Disclaimer: I do not own Hetalia. I am, though, working on my own original novel right now. Perhaps I'll tell you people what it is once I get it published. ;)

The main author's note is at the bottom.

Russia again looked at the headache pills in his hand. They were strong pills, strong enough so that even when he had a hangover, he wouldn't be able to feel the pain in his head.

But, of course, these pills were not for him. They were for someone much stronger than him who seemed like they really needed it.

"He will like this, da," the Russian muttered to himself, happy that he had found what he needed. "Now I just have to get back to the meeting in time before I am late." He didn't notice the looks strange looks that he got from people who passed by him that were wondering who he was talking to.

Russia then grabbed two other bottles of the painkiller and walked to the counter, unceremoniously dropping the contents in his arms on the counter.

There was then the sound of a tingling bell that indicated that someone had just come into the store. I chilly breeze entered the store, and Russia welcome the cold whole-heartily. The cold reminded him of home, and for some reason, all of the stores in America made him feel at least a bit claustrophobic. Perhaps later he would just lay down in the snow outside. After all, it had just snowed slightly in this state of America's- Ohio, Russia thought he had said- and it seemed like everyone around him was happy about it. For this part of the country, it only snowed after the holidays. or something like that. This year it was special, and it seemed like everyone liked was joyful about it. Perhaps Russia would act happy, too-

"Man, it's so cold outside!" America's voice broke Russia out of his reverie, and in return the older nation glared at him angrily. "I thought Ohio would be nice this time of year. You know, at least slightly warm!"

"If you wanted a warm place for the meeting, then why did you not make it down south? That would make more sense, da?" Russia asked, capturing America's attention.

America rushed over to where Russia was and scanned the contents that the cashier was scanning. "Political troubles, huh?" America asked, "Well, you chose the right pills, that's for sure. I use those when I'm having problems, too. Like during the election season, man those are my lifesavers! But they knock you out like a baby if you take too many of them, just to warn you. Take them right before you go to bed."

Russia looked over at America with his eyebrows arched. Political troubles? What was he talking about? "I am not having political problems. My country is stable, thank you very much. These are for someone much more important than me," he explained, thinking that America would not understand him.

"Oh, like a boss?" America asked seriously.

"Da," Russia told him, rolling his eyes. America must love his boss, da. He thought, But these are for someone more important.

"Well, I have to go and get my meds now. I'll see you at the meeting. If I'm late, just tall England that I getting some McDonald's. He always falls for that. All right?" America asked, turning from Russia and walking away before he got an answer.

"Your bill is twenty-five dollars and twenty cents, sir," the cashier told him.

Eight dollars and thirty-three cents for each one of these painkillers? That is a lot, da. Things are so much cheaper in Russia, Russia thought, giving the cashier the money anyway. But then again, I have no time to lose. I cannot wait until I get home to get this stuff. And America is known for his medicine nowadays. This will work.

Canada was nervous. Recently, he had been getting strange texts on his phone that were very threatening. They were saying strange things like he was going to die during the winter and that he would never see the light of day again.

And, for some reason, he was believing them. It was the simple fact that someone beyond his own borders and his brother had gotten down and had tried- actually tried- to find his number, since it, like his entity, is very hard to find. And the only thing the person would has gotten out of it so far is by sending him threatening messages of his people's welfare.

But that wasn't the only reason that he was scared. He could ignore people easily- almost as easily as people ignored him- but now, he had gotten something extremely important.

Apparently, from what the person had told him, the person had kidnapped one of his citizens and was threatening to kill them unless he came to a certain place before sundown.

The place was just on the other side of Lake Erie, and Canada knew that this person was not telling a lie. They were going to kill one of his citizens unless he came to this place.

But he wasn't stupid; he had decided to bring along America earlier this week. They would go together to meet this person and since America would be there, no one would get hurt. He would protect everyone.

At least, that was the plan.

And now, he was waiting for this dumb meeting to end so he could meet his brother and tell him what was happening.

But then again, Canada couldn't see America in the meeting yet. Ever since they had their lunch break, he had disappeared. Russia had told England earlier that he had gone to McDonald's, and they had left it at that.

"Sorry I'm late!" America's voice brought Canada out of his reverie. "I got held up at McDonald's!"

"Just sit down," England ordered gruffly. He had just been in the middle of a speech, and was still holding a graph of his economic plans in his hands. "I will not repeat myself of tell you what you have missed. Ask Canada if you have any questions."

"All right," America told him, sitting down next to Canada. "How are you, little bro?" He whispered, not caring at all about England's speech.

"I need your help," Canada said quickly, a little ashamed that he needed help from his older brother. But that was what they did: lean on each other.

"What do you need help with. I'm here for you, buddy," America told him, squeezing Canada's shoulder.

"Someone...someone..." Canada glanced around at the other nations in the room, worried that someone might overhear Canada talking for once. He didn't want anyone to know that he was having problems. After all, no country wanted to seem weak. "Can we talk about this later, without so many people around?" he asked.

"Of course," America told him in an assuring voice, squeezing Canada's shoulder for comfort. Canada smiled. When had he last seen America this caring and concerned? Maybe his situation was getting better, which meant that his situation would get better two.

"America," England barked, "Focus!"

"Yes, sir!" America shouted jokingly in return.

After the meeting, Russia headed north. He knew where he needed to take the drugs; the person that he bought them for was just above the Canadian border on the other side of Lake Erie.

Maybe he will be kind to me this year, Russia thought gleefully. After all, I am being kind to him.

And with that, he got on one of the boats tied to the docks and drove away with it, uncaring about the angry fisherman that he had taken this from.

