Happy two year anniversary everybody!

This is the re-written, re-edited version of chapter 1 of Forbidden Love, the first fan fiction (and completed story) I ever wrote - first written in December of 2011. I've grown a lot as a writer since then and I wanted to improve this, because honestly, it was horrible. I look back at the first chapter and just shake my head in shame. And wow, Arthur was cheesiness on wheels, not to mention he had little to no character development and was completely helpless. But, I've come to fix that! So, yay for improvement! I may or may not re-write every single chapter, but here's this one.

(Oh, and I'd also like to note that I'm not a history major and I have a vague idea of England and France fighting over America in the early years… or was it America fighting France while under England's rule? So sorry for any inaccuracies.) And from what I understand a natural blue rose is basically impossible so yay for fiction/magic!

I don't own Hetalia or its characters.

Enjoy and happy reading!

Forbidden Love

Chapter 1

War

The proud and glorious nation of England sat in his large plush armchair, sipping tea and enjoying the peaceful afternoon. The chair its self was ancient. It's red and gold pattern was faded, but England liked it that way. It reminded him of the old days, when it was a simpler, more civil time. He was drinking his favorite tea, Earl Grey, while reminiscing on those past sunsets. He remembered when he first met America. It was a day very similar to this one. A nearly cloudless sky as the sun was setting in the west, and the horizon was painted a dazzling red, orange, and purple. He remembered how brightly America smiled when he was little, how happy he was, and how upset he was when England had to fight France for ownership. Those were bloody battles.

America came running up to him one day, carrying his bunny named Freedom, crying. When England asked him what happened he was more than distraught when he heard that 'A scary Frenchmen' kept bugging him for his land.

"Damned bastard..." He muttered into tea cup, remembering the many battles he fought France for America.

And that memory triggered the memory of the Hundreds' Year War, and the Napoleonic Wars, and the Breton War, and the Vexin War, and the Anglo-Norman War, and all the other wars he had to fight because of that sodding, wine chugging idiot. All the aggravation he caused. All the stupidity he inspired. How many years he had wasted battling him over and over again. Oh, how he despised that man! And thus another peaceful afternoon for England was ruined, once again, by France.

"Bloody hell!" England exclaimed, slamming his tea cup onto its saucer. "Does France have to ruin every happy thing I have? Just thinking of him makes me want to punch that pompous face of his! He even poisons my memories, the damned frog faced… " He continued to mumble into his half drunken cup of tea until he had stopped grimacing.

Putting his tea down and getting up from his chair England stormed into his kitchen where the back door was, knowing he wasn't going to have the relaxing afternoon of sipping tea and reading Shakespeare he wanted. He turned off the stove where his kettle was whistling, queuing him for what was going to be his next cup of chamomile tea.

He unlocked his backdoor leading to his backyard garden, letting the door fling back and forth behind him until its springs had calmed and come to a halt. He walked over to his rose bushes, a place where he could usually forget his troubles and thoughts, while getting wrapped up in the delicate pruning and adoration of his well cultivated flowers. This year, the fine year of 2038, England had finally attempted to create the blue rose. Through he had yet to yield the fabled blue flower his efforts weren't completely in vain. He had created a somewhat blue-ish purple bud, which was pretty close. And more over, these hybrid flowers attracted his magical winged friends! Yes, more and more fairies were coming to the garden to bask in the beautiful rose bushes, which England had appropriately named the 'Fairy Rose'. He hoped that one of his friends would show up so that he could talk to them and get his mind of the blond haired man plaguing his thoughts.

And indeed after about an hour of pruning, watering, and weed whacking the sun had set, the stars were shining and England heard his name being called by one of his fairy friends.

"England! England! Oh I'm so glad I found you!" A glowing blue light came from just outside the forest that was behind England's house. "It's me! Ariel! Carissa told me to come get you! She said it was urgent."

As the blue light flew closer to England he saw that it was Ariel, a light fairy whom he hadn't seen since 1855.

He instantly stood to greet his friend, "Oh, Ariel! It's so nice to see you! How have you been? I haven't seen you in centuries! You're looking wonderful! Did you do something with your hair? What do you think of these roses? I'm trying to create the blue rose, but as you can see I haven't gotten there yet. Do you like them? They're named aft-"

"England!" The little blue light fairy interrupted frustrated. "Please! Come with me; Carissa – the time fairy – needs to see you! It's incredibly important!" Ariel fluttered over to England's head and began to pull at his hair, trying to get him to follow her.

