A/N: Hello! Thanks for clicking on my very first Hetalia fic! So, as the fail-summary says, this is set in a Steampunk AU (if you don't know what that is, it's awesome, google it) in which a war is being waged, with poor Arther and Alfred caught in the middle (sorta ;D). Anyway, drop me a comment if you enjoy it, and just, well, enjoy! X3
First Lieutenant Arther Kirkland sat at his desk, slumped over in exhaustion and rubbing his temples gingerly, desperately trying to will away the pain throbbing against his skull brought on by the mountains of paperwork still piled quite high, not having decreased visably despite his working on them for a good six hours now. Although that is expected of an officer of his prestigous rank. He in no way, however, expected to be subjeced to such mind-numbing monotony when he enlisted in the military to help his crippled nation's cause.
The outbursts started about eight years back, the inhabitants to the south becoming restless, angered by the recent goverment-issued doctrine restricting the nation's food supply. The Great Famin, as it was referred to venomously by everyone who had been unfortunate enough to have lived through it, had nearly wiped out every last living thing in their once great nation of Faolan. The plants went first, shrivelling into thin wisps of death, no matter how much they were tended to. Then the herbivores began to grow weak, and consequently the carnivores as well, humans included. The news stations all spewed the same excuse, a virus, they had said, that could take control of a cell's protein production and manipulate it, causing them to produce harmful chemicals and ultimately poison themselves. No organism was safe, and the nation paniced within it's unforgiving, suffocating grasp. All hope of a prosperous future had seemed hopeless, until the government miraculously introduced a strange gas that killed the virus. They had claimed to be working on it's development in secret since the famin started, but many citizens were not sure, still shaken from the all-too-soon loss of their family members, starving in the arms of their loved ones.
Soon after the Government was hailed the saviour of the nation and people began to bounce back from near extinction, groups of "Rebels" began assembling, secretly conspiring against the Government, who they had aptly nicknamed "The Silvertongues"; too afraid to utter a single blasphemous word outside closed doors, dreading what would befall them if the Silvertongues were to find out and abuse their newly-aquired power and praise. The tension had been building for months, with small squabbles occuring here and there, and the food restriction policy was the proverbial straw that broke the camel's back. Full-fledged attacks were carried out, all of them initiated by the Rebels, against Government headquarters and sanctioned buildings. The Silvertongues reated defensively at first, saving their real retaliation for after the rest of the country saw what a "victem" they were. When they struck back, they struck hard, seeking to obliterate every last "Rebel vermin" they could find. But the Rebels were sneaky, and excellent at concealing their whereabouts and plans of attack, and managed to remain undessolved, growing stronger still. It was this ferocious and bloody game of cat-and-mouse that had been going on for the past eight years, and continued still.
His nation's bloody history was the reason Arther was in his current state of agony, enlisted to overcome the "Silvertongue Liers" and punish discover the truth behind the famin, and apply the appropriate punishment when said truth was aquired. The war started when Arther was fifteen years old, working in his family's metal piping factory and assembling station. His father, a proud supporter of the Rebel cause and despiser of the Government and their pompous attitude towards the poor part of the nation, gave Arther no choice but to join the military.
"Sir!" A tall, thin man clad in a similar uniform as Arther's, olive green jacket and pants with tan accents, stiffly and swiftly snapped his left hand flush against his left brow, requesting permission to speak. Arther's head snapped up from his work, thankful of the lad breaking him out of his reverie. He gave a quick respectful nod, allowing the lower ranking officer to relay whatever inforfmation he had disturbed him for. "The General needs you in the briefing room, to prepare for the new recruits' arrival when we dock next week." he replyed.
Ah yes, the new recruits. Whenever the neverending battle had claimed to many lives on the front, a draft went out to all openly Rebel portions of Faolan, summoning fresh blood. He cringed as he rose from his red velvet-lined chair to head down the hall to the briefing room. Arther had never liked having to watch all those terrified young men, boys really, tears in their eyes from being ripped away from their families, being hearded into groups and barracks and fed sugar-coated lies of glory in battle. It was all he could do to supress the acidic vomit threatening to rear it's ugly head as he was forced to smile and nod, and greet these young men to their deaths.
And when the Officer had said 'when we dock', he was referring to the only way for them to make contact with the mainland. Arther was the First lieutenant of a motorized war zepplin, a sort of airborn headquarters for the Rebal forces. Taking to the skies was one of the many ways the Rebals had managed to remain hidden from the Silvertongues when not in battle, and the thing itself was rather massive, about the size of a four story building, hanging amongst the clouds; a clanking, weezing gem amidst the stars. Arther reached his destination at that moment, took a deep, shuddering breath while running a had through his golden blonde hair, and turned the door handle, bracing himself for whatever military nonsense he would have to endour for the next few hours.
A/N: Hey everyone! So, this is my first Hetalia fic, so I am really trying to wow people with it. Reviews would be lovely, and I would really like to hear your thoughts, good or bad! If you liked this little taste, hang in there, it's coming XD Again, reviews would be greatly appreciated~ ^^