Malersha wasn't as cute as Italy and she knew it. Even though she had bright green pastel-colored hair and yellow eyes like a hawk (fitting because she watched me like one), no one noticed her. In fact, I was the only one who knew she was a country. In 1618, the year I left for the Thirty Years' War, she was the world's smallest country with only thirty people.

Malersha and Italy never interacted, but Malersha always tried to make Italy's life miserable by stealing her food or tripping her with wire. I knew Malersha wouldn't take the news of me leaving well. I paced in the courtyard, not worrying about Malersha but if I should tell Italy good-bye. She did run from me and didn't want to be part of my empire, so maybe she didn't like m-

"Holy Rome!" Malersha squealed. She hugged me from behind as I struggled to free myself. "What are you doing here alone?"

"Get off me!" I ordered. I kicked her away.

"Holy Rome?" I turned around as Malersha stumbled out of sight. Italy was smiling at me and clutching a bucket. Her deck broom was balanced under her arm. She eyed my army, which was standing nearby.

"Err, Italy," I said. "I'll be going away for a while."

"How long?" Italy asked cocking her head.

"I don't know," I sighed. "I need to go to war."

"A war?" Italy's smile faded. I wondered how Malersha was taking the news. "So you'll be gone for a few years."

"Maybe longer," I said bluntly. I held out my hand, as I decided I had to ask her something important. "Italy, come with me and we'll become a strong empire." Italy shook her head. "Why not?!"

"I… Grandpa Rome was really strong, like how you wanted to be," she said. "But he had so many scars and lots of enemies. I don't want to see you like that!"

So she wouldn't join me not because she hated me… It's because she wanted to protect me!

"Holy Rome!" one of my soldiers barked. "We need to go!"

"Just a second!" I turned back to Italy. "I need to go."

"W-wait!" she stammered. She dropped her bucket and held out her deck broom. "Take this! To remember me by!" I stared at it for a moment and took it from her.

"Thanks," I said. "Um, Italy. What do people in your country do to express love?"

"Oh, kiss, I think," she answered.

"Kiss, huh?" I could feel Malersha cringe as our lips met. I was kissing Italy! And to think that she didn't like me.

"Let's go!" the soldier yelled. I tore away from Italy. I stepped backwards and walked that way until I reached my army. I finally turned around and nodded to the warriors. They began to lead me away.

"Don't get injured or sick!" Italy called. "Because… we will see each other again! I promise!" I gave her one last smile and waved. After that, I left and threw myself into a very long war.

"Let's set up camp here," a soldier said when we reached a clearing in a forest. As the army began to set up tents, I took my broom and a suitcase to some shade under a tree. As I opened my valise (I think I packed some snacks) a hand popped out and slapped me across the face.

"I saw Holy Rome kissing Italy!" Malersha, who was sitting in my valise, said in a sing-song voice.

"You came in my suitcase?" I said crossly. "Where's my stuff?!"

"You don't need that," Malersha said. "You need me, but you don't need Italy. She's a wimp!"

"A cute wimp," I corrected. Malersha huffed and crossed her arms.

From then on, I had no choice to protect her since she wouldn't leave. Some countries wanted her since, although she was small, she was rich. But I didn't want her. I hated Malersha. And she hated Italy. And Italy loves me.

Right?

One day, Malersha threw a fit. She started ranting and raving about how stupid and useless Italy is, yet I love her. By this time, Malersha and I, physically speaking, grew to look like preteens. Malersha was starting to get a figure and I wondered if Italy was too.

"Does this dumb broom mean more to you than me, a fellow country?" Malersha shrieked as she picked up my deck broom. ]

"Put it down!" I barked.

"It's a broom!" she yelled. "And if Italy gave it to you, I don't want to see it! I've put up with 'Italy this' and 'Italy that' for thirty years. And I'm SICK OF IT!" And with that, she snapped the broom in half on her knee.

That broom was like a promise. "We will see each other again! I promise!" And if that broom was broken, I felt like that promise was too.

"Malersha!" I shouted. Too late. She ran into the forest in a fit of rage. The few soldiers left stared at her. I rushed after her. She would pay for this. I was going to kill her! After dodging a few trees, she was out of sight.

"Holy Rome!" I heard her shriek. I followed the sound to find a group of soldiers that weren't mine holding her up by the white collar of her pink dress. They were standing near the edge of a cliff. The warrior holding her gripped a sword in his other hand.

"Well well," the warrior said when he noticed me. "It seems we've found the great Holy Roman Empire. Guess we don't need this for bait anymore."

He held Malersha over the edge of the bluff.

"Don't you dare!" I yelled. Too late… again. He let go of her dress and she let out a scream as she fell. I ran to the edge, shoving over a few soldiers on my way. It was too deep to see the bottom. I knew Malersha didn't, couldn't, survive the fall.

"Malersha!" I cried anyway. Suddenly, I felt a sharp pain in my side. I didn't even have to look to know someone stabbed me. I clutched my side as someone kicked me over the edge.

The world seemed to spin. I was going to die. I knew I was.

"We will see each other again!" The line repeated over and over again in my head.

I broke my promise. Just like Malersha broke my broom.

I could see the ground approaching fast.

I'm sorry Italy. Everything went black the instant I hit the ground.

And the Thirty Years' War was over.