It had been a devastated loss, unexpected and surprising, though Germania had done what he could to prepare his two sons, there was no way to prepare the boys for his parting. Gilbert had been in shock for the first few days, sobbing, and quiet, but then he realized that he had to take care of his little brother. It was now up to him to be the one in charge now, and feed and provide for himself and Ludwig. He was the man of the house and tried his best to do as his Vati had done, but it had turned out much harder than he imagined it could ever be. Both children had had a little ceremony for their deceased father, laying flowers on the patch of earth they had found him. Gilbert had also went to his Vati's room and grabbed the Ancient nation's sword. He lugged it and laid it on the makeshift grave. Looking to his brother, he sniffled.
"V-Vati would have been proud of us Ludie...um, actually...Ja, he was proud of us...and *hic* I miss him." Gilbert wiped his eyes, and then choked a little, and put his arm around the little nation. "Come...let's go inside, its cold out here, and I am hungry and I have to feed Gilbird."
When their father had passed away, little by little the livestock that were around the cottage had either been killed off by larger animals, or died from improper care. Gilbert had managed to save one of the eggs that a hen had laid, and it sprung a chick. He named it after himself, and vowed to take care. The little chick seemed comfortable living atop the little nation's head. Within a couple of weeks, the house was in utter shambles and they were running short on food, Gilbert was in the kitchen trying to start a fire, but with no hot coals it was very hard. Ludwig sat in a daze, sitting at the table, looking over to Gilbert. He sniffed and wiped a tear from his eye. The loss at been hard, and now with the time had past, and being told by his brother that he needed to be strong, there was a sense of nothing. Nothing mattered. Though he felt a little stronger, as he had seen Gilbert completely lose it, and break down. The boys needed to be strong. As he was now a little older than he had been in past, he got down from the chair, and stood by his brother's side.
"Do you need help Gilbie? I...I don't know what I can do...but...um...he always said...*sniff* that I should help you..." Prussia was trying hard with the flint in his fingers and hands were sooty from trying and he even had soot streaked on his face. he shook his head and frowned.
"Nein, its too dangerous for you to play with the fire. I will get it in a moment...why don't you see if that miserable chicken has laid an egg yet?" Gilbert huffed a little. Gilbird made some peeping noises, and Gilbert shook his head. "Nein Gilbird, its nothing against you!"
The chickens had been scattered by a fox a few days ago and they had only managed to save one, and it was a rooster not a hen. Prussia didn't know the difference, and just kept hoping an egg would magically appear in the hen house soon. Ludwig nodded his head. He wanted to stay and help, but it was best just to leave the nation be. Gilbert would figure it out eventually. Without saying a word, Ludwig walked from his brother, and walked outside. There was a briskness about the air. He breathed in, and kept his chin up. He knew Vati was looking down at them, or so he hoped. He walked to the chicken coop, and saw the stubborn rooster. It stared at him, and did not do anything but glare. He walked over, and poked his hand around, but all he got was a peck here and there.
"Ah, oh you stupid bird!" He grappled at his stomach, and then stuck his tongue out. "Fine...we will starve!" The nation left the coop, and walked back into the house, slamming the door. "Gilbie! It didn't do anything but peck at me. What are we going to do? I miss...I miss Vati Gilbert, we are stuck...we have no other choice...what about...*gulp* our cousins?"
Prussia had managed to get a small smoldering flame going when he heard his younger brother come in and he was trying hard to hold things together.
"NEIN! We are FINE bruder! We can do things just fine on our own. W-We just need to, um...get things organized!" He said trying hard to sound in charge, but this was so much harder and he wiped a hand over his brow streaking his face again with the soot, he sat down heavily. "What have we got left in the apple barrel? Surely there is a few shriveled apples left." He said standing up pulling at his filthy tunic.
Ludwig heard his brother shouting, and he knew this was the nation being strong. He ran over to the barrel, and looked in. Sure enough, there were a few apples left, some slightly shriveled, and a core or two. The rats might have gotten into it. He reached in, grunting slightly, and pulled them out, with a less than satisfied look upon his face.
"Eh...here bruder..." He walked over, holding out his hands. He was starving, but it was the only thing they could do. "Maybe we could kill the rooster? You still have that dagger...um...the one he gave you?" Prussia pressed his lips together.
"Nein...we cant kill him. He is the only chicken we got, and if we kill him, how can we have more chickens if we kill the only one we have!" Prussia sighed heavily and took the apple and bit into it and frowned, it was mushy, and terrible. The young nation stood up grabbing at the dagger he had on the table he had been using it to cut the last of the bread, when he heard something, sounds of someone approaching the cottage on a horse, or horses. He quickly made a motion to his brother. "Ludwig...hide...we have to be careful! It could be robbers!"
Ludwig was about to object, but heeding to his brother's warning, he quickly hid. No one knew where they were, and the house was their only protection. The little nation started to get very upset and scared. He saw his brother arm himself with the dagger, and he got by the table, kneeling down by the chair.
