Rusting Iron
It was only years after the dreaded World War II, and the world caught in a state of tension. Everywhere, countries are grouped in Eastern Bloc and Western Bloc, or Non-Aligned for others. Germany was one such country, and his brother was held by an old foe.
It was in the crumbling pieces of Germany's house, as it was ravaged by the ills of war. However, inside a bunker underground, Germany knelt down there and despaired. Before his eyes, it was the bleeding body of his "boss" and his lover. Next to him, Prussia patted on his shoulder.
"That idiot… to think he actually did it," Prussia said, "what an un-cool coward."
"Prussia, what should we do now?" Germany asked, "Italy has surrendered for good, and Japan is attacked by America. We've lost…"
"West, don't say that," Prussia said, "I will hold Russia off, while you get to the Allies before Russia gets you."
Prussia grabbed a sword and unsheathed it at once. He turned behind and smiled at Germany one last time, before setting out. The last he saw of Prussia was him fighting against the silhouette of Russia and his faucet pipe. While Prussia valiantly fought off against the Reds, Russia swung his pipe at him and his Iron Cross dropped.
"No…" Germany exclaimed.
But as Germany ran out of the bunker, a gunshot injured his leg and he fell to the ground. To his surprise, Prussia was the one to fire that shot.
"Prussia…" Germany cried, "Why?"
But Prussia remained silent as he walked towards Germany with his pistol still held on. He just pushed the trigger and…
"AHHHHH!" yelled Germany.
He then only realised it was only a dream. Germany was still in bed of his own house. He frantically opened up his drawer to find an old box. He opened it up, and saw the two Iron Crosses there.
"Prussia…" he murmured.
Meanwhile, Prussia was fighting against Russia and his faucet pipe. The fight itself had been long and hard, but the blow that dropped his Iron Cross was too much and Prussia fell in defeat.
"Old Fritz, I've failed you…" Prussia said, "Kill me anyway you wish, Ivan Braginski."
"And we had so much fun in the good old days," Russia claimed, "come on, join Mother Russia…"
"Like Hell I will…" Prussia cried.
"If you don't, my men will continue the search for your little brother," Russia stated, "you do want your brother's safety?"
"You drive a hard bargain…" Prussia said, "But I have no other choice…"
"AHH!" exclaimed Prussia, as he bolted awake.
Prussia was in a ruined state since the end of the World War, captured as Russia's personal trophy. Soon, he was forced to become a puppet state of Russia under the Warsaw Pact. Day by day, he was made to do jobs that earned him no profit. Thus, he must rely on Russia on his own survival.
To such ends, Prussia must labour night and day. Apparently, he fell asleep while washing some dirty dishes on the laundry. As he was too poor, they had to be done by hand and since Russia preferred it done by hand. Due to poverty issues, Prussia resorted to a tattered black jacket with a singlet underneath. He also wore a hat and scarf, along with old boots.
Prussia looked up on a nearby wall, gazing at the German tricolour with the hammer-and-compass insignia. He looked down on the ground, and saw the tattered remains of the Old Prussian flag he once waved proudly.
"I used to rule the world; seas would rise when I gave the word…" Prussia sang slowly while continuing to clean up, "… now in the morning, I sleep alone, sweep the streets I used to own…"
Meanwhile, Germany went about drinking his troubles away with some decent beer in a neighbourhood bar. Italy Veneziano was seated next to him, along with Austria on the other end.
"I'm having those nightmares of Prussia again," Germany said, "he was shooting me and…"
"Don't be absurd, you're his heir," Austria pointed out, "he sacrificed himself so that you will not be conquered by Russia."
"I wish I have great brothers like yours, Deutsch," Veneziano said.
"At least you are united with them," Germany said, "I wish I could see him, but that stupid Berlin Wall that Russia erected."
"But believe in your reunion," Veneziano said, "and Prussia is a nice guy, helping me to get back with my brothers. I'm sure he won't kill you."
In 1989 A.D., a startling movement sprung up in Poland. Solitary, a non-government entity, had taken the entire nation by storm. Russia opted to give no further aid to the Warsaw Pact allies, by order of the new management. In the end, Poland was officially freed from Communist rule.
Prussia had few possessions with him, but travelled mainly on an old bicycle to Russia's place. He was returning home with a sack of old coats to be washed by the next day, passing by Poland's home along the way.
"Hey, Prussia!" Poland cried out, "It's like totally awesome to see ya here!"
"The awesome me has no time to talk to you," Prussia said.
"Don't you seriously get cranky over Russia pwning you," Poland said, "this is totally like the best time to free yourself from that guy."
"Remember Tiananmen Incident," Prussia said, "I'm not bulging at all."
Poland frowned and sighed, and then he jumped up from his house to confront Prussia directly.
