Just this past Saturday my sister and my youth group threw me a surprise Hetalia-themed birthday party…I'm still so happy from it even though it's been nearly a week XD.
My sissy even drew me a fanart for my story 'Hello Hurricane' that seriously made me start to cry when I laid my eyes on it…:'D
Speaking of 'Hello Hurricane,' I just finished reading the book The Pianist. I highly recommend you all to read it. Try to find the one that has the German officer Hosenfeld's diary entries included in it. It's very moving and sad.
I just borrowed a HUGE book all about Prussia's history from the library. I wouldn't be surprised if it inspires any historical oneshots/short longshots…;D
All right, enough with my extremely off topic author's note…
Anonymous Review Reply:
Rin86: Ahaha, I'm glad you are enjoying the story! Updates are every Thursday~
Killahsese: Trying /to/ cry? A-ah...you don't have to if you don't need to ^_^;. But yeah, poor Luther...I'm glad you read this story!
The Krayon: I just love tormenting my characters, whether it be mentally, emotionally, physically...until it reaches a point to inhumane. :'D I guess it's just because it gives me something new to write, ne? Poor Prussia indeed~ Thanks for the review!
Demi: Hmmm, I never read it in Himaruya's posts that Prussia lived with Germania, though I guess it's possible. Italy lived with his grandaddy after all. But would that make Italy older than Germany? 8D Thanks for reading! I'm glad you like the story.
Austria grazed his thumb across the jagged edge of the door key in the safety of the darkness. It was the third day, the day all their actions were supposed to take place. Admittedly, he was rather nervous about the ordeal, but what other plan did they have?
He glanced up at the guard who was positioned in the cells today. It was Alois again, less cheerful or talkative than usual because apparently one of his good friends in the army was one of the victims that were brought in for treatment some days ago, and had died earlier that day. Austria wanted to give some sort of comfort, but he knew it would be futile. He had never had such a close relationship with a human before because he knew how the story would end. He would always be left behind.
He glanced upward toward the black ceiling as if he could see through the rock and find out what was going on above. There was no sign of an upcoming battle, so he supposed that Hungary's army did not arrive yet. When was he supposed to carry out his plan? Too late would be useless; too soon would cause too much suspicion.
Well, it's now or never, Austria thought to himself bitterly, finally creeping toward the bars.
Alois did not seem to notice. He had taken advantage of the period of quietness and solitude to write a letter in the weak light of the lamps on the wall. About his unfortunate tragedy, no doubt. Austria felt the inevitable guilt cloud over his plan, but he fanned it away quickly.
He reached to the ground and quietly picked up the old fork that was given to him during meals. He casually leaned against the bars, playing with the fork absentmindedly, before 'accidentally' letting it slip through the bars. It clattered to the ground and slid out of Austria's reach.
He let out a silent curse and sighed. Pressing himself against the bars, he coughed quietly to get Alois's attention. Alois looked up from his letter, perplexed.
"Sorry," Austria said softly. "Would you mind getting that for me?"
Alois put down his pen and paper and reached down to take the fork. Just as he came closer to hand Austria the fork, Austria reached through the bars and grabbed the front of Alois's coat. He wrenched Alois towards him, slamming the boy's head against the metal bars. Alois slumped to the ground, knocked out. Austria hurriedly reached his arm out of the bar toward the lock, unlocking the door with the key. The lock clicked and the barred door swung open obediently. He couldn't help but sigh with relief, despite the guilt that plagued him.
"It's all for the better," Austria muttered to himself. It was safer for Alois to be down here than up on ground level later. As swiftly as he could, Austria stole Alois's navy blue military coat, boots, hat, and gloves, leaving him with only simple britches and shirt. Austria used the oil he had saved from many of his meals to slick Alois's long and dark hair to his scalp so that it would appear short, for Alois's hair was longer than Austria's. He hurriedly pulled on Alois's uniform, shielding his face with the black hat. For safe measure, Austria bound Alois's wrists and ankles and muffled the boy. He silently closed the door and locked it shut.
