Akito and Estelle Meet Anastasia

chapter 17

Meanwhile with Anya, her grandmother, and their Banettes...

"I remember now," Anya said as she saw an old photograph of her with her brothers, sisters, and parents. "How much I loved them."

"They would not want us to live in the past," Marie gently put her hand on Anya's hand. "Not now that we have found each other," she then looked over and found a crayon drawing on a paper. "Look here... The drawing you gave me. Remember?"

"Yes," Anya giggled as she took it. "Olga made me so mad! She said it looked like a pig riding a donkey."

"It looks like she was right." Anya's Banette giggled.

Marie chuckled to that and helped her granddaughter up. "In your laughter, once again I hear my Nicky, your dear father." she then went over to a box and opened up to take out a silver crown and put it on Anya's head. "But you have the beauty of your mother, Alexandra, Empress of all Russia."

"Your grandmother is right, dear, you do have your mother's beauty, inside and out." Marie's Banette smiled.

Anya looked in her reflection and she envisioned herself in a beautiful ballgown with a matching necklace to her crown and a sash. She could see herself adored by all and she decided to make this daydream about her life into reality since she discovered who she truly was. And where that's what happened as she was now wearing exactly what she imagined. Anya smiled as she twirled around and Sophie, a maid, the pets, and teenagers smiled at the at her and the gown.

"You look beautiful, Anya." Estelle smiled.

"Do you really think so?" Anya smiled back.

"Truly gorgeous, Anya..." Megan agreed.

"Yeah, you look like a real Grand Duchess." Penny smiled.

Anya smiled fondly to her friends and gave them another twirl followed by a curtsy. Scruffy soon went upstairs to over hear what was going on. Dot, Snow White, Pooka, and Bolt decided to follow him.

Dmitri wore a brown suit while the Dowager Empress wore a garland green dress, he gave the empress a bow before speaking. "You sent for me, your grace?"

"Ten million rubles as promised for my gratitude." Marie showed him a box of money.

"I accept your gratitude, your highness," Dmitri replied with a soft sigh. "But I don't want the money."

"Then what do you want?" Marie asked.

"Yeah, what does he want?" Pooka asked.

"Unfortunately, nothing you can give." Dmitri bowed his head again as he was about to turn away and leave.

"Young man--" Marie started which then made Dmitri stop in his tracks. "Where did you get that music box?"

"I've been wondering that myself." Pooka whispered.

"Shh, I'm trying to watch this!" Snow White hissed to them.

"You were the boy, weren't you?" Marie asked Dmitri. "The servant boy who got us out? You saved her life and mine, then you restored her to me, yet... You want no reward."

"Not anymore..." Dmitri mumbled.

"He doesn't want the reward anymore?" Pooka frowned.

"Why the change of mind?" Marie asked.

"More like the change of heart, I must go." Dimitri frowned with bow before leaving.

"Oh, that's so beautiful..." Snow White pouted at Dmitri's decisions.