(May 1848)
He felt tired, heavy. And everything was dark. Strange, it had been so light out a moment ago. And it had been warm. But he was cold now.
"Germany? Germany!"
My name? I wonder who's calling.
"What's- God dammit! Germany!"
"He's not breathing!"
I'm not? Oh, she's right. I'm not.
"Hungary, move! Hey, kid, hold on. Come on, stay with me."
He felt pressure on his chest. It hurt.
I wasn't even that sick this time.
He wanted to say something, but his throat wasn't working. Nothing was working. He couldn't speak, couldn't move. And it was still so dark.
Is this what happens when you get sick but don't get better?
"Come on, come on!"
Is that brother's voice?
"I'm getting a doctor."
And that's Miss Hungary, isn't it? Yes, I remember now. I'm at my brother's house. I was playing outside, and Miss Hungary came to visit us. She visits a lot. I don't think she trusts Prussia to take care of me.
"Germany? You have to breathe, you hear me?"
I can't. I'm trying, but I can't.
"Don't give up. Dammit, don't quit now."
That's right. I promised. I promised I wouldn't give up.
The pressure continued on his chest, and now he felt it on his lips as well. His lungs screamed, trying to burst free of invisible bonds. But nothing was happening.
I don't want to die.
He could barely feel the rhythmic beating on his chest. He was numb. He could feel himself fading away.
I don't want to die!
All at once sensation came flooding back. His chest expanded, bringing warmth, air, and pain. Oh God, it hurt. Why did it hurt so badly?
"Germany?"
The only answer he could manage was a strangled cry. He felt strong arms him up, and he clung back in response. He grabbed tightly to the familiar fabric of the uniform his brother was always wearing. Maybe if he held on tight enough it would drive the pain away.
"It's okay, little brother. You're gonna be fine."
"It hurts."
"I know, but you have to be tough, okay?"
"Okay."
"Promise?"
"I promise."
...
Prussia came in barking orders. "Get some water, now! And wet a cloth; make sure it's cold. And where the hell is that damn doctor?"
He went up to Germany's bedroom, and laid the boy on the bed. He was fiery to the touch, and his breathing was shallow. How had this happened so fast? He had seemed fine just a moment ago.
Servants arrived with water, hot and cold. Prussia took the cool, damp, cloth to lay it across Germany's brow. At least it might help get the fever down. He needed to do something though. His medical training with the Teutonic Knights came rushing back to him, even if it was a few hundred years out of date. Though, he supposed, some things never changed much.
At last, Hungary came in with the doctor.
"We should go," she said. "Let him work."
He shot her a venomous glare. "I am not leaving this room," he said, and luckily the doctor knew better than to challenge him. Hungary, taken aback, left the room, murmuring something about needing to tell Austria what had happened.
Prussia just sat, and watched. The doctor worked calmly and methodically, drawing blood, checking his pulse, mixing medicines, but nothing seemed to change. Even as the sky grew dark, nothing seemed to be happening, and that frustrated Prussia to no end.
Finally, the doctor stopped. "I've done what I can," he declared. "I'm afraid this sort of case isn't my specialty."
Prussia only scowled. It was true that they didn't exactly work the same way as humans did, in terms of their health, but dammit, why was this guy giving up so soon?
"He's stable, at least for now," the doctor said. "All we can do is let him rest."
Prussia nodded, still not speaking. Germany was still lying on the bed, pale and covered with a sheen of sweat. He was still breathing, at least. Breathing steadily as he slept.
"I will be back to check on him in the morning-" the doctor began.
"Just go," Prussia said, not trying to hide the anger in his voice. The doctor bowed, slightly, before moving swiftly out of the room. Prussia just sat, and waited.
Hungary came by again in the morning. "Did you sleep at all?" she asked.
"Wasn't tired."
"That's ridiculous," she replied. "Or did you forget that these revolutions are making you sick too?"
"Doesn't matter."
"Yes it does! God, why are you all so stubborn! Austria won't let himself rest either, and he's about to collapse on his feet. And what exactly do you plan to accomplish by wasting yourself away like this?" she demanded. "It won't help him get better."
"Then tell me what will," he said. He turned his gaze towards her, angry red eyes boring right through her, or so it seemed, at least.
Hungary sighed. "There is one option, but you won't like it."
"What is it?"
"Austria thinks that he has people who can help," she said. "He is already working on stopping the rebellions," she said, though she shuddered slightly. "If we can bring him to Austria-"
Prussia let out a bark of a laugh, but there was no humor behind it. "I should have guessed. Damn aristocrat-"
"It isn't like that!" Hungary cried. "Time is crucial here. The best help for Germany is in Austria, so he needs to get there soon!"
"Figures," Prussia spat. "And Austria finally gets full control over the states."
"That isn't why he's doing this-"
"I don't care." Prussia rose. "Come on, we'll need a carriage."
"What?" Hungary said. "You're actually agreeing to this."
"Not like I have much of a choice. And where the hell is that doctor? It's gonna be dangerous, moving him like this."
Prussia left the room, leaving Hungary in shock. She had been so sure Prussia would never have let them take Germany so easily. But she was grateful that he had. After all, they didn't have much time. Still, she felt a stab of pity for him. She could only imagine what was going on in his head, being forced to let his brother go like this.
