Scotland tugged again at the chains futilely.

He wondered how much time has passed; there were no windows in the dungeon.

He was so angry at himself. How had he allowed himself to be captures by his little brother? Of all the foolish, bloody-

No. He could not afford to think like that.

An unknown amount of time passed. It was difficult to concentrate on anything but his empty stomach. England had not seen fit to give him food or water after locking him in the dungeon.

He heard someone coming. Was it his imagination?

No, those were definitely footsteps.

"England, ya bastard!"

No answer.

"Bastard, answer me!"

Nothing.

"I know yer there!"

The cell door opened and a blonde head popped in. It was not England.

"Écosse?"

"Franny? Is tha' you?"

"Oui." He slipped into the room. "Écosse, I am so sorry zhat Angleterre did zhis to you."

"'Is not yer fault, Franny."

France brushed a lock of hair out of Scotland's eyes. "It was easier to keep your hair out of your beautiful green eyes when you had long hair, mon cher." The Frenchman sighed. "We cannot stay here."

"Ya don't say."

France ignored him and began picking the locks on the shackles. Within moments, they fell against the war with a loud "Clang!"

"Come. We must leave before Angleterre gets back."

Scotland wholeheartedly agreed.

The trip back to the battleground was unremarkable.

However, as they crested the hill, they both stopped and stared.

Norway's army was completely surrounded:

To the south, England's army. To the east, Russia's. To the west, America's. And to the North, the combined Commonwealths'.

The line was not yet at the edge of the camp, but it was dangerously close in some places.

"We must help them!" Scotland shouted as he ran down the hill.

"Vive la Norvège!"

The battle lines were moving closer. The troops were losing hope. Norway had so few soldiers left that every time one lost his life, Norway could feel it.

The others must have felt it, too, the deaths of their troops. Even the most stoic shed a few tears.

Norway had to stop working, as he was smearing the writing on his map.

A knock sounded on the tent post. He made a quick swipe at his eyes, then said, "Come in."

Germany entered the tent. "Herr Norvay."

"Herr Germany."

"I vant to face England."

"Why?"

"Vhy? Zhis is my fight. I must face him."

"You don't need to."

"Herr Norvay, you vere a Viking. You know about honor in battle-"

"Yes, yes I do. I wish I didn't."

"My debt to you is unpaid."

"There is no debt."

"I'm not asking for your permission."

Norway sighed. "I know. May Odin favor you."

Germany turned to leave the tent, but before he did, he murmured, "I'm sorry about April Ninth."

"I have forgiven you, as I have forgiven everybody."

Norway had one last card to play, one last roll of the dice. He could not be sure if it would work.

He called China and North Korea and asked them to invade the Middle East.

Germany fought his way into the English camp. England watched him.

Was he surrendering-?

But no, Germany was too proud for that. He would be there to challenge England.

And England was prepared for that.

He lifted his wand -with a phoenix feather core- from its green velvet-lined box.

He left his tent.

Germany was striding through the tents. When he saw England he shouted, " England, you bastard!" and raised his gun.

England grinned and lifted his wand. He shouted a spell almost gleefully. The gun flew from Germany's hand. Germany himself was lifted off his feet. With a flick of his wrist, England brought Germany to him.

"Let. Me. Go."

"No."

"Let me face you, man to man. Don't you remember honor?"

England ignored him. "Do you know how much pain you have caused me? How much I have had to go through because of you?"

"You vere not the vorst off."

"Maybe not, but I will have fun killing you and taking your land."

England turned away.

"Remember the football game, England?"

"No. No, I don't," he lied.

A/N: The next chapter will be very long.

The "football game" refers to the first Christmas of WWI, where the German and English soldiers called a temporary truce and they played soccer in No Man's Land.

"April Ninth" refers to the invasion of Norway (and Denmark) during WWII, in 1940.

Odin is a Norse god.

The Auld Alliance was an alliance between France and Scotland.

And France can pick locks. Deal with it.