Woohoo! Now we get to see Germany's power, handed down by his father Germania! (Robe included.) Now let's see some bashing! Come on, the fans are demanding blood! See what happens in the blood-curling finale of "HOLY ROMAN EMPIRE!"
Canada- …who are you?
Me- Ah, no one serious :D
/=+=/
He looked down at the robes on his figure. It was the black robe and hat that he had been wearing so long ago, back when he was only a child, now somehow modified to fit his figure. Holy Roman Empire descended onto the ground as everyone else stared at his change of clothes.
"So…this used to be me." He blinked.
"Doitsu…you really are him…"
He looked up and saw the dragon descend toward his level. Slowly (cause it did feel kind of awkward), he lifted his hand and rubbed the dragon's cheek. Oddly enough, it didn't feel like scales, but more of warm skin. He could just imagine Feliciano's face at the touch of the German. His heart fluttered…just a little bit.
"Italy…" He smiled. "I remember everything now."
"Doitsu…!"
*Meanwhile, Hungary is squealing from the cuteness*
…
* And as of right now, so are you*
"Come carino. Le riunioni così toccano sempre, non sono? [How cute. Reunions are so touching, aren't they?]"
They looked up and saw Holy Roman Empire laughing, his body now shaping into that of Feliciano wearing his black robes. Looking up, he saw Feliciano's face turn to that of Holy Roman Empire…his childhood face. They did look so similar.
"It's too bad, though…that you're so attached to a fake." He stated, finally speaking English for once (much to Alfred's enjoyment). "Don't you know that he's a shadow of what I am?"
"I know…he's not you anymore…he's Germany now…but…" Ludwig felt a claw on his cheek, feeling warm fingers instead of claws. "He's my Germany."
"SQUEEEE!" Yes, that was Hungary. "E két annyira édesek együtt, még azután is sokáig! [Those two are so cute together, even after so long!]"
"Elizabeta…" Austria sighed. "Jetzt wirklich nicht die Zeit... [Now's really not the time.]"
Holy Roman Empire could only shake his head at his former lover's hopeless obsession on someone who could never become as powerful as he was. Feliciano turned his head as he flew toward the German, his roar actually tossing him back. Everyone stared at the powerful Italian with blank looks on their faces.
"You're not going to touch Doitsu." He growled.
"Let's see you try."
"Doitsu…" He turned toward the newly powered Germany.
"You're not doing this alone." Germany smiled. "We're all here."
He could literally see Feliciano smile as the both of them charged toward Holy Roman Empire. The destruction and mayhem was like nothing before, with the ground literally shaking from their throws and weapons. Everyone started to cling to each other, the ground no longer stable.
"You're really ignorant, aren't you Italy?" Holy Roman Empire laughed. "I'm stronger than the both of you combined! There is no way you can defeat me!"
"Ve~~~I never thought I'd hear Holy Rome being so full of himself…"
"Pfft…"
"Doitsu? What's wrong?"
"I just realized something…I missed hearing that weird 've~' sound you always make."
If it hadn't been for the fact that Feliciano is now a big, green flaming dragon, you could see him blush. They turned back as Holy Roman Empire tossed a long white spear toward them. Odd enough, Germany was able to dodge all of his attacks with ease. Maybe this was his new power? He lifted his hand and felt the energy that he got focus into his fingertips.
"Blatt der Heiligen Regierung!"
The energy immediately shot out into a blade, extending to at least three feet away from him. Looking up, he saw Holy Roman Empire pull a blade out of his sleeve as well. They started going for a one-on-one duel, their blades literally shaking the ground. So much so that cracks were starting to form.
"Do you really think that you alone can give Italy what he wants?" Holy Roman Empire laughed. "I've lived with him! I've been by his side this entire time! You have no idea what he wants!"
"You know what? I've been by his side as well!" Germany growled. "I've taken care of him! I know everything that you do! And I know damn well that he thought of you every single day of his waking life!"
"If he did think of me, then why would he stay with a fake like you?"
"Because, Holy Rome…you're just being a jackass!"
He threw him off his blade as he went in for the attack. Everyone watched at the one-on-one duel, complete with German beams flying all over the place. After five long minutes of just clashing rapidly on each other, they found themselves locked in a hard duel stance.
"You know, Germany…he's been in love with me my entire time." Holy Roman Empire chuckled. "He only fell in love with you once he had suspicions of our connection."
