I forgot to mention that I do not own Anastasia or the characters. Just the plot of this story :D

"I still find this a stupid idea. I am in no good mood whatsoever, I'm only going to spoil the party for you and I'd really hate that! Please, Sophie!"

The plethoric woman shook negatively her head again so violently that Anastasia thought she would actually mess with her own hairdo and for once, Sophie had chosen to wear her hair in a simple style of curls with a blood-red ribbon that would match her puffy, red gown with embroidered golden pearls and golden laces. "Absolutely not, Princess! People won't know who you are, after all, you'll be perfectly invisible from the indiscreet eyes. Besides, it might cheer you up!"

Her grandmother's cousin had a point. Her mask had a little too much decorative stuff on it and behind it, people would not recognize her. It was made of fine silken golden fabric and two dark feathers with a glued golden pearl on their ends were decorating it. Not to mention a black, transparent veil was falling loosely before her face annoyingly but she'd rather have her vision slightly limited than people recognizing her.

Sophie was lacing her final straps up. "Am I supposed to breath in this? Because if yes then it's perfect!" she complained sarcastically as the woman pulled a little too tightly the laces of her corset. Sophie rolled her eyes and mumbled words in her usual merry manner before making sure the Princess felt comfortable in her new gown. In time, Anya had gotten used to the fanciful dressing and tight clothing and she actually liked it. Her new clothes were made of the finest fabrics existing and the best of tailors made her ball gowns. She was getting more than any orphan girl could ever ask for. And she was grateful, she thought with a snicker, her thoughts rushing back to that intimidatingly annoying Comrade Phlegmenkoff .

Looking in her mirror which was at the other side of her room, she had to admit that dress was beautiful. It was also golden –it was her favourite colour after all- hugging soothingly her body, complimenting her delicate silhouette with no embroidered jewels or ribbons. Just a golden veil embracing her skirt loosely, matching the veiled, long sleeves. Just a turquoise ribbon was wrapped around her waist to break the golden tone and accentuate her slender waist.

She had pulled her reddish, brown curls in a loose ponytail with a matching turquoise ribbon and a little tiara was resting comfortably on top of her head. Once Sophie was done, she looked at the full-lengthed mirror and twirled around herself, feeling the lightness of her skirts waving joyfully around her and being wrapped around her feet. Sophie had done a marvelous job with her dress and makeup and hairstyle. On her own she would have made herself look a total mess. She was still being trained how to put on makeup but for a girl who had spent ten years in an orphanage, it was not an easy task. "Thank you, Sophie! I do not know what I'd do without you."

"Stay in your room, I guess?" she teased making her place scoldingly but playfully her hands on her hips. The woman chuckled kindly and took the girl in her arms. She had come to adore that young woman the past two months, she was exactly the Grand Duchess she had pictured and wanted her to be. "You are going to be the most beautiful young lady even behind this mask! Your grandma is so proud of you and so am I. All of Russia actually is!"

"I think you're exaggerating a bit?" the two women laughed a little before embracing each other again and putting on their masks for good. "It's show time!" Anya exclaimed jokingly.

"Come on, Your Highness, we have left the Empress waiting long enough!"

"No! Absolutely not!"

"Stop being so stubborn! It's not going to hurt, you know!"

"Show up? Yes. Look nice? Fine. But dance with one of those...vultures? No."

And there she was again popping out of nowhere. He even sounded like her now. How pathetic could he be? But he again shook her out of his mind and wagged a negative finger before Vlad's chubby nose.

"It will do you good, boy! They're not going to eat you!" the man insisted, trying to get him out of his chair and on the dancefloor by pulling him by the elbow. Both had noticed several girls stealing glances to his direction with a more than inviting look, which was the very reason he pictured them as vultures, and some even waved at him in what they thought gracefully challenging but innocent manner. Those girls were way overestimating their flirting skills. And anyway, he was wearing a bloody mask, how could they possibly be sure they would like what they'd see later on?

"Why do you think I just called them vultures?" Dimitri suggested taking sip of his red wine and looking away.

"Come on, Dimitri. You are being as obstinate as a mule, which is a very annoying manner for a young nobleman!"

"In case it has escaped your notice, I am no nobleman!" he hissed in a whisper before chuckling nervously to a girl younger than him who had giggled on purpose as she walked by his table, looking meaningfully at him. Can a girl get any more desperate?

"Well, then, tonight try to act like one!" Vladimir egged him on and as he was standing by his side, he pushed him motivatingly, which only annoyed Dimitri even more. "Change is good for you, after all, is it not?"

"As opposed to you!" he snapped at him but not in an irritated manner. "Spending too much time in that... palace in Paris has made you quite unbearable! Oh, wait, hold on a minute. You always have been!"

"I know you don't mean that. You only say it because you want me to forget that dancing!" the spout man observed in victorious, genuine happiness. His chubby nose and cheeks had turned into a bright shade of red and his brown eyes were glittering drunkenly now. Gazing at the golden goblet in his friend's hand, Dimitri realized he had had too much for that night. But he knew it would also be pointless to remove the goblet from him since he was not as strong as Vlad.

"Oh my God, I think you are reading my mind!" He faked to be surprised and pleased and at his friend's face of belief, he sighed aggravated and placed heavily his own goblet back on the table. "No, you don't! Because if you did, then you'd know how much I do not want to dance!"

"How about a deal?" Vladimir challenged in his thick Russian accent.

"I know I won't like this, and yet I am acquiescing to it? I am stupid!" he muttered to himself but obviously he was heard from his friend. His suspicions of Vlad being onto something had grown stronger with all that dancing and drinking and partying so he was willing to accept whatever deal he offered him just to see where he'd take this. "Fine, let's have it!"

"You dance with one girl I choose for you and I will leave you in peace for the rest of the night!" he suggested waving a firm pointer finger before his face so to emphasise his words.

Dimitri pursed his lips thinking his proposal through. Being left in peace for the rest of the evening was too sweet and inviting of a proposal to deny, but what if the girl Vlad chose for him was just… not right for him? After all, he was never really good at dancing and it was a miracle Anya still had her toes intact after their little spinning and twirling onboard the Tasha. Well, he had nothing to lose. It would be just one girl and just for one song –he'd make sure for that-, what hurt would possibly come from that? And if it would rid him of Vlad's persistency then he was more than fine with that. "Just one girl?"

"You have my word! Just one!" his companion hurried to reassure him in victorious satisfaction and excitement. And with no other word, he was on his way in quest of the girl Dimitri would be forced to dance with. This night just couldn't get any better…

So here was chapter 2, just as promised! A little too short but what can ya do..! I suppose you've already guessed what's going to happen next? Well, you're PARTIALLY guessing wrong! I've got a little surprise for you! But you've got to wait chapter 4 or 5 to know exactly what that is! :D So please stay tuned and leave a comment!