Prussia walked down the tavern steps the next morning, taking Spain by the collar in his left hand, and France by the collar in his right. Both were passed out. He dragged them out of the tavern and into an alley near Hungary's house. He slapped them both awake. "Ouch! What's that for?" Spain asked, turning on his stomach and holding his head. France massaged his temples. Prussia sat down on the ground in front of them. "Hungary turned me down yesterday," he said.

"We know," France said, still massaging.

"Look," Prussia said. "Maybe she was just mad that I swiped her book like that. I'm gonna try again." He stood up.

"If that's all you wanted, why did we have to come?" Asked Spain, barely audible as he lay face down.

"You're going to be a little distraction. When I leave, make yourselves look as rough as possible. You always carry your hunting knives; pull them out on me. Make it look as real as possible; switch shirts if you have to. When Hungary and I pass by, jump me, but let me win. I could impress her, you know? She could see how awesome I am."

France shrugged. "Alright," he said.

Prussia headed toward the door.

Inside, Hungary was in the middle of her favorite book, lost in the adventure when a knock at the door interrupted her. She carefully marked her place and went to the door. She opened it.

"Oh," she said. "Hello, Prussia."

"Hey," he said. "Listen, I know I kinda pissed you off the other day, so I was thinking I could take you out to dinner to make up for it."

Hungary hesitated. "No thanks."

Prussia was taken aback. "But... But... Why not?"

"I just don't want to, Prussia."

Prussia frowned. "I'm not asking for much; what's the big deal?"

"Goodbye, Prussia." Hungary closed the door, leaving Prussia on the porch.

Fuming, Prussia began walking back to the tavern. As he passed by an alley, suddenly two people jumped out, pulling at his clothes and throwing him to the ground. One man got on top of him and pulled out a knife.

"Get off me, Spain," Prussia ordered. "She's not here."

"Oops," said Spain, standing back up. Once Prussia was on his feet, he shoved Spain back down. Spain picked himself back up, but rather slowly, as his head was hurting. They made their way back to the tavern.

Back at the house, Hungary sat with her book in her lap, not quite able to start reading again. She shifted in he chair so that her legs hung over the armrest at the knee, and her lower back pressed into the other armrest. She thought about Prussia. Sure, he was good-looking, strong, influential, and a good hunter, but she didn't want him. She thought back to her youth, when he was so much nicer. Was it because he thought she was a boy? Was he this way to all women? She didn't know. She sighed, looking at the cover of her book. Why were men nothing like the the ones in books? No one was perfect, she knew that, but why were people like Prussia considered the closest to perfect? She sighed again.

"Hungary? Are you okay?" Liechtenstein asked, looking in the doorway."

Hungary smiled lightly. "I'm fine."

"Who was at the door?"

"Just Prussia."

"What did he want?"

Hungary hesitated again. "He wanted to ask me out."

Liechtenstein smiled. "What did you say?"

"I turned him down."

"I don't understand why he'd ask you; didn't you say something similar happened yesterday?" Liechtenstein walked in, sitting on the floor in front of the chair.

"Yeah. He doesn't seem to learn."

"So why'd he come back? He can have his pick of any of the other girls in town."

"I don't know; maybe stubbornness is a trait that all men have."

"Switzerland isn't all that stubborn," Liechtenstein said, trying to defend her brother. Hungary smiled a little more. "He's stubbornly indifferent."

Liechtenstein stood up. "I just wanted to see if you were okay. I have to go out to the woods and get more firewood and those wild strawberries Switzerland likes. Want to come with me?"

"No, thanks," Hungary said. "But be careful, okay? The woods are a bit foggy today."

"I'm always careful," she said, grabbing her jacket, basket, and a coil of rope. She strolled outside and into the forest. Hungary was right; it was foggy. Most of the wood she found on the ground was damp. Thankfully, she knew which trees were dead and which were still alive. She climbed up a live one which stood near a dead oak and began tearing off branches. She threw them on the ground, climbed down and tied the bundle in her rope.

"Maybe a bit more," she said, getting ready to climb back up. As she reached for a higher branch, he stepped ever so slightly wrong and slipped. She shrieked, getting scratched from twigs as she fell, and getting her hair snagged. She felt some of her hair being pulled out, and something smooth tickle her cheek and fall away. She lunged, holding tightly to a limb. Something felt wrong. She moved one hand to the left side of her head. "My-!" Was all she had time to cry before her grip gave way. She screamed again, and landed flat on her back. "Ow," she moaned, reaching for the back of her head. It was wet. She looked at her hand, covered in a sticky red fluid. She nearly panicked, but stopped when she took in her surroundings. Wild strawberries! They grew all over! Smiling, she picked one that she hadn't fallen on and tasted it. "Wow!" She said. They were delicious! Liechtenstein gathered as many as she could hold in her skirt and began looking around for her basket.

"That's odd," she said. "Where did it go?" The trees all looked the same. Liechtenstein realized she was lost. She turned her head rapidly, this way and that, but could see nothing but trees and fog. Tears began to brim in her eyes. How would she find her way home?

Back at the house, Hungary had heard Liechtenstein's shrieks. She hurriedly threw on her boots and coat, grabbing a flashlight and running out the door. "Liechtenstein?" She called. "LIECHTENSTEIN!" Her calls were answered only by an echo. "Liechtenstein...stein... stein..."

Hungary felt fear wrench at her heart. Shining the flashlight on the ground, she began to follow the tracks.