Alfred swiped the back of his hand against his forehead. His ship had just arrived at the port of, Quanzhou, China. With just a smile and The Travels Of Marco Polo he slowly walked off the boat staring in awe at the new land around him. There where merchants selling spices of all sorts some selling pearls and ivory, men of different races were talking amongst themselves as they haggled for a good price. This was the first time Alfred had ever set foot on land out of America, he hoped that it wouldn't be the last.

He set off deciding the best course of action was to find a place to sleep that night, after trying to ask some natives to almost no success Alfred stumbled upon an inn. He walked in and decided to give his best at trying to ask for a room, he was pleasantly surprised when the man across the counter spoke english, trying to gesture and speak broken chinese seemed to have failed him so far.

Soon, Alfred had a room, it contained a small bed and a desk in the corner it was the best he could do at the moment. He flopped down on the bed and pulled out a map, he was going to need to be in, Ningde in two days. He needed to devise the shortest route he could take. He decided to go back downstairs and ask the man at the counter for some help after all he was a native and he seemed knowledgable and well travelled enough to speak more than one language.

Alfred learned the man's name was Yao, his family lived down in Shantou near Hong Kong. Luckily enough for Alfred the man had happened to travel a decent amount in his life time and was able to help him find the shortest route where he could possible be picked up by a rickshaw. Alfred thanked the man for his help and gave him a tip before giving him a nod and turning back to his room.

Alfred was about to follow in the steps of his hero, Marco Polo. He had read stories of the man when he was younger and his father had saved up his money to buy him a copy of the book that was now resting on the desk. He decided to skim through it again for probably the thousandth time in his life. He quicky grew obsessed with the book when he was younger and by the time he hit eighteen he was planning a trip of his own to follow in the mans footsteps, much to his parents dismay. They were sure he would never survive the trip, when he left his mother hugged him so tight it was almost as if she was scared to let go. When she did however with watery eyes his father gave him a hug himself maybe letting out a tear or two before they finally said their goodbyes, they were as prepared as they could be expecting their son to never return.

He noticed the sun was setting and he should hit the hay, he had an early morning tomorrow. He folded up his map and put it inside the book which he layed on his desk before he took off his glasses and closed his eyes. He dreamt of adventure, of riding elephants and having swords fights, maybe even saving a damsel in distress.

I know its a short chapter haha but I hope you enjoyed

The rights to Hetalia belong to Hidekaz Himaruya