"Now that's just un-cool," Poland exclaimed, "where's that fire in you?"
"It extinguished when the Russian winter came in," Prussia said, "I'm just a black eagle, not a blasted phoenix."
"If you sit here and idle about, you won't accomplish great things," Poland said, "weren't you just a wandering knighthood once, before you make it as a true country?"
"That was the past, my future is bleak," Prussia said, "I can only pray Gott for West's safety."
"You… clinging so much onto that country," Poland noted, "he's that important to you!"
"You don't have brothers, you'll never know how it feels," Prussia said, "Konigsberg… no, Kaliningrad, has forgotten his German soul already. I can only save my other brother, the legacy of the First Reich."
Later on, Prussia was strolling under the night sky on his bike. Then, he noticed that Hungary was walking towards a border fence, separating her and the Austrian lands. Hungary looked around and she opened up the barrier, where Austria had waited.
"Hungary, you're on time as always," Austria said.
"OMG, they're secretly meeting each other…" Prussia cried out.
"Who's there?" Hungary yelled back, and pulled out her bow-and-arrow.
Hungary shot out her arrows and they pressed Prussia to a wall, with the arrows piercing his jacket.
"It's you, Prussia," Hungary said.
"Yah and I caught you two lovebirds red-handed," Prussia said, "whose side are you on, Hungary?"
"Neither, I follow only myself," Hungary replied, "and I will still see Austria nonetheless. I even have the approval; Hungary shall now open her borders with Austria."
"Thought that you stupid aristocrat was mad at Hungary's failure to protect you back in World War I," Prussia said.
"I was, but I felt lonely during the Interbellum," Austria admitted, "when Hungary joined the Axis while I came under Germany's place, I knew what I must do."
"And you two kiss and make up…" Prussia butted in, "or did you two make out… or go to a cheap motel and do…"
"Shut up, or else you can taste gunpowder," Hungary said, while pulling out a pistol.
"Okay okay, let me go," Prussia said, "I won't tease you two."
"Now that the borders are open, I can easily travel to Hungary with ease," Austria said, "and Prussia, I was hoping to get this message through."
"Huh, what message?" Prussia wondered.
"It's your brother, he's worried sick about you," Austria said, "last night, he was sulking over you again."
"West will be fine," Prussia said, "I'm sure of it."
"Say we will be holding a Pan-European Picnic soon," Hungary suggested, "best time for you two brothers to reconcile."
"I said NO!" Prussia yelled, "I gave myself up so that West has a new lease on life. His attachment to me will be his undoing. It's in his best interests if he forgets about me…"
"You think I do not care about Germany's interests!" Austria yelled, "I will make it well and clear! He joined NATO not to fight you or claim revenge on Russia, he just wanted to rescue you self-pitying bastard! You think I'm stupid! I FREAKING KNOW THAT GERMANY IS THE HOLY ROMAN EMPIRE, THE SAME ONE I RAISED BEFORE!"
"If you do… then why you never reclaim him back?" Prussia asked, "You could've won the favour of Bavaria, Württemberg and the others and claim dominance over Germany."
"I only kept Holy Roman Empire to secure a place among the Germanics; a means for one to attain power," Austria admitted, "I now have Hungary, a person I truly care for. You love Germany as a brother, and I cannot stand you making the both of you suffer so."
Prussia was speechless, but he managed to pull the arrows off his clothes. He went the other side and strolled back to his house.
"You don't know Russia when he gets angry, I felt his wrath on us Germans," Prussia stated, "I don't want West to go through the same."
"You Germans are all the same," Hungary said, "downright stubborn."
During these troubling times, America had a new boss who demanded the fall of the Iron Curtain so badly. As a result, America frequently entered German lands to give mass rallies on the topic as the Congress decided on.
Another mass rally was staged in West Berlin, near where the Berlin Wall was erected years ago. America wore a black business suit with formal tie for the rally, keeping a megaphone to project his voice. His rally literally brought in NATO allies and non-Warsaw Pact nations in Europe together. Among these guests were France, England, Turkey, Greece and many others.
"Free nations of the world, I represent the American Congress to speak before this Iron Curtain splitting the East and West," America cried out, "I dare you Russia or anyone else to tear down this Berlin Wall, as we had said two years before!"
"Look at how America says his lines so well…" France said, "You think it's for real…"
"No bloody way," England answered, "it must be a script that old fart Reagan had given him, so that he won't screw up. Just look behind us at the Wall."
As France turned back, he saw the startling truth behind America's speech. There were a crew there at the wall, holding placards. There was even a man to direct the words to be spoken.
"…Ok…" France commented, "I see your point."
"We would like to extend our joy for Poland freed from the Soviet Hammer!" America said, "And Hungary for her efforts to pierce a hole in this Iron Curtain!"
