Chapter 7: The Death of Berwald
The next morning, Peter headed out of the mansion. It's time to put the plan in motion. Peter was about to exit the mansion, and Tino noticed that Peter was about to go somewhere. "Peter, where are you going"
Peter stopped right at his tracks. "Uncle Ivan is going to show me something special! I'll be back mom," Peter gave him a hug "I promise"
"Alright then, pidä hauskaa, Peter" Tino waved him a farewell. Peter ran outside of the mansion and saw Ivan, waiting for him and he led him to the massive gorge that was just a few miles away from home. The gorge was created during the massive earthquake, flooding all the water away, leaving nothing but an empty vessel of a gorge. The gorge is about 50 ft deep. The good thing about this is that you can climb on it. But it's not easily climbable. Ivan led Peter to the large rock that slanted upwards.
"Now, you wait here. Your father has a marvelous surprise for you, da?" Ivan said
"Oooh, what is it?" Peter's eyes widened, as he couldn't contain himself "Isn't the new mecha toy I've always wanted?" Ivan put both of his hands on Peter's shoulder to calm him down
"Net, If I told you it wouldn't be a surprise, now, da?" Peter clambers onto a rock behind the tree.
"If you tell me, I'll still act surprised" Peter shot back
"Oh, you such a naughty little boy" said Ivan ruffling his hair
"Come on, Uncle Ivan" he whined
"Net, net, net, net, net. This is just for you and your father. You know, like an father-son vacation kind of…thing," Ivan explained "Well, I'd better go get him" He said and begin to leave
"I'll come with you" Peter said coming after his Soviet uncle, But Ivan stopped him. "Net, net. Just stay on this rock," Peter sat down on the rock with a seditious look on his face, with his arm crossed. "You wouldn't want to end up in another mess like you did with the Bad Nations, wouldn't you?"
Peter's eyes widened. "You know about that?" he asked.
"Peter, everyone knows about that"
"Really?" Peter asked with a sad guilty expression, and Ivan nodded sadly. "Oh, yes. Lucky your dad was there to save you, da?" Ivan wraps his arm around Peter's shoulder and draws him closer. "Ooh, and just between you and me, you might wanna work on your combat move of yours, da?"
"Oh, okay then." Ivan started to walk off when Peter spoke to him again. "Hey, Uncle Ivan, will I like the surprise? He asked.
Ivan grinned slyly "Peter, it's to die for"
Ivan walked off of the gorge leaving Peter alone on the slanted rock. Little did he know that an enormous herd of American Buffalo that were grazing on was at the entrance of the gorge. Alfred was born in America, so it does make sense that his animal originated in America. The only problem is that they're territorial and they can be spooked easily.
In the shadows, behind the trees, three nations were waiting with their pistols loaded and ready. They also rode horses. Francis is riding a Selle Francais (French breed horse), Gilbert is riding a Trakehner (Prussian horse breed), and Antonio is riding an Andalusian horse (Spanish horse breed). Gilbert groaned in boredom.
"This is boring, can we go now?"
"Fermez-la!" Francis yelled quietly
"Can we atleast kill one of the buffaloes" Gilbert ask
"No! We have to wait for the signal from Ivan" Francis said. Ivan emerges from the top of the gorge, looking directly at them. "There he is" He frowns dramatically "Let's go" The three nodded to each other and walked towards the herds.
Peter was still sitting on the rock, looking bored. "More combat practice..," Peter scoffed "Yeah right." Just then a butterfly flew over him, and decided to challenge the butterfly. I mean seriously, who would in their right mind challenge the world's gentle insects? He slid off the rock, then he did some punches, kicks, and everything he did. Then he slammed his foot down really hard, causing the butterfly to hesitantly fly away. Peter looks at the butterfly triumphantly
"Yeah, that's right, you better run." Peter said "No one messes with Peter: with my body made of steel, and my combat skills.."
He faced the sky and raised both of his fists into the air "I'M GONNA BE THE BEST NATION LEADER IN THE WORLD!" he yelled to the sky
His voice echoes off the wall of the gorges. He smiled with delight and joy…But it didn't last too long, as something wasn't quite right about this place. He looked down and saw some pebbles begin to vibrate, including the rest of the ground. He then looked up near the edge of the gorge, and saw some herd of buffaloes begin to run down toward him, the more buffaloes, the more noises they caused. Peter's expression turns to horror. He gasped and stood still with his eyes wide, until he snapped out of the horrifying trance. He turned around and ran quickly away from the buffaloes, but the buffaloes were much quicker, as more buffaloes ran down the gorge, The Bad Touch Trio shot their firearms up to the sky, spooking the buffaloes much more. Peter try to run quickly as the thundering hooves pounded behind him, like colossal thunderstorms that were quickly catching up to him.
Berwald then heard a noise that was similar to a thunderstorm, Then Alfred shows up
"Dude, something must have spooked my Buffalo herd" Alfred said
"That's funny, I don't remember the stampede happening?" said Roderich
"Th't odd" said the puzzling Swedish.
"Berwald" Berwald saw Ivan running toward him.
