So here goes another part of Historical Hetalia: Hope to Die.
This will follow Germany and Prussia from the build-up to the two World Wars to their aftermath. It's the sequeal to Cross Your Heart, which was abuot Prussia's life before Germany came into existence, and honestly, I really advise reading that before Hope to Die. Certain things here will be hard to follow if you haven't read CYH. There will also be overlap with earlier parts of Historical Hetalia, Rising and Trouble, which were about Irish history from the Easter Rising through to the end of the Troubles. And with 'overlap' I mean that certain events from Rising and Trouble involving the German brothers will be the same in this story, but from a different perspective.

So yeah, let's get this started!

Thank you for clicking on my story, and I hope you'll enjoy it!

One early afternoon in 1896, the Kingdom of Prussia stepped onto the porch of a house, his little brother by his side. Germany, a child of 25 years old but 7 by appearance and by heart, looked happy to be here. They'd both been invited over to the Netherlands by their cousin, as the small country knew very well that his little cousin Germany enjoyed the Dutch beaches a lot. They were generally warmer than anything he had within his own borders. Prussia wasn't such a fan of them, which he had his reasons for, but he did like the time off he got and preferred not to spend that time at home where his leaders might still find him and drop a massive workload on him when they got the chance. It was hard work managing an empire all on his own, and he hoped Germany would soon be old enough to start working a bit as well.
The albino hadn't even needed to knock on the door; it was opened just a second after he and Germany had reached it. Belgium was smiling wide. "Hi!" she greeted them both happily. Always in a good mood, that girl. Prussia more often than not enjoyed talking to her. "I came this way when I heard you were coming," she said quickly as she stepped aside to let her two German cousins in. "Lux is here, too, but he'll be leaving again tonight." Prussia just smiled at her, ready to say a greeting as well, but Belgium was already hugging Germany in her usual enthusiastic manner. "Oh, I've missed my favourite little cousin, I really have!" It wasn't hard for Germany to be her favourite little cousin; he was, after all, the only one she had.
Poor Germany looked like he was choking, exaggerating on that when he greeted her as well, feigning a severe lack of oxygen. Well… maybe it wasn't all fake.
Belgium just apologised and then gave Prussia the same treatment. "Hi, Bel," he choked out, chuckling a bit. "Long time no see, huh? I know, I would miss awesomeness like me, too, if I were you."
Just then, Netherlands appeared in the doorway to the living room as well, telling his sister not to strangle their guests before they were very well inside. Belgium rolled her eyes and muttered under her breath as she closed the door, and meanwhile Prussia and Germany already headed to the living room. Greeting Luxembourg and Netherlands went a lot more smoothly; most of all it was without potential death by choking.
"You're growing up quickly, Ludwig," Netherlands commented as he got them all some coffee –orange juice for the young empire. "Nations nowadays really do grow up more quickly than we used to, don't they, Gil?"
Prussia just nodded, though in his case it wasn't entirely true; he'd been this physical age by the true age of 19. But then, not many nations seemed to know how old he really was. Not many seemed to care, either. He knew that the United Kingdom, for one, thought of him as much older than he was. But he didn't care; with nations, age was status, status was respect. If they wanted to give him more credit than he deserved in that particular way, he would only cheer them on.
Belgium then turned to Prussia, smiling. "So?" she asked him, her green eyes sparkling. "Are you coming with us this time?"
Prussia chuckled and shook his head. "Not a good idea, I'm afraid. I'd look like a lobster." His reason for disliking beaches was very simple: his albinism. Belgium just didn't want to accept that as being a reason for Prussia to stay home when they would spend time together. He never had any trouble getting a sunburn, it didn't have any consequences for his health, it was just uncomfortable.
"Hey, someone as awesome as me, I can entertain myself," Prussia just said, sitting back comfortably. "You go splash around in salt and burn your skin, I'll just-" He broke off then, coughing harshly. He'd had this annoying cough for a few days now, and after so long, it was starting to hurt his lungs just coughing.
Germany sighed from where he sat between Belgium and Luxembourg, looking at his big brother sadly. "He's been doing that all week," he mumbled with a huff, clearly displeased. But he didn't seem to realise how troublesome it was to Prussia himself, too, much to the older nation's frustration. How to explain to him that Prussia wasn't feeling well, that he was in pain because of how long it had lasted? Germany had never been sick before, he wouldn't really understand until he'd felt it himself.
Luxembourg narrowed his eyes when Prussia finally stopped coughing, a bit more worried than his young cousin was. "Maybe it is best if you stayed home," he mumbled thoughtfully. "Why would you even come here if you're not well?"
"Because Ludwig wanted to come," Prussia answered dismissively, not really thinking much of it. He'd been sick before, and he could take it. He could take anything. He hadn't worried for a second yet. "It's not so bad, it's just a cough, really. I'm awesome enough not to be bothered by such a trivial thing."
Netherlands hummed, also not too worried. "Just promise to take it easy while we're away," he said calmly, his voice monotonous. "I'm sure that, whether it's just a little cold or worse, having been on the road for two days hasn't made it any better."
"Yeah, yeah," Prussia huffed, rolling his red eyes. "Spare me the nonsense."
Netherlands didn't pay any attention to the albino's muttering, and instead turned to Germany. "Are you ready to go out again, Ludwig?" The little boy nodded excitedly, and half an hour later Prussia was alone again.
He sighed and sat back on the couch, staring at the wall agitatedly. When am I not alone? he wondered angrily. Most of his life had been like this, and even now, when he had Germany by his side almost constantly, he was still lonely more often than not. The Prussian began to doubt that he would ever not feel all alone.

