Zugzwang:

Chapter 2

Ludwig Beilschmidt, also known as the personification of Germany, was in a foul mood. Not only did he have more than enough paperwork to do but Italy once again unexpectedly showed up and begged him to spend the day with the pasta loving fool. Germany had to literally throw the Italian out of his office and lock the door to prevent him from getting in. The cold rain seemed to reflect his current emotions.

He had started with a good mood today. With his new boss, Germany felt free again. Now that Adolf Hitler was chancellor, his people were barely affected by the depression. Germany stopped trying to pay for damages from the Great War and started regaining the power that was taken from him by the Allied Forces. His scowl deepened, remembering that dreaded meeting at the end of the war.

Not only did he have to pay an impossible amount of money to Britain and France but his country had to take all the blame for the Great War. He could feel the pain and humiliation of his people. Germany's citizens were losing everything that was most precious to them and could barely feed their families and in even more unfortunate cases, themselves. Ludwig was no exception.

Ludwig sighed as he reached for his keys to his house. He suddenly caught a glimpse of something from the corner of his eye. He turned and nearly dropped his keys. There lying in an alleyway was a girl.

She appeared to be in her late teens. Her blonde hair was splayed over the ground. Her skin was as white as hospital sheets and her breathing was raspy.

Ludwig crouched beside the girl and gently shook her. When he touched her, he could feel German blood within her but she wasn't one of his citizens.

"Hallo? Fraulein?" He called. "Aufwachen!"

The girl stirred. Her eyes fluttered open. Ludwig's relief was short lived when the girl broke into a coughing fit. He held her in a sitting position until her coughing subsided. She was awake but dazed. Her eyes were glassy and she started to slip back into unconsciousness. Ludwig slid his arm under her legs and lifted the girl up. He kicked his door open and carried the girl to the guest room.

When he laid the girl onto the bed he quickly got a wet rag and placed it on her head, no doubt she had a fever. Ludwig had seen many people on the street after the war but none of them had been a girl this young. Many teenage girls were either with their families if not married.

What was she doing out in weather like this? He thought to himself. Hopefully he will get answers when she wakes up.

…...Zugzwang...

When I opened my eyes, I instantly felt a sharp pain in my head. I tried to sit up but I found that I was wrapped in blankets. That were not my own.

Ignoring the pain in my head, I took in my surroundings. This was not my room. I tried to recall what happened. The last thing I remembered was hearing someone, a man, speaking but I couldn't make out what he was saying. I started coughing and someone was holding me gently but firmly. My throat felt raw and my chest hurt. My breath hitched in my throat when I heard a door open.

"Ah gut. You are avake." A German accent greeted me and I turned to look at my visitor. Had I not been too sick, my eyes probably would have been as wide as saucers. Standing a few feet away from me, was Germany.

I must be sick. I thought. I'm hallucinating.

Germany knelt beside me and removed a rag from my forehead (How did I not notice that?) and replaced it with his hand.

"Your fever has gone down." He said. "How are you feeling?"

"...Fine." I replied, hesitantly. I blinked, expecting my vision to change but I still saw what was supposed to be a fictional character in front of me. "May I have some water?"

"Ja." He gave me a sympathetic smile and left for a few moments to get what I requested. While he was gone, my head was swirling with frantic thoughts. I pinched myself. Was I awake? Am I dreaming this? I wasn't some obsessed fangirl so why was I seeing Germany from Hetalia. One word echoed through my mind the most. How? I valued facts over fiction. I have an answer for everything but for once I had no answer.

"Here you are, Fraulein."

I snapped out of my thoughts and gratefully accepted the glass of water from Germany. God, I hadn't realized how thirsty I was. The water felt so refreshing down my burning throat.

"Danke sehr." Thank you. I handed the glass back to him. Then asked what had been on my mind since I woke up. "Wo bin ich?" Where am I?

My maternal grandmother, whom I was named after, was German and had taught me to speak her native language as soon as I could talk. I could speak fluent German ever since I was nine.

He seemed a little surprised I spoke German. "Sie sind in meinem Haus." You are in my house.

I think I knew that. "Bin ich...in Berlin?" Am I...in Berlin?

Germany looked even more surprised. "Ja."

I felt knots start to form in my stomach. "Es tut mir leid, wenn dies dumm klingt, aber was ist das heutige Datum?" I'm sorry if this sounds silly but what is today's date?

"Der erste November, neunzehn sechsunddreißig." It's November 1st, 1936.

Being excited was not always a good thing. My current excitement was making me feel like my heart was trying to pound its way out of my chest. I immediately feigned realization and forced a smile. "Ah! Stimmt! Danke Deutschland." Oh, right! Thank you, Germany.

When the last word slipped past my lips I froze before slapping my hand against my mouth. I couldn't even look at Germany. I could feel him tense next to me. Miriam, you stupid, stupid girl! Why did I say that? It's obvious that he doesn't know who I am but how does it make sense that you know who and what he is.

