Chapter Eight: Prussia and Loyalty

It had been a week since Ray had come to live with them, and Prussia was starting to take a liking to her. On his awesomeness scale, she was at least a 9.9. Ten was reserved for Prussia only.
However, the Germanic kept praying that she would forget about the promise he made to her. The meeting was tomorrow, and by then she would have forgotten...right?

That morning, Prussia was bored out of his mind. He swung his legs off of his chair and stared at the wall.

"Morning, Gil," yawned Ray as she walked down the stairs.

"Guten Morgen," Prussia said back. The foreign girl gave him a weird look.

"What's up with you?" She asked.

"Nozhing, zhat's vhat. I'm bored out of my mind." Ray nodded and looked around the room.

"Hey, do you know where your brother is?" Prussia raised one of his silver eyebrows.

"He left a few minutes ago," he told her. Ray groaned and leaned against the wall, obviously frustrated. "Vhy do you vant to know?"

"I was going to ask him if he could show me around the city. I haven't had the chance to spread my wi- I mean...stretch my legs since I got here."

"Vhy didn't you ask zhe awesome me to do it?" The two stared at each other in silence.

"Why didn't I ask you? Because you've been avoiding it every chance you get."

"Right...vell, I could take you now. A promise is a promise, right?"

"You don't have to. I could just wait-" Prussia put a hand over her mouth.

"I'm not doing anyzhing anyvay. My friend von't answer me, und my ozher one is busy vith somezhing. He von't tell me vhat." Ray removed the pale hand from her tanned face.

"Are you serious?"

"Serious as Vest. Cross mien heart und everyzhing." Prussia drew an "X" over his chest. Ray's face lit up.

"Thank you!" She put her arms around Prussia before jogging back up the stairs. The Germanic stood there in silence for a moment. Had he just let a human get closer than normal to him? He shook it off as he went down to his basement. That's when the thought hit. He would have to take Ray around the city. Which meant...

"Scheiße."

The pair quickly got ready and headed out of the house. As they walked along the main road, Rainbow noticed something strange about Gilbert. He seemed to be getting more and more uncomfortable as they walked on.

"Are you okay?" Rainbow asked him. Gilbert nodded.

"Ja, I'm fine," he answered, "I just think ve should head back."

"Why? We've only been out here for...what, a half an hour?"

"Ray...zhere's somezhing you should know." Rainbow turned to face him. That's when he grabbed her arm.

"What?" She said.

"Ve need to head back. I...I can't handle it."

"Handle what? C'mon, you're starting to worry me." Gilbert let Rainbow go and kept walking. She had run just to stay at the same pace as him.

After a few minutes, the pair arrived at a wall. Rainbow raised an eyebrow in curiosity.

"You brought me...to a wall..." she said in disbelief, "You can't handle being near...a wall..." Gilbert gave her a weird look.

"You don't know vhat zhis is, do you?" He asked her. Rainbow shook her head. Gilbert sighed. "It's called zhe Berlin Vall. Most people only come here to see it. Me und Vest hate it."

"I can't see why. I mean it's just a wall." Gilbert laughed under hus breath for a moment.

"It's not just a vall. Zhe Berlin Vall vas a barrier zhat divided Berlin from 1961 to 1989. It vas constructed by zhe East Germans under orders of zhe Soviet Union starting on August 13, 1961. It completely cut off Vest Berlin from zhe surrounding East Germany und from East Berlin until it vas opened in November 1989." Rainbow stared at the albino.

"Did you get that off the internet or something?" Gilbert shook his head with a small smile.

"Ah, Es ist lustig, wie Sie den Menschen wurden alle gleich. Kann nicht einmal daran erinnern, Ihre eigene Geschichte auf den genauen Details," he said in German, "But nien, I didn't. I remembered it. I vas zhere vhen it vas torn down. It separated more zhan just Berlin. It separated me und Vest."

Prussia sighed. He didn't even want to look at the Wall. It brought back any memory of the Cold War and his time under Russia's control that the Prussian had buried.

"I'm sorry," Ray said after a moment's silence. "I didn't know."

"It's fine, don't vorry about it. I actually like zhat memory. Made zhe first strike myself." Ray looked at him. There was a spark in her magenta eyes.

"Wasn't the Wall opened in...1989? You would be way older than you are now to have done that." ...Scheiße. A bead of sweat rolled down Prussia's pale face.

"I meant...uh...Vhat I meant to say vas..."

"You don't have to tell me," said Ray, "We all have our secrets. Heck, even I have one."

"Vhat is it?"

"Tell me yours, and I'll tell you mine." The Prussian and foreign girl looked at each other before bursting out in laughter.

"Smart girl," Prussia said as he stopped laughing, "Hey, Vest should be back by now. You vant to head back?"

