Hetalia One-Shots

AusSwiss: Ski

  A blinding stretch of sparkling snow covered the many slopes of the domain. The sky was unbelievably clear, letting the sun send its warm rays of light onto every mountain peak. The air was fresh but the wind was icy when sliding down the slopes at high speed. Due to the spectacular weather conditions, the lifts and the trails were packed with skiers and snowboarders from all around Europe, and even sometimes from America or elsewhere. This part of the Alps had always been beloved by winter sports adepts due to the variety of slopes and the beautiful scenery surrounding them.

  Every year—just like most Central Europeans—Roderich took a week off of work to reconnect with himself and nature as he enjoyed a pleasant workout up and down the slopes. This time, he had come with his cousins and a friend, all very intense skiers. They got along extremely well, especially when it came to winter sports. Each morning they would all wake up very early, warm up by running outside, then shower and put on their snow equipment, go to the cabin lift as soon as they opened, warmed up again at the top of the slopes, then ski until their legs were sore. It was very intense but extremely gratifying to feel so revilaltized once laying down to go to bed.

  This morning, Roderich's two cousins, Ludwig and Gilbert, decided they would take a bus and ski in another valley for the day. Elizabeta, their friend, admitted she was not too keen on losing so much time on a trip back and forth to the other valley, so she and Roderich stayed in Ischgl. As usual, they warmed up and went up the mountain. They decided to take it easy when skiing today, to appreciate the nature more and enjoy the bright, sunny day. The two friends skied the entire morning, gradually crossing the mountain until they were on the Swiss side of the domain, near Samnaun. It was a side they had already done many times but what they loved most was the journey to it. After a quick lunch break, they decided they would go down one last slope before heading back to Austria.

  They waited in line for the T-bar leading up to the top of a slope. Many kids were chatting away as they shuffled up to the turnstile gate. Most of them were part of a group of learners, their ski instructor calling out to the few troublemakers. Elizabeta admired their young energy and livelihood. She nudged Roderich with her elbow as he was studying the map on a billboard.

  "Hey Ricky," she said in German, "do you remember when you first started skiing?"

  The Austrian man peeled his eyes off from the map to look at his friend, then at the children a few meters away from them. He understood what she meant and smiled. "Oh yes," he replied. "I believe I was about six years old. I was terrified and hated everything about the activity. The cold, the waiting, the falling, the sweating, it was not fun at all in the beginning, especially since younger kids were better than me and much more fearless."

  Elizabeta laughed as she shuffled forward. "I can understand that sentiment. Although, in my case, I began skiing as a teenager so I was definitely eager to learn and enjoy it as the sport it is."

  The pair finally arrived at the end of the line. A man was handing out the T-bars as they came flying by. Once Roderich and Elizabeta had positioned themselves next to one another, the man hooked the T-bar behind their thighs and it pulled them forward. They each held their ski poles in one hand and the bar with the other. As they were being hauled up the slope, the two friends began discussing their way back.

  "So normally, once we arrive at the top, we should ski down the slope on the right, which would connect us to the ski lift, which then brings us back to Ischgl," stated Elizabeta, pointing to their right.

  "Exactly. We should get there in about twenty minutes."

  The Hungarian woman was about to agree when she spotted something of interest. She tapped her friend's shoulder and pointed to their right again. "Look! It's a ski park! I didn't know they had one here," she exclaimed.