Author's Note: I actually have a plan written out for this, so I can tell you right now that there will be 8 more chapters and an epilogue (not including this chapter). So YAY! Now you know how long it will be.
ALSO, I got visitors from Spain, Poland, and Norway! YAY! I just noticed how much the word YAY looks like an emoji...
On with the story!
Chapter 10:
My smiling face hasn't been erased
Poland sat in the meeting room with his new boss and the country's top military advisers. His old boss had left after the destruction of Ukraine led to all the other countries shunning him for allowing it to happen. He had hoped that surrendering leadership of his country to another would calm the other European countries down enough to prevent further troubles, especially with Russia threatening to attack at any moment.
It did not work.
All the other countries were afraid of Poland now. They had all strengthened their border defenses, surrounding the central European country with a barrier of military power. They were all expecting Poland to attack them at any time.
Poland was not one to disappoint.
"...here and here. The intelligence we have gathered informs us that a well placed attack right here would topple the defenses, giving us an easy shot at advancing further." The general looked up.
Poland nodded. "It seems like a good strategy."
His boss nodded. "Then, shall we proceed with the plan?"
A slow, sadistic smile spread across the nation's face. "Yes, totally."
Germany sat in his study, finishing up the day's paperwork. A light knock on his door made him look up. "Come in."
A scared looking aide walked into the room. "Sir... my superiors have told me to let you know that they have called an emergency meeting, and are requesting your presence at once."
Germany sighed. With Russia having already conquered most of Asia and threatening to overrun Europe, Poland's attack couldn't have come at a worse time. Almost half of Germany's troops had been stationed on the Polish-Russian border, and now they were cut off from their country.
"Ja, tell them I'll be there in five minutes."
The aide nodded, scurrying out of the room.
Germany organized his papers, saved his work on his computer, and headed to the meeting room.
Months later, Germany was tired. The war with Poland was going badly, and all he could do now was defend his remaining land. Poland had already advanced past the old East German border, and it was all Germany could do to keep him from conquering Berlin.
He idly wondered what would happen if Poland were able to get to his capital. He remembered the pain back then, at the end of World War II, when it had been ripped in half. It had hurt so badly, even though it hadn't had anything done to it. He supposed if Poland did to Berlin what he had done to Kiev, Germany would not survive.
And somehow, he was OK with the thought.
If Berlin was taken right then, his only regret would be that he hadn't gotten a chance to say goodbye to Italy, like he hadn't gotten a chance to say goodbye to Japan when the island nation had died. The Mediterranean nation was caught up in his own problems, having to take care of both parts of the country now, and rarely ever visited Germany anymore.
The blonde nation actually missed the little Italian quite a lot.
Germany decided it was past time to pay Italy a visit. His leaders could wait. After all, they didn't really need him to send out troops and direct the war.
Germany arrived at Italy's house with a smile on his face. He could hear the other country singing, and could smell the pasta cooking. He pushed at the door- unlocked, as usual.
Germany stuck his head in and called out, "Italy?"
Immediately, he was attacked by the enthusiastic smaller nation. "Ve, Germany! I haven't seen you in ages! Would you like some pasta? Oh, oh, come see what I made for you!"
Germany sighed. "Is it another white flag?"
Italy giggled. "Silly Germany, why would I give you another white flag? Aren't you at war with Poland? I've got something much better!"
Intrigued, the Germanic nation followed Italy to the field he owned just outside of Rome, where...
"Mein gott..."
In front of him sat an impressive array pipes and tubing, all seemingly mashed together in a random, inconceivable pattern.
No, wait... Germany took back his earlier thoughts. It wasn't at random. In fact, the design reminded Germany of...
An electron collider. Except much smaller. What was Italy doing with an miniature electron collider in his fields?
"Do you like it?" Italy bounced up and down expectantly.
"I... I do not know what it does, Italy..."
