Beauty and the Beasts

  (Name) stared up at her father in horror. She was the personification of the Kaliningrad Oblast, one of Russia's youngest children. Right now though, she wanted nothing to do with him.

  "Papa, you can't keep doing this! Tetya Katyusha hasn't done anything to us!" Tears poured down (Name)'s face. Her father had been fighting with her aunt for years now and she'd had enough. Every time (Name) saw her aunt Ukraine, the once beautiful nation had more wound, more scars. Even with other nations finally pouring help in, it would take a long time for her to heal.

  "Enough!" Russia's eyes glowed purple as he glowered at (Name). "You can't understand tsvetok, you're just a child."

  "I understand that attacking your own family with guns and bombs is wrong!"

  (Name) winced as Russia grabbed her arm tightly. "That's enough Kaliningrad! Time out!" The towering nation dragged his daughter to her room and shoved her in, locking her door from the outside. "I'll let you out when you can show some respect to your elders."

  "It's not disrespect if I'm right!" (Name) collapsed against her door, coughing. Her shouting had aggravated her illness. Ukraine wasn't the only one under attack, though in (Name)'s case it wasn't by Russia. For the past several weeks some group in her land had been systematically killing her citizens and destroying her Russian heritage. Curiously enough, anything that had been built before her land became a Russian territory was left intact.

-le time skip brought to you by Google Translate-

  It wasn't long before (Name) couldn't have left her room even if she had been allowed. The deaths of her citizens were overwhelming her. Worse, she could feel the killers now as an invading force. If she survived this, she probably wasn't going to be a Russian territory anymore. Not that Russia seemed to care. He was so focused on his war with Ukraine, he couldn't even be bothered to defend his own daughter.

  Lying on her bed, (Name) stared out the window. Now that she thought about it, Russia wasn't the best father. He was always a little off, threatening without being truly abusive. Kaliningrad knew her father loved her, but his love was smothering and scary. Cruelty was just too deeply embedded in his history and persona; hundreds of years of oppressive rulers would drive any nation insane.

  One morning, (Name) awoke to a curious sound. She couldn't place it at first, then she realized it was the sound of a horn. Not a trumpet, not a trombone, an actual horn. The horn was soon followed by the sound of hooves. It was all so very medieval, practically ridiculous. (Name) dragged herself from her bed to watch as two riders trotted up to Russia's house.

  The first was familiar. Pale skin, snowy hair, red eyes, an obnoxious grin- Prussia. The second man was shorter and sturdier, with dirty blond hair in a low ponytail and eyes the colour of flint. Not a nation, or at least, not one (Name) recognized. And the strange human was carrying a strange flag, white edged in black with a great black eagle in the centre.

  Prussia and his companion banged on the door beneath (Name)'s window. "Oi, un-awesome scarf man, open up!"

  (Name)'s father opened the door, his violet eyes glowing with rage. "What is the meaning of this Prussiya?"

  "Ze awesome me und mein awesome new boss have come for Konigsberg. She's ours now."

  Russia appeared stunned. (Name) panicked and felt for her connection to her land and people; she knew Konigsberg meant her. Sure enough, what few people she had left no longer considered themselves Russian. She had been conquered. But by Prussia? Surely that was impossible. Hadn't he been dissolved?

  (Name) watched as her father lunged angrily at Prussia, only to be met with two sword blades. Both Prussia and his boss were armed, even if it was in medieval fashion. Then the human spoke.

  "Hand over Konigsberg. Now." Something about the human's voice was terrifying. Even Russia froze in fear.

  (Name) knew what she had to do. The human was insane; Prussia might not attack her father for fear of starting a war, but his boss had no such qualms. The personification of Kaliningrad- Konigsberg now- packed her few belongings and made her way slowly to the door.

  "I'm here. Just don't hurt Papa."

  The human grinned and pulled her up on his horse. "Don't worry liebling, you'll love your new home." His words rang hollow though, when followed by two sets of eerily synchronized, hissing laughter.

