Chapter 6 'Feeling the Changes'

Disclaimer: I don't own Hetalia

Edited: 10/08/2018

Australia was sitting on one of the elegant wooden chairs that sat in his Dad's study, he kicked his legs back and forth as he waited for the return of his father. It had been several weeks since the events from the world meeting and Australia noticed at England was less distant towards him, much to the young nation's joy. England would only have been gone from the room for about ten minutes and he soon returned with a large stack of books.

"Crikey mate! That's a lot of books" exclaimed Australia. He watched England place the stack neatly on his desk and sat on the chair across from Australia.

"These books," England gestured to the stack in front of him, "Are to help you learn to read and write. The books you will be tasked with reading are about my country's history. Once you finish those you will move onto other world history. Once you are older you will start to learn economics and business. As a growing nation it is important that you know how the world works"

Steve glared at England and the books before growling something that only Australia seemed to understand. Australia shot his koala friend a look before the animal crawled up his shoulder. Australia silently thanked that England couldn't understand what Steve had tried to say. Basically, his koala friend wasn't happy that Australia was being taught the English way of doing things, he and Australia had been fine before England showed up.

"What did he say?" England asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Nothing, did you Steve?" Australia defended his friend, but he gave a warning glance at the koala. But the animal just gave a smug little snort, Australia rolled his eyes at Steve's antics.

England didn't seem to believe the animal but he let the topic drop. Australia looked back at the books, he didn't know what they said but they were thick and looked really old.

"Now, that odd language that you use is not the proper Queen's English. 'Good Day' is the proper way to greet people, not the way you say it"

"Good day" repeated Australia. He didn't like that way of saying hello, it sounded too stuffy and formal. He preferred his way of speaking, he didn't know why he had to learn his Dad's way of saying things.

After several minutes England had successfully taught Australia the basics of reading. Australia had been given a book to read, he didn't really care for it as it grew boring after a while.

"Dad?" spoke Australia as he placed his book down. England looked up from his own book in acknowledgement at his son.

"How come my place is so different to yours?"

"Well that is because mine is located in the Northern hemisphere, while yours is in the Southern hemisphere. So that is why there is a temperature difference." England explained.

"What kind of animals do ya have?" Australia asked, "Are they like the ones at my place"

This was a subject that generally interested Australia, and it was better than reading some boring book. For about the month he had been in England's home he had not seen many animals. At his home, they were everywhere.

"Why such curiosity?" The English nation asked. But as soon as he asked the question he knew it was understandable. Australia had grown up knowing only about his own land, and suddenly he was thrust into a world that contained so much more than what he was used to.

"I have many rabbits, foxes, deer's, sheep and many others. I don't have very many animals like the ones at your home, or if at all. I have very little snakes and spiders. The Portuguese Man o' war is pretty bad, it's a type of jellyfish." England explained. He shifted uncomfortably as he was sent another glare from that demonic koala. Why did he let Australia keep it?

"Mate, you need to visit my place more often then." A smile lit up Australia's face.

"I have these crocodiles up north, don't make 'em mad though. A large number of snakes, spiders, sharks and this thing called a box jellyfish." Australia explained, he always loved talking about his animals. England however, sat looking quite disturbed. While he had seen only a handful of Australia's animals he didn't know just how many of those things could kill a person, and Australia talked so casually about them as if they didn't worry him at all.

"A-And just how dangerous are these…things?" Asked England, he would take mental notes on what to avoid whenever he had to travel back to Australia's home.

Australia thought for a moment before giving his father his answer. While he had been bitten countless times by each and every type of snake and spider and numerus marine life it had never hurt him, half the time he didn't even know that they had bitten or stung him. But he knew they were harmful when he saw that his people would get bitten by a snake or spider and they would go through agonising pain before sometimes even death.

"Deadly," Australia explained, "Most things can kill ya within a couple of minutes. But the crocs are the worst, even I have a hard time trying to handle them"

England's eyes widened. Australia had to be the only country he met that had so many things that could harm you, it was a wonder how this boy made it this old in the first place.

