I Am East (Hetalia Prussia)

Chapter 4: Peaceful Revolution

The whole thing was a bloody mess. For him, anyway. Things were going better for Hungary. Her boss listened to her. That didn't mean Russia was happy about it, though. Every time there was a rally in one of their countries, he would send all of them to their rooms until the rebellion was suppressed, often with force. Another such protest had begun in Budapest by some East Germans, and the countries were being isolated as usual.

Prussia sat on his bed looking out his window on the second floor. He was worried about his people and Hungary's. Hungary and her boss had been doing their best to protect them. Even Germany had been helping as best he could by smuggling East Germans through his embassy. But if he couldn't turn his government, this would all be fruitless.

He sighed in frustration and shook his head.

"Getting restless, da?"

Prussia jumped up and spun around at the unexpected voice.

"Wha--what are you doing here?" Prussia's voice faltered. "That door was locked."

Russia held up a ring of keys as he walked over to stand with Prussia beside the window. He never did respect their privacy.

"Did you think me that clueless?"

"What?"

"Did you think I wouldn't know what you and Hungary were doing? Your people have been leaving through Hungary's borders for months now."

"I don't know what you're talking about."

Russia gave him a sweet smile, but it sent a chill down Prussia's spine.

"You still think you can play dumb? It's too late for that."

Just then, there was a distant scream, and Prussia looked out the window to see Hungary being dragged from the house by Russia's soldiers, a van open and waiting to take her away.

"Hungary!" he screamed, hitting the glass.

He turned and bolted for the door, but Russia grabbed him.

"Calm yourself, comrade," he ordered, a tight grip on his arm, Hungary's screams still ringing in the distance.

"Where are they taking her?" said Prussia, trying to wriggle loose of Russia's grip.

"She is trouble, always causing disorder and unrest, so now she will be spending some time alone, where she will no longer be able to cause trouble," said Russia as Hungary's cries were silenced with the slamming of the van doors.

"Let me go! You can't do this to us!" Prussia cried, all the more desperate to get free.

"You brought this on yourselves!" Russia twisted his arm back.

Prussia screamed and dropped to his knees, still fighting the painful hold Russia had on him, but as the sounds of the vehicle faded in the distance, Prussia felt his strength wane. When the world was once again silent, Prussia couldn't find the will to resist, going limp in Russia's grip.

"You should try harder to forget what is over there." Russia leaned in close. "That wall will not be coming down for another hundred years."

He released his arm, walking away to leave Prussia in a sad heap on the floor.

"What have I done?" he cried to himself.

Still on his knees and doubled over in pain he stayed there for a good while before the door opened again.

A hand touched his shoulder, and a small frame sat down beside him.

"L—Latvia?"

"Hey, East," said the small nation kindly.

Any other time he would have been horrified to have somebody see him like this, but right now he was so low he didn't even care.

"I shouldn't have done it. I shouldn't have agreed to her plan. I knew she had too many strikes against her. I should have known this would get her into trouble."

"This wasn't your fault! She and Russia never got along. You remember 1956. She broke his nose! And that was just the Olympics!"

Prussia managed to smirk, remembering her fighting spirit.

"You know as well as I do, you can't just kill a country. We are as strong as our people are. As long as they believe in us, we will keep going. Hungary will be fine."

"Thanks." Prussia sniffed and wiped his eyes. "Sorry. I'm not being very awesome."

Latvia smiled. "You're plenty awesome."

Prussia finally got himself together and went back downstairs. After determining that his arm was not dislocated, he put some ice on it, grateful that he hadn't gotten worse.

Even though Russia was the biggest country on earth, it still astounded Prussia how much power he had compared to them. America was strong but he still lacked Russia's intimidating stature, and while he heard that guy north of him, whatever his name was, was closest in size, he lacked the power Russia had. All those years of being ruled over, Prussia supposed. He could relate.

"East Germany!" Lithuania ran in from the other room. "You're going to want to see this."

Prussia got up and followed him to the TV room where everyone had gathered. They all stood around the tiny 1980's television set to watch the news broadcast.

"You can see the demonstrators in the streets, all chanting for a change in legislation. But the real question is if they will actually get it now that Hungary's amended parliament will be meeting for the first time without communist party participation." The newscaster continued to commentate as footage played of protesters demonstrating outside of the government building.

"It looks like Hungary isn't going down without a fight," said Estonia.

With a deep sigh, Prussia fell back on the couch. He couldn't remember the last time he had been so relieved. She was still her own country.

A/N Fact sharing time! Aside from shooting the protesters, the response to everyone fleeing their countries was to close the borders between the countries. I interpreted that into locking them in their rooms. Russia's prediction that the wall would remain for another 100 years was actually the prediction of the then leader of East Germany. And in 1956 a water polo match between Hungary and USSR turned into a bloody fist fight. Wow, so many facts! Alright, catch you in the next chapter!