Chapter 16 'Alone'

Disclaimer: I don't own Hetalia

G'day! So, if you didn't read the message from the last chapter. I have changed and edited all of my previous chapters, so England is their father and no longer their older brother. I would recommend reading the other chapters, because there have been a lot of changes in them, even the previous chapter. Anyway, Enjoy and get your tissues ready this is gonna be a sad chapter.

Australia lay awake on his bed, it wasn't until the early hours of the morning that the lights outside his door flicked off. He leapt off the bed and walked over to window. He had left the window half way open in case Steve had wanted to crawl out in the middle of the night for a snack on the eucalyptus leaves outside. He considered bringing his little furry friend with him, but instead, he let the Koala get his rest. Australia considered leaving a note for England, so he wouldn't be as angry when he woke up and discovered the Aussie missing. But at this point he really didn't care. This was something that he needed to do. He just wanted the chance to say goodbye, and no matter what he punishment would be, he wouldn't regret it.

He had spent the next couple of hours walking to the town. It felt weird walking under the moon and stars once more, it reminded him of the times before England had arrived. He did miss the feelings of freedom it had given him, he only wished it had come at a better time.

Australia navigated through the town. Even if it was early in the morning so many people had already been awake to hear what they had to say about Ned. It wasn't that hard to find the place where Ned Kelly would be, he just had to follow the massive crowd of people. His ears rang with the horrid sound of some of the people and even police officers cheering and singing the praises to the men that had brought Ned into justice. They gathered near a giant wooden stand, it was like the outlaw's death would be staged like a performance. He could see the familiar face of Ned standing there with two other men that Australia couldn't care less about. One of the men started to place a rope that was hanging down, around Ned's neck while the other man read out the list of things he was guilty for.

Australia's eyes widened as he tried to push through the crowd towards the stage. He had to somehow stop this. Being in jail was one thing, but sentenced to death was a horrifying concept to the young nation.

Australia's fearful green eyes locked with those of his friend, he watched as the man gave him a sad smile. Australia tried so desperately to push his body to move faster. But he seemed sluggish and slow, almost as if he was trying to run underwater.

Then it happened. The rope went tight as Ned's body hung limply in the air. Australia just reached the front of the crowd when he skidded to a stop. Australia looked on in horror and his wide green eyes filled with tears. He was too late.

He didn't even hear the cry of protest that escaped his dry lips. He barely even noticed the people behind him leave without another glance in the direction of the fallen outlaw, they just went to return to their normal lives. But Australia still stood rooted to the same place. Tears swam down his face as he heard a loud clap of thunder from the grey sky above him. He managed to lift his feet from the ground where they were rooted to and walk closer to his fallen friend. His footsteps felt like they were weighted to the ground as he walked to stand a in front of his still hanging friend. The sickening scene in front of him made his inwardly shiver.

"I'm sorry," Australia said with a quiver of his lip, "I'm so so-sorry. I should have done more- I should've helped instead of hiding like a coward"

"You took me in your little group and accepted me as a friend. You did so much," Australia's eyes prickled with tears, "I'm sorry, I know it's not much but I hope you can forgive me"

With a heavy heart, Australia turned from the scene. With one final glance at his human friend he turned away. They heavy weight of guilt settled over his shoulders. If only he had intervened sooner, maybe…just maybe he could've saved Ned from that fate. If he had tried harder to spare his life after the confrontation at the rail station, his friend would still be alive. Hell, if he didn't freeze in the hold up and hid behind the desk then maybe none of them would have to die. Australia's hands clenched into fists as he continued his journey back home, his jaw was clenched to supress his sobs. It was at that moment that he made a promise to himself.

From then on, he would need to be brave, he can't just hide at the sound of gunshots or freeze anymore. It wasn't even just with Ned, he froze at the rebellion as well, which just confirmed his thoughts. What if it was his people, or New Zealand that needed him? He couldn't dare freeze, he needed to be able to protect the ones he cares about. He silently swore to keep that promise for eternity.

It had begun to rain, the freezing droplets of water pelted down on him. At least he was able to hide the evidence that he was crying. He trudged home, his feet sinking slightly in the mud from the soggy ground beneath him. He didn't care that he was still mad at England, he just desperately needed the comfort of his Dad. Maybe he should apologise for sneaking out, again. Oh hell, he just wanted things to go back to normal, he just needed the loving and safe touch that only a father could provide to his child.

He wiped the tear tracks from his face and opened the door to his home. The first thing he noticed was England sitting in the arm chair of the living room. When England caught sight of Australia's appearance he sighed and stood up to retrieve a towel.

