Fanfic / The Joyous One

The Joyous One is a Hetalia: Axis Powers fanfic by Philosophizes. (tumblr). (Pillowfort).

Ludwig Beilschmidt left home to “go find himself,” and ended up murdered by a cult that insisted the proper, historical way to worship is human sacrifice.

Their surprisingly friendly god is having none of this blasphemous nonsense.

In addition to the tropes present in canon, this story contains examples of:

• Afterlife Antechamber: Where the first chapter is set. Possibly.
• Ambiguous Time Period: vaguely 1800s, according to the author.
  A/N: I'd like to remind you that this is a pastiche of (mostly) fake early 1800s/late 1800s/1900-1925ish
  • the borders of Tüschen more closely match that of the German Empire than anything else
    • However, Monika is unused to traveling by steam, which was pretty widespread by the time the German Empire existed.
• Brick Joke: In the first chapter, Ludwig is unsure how to refer to a Felixian priest, who turns out to be Feliciano. In thirteenth chapter, Elisabeth is unsure how to address Feliciano, as he is the god who is dating her daughter
• Character Title: The Joyous One is one epithet for Feliciano.

• Dead to Begin With: the story opens after Ludwig’s human sacrifice, while he’s coming to terms with his death.
• Desperately Looking for a Purpose in Life: Ludwig seems this way at the beginning. Ultimately, it’s subverted, as “leaving to find yourself” is a Tüsch euphemism for leaving due to issues with your reputation. It’s implied that many other Tüsch in that situation have become teireiseos.
• Divine Date: Feliciano and Monika at the end of the story.
• Fantasy Counterpart Culture: Tüschen for Germany, Ruxenia for Russia, etc.
• Feminist Fantasy: more like LGBTQ+ fantasy, but the point stands.

• Halfway Plot Switch: Two. The first third of the story deals with Feliciano trying to get Ludwig back home and him recovering from his resurrection. The next third of the story deals with Ludwig (now Monika) coming to terms with her trans identity. The last part of the story becomes a Coming-Out Story as Monika explains the situation to her parents, and they try to find a place where they can all live together.
• Human Sacrifice: Ludwig is sacrificed by Felixan priests in the beginning. Because Feliciano doesn't appreciate human sacrifices, he brings him back to life.
• Istanbul (Not Constantinople): Some of the names of the Fantasy Counterpart Cultures use this, most obviously Galia for France and Isbana for Spain.
• Knight Templar Big Brother: Gilbert. One of the first things he asks after Monika comes out as trans and explains that she’s dating Feliciano is when he’s going to marry her.
  Gilbert: I’ve got to ask then—your god making an honest woman out of you anytime soon? Because if he’s not, I’m going to have to kick his ass.
• La Résistance: Roderich and Elisabeth were part of it in the past.
• Open-Minded Parent: Roderich and Elisabeth turn out to be this. Elisabeth especially.
• Patron Saint: Feliciano is the patron of journeys, death and teireiseos aka trans people.

• Reincarnation: happens to Ludwig at the end of first chapter, when he is given a new body, one that doesn't quite fit. Like being trans, anyone?

• Shapeshifter Baggage: Special attention is given to how Monika same size as Ludwig was.

• Shapeshifting Seducer also Feliciano, though at a different point in story.
• Spell My Name With An S: In-Universe with Felixan/Feliciano. Ludwig figures out that there’s a difference, but he doesn’t tell the audience.
• Soiled City on a Hill: Beldúno seems this way at first. It’s later revealed that it’s a perfectly normal city, but a haven for teireiseos aka trans people.
• Trans Tribulations: Ludwig aka Monika
• Transplanted Character Fic: And how? In addition to changing the main characters to being either humans or gods, the actual countries they represent are changed as well.

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