The ride in the carriage was tense and silent, except for the occasional gunshot in the distance. As Hungary looked at Prussia, it was obvious that he should not have been travelling. He was clearly weaker that before, and the motion of the carriage was turning him an off-putting shade of green. The revolutions were taking their toll on him, even if he wouldn't admit it. It was ironic, Hungary thought as she looked at the child before her. These revolutionaries wanted to unite Germany, to make it a strong nation.
And yet, here their country was, weak and dying because of it. Maybe it was the violence. Most states had seen some bloodshed. She didn't think there was much chance of Germany surviving a violent uprising, at least not in this condition. But, honestly she didn't know how to feel. She sympathized with nearly everything these people stood for. They had no way of knowing what their actions were doing to this child. That abolishing the Confederation could kill him.
When they arrived, Austria was there to meet them. He looked exhausted, but his voice rang loud and clear when it came time to give orders, as all of them were led from the carriage to their rooms. Well, they tried to lead Prussia to his room. He was having none of it. The idiot refused to leave his brother's side.
Eventually, the doctor persuaded him to wait outside, which Prussia agreed to, however reluctantly. He sat in a chair, for the rest of the day, while the doctor worked. Eventually, Austria came to see him.
"They told me you were still here," Austria said upon seeing the other nation.
Prussia looked up at him. "You look like shit," he commented.
"Can't really deny that," he sighed. "Not that you look much better yourself."
Prussia only grunted. Then he added, "I know what's happening here. When I leave, I know it'll be alone."
Austria felt a pang of guilt. "I didn't want it to happen like this. I was fine with our arrangement with Germany, but…I couldn't explain it to my boss. He insisted that we had to take full control, and when he found out about the boy's condition…I can't believe I'm actually saying this to you of all people, but I am sorry. If I could change his mind, I would."
"Yes. I know," Prussia replied. "And you should know that I'm not giving up that easily."
Austria nodded. "I would expect no less from you."
Prussia sighed. "These revolutions need to stop."
"I am doing what I can. Hopefully my boss will be able to return from Innsbruck soon. We can figure something out."
"Mine made a bunch of concessions. That quieted things down enough," Prussia said.
"We've tried that, but nothing has stuck yet." Austria sighed; then he said, "I fear this will end in bloodshed."
Prussia gave a humorless chuckle. "Welcome to Europe, rich boy," he said. "That's how we work."
(August 1848)
Prussia could feel the sweat trickle down his back as the sun beat down on him. He stood in a line of soldiers, Austrian soldiers. Before him stood a mob. They were shouting, but he had long since stopped listening. It didn't matter what they had to say. He saw one man throw a piece of rotten fruit at the line of soldiers. His clothes were filthy, and his hair a matted mess. His projectile fell well short of its target. All manner of people, old and young, men and women were in the crowd. Sometimes it was easy to pick out an individual face, and sometimes they all just seemed like one, huge, yelling mass. They were the poor, the workers, the starving, alongside the students, the young and the hopeful, and the idealistic. They were the reason his brother was dying.
He felt another shoulder brush against his, and then a familiar voice against his ear.
"What are you doing here," Hungary asked him.
"My duty," he replied simply.
"Since when have you considered defending Austria your duty?"
"Who says it's him I'm here defending?"
She sighed. He could hear her, feel her close to him, but he never once looked at her. His eyes were fixed in front of him. He was a soldier. A soldier didn't break his attention.
"This is wrong," she said.
He didn't answer.
"They just want their rights, they want to work. They want to feed their children. Is that so bad?"
A woman in the crowd started shouting at the soldiers. Then a man with red hair started to taunt them. Another woman insulted Austria's boss. It was a funny insult. Prussia almost wanted to laugh at it. She was an older woman, her brown hair flecked with gray. She probably had children, and maybe even grandchildren. She looked like she would have been a kind grandmother.
"You think you can help him by doing this," Hungary said. Her voice was almost pleading now. "How will this help him?"
"I'm putting down a mob. A rebellion."
"These people mean no harm. Look at them! Dammit, they don't even have weapons!"
"No," Prussia replied. "They don't."
"READY!" an officer's voice called. Pure reflex, trained in camp and perfected on the field of battle, guided Prussia's hands. He gazed along the barrel of his rifle, which ended in the point of a bayonet.
"Finally," he thought to himself. "Finally I can do something."
"FIRE!"
The smoke from the gunpowder filled his nose and mouth. Black residue covered the side of his face. For a moment he was blind and nearly deafened by the shots, but it didn't last. It was only a few seconds before he could hear the mob screaming.
Author's Notes
Okay, another history lesson!
Revolutions of 1848: A big year for Europe (particularly the German States). Revolutions, mostly started by students and young people who wanted more liberal, democratic governments, swept across Europe. The wave or German revolutions began in Austria with the March Revolution, and it quickly spread. In Germany there was also added nationalist sentiment, and people wanted Germany to become a united country. The attempts to unify the country totally failed. The revolutions often became violent as well, such as barricades being constructed by revolutionaries throughout Prussia, and one case in Vienna in August of 1848 when Austrian troops fired on a group of unarmed demonstrators, who were protesting poverty and unemployment. And any progress made by the revolutions towards greater civil rights and liberties was erased by 1851.
Again, the internet can provide you with much more, better quality information than I can.
Thanks for sticking with me through another chapter :D Again, reviews and constructive criticism are welcome and desired.