Present time
England woke up the next day to small hands poking him curiously. He opened his eyes and jumped slightly when he saw little America sitting beside him. Right then, all the events of the previous day came running to his head. It took him a minute before he got up.
"Good morning England! America said as he jumped on of his guardian and laughed. Arthur pushed him off and couldn't help but laugh a little. He remembered how he used to always get up like this with the small child waking him. He really missed it. Though he really did want to spoil him, England put on a stern face and held the child.
"You know you shouldn't wake a person like that. It's very rude." He lectured which immediately made the small colony pout.
"But you were sleeping for so long! I wanted you to get up and play!" He whined. England sighed and put the child back down on the bed as he stood up and started to get dressed. He knew he'd have to find some new clothes for America. It wouldn't be good if he was running around in the same thing the whole time. So a shopping trip was definitely needed. He heard America bouncing up and down on the bed and sighed. This child was filled with energy. That wasn't ever going to change no matter how old he got.
Once he was fully dressed, he grabbed America and headed toward the kitchen. At least this part was going to be fun reliving. How America had once loved his cooking. England was going to cherish these little things that would disappear once the colony went back to his own time. In fact, thanks to the modern world's advanced technology, finding ways to remember these moments would be a little easier. Not to mention a great way to blackmail America later! After cooking a simple meal for the child, he quickly ran and grabbed his video camera. England watched as America happily at every bit of food placed in front of him and didn't notice the video camera until all of the food was gone.
"What's that England?" The child asked while pointing at the camera.
"It's a magical devise that's going to help both of us later in life when we need to remember times like this. Trust me America, we'll want these things to help us." England said. The child didn't mind. He stared at it curiously but that was it.
"How does it work?" he asked as he reached out for the camera. England couldn't help but laugh at how adorable America was.
"It's just going to watch you and then, later when we want to we can see these moments again on the television I showed you earlier. So, how did you like your breakfast?" England asked, already smirking.
"It was great England! You're such a good cook!" America said as he smiled at his guardian. England put the camera down and hugged America close and quickly kissed the top of his head.
"Thank you Alfred. That means a lot to me." England said.
"E-England? Does it really mean a lot to you? You never use the human name you gave me." America said as he clung to England.
"Of course it does Alfred." England replied as he still held the child close to him. These really were the moments that he missed the most. Having a child adore him and him being able to give all the love in the world back.
"E-England? I-If you're using my name, does this mean I should call you Arthur?" America questioned.
"If you want to. I told you, as nations we refer to each other by the name of our country. Though when we are closer than just allies, we usually refer to each other by our human names. You are not just my colony America. You're my little brother, Alfred." England said. The child looked up at him with eyes filled with curiosity but he said nothing. A few minutes passed by, but neither of them moved until they heard the doorbell ring throughout the house. England quickly pushed aside his brief moments of innocent happiness and put America back down in the chair as he served the child a second helping.
"Stay here ok? I'll be back in a minute." England instructed as he quickly turned off his camera that had recorded the whole moment between him and his former charge and went to answer the door right as the bell rang again.
"I'm coming!" he yelled right before he opened the door to see both Japan and China standing on his porch.
"England-san, good morning. I do hope we are not intruding on you too early in the morning." Japan said as he bowed politely at the European nation.
"Not at all. Why are you both here though?" England questioned.
"As I said at the meeting yesterday, we have decided on a rotation schedule for who will watch America-san as you work. I have come to fill you in and China is here to assist you in any way possible." Japan replied while pointing at China who at the mention of his name, bowed slightly as well.
"I must admit that I still don't really believe this story. It just seems too odd to believe aru." China confessed.
"Would you both like to come in then? I'll make some tea and China, since you haven't met him yet, I'll introduce you to the America from back when I first met him." England said with a smile. The Asian nations nodded as they stepped inside. England led them into the kitchen, where America had already been peaking out from to see who it was who had come to visit. The colony quickly hid behind England and trembled slightly as he stared at the new nations.
"America, you're being rude when we have guests. You saw one of these men yesterday remember? And the other man is just as nice. There's no reason to be scared." England told him as he tried to pry America away from him and out to see the oriental nations.
