-Hello, viewers! This is an request story, asked by one of my writer friends here, anyadouc44, and she wanted this story to be a Christmas story of sorts, a AU oneshot if you will.- Traveler.
-In the year of 1916, in the city of St. Petersburg, in the great nation of Russia-
St. Petersburg is rather busy this night, low-class people gossiping and dreaming of dancing in the fabulous ballroom of the Royal Palace of the Tsar and his family while high-class people actually went to attend, spilling out from fancy carriages and early-tech cars including Marie, the Dowager Empress, the mother of Tsar Nicholas the Second.
Inside the ballroom, people were having quite the time of their lives including young Anastasia who was smiling and goofing around with her father. A voice spoke upon the stairs, laughter in her voice, "Ana is sure having fun, huh, Aurora?", revealing Nicholas's youngest sister, Alice, who is dark-haired, bright blue eyed, and warm pale skinned.
She is dressed in a very lovely green gown, adorned with golden stars stitched into it. Alice smiled softly as she observed her youngest niece, and a chuckle came from her right side, "First time I ever seen your brother take up with Ana's antics tonight, dear Alice.", revealing Alice's best and most beloved friend, Aurora, wearing a ice blue gown with dark green accents.
Aurora is dark-blonde, dark green eyed, and tan skinned, and she is also one of Nicholas's secret advisors of the Palace. Many of the family call her Aunt since she's practically family, having been with Alice and Nicholas ever since childhood, and Marie was delighted to have another daughter of sorts next to Alice and Nicholas's wife, Alexandra.
Alice smiled warmly, "Indeed. Ana is rather excitable tonight. I just hope the party will tire her out sooner than later as you know that there's bound to be some politic talk later tonight. It is not for young ears.".
Aurora nodded softly, "Of course. You know she has been asking about Christmas already...". Alice chuckled heartily, "Are you prepared for the holiday then? Ah, Mother, happy tidings!", suddenly seeing Marie coming up the stairs.
Marie smiled brightly, "Ah, dear daughter, how I am glad to see you. You look splendid in that gown, and Aurora, you are looking well, that gown suits you, brings out your eyes beautifully.". Alice and Aurora smiled brightly, "Thank you, Mother!", chiming in together as one.
Then a young voice called out, "Grandmama!", and the women looked over to see young Anastasia excitedly walking up the stairs, her bright blue eyes sparkling in delight and her red hair glowing under the light of the chandeliers.
Recognizing Marie's intention to distract Anastasia, Alice and Aurora then went down to join their older nieces and youngest nephew; Grand Duchesses Olga, Tatiana, Maria, and of course, Heir Tsar Alexei. The duo had fun dancing and sampling the little drinks.
It was then perhaps a half hour later when the ballroom became covered in shadows, the lights dimmed, and the pale faces of people revealing surprise, horror, shock when someone very dangerous came in, parting the crowd like Moses with the sea. The high-class people and the Imperial Royal family knew him all too well.
Gigori Rasputin or just Rasputin, clearly adorned a dark aura around himself, and Aurora hissed angrily, recognizing the essence of dark magic and spirits, and stepped down the stairs quickly to stop Nicholas, "Nicholas, let me pass. He's not the man you once remember, but a monster.".
Seeing the very rare, serious expression on his pseudo sister/secret advisor's face, Tsar Nicholas sighed heavily, "Of course, Aurora.", glancing at Rasputin swiftly with a angry look before settling down somewhat.
"Gigori Rasputin, you have been exiled from here, you aren't allowed to come into the grounds of the Tsar's Palace!", Aurora fiercely protested.
Rasputin chuckled roughly, "Ah, Lady Aurora, defending the Royal family, aren't we? I am Nicholas the Second's confidante, not you!". Aurora glared at him, "You aren't a confidante anymore, you are ensnared with dark magic, Rasputin! You will not harm all who resides in this palace, not over my dead body if I say so!".
Rasputin laughed madly, "Over your dead body, hmm? Let's see if you can prevent this then! By the unholy powers vested in me, I banish you and the Romanov family with a curse. One that will end the line of the Romanov family forever!", bringing out a reliquary that is seeping of dark magic and spirits, and Aurora narrowed her eyes, her hands sparkling of a white lightning aura.
"I revoke the curse with the sacrifice of my life, Rasputin, for the Romanov family shall be safe and free from you, monster!", Aurora spat out angrily, and then she glowed white, her dark-blonde flying out in all directions as her dark green eyes glowed like fireflies, her hands sending white lightning at Rasputin who pushed back with the dark spirits of his reliquary, cackling madly.
