Hello all! Thank you to all of you who have stayed with me this far into the story XD Once I publish this chapter, Illorum Nos Could Non Servo will be the longest story I've ever written. So exciting! Also, thank you to my friend Dean, for noticing a slight typo last chapter... Because Prussia was talking about Austria's DIARY, not DAIRY... Anyway, I shall get on with the story, because you people have probably stopped reading my extremely annoying author's notes. I'll admit, they are annoying. Even to me sometimes...
Hungary found herself wandering the moonlit halls of the mansion she and Austria shared. She remembered a time when many more people lived there. She looked down, at the gold package in her arms. Hungary the tag read. She opened it, her heart racing to see what was inside. She pulled out several pages of crisp, white sheet music.
Blank sheet music. Hungary shuffled through page after page of... nothing. Then, on the first page, a small red dot appeared. She tried rubbing it away with her index finger, but the small dot only grew. As it grew larger, Hungary realized it was blood. She dropped the stack of papers, and ran to the music room. She knew Austria was in danger, and she had to save him. She couldn't lose him again.
She reached the piano room, and time seemed to slow, nearly to a stop. She saw Austria lying on the floor, pale and still. She ran to him, her long hair flowing out behind her. Falling to her knees beside Austria, Hungary cried as she took his hand. She had lost him again.
"Austria!" she cried.
"Austria!" Hungary screamed, waking up from her dream. She covered her face with her hands, trying to put the image out of her mind. She looked at the clock. 9 am. She was going to be late meeting the others. They had all planned to meet at the world conference hall at 9:30, because Hungary told them all about the music pieces, and everyone seemed pretty interested.
She all but flew out of bed, pulling her green uniform from her closet. She rushed to get dressed and brush her hair. She picked up the two boxes of gifts, one on top of the other, and was out the door by 9:05.
Hungary was about halfway to the meeting hall, when she hears a small voice behind her. "E-excuse me," it said. She turned, seeing a small blond child in a blue and white sailor outfit. "I'm sorry to bother you, you seem like you're in a hurry, but could you tell me how to get to a person named Hungary's house?"
"I'm Hungary... Who are you?"
The child's face lit up. "You're Hungary? I'm Sealand! I've got something to give you... I think it might be yours." He fumbled with folding up the large map he was carrying, then handed Hungary a small book. A book with a red cover.
Hungary nearly dropped the boxes she was carrying, setting them down on the ground. She took Austria's journal from Sealand, her hands shaking. "Thank you so much..." she Where did you get this? Wait a minute... Did Prussia send you?"
"Uh... no... I found it at England's house, while I was there... I could tell it wasn't his, but I didn't know whose it was, because I don't know many other countries. It's yours, right?"
Hungary smiled. Sealand reminded her a lot of Italy. "It's not mine, but I really needed it. Thank you. Wait... England had it?"
Sealand nodded, and Hungary immediately realized she had thought completely wrong. Prussia was telling the truth when he said he didn't have the journal. She had only assumed he was lying, probably due to the fact that she hated him. Sure, she had plenty of reasons to hate him, but one less than she had thought.
She took off running, toward Germany and Prussia's house. Thankfully, it wasn't far from her and Austria's home. She arrived just as Prussia and Germany were leaving. The moment Prussia saw Hungary, he turned to run the other direction, his red eyes wide with obvious fear. Hungary secretly savored the feeling of instilling terror in Prussia, but that wasn't the reason she had come.
"Prussia," she called. "I come in peace, I swear." She held her hands up, showing she was unarmed. Unless you count a book as a weapon. Which, I suppose you could, if you hit someone hard enough... But that's beside the point.
Prussia looked back at Hungary, not quite believing her innocence. "I told you, I don't have the stupid journal," he stated bitterly. "So if that's what you're after, you can go home or whatever."
"I know. I came to apologize for yesterday," Hungary said. "I just... I got so... I was upset, I jumped to conclusions, I'm..." she paused, hesitant to actually say the words. "I'm sorry."
