Germany loaded his pistol with his last bullets, taking a deep breath as he sat crouched behind a tree. He looked over at Italy, whose wounds had overcome the small boy and led him into everlasting peace. Germany gave the boy a small smile, stroking his cheek with the back of his fingers. The sound of gunshots filled the air as Germany's eyes filled with tears.

"I remember the promise we made," Germany told Italy, who would never hear his words. "And I shall uphold them, my dearest and only friend." He then stood up and darted out from behind the trees, firing a few shots at his enemy.

"Shit!" America cried, ducking behind a sandbag. "The guy's gone insane!" He pulled out his walkie-talkie and spoke into it. "Got a good view on him?"

"Oui," the person on the other end said. France was perched in a nearby sniper tower, with his rifle peering out the window. He took a long drag on his cigarette, then smashed it beneath his boot before taking aim. "You want me to take him out?"

"Yes, please, before he fills me with lead!"

A single shot rang out in the now-still air of the night. Germany dropped his pistol, his body falling right after. He was dead before he hit the ground.

France smirked. "Got him."

"And… cut! Excellent work, people!"

Ludwig rose from the ground. "Gah, that fall actually hurt me a bit."

Alfred laughed. "It was convincing, man!"

"Doitsu~" Feliciano bounded over to Ludwig from behind the tree, hugging him once he got close enough.

Francis, descending from the tower, chuckled. "Little Feli is quite fond of you, non?"

Ludwig sighed, gently pushing the boy off him. Despite the air of annoyance, Ludwig was also fond of Feliciano. The boy had, at first, annoyed him. But after years of being on set with Feliciano, Ludwig had become close friends with him.

"Dudes, it's hard to believe it's over…" Alfred sighed.

Ludwig nodded. "Ja… this is all I've known for 6 years now. It will be strange not being here."

Feliciano hugged Ludwig again. "Promise me you'll keep in touch!"

"Ja, ja, of course I will!" Ludwig tried once more to pry the boy off him, while Francis and Alfred snickered.

Then Ludwig's phone rang, making Feliciano jump off him long enough for Ludwig to answer the call.

"Hello?" he said into the phone. "Ja, it's me… I'm well, and you?... Yes, I remember… What? You can't be serious…" He then took the phone call away from the others just when they were getting interested in the subject.

"What do you think that's all about?" Alfred asked. Francis just shrugged and Feliciano let out a content sigh.

Ludwig returned a few moments later, stress tightening his facial muscles. "Well, we won't be parting as soon as expected…"

"Really? Ve, that's great news!"

"Did your manager get us a new gig or something, dude?"

"No… Our parents only agreed to let us do this show on a certain condition."

Francis chimed in, "Oui, on the condition that after the show was over, we… would…" He trailed off as a realization hit him.

"Don't tell me…" Alfred began, unable to finish the sentence.

"Ja… we're going back to school."

There was a long silence before anyone spoke again. Then Feliciano added, "Ve, it's not so bad!"

"Yeah," Alfred agreed. "I've seen some NICE babes around here."

"We won't be going here," Ludwig explained.

"Then where will we go?" Francis asked.

Ludwig sighed. "That's the bad part. In order to protect our identities, we have to go where our ratings are lowest."

"…And that is?"

"Northwest Indiana."

Alfred fell to his knees melodramatically. "NOOOO! Why, God, why? THINK OF THE BABES!"

Ludwig sighed. "Yell all you want, it's a done deal. We leave in a week, then school starts a week after."

The four looked at one another, unsure of this plan. They did not want to do it, but they knew in their hearts that they must.

Meanwhile, in the Lakeside High School parking lot.

"Again!" Sletto cried, causing all the kids to sigh.

"He's running us to death, Doitsu!" Nikki cried to her friend, Cassie. Nikki held her clarinet at her side, bent over and panting.

Cassie gave her a smile. "Come on now, it's only 11! We still have until 4, so you should cheer up. Being pessimistic won't help any."

Nikki glared at her friend. "You're one to talk."

Cassie laughed. "True, true."

"Hey, hoes!" Their friend Ally yelled to them. "It's hotter than a pregnant woman in July out here!"

Cassie stretched her muscles. "Yeah, well I've been dancing, so I don't want to hear crap from you guys."

"Band, ten hut—!"

"SET!" the entire marching band and color guard shouted, standing at attention.

"Take it from the top!" Sletto, the band director, instructed.

Cassie gave Nikki and Ally a small grin. "Back to square one, then."

They had no idea what was about to happen, or, rather, who was going to attend their school in the coming weeks.

A/N: There you have it! The prologue for my newest story, which shall be written weekly over the course of this school year~