An Empire…
Part 8- Who needs three nations when you could have one?
When Cymru finally got back to his land, he fell to the ground screaming. Screaming- the agony of everything too much to bare, far too much to bare. He feels his people around him, some dying, some still fighting valiantly, some watching him, making sure he's alright, some fleeing- hiding… and others giving in.
"No…" He hears his muttered cry- he CAN'T let his self fall- not now… he has to save his people and Albion! "No!"
"Yes, actually," he hears that cheerfully grating voice that belongs to that evil man and he just wants to kill him! He looks up and his grass green eyes lock onto those earth brown ones and neither are willing to look away- they can't show any form of weakness!
"So what name shall we give you?" the man cheerfully questions, the vicious smirk on his face not matching of the joyful tone at all.
"How about you don't give me a name at all?" Cymru narrows his eyes, the smirk doesn't leave the man's face, but he does sigh.
"I guess I'll have to make Britannia a brother less Nation then."
Am-I-Cruel-For-Leaving-It-there?
Albion had grown used to Nations and foreigners walking across him by now, he had grown used to being pulled further and further away from his land and brothers, he'd even grown used o being called Britannia: in fact he was so used to being called as such that he almost swore that he was never called Albion before, that he had only imagined being called as such.
The only reason he remembered his name was Albion was some of the Fae had somehow managed to weave their way over to Rome; they would scream loudly that his name was Albion whenever Rome called him Britannia. Not many of the people around could see them. Greece had told him that all the Nations were able to see them before the Roman invasion- now numbers and such things had blinded many of the Nations.
And now Greece wasn't allowed to take him to the statue where she told him stories… where they watched stars.
It was around this time that she got too busy, via Rome that she couldn't even look after him anymore. It was also around this time that he met her son.
"Britannia," she called- even Greece had to start calling him by that name- and the Fae like usual kicked a fuss up about it.
He turned around to see the tall woman walking towards him a smaller boy behind her. The boy had the same brown hair the woman had and was cut off at the nape of his neck, the hair twisted away from his face, almost as though trying to pull away from his face, so anyone can see the strong teal eyes that he had. He was taller than Albion.
"This is my son Heracles, Britannia. Heracles this is Britannia."
And that was when Albion made his first friend and even if their friendship didn't last particularly long and even if they were just fellow Nations who were annoyed that Rome was watching over them like a hawk, he was his first friend: Albion was sure to be forever grateful for that.
I-Don't-Know-Why-I-Just-Imagine-Nowadays-Greece-And-England-Getting-Along-Or-At-Least-Back-Then-Getting-Along!
The first thing Albion had learnt about Heracles was that he didn't act like what his outer appearance portrayed his as. The boy seemed that he'd fall asleep at any given second and it was, because of that that he made everything go his way by pretending to sleep and finding out things that the older Nations were keeping secret.
The boy was much more serious than he let on; he knew all of his Mother's stories off by heart, he knew every star and picture that hid among them; he could fight with many different weapons (and had secretly started teaching Albion how to use a sword properly without hurting his self).
"My Ma prefers to use this giant cross," Heracles gestures wider than his arms could reach, teal eyes dancing with excitement. "I wanna use it!"
"Then why don't you?" Albion questions looking up at the boy, the blonde having to sit down and get his breath back after the latest training Heracles put him through, but Heracles shakes his head side to side.
"Can't even lift it…" He gazes to the side sadly for a second. "If I could I would've driven Rome away from yours and my land already…" He looks back at Albion eyes lit up happily again. "But don't worry one day I'm going to be able to lift it!"
Albion nods his head. And one day he, small tiny Albion, will be stronger than Rome!
Ah-I-Love-Writing-Pointless-Moments-Like-That-Do-You-Enjoy-Reading-Them?
Gallia's poking him… Albion really isn't amused and isn't sure how long he's going to ignore it before he decides punching the boy is a viable punishment. Albion knows Heracles is annoyed as well, because the boy isn't pretending to be asleep… or actually dozing off.
"You know you're eyebrows are really weird…" Gallia comments.
"That says something about you, seeing as he's cuter than you!"
And Gallia and Heracles instantly can't tolerate being around each other; Albion has to run to catch up after Heracles stalks off in one direction.
And-This-Is-The-Basis-Of-France's-Obsession-Of-Saying-He's-Better-In-Bed-Than-Greece-Strange-How-Things-Work-Out-Right?
It was something domed shaped that they enter. Heracles is explaining about how people fight each other or animals here. That Rome wanted to show his Colosseum off to everyone; Albion has to wander why, because although he'd admit the building was great why would you want to show it off?
Rome is talking with large gestures to everyone, but Albion is looking to the side not paying attention and Heracles is clinging onto his wrist so he doesn't get lost among the large crowds or bump into something. He hears loud laughter from a distance and he's pretty sure it's Gallia trying to kiss one of his brothers again; by the way Heracles clings a little tighter to his wrist he's sure Heracles thinks the same.
