I was blind back then and I will never forgive myself for what I could not see. You used your stupidity for the sake of someone else, but I selfishly used my idiocy for my own purpose. Why didn't I listen to you? Why couldn't I just hear you out? Master of the sky? Yeah right; I'm nothing but a fool.
I thought of you as my own. I truly did. I would have done anything to keep you out of harm's way. I loved you, and yet here I am now laying white flowers down upon your grave.
A vast cold wind blew that day as I stood looking sorrowfully down upon you filled with so much regret.
It's funny, almost laughable. We're countries, with these lifespans of ours we should live for millenniums. We should live to be magnificent kings; not to die as pitifully as humans and slowly become lost in the pages of history. Those who are alive will continue to walk among the living and those who are dead will remain sleeping in the hard cold earth.
"Farewell… King of Lions"
Holy Roman Empire was a young country that ceased to exist; too early and most certainly too young, but within his short existence he might have been what I praised and the rest of Europe was "The King of Lions".
A knight, a glorious spiritual presence, with the power to split the earth with just the roar of his voice, or the strike of his piercing gaze. Valiant pools of blue that boy had in his eyes and a heart of gold that will forever belong to one little Italian country. He was a legend whose death will impediment me to my very core.
"Prussia… I would like to propose an idea".
Often Holy Rome and I would speak to each other under the cool shade of a tree. It was sunny that day when he first started to act up and when he first started to go beyond my reach.
"What is it Holy Rome"?
"I want to achieve what Rome couldn't. I want to take over this land and share it with him". He proposed his idea with such pride and determination. He was really serious about going through with it too and he wasn't going to take no for an answer. Not from me and not from himself, but in the end I just laughed at him.
"Huh? Hahaha! That's a stupid idea. You'll just get yourself killed. Why in the world would you want to do that"!?
Holy Rome stood in front of me face to face looking somewhat flustered with his black cap on his head. He had asked "Haven't you ever wanted to make a world of your own. Don't you ever get scared that you will be taken over by another? I want a land of my own that I can rule and share! I want to rule a land that I can be with Chibitalia"!
"Huh"?
"Just you wait and see! I'll prove you wrong Prussia"!
He was stamping his feet like a child and ran off. I just watched his back as he stormed off. I had no clue where he went at first, but after seeing the glint of his sword I had made an assumption.
"Hey Pony loving bastard! I challenge you"!
Recklessly and extremely stupidly Holy Rome had demanded a battle between Poland and himself. Although like I did Poland just laughed at him which was probably both of our mistakes.
"Hahaha! You think a little country can beat me? I am Poland! Your cap is screwed on way too tight Holy Rome"!
"Don't mock me…", Holy Rome warned as he raised his sword.
Another thing Poland did was reveal himself too earlier. Some country's just like letting their colors spark. Poland raised his right foot and stamped it into the ground. The Earth made a small rattle and before Holy Rome could react he was surrounded by wild ponies.
Holy Rome waited patiently until the enemy made the first move. The pony kicked up its feet and charged at Holy Rome. Holy Rome swung his sword over his shoulder and brought it down upon the charging pony. He managed to take one down, but then two more followed in its lead. Holy Rome was able to nick the second one, but the third trampled over and knocked him over. Before he could get back to his feet more of them followed and it eventually became a stamped.
I however was still sulking under that tree, but when I felt the earth rumble beneath me, it was no coincidence. I looked up towards the west and saw a dust cloud form over a top the trees.
"Holy Rome?" I questioned as I stood.
I began a quick dash and when I had obtained enough momentum I kicked off the ground as hard as I could and my body burst into a gale of black and white feathers. My wings were rather large so naturally it would take a moment before they could fully expand, but when it came to Holy Rome I managed to move as quick as the Devil himself.
It isn't that great being an abnormally large winged creature. My spirit didn't just come with enormous heavy wings; it came with claws, an eagle's head, and a lion's tail. Yes, my spirit was one of the rarest to ever be seen, but that didn't mean it was great. Essentially it was the abundance of feathers that gave me the most trouble.
I took to the skies and let out a loud screech so that if anything blocked my way through the clouds they would have some warning. I prowled the land beneath me and eventually came across Holy Rome and Poland. I watched as Holy Rome stumbled to his feet, he was gripping the hilt of his sword tightly with blood dripping from his forehead.
"Holy Rome"!
Hearing my scream from above Poland looked up astonished by my presence. He mumbled to himself "Master of the Sky"?
I dove fast and swiftly with a loud thud. Below my feet was crater created from my landing. Because I have such a unique spirit I have a certain limit to when my wings can appear again. Once I touch the ground I have to wait at least ten to fifteen minutes until I can transform back, so I usually would take an approach more cautiously, but I was never too intimidating when it came to the pony loving Poland; although he can be quit unpredictable sometimes.
Rushing to his aid I hurried Holy Rome, but he wouldn't hear a word from me.
"Holy Rome! You moron! Let's get out of here"!
"No"!
"What!? Why"!?
"I'm going prove to you that I can do this"!
"You stubborn little dwarf! You don't need to prove anything today! Now let's go"!
Holy Rome pushed me aside again and while supporting himself with his sword he rose, and he looked at me with fierce eyes. With a calmed expression and eyes filled with determination he ordered me "Stand down Prussia".
I wondered if it was just me, but that time when he looked at me it looked as if his eyes were golden instead of a blue and his pupils were stretched vertically so they would shape like diamonds.