"Soviet Hammer…" France laughed, "How corny can he get? Reagan is really an actor…"
"What you make of this, Hong Kong?" England asked.
However, the Sinic man beside England in a black suit with red tie made no comment and simply stared blankly.
"Should be good lines for some TVB programmes," England then said, "you can try taking them down in case of writers' block."
"Oi, you two stop talking trash!" Germany yelled at them from behind, "some people are listening here."
And then, the two nations were forced to shut up as Germany stood behind them.
"Hong Kong, do something…" England whispered.
Hong Kong was a young man dressed in a business suit, but with a red bowtie. He turned to look at England, but turned back to face America.
"So, I call out to the masses beyond this wall from East Berlin to Moscow and the ends of Siberia!" America declared, "Tear down this wall! Let the people meet their friends and family once more!"
Beyond the Berlin Wall, thousands of East Berliners had assembled there to hear on the speech. However, Prussia himself was scrubbing old socks a distance away and was drowned by America's voice.
"Russia was correct," Prussia commented, "America is just a child who gets on everyone's nerves. He does not know the true meaning of being a nation."
But then his mind trailed off to his past…to the times of the old Crusades…
In the days of the Crusades, the Europeans marched across the deserts and into the vital region of Jerusalem under Muslim rule. Though met with initial success, the Crusades began to fail and such was the Order of House of St. Maria of the Germans in Jerusalem… or the St. Maria Order.
After the Fifth Crusade ending in Muslim victory, the Crusader knights of the St. Maria Order retreated back to Europe. Leading those knights, it was Grand Master Hermann von Salza. He carried a young Prussia, then as the Teutonic State himself.
"Hermann, those infidels have retaken Jerusalem again," the Teutonic Order said, "now what should we do?"
"When one opportunity seals itself, another opens before your eyes," Hermann proclaimed, "I have accepted a proposal from Konrad of Masovia. He wants us to go to Prussia and rid it of the pagans."
"But after that… what if the pagans… or the Poles try to chase us away too?" Teutonic State asked.
"Ha ha, they will not," Hermann reassured, "I shall make you a true nation, where no one shall throw you out. If I were not successful, then my heirs shall follow this legacy."
"And so you did make me a country in the end," Prussia recounted, "we killed Old Prussia and even took its name for our own. But still…"
Then, Prussia went further… when he was still the Kingdom of Prussia.
King Frederick William I had passed on, a man who championed a militarised Prussia. This legacy would only be continued to a new low with a new king… Frederick II.
On Frederick II's coronation ceremony, Prussia was his usual black coats and standing by the corner. Seated on the King's throne, it was his new boss, a man called Frederick.
"I thank everyone gathered here for their support of the House of Hohenzollern and for my ascension to kingship," Frederick declared, "However, I wish to say a word to a certain someone."
Frederick simply left his throne and walked among his subjects. Then, he stopped before Prussia in the corner and knelt before him.
"My king!" exclaimed Prussia, "please get up!"
"No, I may be enthroned as a King, but I know that I am only a servant to the state," Frederick said, "thus, I live and bear the title of King to serve the interests of Prussia and you alone."
The young King held out Prussia's hand and kissed it.
"You…" Prussia remarked.
"Prussia, our lands are disconnected and under the rule of the incompetent Habsburgs," Frederick said, "we should not be under the foot of those weaker than us, am I correct?"
"Yes…" Prussia answered.
"Let's fight for the glory of the Vatherland and our forefathers," Frederick said.
"Roger," Prussia answered, "and what may I call you?"
"Frederick is my name," he answered back, "but you may call me Old Fritz."
"Sorry OldFritz, I had failed you," Prussia cried, with tears pouring in with his soapy water, "I listened to a wrong leader and failed the German state you dreamt of. I always had taunted others for weakness… but am I now the weak one?"
"Now that's not Prussia…" a voice in his head spoke.
"Hungary?" Prussia exclaimed, "No, That must be my hallucinations."
"The Prussia I knew was perhaps the most arrogant and most unruly guy I ever knew," the Hungary voice said, "but he was also a man who never despairs in face of a crisis, a brother to me. He bows to no one, not even God."
"Elizabeta…" Prussia said, "Right, I can't give in to that sadist's demands. I never gave in anyone, especially not to that Slavic sadist! I will revolt!"
Near the Berlin Wall, loud cries of America's speech boomed through the concrete walls. Prussia stood before this wall, along with thousands of Eat Berliners. However, Prussia came with a plan, and a pickaxe and boom mic.
"People of East Berlin, hear the most awesome me now!" Prussia cried out, "We are our own masters of our destiny, not some pitiful dog of the Soviets! We are first and foremost Germans, and will fight to be with the Vatherland beyond that wall! Onward Germans!"
Prussia himself dashed towards the wall with his pickaxe, but several guards were trying to stop him.
