Returning Memories Part (4/?)
Title: Returning Memories Part IV: The Promise
Author/Artist: lotus-genie
Character(s) or Pairing(s): Germany/Italy, HRE/Italy. Mentions of Prussia/Austria/Hungary
Rating: R for gore.
Summary: Germany finally gets back his memories of being HRE, but too bad it comes shortly before Italy's surrender to the Allies.
Warnings: Gore and later violence. Prussia and Hungary also swear like sailors.
Author's note: I wanted to write a darker Ger/Ita fanfic about the German occupation of Italy after Italy made a separate peace with the Allies. The part about Germany getting his memories back and having them make everything worse was inspired by the irony that it was Italy who proposed to Germany that they become the new Roman Empire during WW2. This will start fluffy and get dark later. Apologies for any potential out of character moments.
Part I Part II Part III Part V Part VI
Italy whimpered, hiding behind the overturned jeep. The Allies had cornered his men in Tunis. He could hear England's and America's bullets zipping past his body; too close for comfort. He was trying to return fire, but his troops were still badly outnumbered. He could see the tanks rolling up toward his lines. To make things worse, Germany was nowhere to be seen. While he could see the other nation's men fighting alongside his own soldiers, Germany himself did not seem to be present.
Germany? Where are you, Germany?
---
Germany listened as Beethoven flowed into Salieri, Chopin, and finally Bach (anxiety, fear, anger, and finally grief). As the final note faded away, Austria stepped back into the room.
"Germany, are you sure you truly want to know about the Holy Roman Empire's dissolution?" Austria was more composed than when he had headed out, but was still visibly shaken.
"Tell me everything, Austria."
"Your fever must be clouding your mind. Why don't you go sleep for a bit and then see if you still want to know."
"My mind is completely clear." Germany crossed his arms. "And even if I were to sleep off the fever, I would still want answers to my questions."
"Germany, Mister Austria has his reasons for not wanting to tell you." Hungary interrupted their argument to agree with Austria.
"And I have my reasons for wanting answers."
"Herr Tottel, you do not know what you are getting yourself into." Austria slowly shook his head.
"Austria, I don't want to ask again. Tell me what became of the Holy Roman Empire."
Austria sighed and sat down in the chair next to the bed. "I had hoped you would never ask that question. I promised someone a long time ago that I would never give you the answers, and even had I not promised, I would not want to tell you that information."
"I want to know." Germany glared at Austria. "I have to know."
"Then go ask your older brother."
"Austria, tell me now-that's an order!" Germany shot up from the bed, stumbling as the pain in his abdomen acted up again. "These dreams that I've been getting, my relationship with Italy, my past…I want answers!"
"Once you know, you can never go back again. Perhaps you would suffer with your new knowledge and regret ever asking." Austria clenched his hands into fists. "That is why I promised that person that I would not tell you. Are you willing to take that risk?"
"Do you know what it's like to live your life not knowing who you are? To go through each day, thinking there's something you have to remember, but can't? Have you ever lain awake at night, tortured by your lack of memories and trying to remember? Have you ever had parts of your life ripped out from underneath you?" Germany collapsed back on the bed and buried his head in his hands. The more he talked the angrier and more confused he became. While his memory loss had been confusing and painful during his first days living with Prussia, it had never bothered him this much before. However, now that his memories might have resurfaced in his dreams, he felt he had to uncover the mystery of his past, no matter what the outcome. At the very least, it would make the confusing dreams go away.
"Germany…"
"Who am I, Austria? Who am I?" Germany muttered. "You know, don't you? Austria?"
Austria sighed and placed his hand on Germany's shoulder. As he observed the usually stoic nation's frustration and confusion, it became harder and harder to keep his promise. On one hand, he did not want to see Germany continue to suffer because of the unanswered questions, but on the other hand, he did not want Germany to torture himself over his past. Finally, after mulling over the choices for a while, he closed his eyes and made a decision.
"Next time you see Prussia, please tell him I am sorry for breaking our promise."
"Mister Austria…" Hungary glanced from Austria to Germany. "Are you sure you want to…?"
"Yes, Hungary. We have to tell him sometime." Austria sighed, looking sad and resigned.
"Very well then." Hungary picked up her frying pan. "I'll stay here to make sure that what you say is complete and accurate. Germany deserves nothing less."
Austria cleared his throat. "For this, we have to start at the beginning. The Holy Roman Empire was founded out of the remnants of the Frankish Carolignan Empire. In 962, when Otto I was crowned Holy Roman Emperor, the Holy Roman Empire was formally established. However, because he was composed of various territories that each had their own leader, his health was often unstable."
Germany listened intently as Austria spoke. Currently, Austria was only going over the information that he already knew. He waited impatiently for Austria to move on to the part that he was interested in.
"In time, I too joined his household and, through various arrangements, became the ruler of the empire. Though I was technically still under his command, I took care of all his affairs and acted as something of a caretaker for him."
"I moved in sometime later, when Mister Austria helped me fight off the Ottomans." Hungary added.
"Afterwards, with Spain's help, we were able to assert control over Italy. Romano, whose territories covered most of Italy, was given to Spain, while Veneziano, or the Italy that you know, stayed with us."
Hungary giggled. "We thought little Italy was a girl for the longest time. We even dressed in maids' clothes until his voice broke. Holy Roman Empire even had a crush on her. It was cute to see."
Austria blushed at being reminded of his mistake. "We were happy together for a time. I guided the Holy Roman Empire's actions and managed his servants."
Germany felt his heart skip a beat when he heard that Austria had thought of Italy as a girl and dressed him as one. He once again remembered his dream where he, as the Holy Roman Empire, had spoken to a girl who looked like Italy. Even more, if he truly was the Holy Roman Empire, then it meant that he had fallen in love with Italy while under the false impression that the other nation was female. He was ready to imitate Austria in blushing about the mistake.
"It was just like a big happy family. Mister Austria was doing his best as a father figure for Holy Roman Empire."
"However, I am willing to admit that I made a few mistakes in caring for him…" Here, Austria paused. "…such as encouraging his already great ambition to become the new Roman Empire."
"To achieve those ambitions, Mister Austria and the Holy Roman Empire fought many wars to assert their domination in Europe, which eventually led to the Empire's dissolution." Hungary closed her eyes, going through the painful memories. "It was…very hard on Mister Austria."
"The Holy Roman Empire…was formally dissolved after the Fourth Treaty of Pressburg, which had been signed following a decisive defeat at the hands of Napoleon during the Battle of Austerlitz…" Austria's fingernails dug into his palms. It was getting harder and harder for him to speak as he remembered the events of that time.
---
"So there is no other choice?" Austria stared at his Emperor. Ever since their defeat at the hands of France, they had been having this argument. Though he knew that the dissolution of the Empire would be inevitable, he still did not expect the Emperor's order to have Austria dissolve the Empire.
"Roderich, I find this choice as abhorrent as you do, but this is the only thing we can do to keep Napoleon from gaining more power." The Emperor sighed and turned back to his paperwork.
"By doing what? Weakening ourselves further? Your Majesty, to my understanding, the Empire can survive this Peace! All Napoleon demands is your abdication, not the dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire! Please reconsider your decision, Your Majesty!" Austria felt his emotions overwhelming him as he argued with Francis II, though his face showed little change in expression. It was not just the loss of his power and his dignity that stirred him into a rage, but also the knowledge that the Emperor's decision would have him kill the boy that he had raised for so many years. While they were not born from the same parents, they had become like family. The Holy Roman Empire was more than just his Empire-he was his little brother. There was no way that he could carry out his Emperor's decision.
"If we continue to preserve the Empire even after this treaty, then Napoleon will have the states siding with him tearing it apart from the inside out! Roderich, that boy will be in even more pain then thanks to your selfish decision."
Austria gritted his teeth while considering the Emperor's words. It was true that Napoleon had lured many of the component states of the Empire into siding with him and said states might later leave to become a separate confederation under France, but it still seemed to early to give up. "What of your emergency powers? You have the support of the Reichstag and the Electors. You could find a way to preserve the Empire. It is your duty as his Emperor! Once again, Your Majesty, please consider this option."
"Only while I am still the Emperor" Francis smiled bitterly at Austria. "If Napoleon does not have his allies ripping apart this Empire upon my abdication, then he will surely crown himself Emperor. We would all be subjected to France's rule then. The only way I can save the Holy Roman Empire would be to dissolve it."
"Your majesty, you have the power to preserve the Empire, but not to completely dissolve it like this! We can save the Empire! England is on our side and…"
"Enough!" Francis slammed his fist on his desk. "Do you think I carry no affection for that boy? He is my Empire, my people. I have a duty to alleviate his pain, and right now, this is the only way I can do so."
"He is my brother. You will have me kill him. Please excuse me if I am loath to follow your command for that action." Austria desperately tried to remain composed. "You have known him and ruled him and cared for him, but only for so long. I have been with him for centuries. I have raised him since he was a child. He is more than just a people or an empire to me."
"Then look at him, Roderich. Look at him lying there in agony as he slowly wastes away. You have seen his wounds and his illness. Do you wish to consign him to such a fate? Or perhaps you desire to see what will happen to him as his territories begin ripping themselves away? You too know that you can only comfort him until he truly fades away. Even then, you can only do so much. How long do you wish to see him fighting for his life in vain even as he is all too aware of his impending demise?"
"…I understand. Thank you for allowing me this meeting." Austria took a deep breath and turned away. Everything that his Emperor had said was true. No matter how he argued, he knew that the Holy Roman Empire was dying. He wanted to find a way to save the Empire, but as it was, that seemed impossible. As hard as it was for him to admit it, perhaps this was the most merciful course of action. Nevertheless, he still felt angry about it.
"I will announce my formal abdication and the dissolution of this Empire after the Peace is signed." Francis stated as Austria continued walking away.
Austria felt his eyes becoming wet as he walked into his fortepiano room. He sat down at the piano, intent on playing out his rage. However, as his fingers pressed down on the keys made of the finest ebony and bone slips, he felt too enraged to even express his anger in music. Instead, he raised his fists and slammed them down on the keys, sending a cacophony of piano sounds trailing through the palace. He repeated this for four or five times before he calmed down enough and took a couple deep breaths, his body still trembling with rage as well as anguish. Only then was he able to play a few pieces of music-loud, passionate cabalettas. For some reason, as he played, tears raced down his face. Gradually, the anger gave way to grief as the music became slower and more harmonious, and grief in turn fell silent as Austria left the piano to visit the Holy Roman Empire.
He pushed open the door, seeing the Empire sleep, his face flushed and his breathing shallow. Austria quietly sat down next to the teenager and pulled the quilts over the Empire's shoulders. He wanted to wake the Empire up, give him a hug, and tell him that he loved him. However, he knew that the Holy Roman Empire had just fallen asleep after yet another day of coughing and vomiting and sensations of unbearable pain. He decided it would be best to allow the teenager his moment of peace. Instead, he just stroked the young Empire's hair and watched him sleep.
Austria pulled off his glasses and wiped them. They had gotten wet and foggy due to his tears. He wondered how he was going to tell Holy Roman Empire about this. Even more, what was he going to tell Italy? At the thought of Italy, he remembered how the younger nation had grown in the past years. When the Holy Roman Empire had claimed many of Italy's lands from Spain, it had given Italy a growth spurt. However, this sudden growth had allowed Austria and Hungary to find out an embarrassing truth-Italy was a boy all along. They had only recently begun dressing Italy in breeches instead of skirts. Austria wondered if he should tell Holy Roman Empire of this development.