Tale as old as time
True as it can be
Barely even friends
Then somebody bends
Unexpectedly

  Once in her land, (Name) recovered quickly from her illness. She was still weak though; her new population was small and the sudden change in language and culture left her in a bit of shock. So too did her change in importance. (Name) was now Konigsberg, capitol of Prussia.

  The house she shared with Prussia and his boss was cozy and comfortable, full of handcrafted objects. But nothing was familiar, nothing felt like home. (Name) spent most of her time in her room, hiding from her new house mates. The human, Fritz, particularly bothered her. Every time he looked at her, (Name) felt she was staring down a wolf.

  One evening while she was reading, (Name) heard a knock on the door. It was followed by the entry of Prussia, carrying a steaming plate of schnitzel and potatoes. He smiled softly, a different look from the obnoxious smirk she was used to.

  "You didn't come to dinner. Fritz und I vere vorried."

  "I never come to dinner," (Name) replied evenly. Prussia chuckled.

  "Zat's true. You chust sneak downstairs ven you zink ve're aleep und raid ze fridge." Prussia placed the plate on (Name)'s nightstand and sat beside her.

  "Listen (Name), I know zis is a big change fur dich. But I'd like to help you, if you'll give me ein chance. I don't vant mein capitol to be scared of me."

  "It's not you," (Name) muttered, "It's him. You're actually better than I thought you'd be."

  "Ksesesesese! Zat's because I'm awesome!" Prussia stroked (Name)'s (colour) hair. "All choking aside zough, Fritz isn't zat bad vunce you get to know him. Ja, he's odd und a little scary, but zat's because he doesn't know how to deal viz people. He ended up as mein boss zough a total fluke; he keeps telling me zat he'd much razer be a farmer zan a king."

Just a little change
Small to say the least
Both a little scared
Neither one prepared
Beauty and the beast

  Three days later, (Name) came out of her room. It was late afternoon; Prussia and Fritz had just finished their political duties for the day and were lounging around the den. A swords and sorcery film was playing on the television.

  Prussia smiled when he saw (Name) and nodded to where his boss sat. (Name) suppressed a giggle. There was Fritz, curled up on the couch, knitting. Three cats crowded around him, batting at the needles and chewing the yarn. Every once in a while Fritz would scold one of them and nudge toe offending feline away, his flinty predator eyes scrunched in mirth.

  (Name) cleared her throat. "What are you making sir?"

  Fritz jumped, eyes wide with surprise. His cats scattered as his face took on its usual stony appearance. His voice, however, was soft and hesitant as he replied.

  "A- A cloak. With a hood. People are scred of me, so I thought, maybe if they can't see me..." Fritz trailed off, looking uncomfortable. Prussia laughed and ruffled his boss's hair.

  "Ksesesesesesese! Don't be such a pansy Fritz! (Name) lives viz us; she'll figure it out eventually."

  That was the first time (Name) realized how odd this arrangement was. Most countries didn't share a house with their bosses. There was something seriously wrong with this Fritz fellow. That or he and Prussia were, well, together.

  Fritz stood up. "Fine, I'll tell her. But whatever happens is on your head, arsloch."

  The human turned to look at (Name). Up close she could see that his grey eyes were full of silver and gold flecks, more like pyrite than flint. There were also strange markings on his face, faint white shapes against pale, scarred skin. (Name) frowned.

  "You're not human, are you?"

  "No." Fritz sighed and looked away. His cheeks flushed with a bluish tone. "I didn't know until recently... I'm a half-demon. My mother was a wendigo."

  A monster from Canadian myth. (Name) searched her memory, frantically trying to remember everything she could about wendigos. They were strong, fast... They ate human flesh. There was no way one would mate with their prey.

  "If your mother was a wendigo, what was your father?"