"Oh Gilbert...I am scared...who could be here?" His eyes starting to water. Prussia crept toward the door, with his dagger at the ready. He would be brave, and he would defend the house and protect his bruder the way his Vati had taught him. He trembled and reached for the door knob and pulled it open prepared to kill the attacking invader. Ludwig watched as his brother opened the door, and as it opened, the little one gasped. It was the last nation they had expected it to be.
"Guten Tag dearest cousins..." Ludwig looked and in walked their cousin Austria, or cousin Roddy as the little one had called him when he was little. However when the nation walked in, he was different. He was older, bigger...the years had made him into a grown teenager nation of maybe at least eighteen. Ludwig got up.
"Roddy?...what are you doing here?" Austria strolled in, wearing only the best silk blue suit one had ever seen, a white ruffled collar, and some black shiny shoes. He also had a pearly while smile, and his spectacles gleaming with a shine.
"I have come to rescue Ludwig from this desolate filth...I know my dearest departed Onkel would not want you both in this disarray...come..." Prussia saw his brother going toward Austria and he blocked the way arms out and started pushing Ludwig behind him as if to protect him.
"NEIN! We don't need your help, w-we are doing just fine. So you just...just go back where you came from Roddy!" Prussia said defensively, like heck he was going to have his snooty cousin try and lord it over them, not matter how desolate the two got he would never stoop to this level. "You get out now before I slice you up and cook you for breakfast.
Roderich looked to Prussia, and he slightly scoffed. He knew his cousin was only trying to protect Ludwig, and he just shook his head. Walking over, and pushing aside the nation with merely his hand, he walked past Prussia.
"Uh...Gilbert, this is not your choice. I have come to collect my little cousin where a much better life awaits him, you on the other hand...I knew you would be troublesome. Nothing has changed with you, except your attitude...hmmmph. Regardless of what you want, I am taking Ludwig...but there are some gentleman that can help you." Austria cleared his throat. "The Order of the Teutonic Knights...if you would be so inclined..." Prussia was agape, he couldn't believe the audacity of his cousin.
"HOW DARE you just waltz in here and decide something without even consulting me! I wont ALLOW IT IT!" Gilbert screamed and grabbed at Ludwig to keep him away from Austria. "You cannot take Ludwig, he is mein bruder and he stays with ME!" Prussia then lashed out with his dagger at Austria intent on showing his cousin that he would not allow his to conspire.
Roderich did not find the little attitude of his little cousin accepting. He simply walked over to Prussia, and with the flick of his wrist, gave a sound smack to Prussia's face, and grabbed Ludwig roughly by the arm. He sneered, showing the smaller Gilbert that he was not going to be taken on by such a boy.
"Enough of this Gilbert...I am taking Ludwig." He held the child firmly making way for the door. Ludwig called out, scared, and starting to cry. Prussia had felt the sting across his face and fell backward, he couldn't believe this was happening, it was like a terrible nightmare, but he felt not sadness now but intense anger and tried to scramble to his feet.
"AUSTRIA! AUSTRIA! YOU ARSCHLOCH!" He screamed tears in his eyes, making an inner promise to himself to get Austria back for this. Roderich just looked to his cousin, and adjusted his glasses, while rolling his eyes, and keeping a firm grip on Ludwig.
"There isn't anything you can do...the Knights will be here for you later, until then, say goodbye to your bruder so we can be on our way." Ludwig was now crying, and wiggling harder, reaching out for his brother while he screamed out.
"Nein! Nein Gilbert...don't let him take meeeeeeeee!" Ludwig now had large tears streaming down his face. Austria simply picked him up under his arm, and looked to his other cousin while Gilbert gasped, and tried to run after him.
"Bruder...don't...don't cry don't worry I will get you back!" He said as he saw how scared his bruder was and how seeing that this situation was quickly turning into something he couldn't not handle. Holding the boy, Austria looked to his cousin.
"Gilbert...I am only doing this for the fact that I care, and its what Onkel would want. You can not take care of yourself, or Ludwig. Look at the states of both of you! Ludwig will surly get sick, and he is too little. He will come to my mansion, and that's final." Austria looked sternly at Gilbert more. "You both need some distance, and he will get that with me. No worries. No hard feelings..." Ludwig looked to his brother, and sniffling, and sobbing, he was let down to say goodbye. The child quickly ran over to Gilbert and embraced him tightly.
"Ich liebe dich Gilbert...*sniff*. I don't know when I will see you again..." He leaned in, crying hard. Austria stood and waited. "Ludwig...come on...I haven't the time..."
Prussia gripped his little brother and held onto him tightly, it was the last connection he felt he had to Vati was Ludwig, his last flesh and blood. Austria had no idea how terrible it was of him to do this. He couldn't even imagine life without his little brother, and if Germania was alive, he would have not wanted them separated. It just was not fair, at all.
