HetaliaxNyotaliaxShakespeare anyone?
I highly suggest reading this only if you have read Twelfth Night or have seen 'She's The Man' (since its basically the modern version of the script) or are familiar with the basic plot and story only because things might not make sense to those who haven't.
PAIRINGS: FEM!USxUK, onesided UKxFemFrance, onesided Fem!USxFem!France even though one thinks the other is a boy, and many, many more to come.
This is based off the original script of Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare. Not just the movie 'She's the Man'. This will follow the script, not the movie. I use sparknotes to read the script as reference, but I very much know the play. Heck, I was in our school's production of it. :/ (Viola's understudy and Fabian FTW)
I absolutely love this play, and I'm trying to do it justice as I place the Hetalia characters and their genderbent forms into the story. I automatically saw Fem!America as Viola - she's perfect for the role! And Arthur would be an amazing Orsino in my eyes. =w=
Francoise is Fem!France for those who don't know XD
Arthur Kirkland was, for once, walking amongst the mansion's halls without one of his pesky servants following him. He needed time to think to himself, for there was far too much on his mind to carry on with any work. He passed by many doorways on his little stroll, but one in particular caught his attention.
Music. Wonderful music came from inside.
Surprisingly, not too many knew of Arthur's secret passion for music. It soothed him, comforted him, and helped him sort out his emotions. This one song in particular, however… It sounded like heaven to his ears!
Arthur stepped inside the room with no intent of interrupting. However, the musicians glanced up from their instruments to shoot an almost frightened glance at the Brit.
Arthur sighed. This behavior didn't surprise him. Most of his servants, musicians, cooks, and especially the maids were at times either afraid of him or just expected to get rude comments from him. Arthur was known to be quite the grouch.
"Why would you stop such a lovely melody?" He asked, an almost tired look dawning upon the small group of musicians.
The group just stared up at him, not willing to speak out and anger the man.
Arthur just turned and walked to one of the giant windows that showed the vast land of Illyria. It was a beautiful, yet at the same time dull place. It held a variety of people, from personality wise to ethnic backgrounds. It was special in its own way, he supposed. "You know what they say. 'If music be the fruit of love, play on.'" With that, the young man turned his attention to the musicians once again. After understanding the message, they began to play again.
Arthur let his thoughts drift off once more. But all he could really think about was her. Francoise Bonnefoy. The girl he once despised.
The girl he now may have fallen in love for.
The mere thought of her made his face flush and his stomach churn in disgust at the same time. Many a time ago, he and Francoise never exactly got along. Francoise, however, would flirt with him to no end—which caused him to become more angered than flustered. She meant it in good fun though, because she only wanted Arthur's attention on her. She may not have meant it to be that way, but that's what it has turned out to be. She left Arthur wanting her attention. But recently, Francoise's dear brother died—leaving her torn to pieces. She isn't the same self she was before. She was more reserved, more mature. She stopped caring for Arthur. But this was the side Arthur had fallen for; this miserable side of her that he could comfort. But was it right? He didn't know—
"My lord?"
A small voice broke Arthur from his thoughts, and turned his attention over to find one of his younger servants, eyes wide and curious, looking up at the older Brit.
"What now, Curio?" Arthur said to the boy, a hint of annoyance behind his words.
"Will you be hunting today? The hart?"
Arthur tried not to chuckle at how ironic the question was. "Ah….The heart indeed, young one. Only if I had better aim for who I was longing for.." He nearly gave a small glare to another manor across the distance, which belonged to Lady Francoise. He wondered how she was, and if she spared a thought for him.
As if on cue, his messenger arrived through the tall doors—a bit of a worried expression plastered on his pale face.
"Valentine! Tell me the news," Arthur nearly ran to the messenger, with the same eagerness as a dog greeting its owner. After a moment of realization, he composed himself and cleared his throat. "I mean.. What did you hear from Miss Francoise?"
Valentine fidgeted a bit before answering. "My lord, I was stopped right at the gates. I couldn't speak to her. One of her maids did instead. She told me she does not want to hear from you, but not because she is holding anything against you. She just wants to be away from everyone as she mourns her brother's death. She is not intending to be anyone's lover until after seven years."
Arthur groaned in annoyance of this answer, covering his face with his hand. "Seven years? What kind of bloody point is she trying to prove? And not even a simple 'thanks for understanding' or 'I wish you a good day?'"
"The maid didn't look very…happy to be delivering this news. More annoyed…" Valentine looked down pensively.
"Oh, that French girl won't last. I guarantee it." Arthur stomped over across the room, and out the door, shutting it behind him and causing the musicians to stop their melody once again.
A small group of people stood on the grand shore that led to Illyria, chatting and huddling amongst themselves. Behind them was a great boat, or once was a great boat. The bottom of it was broken to pieces and sunk deep into the sand of the shoreline.
"Mister!" A young American girl hobbled her way towards the ship's captain. "Where the heck are we?" She asked, looking over the shore where the ship had wrecked. She was one of the only survivors it seemed.
The captain, a dashing man in a now tattered uniform, turned to her. "This is Illyria, miss."
The girl furrowed her brows, and then wailed, "Illyria? What the hell am I gonna do here? My brother—he's dead!"
"Amelia!"
