Turning Point

At the height of World War II, things were moving more in favour of the Allies. The prospect of eliminating Italy from the Axis Powers proved to be too good to resist and an Allied invasion was mounted in Sicily. Since then, Italy was in the crossroads of Destiny.

It was nightfall in the Italian island of Sicily. Both Germany and Italy were making s'mores by the campfire on the coast. Suddenly, Germany turned around and saw intruders on the island. The Allies, America and England, had arrived.

"Germany, look!" exclaimed Italy, "America and England have come!"

"Italy, shut up," Germany replied hastily, "America, England, give us 1 good reason as to why you're in Italy's house?"

"If you must know, we are planning to use Sicily as a stepping stone for the invasion of the Axis Powers," America declared boldly.

"You git, I thought we had discussed this to be classified, especially from the enemy!" England yelled.

By then, Germany had his gun out and ready to shoot at will. On the other hand, Italy was waving his white flag in the air.

"Italy, I won't let those bastards take away your home," Germany declared.

"As the hero, I already have the plan set up," America said, "for this Italian Front, I choose Greece to attack!"

Suddenly, a new figure jumped into the scene. He was Greece, attired in a shirt and a brown jacket he refused to wear properly. He carried a giant cross, representing Mount Athos.

"Although I'm friends with Japan, you still invade my place," Greece said, "I won't be forgiving you that easily."

Greece jumped up again, and landed to give Germany a kick from behind. As Germany was about to raise his head, Greece had his cross pointed at the German's chin. Italy only began to flap his flag even more frantically.

"I surrender! I surrender!" he cried, "just please don't hurt me!"

"That was very fast," England commented, "we actually scored a bigger victory than planned initially."

"Help…" Italy cried, looking up at the sky.

Suddenly, the giant ghostly figure or Ancient Rome rose from the ocean. He cleared his throat and began to sing:

In Hell
the English are chefs,
the Germans are police officers,
the French are engineers,
the Swiss are lovers,
and the Italiaaaaans are bankers!

With that finished, an unknown cheering crowd was heard applauding. Soon, Rome and the claps vanished as soon as they came. By then, the two Axis Powers had left the coast already.

"Drat, they have eluded us again," England cursed, "and my food can't seriously be compared to hell."

In actuality, they had smuggled a boat to Mainland Italy. Germany was vigorously stroking the boat, as Italy looked back at Sicily.

"Romano won't be too happy about losing Sicily," Italy said.

"Don't worry, we will get that rock back in no time," Germany said, "but we have to get to Rome first. But who was that man just now?"

"Grandpa Rome, I'm sure of it," Italy replied.

"But seriously, I can enforce the law," Germany stated, "just look at what I had done back home and made the Olympics safe for all."

The Allies had occupied Sicily and preparing their assault into Mainland Italy. Back in Rome, the government was making plans on what to do from there.

Inside a room, the two personifications of Italy were in audience with King Victor Emmanuel II and several other ministers. However, there was the notable absence of Prime Minister Mussolini.

"Wait, we should wait for Mr Mussolini before we begin this meeting," Italy insisted.

"Forget about that jackass! I'm not waiting no more!" Romano yelled.

"Your Majesty, if we do nothing now, the Allies may overrun Rome and take the capital," a minister warned.

"Everyone, please leave the room," the King stated, "I wish to speak with the nation."

The other ministers only nodded and left the room. Only Veneziano and Romano were in the room with their King.

"Veneziano, that includes you," the King said, "I only wish to speak with Romano."

Veneziano sulked a bit and walked out of the room. Once the door was shut, he put his ear near it to overhear their private talk.

"Romano, I have issued an arrest warrant for Benito Mussolini," the King said, "the Grand Council has also decided on this choice and government will be changed immediately."

"Wow, that was very efficient," Romano said, "but why exclude Vene?"

"Because he has strong ties with Germany that would compromise our position," the King said, "I also want you to negotiate with the Allies so that they will not attack Italy."

"The Allies?" exclaimed Romano, "you got to be kidding me! We were already not so friendly with those jerks since the 1930s and you expect us to make up now!"

"I was trying to salvage our problems by avoiding a war in our backyards," the King said, "Romano; you don't want your brother to be relying on Germany right?"

"Yeah…" Romano agreed, "So with the Allies on our side, we don't need to lean back on the potato bastard anymore."

"And do not antagonise the Allies in any way," the King said, "Just comply to every demand they make if you want to make it out alive."

Outside, Italy grew quite concerned about what he had just heard.

"Why did the King and Romano cheat on me?" he wondered, "must find Germany and tell him…"

Then, Italy turned to see a clock on the wall. It was displaying the time 15:00.

"…but first, it is siesta!" Italy declared.

And so, Romano returned to Sicily to arrange an armistice with the Allied Forces.

"Looks the same so far…" Romano commented, looking at his island, "if those bastards change one bit of my place, they will get it from me."

Soon, he made it to a cheap motel where the Allies had gathered for the time being. Romano entered and encountered the Allied Forces. On the table, there were America, England, France, Canada, and Greece. At once, Romano began to quiver in front of the Allies.

"England sir…" Romano spoke.

"Romano, you are here," England said, "Let's get this meeting started, shall we? Please take your seat."

England gestured to the only free seat in between Canada and Greece. Romano quickly sat down on it and put his hands on his lap, shivering with sweat pouring down.

"Frankly, I was hoping your brother would come instead," France said, "Veneziano is always so cute."