"Alright, alright!" He said chuckling.

Ariel flew over to the forest behind them, looking over her shoulder to see if England was keeping up with her feverish pace. Soon they reached the end of England's garden and the outskirts of the woods. Ariel flew up to a particularly thick patch of trees, raised her tiny arms up into the air and parted them swiftly, dividing the trees with her magic to reveal a dirt path hidden behind them.

"Amazing!" England exclaimed, "What did you do?!"

"It's a portal to our hideaway! This way quickly!" Ariel cried, her little wings flapping furiously in the wind.

England's heart was filled with excitement. He quickly copied Ariel's fast pace. Looking to his sides as he ran through the thick groves of trees and bushes, England spotted small and strange looking mushrooms and flowers growing at the sides of the path. They seemed to glow. As they moved further, small glowing flowers sprouted the earth floor mixing with the strange mushrooms. The forest became darker with every step they took and the mushrooms and flowers shone brighter and brighter. Soon he could see that they shined a fluorescent blue. As they walked further into the heavily over grown woods the luminescent plants became greater in number until the entire forest was lit up by their blue shine. Finally Ariel came to a stop in front of a giant oak tree. Ariel flew up to it and knocked on a small door, the size of a fairy, in the middle of the moss covered oak.

"Carissa! Carissa! Hey, listen! It's me, Ariel! I found him! Hurry up!" England had a hard time listening to the light fairy's words, for he was lost in the unbelievable sight before him.

In front of him stood this magnificent oak tree covered in the most beautiful plants he had even seen. The blue luminescent mushrooms and strange looking flowers flourished at the base of this mighty oak, climbing up it and standing horizontally on its old dark brown bark. Vines from each surrounding tree and bush had grown and attached themselves to the giant mother tree. Moss and flowers grew on these vines, petals dripping down from them like rain. The tree's leaves were such a stunning deep emerald green, a shade of which England had never seen on a leaf before, so vibrant, so deep, and luscious. England felt as if he had come stumbled across some kind of royal hidden palace, stowed away in the depths of a forest only letting a select few into its midst.

A loud click of a lock opening brought England's attention back to Ariel, who sighed in relief. "Finally!" She said then turning around to face England. She frowned her brow and bit her tongue as she focused deeply. Then waving her arms up and down, swirling and cascading, she said, "Okay England, this may or may not hurt."

"Wait what?!" England screeched, being forcibly taken away from the sight of beauty he was admiring. "How much hurt?"

"Well if you'd quit moving and let me focus I won't burn your arm off!" She shouted, her cheeks blushing in frustration.

England then proceeded to stand as still as physically possible in fear of a fiery fairy induced death. Suddenly Ariel's eyes began to glow and England's hair began to float as he was enveloped into a sparkling blue light, which he could only assume was Ariel's magic. Ariel held her breath and puffed out her cheeks as England began to float in the air. Struggling to raise her arms as if she was lifting a ton of bricks, England began to shrink. The already huge oak tree became larger and larger to England's eyes as he became smaller and smaller. Finally, after what seemed like forever for Ariel, he was the size of a nymph and the exhausted fairy let out a long held breath. As soon as she did though her magic had stopped and England fell from where he was being held midair.

"Oh no!" As quick as she could Ariel flew over to England and was thankfully able to catch him before he hit the ground, fracturing his now two inch spine. "Well, that was a close one…"

But, England was much too happy about this whole thing to care about being dropped the equivalent of 50 some-odd feet and almost breaking his neck. All he could think was, "This is amazing!"

Ariel puttered back over to the door in the tree and kicked it open, her hands being quite full at the time. Huffing and puffing she said, "I'm here!" promptly dropping England on the floor of the time fairy's house.

"England…" Carissa said affectionately, "I haven't seen you in so long, how you've grown..."

England looked up. Across the room of this hollowed out tree sat an old but beautiful fairy. Her long and white hair shown like the silver moon which hung in the night sky with grace and beauty. Her bright blue eyes, which glimmered like the sky, were the same shade of azure from the luminescent mushrooms growing outside. Her ears were pointed at their tips and her cheeks were dusted with the pink blush of nostalgia as she looked onto her old friend. She rose from her seat and walked to England's side.

