Hello everyone! I got these chapters up for you guys. I'm still working on chapter 25, because it's going to be long and will be the final chapter for this part of the triolgy. And I have to say... I feel a bit depressed actually, but you're just going to have to wait to find out what happens in the last chapter.
Well! Without further ado, enjoy.
Chapter 21: During Eurovision
Some days later, and only ten more days until her birthday, Fern-Lui woke up and headed to the kitchen, where she saw the three nations at the table, talking about things she obviously missed on. "Morning." She announced, making the nations look at her.
"Ve~ Buon giorno!" Italy said happily as he mentioned her to come up. "You're just in time for breakfast, I'm making omelets that Zio Francia taught me years ago."
"Sounds yummy." She said as she sat down and looked at Germany and Prussia. "What were you talking about before I came in?" She said as she rubbed the last of the sleep from her eyes.
"We were talking about the Eurovision that's happening tonight." Prussia said as he thumbed Germany. "Und your vati here is hosting it this year."
"Of course no one knows I exist other than our bosses." Germany pointed out as he took a sip of his black coffee.
"Eurovision?" She asked, clearly not knowing what it is.
"Ve~ It's when music artists all over Europe come together and sing and or play out their original songs to perform. This year my people decided to try out again. Ve~ It's a lot of fun, and the last time I was in it was 1995… I hope the artist in the competition gets to the finals. It would be great if our artists make it to the top ten."
"It's entirely up to the judges." Germany said as Italy placed down the plates before cutting the corner. "But it's good that your people are participating again."
"Sì!"
"Um… So… It's a music competition?" She asked.
"Ja. And you're lucky, because, as nations, we get the best spots to watch the performances." Prussia said with a grin. "Think of it as an early birthday present from their bosses."
"Is anyone else coming to watch?"
"I heard America and Japan may come, but Japan is still recovering so he may not stay longer than a day." Germany said.
"How long does this last?"
"For a few days." Italy said. "It's going to be a lot of fun! I would've signed up to perform, but my boss said it wouldn't be a great idea."
"Not like we would be able to anyway." Prussia said. "But then no one can handle my awesome anyway if I were allowed to perform."
Germany gave the other a look and seemed to whisper 'danke gott for that' as he finished half of the omelet. "Would you be interested in coming, Fern-Lui?"
"JA! SI! YES!" She said excitedly.
"The birthday girl has spoken." Prussia said with a laugh.
"When can we leave?" She asked, wide awake and excited.
"Since the concert is located in Dusseldorf, we can easily drive there." Germany said. "The first performance isn't until the early evening, so we have time."
"It's going to be crowded, West."
"I know that, but that doesn't mean we're in a hurry."
Prussia sighed as he waved it off. "Right, right. We trust your sense of getting there on time."
"Ve~ I'm so excited now! Can't we just go now, walk around, have dinner, and go there?"
"I vote for Mamma Italia's idea!"
"Hey now…" Prussia said as Germany had a thoughtful look. "West."
"If you don't want to go then you can stay here and arrive when you feel like it."
Prussia sighed. "Ganged up once again…"
0o0o0o0
Later, the four arrived, only to meet up with some familiar faces.
"Tante Bel-Bel! Oom Neth!(1)" She called out as she ran up to Belgium and Netherlands.
"Baby Konijn!(2)" Belgium said as she bent down to pick the girl up. "I thought I would find you here."
"Hello." Netherlands said as he looked over at the three. "Glad to see you made it."
"Hey, West here is the host for this, of course we're here." Prussia said.
"Ve~ Let's go find our seats!"
"Veneziano!" The nations and the girl looked to where the voice called and saw Romano march up towards the younger Italian.
"Sì?"
"You're not sitting next to these two, are you?" He said pointing to Prussia and Germany.
"Ve~"
"Zio Romano!" She cheered. "You made it too!"
Belgium giggled. "That means Spain isn't far behind."
Romano's face went red as he looked at Belgium and stuttered a bit. "B-Be q-quiet…"
"Romano!" Spain called out as he glomped the other Italian, making him struggle. "Don't run off like that." He laughed as he looked at the others. "Hola everyone."
"Hey man, what's up?" Prussia said.
"Oh, the usual." Spain said as Romano elbowed him in the ribs. "Took a lot of convincing to get Romano out here…"
"I bet." Prussia said as he looked around. "Anyone seen-" His question was cut off by a yelp and spun around to almost punch France in the face. "Not awesome! Wine bastard!"
France merely chuckled. "Oh, you know you love me."
"Drop into a ditch."
"Oh! Petit Oiseau!(3) It's wonderful to see you on this fine competition."
"It's great to see you here too."
"Hey! Don't ignore me when I'm arguing with you!"
"There you are, you bloody frog!" Britain said as he came up. "Oh, hello Little Lady."
"What's with all the nicknames?" Prussia asked.
"It's fun to give her a nickname, da?" Russia said, nearly scaring the Italians to running.
"You're in the competition too? Дядя Россия?"
"Da. It should be a very fun experience, da? Немного Подсолнечника?"
"Da!" She said happily as she looked around. "I wonder if the other nations would come by."
