Disclaimer: I do not own Hetalia (But I wish I did!)

Umatalia: Stella

Chapter 1 – Love at First Sight

What? That was the first question on her mind. What had happened? What was going on? What was she doing here? Where was here? She didn't know any of the answers. All she knew was that she was scared. The foal let out her first whinny, and quickly opened her eyes. It was dark. Very dark. Only pitch black seemed to stretch above her, splattered and painted and sprinkled with white everywhere. There was also a white circle hanging in the center. What was this place? And how did she get here?

Again, she didn't know. And when she heard a soft snort, that only made her wet hair stand on edge more. The foal looked up to see a tall black shadow towering over her. She wanted to hide. Yet didn't know if she could. But then, as the shadow moved down toward her, all she saw were a pair of eyes that looked loving and happy to see her. And somehow, she knew who she was. Just realizing that made the foal so happy, she whinnied again.

Just as quickly, she also realized she was hungry. Could her mother help her with that? It seemed so, until the foal finally saw the four long, lanky legs underneath her. It seemed she would have to use them if she wanted to be fed. And her mother knew that just as well. She nudged her gently.

Come now, she said. Get up. You can do it. But could she? Still, her mother sounded so encouraging, the foal decided to give it a try. Using her front knees, she raised her back legs up, then slowly started doing the same with her front legs. But just as she was trying to balance, the foal fell forward face first into the ground.

Her mother snorted. It's alright. It's not unusual to fall the first time. Just try again. I'm right here. Deciding she might as well, the foal did try again. And fell over. A third try. A third fall. But then, on the fourth time, she finally believed she was starting to get the hang of it. And just as she did, she felt that growing hunger in her stomach.

Without wasting any more time, the foal went to her mother's side and nursed until she was filled. As soon as she was done, her ever gentle mother began licking her all over, from her ankles to her ears, until she was completely dry. And that was when a new sensation came over the foal, released in a big, wide yawn.

I feel kind of funny, she said. Her mother lowered her head and lovingly licked the white mark on the foal's forehead.

Sleep now, little one, she said to her. Tomorrow I will teach you all I know about your new home. Before she was completely finished speaking, the foal settled herself into the comfortable, soft grass beneath her, closed her eyes, and drifted off to sleep while her mother stood guard over her.

Italy could hardly believe it. But the evidence was right in front of him as he leaned over the fence early this spring morning. Aurora had had her foal. A filly. She slept like the baby she was in the middle of the field where Aurora had been left last night. And she was the most gorgeous thing Italy had seen in awhile. Without thinking twice, he let out a laugh of exhilaration and jumped the fence. He raced over to the foal and gave her a great big hug, but not before she awoke.

At first, Italy was totally oblivious to the filly's crying whinnies and attempts to get up and get away. He was that happy to see her.

"Ho ho!" he exclaimed. "I'm so glad to finally see you molto bella!" He then put a big smacking kiss on her forehead. But then, when he looked at her again, the foal looked up at him with wide, almost scared eyes. Italy immediately calmed down and stopped hugging her, and began to think about what he was doing.

"I'm so sorry," he said, toning his voice down. "Did I frighten you?" He then tried to pet her, but the filly quickly moved her head away.

"Hey, I don't bite," he said. Italy then smiled down at her and added, "But I do kiss!" He leaned down and gave her a more gentle kiss. After which, he held out his hand. After a while, after simply staring at it, the filly began to lick it, making Italy laugh. That was when he heard a familiar voice behind him.

"I hope you're not doing something stupid like scaring ze foal." It was Austria, and as usual, he was frowning with disapproval.

"I was just saying hi to her," Italy said, clasping his hands behind his back as though he'd been caught doing something bad.

"And throwing yourself at her is your vay of saying hi?" Austria asked. "And when she's not even a day old yet?"

Italy shrugged his shoulders. "It works for the other ladies!" He then skipped toward the fence and jumped over the other side, while Austria leaned over it to get a better look. Italy quickly joined him. And the two watched as the filly picked herself up off the ground and started nursing.

"I don't know vy I let some of your Maremmanos stay with my horses, especially when one of them is – vas – pregnant," Austria said.

"But...?" This Italy asked because he noticed a smile growing on his old guardian's face. Austria gave it up by letting out a sigh.

"But, Aurora had a very lovely foal," he admitted. Italy happily nodded in agreement. And that was when he really got a good look at thew new foal. She had a beautiful cherry bay color, with a black as night mane and tail. Her eyes were large and amber-colored like his. And...he couldn't resist pointing it out.

"Hey, look!" he said, pointing, causing the foal to look right back at him. "She's got a curling strand of hair just like me!"

"Zen I do not vant to know what happens ven you pull it," Austria said. "It's one thing with you, but with a horse..." Austria shivered.

That was when Italy noticed something else special about the filly. And he pointed it out to Austria as well. "Do you see that white mark on her forehead?"

"Ja, vat about it?" Austria asked, almost as though he weren't interested. But Italy didn't notice. He pointed at it with his finger.

"Look, see?" By now, he was leaning so far over the fence, he nearly fell on the other side. "It's shaped like a diamond. Almost like a..." He trailed off, and his face lit up, as he suddenly thought of the perfect name for this new filly. "I've got it!" And now he did fall over the fence. But he quickly got back up again.

