GERMANY
Germany watched in wonder as Italy skipped through the grass, chasing a butterfly.
"LOOK GERMANY! He landed on this flower! It's so pretty, I could paint it! OOH! Remind me later to paint this butterfly on this flower okay? Isn't this fun? We get to spend this whole week together safe from the war and stuff! SO COOL!"
Germany sighed and called, "Ja..."
He could hardly believe that he was stuck here with this imbecile. He just spent all day skipping and prancing and cooking and painting. Oh, and eating. Germany could hardly believe how much pasta this skinny man could take in before he was full!
But Germany had to admit, this carefree lifestyle was a little bit... amusing.
"OW!" Italy yelled. "GERMANY THAT BEE STUNG ME HELP ME PLEASE OWWW!"
Germany stood up, and walked to Italy. He was sitting down in the grass, holding in tears and holding his own hand tenderly.
Italy thrust his hand out towards Germany, and Germany rolled his eyes and took Italy's hand. He examined the tiny wound, and carefully plucked out the stinger without hesitation. Italy yelped. Then he smiled again.
"Can you please kiss it so it'll feel all better, Germany?"
Germany looked at Italy in disbelief, hoping he was joking. As always, he was not. Germany sighed and kissed the boy's slightly red finger.
"YAY! ALL BETTER NOW, THANK YOU GERMANY!"
Italy hopped up and smiled up at Germany. He got on his tip-toes and kissed Germany on the cheek, making Germany blush.
Italy skipped away, chasing the butterfly once again.
Germany touched his cheek where Italy kissed it. He smiled a little.
Germany sat down once again. He decided to take this time to think about the strange occurrence on the battlefield. He hadn't seen Prussia in... years. He could remember the last time clearly.
...
Germany had always looked up to his big brother.
Prussia was strong, powerful, and confidant. Everything Germany yearned to become.
But seeing him like this was a bit disheartening.
Prussia lay in bed, his battle wounds all bandaged up. He was very sick, so his face was pale. He was sweating, and babbling about things that made no sense to Germany.
Germany was a grown man, but for the first time in many many years, he felt like a small child.
"Prussia?" Germany said quietly, closing the door behind him.
Prussia looked over to Germany, and smiled.
"West! You came to see me!"
"Ja... What happened?"
"Damned Soviet Union again!" Prussia grumbled.
"Oh... You'll be okay, right?"
"Yeah! 'Course I will! I'm too cool not to be okay!" Prussia said.
Germany could tell from his prideful tone that he would not be okay at all. Apparently, worry must have registered on his face because Prussia said, "Come here, brother."
Germany walked awkwardly to his older brother.
Prussia embraced Germany tenderly.
"D-did I do a good job... raising you, I mean?" Prussia whispered, uncertain.
"Yes." Germany replied simply.
Prussia lied back, exhausted.
"Good," He sighed, and looked at Germany. "Look, we both know I'm pretty banged up here. I'll probably be okay, but just in case... I suppose you'll have to remember me, won't you?"
"What?"
"Don't forget me when I'm gone."
Germany was startled. So, he was going.
"I-I won't." Germany promised.
"Also, if you're ever unsure of yourself, bro," Prussia smiled. "Pretend you're me."
...
Later on, Germany was reading at his house.
He heard a knock on his door.
He got up to answer it.
"Hello, Germany. May I come in?"
It was a doctor. Prussia's doctor.
"How is Prussia?" Germany asked, once they'd sat down.
"Germany..." The doctor took a deep breath. "Your brother is gone."
...
Even though this occurred in 1947, Germany still remember it like it was yesterday.
Not a day had passed that he didn't think about Prussia. Germany still missed him terribly. The tears he shed that day were enough to last for the rest of his lifetime.
He could not remember a time when Prussia wasn't there. The farthest back memory he had was Prussia taking him somewhere, somewhere he didn't recognize.
Germany stood up and called out to Italy,
"I'm going out! I'll be back in a while, okay?"
Italy turned around.
"Ooh! I'll come with you!"