"It wont be for very long Ludie, I promise I will get you back very soon, you be brave and don't forget the things Vati has taught us." He said looking at him strait into his eyed and then kissed his brothers small lips and then stood up and glared at Austria. "You better take gut care of him, if I find you mistreated him I SWEAR TO YOU, I will take your vital regions from you VIOLENTLY!" He threatened.
Ludwig gave his brother one more embrace, and wiping his tears, he slowly walked over to his older cousin, and grabbed his hand. Austria looked back, and nodded his head in a stern sense.
"You have nothing to worry about Gilbert. He needs care and nutrition. And I know you will see him again, no worries, but do not threaten me...I have no qualms about dealing with you in an appropriate manner if such an instance arises." He waved a finger, and held his cousin tightly.
Prussia did not stand down from glaring at Austria almost gritting his teeth. he wanted desperately to say more threatening to Austria but did not want Ludwig's last views of him to be that of him screaming obscenities but kept a stern look trying his hardest to look brave. Austria walked outside now holding Ludwig and as he stepped out of the house he saw the approaching Knights and nodded, they would take care of Prussia and he then could feel no guilt at leaving Prussia as he was, they were instructed to take good care of him. Ludwig looked back, and waved to his brother, being dragged along, and going to his new home, which he knew he would be taken care of. As the Knights approached, the head horseman who was called Herr Alaric. He was a gentle older nation with a black beard, mustache, and donned the knight armor and gear. Sitting atop his white stead, he sat still, alongside his men behind him. He waited until the child came outside. Prussia stayed inside the house, he heard horses approaching but if they wanted him so BADLY they would have to come in and get him, he slumped down on a stool and poked at the smoldering fire that still had not taken off well and felt and the edge of despair over the entire situation, he didn't want to go with the stupid knights or whoever they were, if Austria had contacted them, then they were probably stupid and not at all awesome, no he would stay here, he didn't need anyone. Seeing as the child was inside, and did not look like he was coming out, the head knight needed to take action, after all, they were on order to come claim the child, and get on with the day. It was quite busy in the castle, and much to do, training to complete, and orders to follow. Alaric sensing that the child might be taking his time, got off the horse, and walked to the door, rapping on it slightly.
"Young nation of Prussia...please come out lad...there is no one here to harm you." Prussia frowned when he heard the voice and the knocking, how stupid of them he subconsciously wrapped his feet around the stood as if to set himself. The young nation yelled out as loudly as he could.
"NEIN, I don't need you. I am just fine and awesome by myself you can just LEAVE my VATI'S LAND NOW!" He scaled out angrily, deeper inside plotting against Austria, he was still in shock that his cousin had betrayed him and his brother this way, it was appalling if only Vati was still alive he would never have allowed this. The knight looked back at the others, and then with a slightly worried look upon his face, walked closer to the door. He peered in, and was hesitant.
"Young sir...you are not fine. With word from your cousin, he said you were to be taken care of. Our sole intention is to help you, and well...we would be most honored to have you become a Teutonic Knight alongside us. You would be the youngest member to be accepted, but we are willing to train you, and everything. Please Herr Prussia?" Prussia blinked as he heard the tone change, he turned his head to look at the door.
"H-how do I know you are REALLY Teutonic knights? My cousin is sneaky. What if you are really bandits POSING as knights and are really just planning to kidnap me and make me your SLAVE?"
Prussia said skeptically, he really couldn't be too sure of anything Austria said and these were indeed strangers. Alaric turned back to the others, and held out his hand. Within moments, the others, which were about seven disembarked off their bays, and stood ground. he had them walk over, and the head knight had them reveal their icons on their chain mail. He looked to the door.
"Come see Master Prussia, see how we are not out to hurt you. Your cousin and you may butt heads, but he does care." Prussia unwrapped his feet from the stool and started to make his way to the door still keeping his dagger gripped in his hand ready to use it if he had to, he frowned and was on his guard and inched over to the door and looked out, he blinked as he saw them men so tall and strong, their tunics as white as the snow...his eyes wide now.
"H-how can I be sure...you could have killed some knights and taken their uniforms" He said still suspicious. The main knight just shook his head.
"Nein little one...we would never let that happen, as we are undefeated knights who roam the plains. Nothing can get in the middle of us, and I ask you to please come outside...it will be fine, in face..." Alaric moved aside, and one of his men pulled alongside a white pony galloping steady. The knight walking with it also held an outfit for the boy. "Specially for you...his name is Clove..." Prussia was now in awe, had the nightmare turned into a dream?
"Is...is this really for me?" He looked to the pony, and it was glorious. He had never had something as wonderful and large. He never even got to really have a pet. "You really want me to join you and become a knight?" The young nation looked up, and said now in shock at this turn of events, he then frowned and looked up at Alaric. "Why?"