January 29th, 2050

Heracles Karpusi, Greece

I can't sleep anymore. I miss those blissful days where I could just lie down anywhere, close my eyes, and float away without a care in the world. It's taken me a long time to realize that those days are over. But after the economic crisis and revolts that occurred around forty years ago, I haven't had one peaceful slumber.

I thought things were getting better. As time passed and all of Europe started to heal again, I allowed myself to hope. Then my cares started to dissipate once again and I could just…lie down. But it was too quick. Everything happened to fast and before I knew it, I was thrown into the mix again.

I don't want to take any part in this. England's battles have never been my problem. But when he cut off my access to other resources and starved my nation out, I couldn't just lie down and sleep. Now, the economy is in the tank once more. I've worked so hard to heal from the chaos of 2011, and everything has been ruined by one rash war between two western nations I have no concern for.

And they have no concern for me either. None of the bigger powers ever really pay attention to me and I'm usually okay with that. During the times where I am actually required to attend a conference, I just sleep because I know nothing will get done. They always just end up yelling and fighting. So I just fight my own battles and deal with the fact that Turkey is an asshole. More so than before, as well.

I can't do anything to help my nation. I'm too weak. Everything is in ruins and I can't even assemble the army to try and get back at England. Not without help. And has anyone come to help me at all? No. Not even…not even Japan.

I haven't seen him in such a long time it seems. But it's alright, I guess. He has his own things to deal with and I have my own. He is an important power with more influence than I'll ever have.

Now that I'm this helpless, Turkey has taken it upon himself to attempt to invade my lands. I never thought that it would come to this again. I thought that we were over this. I worked so hard in the nineteenth century to earn my damn independence from the masked motherfucker. But I guess he was just waiting patiently for the right time to take me back. And there is little I can do about it.

He has succumbed to guerilla tactics and these small vicious attacks have further weakened me. I don't think I can take this anymore. It makes me sad really. Turkey and I used to be good friends. There were times where I could tell him my deepest and darkest secrets…when I could rely on his advice and laugh with him and joke with him…

But those days are just distant memories now. Memories I wish I could forget so that it'd be easier to fight him.

I sighed and shifted my legs slightly. The air around me was colder than usual and it was…so quiet. Way to quiet. I usually liked the quiet, but it was usually accompanied with the distant sound of civilization, or the sound of chirping birds.

But there's nothing.

And I don't like it.

I don't like a lot of things these days.

I carefully laid my head down on the soft earth, surrounded by the ancient ruins of my mother's ancient civilization. This is the only place I feel safe, and yet, even its majesty cannot choke out the bitter pain that resides in my body. I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to erase my mind and to find that sleep I'm in desperate need of…but to no avail. I just can't do it anymore.

Something tickled my cheeks gently and I crinkled my nose as a reaction. I opened my eyes and the first thing I saw was the thick fur of one of my black cats. She purred gently as she stroked my face. I smiled weakly and forced myself to sit up again. I gently reached out and grabbed the cat. She was beautiful. Her big amber eyes stared up at me innocently and her small pink nose stood out against her ebony coat. I sighed and stroked her, my fingers running from her head down to her tail.

I breathed in the cold air, letting the icy feeling fill my lungs.

"I guess…it's just you and me…cat…" I whispered. My voice sounded strange against the silence. I held the cat close to my chest and looked around. The looming pillars and crumbling stone stood ominously above me, dark and cold against the thick air.

My shoulders slumped as I realized how desolate this place really was. Why do I find this place so special to me? It's nothing but a pile of rubble, the memories of the once flourishing civilization fading away day by day. My mother is gone. She fell a long time ago and nothing can bring her back.

It's a strange thing really, to be telling myself that. The thought had briefly crossed my mind a few times throughout the years, but I never let myself think them. But in a time like this, the fact seems to strike with full force.

The cat gave a tiny meow before she gently licked my cheek. I couldn't help but smile at this. I really love cats. Yet, just like everything else, they don't seem to be around that much anymore. I'll see a few of them here and there, but not like before.

I stared off into the horizon and started to tremble. I didn't understand why, but my limbs were shaking uncontrollably and my head started to pound. I bit my lip to suppress a painful groan as I felt my stomach twist up into knots. I quickly set the cat back down on the ground, where she quickly slinked off and disappeared.

Something's happening to me….

I squeezed my eyes shut and clenched my fists.

Is this what dying feels like? What the hell is going on? I don't understand…

I've felt this only a few times before…

Something must be happening to my country. At the thought, dread and panic seized me and my chest constricted violently. I attempted to take longer breaths, but they were choppy and shallow. They reverberated violently against my ears and my heart seemed to be speeding up at a dangerous pace…

"Give it up, you hopeless bastard. You know you can't win."

That voice. Shit…he's here.

I forced my eyes to open and saw Turkey hovering over me. His leering smile caused my blood to boil. His beady eyes flashed dangerously behind his mask. From my pitiful position…he looked taller, mightier, stronger…

Stronger than I could ever be.

No…NO! I can't let this happen! I've worked so hard to keep my country independent, to keep Turkey out…

Yet…it all seemed inevitable.

In his hand was a long sword that glinted dangerously at me. I gulped and dug my nails into the palms of my hand. I felt so sick…I couldn't fight him…

Is this the end of me?

I opened my mouth to speak, but no words came out.

