Studying History

Chapter 2: A Request

What he needed was a short cut, something quick like…

"LIKE MAGIC!" He yelled, jumping up off the bed. He may have laughed about his beliefs to Arthur's face, but a small part of his still believed. That part had only gotten bigger when Arthur's latest big fantasy series was given to him. And if he ever needed that part, it was now.

There was just one problem. He couldn't do magic, and he dare not ask Arthur for help with this. For a moment he was stuck, before he remembered that Arthur wasn't the only magic user among the nations. There was another he could ask. And without a moment to lose, he got in his car, laughing. He couldn't believe he hadn't thought of it before. It was pure genius!

And before you get your panties in a wad, he commented to the voice that had been bothering him for a while, No I can't just ask Arthur.If I asked him about his history before he met me he'd probably just laugh in my face.

So, here he was, driving toward a nation he had hardly every talked to at meetings, and never out of work.

Hey, smart-ass, what makes you think he will help you? As you just noted, you barely even talk to the guy when you have to!

Alfred massaged his temples. Ever since the Civil War, this Southern voice had been pestering him. Even after she lost the damn war, the Confederacy refused to let up. Why won't you just go away!

Save your Confederate dollars, boys, 'cause the South will rise again! The snarky voice retorted.

"No it WON'T!" Alfred shouted, his hands slamming the wheel. His head quickly followed as he realized he had just spoken aloud to a voice in his head. "Damn it!" The voice snickered, but was otherwise silent. The nation(s) spent the rest of the drive in (shared) silence.

When he arrived at the nation's door, Alfred was shivering. Why did he have to live in a place that was so cold? His teeth chattering, he rang the door bell.

After standing outside for a couple of minutes, Alfred began to get nervous. Was this his house? It was the right country and he believed that Lukas Bondevik was his human name. Was the other nation even home? If so, is he asleep? If not, why won't he ANSWER THE G-D DAMN… oh. The door was opened.

In the door way stood a man with short, light blond hair tucked under a navy blue sailor cap and pinned on one side with a Nordic cross. One little curl floated independently away from his head. His indigo eyes were impassive as they viewed the shivering nation on the door step. Without a word, he beckoned Alfred inside.

Once out of the freezing cold, the American's trademark grin spread back over his face. "Hey, Norway! I need to talk to you!"

The Nordic nation rolled his eyes at the obvious statement. Of course the other needed to talk to him, or else he would not be here. "Sit." He said as he gestured at the couch.

Alfred sat, his feet tapping on the floor. At the Norwegian's glance, he stilled them. Lukas sat across from him in a comfy looking chair. "Well?"

Realizing it would be better if he just got straight to the point he blurted out. "I want to meet the England from before I met him."

A raised eyebrow made Alfred shift uncomfortably. "How do you expect me to help you with that? Time-travel is impossible."

Surprised at the long sentence, Alfred took a moment to answer. "I know that. Iggy explained that to me after one of his really cool shows came over to me and I wanted to try it out."

"Then what do you expect me to do?"

"Do you have a spell that can make him turn back into his past self?"

"Yes."

"Then, that'll work!"

"Why?"

Alfred's face fell. "You mean why should you do it? I know we don't really talk, but I really need your help and…"

Lukas interrupted, "No, why do you want me to do this?"

"Oh! Um, well, I realized that I really don't know Iggy as well as I claim to, and I'd really like to."

"Why?"

Alfred turned red. "Um… well… you see…"

A finger was pressed to his lips as he looked up into the understanding rare smile on the other nation's face. Lukas stood. "Come with me."

"Do you have something of his?"

The question startled Alfred, who had been told to sit in his chair and not speak or move. After a quick nod from the other nation allowing him to speak, Alfred answered, "It's in my car. Can I go get it?"

Lukas nodded as he continued his preparations. Alfred ran out to his car and riffled through his glove case before finding the tie in there. Arthur had left it behind at the last meeting. It had been in Egypt, so the Englishman had not been the only one removing his tie, but only Alfred had noticed when he left it behind. He hurried back to the basement where Lukas was.

"Will this work?" he asked, offering the other nation the tie.

