Disclaimer: No own Hetalia. I do own my OCs though.
AN: MERRY CHRISTMAS! So I hope you enjoy the change in pace~! it's not an especially Christmassy chapter but hey it certainly is special don't you think?
"Drip drop, drip drop. The rain sounds against the old clock. The hands move forward with the distinct tick tock, tick tock. Time slips by like water through our fingers. Ringing each hour we survive with a bing bong, bing bong. Our cries echo with the ringing. We yell out in victory at the end of the day and we sing songs, sing songs." A frail voice sung lowly, the words echoing in the moonlight church. The words repeated over and over as the singer looked out into the town, lost in the memoirs of the past and speculations of the future. Her pale fingers tapping once every few seconds against the window frame, amethyst eyes idly dragging over the trickling nightlife.
Earth enjoyed the quietness of the night… the light of her moon drenched everything in a thick silver. Everything seemed… more somehow, it seemed more whole beneath the veil of night. The planet also liked churches, they were beautiful. Each in their own way had a beauty about them. Stories upon stories were laid across the pale walls, the past seemed almost tangible to her when she came into a church. The past was especially tangible in the older churches dotted across Europe, she loved it. Earth loved to lose herself in other people's stories, loved to escape her own for a time.
The pale planet slid away from the window, singing under her breath as she slid between the pews to leave. "Sing songs, sing song… Drip drop, drip drop. The rain sounds against the old clock." Over and over she sang, slipping between the doors and into the city before vanishing. Stepping across time and space to get to the destination she desired, leaving the city streets of Paris to enter an office in Moscow. She fell silent as she gazed at the sleeping form, the hulking man who was draped across the desk like an exhausted tiger. Oh her nations… they worked themselves so hard. Her pale fingers ghosted over a cheek, idly brushing pale hair away from closed eyes.
"You shouldn't work yourself so hard… Ivan," It was hard to get his name out. She had tried so hard not to get attached to these little pieces but she couldn't help it. "It's not good for you. I should know." Earth continued to speak, knowing that he wouldn't be able to hear her anyway. It was better that way. "You should sleep in your bed more often. This desk isn't a proper sleeping surface. I should move you." But she wouldn't. This alone was too close. Too much. So she didn't move him. Earth just stood next to him, idly stroking his hair and keeping away the Russian's nightmares for the night. She watched his sleeping face that was almost but not quiet peaceful and remembered the past. Ah… the past. A long suffering sigh left her lips, the past was such a terrible and beautiful thing… Oooohhh… the past.
The past held so much. So very much. The World Wars immediately came to her mind and she eased herself to sit on the corner of his desk, a weighty topic to be sure. She remembered when she had gotten back from her… visit… with the sun. Eventually she had made it back to Berlin and had received treatment for what she hadn't the energy to heal herself. One of her eyes had been missing, her left arm and right leg were placed in casts while the majority of her body had been swathed in bandages for the various cuts and lacerations. When she had been allowed to return home, hobbling in crutches to get back to where she had been staying at the time, disaster had struck.
The woman moved slowly, her remaining brown eye was tired and stared at the sidewalk to make sure she wouldn't fall as she carefully pushed her battered body forward. She hadn't been paying attention well enough though, accidentally bumping into a few officers causing her frail body to stumble. Oh she hated being this weak, she apologized to the angry men softly as her throat was still very very tender but their tempers were not soothed and hands shot out and harshly pushed her over. A cry of pain left her as her body collided with the hard ground, her crutches snatched up by the one who had pushed her and thrown a great deal away. They left shortly after, one of the younger ones grinding his boot into her injured hand as the small group left and he smirked at the cry he received.
The planet was fuming as she the injured limb into herself, her breath coming out in unwanted whimpers… oohh her body ached badly… her one eyes swivelled up and around to search for her crutches. Too far away… and no one dare look at her let alone assist. Humans. Bloody creatures. Worried about themselves and rightly so she supposed, not that this logical thought soothed her rage in any way. Well if they wouldn't help her then she would help herself, Earth decided resolutely. Her body screamed with pain as she struggled to move herself onto her stomach and maybe get up, a low hiss of pain left her as she struggled. After some time she finally managed it, the sky was darkening by this time and her breathing was heavy. So caught up in her struggles that she didn't bother to pay attention to the sound of boots against the ground, heading towards her… what she did pay attention though was the pale hand suddenly thrust into her vision.
The single brown eye flashing purple for only a millisecond as it stared at the outstretched hand and as she slowly looked up to the owner of the hand Earth felt her blood run cold, "Hallo Miss. You appear to be in need of assistance." Earth nodded slowly, looking up at the German. "Well. Come on then." He prompted, ice eyes looked down on her as the nation crouched in front of her. Earth frowned slightly as her slightly better off hand took his before the man began to help her into a sitting position. Germany stood and jogged off to pick up the battered crutches, bringing them back like a faithful puppy.
This was a bit too close for her. Earth mentally sighed as the young nation helped her up, setting her back on her feet with the god forsaken pieces of damned wood. "There you go. I will escort you to your home now." He said, his voice leaving no argument and she nodded, hating the fact that she had allowed this to happen…
"Thank you." She said, eye glancing away from his icy gaze before she turned to set off back home. Her body, aching in protest of the movement.
