Disclaimer: I don't own Hetalia or history.

Rome's Fall

Roman Empire was an excellent empire that felt pride from the achievements that the rest of Europe can't carry out and were rotting without the technology and society that's convoluted to them, at least that's what Rome and his citizen's thought. Rome was a great man, basking in the warm glow of the sun as he walked through his capital that he's pleased with. His government was running okay, his entertainment is distracting his citizens so they couldn't worry about the barbarians, so he was joyous for them to smile and watch at gladiator fights.

Rome was a little uncertain about the news of Germanic barbarians and slaves recruited into his military, since they're his enemy, but it wouldn't be bad for some new recruits, can it? Rome knew that one day his military must fight to keep this empire united with peace and joy, so he doubted that the legacy will die. His power amongst territory is immense, so the worry that resided in him eased a bit, but small amounts of doubt were not leaving so soon.

He was running. Running as fast as his stiff, scarred legs could manage. He held the hand of a whimpering little girl as they ran throughout the capital of Rome that's filled with deadly smoke and screams of his people. He wore his armor as he felt fire crackling around his feet, making him hiss as he felt tinder touching his soft flesh on his left foot. He felt tears in his eye as the smoke almost blinded him from the path out of Rome, trying to evade the rebellious barbarians that roared with rage and independence.

He questioned how it led to this; the rebellion of the slaves and angry men in the army, killing his people and razing his once powerful buildings. He wanted this to stop, he didn't want these people to kill innocents that had nothing to do with the predicament. They didn't even realize the barbarian problem because of the government, so their lives were naïve and pitiful, thrown aside for the freedom of these repulsive men.

He grabbed the body of the girl whom was almost seized violently by a leather-clothed barbarian, who bared teeth at Rome who started to run mercilessly, trying to calm down the crying girl on his back. He glanced desperately around the road he ran on, looking for a hiding place from the barbarian, because he didn't want the girl harmed or alone as he fought the evil-eyed man.

He noticed an old door sticking out from a building that was similar to an apartment, so he glanced back at the man who ran at him, punched him in his eyes to daze him, and ran for the door that was beckoning for him. He didn't look back as he wandered through the building, hiding the girl in a barrel as he heard the distant steps of the barbarian running away to find them elsewhere.

Rome sighed in relief as he took the girl, and ran outside to see clouds of smoke piling between each other as he felt millions of feet pounding on his roads, where he experienced dread as he ran away from the loud pounding on the roads behind him.

After everything he did, after everything he tried to achieve... he didn't save her. He was hopeless when the barbarians ambushed them, dividing them as he struggled when they raised one of their axes at the girl's neck. Rome closed his eyes when that axe went into contact with her nape, after the contact, a swift thud fell upon his ears. Vile and anger rose throughout his body, growling and screaming as he felt their axes trying to amputate him. He had to fight through the barrages of axes and wild men, his escape deadly at the beginning.

He felt hopeless as his old scars shown brightly through the new scars with blood and pain, making him wince while he stared at the collapsed and broken city of Rome, knowing his reign is dying fast. For a reason though, this event was different then the other dissolutions or collapses of old civilizations. No, he didn't fade, didn't see bright lights, didn't die yelling with agony by a spear through his chest. He was still alive, breathing deeply from the realization that even though his empire was falling apart, he was still breathing and living.

He grit his teeth at the realization, and felt hesitant to accept this new, cruel fate. He will still experience more tragedies. He won't die, then he will have to look at the story unfolding in front of him as history passes and goes. He felt miserable but happy, his emotions mixed with scars and was sticky from the blood of the barbarians. He was still existent, but had to hide from the barbarians who scoured his old capital for resources, then going their merry way to find more territories or villages to pillage or destroy. Even after they left, Rome felt guilty and stupid as he felt a reluctance to show himself in the world again. He hid away as he watched Europe and the rest of the world aging with blood and wisdom, more countries and civilizations forming with new memories of their history, and he felt sympathy for the countries that must go through what he went through.

But the most hardest decision to decide, was to let Italy and Romano go, watch them helplessly as they went through wars, battles, religions, and independence. Those two didn't need his help, they're grown up now, if you believe it or not. He felt sad as Italy's kicked around by the Franks, I mean France, the Holy Roman Empire, Spain, and other powers. He felt saddened at Romano's growing hatred and coldness to the world and him, making Rome cringe at some curse words that could actually make him faint. He wanted to see those two someday, it was hard for him not to see those bambinos he raised and cherished, but he felt guilty for not pampering or loving Romano, he was lonely throughout his developing years.

One day, Rome will see them again, and hug them with the force of the Roman legions. He will see them one day, he hoped for that moment. He will wait for that moment, and wait before the world dies. He misses them. He just wishes to see them.

A/N: Saw History CrashCourse's video of Rome, so I decided to learn more about Rome, and this little story came to mind.