The Death of a Nation

"You never know what you have until it's gone", isn't that what the humans say? Because, Germany thought, tears streaking down his face as he clutched the hand of his dead brother, they were right. He never knew that he would miss Prussia so much. So while mourning the death of a fellow nation, Ludwig mourned the death of his brother.

The language of flowers was something that Prussia always claimed was stupid, but secretly understood. That was why Hungary wore a deep crimson rose in her hair, for mourning. That was why she picked a cornflower and tulip - their national flowers - and put them beside eachother. That was why, when she looked at his pale face, she wished she had brought a yellow rose instead, for friendship.

Spain wished that it would rain. Because, no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't cry. He couldn't cry for a third of their trio, he couldn't cry for a friend, even if they had fought on opposite sides in wars before. They were nations; it was an occupational hazard. They were nations, so Prussia shouldn't have died. Spain wished that it would rain so he could finally feel the tears running down his face.

France was sobbing grossly, and for once, he didn't care. For once, he let the tears and snot streak, and for once, he wished that he could be dead too.

Romano's lips moved in silent prayer. Praying for a friend - they were friends in the end, right? - praying for a better life, praying that he'd never have to see someone who was there his whole life die again. Praying that Prussia's crimson eyes would open up again as he'd laugh and say that the Awesome Prussia was too awesome to die.

Veneziano was crying loudly and disgustingly, and he knew it. He remembered how Prussia used to pat his head, comfort him when he was crying, laugh with him when there was something to laugh about. And maybe he was hoping that if he cried loud enough, Prussia might come come back.

In the end, Austria wasn't sure how to feel. He wondered if he should feel guilty that he wasn't as sad as everyone else seemed to be, if he would be mourning for a fellow nation. He wondered why he couldn't feel anything, so in the end, he decided that he should feel shocked that a nation as great as Prussia could die so easily.

Japan stared at the corpse of what was once a friend with emotionless eyes. Just once, he wished that he knew how to portray the grief that he felt inside.

Canada wondered that if he had named something more than just a small town after Prussia, maybe he would have lived. Maybe he would still be sitting on his kitchen counter with all of his "awesomeness", eating all of Canada's pancakes and drinking all of his maple syrup. And maybe Canada wouldn't be so scared that one day he would die as well, because if a loud and powerful and noticeable nation like Prussia can die, then what chance does he have?

America felt cold inside. Prussia, one of his friends and mentors was dead. One of the only nations who could notice his little brother, one of the only nations who would actually get what awesome was. One of the only nations who would give and laugh and never seemed to ask for anything in return, who knew how to have a little fun. Dead and gone and this time, there was nothing the hero could do about it.

"Where did I go wrong; I lost a friend.
Somewhere along in the bitterness.
And I would have stayed up, with you all night.
Had I know how to save a life."

For the "Oh the Feels" contest from #Drawing-Circles, other version (the one published as literature) deleted.

The lyrics are from "How to Save a Life" by The Fray [link]
Hetalia (C) Himaruya Hidekaz
"Oh The Feels" contest from #Drawing-Circles
Program used: Paint Tool SAI and Autodesk Sketchbook Express
Edited on 20.6.2013