Chapter 15

Note: My apologies for the late update. After this chapter will be more of OTMA and Ella's trip around Germany and then Russia. Things will get fun once the plot reaches the end of this arc.

November 15, 2022

En Route to Wolfsgarten Lodge, Hessen, Germany

Elisabeth sat alongside her best friend Olga. The half-hour ride from the outskirts of Frankfurt to Darmstadt would be a little while, but chatting with her friend made it bearable. Even the younger siblings of Olga, the Little Pair sisters and Tatiana, could bear sitting together in the back seats. However, Anastasia and Maria had not been immune to growing attached to internet attention and social media. The younger of the two held up her iPhone, taking another selfie with her sister. Tatiana ducked out of sight. No, she wanted to keep a lower profile away from the strange and hectic world of social media. She was once a graceful royal figure in the past, but she had already moved on past those years.

She glanced at her derelict iPhone with its screen dead dark. It was tempting to check her Facebook social media account, but she could not. She would rather not allow her youngest sister to tease her for using "a boomer's social media app". Really, it was embarrassing! Instead, she thought of taking a picture of the flora and occasional houses passing by.

The caravan of black tinted cars and vans continued down the gently winding road. Another few minutes passed, and the cars took a turn down another derelict roadway. They began to slow down as they entered the grove of pines. Knowing that they had almost arrived, Elisabeth and Olga glanced around, becoming silent for a few moments when the cars slowed down even more...

The vehicles took their last few rolls onto a familiar driveway. The same weathered structure built of a pinkish red brick and topped with ornate tiled roofs, partly covered with vines, had lasted through the dozen decades- over a century. It had been quite some time since those almost magical years they had spent in Wolfsgarten Lodge during 1903. Olga had celebrated her eighth birthday and played with family and close friends during that vacation. All of those years were so innocent, so careless in comparison to the horrible events that emerged afterward.

The death of Elisabeth, and how their blissful ignorance of mortality had been shattered...

The First World War, and how it had destroyed lives and the world they knew...

The Russian Revolution, and how it had destroyed the Russia and life they knew, finishing what the war had started...

Those unfortunate things had taken much from them, but now, God was setting things right. They had all risen again and had found each other again. They were not just family- they were the best of friends again! Now they would have another chance to make a new beginning, but they would set things right in a broken world.

Elisabeth, Olga, and the rest of the Romanov sisters had their new lives and new chances to find happiness along the way.

The Russian-Ukraine conflict was over, but countless lives and property waited to be fixed. World peace had at least been kept at this time. Humanity would still live.

The Russian Revolution and Soviets had long since passed, leaving them safe and at ease.

Elisabeth gave a distant stare through the tinted car windows again. Olga understood how she felt. The melancholy nostalgia almost seemed to permeate the warm yet still air. It felt strange to be at Wolfsgarten after so long as if events were an echo of the past. The only striking difference was that they had grown up into women in mind, not just body.

Growing up came with its pains, but it also gave them more chances for opportunity. It was a rare visitor, but whenever it did, it knocked on their doors. Where would they go from there on the day... the birthday of Olga Nikolaevna Romanova?

The German security guards opened the doors like the royal servants of the past. Then the five former royals stepped out of the vans like their royal carriages of the past. They stepped on the old driveway, shoes crackling the loose asphalt bits below. Belongings and travel cases were then taken along with the former princesses...

Elisabeth put on her backpack, looking ahead at the opened back doors. "It is good to be here again. If I am not mistaken, there will be my Hessian relatives' descendants here."

"Meeting the aged descendants of your distant relatives of that time... It must feel awkward, right?" Olga asked, pulling her luggage case closer to herself.

"I understand, especially if your great-grand-niece or nephew is decades older. How was the meeting with Elizabeth the Second of Britain?"

"It went well, actually. I appreciated how she kept calm and patient with our questions and comments, and she had arranged our security and trip. Only then did I realize that I should forgive the British royalty for their shortcomings... Even my dynasty was far from ideal."

Elisabeth smiled. "That's wonderful, and I am glad to see you getting wiser."

