With eyes clenched shut, Ludwig braced himself for impact into the white below him, but he was shocked as he hit it and passed right through it into freezing cold sea water. Silver bubbles escaped from his mouth as he shot upward through the water. His lungs burned from lack of air, but it vanished as he burst out into the open air above the churning surf. Shaking the water from his head and eyes, he looking around himself in confusion. Dark storm clouds crowded the sky above, turning the water around him into a murky gray and black with white foam. A few seagulls squalled as they rode the wind that was starting to pick up and it nipped at Ludwig's exposed head.

He turned himself in the water and saw the shore beyond where a thin line of trees stood before giving way to more trees. Pulling his arms through the water, he swam towards shore until the rough sand of the shallows scratched his feet. Standing up, he staggered his way through the water, shivering as the wind chilled him.

As Ludwig staggered onto the semi dry shore, he could hear the cries of many men and the clank that came from metal on metal with the occasional boom. Confusion washed over him as began to shiver violently again as he started to walk to the line of trees. The dead leaves and twigs pinched as he stepped on them, but he ignored it as another wave of images and voices came over him, much clearer than before to the point where he could understand parts of the words.

"For Ho- Rom-!"

"Don't run-!"

"He's gone!"

"The battle is lo-"

Each phrase was accompanied by a scene and horror swept through him. He was near a battle and he had a feeling that it had something to do with Holy Rome. Shivering again, he looked down at the ground and saw hefty looking stick, which greatly resembled his old Heir Stick. Quickly scooping up the stick, he started off through the trees in the direction that the yells and booms were coming from.

Smoke and the stench of burnt flesh assaulted Ludwig's nose as he emerged from the line of trees to gaze from the top of a small hill at a raging battle below. Two banners flew from either end of the fray, one was French and the was the Holy Roman Empire's. Mangled bodies lay at the edges of the battle and men were lined up as they charged at each other through the smoke from the cannon fire. The French army seemed to be doing much better than the Holy Roman's army.

Not wasting a second, Ludwig plunged down the hill holding tightly onto his stick. He stepped over a few bodies before a raised hand stopped him. A fallen soldier was waving his hand at Ludwig, motioning for him to come over to him. Ludwig looked at the solider in bewilderment before he went of to the man to stand over him. The soldier looked up at him with pain glazed eyes for a minute before he spoke.

"You're a country," the solider croaked.

Ludwig's eyes widened in horror as the man stated what his true identity was, but the solider ignored him.

"Please- save the empire! We are going to lose." With a shaky hand, the solider pointed towards the other end of the battle field towards a large cliff. Ludwig followed with his eyes to where he was pointing. Two figures were dueling, one was in a bright blue outfit and was taller than the other figure. His heart lurched as he recognized the other figure who was clad in black, it was Holy Rome. He turned back to the soldier and was about to ask him something when he stopped. The soldier's eyes showed that he had passed on.

Bowing his head for a moment, Ludwig murmured a small apology to the soldier before he lifted his head and looked towards the cliff. Holy Rome was getting closer and closer to the edge as he tried to defend himself from Francis. Taking a breath, he tightened his grip on the stick before he let loose a yell and ran into the midst of the battle.

Bullets whizzed past him as he ran and the clang of metal on metal echoed by cannon fire rung loudly in his head. Images swam in his vision, blocking out soliders as he bumped into them as he ran. He slipped once on a patch of mud and tumbled to the ground as a cannon ball exploded behind him, showering him with mud and dirt.

Grunting Ludwig hauled himself off of the ground and shook the grim from his shoulders and glanced at the nearing cliff as he began to run again. Holy Rome was almost standing on the edge of the cliff now and Francis was closing in on him. A single image was in Ludwig's mind, Holy Rome was bleeding profusely as he fell head first into the turbulent surf of the ocean below. Adrenaline kicked in, and Ludwig started to sprint as the images of the prior were event started to play and matched up with what was happening now.

Holy Rome grimaced as he raised his sword to block the down swing of Francis's rapier. They met together with a loud clang and Holy Rome lost his grip. The sword fell to the ground a few feet away and Holy Rome's eyes followed it as Francis swiftly pulled his sword back as Ludwig was five meters away. Holy Rome looked towards Francis in shock as the rapier was thrust into his chest. Ludwig felt his chest begin to burn as he raised the stick over his head as he ran at Francis who was pulling the rapier from Holy Rome's chest.

"Arschloch!"[1]

With a curse, Ludwig swung the stick until it connected with the Frenchman's head, who in turn fell over whimpering. Dropping the stick, Ludwig turned to see Holy Rome wavering at the edge of the cliff looking directly at him. Without warning he leaned backwards and vanished from sight. Ludwig took to large steps before he flung himself over the cliff after him.

Time seemed to slow down as the air stung at Ludwig's eyes as he reached out his hands towards Holy Rome. He could see every ripple of the crashing surf below them and of his cape. Just before they were about to crash into the water, Ludwig caught a hold of his hand and pulled him up to cradle him in his chest.

