Title: The Vanishing Act.
Author: G. C. Frankenstein.
Summary: "For dissolving a state is not really killing it, it's merely the act of erasing it's existence." Gilbert is disappearing. He can feel himself slipping. He knows his time is up. He doesn't know how long he has left, but he's not going without a fight. He is, after all, the awesome Prussia.
Main characters: Prussia, Germany, Hungary, Austria, Spain, France, North and South Italy, with recurring appearances of the rest.
AN: Hi :D Frankenstein's here~ This here is my very first Hetalia fanfic, so I'd appreciate it if you guys go all constructive on me :P no joke, be as constructive as you possibly can. You don't even have to be nice about it (no, I'm not asking you to flame- there's a difference). Title's kinda lame, so I might change it if I think of a better one... until then, enjoy the prologue!
From the most private, exclusive journal of Gilbert Beilschmidt, formerly known as the Kingdom of Prussia. Written on a scrap of paper stapled on the first page by the individual that gave him the journal, who also happens to be the only one that knows of its existence, worn slightly by age even with Gilbert Beilshmidt's careful handling of this particular journal, it reads:
When a state is formed its human personification is born. Contrary to popular belief, the human personification of a state does not represent the government, but the people of the land, and like the people the personification is obliged to obey the leader. When the state is formally acknowledged by larger, more powerful states, the human personification is granted immortality. The personification then becomes immune to death, though that's not saying it's immune to pain or near death experiences. It is, after all, the human personification of the state. When the state is attacked, the personification feels and endures the same amount of physical, mental and emotional pain. When the state gains more power, it shows on the personification's appearance and conduct.
There are only two ways that could put an end to the human personification. One is the death of the state itself, for the personification is attached to the state from birth. An example of dead states and their personifications include Ancient Rome, Ancient Greece, and Germania. Another way is the dissolution of the state. It's a rare, slow, painful end that no personification deserves to face; for dissolving a state is not really killing it, it's merely the act of erasing it's existence. It's like setting a phoenix on fire and scattering it's ashes to prevent its rebirth. However, unlike the phoenix, the personification disappears both in the physical sense and from the thoughts and memories of the other personifications or humans it encountered in life…
First entry by Gilbert Beilschmidt, formerly known as the Kingdom of Prussia, now known as Awesome:
Dear diary,
I am awesome!
G.B.
Second entry, written 30 minutes later:
Dear diary,
The Kingdom of Prussia has been disbanded. A few years have passed since, and I don't really feel that different, but I know it's happening. I've done enough research with some help from a very good, reliable source, and together we found that there's really no way out of this. I'm disappearing. I'm not dying. Well, I sort of am, but not in the conventional way. How lame! Anyway, it seems like I still have some time left. I don't even know when it'll happen, or how I'll know… is it like a heart attack? A stab to the gut? A pistol to the head? That would've been a better ending for the awesome Prussia.
A soldier's death.
Yea, right. It's likely to be something in the lines of this:
"Prussia; the one state that's born a soldier, always fighting, conquering, and getting conquered himself, occasionally by Hungary's frying pan... the one that just disappeared. The one everyone forgot."
Ha, as if I'll disappear without giving everyone an awesome piece of Prussia! Starting with West, Hungary, that stupid aristocrat, France and Spain… I won't cry like some silly little girl. I am the awesome Prussia, and the awesome Prussia only cries when his awesomeness becomes too much to handle even by himself, and if it comes to that his awesome tears would be that of total awesome manliness that makes specs jealous!
The guy that helped me with my research (who wants to remain anonymous.) gave me this journal to record my progress. What progress? I'm disappearing, not growing a new head! How the hell is that going to help? I could just use a calendar to count down the days I have left. But he's been very helpful, and he looked sad when we found that the process is inevitable, so I kinda owe it to him, you know? Plus he's not that bad to hang out with, almost as cool as me.
So, to start off, here's my first recording of the process of the Disappearance of Awesomeness: I feel nothing. Or I feel the same as I've always felt, whatever the hell that means. I still like beer, annoying Austria, wrestling West for the remote or for the last beer in the fridge, Ita-chan's cooking, going out with the Bad Touch Trio, and it still hurts to get hit by Hungary's frying pan. Physically. Last time she gave me a black-eyed. With a fucking frying pan.
So there, that's it. So far, I feel nothing. Oh, and one last thing: I'm still awesome!
G.B.
Latest entry by Gilbert Beilschmidt, unsigned and written in a messy, barely readable handwriting that's still unmistakably Gilbert Beilschmidt's, with some words roughly scratched out to the point where it actually tore the paper:
I don't feel so awesome anymore. I don't think I even look it. I don't know, maybe I do a little, but I'm too scared to check.
