Roles Reversed

Prologue

The time was World War III. The world has already suffered through six long years of war, and more was to come.

America curled in on himself as he listened to the pained screams of his older brother. A fourth atomic had been dropped on the city of London by Russia. England, whose land had already been through countless, bloody wars and three atomic bombs, was weak and vulnerable. This last bomb only worsened his condition. France had asked that America wait outside the room England was occupying until he calmed down.

America felt a few tears roll down his face. When did it all come to this? Every day was filled with death, fear, and despair, knowing that his people were suffering. He wished he could go back to his carefree days when he could eat burgers whenever he wanted, give ridiculous speeches about nonsense because he knew it would annoy everybody else, and he wished he could still argue with England and France about the smallest of things. He missed being able to do whatever he wanted, he missed having to suffer through Canada's hockey rage, and he missed teasing England about his cooking. He wasn't sure when he would be able to do that again.

Russia had been the one to start the war. He attacked Japan and England. It quickly spiraled out of control after the first two attacks. The Russian government had made threats to America. The U.S. President stayed out of conflict as long as he could until missiles were sent to New York. There were three in total, but only two were shot down in time. Over eighty lives were lost in the building that had been struck and the country went to war.

The leaders of Germany, Italy, and China sided with Russia, forming the Neo-Central Powers, while the leaders of England, France, and Japan sided with America, forming the Neo-Allies. The friendship between Germany, Italy, and Japan was strained as they were on opposite sides. The strain only grew when Russia made Japan a prime target, releasing two atomic bombs on the small nation.

The war had gone on for two years before Japan went missing. Many suspected he was captured by the enemy, while some thought he was injured, and a few even believed he went running back to Germany and Italy. They only learned the truth when China came to them, wanting to join. From him, they learned that Russia had captured Japan and was torturing him. China was not able to stand the sight of his brother being tortured and left the Central Powers without his allies and government knowing, wanting help to rescue him since he would not be able to save him from Russia on his own.

They still have yet to rescue Japan.

England's screams still went on. America did his best to block them out. He knew that China and France were doing their best to comfort England and heal his injuries, but it still took all of America's self-restraint to not go running to his brother.

A thought plagued the back of America's mind. What if England didn't make it? The three bombs from before had already weakened him to the point of being stuck in bed for weeks, surely this last one will finish him off. America shook his head. There was no time to be thinking like that. England was strong, stronger than most countries thought. He would make it.

The screams went silent. The blonde waiting outside the room looked towards the door in anticipation. What seemed like an eternity passed before the door opened. China poked his head out, a worn expression on his face.