Chapter 10: What Fate Determines

"He's powerful. He can try to stop the world if he wants to. Destroy it, even. But I know you too well. He'll never be able to destroy or even stop you."

. . .

Italy twitched in his sleep, tossing and turning on France's century year old couch. The air under the blankets was so shallow that sweat poured from Italy's forehead and his curl twisted around even more than ever. He cringed under the covers, deep in his sleep... deep in his vivid, more than life dream.

He ran without really running. It was natural to him, after all. Screaming, but not making a sound. Who would be there in his dreams, in real life, to aid him in this unknown danger?

. . .

Italy couldn't stop hyperventilating. The force behind him was too strong to fight back. Even if he gave himself up, there was no stopping this powerful invasion. He felt this crushing force that lay in the pit of his stomach, churning his fears and nerves. He swallowed his bravado. He had nothing to yell, nothing to warn anyone about... he was all alone, no one on his side.

For the first time, he saw death ahead.

"Look at him run! A coward!"

"A lamb to the slaughter!"

"Catch him in the corner!"

Those words were too true, but regardless, Italy believed every single word they said as he raced to Kingdom Come.

Then a mass jumped on him, holding him down as the breath he once had left his lungs almost as fast as a gunshot. The young Italian lifted his head up, but was impacted right in his heart, the mortal wound holding him to the ground. The man above grinned. He snickered in triumphed. Italy couldn't see his killer, but choked his words.

"Why... w-why?"

"Because of what you've done. You bastard!"

Every word stabbed him more deeply than the weapon. As his mind faded and his heart gave in, he thought of everyone, then the crowd began to disappear, leaving him with his brother and his best friend, his commander... the man he admired more than anyone.

Romano grumbled playfully. "Come on, bastardo. You're time's come."

Germany embraced him after what seemed like an eternity. "You were always strong in my eyes, Italy. Even though the hard times, I'm still proud of you."

Heaven always seemed far away to Italy, but he smiled, reaching his own peace. The road upwards may be rocky, but he was guided by the two people that seemed to matter to him over anything else.

Together, they held hands to make their way to death. Choking back tears, Italy gladly followed his fellow nations.

In reality, the murderer stood up, not even blinking at the body in front of him.

The murderer was Italy himself.

. . .

Italy gasped painfully for atmosphere, his eyes bolting open. He gasped, placing his head on his lap, attempting to relax himself from these dreams. They kept reappearing every single night he slept at France's, and he couldn't shake these feelings off.

2PFrance, who entered rubbing his eyes, growled silently. "What could it be now?"

Italy quivered. "Nothing, nothing! Ve... just a bad dream-"

"Alright, alright," France grumbled, rolling his blood shot eyes, "Just... stop screaming when you're asleep. It's not for the occasion, okay? I've got sleeping pills if you wanna calm down a bit, but please..." he held the silence for a serious, annoyed effect, "... be quiet. I'm kinda dealing with a hangover, and you need to sleep, 'kay, kid?"

Italy quietly nodded, like his was programmed to. He noticed that he always nodded excessively at every command someone gave him. Even if it was a light request, he took it to an extreme.

France blinked once, and left, the door creaking slightly.

The nation, without hesitation, closed his eyes, expecting better thoughts for the future.

. . .

2PItaly gasped painfully for atmosphere, his eyes bolting open. He gripped the pillow he slept in. It had been a few uneasy nights sleeping in his grand suite, with having these dreams of getting killed over and over, but he had the conscious to realize that his empire wasn't ever going to fall apart.

But regardless, he couldn't hake these feelings off.

2PJapan, walking casually from the hall, heard his ally's screams and bolted in his room, somewhat disturbed that this particular nation was having realistic nightmares.

"What the hell...?"

Italy jerked from his bed, coughing. "What?" he demanded bitterly.

Japan stood, slicing Italy's self-esteem with his sharp red eyes. "You were screaming... this is unnecessary, particularly unlike you-"

"It was nothing, you bastardo, nothing!" The Italian laughed gruffly, wiping the sweat off his forehead. Japan had no other words to say.

"Say whomever is hurting you, and I'll have no hesitation in killing the said person," he briefly added, no hint of mercy in his voice.

Italy nodded, and Japan left, the door creaking slightly.

The nation, without hesitation, closed his eyes, expecting better thoughts for the future.

. . .

"D-do... I look like you enough?"

"You tell me, dumkof."

The Germany's had exchanged clothed, did everything in their physical power to portray each other, and turned in every angle, making sure they got everything straightened out.

They both nodded in response, both happy.

Russia smiled. "This is perfect. Besides the eyes and your scar, Comrade 2P, you look exactly like him."

Germany gritted his teeth, heading towards the door. "Isn't that the point? Anyways, we need to make our way out. I need to find out where my bruder and Italy is!"

China stomped his foot in impatience. "Aru! Hold up! We need to confirm things first! Also, we're following you so we can track down the building where everything is!"

