Chapter 16 'Showdown at Glenrowan'

Disclaimer: I don't own Hetalia

Edited: 12/08/2018

-Important Notice—

I am planning to edit all of my previous chapters including this one to factor in a major change (and because the earlier chapters are so cringe), I am making England Australia and New Zealand's father instead of their older brother for a couple of reasons, mainly because it is easier with the upcoming chapters but I won't bore you with all the other details. So, by the time the next chapter is posted all the others will also be updated.

It has been a few weeks since Australia had been on the run with the Kelly gang. He could have easily escaped during the night or when they went on a heist, but to be honest, he didn't really want to. He didn't have to worry about England and just enjoy the bit of freedom that he was able to have. It reminded him of the times he would just endlessly walk around his home when he was younger, with no responsibilities as a nation. And he and he had to admit, he was enjoying his time with Ned and his friends they had taught him more about themselves. And in turn Australia had told them a bit about himself, having to adjust some things to avoid telling them what he really was. They even taught him how to use a rifle, after he had told them about the whole rebellion that went down earlier that month.

Australia had even become quite good friends with the gang, especially Ned Kelly. They seemed to have adopted him into their group, he was excellent in navigating his way through the area, even at night, which made it extremely easier for the outlaws to make their escape. But they never let him actually take part in the heists themselves, not that Australia really wanted to anyway but he just waited with the horses.

At that particular moment Australia was waiting for the rest of the group to wake up, he had volunteered to stay up that night and keep watch. After a couple of minutes the rest of the gang woke up and greeted the young teenager. Australia helped them pack up their equipment and saddle up the horses, as today apparently they had something big planned, but they wouldn't tell him exactly what.

Dan, Joe and Steve had already mounted their horses, and with a nod from Ned they began to walk their horses off into the distance.

"Where are they going?" Australia asked, helping Ned saddle up his horse.

"You'll see" Ned replied simply. He watched the young Australian with an amused smile.

A few minutes later the three men returned with another horse in tow. The horse was a brown brumby with a black muzzle, mane and tail. Australia wondered how he would be able to sneak the horse back to his home without his brother noticing, Steve would sure be jealous about the new animal resident in their home as well.

"She's yours now kid" smiled Dan as he handed the reins to Australia, "Stolen from a farmer, he's got that many he won't even miss it."

"She's a beaut! Thanks mate" Australia exclaimed excitedly. He gently petted the horse on the nose, who in turn lovingly nuzzled Australia's hair. The leader of the outlaw group was surprised at how natural the horse seemed to act around Australia. Earlier in the week they had taught Australia how to ride and maintain horses, and he picked it up as if he had been doing it all his life.

"Glad you like her, because you're gonna need her to help at Glenrowan, it's a long ride out there"

At this Australia hesitated, concerned for his people, "No one will get hurt right?"

"Not if they co-operate" Joe smirked jokingly. The others had already mounted their horses and set off out of the clearing they had been camping in. Ned once again hung back while Australia had mounted his own horse.

"Here take this," Ned placed a cool metal object in Australia's hand.

Australia knew what it was and felt dread form in a lump in his stomach at just holding the small firearm once again. Even though he had been training about how to use one he still didn't like using it. With the simple pull of the trigger he could be responsible for the death of a person, and that thought terrified him.

"But-" Australia tried to protest

"Trust me, you will need it," Ned explained, "We need you on board for this task, no more watching the horses"

Ned looked at the hesitant and scared look on the young boy's face. "Don't worry too much about it kid. Whatever happens will happen, such is life. Besides if you stick close, everything will be fine"

With that said, Ned took off following the rest of his friends. Australia was reluctant, he had frozen up last time when a gun was placed in his hands, but he couldn't disappoint his friends, not after they had done so much for him. But he nudged his horse forward and followed after them.

XxxxXxxx

But everything was far from fine. Once they had arrived at the local railway station is when everything went down the drain. One of the hostages that Ned and his friends were holding had managed to contact the police and the massive shootout had taken place. Which is where Australia currently found himself hiding behind the desk inside the station.