"Carissa?" England asked his eyes wide with shock. "Is that really you?"

The fairy nodded softly, "Yes, it's me. It's been a while hasn't it?"

"It's been ages! I haven't seen you in centuries! Where have you been all this time? Oh, look at you! You look exactly the same as when I first met you." And it was true. The ancient time fairy had retained her youthful beauty throughout the years of her long life. Her long silver hair flowed and shined with the same brilliance as it did nine centuries ago. Her face was smooth and pale as her bright sapphire eyes shown with the same kindness and wisdom.

"I can't say the same as you England. Look how you've grown!" Carissa smiled with such joy as she looked upon her dear friend. It had been so long since she had seen him. And she had looked for him for so long. She spread her arms, offering a long overdue hug to England. He gladly took it. "I remember when you were just a little thing, always romping around in the forest with France, you two are so alike-"

England's face stiffened with resentment and he pushed away from their embrace to sneer, "I am nothing like France! He's a piss drinking asshole and worse than filth! I will never be like him!" He yelled, clutching his fists and slamming his foot down onto the floor, sending a commanding bang throughout the entire home.

With that sudden outburst of rage Carissa's face fell. Her smile melted and turned into regretful frown. Her calm and happy disposition turned into one of grimace.

Her stance changed and her eyes flashed of a brief second when she ordered in an arresting voice, "England!" breaking him from his rage induced trance.

With that England shook his head lightly, blinking and confused. "Oh, yes, I'm sorry about that." He said rubbing his head. Those outbursts had been coming to him more and more often lately. "I don't know what came over me. But enough about me! How have you been?"

Looking at England standing next to her, memories of the past struck her like a baseball bat she didn't see coming. She couldn't help but smile. England was her very best of friends and she had been waiting for this day when they would meet again for so, so very long. England saved her life in so many ways. They had known each other for so many years of their lives. So many stories they shared, so many memories, so much time, so much of themselves. Carissa took in a long breath and sighed. For as much as she had yearned for this day, she dreaded it just as much.

For this was when they would say goodbye.

"England my dear, though there is nothing else I could wish for more than to talk with you endlessly, there is a something that I must tell you… And I'm afraid it is much too important to delay any further."

"What do you mean?" England asked raising his eyebrow in question.

"Please, take a seat. There is much I need to discuss with you."

Carissa brought England over to the end of the room where a table and two chairs made of wood lay. They were old and looked like they hadn't been used in a long time. As England sat in the chair opposite Carissa he began to remember where they were. It was the table and two chairs he had made for her when he was just a child; he was only 206 years old when he made them. They were a birthday present for her two hundredth and sixteenth birth day. He spent a whole week making them and did his very best to keep them a secret from Carissa. He remembered the shock and joy on Carissa's face when he surprised her with the fairy sized table and chair set.

She said, "But, why are there two chairs?"

And with his childish grin he answered, "One's for you and one's for me! When I grow up I'll be a powerful wizard and I'll be able to shrink myself down to your size!" That day they spent the whole day in their favorite field of flowers, laughing and playing together.

Smiling at the memory he asked, "So, what is it you need to tell me?"

Carissa looked into his eyes deeply in despair, "The world is in danger England, and I fear that all life itself will perish."

"What?" He asked, his voice rising along with his alarm.

"I've travelled to the future and back, and soon there will be a great war that ends this world and all life within it."

England's eyes widened in shock, "What?! How can that be? Who did it? I demand to know!" England took Carissa's word as gospel. And he was not about to let someone end the world on his watch!

Carissa sighed heavily, how was she supposed to tell him this? Her best friend, her oldest friend, and her most beloved friend how was she supposed to tell him that…

She moved her hair away from her face and looked deeply into England's eyes with great despair. "It was you."

"…Me?" He asked bewildered.

He couldn't believe what he was hearing. He was going to destroy the world? Why? He would never do such a thing. He loved the world! But this was Carissa talking, the great ever wise time fairy. She was his oldest, most loved, and trusted friend. She would never tell a lie.

"Yes, you."

"Well there must have been a reason for it!" He argued vigorously, his hands gesturing through the air in distress.

"No, there isn't." Carissa answered remaining quiet and somber.

