A/N: It's been a year, I assume, since I last updated this. My sincerest apologies. School and life has kept me occupied. Of course it's not a very good excuse… However, I have lost interest in writing fanfiction. This story will probably be finished first; the others, I'm not so sure.

Moving on… There are only a few more chapters left. Those who still read this, please enjoy.

Chapter Fourteen: Otto von Bismarck, Prussia, the German States, and Germany

Guess We're Now Brüder!

A.D. January 18, 1871

Hall of Mirrors, Palace of Versailles, France

It was perhaps the greatest day of Chancellor Bismarck's life: the unification of Germany. Standing there, in the beautiful Hall of Mirrors, amongst the various German princes, who were proclaiming Wilhelm of Prussia Emperor of the newly-made German Empire, made the aging man proud. Proud of all the hard work he put into these wars and these doctrines. After all, he was known for his "iron fist".

Prussia stood alongside him, dressed in royal finery for the occasion. Despite his usual isolation, even he decided to accompany his boss. Not just for the sake of the new emperor, but for the rumours that claimed a new nation was to appear, as well. I want to see how this guy will match up to my awesomeness, he thought. I bet he'll be a wimp like the rest of 'em.

A procession of trumpets sounded and the ceremony began, with Wilhelm entering from the back and onto an elevated stage of sorts, soon sitting down on a lavish throne. Surprisingly, a teenage blond in a Prussian uniform followed, and stood to his side. He remained quiet and stiff, the perfect soldier. Prussia wondered if that was the new nation, and began to examine him. No smile graced his clearly handsome features, and his bright blue eyes were devoid of anything that spoke of a nation. He must be the König Wilhelm's lackey, then.

Wilhelm glanced in the Chancellor's direction. Bismarck, knowing his cue, walked to the front of the room, and began his speech, which was, much to Prussia's delight, short and simple. We Prussians know that this diplomatic stuff is all so nonsensical. The battlefield is our true home, Prussia smirked.

Bismarck then signaled for the German princes, and their nations, to come up for Wilhelm's crowning. Prussia, with his prideful ego, made his way to the front, cutting Bavaria, Hesse, Brandenburg, Saxony, and the rest of them, who started grumbling. "Now, now," Wilhelm chided. "I don't want any arguments. You're setting a bad example to our new empire!" He motioned to the blond soldier-boy to his side, who just blinked at the older nations.

Prussia's jaw practically dropped, but he refrained from shouting out obscenities in front of his boss. This guy's an empire? What? He couldn't believe it. Out of all the nations in the room, he was the most epic, and the best always deserved the highest positions, right? So why was he proclaiming this kid an empire? It simply wasn't fair, in his opinion.

The silver-haired country had a surly demeanor for the rest of the ceremony, especially when the crown was placed on Wilhelm. Prussia looked back at the blond, and saw that his eyes had changed. There was power glowing in them now. He can't be more awesome than me! He just can't!

For all political affairs, there was an after-feast scheduled, this one a grand eatery, with exotic foods and flavors. Wilhelm sat on the far right corner, in his special chair. The German Empire, now named Germany, was on one side; Bismarck on the other. Prussia, ignoring the seating placement, sat next to Germany, earning glares and evil looks from his boss. I just have to check this guy out, boss! Prussia's eyes pleaded. Bismarck only sighed in return.

Germany was still as serious as ever, even after becoming an empire. In order to break the awkward silence, Prussia elbowed him, and said, "Hey, I'm the amazing Prussia! How does it feel like to be the German Empire?" From the background, Bismarck face palmed.

Germany barely looked up from his meal, and only stopped for a second to grunt, "Fine."

He's not much of a talker… "Don't get cocky with me. I'm still the best, and you better know it!" He stood up from the table, attracting the looks of many, and struck a pose. Germany didn't notice, as he was in the process of eating wurst.

Bismarck took this chance to whisper something in Kaiser Wilhelm's ear, with the royal nodding, although somewhat reluctantly. Wilhelm then murmured something to Germany. Prussia, feeling left out and ignored, dejectedly sat back down.

A moment later he felt a hand on his shoulder. "Ja?"

It was Germany. He coughed, uncomfortably. "Erm… Kaiser Wilhelm and Chancellor Bismarck have just informed me that you're my bruder."

"Huh?" Prussia was shocked. Brother? Since when…. He looked to Bismarck for answers, but his boss was in a heated discussion with Saxony.

"They also said that since we're related, you're in charge of my… training?" Germany was confused by this bit.

"Oh! I understand! C'mon, bruder!" Prussia yanked Germany by his collar and pulled him towards the door. "You need to be the perfect empire! They're counting on me, me!" He was in bliss, to be trusted by both his boss and the Kaiser, with such an important task.

When the two were gone, the Kaiser looked at Bismarck quizzically. "I still doubt this training of Prussia's will leave the desired effect."

"Well, even if it doesn't," the Chancellor smiled, "Germany just needs a little Prussian influence from his bruder, don't you think?"

A/N: It was never really stated if Prussia knew he was Germany's brother right from the start. Maybe it was like a Canada-America sort of relationship.

Translations

Brüder – brothers

Bruder – brother

Ja – Yes

Kaiser - Emperor