Chapter 10
Rachel walked towards a large tree to find Eduard and Tino sleeping peacefully under it on a patch of grass. Tino snuggled up to Eduard in his sleep as Rachel neared them.
She lightly poked Eduard, "Hey wake up!" she whispered.
Eduard stretched and opened his eyes and flinched when he noticed Rachel right next to him, waking up Tino in alarm. They sighed when they saw who it was, "Please don't do that," Eduard said shakily.
"Have you guys seen Alfred?" Rachel asked.
"Wasn't he with you?" Tino asked.
"He was but now I can't find him, where is he?" she asked.
"Veeeee~!" a voice said. The three Leaders looked up to see Feli leaning on another tree, "You won't find him here; the Leader has returned home!" he said happily.
Rachel's eyes widened, "I can't believe it, he's gone back!" she said happily.
Eduard and Tino got up, "Gone back? What do you mean?" Eduard asked turning towards Feli, but the Italian was nowhere in sight. "What's going on here? Who's the Italian?" Eduard asked.
"Alfred's gone back to challenge Gilbert!" Rachel answered.
"Who?" Eduard asked,
"Gilbert," Rachel repeated, "Alfred's gone back to challenge him to take his place as America's Leader." She explained and Eduard and Tino nodded in understanding.
Meanwhile, Alfred was running back the way he came all those years ago. He didn't exactly know if he was going the right way, but he had a feeling he was going the right way. He ran all through the night and reached America's border by morning; but it didn't feel like morning.
The sky was covered in dark grey clouds, and the soil was bone dry. Every city he passed through was empty and all the buildings and houses were literally falling apart. He eventually reached a familiar sight.
Alfred walked over a hill and spotted his home. The large field that he and Rachel played in was now a barren patch of nothing. The paint of the Mansion was peeling, vines and ivy climbed the walls and many of the windows were broken and covered with torn rags. Alfred's horrified face slowly became a frown; Gilbert was going to pay for this.
"Alfred, wait!" a familiar voice called. He turned around to see Rachel running towards him.
She joined him on the hill and looked at the sight, "It's awful isn't it?" she asked.
"I didn't want to believe you," Alfred sighed.
"What made you come back?" she asked.
Alfred smiled, "I finally got some sense knocked into me, and I've got the bump to prove it," Alfred looked back towards his home, "Besides, this is my country. If I don't fight for it, then who will?" he asked.
"I will," Rachel said.
"It's gonna be dangerous," Alfred warned.
"Danger? Hah! The hero laughs at the face of danger! Ha ha ha ha!" Rachel said, quoting what Alfred said when they went to the old battle field.
"I don't see what's funny," A familiar Estonian voice said.
Alfred and Rachel turned around to see two familiar Leaders coming towards them, "Eduard, Tino, what are you doing here?" Alfred asked.
"We're here to help!" Tino said proudly.
Eduard looked over the hill in disgust, "We're gonna fight your uncle, for this?" he asked gesturing to the barren land.
Alfred nodded, "That's right, this is my home."
"Well, could use a little brightening up," Eduard muttered, then he sighed, "Well Alfred, if it's important to you, we'll help you in any way we can." He said.
Alfred smiled. They four Leaders snuck towards the Mansion and managed to get to the entrance to the back courtyard. Unfortunately, the place was littered with armed Soviets. Sure, most were sleeping, but a few were still awake and alert.
"I hate Soviets," Tino whimpered.
"So how are we supposed to get past them?" Eduard asked quietly.
"Live bait," Alfred answered shooting them both a look.
"What? You don't mean-" Eduard began,
"C'mon Eduard, you and Tino have to create a diversion." Alfred explained.
Tino frowned, "What should we do? Dress up and do the hula?" he asked, but he regretted saying that after seeing the look on Alfred and Rachel's faces.
A few moments later all the Soviet guards were awakened, by a ukulele playing. They looked outside the courtyard to see two Leaders wearing hula skirts and leis waving to them. Eduard and Tino screamed as the guards chased after them, while Alfred and Rachel slipped inside the courtyard.
They reached the back door of the house and Alfred turned to Rachel, "Rachel, you find Arthur and Kiku and rally the Leaders; I'll look for Gilbert." He said.
Rachel nodded and slipped inside the house. Alfred grabbed onto the thick ivy that climbed the walls of the ivy and climbed up to the roof. He crouched down and crawled slowly towards the front of the house where he saw Gilbert standing on the front balcony.
"Arthur Kirkland!" Gilbert yelled. Alfred froze and looked down as a crowd of Soviets parted for the Brit to walk towards the balcony. Alfred stared sadly at his former care-giver and brother; he seemed so cold and distant, he used to be so animated and colorful. Arthur walked through the crowd of growling Soviets and climbed the stairs to the balcony with his head held high. His uniform was dirty and he seemed much thinner.
"Yes Gilbert?" he asked, with his eyes closed, still standing tall.
"Vhy aren't you und ze ozers out hunting?" Gilbert demanded.
"Gilbert there is no food, all the animals have migrated to new land." Arthur answered.
Gilbert shook his head, "No, you're just not looking hard enough!" he said firmly.
Arthur opened his eyes, "It's over, there's nothing left," he repeated, "We only have one choice: we must leave America." He declared.
"Ve're not going anyvhere!" Gilbert said harshly.
Arthur frowned, "Then you have sentenced us all to death!"
"Zen so be it!" Gilbert hissed.
"You can't do that!" Arthur said his eyes wide with anger.
"I am ze Leader of three countries, I can do vhatever I please!" he said.
