No amount of apologizing will make up for the fact that it took me five years to update this story, so let's just cut to the chase.

After what seemed like an eternity, Germany, Italy, and Japan finally made out of the foggy area of the spring and into a clearing near a small village. Nightfall was quickly approaching and a chill was beginning to settle in the air, made more obvious and uncomfortable by the now-women's wet clothing.

"Vee~ Germany its cold! And I'm hungry!" Italy whined.

"I have to agree with Italy-kun." Japan said, shivering lightly.

"Well, we're near some kind of village. We can get something to eat and find a place to dry our clothes." Germany said, trying not to show that he was just as cold as the others.

They continued on until they reached the village. It was a small, sleepy little town that seemed untouched by the war. There were several inns and taverns as well as shops lining the streets and people moved about freely. No one paid the three soaking wet women any mind until Italy bumped into a older lady, causing her to drop her basket.

"My eggs!" she cried as the eggs splattered on the ground. Germany nearly strangled Italy.

"Ah! I'm sorry! I didn't mean to!" Italy apologized, dropping to the ground to pick up the egg shells.

"Please forgive our friend, she isn't the most graceful…" Japan said, bowing to the woman. The woman sighed before waving off their apologies.

"It's all right...I suppose I can purchase more tomorrow."

"Please, allow us to pay for them…after all, it is our," Germany glared at Italy, "fault that you have to buy more."

"Ah! That will work! Say, I don't think I've seen you three around here before. Who are you?" The woman was peering intently at their faces, hoping to find some clue to their identities.

"Ah, we're just three strangers passing by, you know?" Germany replied quickly, giving what he hoped was a disarming smile.

"Really? Tell me, why are you three dressed in those wet uniforms? I hope you didn't get any trouble from those soldiers. I hear they've set up camp on the other side of the spring." The woman said, scrutinizing their still-wet clothing. Panic began to set in the trio, how would they explain their wet uniforms? They weren't even sure whether they were in enemy territory.

"Well…" Germany began but Italy cut him off.

"We had an accident! We were chased by some animal and ended up falling in the spring but some nice soldiers rescued us and loaned us some clothes to wear!" Italy said quickly, surprising both Germany and Japan.

"Heavens! I hope it wasn't a bear! And I hope to God you three didn't fall into one of those cursed springs! Here, come with me, I'll get you three some proper, dry clothes and you can stay with me for the night!" The woman said, beckoning for the trio to follow her.

"It's a good thing I didn't get rid of my daughters' clothes after they left. They seem to fit you all rather nicely." The woman was saying to Italy as she tied the back of the apron on his dress.

"Thank you for the clothes, Mrs. Koler!" Italy said as he admired himself in the mirror.

"You're most certainly welcome! Can't have you three wandering around in wet things, especially men's clothes!" Mrs. Koler said as she helped Japan with his pinafore.

"We greatly appreciate it." Germany said, smoothing out his dress.

"It's no trouble at all. Are you all hungry?"

"Yes please!" Italy exclaimed, clapping his hands together.

A half-hour later, the four of them were seated around Mrs. Koler's kitchen table, tucking into steaming bowls of beef stew.

"Its very good, ma'am. Thank you so much for the food and clothing." Germany said, grateful to be in something warm, even if it was a dress.

"It's no problem at all," Mrs. Koler said, blowing on her spoon, "can't have you three running around wet and hungry. You'd have caught your death. Now eat up, there's plenty. I look forward to not having leftovers, for a change."

Once the meal was finished and their bowls washed, the four women sat around the table drinking tea that Mrs. Koler had prepared.

"Mrs. Koler, you said something earlier about cursed springs?" Germany asked, staring intently at the older woman. She added two teaspoons of sugar to her cup and stirred before setting it to the side to allow it to cool.

"Way before the war started, this place used be a thriving spa town due to the large number of hot springs in the area. There are a few hundred small springs around here, most of them benign, but there are some that have more, ah, mystical properties. Not all of these mystical springs are cursed, some of them are actualy quite beneficial. For example, I know there's one spring that will cure whatever it is that ails you. I visited that one a few years ago to get rid of my arthritis." Mrs. Koler said, rubbing at the knuckles on her left hand.

"But there are certain springs, we refer to them as the Potápět. It means submersion. If you fall into any of the potápět, you will turn into whatever the first creature to fall into that spring was. There's the Spring of Bear, the Spring of Child, the Spring of Piglet, and I believe there is a Spring of Girl." Mrs. Koler said, not paying attention the looks the Axis were sharing.

"Is there a way to undo the curse?" Japan asked.

"Not that we're aware. Most people who fall into those springs, they've either been turned into animals or they leave town because they're too ashamed. One of my neighbors slipped and fell into the Spring of Child a few years ago. Poor dear could barely stand to be in town and he was younger than his child. Ended up disappearing." Mrs. Koler said, taking a sip of her tea. Germany gave a worried look to Japan.

"It does make for an interesting weapon, though. There was a land feud about twenty years back, these two neighbors were arguing about a property line or something. Well, the man goes down to the Spring of Duck, fills a bucket with the water, and then throws it on his neighbor and his family. The whole lot of them turned into ducks, can you believe it?" Mrs. Koler exclaimed.

"Really?" Italy asked.

"True as the day I was born. Those springs are dangerous. You all be careful making your way through them. There's a path that will take you around the springs so you don't have to worry about them. I can show it to you tomorrow."

"It would be much appreciated, Mrs. Koler." Germany said.

"Oh, but of course. It's out of the way. To be honest, the potápět are part of the reason why we haven't had to worry about enemy soldiers. Between the fog and the terrain, anyone who doesn't know the area is liable to slip and fall. Now, you three look like you've had a long day, especially after being chased by that bear. I'll prepare your beds so you can get some sleep."