The girl whipped her head around as the wind pushed her hair back, her face full displaying the clearest vision of horror. With quick pace, she ran to her brother's side. As the boat rocked a bit more, she held onto him tightly so he wouldn't slip away from her. "Alfred!"
"Amelia, listen," Alfred grabbed his sister's hands tightly in his own. "If anything happens to either of us, know that we'll find each other again!"
"Is that a promise?" Amelia yelled above the thunder of the violent storm that was plaguing them.
"You bet it is!" Alfred gave her one last smile that seemed to flash radiantly, that or it was the bright streak of lightning that struck.
After another loud roll of thunder, another rock, and a crash, Alfred's hands slipped from Amelia's. He was gone.
Amelia shook her head from the thoughts and instead gazed up at the man. "Wh-What do you think, mister? Do you think…he drowned?"
The young captain let out a breath, letting his own gaze fall away from the American girl before him. "It was great luck in itself that you yourself were saved, miss. Only a few made it alive.."
"But my brother!" She wailed again, absentmindedly burying her face into the captain's chest and clinging to him. "I just want to know if he's alive!"
The captain looked down at this girl with a questionable stare, but returned her embrace nonetheless. She had been through a lot today, and she must have been vey attached to her brother—he could tell. But what sibling wouldn't? Especially in this situation… "Miss, I can't be so sure. But I have faith in him, as I do in you. If he's anything like you, miss, I'm sure he survived by some chance. And if not, then may God bless his soul for protecting his sister in such a valiant way." He removed his hat, and held it to his heart with his face up at the sky.
Amelia detached herself from the young captain, and composed herself. "Well, I might as well get to know this place, seeing as that I'll be stuck here for a while. Are there any good paying jobs out here?"
"I'm afraid not. Most people around here don't accept non-citizens that appear out of nowhere. That, and most businesses are run by individual families here. So the workers are usually their family members or close friends." The captain gave Amelia an apologetic look as he spoke.
"Damn…Now I really don't know what to do," Amelia sighed and kicked some sand on the shore. "Well, who's the government leader around here? A king? A president?"
"A duke," The captain smiled faintly, placing his hat back on his head. "Arthur Kirkland."
"Arthur Kirkland.." Amelia pondered on the name. "Oh! I've heard of him!" She smiled proudly. "Well, my father told me about him.. But he was a bachelor then.."
"And he still is. But there's been so many rumors about him seeking the love of Lady Francoise, believe it or not." He snickered to himself at the thought.
"Who's this 'Lady Francoise'?" Amelia asked, raising a brow.
"Ah, she's the most beautiful in all of Illyria! One of the wealthiest too, ever since her father and brother died. She's still mourning both their deaths, and swears that she will not be seeing any man for quite some time in memory of her brother."
Amelia processed all this for a moment. A rich lady who doesn't want to see any men.. She wondered if she was in need of any work. "Oh, I wish I could serve that lady. I'm in desperate need of money.. My brother was carrying it all."
"That would be difficult to do," The captain shook his head. "She won't even allow the Duke's messengers into the manor; much less a stranger new to the place."
What was Amelia to do now? She didn't have anywhere to go, no money, no food to eat.. And she most certainly couldn't stay on this boat! Where was this girl to work? She reviewed her options. She could definitely get kicked out of this Lady Francoise's manor, without a doubt. There wasn't much else Amelia could do. No other business would accept a stranger here. There was only one other choice. "Captain, I want to work for this 'Duke'. I'll be a man if I have to! I'll cut off some of my hair—its already short anyway. Just please let me know if its possible!" She must have sounded silly.
The captain, however, stood with a solemn expression. "It's possible, yes. But to conceal your identity? It would be risky."
Amelia sighed, placing her hands on her hips. "I know… But I have to do something. I'm not just going to wait around like some weak woman who depends on her man. I'm an independent lady! So it's time I start acting like one! Well… I guess I'd be an independent man this way." She chuckled heartily.
The captain returned a soft smile. "I like your attitude, miss. I wish more women would see things the way you do. But do you really want to go through with this? There's no telling how long you'll have to be disguised."
Amelia's smile faded dramatically and was replaced with a strong and serious expression. "I'll do whatever it takes. Just promise you won't tell anyone that I'm actually a lady, and I'll pay you plenty when I get enough money." She extended her hand out to him. "Deal?"
The captain nodded, placing his hand in hers and shaking it. "Deal."
Amelia's smile returned and she practically tackled the young man out of joy. "Thank you!" She laughed, then got off of him and straightened herself out. "Now, show me where a girl can find some men's clothes!"
Aaaaaaand exeunt! :D
I'm...sorry this was so terrible.. XD I need some writing practice I think..
But before I go, I need your help!
I'm having trouble deciding on who should play Sebastian here. I originally made it Alfred (like in this chapter) but I'm starting to think about using Matthew instead, because of who he ends up with in the end (Those who know the original story know who XD). But ah.. I don't know.
So, FEEDBACK IS IMPORTANT! Please review, or even PM me if you have any suggestions as to who should play which character or anything else! Much love to you all3 Until next chapter~
Twelfth Night - William Shakespeare
Hetalia/Nyotalia characters - Hidekaz Himaruya
So basically I own nothing :3
