Dear West,

Sorry for being all angsty and crap in my last two letters. I'll try not to do that anymore, okay? Also, you could probably tell, but my wrist's fine now.

Anyway, to answer your question…

You might want to sit down for this.

See, the reason Italy was crying in his sleep and saying "Holy Rome", was because… a long time ago, there was a nation that was called the Holy Roman Empire. Modeled off of Italy's Grandpa Rome, of course, but mostly called that because the people believed that they could rise to a great empire like Rome did. So at one point, somewhere around the Italian Renaissance, Austria, Hungary, and Italy (at the time, a little kid) all lived in Holy Rome's house. Basically Austria was Italy's boss, and he and Holy Rome handled most of the affairs. Also, this isn't really important, but Italy had a really squeaky voice, and everyone thought he was a girl. Austria made him wear this green-and-white maid outfit… but I digress.

So Italy was really scared of Holy Rome at first, but eventually warmed up to him. But Holy Rome would get nervous and run away, especially when Italy touched his hand. One day Holy Rome was going to leave for war, and asked Italy to become an official part of the Holy Roman Empire with him. Italy said no, because he knew that his grandpa fell because he got too big, and he didn't want that to happen to Holy Rome.

Holy Rome was leaving the next day, and Italy begged him not to go. He gave Holy Rome his panties, which was sweet and kinda weird. Holy Rome confessed that he had loved Italy since the 900's. And… they kissed. It was really sweet, or so Holy Rome told me.

The Holy Roman Empire left for war after promising Italy that he would come back. Italy said that he would wait for Holy Rome forever. And so Holy Rome launched himself into a long war.

Now listen, you've heard of France's old boss Napoleon, right? Bonaparte, the midget megalomaniac, kept his hand in his jacket… anyway, in war, the bastard stood over Holy Rome, who was unconscious at the time. He was bringing down his sword for the final blow, but just as I was running in to save Holy Rome, France came barreling out of nowhere and tackled his boss to the ground. It was one of the awesomest things I'd ever seen, and I'd seen myself in the mirror. So France started screaming at his boss – I didn't know much French at the time, and I still don't know much, but I think he was saying something like 'don't hurt him, he's just a child.' So while those two were yelling at each other and probably punching and kicking, I carefully lifted Holy Rome off the ground and took him back to our house.

Yeah, I said our house. Holy Rome was – is – my little brother. I'll explain that in a minute, if you haven't figured it out by now.

So he was unconscious, or I guess in a coma, for about a week. You know, back then, around the early nineteenth century, the medical care was… not that great. If Holy Rome hadn't been a country, he would have died. But he woke up, and when he did… he didn't know who I was, who he was.

I was going to tell him his name, but then I realized that if he knew that he was the Holy Roman Empire, Napoleon might come back to kill him. So I gave him a new name, a new identity.

That name was Germany.

So, West, that's the story. Italy was crying because Holy Rome, because you, never came back to him. I know it's not your fault, so don't go beating yourself up over it. This is also why you don't remember anything from your childhood.

You still don't remember, do you? So if that doesn't help, try… hm… in the attic, check the dresser. The really old one, the one that's covered in dust. Then again, everything's covered in dust up there… anyway, open the top drawer, there should be the pair of panties that Italy gave you. See if that sparks anything.

Awesomely yours,

Prussia

P.S. If seeing / holding / sniffing the panties doesn't work, I think America has a baseball bat…