In the end, he decided not to tell the Empire of either of those things. He would allow the Holy Roman Empire to hold on to his beautiful dreams until the end. At the very least, he would let his young master, his brother, die happy.
"What the hell?" Hungary threw open the door to the room.
Austria glared at Hungary. "I would suggest that you lower your volume."
"What the hell?" Hungary hissed as quietly as she could as she stomped toward Austria. "Are you really going to give up that easily to France of all people? Fight like a man already, you pussy!"
"Hungary, we have fought and we have lost. France is too strong. Any more fighting would bring more pain down upon our own people. As their nation, I must protect them in any way I can." Austria frowned. "And will you cease in using that language?"
"If you won't fight, then I will." Hungary clenched her musket. "I still can't believe you'd give up so easily. Look, here's the fucking deal: either you fight, or I'm going with France. He has better ideas about who should rule who anyway. I'm sick and tired of the way your boss has been running my house into the fucking ground. The only reason I'm fighting alongside you now is because I'm sorry about the kid."
"He…he doesn't have long anyway. If you want to go, then go." Austria retorted. "Everyone else has left already. Nobody cares about this Empire anymore."
"Didn't you hear what I said? I care for the kid. I hate your boss's fucking guts, he's an asshole. And going through some history, I find that I'm pretty ready to hate you now for treating me like shit quite a few times in the past. But I don't hate the Holy Roman Empire himself. In fact, now that I think about it, France is probably going to be making me speak his language if he ever gets his hands on me. That's why I'm more ready to fight on your side than France's."
"Hungary, thank you for your offer, but as I said, we have no ability to fight back. If anything, we must capitulate to France's commands for now. We will fight against him when we recover our forces."
"So your Emperor abdicates. No big deal. Just get a new one and…"
"Not only that, but the Holy Roman Empire shall also be dissolved." Austria spat out the words as if they were poison in his mouth.
"What?" Hungary raised her voice, causing Austria to put his hand over her mouth to avoid waking the sleeping Empire.
"It was my Emperor's decision. As much as I do not wish to admit it, he is right. Napoleon has allied himself with many of our territories. If we keep the Empire through the peace, Napoleon will use the interregnum to wreak more havoc. After the treaty is signed, Emperor Francis II shall formally announce his abdication as well the complete and utter dissolution of this Empire."
"Your Emperor orders you around and you obey without question, even though he's talking about killing a kid who's suffered enough already. What are you, his little b-? Sorry, I forget I'm not supposed to address you with those words, Mister Austria!"
"Do you think I didn't fight him? I argued against his decision as much as I could. However, he was still my Emperor, and his arguments are correct! If the Empire survives, then Napoleon will take his allies into a new confederation. Where do you think that would leave the Holy Roman Empire? In addition, Napoleon could easily crown himself Emperor. Are you suggesting that I give Holy Roman-no, Ludwig-to France as a slave while in this condition? He has suffered enough. It is time for me to put it in" Austria sighed, shook his head, and buried his head in his hands. "What do you suggest I do, Hungary?"
"Then smother him." Hungary hissed. "If you're so into mercy killings, smother him right now with his pillow. Kill him while he's asleep so he will never wake up to pain or sorrow ever again. Don't let him continue to waste away while you waste time discussing the damn treaty, and then let him feel the pain of his own dissolution. If you truly want to end his agony, then kill him now and be quick about it. Unless you're too much of a p-excuse me-Gentleman."
"Hungary, I…" Austria took a deep breath. "If I am so loath to even sign a treaty to kill him, then how do you think I could kill him with my own hands?"
"So this is all about not getting your hands dirty? Fine-I'll do it then. Watch and learn."
Austria grabbed Hungary from behind, pinning her arms and stopping her from picking up the pillow. "Hungary, please cease and desist in these actions. I understand that you are upset, but I will not allow you to hurt Ludwig."
"It was your idea to begin with. You're the one who suggested…"
"Do you think I have no reservations about this? Do you think that I do not spend time blaming myself or longing for a better solution?"
Hungary turned to look at Austria. After glaring at him for a while, she sighed and stepped away. "You know what? Do whatever the hell you want. I don't care. I've got too much of my own shit to take care of right now. I'm going home."
"Yes, please, go."
Hungary threw one last wistful glance at Austria. "Just…take care of yourself, Mister Austria." With that, she left the decaying house.
"You too, Hungary. Take care of yourself." Austria whispered.
He turned back to the Holy Roman Empire. His brother could sleep on the finest silk sheets and be covered with the warmest blankets and fluffiest pillows, but it did not change the fact that the Empire was dying. His house, reflecting his condition, was slowly crumbling. Austria could see the dust gathering on the floors and the cobwebs in the corners that could not be swept away no matter how the servants scrubbed at it. The elaborate carvings and paintings on the ceilings and walls were cracking and fading. The chandeliers and lamps, so delicately crafted at the hands of masters, had dimmed and rusted. Even the windows had become glazed over, turning the room even darker. The once magnificent mansion was now a ghost of its former self, ready to finally collapse at the slighted touch.
Not that it had ever been as strong as it looked-Austria grudgingly admitted that the Holy Roman Empire was not Holy, Roman, or Empire. It was, in the end, just a loose alliance of states with differing cultures and governments, with the only possible connection being the German language that they all spoke. Only in recent years had the monarchy become hereditary, and the Pope's approval was now more a formality than requirement. Such a system could not last. Most of the power had already been transferred to the Grand Duchy of Austrian, leaving him stronger while further weakening the Holy Roman Empire.
The more he thought about it, the more he was sure that it was cruel to needlessly prolong the life of a dying nation. His brother would be happier to finally be able to rest in peace after three centuries of constant bloodshed. Both his people and the Holy Roman Empire's people-though after the Treaty would be signed, they would no longer be the Empire's people-would be happier at this.
"This is for the best. Let the ones that want to leave, leave. I will remain and protect our, or rather, my people." However, even as he spoke to himself, it seemed that he was trying to persuade himself of something that he did not believe.
"Roderich…" The Holy Roman Empire stirred. He instantly began to violently cough.
Austria slowly helped the Holy Roman Empire sit up, careful not to agitate his wounds. He gently rubbed the teenager's back as the Empire spat out mouthfuls of blood and bile. When the Holy Roman Empire's cough seemed to have stopped, Austria helped him lean against a pillow.
"Roderich…busy…" The Holy Roman Empire was too weak to finish his sentence, but Austria was able to understand what the Empire wanted to say.
"I have been discussing the upcoming treaty with my Emperor. Due to our crushing defeat, we must temporarily concede to France's demands. But do not worry, Young Master, for I shall do everything in my power to protect you through this new peace." Austria tried to smile reassuringly at the Holy Roman Empire but found he could not do it. He felt even worse now that he had lied to the boy.
The Holy Roman Empire frowned at Austria, but then gave a small nod, as if he knew that Austria was lying, but only to comfort him. "Story…?"
"Young Master, I believe you are at too old an age for bedtime stories. But, I supposed I shall indulge you anyway." Austria tried to kept his voice steady, knowing that this would probably be the last time that he could tell the Holy Roman Empire a story. Before, he had always been annoyed by the boy's requests. He was too busy trying to amass power to be bothered with doing "petty" things like telling the Empire bedtime stories. However, now he regretted not spending more time with the Holy Roman Empire while he still could.
"Which…"
"I will tell you a story that does not belong to any particular nation. It is a fairy tale about a young Prince who fell in love with a maid in his house, and tried to become stronger so he could marry her. It…has a happy ending."
The Holy Roman Empire weakly shook his head, as if he was saying that no, the story would not end happily. He knew the story that Austria was referring to all too well.
"Yes it does. I will give it a happy ending. Now, listen…"
---
"To stop the advance of Napoleon toward the territories of the Rhine, my Emperor decided to abdicate and dissolve the Holy Roman Empire. After that, I went to Pressburg and signed the treaty. You might think me heartless, but as I said, I had no other choice. I could not stand by and watch Napoleon tear him apart from the inside, or to have him die slowly and painfully."
"The Holy Roman Empire…he saw you leave. He knew that you regretted it."
Austria looked at Germany in surprise. "How did you know that?"
"It was in one of my dreams. He…he fought when he died. Even though he was in pain, he wanted to live. But in the end, he died when that treaty was signed." Germany continued, telling Austria about what he had seen in the dream.
"Is that it?" Austria slumped in his chair. "I…I did not consider that. All this time, I thought I was acting in his best interest…but I was wrong. I betrayed him; I murdered him. I wish I could have known then. Now, all I can do is beg for his forgiveness, which I am sure will never come."
"Mister Austria, you made your choice because you cared for him. I am sure that if he knew, he would understand." Hungary placed her hand on Austria's shoulder, comforting him.
"Yes, I think if he knew what you were thinking, he would accept your apology." While he was still unsure if he was the Holy Roman Empire in another form, Germany decided that if he was, he would forgive Austria. After all, from the time that he had spent with the other nation, he could see that while Austria had a condescending attitude, he also cared deeply for the people around him. Whether as Germany or the Holy Roman Empire, he knew Austria cared about him and wanted to protect him.
"Though he was dissolved, it was not the end for the Holy Roman Empire…"
---
Austria's calm expression did not change as he finished signing his name on the piece of paper. He felt like he wanted to collapse; it was the hardest thing that he had ever done. With one stroke of his pen, he had sealed the Holy Roman Empire's fate.
"Thank you, Mon Ami." France rolled up the piece of paper and stuffed it into his pocket. "Now, I believe you still have something to do…"
"To what do you refer?"
"It seems, Ami, that your former territories would be happier under my Emperor." France walked over to Austria and traced the shorter nation's chin with his long, graceful fingers. "You should really decide what to do with them. After all, they have already declared that they will go with me to form a new Confederation."
"Do not worry. I shall release them to you if you desire." Austria kept his voice level as he resisted his desire to punch France's smug face. He was here to make peace, not to start another war that he could not win.
"You are awfully gracious today…" France smirked and looked over Austria. "Oh yes…awfully gracious."
"I would like to remind you that we are here for official matters, not for your lewd pastimes." Austria pulled away from France. "My Emperor has simply decided that these lands are more trouble than they are worth at the moment."
"Oh, then do let me help you with that." France reached toward Austria again.
"I told you, I am here for official matters only. If you can allow it, I would like to return to my residence now."
France laughed. "Why so much resistance, Autriche? You know I will find one way or another to make you mine. I expect to see you back soon, and next time bring that little Empire that you are caring for."
"I will come back, yes, but I will not allow him to fall into your clutches." Despite his attempts to ignore France, Austria still responded to France's comment.
"It will just be a matter of time, Austria."
"No, it will not." Austria found it harder to be stoic as he remembered the dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire. Francis II had already prepared an announcement that he would read to his people.
He left the room feeling disgusted and trying to get France's annoying laughter out of his ears.
---
By all right, he should have felt sad as he walked into the Holy Roman Empire's house for the last time. He knew that he would never see the young Empire again; the most he could hope to find would be a dent on the bed where the Empire had lain during his last moments. He was only here to gather the former nation's belongings and bring them to his new house. It made no sense to waste the perfectly useable items; what could not be put to use would serve as mementos of his ill-fated younger brother.