"You don't know that!" Germany yelled back.
"Of course I knew that. I hold everyone's powers, remember? Including the ability to read minds." He leaned in closer and smiled. "He'll always be in love with me."
That statement made Germany freeze, allowing him to toss him up in the air without a second thought. Vash lifted up his gun to aim as Holy Roman Empire took advantage of his situation, his blade piercing deep into flesh. However, when they looked up, they saw that it wasn't Ludwig's.
"FELICIANO!"
The dragon fell onto the ground, bleeding heavily. Germany panicked as he ran toward him, his figure vanishing and leaving behind his true form, still encased in the flames. The blood was everywhere, coating his robes and gloves.
"…Feliciano…" Ludwig was twitching.
"…Doitsu…you're OK…thank god…"
He was coughing up blood, forcing Ludwig to scoop him up in his arms. The flames that was shaping his figure was fading fast, and he could hear gasps and panicked voices from behind him. Even Holy Roman Empire was in shock, the blade in his hands dropping to his feet.
"Don't talk like that! You're going to be OK!" He looked up. "Arthur! Get over here!"
"You can't save…a dying flame, Doitsu…" Feliciano smiled, blood dripping off his mouth and the flames dying quickly by the second. "Flames…only start anew…"
"Feliciano…"
"He's wrong…I don't love you because…you were Holy Roman…Empire." More coughing up of blood. His grip got tighter. "I love you because…you are Doitsu…my Doitsu…"
"I…I love you too…both as Holy Roman Empire and Germany." He answered. God, why did he have to sound so cheesy at a time like this? "And until the end of time…"
"…thank you…Doitsu…" He leaned closer to his shoulder. "…thank you…"
With one final "ve~", his eyes closed and his body limp.
The fires vanished from his hands until they were nothing but air.
/=+=/
"Italy…" Seyel clung onto Canada, her eyes leaking of tears.
Germany looked down at his hands, his mind stopping to make any form of sense. Did he seriously lose Italy again? Did he just lose him for the third time? He held his head, tears falling down his face as if they were weighted down and unable to come back to him.
This isn't fair…this isn't fucking FAIR! He sobbed. Why does he have to suffer for my mistakes? Why him?
"…he really did love you."
He looked up, seeing the figure of Holy Roman Empire turn into that of his younger self…looking no older than a ten year old. His eyes were filling up with tears, the same way that Germany was crying. Everyone stared at them, wondering just what was going on.
"He did…but he also loved you, you know." He answered, staring at his hands.
"I know…and I would do anything to protect him." Holy Roman Empire turned to Germany. "If I said that there was a price to save him, what would you say?"
Germany glared at him, tears in his eyes.
"I think you already know my answer. We are the same person, right?"
Holy Roman Empire nodded, understanding his answer. Slowly, he walked toward Germany's body and touched his forehead. Everyone watched as his contact began to glow rapidly, and Germany felt his body burn rapidly. Something was digging deep into his mind, that was all he was aware of.
And then darkness overtook him.
/=+=/
"Hey! Wake up!"
"Come on, you're still alive, right? Speak to us!"
"Oi! Are you seriously going to lie down there this entire time? Get the fuck up!"
His eyes flickered open, seeing the worried looks on everyone's faces. Slowly he got up, twitching his fingers one by one. The blood was still warm in his veins. There was no way around it: he was alive. Well and kicking as if none of this ever happened. He turned his head and saw Lili was on her knees.
"You can stop your power. It's over." Vash said. "None of the humans are going to know that we're here."
"…OK…"
His head turned back around at the worried looks on Seychelles and Canada's faces. They slowly helped him to his feet, making him realize that his legs were extremely numb and that he felt as if he hadn't actually walked in forever. He looked around to assess that Lili's time-stopping power had somehow prevented any humans from interfering.
That's when he saw the body.
The body of Germany.
"D-Doitsu…!"
He threw himself off of their shoulders as he stumbled as close as he could toward the body of his lover. He only succeeded in collapsing right at his feet. He quickly pushed himself to a kneeling position as he shook his body. Fortunately, he was twitching, and blue eyes were opening to look at him.
"You're OK…" He sighed. "Thank god…"
Germany's eyes focused, suddenly widening as of in shock. He quickly jumped to his feet as he swatted Italy's hand away (much to his startlement). He darted his head around at the crowd, looking just as frightened as Italy was when he first met him.
