Only a few hours since I uploaded ch1 (as I begin writing)...

Disclaimer: I do not own Hetalia. The plot, however, is my own.

Alfred woke up on his desk to the sound of his phone ringing; it was an antique, nearly 7 centuries old, but even if it was a bit inconvenient, Alfred liked it all the same. He sleepily picked up. "Hullo?"

"Alfred?"

Alfred sat up at the voice, smiling. "Mattie! I haven't heard from you in ever! How've ya been?" he asked, dropping formalities. He really hadn't heard from his foster brother in ages; he felt relieved that Matthew was okay.

"I've been doing fine, all things considered. I'm alive, aren't I?" he replied quietly.

Alfred chuckled. "You sound like you're doing good. You didn't even stutter!"

"H-Hmph. Your grammar is still horrid, though." Matthew grumbled. "It's "doing WELL!" Not "doing good!""

"Yeah, yeah! C'mon, don't go all like that on me. I'm talking to my bro, right? Not my 5th grade English tutor?"

"Perhaps it should've been every grade after that as well."

"Aww, come on, Mattie!"

Matthew sighed on the other end. "We lost her." he said sadly.

Alfred's eyes widened, and he tilted his head in mild confusion. "What?"

"We lost her. Mother is gone." Matthew said quietly.

Alfred went pale. "Wait, you don't mea-"

"She's dead."

"She can't be dead!"

"Well she is." Matthew replied through quiet sobs. "Father left a while ago to get supplies; I'm watching over the children."

"...Still running that foster home, huh..."

"Yes. How could we not? These poor kids need somewhere to go..."

Alfred was quiet, thinking back on his childhood. He was in that same position; after losing everything, he had nobody to turn to, nowhere to go. Then Matthew and his family came and took him in, raised him and cared for him as if he was their own. Alfred felt his eyes water, knowing the kind woman who took him in all those years ago was now gone. "Another person I couldn't protect... God damn it..." he muttered under his breath, feeling painfully hollow yet again.

"I... just thought I'd let you know. We're headed to the Center in Maine; we'll be passing through your area in about a month or two. I'll talk to you more then, okay?"

"Yeah. Later."

"It wasn't your fault."

Alfred had already hung up and gone to wash his face when Matthew added this, feeling very cold and empty. How he hated the feeling. He couldn't do a thing from behind that damn desk. He had let another person die. He spat profanities at himself, furious, only stopping to calm himself barely a second before his fist would have made contact with the mirror. He stood there sobbing for a few minutes. "Why the hell does it keep happening? I can't do a damn thing! Why? Why can't I be allowed to fight? Why are my orders to stay behind? Damn it!"

"Because you're reckless."

Alfred span around, trying to find the source of the voice. "Kiku...! ...the hell, dude, you startled me!"

The Japanese man looked at him sadly and walked over. "You're too reckless. You would go out into the field without a plan, and sacrifice your life for someone who may or may not survive. Your nobility will be the end of you." he said softly, rubbing the blonde man on the back. Alfred broke down, the stress finally taking him.

"Dammit! I hate it! I can't save anyone like this! People die, and die, and I can't save a single one! Dammit, dammit, DAMMIT!" he screamed, sobbing, and collapsing onto the tile floor. Kiku kneeled down to comfort him, gently rubbing his back. Once he had calmed down enough, Alfred looked at his Japanese friend. "Thanks, Kiku. Heh... Bawling like a baby like that; I probably don't look heroic and awesome right now, do I?" he joked through tears. He had cried enough; there was no time to mourn.

Kiku looked at him with a sad smile. "You cannot be the hero all the time."

Alfred pouted. "I sure as hell can!"

Kiku gave a little chuckle. "Come. The Sergeant wants to speak with you."

Alfred's eyes widened. "Oh, shit, really? Why?"

"I haven't a clue."

"Where?"

"In his office, I presume."

Alfred winced. He and Sergeant Oxenstierna... While their relationship wasn't a bad one, it was tense enough for Alfred to feel uneasy. Alfred walked into the Sergeant's office, feeling the Swede's gaze immediately. "Sit." he said simply, motioning to the chair in front of his desk. Alfred nodded and did as he was told.

"You wanted to see me, sir?" Alfred asked.

Berwald nodded. "Y'r 'n the squad." he said.

Alfred's eyes bulged. "Wh... What?"

"Th' next miss'n. Y'r goin'." Berwald clarified. "Y' do anythin' reckless 'nd y'r off, though."

Alfred jumped up. "Thank you, sir!" he exclaimed. "So when do we head off?"

"J'ne."