  "He was human, sort of." Fritz grinned nervously, showing a mouthful of pointed teeth. "You've heard of werewolves? Well, dad was a were-cougar. It's why cats like me so much."

  (Name) looked from Fritz to Prussia in shock. "Our boss is a monster?"

  Her words seemed to strike Fritz a physical blow. He reeled, stumbling into Prussia's arms. The albino nation stared at (Name).

  "Konigsberg! Zat vasn't very nice!"

  "It's true though! He's a man-eating, shape-shifting beast!" (Name) ran for the door, unable to bear spending another second with that- that thing. No one stopped her. She ran out the door into the January snow.

Ever just the same
Ever a surprise
Ever as before
Ever just as sure
As the sun will rise

  Even a personification raised by Russia was far from immune to the cold, and (Name) hadn't thought to bring her jacket. How could Prussia bear to have Fritz for a boss? The man wasn't human; not only that, his kind fed on humans. He was a danger to their citizens.

  (Name) ran, not sure where she was going or what she wanted to accomplish. She just wanted to be away from that thing. The personification of Konigsberg didn't stop running until she was well outside her city, in the woods somewhere to the north. Then she froze.

  Something growled at her. (Name) turned slowly to face the largest bear she'd ever seen. It's brown fur was mangy and scraggly; foam gathered at the corners of its mouth. The bear's eyes were wild, angry, and unfocused. It was rabid.

  "Sheisse!" (Name) shouted, her new culture overcoming her in her panic. At the sound of her shout the bear growled again and bounded forward. It's jaws split open, revealing teeth like craggy mountains covered in froth.

  Suddenly two pale shapes raced across her vision. Prussia slammed into (Name), pushing her out of the bear's path and gathering her in his arms. Thin fingers carded through her (colour) hair as Prussia held her tight.

  "Sh, it's okay liebling, I've got you. Don't look; everyzing vill be alright."

  But (Name) did look. She saw Fritz, short and stocky, perched on the bear's neck as he drove it into the ground. (Name) saw blood and fur fly as wendigo teeth and claws tore into the bear's back. It was terrifying, how Fritz changed when he was fighting. Though (Name) couldn't say she wasn't grateful.

  Soon enough the bear lay dead. Fritz crouched over its corpse, blood dripping from his jaws. His eyes had changed, pupils narrowing to catlike slits as he stared at (Name) and Prussia with predatory calculation.

  Prussia slowly unwrapped himself from (Name) and edged towards Fritz, hand held out as if he were approaching a frightened dog. "Here Fritz, it's okay. Remember me? It's Gilbert, your roommate. Time to vake up now buddy."

  Fritz growled, causing Prussia to flinch backwards in alarm. The albino turned to (Name) in shock. "Somezing's not right. Fritz always recognizes mein awesomeness."

  (Name) caught the notes of fear in Prussia's voice. Fritz wasn't just his boss, he was Prussia's friend. And this beast, this predator- it wasn't Fritz. It was something that slumbered inside him, but it wasn't who he was.

  Crouching low, (Name) held out her hand. "Here kitty. It's okay, we won't hurt you."

  Fritz growled and edged closer. He sniffed at (Name)'s hand and opened his mouth. (Name) almost pulled her hand back, but Prussia stopped her. And instead of sharp teeth, she felt a tentative lick. Fritz  gave (Name) several kitty kisses before pushing closer, nuzzling his head into her hand and curling up at Prussia's feet.

Tale as old as time
Tune as old as song
Bittersweet and strange
Finding you can change
Learning you were wrong

  Once they got Fritz home, his human mind seemed to return. He let out a shriek at the sight of the blood covering him and ran to his room. Prussia tried to open the door, but it was barred from the inside.

  "Probably by his bookshelf," Prussia said, collapsing on the couch beside (Name). "He knows I can't lift ze ficken zing."

  "So what now?" (Name) asked. Prussia looked at her sadly.