"Oh, right, I almost forgot. I'll show you! Ve..." Italy skipped off into the distance. After a while, Germany followed.
He found Italy struggling to set up a concrete wall. With solid blocks of concrete. He hadn't gotten very far. Germany just sighed and gave him a hand.
The finished structure was 3 meters on each side, but 6 meters long. Italy took out a paintbrush and dabbed a small spot of fluorescent orange paint onto the center of one of the blocks. Germany turned to Italy. "What is this for?"
"Ve, you'll see!" And with that, the small nation skipped off again. Germany could only sigh and follow.
Upon arriving back at the electron collider looking object (Germany really had no idea what it was), Italy rolled a small metal marble down a small chute in the side of the machine. He opened a little door, revealing a keypad, and typed something in. Then he turned a couple of valves and flipped a switch. The machine buzzed to life.
Grinning, Italy glanced at his friend. "Ready, Germany?"
Without waiting for a response, Italy pressed a red button.
Germany immediately ducked and covered, only to find that nothing seemed to have happened. But Italy was practically bouncing.
"Ve, come on Germany, let's go see!" He dragged Germany all the way to the concrete wall.
"Italy, what are you- Oh." Germany stared at the hole in the wall, where the painted dot had previously been. He walked around the block, and found an exact replica of the hole on the other side. The marble had penetrated through 6 meters of solid concrete without causing splintering and fracturing. The speeds it must have taken...
Just as Germany was contemplating this, a sudden pain seized at his heart, and he fell down. Italy rushed over to his side.
"Ve, Germany, what's wrong?"
"Berlin... They're attacking Berlin!" And with that, the nation fell into oblivion.
"Germany? Germany?"
Germany slowly woke up to the sound of Italy's worried voice. He was laying on the guest bed in Italy's house.
"Italy..."
"Ve, Germany! You're finally awake! Have some pasta!" A plate of pasta was shoved into his face.
"Italy," Germany said, sitting up on the bed and ignoring the food on the plate. "Italy, I'm sorry I can't be with you much longer."
Italy's face fell. But instead of the confusion Germany was expecting, all he could see was sorrow and acceptance.
"It's as I suspected..." Italy whispered under his breath. Germany had to strain to catch the sound.
"You... knew?"
"Germany, I've been alive since the early 400's. Of course I knew." Italy's normally cheerful eyes were full of pain and sorrow, and the wisdom of thousands of years.
"Ahh... I see..." Germany settled back onto the pillows.
Suddenly, Italy threw himself onto his friend, sobbing. "Please don't go! I... After Japan... You're my only friend! I couldn't stand life without you."
Germany awkwardly patted Italy's arm. "You know that's not possible, Italy. Berlin has fallen, and so have my leaders. Without them, my country cannot survive. And... nations die with their countries, Italy."
"But... but... you never got to use my machine..." Italy blubbered.
Germany coughed. Italy immediately rushed to get a glass of water for him.
"D-Danke..." Germany sipped at the water.
"Ahh..." He shook a bit as another part of his country fell under Poland's control. "Feliciano..."
"Shh..." Italy stroked Germany's hair. "It'll be all right, Ludwig."
He began to sing quietly to the other nation. Germany sighed, eyes closing. As he drifted off, he could hear the last strains of Italy's song.
"Throughout the world sleeps the recipe of happiness. An exploration with our boots, Hetalia..."
And Germany faded away.
Federal Republic of Germany - conquered by Poland - gone
Author's Note: Imagine that Italy sang that in a really, really sad tone of voice. It's from the complete "Marukaite Chikyuu", by the way...
As for the weird electron collider thing, I don't even know... I was just thinking about Chemistry, I guess...
The title comes from Germany's character song, "Einsamkeit". It means loneliness in German.
Translations:
Danke = thank you
Not much snapped!Poland in this chapter, I'm afraid. Sorry about that. BUT there will be a different snapped! character in the next chapter. Can you guess who?