Alfred's heart sank. Two months? He was about to speak up when Berwald's spouse walked in. "Please excuse the intrusion." Timo said.

Berwald nodded. "Go'n." he said.

Timo nodded. "Yes, right. We just received a transmission from Squad H..." he said, trailing off as he noticed Alfred. "Oh, and Jones! May I have a word with you later?" he asked. Alfred nodded, not having anything to say. Timo looked back at Berwald. "That's it." Berwald nodded. He looked at Timo, and then back to Alfred.

"D'smissed." he said, and Alfred quietly left the room. Timo walked over to Berwald.

"'s a good kid." Berwald commented.

Timo smiled and nodded. "Yeah." he agreed, before turning to the Swede. "You sure about sending him out there?" he asked, his voice laced with concern.

Berwald nodded. "R'nning out 'f opt'ns." he replied with a frown, gazing at the door.

Timo sighed. "How do you think this'll end?"

Berwald's frown deepened. "D'n't know. But," he said, taking Timo's hand, his eyes filling with fierce determination, "'ll pr'tect y' with m' life." he finished, gently kissing his beloved Finnish lover's hand. "'ll be y'r prince. Pr'mise." he added sincerely.

Timo blushed and frowned. "No. Because that would make me the princess. I'm the prince, and you're my shining knight. Got it?" he asked, half serious. Berwald smiled gently and gave his husband a soft kiss on the forehead.

"Okay. I c'n do th't." he said. "Love y', T'mo."

Timo blushed and hugged his gentle giant. "Love you, too." he answered quietly.

At U.M. Headquarters, Wang Yao was in a state of pure shock. " My god... Yong Soo...? Is that you?" he choked out. Lying before him in the infirmary bed was Im, Yong Soo; Yao's childhood friend. He had disappeared one day, and everyone had given up hope... But now here he was, dying on a hospital bed, and only conscious enough to see Yao and give that goofy smile he had always been known for.

"Hey, Yao... Wow, you grew up to be even prettier..." he commented weakly.

"Yong Soo... What happened to you?" Yao managed to force out.

"Hrm? It all started around the time I was 4..."

"The injuries!"

"Huh? Oh, right, that... Got caught in crossfire in a skirmish... Nothing special." Yong Soo answered with a smile.

Yao was in tears. "You're dying, you fool!"

"Eh? No, I'm not..."

"Half of your arm has been cut off!"

"So? That just means it'll take longer to grow back."

At this point, Yao wasn't sure whether to slap him for being an idiot or sob with bittersweet relief. In the end, he burst into laughter, tears flowing down his face. "Still such an idiot..." he said. Yong Soo smiled.

"There it is! The pretty Hello Kitty smile! Mission complete!" he exclaimed before gasping and coughing up some blood. "Erk... Gakh..."

Yao took control of the situation quickly. "Okay, Yong Soo, listen up. Focus on breathing." he began. Yong Soo nodded, becoming a bit scared. Yao pressed the button hanging by the bed, not daring to turn away from his friend again. The doctors ran in.

"What happened?" one of them asked as a few others began stabilizing Yong Soo.

"We were talking, sort of, and he just started coughing up blood..."

"Damn! We're going to have to get him back to surgery; that shot tore through more than we thought!" he yelled to the others, who then began rushing Yong Soo to the ER. Yao could only watch in horror. He staggered a bit, feeling weak, before collapsing completely. He shakily took out the keychain from Ivan and held it close, eyes wide with fear.

"Please, please, let him be okay... Ivan, where are you...?"

Elsewhere, on the outskirts of what was once New York, Arthur Kirkland ran through the streets in panic. He had lost it. The charm he had had since long before he could even remember was gone. He had no memories of his life before age ten; that charm was all he had, and he was damned if he couldn't find it. He had no idea why he thought it was so important to him; all he knew was that he was too attached to it to even dare consider going on without it. The problem was this; he had no idea where in the vast, unused city he had dropped it. It could take a few days; and that was without complications. He had heard that the former city was being used as a base for rebels; these suspicions were confirmed when he was almost shot. The bullet flew merely inches away from his leg, and Arthur had bolted. He finally stopped after about an hour of running, and collapsed in an alley. He leaned against the cold cement wall, trying desperately to catch his breath. He put a hand to his throat, gasping for air, trying to ignore the painful feeling of blood pounding through him, each beat shaking his entire body. "Bloody hell..." he muttered, panting. "Where is it? I have to find it..." he groaned.

"Find what?"

Arthur turned to see a tall, blonde man with a heavy French accent standing at the alley's entrance. He scoffed. "None of your concern."

The man frowned. "I was only wanting to help. Tell me, what is your name, mon cher?" he asked.