"Honestly my boy, one of these day's you'll catch your death," England chuckled fondly before taking the fluffy towel to dry Australia's hair. Something he hadn't done since he was small.

Australia stood confused. Usually his Dad would be yelling at him for sneaking out. What was going on? It was only when England took the now soaked towel to the laundry to dry was that Australia noticed what else was in the living room. It was a suitcase, or more specifically England's suitcase.

"What're you doing?" Australia asked England as he soon re-entered the room. Hesitant green eyes flickered from the suitcase to England. His stomach dropped as a pit of uncertainty and dread filled him.

England knew what Australia was referring to and sighed, his eyes looked tired as if this conversation had been the thing keeping him up the previous night.

"I have seen this rebellious attitude before, and it cost me a brother," England explained as he placed a loving hand on his son's shoulder, "I will not make the same mistake again with you or New Zealand."

"W-what?" Australia stuttered in disbelief. He couldn't believe his own ears. England couldn't be leaving…could he?

"Clearly punishing you only seems to only push you further to rebel." England observed.

"So I'm giving you two a little bit of freedom, a bit of independence. I will still oversee your protection and security and make any formal decisions on your behalf. But you will be responsible for meeting with your country's leader and managing your country."

England walked over to retrieve his suitcase, but was interrupted when Australia hugged him. He gripped tightly onto England's shirt, tears heavily streaming down his face.

"No please, don't leave!" Australia pleaded. The fresh tears now already making his eyes turn red and puffy. "I'm sorry about the rebellion and for sneaking out and disobeying you. I promise to listen just please don't go"

"I know," England replied softly, "But the decision has been made. I'll go visit your brother and inform him of the new arrangements."

Australia stumbled over his words as his head spun, he was trying to process what was happening. This was all too much for him to take in for one day, his friend dying right before his eyes and now his Dad was leaving.

"Please! I don't want to be alone again," Australia begged. He hated like how much of a child he sounded like, but he just wanted his Dad to stay.

"Stiff upper lip lad," England smiled sadly and returned the hug. He tried not to envision the once small and vulnerable nation that he first saw in the now teenaged nation.

"You are starting to become older and stronger now, and it was going to happen eventually. Goodbye Australia, I know you and New Zealand will make me proud. I promise to send letters, but they will take a while to get this far"

England gently pried Australia's hands off his shirt, he then turned around and walked out the door, heading for the docks. Australia ran out after him and latched onto the older nation's arm once more, repeating his mantra of 'don't go'. His Dad said he would never leave him, and Australia didn't want to be alone. He didn't want responsibility, and he couldn't manage his home on his own, he already let his people down once before. Hot tears mixed with the cold rain blurred his vision as England wriggled his arm out of Australia's grip and he walked away, giving one more glance in Australia's direction, his own eyes glassy.

Australia watched his Dad walk away and continued to cry. All he wanted was his father's comfort after the horrors he saw at the hanging, but it was too late.

The rain seemed to get heavier and another round of thunder rolled overhead. Australia took off running into the Australian outback, the one place he knew would always offer him a place of happiness and comfort.

The place he was running to he hadn't been since England brought him back home. But he still knew the way to get there, it was engraved in his mind. It was the Aboriginal tribe that he used to stay with, the raised him and taught him everything he knows about surviving on his own. For some reason whenever he asked to go visit them, England always shot the idea down and changed the subject, he didn't know why though. But right now, he just needed a friend to listen and offer him comfort, and who better than his oldest friends, the ones that he considered his family.

His pace slowed when the familiar camp sight came into view. He smiled at the familiarity of the place, it brought back so many of his happiest memories. He noticed that some of the kids he once played with were now fully grown, almost nearing the stage of becoming the tribe's elders.

"G'day!" Australia smiled as he approached the group.

What Australia expected was them welcoming him home once again. But what he got was the complete opposite. Mother's began to drag their children away from him in fear. The young children clung to their mothers and siblings in fear as they begun to cry.

Australia was confused, why didn't they recognise him? Sure, it had been a couple of years, but it was him.

What rattled Australia to the core was the raw emotion of terror written in their eyes. But it wasn't just terror, it was rage, anger and pure hatred. It was like they blamed all of their grievances on not who Australia was, but what he was. To them, he looked the ones that had killed them, forced them from their homes and tore families apart.

"It's me, Australia" He tried to convince them, but as he tried to step closer a hunting spear had landed a few centimetres away from his foot.