However, due to many days of mental and emotional preparation and furious banging on the piano, the grief that he should have held was not there. Instead, he could only feel numb as he walked through the foyer, up the stairs, and down the hall. Even when he opened the door to the former Holy Roman Empire's room, he did not shed a single tear.
The one thing that he did feel was surprise. When he looked in the room, fully expecting it to be empty, he saw the bed was still occupied. The Holy Roman Empire, though he had been dissolved, had not disappeared. He still lay in his bed, looking to be sleeping.
Austria cautiously stepped toward the unconscious figure. He knew that he should not get his hopes up: perhaps some nations just disappeared slower than others. He felt the other nation's forehead and chest. The teenager was still warm. In addition, his chest was moving. He was still breathing, though it was slow and shallow. Austria pressed his ears to the Holy Roman Empire's chest. To his shock, he could still hear a slight heartbeat.
"Young Master?" He whispered. There was no response. "Young master? Holy Roman? Ludwig? Brother?"
No matter how he yelled, the former nation seemed to remain in a deep sleep. In the end, Austria gave up, puzzled at how the boy had not died, and yet would not wake up either. He simply turned and headed back to his Emperor's palace. Perhaps the Emperor would have some answers for him.
---
Austria did not stand with his Emperor when the formal dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire was officially announced. Instead, he was by the Holy Roman Empire's bedside, holding the boy's hand.
Francis II had not known of why the boy had fallen into that deep sleep. None of the other nations he had asked had known either. In the end, some of Francis' advisors had offered the theory that the Holy Roman Empire's body was simply shutting down gradually in preparation for his final dissolution. His consciousness had simply been the first thing to go.
While he was not sure what to believe, Austria had still insisted on staying by his brother on the day of the Emperor's proclamation. He could not do much for the dying Empire, but he would at least be able to accompany Ludwig during his last moments. It was slightly comforting to know that the Holy Roman Empire would not be awake to feel the agony of his dissolution.
The former Holy Roman Empire had been dressed not in his sick-clothes, but in his old black robes. His sheets and pillows had been changed and his bed was now covered with white roses. A single red rose decorate his lapel. The fragrance of the roses offset the odor of decay that had permeated the room, while their color had hid the former empire's pale complexion. His golden hair had been slicked back (it was something that the empire had taken a liking to when he had first started on his puberty; when he had been so active and alive) and his body had been placed perfectly straight on the bed. Austria had requested it-though dissolved, the Holy Roman Empire was still once an Empire. He would die as a nation and not a sick young man. Austria himself had been dressed in full military regalia, ready to give the younger nation a proper farewell. Still, he hoped in vain that the younger nation would suddenly wake up and start talking again. He did not just look to be deep asleep, but actually was asleep and seemingly ready to wake.
Austria clenched Ludwig's hand, trying to feel any changes in temperature. He expected the warmth to completely fade away once the Emperor completely he announcement. However, even as he sat in silence and waited, the hand's temperature seemed constant.
"Ah, what are you doing here, Austriche?" France sallied in the room, flanked by the territories that had left the Holy Roman Empire. His cheeks were slightly flushed, indicating that he might have been drinking.
"France, I currently have no desire to consort with neither you nor your…new allies. Please depart from this place."
France clicked his tongue. "What rudeness, to order me to leave my own home. It seems I was wrong in taking you for an aristocrat."
"This is not your home, Herr Tottel. This is the home of the former Holy Roman Empire. Now that he has been dissolved, this house has no reason to stand. Neither of us can claim it as our territory."
"J'ai bien peur que vous vous trompiez, Ami." France wagged his finger. "As of now, this house belongs to the Confederation of the Rhine. Remember when I said that the states allied with me wished to form a new Confederation? This is it-the Confederation of the Rhine."
"France, can I please ask you for the decency to stay outside until the original owner of this house can pass away in peace?"
"Que voulez-vous dire par là? He is not dying, Austria. Look, he is but asleep." France leaned over Ludwig's unconscious form. "I think that he shall wake up with a kiss from a handsome prince."
"You are the furthest thing from handsome that I could imagine."
"You might change that opinion when you see what I am capable of." France licked his lips. "What do you say to the three of us…alone?"
"Ludwig is unconscious. For all we know, he is dying. I would like you to have some measure of respect for the dead."
"Like I said, Austriche. He is not dead; simply asleep. Now, if you will step aside, I will take him with me now."
"You will not." Austria hissed. "While he might not be my empire anyway, he is still under my care and-"
"He is not longer your empire. He is my confederation. Did you not understand my statements? His territories wished for him to be a union of states that did not include you. He will now reside in my house…and I will work on ways to wake him up."
"Next time, speak less French." Austria glared toward Bavaria and the others, trying to see if they would dispute Frances claim. However, they all seemed to give their silent consent.
"Austria, step aside before we decide that this will be decided by another war." Bavaria and his allies surrounded Austria.
As Austria watched, France picked up the unconscious Ludwig, cradling the teenager in his arms. "Do not worry, Austria. I will treat him well. Very well, in fact."
"France!" Austria raised his voice. His dignity screamed at him not to do it, but his affection for Ludwig insisted that if would be alright to throw away his remaining pride. "France…I am…not demanding this of you. However, I shall beg your mercy as a defeated, penitent enemy and old friend. Please…wait until he is conscious to do anything. He is too young to participate in those activities that you consider pleasurable. I am making no demands-instead, I am begging you. Please…" At this last word, he dropped to his knees, trying not to look up at the sneering faces of the other nations.
France scoffed at Austria. "Why are you now begging me for mercy on his behalf? Was it not you who agreed to his dissolution? You were aware that your actions would have killed him, and yet you went through with them anyway. If anything, I care for him more than you do."
"At the time, I was sure that the decision was correct. I sought to spare him from him from dying a slow, lingering death...and I sought to protect him from you." Austria lowered his head. "I no longer have the ability to protect him, so if what you say is true and you do care for him more than I do, then please consider my request. Please do not lavish your attentions upon him."
"Who do you take me for?" France's voice sounded wistful for a second. "I have known this boy for a long time, ever since the time of the Frankish Empire. My feelings for him are not that of a lover; even if they were, taking advantage of an unconscious man would be boring and crude. I am simply becoming his new protector. I promise you, Austria-I will neither ravish nor disrespect him while he is under my roof. If anyone else attempts to assault him, then you have my word that I shall repel their forces. This boy and his territories shall rest undisturbed within my house."
Austria slowly climbed up. "I will hold you to that promise then."
---
"France…he left and took the new Confederation of the Rhine with him. I did not see the Confederation again until Napoleon was defeated. It was then that Prussia brought him to me, an event that you might remember all too well."
---
"This cannot be." Austria insisted as he saw the boy. "When last I saw him, he was in a slumber so deep that he could not stir even to take food or water. Are you telling him that he not only survived ten years with no sustenance, but is now awake again?"
The two nations were sitting in front of a table decorated with a bowl of fruit and some bottles of wine. Despite Austria's protests, Prussia had leaned back in his chair and propped his feet, still in his boots that had been covered with blood, mud, and horse manure on the edge of the table. Austria frowned and sipped his wine, trying to ignore Prussia's atrocious table manners.
Prussia shrugged. "Maybe he didn't wake up for either you or France because you weren't awesome enough. However, when he felt the awesomeness radiating off of the awesome me, he decided that it was awesome enough to wake up for. Besides, we're nations. We can last longer without food or water than any human."
"Still, to think he would wake up now of all times..."
"Yeah, yeah. I didn't really believe it at first either, but then I saw it with my own two eyes." Prussia grinned. "Can't be an illusion if the awesome me saw and felt it."
---
"Praise me! Hail me! On your knees! For I am Mighty Prussia, the Conqueror!" Prussia crowed as he stood in the middle of the ruined house. He had finally defeated France by himself, with only a little help from his various allies. To celebrate his victory, he had blown out one of the walls of France's house with a cannon and was now stomping around, looking for things to loot or vital regions to seize.
Eventually, he came to a room sealed with several ornate locks. Deciding that something really valuable must have been in the room, he raised his foot and tried to kick the door down. However, no matter how he attacked the door, it would not budge. Even when he yanked out his saber and tried to cut apart the wood, it held firm. Finally, frustrated at the door's sturdy construction, he headed out to grab his cannon.
"This better not be France's erotica collection." Prussia grumbled. He made a note to himself to find a way to punish France if the other nation had indeed made him waste so much of his awesome efforts for a stack of useless erotic materials.
The door finally caved in as the cannonball came into contact with it. Stepping through the hole in the room, he looked around the room. It was almost empty except for a glass container in the center. It was a rectangle box with some sort of gilded inscription on the side; Prussia did not bother to read it because he considered it a waste of his time. Upon closer examination, there seemed to be a figure behind the now dusty glance.
Prussia grabbed what seemed to be the lid to the box and pulled it off. He could now clearly see the teenager lying in there, perfectly still except for his rising and falling chest that indicated he was still breathing. The one thing that Prussia noticed about him right away was his resemblance to the supposedly deceased Holy Roman Empire.
After taking a moment to adjust from the shock of seeing the sleeping man, Prussia decided the teenager's resemblance to the Holy Roman Empire was just a coincidence. More importantly, since France had kept this boy under heavy protection, it meant that he was probably an important vital region. He imagined the look on France's face when he would show the other nation which vital regions he took.
Before Prussia could grab the other nation, the teenager stirred. He sat up and opened his eyes, blinking at Prussia in curiosity and confusion.
"Who the hell are you?" Prussia asked at the boy stared at him. He wanted to know exactly which one of France's territories he was seizing. He half-expected the boy to announce himself as the Holy Roman Empire, given his looks.
"I don't know…"
Prussia reached down and grabbed the other nation's arm. It did not matter that the boy did not have any idea who he was: vital regions were vital regions.
"Where are we going?" The boy asked as Prussia started dragging him along. However, he offered little resistance.
"My awesome house."
"Why?" The shorter nation asked. "Do you know who I am?"
"No, but I guess I'll think up a name for you or something when I get home. It'll be an awesome name." Prussia replied. "And don't think I'm taking you because I like you in particular or anything. I'm just here to snatch some territories out from France's ass."
"I'm a territory?" The younger nation closed his eyes, seemingly deep in thought. "Well, I suppose I am. I'm not sure though."
At this point, Prussia decided that something was probably wrong. The boy should have been a nation, but he had never heard of a nation being born as a teenager, nor a nation being born with no knowledge of who he was. "Are you sure you don't know?"
The boy shook his head. "I think I should know who I am, but I can't remember."
"Dammit. Now I'm going to have to ask France about this. I can't properly rub it in his face unless I know who I just took." Prussia growled. On one hand, he had just procured some new territories, but on the other, even the territory had no idea of who he was supposed to be.
"What are you doing with my Confederation?" One of the German states (Prussia could not be bothered to remember who he was because the other nation did not seem to be awesome enough) darted out from behind a pillar.
Prussia snorted. "Your Confederation? He's mine now. Get out of the way before I give you a taste of my awesome."
The other nation silently stared at Prussia for a bit, sizing up the situation. Finally, he sheathed his weapon and stepped aside.
"At least you're good at listening." Prussia and his new territory continued walking until they reached Prussia's camp.
---
"So, my boss says that by Confederation, that other guy, who was no where near as awesome as the awesome me, means that you're supposed to be the Confederation of the Rhine. You know what that is?"