I think it's happening. I think I'm actually starting to disappear. Or maybe I've started a long time ago, and that I just reached the final stage. I recorded this many times before, but this time I'm 100% sure that it's happening. Here's why:
This morning I woke up with a blank mind. No joke, I didn't have a single thought circling in my awesome head. You know how you always sort of wake up and have something already going on up there, something that could relate to your dream, chores, plans etc.? Well, this morning I woke up with none of that. Literally, nothing. It's like some asshole from my brain pressed the mute button.
Second, I forgot Gilbird. His presence and fearlessness of mine confused me. I couldn't understand why a bird wouldn't fly away in terror when I touched it and then cradled it in my palms- and that's what I thought of him; as some bird, not awesome, kickass, beer-drinking Gilbird.
Third, and most important; I forgot myself. I looked at my mirror, and for a second I thought it was someone else until I realised that I was staring intensely at a full-length mirror. I did not only forget my name, but I forgot my physical appearance as well. And my voice. The German accent really surprised me.
Of course, since I managed to forget someone as awesome as me, it wouldn't come as a surprise to forget West. He heard all the commotion and barged in. I freaked out on him. I think I scared him a little. Hell, I'd be scared shitless if I were in his place! I'm just glad that he said my name before I could injure him, because for some reason that triggered something that brought all my memories back. And it wasn't Prussia that 'woke me up', the name of a kingdom that existed and kicked ass once-upon-a-time, it was my real, human name; Gilbert. I don't know if that has any significance whatsoever, I'm just relieved that West used it. I'm no pansy, and I know better than anyone that West can take care of himself on his own, but I wouldn't be able to live with myself if I hurt him.
I got him to leave just a few minutes ago. He refused to at first, demanding to know why I freaked out and all, and refusing to believe a single excuse I gave him. Who the hell made him the awesome big bruder? That's my job! Or is it? Now that I think about it, he's been the big bruder for a long time, and I the freeloading, useless younger bruder… Whatever. I should be out of his hair in no time, right? Right. Except I don't want to. I want to live.
Another entry from Gilbert Beilschmidt, written more neatly on the page following the last:
Dear diary,
I feel a little better now. Ita-chan cooked lunch, and it was awesome as usual. I had some beer with West. He's still very suspicious, but too busy with state-related crap to question me. I can tell that he's worried, but as far as I'm concerned, the show I put on for the both of them was pretty damn convincing. Ita-chan believed that I was being my normal, awesome self, anyway. Besides, West is pressured with work. He'll eventually forget if I keep it up.
Yea, yea, I know what you're thinking. I should tell him. He has the right to know that his big bruder's days are numbered. But whatever, fuck your dreams! You're just a journal. I am the awesome Prussia, and I won't go down without a fight!
G.B.
One last entry by Gilbert Beilschmidt, written hours later on the same page as the last:
Dear diary,
Who am I kidding? It's over. I tried getting in touch with the guy that helped me the first time, but I failed. Now that I think of it, I haven't really seen him around for years. I think he got caught. That moron, I knew they'd eventually catch up with him. But did they have to do it now when I needed him most?! Nevertheless, I don't think we'd get anywhere even with him around. We tried before and failed, remember? Why should we succeed now, anyway? It's not like technology or time had anything to do with it. Prussia's been dead since 1947. Only Gilbert Beilschmidt lives and lets face it, as awesome as he is, he's human.
Why do I still have time? I don't know. To try harder, maybe, or to say my goodbyes? Does it matter if I do? They'll always remember Prussia, but they'll forget Gilbert as soon as I'm out. Who are 'they', anyway? West is most definitely one of 'they'. Then there's Hungary, Austria, Spain, France, and maybe Ita-chan… yea, I think that's about it. Wow. For someone that conquered all the vital regions, I barely have any close friends. Screw that, I've always liked being alone, anyway. It's better. My disappearance won't be that big of an impact on them. It'd be easier for them to move on.
Ha, look at me being all nice and considerate. How fun.
Fuck. I actually have shitload of work to do before disappearing. Did you know that the last time I really, really worked was… fuck, I can't even remember. Probably sometime in the Second World War. Yea, that's probably it. I was trying to knock some sense into Ludwig's head, and believe me, that's more work that anyone could ever ask for because Ludwig is the most stubborn out of all of us Beilschmidts! I should know. I raised him myself.
Anyway, I better get started. There's only so much awesomeness left. I probably won't have the time to record anything else, but… keep a heads up, anyway. I might finish soon, or be finished before I get anything done.
And never forget: I am awesome!
G.B.
AN: The format in the coming chapters will change. I started with a journal-letter-type format just to give you an idea of what the fanfic's about. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed that :D I'd appreciate a review, especially if it's criticism (ESPECIALLY if it's on my writing... I'm afraid English isn't my native language.) OH, and if you're into Harry Potter, in specific Remus/Sirius, I'd strongly recommend you to check out Icarus's Dances with Wolves. We share this profile, so it's just a click away :D
Until next time~
Frankenstein.