"Comrade Prussia, we inform you that you are still a member of the Warsaw Pact," one of them said, "and you have obligations for its interests first and…"
But then, a frying pan hurled and hit the guard in the face. From behind the crowd, both Hungary and Poland rode in on their horses to aid Prussia.
"Guess we totally came in time for the party," Poland said.
"Prussia, I will hit you later," Hungary said, "but for now, tear down this damned wall. You are after all Prussia."
"Roger…" Prussia replied.
He stopped before the dreaded wall built to separate the world. With one forceful stroke, Prussia cracked apart the first pebble of the Berlin Wall. One by one, he began to chip off the wall. Soon, the East Berliners had gathered to chip off the wall as well.
On the Western half of Berlin, America had taken a break involving a sip of a Large Coke. Germany had his back lying on the Berlin Wall in thinking, but some noises were disturbing his thoughts.
"Damn that infernal racking!" Germany exclaimed, "I can't think straight."
"People of East Berlin, let's push onward under the word of the awesome me!" Prussia yelled from East Berlin.
"That voice… and that annoying arrogance… there's no mistaking…" Germany exclaimed, "That's Prussia on the other side and he's coming in!"
America held on to his handphone as he dialled to the White House.
"Mr President, they are really tearing down the wall," he said, "this is not going according to your script."
"Hey guys, help me over here!" Germany cried as he stuffed a machine gun into the Wall and fired on it.
"My friend, that will not do," Turkey called out, "I will help you as my long-time friend."
Turkey rushed to the wall, and punched through the concrete. It managed to crack part of it, but Greece pushed Turkey's whole body into wall for further impact.
"I thought that could help break down this barrier faster…" Greece commented, "…and I get to hurt Turkey even more."
Turkey was imprinted onto the Wall; the force of impact had cracked the wall eve more and broke a hole in it. On the other side, Prussia and the East Berliners were seen and dashed out to meet their Western brothers. Seeing the silver-haired brother, even Germany ran over.
"Bruder!" cried Germany, "I had missed you!"
"West, the awesome me is home at last!" Prussia cried at the top of his voice.
Prussia and Germany met over the Western half of Berlin, along with the hundreds of citizens. The other Germanics and nations all stood behind the two, while Turkey, Poland and Hungary looked from the other side.
"Did that commie psychopath do anything to you?" Germany asked, "Had you eaten well?"
"C'mon West, your big bruder has faced the likes of Muslim hordes and Pagans armies before. That commie can't break me," Prussia reassured, "but oh man, I do feel the cold up there. Nice to be back home with mein bruders."
"Let's celebrate your return and the reunification of Germany!" Germany proclaimed, "how about I bake some Berliners, and beer for all!"
"Yes!" cried the other Germanic offspring and Austria.
"A revitalised Germany… it'll be the World War all over again!" England cried, "Those fools in Moscow have lost it! We told them specifically not to let Prussia reunite, and now this!"
"England, just clap for the happy family," France said, "the deed is done anyway, and we should make the best out of it… like an economy agreement."
"You… if Germany attacks again, you'll be sorry," England replied.
The Kremlin is known as the Palace of Russia's royalty and leaders. It's of no surprise that Russia himself had the right to reside in such sacred ground. Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia looked at Russia, who was on his desk and the three nations trembled at his presence. Belarus was hugging at Russia's feet in meanwhile.
"Hmm, Prussia has left me…" Russia said, "…and for his brothers whom I snatched him away from. Is this true?"
"Your a-a-allies in Bulgaria ha-has co-confirmed i-it-it," Lithuania said while being scared, "it-it's being broadcasted wor-world-wide…"
"Everyone's leaving me…" Russia lamented, "Will you guys leave me also?"
"No no, of course not!" Estonia answered frantically, "don't worry too much…"
"Big brother, I will always be by your way," Belarus said, while embracing her brother, "how about a marriage to seal our union?"
In Germany's house, a large party in celebration of the Reunification was underway. Even in all the festivities, Prussia was quietly writing in his diary of the day's happenings.
Dear Diary,
I was so cool today; I managed to crush down that fucking Berlin Wall. I still have that old strength since the Crusades I guess. Ha ha, now I am at West's place and chilling out the welcoming party I have here.
Since I am no longer an actual nation, I have all the free time I get. I am thinking of chilling out with the Italy brothers in Sardinia; heard from West that Italy's summer is great for holidays. Maybe then I can terrorise that Austro-aristocrat for fun, and dig dirt on him and that girlfriend of his. So many plans, but I got the time.
I would like to share more of my awesomeness to you, but I have a party to attend to. West is baking Berliners and cake, Austria is playing piano, and I'll be teasing everyone there!
Prussia then sealed his diary and walked out of the study, to enjoy his party.