Bullets flew over his head and embedded themselves into the wall. His people had long since cleared out of the room once the police had arrived and the fight had broken out. The sounds of screams and the shrill sounds of bullets and shouts rang out in the air around the young nation. His shaking hands had tried to cover his ears to muffle the sounds. He knew he should be out there helping his friends…but he was just too afraid.

He had never grown up with these weapons before and they terrified him, he much preferred the weapons he and his people used for hunting back when he was younger, he was familiar with them. He finally summoned the courage hidden away in his body and peered around the corner of the desk and looked on horrified at the fallen body of Dan with blood seeping out of a bullet wound. Australia curled further in on himself and tears built up in his eyes. Death wasn't a new concept to him, he had seen his people grow old and die while he still stayed as a child. But it still didn't hurt any less especially since that he should be helping his friends, but he couldn't.

It wasn't long until the bullets had finally ceased, to which Australia silently thanked. He hesitantly began to uncurl his body and lean back around the desk to catch a glimpse outside the open door.

He saw the bodies of Joe and Steve being carried away and Ned laying on the ground, he was alive but he had multiple bullet wounds rendering him defenceless and his guns lay a few feet away from him.

Another police group and a few British officers arrived to assist the others in collecting the bodies of his fallen friends. But there was one among them that Australia recognised was England dressed in his officer uniform. He looked tired and disheartened, his eyes seemed alert as he scanned the surroundings. Australia quickly hid behind the desk further, ruling out the possibility that his Dad could see him.

He was conflicted, he was tempted to hug his father and promise to be well behaved. But he didn't want to face the anger that would surely follow, not to mention he was still sore about how the rebellion ended. Australia debated his options in his head, he had to get out of there before any officers came to search the room he and Dan were in. But his friend was in trouble, and even if he couldn't help in the actual fight he could still now. Jumping to his feet he ran out of the station and jumped in between Ned and an approaching British solider approaching the fallen outlaw with a gun aimed at his head.

"Leave him alone, he's injured enough" Australia defended. He could feel England's gaze on him but he couldn't care less at that moment, he needed to try and protect his friend.

"The outlaws just keep getting younger, don't they? You protecting your little friend?" The officer snarled and that's when Australia recognised him, it was that Benjamin bloke that was pushing China around. "I knew you were trouble the moment I first laid eyes on you"

Australia narrowed his eyes, he was a pretty easy going person if he did say so himself, but this man was really pushing it. The officer thought he was more superior over other people, Australia could tell that from his actions on the gold fields.

"I'm not an outlaw, I haven't killed anyone," Australia protested. Benjamin stopped in front of him, his gun didn't waver.

"Don't try my patience kid, if it were up to me you would be dead before you even hit the ground"

"As it stands Benjamin, it is not up to you," Another voice called out, England's. England had walked closer so he now stood just next to the officer, "Stand down"

"But sir-" argued the officer. Clearly the man wanted to see Australia severely punished for the supposed crimes he did. He seemed to have held a grudge against Australia since the teenaged nation stood up to him on the gold fields.

"Stand down, that's an order!" England commanded. He may have been furious at Australia for what he did, but he would not allow this man to hurt him.

"Yes sir" muttered the man angrily. He lowered his gun and moved to the side so England could step closer to Australia.

"The order goes for you too," England glared, "Stand down"

Australia was surprised by the coldness in his Dad's voice but he straightened his posture and his eye's hardened into a glare, matching England's. He at first felt relief that England had stepped in and for a moment Australia had seriously thought he would actually help, but the glare on England's face said otherwise.

"No," Australia said simply. Many of the officers eye's widened and their jaws practically dropped. No one ever dared to directly defy their boss's orders, especially not a kid.

"I won't let your people shoot him," Australia whispered sadly.

"Sir, if I may-" Benjamin tried to interrupt again.

