Alfred kept back a choked scream that was boiling up from the depths of his soul. He never felt so vulnerable.

He gagged on the air that was suffocating him as the rain poured down around him. How did it come to this? How did this happen… Every other country seemed to hate him with a burning passion that unified them together. At least that's what he thought, but it was far from the truth. He had just hit rock bottom and everything was in turmoil. Curling up into a ball, he let out a pitiful sob. He was alone. No one was here. No one would ever be.

You're not alone. He heard.

He shot up and whipped out his gun pointing it at the trees that seemed to be enclosing in on him. It was just his imagination though. His hands shaking, he looked through blurry eyes.

"Who's there?!" He shouted looking around his gun still raised. There was no answer. "Show yourself!" Alfred yelled again, pointing the gun up at the darkened sky, and fired off a warning shot. The only thing that stirred though was the trees in the wind and Alfred's own hair which whipped into his face.

God, he must be losing his mind.

He collapsed onto his knees and stared blankly at his gun. Mud covered him but Alfred didn't seem to notice. He wished somebody was here. He wished...He wished Arthur was here. He couldn't take it anymore. He just couldn't. He felt broken. He buried his face into his hands feeling the harsh cold metal of his gun, against his face a scream broke through the air. A scream that radiated from him and seemed to travel far from the depths of America's past. All the screams that he never let out being echoed out into this moment. A scream that filled the night letting anyone by know that a broken soul was by.

He remembered it all. All the tears he never shed, all the pain he had endured and how he somehow kept on going; through the revolutionary war, the war of 1812, and on and on throughout history. Pearl Harbor, World War one and two, Korean war, everything.

He let out the scream of all the tortured Americans and the ones that threw themselves off the twin towers during 9/11. The ones that he couldn't save. He felt out of breath and unbelievably tired as his screams faded away. Strangely, he felt relieved.

He collapsed onto the ground. He was no hero. He couldn't save everyone. The cold truth hit him and he let out another sob. He just wanted to help. He wanted to keep others safe.

Destroy your enemies before they destroy you. Then once you're in control everyone will be safe. The words echoed throughout his head and he closed his eyes. Was that what reality was like? Was that the lesson Arthur tried to teach him in 1814, when he had burned his capital? Burned his own heart out? Was he the enemy to them?

Please...Just make it stop. He begged reaching out into the darkness, reaching out to the words that gave him his only comfort. He saw a hand reach back to him, stretching out towards him.

"ALFRED!" He heard outside of his own mind but he paid no attention to it. His name fell on deaf ears. He could barely recognize the voice. He reached out to the hand and their fingers intertwined. The person had a firm grip and all of a sudden he felt himself being tugged into the darkness arms wrapping around him.

"I'm here brother." He heard. Alfred looked up and stared into blazing red eyes. Even in the darkness he could still see them.

"Who are you?" He asked completely confused, and maybe even scared.

The man who was practically a mirror image of himself smirked slightly pulling Alfred close. "I think you already know the answer to that. I'm you," The person said. Alfred's eyes widened slightly at the revelation. He had finally discovered the darkness within him. A darkness that resided in every nation, a darkness that was suppose to be kept locked away but in this hopeless moment Alfred excepted it. He welcomed it. He wanted to be free of the pain. He knew that it was weak of him but he didn't even have the strength to fight back. The hero had fallen, being engulfed by the person that he was suppose to keep locked away. He had no idea that this part of him had even existed. But...he was undoubtedly familiar.

Arthur ran towards the prone figure that laid in a small clearing in the forest. He could make out Alfred's bomber jacket through the rain that obscured his vision but he kept on running. Through the mud and rain he kept on going. Alfred hadn't responded to him and his still figure made Arthur scared. He made it to the American's side and knelt beside him pulling him onto his lap and looked at his face. Mud covered Alfred but he was fine. He was alright.

"Oh thank god," Arthur said and pulled Alfred into a hug. He had been so worried. He squeezed his eyes shut holding his brother. His son. He had to get him out of here and find them shelter somewhere until the rain passed. He opened his eyes and then looked at Alfred and gasped. He sat there still holding Alfred but something was happening. Alfred's once golden wheat blonde hair was darkening slowly turning brown, and his skin was also. Except it seemed to be tanned more than anything else.

He felt his blood run cold. It couldn't be. This...This couldn't be what he thought it was.

Alfred's eyes opened revealing blood red orbs, a stark contrast compared to the clear blue sky that once resided in them. They came into focus taking in the world and then his eyes met Arthur's and a smirk started to spread across his face. A smirk that didn't fit Alfred's facial features making his expression even more twisted and cold. But this wasn't Alfred. Not his Alfred. No...This was something darker, a force not to be reckoned with. Arthur still held America out of shock, not knowing how to react.
America sat up removing himself from England, that malicious smirk still present on his face.

"Sorry you must be looking for Alfred. He isn't present at the moment but if you want, feel free to leave a message."

"No." Arthur gasped. There was a slight twinkle in America's eyes and he grinned.

"No message?" America asked. "Fine by me. That makes things much easier." He then stood and pulled out his gun and pointed it at England his hand steady. "I have a message for you and your precious nations. Tell them these exact words," He said and cocked his gun. "Tell them that I'm coming and that there is nowhere to hide. Perks of being a superpower. No matter where they run I will find them. Got that?"

Arthur looked at America his eyes wide. Alfred...I'm so sorry. He hadn't been there when he needed him the most. Regret and guilt filled him making him feel numb all over. I'm so sorry...but I will find a way to help you. I will save you. I will be your hero.

"I'll take that as a yes," America said. He then pulled the trigger.

And there you have it! My first official one-shot on this website and I really hoped you all enjoyed it. Also, if you are wondering what happened Alfred just simply turned into 2P America. I know people usually have it so that 2Ps are separate beings from their 1Ps but I had a cool theory where the darkness of every nation actually resided inside themselves as the 2Ps. It was neat but here it is in action. I hope you all enjoyed this one-shot. Until next time my dearies!- Admin