The boy shook his head. Prussia frowned. It looked like he would have to spend sometime explaining things to his new lackey.
"Okay, there used to be this guy called the Holy Roman Empire, and he was this nation made up of a bunch of other nations. However, when he got Napoleon-ed, a bunch of the nations inside him left and made another alliance, called Confederation of the Rhine. France was holding on to you, but now that he's lost to me, I'm your awesome new boss."
The former Confederation of the Rhine nodded. "I understand. If you are now my superior, then how should I address you?"
Prussia scratched his head. He had not thought of that part yet. If the nation had been older, he would have insisted on a title like "The Great and Awesome Living War God Master Prussia," but the nation was too young for him to get any sense of satisfaction out of being addressed by that title. In addition, the boy seemed to…cute and innocent to be relegated to a simple lackey's role.
"Big brother." He finally decided. "Starting from today, I'm your awesome big brother and you're my awesome little brother. The awesome me'll run your house and fight for you and own all of your vital regions. All you need to do is to listen to what I say and work toward becoming awesome. Oh, don't call yourself the Holy Roman Empire of the Confederation of the Rhine anymore because you're my German Confederation now!"
"The German Confederation…" The boy smiled. "That's a nice name, Big Brother."
Prussia felt oddly warm and fuzzy inside when he saw his new little brother smile. He threw his arm around the teenager's shoulder. "I'll teach you be awesome, just like your awesome big brother!"
---
"And there you have it. I took the kid out from under France's nose. You should have seen his face. He was so in shock from seeing my awesome that I thought his expression would permanently freeze into that. If you want to see, I had a painter do a painting of me and him at that moment. I like to think that it captured my awesome side, though seeing how it's me, any side is awesome." Prussia smirked. "As always, I was awesome."
"So you are saying that this boy has complete memory loss?" Austria glanced at the German Confederation, who was now distracted with the various paintings that hung in Austria's house.
"Yeah. I have no idea how the hell it happened." Prussia picked up his cup and downed the wine in it with one gulp. He proceeded to give a loud belch.
"He went through a near death experience upon his dissolution. I am not surprised that he chose to seal those memories off instead of experience that pain again." Austria sipped at his wine before turning back to Prussia. "More importantly, we are here not to discuss this boy's lack of memory, but what is to become of him in the future."
"Well, it's clear, isn't it? I'm taking him and making him into my awesome German Confederation."
"That is only an unofficial agreement. The official agreement is the one that shall be included in the Treaty. Also, I am concerned at you assertions that he is your German Confederation."
"Hey, the awesome me was the one who found him and adopted him as a little brother. I should be the one to raise him."
"You did find him and take him from France, but he is the new form of my Holy Roman Empire. I believe that I also have the right to his custody. After all, I did raise him since he was but a child."
"Let's get something straight here. I couldn't give two shits about the Holy Roman Empire. Hell, I barely knew him back when we lived in the same house. But this boy right here? That kid who just got a new start in life and is clinging to the awesome me for support? I give much more that two shits about him. I don't know why, but I want to help him. I'm going to protect him and train him to be awesome and strong so he'll never get tugged around by bastards like France again! That's why I'm making him into my awesome German Confederation!"
"I have never known you to be the caring type." Austria smirked and shook his head. "I know you all too well, Prussia-you took him not out of any compassion or love, but so you could possess his vital regions; you wanted power. I, on the other hand, care for more than just that."
"Says the man who relinquished him; who dissolved him. You were the one who signed a treaty knowing full well that it could kill him and still went through with it. What right do you still have to his care?" Prussia sat up straight and slammed his fist on the table. "You want me to give him back so you can kill him all over again?"
"You have no idea of the situation that I had been forced into." Austria stood up and leaned toward Prussia.
"I understand well enough. You had a kid, barely a teenager, on your hands and you were ready to kill him to protect your own interests. Look at him, Austria-he's too young and too weak for all the scheisse that you put him through! You were too busy saving your own ass that you didn't even try to protect him! Now that he's my awesome little brother, don't think the awesome me will let you touch him with a fucking fifty foot flagpole decorated with your colors!" Prussia hissed.
"It was never my intention to kill him if I could find a better way." Austria sighed and massaged his temples. "He was every bit my brother then as he is your brother now. I still carry regrets over not being able to save his life."
Prussia stared skeptically at Austria's face. After a minute or two, he leaned back again and snorted. "Fine, let's just say you're sincere. What would you do with him if I let you help care for him?"
"I would like to help him remember his past. Right now, he must be very confused. I will help him move on with his life."
"Oh yeah, you're just going to help him remember so he can go ahead and tear himself apart all over again. You'll let him die for your fucking ambitions! You know that if he gets his memories back, he'll only try to become Rome again! He'll get tangled up in his past to the point that he won't have a future anymore. The same things will happen, and this time, even the awesome me might have a hard time rescuing him! Do you want him to go through the pain of dying again, Austria? Do you want him to drown in his past, trying to be the Empire that he no longer is? If you really cared about him, you would let him live his own life, without being in the shadow of the Holy Roman Empire. Let him live his life the way he wants without any of his old burdens." Prussia's fists had begun to leave dents on the table as he punctuated his words with slamming his fists on the tabletop. "The only way he can ever move on with his life is if neither of us ever tells him about whom he used to be. Just let him keep on living like he is now."
"Now that you mention it…" Austria lowered his head, deep in thought. "Yes, perhaps it would be better to let him start anew. Not everyone gets a second chance, and I wish to rectify the mistakes that I had once made with the Holy Roman Empire. I shall agree with you just this once."
"Then swear!" Prussia drew his sword and stabbed it into the table. "Swear on my sword that neither of us shall ever tell him of his past! Swear that both of us will let him will let him live his life as he wants and not as the tool of someone else's ambition! Swear on my sword, Austria!"
Austria winced at the property destruction that Prussia was causing. However, he still placed his hand on the sword hilt. While he hated agreeing with Prussia on anything, the silver-haired man had made a good argument. Knowing Ludwig, it was very likely that he would try to reclaim his old glory without the military might needed to back up his ambitions. Since he was partially responsible for what had happened to the Holy Roman Empire, he was also responsible for taking measures to prevent the German Confederation from repeating the past.
"Grab the blade." Prussia removed his right glove and grabbed the blade hard enough for it to cut into his hand. "It doesn't mean anything unless you're bleeding.
Austria stared at it in distaste, but decided to just get it over with. He wrapped his fingers across the blade, under where Prussia's hand was.
"Are you ready?"
"Yes."
"I, Gilbert Beilschmidt, Konigreich Preussen…"
"I, Roderich Edelstein, Kaisertum Österreich…"
"Do solemnly swear, on pain of death, to never reveal to Ludwig, also known as the German Confederation or whatever names he might later take, his past as the Holy Roman Empire."
Austria slowly pulled his hand away, not wanting do any more damage to his bleeding fingers. He hoped that it would affect his piano playing too much.
"Until he's ready for the awesome revelation, that is." Prussia pulled his hand away quickly, sending blood splattering on the table.
"What?" Austria looked at Prussia in shock. He could not understand the other nation's contradictory suggestions.
"He used to be an Empire, and now he's my awesome younger brother. He's destined for greatness." Prussia shrugged. "He's going need to know about it someday, so I figure we can wait until he's almost as strong and awesome as I am and then tell him. This is all my awesome idea, though, so don't take it as me throwing you any bones, you damn aristocrat."
"Now that we have that matter settled…" Austria massaged his temples. "…perhaps we should discuss the price of the authentic mahogany table that you just irreparably damaged."
"Stingy as ever, you stuck-up bastard. You should be glad that I left some of my awesome on your boring table." Prussia stood up from his chair. "Hey, West, time to get going!"
"Big brother! Mr. Austria has so many beautiful paintings in his house." The German Confederation paused for a bit. "But big brother's paintings are even better."
"Of course they are. They're all paintings of the awesome me, after all." Prussia ruffled the boy's hair.
The German Confederation grabbed his brother's hand. "Mr. Austria's house has so many things…it's confusing. I almost got lost."
Prussia laughed. "That's because he's a stingy bastard who can't throw anything away. It's all piling up in his house, not like in my awesome house."
"Some of the things…seemed familiar." The German Confederation seemed sullen for a moment, but then cheered up again. "Still, I like Big Brother's house better."
"There's no place like home."
"You're bleeding." The German Confederation looked scared as he noticed his brother's wound. "Are you alright?"
"Hey, would I still be the awesome me if I let just this get me down? It's just a scratch." Prussia wiped the blood off on his breeches.
"Okay…" The German Confederation still sounded worried.
"Tell you what-when we get home, I'll wrap some bandages around it and then it'll be good as new by tomorrow."
"Make sure it doesn't get infected. That could be very bad."
"Aren't you the little worrywart?" Prussia guided the German Confederation through the halls. "Say, when we get back, how about I help you with your fencing? You're still a bit sloppy on the parries. Of course, I'll go easy on you by using my left hand."
Austria felt somewhat jealous as he watched them leave. They seemed close; closer than he and the Holy Roman Empire had ever been. It was the relationship that brothers should have been having.
Look at them; look at Prussia. That could have been you. That should have been you.
Austria tried to ignore the voice in his head, but he could not help thinking about his relationship with Ludwig. If he had just been a little warmer or spent more time with the boy instead of only worrying about politics and power, would everything have turned out this way? If he had done more brotherly activities with the Holy Roman Empire, would he be the one who was making promises to take his brother riding or fencing while Prussia would be the one left alone? In the end, he had no answers, only jealousy and regret.
---
"Prussia and I swore an oath of blood to never tell you of your connection to the Holy Roman Empire before you were ready. We feared that you might repeat your past mistakes, so we kept everything secret to protect. I apologize for the pain we might have caused." Austria sighed and stood up. "I hope I did not make the wrong choice in thinking you are ready to know."
Germany sat still, trying to process the information that he had received. He was the Holy Roman Empire, or at least what remained of it. His dreams were real, which mean he had been in love with Italy as a child, while thinking the other nation was a girl. If that was the case, then perhaps he needed to re-evaluate his relationship with Italy now.
Italy? Wait, Italy and I…
Germany jumped to his feet. "What time is it?"
Austria and Hungary were taken aback by German's yell. They watched as the German rushed out of the door, swearing loudly.
"Never mind! I'm probably already late!"
The two nations left behind stared at each other for a moment before they remembered how Germany had been talking about fighting somewhere. They rushed after him, trying to stop him, but found him already gone.
---
Italy scampered away from the pursuing tanks. He continued scanning the battlefield for signs of Germany, but the blonde nation was nowhere to be seen.
"Germany? Where are you? I'm scared…!" Italy whimpered, ducking to the ground to avoid a hail of gunfire.
"Italy, what the hell are you doing? Don't retreat! Even when facing enemy fire, keep on fighting! Hold your position no matter what!"
Italy looked up to see a tall man glaring down at him. "Germany! I'm so sorry! They had tanks and soldiers and grenades and I was so scared because I couldn't find Germany and…"
Germany's expression softened as he pulled Italy to his feet. "Don't worry. I'm here now."
