Chapter 5: Transformation

America had gotten everything ready, the cake set on a plate and a cup of tea beside it, when suddenly, the door opened.

"America!"

America spun around to see England walking towards him, his face full of worry.

"Where the bloody hell have you been?! I've was worried sick!"

"You were?" America was surprised, considering how angry and hostile he was a couple hours ago.

"I didn't know where you went or if you were going to come back! I didn't know what to think!"

"Oh. I'm sorry I made you worried," said America.

"Well, the main thing is you're back," said England. "So that's the end of it."

America looked up at him hopefully. "Really?"

"I've pacified the Axis for now," England told him. "Of course, we both know a decision still has to be made."

America's smile fell a little bit. "I know." He held out the cake on the plate to England.

"What's this?"

"It's a peace offering," said America. "For you."

"For me?" England took the plate. "This isn't one of your processed, sugary, snack cakes, is it?" he asked skeptically.

"Nope, it's all natural," America assured him.

Knowing this, England thought it was good enough and took a bite out of the cake. "Hmm. Interesting flavor. Is this fig or tart?" He made a face. "Has a bit of an aftertaste though."

But America was expecting some change to happen any second now. "How do you feel? Any different at all? About the merger?"

After England had a sip of the tea, he said, "Now, let's meet up with the Axis and put this whole mess to rest." And he and America walked out of the room with America staring back at the cake.

But thirty seconds later, England suddenly groaned in pain and clutched his stomach.

"England! What's wrong, dude?" America asked.

"All of a sudden, I don't feel so good," said England.

"So," America said slowly. "how do you feel about the merger now?"

"America!"

"Sorry."

"Just take me home."

America allowed England to put his arm around his shoulders and he helped England walk towards the door. On their way out, the members of the Axis stopped them.

"Igirisu," said Japan. "We've all been waiting patiently."

England, ill and sluggish, turned to the three countries and said, "Gentleman, I am out of sorts at the moment,….but you shall have your answer…." He suddenly let out a loud belch, surprising the Axis who wouldn't expect this from a mature, well-mannered gentleman. "...presently. Now if you'll….excuse us."

He and America then walked out of the doors and made their way to England's car. France just happened to see them walking past.

"Hey, Angleterre, are you alright?"

"I'm fine, frog." England replied. "Just go back to drinking wine and getting naked."

With that confirmation, France shrugged and walked away while America drove England to his house.

When they got there, America helped England walk to his room and get into bed.

"Just take all the time you need," said America. "And maybe later, you'll have something new to say about the merger…."

"What the hell was in that cake?" asked England, sluggish as ever. He groaned and rolled off the bed onto the floor.

"So," said America, turning to leave the room. "I'll just go back and tell them the deal's off then…."

But he paused when he heard the occasional groans become deeper and the floorboards creak. He cautiously walked over to the side of the bed.

"England?"

He saw the shape covered by the blanket on the floor. The shape got up, growing taller than England. When the blanket fell away, America screamed. It was standing in front of him on hind legs, with a tail, sharp claws, sharp teeth, golden fur, and a wild mane.

"LION!"

To America's surprise, the lion looked shocked. It turned and saw the shadow of a lion and jumped back with a frightened roar. But it became more frightened when it glanced at its paws and felt its face. It glanced at the mirror on the wall at its reflection, and that's when it freaked out, roaring and bumping into objects in the room.

The lion looked up at America with emerald green eyes. This wasn't some random lion; lions don't have green eyes.

"England? You're a lion!"

The lion looked at him with a face that said, "How the bloody hell did this happen?!"

"Why a lion?!" America suddenly got angry. "That stupid witch gave me some crappy spell!" As soon as he said that, the lion looked up at him with suspicion and anger. "Don't look at me like that! It's not my fault!" said America defenselessly. "I didn't ask her to change you into a lion! I just wanted her to change….you."

And then, with the means to throw every kind of profanity at America, the lion let out a big, long, loud, angry roar.

Soon, America was sitting on the bed while England the lion angrily paced back and forth in front of him on his hind legs, growling as if he was trying to speak, like a parent scolding their child after they had done something bad.

"There's no point having a go at me," said America bitterly. "It's the witch's fault. Crazy girl, talking British vegetable…."

America wondered how he was going to fix this while England picked up his torn suit with his paws and wondered what he was going to use to cover himself. He had managed to rip off one of the curtains and cover himself with that. He walked out of the room and started to head towards the front door.

America went after him. "No, England! Don't go out there! People will see you! England!"

America grabbed the curtain in an attempt to stop him and unintentionally pulled it off his body. The lion covered himself with his paws and looked at America with outrage and embarrassment.

"Dude, you're covered with fur!" said America. "You're not naked!"

When England realized this, of course, he felt rather silly.

England's house had a field of long grass behind it. America and England crept through the field, hiding from anyone who would see them. There was a secret path that they took to the woods that America went into.

Note: I know in this Hetalia/Brave crossover, I made England turn into a lion instead of a bear. I don't know why, but I was thinking lions are like a symbol of pride and England has a bit of pride to him. So I guess in this story, the spell can change you into a bear or a lion, depending on what other people see you as or what you act like?... I don't know.