"I-" Germany was about to protest, but Italy ran over and looked up at him with pleading eyes.
Germany sighed. "Fine."
"YAY!" Italy yelled.
When they'd gotten into the car, Italy finally asked,
"So where are we going?"
"... to visit my brother." Germany replied quietly.
"Prussia? Why?" Italy replied, clearly confused.
"I need to talk to him."
Italy was silent for a moment, clearly thinking.
"But..." Italy put a hand on Germany's shoulder. "Germany, you do understand that your brother has been dead since 1947, right?"
Germany stopped the car abruptly. Italy looked at him, frightened.
Germany slammed him head into the steering wheel.
"Ja, I understand..."
"O-okay..." Italy said.
Germany wanted to cry, but he still couldn't find the tears anymore.
When they finally got to the graveyard, Germany stopped the car and got out without a word. Italy timidly followed him.
He knew where it was. It was the fifteenth on the left, two rows from the back. He had been here so many times in the past sixty years...
He sat down cross-legged facing the tombstone. It read "R.I.P. PRUSSIA 1525-1947 BELOVED BROTHER AND FRIEND". Germany took a deep breath to control himself.
"Hey, Prussia."
Silence.
"Why were you there, that day?"
Silence.
"I saw you, and I forgot that you were... I mean..."
Silence.
"I need you... You always were such a strong force in war... It would be great to have you here. I know you never will be, but... I miss you, Brother."
Silence.
"I know this is useless, but... I really want you to talk to me, somehow. If you can, please try."
Italy put a hand on his shoulder. Germany put his head in his hands, and almost cried. Italy moved to the front of him and gave him a hug. For the first time, Germany really hugged back. He buried his face in Italy's chest, while Italy muttered comforting things into his ear.
"So, I see you like dudes, huh, bro?" Said a familiar voice behind Germany.
That sounds like... Germany turned around.
"Hey, West." Prussia said, smiling.
Germany stood up.
"H-how...?"
"You admitted that you needed me, and you meant it this time. Here I am."
"Are you alive?"
Prussia smiled.
"Nah, but isn't this good enough?"
Italy looked a little bit startled.
"What's the matter, Little Guy? You look like you've seen a ghost!" Prussia threw back his head and laughed at his own joke.
Italy shook his head.
"It... certainly has been a while since I saw you." Italy admitted.
Germany was surprised, because Italy was not talking nearly as much as usual. What had come over him?
"Hey! Bro! How've you been?" Prussia smiled at Germany.
"I've been... fine?" Germany said. "I really need to ask you questions!"
"About what?"
"'About what'?! I need to ask you how you were always so triumphant! What was your secret in winning wars? Why were you so powerful?"
Prussia smiled.
"You're exactly the same, man," Prussia said. "Your problem, literally, your only problem, is that you have no confidence!"
"I have plenty of confide-"
"Save it," Prussia waved his hand. "If you want to be as utterly awesome as I am, then you have got to admit it to yourself first. Just say it, say how awesome you are!"
"..." Germany whimpered. "I-I'm awesome...?"
"Say it loudly!"
"I'm awesome." Germany said a little louder.
"YELL IT, MAN! LIKE ME! I'M SO FUCKING AMAZINGLY AWESOME THAT YOU WILL ALL BE CRUSHED BENEATH MY EPIC AWESOMENESS!" Prussia shouted.
"I'm awesome!" Germany yelled.
"There you go! If you go into battle with that attitude, there is no way you can lose!"
"But, Prussia?" Germany said.
"Ja?"
"You... you lost."
Prussia's grin fell from his face. He smiled weakly, and walked closer to Germany.
"I lost because I was too arrogant," Prussia sighed. "Be confidant, but don't be arrogant."
Germany nodded solemnly.
Prussia reached out his arms, asking for a hug.
Germany embraced him, tightly.
"Goodbye, brother." Germany said.
"See ya, bro." Prussia said, and he disintegrated.
Italy put a hand on Germany's shoulder once again.
"You gonna be alright?" Italy said, concerned.
Germany turned to face him.
"I am now. We all will."