In turn, the crowd cowered back into the walls, with the Royal family pulling together in a huddle on the landing of the stairs, all watching in fear, horror, amazement, and shock. Alice herself never knew that Aurora is of magic, good magic that is, yet she's fighting Rasputin all to protect her beloved family and home.
Aurora took a deep breath as she stared at Rasputin, momentarily stunned after a swift hit from her lightning in the side while he was distracted with directing the dark spirits to attack her, "Had enough?". Rasputin growled angrily, "You shall pay for that, woman!", chanting in Latin, and the dark spirits flew out from the reliquary, and they attacked Aurora who battled back with white lightning while Rasputin directed his attention on the Romanovs.
"Now, you shall die, all of you!", Rasputin shouted determinedly with a cackle in his voice, and Aurora heard him, saw the blast of black lightning coming from the reliquary, going for the Romanovs who couldn't move, frozen in terror and fear. With a speed that's vaguely similar to the fierce winter winds, Aurora ran and stood in front of the Romanovs while sending a flash of white lightning, directed to knock the reliquary out of Rasputin's hands.
The black lightning hit Aurora while the flash of white lightning hit Rasputin's hand, and the reliquary flew out, rolling and landing at Aurora who's now covered in burns, her gown destroyed in pieces, and Aurora grimaced in pain, putting a hand upwards and over that's sparking up with white lightning, "This is for Russia.", sending a flash of white lightning into the reliquary.
Rasputin shook his head desperately as he fell down to his knees, "No, you don't! Give it back!", struggling to reach, but Aurora was too fast, hissing angrily, "This is for my family!", repeating her action, and Rasputin snarled, "No! I'll tear you to pieces!".
Aurora glared at him, "And this is for you! Dosvidanya!", finally pushing the last of her strength into the final flash of her white lightning into the reliquary, and the pressure of it breaks it all open, cracks spreading out like spider webs, and a greenish-black flash came out.
Rasputin recoils in fear, "ARRRAGGGHHHH!", seeing the dark spirits fly at him, enveloping him into a sort of tornado, stripping away layers of him; clothes, skin, flesh, leaving bones bare as the skeleton screams endlessly, rattling the bones into a shaking fit, becoming dust as the dark spirits became smoke, vanishing into thin air.
Silence pierced the air as everyone was frozen in shock, bewilderment, confusion, hope before a voice pierces the air when a whimper of pain sounded out, "Aurora!", revealing Alice as she ran to Aurora's side, with the rest of the Romanovs following behind.
Alice carefully rolls Aurora into her lap, staring down at her, "Aurora...", and Aurora weakly smiles, "Is everybody safe?". Nicholas spoke softly, "We're safe, Aurora.".
Aurora blinks softly before speaking warmly, "That's good...I couldn't let him kill you all...I love you all, my family...", and Alice sobbed softly, "Please don't go...".
Aurora smiled softly, "Hey, sis, it's alright. I am going home to heaven...Mother...I will say hi to Papa for you, okay?". Marie cried softly, "Oh, Aurora, how could we live without you? You gave your life for us...".
Aurora grimaced softly in pain as she moved her hand to touch Alice's hand, "You shall see me again, I promise, all of you. Never forget me, okay?". Nicholas looked upset, "You are a hero, dear Aurora. Russia shall always remember this night.", clutching Anastasia's little hand in his hand as she struggled to understand the situation like her little brother, Alexei who's within Alexandra's arms.
Alice sniffled lightly, "We love you, dear Aurora. We will always keep you in our hearts.". Aurora smiled softly, "I am glad to hear that, sweet Alice. Keep the family safe for me. I will never leave you, not ever.", before exhaling one last breath and closing her eyes as her heart gave out for the last time.
The night was of rejoicing, laughter, and having a good time, but then it became of fear, blood, and death as the Romanovs realized they lost one most dear to them as she sacrificed her life to save her family from a madman.
Tears, sadness, grief surrounded the royal family as the citizens gossiped, scattered off to their homes, unknowing that dear Aurora had ended the spurring of a revolution even before it started, having killed off Rasputin who attempted to lie to Russia that the Romanovs didn't care for their nation, and of course, revoking the curse which almost didn't inflict on the family.
Oh, yet there will be a year in the far future that the Romanovs will be celebrating, and they don't know what's coming indeed. It will change their lives, but for the better or worse, no one knows.