Germany's legs were tingling by the time he and the Benelux countries came to Netherlands home again. The sun was low in the sky, but it would be some hours yet until sunset. He'd been playing around in the sea for a while, and then they'd decided to take a walk. By now, the little boy was quite tired, but just like his elder brother, he never showed it much.
Luxembourg sighed as Netherlands stuck his key into his door to open it. "I wonder if Prussia hasn't wrecked the house," he muttered under his breath. "That seems like just the thing for him to do."
"While he's sick?" Belgium put in, giving her brother a playful shove. "I doubt it." Netherlands told them once again to just be quiet, like he'd had to do several times that afternoon, and opened the door, walking in without so much as a glance at his two siblings. Germany smiled at this. He understood by now that it wasn't so much that the three didn't like each other, because they did, it was just their way of interacting with one another. It was very different from Germany's relationship with Prussia; the kingdom could be very affectionate toward his little brother, but sometimes he got angry, not at Germany but just in general, and then he would sometimes snap at Germany a bit as well. Never much, though, so the little empire didn't mind. He was used to it after all these years.
Germany followed his cousins inside and pushed the door closed behind him before Luxembourg could do it for him, then went into the living room after them.
His happiness dampened a bit when he saw his big brother asleep on the couch. Netherlands and Belgium, having come into the living room a few seconds before Germany and Luxembourg, were whispering to each other with glances at Prussia, but it was in Dutch, and Germany didn't know that language yet. He just huffed, annoyed that he didn't understand them, then walked past the two to wake Prussia. There was so much he wanted to tell him about what he'd missed! But Belgium stopped him. "Let him sleep, sweetie," she said in a hushed voice and with a warm smile, but anxiety flashed in her green eyes. "You can tell him everything when he wakes up."
Luxembourg then patted his head, and Germany looked up at him instead. "How about I teach you some more Dutch? You know how to introduce yourself, right?"
Germany nodded; that was all he knew how to say in Dutch, and he did want to learn more. With one last glance at Prussia, he followed the youngest of the three Benelux siblings to the table for his lesson.