Arthur took a step towards Gilbert, "If you were half the Leader Ludwig was you would-"
"I am ten times the Leader Ludvig vas!" Gilbert yelled, his fist connecting with Arthur's jaw. Arthur was sent flying to the ground, the wind knocked out of him.
Alfred couldn't watch this anymore, "GILBERT!" he yelled standing on the roof.
Lightning flashed, revealing him to a startled Gilbert and the Soviets. Gilbert backed away as Alfred jumped from the roof to the balcony and knelt next to Arthur. He gently lifted his torso and cradled him in his arms while shooting a glare at Gilbert. Arthur let out a soft grunt before opening his eyes and looking up at the man holding him.
"Who…who are…?" he began to ask, causing the man to look at him.
He smiled, "Iggy, it's me." He said gently.
Arthur's eyes widened; only one person ever called him Iggy.
He looked into the man's blue eyes and saw the reflection of the little brother he thought he had lost eleven years ago, "A-Alfred? You're alive?" he asked as happiness swirled in his heart; happiness he hadn't felt in a long time.
"But…how is this possible?" he asked as Alfred helped him sit up.
"That doesn't matter, I'm here now." He said and gently embraced his brother. Arthur hugged Alfred tightly, tears of happiness falling down his cheeks.
Gilbert had just recognized the man as well and his eyes widened with a tinge of fear, "Alfred; I'm a little surprised to see you…alive." He said, shooting daggers at three certain Soviet Leaders who gulped and backed away.
Alfred got to his feet, "Give me one good reason why I shouldn't beat you to a pulp right now," he growled walking slowly towards his uncle.
Gilbert backed away, "Alfred, you must understand; ze pressures of leading a country like America-"
"Are no longer yours," Alfred finished, "Step down Gilbert."
Gilbert smiled, "Oh, I vould, but zere's vun problem…you see zem?" he asked, pointing up to a large band of Soviets looking out of the upper windows of the Mansion, guns at the ready and itching for a fight, "Zey zink I'm ze Leader."
"Well we don't," a voice said. Alfred and Gilbert looked around to see Rachel standing next to Kiku with all the other Leaders at the entrance to the balcony, "Alfred's the true Leader." Rachel declared as Yao and Elizabeta helped Arthur to his feet.
Alfred faced Gilbert, "The choice is yours Gilbert; either step down or fight." He said.
Gilbert sighed, "Must zis all end in violence?" he walked towards the other Leaders, "I'd hate to responsible for the death of a family member, wouldn't you agree?" he asked turning back to Alfred.
"That's not gonna work Gilbert, I've put it behind me." Alfred said.
Gilbert smiled, "Vhat about your little friends, have zey put it behind zem?" he asked as he faced the other Leaders.
"Alfred, what is he talking about?" Rachel asked.
Gilbert passed behind Alfred, "So you didn't tell zem your little secret," he walked between Alfred and the Leaders, "Vell, now's your chance to tell zem; who is responsible for Ludvig's death?" he asked.
The Leaders looked at the American in confusion as he took a step forward, "I am," he said.
The Leaders' eyes widened and Arthur walked towards Alfred, "It's not true," he said shaking his head. He put his hands on his brothers' shoulders; "Tell me it's not true!" he pleaded.
Alfred looked sadly at the Brit, "It's true," he said sadly.
"You see? He admits it! Murderer!" Gilbert hissed.
Arthur backed away as Gilbert began to circle Alfred who shook his head, "No, it was an accident!" he said.
"If it vasn't for you Ludvig vould still be alive; it's your fault he's dead! Do you deny it?" Gilbert asked harshly.
"No," Alfred said.
"Then you're guilty!" Gilbert declared.
Alfred began to back away, "No! I'm not a murderer!" he cried.
"Oh Alfred, you're in trouble again," Gilbert said as he and the Soviets walked towards him, causing Alfred to back away towards the railing of the balcony, "But zis time, your father isn't here to save you; and now everyvun knows vhy!" Gilbert yelled.
The shock caused Alfred to flip backwards over the railing, but he managed to grab it just in time. A bolt of lightning struck the front courtyard, causing all the dead grass to burst into flames.
"Alfred!" Rachel cried and tried to run to him, but Kiku held her back.
Alfred struggled to keep his grip and pull himself up as he felt heat beneath him and looked up at his uncle, "Now, zis looks familiar," Gilbert said putting his hand on his chin, "Where have I seen zis before…?" he wondered as he tried to place the memory.
Eventually, his eyes widened, "Oh yeah, this vas how your father looked before he died."
Alfred's grip loosened and he nearly fell, but Gilbert grabbed his wrists, "And here's my little secret," he leaned forward and whispered in Alfred's ear, "I killed Ludvig,"
Alfred's eyes widened as he remembered seeing his father fall to his death. It all made sense now; Gilbert had been trying to kill him from the start. Everything he told him was a lie! It was all lies!
"NOOOOOOOOO!" Alfred yelled, just like he did when his father fell to the stampede.
He launched himself over the railing and pinned Gilbert to the ground, "MURDERER!" he yelled causing the other Leaders to gasp in surprise.
"No, Alfred please-" Gilbert began.
"Tell them the truth!" Alfred said through gritted teeth. Gilbert started to protest but Alfred began to squeeze his throat. Oh, how he wanted to strangle the man right there, but he had to be cleared first.
"Alright!" Gilbert said hoarsely, "I did it," he whispered.
"So they can hear you," Alfred said fiercely.
Gilbert frowned, "I killed Ludvig!" he said loudly.
AN: LE GASP! IT'S FIGHTING TIME!
Hope you liked imagining Tino and Eduard dancing the hula!