"You are welcome." Germany said, walking in step with her. Unaware of who he walked with, not that Earth minded that fact. In fact she preferred it this way. The planet made no move to further conversation, not wanting his serious gaze upon her any more than it needed to be. She wasn't supposed to be acknowledged by him, she didn't want to be acknowledged by him. It would only bring hurt upon her later. They were silent as they walked, eventually getting to her modest house.
"This is my home." Earth said as they stopped in front of the walk, "Thank you very much for the assistance sir." The currently redheaded woman said once more.
"Nein. It is not a problem." He said, looking her over. "Do you require any more help?" He was worried that she wouldn't be able to look after herself due to the extent of her injuries… but how did she get such extensive injuries anyway? Who was this woman?
"Nein sir. I have an older sister who will be helping me. Thank you for the offer." The celestial body said, quickly and politely refusing him. Only turning to go inside once they had exchanged goodbyes and he had begun to leave. She limped inside without a look back, letting out a heavy breath once the door closed. She would have to leave now, Earth realized as she slowly and carefully moved up stairs to collapse into bed. She wouldn't get the chance as the chains that bound her spirit became unbelievably heavy with the weight of war, trapping her in her bed as she slept.
Earth shook her head, fingers pausing in their gentle petting of her child's hair. "You know the past is such a bothersome thing. I often wish that most of it had never happened. The world wars are a prime example… oh the pain… You wouldn't understand my little Russia… I could feel everything. I felt every single pain everyone felt… It left me shaking and screaming most days." She murmured quietly to no one, no one could hear her. Why did she bother to speak? Her fingers had resumed combing through the pale strands, "I gained so many scars in the second world war alone… if I was human it would be a miracle if I could move due to all the scar tissue I have."
She looked down at her child, "You're so young you know. I envy you. You have so little to worry about. So little to look back on and regret…" Earth murmured, fingers tightening harshly in his hair. She didn't realize until a small whine of protest left his lips, he was too exhausted to awaken, and her fingers immediately relaxed their hold. "Oh I'm sorry my child." Earth sighed, stroking his hair once more to sooth him. "I'm not all there as some would say…. Well mentally. Physically I have each and every one of my pieces intact."
The pale woman pulled away after a time, morning was nearing now… "Have a good day Ivan." Earth murmured quietly as the large man stirred before she left once again. Stepping into a large house outside of London, the pale morning light already present as she padded through the hallways to meet the English nation. Her form melting away and taking that of a pure white unicorn that daintily trotted through the house towards the bedroom of the young nation. She whinnied outside the door, hoof clicking against the wood. It had been centuries since she had shown up in the form in front of England.
The first and only time had been so long ago… The wind tickled the trees as a red headed nation leapt at a younger blond one, sword raining many harsh blows against the littler nation who was fighting back as hard as he could. Earth watched with impassive purple eyes as she stood off to the side, a few bushed and the like between them as she leaned against a tree. Eyes watching carefully. This was important. This moment was important. It seemed so very simple. Just the usual deadly duel between siblings. Nothing new… but this one. This one was important. The planet could feel the weight of the moment settle on her shoulders like heavy ravens… cawing warning in their heavy voices. The metal clashed, shattering the silence and peace of the forest with each blow. Yes… this fight would decide the rest of time itself. How it would do this she didn't know quite yet.
The brothers dueled and the moment came. England was pushed back one more time, his foot catching on a rock sending him careening backwards as Scotland's sword met his own with undeniable force. Earth's eyes widened, images flashing before her as the blond nation lost his sword… yes. She understood now. If she didn't move. Let the sword wielded by the rage filled ginger continue unchecked…
England would die. The people she saw in her thirty years of absence wouldn't come to pass. She had to act. She did. The celestial body burst forward, shape changing into the form of a beautiful unicorn mare. Her horn colliding with Scotland's sword with a hideous screeching noise, with a throw of her head the weapon was tossed away and with a push of her head Scotland was toppled as well. Falling to the ground with shock written on his face. Why would such a beautiful creature defend the little brat? Earth let out a huff from her nose and turned to look down at the little nation, reaching down and grabbing his hood between her teeth and trotting from the clearing. The little England dangling in her grip as she gracefully took him away, the sounds of the forest returning to wrap around them in a soft lull.
The exhausted nation fell asleep once she laid him down next to a stream, purple eyes watched him pensively before the large white beast turned and galloped away. Leaving the forest behind, she wanted to watch over him as he slept… protect him. But she had already gotten too close. She had to distance herself once more.
The memories were blinked away as the door opened and she gently whinnied at the surprised face of England, her velvety nose pushing against his cheek. "Y-You… I remember you…" He murmured, green eyes looking over the beautiful unicorn stood before him. His arms slid around the muscled neck, he had long since abandoned thoughts of the unicorn. He had thought he wouldn't see it again, unicorns were such strange creatures. "What are you doing here?" England wondered out loud as his fingers slid across the warm neck of the gorgeous creature. He didn't expect an answer and he didn't get one.
Purple eyes just slid shut. It was too close… but… she couldn't help it. She needed it right now and so she allowed the petting and the hugs, resting her heavy head against his shoulder with a soft sigh. Ear flicking against the side of his head as he chuckled, "You aren't very chatty are you?" He shook his head. "Well… no matter… I… I must thank you. For helping me so long ago." Earth just let out a small whinny, her cloven hoof clipping the polish wooden floor as she finally pulled back. Turning to trot down the hallway, the English nation following after her in mild amusement as her steps rang clearly in the halls. Yes. This was much too close. But she couldn't bring herself to care as she led the lonely nation to breakfast.