Hetalia: Race To The Finish
Once a year, a challenge would be held and accepted from each country, and a representative from each country would be chosen to honor that country in the challenge. Although the challenges were a little unique, many have failed and thus brought shame and disgrace, not only to their country, but also to their family. These challenges weren't always easy; many have lost their lives, killed themselves from shame, or even went insane. However, some countries find the challenges fun and they tend to "knock off the competition". This year would be different, though, as this is the first time since WWII when the Axis Powers, The Allied Forces, and The Austrian Succession Team will be fighting against one another once more…
Chapter One
Modern Day
Grand Canyon Caves, Arizona, America
"Be careful, Bloke," warned Arthur, a proper Englishman, to his awkward American friend, Alfred. He never really listened to Arthur's attempts at warnings, and liked adventure, especially if they were life-on-the-edge adventures. Arthur liked adventure, also, but preferred it to be one he was comfortably at home reading, while sipping his afternoon tea.
He and Alfred were told in a pub in England of secret caves in the Grand Canyon, and had decided to determine of it were true or not. Apparently, it was, because here they were, exploring the secret cave. At least until Alfred had decided to explore by himself.
"Dude," the American reassured him. "Adventure is my middle name!"
"That's what I'm worried about, Chap!" Arthur replied. He thought for a moment…"I thought your middle name was-"
"Never mind the details, man!" Alfred interrupted him, as he usually did. It was a miracle they were still such good friends.
"Not very good with those, eh?" Arthur was worried about him some times. "I swear, American. You're going to be the death of me! Just no 'eroics, k?"
"Yeah, yeah," Alfred waved it away.
"Oh, very well," Arthur mumbled, as he clipped the line on Alfred. "But if you croak like a bloody French frog, don't blame me!"
"Sure thing, my man!" Alfred smiled and saluted him as he lowered himself down the cliffside. The ledge was a little further than he had first estimated. "Stupid math….mental abuse to humans…" He mumbled as he started swinging back and forth to gain momentum and jump to the ledge. When he reached the ledge below, he turned on his flashlight and walked in. Below the ledge and himself, violent waves awaited him to fall. People who say that the Grand Canyon is dried up, have obviously not fallen in. Although, by then, no one had survived.
Inside the cave was wet and drippy. It was dark and every sound he made echoed. He then humored himself by talking to himself and listened to the echoes.
"Hey, is anyone in here?!" he waited for the echo like it was an answer. "You're smart!" He smiled that the cave told him that he was smart. Then he frowned and continued. "Oh, forget it. It's just a stupid cave."
He hadn't walked far when Arthur shouted to him: "That's it, Alfred!"
Arthur was above Alfred on the surface of the cave. The line had reached its limit. "No more slack!"
"Stupid, cheap Bungee Cord…" Alfred mumbled. He turned and reached to unclip the belt hook from his lifeline, letting it drop. Should've went to a bridge and jumped off like a bungee cord is made for, not spelunking, he thought. I need to find where this goes... No heroics, huh? Well, I guess he doesn't believe in the American Way or Adventure!
He was very proud that he was a pilot and used to be an eagle scout. He could navigate and find his way with his compass! 'face palm moment'
Arthur suddenly felt the loose drop and pulled the rope all the way back to him. "America?" He liked to tease him by just using his country's name like it was his own. It was a joke between them. They had been long-time friends, but something was so different about them and their countries. It never bothered them and they never really thought about it other than a joke.
"AHHHH!" Alfred shouted from down inside the cave.
"AAAHHH!" Arthur repeated from the surface. "Alfred, are you alright?!"
"...I'm fine, Dude! Just dropped my glasses," Alfred shouted to him. Then he laughed obnoxiously. "HAHAHAHA!"
The Englishman rolled his eyes and said, "Good grief, Chap! You nearly gave me a heart attack!"
"AAAAHHH!" The American shouted again, as bats flew out of the cave, and into the afternoon sky.
Arthur cried, shielding his eyes from the bats, "Stop that, damn American!"
"Whoa, Britain," cried Alfred, shining his flashlight on the walls of the dripping caves. The walls had serious graffiti-I mean cave paintings on them. "Hey, Dude, someone drew New York Style here! You need to see this-" someone covered Alfred's mouth and pulled him back, muffling Alfred's attempts at shouting for help. He dropped his flashlight, and it landed pointing at the drawings.
