There are two chapters before this piece. Please read them in the Balkan episodes here under FSU part 1 and 2. Also, I would appreciate it if you read it on Wattpad under the title Drinking game. Thank you for your support. And now, back to the story.
A few days before 31st December 1799.
The palace ballroom. A head pops up with the name Austria above it barking orders: "Arms straight! Knees high! Do not slouch Silesia. Oh for heaven's sakes, follow the tempo Transylvania. Are you that tone deaf!"
His angry head stays in focus while the narrator speaks: "As the new century approached, the Hapsburg Monarchy got tired of being know by his boss' surname so he decided to try with the name Austria. Although the name 'Austrian Empire' wasn't official till 1804, it will be used from now on for simplicity reasons."
The others try their best to move correctly but he consistently yells with every step they make.
The narrator continues: "To tell the truth, Austria was really nervous and had every reason to be."
He takes a few steps and observes the dancers better.
"Someone's missing" he frowns. The others stop and look at each other worried.
Next scene: A figure in haste appears from the snow covered fields. It is Serbia, running like mad, tightly holding her hat with one hand while carrying Runt in the other. He squeals unhappy.
"I know, I know. I'm sorry little fella but I'm already late" she says apologetically and continues to huff.
Next scene: Back at the palace, Serbia runs through the hall and stops near the doorway exhausted. Austria turns and looks at the slouching figure with his lips tightly pressed.
"You're late...Again!" he says to Serbia while she takes of her blood-red scarf. She apologizes: "Sorry, I had some important business to take care off before coming here."
"You seem very busy lately. What are you up to my boy?" he inquires.
She winks mischievously and places Runt down to which Austria immediately protests.
"Calm down, he's clean. I carried him all the way here" she says grabbing her musket and stretching with it.
Austria is on the verge of a mental breakdown but manages to calm down. "Have you thought about my proposal? It will be easier for everyone if I make a replacement representative of you. That way you won't need to run back and fort!"
Serbia gulps. She nervously smiles and stutters: "Yo-you really don't need to do that. I promise I'll do better. Just please, please don't divide me up."
He stares at her with his arms folded. "See that you do" he answers coldly.
Next scene: All dancers are separated into two lines. We hear the last notes of the music as they gracefully move, with weapons in hand, to their final positions. Austria watches silent. He nods approvingly and let's them rest. He grabs a glass of wine from the desk and we hear his thoughts: "Everything needs to be perfect for the New Years Eve party. It must reflex my strength and capabilities as a European superpower."
A still-shot of France's head painted blue, menacingly looking with red eyes at Austria who seems small in comparison.
"France has been having horrific ideas lately. He might snap at any moment and try to conquer us all. His boss certainly seems ambitious. Well...if he thinks I'm such an easy target, he is horribly mistaken."
We see others casually chatting among themselves. Serbia and Runt have isolated themselves as if to share a secret. She twirling her musket, does the bounce-and-catch and all other military manoeuvrers with astounding ease and elegance. From time to time she crouches aiming her weapon at something as if in a real battle. Runt plays along imitating a watch dog and pointing his snout at imaginary enemies.
Austria is deep in thought. "Even my brothers consider me a joke. No matter, I'll show them. I'll show them all!" He slams his hand against the desk smashing it in two. The others stare at him inquisitively. He turns to them and says: "What?! Can't I destroy my own furniture. At ease."
Next scene: The rehearsal is finally finished and Serbia is ready to go home. She approaches Austria cautiously. He seems mentally exhausted.
"Sorry to bother you, but my I ask you something?"
Austria grabs the rim of his nose and replies: "Just be quick about it. It has been a long day."
"Alright. It's about the announcements. You state my people are 'brave breed of the west part of the Balkan Peninsula."
"Yes, what about it?"
"Well" she starts "you see, it's not completely true. Bulgarian people live west of me all the way to the Black Sea."
"Is he your brother?" Austria asks.
"We do share some common ancestry so technically we are related but we don't see each other as cousins. You see, we haven't always seen eye-to-eye in the past" Serbia replies.
"Very well, I'll redo them" he sighs and they part ways.
