DISCLAIMER: i do not own Hetalia or the characters! I'm just borrowing them!


Chapter 1

The Daring Invitation

Tomorrow night was Austria's ball for the world. Bejeweled dresses, a grand feast, and masks with which to hide your identity with. Austria had given each guest a special request on their invitations. Written in his beautiful European handwriting it read:

"The honorable Duke Austria requests your presence at his World Ball. All the nations have been invited and this year there will be special surprise for all of you.

With this invitation also comes a mask. You must wear this mask and complete the assigned dare given to you.

Dear Canada,

Although I do not know you as well as America as described; he gave me a suggestion for your dare. For your dare, you must dress as a woman and dance with the man who will be wearing the purple cape.

Please write back with your response. I will need to know a head count of people coming.

-Duke Austria.

Canada could hardly contain his exasperation. WHAT WAS AMERICA THINKING? A dress? His brother had gone too far this time! Sure, his golden locks and small frame would give off a feminine appeal to it, BUT he was a man! He could hardly believe that America would even suggest that he wear a dress! Maybe this was payback for not going on that double date with him. But he couldn't just be with France, his hands were so grabby and the naughty things he whispered to him. It made him uncomfortable. He sighed softly and laid the invitation on the desk beside the box that had arrived with it. He untied the silky red ribbon and lifted the lid off it. Inside was gift paper that wrapped something. He unfolded the thin, white paper and gasped.

Inside the nest of gift paper lay a delicate, feathered mask. It was red and white, laced with a gold tinted lining; with glittering gems around the eyeholes. It was lovely, but would he really do what Austria had dared him to do? Would he put on a dress and appear as a woman for his world ball? He sat down in his desk chair and frowned. America would surely tease him forever if he didn't show up, make all sorts of remarks about he wasn't brave enough and how America could have done it if given the chance. That dug the spur a little deeper into Canada's heart. Surely, no one would recognize him beneath the mask, no would pay attention to him anyway…America hardly even knew who he was.

Canada pulled out a piece of paper and an envelope, he began writing a small reply and folded the paper and slid it into the envelope. He placed a stamp on the front and wrote Austria's address on the front. He stood up and walked to the front of his home and placed it in the mailbox just outside the door. He reclosed his front door and slid down to the floor. He curled up with his knees to his chest and frowned. This had better not be one of America's sick jokes. He sighed and looked up to find his polar bear staring at him from the hallway that led into the house.

"Well Kuma…looks like I'm going to a ball tomorrow night…" Canada said softly and held out his hand to the bear. It sniffed his hand and looked at him curiously. "…with the man with the purple cape."

For many hours Canada scoured his brain for the right person to talk to about getting a dress. It would have had to been someone he could trust, someone who wouldn't tease him so about his appearance. He called the only two countries he knew he could trust. And in his living room stood Hungary and Seychelles, their faces red with glee as they had just heard about Canada's predicament.

"So…you're supposed to dress as a woman for the ball? It supposed to be convincing yes?" Hungary asked as she wiped the tears from her eyes, she sat on his couch in front of him. Next to her sat Seychelles, pretty and dark skinned with long black hair, she was the night to Hungary's day. Hungary was beautiful of course; auburn brown locks that flowed down her back and pretty alabaster skin.

"Yes…but I don't see the humor, it will be humiliating if they all find out who I am! Especially the man I am supposed to dance with." Canada said in a soft voice. He was sitting on the other side of the coffee table. "I need to find a dress…and whatever else that women need when they do this kind of thing…"

Hungary and Seychelles exchanged a grinning smile and nodded to each other. Obviously they were planning something only their devilish minds could concoct. Canada cringed at the thought of heels and make up. They turned back to Canada and looked him over.

"Alright, we will help you! After all, we girls must stick together!" Seychelles said with a teasing grin, she then coughed and looked down apologetically. "We will make all the boys hot after you and none of them will EVER know it's you! It will be hilarious!"

Canada just nodded and grimaced inwardly, what had he gotten himself into? Let's just hope they don't go overboard. He wondered about the man in the purple cape, who would he be? Purple wouldn't be America's color, but what wouldn't America do to be the hero.

