Chapter 2:

England dropped away from the screaming boy. This time, there were a few stronger branches beneath England, but they still didn't quite stop him. He tumbled through them and landed on the ground with a loud THUD!

"ENGLAND!" America called again.

England's body didn't move.

America rushed out of the tree.

"England! England! England!" he called out the whole way down, but still he heard no response.

England was laying face-down. Once America reached his side, he pushed England over on his back.

"England?" he shouted at his unconscious brother. "Are you ok? England? Wake up!"

The panicking boy shoved England back and forth.

"England! Can you hear me?"

England's body was limp. The only movement came from America shaking it. The older nation's eyes were closed and his mouth hung slightly open.

"England? England, Please!"

The small boy was filling up with more fear and guilt every second. He did this. He had thrown the apples that had made his brother fall to his doom. He hadn't meant to hurt England! What was he going to do if England didn't wake up? What was going to happen to him? Tears came into the child's eyes.

"England!" America's voice was starting to crack from his repressed sobs. "Arthur?" In desperation, he even tried calling England by his human name, but nothing worked. "ARHTUR!" England remained lifeless.

America stood up and backed away. He turned around and looked back and forth all around him. He didn't know what he was looking for. Maybe someone who could help? But no one else was around. Panic overwhelmed him. The tears began to escape as he collapsed on his hands and knees. He threw his head back and whaled in agony.

"I KILLED ENGLAND!" he tearfully confessed to the sky.

Suddenly, America's depression was interrupted. He felt two large hands grab his arms from behind. In an instant, the child was lifted up and held high in the air. A familiar voice spoke behind him.

"Not quite."

America's eyes went wide. He turned his head back as far as it would go, trying to get a glimpse of the man holding him.

"A-Arthur?"

"Although, I must commend your effort," England grunted slightly as he continued. "I can't say that I came out of that completely unscathed, but I suppose it was worth it. Thanks to that fall, and a bit of quick thinking on my part, I finally have you. It's comforting to know that those acting lessons with Shakespeare weren't for nothing."

As England spoke, America went through a quick roller coaster of emotions. At first, he was stunned. England had been dead just seconds ago, and now he seemed perfectly fine. Then he was happy. England was alive! Then his happiness was replaced almost instantly with confusion. What was England talking about? Then, at last, it hit him. England had been faking. America's wild ride of emotions ended with him feeling very mad and embarrassed that England's trap had worked. America angrily tried to wriggle out of England's hold. England just held him tighter and chuckled.

"Aw, are you disappointed?" he mocked. "Cheer up. Perhaps you will have better success next time. Till then, you should try putting more effort into your appearance. And I know just where to start."

With that, England began to march back to the house with the squirming boy. America struggled with all his might, but he couldn't get away. England had him in the perfect hold to keep him from escaping. He held him in the air by his arms, just below the shoulders. Because of that, America couldn't do anything with his arms. He could kick his legs, but England held him at arms length so the kicks never made any contact.

"No fair! You tricked me!" America angrily accused.

"All is fair in war, my boy."

America squirmed and kicked the air furiously with still no results.

"Next time you get hurt, I'm just gonna laugh!" America threatened; aggravated that he could do nothing more than insult his captor as he was leisurely carried inside the house against his will.

"Oh?" England chuckled as if he found the childish threat amusing. "And what will you do if I really am dead next time?"

"I'll throw a party!" America shot back without hesitation. "Now put me down!"

"I will momentarily," England calmly assured as they neared their destination.

Sorry this part was so short! At least you know England's ok, now! Next chapter will be much longer, promise!