"Well there must have been something! There's no way I would end the world! Especially for no good reason!" He protested. "Carissa, I've known you since I was a boy and I've always trusted you, but this are ridiculous!" Carissa could hear the distain, anger, and hurt in England's voice.

"England!" She screamed, her temper finally giving out. She stood and slammed her fist down on the table below, "I went to the future and saw it with my own two eyes! You destroy everything! And the only reason is to rid of France!"

"What?!" None of this made any sense. Of all the reasons to destroy the world, why would it have to do with France?

"You're a country, England." Carissa closed her eyes and sighed, "You're genetically made to follow your people's will. You have little to no choice on how you feel or react with varying scenarios. Your genetic make-up changes due to your people. You're predisposed to like what they like, hate what they hate, and feel what they feel. It's what you are. You are a personification of the people of England. So you must have no control over your actions, right?"

England looked at Carissa's remorseful face. "Carissa I don't understand." He said shaking his head in confusion, "You're telling me I'm going to kill everyone! What does that have to do with me being a nation? And what do you mean 'I have no control over what I do' that I'm 'predisposed to what my people think'? I'm not some kind of robot, programmed to do what I'm commanded to!"

Carissa immediately stood, took hold of England's shoulder and brought him into a close embrace. "Of course you're not!" She said holding him tight, "You make decisions and you live your own life. You think for yourself and make your own decisions. That's who you are, because you're human! When you cry, when you feel immense sadness, shame, guilt, remorse, and pain, you are Arthur. When you feel overwhelming happiness, unbound joy, incredible pride, overpowering laughter, and true love, you are Arthur. That is Arthur Kirkland, the man who lives as England. That's the part of you that makes up you. The part of you, you know as you. But… but, you also have another side, you're nation side."

"You're burdened with the duties of a nation. You must protect your people by any means necessary. Even if that means you must kill... from hundreds of years. You have to endure that. And no man could ever go through hundreds even thousands of years of such pain without losing their sanity. That's why Mother Nature created nations… They are a culmination of the people will to withstand that pain. But at the loss of their freedom and their emotion. During a war you are England. England fights, England kills, England is the people. He is there so that you can retain your humanity. So in a sense, there are two of you: England – the personification, and Arthur – the human."

"So, you're saying I'm two different people?" He asked taking a step back from their embrace.

"No, you are one in the same but… It's very complicated." Carissa rubbed her face and sighed heavily, trying to find the right words, "Try to think of it like this, the both of you have had the same experiences and memories, and of course share the same body. One of you who is influenced solely by your people, and one who has free will. Every nation retains a human side, though yours has grown weaker than you nation self."

"But I-"

"I know it's confusing but please just listen." He nodded. "Have you been extremely aggravated lately?" She asked in concern.

"Well…"

"Especially when talking about France?"

"Why are you bringing that fucking asshole up?!" He raged standing from his seat again and slamming his fists onto the table in front of him.

Carissa raised an eyebrow and gave him a shrewd look, "See?" She said.

England cleared his throat and sat down quietly.

"So you hate France, yes?"

"Of course! Why wouldn't I hate that fowl smelling, no-good, alcoholic, perverted, lazy, inconsiderate, fucking –" With each passing word England became more and more enraged until his blood boiled with disgust, his face red in fury, and the urge to kill growing and becoming very difficult to resist.

"Arthur!" Carissa roared, commanding him to stop. She stood slamming her fists down on table creating a loud bang to echo across the room.

England blinked and shook his head, "Ow…" He said rubbing his forehead. He felt like he just came out of a strange daze.

"Why did you call me by my human name?" He asked sitting back down in his chair carefully, still feeling dizzy.

Carissa dusted off her dress and sat down as well.

"Well," she said placing her hair away from her face, "that's where we get to the next bit."

Carissa breathed out, "Let's see," she said trying to find the words, "I guess I should just say it bluntly… You're in love with France."

There was a long pause.

England frowned his brows and looked out the corner of his eyes in both confusion and thought.

"No… No I hate France." He said slowly. "Yeah, no, I'm pretty sure I hate him!" The sarcasm practically dripped from his voice and spilled onto the carpet.

Carissa laughed, "I'm not joking." She said with a hidden smile, "You really are in love with him."

England looked at Carissa in both shock and disgust, "You can't actually be insisting that I love him?! I despise him!"