Lukas nodded and gestured for the American to return to his seat. Alfred did so silently, and resumed watching the Norwegian work.

It didn't take long for Norway to finish drawing the chalk circle and place all the necessary items in the correct place. He then stood in the castor's circle and opened his book. With a deep breath, He began the incantation:

"Odin, grant mig den kraft!
Odin, grant me the power!
Vend tilbake de hender av tid!
Turn back the hands of time!
La det når var bli så igjen!
Let what once was become so again!
Begynn fire århundrer siden!
Begin four centuries ago!
En for en dag!
One for one day!
På Storbritannia!"
Upon Britain!

There was a great flash of light as the room seemed to be turned upside down. Alfred let out a manly yell (see- shriek) as his chair toppled over backwards from the force of the "explosion".

Norway glanced his way. Alfred hadn't known a glance could be condescending before that moment. He honestly didn't think that anyone other than Norway could pull it off, though.

"Did it work?"

Lukas nodded.

"Can I help you clean up?"

He shook his head while making a shooing motion with his hands.

"Ah, okay, well, um, bye then!"

Norway nodded and waved.

Alfred paused at the door and turned back, grinning. "Oh, and thanks for helping me out!"

Allowing a small smile to cross his lips, Lukas replied, "Du er velkommen, Amerika helten."

Missing the subtle sarcasm, America continued to smile. "I have no idea what you just said, but see you at the next meeting."

Lukas nodded again and went back to his cleaning. A few seconds later he was interrupted by an awkward chuckle as the superpower sheepishly stuck his head back in the door.

"Ehehehe… I was wondering…"

Norway held out England's tie and America grabbed it.

"Thanks again, Norway!" he called back as he rushed out the door with the tie. He saw it was none the worse for the casting, except for a slight coating of chalk. He quickly shook it off and placed the tie back in the glove compartment before heading off to Arthur's home.

Back in the basement, Norway closed the spell book and finished up as quickly as he could, while still being thorough. He'd better get this all cleaned up before Mathias came over. The Dane never could resist poking fun at his "hocus-pocus" whenever he caught Lukas practicing magic.

In his haste, he missed the small footnote at the bottom of the spell in fine print:

De forfattere av boken gir bare dette advarsel hvis du bruker denne visuelle: Den venn du vet nå kan ikke være den samme venn du vekke med denne visuelle. Han kan selv bli din fiende. Vokt eder!
The writers of the book give just this warning if you use this spell: The friend you know now may not be the same friend you awaken with this spell. He may even be your enemy. Beware!

Across the North Sea, a certain Englishman had a terrible sense of foreboding as he gazed at the fast approaching storm clouds. Something bad is going to happen soon, and I have a sinking feeling it's going to happen to me.

Author's Notes: This was a fun chapter to write. Poor Iggy! I snuck in a few more references, but yeah...
Right, important stuff.
1) Don't get used to quick updates. As I stated in my profile, I am a terrible procrastinator.
2) Don't get angry if other fanfics, mostly one-shots, are published before I update this. My way of getting past writer's block on one story is to work on another.
3) Unless Spain shows up, all my translations are from online translators. Do not kill me if they are terrible.
On to the important stuff!

Translations(Not provided in text) & Textual Notes:
Du er velkommen, Amerika helten- You're welcome, America the hero
Odin- The ancient norse god of magic, among other things
Storbritannia- Norwegian name for Great Britain
Begin four centuries ago!- 2010- 400= 1610, a couple of years after the first English colony is set up in America. Norge is being nice and giving Al a familiar starting point.
North Sea- The body of water that separates England and Norway (Apparently, Alfred plans to cross the water by car. I'm sure the Confederacy will have a few thing to say to him. :D )

Disclaimer: I don't own Hetalia. That honor belongs to Hidekaz Himaruya and Gentosha Comics. I also do not own the nations above. Nor do I own any of the "subtly" referenced books/movies/TV shows/music. While the Confederate States of America neither belong to me nor exist, the character is my own original creation. How she got into Alfred's head is another story that I probably won't write unless asked by more than 5 people. And maybe not even then. Depends on how I feel.

Toodles!
-Hikari