His legs were still shaky and weak after being unused for so long in such a small place. He crept up the stairs, almost falling because his injuries that Prussia had given him still smarted. He wasn't sure if anyone would notice who he was; most of the soldiers didn't actually see what Austria looked like since not everyone guarded his prison or witnessed his imprisonment. However, if he ran into Prussia himself…
His fingers (so bony and weak now after so much abuse, could they even play a single note on any instrument now?) curled around the metal doorknob at the top of the stairs. He took in a deep breath before twisting it and pushing it open.
He could hear many muffled voices on the other side of the door and he froze, his heart practically stopping. Then he realized that they were all coming from the infirmary and not an imaginary throng of soldiers at the door. If he could sneak past the doorway, they wouldn't notice him…
Austria stepped out, reveling at the smell of blood and sickness that wafted from the infirmary. It was not unlike the prisons. Judging by the number of lamps already lit, it must have been close to dusk by now. Perfect; it was harder for anyone to see him in the dark.
Austria braced himself. Whether or not this would work was beyond him; if it failed, then he would not only be sent to the prisons again but also drag Hungary with him. That thought alone gave him a huge surge of determination to succeed.
At that very moment, he bolted toward the door.
Three days had passed so unbearably slowly that Hungary was almost certain that her army would never come. She had snuck the key to Austria after she swiped them from Prussia, but she had no idea what in the world Austria was planning. According to Abbot, the man she sent to give the key to Austria, Austria had given her one warning: to stay as close to the walls as possible, if not on top of them. Confused as she was, she silently obliged, offering to keep watch on the door on the top of the fortifications.
The third day had dragged by restlessly, causing Hungary's heart to quiver at every beat with nervousness. From morning to dusk she had been waiting for some sign of her army, but none had come. For a moment she wondered if she had accidentally miscounted the days and fretted that it would completely ruin their plans.
"Something the matter?"
She gasped and spun around, her hand flying to her waist where she kept a sheathed dagger.
"Of course not!" she sputtered.
Prussia raised his eyebrow at her reaction. "You were never a really good liar."
Hungary snorted at the irony. She would have laughed in spite of herself if she wasn't so nervous. The sun was settling into the horizon, darkening the sky. Didn't the army promise to come on this date? They couldn't have been held up, could the army promise to come on this date? They couldn't have been held up, could they?
"Why are you even up here anyway?" Prussia asked. "You don't have to work while you're here."
"What's wrong with it?" Hungary asked. "You aren't going to say this is a man's work, are you?"
"Psht, no," Prussia chuckled. "I'm just saying—I never asked you to—"
"I think that if you asked I would be more reluctant to actually do it," Hungary admitted.
"Good point," Prussia said, smiling. They stayed quiet for a moment or two, watching the sun sink into the earth at an alarmingly fast rate, leaving only pastel residue on the blue canvas. Hungary was running out of time and she had no idea what to do.
"Austria's little queen never gave me an answer," Prussia said conversationally. The drone of other soldiers' voices around them filled the silence between them. "I don't know what she's waiting for."
"Mmm," Hungary replied simply. How would Maria Theresa respond, if she didn't have a plan to save Austria already? Would she let Hungary go?
"I suppose it wouldn't be that easy, eh?" Prussia said dryly, stretching his arms. Hungary cast a quick glance behind her shoulder toward the inside of the fort. Did Austria escape his cell by now?
"If it was that easy, it would have been done a long time ago, wouldn't it?" Hungary pointed out. "Then again, kidnapping Austria would be pretty hassling, so it would be too much trouble, right?"
Prussia gave a small shrug, glancing away. Ever since that night when Hungary stole the key from Prussia, he wouldn't look at her in the eyes, as if embarrassed. Hungary couldn't help but admit to herself that she was unnerved by it.
"I'd do it as many times as you needed it, if you wanted it," Prussia said stoutheartedly. Hungary felt her cheeks burn and she hungrily cast a glance at Prussia. He was turned toward the outside, his eyes not really seeing the trees or the grass stretching out before him. Behind them, fires and lamps were being lit to illuminate the fort. The outside world was now a black nothingness; they were a tiny ball of fire in the midst of blackness. There wasn't even a moon to remind them of the outsiders.
"If this doesn't work," Prussia said, "I could try fighting Austria to win your land away from him. I wouldn't keep it, of course," he added quickly.
