End of July 1914.
Some still-shots of European capitals from that time. The narrator speaks: "Diplomacy and foreign affairs have always been a funny thing. You'd think that governments would send their best and brightest to other countries as a sort of right of passage. An opportunity to show their skills in international affairs in order to qualify for higher functions, if you will. Unfortunately, foreign embassies, especially those of less powerful countries, were usually filled with people deemed unfit to serve in their native country's government but couldn't simple be fired for some reason. Most of them would use and abuse their position to enjoy the 'finer' things in life like gambling, women or illegal accumulation of wealth (read theft).
I mean, why bother? It's not like that could cause problems or anything. The less you care or know about the country, the more you can blame it when things go wrong. Like this whole deal with sanctions on Iran… The country's under lock-down because of a pandemic. Give them a break!
If it was up to me, I'd demean those government officials to a entry level position and make them earn their way back. But who's asking me, right?"
The narrator clears her throat and continues: "But I digress. Anyway, back in 1914, there were a few decent ambassadors in Serbia..."
The scene slowly fades to a room with two dignitaries. An Austro-Hungarian Baron Giesl von Gieslingen and Russian ambassador Nicolas Genrikhovich Hartwig are sitting at a dinner table debating something. They seem to be in very a good mood.
"Well, that settles it then" Hartwig says "I shall inform the Tsar that..." he stops and grabs his chest. His host looks at him confused. To his horror, his guest grabs the table cloth and falls to the floor. He dies instantly as the Barron hovers over him panicking.
The narrator speaks: "Who knows what would have happened if this unfortunate event didn't take place. Perhaps the war would be avoided all together? The Russian government was very keen on supporting its ally, especially the Russian Emperor. Sadly, faith would have it that he would have to show his commitment in the most sever way possible."
Next scene: After the ultimatum. The scene moves to a different, much more lavish room. It is empty as the narrator starts again: "As officials were running left and right to try and avert the crisis, so did the nations get involved."
Serbia barges into the room with Austria calmly following. Hungary is still in the meeting room with other European powers to the request of her husband. They are sent there in hopes they will manage to solve the problem on their own.
"This is ridiculous...Your government has went to far with their demands and you know it!" Serbia yells flustered. Austria stays calm, keeping his distance.
"I honestly do not understand why you are so upset about that particular detail. It is obvious that you lack control. You have secret societies running all over Belgrade."
Serbia paces, pulling her tied collar which kept sticking to her sweaty neck. "Oh, and you want to come in and save the day?!" she continues yelling as she paces the room. "Don't think I'm stupid. I know exactly what your police will do if they are given free range. They'll arrest and hang everyone who even looks at them funny! My internal problems will be the least of their worries."
Austria frowns: "You and your yelling... Seriously, Serbia why do you constantly yell? And such hurtful things too."
Serbia gulp slightly embarrassed. She stops pacing. "What am I supposed to do? You keep doing these horrible things to me? The sanctions, the threats, Bosnia...You keep obstructing my progress at every turn and I can't do anything about it. What else am I suppose to do? Let you walk all over me with a big smile on my face?"
Austria snickers and adds very suggestively: "Oh I don't know. Some humans are into that."
Serbia gawks at him horrified. She gets a bad feeling that makes her heart sink into her heels. Austria takes a few steps toward her. "Speaking of Bosnia" he sighs "It is such a tragedy what happened to his beloved Hercegovina. He was so scared and alone. Luckily, I took him under my wing and did everything in my power to make him feel better. We became quick friends."
His calm demeanour frightens Serbia even more. Austria crosses his hands on his back and looks at one of the pictures on the wall. "He told me a lot of interesting things" he continues "some things I was genuinely surprised about."
She stares at him not even blinking. "Hungary kept hinting at it, but I never believed it. I simply thought that you were a little feminine" he says to which Serbia raises her eyebrow. She becomes serious: "Name any sport or weapon and I'll beat you in it."
"Oh please, is that how you avoided suspicion for so long? You would swing a sword or shoot an arrow well enough?" he says slowly coming closer. She takes a step back very alert.
Austria smirks like a creep and stops very near her. "Come now Serbia. Why so silent? I want to hear you scream" he says. With her heart beating faster, she automatically runs to the first window and jumps out breaking it in the process. He starts hysterically laugh, alerting the others.
