Rome. An international center in the Ancient days of the Great Roman Empire. It was filled with culture, wisdom, and religion. Even after the mighty empire passed on, it's city clung to life and the spirit of that mighty nation lives.

But could the descendant of this nation survive just as well? The Allies were attacking, and the mighty bombers at Alfred's control were leaving many areas in flames.

Feliciano Vargas was trying desperately to escape the bombing of his city. He was all alone, his brother Lovino escaped to Spain.

"Waaahhhh! Someone... anyone! Help me!" Feliciano cried. The buildings were quickly crumbling around him, there was nowhere to hide. Feliciano was growing weaker every second.

Ludwig had heard about the bombing and made no haste to attempt to help him. When he got close to Rome however, the cities entrances were either guarded or blocked by a fallen building by an earlier bombing.
With his only "safe" option was to try and climb the rubble. He waited after another plane to fly over before attempting to climb the rubble. He didn't know why he had decided to leave his division to help Italy. He was never ordered, but something was pulling him to do so.

Feliciano was running as fast as he could to escape the bombing. Suddenly, a building collapsed right in front of him, sending him flying. He collapsed in a heap on the ground.

Every time a building fell, it added more to Feliciano's pain. He felt his right arm throbbing. There was a large open sore on his arm.

More explosions... more buildings turned to rubble... Feliciano tried to get up, but he was too weak.

His chest was starting to open. He could barely breathe from all the dust. There were gashes all over his body. His uniform was stained red.

Maybe someone will come save me, before it's too late, Feliciano thought. He tried to stay optimistic, but it was very difficult.

"Someone, help me!" Feliciano cried. Nearly all of his energy was thrown into that one cry for help. He collapsed on the ground, and waited for someone, anyone, to come and save him...

Ludwig had been trying to navigate around all the rubble as he saw another one of the buildings fall. As this happened, another plane flew overhead only this one had been Luftwaffe and it was followed by more in it's division. I guess they finally realized the threat. Ludwig thought to himself and continued searching for Feliciano.

A few moments later he made it around the building he watch fall and found Feliciano. Ludwig ran up to the nation and knelt down next to him. "Italy! Can you hear me?" Ludwig said as he looked around for enemies. He coughed a little from the dust surrounding them.

"Is that you, Ludwig...? Are you here to save me?" Feliciano asked Ludwig, weakly.

"Ja, it's me, Feliciano," he stroked Feliciano's head lightly.

"I can't last any longer, not like this... my arm hurts a lot and so does my chest, and my legs... I'm hurting all over. Can you get them to stop hurting me?"

Ludwig had noticed the amount of blood. "I will do my best.." he said as an Allied plane went down in the distance. Ludwig rummaged through his bag, trying to find something to help. He found some pain medicines to ease the pain while he moved Feliciano to a safer spot.
"Do you think you can swallow a couple pills?"

"I-I think so... p-please hurry, I'm getting weaker every second-"

Suddenly, a large explosion shook the ground, and another building collapsed behind the two nations.

Feliciano's wounds started to open more.

Ludwig covered Feliciano with his body to protect the wounds from debry. Once the dust settled a little he gave Feliciano the medicine and some water to help it go down. Ludwig then carefully pulled Feliciano under the ledge of what was left of a building. Ludwig wasn't willing to admit it, but he wasn't sure as to what to do. He knew that all he could really try is to slow the bleeding, but as long as the bombs kept coming Feliciano would continue to weaken. Even so, he was willing to try. Ludwig pulled off his coat and then his shirt, tearing the shirt into long shreads to bind Feliciano's wounds.
The sound of Luftwaffe flying over sounded as they fought the Allies.

"Ludwig... am I going to be okay...?" Feliciano asked.

He noticed the fabric binding his wounds had quickly absorbed the blood. But his wounds didn't stop bleeding.

"Can you get it to stop bleeding?" he asked. "It really hurts...wah-!" Feliciano cried as yet another building collapsed, and his chest opened a bit more.

"Schiesse..." he mumbled to himself as Feliciano's wound opened more.
Ludwig hesitated a moment in responding to the questions.
"...I can't tell you if you are going to be okay," he shook his head "Your wounds are being caused from the collapsing city. Unless you surrender, your wounds will continue to open."

"Veee~? Surrender~? I'm really good at that, Ludwig!" Feliciano managed a small smile.

"Am I still going to be able to see you again... w-w-wahh-!"

Feliciano couldn't handle the pain anymore. He began to cry out in pain.

"Waaaahhhh! Make it stop, Ludwig! Make it stop!"

Ludwig picked up Feliciano carefully. "You are going to have to surrender, Italy. I'm sorry, but when you do, you are going to be my enemy.. I won't be allowed to see you."

Arthur was walking through the rubble, looking for any survivors. "That bloody wanker sure did do a number on the town.." he said to himself.

"Waaahhh! I don't want to leave you! I don't want to be your enemy! Not when..."

Feliciano, even though he was severely injured, managed to lean in just enough to give Ludwig a tiny kiss on the cheek.

He looked down at his wounds, realizing surrendering was the only option.

"I have to surrender... but before I do, I want to tell you... I will always love you..."

Ludwig blushed a bit at Feliciano's final statement and the kiss. He hugged Italy lightly and leaned him up on a wall that was still up.
"I'm sorry, but I have to leave you then," he said as he laid the white flag Feliciano once made him against the wall. "Maybe we can visit each other after the war."
Ludwig put back on his coat and picked up his bag before running back to his division.

Arthur walked around a corner, coming into view.
"Where is that Italian?..."

After the war... Feliciano thought. "Why... why can't it just end?"

He clutched the white flag tightly, then turned around and noticed Arthur, too afraid to say anything.

Arthur noticed the white flag and quickly walked over to Feliciano.
"Can't take any more I'm guessing?" Arthur poked the Italian with his rifle.

"A-ahh! Please don't shoot me, I'm surrendering, see, white flag-! So just don't hurt me, okay..." Feliciano cried weakly.

"You wouldn't shoot this weak little Italian, would you...?"

Arthur sighed and slung the gun over his shoulder. "Don't worry, I was just ordered to recover you."

"Veee~ okay! I'm so happy you're not going to shoot me!" Feliciano smiled brightly, truly relieved.

He turned away for a moment, thinking about Ludwig. He promised he wouldn't leave him... b-but t-this promise has to be broken... I'll make a new promise, okay? I promise I'll come see you again. H-how's that? Is that a good promise? Feliciano knew Ludwig couldn't hear him, but it was nice to think he did.

"Yeah, yeah. Now come on," Arthur said as he picked Feliciano up and started carrying him towards his camp.

"I hope they treat you alright, Italy..." Ludwig thought as he looked back from a distance.

A tear fell from Feliciano's eye onto the dusty earth.

He gave Ludwig one last glance before being carried off by Arthur.