She chuckled a bit, "No, of course you don't England. Your people hate France's people and thus, the personification of the people of England will despise him… But you have another side, remember?" She said, the scheming in her voice echoing.

"That side of you, who has his own will and makes his own decisions, loves him."

Utter dumbfounded-ness was plastered across England's face, "Why?" He asked almost helplessly.

Carissa shrugged, "I don't know. You never told me."

England covered his face with his hands. He was so confused. He didn't understand a thing. What was Carissa talking about? Loving the one man he hated more than anyone else? Destroying the world? He was two different people, but the same? A long silence cloaked the room.

Carissa looked to her distressed friend out of the corner of her eyes, "Do you want to ask him?"

"What?" England asked looking up.

Carissa crossed her legs and sat back in her chair, "Because of your people's ludicrous and drastic opinions, you haven't been able to 'connect' with your human self. I can use my magic to bring him out."

At this point, he did really have much of a choice. He nodded slowly. "…If you think that'll help."

"Sit up straight and try not to move." Carissa ordered, "Prepare yourself. This is going to be painful." She warned.

And with that Carissa stood, closed her eyes, and began so breath slowly, calming her mind. Raising her hands slowly she began to recite the spell, "May the strings of fate, which bind your soul and restrict your mind unchain and scatter! Replica made by man, bound and unwilling, remove yourself and let us see the true soul which lies underneath you!" As her arms ascending slowly, Carissa began to glow gold and sapphire. Great winds blew her long silver hair back and forth.

A burning sensation began emitting in England's heart. It was dull at first, but as the spell went on the pain grew. He tried to bear it but soon he screamed out in agony.

Despite the wails of pain Carissa went on, "You, who have been trapped within your own mind, take my hand which is offered to you in kindness, and release yourself! The chains which bound you to lies and restriction have been broken! You are free!"

As each word was spoken the excruciating heat accelerated. His chest felt like it was being ripped open. Muscles and tendons were being split from the inside out as his heart burnt like fire. It felt as if he was being torn apart be a wild beast.

The air was heavy, he could barely breath. Wind blasted through the room, tossing and tumbling. Under Carissa's feet strange and foreign writing that glowed brightly with Carissa's words. Carissa, now floating in the air, her hands raised fully, her hair swirling in the wind, and her voice booming, recited the last line of the spell.

"Now! Speak Arthur!" And with that Carissa's eyes shot open. He gasped as air had rushed back into his lungs. In a single moment the pain was gone, and what replaced it was relief. Slowly Carissa descended from where she had been floating. Her azure eyes now glowing crimson red.

"Arthur. It's good to see you." She greeted lovingly, as she would a long lost friend. "You have finally been freed from the pits of your subconscious. Feeling okay?"

Arthur groaned. His head pounding, "Carissa?" He asked weakly.

"Hi." She said waving her hand enthusiastically and smiling.

"Ugh, what just happened?" He asked rubbing his head and looking around the room.

"Arthur I need you to listen to me and trust me. Please, this is important!" Carissa begged as she prepared herself to explain everything she just said all over again. She really didn't want to him asking stupid questions she already answered thrown at her, but she knew she had to and that she had little time.

She took in a long deep breath and spoke like her life deepened on it, "Okay, so you know how you're the personification of England?"

"Yeah."

"And your people make up your personality, beliefs, and opinions? But you have a will of your own?"

"Yep."

"Well, that's called your 'human side' and when your people or government go a little nuts you're able to nudge them in the right direction?"

"Yes."

"Well, your people went completely insane and pushed your human side into the subconscious of your mind. The person I'm talking to right now is purely your human side, the part of you that has complete free will and isn't influenced in any way by your people."

"…Okay."

Carissa took another quick breath, "Okay, so in the future your people's hate will boil to a point where they will be willing to start an all-out war with France. In the process of trying to literally wipe France off the face of the Earth you destroy the entire planet, killing everyone. And because your people have gone so bat-shit crazy you, your human half, can't do anything to stop them."

Though Carissa's voice was at an almost comically fast paced Arthur was able to ascertain what she was saying. "I'm just going to kill everyone?! There's no way we can stop it?"

Carissa took a moment and paused. She looked at Arthur, smiling. He was just told such an insane and completely improbable story and yet trusted her without any hint of doubt; that was the Arthur she knew. She sighed in relief, "Yes there is a way, because you're in love with France."

