Chapter Text
It was a beautiful autumn day, on 11th of November to be exact. I was doing the necessary paperworks in my office while drinking coffee and waiting for Germany to arrive.
After a good while of doing paperwork and Germany still not arriving I started to grow bored and decided to check the news, just scrolling through, not really looking for anything in particular.
Then there it was, a celebration of sorts, why would there be a celebration? I didn’t think there was something important about this day till now, did something happen in recent years?
The news channel didn’t give me any context on what kind of celebration it was so I began googling the date.
“What is celebrated on November 11th”
I hit search and waited for it to load. What could have happened today years ago that it was celebrated? And one that he doesn’t know about..
As the results finally appeared I was dumbstruck by the thing I thought wasn't a big deal.
“Remembrance Day is held on 11 November each year. This is the anniversary of the Armistice of 1918 that ended fighting in World War I.” The google search supplied.
“So today was the day World War 1 ended huh.. How could I not know that?” I muttered under my breath before searching for more information.
While I was searching for more, a door slam forced me to return to the world of living with a flinch, but before I could say anything my eyes caught who finally entered the office, Germany.
“Hey European Union, did you finish most of the paperwork while I was away?” Germany asked before I could say anything, did Germany know what day it was? If so, why didn’t he tell me? He would tell me right? He must! “Uh hello? Earth to the European Union? Are you there?” Germany was right beside me now, waving his hand up and down in front of my face, I blinked a few times before realizing I was spacing out while thinking, he probably realized I spaced out and came beside me in the meantime.
I looked at Germany, he had an exasperated look but that quickly vanished when he realized I came back to reality. “So what wa-” He began saying but before he could finish his sentence I interrupted him with my own. “GERMANY! Did you know today was when the first world war ended?! Why didn’t you tell me!” I started ranting to him frantically.
“What do you mean not telling you and if I knew it was today?” Germany asked, genuinely confused at my question, but why would he?
“I just learnt that today was the day World War 1 ended from a news channel! If you knew, why didn’t you tell me?” I asked him again, this time in a slower and more understandable way but all Germany did was knit his brows together and look at me more confused than ever as if telling me I was stupid for not knowing it before opening his mouth to answer.
“I thought you knew.. You are literally the European Union..? The war happened in Europe, how could you not know?” Germany looked at me critically as if he was judging me, which he probably was with how he was answering me with his own questions.
“I did not know..” I muttered a bit, averting my gaze but I immediately locked eyes with him again. “But you still could’ve told me, you know?” I said at last, all Germany did to answer me was letting out a sigh and giving me a deadpan expression that comes with knowing you can’t win an argument.
“So are we gonna do anything about it? Like a festival!” I yelled in excitement just for Germany to give me a more deadpan expression than he had previously with a brow raised. “What?” I asked, also giving him my own deadpan expression in return out of pettiness.
German sighed before answering, “We haven't done anything for it all these years, why would we do now?” which was technically true and he was right.. but why not? But before I could ask if we could do something this year he interrupted me. “No European Union, we are not doing anything, it’s already the 11th of the month. It's too late to prepare anything and we have work to do.” After hearing his reasoning I became sad but after a few seconds of sulking I realized something!
“Well.. you said ‘we are not doing anything’ not ‘you are not doing anything’ does this mean I can do something!” I yelled in excitement once more.
“No! Even if I let you, you wouldn’t have enough time to prepare anything anyways. This is both stupid and a waste of time.” he sighed before taking some of the paperwork I set aside for him and exiting my office, leaving me to my own thoughts.
“His reasoning was that I didn’t have enough time.. but I also want to do something..” I muttered to myself before a realization struck me like lightning. If I can’t have enough time here.. why not go back time? Yes, this idea was bulletproof.
But before I could think of it more, a better idea came to my mind. What if I go back in time AND bring world war 1 countries here right after the war ended?
Yes this idea sounded way better.. What was better than bringing back the countries that fought in the war and just accomplished peace? I mean that's worth celebrating for them too, right?
Now the real question is; how do I go back in time to do that? Maybe Germany knows something.. I’ll ask him when he comes back.
I actually did NOT wait for him to come back, I already have limited time, why would I do that? So now I was standing in front of his office debating if I should enter or not, but before I could decide Germany opened the room with an irritated look beckoning me to enter.
“So what did you come up with?” He asked with an eyeroll. Why was he interested in what I came up with if he thinks it's stupid anyways?