"How do you know it will even work?" Hungary asked quietly. "I might just—well—I've been with Austria for such a long time. What if my country falls if I'm separated from him?" She had never considered it before, but she knew that her survival had some dependency on the empire Austria led. "For all I know, I could die."
"Do you really think I'd just let you die?" Prussia said skeptically. "My word, Hungary, you really don't give me that much credit, do you?"
Hungary let herself chuckle. "Well, I have many reasons why, if you're wondering."
"Psht, I bet they aren't even legitimate," Prussia said stubbornly. Hungary rolled her eyes and laughed. They were both now facing the inside of the fort, watching the small lamps being lit in the darkness, not bright enough to attract any enemies.
"You keep telling yourself that," Hungary smirked.
"Do you hear something?" Prussia said, frowning.
"What?" Hungary asked nervously.
Prussia furrowed his eyebrows. After a moment of not speaking, he shook his head. "Never mind. It could have just been me."
Hungary nodded, frowning to herself. She hadn't heard anything out of the ordinary.
"You know, after all this time, we barely had time to talk about what you wanted to do with the war," Prussia pointed out.
"Oh! Right!" Hungary said anxiously. She felt herself shudder under pressure. "A-about that….Well, it was hard to actually sit down and talk to you since most of the time you're so busy…"
"Well. We're here now. Let's go with that," suggested Prussia. "Come down." He headed towards the stairs that led from the ground to the top of the wall. He and Hungary hurried down the stairs to the ground level.
"If you do help us out on this, though," said Prussia, "Austria's little empress wouldn't be too happy about that, would she? I mean, she isn't completely your leader, but doesn't she have some authority? She might wage war against you."
"I can defend myself!" Hungary argued. "I may be under Austria's influence, but that doesn't mean I'm completely defenseless!"
"I'm not saying that you are," Prussia defended. "I'm just pointing out a possibility. Are you sure you want to do this?"
"Why do you have to ask?" Hungary protested.
"I don't want you getting any negative consequences out of this!" Prussia said. "Why do you want to do this anyway?"
"Because I support you!" Hungary said almost too readily. "I want to get away from Austria!"
"I thought you didn't mind him back then," Prussia said testily.
"What kind of supplies would you want from us, assuming that you would agree to my proposal?" Hungary asked hurriedly, casting nervous glances back at the door. Where was her army? She wasn't sure how much longer she could keep this up.
"I've enough weapons to last several wars, really," Prussia said. "It's mostly doctors and medical supplies." He glanced quickly at the direction of his infirmary before quickening his pace. "I need as much as I can get, admittedly. I don't want to deny my men any treatment."
"Of course," Hungary said. What was Austria's plan of escape? Now that she thought of it, he never actually explained his thoughts. "Do you know how that boy was doing?"
"Hmm?" Prussia replied.
"You know—the young boy we were taking care of when you came back," Hungary said, trying to search her memory for a better description. "He was wounded here and here." She pointed to her temple and her ribs.
"Luther Friedman," Prussia said in a hollow voice.
"Yes, him. I forgot his name," said Hungary.
"He died," Prussia said shortly.
Hungary was dealt a dull blow. She swallowed hard, trying to think of what to say next. It wasn't much of a shock; she knew from the beginning that he had little chance of recovery, but it was still a painful ordeal to learn.
"I'm sorry," Hungary muttered.
Prussia didn't respond readily. He walked in silence for a while. Hungary tentatively reached out to him, but hesitated and drew back, her finger grazing his arm.
"I made a promise to my men," Prussia said in a strange voice. "I said I'd bring them back home for at least Christmas. I already broke my promise to some of my boys. I want to keep it to the rest."
Hungary swallowed hard, her throat tightening. She couldn't help but regret that she would be the cause of the broken promise. She opened her mouth to say something, but in an instant, all thoughts of that conversation vanished.
"Herr Prussia!" a voice from above cried. Prussia and Hungary turned their head upwards toward the top of the wall where a door guard was waving his arms frantically to catch their attention.
"What is it?" Prussia shouted.
"There is an army approaching!" the man yelled. "They're about half a league away!"
"Austria's men?" Prussia demanded fiercely.
"It's hard to say; we can't see them in darkness," the guard admitted. Hungary's heart trembled with nervousness. Could this finally be the moment?