"Wh't's th' probl'm" Berwald said
"There's the stampede down in the gorge, Peter's down here" he cried
Berwald's eyes widened, looking terrified "Peter…" he said softly
Peter ran as fast as his leg could. But it wasn't enough for the raging speed of stampeding buffaloes, as they were hot on the sailor micronation's trail. His heart racing and his lungs are about to burst as the buffaloes are getting closer to him. Just about to be steamrolled, he saw a dead tree that was slanted. He has no other options. He climbed up to the tree for better protection. But that wasn't enough for the sheer pressure on the tree, as the thundering hooves make the tree bounce, making it harder to keep his grip. Berwald and Ivan rode on their horses as fast as they could to save his son, Even Alfred and Roderich followed them. They stop at the edge of the gorge, as Alfred uses the rope he has from spelunking, but it's not for cave exploring.
Roderich then used himself to climb down and spotted Peter, who still looked terrified by the stampede, and still holding the tree. Roderich look panicked
"Roderich, help me!" he yelled
"Don't worry, Peter. Your father is on his way!" he shouted "Hold on!" He climbs right back up the edge as Peter is clinging onto the tree for his dear life.
Berwald and Ivan got off of their horses and ran to the edge of the gorge, searching below with their fearful expression look on their faces
"Wh're co'ld he be" Berwald said softly
"I saw him, sire" Roderich said as he pointed to the tree where Peter is clinging. "Right there! On that tree!" Berwald and Ivan climbing down onto the ledge of a gorge
"Dad, help me!" Peter yelled
Berwald's heart filled with horror as his son's grip was about to be loosened everytime the tree bounces. "H'ld 'n, Peter!"
One of the buffaloes hit the tree causing it to crack and bend more forwards to the ground. Meanwhile, Alfred was panicking like it was the end of the world.
"Oh, no. Roderich, this is awful! What'll we do? What'll we do? WHAT'LL WE DO, RODERICH?!" Roderich slap Alfred sensely, as Alfred regain his sanity
"Come down, Alfred. You have to get yourself together." Alfred also regained consciousness, after his panic attack.
"Thank you, Roderich. I need that" Alfred said
Back to the stampede, Peter screamed as one of the buffaloes kept hitting the tree, making it more difficult for him to handle. Berwald jumped off the wall as he ran to the opposite side of the rampaging herd. He maneuvers every single buffalo to receive his son. But unawarely, one of the buffaloes slammed into him, knocking him down on the ground.
Peter then saw another buffalo ramming the tree, causing the branch to snap, sending Peter flying through the air, screaming and flailing. He looks at the sea of buffaloes in terror, that his hope will soon be gone. But Berwald ran and leaped into the air, catching him at the nick of time. Ivan walked along the ledge, observing carefully as Berwald ran into another buffalo, causing him to drop Peter, who rolled away from him.
Peter was now inside of the massive herd stampede, looking terrified. He got up, looking for his father. It wasn't sure how much he could handle before his father showed up, picking him up and searching for a safer ledge for him. Berwald climbed up halfway so Peter could make it safely. While Peter was okay, Berwald was not as he was pushed by the stampede.
"DAD!" Peter cries as his father disappears into the buffalo stampede. He climbed up for a better view to see his father. He scanned the stampeding buffaloes, looking for any sign of his father. Panic roses on his chest as all hope seems loose. Luckily, Berwald managed to leap from the stampede as he latched onto the edge of the gorge. Peter watches in relief as Berwald struggles to climb the slippery edge, while Peter begins to climb on the different path. Berwald was almost at the top, about 40 feet above the stampede. But it wasn't enough for him to make it, as Ivan came in with an emotionless expression on his face.
"Ivan! Broder, help me! He cried as he about to lose his grip
Ivan quickly knelt down and grabbed Berwald's arms tightly, causing Berwald to cringes in pain. Then Ivan looked straight at the Swedish's eyes and said his death word: "Long live, the leader" He whispered. Berwald's eyes are now widened and his entire face is now blackened with horror as Ivan heaves him into the stampede, plummeting to his unfaithful demise. He screamed as his son watched at the higher edge
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" He screamed as his father was nothing more than dust. The stampede is over, as Peter climbs down the ledge as the buffalo stampede is gone, leaving dust clouds at his wake. He was coughing badly during the aforementioned stampede attack. He ran further to the gorge, looking for his dad.
"Dad?, dad?" Peter said. Just then only one buffalo manages to direct where his father is. As the buffalo was following the herd. Peter stares in trepidation, as he sees a strange-looking figure covering up. As he wiped the dust away, it turned out that it was Berwald, unconscious, lying down and unmoving.
