IV: Surely Uncertain

The Swiss Nation was never a party animal.

Unfortunately for him, Liechtenstein dragged him around all over the place. She made him smile at Nations he did not care much about, she made him drink things that made him a bit nauseous, and she made him try many cultural foods that made him even more nauseous.

After he relieved in the washroom, Liechtenstein dragged him to the dance floor.

He resisted her tow for a moment saying, "Lili. I'm too full to dance."

Switzerland did not want to tell his adopted sister the disinterest he had with the overcrowding party. He yearned for the peace and tranquility of home, dozing in the grass surrounded by his beautiful Alpine Mountains. Here he had smelled too many smelly Nations, he got sick from the intake of foreign foods, he had shaken enough sweaty hands, and he clearly had had enough of the loud chatter.

As much as the Alpine wanted to stay out of partying and be left alone, Nations just randomly flock around to greet him. He wondered if it was their interest in his sister or their curiosity over his sombre mood. As the night went on, and after he pretended to smile at those he acquainted, there was worry gnawing at the back of his mind. Germany could understand his situation but Italy dragged him everywhere and Switzerland could hardly find him amidst all this.

"What is it, dear bruder?" Liechtenstein asked, smiling gleefully with knowing eyes.

And why is she so energetic tonight?Switzerland thought, silently blaming Hungary and Belgium.

His sister was truly enjoying every second of this world wide party. "I know you are tired," she said, maintaining her sweet shy composure. "But may you hold on a bit longer and join me to dance?"

Switzerland straightened up, giving in to her polite request. "All right, well maybe fooooor-!"

Before he could finish, Liechtenstein excitedly pulled him onward. She zoomed by Canada who held the door for the countries leaving the room.

When the two sibling countries entered the grand ballroom – it looked more like a night club than a glamorous hall – loud, pounding modern music welcomed them inside. Switzerland almost covered his ears as America and Britain played their deafening mainstream songs.

He looked around for any familiar faces under the electro flashes of strobe lights. He found Britain waving around wildly at the DJ turn tables bumping against America; both were in a drunken state. Spain and Romano were at the small corner bar where France was expertly tossing and mixing drinks. He spotted Greece by the wall sitting beside Egypt, watching Turkey dance wildly with someone in the middle of the dance floor. There were so many Nations dancing in the center with them that it was hard to get a glimpse at who the Mediterranean Nation was dancing with.

The ballroom used to look so exquisite, but for tonight it was transformed into a night club where dancers wore military uniforms and strobe lights replaced crystal chandeliers. The fine-looking central chandelier was even replaced by a disco ball.

No wonder a certain aristocrat isn't here, thought the Swiss. The music is so loud I can barely hear myself think!

A familiar figure with disheveled silvery, platinum hair and dark purple-red eyes approached them with a beer bottle in hand.

"Hullo Gilbert," greeted Switzerland. He placed a protective hand on his sister's shoulder in case the man does anything out of the ordinary.

Prussia leaned against the Alpine and put on his trademark grin. "Calm down, Switzerland, I'm harmless as fuck right now." The Prussian appeared sober but Switzerland shot him a doubtful look.

Prussia boisterously laughed at this, waving around the half-empty bottle of beer that made no change to his behaviour what so ever, or so it seemed.

"Oh yeah," he burped with a quick excuse. "You gotta check out the awesomeness happening on the dance floor!"

Switzerland and Liechtenstein were led forward by the rowdy Prussian. They squeezed through the partying countries and found the white-masked Nation of Turkey dancing with a partner who they had never thought he would dance with.

Switzerland gaped. "Hungary?"

Beside him Liechtenstein cheered for her friend almost forgetting her manners. Switzerland could only stand there looking stunned with amusement.

Hungary spotted them watching her and she winked in their direction, making Switzerland twist a corner of his mouth to a smile. He watched the Hungarian being swept away by the masked Turk. The Nations twirled and spun and laughed like they had been dance partners before, like they had never fought each other in the past…

Prussia took a lasting gulp of beer and shoved the empty bottle to Switzerland who confoundedly received it. "Take this, Switzy. This means war!" He turned away from the Swiss and added, "A dance war!"

A maniacal laughter erupted from the Prussian as he joined the two dancers. Nations surrounding them started to clap to the beat and cheer. Prussia let loose, synchronized with the Turk for a moment, then fluidly posed with Hungary in the middle.

Turkey laughed as he and Prussia followed each other's steps, while Hungary strongly held her moves in between them.

"Gilbert, you jerk!" Turkey chuckled, keeping up with the Prussian.

Hungary smiled mischievously at both of them as she made sure the two were exhausting themselves. "Don't look so tired, Sadık," she enticed Turkey who let her loose from his wind.

Prussia caught her and she teased her lips close to his face. "Careful you might trip, Gilbert."

"Just shut up and dance Liz!" challenged the German.

Switzerland could hear America compliment the three dancing countries with a booming voice from his microphone, and then suddenly as if summoned more Nations gathered around to watch them. This time, France, Romano and Spain were in the crowd. Even an awakened Greece and Egypt shoved their way closer to watch.

Gradually, the bunched up countries stole friends and partners to dance, the dominance of Turkey, Hungary and Prussia influencing them to party even more. Bodies boogied, drinks held above heads avoiding spills, colourful lights reflecting on all surfaces made people dizzy as they drifted into a dreamy trance of music and movement.

Switzerland quickly gave away Prussia's empty beer bottle to Canada who randomly swept past with a serving tray of drinks. Liechtenstein looked to her brotherly country and asked him to dance. The Swiss Nation hesitated for a moment, and then by mere timing a slow song suddenly changed the mood surrendering him to his sister's gentle hands. Just this once, maybe, he thought uncertainly.

Awkward with his footing, Switzerland stopped after a few self-conscious dance steps. He felt stiff in the knees, but it was oddly the calm melodic song playing in the background that was disturbing his senses. Worries pried open his mind once more from the lyrical words sung in between the soft musical notes. Flustered with his incompetent dance steps, he pulled away from the girl.

"I - I can't, Lili." He did not want to tell her of his shaken mood. "This is not – you know...This is not my kind of thing."

The young Nation gave him a tender smile. "It's all right, dear brother."

However Switzerland regretfully gave her an uninterested look and turned to the door. He felt a sting in his chest when he turned away, and just as he was opening the door to leave, he caught a heated gaze from a Nation he met earlier. Peering over his shoulder, he found that it was Belgium looking intensely annoyed with his behaviour. Belgium whisked his sister away and the partying crowd swallowed them whole. The Swiss Nation reluctantly stepped out of the room, shut the door behind him and headed for remote isolation, his heart heaved with exhaustion and frustration.