Author's Notes: Here a duo of fics from the Doomsday-verse focusing on the backstories of a couple of OCs from that AU, set over the initial years after Doomsday itself. Thing is, both of them happen to have a close connection to Hungary...in more ways than one. Indeed, this ties in to a number of fics from the AU, including Her Guarding Arm while also serving as a sort of foreshadowing to the Christmas-themed stories.

Admittedly, it took some effort trying to capture some sense of innocence and childhood wonder while keeping the fact that there's something dark beneath the surface, namely the initial post-apocalyptic chaos brought about by Doomsday. As well as finding a way to put both Julia's parents and Romania in without them ever meeting each other. Also, their origins (which involve Austria and Hungary for Sopron; Romania and Transylvania for Partium) were made both clear and still deliberately mysterious despite the many differences. There's just enough to give hints of what happened, but I hope it wasn't too cruel. Still, I hope you enjoy!

I neither own Hetalia nor 1983: Doomsday. All rights belong to their respective owners.

A Child of Hungary

Or, A 1983 Doomsday Tale through a Survivor-Nation's Eyes.

Somewhere in Sopron. 1989.

It seemed more tiring than usual, Julia thought as she sat by the window, coughing a little as she toyed around with a worn-out flute. Anything to keep her mind off from the nagging exhaustion, really. It must have been that trip to the nurse again. Or that hide-and-seek game with the other orphans. Or might have been that pack of rations from those soldiers. But then again, she knew better. At least I still had fun! she assured herself with a smile. With deft hands, she gingerly lifted the chipped off mouthpiece close to her.

Outside, she caught a glimpse of the street crossing past the orphanage. Many of the buildings across from her were either grimy or broken down, the worse ones looking more like they were held together by iron planks. Only a few withered window-side flowers and the partly burnt Firewatch Tower not far off were left to suggest that this place had been beautiful once. On the road below, there were tired-looking men in Austrian uniforms walking amidst the rusting cars. There were also others among them. Some were playing with makeshift toys on the sidewalk while the older ones either went about their business or lined up along the many food camps. Yet despite all their ragged looks, they still persisted in the hope that tomorrow would be better. It was something Julia felt and shared not only with them but all of the Frontier's people.

"My people…" Sopron sighed warmly under her breath as she closed her eyes. It no longer mattered to her whether they were children, locals or refugees. They were all her, just as she was all of them. I wonder if they'll ever know… "I just hope this helps." She gingerly began playing, the notes echoing around the empty room.

The little girl always liked music for some reason. The caretakers even mentioned how she seemed to play like a musician "for someone her age." Then again, Julia herself wasn't even sure how old she really was. After all, she still looked the same way she did when she first entered the orphanage…

Én Istenëm, adjál szállást,
Már mëguntam a járkálást,
a bujdosást,
Az idegën földön lakást.

The flute dropped to the ground as the lyrics played in her head. It felt so distant yet so comforting. So familiar…I've heard this! It was an old lullaby from a past that seemed just out from her reach. It always stuck her odd how, despite knowing so much about her people and history, her own origins were shrouded in mystery. To be sure, she didn't really see herself as ordinary, let alone human. In fact, she barely got older while the other orphans around her did. But if there was one memory still clear in her mind, it was of being with her parents. Of a man in glasses playing on a beautiful piano, whose face she couldn't quite remember. Of being held on her mother's arms as she sang that very song to her.

Hungary's ever loyal town, Sopron remembered, coughing even as tears started to well up. Mama's pride and joy… She was sure that they'd all been separated at some point. But try as she might, most of her memories from those days seemed like a vague blur. Come to think of it, things only started becoming clearer shortly after that event people were now calling Doomsday, almost as though she wasn't entirely whole until then. That thought usually made her feel down. It made her afraid of what really happened to her and the family she lost. Scared of the nagging void that always seemed to gnaw at her from the inside.

