Part 7: In which Germany Saunters Vaguely Downwards and learns the meaning of evil
Following the swift Austria's directions, the warrior Germany steered the mighty vessel Gilbird towards the ends the Earth, always using the great chariot of Italy at its zenith as his lodestone. For three days and three nights did brave Germany sail, unerringly following the direction given him by swift Austria, and on the eve of the third night did he expect to see land upon the horizon.
Yet, upon the dawn of the fourth journey of Italy's chariot from when brave Germany had set from the Isle of France, and the end of Romano's nightly ride was there still no land to be seen. The great vessel Gilbird sailed unerringly onward, for surely a god would not direct him falsely. The fifth day dawned, as did the sixth, and when Italy rode across the sky upon the seventh did Germany feel false hope, for he had no more rations to spare. In despair, he sent a cry that pierced Mt. Roma, and golden haired Germania heard and heeded the call. The great god, husband to the lord of all in Mt. Roma, descended upon a sleeping Germany and spoke to him in his dream:
"Germany, brave mortal warrior, perhaps we were mistaken in sending Austria. As he has not yet returned, I assume he is lost somewhere and unable to find his way home. Foolish god, lost without his sandals, and useless without his music. Brave mortal, I will tell you how to find the end of the world, follow these directions without fail and you will find yourself at an entrance to the underworld. Follow Italy's golden chariot as it races through the sky, follow with your mighty vessel and at the rise of the fourth beginning of Romano's silver ride will you beach upon a shore. There, you will find what you seek."
Great Germany awoke, sweet Italy in his grand chariot smiling down upon him. With renewed hope Germany hoisted the sails and followed the gleaming chariot of the sky as it led him to the end of the world, and rested in the silvery gleam of Romano's steeds for the surly god would lead him astray if he could.
And as the golden haired Germania had promised, upon the eve of daylight sun as Romano was readying his steeds in the east, did the Gilbird beach upon a sandy shore at the mouth of a lonely cave. Down, in the eerie mouth did Germany descend. The air chill, and a light breeze wafted from the depths of the giant maw, and as Germany slowly descended, light disappeared and the air grew silent.
Germany walked, stumbled, for the light had no place in this world and so Germany, blind as a newborn dog, was forced to feel his way down rocky paths to the near inaudible moans that often drifted from below to the soft swish of still waters on a shore.
For how long he walked, Germany could not say. time too had no place here, but soon the mortal warrior felt his shoes touch upon the grain of sand for the descent of stone had finished. And Germany spied an eerie light emitting from beneath the floating disc that hovered silently above the still waters of the black river Daugava.
And there, standing before the strange vessel was the small gray Ferryman of the underworld. Small Tony, with his large eyes, watched as the brave Germany approached and extended a small thin gray limb with its hand outstretched.
A toll, Germany knew, a toll to cross the Daugava River, a toll to be ferried to the land of the Underworld and request safe passage of the rulers of the land of the dead. Into his pouch did Germany reach, retrieving a single gold coin that he had found beneath the pile of eleven pandas that had been sleeping upon it in the bowels of his ship, and dropped the gold piece into the outstretched hand.
Toll paid, small Tony meandered atop his strange disc shaped vessel. Brave Germany heard a small hum like the sound of many flies hovering about his head and soon found himself enveloped by a bright light. Thus, Germany made his passage across the Daugava River towed across the still obsidian water by an ephemeral beam of pulsing white light.
As the still waters of the river passed below, Germany believed he saw the unfortunate lost souls of the dead who had not been able to pay the toll drifting about the icy waters. Such thoughts were not lost upon him, and the great warrior shuddered and looked about instead of below, for he had also heard of the underworld's fierce watchdog, yet none had he seen. So he sent a call above:
"Is there not a guardian at the entrance of the underworld?"
Small Tony, grey hands upon the two mighty sticks that steered the strange disc, lifted a long fingered grey hand and pointed to the small isle that they had begun to pass. And so, as Germany gazed he made out the small form of a boy with curly blond hair, the violet eyes unsuccessfully, but valiantly, attempting to halt themselves from tearing. The watchdog of the underworld barked as he hurled stones at the small craft:
"W-what are you doing here? Go a-away! We don't want you here! Leave!"
But the mighty watchdog Latvia was quelled by a single glance from mighty Germany's blue eyes and the great guardian disappeared from view, save for the trembling peaks of his hair visible from behind a rock. So passed mortal Germany from the land of the living to the realm of the dead, and as he landed upon the cold, wet, shore of land he shivered for the world of the rulers of the Underworld was cold and covered with snow that blitzed and swirled furiously about. The air was so thick with flakes of cold snow, the chilling wind biting at his skin, great Germany felt frozen as he stumbled his way to the palace of the rulers of the dead.
As he stood in the presence of the great and fierce some lord of the Underworld brave Germany, for the first, felt fear as he was beheld in the cold ruler's blue gaze.
"What are you doing here?"
And Germany, poor brave Germany, mustered the courage to answer the icy god of the Underworld:
"Belarus, noble Belarus, lord of the Underworld and all the dead, I come in the midst of a task bequeathed upon me by Ancient Rome, and wish to seek safe passage through the realm of the dead so that I may reach once more the land of the living to resume the quest given me."
Belarus, cold Belarus, with a flip of her pale hair and glowering eyes refused his request vehemently:
"Denied! Leave us alone! What cares have we of those fools atop Mt. Roma and their meddling with the affairs of mortal. We wish to only be left alone."
Then Russia, smiling Russia, consort of Belarus lord of the underworld, brother of Ukraine from whom he was stolen amongst a field of sunflowers calmed his lord and the words he spoke were thus:
"It seems we need to retrain the guard dog, Belarus. Go retrieve Latvia. I shall take care of this, da?"
Spoke Russia with a smiling mouth and frozen, frozen, violet eyes. Belarus of the underworld smiled at her chosen partner in return, and caressed his cheek with a fond hand in acquiescence. As the great and frightening underworld ruler departed, the mild gaze of smiling Russia pierced into brave Germany and the consort of the underworld lord beheld him in his gaze:
"You wish safe passage, da? I can give it to you, but you must do something for me in return. As you return to the surface, above this realm of dead, fetch me the young prince Lithuania for I have missed him so. He is in the possession of that annoyance of a demigod, America, who took him from my possession as a part of his tasks set upon him by lovely Germania. So, a deal struck and you may go."
Though brave Germany wished to agree, for no other way could he think of that would allow him to journey safely back to the surface of the world of the living from this desolate wasteland of ice and snow, the thought of kidnapping some poor soul to give into Russia's possession left honorable Germany with no choice but to refuse. And so, to smiling Russia he said:
"As much as I wish to fulfill your request, Russia, consort to Belarus lord of the Underworld, I fear I cannot for my honor will not allow it."
Smiling Russia's mouth lifted further, his eyes colder, and as he departed he remarked:
"So you will freeze then, mortal, and become one with the underworld."
With a thunderous slam, the great doors to the palace of the underworld rulers closed finitely and brave Germany left in the cold harsh snowing winds of the underworld plains.
Notes:
Daugava river/River Daugava = hetalia pantheon version of the river Styx, the river that separated the land of the dead and living in Greek myth. The real Daugava River is a major river that extends through Russia, Belarus, and Latvia.
Also, I changed the summary. Yes/No?