Chapter 9
Tino and Eduard walked through a jungle path looking for food. "You check over here, you check there," Eduard said pointing.
Tino nodded and he noticed a little butterfly nearby. Without thinking, he followed the butterfly until he was well out of site of the path.
"I couldn't find anything, how about-" Eduard paused when he noticed the absence of his friend, "Tino?" he called, "Where could he have gone?" he wondered.
Tino followed the butterfly as it flew out of the trees and towards an open field with tall yellow grass. He was just about to follow it when he thought he heard something behind him.
He looked behind him, "Eduard?" he asked, but nothing was there.
Tino shrugged and walked out into the field where he saw the butterfly on the ground. He got on his hands and knees and crawled towards it, when something caught his eye. He spied a figure crouching in the grass looking right at him, ready to strike. It was a Leader! They had finally caught up to them! Tino screamed in horror and ran and the female Leader ran after him. Tino tore through the jungle with the woman hot on his tail.
"Tino?" Eduard wondered out loud as he heard the scream from the path. He heard more of his friends' cries for help and panic rose in his chest.
"Tino? Tino!" he cried as he ran towards the sounds.
He nearly ran into his friend who was now tangled in a patch of vines like a marionette.
"Tino! What's going on?" Eduard asked.
Tino grabbed his shirt with one hand and pointed behind him, "SHE'S GONNA KILL ME!" he screamed.
Eduard looked behind Tino and cried out in horror as the female Leader ran closer. Eduard began to tear at the vines holding Tino, but it was too late. The Leader jumped towards them, but Alfred jumped at her at the last minute making her skid to a stop in surprise.
The two Leaders circled each other, throwing punches, scratches and kicks left and right. Eduard felt relief flood over him and he tried to comfort his tangled friend, "Don't worry Tino, everything will be okay." He said as Tino tried to look at what was happening.
"Get her! Go for the head!" Eduard cried as Alfred continued to fight.
Finally, Alfred tackled the woman. They tumbled for a bit until the woman pinned down Alfred. Alfred's eyes widened; only one person could pin him down like that.
He looked at the woman's face and realization and familiarity sunk in, "Rachel?" he asked.
The woman's eyes widened. She got off him and they both got up, looking into each other's eyes. "Is it really you Rachel?" Alfred asked.
"Who are you?" the woman asked frowning.
"It's me, Alfred." He said.
The woman flinched and squinted at Alfred, "Alfred?" she asked.
Alfred nodded, and the woman slowly smiled widely.
"Alfred!" she cried.
"Rachel!" Alfred cried as they flew into each other's arms. They broke apart and held each other's hands, flooding each other with questions, with a confused Eduard and Tino watching in the back.
"How did you..?" Alfred and Rachel asked almost at the same time.
"Dude, this is…like…WOW!" Alfred cried.
"Where did you come from?" Rachel asked.
"This is…It's so great to see you!" Alfred said.
"It's great to see you!" Rachel said back.
Eduard walked towards them as Tino began to break free from the vines, "What's going on here?" he asked but the two friends didn't hear him.
"What are you doing here?" Alfred asked,
"What do you mean 'what am I doing here'? What are you doing here?" Rachel asked.
"HEY! What's going on here?" Eduard yelled.
"Eduard, this is Rachel, she's my best friend!" Alfred exclaimed.
"Friend?" Eduard asked in shock.
Alfred nodded, "Hey Tino! C'mere!" he said just as Tino managed to break free from the vines. "Rachel, this is Tino; Tino, Rachel" Alfred said.
"Pleased to meet you," Tino said holding out his hand, completely forgetting that she had just tried to kill him.
"The pleasure's all mine." Rachel said shaking his hand.
"Wait! Let me get this straight," Eduard said breaking them apart, "You know her, she knows you, but she wants to kill him," he said gesturing to Tino, "and everyone's okay with that? DID I MISS SOMETHING?" he yelled.
"Dude, relax!" Alfred said placing a hand on his shoulder.
"Wait until everyone finds out that you've been here all this time!" Rachel exclaimed and her eyes widened as she thought of something else, "And Arthur! What will he think?" she wondered out loud.
Alfred's eyes widened at the name of his care-giver, "He doesn't have to know, no one has to know." He said quickly.
Rachel smiled, "Of course they do! Everyone thinks you're dead!"
"They do?" Alfred asked.
Rachel nodded and looked at the ground, "Gilbert told us about the stampede," she said.
