Warning: gore is implied
End of 19-ish century
Austro-Hungary's palace. Serbia is walking calmly in her usual outfit. Croatia is in the hallway, marvelling a porcelain vase he was cleaning.
"May God help (Помоз Бог, now we use Ćao). Working hard I see?" she greets him smiling.
"Oh, may God help you too (shortened to Bok)" he says continuing his work.
"That's a nice vase. I always stop and look at it" she continues.
"Yes...I often find myself in awe of all the amazing treasures this palace holds" he says still entranced.
"Yeah...was that their wedding present? I can't remember?"
Croatia smiles reminiscing.
Flashback: The frame becomes pinkish and hazy with shiny little stars and bubbles everywhere. Exceptionally dressed gentlemen and ladies in lavish gowns for a circle on the dance podium. Hungary looking exceptionally beautiful in a silk wedding dress with subtle embroided traditional Hungarian motives and a laced veil walks hand in hand with her husband Austria wearing a white uniform adorned with a sash and gold medals. All of the nations living in the palace are there clapping enthusiastically with the crowd.
"And now, the wedding couple will have their first official waltz" the announcer says to which the two take their positions. The music starts. Croatia observes them with stars in his eyes and him mouth open.
End of flashback: Croatia looks absent-minded as Serbia watches him with her eyebrow raised. "Yeah...it sure was something" she adds smiling.
"One day, I'm going to have a palace just like this. And throw lavish balls just for fun. I'm going to have a vase just like this in every room of my palace" he says smiling.
"Good luck with that" Serbia scoffs "I doubt Austria will ever let you surpass him."
Croatia looks at her serious and a little offended. "What's that supposed to mean?"
She turns confused and starts to stutter: "Well, with the state of Europe...and don't get me started on the empires. I bet if you told one of them what you told me, he would laugh and tell you the closes you'd ever come to one of these vases is by dusting it."
Croatia glares at her, tightly holding the duster. She feels uncomfortable. "You understood what I wanted to say, right?" she asks slowly and carefully.
"Perfectly" he says in a way that leaves Serbia feeling doubt. "Um, I have a meeting with Austria. Better not keep him waiting" she says and quickly waves goodbye.
"Okay. I'll be there soon" he says coldly and continues cleaning.
Next scene: At Austria's office. He stands facing a bookshelf while Hungary, in a very modern gown, sits comfortably in a sofa. The other servants stands looking solemn. A knock on the door is heard and Serbia enters.
"You wanted to see me?" she asks entering in a usual manner.
"Yes...please sit down" Austria says not turning towards her. "There is something I was meaning to talk to you, my boy" he says coldly making the hairs on her hands stand out.
"Is everything alright? Have I done something to upset you?" she asks worried.
"Oh, no more that usual" he says with a wage smile and finally turns to our protagonist. "Please, sit down and we will talk."
Serbia looks back and sees a single chair placed near the door. Two male servants are standing near the door as if guarding it. Croatia enters through the servant's door and takes his position.
"Austria" she pleads. He takes an ancient looking book covered in leather. "Don't worry, this will be over quickly."
As he says this, the servants grab her arms and force her into the chair. She struggles but can't set herself free. Austria slowly extends his arm, reaching for a strangely shaped bejeweled knife. With the knife in one hand and an opened book in another he approaches her. Hungary calmly watches. Galicia and Transylvania discretely look away. "No!" Serbia screams.
Next scene: Unspecified time later. A frame of Hungary covering something with a white sheet. Austria is cleaning the knife above a bowl held by Croatia.
"I told you Serbia was a girl" Hungary says. "Oh" Austria replies. "Yes, why would this one be a girl if the original isn't?" she continues.
On the floor, we see a girl covering herself with the sheet, looking exactly like Serbia except she has medium long wavy hair. She seems confused and embarrassed.
Austria returns the book and the weapon to the bookshelf. "Not necessarily. The process is not the same for everyone. I'm actually very happy with the result. This version may turn out to be more agreeable" he says and turns to someone "Are you alright there my boy?"
The frame shows Serbia quietly shivering, holding the base of her neck. Her shirt is torn and bloody from the right side of her neck to the left armpit. Everyone is very quiet.
Austria approaches: "You need a new shirt. I'll send someone to get you another." She remains quiet, not moving.
Austria sighs and orders everyone to leave. The female servants and Hungary help the girl on the floor stand up. As she leaves, she keeps looking at Serbia as if wanting to say something.
The two of them stay alone. "I know you are upset. Does it still hurt?" he says seeming compassionate. "Yes" she shortly replies. Austria takes a chair and sits next to her.
"Listen...You knew this was going to happen. It was just a matter of time" he continues. She stays quiet.
Austria sighs: "Look at it this way. You are a sovereign nation now. You have your own responsibilities. Tasks you have to do every day. It was not easy even when you lived with Ottoman, let alone now. All those notices I had to send every time I needed you here. All that sneacking across the boarder"
Serbia gulps with drops of sweat falling from her short hair.
"Alright, I admit it... I should have told you in advance. On the other hand, you might not have come. You're stuborn like that" he says standing up and making a few steps. Someone soon arrives with a plain white shirt. Austria takes it.
"Are we still friends? I really do wish to continue good relations. We are neighbors after all. Went through thick and thin together" he says offering her the shirt.
She looks at him, still in shock, takes it and nods once. "Can I go now?" she quietly asks.
"Of course" he replies.