A little history lesson: This takes place just before the fall of France during WW2. Germany is attacking and pushing back the French forces until they're trapped by the sea, but something happens that saves them from certain doom! It's considered one of the bravest acts of the war.
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There was screaming, panic, fear all around the man known as Francis Bonnefoy. The ground was being torn up by the treads of the German tanks approaching, and Francis could feel the discomfort caused by it. Bombs threwn soil into the air along with unlucky French soldiers. France's poor Ardennes...
"Retraite! Fall back!" General Bonnefoy shouted over the ruckus caused by the tanks and guns encompassing the battlefield. "Retraite!" (Retreat!)
~~
"Général Bonnefoy! Général Bonnefoy! We are trapped by zhe sea!" a lieutenant cried out as he hurried up to his country to deliver his message.
General Bonnefoy nodded wearily, feeling as if he were about to collapse from exhaustion. "Oui, I realize zhis, Lieutenant. We 'ave no ozher choice."
"But, General-!" the lieutenant protested only to be silenced by a firm glare from his superior. "Oui, General Bonnefoy. What should we do now?"
"Call our ally across zhe Channel, Lieutenant. Per'aps 'e will 'elp us in our plight."
~~
"Mr. Kirkland! Mr. Kirkland!"
The shouting roused Arthur Kirkland from his well-deserved nap he had been taking at his desk. A bit embarrassed to have fallen asleep so deeply while at work, he lifted his head and discreetly wiped away a line of drool trailing from the corner of his mouth. Blond hair a worse mess than usual, he accepted the telegram that had come to him specifically.
As his green eyes scanned the paper, Arthur sighed. "Bloody Frog got himself in a bind again? Damn... I suppose I'll have to do the right thing here and go help him. Damn him for his cowardice."
~~
It had taken only a small bit of convincing for Mr. Churchill to agree with Mr. Kirkland and allow a rescue to ensue. Arthur could feel his ego swell some as he commanded the fleet of Royal Navy ships himself; it had been ill-advised by his prime minister, but Arthur wanted to see the look on the Frog's face.
No one ever said the countries weren't egotistical or prideful.
With the salty sea air blowing back his light locks, Commander Kirkland felt a slow smile creep over his face. He might not be a very strong swimmer, but on a ship at sea was one of the few places in the world where he felt at home.
'Hold on, Francis. I'll save your bloody arse.'
~~
"Look, 'ere zhey come!" one French soldier who wasn't injured exclaimed, pointing to the sea. Coming into view was a very makeshift armada consisting of the British Royal Navy and civilian craft ranging from yachts to fishing boats.
A cheer rose from the crowd, and General Bonnefoy smiled with extreme gratitude. 'Angleterre, merci beacoup.'
Almost as soon as the first boats reached the shore, the German military came over the rise and began its attack.
"Hurry, everyone get onboard a vessel!" a familiar, British-accented voice commanded over the confusion and panic. Francis looked around over the tops of his soldier's heads, searching for those well-known thick eyebrows and rather unruly blond hair. It was difficult, seeing as how the country was only slightly taller than most of the men around him.
As Francis moved forward, a searing pain ripped through his side and forced him down to one knee. Blood, boiled from battle, streamed through his fingers that desperately tried to staunch the flow. He had been shot by the approaching Germans.
"Merde, non!" Francis cursed, shakily getting back to his feet and hobbling forward. He had to find Angleterre and explain something to him before it was too late.
Someone bumped into his shoulder and nearly sent Francis back to the ground. Then man turned back and realized he'd found the person he was looking for.
"Frog!" Arthur exclaimed, helping Francis to steady himself. "Dammit, Frog, what were you thinking?"
"A-Angleterre," Francis mumbled, looking with a hazy gaze at the Brit. "It was all I could do at zhe time."
"And you even got yourself injured. Stupid. Come on, this way," Arthur said, attempting to lead Francis back to the ships. Francis shook his head and stopped walking, much to Arthur's confusion. "Francis? What are you doing?"
"Arzhur, I 'ave to stay with my country," Francis managed to say with conviction.
"What the hell has gotten into you, Frog? We need to hurry before the Germans get here!" Arthur tried to grab Francis's free wrist, but it was twisted from his grasp.
"Non. Take she troops to England and plan anozher attack, oui? I will stay behind and defend mon capital." His voice was steady and firm.
"You are bloody mad! Did you have too much wine before I arrived?" Arthur shouted before the gravity of the situation sunk in. "Your... capital. Damn, that's right."
"Oui. I 'ave to defend it or go down with it."
Arthur cursed under his breath and nodded. "Alright, fine. Don't ever say I didn't try to stop you or help you."
Francis smiled. "I know, Angleterre. Merci beacoup." Shouts in German suddenly could be heard from not far behind Francis, who turned to see tanks rolling across the plains toward them. Anger flashed across his dirt-streaked face, and he spoke without looking back at Arthur. "Go, quickly. Before zhey capture us both."
Arthur nodded hesitantly. "Alright. Do what you can, Fro- Francis."
Then the Brit turned tail and hurried, boarding a vessel last and just before the gangplank was raised. Huge splashes with concussive shocks pounded down into the water around the boats; the Germans were firing their tanks in a last ditch effort.
Amidst the chaos, Arthur looked back for a brief moment merely out of concern for his ally. Francis was nowhere to be seen; he had most likely begun the journey back to Paris.
'Wounded like that, he probably won't get far...' Arthur thought with a slight twinge of regret.
~~
May of 1940
"So, France has fallen," Arthur stated, an anger directed toward the Germans bubbling in his stomach. "Dammit..."
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So, it was sort of implied FrUk, but what do you think? Should I do more of these? Please comment below and tell me what you thought of this!