"Stella!" he smiled a full-toothed grin. But all Austria did was raise an eyebrow at him. Italy pointed at the filly. "That will be her name. Stella!"

Now, Austria shrugged his shoulders. "A nice enough name, I suppose. But she's your responsibility, remember?"

Italy saluted him. "Si, signore!" And as Austria stood up to leave, all Italy could do for the rest of the day was watch from his seat on the fence at his brand new filly. His new pride and joy. His Stella.

Six months later, Italy continued to watch as Stella tried to play with the other horses. He felt a bit sorry for her since there weren't any other six months old to play with her. But whenever she saw him, she always came right up to greet him, nudging at his hand for a little treat or scratch behind the ears. No matter how Italy felt on a particular day, seeing Stella just seemed to make it brighter. There probably wasn't even a day where he didn't go to bed giggling about something she'd done.

And now he had something extra special for her. He waved his hand. "Stella! Mia cara!" he called, using the special nickname he'd given her. When she turned and saw him, she hurried over as fast as she could.

After ruffling up her beautiful black mane, Italy felt practically giddy about what he had in his hand for her. "Guess what I have for you today?" He then quickly pulled it out from behind his back. "Ta-da!"

At first, Stella tilted her head in confusion at him, so Italy decided he'd explain. "It's a white flag! It's what you do when you surrender! I made it myself! Don't you like it!" He then held it out to her. And after a few more minutes of staring and trying to make sense of the present, Stella took it into her mouth. She then tossed her head, flapping the flag, making Italy laugh and clap with delight.

After which, he couldn't help but get down off the fence and embrace her. But of course, he never did it nearly as hard as when he first saw her. "Oh, Stella. I can't wait until you're finally a mare. By then I can teach you how to let me ride you! What do you think of that?" Again, she tilted her head at him, but Italy only hugged her again.

"Never mind," he said. "I'll tell you when we get there. For now, you're just my sweet, sweet lady. Then again, you'll always be!" He laughed again, got back up on the fence, and continued to watch her for the rest of the day until the sun finally went over the horizon, casting a beautiful, haunting light on her blood bay coat.

That same day, after Italy left, Stella was almost disappointed to see him go. She could hardly believe what had been forged between them in the past few months. At first, she'd been nearly terrified of his ecstatic and almost unpredictable ways. But then she found they actually were a lot alike, and different, in the best ways possible. If she was nervous about something, he would comfort her. And when she played, he always laughed. And how she loved to hear that laugh.

Suddenly remembering what he'd brought her, Stella trotted back over to the end of the field where she'd left it. Taking it up into her mouth, she tossed her head up and down to make the white sheet flap. Until she heard her mother's familiar snort behind her. Stella turned around to face her.

And what have you got there? Aurora asked. Stella tossed her head again to show her rather than just tell her.

It's a present Italy gave me earlier, she replied. You like it? Then, coming up with a better idea, Stella cantered around in a circle, the flag still in her mouth.

Well, you seem to like it well enough, Aurora said. Stella nodded her head and whinnied before dropping the flag.

Still, Stella said, I wish I knew why humans make these things. Italy seemed to be excited to give it to me.

As I've always told you, sometimes the ways of humans will remain a mystery, Aurora said in that wise way of hers. But, for those who keep us well-fed and sheltered, who are we to argue? She then turned away and started heading toward the other side of the pasture, before turning her head around again. Are you coming? It's getting dark.

Still feeling full of energy and not nearly as tired enough to sleep, Stella shook her mane. I think I'm gonna go play some more.

Well, don't take too long, Aurora called after her, Any day now we could be spending our nights in the barn.

Her mother did have a point. The days were getting colder. But for now, Stella didn't care. As far as she knew, she could go on playing the whole night. Prancing, kicking, frolicking. Wait... What was that? Stella looked back where something had caught her eye, and it turned out to be a big hole in the fence. How did that get there? She didn't see it earlier today. But, what any real harm was there in going to see what was on the other side? She'd never been outside the pasture before. And she was already six months old. So, why not?

After making sure no one, human or horse, was watching her, Stella quietly made her way to the hole in the fence and went through it. Instantly, she shivered, but not from the cold. It already felt so different. And so...thrilling. And besides, she'd always wondered what lay beyond those trees near the pasture. Just a little look wouldn't hurt. At least, that's what she kept telling herself.

She trotted over to the trees, all the while knowing in the back of her mind she probably shouldn't do this. Her mother had always told her about the possible dangers beyond the fence. But still, she kept going. She made it past the trees and walked through their shadows, taking in all the wonderful new scents... And one that made the fur on her coat and the hair on her mane stand up.

Before Stella knew what was happening, she felt human hands grab her, much more roughly than even that first day when Italy hugged her. Someone then also hitched a tight rope around her neck. But in the darkness, she couldn't see their faces, only their silhouettes. Who were these people? What were they going to do to her? Scared and confused, she cried out for anyone, human or horse, to help her. Let me go! she neighed. Someone, help me!

"Shh!" she heard some, a human, hiss. "Someone quiet the filly before she alerts somebody!" That was exactly what Stella tried to do again, louder this time. But then, another human hand shoved what felt like a cloth to her nose, and her nostrils were filled with a heavy scent. Just as quickly, she felt all her previous energy drain out of her almost instantly. Before she could do anything about it, the filly fell sideways and was plunged into complete darkness.

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