Chapter Ten

Germania stooped close to the ground and examined that bare footprints that had been imprinted into the ground. And then feathers, white feathers, caught amongst the thorn bushes. "Someone's been here."

Britannia plucked a plume from the briars. "White," she said, shooting a glance to Germania who still knelt in the dirt, poking at the soil. "Who has white feathers?"

"Scandinavia, perhaps?"

"No, hers are more blonde than this. These are almost... silver..."

Germania finally looked up, got to his feet, and took the feather from Britannia's hand, holding it up to the dazzling sunlight that filtered in through the trees.

"That's got to be Prussia's," France said, coming up from behind.

"Hm?"

France flicked the feather. "Prussia's. That's the color of his hair."

"Are you sure?" Britannia asked.

"Oui," France confirmed.

"Then we're on the right track," Germania said, pushing ahead, through the next patch of brush. "They must have just come through here."

"Then that means we're close to Germany!" Italy jumped in, excitedly bouncing off the ground. "Ve! That's happy!"

"Well, what are we waiting for then!" cried Sealand, tugging on his mother's sleeve. "Come on! Let's go and save the day!"

Britannia chuckled and took her son's hand. "Patience now, dear. We've still got a ways to go, I'm sure."

"What's in there?" Sealand asked, curiously poking around in the scrub, catching a glimpse of the clearing.

"That's the fountain," Britannia explained.

"Are we going to go in there?"

"Yes, honey."

Without saying a word, Germania picked up the tiniest country and placed him securely on his shoulders. Sealand giggled and held fast onto Germania's hair like reins.

"Okay! Onward!"

Britannia laughed and patted the other ancient power on the arm. "You've always been so good with children."

Germania just shrugged, proceeding through the brush into the clearing.

Upon entering the meadow, the fountain was visible, bubbling and clear.

"Grecia?" said Germania, looking around for the soothsayer. "Where are you?" He spotted her then, sprawled out in the grass, asleep.

Britannia rushed to her, shaking her gently to wake her up. "Grecia? Are you alright?"

Grecia's feverish green eyes flashed open. "Britannia?"

"Yes," Germania said, letting Sealand down, and helping Grecia sit up. "What happened?"

"Roma came... With Gallien... and... the one who looks like you..."

"Germany then?" Germania asked. "What about Prussia and England?"

Grecia nodded. "Yes. Them as well... The one who... Germany... He asked a question... about the..." Her eyes met Italy's. "You."

Italy rushed forward. "Me? What about me?"

"He seemed very upset... He cried... and then... and then he flew away," said Grecia, staring wistfully at the sky. She suddenly stiffened. "There is danger, however. Much danger. It isn't safe here for either of you."

"But he's okay, right?" Italy demanded. "He's not hurt or anything?"

"Not yet, but if he stays he will be."

"Then lets go find him and get out of here!" shouted Italy, furiously flapping his wings, rising a few feet off the ground.

"Italy, calm down," France said, brushing him with his hand. "We'll find him but shouldn't rush into things. If there really is danger..."

Italy touched back down. "I'd rather me be in danger than him," he pouted.

Germania's eyes flashed. "You'd risk your life to save my son?"

"It's why I'm here, isn't it?" said Italy. "And he's done the same for me. I made a promise to him when we became allies."

"What was it?" Sealand asked, tugging on Italy's tunic, obviously intrigued by the drama.

"My promise? Oh..." He chuckled lightly, remembering a time in the past when things were less complicated. "It was nothing really. I said if he was ever in a pinch I would swoop in and save him and he promised that he would get me out of trouble... which he has." His eyes fell upon Germania. "Hey, Germania?"
"Hm?"

"Can I talk to you about something?"

Germania shrugged. "Sure, I guess." He led him away from the group so they could speak privately while France and Britannia helped Grecia to her feet.

"Now, you're sure you're alright?" Britannia asked, holding the woman steady.

Grecia nodded. "I am fine. Those boys though..."

"Don't worry Mademoiselle. We'll make sure they're safe," France assured. "I won't leave here without Italy and I guarantee he won't leave without Germany. They love each other or something."

Britannia smiled at the last sentence. "Don't assume, France. Let whatever happens, happen on its own."

"That is strange," Grecia said.

"What?"

"Nothing," she said, staring absently at the grass. "It is just funny what will happen in the future."

"I thought it was going to be dangerous?" asked Sealand.

"And it will be," said Grecia. "After you find each other... But I fear for Germania's son..."

"Germany?" France asked, getting a little nervous. "What's wrong with him? Is he okay?"

"There is a... Prophecy..."

"A prophecy, Grecia?" asked Britannia, taking Sealand's hand. "This is news to me. Please explain."

"He will be faced with the ultimate choice, where he must trade a life for the life of his friend. If he acts upon his deepest emotions, he will fail and good will die. However, if he is a true hero, he will reunite twins alike and safely return home. But either way, someone will die. It is only his choice of who it will be," said Grecia, olive eyes boring into her audience's immortal soul.

"That's so...malheureux..." France said slowly. "Unfortunate, I mean."

Britannia glanced at Italy who was talking to Germania in wild, Italian hand gestures. "I would advise us to hurry. I think it will be safer for everyone, especially Germany, if we find the others as soon as possible," she said to no one in particular.

"HEY, CAN YOU FINISH TALKING SOON AND HURRY UP!? WE'VE GOT PLACES TO BE!" Sealand shouted.

Italy and Germania returned to the fountain with the others. "Where are we going?" asked Italy.

"Have you found out anything else about my son?" Germania queried.

"Only the amount of actual danger he's really in," said France. "We need to find him. Right now."

Italy nervously wrung his hands around the tips of his wings, losing a few chocolate-colored feathers in the process. "Let's go then! I need to see him and hug him and make sure he's okay because I'm worried about him a lot!"

Britannia put her hand on his back as a gesture of sympathy. "I know, dear. And I'm sure he'll want to see you and hug you and make sure you're okay too because I know he's very, very worried about you."

Italy felt a lump fill his throat as he blinked away tears. "I know," he choked, a tear rolling down his cheek.

"Don't cry," Britannia said, hugging the boy. "It'll be alright."

"I know," Italy sniffled, "but I really miss him and I'm sad because he put himself in all of this danger because of me."

"He did it because he cares about you, Italy."

"But if things go badly, who's fault will it be?"

"It won't be anyone's fault Italy," said Britannia, "because nothing bad is going to happen. We still have time to save Germany before he's even in any danger, alright?"

Italy nodded through his tears. "Okay," he sighed. "I just want to find him as soon as I can."

"We will."