Comments: This turned out so long that I couldn't post the notes. France's French sentences are "I am afraid you are mistaken" for the first sentence and "What do you mean by that" for the second. The scene with HRE dressed in his black garb came from this beautiful fanart by Lucrecia: link
Author/Artist: lotus-genie
Character(s) or Pairing(s): Germany/Italy, HRE/Italy. Mentions of Prussia/Austria/Hungary
Rating: R for gore.
Summary: Germany finally gets back his memories of being HRE, but too bad it comes shortly before Italy's surrender to the Allies.
Warnings: Gore and later violence. Prussia and Hungary also swear like sailors.
Author's note: I wanted to write a darker Ger/Ita fanfic about the German occupation of Italy after Italy made a separate peace with the Allies. The part about Germany getting his memories back and having them make everything worse was inspired by the irony that it was Italy who proposed to Germany that they become the new Roman Empire during WW2. This will start fluffy and get dark later. Apologies for any potential out of character moments.
Part I Part II Part III Part V Part VI
Italy whimpered, hiding behind the overturned jeep. The Allies had cornered his men in Tunis. He could hear England's and America's bullets zipping past his body; too close for comfort. He was trying to return fire, but his troops were still badly outnumbered. He could see the tanks rolling up toward his lines. To make things worse, Germany was nowhere to be seen. While he could see the other nation's men fighting alongside his own soldiers, Germany himself did not seem to be present.
Germany? Where are you, Germany?
---
Germany listened as Beethoven flowed into Salieri, Chopin, and finally Bach (anxiety, fear, anger, and finally grief). As the final note faded away, Austria stepped back into the room.
"Germany, are you sure you truly want to know about the Holy Roman Empire's dissolution?" Austria was more composed than when he had headed out, but was still visibly shaken.
"Tell me everything, Austria."
"Your fever must be clouding your mind. Why don't you go sleep for a bit and then see if you still want to know."
"My mind is completely clear." Germany crossed his arms. "And even if I were to sleep off the fever, I would still want answers to my questions."
"Germany, Mister Austria has his reasons for not wanting to tell you." Hungary interrupted their argument to agree with Austria.
"And I have my reasons for wanting answers."
"Herr Tottel, you do not know what you are getting yourself into." Austria slowly shook his head.
"Austria, I don't want to ask again. Tell me what became of the Holy Roman Empire."
Austria sighed and sat down in the chair next to the bed. "I had hoped you would never ask that question. I promised someone a long time ago that I would never give you the answers, and even had I not promised, I would not want to tell you that information."
"I want to know." Germany glared at Austria. "I have to know."
"Then go ask your older brother."
"Austria, tell me now-that's an order!" Germany shot up from the bed, stumbling as the pain in his abdomen acted up again. "These dreams that I've been getting, my relationship with Italy, my past…I want answers!"
"Once you know, you can never go back again. Perhaps you would suffer with your new knowledge and regret ever asking." Austria clenched his hands into fists. "That is why I promised that person that I would not tell you. Are you willing to take that risk?"
"Do you know what it's like to live your life not knowing who you are? To go through each day, thinking there's something you have to remember, but can't? Have you ever lain awake at night, tortured by your lack of memories and trying to remember? Have you ever had parts of your life ripped out from underneath you?" Germany collapsed back on the bed and buried his head in his hands. The more he talked the angrier and more confused he became. While his memory loss had been confusing and painful during his first days living with Prussia, it had never bothered him this much before. However, now that his memories might have resurfaced in his dreams, he felt he had to uncover the mystery of his past, no matter what the outcome. At the very least, it would make the confusing dreams go away.
"Germany…"
"Who am I, Austria? Who am I?" Germany muttered. "You know, don't you? Austria?"
Austria sighed and placed his hand on Germany's shoulder. As he observed the usually stoic nation's frustration and confusion, it became harder and harder to keep his promise. On one hand, he did not want to see Germany continue to suffer because of the unanswered questions, but on the other hand, he did not want Germany to torture himself over his past. Finally, after mulling over the choices for a while, he closed his eyes and made a decision.
"Next time you see Prussia, please tell him I am sorry for breaking our promise."
"Mister Austria…" Hungary glanced from Austria to Germany. "Are you sure you want to…?"
"Yes, Hungary. We have to tell him sometime." Austria sighed, looking sad and resigned.
"Very well then." Hungary picked up her frying pan. "I'll stay here to make sure that what you say is complete and accurate. Germany deserves nothing less."
Austria cleared his throat. "For this, we have to start at the beginning. The Holy Roman Empire was founded out of the remnants of the Frankish Carolignan Empire. In 962, when Otto I was crowned Holy Roman Emperor, the Holy Roman Empire was formally established. However, because he was composed of various territories that each had their own leader, his health was often unstable."
Germany listened intently as Austria spoke. Currently, Austria was only going over the information that he already knew. He waited impatiently for Austria to move on to the part that he was interested in.
"In time, I too joined his household and, through various arrangements, became the ruler of the empire. Though I was technically still under his command, I took care of all his affairs and acted as something of a caretaker for him."
"I moved in sometime later, when Mister Austria helped me fight off the Ottomans." Hungary added.
"Afterwards, with Spain's help, we were able to assert control over Italy. Romano, whose territories covered most of Italy, was given to Spain, while Veneziano, or the Italy that you know, stayed with us."
Hungary giggled. "We thought little Italy was a girl for the longest time. We even dressed in maids' clothes until his voice broke. Holy Roman Empire even had a crush on her. It was cute to see."
Austria blushed at being reminded of his mistake. "We were happy together for a time. I guided the Holy Roman Empire's actions and managed his servants."
Germany felt his heart skip a beat when he heard that Austria had thought of Italy as a girl and dressed him as one. He once again remembered his dream where he, as the Holy Roman Empire, had spoken to a girl who looked like Italy. Even more, if he truly was the Holy Roman Empire, then it meant that he had fallen in love with Italy while under the false impression that the other nation was female. He was ready to imitate Austria in blushing about the mistake.
"It was just like a big happy family. Mister Austria was doing his best as a father figure for Holy Roman Empire."
"However, I am willing to admit that I made a few mistakes in caring for him…" Here, Austria paused. "…such as encouraging his already great ambition to become the new Roman Empire."
"To achieve those ambitions, Mister Austria and the Holy Roman Empire fought many wars to assert their domination in Europe, which eventually led to the Empire's dissolution." Hungary closed her eyes, going through the painful memories. "It was…very hard on Mister Austria."
"The Holy Roman Empire…was formally dissolved after the Fourth Treaty of Pressburg, which had been signed following a decisive defeat at the hands of Napoleon during the Battle of Austerlitz…" Austria's fingernails dug into his palms. It was getting harder and harder for him to speak as he remembered the events of that time.
---
"So there is no other choice?" Austria stared at his Emperor. Ever since their defeat at the hands of France, they had been having this argument. Though he knew that the dissolution of the Empire would be inevitable, he still did not expect the Emperor's order to have Austria dissolve the Empire.
"Roderich, I find this choice as abhorrent as you do, but this is the only thing we can do to keep Napoleon from gaining more power." The Emperor sighed and turned back to his paperwork.
"By doing what? Weakening ourselves further? Your Majesty, to my understanding, the Empire can survive this Peace! All Napoleon demands is your abdication, not the dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire! Please reconsider your decision, Your Majesty!" Austria felt his emotions overwhelming him as he argued with Francis II, though his face showed little change in expression. It was not just the loss of his power and his dignity that stirred him into a rage, but also the knowledge that the Emperor's decision would have him kill the boy that he had raised for so many years. While they were not born from the same parents, they had become like family. The Holy Roman Empire was more than just his Empire-he was his little brother. There was no way that he could carry out his Emperor's decision.
"If we continue to preserve the Empire even after this treaty, then Napoleon will have the states siding with him tearing it apart from the inside out! Roderich, that boy will be in even more pain then thanks to your selfish decision."
Austria gritted his teeth while considering the Emperor's words. It was true that Napoleon had lured many of the component states of the Empire into siding with him and said states might later leave to become a separate confederation under France, but it still seemed to early to give up. "What of your emergency powers? You have the support of the Reichstag and the Electors. You could find a way to preserve the Empire. It is your duty as his Emperor! Once again, Your Majesty, please consider this option."
"Only while I am still the Emperor" Francis smiled bitterly at Austria. "If Napoleon does not have his allies ripping apart this Empire upon my abdication, then he will surely crown himself Emperor. We would all be subjected to France's rule then. The only way I can save the Holy Roman Empire would be to dissolve it."
"Your majesty, you have the power to preserve the Empire, but not to completely dissolve it like this! We can save the Empire! England is on our side and…"
"Enough!" Francis slammed his fist on his desk. "Do you think I carry no affection for that boy? He is my Empire, my people. I have a duty to alleviate his pain, and right now, this is the only way I can do so."
"He is my brother. You will have me kill him. Please excuse me if I am loath to follow your command for that action." Austria desperately tried to remain composed. "You have known him and ruled him and cared for him, but only for so long. I have been with him for centuries. I have raised him since he was a child. He is more than just a people or an empire to me."
"Then look at him, Roderich. Look at him lying there in agony as he slowly wastes away. You have seen his wounds and his illness. Do you wish to consign him to such a fate? Or perhaps you desire to see what will happen to him as his territories begin ripping themselves away? You too know that you can only comfort him until he truly fades away. Even then, you can only do so much. How long do you wish to see him fighting for his life in vain even as he is all too aware of his impending demise?"
"…I understand. Thank you for allowing me this meeting." Austria took a deep breath and turned away. Everything that his Emperor had said was true. No matter how he argued, he knew that the Holy Roman Empire was dying. He wanted to find a way to save the Empire, but as it was, that seemed impossible. As hard as it was for him to admit it, perhaps this was the most merciful course of action. Nevertheless, he still felt angry about it.
"I will announce my formal abdication and the dissolution of this Empire after the Peace is signed." Francis stated as Austria continued walking away.
Austria felt his eyes becoming wet as he walked into his fortepiano room. He sat down at the piano, intent on playing out his rage. However, as his fingers pressed down on the keys made of the finest ebony and bone slips, he felt too enraged to even express his anger in music. Instead, he raised his fists and slammed them down on the keys, sending a cacophony of piano sounds trailing through the palace. He repeated this for four or five times before he calmed down enough and took a couple deep breaths, his body still trembling with rage as well as anguish. Only then was he able to play a few pieces of music-loud, passionate cabalettas. For some reason, as he played, tears raced down his face. Gradually, the anger gave way to grief as the music became slower and more harmonious, and grief in turn fell silent as Austria left the piano to visit the Holy Roman Empire.
He pushed open the door, seeing the Empire sleep, his face flushed and his breathing shallow. Austria quietly sat down next to the teenager and pulled the quilts over the Empire's shoulders. He wanted to wake the Empire up, give him a hug, and tell him that he loved him. However, he knew that the Holy Roman Empire had just fallen asleep after yet another day of coughing and vomiting and sensations of unbearable pain. He decided it would be best to allow the teenager his moment of peace. Instead, he just stroked the young Empire's hair and watched him sleep.
Austria pulled off his glasses and wiped them. They had gotten wet and foggy due to his tears. He wondered how he was going to tell Holy Roman Empire about this. Even more, what was he going to tell Italy? At the thought of Italy, he remembered how the younger nation had grown in the past years. When the Holy Roman Empire had claimed many of Italy's lands from Spain, it had given Italy a growth spurt. However, this sudden growth had allowed Austria and Hungary to find out an embarrassing truth-Italy was a boy all along. They had only recently begun dressing Italy in breeches instead of skirts. Austria wondered if he should tell Holy Roman Empire of this development.
