For the first time in months, the whole family were together. Wales decided it would be a good idea to go for a walk in the forest that surrounded their home. Britannia happily agreed, glad that after everything that's been happening, she still has today to be with her family. She gathered Albion into her arms, she was worried that her children were growing up too quickly and she was missing out.

Ireland grumbled as Wales attached himself to his arm; the younger was fidgeting in excitement. Ireland guessed he couldn't wait to see the faeries that played by the river.

"Do you think this is a good idea?" Scotland questioned, uncertain in putting his mother in unnecessary danger.

Wales pouted, "Come on Scot, we never do anything together anymore."

"There's a reason for that, you bas-" He growled out.

"Scotland! Language." Britannia scolded and tried to unsuccessfully cover Albion's ears with the use of only one arm, while the other held her youngest son.

Scotland looked over to Britannia, the look on his face softened for his mother, "But the Roman Empire-"

"-Is no threat at the moment."

There was that name again, just who was this 'Rome'? Albion wondered, was he stronger than Mama?

He looked between Alba and Mama arguing about 'Rome'. He figured he didn't like Rome much, he made his family fight. His gaze rested on his red headed brother, "Alba? Who is Wome?" He asked in a quiet voice, he flinched when Scotland's fiery gaze landed on him.

Before he could answer, the mother nation interrupted him, "No, no. Not to Albion, he is too young. Come on, I don't want to waste this day indoors."

Albion frowned when he looked at Mama; he saw how dull her eyes have gotten, and the dark circles under them. She was very pale too.

"Mama? Maybe Alba is wight… You stay 'ome and w… Rest."

Britannia looked at Albion in disbelief, "Nonsense. I want to be with all of you outside. Now come on."

No one moved for a second or two, until Wales pulled at Ireland and opened the door.

Albion ran ahead, following the dirt track that he had walked down many times when he was alone. He wasn't surprised that he never got caught sneaking out, he knew his brothers didn't like him much. Excluding Wales, sometimes he stayed with him, but then he missed the faeries that he found and befriended, they liked talking to him and they told funny stories and played great games. He grinned when he spotted the familiar sparkly, blue river just beyond the slightly overgrown shrubs.

A flurry of faeries greeted the family as they sat down by the riverside. The high-pitched chattering always made Albion giggle, he also liked the bright colours they were too. All colours of the rainbow and more.

"Scotland. Can I have a word?" Britannia asked her oldest and pulled him away from the commotion of young nations and faeries. "I know you're worried about the future," she paused when she saw the look on his face, "Don't give me that, I know you are. I am too, that's why I want to make sure you guys are safe. All of you. Please just promise me this; you will look after your brothers, especially Albion, if anything happens to me."

"Mum, nothing's going to happen to you." He encouraged.

"Promise me."

"… I promise." He looked back at his family and the brat. No, nothing's going to change. Rome can't win.

It was almost sundown when Albion noticed one distressed faery talking to another and both looking worriedly at the family. Soon there was a whole group of them; they've never done that before. Albion walked over to them; it was a bit away from the river, hiding just in the foliage of the brush.

"Um… What are you doin'?"

They looked at him before one nodded and two (a yellow one and a blue one) flew in front of him. "Follow us England; we… want to show you something cool we found." Yellow said pulling at the front of his green top. Blue nodded his head and grinned enthusiastically.

"But Mama…"

"It's really something, England! You'll like it!" Yellow persisted.

"Okay... but quickly." Albion told the faeries.

The two cheered and lead the way deep into the forest.

"Kids, get back to the house." Britannia said after a peach faery whispered something in her ear.

Wales frowned, "But Mum…"

"No, now. Go back now." She demanded, turning around to follow another path leading farther away from the house.

"But what about you?" Ireland furrowed his brow.

"I'll meet you back home." She called back.

Scotland stared after her worriedly; he hoped it wasn't what he was thinking. But they wouldn't, would they? "Alright you two, back home, quickly as possible."

"Where's Albion?" Wales looked around, looking for the little blonde.

Scotland swore under his breath, "Ireland take Wales back home-"

"I'll find him!" Wales sped off, with a bunch of faeries following behind, trying to get him to stop.

"Shit. Wales! Come back! Damn it." Scotland kicked at the floor, dust softly flying over the river.

"We'll split up." Ireland suggested.

The redhead nodded, not believing this was happening.

Albion stopped for the tenth time when he thought he heard something in the distance, trying to decipher was it was, but Blue and Yellow ushered him to follow. He tried to ask them where they were going but the faeries begged him to be quiet. Albion followed the two until he smelt smoke. Blue and Yellow looked increasingly worried and sped through the forest, dodging and swaying between the trees. Albion kept up until the smoke seeped into the forest quickly, he coughed and rubbed at his watering eyes, and he called for his friends but quietened when he heard shouting from the left of him. He followed the voices, hoping that he would find someone to help him get back home. He began to run, scared that no one will ever find him. Coming to a halt at the edge of the forest, he listened to the horrid screaming and the sound of metal hitting metal in a harsh clash. He pulled apart the bushes that were obscuring his view. He stopped dead.

There were people fighting, and others dropping to the ground with dull, glazed over eyes, they stared blankly up at the sky. Red blood covered everything, blazing orange and yellows burned at houses leaving nothing but glowing embers and black dust. Gruff men stabbed others with ease, never letting their thoughts hinder them.

Tears sprang up in his eyes, "W-what?"

He flinched back, he was heard! A man with long blonde hair and sharp blue eyes stopped fighting for the shortest of time to look over at him.

With eyes wide at being spotted, Albion turned back around and sprinted as fast as he could in the opposite direction, back into the forest. He wasn't even looking where he was going any more, just letting his legs carry him as fast as possible away from the massacre.

A large root stuck up out of the floor and little Albion fell to the floor with a loud thud. He curled up in a tiny ball, hot tears pouring down his face and hiccups forcing their way out of his body. "…M-Mama… I want my Mama."

He heard another sniffle in the bush behind him. He tensed up at first, not knowing what the noise was, then he turned around still lying on the ground and peaked through the leaves.

He saw a little creature with baby green wings that matched the colour of its body, and long ears that were flattened against it head.

"H-hello?" He whispered.

The little thing froze up just like he did moments earlier. It slowly uncurled its head from its body and looked at him with beady black eyes. "H-h-hi…" It said with a small voice.

Albion got up to a sitting position and coughed a bit from the smoke, "Who are you? Haf you seen my Mama?"

It shook its head, "I-I'm not sure w-who I am. I don't know what's going on, I'm scared." It paused. "Who are you?"

Albion frowned, "I'm Albion, but the faeries call me England." The boy looked at the wings on the animal. "I've never seen a gween wabbit wif wings before. Do you wanna stay wif me? I'm sure Mama won't mind."

The rabbit's ears perked up, "O-okay!" Then its ears flattened again, looking fearfully behind Albion.

"What's the matter?" He gave a confused look.

The sounds of someone clearing their throat came from behind him. Albion froze again and slowly looked behind him. It was that man! The one with blond hair and blue eyes, he stood there, covered in blood, looking down at the boy.

"P-pwease don't hurt me…"