This is more important than him, Russia thought, he will get another boat. After all, isn't America getting out of this recession of theirs? He will soon have enough money to buy another one.

And with that, he drove off with his drugs.

When the meeting ended and they got away from everyone else, Canada didn't waste any time in telling America what the problem was.

America responded in the same way that Canada had thought he would. He had decided that he would visit this guy with Canada, and that one the citizen was safe, he would make sure that this guy would get the justice he deserves.

So, they went to the docks. Earlier, they had decided they would grab one of the government's private boats and get to the place they needed to be. America had said that it was no big deal and apparently they had plenty of every type of boat on that side of the lake.

That worried Canada a little bit, but then again, when was the last time that they had fought? It had been centuries; there was no need to worry.

"All right, so here's the plan," America said again, "We are going over to our side of the lake, finding this guy, saving the damsel in distress, and then I, the hero, shall kick this guy into one of those terrible jails that doesn't have TV!"

America's jails have TVs? Canada thought to himself, frowning slightly. He then shrugged, Well, I have no say in his justice system, anyway. I might as well leave it.

"That sounds fine," Canada said softly, "As long as everyone is fine in the end."

"Of course!" America cheered, "Everything is always fine when you have the hero around!"

Canada chuckled softly. He hadn't seen this type of America for such a long time. It was nice to finally see him happy and actually mean it.

And quickly, they boarded the boat.

It didn't take long for either party to get to the other side of the lake, and once their passports were checked, they were off in the city.

It didn't take too long for Canada and America to find the place that they were supposed to find the guy.

But what they saw stunned them. Or, at least, astonished Canada.

"Russia! What are you doing here?" America asked cheerfully, "Do you have a passport over here?"

"No, but my mission here is more important," Russia said, looking over at him coolly, "What are you doing over here? I would think that you would be making sure England was happy in your home. That was what you were hoping to do, da?"

He turned around to face America and Canada, a light blue shopping bag in his hands.

"Hey, is that those painkillers you got earlier? Why didn't you put those in your room? No one would have stolen them," America told him, curious. Canada sighed; he really had some attention problems, but what could you do? He was an individual now, not one of England's colonies.

Russia shrugged, placing the drugs in his coat pocket, "I am giving them to a person that I'm supposed to meet here in a couple minutes. But what about you? Why are you here?"

America waved the question away with his hand. "Someone is just giving my brother a hard time about something. I wanted to meet this person. That's about it," he lied with such an ease that it stunned Canada, making his wonder if this was really his brother.

He never lied to me, right? Canada thought worriedly, I am his brother...

"Who?" Russia asked, "I never knew you had a brother. Anyway, my friend shall be here shortly. Please do not be a hassle."

America laughed lightheartedly. "When have I ever been a hassle?"

Russia just stared at him coolly and said, "Do not mess this up for me. If you do, you will not get out of here alive. I promise you that."

America chuckled nervously, "Right, I'll not be a hassle. Who is this person, anyway? He must be pretty important."

As he finished saying that, the temperature dropped suddenly. It plummeted from a mild fall temperature to the cold that Canada only knew from way up north. The wind howled and whispered the echoes of a terrible winter that was yet to come. Immediately, Canada wanted to hide. If not for the fact that one of his citizens was probably caught up in all of this, he would have probably ran on the spot. No one beyond his brother would notice him leaving. In fact, no one would probably care if he left. America was too wrapped up in talking to Russia to notice.

"Da, he is." Was all Russia said, obviously effected by the chill. He looked more nervous and had brought out the blue shopping bag again.

Canada grabbed on to his brother's gloved hand, slightly scared about what was going to happen. He felt like he was slowly freezing from the inside out.

Although, America didn't seem effected by the sudden change in temperature, and once Canada noticed this, he stiffened up and tried to act the same way. He needed to be strong. After all, his brother had come here for him.

"Here he comes. I think you will like him, America. He is a very elite general, and you like all of the great generals, da?" Russia told him ominously, "Maybe you have met him before. Or maybe not. After all, you do live quite south of his domain."

Canada shut his eyes and felt his heart skip a beat. He knew this person- no, entity. It was that person who had haunted him as a kid, hurt him when he was young. And Russia was right- he was a great general, probably the greatest of them all. He had destroyed many armies in his lifetime, and had caused a great deal of harm to anyone who came across his vast domain. This legend was older than all of the other countries and was more powerful than anyone of them combined. This creature was the ice and the snow storms that ravaged his lands in the winder. It was the one to kill his crops with the dropping temperatures. It was the one who murdered his people who were so poor that they had to live on the streets. Canada normally tried to forget this man. After all, he had only met him once or twice in his entire life. But now he was about to meet him face-to-face again, right before what he would probably now expect to be one of his harshest winters yet, all because of a text message.

This was General Winter.

Canada just hoped that he didn't have his citizen with him.

Haha, well, it snowed over here in the state that I live in, and its a little too early in this season for snow. There are normally snowstorms from January to the middle of March where I live, but because of the lows temps and everything, forecasters are expecting a LOT of snow. And when I mean a LOT a mean a HUGE AMOUNT! (We might actually get a white Christmas this year! :D)

Well, so much for cutting down on school days...we might have to have school in the summer now... D:

Anywho, so I started to think about General Winter because of the weather outside. And then, like magic, this idea for a story came up. I shall post a chapter hopefully once a week and if there is a snowstorm and school is closed, maybe more than that.

Also, I'm still deciding on pairings, so if you want to see a special pairing, please tell me!

Anyone who reviews gets hot chocolate! :D