Arthur frowned. "Arthur Kirkland. What of it?"

The French man laughed. "Arthur, is it? It suits you somehow. Come, let us find what it was you lost." he said, offering a hand.

Arthur glared at him. "How do I know you aren't going to shoot me or something?"

"If I wanted to, I would have done so already, non?"

"People can be crafty little wankers these days."

The French man sighed and pulled out a wallet. "I'm a humble father." he said, holding out a picture. Arthur examined it and scowled.

"Fine. Name?" he asked, grumpily taking the man's hand.

The man chuckled. "Francis Bonnefoy." he replied. He frowned. "We should get going, though." he said, looking around uneasily.

Arthur frowned. "I won't. I can't. That charm is all I have."

Francis raised an eyebrow. "Charm?" he inquired.

Arthur nodded. "Yeah. It's a pendant with a little amber stone covered with a really detailed design made of tin." he explained.

Francis put a hand in his pocket. "Could you possibly mean... this?" he asked, fishing out a little trinket and holding it out.

Arthur grinned. "Bloody hell, that's the one!" he exclaimed, grabbing the pendant. "Thanks!"

Francis smiled. "No trouble at all; I am glad it was found. My wife and son are waiting for me now... Au revoir!" he sang, pinching Arthur's ass before walking off. Arthur sputtered in shock. Any good impressions made were now lost, and Arthur went red with anger.

"TOUCH ME AGAIN AND I'LL BLOODY MURDER YOU, FROG!" he yelled after the retreating French man. He grumbled a bit more before taking a map out of his miniscule backpack. "Okay... Just a few miles East!" he told himself. "If I can just get to that interview in time..."

Alfred was almost asleep in the lounge when Timo came to get him. It took a while, but the Finn finally managed to wake the stubborn American. "Mr. Jones! Mr. Jones!"

Alfred opened his eyes sleepily and turned to face Timo. "Mm?"

Timo rolled his eyes. "Get up." he commanded. Alfred mumbled incoherently before concluding he'd have to take drastic measures; he took it upon himself to pour the cup of water he had prepared onto himself. Timo sighed impatiently, having known the American long enough to grow used to his antics. Alfred jumped up.

"Haha! That woke me up." he exclaimed, reaching for a towel he had also prepared. "You wanted to talk to me?"

Timo groaned. "Yes. To the point, I'm having you deal with the job interviews tomorrow. We need more staff and seeing as something highly important just came up, I can't do it."

Alfred frowned. "You want me to do something as boring as that?"

Timo glared. "I have priorities, Alfred, and something of higher importance has come up. I can't afford to neglect my duties, and even if I wasn't a higher rank, Berwald also gave the order, so just shut up and do it." he said curtly.

Alfred cringed. "Okay, okay... Meeting room A?"

"That's the one."

"Okay, fine..." he grumbled. Timo nodded and walked off.

In the Khansett headquarters, the Queen sighed. She looked at the jaigg on the floor of her chamber, gazing through it to see the planet below. "Earth..." she whispered softly to herself. "Our saving grace is down there... Our prayer was answered, yet it remains beyond reach..." she mumbled, observing the world below with longing golden eyes. "It feels wrong. This whole battle... We only wish for the key to the end of our suffering... Is it wrong to wish for happiness?" she wondered aloud. "I wish it would end, but the wounds are too deep... If we do not fight, we will die. We cannot go any longer without a home, we cannot go on without that light to guide us." she muttered, curling up into a ball in her seat. "We cannot afford to simply leave..."

"Kist Xhanyul!" a voice came from outside the chamber doors.

"Enter." she commanded, regaining her "royal" posture. The door opened, and she smiled. "It is you, Lein. Come in." she said warmly. Lein was her cousin; the equivalent of a duke, at about 18 years of age in Earthen years. Lein walked in and saluted. The Queen smiled gently, relaxing. "We are alone; such formalities have no place here, my mnaqi. What was it you needed?" she asked.

"I have some rather... intriguing news, regarding that matter..." he said, silver eyes fixed on the jaigg. The Queen's eyes flashed.

"I see." she said, eyes narrowing. "Continue."

I like how this is going. I apologize for any OOCness… *just got chewed out pretty harshly for being OOC on an RP* Also Im having to go by what little I know as far as the military system goes… Im actually starting to feel a bit weak about this… Im making sure to word things carefully, at least?

Jaigg: Like a window in the floor (like in sum boats and aquariums)
Kist Xhanyul: Along the lines of "Great Queen"
Mnaqi: "Brother"

Ok Im gunna need reviews. Im feeling kinda depressed lately; I rlly RLLY need to know you guys are out there.