Rated K
Disclaimer: I own nothing
Purple Mountain Majesties
Arthur trudged along behind Alfred, sending a weak and unseen glare to the young country. It was maybe three in the morning and they had been hiking for what seemed like hours. Arthur was not against a bit of exercise, he had come on Alfred's morning hike willingly. He just hadn't realized the extreme difference between a hike and the long walks he often took through the English countryside.
His legs burned as they continued up the un-groomed path his back aching from the weight of his pack. He eyed Al again as he begun to hum to himself, apparently impervious to the burn his muscles must have been feeling. The back pack he carried looked heavy.
"Al where are we going?" Arthur asked trying to hide the strain in his tone from the younger country.
"Were almost there, I promise." Was Al replied, his voice sounding crisp in the chilled mourning air. Al glanced down at his ipod, he no longer wore a watch; something that confused Arthur to no end but was so very Alfred. "It's just up here." He continued gesturing ahead of them glancing back with a wide boyish grin. Arthur simply huffed in response as the trees began to thin and the path began to level before they stepped out onto a rocky ridge overlooking the surrounding mountains and valley below.
"Bloody hell," Arthur breathed
"Do you like it?" Alfred asked sounding almost anxious, as he had when showing off his White City or Empire State Building, as if Arthur's opinion could make or break him. Arthur gave him a look of disbelief before turning back to the view. When Al had been younger he had once given him a picture on a piece of construction paper, the top third of the paper had been torn off leaving the edge frayed and uneven, below he had drawn a crude river and some animals. When Arthur had suggested they cut off the jagged edge the boy had given him a strange look and said 'those are the mountains.' At the time Arthur had laughed at the child, but he understood now. The ragged form of the mountains silhouetted by the blazing pink of the sunrise looked just as the paper had.
"I do." Alfred looked out across the valley with a smile, the grin slipping slowly "Who am I Arthur?" the older country blinked at him for a moment.
"Pardon?"
"I-" he hesitated for a moment as though unsure of exactly what he meant. "Its confusing. I don't know who I am anymore…I feel like I'm constantly arguing with myself." he explained slowly "Who am I?"
"Why are you asking me?" Arthur asked
"Because…because…" neither looked at the other, Alfred refusing to finish his sentence, though no ending was necessary, because Arthur would always be his.
"Your exactly who you've always been." Arthur answered finally "The young, brash nation with the most idiotic ideas, that change the world-seemingly by sheer will power."
"Are you sure?" Arthur laughed
"You woke me up at least four hours before sunrise to climb a mountain. Yes I'm quite sure." Al glanced at him, his somber attitude dissolving as he flashed a teasing smirk.
"What? Was this little trek to much for you old man?" Arthur snorted rolling his eyes.
"Hey who do you think traveled that god forsaken ocean for you?"
"I was under the impression that was Antonio." Al answered smugly.
"Can you even point to Spain on a map?" Arthur snorted
"Of course I can." Al shoved Arthur playfully "I went to war with him." He smirked sending Arthur into a hysterical fit.