I expected Germany to shout, demand how I knew who he was. But he didn't. He just sat there, neither moving an inch or making a sound. This continued for a long agonizing moment before he finally spoke.

"You know."

Back to English. I tried to come up with an explanation. "Yes...I could tell."

When he didn't reply I continued. "I encountered someone who claimed to be , quote 'Zhe Great Prussia'. I was looking for a job a while ago and I met a fair haired man who had a little too much to drink at the beer hall. We then started talking. He mentioned you in our conversation. At first, I didn't believe him but then he showed me these photos that were dated over fifty years ago. I saw you in a few of them. He told me that you were his brother, Germany."

Germany cursed in German and buried his face in his hands. I silently let go of the breath I didn't realize I was holding. He seemed to buy my story and I mentally thanked every god I could think of. If I wasn't so anxious I would have laughed at Germany as he called his brother all sorts of German names for idiot.

"Verdammt, Gilbert." He growled. Germany took a harsh breath and turned to me. "I'm sorry you had to put up vith my dummkopf bruder but...did he tell anyone else about...erm..."

"No. I was the only one next to him. I don't think anyone else heard our conversation." I answered his unasked question. "I promise, I've never told anyone."

A look of relief washed over Germany's face. "Vhat is your name, Fraulein?"

I didn't see the need for hesitation this time. My name could pass off as German. "Miriam. Miriam Toller."

My surname was really English and it meant 'tax gatherer'. I had ancestry on my father's side that dated back to American colonization. I even had ancestors who were soldiers during the American revolution. However, Toller was also a North German surname that meant either 'foolish one' or 'handsome one'.

He gave a curt nod. "I am Ludwig."

Germany, or Ludwig, continued to question me. First, he asked me what country I was from. I asked him how he knew I wasn't German.

"As zhe personification of a country, I can tell if you are one of my citizens but I could sense that you had German blood on your mother's side."

I gave a short laugh. I then noticed that my voice sounded different. I may have been sick but I sounded like I had a different accent. I tried to keep it that way. "You're right. Is that why you spoke English? Because it's the most commonly practiced language?"

Ludwig nodded.

"My maternal grandmother was German but I was born in Switzerland."

The last part was a lie. But I doubt being American would benefit me in the near future. If I remained here long enough, that is.

I told Ludwig that my whole family was dead. My father died in the Great War over a month after I was born. I lived with my mother until she died from breast cancer eleven months ago. I then moved here, to Berlin, in search of a job. I encountered Prussia at a beer hall a while ago and learned of his 'status' and Germany's too.

I then started asking about the personifications of other nations. I faked surprise at the fact that every country had a personification. We eventually started speaking in German again, pretending that it was my native language.

""Das ist unglaublich!" That's incredible. I said, with convincing astonishment. I then smiled sadly. "Es ist eine Schande, dass ich bald verlassen müssen. Ich bin dankbar für die Gastfreundschaft, Ludwig. Aber ich brauche noch einen Job und ein Zuhause für mich zu finden." It's a shame that I will have to leave soon. I'm grateful for your hospitality, Ludwig. But I still need to find a job and a home for myself.

Ludwig frowned and reached for my hand. His grip was strong and yet so gentle. If support felt like anything, that would be the best way to describe it.

"Sie müssen keine Sorgen zu machen, Miriam." He said. At my baffled look he continued. "Sie können so lange bei mir bleiben, wie Sie benötigen. Ich verspreche, ich werde dir helfen."

You don't have to worry about that, Miriam. You can stay with me as long as you need to. I promise, I will help you.

I didn't need to feign gratitude. I gave his hand a weak squeeze and smiled sincerely.

"Danke, Ludwig. Ich danke dir sehr." Thank you, Ludwig. Thank you very much.

AN: I apologize if my German is wrong. Every story I've read that included a girl being transferred into the world of Hetalia was a fangirl and they didn't seem too realistic. I'm trying to make Miriam a more rational character. Seriously, I doubt anyone would believe her if she said that she was from another universe and she knows that. That's why I chose to make her lie. That's what I would've done. As for her change in accent, all will be explained later in the story. Sorry if the characters act a little OOC in the future. I'll also give you a little description of Miriam.

Miriam Toller has dirty blonde hair that is naturally curly. Girls often envied her for her natural beauty. Her eyes are a mix of blue and green. They often change color. It usually depends on what she wears or the light of her surroundings. Her skin is very fair and porcelain-like.

These are the positive traits of her personality: Analytical, Observant, Reliable, Meticulous, Intelligent, Practical, Modest, Calm Intensity, Perfectionist

These are the negative traits of her personality: Critical, Skeptical, Cold when angry, Restless, Anxious

Btw, let me know how you like the story. Please leave a review!