Prussia wore a smug look on his face. Hungary was swallowing her pride, and apologizing,and he actually had the guts to smirk. "Kesesese!" he laughed. "So, you finally admit you were wrong about something, huh? Well, it's about time!"
"S-Shut up!" Hungary folded her arms across her chest. Only Prussia would make fun of someone who was apologizing to him.
Sealand looked down at the boxes left at his feet. When Hungary ran off, she apparently forgot all about them. He hadn't even had a chance to ask her about being recognized as a country...
However, maybe he could help her out a bit by carrying the boxes for her. There was apparently a big meeting that all the countries were going to, so that had to be where Hungary was headed as well. Sealand knew where the world conference hall was, so finding his way would be no problem.
He picked up the boxes, which were slightly heavier than he expected, and started walking.
"So, Hungary," Germany asked. The three of them were now walking together to the world meeting hall. "What is it that you were wanting to show all of us?"
It was only then that Hungary remembered the boxes she left with Sealand. "Uh... I left them with a kid... I need to go back and get them!"
Germany, Hungary, and Prussia walked quickly back to where Hungary had met Sealand, but found nothing. No boxes, and no weird little kid in a sailor outfit. Hungary buried her face in her hands. "Why?" she asked no one in particular. "I'm starting to see a pattern: I find things, I go to show everyone, and it goes missing. I guess we should go tell everyone that I wasted their time... Again..."
However, to Hungary's surprise, Italy ran up and gave her a hug the moment the three countries arrived. "Hi, Hungary! These songs are so cool!" he said excitedly. "We were all rehearsing while we waited for you to get here, what took you so long? And guess what? I made pasta! Oh, and Germany, here's your song." He handed Germany his gold-wrapped package.
"Thank you." As they headed inside, Germany carefully unwrapped his gift, not even creasing the paper. Inside, all the countries who had received songs were humming, singing, flipping through pages of sheet music, and comparing songs.
"Can I have everyone's attention?" Hungary called. The room quieted, everyone turning to Hungary. "As you all know, Austria was working on these songs before he died. He gave me very specific instructions for how these pieces are to be performed. He said that they are supposed to be played all at the same time. I haven't had a chance to see all the music, but I think we should try it." A murmur ran through the room, part agreement and part confusion.
With a little help from Austria's orchestra, (okay, a lot of help) the countries were soon organized into a makeshift choir. Half of them couldn't read the sheet music in front of them, but they were helped by the countries who could. Hungary watched as the song began.
It was disastrous, to say the least. The introductions that Austria had written weren't even the same tune. What was he thinking? Hungary thought, cringing. When the rest of the countries joined in, the song became a little better... At least, it hurt Hungary's ears less. Everyone was at least singing the same melody, but they were each singing something different.
When everyone hit the first chorus, everything seemed to fall into place. It was as if Austria had planned it that way. The instruments were all playing the same tune, as each country sang the melody in their own key:
Draw a circle, that's the Earth
Draw a circle, that's the Earth
Draw a circle, that's the Earth
I am (enter country's name)
From there, the countries split off again, each singing about their own subjects, but they always joined together again for the chorus. The song ended, leaving everyone still a little confused. They wondered why Austria would compose something that sounded so... chaotic doesn't even describe it well.
"I get it," Canada said, though his naturally quiet voice was heard by few others. "Austria was trying to say that even though we all have our differences, we are all united by the Earth. It's the one thing all of us have in common."
Prussia was the only one to even notice Canada's presence. "That sounds exactly like something Austria would-"
"Hey, I've got a totally awesome idea!" America shouted. "We could all go to my home and record our songs! Wouldn't that be just, totally cool?"
Canada sighed, hugging Kumajirou, his polar bear. He wondered why America always seemed to get more attention than he did.
The next day, everyone met up at America's home. One by one, America recorded then each singing their version of the song Austria wrote. From Germany's gruff voice, to Liechtenstein's soft soprano, each country added something unique. When they were finished, each country got a CD with their song on it. Prussia flipped through each of the tracks, a little pissed off that he didn't have a song. He listened to clips from Italy's, Germany's, Japan's... France, America, England... Why does that Austrian write songs for them, and not the awesome me? He thought angrily. This is unacceptable!