Australia began to feel a bit strange, it was like a dull pain thundering in his chest that would last for only a few seconds. He brushed it off and didn't say anything. He sighed and mentally groaned when England told him to continue reading his book for a little more. But what Australia found odd was that whenever he would look up England would keep glancing at him. It was strange, he had been doing that for the past couple of days now.

However, England kept looking over at his young son because he was worried. Australia should have felt the changes in his land by now. His people would have been introduced to a number of new plants, animals and not to mention most of Australia's native people would have been killed by the hands of his men and diseases. America and Canada had felt the changes quite quickly, so Australia should have by now.

Australia began to feel that pain in his chest again, but it wasn't so dull this time, it became sharper and it lasted longer than the other time. His body felt fatigued as if he had just swum all around his home and back. His body just seemed weak suddenly, and soon enough the book he was holding seemed too heavy for his now trembling arms as he struggled to hold it up. Australia dropped the book next to him as he hunched over in a coughing fit. His chest seemed to weigh down on his lungs whenever he tried to breath, making him gasp for breath when a new wave of coughing wracked his body. The sharp pain shot through the entirety of his body not just his chest, leaving his small body shaking from pain and sudden fatigue. Soon, the pain became too much for him and he felt himself slip into unconsciousness. But before he did, he noticed England rush over to his side.

XxxxXxxx

Australia managed to open his eyes with difficulty, his eyelids were heavy and everything in his body hurt. He noticed that he wasn't in the study anymore, but instead in the comfort of his room. England must have carried him up here when he fell unconscious. He wondered what happened, nothing like that has ever happened before.

Australia managed, with great struggle, to pull himself into a sitting position. His limbs felt weak and sore when he moved them. He turned his head when he heard his door open. England walked in with a bowl of warm soup. He handed Australia the bowl and sat down on the bed next to his son.

"How are you feeling?" England asked in a concerned manner. When America had gone through the similar changes he had brought him soup and stayed with him until he fell asleep again and that seemed to help his former brother feel a bit better.

"Sore," Australia groaned. He started to consume the soup he was given, he didn't know how long he was out of it, but he was really hungry. "What happened? One minute I was fine then the next I was in pain"

Australia noticed that England tensed a little at the question, almost as if he wasn't sure how to approach it. "You're just adjusting to the changes in your home. Its growing bigger in population and so will you. You'll understand when you are older"

Australia would have questioned him further on the vague answer but he was too tired. England took the now empty bowl from Australia and placed it on the bedside table.

"Unfortunately, this means that you will be on bed rest for the next couple of days until your body becomes stronger" England explained. He ran his fingers through Australia's brown hair supportively. Australia curled his small body into his father's side and closed his eyes, welcoming sleep and the comforting and loving touch of his dad.

Even though Australia hated being stuck in the same place for so long, at least he wouldn't have to worry about the lessons for a while. He wouldn't have to learn the Queen's language at least until he got better, he still preferred his own way anyway.

So what Australia is experiencing is the death from his people (the pain he experienced) and a growth spurt from his increasing population (the fatigue/weakness). He doesn't know what is happening to his people and he won't until he has returned back to his home and then a little while after that, but England does and he tries to avoid having that conversation with Australia since he, understandably, won't take it well.

Australia is immune to venoms and poisons, it's another headcannon I used because he has so many deadly and venomous things Australia would want to be immune. England doesn't know this little fact yet, but it'll be funny seeing him freak out at Australia being bitten by a snake and the Aussie is just totally chill by it.

Portuguese Man o' war is basically the blue bottle jellyfish in case anyone didn't know. We have them in Australia too, shocker xD I am sorry but I don't know many dangerous or deadly animals from England so I had to rely on google for that so please excuse if I missed something.

While Australia thought saying 'Good day' was weird, he didn't have to write it, it actually felt odd to write it like that instead of G'day. I've written "G'day" so many times it feels really stuffy and formal to write 'Good Day' instead… Guess that's the Aussie coming out in me xD