Arthur's ears pulled back and his face tightened, blushing a bit. "W-well, it's not like I love him. I mean he's my very close friend and I guess if I had to choose someone he wouldn't be the last person no Earth I would pick… But you know, I mean I've known him since childhood and he's really nice when he wants to be and… Oh, you know, whenever I'm down he's always there to pick me up and make me laugh even if it's at his own expense and…" With every passing word Arthur became more and more aware of how unconvincing he sounded. And finally decided to admit it. …But, only to Carissa. "Okay how did you know?"

Carissa smirked. "Because I can cheat. I can travel through time; one of the timelines I travelled to was that the war between you and Francis had ended because you had become strong enough to overpower your people's will, due to your love for the nation you were fighting."

With grimace the fairy sighed, "Arthur, I'm afraid we cannot go on with idle chat."

"You call the end of the world idle chat? Jesus, I'd like to see your schedule." He said rolling his eyes.

She smiled gently. It had been so long since she had spoken with Arthur. Even though her news was bleak, he still was as obnoxious as he always had been. She had missed that dearly. Though Carissa was thoroughly enjoying talking to her old friend, she knew that this spell wasn't going to last forever and she had a duty to fulfill.

Carissa couldn't help but laugh, "Witty as always, dear friend. But, I must tell you this. Please listen carefully."

Arthur looked into Carissa's eyes, still glowing crimson, and saw the significance of her meaning. He nodded, solemnly. "In order for the human side of a nation to grow stronger is to live in harmony with their people. When there is prosperity and kindness the human side and nation side mesh, and you both become stronger, more connected, and gain more will."

Arthur looked to Carissa with worried eyes, "But, we're fighting against my people! They've gone insane! How am I supposed to connect and become one with them when I don't want what they do, which is blowing up the world?!"

"There is another way. In a time like this, when a nation must fight against their own people, their own government, or themselves, the human half retreats into their subconscious of the mind to regain strength… Quiet a brilliant little thing Mother Nature came up with."

"So that's what we need to do?" Arthur asked. "Send me into my subconscious so that I can regain strength?"

"Yes. And hopefully you will gain enough to overcome your people."

"That is the only way?"

"…Yes."

Arthur face was consumed in thought, "And if it doesn't work?"

"Then all hope is lost. You will become an unstoppable monster and destroy the world."

"But, wait!" Arthur looked to her almost frantically, "You said that you came back from the future! You said that I stopped my people because I realized my love! You so that with your own eyes! So we have nothing to worry about, right?" He insisted. He didn't want to believe this, even though he knew what must happen.

Carissa looked to Arthur and sighed wearily, "That was from one possible timeline. You of all people should know that 'time can be re-written'. …I also saw a timeline in which you destroyed the world with this war. I came back in time to ensure – no, to help you make the right decisions."

"So that's it? I go into my subconscious and try to remember why I don't want to kill France?" Arthur asked looking into Carissa's glowing red eyes, her hair flowing around her. She nodded.

"My dear friend," Carissa said with the kindest, warmest smile of motherly love and worry painted across her soft pale face, "I fear this is our one and only chance. If you do not overcome your people's will then, we're all fucked."

They couldn't stop themselves from laughing. No matter how dire the situation one of them just had to crack a joke. If they didn't, then they'd surely cry.

"Well then," He said smiling as he puffed out his chest, trying to act brave, "Wish me luck."

Carissa looked to him, her eyes beginning to flicker from crimson to teal. The golden-sapphire glow surrounding them was dimming. They didn't have much time left.

She was silent. Her face twitching as she forced herself not to cry. She didn't want to say goodbye to her friend, her very best of friends, but she knew that this might be the last time she would ever see him. She had to say goodbye. Her eyes were changing. The light that engulfed them was fading. And Carissa's magic was waning. She knew that she only had moments left before her strength gave out and the spell was completed. Her upper lip was quivering and her eyes were welling up on the brink of tears Carissa whispered, "Good luck… and goodbye my dearest friend."

Arthur smiled a sad smile. "Goodbye Carissa."

And with that Carissa lifted her hand above her head and spoke one last time, "Please, remember Arthur. Keep fighting; never stop fighting for love!"

She cast down her hand with one final stroke and the spell was cast, sending Arthur into his subconscious. And leaving the world's fate in his hands.

