Winter was closing in and the war had started months ago. Arthur had been mostly on his own and had done pretty well in repelling the combined forces of Russia and North Korea. Arthur doubted that his enemies were giving it their all, however, and was sure the worst was yet to come.
He was currently sitting in a tent on the latest battlefield with a doctor bandaging his wounds. As of yet, he hadn't directly fought Ivan but knew that would come soon. He winced as the doctor lifted his arm to wrap his shoulder.
"Almost done, sir," the doctor said quickly. Arthur gritted his teeth and nodded.
"Have we deployed the bombers to the area I specified?" he asked one of his generals. The general nodded.
"Yes, sir," he replied. "We're following your orders closely." Arthur then turned to greet the man who had just entered the tent.
"A visitor for you, sir," the soldier announced, saluting sharply. "He said his name is Ludwig." Arthur took a deep breath and then grimaced as his shoulder twitched.
"Yes, I called for him earlier. Send him in immediately," Arthur commanded and the man left. "That should be fine, doctor," Arthur said, shooing the doctor away. "Will I live?" The doctor smiled slightly.
"Yes, sir," he answered. "This far, you're just full of small wounds and cuts. As long as nothing major happens, you should be fine." Arthur nodded and then motioned for the men in the tent to leave.
"I will be speaking to Ludwig alone," he told them.
"Ludwig for you, sir," the returning soldier said.
"Let him in," Arthur said, drawing his coat back around him. The bad thing about getting bandaged was that one got really cold in the meantime. Dressed in his usual uniform, Germany entered the tent cautiously, looking slightly nervous.
"Leave us please," Arthur said to the soldier. "Please, sit," he then said to Ludwig, motioning to a seat.
"Ah, danke," Ludwig said, sitting down gingerly. "Arthur, I have no forces—," he began but Arthur cut him off with a wave of his hand.
"I'm not asking for your help in battle," Arthur said. "I would ask of you another favor, one that means much more to me." Ludwig looked at him curiously.
"Go ahead and ask then," he said. Arthur looked at the man and, after a pause, spoke.
"I need you to protect France for me," Arthur said. "I don't expect you to protect him over your Italy or yourself," he added quickly. "I just need to know that he has some sort of protection. If he…if something happened to him, I wouldn't be able to stand it." Ludwig thought for a moment.
"I can do that," he answered. "In return, you would need to do one thing for me."
"If I can, I will," Arthur said. Ludwig surveyed Arthur a few minutes more.
"If ever I need you to, protect Feliciano for me," he said. Arthur smiled slightly.
"If I am around to do so, I will gladly protect him," Arthur replied. Ludwig nodded.
"Danke," he said. "Is there anything else?" Arthur hesitated before speaking.
"I once told France the beginning of a sentence," he answered slowly. "I never told him the last word. If I don't get the chance to tell him before the end, would you tell him the last word?" Ludwig nodded. "The last word is 'you'. He will understand."
"You haven't told him you love him yet?" Ludwig asked incredulously. Arthur was startled.
"Well, I," he stammered. "I'm not very good at that sort of thing. But how did you know that's what the sentence is?" Ludwig smiled sadly.
"It's the sort of thing one says to their true love before they die," he replied. "I will do as you ask. You do not need to fear for Francis's safety. We will make sure he lasts through this war, unscathed if possible." Arthur breathed a sigh of relief and then couldn't hold back a cry as a blast ripped through him.
A soldier appeared at the tent door, blood staining his uniform.
"It's Russia, sir!" he yelled. "He demands that you come and fight him immediately!" Arthur cursed as Ludwig tried to help him staunch the wound.
"Tell him I will be out in one hour!" Arthur shouted back. "Go!"
"Sir!" the soldier saluted and then ran off toward the field. Ludwig looked down at Arthur.
"Where are the first aid supplies?" he asked and Arthur motioned to a corner. Ludwig quickly retrieved the items he needed and set about trying to bandage the new wound.
Moments later, there was another explosion and Arthur screamed in pain.
"Arthur!" Ludwig said, catching him before he could hit the ground. "Oh mein Gott," he breathed, trying to stop the bleeding of another serious wound. "Just hold on, I'm sure the doctor will be here shortly!" Something landed with a heavy thump in front of the tent.
Despite Ludwig's protests, Arthur stood up, ignoring the pain, and stumbled to the door. Lying on the ground in front of him was the same soldier he had just sent to deliver his message. On the soldier's back was a note, attached by a knife. The note read, "Come now or I will kill all your people." Arthur took a shaky breath and then reached for his gun.
"Leave, Ludwig," he said firmly. "I don't want you becoming a casualty."
"You cannot fight in your condition!" Ludwig protested, trying to stop him. Arthur whirled around, fire in his eyes.
"I must fight!" he hissed. "I will fight, until my dying breath leaves my lips! I will not let this tyrant overrun my lands and murder my people! Leave and protect Francis the best that you can. We all know the end to my story. Don't let it become the end of the world." With that, Arthur called to another soldier. "Take some of your men and escort this man back to his home safely. If you have to die to make sure he is unharmed, do so."
"Yes, sir!" the soldier said, saluting. "This way, sir," he then said to Ludwig.
"Goodbye, Germany," Arthur whispered as the country walked away from him. He then turned and walked out to face Ivan and whatever doom awaited him.
"This is the end for you," Ivan said, laughing manically. Arthur coughed, feeling blood trickle down his chin. He looked up at Ivan and could barely see anything more than an outline of the country.
Arthur couldn't move and felt strangely alienated from his body. All around him, his people were being obliterated and he could do nothing to aid them.
"You won't win…" Arthur choked out. "The others…will stop…you…"
"And for that belief, you die!" Ivan growled, and then Arthur's world exploded into tiny pieces.
There was nothing but pain. Arthur could feel all the bombs dropping on his people, could feel them ripped away from him by death and by Ivan. It was just as Gilbert said and as everything was ending, Arthur forgot who or what he was. All was swallowed up by anguish, despair, and pure agony.
Then it was over and Arthur slipped gratefully into the black nothingness that awaited him.
Goodbye, world...
There's still more to come! Keep reading! I'll have it up soon!