"Ah, he's so cute aru! China said as he kneeled down to get a better look at America. Japan sighed and smiled a little at the colony.
"It's nice to see you again America-san. My name is Japan, and this is China." Japan said. America still looked a little unsure but decided to let go of England wave.
"H-Hello… J-Japan and China. It's nice to meet you." He mumbled. China immediately pulled out a sweet from his pocket and handed it to the child while fussing about how adorable America was. Japan started blushing as he looked back at England.
"Forgive him, he loves cute things a little too much." Japan said. England nodded and led everyone back into the kitchen. America moved over to China, loving the attention the older nation was giving him. While China happily kept America's attention, Japan and England discussed business.
"We have come to an agreement on who will watch America while you work. Each nation that is part of the G8 will get one day each to be with America-san. Since we are unsure on how long you will be in reversing this, if it takes longer than our first rotation, we will continue in the same order until you have an answer on how to get our America-san back. The order is: Me, then France-san, Italy-kun, Canada-san, Germany-san, and finally, Russia-san. Is this alright with you?" Japan asked. England really wasn't sure about this idea. If he hurried and worked his hardest, he could probably find a way to fix things before the order got to Germany or Russia. Yet, this would also mean less time for him to keep his precious little brother with him. He'd have to send him back. Either way, America would be taken from him. Yet, did he really have a choice?
"Alright, that sounds fine to me. Be careful with him though. He has so much energy and is a very curious child. Keep an eye on him or else he'll wander off and cause trouble." England instructed as turned over to America who was still having fun playing small games with China. China held the colony in his arms before handing him over to England.
"America, I'm going to be busy and can't watch you today. So Japan here is going to watch you, alright?" England said. The child's happy expression immediately changed as he latched onto his guardian.
"England! I want to stay with you though! Why can't I play here?" He asked as tears started to form around his eyes.
"China and I need to get some work done America. You'll have lots of fun with Japan, in his house; it's filled with many different things from the east! Don't you want to explore like I do?" England asked. The child immediately looked up. England knew his former colony used to try and copy everything he did. Finally, America let go nodded.
"I-I get to come back here later right? I-It's just for a little while, right?" America asked nervously.
"Right, Japan is going to bring you home later. Be a good boy and behave for him, alright?" England said. America nodded before walking over to Japan and looking up at him curiously.
"Alright, thank you England-san. I'll bring him back before it gets dark." Japan said as he took the colony's hand and together they left the house. England sighed before clearing the dishes.
"This must be hard for you aru. Watching people, some nations that you still don't fully trust, take your precious little brother away from you." China said. England froze as China spoke. He was amazed that the oriental nation knew exactly what he was feeing. China saw the confused and surprised expression on his face and laughed.
"You forget who was the one to raise Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and even though we have different opinions on this topic, Hong Kong is also my little brother." China said as he looked back at England. Hong Kong had been raised by both of them and they had fought over him a lot. Yet China looked at England with more sympathy than anger as he brought up Hong Kong.
"Japan will take care of him. He's pretty good with children aru. For now, I know a lot of things from my land and it's culture of magic from throughout the ages. I know you are worried about what will happen when he has to go and be with people like Germany and Russia. This is hard for you. So please, let me do anything that you think could help, alright aru?" China said and smiled. England nodded and managed to smile back.
"Thank you this means a lot. You're right, let's get to work."
America stared at the food and curiously poked it with his fork. Though it was burnt, he knew that England did put a lot of work into it. He also knew that England was his best bet on anyone helping him get back to his own time. So the manners that the Englishman had drilled into him kicked in as he started eat the meat (fish? No. Chicken? Maybe?) on his plate.
"It's great England! I really have always liked your cooking." America said as he forced some more food down his throat.
"I'm glad that even though you're older, you still like what I make you." England said and smiled at America.
"So will you now tell me what you meant by you're not the same America I left? Obviously you grew up but what else?" England asked and looked seriously at him. America thought back and realized that he couldn't really remember when England would really look at him and take him seriously. Could he sense the exact significant difference between him and his colonial self?
"To be honest, I'm not exactly sure how it happened. Don't laugh at the corny line, but I'm from the future England. All the way from the 21st century." America said and nervously looked back at England. America was begging inside, hoping that England would believe him.