"He did? What else did he tell you?" Alfred asked hesitantly.
"Who cares; you're alive!" Rachel said, "And that means…you're America's Leader!"
Eduard and Tino's eyes widened, "Leader? Of America?" Eduard asked in disbelief.
"Is that true?" Tino asked.
"No," Alfred answered.
"Alfred!" Rachel said, but Alfred shook his head,
"No, I'm not the Leader. Maybe I was gonna be, but that was a long time ago."
"Let me get this straight; you're a Leader and you never told us?" Eduard asked.
"Hey, I'm still the same dude," Alfred said.
"But with power!" Tino said.
"Could you excuse us for a few minutes?" Rachel asked politely.
"Hey, whatever she has to say, she can say in front of us, right Alfred?" Eduard asked.
Alfred smiled apologetically, "Maybe you'd better go," he said. Eduard gaped for a second before leading Tino away.
"Eduard and Tino, you learn to love them." Alfred said once they were out of sight, but Rachel didn't answer.
Alfred walked over to her, "Hey, what's wrong?" he asked.
"It's like you're back from the dead," Rachel sighed, "You have no idea what this will mean to everyone…what it means to me."
Alfred smiled and put a hand on her shoulder, "Hey, its okay dude,"
"I've really missed you," Rachel said wrapping her arms around him,
"I've missed you too," Alfred said hugging her back.
Eduard and Tino watched from a nearby bush, "This stinks," Eduard said.
"What does?" Tino asked.
Eduard sighed as Alfred and Rachel began to walk away, "Think about it; him, her, alone." He said simply. Tino frowned, "What's wrong with that?"
E: I can see what's happening,
T: What?
E: And they don't have a clue.
T: Who?
E: They'll fall in love and here's the bottom line, our trio's down to two.
T: Oh…
E: the sweet caress of twilight, there's magic everywhere, and with all this romantic atmosphere, disasters' in the air!
All: Can you feel the love tonight? The peace the evening brings? The world for once, in perfect harmony, with all its living things.
A: So many things to tell her, but how to make her see? The truth about my past? Impossible; she'd turn away from me.
R: He's holding back, he's hiding; at what I can't decide. Why won't he be the king I know he is, the king I see inside?
Both: Can you feel the love tonight? The peace the evening brings? The world for once, in perfect harmony, with all its living things.
(Musical Interlude)
A&R: Can you feel the love tonight? (Rachel reaches up and kisses Alfred's cheek) You needn't look too far. (The two get closer to each other, staring into each other's eyes) Stealing through the night's uncertainties, love is where we are (They wrap their arms around each other tightly).
R: And if he feels the love tonight in the way I do. (Rachel pulls away and turns away from Alfred with her hand over her heart)
A: It's enough for this restless wonderer, (Alfred walks over to her and takes her hands)
Both: Just to be with you. (The two hug each other gently)
Alfred and Rachel walked through the jungle as night began to fall, holding each other's hands. "Isn't this place great?" Alfred asked.
Rachel nodded, "It is beautiful," she agreed. "But I don't understand something. You've been alive all this time…why didn't you come back to America?" she asked.
Alfred paused and went over to a log, "Well, I just had to get out on my own; live my own life," he said as he sat on the log smiling, "So I did, and it's great!"
Rachel sighed, "We've really needed you at home,"
Alfred snorted, "No one needs me," he said.
"Yes, we do! You're the Leader!" Rachel said.
"Rachel, we've been over this, I'm not the Leader; Gilbert is." Alfred said.
Rachel sat down next to Alfred, "Alfred, he let the Soviets take over America,"
"What?" Alfred asked his eyes widening.
Rachel frowned and looked at the ground as she remembered the suffering of her friends, "Everything's destroyed! You know only the true Leader of a country can bring prosperity to their nation. There's no food, no water, no money; he's slowly taking over other countries and he closed off America's borders so the other Leaders can't go and check on their countries. Alfred, if you don't do something everyone in the world could die!" Rachel explained.
Alfred looked away, "I can't go back," he said.
"Why?" Rachel asked.
Alfred got up, "You wouldn't understand," he muttered.
"What wouldn't I understand?" Rachel asked firmly, slightly hurt that her friend didn't trust her.
Alfred shook his head, "No, it doesn't matter; hakuna matata." He said.
"What?" Rachel asked squinting.