In the end, he decided not to tell the Empire of either of those things. He would allow the Holy Roman Empire to hold on to his beautiful dreams until the end. At the very least, he would let his young master, his brother, die happy.
"What the hell?" Hungary threw open the door to the room.
Austria glared at Hungary. "I would suggest that you lower your volume."
"What the hell?" Hungary hissed as quietly as she could as she stomped toward Austria. "Are you really going to give up that easily to France of all people? Fight like a man already, you pussy!"
"Hungary, we have fought and we have lost. France is too strong. Any more fighting would bring more pain down upon our own people. As their nation, I must protect them in any way I can." Austria frowned. "And will you cease in using that language?"
"If you won't fight, then I will." Hungary clenched her musket. "I still can't believe you'd give up so easily. Look, here's the fucking deal: either you fight, or I'm going with France. He has better ideas about who should rule who anyway. I'm sick and tired of the way your boss has been running my house into the fucking ground. The only reason I'm fighting alongside you now is because I'm sorry about the kid."
"He…he doesn't have long anyway. If you want to go, then go." Austria retorted. "Everyone else has left already. Nobody cares about this Empire anymore."
"Didn't you hear what I said? I care for the kid. I hate your boss's fucking guts, he's an asshole. And going through some history, I find that I'm pretty ready to hate you now for treating me like shit quite a few times in the past. But I don't hate the Holy Roman Empire himself. In fact, now that I think about it, France is probably going to be making me speak his language if he ever gets his hands on me. That's why I'm more ready to fight on your side than France's."
"Hungary, thank you for your offer, but as I said, we have no ability to fight back. If anything, we must capitulate to France's commands for now. We will fight against him when we recover our forces."
"So your Emperor abdicates. No big deal. Just get a new one and…"
"Not only that, but the Holy Roman Empire shall also be dissolved." Austria spat out the words as if they were poison in his mouth.
"What?" Hungary raised her voice, causing Austria to put his hand over her mouth to avoid waking the sleeping Empire.
"It was my Emperor's decision. As much as I do not wish to admit it, he is right. Napoleon has allied himself with many of our territories. If we keep the Empire through the peace, Napoleon will use the interregnum to wreak more havoc. After the treaty is signed, Emperor Francis II shall formally announce his abdication as well the complete and utter dissolution of this Empire."
"Your Emperor orders you around and you obey without question, even though he's talking about killing a kid who's suffered enough already. What are you, his little b-? Sorry, I forget I'm not supposed to address you with those words, Mister Austria!"
"Do you think I didn't fight him? I argued against his decision as much as I could. However, he was still my Emperor, and his arguments are correct! If the Empire survives, then Napoleon will take his allies into a new confederation. Where do you think that would leave the Holy Roman Empire? In addition, Napoleon could easily crown himself Emperor. Are you suggesting that I give Holy Roman-no, Ludwig-to France as a slave while in this condition? He has suffered enough. It is time for me to put it in" Austria sighed, shook his head, and buried his head in his hands. "What do you suggest I do, Hungary?"
"Then smother him." Hungary hissed. "If you're so into mercy killings, smother him right now with his pillow. Kill him while he's asleep so he will never wake up to pain or sorrow ever again. Don't let him continue to waste away while you waste time discussing the damn treaty, and then let him feel the pain of his own dissolution. If you truly want to end his agony, then kill him now and be quick about it. Unless you're too much of a p-excuse me-Gentleman."
"Hungary, I…" Austria took a deep breath. "If I am so loath to even sign a treaty to kill him, then how do you think I could kill him with my own hands?"
"So this is all about not getting your hands dirty? Fine-I'll do it then. Watch and learn."
Austria grabbed Hungary from behind, pinning her arms and stopping her from picking up the pillow. "Hungary, please cease and desist in these actions. I understand that you are upset, but I will not allow you to hurt Ludwig."
"It was your idea to begin with. You're the one who suggested…"
"Do you think I have no reservations about this? Do you think that I do not spend time blaming myself or longing for a better solution?"
Hungary turned to look at Austria. After glaring at him for a while, she sighed and stepped away. "You know what? Do whatever the hell you want. I don't care. I've got too much of my own shit to take care of right now. I'm going home."
"Yes, please, go."
Hungary threw one last wistful glance at Austria. "Just…take care of yourself, Mister Austria." With that, she left the decaying house.
"You too, Hungary. Take care of yourself." Austria whispered.
He turned back to the Holy Roman Empire. His brother could sleep on the finest silk sheets and be covered with the warmest blankets and fluffiest pillows, but it did not change the fact that the Empire was dying. His house, reflecting his condition, was slowly crumbling. Austria could see the dust gathering on the floors and the cobwebs in the corners that could not be swept away no matter how the servants scrubbed at it. The elaborate carvings and paintings on the ceilings and walls were cracking and fading. The chandeliers and lamps, so delicately crafted at the hands of masters, had dimmed and rusted. Even the windows had become glazed over, turning the room even darker. The once magnificent mansion was now a ghost of its former self, ready to finally collapse at the slighted touch.
Not that it had ever been as strong as it looked-Austria grudgingly admitted that the Holy Roman Empire was not Holy, Roman, or Empire. It was, in the end, just a loose alliance of states with differing cultures and governments, with the only possible connection being the German language that they all spoke. Only in recent years had the monarchy become hereditary, and the Pope's approval was now more a formality than requirement. Such a system could not last. Most of the power had already been transferred to the Grand Duchy of Austrian, leaving him stronger while further weakening the Holy Roman Empire.
The more he thought about it, the more he was sure that it was cruel to needlessly prolong the life of a dying nation. His brother would be happier to finally be able to rest in peace after three centuries of constant bloodshed. Both his people and the Holy Roman Empire's people-though after the Treaty would be signed, they would no longer be the Empire's people-would be happier at this.
"This is for the best. Let the ones that want to leave, leave. I will remain and protect our, or rather, my people." However, even as he spoke to himself, it seemed that he was trying to persuade himself of something that he did not believe.
"Roderich…" The Holy Roman Empire stirred. He instantly began to violently cough.
Austria slowly helped the Holy Roman Empire sit up, careful not to agitate his wounds. He gently rubbed the teenager's back as the Empire spat out mouthfuls of blood and bile. When the Holy Roman Empire's cough seemed to have stopped, Austria helped him lean against a pillow.
"Roderich…busy…" The Holy Roman Empire was too weak to finish his sentence, but Austria was able to understand what the Empire wanted to say.
"I have been discussing the upcoming treaty with my Emperor. Due to our crushing defeat, we must temporarily concede to France's demands. But do not worry, Young Master, for I shall do everything in my power to protect you through this new peace." Austria tried to smile reassuringly at the Holy Roman Empire but found he could not do it. He felt even worse now that he had lied to the boy.
The Holy Roman Empire frowned at Austria, but then gave a small nod, as if he knew that Austria was lying, but only to comfort him. "Story…?"
"Young Master, I believe you are at too old an age for bedtime stories. But, I supposed I shall indulge you anyway." Austria tried to kept his voice steady, knowing that this would probably be the last time that he could tell the Holy Roman Empire a story. Before, he had always been annoyed by the boy's requests. He was too busy trying to amass power to be bothered with doing "petty" things like telling the Empire bedtime stories. However, now he regretted not spending more time with the Holy Roman Empire while he still could.
"Which…"
"I will tell you a story that does not belong to any particular nation. It is a fairy tale about a young Prince who fell in love with a maid in his house, and tried to become stronger so he could marry her. It…has a happy ending."
The Holy Roman Empire weakly shook his head, as if he was saying that no, the story would not end happily. He knew the story that Austria was referring to all too well.
"Yes it does. I will give it a happy ending. Now, listen…"
---
"To stop the advance of Napoleon toward the territories of the Rhine, my Emperor decided to abdicate and dissolve the Holy Roman Empire. After that, I went to Pressburg and signed the treaty. You might think me heartless, but as I said, I had no other choice. I could not stand by and watch Napoleon tear him apart from the inside, or to have him die slowly and painfully."
"The Holy Roman Empire…he saw you leave. He knew that you regretted it."
Austria looked at Germany in surprise. "How did you know that?"
"It was in one of my dreams. He…he fought when he died. Even though he was in pain, he wanted to live. But in the end, he died when that treaty was signed." Germany continued, telling Austria about what he had seen in the dream.
"Is that it?" Austria slumped in his chair. "I…I did not consider that. All this time, I thought I was acting in his best interest…but I was wrong. I betrayed him; I murdered him. I wish I could have known then. Now, all I can do is beg for his forgiveness, which I am sure will never come."
"Mister Austria, you made your choice because you cared for him. I am sure that if he knew, he would understand." Hungary placed her hand on Austria's shoulder, comforting him.
"Yes, I think if he knew what you were thinking, he would accept your apology." While he was still unsure if he was the Holy Roman Empire in another form, Germany decided that if he was, he would forgive Austria. After all, from the time that he had spent with the other nation, he could see that while Austria had a condescending attitude, he also cared deeply for the people around him. Whether as Germany or the Holy Roman Empire, he knew Austria cared about him and wanted to protect him.
"Though he was dissolved, it was not the end for the Holy Roman Empire…"
---
Austria's calm expression did not change as he finished signing his name on the piece of paper. He felt like he wanted to collapse; it was the hardest thing that he had ever done. With one stroke of his pen, he had sealed the Holy Roman Empire's fate.
"Thank you, Mon Ami." France rolled up the piece of paper and stuffed it into his pocket. "Now, I believe you still have something to do…"
"To what do you refer?"
"It seems, Ami, that your former territories would be happier under my Emperor." France walked over to Austria and traced the shorter nation's chin with his long, graceful fingers. "You should really decide what to do with them. After all, they have already declared that they will go with me to form a new Confederation."
"Do not worry. I shall release them to you if you desire." Austria kept his voice level as he resisted his desire to punch France's smug face. He was here to make peace, not to start another war that he could not win.
"You are awfully gracious today…" France smirked and looked over Austria. "Oh yes…awfully gracious."
"I would like to remind you that we are here for official matters, not for your lewd pastimes." Austria pulled away from France. "My Emperor has simply decided that these lands are more trouble than they are worth at the moment."
"Oh, then do let me help you with that." France reached toward Austria again.
"I told you, I am here for official matters only. If you can allow it, I would like to return to my residence now."
France laughed. "Why so much resistance, Autriche? You know I will find one way or another to make you mine. I expect to see you back soon, and next time bring that little Empire that you are caring for."
"I will come back, yes, but I will not allow him to fall into your clutches." Despite his attempts to ignore France, Austria still responded to France's comment.
"It will just be a matter of time, Austria."
"No, it will not." Austria found it harder to be stoic as he remembered the dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire. Francis II had already prepared an announcement that he would read to his people.
He left the room feeling disgusted and trying to get France's annoying laughter out of his ears.
---
By all right, he should have felt sad as he walked into the Holy Roman Empire's house for the last time. He knew that he would never see the young Empire again; the most he could hope to find would be a dent on the bed where the Empire had lain during his last moments. He was only here to gather the former nation's belongings and bring them to his new house. It made no sense to waste the perfectly useable items; what could not be put to use would serve as mementos of his ill-fated younger brother.
