Author's note: As you probably know I myself tend to be quite reluctant to put author's notes before chapters but I think this time will be necessary as this chapter does contain some mention of the Nazis. I am personally ok with the subject as I have done some quite extensive research on this time in history but I do understand that some people are quite sensitive with the topic so if you are, you are perfectly welcome not to read on.

Chapter 26

November 1923

'Once again I proved to myself that I was an idiot, after all as they say, two wrongs do not make a right...'

Arthur sat near the fireplace, the warmth of the flames licking him in a friendly way. However he did not feel particularly light-hearted, if anything he felt careless and guilty, for he was immersed in his newspaper, actually reading something worthwhile.

He was reading an article about an attempted coup in the German state of Bavaria. At this point in time he of course did not know this, but for the first time he saw the depictions of a man who would soon dominate the British press and history as a whole.

Suddenly filled with rage Britain scrunched up the paper and threw it in the burning flames.

Now, along with the other allies who signed the treaty, it would be THEIR fault if a crazed dictator rose up to the seat of power in a crippled nation.

'Think fast Britain, think fast!' The nation paced anxiously in circles around the room...

'How can you betray your former 'family', countries that had a great history and leave them to become outcasts? Who knows, Germany may strive towards other rejected nations for friendship...'

Arthur's hair stood on end as he thought of Russia, although now of course this huge country was under a new highly radical form of ruling. Britain was paranoid that this new form of rule would spread over Europe like a disease, and he did not want another great nation with a great history to be subjected to the communist rule.

Britain knew deep down that sooner or later he would have to act to win Germany's trust once again.

October 1925

'When I came back to Germany however I was astounded that the problem of the great inflation was dealt with. It was probably thanks to America's loan that the German people no longer had to carry paper money in wheelbarrows or baskets simply to buy a loaf of bread.'

The streets of Berlin seemed very different since when Britain had last visited as he walked past the streets, he could hear jazz music and he saw several groups of giggling youths, boys and girls outside the doors leading towards the many pubs and bars that filled the area. Britain as a well off gentleman was not completely used to this kind of atmosphere but at the same time he was happy that the Berliners around him seemed joyful, as it eased him of the guilt he felt after his contribution to Germany's suffering less than a decade ago.

He approached the door of an old fashioned house close to the centre of the city, he knocked and waited, finally the door opened and the tall form of Ludwig Beilschmidt stepped out.

'Hallo...' he murmured quite nervously when he set eyes upon Britain anxiously.

'I mean no harm Ludwig...' said Britain reassuringly patting Ludwig on the shoulder gingerly

'Have you come to try to set a friendly negotiation with me or something like that?' Ludwig eyed him suspiciously

'I was being a foolish old man Ludwig, I was careless in signing that treaty I must admit, particularly as I let that France gain a huge influence...' he rolled his eyes as he grimaced slightly, he kept losing eye contact with Germany who frowned

'Come in Arthur, I guess it would simply be rude to leave you out here like this!' he beckoned him into the house, once again Britain felt small inside.

The new Beilschmidt dwelling place, although big, wasn't quite as extravagant as their former Potsdam home, but it was still of an old fashioned style and beautiful as well as warm and cosy.

'You have no idea what France did to my people...' growled Ludwig under his breath 'His army treated them like... aliens! And besides all that there were revolutions, takeovers and assassinations all over my land!' he looked down at is feet 'Only last year there was an uprising in Bavaria in the city of Munich. After it happened I remember their leader all too well...' he shuddered at these words as though he had just swallowed something unpleasant 'When he was imprisoned after the event, his words at his trial were so passionate to the spectators that he somehow ended up getting like pampered like a guest to a five star hotel, despite the fact that he had committed the worst crime of treason. They let him out quickly too, only after a period of nine months he is out there again!'

Clearly seeing the uncomfortable expression on Ludwig's face Britain quickly changed the subject.

'So Ludwig, how is...' but Germany only sighed and looked down

'Big bruder? Oh he's fine I suppose...'

'How is he, Germany?'

'When he finally emerged from his inner shame, he looked just like a stray dog...' Germany stuttered 'I took him back to Berlin with me where I spent about a month nursing him. After that I decided to take him into the great outdoors so we both stayed for a few months in my residence in the Bavarian Alps. I had the money now you see!' Germany added smiling slightly 'He loved it there, happiness came back to his face and his health improved enormously, although... I think something else is up with him...'

'What could that be?' asked Arthur

'Well I don't think he's been quite the same ever since the war took its toll...' Ludwig answered

'I must admit Germany, I don't think anyone has been the same since the war...' he sighed again 'Where is he now?'

'He's just sitting in the garden, he's possibly having a snooze...' smiled Ludwig slightly '... if you wish to speak to him I must warn you, he may get a little cranky if he gets woken up...'

'I feel as though I need to speak to him,' Arthur smiled weakly 'I feel as though I need to... rekindle my own misdeeds upon you both!'