“I was thinking about how you said I didn't have enough time to do a festival of any sorts.. so I thought and well..” I began to tell him what happened but before I could finish he interrupted me.
“Did you finally realize it was physically impossible to hold a festival?” He asked, not annoyed for once since the last time I saw him, but that annoyance came back the moment I rolled my eyes and finished my sentence. “..I decided to find a way to time travel!”
“What.”
“Is that an ‘excited’ what? Or ‘are you stupid’ what?” I asked, not sure since I personally thought my idea was fantastic (which should be more popular than personally) but when it came to Germany you can’t know.
“That’s a ‘you are the dumbest person on earth’ what. Did you lose your mind or something? Time travel isn’t possible!” Germany yelled in frustration, but I came here to ask if he knew a way to time travel and he didn’t even hear my full plan!
“Well I know it isn’t possible that’s why I came to you, to ask if you knew a way! Plus you didn’t even hear my full plan!” I told him, I was a bit annoyed, but still cheerful with my grand plan coming closer by the second.
“What full plan.” he asked me, desperation and exasperation tainting his words.
“Well, I was thinking of going to the past right after world war 1 ended and take the past countries to the future and celebrate it together..?” I answered genuinely, getting uncertain with every second Germany stayed silent, maybe he actually likes the full plan? “Germany are you okay? You’ve become silent..” I asked him to be sure.
“European Union.. how do you come up with these ideas..?” He asked with a hollow voice if it was even possible.
“What do you mean?” I asked, hoping to get an actual response instead of a question.
“European Union..”
“Yes?”
“This.. this is so ass.” He said at last which was rude. He could’ve told me it was bad without directly insulting it. Well that doesn’t matter just because he thinks it’s a bad idea doesn’t mean he won’t help or that it’s actually a bad idea.
“Well are you gonna help?” I asked even if I didn’t really expect an answer.
“Me? No.” He said chuckling to himself, maybe he had a way of helping me without directly helping? “That idea is stupid why would I help?” he asked, which was rude, my idea can’t be that bad!
“Do you at least know someone that can help me?” I asked, done with the amount of insulting towards my idea and both my expression and voice showed that, if he was gonna be rude he could help me in a way at least.
“Ugh fine.” He said, pinching his brows. “I heard America boasting about finding a time travel machine a few days ago, go ask him.” He finally supplied me with a helping hand, even if it wasn’t as quick as he would’ve liked but it was still something.
“Thank you!” I yelled in excitement before running off to meet America, but before I could’ve gone out of earshot I heard Germany mutter, “That dumbass even if he manages to do it, it won’t be pretty.” which is honestly stupid in my opinion, they are at peace at last why wouldn’t they like a way to relax?
After I found America, which took way too long for my own liking, I should’ve asked someone where he was, I immediately started talking before he even realized I was there to talk to him. “United States of America!! My dear friend, how have you been?” I asked in a polite greeting just for the man in question to look at me questioningly.
“European Union? Why are you here?” He asked which was rude. Does really no one know their manners? First Germany, now America.
“Yes, I'm fine too.” I muttered before brightening up. “So.. I heard you found something..” upon saying that America froze on the spot, didn’t Germany say he was boasting about it? Why would he react like that?
“What machine.. haha?” He gave an awkward laugh, probably lying? Maybe? I mean Germany said he was talking about a time machine and I trust Germany so he must have just lied to my face!
“Don’t try to lie! Germany himself told me! He doesn’t lie unlike you.”
“But Germany does lie, you wouldn’t know how many lies he has told me..!” He told me, maybe he was not lying? But Germany wouldn’t lie, especially to me!
“Stop lying! I need to go back in time to when world war 1 ended!” I yelled at him, frustrated, how could he lie to my face and think I wouldn’t notice?!
But upon hearing my words America’s whole demeanor changed, becoming as bright as a kid and he immediately began pulling me towards somewhere before talking in a hushed and fast manner. “Why didn’t you just say that at the start?! I thought you were one of them!” “Who-” “The authorities! They might not be able to do anything to me but I like my time machine!” OHHH alright that made sense. No wonder he lied.
“So where are we going?” I asked after we finally started walking at a slower pace.
“You’ll see.”
After a few minutes of walking we arrived at a house, probably his. Upon entering it we immediately headed to the basement where I assume the time machine is right now.
“Florida! Bring the machine!” America yelled out the moment we were in the basement, why was there someone in the basement though?