However, due to many days of mental and emotional preparation and furious banging on the piano, the grief that he should have held was not there. Instead, he could only feel numb as he walked through the foyer, up the stairs, and down the hall. Even when he opened the door to the former Holy Roman Empire's room, he did not shed a single tear.
The one thing that he did feel was surprise. When he looked in the room, fully expecting it to be empty, he saw the bed was still occupied. The Holy Roman Empire, though he had been dissolved, had not disappeared. He still lay in his bed, looking to be sleeping.
Austria cautiously stepped toward the unconscious figure. He knew that he should not get his hopes up: perhaps some nations just disappeared slower than others. He felt the other nation's forehead and chest. The teenager was still warm. In addition, his chest was moving. He was still breathing, though it was slow and shallow. Austria pressed his ears to the Holy Roman Empire's chest. To his shock, he could still hear a slight heartbeat.
"Young Master?" He whispered. There was no response. "Young master? Holy Roman? Ludwig? Brother?"
No matter how he yelled, the former nation seemed to remain in a deep sleep. In the end, Austria gave up, puzzled at how the boy had not died, and yet would not wake up either. He simply turned and headed back to his Emperor's palace. Perhaps the Emperor would have some answers for him.
---
Austria did not stand with his Emperor when the formal dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire was officially announced. Instead, he was by the Holy Roman Empire's bedside, holding the boy's hand.
Francis II had not known of why the boy had fallen into that deep sleep. None of the other nations he had asked had known either. In the end, some of Francis' advisors had offered the theory that the Holy Roman Empire's body was simply shutting down gradually in preparation for his final dissolution. His consciousness had simply been the first thing to go.
While he was not sure what to believe, Austria had still insisted on staying by his brother on the day of the Emperor's proclamation. He could not do much for the dying Empire, but he would at least be able to accompany Ludwig during his last moments. It was slightly comforting to know that the Holy Roman Empire would not be awake to feel the agony of his dissolution.
The former Holy Roman Empire had been dressed not in his sick-clothes, but in his old black robes. His sheets and pillows had been changed and his bed was now covered with white roses. A single red rose decorate his lapel. The fragrance of the roses offset the odor of decay that had permeated the room, while their color had hid the former empire's pale complexion. His golden hair had been slicked back (it was something that the empire had taken a liking to when he had first started on his puberty; when he had been so active and alive) and his body had been placed perfectly straight on the bed. Austria had requested it-though dissolved, the Holy Roman Empire was still once an Empire. He would die as a nation and not a sick young man. Austria himself had been dressed in full military regalia, ready to give the younger nation a proper farewell. Still, he hoped in vain that the younger nation would suddenly wake up and start talking again. He did not just look to be deep asleep, but actually was asleep and seemingly ready to wake.
Austria clenched Ludwig's hand, trying to feel any changes in temperature. He expected the warmth to completely fade away once the Emperor completely he announcement. However, even as he sat in silence and waited, the hand's temperature seemed constant.
"Ah, what are you doing here, Austriche?" France sallied in the room, flanked by the territories that had left the Holy Roman Empire. His cheeks were slightly flushed, indicating that he might have been drinking.
"France, I currently have no desire to consort with neither you nor your…new allies. Please depart from this place."
France clicked his tongue. "What rudeness, to order me to leave my own home. It seems I was wrong in taking you for an aristocrat."
"This is not your home, Herr Tottel. This is the home of the former Holy Roman Empire. Now that he has been dissolved, this house has no reason to stand. Neither of us can claim it as our territory."
"J'ai bien peur que vous vous trompiez, Ami." France wagged his finger. "As of now, this house belongs to the Confederation of the Rhine. Remember when I said that the states allied with me wished to form a new Confederation? This is it-the Confederation of the Rhine."
"France, can I please ask you for the decency to stay outside until the original owner of this house can pass away in peace?"
"Que voulez-vous dire par là? He is not dying, Austria. Look, he is but asleep." France leaned over Ludwig's unconscious form. "I think that he shall wake up with a kiss from a handsome prince."
"You are the furthest thing from handsome that I could imagine."
"You might change that opinion when you see what I am capable of." France licked his lips. "What do you say to the three of us…alone?"
"Ludwig is unconscious. For all we know, he is dying. I would like you to have some measure of respect for the dead."
"Like I said, Austriche. He is not dead; simply asleep. Now, if you will step aside, I will take him with me now."
"You will not." Austria hissed. "While he might not be my empire anyway, he is still under my care and-"
"He is not longer your empire. He is my confederation. Did you not understand my statements? His territories wished for him to be a union of states that did not include you. He will now reside in my house…and I will work on ways to wake him up."
"Next time, speak less French." Austria glared toward Bavaria and the others, trying to see if they would dispute Frances claim. However, they all seemed to give their silent consent.
"Austria, step aside before we decide that this will be decided by another war." Bavaria and his allies surrounded Austria.
As Austria watched, France picked up the unconscious Ludwig, cradling the teenager in his arms. "Do not worry, Austria. I will treat him well. Very well, in fact."
"France!" Austria raised his voice. His dignity screamed at him not to do it, but his affection for Ludwig insisted that if would be alright to throw away his remaining pride. "France…I am…not demanding this of you. However, I shall beg your mercy as a defeated, penitent enemy and old friend. Please…wait until he is conscious to do anything. He is too young to participate in those activities that you consider pleasurable. I am making no demands-instead, I am begging you. Please…" At this last word, he dropped to his knees, trying not to look up at the sneering faces of the other nations.
France scoffed at Austria. "Why are you now begging me for mercy on his behalf? Was it not you who agreed to his dissolution? You were aware that your actions would have killed him, and yet you went through with them anyway. If anything, I care for him more than you do."
"At the time, I was sure that the decision was correct. I sought to spare him from him from dying a slow, lingering death...and I sought to protect him from you." Austria lowered his head. "I no longer have the ability to protect him, so if what you say is true and you do care for him more than I do, then please consider my request. Please do not lavish your attentions upon him."
"Who do you take me for?" France's voice sounded wistful for a second. "I have known this boy for a long time, ever since the time of the Frankish Empire. My feelings for him are not that of a lover; even if they were, taking advantage of an unconscious man would be boring and crude. I am simply becoming his new protector. I promise you, Austria-I will neither ravish nor disrespect him while he is under my roof. If anyone else attempts to assault him, then you have my word that I shall repel their forces. This boy and his territories shall rest undisturbed within my house."
Austria slowly climbed up. "I will hold you to that promise then."
---
"France…he left and took the new Confederation of the Rhine with him. I did not see the Confederation again until Napoleon was defeated. It was then that Prussia brought him to me, an event that you might remember all too well."
---
"This cannot be." Austria insisted as he saw the boy. "When last I saw him, he was in a slumber so deep that he could not stir even to take food or water. Are you telling him that he not only survived ten years with no sustenance, but is now awake again?"
The two nations were sitting in front of a table decorated with a bowl of fruit and some bottles of wine. Despite Austria's protests, Prussia had leaned back in his chair and propped his feet, still in his boots that had been covered with blood, mud, and horse manure on the edge of the table. Austria frowned and sipped his wine, trying to ignore Prussia's atrocious table manners.
Prussia shrugged. "Maybe he didn't wake up for either you or France because you weren't awesome enough. However, when he felt the awesomeness radiating off of the awesome me, he decided that it was awesome enough to wake up for. Besides, we're nations. We can last longer without food or water than any human."
"Still, to think he would wake up now of all times..."
"Yeah, yeah. I didn't really believe it at first either, but then I saw it with my own two eyes." Prussia grinned. "Can't be an illusion if the awesome me saw and felt it."
---
"Praise me! Hail me! On your knees! For I am Mighty Prussia, the Conqueror!" Prussia crowed as he stood in the middle of the ruined house. He had finally defeated France by himself, with only a little help from his various allies. To celebrate his victory, he had blown out one of the walls of France's house with a cannon and was now stomping around, looking for things to loot or vital regions to seize.
Eventually, he came to a room sealed with several ornate locks. Deciding that something really valuable must have been in the room, he raised his foot and tried to kick the door down. However, no matter how he attacked the door, it would not budge. Even when he yanked out his saber and tried to cut apart the wood, it held firm. Finally, frustrated at the door's sturdy construction, he headed out to grab his cannon.
"This better not be France's erotica collection." Prussia grumbled. He made a note to himself to find a way to punish France if the other nation had indeed made him waste so much of his awesome efforts for a stack of useless erotic materials.
The door finally caved in as the cannonball came into contact with it. Stepping through the hole in the room, he looked around the room. It was almost empty except for a glass container in the center. It was a rectangle box with some sort of gilded inscription on the side; Prussia did not bother to read it because he considered it a waste of his time. Upon closer examination, there seemed to be a figure behind the now dusty glance.
Prussia grabbed what seemed to be the lid to the box and pulled it off. He could now clearly see the teenager lying in there, perfectly still except for his rising and falling chest that indicated he was still breathing. The one thing that Prussia noticed about him right away was his resemblance to the supposedly deceased Holy Roman Empire.
After taking a moment to adjust from the shock of seeing the sleeping man, Prussia decided the teenager's resemblance to the Holy Roman Empire was just a coincidence. More importantly, since France had kept this boy under heavy protection, it meant that he was probably an important vital region. He imagined the look on France's face when he would show the other nation which vital regions he took.
Before Prussia could grab the other nation, the teenager stirred. He sat up and opened his eyes, blinking at Prussia in curiosity and confusion.
"Who the hell are you?" Prussia asked at the boy stared at him. He wanted to know exactly which one of France's territories he was seizing. He half-expected the boy to announce himself as the Holy Roman Empire, given his looks.
"I don't know…"
Prussia reached down and grabbed the other nation's arm. It did not matter that the boy did not have any idea who he was: vital regions were vital regions.
"Where are we going?" The boy asked as Prussia started dragging him along. However, he offered little resistance.
"My awesome house."
"Why?" The shorter nation asked. "Do you know who I am?"
"No, but I guess I'll think up a name for you or something when I get home. It'll be an awesome name." Prussia replied. "And don't think I'm taking you because I like you in particular or anything. I'm just here to snatch some territories out from France's ass."
"I'm a territory?" The younger nation closed his eyes, seemingly deep in thought. "Well, I suppose I am. I'm not sure though."
At this point, Prussia decided that something was probably wrong. The boy should have been a nation, but he had never heard of a nation being born as a teenager, nor a nation being born with no knowledge of who he was. "Are you sure you don't know?"
The boy shook his head. "I think I should know who I am, but I can't remember."
"Dammit. Now I'm going to have to ask France about this. I can't properly rub it in his face unless I know who I just took." Prussia growled. On one hand, he had just procured some new territories, but on the other, even the territory had no idea of who he was supposed to be.
"What are you doing with my Confederation?" One of the German states (Prussia could not be bothered to remember who he was because the other nation did not seem to be awesome enough) darted out from behind a pillar.
Prussia snorted. "Your Confederation? He's mine now. Get out of the way before I give you a taste of my awesome."
The other nation silently stared at Prussia for a bit, sizing up the situation. Finally, he sheathed his weapon and stepped aside.
"At least you're good at listening." Prussia and his new territory continued walking until they reached Prussia's camp.
---
"So, my boss says that by Confederation, that other guy, who was no where near as awesome as the awesome me, means that you're supposed to be the Confederation of the Rhine. You know what that is?"