In the minutes after that, Netherlands and Belgium talked a bit more, Belgium appearing to be very persistent about something and Netherlands grudgingly agreeing in the end. He went out then, and Germany asked what he was going to do. Neither Luxembourg nor Belgium answered that question, and the child crossed his arms over his chest with a huff. Why wasn't he allowed to know? Belgium knelt down beside Prussia and gently shook him. She told me not to wake him just minutes ago! It was unfair.
Prussia opened his eyes to slits, grumpily looking at her, his gaze softening a bit when he saw who had woken him up. Belgium talked to him in a hushed voice, and again in Dutch. Prussia answered in German, though. "That's really not necessary, Bel." He sat up, almost immediately coughing again. It sounded worse than before. But still, whatever Belgium had told him, he shook his head when she insisted on it.
The argument went on a moment longer, and Belgium eventually stood up again and just walked away. "Suit yourself; brother's on his way already, anyway." Prussia didn't look at her as she left, instead grumpily staring at the wall. And then he coughed again.
Luxembourg tapped Germany on the shoulder to get the child's attention again. "Was your brother this bad before?" he asked softly, adding when Germany didn't seem to understand: "Has the coughing gotten worse?"
"Clearly," Germany muttered, turning away. Why were they making such a fuss? It was just a cough. Prussia didn't worry either, so why should they?
"So, learning Dutch, are we?" Prussia's voice then came from behind Germany, and the young child was almost startled by it. The Prussian chuckled when the young child stared at him wide-eyed. He then ruffled Germany's hair, and the boy ducked away from that with an agitated huff. Prussia only blinked at him for a moment, looking almost hurt by that; Germany didn't want him to do that more often, but he never seemed angry about it. "What's wrong?"
Germany was silent for a moment, staring at the table, then gave in. "I want you to stop being sick," he confessed softly. Prussia immediately replied that he wanted that, too. Germany nodded, glad that at least they agreed about that. "You're no fun like this."
Prussia didn't seem to like that part of the comment, but Germany didn't know what was wrong about it. His brother had always taught him he should tell the truth and now he did. Wasn't that good? "Ludwig, if it's only because you don't like it, that's not a very nice thing to say," he said in his 'correcting voice'. Germany hated that one, it meant he'd done something wrong. But Prussia just went on with his explanation of why he didn't like it that his little brother had said that. "If you weren't feeling well," he said calmly, "would you like it if I wanted you to feel better just to have fun with you again? Or would you rather have me wanting you to get better for your sake?"
"…That last one, I suppose."
"Good boy," the kingdom said with more warmth in his voice already, before giving his little brother a peck on his head and sitting down at the table with him and Luxembourg. And then he coughed yet again.
Luxembourg cringed at the sound. "It certainly has gotten worse," he commented with a grimace. "It's good that Lars has gone out to-"
"Once again," Prussia interrupted his younger cousin, rolling his eyes, "that's all completely unnecessary. I know what's caused this, I don't need someone else just making dumb assumptions." After that he didn't seem to want to talk about it one second longer, but Luxembourg still nodded.
He did see sense in Prussia's comment, at least. "But still," he put in, "some meds wouldn't hurt."
Oh. Germany now understood what Netherlands was doing; he was getting some medicine for Prussia. Well, that wasn't too bad. His brother still disliked the idea, clearly.

Germany understood Prussia's attitude concerning this when Netherlands didn't just bring home simple medicine, but actually a physician. That was the one part he had gotten wrong, then, in guessing what all that secrecy was about. Prussia only grudgingly agreed to be checked, and only 'because the man took the trouble to come here', as he said.
Germany sat watching from a distance, curious; he'd never seen a physician at work yet, and it was fascinating. The man sat down beside Prussia on the couch, pressing a small metal object to the kingdom's chest and putting the two other ends of it in his ears. Prussia, with an annoyed expression, only breathed and didn't say a thing. Why? What was this for? Next he put the thing away and lightly touched Prussia's forehead. Now this was something Germany did know; checking his temperature. Prussia muttered something at this, and though he didn't understand the words all that well, Germany guessed that it was something along the lines of 'not necessary' yet again. The human replied calmly to this, and Germany bit the inside of his lips. Why can't they just speak German! Sometimes he wished the whole world spoke German all the time. Then he wouldn't have to put an effort into learning other languages.
Eventually he asked what was going on, and Prussia answered that he had to be patient for a moment. From here on, now knowing that he was dealing with a German, the physician switched to that language instead. "Well, it certainly was a good idea to get this checked out, sir," he said calmly, putting his stuff into his bag again. "It is in no way 'nothing to worry about'. Also…" He looked up at Prussia now, looking curious all of a sudden. "You're… not blind?"
Prussia didn't respond for a moment, only staring at the human with disbelief in his eyes. Then, a soft mutter: "Clearly not."
"Your eyes-"
"Are fine." The Prussian seemed to get more annoyed with the second now. Germany shrunk back in his chair; his brother was starting to look like his angry self, the side of him when he was pacing around the house and muttering under his breath about things that Germany didn't understand a word about. Usually it was something about 'making them pay', but Germany was certain no one owed Prussia any money, so he didn't get it.
The human didn't seem to catch that quite yet. He asked permission for something but went through with it without even waiting for Prussia's consent. He lifted both of Prussia's hands in turn and inspected them intently. "No traces of sunburn anywhere…" he mumbled under his breath. "Fascinating." He then looked Prussia in the eyes again. The kingdom allowed him to do whatever it was he was doing, but also didn't try and hide his annoyance. "Have you ever had weird blisters on your skin, sir?" the physician asked, astounded when Prussia shook his head. "Marks of any kind? No?" He was clearly positively amazed at that knowledge, and stated then: "Well, sir, you are remarkably healthy. Err, aside from the obvious chest infection, of course."
Prussia sighed now, and his eyes said only one thing: 'What a dumb jerk'. "You don't say…"
"As for the infection," the human then went on, grabbing something else from his bag, a small bottle with liquid. "Two doses a day should go a long way already. Make sure not to do anything straining in the coming days, and you should be fine."
Prussia snatched the bottle from his hand and got up wordlessly, leaving the room with quick, angry paces.
The human stared after him in silent shock, and Belgium went his way with an apologetic smile. This time, finally, Luxembourg translated for Germany. "She's telling him that Prussia never takes comments about his albinism well. The physician was… offending him."
"Anyone could see that," Germany huffed. He didn't like this human for being so mean to his brother.
Netherlands then reluctantly paid the human, who, a little disgruntled, went on his way again.

