A.N: Here we are, the first account of OTMA on the Standart in this alternate history and Historical AU. Again, please let me know about your thoughts on this work. It is a new, ambitious venture for my writing, and I'd like to know how well it's doing.

To "untitled guest": Thanks for the juicy encouragement review. Yes, Maria will meet Louis Mountbatten later on, but I'll keep that a surprise. The true Romanov family reunion will arrive within the next two chapters: Nicky will meet his father…

April 30, 1912

The Standart Yacht

(Anastasia's POV)

The reverberating sounds of the fog horn of the Standart, the royal yacht of our Romanov relatives, blared overheard. The cries of soaring seagulls were drowned out, as that large, majestic ship began to hum with life. The sailors and naval officers all ran about the ship to their stations, their steps pattering on the hardwood decks. The distant purr of the two steam-powered engines. The city and harbor of Copenhagen began to recede with a snail's pace at first, as the ship strode across the watery, foam-crested waves.

I did not know how long I watched our home country drift further and further until disappearing over the now tranquil, empty horizon of the sea. My other three sisters, who had also remained with me, shared the same pensive distant gaze ahead.

With each passing second, the Standart went further and further from where it had been constructed, according to the Captain. So did we. And it finally hit us that this would be our first trip abroad. Almost unbelievable!

We would get to see new sights!

We would get to taste different cuisines!

We would get to meet new people like our Russian royal relatives!

I grinned, nudging Olishka on the shoulder.

She raised an eyebrow, squinting at me with narrowed, piercing eyes. The blue almost seemed harsher with their brilliant cornflower blues.

"What?"

"Oh, just wondering what kinds of fun we'll have in Russia, Papa's birth country."

Olishka hummed, as she looked out to the seas again. She then looked up, watching the nimbus clouds float high overhead among the blue skies.

"We'll likely have a wonderful time, I suppose."

"No worries. We will, Olishka," Tatya said, reassuring her eldest sister by gripping her hand.

Our eldest sister smiled again.

"You are correct. Perhaps I simply worry too much."

Maria and I looked around, as our two older sisters began to converse about what would happen. What was the use? Why not enjoy the trip and explore the nooks and crannies of this ship?

"Mashka?"

"Yes, Nastya?"

"I want to explore the Standart," I said, emphasizing the ship's name with a mock British accent.

My closest sister rolled her eyes. "But Mama said wait-"

"Just have fun! Uncle George and the rest of the royals here are our relatives, we are family, so they will be fine with us walking around."

"Alright."

At once, we went away to roam about this impressive ship. We passed by the above deck rooms and cabins whilst walking under shaded decks. The awnings along the side decks gave us at least some cover from the glaring sunlight. The sea breezes blew gently on us, rustling our soft hair. A stray strand from my front hair bangs, tickled my forehead, and I squinted up. I brushed it off.

Maria looked back and laughed at the "funny face" I made. The squint that made me look like some annoyed grouch. Ugh, I dislike such kinds of people. At least I made my sister laugh and gave her joy. Making others up in spirit when they felt down was my specialty. Perhaps I could be more than some housewife for some foreign royal cousin… A comedian in the glamorous, classy New York City, I supposed?

Then, as we went close to the bridge, I conceived a wonderful, perhaps stupid, idea. Rear Admiral Nomen, the yacht captain, was manning the bridge. Would we have a chance to surprise him? Perhaps all of that staring at those same waves must be boring!

The Admiral, or whatever one would address him as, was the current commanding head of the Standart. A very vocal and stern man in his duties as the Head Captain! Yet off duty during his breaks, he seemed to have a completely different persona, often playing cards with me and Olishka.

But instead of being a coward, I would at least try such a thing. It was better to dare something and suffer a bit than to never venture out of my comforts!

I would not tell Maria, of course. She would never have agreed. I chuckled, then I smirked at the ground at the sly thought. But that was a giveaway.

"Nastya… What are you going to do? Not putting salt into people's drinks again, please."

"Nothing too dangerous, sister. And, you are not dull, are you?"

"Of course not," my sister blurted.

Two officers, chattering about their wives back in Russia, passed by us. They laughed, patting each other on the back. And I watched them walk around a corner, disappearing out of sight…

"Alright, if those officers can have fun, why not us?"

"Fine."

And we stepped as quietly as possible, taking sneaky steps on the starboard decks. We crept around the bridge, hiding around corners and those large, white-painted pipes jutting out of the decks. At last, we approached the shut door, I put a finger over my lips to hush my sister. We snickered. This would be good.

I then placed my hand on the door handle, but it would not budge. Instead, it creaked. Oh dear! We were about to become caught in trouble, judging by those footsteps from within the bridge.

"Run!" I hissed at Maria, as her big blue saucers widened even more!