"Was geht weiter? Wo sind wir?"
"C-calm down, Doitsu! Calm down!" Feliciano panicked. "You're OK! You're fine!"
"…was…?" He stared at Italy.
"He's speaking German. Hold on, I'll handle this." Gilbert leaned over to his brother. "Yo, West. Es ist fein. Heiliges römisches Reich ist gegangen. [Yo, West. It's fine. Holy Roman Empire's gone.]"
"Heiliges römisches Reich? Wer ist er?"
"Who's Holy Roman-? Dude, we just fought him! You kicked his ass!"
Everyone looked at him in confusion as Germany turned toward the others. Slowly, he finally made eye contact with Feliciano. His eyes looked innocent, his mouth trying to form words that he thought he would know.
"…who…are you?"
Italy froze.
/=+=/
Because of Liechtenstein's power to stop time, they were able to leave the area before any humans came in with prying eyes. Once they went back to the conference building in Germany, Arthur and Liara were quick to look in on Germany's condition. They concluded that he had memory loss concerning the whole event.
"Not only that…it looks as if he forgot everything in general, too." Liara added.
Feliciano took the news the hardest, since he knew (or at least had a good idea of) what had happened. Holy Roman Empire had traded Germany's memory for his life. It was something that he was expecting out of him, but to think that Germany is right back where he started, all that time ago…
It hurt him.
Prussia volunteered to teach him all the way from the very beginning, and Alfred made sure that everyone kept as close to him as they did in their normal lives. It was hard at first, since his memory loss also concerned the fact that he can now only speak German. But he was quickly able to remember the other languages. He was able to speak in the majority of them by the end of the week.
Even then, his memory remained foggy.
Italy was a total stranger to him.
Everyone knew that remembering took time. They also knew that Italy was suffering the hardest from the turn of events, the fact that all of this was happening because of him. Every night, someone could hear him weep from the chamber that he would sleep in. And every day, he would wipe all the tears away and go back to the harsh reality.
One day, Doitsu… He would always think, a smile coming on his face. I'll open my eyes for you again…
/=+=/
All translations have been reprinted here so that they're all rapid-fire. And by the way, the reason why I didn't put the translation next to Germany's lines is cause I wanted to be that situation where someone is asking questions rapid-fire and you have no idea what they're saying.
[Come carino. Le riunioni così toccano sempre, non sono?] ITALIAN- How cute. Reunions are so touching, aren't they?
[E két annyira édesek együtt, még azután is sokáig!] HUNGARIAN– Those two are so cute together, even after so long!
[Jetzt wirklich nicht die Zeit...] GERMAN– Now's really not the time…
[Blatt der Heiligen Regierung] GERMAN- Blade of the Holy Reign
[Was geht weiter? Wo sind wir?] GERMAN- What's going on? Where are we?
[Yo, Westen. Es ist fein. Heiliges römisches Reich ist gegangen.] GERMAN– Yo, West. It's fine. Holy Roman Empire's gone.
[Heiliges römisches Reich? Wer ist er?] GERMAN– Holy Roman Empire? Who's he?
...wow, that wasn't a lot. So I'll give you some small things I thought about while writing this.
Doitsu- Yes, I know that Doitsu and Germany meant the same thing. I just thought it was cuter that only Feliciano called him that, the same way I like calling him Feli-chan.
Names- I do jump between using the country and human name a lot. But what I wanted to do was actually state a difference between them. In this universe, calling a country by their human name was a sense of casualty, like best friends. On the other hand, calling a country by a country name was formality. That's why you never saw Seychelles refer to any of them by their human names. OK, Matthew's an exception, but that's because they're dating.
Attacks- I was considering looking into RomaHeta and HetaOni for them, but I ended up only using Rosario Impale.
And…that's it! I like to thank you all for-
*Tomato throw*
Me- What the hell was that?
Lovino- OI! Mitsuki, you bastard! You are NOT leaving the story like this!
Me- Why not? It's my story-
Lovino- You're making fratello cry! Now FINISH THE DAMN STORY!
*More tomatoes thrown*
Me- Ack ack ack! OK, OK, fine! One more chapter, just for you! Now STOP THROWING THE DAMN TOMATOES!
Lovino- I am NOT stopping until you get that last chapter up!
Me- Alright, that's it!
*Elbows his back and starts rapidly pulling on his curl*