"Belarus and Ukraine are already inside… waiting for me…" Russia said as he started to look depressed. "Waiting…"
"I saw the Nordics and Sealand enter the building not too long ago." Belgium said.
"Is Turkey and Cyprus brothers there?" Prussia asked as he eyed the girl to see how she reacts.
"I don't know. They may already be inside."
"Ve~ The first performance is about to start!" Italy said. "Let's find our seats!"
"Right." Germany said as everyone entered the concert building.
0o0o0o0
Once they were seated, she looked around at the concert and saw the crowds of people with different national flags. "So cool…" She sighed out, eyes sparkling.
"Oh, there you are." Austria said as he and Hungary came up to where the other nations were sitting, Hungary immediately went up to the girl and hugged her.
"I missed you!"
"Nagynéném!" She said happily as she returned the hug, by this point the lights dimmed and everyone was in their seats to watch the first performances of the night.
After the first night of performances, Fern-Lui fell asleep in the car, along with Prussia, heading back to Germany's home.
"Looks like her nightmares are gone." Italy said quietly.
"It has been a while since we went to England's home for help, but I'm not sure it did anything." Germany responded.
"Ve~ She's going to be nine so soon."
"She hasn't been here a year, Italy."
"But it's still too fast…" He pouted. "I keep reminding myself that she's a normal human, and that I can't assume she'll be this little for a long time like most of us."
Germany sighed, knowing how the other feels. "At least we'll sympathize with other parents that don't wish for their children to grow up too fast."
"Ve~ You're gonna have it a lot worse, since you're the Papa."
"Muttis have it too."
"Not as much as a Papa with his little girl."
"You may be considered the mother, but that does not mean the 'papa' thing doesn't affect you either."
"Sì, you're right."
0o0o0o0
The next night of performance, she got a shirt that had the Eurovision words on the front, the 'o' in Euro, was in a shape of a heart and inside it had the colors of Germany's flag. And after that night's performances, she fell into the dream room while she slept in the car.
"Welcome back." Ferrowim said as he lounged on the black bed in the very off white room.
"Hello." She said as she crawled into the bed and just laid on her stomach next to the man. "Find anything?"
"No. Not even close."
"Then why am I here? Doesn't this use a lot of energy?"
"It does, but I just want to tell you in person."
She giggled. "You just miss talking to me."
"We used to do that a lot."
"Yeah…" She laid her head over her crossed arms.
"You like the new world you're in?"
"It's not really that new. Just different."
He smiled as he ruffled the girl's head. "So sweet and yet holds so much to be bitter sweet. Two different chocolates in one."
"I now regret giving you that chocolate bar that one time."
He laughed which made the girl smile. "Fern-Lui… There's something I've been meaning to tell you. Well, what he and I were supposed to tell you from the beginning…"
"What is it?"
"You know we're not… spirits or demons… We're something created to serve a purpose, but that purpose was already completed before we had a chance…"
"I don't get it. I mean, I knew you are different, but I don't understand. What purpose?"
He smiled sadly as he turned and wrapped his arm around the girl. "Like what he did to you, we were suppose to give someone nightmares, make them suffer."
"Why would you do that?"
"That's what we were created to do. But then sent to your world far before you were born when he and I used to be one. We had no other reason…"
"Wait… Are you saying you're from this world?"
He petted her head. "Where I was created, but I developed in your world."
"But you're only created to give nightmares, right?"
"Part of it, the other part is something… terrible…"
"What is it?"
He looked up at the nonexistent ceiling. "You better wake up soon. I'll keep looking for Bruder."
"Wait-" She said, only for his hand to cover her eyes and she felt light once again.
"Ve~ Fern-Lui? Time to get up."
She blinked before yawning. "Buon giorno, Mamma Italia…" She said as she sat up and rubbed her eye. "Is breakfast ready?"
"Sì, now come on down before the dogs eat it all."
"Vati Deutschland wouldn't allow that. Maybe Onkle Preußen…" She said as she got out of bed and followed Italy to the kitchen.
0o0o0o0
The last evening of the performance was well underway as they listened to more of the music before the announced winner of the singers from Azerbaijan, with Italy in second.
"Congratulations, Italy." Germany said. "Think your people would go for it next year?"
"I know I would!" Italy said excitedly. "Ve~ But I'm sorry you didn't get picked."
Germany shrugged his shoulders. "At least the singer made it to the top ten, that counts for something."
"Sì!"
"At least our gal stayed in, and not like a certain aristocrat or Hungarian, whose singers drop out." Prussia said, earning him a nice huge bump from the frying pan.
Germany sighed as he lifted his brother and carried him to the car. "Remember, Fern-Lui, never rub anyone the wrong way or you'll end up like your onkle… or worse."
"I know." She said as she entered the car, yawning all the while.
"Did you enjoy this?" Italy asked as she nodded.
"I really like it, I never heard my family talk about this, but then again most of the instruments where I'm from are either damaged beyond repair or are horribly out of tune."
"Ve… Really?"