'Go ahead!' nodded Germany quite reluctantly as he directed him to the room in the left side of the hall, very quietly the nation opened the door to allow Britain's entry.

Sitting on a wooden chair was Prussia, he looked half asleep. Whereas the Great War had strengthened Britain, it appeared to have had the opposite effect on Prussia, he was thinner, his eyes had sunken and his pale skin seemed almost transparent.

Britain thought Prussia would snap or at least growl at him, he wished he would, but instead he just smiled slightly.

'Prussia... I don't understand... I...' Britain spluttered but Prussia shook his head

'Things are going to be ok now Britain!' he grinned weakly before coughing slightly

'Are you really ok Prussia?' asked Britain

'I'm fine!' winced Gilbert 'I just need some fresh air and rest that's all, it's really nothing you should be worry about!' then he pulled out a cigarette

'My dear Gilbert, are you sure that smoking will do those lungs a lot of good?' Arthur questioned as Prussia let out another cough

'What's it to you?' barked Prussia 'Besides you don't smoke at all Britain!' he eyed Arthur sarcastically before taking a small puff 'And anyway no one exactly knows why I am... this way. It may be something from the war I don't know...'

'Prussia...' said Arthur kneeling down '...I had encountered you and your brother that Christmas, along with many other good men. Then four years later out of anger and carelessness I betrayed you, after everything we had achieved in the past! Ok, the other allies contributed too but in the end I let them go along with it, without thinking of all the possible consequences in the first place!'

Prussia bowed his head; again Britain wished he would just yell at him.

'Well?' snapped Britain 'What about all that has been going on? Your brother was only just telling me about a revolution that had occurred in Bavaria not all that long ago!'

At these words Arthur noticed Gilbert clench his fists in anger

'I fear deeply for Germany if Herr Hitler ever gets into power...' he growled under his breath before coughing yet again.

'Fancy going for a walk?' asked Britain nervously, Prussia looked down at the grass, then back at Britain.

He nodded.

Britain emerged from the garden with Prussia who was still dozy after his long nap and back into the house where they saw Ludwig bending down and feeding three young dogs a Labrador a Doberman and an Alsation who chomped down their food happily.

But at that moment Germany walked towards them and Arthur quickly said

'Your brother and I feel as though we need a little stretch of the legs, would you allow us to just stroll around Berlin for a while?'

'Ja...' sighed Ludwig

'It's fine Ludwig, I'm sure after all the good care you have given him that he will be as fit as a racing horse at the Derby!'

Ludwig rolled his eyes but blushed slightly 'You may go!'

'

For about an hour the two men walked around Berlin, mainly in the parks, as Prussia preferred them to the jostling streets.

'I'd give anything for the monarchy to get back into power...' mumbled Prussia moodily '... there are nothing but youths running all over the place, disorganisation in politics and a terrible taste in architecture...' even though Prussia still looked young, he was grumbling like an old man, Britain patted his shoulder.

'There there Gilbert, I am quite reluctant to the change as well but then again I have always been a bit on the stubborn side...'

'You are not as stupid as you look Britain!' teased Gilbert patting Arthur on the shoulder 'But anyway, back in the days of glory, Germany was great and beautiful, we had a decent taste in art, fashion and culture...' he sighed '... life was great, I just got carried away in the end... if I hadn't have been so foolish maybe you and I could have made our dream come true...'

At that moment only the light breeze could be heard until Britain murmured shaking slightly 'In the end it might have just been bad luck...' said Britain '...but it happens all the time I suppose...'

'One minute you are walking along a peaceful path, no disturbance whatsoever and then a black cat suddenly crosses right in front of you...'

'I see what you mean but I have nothing against black cats, I think they are strange and mysterious, they could be anything...'

Prussia raised an eyebrow 'Hitler may not be a black cat necessarily but he has walked across the path... if the Americans ever have to withdraw their loan to us...' he gulped as words failed him.

'Why would that ever come to be?' laughed Britain 'The economy is booming!' Prussia glared at him

'Like predators in the animal kingdom the Nazi party will strike the moment it's target is at it's weakest, if you ask me it is only a matter of time before disaster strikes...' he looked into the sky 'Even though I am still present on this earth I have already lost so much. Believe me, Britain, if Hitler sets foot into the Reichstag, Death himself might as well grin at me through my window...'

Britain saw that Prussia spoke these words with no fear but he could not help but get the feeling of iron fists clenching at his insides as he remembered with an icy pain the 99 days in which he thought he had achieved an eternal bond with the German Empire. But this hope had died almost as quickly as it had come and Prussia had paid dearly as a result, could this Hitler fellow cause an event so terrible to bring the nation to his very knees once and for all?

'In that brief moment of peace and stability between the nations, history was waiting to repeat itself. Except this time it would affect the whole world...'

History Notes: I wanted to base this chapter mainly around the time of the Loncarno treaties in the year of 1925 that were not just between Britain and Germany but between many of the Western allies who had been affected in the first world war.