  "Now ve vait. Fritz vill come out ven he's ready. You shouldn't have called him a monster zough. He tries so hard not to be... Zat word hurts him more zan anyzing."

  "It's true though." (Name) flipped absentmindedly through a knitting book, trying not to think about the clawed hand that had held it last. "I know he can't help it, but he eats people. He's dangerous."

  "Fritz doesn't eat people," Prussia sighed. "Ve vould've explained earlier, but you ran off before ve had ze chance. He eats animals, like zat bear today. And sometimes, if he absolutely has to have human flesh, I let him bite me. He never takes much und I regenerate, so it vorks out."

  (Name) shuddered. "You two have a pretty sick relationship, you know that?"

  "Ja, ich weiss. But people do crazy zings for ze vuns zey love."

  "You... love him?" (Name) looked at Prussia in shock. "But aren't you scared? What if he goes too far one day and, you know, eats you?"

  "I trust him not to." Prussia grinned. "Fritz may have big teez, but he has an even bigger heart. Chust give him ein chance, bitte?"

  "I'll try."

Certain as the sun
Rising in the east
Tale as old as time
Song as old as rhyme
Beauty and the beast

  It was a week before Fritz left his room. When he did, (Name) scarcely recognized him. The half demon was thin and pale, his skin covered in fresh scars and his eyes bruised and dark. Worst were the bloody marks on his chapped lips; he looked as if he'd bitten them clean through.

  Prussia was out when Fritz emerged, dealing with an issue with the military. (Name) rose from her seat when she saw her boss, taking a step towards him. He flinched.

  "Who did I kill?" Fritz rasped. His voice sounded awful, as if he'd worn it to the bone screaming. Tears glittered in his eyes. (Name) hesitated, then walked over to the half demon and wrapped him in an awkward embrace.

  "No one. It was just a bear. You saved me."

  Fritz smiled. "So my- I did something good?"

  "Ja, you were good." (Name) guided Fritz over to the couch and sat beside him. "I'm sorry I called you a monster. You can't help what you are; just because you aren't human doesn't mean you're any less of a citizen to me and Prussia."

  The half demon's forehead creased in concern. "Did he-?"

  (Name) nodded. "Gilbert explained your... arrangement."

  "I would never ask you to do that," Fritz quickly assured her, "You're too pretty." HIs face flushed blue.

  Frowning, (Name) released her hold on her boss. "But I thought you and Gilbert-?"

  "Ksesesesese!" It was eerie how alike Fritz's laugh was to his nation's. "Oui, Gil and I are a thing. But liebling, demons and countries have long lives. There's always room for more love."

  Fritz leaned in and kissed (Name) briefly. She returned it, then pulled away with a laugh. "So, where were you from before you took this land for Prussia?"

  "Canada. Most of Prussia's new citizens were originally Canadian. Really, where else would you find a half wendigo, half were-cougar?"

Tale as old as time
Song as old as rhyme
Beauty and the Beast

Epilogue: Several decades later...

  "Good morning Gil." (Name) kissed Prussia awake. She lay on the left side of the bed while Prussia was in the middle. The right side was currently empty, as its occupant was making breakfast.

  Prussia groaned and opened his eyes. (Name) laughed.

  "Don't get up, Fritz will be here in a minute with your pancakes."

  "You better believe he vill," Prussia grumbled, struggling into a sitting position. Red-stained bandages on his right shoulder made moving difficult; so did pain from the wound underneath. "Ze awesome me deserves zem after last night. Remind me again vy I volunteered to be a vendigo's breakfast?"

  (Name) tweaked Prussia's nose. "Because when he's not eating people he's sweet and adorable and helped you become a nation again?"

  "Und let's not forget, vizout Fritz I vouldn't have a lovely liebling to share mein life viz."

  The door burst open, revealing Fritz and a huge tray of pancakes, sausages and fruit. "Good morning!"

  (Name) chuckled. "And now you have two."