Beginning of 13 century
We see a medieval port and on it Duklja, Hercegovina and Rashka waiting along side the royal suit. Serbia starts to narrate as we watch them nervously expecting someone: "Say about election what you like but at least they are better than the way new kings were chosen in the past."
Next scene:(1196) "I don't care what father says, the throne is mine!" Vukan screams at his younger brother.
"He clearly stated that I am to be his heir" Stefan yells back. Rashka and Duklja observe worried. Their mother, now a nun, begs: "Won't you please stop. You are brothers. Can't you simply respect your father's wishes. He did it for a reason."
"I apologize mother but I cannot accept such humiliation" Vukan states and grabs his sword. "Ready your men brother, we will decide this on the battlefield" he says and leaves calling Duklja to come with him which the little kingdom unwillingly obliges. Rashka waves at her big brother sad.
"The former queen was right. Their father had decided to make his middle son his heir because he was married to a Byzantium princess, making him the son-in-law of the Byzantium Emperor. His older son's wife was not."
Next scene: (1202-1205) Scene of a fierce battle. Yelling soldiers, clanging of swords and banners and neighing horses. Serbia narrates: "And so a civil war started. With Hungary on Vukan's side and Bulgaria on our, there was no telling who would win. The fighting devastated the countryside. And in all that chaos, the crusaders of the Fourth Crusade managed to sneak by." A visual of all this.
"Luckily, a voice of reason arrived" we see monk Sava looking serious with a few other men dresses in monk clothing carrying a sacred coffin. A scene of the three brothers meeting over their father's relics. "On the request of their mother, he has returned and managed to reconcile them. Vukan agreed to stay in Duklja and rule there while Stefan Prvovenčani remained as my sole heir."
"However, during this little family feud, the fields were unkept, creating a famine...but there were more bad news" Rashka standing on a dusty field receives a message. "Constantinople's gates have finally been breached. The city has been ransacked and Byzantium crushed. She would never recover." We see an image of Byzantium devastated. In her eyes we see a reflexion of soldiers stealing her possessions.
"With that, my new boss decided to get rid of his wife. Her previous promiscuity didn't help her neither.*
*{The guy basically threw her out and send her back home just in her nightshirt. This sound terrible and he was definitely no angel, but imagine sending a cheater out on the street like that. Talk about a walk of shame}
He decided on a Venezian princess in order to secure an alliance with the upcoming new powerhouse. And he got it."
Next scene: (1217) The ship finally arrives. On it, among the Venetian suite and the princess, a small boy dressed in white gets out. The three are surprised to hear that it's Veneziano. Upon seeing them he jumps and waves making him even cuter.
Next scene: At the wedding ceremony. Veneziano talks to Serbia. "Now that we are formally allied, how about we discuss you switching to Catholicism?" he says with his adorable high-pitched voice. Drops of sweat fall on Rashka and the others' temples simultaneously.
"Actually, I prefer it this way thank you. I'm afraid that my priests don't have the self discipline and piety like yours to manage to live without a spouse" she says in an attempt to kindly reject him. Hearing that, Veneziano becomes serious. He then starts cryng and drops on the floor kicking and rolling around. Everyone in the church stares at him. Rashka feels embarrassed.
"So, we got the bride and the support and, yes, after some negotiations, a crown blessed by the Pope" she narrates.
Next scene: (1217) Scene of the coronation with the Pope's emissary. Rashka looks pleased. "And that is the story of how I became recognized by the rest of Europe. Phew! Sure was glad to get that thing off my to-do list" she says as we watch Rashka finally relax.
World Academy W
Snowflakes are slowly falling on a sleepy town. It's a late December night and everyone is inside their comfy homes. Yasna pulls the curtain away from the window to look at the snow. She is wearing her winter sweater and jeans. As usual when she is alone, Yasna is deep in thought.
Taking longs slow steps, she falls back on her bed and stares at the ceiling. "I was never happier for a school year to be over than I am now" she exaggerated with a sigh.
Flashback: Quick scene with Ivan and Marina.
"I shouldn't have attacked Ivan like that. I did turn him down...and yet, I hate seeing him with other girls. What's wrong with me? Am I a possessive loony like Natalya? She at least has the common sense to have a boyfriend. Unlike me..." she thinks while looking solemnly at the plain white space above her bed.
Another flashback: Yasna with her entourage walks the center of the hallways with her head high. Most students, not all, at least turn to glance at her, some start talking about her with their friends. Those brave or dumb enough try to draw her attention in the silliest ways. She ignores all, masked by her pleasant smile, passing through.
"And yet, when I go to school, I lose the desire for it all together. Boys are just so stupid. They only chase after girls that others boys are or would be interested in. And then it's your fault for not falling head-over-heels for the 55th guy who complimented you that day. As if..." her thought train continues.
A pleasant smell comes from downstairs. Feeling hungry, she jumps up and stretches. Her sweater rides up along with her undershirt to reveal her waist. At that moment she hears knocking on glass and almost has a heart attack seeing someone at her second-floor window.
"Merry Christmas" Tino says dressed as Santa Clause. Still trembling shook, Yasna manages to quiver her lips into a smile. "I brought you your Christmas present. Can you please open the window?" he says innocently extending his arms so she can see the red and green wrapped box.
"Sure, one moment please" she says through her teeth and hastily opens her closet.
"I know it's a bit unorthodox but I figured since you are still awake..." we see Tino's face all happy and his eyes closed. As soon as the window opens, he feels a burst of wind and sharp pain on his face.
He opens his eyes to see Yasna furious, holding a tennis racket. "I get my presents on New Year you perv! Now get out of here before I smack you silly" she yells and swings the tennis racket again.
Tino barely manages to avoid it, ordering his reindeer to fly away. "I'm so sorry for the inconvenieeeeeeeeeeeeeence" is heard as he and his sled become tiny specks in the sky.
"I mean really" she mumbles closing the window and shutting the curtain.
Well, that's all for today. Happy holidays!