited to.

Back at the house Olivia says, "In addition to those new clothes, it might be a good idea to shift your appearance. Warriarcians are unable to shape shift, thank goodness, but you're half Nova. We can teach you how."

Poli says, "Just close your eyes and imagine a disguise. It takes energy to shift so you might want to just change your hair." I close my eyes and imagine a different version of myself. I open my eyes and look in the mirror. Instead of long black hair and brown eyes I now have short red curls, freckles, and green eyes. Olivia says, "I think it's missing something." Poli says, "How about these." She hands me a pair of black glasses. I put them on and say, "It's perfect. It's kind of refreshing to wear glasses after wearing contacts my whole life. " Soon after, Olivia says that her job is done and she leaves. I quickly changed back to my actual appearance because I don't need to be disguised at home.

Later that day Poli says, "If you're going to go to school in Celestia you need to catch up a bit. You should read these." She hands me some books on science and math. "If you need any tutoring just ask."

As the day was almost over, Poli says "We need to figure out your cover story. Your name is Annie Snow. You're from a small town in Borealia. You're living with your aunts because your parents recently passed away."

I ask, "Why Snow?"

Aunt Elaine replies, "Your birth mother, my sister, had the last name Snow."

I ask, "Can you tell me about her?"

Aunt Elaine says "Of course, explains, "Your mother was the most fearless woman I ever knew. She wanted to make a difference in the world so much that she went to Warrarcia and tried to change it from the inside. On a local level, under the noses of the imperials. She was living in a small village when she met your father, an equally fearless man who was also trying to change things, even though he was Warriarcian. They fell in love and had you. Then the Warriarcian government found what they were doing."

I ask, "Were they executed?"

"Yes."

"Thanks for telling me about them. I... needed to know."