"See what, American?" asked Arthur. "Don't scare me like that, Old Bean!...Hello? Alfred? Are you down there?" No answer. "Mary, Queen of Scotts!" Arthur sighed, as he tied the rope into a loop and stepped through it to lower himself down into the cave below. "Just like Americans to think that they're bloody 'eroes," Arthur mumbled under his breath.
When Arthur reached the ledge below, he clipped the line to a stake in the ground he had just pounded into the dirt. "It seems I always have to save your bloody ass, America." He walked into the cave and turned on his flashlight. "What the bloody 'ell?" he asked when he saw Alfred's flashlight on the wet cave floor. He examined it. "It's Alfred's, alright. But where is 'e?"
Just then, he heard a few steps behind him, and he quickly stood up and turned to face three young men, no doubt, troublemakers. His pistol was drawn.
"Easy, easy," one of them spoke in a German accent. "Ve're not here to hurt chou…much…hehe…" his laughter was high-pitched. He was probably insane.
"I demand to know what is going on 'ere!" Arthur shouted.
"Mi Amigo," another spoke in a Spanish accent. "There is no need to get so worked up!"
The third one spoke in a French accent, "Oui. Your friend is fine!"
"And why the Bloody Mary should I listen to you, Frog?!" Arthur shouted again.
The Frenchman held up his index finger and waved it side-to-side, "no, no. You do not understand, and so you refer me by that 'orrid name? I thought that war was long over, Mon Ami…"
Arthur blinked and lowered his gun. The German walked over and put his arm around Arthur's shoulders as he took the gun from his hand and held it up to examine it.
"English," he mumbled and hissed in disgust. He put it into a holster on his hip.
"Your amigo is right here," the Spaniard announced. He side-stepped and Alfred stepped forward.
"Dude!" he cried.
"Alfred F. Jones!" Arthur cried. "What the 'ell happened?"
"Ok, the only time you use my full name is when I'm in trouble, you want something, or you're mocking me…" the American's smile faded and his face turned serious. "Arthur Kirkland…"
"Ja, ja," the German waved it off. He walked over to Alfred. "In a few days, you vill receive un awesome letter. Inside zat awesome letter is un invitation to un awesome Challenge. I suggest you accept it.." He suddenly pulled a knife and held it at Alfred's neck.
"AKKK!" Alfred squeaked.
Arthur blinked, and then his eyes grew wide. This guy liked to use 'awesome' a lot… he narrowed his eyes. "And if I refuse?"
"You can say guten bye to your Americon friend," the German hissed and held the knife closer to Alfred.
"I accept!" the American shouted, intimidated.
"You Bloody FOOL!" Arthur cried. "That's what he wanted you to say!"
"Vonderbar!" the German took the knife away and smiled as he walked toward the other two foreign men he came in with. "But before ve continue…" he stood by the Frenchman and Spaniard, his back to Arthur and Alfred. "Introductions…"
Arthur gulped and waited.
"Oh, my bad," Alfred said, in a 'sorry' tone. "Alfred F. Jones, at your service!" he saluted and smiled.
The German narrowed his eyes at him, but continued, "Ja, ja, I know all about you Americons…." He walked back to Alfred and started to slowly walk around him, watching him like a hawk…or a vulture… Alfred didn't like either one.
Alfred froze and slowly lowered his hand from his forehead. He gulped this time.
"…you destroyed my Great und Awesome Vazerland…" the German hissed. "But vhat is in the past, is in the past, vight?"
Arthur and Alfred nodded their heads slowly in agreement. Arthur had a bad feeling about this trio. They were bad news. "If I recall," he commented. "Germany's in one piece, right?"
The German stopped behind Alfred. Alfred liked dares, but he didn't dare look at him.
"….you Americons claim you know your history…like it's all vritten for you in a pocket calculator!" He spat in Alfred's ear. "YOU KNOW NOZING!"
"AAAHHH, you are so right!" Alfred sputtered, eyes forward, and remained at attention. "But-but someone's got to write our history…and-and heroes are part of it….and it just so happens…"
Arthur interrupted and hissed, "now is not really a good time, Chap…"
"…that I am a hero!"
The German's crimson eyes narrowed at him. Then to both Alfred and Arthur's surprise, he started laughing! The two others in the trio shrugged and started chuckling, not sure if they should laugh.
"Hehehe…" he continued to laugh, then he suddenly stopped and had a serious face again. "You're a hero…?"