Prussia didn't come back until half an hour later, still pissed. "I don't know what is worse!" he complained to his three cousins, glaring murderously at the door as though he was staring at the physician still. "I mean, when I was little people declared me cursed and more than once sent priests my way for an exorcism, then they finally found out it's something medical but they didn't understand one shit about it so every physician wanted to test me if they could –my monarchs wouldn't allow it, thank goodness- and now they do understand more and… this! Ugh, I swear!"
Netherlands didn't look too impressed by it, and Belgium was just trying to get Prussia to calm down, apologising that they'd gotten the man there in the first place –they'd only wanted to be helpful.
Prussia sighed then, looking sullen. "I don't want people telling me that I'm supposed to be blind and sick and helpless, because I'm not." He then got a defiant gleam in his eyes, and Germany smiled. That was his brother as he knew him. Ever the stubborn jackass, in the best way possible. "I'm the most awesome person to have ever walked the Earth! And some shitty political and economic troubles can't get me down, either!"
"No, but maybe it can get you into bed early for one night?" Belgium giggled, shaking her head. The entire atmosphere seemed to brighten at this, and Germany was glad of it. He didn't like it when his big brother was angry all the time, but that was just who he was: one moment he was nice and fun, the next moment he could scare Germany with his muttering and his angry gaze.
Prussia shrugged. "Perhaps, if it makes you three stop complaining. I feel fine, honestly. And what use was it getting a human here, anyway?" he asked then, looking genuinely confused about it. "They wouldn't know what has caused this, I know all the ins and outs of this damn infection and its cause."
This piqued Germany's interest. Prussia hadn't talked about this all week yet. "What caused you to be sick?" he asked innocently, hoping he would get an answer that way. Prussia was always more willing to answer if he didn't sound too demanding, after all.
But the kingdom dismissed him almost immediately. "Very complicated political stuff, Ludwig, I'll explain it all to you one day. Just not now." Then he went on to talk to his three cousins again, about other subjects, and Germany was left out of most of it. He just sat there, listening intently, hoping for an opening that he could say something that actually mattered as well, but that opening didn't come. But he wouldn't interrupt them; that was rude, and Prussia had taught him not to be rude when he was with adults. Which was basically everyone.
Didn't he matter enough to be included in the conversation? He did hear things which he wanted to talk about as well, but no one looked at him, no one asked him if he had anything to say on the matter. But he was really smart, of course he had something to say, and it wouldn't just be senseless stuff!
But one day he would matter. Prussia told him so often that he was the German Empire, that the kingdom was working very hard for his little brother to become as important as the other Great Powers of the world. He kept talking about 'heritage' and 'legacy' and things like that, but Germany didn't quite see why. He was just him, just Germany, and what he would achieve in his life had nothing to do with heritage and creating a legacy. Who would he build a legacy for? He was immortal, he would be around forever and ever just like Prussia had been, and Austria and Hungary and all the other nations he knew.
Germany had his gaze fixed on Prussia, frowning a little. If only he could see into his brother's mind, he would know what the kingdom really meant. As much as Germany loved him, lately he'd been getting the feeling that Prussia never told him everything. He didn't lie to Germany, surely he'd never lie to his very own little brother? But sometimes he cut off his words mid-sentence, and Germany could tell he'd been about to say something else. He kept things secret from Germany, and the child didn't like it. Even now, about his current illness, he didn't tell his little brother anything useful.
Don't tell me about my 'great destiny', he wanted to tell his brother, using Prussia's own words, and then treat me like a baby. But his big brother would get angry if he said that, and he didn't want him to be angry again. So for now he held his tongue.

