"Why'd you leave Balincrest?"
"My brother went here"
"Dead Poets Society"
The hurtful and elegiac sound of a bagpipe inconsolably wailing flooded completely the holy pavilion.
Scots, why a lot of gross guys would be that proud just for a piercing sound like that infernal instrument's? Maybe they can have –and let's say not well founded –their own reasons, but either way, it was still implausible, even more coming from people like them.
Originally, Burns Night is celebrated only in Scotland, but it's obvious that he was the one who forced his siblings (not to mention that he also alluded to the rest of Europe) to join in the poet's commemoration, although the not related nations rejected him outright, clearly.
Twenty-fifth January, and classes hadn't started yet ... It seems that Arthur unconsciously disorganized his schedule (yes, after spending all of his time insinuating himself to Alfred), but blurring the situation, actually, the school year would begin next day, unfortunately for students.
All guests were startled by the plaintive shrillness, standing in front of their seats, receiving the retinue of flag bearers led by a red-haired, freckled boy, who executed the satanic bagpipes while guiding his companions: five children in traditional costumes, carrying United Kingdom's flags, adding Ireland's (probably to avoid beatings coming from her elder sister).
Arthur resembled a groom waiting for his bride at the altar, holding a candle in his hand, and, like the parade of standard bearers, dressed in his traditional costume.
The escorts arrived at the steps in front of the tabernacle, positioned in rows of three: at Arthur's (who was in the middle) right, the bagpipe's interpreter, and at his left, the Scottish flag carrier, and at this latter's one left, the English flag carrier followed by the Welsh one; escorts carrying Irish flags rushed to be at the right of the bagpipe's musician. The convoy's tense situation was easy to notice, since they could not make it more evident: sweating like they were being cooked, swallowing every few minutes at an almost moderate frequency, adjusting their sleeves and necks, trying to hide those wretched expressions on their faces while they were trying not to drop the flags...
Arthur seemed to ignore this and went towards his siblings, who were sitting, of course, in the altar's closest row. He lit Allistor's candle and returned to his position, Allistor lit Rhys's candle, and Rhys lit Liam's, and Liam lit Bridget's... and so on down to Peter, who lit the candle of the student who was behind him to repeat the previous actions.
This time, a priest arrived at the altar, and placing his glasses, opened an old-looking book –arguably as thick as a bible–, and began reciting what seemed to be a homecoming verse, clearly, in Old English.
Finally, a mass which had become martyrdom concluded. At least, for those who were not World Academy W's students, because in a few long hours, pupils must leave on a train heading to the lyceum.
"Congratulations for the celebration" Holland congratulated England, straining him his hand
"I'm glad you liked it" Arthur made a motion to accept the token of appreciation "Belgium, Luxembourg, ready for the next quarter?" He tried to relax them by cheering them up in some way or another
"We'll strive every effort" Belgium affirmed with a positive smile
Her younger brother, Luxembourg, just returned to his suspicious glance at that comment, being the first one from the Netherlands's family leaving the church.
"Great ceremony" Germany praised England shaking his hand without prior notice
"T-thank you very much" He smiled, slightly surprised "Romano, Veneziano, you both have a big pair of shoes to fill, I hope this time you're going to give the best of yourselves" He sighed, after finishing his sentence directed to the Italian brothers who had come along with Ludwig "Your grandpa was one of the best ones"
"Ve~"
"Thanks"
Romano interrupted his younger brother after pushing him out the chapel along with Germany.
"W-what a… nice celebration, England…" Denmark offered him his shaking hand in token of greeting
"I know, I'm glad you've came" Arthur sketched a roguish smile to try to provoke him "So, how does it feel to be so close to junior year?" He glanced at the younger ones from the Nordic family: Iceland, Greenland, Faroe and Åland, of course
"More overwhelming teachers to bear, a year less to finish high school" Nils answered droningly
"Oh, right, I expect great things from you guys this time" Arthur kept his cool
"Don't worry; they won't disappoint us, right?" Finland added
"We'll do… what's possible" Iceland assured to not actually promise anything, still with his puffin in his arms
"All right, I like it this way. See you soon" He said goodbye, looking as the quiet group of countries slowly left the parish church "Oh! Fo! See you tonight!" He shouted a reminder to Faroe, who still was a few meters away from him
"See you at tonight's dinner Iggy!" Astrid gave her last farewell, waving as she disappeared into the crowd
The flushed evening sun thoroughly suffused that taciturn afternoon. Lucky to contemplate, from a peripheral point of view, as its mate and possible relative, the time, snatched away the inherence between so many families without any clemency. Even though that night (at two in the morning, to be precise), academy's attendants would come to pick up the students, that evening meant the leaving time for those pupils from school's first year, who were just beginning in the institution. No one really knew why, maybe it was some sort of orientation class or something related with that.
"Mamma! I don't want to go!" Peter cried, running to hug Tino
"Oh, honey… I'm sorry. But look at me" Finland took Sealand by his chin to stare right at him "You have to be a good boy and comply with your obligations, right? Do it for me and your dad" Tino tried to –innocently – extort him
"C'mon, ch'n up, no tears…" Berwald patted his head and wiped his tears
"Do you want to hurry? Hello! We're going to lose the train" Ladonia grumbled from afar, already in front of a wagon's sliding doors
"Big brother! I don't want to go!" Christiania cried raising his arms, clearly expecting an embrace by his older brother
"Listen to me, kid: school is like a prison, fulfil your judgment and then you'll leave, you'll see that when you finish, you'll be laughing at everything that could have happened" Denmark –reluctantly– tried to give his little brother some encouragement
"Don't be stupid" Greenland whacked Mathias "Calm down, Christiania, we'll be there in any case, so there's nothing to worry about, right?" Malik went down to his level and patted his head
Christiania wiped away his little tears that slid down his cheeks, he smiled, and, turning around, he ran toward the wagon which was in front of him, along with Sealand and Ladonia.
A strident screech howled from the train's smokestack, and the sliding doors of each boxcar closed abruptly, interrupting in a sudden way the last farewells. The children crowded up at the windows, exasperatingly waving with their little hands, trying to transmit for the last time their conclusive farewells; as the vehicle slowly moved away, pulling them apart thus from their homes, and increasingly further and further. Until the sun turned already into a little spot between the hollow of the green hills, which partially covered the all-seeing sun…
Don't kill me, I don't know anything about the education system in Britain, the only thing I learnt is that Christmas' recess ends in middle January... if the info I got was right, clearly... plus I wanted to search an excuse for Burns Night dinner... Anyway, sorry for the delay. Also, this and next chapter are inspired on Dead Poets Society, that's why they'll be similar (only the beginning of the movie).
There's nothing to understand in this chapter, this is only an introduction ^^
That was all, Piper out~!
P.S: Excuse the misspellings, though I checked it 5 times so I think it's okay...
Hetalia - Hidekaz Himaruya
Nils Eriksson/Åland Islands - KurokawaAyumi (DeviantArt)/eliastheswede (Tumblr)
Allistor: Scotland
Rhys: Wales
Liam: Northern Ireland
Bridget: Ireland
Fo is for Føroyar, it's also Faroe Islands' internet TLD.