"Canada, we need to go shopping! There's so much to do! I know just the shop to go to!" Hungary exclaimed and stood up quickly off the couch, nearly knocking Seychelles off the arm. "Let's go!"

Seychelles and Hungary pulled Canada up and out to the street where Hungary's car was waiting for them. They all got into it and drove off towards town. The drive wasn't long, but it felt like forever. Seychelles and Hungary couldn't stop exclaiming over what they had to do. They had made plans to stay at Canada's for the night and they would go to Austria's house for the ball together. As they drove along the busy road, they were looking at all the shops that were open. Hungary pulled her car over in front of a small shop that looked more like a house from a fairy tale. Canada half expected little elves or animals to be singing around it.

They all got out and Hungary ushered them both inside. They stood in the small area in front of the counter. Behind the counter stood a small man with rather large glasses, he was sorting through what looked like swatches of cloth. Hungary dinged the bell on the counter and smiled as the man turned around. He exclaimed and began talking in foreign language. He walked around the counter and grabbed Hungary's hands talking excitedly. He began to pull Hungary towards the inner bowls of the shop, so Seychelles and Canada followed a little worried. The little man began tugging at a large rope that turned around different shelves and mirrors. Each shelf had its own label. Shoes, jewelry, tiaras and different accessories were lined up for viewing. Hungary and Seychelles gasped and began fawning over all the sparkly gems.

Once they had finished, the little man pulled racks of clothing towards them. They held dresses upon dresses for them to try on. As the girls began looking through them, they pulled Canada over and told him that he should begin looking. That warranted them a strange look from the little man and Hungary giggled. She pulled the man over to the side and began explaining to him what the situation was. The man actually began laughing quite loudly and Hungary gave him an evil look that could have curdled even the freshest milk.

Oh maple, what has Hungary gotten me into now? Canada thought to himself, he looked back to the rack of dresses and fingered a pretty red and white lace dress. It looked like his country's flag. Except without the maple leaf! He turned back as Hungary had finished talking; Seychelles had already begun trying on dresses. She had a few hundred lined up, so Canada knew he could take his time looking. Still he pulled the dress off the rack and held it against his side. Hungary pointed to several dresses and grabbed a few for herself. In the end, Canada found only the red and white dress to be a good fit; it was if it was meant for his body. It gave him the appearance of a feminine figure to his own already girly frame. He walked back into the changing rooms and could hear Hungary and Seychelles talking excitedly. When they had finished changing, Hungary and Seychelles exited the changing stalls and oooh and awed at each other's choice in dress. Hungary chose a dark forest green dress with gold lacing around the edges; it was modest and had a white lace petticoat underneath the skirt. Seychelles had chosen a bright sky blue dress, it was frilly and sparkly. She twirled around and laughed, her wavy dark hair went well with the frilly parts of the dress.

Canada sighed deeply; he had already put the dress on; which fit surprisingly well. He looked in the mirror at his image. The red and white dress was slightly frilly and had a modest neckline. The layers of the skirt alternated between a silky soft white fabric, and a sparkly red almost gossamer fabric. The bodice was white with lines of red and white vines; that looped and trailed to the back of the dress. It was laced at the back with red string. He turned to view the back, and almost grimaced. This dress gave his appearance a femininess he had tried to rid himself of.

"Canada? Can we see how it looks?" He heard Hungary's soft voice call out from behind the changing room door. He turned and walked to the door and peeked out.

"I dunno Hungary, this doesn't seem right…" He replied and looked back down at his appearance, if he went to the ball in this he would surely be the fool. They would laugh and taunt him until the end of his days. "I'm coming out…"

He unlocked the door, and pushed it open. As he walked out, his face red with embarrassment; he could hear Hungary and Seychelles oohs and ahhs as they viewed his dress. They walked around him and felt the fabric, pressed their cool fingers against the nakedness of his back where the strings hadn't quite covered enough skin. His first thought was that France would love this dress; skin showing and all. They came back to face him and they both had grins as wide as their faces could allow.