"Sì, but everyone sings to make up for it." She giggled. "Vati has a really nice voice, but he's so shy to sing. Mamma has a really pretty voice and always tries to get him to sing a duet with her."
"Ve~ I know just how your mamma feels! I tried to get Papa Germania to sing for me after I heard him sing while he was taking a shower." This of course is when Prussia decided to wake up from unconsciousness.
"Seriously West? You sing while taking a shower? That's such a chick thing!"
"That was only once and I couldn't get that song out of my head." Germany said, blushing red.
"Ve~ But it was so nice though. I wish you can sing a bit more often."
"I wanna hear to!" She said.
"Yeah West, give us a little performance."
"Nein."
"Please!" Chorused the Italian and the girl.
"You know they'll keep begging unless you comply." Prussia said with an amused smirk.
"Nein."
"Pretty, pretty please with a cherry on top?" She begged.
"Nein."
"Ve~ Please Germany, I'll make you gelato!"
"Nein."
"I'll sing for you two." Prussia said.
"Do and I'll kick you out of this car." Germany said.
"Are you really that embarrassed to sing, Vati Deutschland?" She asked.
"Nein, I'm not."
"Liar." Prussia said. "I know! Sing one of those children songs?"
"I know only one song that mein onkle likes to sing to get me to be quiet when I was a lot younger."
"How does it go?" Italy asked.
"Well… He doesn't sing the whole song to me… and it's been awhile since he sang that song to me…" She said as she hummed out the tune.
"The moon has been arising,
the stars in golden guising
adorn the heavens bright.
The woods stand still in shadows,
and from the meads and meadows
lift whitish mists into the night.
The world in stillness clouded
and soft in twilight shrouded,
so peaceful and so fair…."
"I can't remember the rest…"
"Just like a chamber waiting,
where you can rest abating
the daytime's mis'ry and despair."
Germany sang as he continued with the song.
"Behold the moon – and wonder
why half of her stands yonder,
yet she is round and fair.
We are the ones who're fooling
'cause we are ridiculing
as our minds are unaware.
We vain and wretched sinners
presume to be the winners,
but we know nothing yet.
So many neat solutions
are nought but great delusions
that farther off the path us get.
God, grant us Thy salvation!
No worldly aspiration,
no vanity allow!
Like children simple-hearted,
and joyful like we started,
let us become and teach us how!
And lastly, grant us leaving
the world without much grieving,
let peaceful be our death.
When from the earth You take us,
let heaven's joy await us
stand by us, Lord, at our last breath.
So, brothers, in His keeping
prepare yourself for sleeping;
cold in the evening breeze.
Spare us, Oh Lord, Your ire,
let rest us by the fire,
and grant our ailing neighbour peace."
"Ve~ That's so pretty…"
"It's called 'The Moon Has Arisen'." Germany said. "Or 'Der Mond ist Aufgegangen'."
"Sing it in your language! I wanna know how it sounds!" Italy begged.
Germany sighed as he complied to the Italian and sang the song as they neared his home. When he finished, he looked to see the Italian looking at him. "Was?"
"Can you sing that every night?" Italy asked, looking dreamily at the other.
Germany blushed and cleared his throat. "Komm, we better tuck Fern-Lui in." He said as he looked back to see both the girl and his brother asleep. He sighed as he mentioned Italy to take the girl while he got his brother.
0o0o0o0
After the two were tucked in, Germany and Italy headed up to Germany's room when the German nation groaned and held his head.
"Germany?" Italy asked as the other waved it off.
"Nothing, Italy, just a bit of a sudden headache." He said as he headed to the bath room. "I'll be there in a minute."
"Okay." Italy said as he entered their shared room before Germany entered to join the other on the bed. "Is everything alright?"
"Ja, it's just a sudden headache. Some water and rest and I'll be fine in the morning."
Italy hummed as he moved closer to the other. "Don't stress yourself too much, or I'll worry more."
Germany managed a small smile as he sighed. "Ja…" He said as he closed his eyes and felt the other moving closer. "Why do you like to sleep next to me?"
"Cause you're warm, and I feel safe, especially when you hug me in your sleep."
He opened one eye to see the other smiling at him. "Really?"
"Sì." He said as he draped his arm over the German's waist. "What about me? What do you feel when I hold you?"
Germany could feel his face warming once again and sighed. "Soft… warm…" He said as he thought about anything else. "Much like a blanket on a cold or rainy day."
"Yay!" He said as he more or less glomped the other, bringing them even closer where there was no space between them.
"Go to sleep Italy…" Germany groaned out.
"Not until you sing the song again."
Germany placed a hand over his eyes. "Will you sleep then?"
"Sì, sì, I will."
He sighed as he sang the song once again in German.
Translations:
(1) Auntie Bel-Bel! Uncle Neth! - Dutch
(2) Baby Bunny! - Dutch
(3) Little Bird! - French
To hear the song in German, copy and paste this link: www. you tube. com / watch?v= olT6z-aErv4& feature= related
put the spaces together and you should be able to get it. If not than copy the title of the song and paste it on the YouTube search box and find the "Matthias Claudius" version. The singer isn't deeped voice, but the song itself is very pretty.