Anastasia: Once Upon a Time

Thirteen-year-old Anastasia uses a portal created by her family's old friend, Grigori Rasputin, to escape a Bolshevik threat in 1917 Russia. She arrives in the United States, beginning a new life far from her homeland. The escape marks the start of a long, mysterious journey that will span decades.

Now in 1989, Anastasia finds herself in a quiet suburban American neighborhood, initially unaware of the magical dangers pursuing her. She adapts slowly as she meets locals and tries to understand the modern world. The amulet Rasputin gave her glows when she is among trustworthy people.

An enchantress Yara secretly collaborates with Lenin to capture Anastasia, weaving a dangerous plot from behind the scenes. Rasputin is hypnotized and dispatched through another portal to seize her. The threat probes Anastasia's fragile sense of safety in 1989.

Anastasia befriends Megan, a lonely thirteen-year-old who recently moved to the neighborhood. Despite language barriers, Anastasia introduces herself as Annie and carries an amulet that glows in trusted company. The two quickly form a bond.

Megan helps Anastasia find shelter in a currently vacant house near Megan's home, giving her a safe place to adapt. The two girls begin living as friends and allies against the looming danger. The sense of companionship helps Anastasia cope with her unfamiliar surroundings.

A pop star performing at a nearby mall helps the pair by purchasing contemporary clothing for Anastasia, aiding her integration into modern life. This generosity strengthens their friendship and boosts Anastasia's confidence. The event also introduces a touch of normalcy amid the danger.

Anastasia reveals the truth about her identity after finding a book about the Romanov family's fate. Megan listens with a mix of awe and worry as Anastasia confronts the possibility that her famous relatives may be dead. The revelation deepens their bond and motivates them to protect each other.

Megan offers Anastasia one of her best friend bracelets, a symbol of their growing trust. Anastasia accepts with a smile and promises that their friendship will help her endure the strange world she is in. The bracelet serves as a tangible link to their past friendships.

During a Halloween haunted house party, Anastasia is captured by Rasputin when she and Megan are separated. Megan's school bullies initially believe Annie left the party on her own, but a live local news broadcast reveals the danger and shows Anastasia's abductors in the background. Megan realizes what is happening and begins to devise a plan to help.

Megan tracks Rasputin and distracts him near the park where she first met Anastasia, buying Anastasia time to act. Anastasia opens a portal and travels back to moments before her original 1917 journey, intending to alter the course of her family's fate and help them escape Lenin's forces.

Rasputin stays behind to buy time for Anastasia's family to escape, sacrificing his own safety in the process. Megan watches anxiously as the plan unfolds, hoping the altered moment will save the Romanovs.

Back in 1989, Megan learns that the new elderly neighbor is Anastasia, now eighty-three years old. The revelation resolves the ache of their separation and sets the stage for a final reunion.

Anastasia invites Megan inside to tell her everything that has happened since their last meeting. She shares the truth about her journey, the time-travel attempt, and the choice to protect her family. The scene closes with an intimate truth being passed from one girl to another, sealing their renewed friendship.