"My parents used to know me as the smart one. Now I know intelligence isn't the same as wisdom."

"Yes, I also wanted to confess something... I once struggled with forgiveness against those who do something terrible to me."

"Wait, what? No way, Ella. You're one of the kindest people I know besides Mashka."

"It was true though. I could not truly forgive my mother during my first life... I even feared seeing her as a little girl after she divorced my father. It took a few years for me to feel comfortable being near her."

Olga kept silent as Elizabeth began to pull her luggage case along. Olga and her sisters then followed Elisabeth. The younger Romanov sisters had been surprised to hear of a shortcoming from their kind, calm cousin of all people!

"By the time I had died and ascended, only then did I forgive my mother..."

"What else, Ella? You can tell me."

"She seemed indifferent to me when she rose to Heaven. Only when I was Anointed to be a Helper of the Two Witnesses was when she felt proud of me."

Elisabeth stopped before the back door, having a contorted expression of deep grief. Her lips trembled, and she blinked back unshed tears before continuing on. Olga remained behind for a few moments, feeling shocked. Only then did she feel thankful that her family was close-knit... Some people simply did not have the privilege of a warm, complete family.

"What happened to Ella, Olenka?" Tatiana asked, her eyebrows scrunched up in concern.

"Old family problems."

(Line Break)

"Where is Ella? I didn't find her in her room, although the door was locked before. She still left her travel case untouched," Maria said, glancing around the parlor.

"What about her old playhouse, which has been temporarily closed to the public?" Olga said, glancing down the hallway.

"Oh wait! We never checked that before!"

"We need to check on Ella. She must be upset about her past family problems."

Together, Olga and her other sisters quickly went back to their quarters to put on their thick jackets. It had become colder outside. Mild breezes of cold air had begun to blow across the forested land. In the derelict playhouse out there, their friend was secluding themselves deep in their sorrow. They could not leave Elisabeth to feel alone.

Together, they would see her in that old place as if those wonderful times never passed. Olga and her sisters left from the back doors of the Wolfsgarten Lodge. Fast walking soon became large, running strides...

However, in the playhouse, their best friend was far from upset. Elisabeth sat cross-legged, keeping her hands together in prayer. She focused on the good through it all, no matter the rain or her saddening past experiences. She smiled as she convened with her fellow saints and risen souls up above. Her feeling of self seemed better alright.

"... I know, Bart. It made me sad to know that my mother does not appreciate me as much... Although Dymphna made me feel better."

"Of course, sister in Christ. Glad you feel better, and whenever you feel unwell again, I shall be here for you," Dymphna communicated, as a warm feeling of ease spread through Elisabeth...

"I appreciate that, Dymphna. We will meet again after my duties are done, my friend... How has your time with Alexei been?"

"He's a cool guy and I think I hold a liking for him. I still feel weird about asking him out to the Eternal Fountains again, however."

"Take your time. The ideal moment will come eventually. You have forever, after all."

"Ha-Ha! I see the jest!"

"Good one, Ella. Anyways, I look forward to talking with you again," Bartholomew communicated.

"Bart..." Elisabeth communicated, feeling a blush spread across her face as she continued to commune...

"Call me Bartholomew!"

"But I like the ring of it."

"Yeah, but I'm Bartholomew."

A series of knocks on the playhouse door echoed in the quiet interiors of the playhouse. Elisabeth almost flinched in surprise. Oh, it must be her cousins...

"Hello? It's us, Elisabeth. We just wanted to see if you're feeling okay."

"Sorry, Bart. I must go for now."

"Okay, see you later, my Hessian Lilac."

Elisabeth ended the connection, rushing back to the earthly reality she was in. She gasped, looking to the light blue door of her old playhouse. She could not forget to let her dear cousins know that she had recovered from her sadness. She stretched before heading over to open the door.

"Olga?"

"Elisabeth, you were in the old playhouse for a while. Are you sure you're feeling better?"

"Of course, I'm feeling better after communicating with my fellow companions up in Heaven. Dymphna especially."