"Please Dad!" Australia begged, "Don't shoot him please"

England's face remained expressionless before sighing, "Take him away to get those wounds bandaged. He'll go to the court house for a trial tomorrow morning"

His officers nodded and proceeded to take Ned away in shackles to a horse driven carriage. Australia's expression faltered as he knew what that meant, he may have saved Ned from being shot but he would surely face punishment in the jail.

But Australia said nothing and avoided England's eye, but when England spoke he could practically hear the hidden fury in the man's voice. On second thought Australia would almost rather being left in the hands of Benjamin.

England glared down at his son, don't get him wrong he was immensely relieved to see his little colony again. But of course, he was furious for him disobeying his direct orders again and sneaking out and not hearing a word out of him for several weeks. He didn't say anything to New Zealand about it, he didn't want to cause the younger any worry.

"We'll talk about this when we get home" England stated and his tone left no room for disagreements.

When Australia refused to move from the spot he was standing at, England sighed in irritation and gripped Australia's wrist and tugged him along. But what England couldn't see and the reason why Australia didn't meet his gaze, was so the older nation couldn't see the small tears that were forming in the young nation's green eyes. Australia was morning the loss of his friends Dan, Joe and Steve that died right where he was standing. He didn't even want to think about what would happen to Ned.

The walk home was filled with a tense silence, only the silence was occasionally broken with England muttering under his breath, Australia heard most of them. 'I thought I raised you better than this' and 'Why does he have to be like him, so rebellious'

Australia clenched his teeth together; he didn't want to make the situation worse by fighting England on what he was saying. Only when they were back home, England let go of his wrist and spun around to face the nation that was now up to his chin.

"I thought you promised that you would not leave the house and yet you still disobey me!" England barked. He stood with his arms crossed in front of him and a glare directed at the young nation. Australia didn't look up or say anything, he was being unusually quiet.

"Look at me when I am talking to you! Do you have any idea how worried I was when I didn't see you in your room? Or how about the time when nobody could seem to find you and those bloody convicts for weeks?!" stressed England. Australia tensed at the words 'convict' and he remembered back to when England was drunk.

"They're not convicts," Australia defended as he raised his slightly red eyes to glare up at England, "They're people England! That were done wrong by the police and your British officers."

"And another thing, what is with this blood attitude?! It's like you want to rebel at everything I say" England fired back, why does this fight seem so familiar to one he had experienced decades ago?

"Then stop trying to control me! I'm not a little kid anymore," Australia shouted at England defiantly, unknowingly made England wince at the similarity of the words that America had once used, "Ned is one of my mates and one of the best people I know. And now he will be killed."

"You are saying like it's my fault he was caught! He is nothing but an outlaw, thief and convict and he deserved what he gets!"

Australia's eyes darkened and glared up at England before speaking softly, "You called me a convict once, you were drunk but you knew what it meant. So tell me dad, does that make me any different?"

Australia didn't give England a chance to respond as he stormed to his room, slamming the door and locking it in the process. The teenaged Australian threw his pillow at the wall, in an attempt to release his anger. He placed the gun that Ned had given him on his desk, he would find a special place to put it later. He plopped down on the bed, laying with his eye's staring angrily up at the ceiling.

England stood there alone in Australia's living room. Pain was scorched into his eyes and he remembered a similar time with America. With a sad sigh England knew what he had to do.

I'm not your little brother anymore England.

…Well that was interesting. Australia lost his first human friends (and the next chapter will be the last time we see Ned Kelly). I picture Australia and England fighting a lot more than any of them would with New Zealand, mainly because New Zealand is so sweet and polite, but also because Australia and England are so alike in some ways that they are just so stubborn and won't give in to what the other person is saying…if that makes sense. And yes, I made Australia afraid of guns (at least for now) because even if he is a nation that had lived for over a 100 years he is really only still a kid that hasn't really seen death like that before

If you have any theories about what might happen in the next chapter feel free to leave a review or PM me if you want to. Do you think Australia will keep being rebellious? What does England know what to do? A hint, the next chapter I tried to go for a tear jerker so it will be sad, just a warning. Please review etc.