Standing, Prussia grabbed an electric guitar from the corner. "You know what?" he said. "I don't need some stupid song from Austria. I'm gonna make up my own version!"
He belted out... something or other... It was vaguely reminiscent of the songs from the other countries, but... There weren't words to describe it. The other countries stared as Prussia sang about his own awesomeness, placing phrases from Austria's song here and there, humming when he couldn't think of what to sing. When he was done, no one knew quite what to say...
A slightly awkward silence followed...
Okay, a VERY awkward silence followed, before everyone slowly went back to what they were doing. Hungary returned to browsing America's music collection. She tilted her head to the side, reading the labels on America's CD's. Her green eyes scanned the shelf, resting on a name she didn't expect to see.
Austria
Looking at it, she pulled the CD from the shelf. "America?" she called. She went over to the CD player in the room, which was currently playing Italy's song. "May I borrow this for a moment?" she asked, gesturing to the player. Italy nodded, looking confused.
America popped his head out from the other room. "'Sup, Hungary? You need something?"
"I was just wondering what this is." She held up the case, as the CD started playing. She heard the soft strains of an orchestra tuning. A gentle melody started on a piano, soon joined by the soothing hum of violins. When Hungary heard Austria's voice, she clasped her hands over her mouth, nearly bursting into tears. She recognized the chorus from the songs everyone else had been recording all day. Austria wrote one for himself.
"I had completely forgotten about that..." America said softly. "A couple weeks ago, Austria came by, wanting to record this. I had no idea what it was, until now." He looked at Hungary. She was closing her eyes, listening to Austria's voice. "Do you... want it? If you want it, you can have it."
Hungary opened her eyes. "Are you sure?" America nodded.
It rained that evening. As she ran through the cold, dark streets, Liechtenstein wondered why it always seemed to rain when her life fell apart. Her feet splashing against the hard pavement, she recalled the time, not so long ago, that she found herself wandering these same streets, alone and afraid. There was only one difference. The first time, Switzerland found her, and things got a little better. But not this time. This time, it was up to her to save her brother.
Liechtenstein stumbled down a narrow alley, the road slick with rain. She had to find help somewhere. She wiped her cheeks with her palms, unable to distinguish the rain from her tears. She didn't know who to go to, because Switzerland was always there if she needed help. She decided to go to the nearest country she could find.
Hungary didn't know whether it was the fact that it was a dark night, or the rain, or the fact that she had grown accustomed to the silence that now loomed over her house, but she jumped when she heard a sudden knock at her door. She rushed to answer, finding Liechtenstein on her doorstep. "I need your help," she pleaded, out of breath and shivering. "Switzerland- I didn't know what to do... I ran for help. Please help me!" She looked up at Hungary, tears filling her big green eyes with fear.
Hungary nodded, not saying a word. She followed Liechtenstein through the pouring rain, hoping they weren't too late already.
When the two girls finally reached Switzerland's house, they found him collapsed on the floor. Hungary motioned for Liechtenstein to stay in the doorway. She did so, waiting anxiously on the verge of yet more tears. Hungary knelt down next to Switzerland, feeling the side of his neck for any sign of a heartbeat. There was none.
Hungary looked over her shoulder to Liechtenstein, shaking her head slightly. "I'm sorry," she said softly.
Liechtenstein doubled over, sobbing uncontrollably, burying her face in her hands. Her damp blonde hair clung to the sides of her face. Hungary put her arms around Liechtenstein, in an attempt to comfort her. Although she knew there was nothing that could erase the pain. No matter what anyone did, it couldn't erase the fact that Liechtenstein was a scared little girl. A girl who just lost everything.
Okay, so this is a really depressing place to end the chapter, but... yeah. Would you rather have the chapter up, or have me work on it for another week, trying to make it have a happy ending? Besides, you all knew that this was going to be a story with a bunch of character deaths, and death is depressing. That's life. (I have a feeling there's a pun hidden there somewhere... I just can't find it) Anyway, please leave a review! And don't forget to check out the story's Facebook page!