As Papa would say when "something unfortunate" happened...

"Oh, shit."

Without thinking, we quickly descended the stairs, and ran away in the direction of the poop deck. We ignored the shouts of annoyed sailors and the two captains after us.

"That is how we have the most fun!" I yelled, laughing loud and proud.

Maria glanced back. "Uncle George and Uncle Michael are chasing us! Run faster!"

"What?!"

I glanced back, and our two royal Russian uncles were certainly closing the distance! And they were outstretching their arms at us while they were smiling and laughing. Oh, they were going to tickle us!

In a matter of seconds, they would reach us, even if we ran faster! So I rounded a sharp corner around an above deck cabin, running into the sunlit portion of the decks. Maria was not far behind.

I then heard a squeal and giggling. They got Mashka! But they would not get me so easily!

I rounded another corner, only to see that Uncle George had taken that route. I turned behind me. Clearly, two other sailors beside Papa closed the gap behind me

"My little shvibzik… what are you doing?"

I glanced around. "Uh… playing tag?"

"That is fine, but you should not disturb the captain or the sailors of this ship unless their leisure times come."

"Sorry, Papa. I will wait until next time."

Papa nodded. "Good, it is acceptable to enjoy your time when it does not distract yourself and others from duties."

Uncle Michael and George with Mashka finally arrived, all of them panting from shortness of breath.

Uncle George resembled Papa to some extent, but not exactly. Unlike Papa, he had light brown trimmed hair with a curved moustache. Never before did I see him frown. And it was never too long before he laughed, smiled, or made some humorous comment. Always socializing with almost everyone except Mama, who he found as "a bore". However, I understood why Papa was light hearted whenever he spoke about his younger brother George. Out of all of my relatives, I felt closest to him, and he also liked my sense of fun and humor.

Uncle Michael also had similar features to that of Papa and his younger brother George, but he was more outspoken and liberal with his views. Some of them held much promise for my kind, however earth shaking they were! Once, I had heard him endorse suffrage for women! If only it would become a reality when I came of age…

"How about we all spend time within the lounge below deck? I believe we still have much to catch up on, Nicky," George said.

"I second George's suggestion," Michael said.

"I… I would like to. But allow me to send Maria and Anastasia to their quarters along the way."

And so they did. They led us down the interiors below deck, which were floored with crimson red, white, and yellow carpeting. The walls were covered with a painstakingly polished dark wood, and electric lamps lit the halls. This was no ordinary ship at the time, but one that boasted the most modern and comforting things of the time!

At last, they stopped beside a door to some cabin. George opened it, and swung his arms inside, pointing at the still well-decorated interior. I could not resist the urge to do so… to jump onto the plush, queen size bed! Mashka followed suit, and so there we were, belly down on the bed.

"So soft, just like feathers!" my sister commented, closing her eyes in bliss.

"This is way better than my bed!"

Papa shrugged, as George gave him a pat on the back.

"Those two younger daughters of yours might need some royal treatment," George joked, grinning.

"For our trip, they will, even if I have no plans to ascend to royal life anytime soon."

"Cheer up, Nicky. At least you are more free than all of us…"

They closed the door for privacy, shutting us out of their grownups conversation. I loosely knew why Papa did not like being royal. He was never one to fit into the mould of becoming a royal heir or grandiose Grand Duke of Russia. The job of being even the heir to the Russian throne would be far too much, and I agreed. Also, if we lived as Grand Duchesses, our lives would be difficult in some ways as well.

Imagine only being raised to marry some disgusting, ugly royal cousin.

"Do you think Papa will get along with our grandfather Tsar Alexander III once he returns to his old home?" Mashka asked me, glancing behind me at the door.

"I do not know… How about we find something to do?"

"No thanks, I am feeling rather tired."

My closest sister sighed, falling with a soft thump onto the silken white covers of our cabin bed. She closed her eyes, hoping to find some sleep. This left me as the sole awake one in our quarters.

So I decided to explore.

I opened the drawers, finding an Orthodox Bible and a few icons. I liked both Orthodox and Lutheran churches. However, I still preferred the Lutheran churches since they gave more leeway in their practices than the Orthodox ones. But there was something I felt that I could not describe when singing the hymns within the Othodox cathedrals.

Lutheranism seemed to be more for my mind.

Orthodoxy seemed to be more for my soul and heart.

People sometimes called me silly. But I reasoned well enough to get through my studies. And I certainly cared about my faith. From my honest convictions, I thought that cheering people up when they become sad was one way to live like Christ. It was a way to comfort those in difficult situations.

For the first time in a week, I read the Orthodox Bible, starting with the ventures of Jesus Christ. They were printed in Russian, which I knew decently, but there were still a few words I did not know.

This would be a longer trip than I thought.

I wondered how Olishka and Tatya were doing…