After like a minute someone literally crawled from behind the boxes that were at the other side of the basement, dragging something with him.
“Here it is!” The man that came out of.. somewhere said immediately after putting the thing in the middle of the basement before going to wherever he came from.
“Is this the time machine..?” I asked after getting close to it, it really didn’t look like the ones in films. Instead, the thing in front of me was just a black cube with a handle and some monitors on the side.
“Yep! What can it be if not a time machine?” He responded with an eye roll. I looked at the machine again and questioned my life choices. It didn't even reach my stomach, what was I supposed to do, squish myself in it?
“Um where did you find this exactly..?” I asked, not averting my eyes from the machine.
“Aliens!” What.
“HUH?!” I exclaimed because well aliens were real!! I’ve been waiting for years for someone to confirm it! All the times Germany told me I was stupid because I believed in aliens.. heh.. funny how all this time I was right! Look who is the smart one now Germany!
“Yep!! Aliens!” America said cheerfully.
“FINALLY! FINALLY!! I FINALLY GOT A CONFIRMATION!!” I yelled in excitement to no one in particular but America looked at me as if he found a treasure.
“So you also believe in aliens! I knew I shouldn't have listened to my father when he said I wouldn’t find anyone who believes in it and that it was stupid!” America said in excitement, it’s sad how he didn’t have anyone believing him either.
“OF COURSE I believe in aliens! They are the best!” I screamed in delight after realizing he was in the same situation as me.
“GREAT TO FIND ALIKE MINDS!!” He yelled in excitement. “Now what did you need again because if we continue yelling I fear this will not end well.” Huh? What did he mean by that? Oh well, time to go back in time I guess!
“The end of world war 1!” I told him again, to which he nodded.
“Alright! I just need to adjust it to the right time..” he said while walking towards the monitors and pushing some buttons(?), Alien technology was weird but that's what makes it great so it's fine! “Okay! Are you ready? Cuz we are all set!” He said in enthusiasm.
“Hai hai captain, do your thing!”
“Heh..”
“What-”
THE FUCK?! DID HE JUST SQUISHED ME? IN THAT SMALL MACHINE. I should’ve seen that coming…
Ugh anyways.. where am I? I should be in Europe but this place doesn’t look like Europe.. maybe I could ask a passerby? I probably should also ask what year I’m in right now, just to be sure. But they might look at me weird.. doesn’t matter, it’s for the greater good!
As I was walking for god knows how long, I finally saw someone. Not wanting to lose my chance I quickly went over to the person with a wave, he saw me and quickly looked around to (probably) be sure about if I was waving to him.
“Hi sir!” I said when I got close to the man.
“Um, are you talking to me..?” The person asked after checking the area again.
“Yep!” I exclaimed. “Do you know where we are? And what year it is?”
“what..?” He gave me a weird look before sighing and answering my question. “We are in America.” He gave me a weird look again before answering my other question. “And it’s 1869.” …
What.
It was supposed to be right after world war ended..? Pretty sure it ended in the 1910s.. not 1869.
Did something go wrong? But America looked like he knew what he was doing..
Stupid time machine! Now I can't even make my best idea turn to reality!
I let out a sigh of frustration and when I looked back to the man I previously talked to, he was gone.. probably walked away when I was thinking.
Maybe this will be a great experience.. I mean I don’t even know how to go back so I should use this as an opportunity while waiting for America.. right?
“Who the fuck are you?!” Someone yelled from a distance where I couldn’t see them and making me flinch at the same time. Who could it be? But before I knew what was happening someone shot me in the shoulder with a gun, I raised my hand to where I got shot in reflex and after I processed what happened I quickly took the bullet that got stuck in my shoulder so it wouldn't heal while it was still inside it.
The attacker must have realised what I’ve done or more like what I was because after mere seconds I heard footsteps from a really close distance but before I could act on it someone put a gun to my head.
“Who are you.” The same person demanded again in a more vicious and aggressive tone than before.
“I- um European Union?” I responded, unsure of myself since there was no way he would know me in this time period, but for some reason he just closed the gap between the gun and my head, making me more anxious than ever.
“I won’t ask again. Who are you!” He asked for the final time, but I already answered.. I probably should explain what I am doing for him to let me go, or I hope that it will work at least.
“Like I said I’m European Union!” He pressed the gun harder. “Just- just let me explain!”
“Explain it fast or else…”
Well.. fuck