It's Monday! Guess who's back? :)
That's right, we're continuing with the Old as Time series with another adaptation. (If you didn't read the first one, no worries. They're completely separate universes.) This time, it's a retelling of the 20th Century Fox/Don Bluth animated film Anastasia. While not technically a fairy tale or a Disney film, it's an animated princess musical, so close enough. :)
I've reimagined this story so it takes place in an AU Fiore, except I've added some dystopian elements to our princess story. The result is a darker, more action-oriented version of the Anastasia story that maybe a little different than our favorite childhood film.
Just as a heads up, I've taken some liberties with people's ages, so they may be different than you're used to. Hopefully that doesn't throw too many people for a loop.
- K. Chandler
Erza woke to muffled sobbing. It was an unusual sound for anyone to awaken to, even for someone with a roommate.
Slipping out of bed, Erza padding across the room softly, the wooden floorboards cold under her bare feet. She sat down on her roommate's bed gently, trying not to scare the other girl. "Milli, what's the matter?" she asked.
"Oh, Erza… I can't believe it's happening so soon," Millianna sniffled into her pillow. "I don't want you to leave us!"
"Don't cry, Milli," said Erza, stroking the other girl's hair. "Fifteen's too old for tears."
"But you're leaving us tomorrow. First, Simon left, and now, you," said Millianna.
"You still have Wally and Sho," offered Erza.
"Wally's leaving us next year."
"It's just part of growing up," said Erza gently, rubbing the other girl's back. "You'll leave Rosemary too, someday, once you reach your majority. Then we'll all start to call you Citizen too."
Becoming a Citizen was a major milestone in every person's life. Over time, the word no longer had anything to do with nationality, for all were Citizens, equal under Fiore's laws. These days, it was a rite of passage into adulthood. All children in Fiore earned the title of Citizen once they reached their seventeenth birthday. It meant that they were ready to take responsibility for themselves and do their duty to their State, each to the best of their ability.
"At least, Sho and I will be leaving together," said Millianna. "We were both born in October of the same year."
"See? That's the way to be positive!" encouraged Erza.
"Where are they sending you?" asked Millianna. She sat up, tugging her knees to her chest.
"I've gotten a job as a laborer at Manorwell Farm."
"A farm hand… That's exciting," said Millianna. "I guess they decided it would be a good fit, seeing how strong you are."
Erza gave a little shrug, her shoulders jutting upwards. "I suppose so."
"You don't sound excited…"
"I'm not sure that's what I want. I mean, I want to contribute and be a good Citizen of Fiore, now that I've reached my majority. But a farm hand?" asked Erza. Then she sighed, dropping her chin into her palm. "Still, who am I to question…? If the country thinks that I'd do Fiore the most good by helping with the harvest and feeding its people, then I should do it, shouldn't I?"
Millianna cocked her head to the side thoughtfully. "What would you rather do?" she asked.
"That's silly," said Erza. "You know we don't get to pick. What would the world be like if everyone just did what they wanted? We'd have chaos. And then where would we be?" She sat back down on her own bed.
If everyone got to choose what they wanted to do with their lives, there would be no one left to take care of some basic things that kept the world running. Butchers, bakers, and candlestick makers, as the old nursery rhyme went, were all noble occupations in their own way.
"But what if you could? What would you do?" Millianna insisted. She was still young and prone to fantasy. So Erza indulged her, even though she knew it was all pretend.
"I think I'd rather be a baker," said Erza. The metal bed frame creaked as she flopped back, her arms crossed behind her head.
"A baker?" giggled Millianna.
"What's so funny? I want to make those cakes like they let us have on Independence Day every year. You know, the ones with all those layers and fluffy white icing—"
"Erza, you're making me hungry now!" Millianna laughed.
"—and strawberries on top!" said Erza, laughing too.
"Sho says he wants to join the Task Force when he gets older," said Millianna.
"That's noble of him," said Erza. She imagined herself wearing the grey uniform of an officer in Fiore's State Security Task Force. Somehow, the image appealed to her. Protecting others and getting to be part of something greater.
They were a country of modest means. Fiore's freedom was the most precious thing any of them possessed. Old Fiore had been a country run by a few powerful individuals.
The Purging had changed that in a single night. It gave them the ability to begin anew as a free State ruled by the common people. The Task Force cleansed the elitist attitudes from the land as they swept across the country. Slowly, the rest of the country rose to eliminate their oppressors, becoming the free State of Fiore.
"It is noble, but I'd rather work at an animal shelter," confided Millianna. "I adore kittens," she sighed wistfully. She had found a kitten last week, but the adults hadn't let her keep it. She had been heartbroken.
"You'll get a kitten of your own someday," said Erza.
"And you'll get to be a baker, just like you wanted," imagined Millianna.
"We'll all see each other again," said Erza.
"You and me and Sho," said Millianna.
"And Wally and Simon," added Erza.
"That would be perfect!" giggled Millianna. "Maybe growing up won't be so bad."
"Growing up is wonderful," said Erza. And even if it wasn't, there was nothing they could do about it, so there was no sense in Millianna worrying about it. "Now get some sleep," said Erza. "It's getting late."
As Erza shut her eyes, her mind was filled with thoughts of bakeries and farms and grey uniforms.
Becoming an officer on the Task Force would be interesting. To make a difference and know it. To help secure the country's freedom. Of course, it was a little fantastic. Only a select few could become Task Force officers. And there were plenty of other jobs that needed to be done.
She thought about her old friend Simon, who had left the orphanage two years prior. She wondered how he was doing. Simon had left abruptly, and sooner than they'd expected, but the adults had found him an apprenticeship under a blacksmith. It was a great opportunity, so he had left right away. Erza hoped he was happy.
Now that she was leaving Rosemary, maybe she'd see him again someday.
So what'd you guys think of this universe's Erza?
Next time, in Journey to the Past, we meet our hero: "Perhaps. But perhaps, we should put the motion up for a vote," suggested Jellal mildly. "The rest of the New Council has had a chance to hear both sides of this argument. Let us see what their opinions are on this matter."
Stop back next Monday for the next installment, or just follow me, Karine of R011ingThunder.