Elisabéta – Heroine of Europe
Rewritten from : Walt Disney's "Mulan"
Chapter 1: Please bring honour to us all
The great wall, Hungary
It was deep in the night. Guard Vash Zwingli was standing on the wall during his daily routine. A eagle descended down and with his sharp claws it pushed off Vash's helmet. Vash felt his head. The eagle squealed. Vash heard the sound of metal clinging to stone behind him. He went to check it out only to see at least a dozen more hooks clinging to the Great Wall. 'Where under attack! Light the signal!' Vash rushed to the fire pit. Two of the enemies had already infiltrated. Vash escaped, but the wooden ladder which he climbed was destroyed. Vash grabbed a torch. When he looked forward a big, ash blonde-haired man with glowing purple eyes stood in front of him, with the eagle on his shoulders. Vash threw the torch in the fire pit. A large fire emerged. The ash blonde-haired man looked behind and all other torches on the great wall were lit. 'Now all of Europe knows you're here.' Vash said. The man broke off the European flag on the wall and held it in the fire. 'Perfect.'
The Royal Palace
'Your Majesty, the Russians have crossed our eastern border.' General Ludwig Beilschmidt kneeled before the emperor of Europe, Arthur Kirkland. 'Impossible, nobody can get through the Great Wall.' the royal counsel said. The emperor gestured him to silence. 'Ivan Braginski is leading them.' Ludwig warned. 'We will set up defences around your palace immediately.' 'No, set your troupes to protect my people.' The emperor turned to his counsel. 'Wang Yao.' 'Yes, your majesty.' 'Deliver notices all around the nation. Gather as many new recruits and you can manage.' 'I'm sorry you Majesty, but I believe my troupes can stop him.' 'I won't take any risks, General. A single leave of tea can top the scale. One man may be the difference between victory and defeat.'
Nyírí, Hungary
'Quiet and discrete, graceful, polite, delicate.' Elisabéta Héderváry said, while stuffing her face with tea and bread. She wrote all these words with ink on her arm. 'Punctual.' It was almost midday and the rooster made this noticeable. 'No!' She jumped out of bed and ran through her home. 'Veneziano! Veneziano!' Soon she found her cat with a peculiar curl sleeping in the garage. 'There you are. Who is the smarted kitty in the whole world?' Veneziano meowed happily. 'Are you going to help me with my chores?' She bound a rope with a bag of crumbs around him and to a stick she bound a meatball so far Veneziano couldn't reach it. Veneziano meowed ready for battle and ran after the meatball. He ran around the chicken coop and past the horses.
Outside Elisabéta's father was praying in a little chapel in the yard. 'Honourable ancestors. Please help Elisabéta to find a husband with the matchmaker today.' Veneziano stormed inside and all the chickens followed. 'Please, please help her.' Elisabéta was going to bring her father tea. Veneziano stood still and meowed sadly for the meatball. She gave it to him and Veneziano devoured the meatball. 'Ve, meow.' She ran into her father and dropped all cups. 'Elisabéta!,' 'Got a spare. The doctors said three cups in the morning and three in the evening.' 'But Elisabéta, you should get ready… We're counting in you…' 'To keep the family honour in tact. Don't worry father I won't disappoint you.' Elisabéta ran hurried away. 'Wish me luck!' 'Hurry!' Her father looked at Veneziano, who doubtingly looked back. 'I better compose… some more music for the ancestors.'
'Lilly isn't your daughter here yet? The matchmaker is not a patient man.' Bella said. 'From all days to be late… I hope the ancestors bring luck.' 'What do they know about luck? They're dead. Besides I got a lucky cricket.' Grandmother Seychelles this is your chance to prove yourself.' She walked into traffic, causing the whole street to clash together, but at least she survived. 'Jup, this is a lucky one!'
Finally Elisabéta arrived and jumped of her horse. 'I'm here!' 'I don't want to know. Now go take a bath.' Her mother dragged her inside. Bella took a good look at her.
Bella:
This is what you give me to work with
Well honey, I've seen worse
We're going to turn this sow's ear into a silk purse
Elisabéta was pushed into a bath. 'It's freezing!' 'It was warm, if you were on time…' Bella threw a bucket of warm water in the bath and washed her hair.