Peter knelt down "Dad?" he asked, no response
"Dad, come on, you gotta walk up" he said while trying to wake him up. But no response. Panic started to rise in his heart as he tried again. "Dad, we gotta go home" he said as he pulled his sleeve. His heart pounded rapidly, he then called out for help
"Help! Somebody! Anybody!...help" Peter then realized that nobody could hear him. Then he had no choice but to choose defeat, his trailed off as his tears slid down his cheeks. He slowly walked to his father, slid under his arms, and began to sob heavily. Behind him, Ivan emerges through the dust as he walked towards him
"Peter," he said, as Peter looked at him with tears in his eyes. "What have you done?" he asked
Peter then looked at Ivan as he jumped up "There was b-b-buffalo, h-he was trying to save me. It was an accident. I-I didn't mean for it to happen" he cried
Ivan knelt down next to him and Peter buried his face in his chest. "Of course, of course you didn't. No one ever means for these things to happen. But the king is dead," Peter looked up at Ivan. "And if it weren't for you, he'd still be alive." Peter then lowered his head down with depression, and looked at the sky one more time. Was he telling the truth? Was he even capable of becoming a national leader like he dream of? Was all this his fault?
"O bozhe," Ivan gasped as he realized something. "What will your mother think?
Peter was now dreaded; Would they not like him anymore? Would they kick him out of the family? Would they not become the nation's leader? His words dread him so painfully.
"What should I do? He asked. He let go of Ivan, as the Russian man himself leaned to him closer.
"Run away, Peter" he said, "Run away and never return."
The sailor's micronation's eyes widened as he backed away a bit before running away deeper into the gorge, away from home. Ivan watches him with a pleased smirk on his face, as the Bad Touch Trio walks behind him. "Kill him" he said simply, as the trio rushed after the child.
Peter was at the dead end of the gorge, he heard footsteps as he turned around and saw the three nations advancing on him. Peter gasped and began to climb the boulders. The Bad Touch Trio are ganging up on him, while shooting at him at the same time. But they miss the target. Peter continued running until he skidded to a stop at the steep cliff leading into a large thorny bush. Peter turned around and saw the Bad Touch Trio charges towards him. It was either life or death for him, so with no other choice, he jumped down the cliff and tumbled down for hours. But the BTT also jumped down the cliff to pursue him. Then the ledge threw Peter into the air and landed onto the grounds with thorns surrounding him.
The BTT was still charging after him as Peter managed to crawl out of the thorns, and luckily, he made it out with no thorns in him, because his body is made of steel. So he hasn't suffered that much injury, not for now.
The BTT saw the thorn bushes at the last minute and quickly stopped. Gilbert was the first one to stop, but unfortunately, Francis and Antonio pushed him off. Then he jumped high in the sky and yelped as he was covered by prickly thorns. Francis and Antonio laugh his butt off while Gilbert climbs out of the thorn hedge, yelping in pain. Francis then noticed a white and blue dot running away from the border
"There he goes!" he yelled
"So, go get him" said Gilbert wincing in pain as he tried to pull all the thorns off of him
"Vous plaisantez j'espère? There ain't no way I'm going in there. What, you want us to come out looking like you, cul de cactus?"
Antonio looked at Gilbert, then Gilbert spit the thorns at Antonio's face. Antonio yelps in pain. Then Gilbert look at Francis
"But we have to finished the job," said Gilbert
"Why bother," said Francis as Gilbert walked next to him. "He's as good as dead out there anyway. And if he comes back, we'll kill him." He declared
"Ja," then Gilbert began to yell at Peter before disappearing into the sunset "You hear that? If you ever come back, WE'LL KILL YA!" the BTT laughed as they walked out of the gorge.
At night, the funeral was held at the mansion. Every nation around the world, and even the Nordics (san Berwald) started to break down in tears at the death of Berwald. Ivan stood in front of the coffin that held Berwald. Then he began his speech. "My nations, micronations, and young ones. Berwald's death is a terrible tragedy. But to lose Peter, who was free-spirited and young, has barely any left to live. For me, it is a deep personal loss," he said
All of the female nations started to weep, while the other nations hung their heads down. The micronations are starting to weep, especially Lily, her best friend is now gone. She broke down in tears as Sebastiano Vargas (Seborga) is comforting her. Even Arthur looks depressed, despite his bickering and tomfoolery with the little brat. Thomas begins to tear down as Roderich comforts him with his arm behind his shoulders.
Everyone looked up at Ivan. "So, it is with a heavy heart that I assume the leadership of Kingdom Mountain. But yet, out of the ashes of this tragedy, we shall rise to greet the dawning of a new era…" Everyone gasped when Francis, Gilbert, and Antonio entered the courtyard, along with the other weak nations and leaders as Ivan continued his speech. "In which strong nations and weak nations come together, in a great and glorious future!" He finished his speech. Then Yao looked at the funeral, hung his head down with sadness, knowing that this would be a miserable life for them.
A/N: Yep, I've officially killed Berwald in this sorry, TT^TT, WHAT KIND OF STORYWRITER AM I!? I FEEL AWFUL
Poor Peter, Poor Tino, Poor Lily, and Poor Me! I'm the monster. I just know that Lily is gonna kill me for this, not to mention Arthur and Tino. This is the saddest ending for Berwald I've ever written and...Can I stop talking about this one, please :'(
Translation Words:
- Net just means "No" in Russian
- Fermez-la means "Shut up!" in French
- Broder means "Brother" in Swedish
- Cul de Cactus means "Cactus Butt" in French
Stay tuned for Chapter 8