"Hakuna matata," Alfred repeated, "It's something I learned here; look sometimes bad things happen,"
"Alfred!" Rachel exclaimed.
"And there's nothing you can do about it, so why worry?" Alfred finished.
"Because it's your responsibility!" Rachel answered.
Alfred frowned, "And what about you? You just left?" he asked.
"I left to find help, and I found you! Remember Roderich, the Leader of Austria? Gilbert has him chained up is torturing him so Elizabeta will agree to merge Hungary and Prussia!" Rachel cried.
Alfred looked at the ground; he remembered Roderich, even though he didn't know him very well. He was strict and usually got grumpy when Alfred was around as a boy, but Alfred loved to sit next to him and listen to him play the piano. To think of both Roderich and Elizabeta falling under Gilbert's rule made him realize how powerful his uncle had become.
He remembered when he was a boy; he was peeking into Roderich's room. He had heard music and wanted to find the source. He looked in the room and saw the Austrian Leader playing Chopin on the piano.
Alfred flinched as Roderich saw him; but instead of telling him to leave he said, "Why don't you sit next to me so can listen properly?"
Alfred walked slowly into the room and Roderich lifted him up and sat in the bench next to him. Alfred watched Roderich's fingers dance along the keys as the music swept him away. After that day, whenever he and Rachel got the chance, they would sit and listen to Roderich's beautiful music.
"Don't you understand? You're our only hope!" Rachel said, snapping Alfred out of his daydream.
"Sorry," Alfred said plainly.
"What's happened to you?" Rachel asked, "You're not the Alfred I remember."
Alfred frowned, "You're right, I'm not. Now are you satisfied?" he asked coldly.
"No; just disappointed." Rachel answered with just as much coldness.
"You know you're starting to sound like my father," Alfred scoffed and began to walk away.
"Good, at least one of us does." Rachel replied bitterly.
Alfred stopped in his tracks and turned back to Rachel with gritted teeth, "Look, if you think you can just show up and tell me how to live my life; you don't even know what I've been through!" he yelled.
"I would if you would just tell me!" Rachel yelled back.
"Forget it!"
"Fine!" And the two Leaders stormed off in opposite directions.
Alfred walked into an open field and began to pace, "She's wrong; I can't go back!" he said running a hand through his hair,
"Besides, what would it prove? It won't change anything! You can't change the past…" he trailed off as he remembered that day and he looked at the stars, "You said you would always be there for me!" he yelled, "But you're not…and it's because of me."
"It's my fault." He repeated sadly to the ground. Gilbert's words had still haunted him for all these years. Just then, the sound of singing could be heard in the distance. Alfred looked over his shoulder and spied an Italian man with a long curl in his hair singing on a tree branch nearby,
"Draw a circle that's the earth, draw a circle that's the earth, draw a circle that's the earth, I am Hetalia!"
Alfred rolled his eyes and walked further into the field. Feliciano jumped down from the branch and watched happily as Alfred walked away. The American crossed a log spanning a small river. He sat down and stared sadly at his reflection; that is until a pebble splashed into the water. Alfred's head snapped up to see the Italian man still singing the song in the branch of another tree,
"Ah! The world around us can be seen through the stroke of a single brush!"
Alfred rolled his eyes, "Would you cut that out?" he asked sharply as he began to walk back to the field.
Feli jumped down and picked up a long stick about half his size with a white flag tied onto it, "I can't, it'll come right back!" he joked and followed him.
"Creepy Italian dude," Alfred muttered and Feli jumped right in front of him.
"Would you stop following me? Who are you?" Alfred asked with an annoyed tone.
"The question is, who are you, ve~?" Feli answered.
Alfred opened his mouth to say something, but he stopped himself, "I thought I knew, but now I'm not so sure." He said looking at the ground.
"Ve~! Well I know who are; come closer, it's a secret!" Feli said leaning into Alfred's ear, "Sei italiano e non sto!" he whispered and walked away laughing and waving his white flag.
Alfred shook his head and growled, "Dude, what's that even supposed to mean?"
Feli turned back to him, "It means you're Italian…and I'm not." he said with a goofy smile.
Alfred began to walk away, "I think you might be a little confused," he said starting to question the Italian's sanity.
He had only walked a few inches before Feli magically appeared in front of him, "Ve~!" he said jabbing his index finger into Alfred's chest, " I'm not the one who's confused; you don't even know who you are!" he pointed out.