Bella:
We'll have you washed and dried
Primped and polished till you glow with pride
Trust my recipe for instant bride
You'll bring honor to us all
'Elisabéta, what is this?' Lilly asked while washing her daughter's arm. 'Something to help me remember…' Seychelles handed the cricket to Lilly. 'Hold this. We're going to need more luck.'
Xiao Mei* :
Wait and see, when we're through
Boys will gladly go to war for you
With great fortune (and a great hairdo)
You'll bring honor to us all
All:
A girl can bring her family
Great honor in one way
By striking a good match
And this could be that day
Men want good girls with good taste
Lilly:
Calm, obedient, who work fast paced
With good breeding and a tiny waist
You'll bring honor to us all
We all must serve our Emperor who guards us from the Russians
A man by bearing arms
A girl by bearing sons
In canon:
When we're through,
You can't fail
Like a lotus blossom soft and pale
How could any fellow say "no sale"
You'll bring honor to us all
Lilly:
There, you're ready
Seychelles:
-Not Yet
An apple for serenity
A pendant for balance
Beads of jade for beauty
You must proudly show it
Now add a cricket, just for luck
And even you can't blow it.
Elisabéta:
Ancestors, hear my plea
Help me not to make a fool of me
And to not uproot my family tree
Keep my father standing tall
She was all dressed up and her face was full of makeup. Her long brown hair was neatly set in a knot. She Grabbed her parasol and left. Elisabéta rushed to the line of girls going to the matchmaker.
Other girls:
Scarier than the undertaker
We are meeting our matchmaker
Destiny, guard our girls
And our future as it fast unfurls
Please look kindly on these cultured pearls
Each a perfect porcelain doll
Please bring honor to us
Please bring honor to us
Please bring honor to us
Please bring honor to us all!
The girls lined up before the matchmaker's house.
'Elisabéta Héderváry.' The local matchmaker, Honda Kiku, read out loud. 'HERE!' she yelled. He grunted silently and scrabbled on his clipboard. 'Speaking without permission…' 'Whoops.' Elisabéta slapped herself on her head. 'Who spit on his fish?' Seychelles asked silently.
When inside Kiku took a good look at her. 'Too skinny. Not good for bearing sons.' The cricket that Seychelles gave her escaped from its cage. Elisabéta tried to catch it. When Kiku came back she put it in her mouth. 'Recite the final Admonition!' Elisabéta spit the cricket out. 'Fulfill your duties, calmly and ... respectively. Um, reflect before you ... snack. I mean act! This shall bring you honour and glory.' She sighed. She nailed it! Kiku grabbed her by the arm and inspected her fan. 'This way.' She let go of her arm and without him knowing his hand was full of black ink.
'Now, pour the tea.' Elisabéta picked up the teapot. 'To please your future in-raws you must have a certain dignity.' Kiku went with his hands around his chin. The ink passed on on his skin, giving him an ink moustache. Elisabéta poured the tea, but couldn't take her gaze of the ink moustache on Kiku's face and because of that she spilled tea next to the cup. After she noticed she quickly corrected herself. When looking down the cricket was taking a bath in the cup. She tried to get him out, but Kiku was too quick to pick it up. 'May I…' she asked. 'You must be sirent!' He smelled the tea and wanted to take a sip. 'Can I get that back?' But Kiku refused to let go. 'Just for a second!' The cup was dropped and tea was spilled all over the matchmaker. 'You crumsy! AAAH EEEH! OOH!' The cricket worked his way under Kiku's clothes. Kiku made random movements to get him out, but instead he dropped a heater and fell on the hot coals. Kiku's kimono caught fire. 'Put it out!' he yelled. Elisabéta tried to stop it by waving her fan, but it only made her worse. Kiku's screams were heard outside. 'I think it's going well. What do you think?' Seychelles asked to Lilly. 'Put it out! Put it out!' he yelled while storming outside. Elisabéta threw the pot of tea over Kiku, effectively putting out the fire, but letting Kiku soaked wet. Elisabéta handed the pot, bowed and quickly walked away while the cricket locked itself in its tiny cage on Elisabéta's dress. 'THIS IS A DISGRACE!' Kiku yelled while he threw the pot on the ground. ' YOU MAY LOOK LIKE A BRIDE, BUT AS ONE YOU'LL NEVER BRING YOUR FAMIRY HONOUR!' Kiku furiously walked away, as did the crowd surrounding them. Elisabéta just kept staring in front of her, feeling miserable and sad. Seychelles gave Kiku a nasty look and Lilly stood next to her for comfort, but nothing helped.