Hate. Rage. Disgust. Fear. Resentment. Distrust. Pain. Regret. Lies. Anger. Threats. Curses. Conflict. All of it filled the world conference room as the country of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Republic of France stared each other down in pure, unfiltered rage.

"Now, I've called you both here to discuss the war." America announced, looking at the opposing nations. "Not as countries, but as friends." America looked to Russia, who was sitting to his left, out of the corner of his eye.

Russia gave a soft nod and America turned to England in distress. This wasn't business, this was family. "Artie, this has gone on for far too long! You have to stop this!" He pleaded, his voice filled with despair. For years it was like Arthur had been changing into a completely different person. Seeing his best friend turn into something so cruel, so angry, so sad, it broke Alfred's heart.

"Shut up, America!" England shouted through clenched teeth, his eyes flaring in anger. "Know your place!"

"Know my place?!" Alfred rebelled, "If you two go through this you're going to kill us all!"

"I would much rather die than live alongside this filth who dares to call himself 'human being'!" He spat pointing to the furious nation sitting opposite him.

Desperate and hurt Alfred tried to convince England to stop this war in any way he could. "Well, that's all fine and good! If you want to kill yourself that badly then go ahead! But don't kill the rest of us with you!" He begged, "Arthur, please! The nuclear weapons you two have are extremely powerful and incredibly unstable! If one of you were to fire your weapons half the world would be caught up in its destruction at best! Not only will you kill your enemy, but also yourselves! Not to mention the billions of innocent people around you! Arthur if you do this then you're just going to kill yourself!"

England looked to America and snarled in disgust, "As if I would do something as stupid as suicide! Also, I deeply resent the fact that you would think that I don't have the engineering ability and technology to take France out precisely and swiftly. And furthermore I do, in fact, have an immense amount of weapons ready and at hand. I have more than enough fire power to take out this abomination," He said turning to France, practically spitting at him with his gaze, "And the rest of the world with me, if I so desired. However!" He added turning back to Alfred, "That would be a last resort option, only to be taken place if another nation got involved in our war." He said, slamming his fist down on the desk in front of them.

England looked straight into Alfred's eyes and hissed, "If I'm going down, he will come with me!"

This was a threat. And Alfred knew it.

He sighed. This war of threats and terrorizations had been building up tension for over a year, and both nations were hitting their boiling points. Alfred looked to Russia through the corner of his eye and lightly pointed toward the door. "I'm calling a five minute recess." Alfred and Russia rose from their seats and stepped out of the conference room, while the other two nations stayed behind.

"God!" Alfred said exasperated, rubbing his face in frustration, "Can you believe him?" He asked turning to the silver headed man beside him, "I think he's actually going to kill everyone just to kill France!" Waving his hands around in the air, Alfred paced up and down the hall as quickly as his legs would take him, trying to burn off the bundled up anxiety he had to hold in during the meeting. The building was empty and the rooms were soundproof, so Alfred had no qualms with yelling at the top of his lungs. Ivan and Alfred had spent so much time there over the years it was more like another home for them.

When Alfred didn't hear the immediate response he was expecting from Ivan, he turned to see Ivan's concerned and thought entwined face.

"You know," Ivan said frowning, "The way England blew up just then reminded me of you when you accused me of the 'Pure Violet Russian' plan in 2087… I saw the same rage in his eyes, but without the concern you had for my people."

Alfred's pacing stopped and his face fell as he sighed. The 'Pure Violet Russian' plan. The memories of that time still felt like a knife in Alfred's heart. Every time he thought of that guilt washed over him like the crashing wave of the ocean.

"Ivan, I'm so sorry…" He said, his head lowered and his voice quiet.

"Alfred?" Ivan asked, broken from his train of thought.

"For everything… I let you get hurt. I could have lost you… Y-you could have died! I'm so sorry."

Ivan looked onto Alfred's defeated figure. "Stop it." He said sternly placing his hand on Alfred's shoulder, "Don't blame yourself for something I did." Ivan brought up his hand from Alfred's shoulder to his face, stroking his cheek gently, "If it wasn't for you… I wouldn't be standing here, by your side." Alfred looked in to Ivan's eyes. They were soft and kind, his true eyes. They were the eyes he fell in love with.

A stupid grin tugged at Alfred's lips as he looked up at Ivan's gentle smile. He chuckled and pulled Ivan into a hug. "Aw, shut up you big lug! You're making me feel all sappy!"