He gave a mirthless cruel laugh and said in a sadistic voice, "You're finished, my friend. England has screwed you over. Your nation has been degrading for a long time and I'm just here to finish the job. "

I couldn't say anything. I just stared up at him, taking in his brown hair, his tanned skin, his face…so full of hatred and antipathy…

This was the man who helped me with so much. The man I used to rely on for help. We were each other's rock. He knows more about me than any other person in the world, nation or human. I guess he can use that to his advantage. And it hurts.

Especially seeing him standing here, all too willing to kill me…to destroy the foundations of my nation and claim it for himself.

Would he have any guilt if he had officially ended me? If I cease to exist because of his hand, would he ever regret his choices? Would he ever reflect upon the precious years before my revolt? Or does that not matter to him anymore?

I swallowed and finally choked out in a small voice, "Fine, then."

"What?" he spat.

"Fine. Strike me…with your sword…and kill me. It's…what you want, right?" I asked.

He stood there, frozen, staring at me with a blank expression.

I shrugged and attempted to smile up at him. "What are you waiting for? I'm right here…in front of you, aren't I? I prefer it to be painless if…you don't mind. Just a…swift decapitation would be fine…"

Turkey stepped back a few steps, his expression flickering between anger and shock. His hands were shaking as he spluttered, "Y-You aren't going t-to fight me? You're giving up just like that? You're pathetic! Stand up like a true nation and face me!"

I just smiled bitterly up at him. I felt so sick…I would never be able to win if I fought him.

Maybe…maybe it's for the best at this point.

Maybe it really is my time to dissolve. I mean, what have I really contributed as a nation? All of the memorable things from Greece came from my mother's ancient civilization. I really haven't done much. I guess I'm just not meant to be a nation. Even so, I still don't want to go down without some sort of resistance.

"You want to fight?" I asked, my lips curling up.

He seemed taken aback for another second before he responded, "W-Wha- Of course I want to fight!"

"Why? You know… that you'll …win," I stated as simply as I could, despite my increasingly labored breathing. I realized that my chest was on fire. I was going to pass out any second and suffocate. I would die even before Turkey swung his sword.

I forced myself to stare up into the other nation's angry face. I saw it. A falter. And I knew why.

Even Sadiq hesitated at the thought of ending the life of another nation…especially a nation he had spent so much time with. He had raised me, he had taught me, he had cherished me, he had fought me, he had hurt me, he had embraced me…

How could he just end it right here?

Did I want to die? Have I really given up?

Before he could respond, he was tossed aside. Almost carelessly. I watched in shock as he went flying off to the side, landing with a large crash on the dirt ground, his head barely missing collision with stone.

Standing before me was Japan. My breath was momentarily taken away as I saw his calm, yet serious face. His dark eyes were on fire as he drew his sword, his pose in the defensive, staring at Turkey, who was a helpless crumple on the floor.

I felt another stab of pain pierce my chest. Yet, I couldn't fight the small smile that crept on my lips.

If I was going to die, then I would be okay with it if the last thing I saw was Japan saving my ass. There was something about the nation that always left me breathless. I can't really place it. That sharp and mesmerizing grace, those dark eyes, that calm demeanor, that quiet sense of humor…

Turkey groaned slightly, but otherwise, he remained motionless.

Japan turned to look at me, his face softening.

"Greece-san…" he started in a quiet voice.

"Japan…" I breathed out, my chest constricting once more.

He closed his eyes for a second before approaching me. For a man of his small size, he was very strong. He managed to put both of his hands under my arms and hoisted me up. I did my best to support myself, but my legs felt like rubber and every other part of my body was on fire…

I felt his hot breath in my ear. "We are getting out of here."

Everything was swirling around me violently. I smiled. "Japan…"

"We can't go to my house. It's under attack. China has taken England-san's side, and his first move was to seize my place."

"Japan…I…" I choked out.

"We're going to America's."

"It doesn't matter," I breathed out. "I'm dying anyways. I've b-been dying for a w-while now. My economy…for forty years now…"

Japan set me down gently and turned to face me. I looked up into his eyes as he gently placed a hand on my cheek. His touch seemed to send a strange wave of strength through me. I shuddered.

"It matters, Greece-san. You're a nation as well. You're a part of this just as everyone else is," he said before he carefully withdrew his hand from my cheek and hoisted me up again. I worked hard to walk by his side, but my whole body was burning. I was going to pass out. I felt the black spots creep up on me, shrouding my vision…

Then, there was a cry of horror, a slam, and I felt myself being thrown to the ground. The collision between my body and the earth made me want to scream. How can the ruins of my mother's civilization hurt me so? How can I be in so much pain in the place that brought me so much peace and happiness?

How?

I squinted and forced my eyes open.

I felt a wave of nausea hit me once more as I saw who Japan was fighting.

Egypt.

How can this be happening?

How can these nations…these nations I know so well…

Why do they want to kill me so badly?

The dance between Egypt and Japan was mesmeric, beautiful, and deadly. They both slashed with their swords, both with an intense fire in their eyes. I felt like someone or something was sucking out all my blood, draining me slowly.

I'm sorry, mother...

"Give it up, Japan. He's as good as dead anyways. Just let me finish him off," Egypt spat in a tone I've only heard come from his mouth a few times. I closed my eyes. I can't watch this anymore. I can't handle this.

"No!"

Clang.

Swish.

Blackness.

Nothing but pain and blackness.

Swirling.

Then drops. Drip. Drip. Drip. All over my back.

And I know it's not water.

Then a hot ragged breath at my ear.

"H-Hang in there, Greece-san. We're going to America's."