Later that evening, after Luxembourg had left for home again, Belgium brought Germany to the guest bedroom where he and Prussia would be sleeping for the coming week and helped him make the beds, something they'd completely forgotten to do earlier because of Prussia's condition. The little empire finally expressed his annoyance about being left in the dark about so many important things, and Belgium sighed. "Sometimes, Ludwig," she explained softly, "there are things that someone your age just has no need to know yet. When I lived under Spain and then Austria, they didn't tell me everything yet, either. Lars didn't always allow me to know everything either in the brief period that we were unified earlier this century. It's only in the past 60 years, after I declared independence and started growing up more, that I know everything I need to know about the state of my country and people."
Germany blinked at her in surprise, but said nothing. Not even his big cousin Belgium had gotten all the information she had wanted and needed in the past? Well, then his time would certainly come, too. But he wanted that time to be now.
"But I can tell you about why he's sick like this now," Belgium then unexpectedly added in a hushed voice, as if she didn't want anyone to hear her. She waited until Germany lay in bed, then went to sit beside him, looking at him with worry sparking in her eyes. "You know how Prussia is the most powerful and important of your states, right?" Germany nodded. "Do you remember… the other states?"
Germany nodded. "The province of Hanover, the Kingdom of Saxony, the Grand Duchy of Hesse…"
But Belgium shook her head, and he trailed off, wondering where he'd gone wrong. "Do you remember your siblings? The other ones, not Prussia."
The little empire hesitated, but then he nodded, not too convincingly. "A little bit," he admitted, looking down. He knew that this was something important, even though his big brother never talked about them.
Belgium sighed softly. "Well, you were very little when they… Anyway, among them, Prussia is the most powerful, and Bavaria is the second most powerful of your states. But after the unification, Prussia's political power and influence became gradually smaller." She looked Germany in the eyes then, and smiled reassuringly when she saw his round, wide-eyed gaze. Then she finished her explanation: "That is why Prussia's sick now; he had a good run, glory and success, but now he is on the decline."
Again, Germany nodded. But he had to admit, though only to himself, that smart as he was, he didn't understand what it meant.
Belgium seemed to notice, but she said nothing about it. She just kissed him on the forehead and wished him good night, walking away so that the young child could fall asleep. But he couldn't; he kept pondering, thinking about the meaning of what Belgium had said. He couldn't figure it out.

Prussia didn't go to bed much later than Germany had, as the Benelux countries had been right about him having to rest a lot if he wanted this infection to pass as quickly as possible. Germany looked fast asleep, to his relief, and he moved as quietly as he could as to not wake him up. But just then a light tremor went through his midriff and lungs, and he clenched his jaws tightly in an effort to stay quiet. But he couldn't hold back the coughs for long.
Germany stirred and then sat up.
Damn. "I-I'm sorry, Ludwig," Prussia choked out, still trying to stifle his coughs. "It's all right, go back to sleep."
The boy nodded, but he didn't look sleepy at all as he did so. Not as if he had just woken up from the noise Prussia made. He'd been awake this whole time, Prussia now realised, and he inwardly cursed again.
When Prussia lay down on his own bed, Germany asked in a soft voice: "Why are you on the decline, brother?"
The Prussian stiffened. Who had told him about that? Oh, it was probably Belgium. The girl did her best for everyone, after all, and Germany had looked confused and irritated basically all evening. He couldn't be angry at her for it, but it definitely didn't help him. His heart pounding in his chest, he forced himself to sound calm and even as he answered: "Oh, just… because. It happens to everyone, Ludwig; no one can stay at the top forever. I've had my moment, and now I just need to get used to not being as powerful anymore. Once my body's adjusted to that, I'll be healthy again. All right? Don't worry." Germany nodded, smiling now that he finally had this information, then said good night to his big brother and lay back down, closing his eyes contently.
Prussia wished him good night, too, and turned over onto his side, his back turned to Germany. His stomach was churning as the truth burned inside his mind, words that he could never say out loud to his precious little brother.
It's because you are here…

So, mostly an introduction to one of the main plot points in the story. Next chapter will contain more (references to) history, and it won't be long before WWI starts in this fic. But first I want to write some chapters of Germany growing up (partly because people mentioned that in the reviews on CYH).

Also, about Germany and Prussia going to the Netherlands so that Germany at least can go to the beach with them, amongst other things, is based on the fact that here in the Netherlands it's a very common thing to see more Germans than Dutch people on certain parts of our beaches during the summer. It's a very popular tourist spot. So I wanted to give Germany that little personality thingy: he loves the Dutch beaches. For whatever reason.
Prussia doesn't because of the sun. It buuuurrrnssss.

Anyway, I hope you liked the first chapter, and thanks for reading!