"They probably don't seem like they're in the mood for compromise or deals anymore, right?" Prussia said dryly, tugging on his gloves. "Prepared for battle?"
"I can't tell the exact number, but there are surely many soldiers," the guard warned.
"Just my luck," Prussia chuckled. He turned to Hungary, who jumped back in surprise and anxiousness. Her hand automatically went toward her side toward her dagger, wildly thinking that Prussia already suspected her.
"You stay in the fort," Prussia ordered. "Don't get into the fight."
"But—" Hungary protested. She had no time to argue or speak back. The last word she uttered was completely lost from all memory.
It was instantaneous. Something flew through the air at breakneck speed. Glass shattered behind them and suddenly the air grew unbearably hot. Hungary spun around to see what had happened but Prussia pushed her out of harm's way as great balls of fire hurtled toward them. They both crashed onto the walls of the fort, disoriented and confused. The night sky was alight with Hell's fire as the explosion stretched out its burning fingers and curled around buildings and men, setting them on fire. Sparks and flames flew over their heads like furious birds.
The sound did not reach Hungary or Prussia until it was too late. The explosion hit them with as much force as thousands of bullets piercing them straight in the ear. The fire roared and spat as it hungrily fed on the men caught in its clutches.
"What happened?" Hungary screamed. "What happened?"
Prussia pushed himself off the wall and ran toward the chaos. His eyes seemed to grow more scarlet as it drank in the coldhearted sanguine flames. Hungary scrambled toward him, her heartbeats constricted with shock.
"The spare gunpowder supply!" Prussia shouted. "Somebody set them all off!" He turned to his men and shouted orders in German before rushing toward the flames.
"What are you doing?" Hungary cried.
"My men are caught in that fire!" Prussia yelled over his shoulder. "I'm not just going to let them burn to death!"
Prussia pushed Hungary back against the wall to keep her away from the flames before returning toward the edge of the fire. Men all around them were shouting and trying to squelch the flames with wet sacks. Others tried to shovel soil to strangle the fire. No one could remember the approaching army.
"How did this happen?" Prussia yelled, his face paling with both anger and horror.
"Consider it a parting gift to remember me by."
The loud voice brought chills down Hungary's spine. She saw Prussia's eyes widen, recognizing the voice immediately, before spinning around toward the heavy doors. There, standing on the top of the walls that protected the fort, was Austria, clad in a Prussian military uniform. In the midst of all the chaos that he had instigated, he was able to sneak up unnoticed.
Prussia's eyes widened at first before glinting with absolute anger. It was as if embers from the fire had flew into his eyes and settled in his irises.
"Austria!" Prussia exclaimed, his voice strangled.
Austria kicked one of the cannons to swerve it toward the inside of the fort. Before Prussia could say anything else, Austria shot the cannon towards him. The projectile sped through the air and Prussia barely had enough time to dive out of the way before it bore itself into the wall of the repair station, blasting a giant hole through the stone. Hungary felt herself be torn apart. Part of her wanted to rush up the stairs to Austria and escape this fort with him, but another reached out to pull Prussia to his feet.
Austria shot the cannon elsewhere, this time toward Prussia's men trying to put out the fire. They had succeeded in keeping it away from the frantic horses in the stable. However, the cannonball tore through the crowd, through wood and stone, splattering blood over the fire and quenching its ravenous desire for death.
"NO!" Prussia ran toward the men as fast as he could, stumbling when his ankle gave out on him. Hungary turned toward Austria, her emotions so confused and jumbled she didn't know what to do. Austria met her eyes and something seemed to shake him out of his bloodthirsty trance. His eyes widened at the sight of the destruction he caused. He tore himself away and unhooked a ring of rope from his belt. He turned to Hungary.
"Come on!" he yelled.
Hungary put her finger to her lips, urging him to stay silent. He cast a very confused look before she gestured for him to go on. He hesitated, fighting down the urge to rush down and take Hungary with him. Hungary shook her head vigorously.
Come on, Austria! she thought frantically to herself. Just go! Don't let your noble side come and get me!
Finally, Austria reluctantly departed without her. He tied the rope to one of the posts and slid his way down to the other side. Hungary took in a deep breath and turned away from the stairs, sprinting toward Prussia.
