This is a story of national pride, of fear, greed and love. In an idyllic setting, somewhere in central Europe is a tiny state called Bulvaria. For centuries nothing much has happened. Life is good but there is the ever present niggling fear that one day the Republic will decide to invade and destroy everything the people hold dear. The hereditary ruler would rather just leave things as they are and hope it stays that way but his wife has other ideas. She wants to hold a big celebration, The Quincentenary no less, and invite heads of state from all over Europe to join in the fun. At the same time a young border guard, tired of hearing the terrifying tales of the Republic decides to find out for himself. His journey into the unknown land almost costs him his life but he is rescued and while recovering from his injuries, he falls in love with a Republican girl. What follows will change Bulvaria for ever. The first time the Guard paraded in its new finery the people of Dunbikivitz thought they had been invaded by a foreign power.