"A-America? You're joking, right? How in the world could you be from the 21st century?" England asked. Oh well, so much for him hoping.
"I don't really know. Look it's going to sound weird but listen ok? Well, back in the 21st century, I was having my bir- uh, I mean, I was having this party and I wanted you to come too. W-We had fought and I wanted you to come over. I went over to you're house to get you, but when I got there you were in a black clock and there was some bright lights coming from off of the floor. I was curious and didn't hear you yell at me to get away until I was pulled into the light. I woke up and I was here." America said. He needed England's help. So telling him that in the relatively near future, he was going to declare independence and ever since then, they had fought over things probably wasn't a good idea. England looked down and thought about all the things that America had said and finally nodded.
"Well, I know you're at least telling a little bit of truth. You described my magical spell casting. I've never shown you that before. And right now, there is no way you could easily run all over and get to my house just to invite me to some party without it taking a long time. So, what choice do I have? But, if you're here, where is the you from this time?!" England shouted as he ran through the house in a panic. America sighed as he watched his former guardian run around frantically. Though he hadn't voiced it allowed, he was also curious to where this younger version of him was.
"America? Alfred? Are you there? Where are you?" England yelled as he ran around the small house trying to find the colony.
"E-England wait, I-I think I remember a bit more of what happened." America said quietly as he walked up to him.
"I remember when I fell into that blinding light, I saw someone. The person was a child, a lot smaller than me. I-I think it might have been me! The me from this time at least. He went to the future and I was sent here!" America shouted. This made England stop dead in his tracks and slowly look back at America. He stayed silent for a few minutes before starting to panic again.
"This is terrible! The younger you! H-He's probably terrified and he's all alone! I can't just sit here I need to do something! I need to get him back here!" England yelled.
"Well that's the problem! I don't know how I got her except for the fact that you did some magic stuff and I'm now stuck here! You know magic! Can't your figure out how to get me back so I can then send the younger me back?" Alfred asked.
"I don't even know what kind of spell this me from the future used! It's all based on that. For every spell there is always and opposite. Unless I figure out what the spell the me in the future used, I can't even begin to figure out how to send you back! Oh poor Alfred! He's probably terrified! He's all alone and I imaging that the 21st century must be very different than it is now. He won't know how to take care of himself!" England shouted as he paced back and forth.
"He'll be fine. I was at your house so you'll be there. If you're like this right now, the version of you from the future must be having a field day with this. So don't worry ok?" America said as he tried to calm the older nation down. It surprised America a bit to see his former caretaker so shaken. He was still able to think back to the days when he was under England's care and he couldn't ever remember seeing him so flustered the way his was now. He remembered when he used to be scared or nervous and how England used to comfort him, never the other way around. So, he did the only thing he could think of to make him calm down. He wrapped his arms around England and hugged him.
"Calm down ok? Everything will be fine. We'll get through this. You've already helped me learn my role as a new nation. IT was hard but we did it together. We can do this together too. So please don't be upset England…" He begged.
"America… You really have grown up. Thank you." England said as he pulled away to playfully ruffle his hair.
"My cute little brother really grew up to become a man. It's an odd thought. But, I do miss the younger you. You should be back in your own time, and he should be here. I'll try my best to help you, but you're going to have to help as well, ok?" England said.
"You know, in my time I'm the hero of the world! So of course I'm going to help you out Ig-England!" He said with a laugh. Probably not the best idea to use England's nickname since he only got the name from Japan telling him how to say 'England' in Japanese. Neither of them had met the oriental nation yet. He knew be careful. He right now could change things that would eventually affect his own history, and England's.
"So what will I have to do?" America asked curiously.
"Well I have no idea what kind of magic this older me must have discovered compared to what I know now. That along with the changes of time that would have affected this as well. So, the only option on that area is to get you doing magic too!"
"Ok! Wait, WHAT? I HAVE TO USE MAGIC?" America asked. Until now, he really had always made fun of England's magic. But now it was up to him? Oh this wasn't going to be fun…
Wow! Ok sorry it took so long for this to get up. But at least you got a fun long chapter out of the wait! Thank you all so much for the reviews! Keep them coming and I'll keep writing!