The sun started to rise at five. It was a beautiful sunrise. I would see many sunrises in the following months, maybe years, but this would be the last sunrise that  I would truly look at. I looked over at Italy who was still sleeping. I watched his chest rise and fall slightly in rhythm with his breathing. He looked peaceful. I thought about how that wouldn't last. How the war would inevitably change him. If he survives. I quickly pushed the thought away. I promised him I would protect him, and I intend to keep that promise. I turned my head back to the sunrise just peaking over the horizon.

Everyone awoke soon after the sun started to come up. We were packed up and traveling in seven minutes flat.

We walked along my boarder, our drone scanning the area ahead. Everyone was silent. Breathing slowly, stepping lightly, guns ready. Listening for even the faintest sound of an enemy. We walked for hours in silence.

At roughly nine that same morning I heard something up ahead. I put my hand up and gave the signal to stop. I listened intently. I heard it again. The sound of footsteps. They were about four hundred feet away. The troops readied their guns, aiming them towards the sound.
"What are you getting on the drone?" I asked, never moving my eyes.

"The drone isn't picking anything up. No thermals." The man replied. His voice sounded disappointed.

The footsteps continued. I stood there, watching, expecting Romano to come out any moment, the troops waited for my signal to fire. There was 30 seconds of absolute silence among the men. The only noise in the world seemed to be those footsteps that were slowly but surely getting closer.

The next thing we heard was a voice yelling in what I was sure was Czech. There was footsteps that seemed to be everywhere. Bombs came crashing down all around us. Dust and dirt exploded. When it cleared we were surrounded by the Ozbrojené síly České republiky. Italy looked at me worried. He tried not to show it, but his hands where shaking at his sides. I gave the signal.

Guns went off in every direction. The air quickly filled with the smell of gunpowder and blood. The Ozbrojené síly České republiky fired back. Men were yelling and running towards each other. Self driving tanks firing off.

I looked around, looking for Czech. I made eye contact with her. She was standing on a hill at the edge of the battlefield. I glanced over at Italy one last time, nodding, indicating that he follow me. I walked over to where she stood, gun in hand, Italy on my heels.

"Nice pet you got there Germany." Czech smirked, glaring at Italy. "He seems so well trained. Can you make him roll over?"

"Stop Czech." I said demandingly. I lifted my gun, pointing it at her.

She looked down at the gun. If she was fazed by it, she didn't show it. She just shook her head and smiled at us. "Just like that then? Just like that you are going to kill me and take over my home?" she shook her head again. Her eyes were going back and forth between me and Italy, as if trying to read us.

"How did you do it?" I replied, watching her carefully. Making sure she didn't make any sudden moves. It was suspicious that she didn't even draw her gun.

"Uniforms that don't show up on inferred. Our latest invention." She said proudly.

"Any other tricks up your sleeves that we should know about?"I questioned. Holding back shooting her right then.

Czech just glanced back and forth between me and Italy. Eyeing both of us. "vždycky mám triky na rukávu." she mumbled.

I looked at her confused. "What?" That was all the distraction she needed to grab my hand holding the gun and push the gun away from her. Instinctively, I pulled the trigger. The gun went off and shot the ground right beside her feet. Everyone on the battlefield stopped and looked at us, their leaders. The loud bang from my gun ringing in my ears. I pulled my hand back, ready to shoot, but Czech was quicker, grabbing my gun from me. She pointed it at me. I put my hands up.

"In case you were wondering, I said 'I always have tricks up my sleeve.'"she said, never taking her eyes off me. "Now, get over here." she nodded her head to her side. I walked to her side,the barrel of my gun following me.

"What are you going to do?" I asked.

"I want to see how well you trained you little pet." she glanced quickly at Italy. " He has ten seconds to shoot me, or I will shoot both of you."

I looked at Italy. He stood there looking at us, his whole body was frozen.

"Ready to begin the countdown?" Czech asked, looking at me as though she has already won. I said nothing. "Good. 10. 9. 8. 7." I looked at Italy. He still stood there frozen. "6. 5."

"Italy..." He didn't move.

"4."

"ITALY... SHOOT HER!" He didn't move.

"3."

"ITALY!!"

"2."

That's it for this chapter. If you liked it remember to vote. Let me know if there is anything you would like to see in future chapters.