After the happening of today they went home. Elisabéta sneaked in from the back on the yard with her horse. Her father came outside, smiling hopefully. But Elisabéta looked away and brought her horse to the stables. That was enough to wipe the smile of her father's face. She removed her horse's gear and looked in its water bowl.
Elisabéta:
Look at me
I may never pass for a perfect bride,
She saw Lilly holding her father's hand. They both looked sad.
or a perfect daughter.
Can it be,
I'm not meant to play this part?
She set the cricket free, who also looked sad.
Now I see, that if I were truly to be myself,
I would break my family's heart.
She walked through the garden.
Who is that girl I see, staring straight back at me?
Why is my reflection someone I don't know?
Somehow I can not hide
Who I am, though I've tried.
She walked to the chapel and looked at the honorary stones of her ancestors which showed her reflection. She kneeled down for them.
When will my reflection show, who I am, inside?She wiped the makeup off her face and set loose her fluffy brown locks.
When will my reflection show, who I am inside?
She walked out of the chapel and to a bench under the blossom tree. Her father came by, but she didn't dare to look at him. He took a seat next to her. She looked away while playing with her hair. ' Well… Well..Was schöne Blümen haben wir heute.' (What beautiful flowers have we today) But Lizzie, look at that one. That one's still wet.' He grabbed a blossum that had fallen down and but it in her hair. 'But you'll see when it blooms. It will be the most beautiful of all.' Elisabéta smiled at her father. He always knew exactly what to say.
But then her father looked worried. The village drums were being hit onto. 'What is it?' she asked. Imperial messengers had arrived. The whole family gathered at the gate. 'Elisabéta, you stay here.' Lilly said. Elisabéta didn't looked pleased until she was patted on her shoulder. Seychelles gestured with her head to a fence. Elisabéta climbed on the fence and looked over the wall.
Counsel Wang Yao sat on his horse addressing the people in her village. 'Citizens! I bring a proclamation from the imperial city! The Russians have invaded Europe!' The crowd was stirring. 'By order of the emperor one man of every family must serve in the imperial army.' Then he began reading the names on his parchment. 'The **Łukasiewicz family! ***The Christensen family! The *^Bondevik family!' A blonde young man stepped forward. 'I serve the emperor in my father's place.' Yao went on. 'The Edelstein family!' 'No.' Elisabéta exclaimed.
Roderich Edelstein straightened himself out and left to get his parchment under the sorrowful eyes of his wife Lilly. 'I am ready to serve the emperor.' he said. One of the messengers wanted to hand him the parchment. 'Father, you can't go!' Elisabéta ran forward and blocked her father. 'Elisabéta!' 'Please sir, my father has already fought…' Yao and his horse went to stand in between the messenger and Elisabéta. 'Silence! You would to well to teach your daughter to hold her tongue in the presence of a man.' Elisabéta looked at her father. 'Elisabéta, you dishonour me.' he said. Seychelles grabbed her granddaughter and gestured to hold still. 'Report tomorrow to the Prussian camp.' Yao said and handed the parchment to Roderich. 'Yes sir.' he answered. Without looking at his daughter or wife he went away. While Yao kept calling names. The women of the Edelstein family were worried and looking at the older man walking proudly to his home. He wasn't as agile and strong as he used to be.
* Xiao Mei is Taiwan's human name
** Human Family name of Poland
*** Suggested human family name of Denmark
*^Human Family name of Norway
Hey people! I just wanted to say that this is quite exactly the Disney's Mulan, but with Hetalia characters. Some things will be changed along the way. I have seen this movie so many times that I basically know all the dialogues *laughs weirdly*. Well Hope you'll like it and let the nostalgia kick in guys!