"It's always about that stronzo…" Romano commented, "Just get him out of Germany's orbit and my country away from the fighting."

"We can try what we can, but if Germany conquers your lands, there will be a war here," England answered.

"Romano, you will get your wish!" America declared, "Just do not defy the Allies and we want hospitality for our troops. The war has been hard on them, you know."

"Fine, I'm okay with that…" Romano hastily agreed, "Anything you say, they will be done."

"Then, I would like it if the Kingdom of Italy could join us as part of the Allied Forces," England said.

"A chance to get off that potato stronzo… who could resist…" Romano thought.

"Count me in!" Romano shouted.

"With this, we can encircle the Axis Powers and crush Germany," England thought.

"And we can retake Normandy if Germany gets too clogged up in Italy," France thought.

Meanwhile, Italy was venturing out into the Swiss Alps in search for Germany. Or rather, he had just returned from Germany's place where only Austria was there.

"Sorry Italy," Austria said, "Germany and the others have gone to the Eastern Front to fight against Russia. Things have gone bad since Stalingrad, and he's always out there these days."

"No… I must find Germany somehow," Italy said, "if not, even he can be in trouble too."

However, a gunshot whizzed in the air. It came from Switzerland, who walked towards Italy. Behind Switzerland, there was Liechtenstein, but with her eyes covered by her hands.

"Big Bro, I saw it!" Liechtenstein exclaimed.

"How many times I had told you to not come here wearing like THAT?" the Swiss yelled.

Italy was surprised, but looked below to find himself without his pants again.

"I must have forgotten my pants after my siesta again…" Italy replied, "And this is the 104th time since my independence."

Switzerland was still angry even with Italy's "explanation", and raised his rifle again.

"This is Round 105 since your independence, not counting before then," Switzerland replied, "get out now before I put this next bullet into your vital regions."

"Sorry, sorry!" Italy cried.

At this point, Germany had come into the scene too. He was still in his thick fur coat that he wore while in Russia.

"Switzerland, let Italy go now," he said, "I will get him pants in my place."

Switzerland lowered his arms and took Liechtenstein away with him. Italy was left with a moment with Germany, who was already staggering.

"Germany, how did you know I was in Switzerland?" Italy asked.

"Austria told me you were looking for me and that you seemed urgent, "Germany said," so what is it? Did you boil your water rations to make pasta again?"

"No no, this is grave for the war effort!" Italy exclaimed, "my King and Romano are considering to join the Allies!"

"What?" exclaimed Germany, "rest assure, Mussolini would never allow that."

"But they have already arrested him," Italy said, "I don't know what to do now…"

"Calm down first, you won't solve problems by fretting in public," Germany stated calmly, "I will have my people to rescue Mussolini first, and then we will establish an Italian Social Republic."

"Thanks Germany," Italy thanked, "I knew you would have the plans."

"Also, we must remove the resources of the Italian Peninsular so that the Allies couldn't get them," Germany continued, "a certain tricky tactic I learnt from Russia in the Eastern Front, but it's for the sake of victory."

"I will bear on for everyone's sakes!" Italy cheerfully declared.

Mussolini was quickly rescued by the Germans, and installed as Duce of the Italian Social Republic. The Kingdom of Italy was put as part of the Allied Forces, and forced the Italy brothers to fight against each other in the coming years.

Romano was accompanying the rest of the Allies as they were marching into the Italian Peninsular. The worst fear had come true – Germany has occupied land in Italy in response to the armistice.

The Allies were led by America and England; both were armed with their pistols. France held a bayonet; Canada was armed in a rifle and in a white summer uniform. Greece was also there and attired in his jacket with the cross as his weapon. Romano crept behind the Allies, and held only a scythe as a weapon.

"Romano, get in front!" England cried, "You're in the one familiar with the terrain here."

Romano grumbled a bit, but still forced himself up in front with America and England. It was then that they encountered Germany and Italy was next to him.

"Veneziano!" exclaimed Romano, "you potato bastard, so you were the one who took him!"

"He came to me under his freewill to inform me of your plans," Germany replied, "Romano, I knew you never liked me and I couldn't care less. But to betray your brother… that's a new low."

"You are a bad influence to Vene, so I got to do something about it!" Romano shouted.

"Traitors must be punished…" Germany said, "our alliance will not shatter because of you."

Years later after World War II, there were debates within the united Italy on the future of the nation.

"Romano, I think we should hold a referendum on government here," Italy suggested.

"What, they are good enough as they are right now!" Romano exclaimed.

"I was seeing the governments in France and Germany and a republic looks nice for us," Italy said.

"There you go, trying to copy those bastards!" Romano yelled, "Their republics never work out for them. Look at Germany's case; his Weimar Republic period was what that let that Hitler character in office and dragged us into this shithole!"

"But our people have chosen the republic," Italy said, "They all want Umberto II to abdicate now."

"But the folks down south would rather want the Savoys to retain the throne, and I agree with them," Romano voiced out, "you must have cheated somehow, it must be that Germany character rubbing into you."

"Romano, how could you be so mean?" Italy wondered, "I have the right to make my own friends, right?"

"Apparently, you always make friends with bullies!" Romano yelled, "That's why you will never survive this world!"

"Romano… the choice has been made. We are now the Italian Republic," Italy answered, "we have suffered too much apart; we have to hold out for the next hundred years or so… together. Please?"

"Fine, what else can I do?" Romano complied.

Translation

Stronzo – asshole