The boy shook his head. Prussia frowned. It looked like he would have to spend sometime explaining things to his new lackey.
"Okay, there used to be this guy called the Holy Roman Empire, and he was this nation made up of a bunch of other nations. However, when he got Napoleon-ed, a bunch of the nations inside him left and made another alliance, called Confederation of the Rhine. France was holding on to you, but now that he's lost to me, I'm your awesome new boss."
The former Confederation of the Rhine nodded. "I understand. If you are now my superior, then how should I address you?"
Prussia scratched his head. He had not thought of that part yet. If the nation had been older, he would have insisted on a title like "The Great and Awesome Living War God Master Prussia," but the nation was too young for him to get any sense of satisfaction out of being addressed by that title. In addition, the boy seemed to…cute and innocent to be relegated to a simple lackey's role.
"Big brother." He finally decided. "Starting from today, I'm your awesome big brother and you're my awesome little brother. The awesome me'll run your house and fight for you and own all of your vital regions. All you need to do is to listen to what I say and work toward becoming awesome. Oh, don't call yourself the Holy Roman Empire of the Confederation of the Rhine anymore because you're my German Confederation now!"
"The German Confederation…" The boy smiled. "That's a nice name, Big Brother."
Prussia felt oddly warm and fuzzy inside when he saw his new little brother smile. He threw his arm around the teenager's shoulder. "I'll teach you be awesome, just like your awesome big brother!"
---
"And there you have it. I took the kid out from under France's nose. You should have seen his face. He was so in shock from seeing my awesome that I thought his expression would permanently freeze into that. If you want to see, I had a painter do a painting of me and him at that moment. I like to think that it captured my awesome side, though seeing how it's me, any side is awesome." Prussia smirked. "As always, I was awesome."
"So you are saying that this boy has complete memory loss?" Austria glanced at the German Confederation, who was now distracted with the various paintings that hung in Austria's house.
"Yeah. I have no idea how the hell it happened." Prussia picked up his cup and downed the wine in it with one gulp. He proceeded to give a loud belch.
"He went through a near death experience upon his dissolution. I am not surprised that he chose to seal those memories off instead of experience that pain again." Austria sipped at his wine before turning back to Prussia. "More importantly, we are here not to discuss this boy's lack of memory, but what is to become of him in the future."
"Well, it's clear, isn't it? I'm taking him and making him into my awesome German Confederation."
"That is only an unofficial agreement. The official agreement is the one that shall be included in the Treaty. Also, I am concerned at you assertions that he is your German Confederation."
"Hey, the awesome me was the one who found him and adopted him as a little brother. I should be the one to raise him."
"You did find him and take him from France, but he is the new form of my Holy Roman Empire. I believe that I also have the right to his custody. After all, I did raise him since he was but a child."
"Let's get something straight here. I couldn't give two shits about the Holy Roman Empire. Hell, I barely knew him back when we lived in the same house. But this boy right here? That kid who just got a new start in life and is clinging to the awesome me for support? I give much more that two shits about him. I don't know why, but I want to help him. I'm going to protect him and train him to be awesome and strong so he'll never get tugged around by bastards like France again! That's why I'm making him into my awesome German Confederation!"
"I have never known you to be the caring type." Austria smirked and shook his head. "I know you all too well, Prussia-you took him not out of any compassion or love, but so you could possess his vital regions; you wanted power. I, on the other hand, care for more than just that."
"Says the man who relinquished him; who dissolved him. You were the one who signed a treaty knowing full well that it could kill him and still went through with it. What right do you still have to his care?" Prussia sat up straight and slammed his fist on the table. "You want me to give him back so you can kill him all over again?"
"You have no idea of the situation that I had been forced into." Austria stood up and leaned toward Prussia.
"I understand well enough. You had a kid, barely a teenager, on your hands and you were ready to kill him to protect your own interests. Look at him, Austria-he's too young and too weak for all the scheisse that you put him through! You were too busy saving your own ass that you didn't even try to protect him! Now that he's my awesome little brother, don't think the awesome me will let you touch him with a fucking fifty foot flagpole decorated with your colors!" Prussia hissed.
"It was never my intention to kill him if I could find a better way." Austria sighed and massaged his temples. "He was every bit my brother then as he is your brother now. I still carry regrets over not being able to save his life."
Prussia stared skeptically at Austria's face. After a minute or two, he leaned back again and snorted. "Fine, let's just say you're sincere. What would you do with him if I let you help care for him?"
"I would like to help him remember his past. Right now, he must be very confused. I will help him move on with his life."
"Oh yeah, you're just going to help him remember so he can go ahead and tear himself apart all over again. You'll let him die for your fucking ambitions! You know that if he gets his memories back, he'll only try to become Rome again! He'll get tangled up in his past to the point that he won't have a future anymore. The same things will happen, and this time, even the awesome me might have a hard time rescuing him! Do you want him to go through the pain of dying again, Austria? Do you want him to drown in his past, trying to be the Empire that he no longer is? If you really cared about him, you would let him live his own life, without being in the shadow of the Holy Roman Empire. Let him live his life the way he wants without any of his old burdens." Prussia's fists had begun to leave dents on the table as he punctuated his words with slamming his fists on the tabletop. "The only way he can ever move on with his life is if neither of us ever tells him about whom he used to be. Just let him keep on living like he is now."
"Now that you mention it…" Austria lowered his head, deep in thought. "Yes, perhaps it would be better to let him start anew. Not everyone gets a second chance, and I wish to rectify the mistakes that I had once made with the Holy Roman Empire. I shall agree with you just this once."
"Then swear!" Prussia drew his sword and stabbed it into the table. "Swear on my sword that neither of us shall ever tell him of his past! Swear that both of us will let him will let him live his life as he wants and not as the tool of someone else's ambition! Swear on my sword, Austria!"
Austria winced at the property destruction that Prussia was causing. However, he still placed his hand on the sword hilt. While he hated agreeing with Prussia on anything, the silver-haired man had made a good argument. Knowing Ludwig, it was very likely that he would try to reclaim his old glory without the military might needed to back up his ambitions. Since he was partially responsible for what had happened to the Holy Roman Empire, he was also responsible for taking measures to prevent the German Confederation from repeating the past.
"Grab the blade." Prussia removed his right glove and grabbed the blade hard enough for it to cut into his hand. "It doesn't mean anything unless you're bleeding.
Austria stared at it in distaste, but decided to just get it over with. He wrapped his fingers across the blade, under where Prussia's hand was.
"Are you ready?"
"Yes."
"I, Gilbert Beilschmidt, Konigreich Preussen…"
"I, Roderich Edelstein, Kaisertum Österreich…"
"Do solemnly swear, on pain of death, to never reveal to Ludwig, also known as the German Confederation or whatever names he might later take, his past as the Holy Roman Empire."
Austria slowly pulled his hand away, not wanting do any more damage to his bleeding fingers. He hoped that it would affect his piano playing too much.
"Until he's ready for the awesome revelation, that is." Prussia pulled his hand away quickly, sending blood splattering on the table.
"What?" Austria looked at Prussia in shock. He could not understand the other nation's contradictory suggestions.
"He used to be an Empire, and now he's my awesome younger brother. He's destined for greatness." Prussia shrugged. "He's going need to know about it someday, so I figure we can wait until he's almost as strong and awesome as I am and then tell him. This is all my awesome idea, though, so don't take it as me throwing you any bones, you damn aristocrat."
"Now that we have that matter settled…" Austria massaged his temples. "…perhaps we should discuss the price of the authentic mahogany table that you just irreparably damaged."
"Stingy as ever, you stuck-up bastard. You should be glad that I left some of my awesome on your boring table." Prussia stood up from his chair. "Hey, West, time to get going!"
"Big brother! Mr. Austria has so many beautiful paintings in his house." The German Confederation paused for a bit. "But big brother's paintings are even better."
"Of course they are. They're all paintings of the awesome me, after all." Prussia ruffled the boy's hair.
The German Confederation grabbed his brother's hand. "Mr. Austria's house has so many things…it's confusing. I almost got lost."
Prussia laughed. "That's because he's a stingy bastard who can't throw anything away. It's all piling up in his house, not like in my awesome house."
"Some of the things…seemed familiar." The German Confederation seemed sullen for a moment, but then cheered up again. "Still, I like Big Brother's house better."
"There's no place like home."
"You're bleeding." The German Confederation looked scared as he noticed his brother's wound. "Are you alright?"
"Hey, would I still be the awesome me if I let just this get me down? It's just a scratch." Prussia wiped the blood off on his breeches.
"Okay…" The German Confederation still sounded worried.
"Tell you what-when we get home, I'll wrap some bandages around it and then it'll be good as new by tomorrow."
"Make sure it doesn't get infected. That could be very bad."
"Aren't you the little worrywart?" Prussia guided the German Confederation through the halls. "Say, when we get back, how about I help you with your fencing? You're still a bit sloppy on the parries. Of course, I'll go easy on you by using my left hand."
Austria felt somewhat jealous as he watched them leave. They seemed close; closer than he and the Holy Roman Empire had ever been. It was the relationship that brothers should have been having.
Look at them; look at Prussia. That could have been you. That should have been you.
Austria tried to ignore the voice in his head, but he could not help thinking about his relationship with Ludwig. If he had just been a little warmer or spent more time with the boy instead of only worrying about politics and power, would everything have turned out this way? If he had done more brotherly activities with the Holy Roman Empire, would he be the one who was making promises to take his brother riding or fencing while Prussia would be the one left alone? In the end, he had no answers, only jealousy and regret.
---
"Prussia and I swore an oath of blood to never tell you of your connection to the Holy Roman Empire before you were ready. We feared that you might repeat your past mistakes, so we kept everything secret to protect. I apologize for the pain we might have caused." Austria sighed and stood up. "I hope I did not make the wrong choice in thinking you are ready to know."
Germany sat still, trying to process the information that he had received. He was the Holy Roman Empire, or at least what remained of it. His dreams were real, which mean he had been in love with Italy as a child, while thinking the other nation was a girl. If that was the case, then perhaps he needed to re-evaluate his relationship with Italy now.
Italy? Wait, Italy and I…
Germany jumped to his feet. "What time is it?"
Austria and Hungary were taken aback by German's yell. They watched as the German rushed out of the door, swearing loudly.
"Never mind! I'm probably already late!"
The two nations left behind stared at each other for a moment before they remembered how Germany had been talking about fighting somewhere. They rushed after him, trying to stop him, but found him already gone.
---
Italy scampered away from the pursuing tanks. He continued scanning the battlefield for signs of Germany, but the blonde nation was nowhere to be seen.
"Germany? Where are you? I'm scared…!" Italy whimpered, ducking to the ground to avoid a hail of gunfire.
"Italy, what the hell are you doing? Don't retreat! Even when facing enemy fire, keep on fighting! Hold your position no matter what!"
Italy looked up to see a tall man glaring down at him. "Germany! I'm so sorry! They had tanks and soldiers and grenades and I was so scared because I couldn't find Germany and…"
Germany's expression softened as he pulled Italy to his feet. "Don't worry. I'm here now."
Comments: This turned out so long that I couldn't post the notes. France's French sentences are "I am afraid you are mistaken" for the first sentence and "What do you mean by that" for the second. The scene with HRE dressed in his black garb came from this beautiful fanart by Lucrecia: link