Too astonished by his sudden change in character I sat there in my crater and watched. Holy Rome stepped out of the crater and moved just a few feet in front of it and held out his sword in front of him.
On the other side Poland was laughing up a storm "Hahahaha! Still want to keep going boy!? Because I won't hold back in the second round! Foolish little Holy Rome"!
Poland stamped his foot again and summed his ponies and pointed towards Holy Rome. Following the orders of their master they took haste and stampeded towards Holy Rome, but Holy Rome was neither frightened nor intimidated by the frivolous Poland. He stood his ground and just before they would crush him he mumbled, "I will create a world with Chibitalia. Just you wait and see. Don't Mock Me"!
The strength in Holy Rome's voice shook the earth and at the same time fangs sprouted from his mouth and three scratches appeared on both sides of his cheeks. His words came out more like a roar or a growl instead of a statement by the human tongue. Poland's ponies went flying and they crumbled beneath the cracks in the earth. Holy Rome took off at a full sprint and cut down one by one each pony that was still left standing, but their numbers still seemed endless.
Becoming overwhelmed by their infinite numbers Holy Rome's expression became filled with rage. He threw away his sword and let out another loud roar that blasted them back and within that moment he suddenly staggered down on all fours and morphed into a wild beast.
"Grrraaaggghhhhhh"!
"Holy… Rome…?" at that very instant seeing him transform into his spirit, his demon; I felt that I had lost him, and in the end it turns out I did.
The ground sizzled, and surrounded him with a thick vapor that concealed what Holy Rome had become. Holy Rome not only grew in size, but he had altered completely. Locks of gold sprang from his head, all the way down to the base of his neck, and iron claws tore through the grass and the dirt beneath it. A skinny tail whipped through the steam and Holy Rome raised his head to scream the voice of lions.
"Grrr…!", he dispersed the steam and lowered his head to make a low growl and he eyed the pony that still daring stood before him. He whipped his tail again and lunged forward catching the pony by the neck and sinking his fangs into its flesh. He tossed it aside and this time he made use of those deadly claws that cut through them like butter. He charged through them all not hesitating until he eventually reached Poland.
"I-is this… really H-Holy Rome's spirit?", Poland stuttered terrified by Holy Rome's new figure. He started to step back seeing Holy Rome quickly catching up to him.
Once Poland saw all of his ponies completely torn through he surprisingly stood his ground when Holy Rome came charging towards him. Poland stiffened up and his body had blown into a majestic bronze furred steed. As Poland raised his front hooves high Holy Rome's head had collided into Poland's stomach and they both tumbled and skid in the dirt, creating another dust cloud. I was still watching in awe as the battle continued to unfold.
Poland's hooves were decorated with sharp iron spikes that could sink deep into the ground for good traction, so it was a good tool for fleeing. He quickly got to his feet and tried to gallop away, but Holy Rome pounced on him and dug his claws deep into his back, throwing Poland back into the dirt.
Holy Rome stumbled back into the dirt and the dust cloud swirled around the once more. Poland had transformed back scrambling to his feet while gripping his side tightly.
"Ugh! Ah! Stupid Holy Rome! Are you trying to kill me! Since when did you get this strong"!?
The blood trickled down Poland's, not even a rain of arrows could sting more than a lion's claws. Amazingly Poland stood to his feet and looked around trying to catch his breath. He looked all over, but he couldn't see Holy Rome anywhere.
Overestimating himself he snickered and encouraged the drained Holy Rome, "Ha! Hahahaha! Is that it!? Big kitty puts up a huge hissy fit and he cries from the dirt in his eyes! Just who do you think you are to win a fight against me"!?
I will honestly say I thought Holy Rome was done for too. I thought of how strong his spirit was and seeing as it was the first time ever having used it in a battle it just gave out. Poland and I both misjudged Holy Rome.
"I-I… am…" a voice echoed in the dust cloud. Holy Rome gripped his sword with his now human hand and burst from the dust cloud shouting "Holy Roman Empire"!
"Ugh!" Poland cowered when he saw the glint of Holy Rome's blade coming for him. He froze and his knee's buckled to the ground as he realized the tip was just centimeters between his eyes.
To my surprise Holy Rome just stood there holding his blade completely still not saying a word. If Poland wasn't bawling on the ground I bet the only sound you could hear was the wind. He eventually lowered it and laid the tip in the grass. Poland figured that was a good time to scurry off; which meant that it was my turn. I had an admonishment of mine own coming.
"Wow, I'm surprised. I would have thought with your spirit you would have ran him through, but you just stood there", I was trying to act as if seeing Holy Rome turn into a gigantic ferocious beast that almost slaughtered Poland was a natural everyday occurrence, but I didn't seem to get my point across too much.
"Holy Rome…"?
"Prussia…" Holy Rome turned only his gaze towards me and with blood smeared across his left cheek he clutched his gently.
I have no idea what was going through my head because never in a million years would I be kissing this little runts ass. I got down on one knee and placed my right hand over my chest and the other behind my back. I bowed my head down to Holy Rome as he took his sword and placed it in front of him and balanced the point at a ninety degree angle into the ground.
"I will create a world for Chibitalia and I will achieve what The Great Rome could not", Holy Rome stated again and as he looked down at me with a sorrowful gaze he vowed prideful "Even if I have to become… the King of Lions"
After I closed my eyes I had realized while only being able to look at the ground in Holy Rome's presence, that's when I had given my everything to him; body and soul, but never my vow to oblige.
~To Be Continued...