"Sure." The two walked back when Prussia's phone began ringing.

Marukaite chikyuu Marukaite chikyuu Marukaite chikyuu Ore Supein~

With a strange look from Ray, Prussia answered it.

"Hallo, Toni," the Prussian said with a cheerful tone, although he was a little pissed, "Vhat is it?"

"Hey, amigo! I was wondering if you wanted to hang out," Spain said from the other end, "Italy, Romano and a friend of theirs are coming with." Prussia looked over at Ray. Was ditching her to go hang out with Spain a good idea? The way she treated him that morning...it was almost like she had trusted him. He wasn't about to break that trust. Especially that of the first human that had gotten close to him in a long time.

"Nien," answered Prussia.

"¿Qué? Are you sure?"

"Ja, I'm sure! I already promised to do somezhing for someone."

"Alright, amigo. I'll see you at the meeting tomorrow."

"See you later." Prussia hung up.

"Who was that? Ray asked curiously.

"A friend of mine," said Prussia, "He vanted to hang out-"

"So you're ditching me here?!"

"Vhat?! Nien! I said no!" Ray raised an eyebrow before fixing her multicolored ponytail.

"What? Why would you do that?" Prussia shrugged.

"I made a promise to you, didn't I? To show you around Berlin! Und zhat's vhat I'm going to do. Zhe awesome me never breaks a promise!" With a smile, Ray wrapped her arms around Prussia from the second time today.

"Now that's loyalty," Ray said with a grin, "Which is my favorite trait in a friend." Prussia looked at her curiously.

"Friend?" He repeated. Ray nodded.

"Yeah, we're friends, aren't we? You showed true loyalty to me back there. That is what I value the most. Not to mention you're pretty awesome to be around."

"Ja...friends. Vell! Time's vasting! Hurry up or I von't get tos show you everyzhing!" With a laugh, the two ran off into the city.

Rainbow and Gilbert didn't get back until sundown. This made Ludwig angry since the two had left without telling him where they were going. But Rainbow really didn't care. She had fun with her albino friend. That, and she was already used to getting lectured by Twilight.
That night was supposed to be peaceful...but hey, it wasn't.

Rainbow Dash was awoken to a loud noise in the middle of the night. Groaning, she got up and went downstairs to see what it was. There was nothing down there. The only thing that had changed was the fact that one of the windows was now open. Shuddering from the cold, Rainbow walked over and shut it.

"I wonder what made that noise..." she muttered to herself. Suddenly, something- or someone- seized the girl from behind. They covered her mouth to block out her muffled screams. Rainbow kicked at them, digging her heel into their foot. They let go in surprise, causing the girl to fall to the floor. Rainbow stood up and whipped around. Her magenta eyes widened. The person was a black cloaked figure with dark blue wings and an evil glint in his eyes. She pulled herself into a fighting position.

"Hello, Crash," the man smirked, "Always ready to play?"

"No fair, jackass," snapped Rainbow, "The playing field isn't even. You have your wings."

"Oh well. DARK FEATHER BLITZ!" A series of sharp, dark blue feathers came shooting at her. Rainbow ducked as they pierced the wall behind her. However, one of them grazed her arm. Gold dripped onto the floor.

"Big mistake, pal." The man raised an eyebrow. "GILBERT! LUDWIG! HELP ME!" The man took a step back as the sound of footsteps came towards them. The first person Rainbow saw was Gilbert, who stood right between them.

"Hey, arschloch!" The sliver haired man shouted, "Vhat zhe hell do you think you're doing?!" The man laughed.

"Doing my job, Preußen," he said. Gilbert's red eyes narrowed. "Where's your brother? Huh? Where's Deutschland?"

"Leave my bruder out of zhis!" The man shook his head.

"Nope!" Gilbert's eyes darted to the side, and he smirked.

"You know who I am. You know who Vest is. So, who told you? Not many people know." Rainbow raised an eyebrow in confusion.

"I have my orders. I just want the girl. Give me Loyalty!" Gilbert shook his head.

"Zhere's no one here vith zhat name. You have zhe wrong girl!"

"No...he doesn't..." Rainbow sighed as she stood. "Remember what I told you when we first met? That I worked for my queen as a spy of sorts? Well, my codename was Loyalty."

"Ray..."

"Ray?" The man said in surprise, "You mean you don't know? You don't know what the girl really is do you?"

"Stop making up lies und leave! Ray is just a human being!" Rainbow Dash's gaze dropped. She wasn't human. Heck, her blood was gold, and she had wings...not at the moment, but still.

"Not without Loy-" Gilbert, Rainbow and the man all heard the click of a gun. Gilbert smirked.