"Ella, do you mean that particular saint?" Tatiana asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Yes, she focuses on helping those who feel unwell in mind or heart... But really, I promise that I feel better."

"Good to hear! I just wanted to let you know of the birthday party this afternoon. Olga is twenty-three!"

"Wonderful! But I apologize that I did not get anything as a gift, honestly."

"Just have fun with us, Elisabeth. That is all we need."

Elisabeth grinned, hugging Olga again. The rest of the Romanov sisters joined in the shared embrace, remembering again how good it was to spend time together as family and friends. They soon headed back to the Lodge where other fellow royalty awaited.

The Hessian royal descendants had all enjoyed meeting their infamous "Princess Ella the younger". Some of them had even volunteered to take a selfie with her and the other infamous Romanov sisters. Also as a gesture of goodwill, they had ordered a large tiramisu cake for all attendees to share. The interiors of Wolfsgarten Lodge had the few servants doing duties again, the unofficial royals being merry, and the infamously risen figures answering questions about their new lives...

Elisabeth, too, had begun to enjoy speaking with a particular Hessian descendant: Donatus, Landgrave of Hesse. He seemed to be a warm, easygoing family man. He was married to a wife with royal heritage and had a happy family of three children. Even more interesting was how he kept ties to the Queen of England as a distant descendant of Queen Victoria.

She sat on a cushioned chair, listening with fascination as he explained how he ran his winery.

"... and that is how we tell that the grapes are most ideal to be harvested. Well, it's an older skill passed down from my father."

"Fascinating... That was just the harvesting and growing of the grapes? If so, I'll never take wine for granted again."

Donatus chuckled. "Nothing is truly free. Everything on earth costs something, and now we royals must realize that no matter what perks we may have."

"I see, Landgrave."

"Elisabeth, it's time for the cake!" Anastasia called out.

"Ah, your cousins expect you. I also enjoyed talking with you in person, being the most infamous of all us Hessians... and the fact that you did not smite me."

Elisabeth laughed. "I would not, and yes, I enjoyed speaking with you."

Elisabeth got off the chair, letting Donatus follow her. She stepped into the dining room where four bodyguards calmly stood, whispering a few reminders to each other. In the center under a silver-lined, ornately metal-worked array of lights, Olga and her sisters all smiled at Elisabeth.

"Ready for the party, Ella?" Olga asked, as Anastasia took out her iPhone.

"I am! Just like good old times?"

"Yeah, but we get to livestream this right?" Anastasia asked, glancing around.

"No way, Nastya," Tatiana lectured her.

"Actually, a photo or two would hit the spot! Just me, my sisters, and my best friend."

Elisabeth happily strode over to the table, allowing Donatus to take a photograph with her iPhone. She wondered what the average person would think, seeing her and her famous cousins all enjoying a birthday together like normal people. Hopefully Twitter would not troll them for association with Putin or past royalty this time, she wondered.

Olga then heard her sisters begin to sing "Happy Birthday". Elisabeth joined in, and just the kind gesture really touched her heart. Just the atmosphere of family and distant relatives around her being there for her birthday felt great. Especially after spending her 22nd birthday in that horrid prison of a "house". Olga felt tears well up in her eyes, feeling the happiest she ever was...

She blew out the two candles, leaving whiffs of smoke in the air. She cried. She laughed. Never again would she forget the importance of the people who truly cared about her. Especially Anton, who still waited for her in Russia...

"Happy Twenty-Third Birthday, Olga. What would you like to do?"

"Actually... I- I wanted to breakdance to the stuff that Nastya listens to."

"Wooo-Hooo! Hell yes!"

"Nastya! Watch your language!"

"It's okay, Tatya. At least she's happy, although I wouldn't want to curse either," Maria said.

"Alright... Though I don't know if I can breakdance like the late Michael Jackson."

"Just have fun together. That is all that matters now... And Nastya, please get the camera!" Olga asked her youngest sister.

Little did they know that they would cause a resurgence in 2010s EDM through their livestream being clipped and becoming a meme for the third time. The Queen and other royal descendants would be surprised, of course...