They come to a stop by some seats where Gallia is chatting away amiably to one of the greened eyed Nations, but that was quite a long time ago and Albion can't remember either of their names. There's a tall man sitting beside them, his hair long and it's blonde and… he's reminded of his Mother…
"Ma!" Heracles pulls them in the opposite direction where his Mother is sitting down and talking to another woman whose skin in darker than the rest, the woman's black hair is plaited all the way down her back, she has some fabric around her as though to keep her warm- though Albion doubted that: it was boiling hot in Rome.
"Heracles, Britannia." She smiles at them and Heracles brings them to sit beside the woman.
Britannia's eyes wander. There's a large open area, large wooden doors around, the place is slowly being filled with Rome's people; there's bars with green eyes gleaming through.
Heracles hasn't let go of his wrist, but he's busy chatting to his Mother and the woman with her. Gallia and the boy he was talking to have turned their attentions to their two smaller brothers; the other green eyed Nation is ignoring all four of them to look around.
"And we'll start the games!" He hears a voice call out before he can wonder where Rome has disappeared too.
He looks down in time to see the green eyed beast stalk out; his eyes widen. It's a lion. Its mane spread out majestically around him, his eyes firm and beautiful; its fur golden and silky looking. He hears a few gasps from the crowd and sees some of the other younger Nations eyes widen in fear but he can't figure out why… The creature is strong, beautiful and just brimming with pride.
Albion couldn't help the overwhelming feeling of wanting to be allowed to walk beside such a wonderful creature…
And-I've-Been-Dying-To-Do-That-Bit-For-So-Long!
Albion was on his own. For the time being at least.
Heracles had said he wanted to gather information, so he had ran and followed Rome, until the man picked him up and then he slowly started pretending to drift off.
He wandered around not wanting to put up with Gallia. He didn't know why Rome had made every Nation stay in his country for the time being, but he had- much to Albion's chagrin, he'd rather be on Greece's land or his own.
Through his wandering he came across a boy. The boy was smiling happily as he drew with his finger in the dirt. Straight lines, curves… Albion couldn't really tell what the boy was attempting to draw… he figured it must be a Roman thing.
He watched as the boy continued to draw. He watched until the boy ran off. And he carried on watching after the boy had gone.
He had drawn some weird shape… dotted line separating the shape into three halves and straighter and more defined lines cutting into the north half… Albion tilted his head to the side… it seemed familiar… he couldn't imagine where he had seen it before though…
"Britannia!" He heard Heracles scream as he ran towards him, eyes wide.
"Heracles, what's the matter?" He didn't get an answer straight away; he was wrapped tightly in the boys arms.
Heracles was shaking, though Albion couldn't figure out why. He stayed quiet, knowing the boy would tell him eventually. And eventually Heracles did let out the shaky answer of what was wrong.
"Rome's going to kill your brothers…"
And-We're-DONE!
A/N: chapter 8, wasn't she a beaut?
Anyways historical notes and I having fun notes:
-So, I just felt like England should have SOMEBODY on his side seeing as he isn't the only colony, and seeing as Greece adores him I thought it'd be best if her son was friends with England, even if only for this moment!
-I also thought it'd be fun to show Greece and France not liking each other now, since well I like the idea of France not liking Greece nowadays because of the whole whose better with sex thing; it seemed like fun to make that fighting spirit to stem from somewhere!
-Another fun fact, I realised while writing this I don't pair Greece with anyone… nor do I write him much… I should change that by giving him his own fanfic!
-NOW actual historical facts! Greece is busy at the moment she introduces Heracles to Albion because she's dealing with the Olympics at the time which is in 66AD… or at least the one I'm using is!
-The bit with Wales at the beginning is a reference too Wales being "conquered" (it wasn't completely but the Roman's claimed it was) in 70AD!
-Rome Colosseum was completed by 80AD, so I'm think Rome's taken them to one of the first showings!
-Do you see the hint towards England using lions as his coat of arms? If you don't… I don't think I've done my job right!
-So the picture at the end that the boy is drawing is meant to be a sort of map of Great Britain (no wonder Albion thought it seemed similar), why was a boy drawing it? Why that boy would be Hadrian (who was born 76AD) and he's already planning to build a wall between England and Scotland!
-Why did Rome suddenly decide to kill off Wales and Scotland? Well, basically though they were originally thought of as different countries as time went on Romans started using the name Britannia to refer to the WHOLE of Great Britain (where we actually get the name nowadays) so I can just imagine Rome just getting fed up of England's brothers and being like: you'd be better off dead then I can just control one of you for the WHOLE of this land!
K! I think that covers just about everything… hopefully! Read, review, fav, alert and all that jazz (Have I told you I love you guys by the way? No? Well I bloody well do!) And what's happened to Wales? Find out in the next exciting episode of An Empire!