Russia shrugged. China had explained it all.

Germany narrowed his eyes, shadowed over from his opposite's brimmed hat. "I know, I know. Before I go, China, Russia... 2PMe... I just want to say that if I don't make it out alive, or they find me out and something happens... that you should hide. Run away."

Russia stiffened. "It's funny, almost ironic... you tell the same thing to young Italy all the time. How about this time... we back you up, da?"

The German man took a second to take in the Russian's words, then looked at him in surprise. Russia simply stood in his own self-victory.

Germany sighed. "I'm sorry if I feel impatient, and I trust in you all. T-thank you all for backing me up." He smiled automatically, and his opposite shyly grinned back, hoping that this would work out for the better.

The German's expression went rock hard, then twisted the door nob, pausing for a mere second. "Stay with me... all of you. 2PGermany... stay with me on this. You're the only one who can hear me and see what I see. Just help me in case I lose it."

Then Germany walked out of the door, then sprinted into the open, fixing the brim of his hat.

. . .

It had been a few hours, and Germany could finally see the city now. The only building in the center of town was also the only building to have lights and commotion inside of it. The corners of his mouth stretched upwards. Good.

He steadily walked in a soldier-like stance, nodding nonchalantly at the citizens who trembled in response. A child cried at the sight, and his parents took him in with fear in their eyes. Then there was the nation in front of him in the center of the stranded intersection, raising an eyebrow.

Germany couldn't breathe at the man facing him. It was Japan... with a suit of black and red eyes that immediately stabbed him in a frozen position. 2PJapan walked towards his comrade, shaking his head, but paused in silence.

"Why are you standing up so straight?"

"H-Hm?" Germany knew he certainly got the stuttering down. If he raised his voice any higher than he just did Japan would have caught on to the act.

Japan continued to shake his head, but his voice remained level. "Never mind. Come on. We've been looking for you and we have a meeting. And it's with your brother."

"M-my brother?"

"Of course."

Japan seemed too calm for his own good. Germany's hidden eyes darted towards the sword that his comrade wielded right in front of him, Japan touching the blade with curiosity. He continued, vaguely amused at Germany's behavior. "...oh, come on. Not your brother Prussia... he's been... let's just say: 'on the rocks' lately. This one is from the other world. Yes. Italy captured him and England did his thing, so now he's ours to manipulate."

Germany's mind went into a blur as soon as his brother's name was mentioned throughout the entire conversation. "Manipulate...?"
Japan's fingers twisted on the handle. Germany, if had the chance, would be sweating bullets or pulling a gun out to protect himself. "You have to know your enemy, Germany. It's very important. I know you are not into war or fighting, but be may it be... you have to know who you're dealing with. But never mind. Let's get to the meeting."

As the two men proceeded, Germany couldn't stop envisioning a suffering Prussia on the center of the meeting floor. What would Italy and his allies want with his bruder? He was an ex-country, at the most, and was nothing but a bother.

But his military tactics were far better than anyone he had known...

And knew everything about everyone that he faced in battle, strengths and weaknesses...

Shivering in his own tension, Germany entered the tall building with Japan, unable to stop shaking.

Japan rose an eyebrow. "Got a fever?"

"N-Nein."

No one had talked until the grand double doors had opened. There stood everyone he had been meaning to see. The Allies, the Axis, in all of it's evil. Italy smiled deviously while Germany came in. The nation almost growled, but kept to his character.

"Ah, Germany. You came in without calling it quits, I see?"

Saying nothing but muttering nonsense, Germany made his way up to his seat. To his right was America, picking at his baseball bat, covered head to toe in rusty nails. To his left...-

"Bruder!" Germany hissed, but the albino nation didn't hear.

No did he seem that willing to break free as he thought. Germany, in a trembling sweat, peered to see his older brother, captured and unusual. Prussia seemed to have a dazed, rather bored expression in his face, his red eyes holding no incentive of resistance, but a dull, emotionless darkness. Germany couldn't help himself but swallow his fear.

"Bruder... what happened to you, bruder..."

Then a voice broke inside his head, causing a rather shocked Germany to listen in surprise.

"D-Don't say anything..." his opposite's voice whimpered. Germany rolled his eyes.

"And why not?!" He thought back, screaming his panic.

"Because if you even talk to him, someone's going to notice. L-Look, Germany, he's in a trance. A really deep one, by what I'm getting at. The 2PEngland, to the left of the room, talking to America... he has these weird powers. He can convert anyone, and acts as a mentalist antagonist. He hypnotized your brother, and now he's got all the information and battle tactics that your brother knows in his hands-"

"WHAT?!" Germany roared in his mind, "How the hell do I get him out-"

"Just go with it for now. I know how your f-feel. We'll resolve it later. But just listen in, and you'll get all of what you need."

The connection broke, and Germany blinked a few times, his heart pounding looking at his brother in pure rage.

I'll figure this out, bruder... and end this war!