He jumped back in surprise and looked as the men of the tribe approached, holding their weapons ready to protect their families. Australia winced at the words they yelled at him, they told him to leave and that the white folk aren't welcome there. Not wanting to scare them anymore, he fled the area. He ran for god knows how long, but he stumbled in the mud before tripping and falling on his hands and knees, he didn't care that they got dirty.

His lungs struggled for air as the over-exertion of his body due to his running made him feel sore and his muscles ache. But none of that compared to the throbbing pain in his heart, it felt as if it was ripped apart. Australia sat down on the soggy ground in the rain as sobs wracked his body. His heart was broken.

He saw in his reflection in the puddle of water in front of him, and he knew why his people didn't recognise him. He looked so different. So British. His clothes were so formal to his usual attire, and he was even wearing shoes. He stood taller and straighter than he did before, he looked as if he had just walked out of London. Hot tears fell from his eyes as he fully realised what had happened. The pain he had felt at England's home wasn't because of his land changing, it was from his people dying. He supposed that he should be angry at his Dad, don't get him wrong he was. He was furious that his father had kept something like this from him, he had blatantly lied to him about what was happening to his people.

But he knew this was on him. This was his fault. He was the one to blame for forgetting his people. They had trusted him, and he was the one to really hurt them.

He remembered when he had felt England's presence first step on his land. His tribal elder sat him down and warned him that dark times were ahead and to make sure he never forgot who he was. But he ignored it and let the people who had found and raised him suffer the mistakes of his choice.

He had let his people down when they needed him most. First it was the Aboriginals, his family. Then when his people needed him to fight for change in the rebellion, he didn't and for that majority of them were killed. And when Ned and his friends had counted on him to stand with them, he was too scared. What kinds of nation was he if he couldn't even be there for his people?

Well that was going to change. He promised that no matter what he would be there for them if they needed him. A sob of grief had escaped his lips as he felt truly alone, more so then he had ever felt. Even if he had his brother living on the island next to him, he still felt alone. His people hated him, and he could hardly blame them and people that trusted him he had let die and even his own Dad left because he kept disobeying him. He was heartbroken upon realising that he would no longer be welcomed in the tribes anymore, the place that he had considered home for centuries before England arrived. Maybe the tribes that lived further out in the desert would still recognise him, but he doubted it. No doubt word would have travelled, and he didn't want to risk scaring them further. The large land he called his own seemed so much bigger and empty now.

He felt sharp claws tug at his shirt. Australia looked down and saw Steve looking up at him with big sad eyes, his fluffy ears flattened in sadness. His fur was damp from the rain and every now and again a shiver would run through his tiny body. The little fella must have ran after him even though he hated being out in the rain. Australia wasted no time in placing his shivering friend in his lap and hugged him close. The koala nuzzled his face into his owner's trembling chest trying to provide him comfort and seek the warmth from the nation's chest.

Australia curled in on himself as he sheltered Steve from the rain. He cried harder as his friend gave a soft squeak in sorrow. He wasn't sure on how to comfort the crying nation, he had never seen Australia this upset before and he had been there since the child was first born. But he figured just letting the personification let out his tears and try his best to nuzzle in close, providing some warmth.

"At- at least I still have you," Australia sobbed, "I promise I won't ever forget you, you're my best mate"

Australia didn't know how long he sat there hugging his koala, but when he had run out of tears and his body was shaking uncontrollably due to the cold and grief, he trudged home. He got about halfway home when he sneezed. He brushed it off, thinking it was the dust, but he sneezed again and sniffed.

"Bloody brilliant," Australia mumbled. He hugged his arms around himself in a feeble attempt to warm himself before he could get sick anymore.

Oh My Lord! If I had known, it would take me so long to rewrite all 15 chapters then I would have done it sooner (Even though I was considering doing exactly that when I first posted chapter 6. Why I waited this long I will never know).

So this chapter took a dark turn…But I was switching to four different songs to write this to get the emotions right. So hopefully I did alright. One of the main songs I was listening to was 'In My Arms' by Plumb and it really fit the mood. But I have read so many stories where Australia blamed England for killing his people, but I do believe that Australia would blame himself mostly for it, as he should have noticed and what not. But I do hope I did his feelings justice, with Ned Kelly dying, England leaving and his people not knowing who he was and saw him as being British which was why they scared him off, so they could protect their family. Thank you to everyone who reviewed, favourited and followed my story, it makes me so happy to see that you are enjoying this.

So please review and let me know what you think of what might happen now that Australia is by himself. I'll give you a hint, this chapter is set in the late 1800s and early 1900s…if anyone can guess a major historical event that happened in the 1900s that involved Australia (coming up in the next 4 chapters) they can get a free hug from Little Australia!