"That's right!" Alfred narrowed his eyes at the strange German. "Are you mocking me?"
"I don't mean to be rude," Arthur interrupted, "but what the devil do you want from us, anyway, Bloke?"
"Your names," the German answered plainly. Then he smiled and chuckled, "so I know vhat to vrite on your graves…hehe…"
"Alright, I demand to know what the bloody Mary this is all about!" Arthur burst like a balloon. "I get it! You want revenge 'cause your land was messed up! That's all in the past, Chap! Let it go or it will destroy you, Man! Can you not see it?"
"Prussia," the German spoke plainly. "I vant my original Vazarland back. Like my grandvazar vanted. He vas Great und Awesome…"
"I'm sure he was. Now tell me what exactly you want from us!"
"ACCEPT ZE CHALLENGE!" the Prussian shouted.
The Englishman blinked. "I accept…"
The albino man smiled. He seemed pleased and content. "Very vell…my name is Gilbert Beilschmidt…DO VELL TO VEMEMBER MY AWESOME NAME FOR IT VILL BE ZE LAST SOUND YOU HEAR!"
He charged at Arthur and stopped suddenly in front of him, the pistol he took from Arthur earlier drawn and now pointed at Arthur's forehead. Arthur's own gun was now pointed at him and who knew what this insane, and unpredictable Prussian, would do next. He was breathing heavily and his eyes were wide.
Arthur's hands slowly went up to surrender. "Look," he began. "Alfred and I were just minding our own business. And we wish to continue on our merry way. And could I have my gun back, Gilbert Beilschmidt?"
The Prussian calmed down and swung the gun around in his hand, before handing it back to Arthur.
"Thanks, Chap…" Arthur said. "You're a good man, you know that?"
Gilbert's eyes widened and he blinked away… "If only you had told my vazar zhat…"
"I'm sure he knows," Alfred smiled.
"Since we 'are introducing ourselves," the Frenchman spoke up. "My name is Francis Bonnefoy!"
"Si," said the Spaniard. "My name is Antonio Fernandez Carriedo!"
"Arthur Kirkland," the Englishman replied. "Nice to meet you all," he turned to walk out. Not…he thought. "Come on, Alfred. There's nothing down here…"
"Aww, man…" the American sighed.
"Vemember ze awesome letter, Alfred F. Jones!" Gilbert called to them.
Arthur turned around. "Why did you only remember his name?"
"Becaze," Gilbert smirked. "You are staying vif us und you vill become awesome like us!"
Arthur didn't like the sound of that.
"Hey!" Alfred whined. "How come he gets to be awesome without me?!"
Gilbert, Francis, and Antonio just grinned evilly.
"Whatever," Arthur turned and someone hit him from the back. Then everything went blank. You really shouldn't turn your back on the enemy…
Just as the Prussian had said, the letter arrived two days later. Alfred Jones sighed. "Man," he held the letter and mumbled. "That damn German dude was insane! He took my bro wing-man away…every Hero needs a side-kick, right?" That's all he thought of him?!
The American sighed even deeper and looked out the window of his house. "Oh, well… Can't dwell on the past!" He dug into his latest empty-calorie meal from McDonalds.
"Have you no shame?!" he thought he heard Arthur cry.
He shrugged off the feeling. "Dude, I'm trippin'." He shook his head, trying to shake the feeling. "That German Gilbird said that he would take good care of him. So why am I so worried?...I'll text my friends later about it…"
The letter lay on the counter as Alfred stuffed down the triple-patty hamburger with everything on it into his small mouth, and slurped from the carbonated drink straw.
"Greetings, Alfred F. Jones," the letter started.
"Congratulations on your recent addition to your collection of honors and awards!"
"Sounds like they want something…" Alfred wondered out loud.
"The Annual World Challenge would like your acceptance in this year's Challenge as a proud Representative of America!"
This caught Alfred's attention…"They want me to represent America? But I'm just a kid from Brooklyn! How am I so special?" he skipped a few unimportant lines, which really were important…
"Please respond after receiving this letter within a few days and we look forward to a positive answer! Thank you and good luck, Dude!
AWC
The letter was signed by someone Alfred didn't recognize…oh, heck. He couldn't even read the guy's handwriting!
"Dude?" Alfred repeated. "…They're speaking my lango!" He smiled and scarfed down the last bite of his diabetic-causing food.
He rushed to his iphone and turned on his computer. "Time to watch stupid youtube!"