Author's Notes and Disclaimer:

Here's another story for the Doomsday-verse, set after An Alpine Dawn and around the same time as An Ocean of Flame Above. The focus is on Switzerland as well as Liechtenstein, following the origins of the Alpine Confederation. Since this particular part takes place during the worse part of this AU's 1980s, when Doomsday had just happened, expect the tone to be rather dark.

As for pairings and relationships, this is very much on SwitzerlandxLiechtenstein and their increasingly relationship over time. So whether or not this might count as incest (such as their brother/sister angle), this could be a warning.

As for the translations and references:

The early history of the Alpine Confederation involved the "Austro-Swiss Union" and the closed borders policy that forced out masses of refugees trying to escape the chaos surrounding the Alpine Nations.

The source material also mentioned that around this time, the countries of Yugoslavia (which also more or less survived the initial Doomsday attacks) were in civil war. Though it's wouldn't be surprising for the Alpines see it as "destroying themselves."

As an added note, the real life dynamics of Switzerland and Liechtenstein are very much like close siblings.

Grüezi - "Good day" (Swiss German)
Brüetsch - Brother (Swiss German)
Schwöschter - Sister (Swiss German)
Mein Gott - "My God..." (German)
Tuet mer Leid - "I'm sorry" (Swiss German)
Ich liib dich - "I love you." (Swiss German)

I don't own Axis Powers Hetalia or 1983: Doomsday. All rights belong to their respective owners.

An Unexpected Union

Or, A 1983 Doomsday Prologue Tale through a Nation's Eyes

Somewhere near Vaduz. 1985.

Another cold spell was coming, Switzerland noticed grimly as he stood by the front gate, barely noticing the overgrown grass or how his sister's house seemed worse for wear. Then again, it had been two years since he, or anyone else in the Austro-Swiss Union for that matter, had seen a clear blue sky and perhaps several more before the weather would even begin to lighten up. Not that he had gotten used to the feeling underneath the bulky radiation suit. Still, can't let Lili wait out on me, he shrugged silently as the Nation holstered his rifle and walked towards the door, a small Liechtensteiner flag fluttering beside it.

From the distance, he heard the now familiar Civil Emergency messages echoing endlessly in German, muffled only by what sounded like another military patrol going about the rounds. The last refugee bands had only recently been "taken care of," as the government so carefully worded. It had to be done. Nothing more. Exhausted and incredibly burdened as he already was, the Nation didn't want to ruin his long-awaited visit. Not now.

After ringing the bell a few times, the old door parted to reveal a tired-looking girl in a worn-out alpine dress. She clearly hadn't slept well in a long while. From what he could see of her hands, they seemed frail and laden with blackened spots. It pained Vash to see her like this. Neither could he shake off the feeling that she looked taller and even a bit older than before. And yet she still had the same innocent smile on her face. Even the ribbon on her short, blond hair remained intact, though somewhat faded.

"Greuzi Brüetsch," Liechtenstein greeted cheerfully. "I'm so glad you could make it!"

"I'm…sorry for being late, Lili." Switzerland tried his best not to blush in front of his dear sister. Even though she wasn't formally part of the Union, they still remained close to each other. "The meeting with Roderich just lasted a bit longer, that's all."

The Alpine Nation beckoned him to move inside, taking his hand as she did so. "It's not a problem at all. Uncle Austria would have appreciated it, I suppose. I was just finishing up the tableware, in fact. Though speaking of dinner, it's not often we get to do this these days."

"Well, um, I'm sure whatever you have in store's wonderful!"

She giggled. "Whatever makes Brüetsch happy makes me glad as well."

-o-

"There's still no word from the outside world, is there?" Liechtenstein nodded with a somber, exhausted sigh as she finished her dessert. "We haven't heard anything lately from France, Italy or Germany for that matter."

It was a sentiment Vash duly returned, though with an air of forced indifference. "Not much new. Radiation counts are still high. Apart from some looping message of a civil war in Yugoslavia, the damn airwaves are too scrambled to get anything that makes sense. While border garrisons say the frontiers are either lawless wastes or swelling with refugee camps. With the situation expected to get worse, we might as well be alone…" The Nation forced himself to stop, afraid to snap at his sister. And certain things I rather not think about, he added silently. Not that the atmosphere was helping.

Despite having long gotten used to such places, Switzerland still found it a tad unnerving to dine with his sister in her personal bunker. Around them were rows of cabinets, military-grade desks and old radios, an map of the Alps plastered haphazardly on the gray concrete. All of which were in stark contrast to the simple yet warm elegance of the house above. After martial law, mass unrest and the shortages, he couldn't blame her. If anything, he was at least proud that she was able to keep the whole place as tidy as it could possibly be, right down to the nice set of edelweiss bundles on the tables.

And yet the dinner itself felt like a throwback to another world. Chatting about their days, as much as it pained them now. Savoring each meal as though God cooked them, even if they were now little more than leftover rations. Enjoying each other's company alone as brother and sister, which for Nations like themselves had become a luxury. Despite all the madness, it almost seemed like a miracle that he still managed to make precious time for this. It was also something that had become increasingly rare these days, making each time they were apart all the more painful. Especially as his mind once more came back to the harsh answer they and Austria agreed upon for the refugee question. It seemed like a good idea then. After all, it wasn't their fault the world continued to burn. But…

"Brüetsch? Is something the matter?" Before he knew it, Lili was already beside him, her delicate hands gently folding over his. How she managed to pull it off, let alone sense his anxiety so quickly was one thing he was willing to accept with open arms rather than question. Though he found his thoughts grow more conflicted as she moved closer.

"Do you think…what we did was the right thing, Schwöschter?" he asked, swallowing his pride. He couldn't lie to her. Not now. "Closing the borders? Throwing those refugees out? Forcing them by gunpoint? Mein Gott…to think we're leaving them to die out in that nuclear hell."

"There was nothing we could have done for them," she explained calmly, though with a strange gleam in he eyes. "There's barely enough to sustain ourselves now. Even if we wanted to aid them, those poor souls would have overwhelmed us in a matter of months, perhaps even weeks. After all, didn't you say that we only have ourselves to look after?"

"Ja, I know!" he snapped, only to force himself to grit an apology as he gave an assuring pat. "Tuet mer Leid. For our peoples' sake…it had to be done, I suppose. But at least we're all safe. You're safe, Lili. And I'll always be here for you."

They stayed silent for what seemed like forever. Then, to his complete surprise, the Swiss embodiment felt his sister's lips touch his. As her arms seem to wrap around his torso, all he could do was return the favor, welcoming her innocent lips with abandon. Only for his more rational mind flicker on for a moment.

This is wrong, the Nation tried to explain to himself. But the more he tried to fight it off, the more he remembered the day he adopted her all those years ago. The Great War had left Liechtenstein out in the gutters, abandoned and alone. He had known her well before then, but the Nation couldn't bare to let her die. As her brother, he swore to protect her. And he wouldn't break that vow now. But I can't…do I want this?

"The feeling's mutual, Brüetsch." Lili whispered, blushing as she broke the kiss to catch her breath. "Ich liib dich."

Vash wanted to protest, saying that siblings don't do such things. And yet, all he could do was keep her in a tight embrace. Nothing else came of it that night. He had no idea at the time where this would all lead. None of them really did. But what was certain from that moment on was that they could no longer turn back.

At the back of their minds, they didn't want to.