"Zhere's zhis zhing about mien bruder und I. Ve act as a perfect unit." During the converstaion, no one but Gilbert had taken notice of the fact that Ludwig had come down with a gun in his hand. The German was behind the intruder with the gun's barrel at the back of his head. The man held up his arms in defeat.

"Who are you vorking for?" Ludwig asked. The man smirked.

"Someone you might know," said the man, "But I have to leave. Been so much fun playing with you." The man laughed darkly. "By the way, Gilen and Lutz send their regards." Blue and red eyes widened at the mention of the names. The man waved his hand, and in a whirlwind of dark blue feathers, he was gone.

Prussia sat down next to Ray, who was addressing the wound she had received in the fight. Prussia looked at the golden liquid that seeped through the bandages.

"So...uh..." stuttered the Prussian, "Vhat's vith zhe blood?" Ray looked down at her arm.

"Medical condition," she said quickly, "Changes my blood color." Prussia nodded, but he knew Ray was lying. He had been around for a long time and knew if someone was lying or not. Prussia's red gaze fell on the ink on Ray's right arm. It was near her shoulder, which made Prussia wonder how he didn't notice it before. It was a white cloud with a tricolored lightning bolt striking out of it. The bolt was red, blue and yellow. Ray covered it with her hand when she noticed Prussia staring.

"You know it's rude to stare."

"How did I not notice you had a tattoo vhen ve met?" Ray shrugged as she secured the bandage around her forearm.

"I covered it up. That's why. This is the first time your seeing me without my t-shirt to cover it." Prussia nodded and looked around the room.

"So, do you know vhy zhat guy vas after you?" He asked. Ray gave him a look that said she was a bit surprised.

"I don't know," she answered, "but he used my codename. He called me Loyalty. He knows who I am."

"Anozher point, he also said zhat you veren't who you seemed to be. Care to explain, Mädchen?" Ray sighed and leaned back into the couch.

"Long story short, there are these really important and really powerful things back home that were stolen. He was probably one of the people that took them. My friends and I are the only ones who can use them. He was trying to get me in order to do whatever the hell he and his buddies werw going to do. Anyway, my friends called me Loyalty since I'm so friggin loyal. It's my dominant characteristic. Any more questions?" Prussia shook his head. Suddenly, Ray's eyes widened. "Oh my god. If they came after me, they're going to come after them too! I need to find them." Ray stood up and headed for the door. Prussia grabbed her arm, stopping her. Ray turned back with a fierce look in her eyes. "Gilbert. Let me go."

"Nien," the Prussian said immediately, "If vhat you said is true, zhen you'll be putting yourself in danger. You can't leave." Prussia let her go. Ray stood there with her arms crossed and her eyes on the ground.

"Then what can I do?" She sighed, "You and Ludwig will be gone tomorrow. I'll be alone. He's going to try to come back for me." Prussia knew she was right. Whatever Ray was, she was special and powerful. And if the 2Ps were involved...it wasn't good. That only left one choice.

"You're coming to zhe meeting vith Vest und I tomorrow," he said, "No buts."

"But won't your brother be angry?" Prussia shook his head hesitantly.

"Nien, I'll handle it. I don't vant my friend getting hurt." Ray smiled.

"Friend?" She repeated. Prussia nodded. "So...you promise not to let me get hurt?" Prussia drew and "X" over his heart.

"I solemnly svear zhat I, Gilbert Beilschmidt, vill keep you, Raleigh vhatever your last name is, safe from zhat veird guy. Now, you go back upstairs und sleep." Ray nodded and turned to head back up the stairs, but she stopped.

"Hey, Gil?" She asked. Prussia hummed in response. "He mention two people named Gilen and Lutz. You guys seemed surprised to hear those names. And what was he calling you? Preußen and Deutschland? What does that mean?" Prussia felt sweat roll down his face, and his skin turn paler than normal. Scheiße.

"Uh..." Prussia stuttered until Ray gave him a cold look. He sighed. "Ve know Lutz und Gilen. It's a long story, und I don't have time to explain it. Zhey basically hate us and our...friends. Zhey vant our positions in zhe U.N. cause I can't explain to you vhy. As for vhat ve vere being called...they're names. In German."

"What do they mean?"

"Not telling." Ray groaned and stuck out her tongue. "Just go to sleep, mein freund." She nodded and headed to her bedroom.

That night, Prussia and his younger brother had a long discussion about taking Ray to the meeting with them. In the end, Prussia won. After all, a promise was a promise. And breaking that promise would result with broken loyalty between him and Ray. Prussia did not want that to happen. He had finally found a human he could trust after about two hundred years.

A friendship formed between two in allegiance. The Spirit of Loyalty and the Kingdom of Prussia are now connected.

Happy Birthday to the Awesome Prussia!