Yet the young girl still smiled. Her people were getting by, right? And with all those refugees finding shelter in her place, surely her mother might still be somewhere out there. Don't want to worry her too much. Just have to keep going…and…

The yawn coming out from her mouth seemed to make her even more tired. Julia found it harder to sit up straight as she saw one of the caretakers rush towards her. Weakly yet still with a smile on her face, Julia made her way towards the man, who muttered something in German before lifting her up, though not before managing to have a glimpse of a strange man in a dusty looking outfit walking down the street. There was something about the man's brown hair and glasses that seemed oddly familiar. But whoever it was, she couldn't tell. Her eyes barely even stayed open now.

Maybe one day, she'd be able to see her parents again. For now, though, there were other things to worry about.

-o-

Sopron had no idea where she was. But wherever it is, everything seemed wrong. There were screams everywhere. More than she could count. The walls not only looked as though they'd fall down at any minute but also seemed to close in ever so slowly. All while an indescribable blackness and even more haunting voices came from the door in front of her. Needless to say, she didn't want to be here.

"Don't be afraid…" the little girl mumbled to herself, more nervous than confident as she found it harder to breathe. It wasn't the first time this had happened. After so many times, she shouldn't be scared of whatever's trying to break through that door. "Come on…think!" Briskly she looked all around her for something to use against them. But even the rusting and makeshift trash on her feet crumbled the moment she touched any of it. Her eyes frantically looked for a place to escape to. Anywhere but here! And…nothing.

Trapped… The thought made Julia panic inside. She couldn't back down. She musn't. They were breaking through. Something dark red was seeping in. God, she could hear them now. Russian screams. People shouting. Dying. Talk of finishing her off like they did Hungary. But Mama can't be dead! Can she? NEM! I won't give in. Won't give in. Won't give in! WON'T GIVE IN! I CAN'T! I CAN'T! Mama…Papa…Remélem! HELP!

"You're not going after me! YOU WON'T TAKE ME!"

She braced herself as the door snapped open. Then all of a sudden, there seemed to be a piercing, yet strangely comforting cry. Gyermekem... a familiar voice echoed. You're not an orphan. Never will be!

Everything around her vanished in an instant, replaced by a warm glow. And then Julia woke up. A dream…right…Sweating, she found herself back on her old, creaking bed. There was no one else around. And yet there was a strange feeling that someone was close. Gingerly, she turned her head towards what looked like a faint wisp. Only for her eyes to open wide.

For a moment, she caught a glimpse of a beautiful woman who was somehow there and yetwasn't. She couldn't really describe it, but something about her seemed so warm. So familiar. But it was in the figure's face, her gentle green eyes that brought about a beaming smile on her face.

"Mama? Are you there?"

Before Sopron could reach out to her, however, she was gone. Though not before managing to see her mother smile back. A part of her wanted to fall apart. But she continued smiling. It was something she would always treasure. The light coming from outside seemed brighter than usual. Something seemed to come up as the last notes from the old lullaby echoed in her mind.

...Küldje hozzám szent angyalát,
Bátoritsa szívünk álmát,
Adjon Isten jó éjszakát…

The young child of Hungary had no idea why. But somehow, she had a feeling that her mother would see her again.

Very soon.

As for some reference:

Sopron is in RL a Hungarian city (or rather, half-Austrian, half-Hungarian) along the Austrian border; it used to be called Odenburg until the 1920s when the townsfolk chose to side with Hungary rather than Austria, hence why it's also known in English as Hungary's "ever loyal town." In the AU, she's part of the Alpine Confederation...but at this point, she's still a young child, her people only recently been brought under Austro-Swiss protection.

Some of the bleaker moments were based both on what happened to both Austria and Hungary during Doomsday itself and the events of An Ocean of Flame Above...especially how she died. This also involves some overlap with a scene from Her Guarding Arm involving Austria.

The Firewatch Tower is a real historical landmark in Sopron dating back to the middle ages. Although it gained additional importance due to it becoming associated with the town's "loyalty" towards Hungary.

The Hungarian lyrics were taken from a traditional folk song called Estl Dal or "Evening Song." The lyrics used when translated into English read:

Oh, my Lord, give me a place to sleep,
I am weary with wandering,
With walking around and hiding,
With living on foreign land...

...May he send me a holy angel,
May he encourage our hearts' dreams,
May he give us a good night.

Remélem - "Please God..." (Hungarian)
Gyermekem - "My Child..." (Hungarian)