Hetalia: The Sapphire Kingdom

Chapter 13

  I found myself floating above the ocean waves. I did not struggle or even try move. I expected to be dead very soon, because the day my land sunk, I was no longer a country.

But, even after I had lived out my human years there in the sea, I never perished. I lived. And that is how I know that Alexius saved me. Somewhere in the depths of the sea, he kept my country alive. Still, I would not return to my land in his lifetime and, therefore, would never see him again. I only wish I could have thanked him, or told him how much he meant to me. I wish he could have spent the years he deserved with me, smiling, happy, as he and I used to be.

Without Axonas, the world slowly turned back to the way I used to be. And, eventually, that part of history was forgotten by all of them. With that, I also faded from their memories. Soon, hardly anyone was able to see me.

During the time that I was frozen, drifting among the waves of the sea, I became very philosophical. I understood where I had gone wrong, prayed for forgiveness, and vowed to change my ways. As long as I trusted in my morals, truly held to them, I would never have gone corrupt, and I never would. Spreading them with force was never the answer. I promised myself that when I returned, I would become an example and teach my ways, without effecting the precious freedom of will that was given to mankind.

As for the seal, I was not able to break it, even though I was on the outside. My only hope was to send out the letter to the single remaining person who was able to see me. I prayed that fate would eventually carry it to someone who would be able to resurrect my country, and save me.

Little did I know what would come of that hope.

OOOOOOOOOO

"Atlantis," Prussia mumbled, as if saying my name would erase everything he had just heard from the past. "You can't be..."

"I am," my voice froze over in distantness. "We are about to fall all over again. But this time, I am going to do everything in my power to stop it." I stood, moving to one of the windows and looking out into the darkness.

"But, what can you do? You only saw him. That doesn't mean..."

"I will take no risk concerning his revival. He is like a poison- a virus. And as long as people remember him, we will still live. I cannot let it spread past my borders, but I believe I have time before I must take to the extreme measures I did so long ago. I will have to seal my boarders until I am absolutely sure I have extinguished him."

"Wait, you don't mean this is-" Prussia stopped when he met my eyes. I had no expression on my face, just like in those years. But eyes remain the windows to the soul.

"I am afraid it is." I came to his side, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Tell the others what they need to know and warn them," I told him, placing a special emphasis on the word "need."

"I understand, but..." he looked down, cringing.

"You will see me again. Everything will be okay," I gave him a forced, reassuring smile.

He whispered something before turning away from me and going to the door, but I didn't attempt to process it. At least, not until he was gone.

"I've lost too much to believe that."

OOOOOOOOOO

"This... this can't be real," England was the first to speak, resting his head in his hands.

"Atlantis? I..." America stuttered. "I thought she was our friend."

"If you knew the whole reason she was doing this, you'd understand!" Prussia suddenly snapped.

"It's just a really strange thing to for her..." Japan spoke quietly.

"I agree that it's very out of character," France added. "But people, especially ones like us, have many dimensions."

"So, then, you're saying she can't be trusted?" Russia asked.

"This is Atlantis!" Italy cried. "She's the nicest person I know! Whatever reason she's doing this for, I know it's for good!"

Germany saw the oncoming argument and stood, getting everyone's attention. "It is true that her recent behavior is unusual, but she is doing no harm. I trust my brother's witness in saying that it is for a good reason. As for us, we should respect her actions and remain calm until she reopens her borders. This meeting is over."

OOOOOOOOOO

Not but a year had passed. There had been no more sightings of Axonas in my country, or in the others, which I had been discernibly keeping a careful eye on with the use of satellites. I soon began to second guess myself, asking if perhaps he was only a ghost now, and that is what I saw of him.

I had been getting along fine without the other nations. Still, I missed them. And any minute, I expected Prussia to jump through the window and drag me off somewhere... and now I wished he would more than ever.

Needless to say, the past twelve months without him had been painfully boring and lonely. I couldn't imagine what his brother went through that the time they were separated by the wall.

Still, I knew I would see him again one day. I just had to keep reminding myself that.

OOOOOOOOOO