The nations quickly enter the room. Noticing that Serbia is no longer there, France looks through the window but still cannot see her. "What did you do? You were supposed to calm the situation down not escalate it" he says annoyed.
Austria holds his stomach still laughing. "It's...it's...not my fault...Serbia can't take a joke" he manages to utter between fits of laughter. The others look outside confused. Serbia runs back home scared and crying.
Next scene: A few days later. Russia's office. He is writing something as Serbia enters. She is in her usual clothes seeming depressed. Russia stops what he is doing and comes to greet his friends.
"What happened? We were looking everywhere for you. It's not like you to run away in such manner" he says worried.
She keeps her eyes locked on the floor. "Aren't you going to reply? What did he do to upset you so?" he continues.
"It doesn't matter now. What matters is that my enemy's mind is fixated on one thing alone - my complete destruction... I will be honest with you my friend. With his army and resources I don't stand a chance..." she pleads grabbing him by the forearm.
Russia smiles: "You don't have to continue. I know exactly what you are going to say." He let's go of her hand and moves to the table picking up a paper. "My boss has already given his consent. In fact I was just finishing this mobilization order when you walked in."
Serbia's face lights up. She runs and hugs him as hard as she can. Russia feels a little awkward because he can feel a certain bump on his thigh but does not want to ruin the moment.
"I knew I was a fool to think otherwise. I'm sorry I ever doubted you" she says happy while Russia makes his trademark smile while a nervous sweat-drop falls from his temple..
"Let's not talk about that. We both have a lot of work to do so..."
"Wait. Before I go, I want to show you something" she interrupts. Russia seems confused but accepts. To his horror, she turns around and opens the top button of her pants putting her hand inside.
Turning back in his direction, he is relieved to see only a pair of black folded socks. As she holds them, almost ceremoniously, Serbia says gulping: "I wanted to tell you before you heard it from anyone else. I'm not actually a boy. I'm a girl."
Russia stares at the pair of socks and starts to chuckle. "To tell you the truth...nothing you do at this point can surprise me" he says still giggling. She smiles and starts to laugh herself.
Next scene: As the frame slowly moves away from the office door down the corridor, we hear them chuckle. "I can't believe you managed to hide your gender throughout the Ottoman rule" he says.
"Yeah, it wasn't easy. I almost got caught a few times. Had to make up some very creative excuses" she says and starts laughing even more. "For example, one time, I..." she starts but we can't hear the rest because we are too far away.
World Academy W
It's late at night. We see Arthur in his room. He tosses and turns mumbling something in his sleep as if having a horrific nightmare.
"Hooves too. Hooves too" echoes in his head. He looks at his arms and is surprised to find himself strapped to a chair. He has a brown striped suit on, making him look much older. He is in a room made from red bricks. There is only one wooden door and it is closed. There is someone leaning against the wall but is covered by a shadow.
"What is happening?" he repeats frantically trying to free himself. The figure stays silent. "I order you to tell me what's going now!" he screams desperate.
The figure slowly moves closer. With each step the shadow moves until we finally see that it is a slender woman in her 20s, with straight brown hair. She is wearing civilian clothes, a white dress with a jersey shirt over it. Her expression is serious, Arthur notices that she looks a lot like Yasna.
"Who are you? Why am I here? Why am I in restrains?" Arthur continues his line of questioning but the woman refuses to answer. She pulls some sort of huge metal funnel from the wall and places it exactly in front of his face. Arthur looks terrified at it and then at her.
She comes closer observing his mouth and starts inspecting it with her fingers. He violently shakes his head but her grab is strong enough to stop him from moving. "Oh, this won't do. It's to small. I may have to disloca..." she says as we hear bones cracking. Arthur screams in pain as she puts the funnel into his mouth. She connects a long plastic pipe to the funnel and moves away.
The pipe moves as something flows through it and we see Arthur's tear-filled eyes widen even more. The figure opens the door and we see the row of manure trucks parked outside. As it flows through the pipe, the figure says calmly: "See this? All of this is your mess made throughout the years. It was about time you cleaned it up."
We hear Arthur's muffled scream and see him wake up covered in cold sweat. He touches his throat and jaw and is extremely relieved finding everything is in its place. Still shaking, he looks around assuring himself that he is in his room. He sits like that on his bed for a long time, not sure what to think or do next.