"I love you Alfred." Ivan whispered.

"Thanks for always being there for me. I love you too…"

"You disgusting, filthy piece of shit! This time I will rid of you once and for all! You unloved fucking bastard, everyone will be better off with you dead and gone!" England shrieked, grabbing hold of France's collar and bringing his face to his.

"He's been my best friend ever since I can remember. But, I've always fought him. Always hated him. I don't want to hate him. Come on you stupid asshole, wake up already!"

"Get your hands off me!" France snared, batting away England's hand. "How dare you?"

"How dare I? How fucking dare I? You are the most atrocious excuse for a human being I've ever seen! All you care about is yourself!"

"What?!" France shouted, his face tensing in rage.

"You are the most manipulative piece of shit I've ever known! You should have killed by the Nazis when you surrendered to them!" England dug his fingers into France's chest as he growled menacingly through gritted teeth, "While I fought with my life to keep Europe safe!"

"He had to surrender; he wasn't prepared. None of us were. But even after he surrendered, there were underground armies. He still fought for what he knew was right. That's more than I can say about myself…"

At that, France snapped. "I died in that war! My people suffered, and died, and fought, and wept, in that war! Mass murder and genocide! You think I chose that?" His voice was not only of his own, but that of millions, screaming. "I did what I had to, to keep my people alive. I fought, alone, while dying in the hands of monsters. No thanks to you, 'ally'! You left me to rot!"

Roaring with resentment England took a step forward, forcing France into the wall behind him. "You surrendered, you ran, you were a coward!" Hissing with disgust he inched closer to France's face, "You call people your friends, but the second you think you might get hurt, what do you do? You run! With your tail between your legs like the fucking two-faced dog you are!"

"He's always been there when I needed him. As allies. As friends. When we were young, alone and afraid, when we had no one to turn to who rescued us from the depths of isolation and loneliness? He did. He saved me. No one else. He is the only person I have truly loved."

"Enjoy what days you have left of the pitiful thing you call your life! Because I promise," England grabbed France's shirt and brought his face to his once again, "Oh, I promise." He growled with all his hatred, "I will make you cry France. I will make you weep." England's eyes burnt with murder. "You won't just die. You will bleed. You will cry out in pain and beg for mercy. I will humiliate you. I'm going to make you surrender. I'm going to make you and your people my slaves. And then, after I have crushed you, down to the fibers of your soul, I'm going to kill you!"

"This means war, like you've never known." France spat right in England's face, grabbed his wrist, and through it to his side like a dirty rag. He had enough of this ridicule. He pushed England to the side and made for the exit, slamming the door behind him.

"No! You can't go to war! You can't kill him! If dies then I'll be alone again! Who will make me laugh? Who will make me smile? Who will make me happy to be alive? Who will I have to hold when my fears overwhelm me? Who will I have to turn to when I'm hurt? Who you will I have to fill the hole in my heart that has been killing me? Who will love me? Who will I have to love? I don't want this!"

"Fucking bastard!" England growled, whipping France's spit off his face, "He will die by my hand. No matter what the cost!"

War had begun.

To be continued…

Hope you liked it! I really had a blast writing this! I'm really proud and extremely happy about all the improvement I've made in the past two years and I hope you guys are too.

Anyway I really like Arthur's - new and improved - character. He's kind of a smug asshole that knows shit's going down but takes it with a grain of salt, cracking a wise joke at any chance he gets, usually at himself. I also see him accepting his fate as time moves on and openly accepts Francis' love for him, along with his faults and attributes. Sort of a, "Well, it sucks to be me but I can't do anything about it, so I might as well make the best of it," kind of attitude. (I don't know if you can really pick that up in this chapter since Arthur has such little screen time, but that's what I had in mind.)

Let's see what else did I change? I made the world meeting scene way more intense and way less cheesy. Changed Alfred and Ivan's scene to better connect to Pure Violet Is Killing Me. It used to be like 1,800 words, now it's 7,700 +. Super yay on that one! I kept dear old Carissa the same as she was intended to be in the original, but you can actually understand her character now – Ariel too. The beginning is like an actually story and not just, 'this happened and then that happened' bull crap. So overall huge improvement!

Thank you all so much for two years of fanfic writing and here's to many more!

Remember, reviews make the writer happy!