Alfred pushed Feliciano's finger away, "And I suppose you do?" he asked sarcastically and started to walk again.
"Ve~! Of course I do; you're Ludwig's boy!" Feli said happily.
Alfred stopped in his tracks and whirled around. Feli waved and ran off with his white flag over his shoulder.
"Hey, wait!" Alfred called and ran after him. He ran for a few minutes before he found Feli sitting on a boulder waiting for him.
"You knew my father?" Alfred panted, and Feli shook his head, "No, I know your father!"
Alfred tensed up; Feli must think that he was still alive. "I hate to tell you this…but he...died a long time ago." Alfred said slowly.
"Nope! Wrong again! Veee~!" Feli said running towards a dark patch of trees, "He's alive! C'mon, I'll show you!" he said motioning for his to follow.
Alfred ran after Feli through the dark trees; it was hard to keep up. Did all Italians run this fast? Finally, Feli stopped suddenly and held up his hand. Alfred skidded to a stop and Feli put a finger to his lips. He motioned towards a pit with his flag that seemed to be shining in the moonlight. Alfred slowly walked over, got onto his knees and peered into a pool of clear water, his reflection greeting him.
"That's not my father. It's just my reflection," he sighed.
Feli shook his head, "No, look harder," he said directing Alfred's head back to the water. Feli lightly touched the water with his index finger causing the water to ripple around Alfred's reflection.
Alfred's eyes widened as the reflection of Ludwig replaced his own, "He lives in you." Feli said.
Alfred stared at his father's reflection until a loud but gentle voice was heard, "Alfred…" it said.
Alfred looked up into the sky; he knew that voice. "Father…?" he asked.
Large clouds rolled in the sky towards him and a large space in the middle took the form of a man walking towards him.
The figure stopped and the features of Ludwig slowly appeared, "Alfred, you have forgotten me." Ludwig said sadly.
Alfred got to his feet and shook his head, "No, how could I?" he asked.
"You have forgotten who you are, and so forgotten me," Ludwig answered as light slowly to color his features,
"Look inside yourself Alfred; you are more than what you have become," Ludwig said and his face became serious, "You must take your place as America's Leader." He said.
"How can I go back?" Alfred asked, "I'm not who I used to be."
By now, the light had revealed Ludwig's true spirit as the clouds circled around him with strong winds blowing, "Remember who you are," Ludwig answered, "You are my son, and the one true Leader of America."
Alfred stared at his father until Ludwig started to disappear into the clouds, "Remember who you are…" Ludwig said as he disappeared slowly into the clouds.
"No! Please, don't leave me!" Alfred called as he ran towards the receding clouds, "Father!" he called.
"Remember…" Ludwig's voice echoed as the clouds completely vanished,
"Don't leave me…" Alfred trailed off as he slowed to a stop.
"Remember…" the voice carried on the gentle night breeze.
Alfred stared at the sky as Feliciano walked up next to him, "Veee~! What was that? Strange weather tonight ve~?" he asked.
"Yeah, it feels like the wind is changing," Alfred agreed as he thought about what his father had just told him.
Feli nodded, "Change is good," he said.
"Yeah, but it's not easy," Alfred agreed, "I know what I have to do but…going back means I'll have to face my past. I've been running from it for so long-"
Whack!
Feli hit Alfred's head hard with his white flag causing Alfred to yelp in pain, "Dude! What was that for?" he asked rubbing his head.
Feli shrugged, "Who cares? It's in the past!" he laughed.
"Yeah, but it still hurts," he said checking his hand for blood.
"Ve~, the past can hurt," Feli said nodding, "But if you ask me, you can either run from or learn from it," he swung his flag at Alfred's head again, but this time he ducked just in time.
"Vee~! You see?" Feli cried in delight, "So what are you going to do?" he asked.
Alfred paused, "First…I'm gonna take your flag!" he said and snatched it out of the Italian's hand and threw it a few feet away, "No no no! Not my flag!" Feli cried and ran after it.
He picked it up and turned to see Alfred running across the field, "Wait! Where are you going?" Feli called.
Alfred turned his head still running, "I'm going back!" he yelled.
A big smile grew across Feli's face, "Yes! Go back home Alfred!" he yelled after him. "VEEEEEEEEEE~!" he cried raising his white flag in victory; his job was almost done.
AN: YAY! Reunions and people appearing in clouds! This proves that even derpy Italy can knock some sense into somebody! We'er going home to face the evil Gilbert! :D