What are you doing, Hungary?
Even she didn't understand why she stayed behind. What was there left to do? Austria was saved. She could leave this cursed fort like she had wanted in the very beginning. She could finally be free of Prussia.
But is that what you want?
What are you going to do, give Prussia a quick goodbye before running off with his enemy and prisoner?
"Hungary!" Someone grabbed her roughly by the arm and jerked her away from the fire. She stumbled back and turned to face Prussia. His clothes were singed and his hands had burns on them. He pushed her toward the stairs that she had just departed from.
"Don't go in, it's not safe!" Prussia shouted.
"I should say the same for you, you idiot!" yelled Hungary. Prussia opened his mouth to retort, but another horrible explosion burst behind them as the flames caught another keg of ammunition on fire. Prussia shoved Hungary against the wall, guarding her with his body. Hungary squirmed and flailed; she could see the flash of fiery orange and red over Prussia's shoulder. It was too close, much too close.
"Where did that bastard go?" Prussia growled as he pushed himself away from Hungary. He turned toward the stairs and bounded up them. Hungary followed, her heart sinking with dread at every step.
They reached the top of the stairs. Prussia rushed to the edge, facing the blackness that surrounded the fort like an inky ocean. The army that had threatened to attack was so close that it would only take a bullet to reach them. The night was illuminated by the destruction in the fort, unmasking the soldiers from their black protection.
"Where did he—?" Prussia stopped immediately. His eyes caught sight of the uniform on the soldiers that he did not recognize as being Austria's. Hungary stiffened immediately, her heart racing and on fire. Prussia's eyes darted toward the army's flag. Red. White. Green.
Realization dawned on Prussia's face, which caused Hungary's blood to freeze in their veins. He turned sharply to her, his eyes wide and disbelieving. Hungary set her jaw and put her hand protective at her side. She hoped that he did not see her shaking.
"You?" Prussia whispered. His fingers brushed against the ring of keys at his belt, and when he realized one of them was missing, his eyes narrowed. Hungary sucked in a sharp intake of breath. Was he going to hurt her? Kill her?
It all happened so fast that she did not have time to think about what she was doing. Prussia took a step toward her—why he did so, she would never know—and in one swift motion she swiped the dagger out of her sheath by her side and plunged it into his chest.
At that very moment, something inside her broke. She stared with horror at the hilt protruding from Prussia and her hand how doused with his blood and she screamed. She did not understand, did not realize…Prussia was stumbling back, blood trickling from his lips and pouring from his chest...she could not even hear herself over the roar of the fire, the soldiers outside of the fort, the shouts of men all around her…her hand was still wrapped around the cold, bloody hilt and it was so close to where his heart was…
Austria—Prussia—Austria—Prussia—
Why was her mind caught in a hurricane? She didn't want to leave—couldn't just leave him after this. But soldiers had witnessed her turn her dagger against their country; they were climbing up the stairs, shouting words that Hungary could not understand. Another explosion shook the walls and Prussia fell and she didn't see him anymore—had he fallen from the top of the top of the wall? Down the stairs? She couldn't bring herself to check. The soldiers were gaining on her—she had to leave now—
Hungary grabbed the rope that Austria had tied to the post. She pulled her gloves onto her hand and swung herself over the edge of the wall. She took in a deep breath and pushed herself from the wall, sliding down the rope at an exhilarating and frightening speed. She could feel her gloves grow warm from the friction…
Prussia Prussia PRUSSIA PRUSSIA PRUSSIA—
There was no going back. Her feet slammed down on the earth and her ankles ached at the impact. She spun around and darted back to her men, her army.
"Austria!" she screamed. "AUSTRIA!"
"Hungary!" Austria broke through the black monotony and wrapped his arms around her. She sank into him, shaking and gasping for breath. She could feel Prussia's blood coat her fingers like fire. She could only see the memories flash in her mind.
Prussia running toward her when she saw him for the first time in years—
Prussia's face glowing when he read West's letter—
Prussia kneeling next to a young wounded soldier, uttering words of determined comfort—
Prussia in her arms as she hugged him after years of solid hatred—
Prussia soaked in his own blood as she stabbed him in the heart—
She screamed.