"It's perfect! It looks so good on you!" Seychelles exclaimed, she turned to face Hungary. "Isn't it? I mean no one will be able to tell!"

Hungary nodded in agreement and smiled happily. She placed a hand on Canada's shoulder and turned to face Seychelles.

"Right! The perfect dress and we will help you finish getting ready! OH and you will definitely need a bit of hair extension I think…we must provide the perfect girl…" At this statement Hungary turned and winked at Canada, "for the boys to envy and lust after, but little do they know…she will never be available for them!"

They all laughed at the sentiment, it's true no one would guess it was him but Seychelles and Hungary. It would be funny to see America's face when his little prank goes horribly wrong. As the girls walked back into their changing rooms to change back out of their dresses, Canada turned to the large wall mirror behind him and smiled. He would finally be noticed; he would finally be seen. He walked back into his stall quickly and changed back into his normal clothes. He walked back out and waited on the girls who were chattering and getting dressed. The store owner came and said he would get his dress ready for him. Canada nodded and gave him the gown; Seychelles was the first one out and also handed hers to him. She asked Hungary to hand hers over the door and she did, the three dresses were taken and soon after Hungary appeared a little flustered.

"Now we can look at Jewelry, shoes, and hair items. We need to get some hair extensions for you, Canada. We wanna make sure your convincing." Hungary said and walked back out into the main room. As she looked around the room, Seychelles and Canada followed her quietly. Then she pointed over to the wall with hair extensions hanging from hooks. They quickly took possession of a blonde waving extension set that matched Canada's locks. Then they moved on to the Jewelry, rows of necklaces, rings, bracelets and hair items were lined up. As they viewed each item and chose which items they thought would best go with their gowns; the store owner had finished wrapping their dresses for them. Canada chose a maple leaf necklace that was gold and reddish colored. He also chose a small ruby bracelet. Hungary had only chose a small, diamond and emerald gemmed bracelet, claiming she already had the necklace she was going to wear. Seychelles on the other hand, chose a necklace, bracelet and ring that had sapphire stones set in them.

"I was wondering you two…" Canada said quietly as he viewed the shoes with them. Seychelles and Hungary were already sitting down with a pair each. "What were your dares?"

They looked at each other for a minute, Hungary's face grew red and Seychelles just giggled into her hands. Seychelles's laid the sapphire blue shoe back down in the box and looked over at him

"Well…Austria gave me a dare of kissing the man who gives me the white hibiscus flower…I don't exactly know who the man is; but I'm sure he wouldn't have me kiss a total stranger…" Seychelles' said and picked the shoe back up before nudging Hungary.

"My dare is private. Austria gave me a rather naughty dare to complete when the ball is on. He dared me to lure him into a room and seduce him. Isn't that rather silly?" Hungary exclaimed breathily and tried on the forest green heels. "Do these look okay?"

Perhaps Austria was a bit more of a pervert then Canada believed him to be. He pulled a box of red flats and tried them on. Heels would be a bit inconvenient, since he had to dance with the man in the purple cape. Maybe he wouldn't break his toes after all. As they finished up, all items boxed, tagged and given to them. They walked out, and stowed their items away in Hungary's car. Across the street they could see Germany with little Italy in tow and behind them was Spain and Prussia. Hungary waved slightly to them and Seychelles jumped up and down waving her arms. As the boys noticed them, Canada's face grew hot with embarrassment. Prussia's gaze had fallen upon him and the packages he carried. Spain nudged Prussia's side and said something that angered Prussia enough to shove him away. Prussia walked quickly away and entered the restaurant ahead of them. Spain bowed and waved to the girls and followed his friend inside. Behind them Germany and Italy followed, Italy's whiney "Doitsus", lingering behind them.

The girls pulled him inside the car as they drove off towards Canada's home. Tomorrow would be an interesting night. Not only was there to be a surprise for the nations; but for Canada, the man in the purple cape would be the one person that really mattered, the only person that mattered.


Please reveiw! :3