Leaning his head over Holy Rome's, Ludwig took a breath before he crashed into the water. He felt his descent slow as he sunk into the water, but after a few seconds the tug of the surf was gone and so was the water. Daring to open his eyes, he peered around himself. He was floating a meter above the white sea he had fallen into earlier, he could see the ripples dancing across its surface from right below him. A weight in his arms reminded him that Holy Rome was still in his arms.

"Holy Rome!"

Holy Rome grunted in response, but did nothing more.

"Answer me!"

Holy Rome grunted again, before he whispered hoarsely, "What?"

Ludwig adjusted his hold on the boy so he could get a clear view of his face. It should have been covered with grim and blood, but it was clean.

"What was that back there?" Ludwig demanded as he glowered at the boy in his arms.

"It's quiet simple really," Holy Rome rasped. "I died."

Ludwig stared at the boy, "That was when-" Holy Rome nodded weakly in response.

"You know what happened Ludwig, you remember."

"Of course I-" images over took all of Ludwig's vision. Holy Rome plunging into the water, but later on washing up on a not so far away shore. A nearby fisherman family took him in and nursed him back to health, and gave him the name Ludwig. He stayed with the family for five years, before an albino man showed up and took him away. Prussia. Then the images started to blend into Ludwig's memory, fitting into the blank spots.

"-Remember." Ludwig breathed out lightly and looked off into the distance.

Holy Rome sighed happily, "Finally."

Ludwig looked down at Holy Rome and saw his own reflection in his cerulean eyes, a young boy with cerulean eyes stared back at him. But to his horror, Holy Rome's eyes slipped shut.

"Holy Rome! Stay awake," Ludwig shook the boy lightly. "Why do I remember these things?"

"Because, they all happened to you." Holy Rome sighed again.

"You mean-" but he was cut off as a blue light started emanate from Holy Rome's face, and his eyes opened again.

"I am you, and you are me," He patted the side of Ludwig's face. "We are one in the same-"

"LUDWIG!" A familiar voice echoed from somewhere interrupting him.

Ludwig looked around in confusion, and back to Holy Rome who was smiling sleepily, "Now I can finally rest."

The blue glow increased and Ludwig felt Holy Rome shift in his grasp. Holy Rome slipped from his grasp to float in front of Ludwig.

"Wha-"

"LUDWIG!" The familiar voice interrupted Ludwig again, and he finally realized who was calling for him.

"Feli," he breathed softly as he looked around.

"Go to her Ludwig." Holy Rome smiled as Ludwig looked back at him.

"But where will you go?" Ludwig felt his heart twist at the thought of leaving now.

Holy Rome chuckled and the glow increased to a near blinding light, "Home."

"W-Wait!" Ludwig reached out feeling for Holy Rome, his hand came in contact with something like hard cloth. He held onto it, "Will I see you again?"

A chuckle came from Holy Rome, "We will always be together Ludwig, always."

A tear leaked from the corner of Ludwig's eye as he smiled at the thought of that, "Yes. Danke schon." [2]

Feli giggled as she entered the living room and saw Ludwig laying on the couch with one of the coffee table lamps turned on above him giving his blonde hair a sort of glowing halo. She tip-toed over to the couch and lightly sat on the edge of it and brushed her hand over Ludwig's cheek.

"Silly, you shouldn't be sleeping out here!" she chirped as she lightly shook his shoulder with her other hand. "Ludwig, time to come back to me!"

She gasped as her hand that was one his face became wet from a lone tear. She looked worriedly into his sleeping face, that was contorted slightly.

"Ludwig?" she asked.

Ludwig groaned, and she withdrew her hand from his should and gazed at him in worry. A second later, his baby blue eyes fluttered open and he looked wildly around the room before his gaze settled on her. With a fluid motion, Feli found herself caught in a rib crushing hug from Ludwig.

"I'm so sorry," he whispered.

"For what," Feli wheezed as she snuggled into his arms.

"For leaving you."

She looked up at him and smiled, "But you're here now aren't you?"

Ludwig loosened his grip but still held her, "Yes."

They sat in silence, before Ludwig softly started to stroke Feli's hair and she hummed in contentment, "Feli?"

She hummed, "Can I tell you something?"

She nodded into his shoulder, "Sure!"

He took a deep breath, "I-I've- I've always loved you, ever since the first century."

Ludwig felt Feli freeze in his arms before she started to struggle in his grasp, "L-Ludwig- where did you hear that? Who told you to say that to me?"

"I told you that a long time ago, Feli, don't you remember? When I left for war?"

Her golden eyes probed his baby blue ones for what seemed like years, "Don't play with me like that Ludwig."

Ludwig shook his head and reached behind her and produced a small hat, "I remember everything. I found this, as well as my-"

But he was interrupted by Feli crashing her lips into his, she pulled away as quickly as she when she first kissed him, "I knew it."

"What?"

She smiled and pulled him in closer for a tighter hug, "I knew you were him. From the first day I met you, I knew it was you."

Ludwig felt his heart swell as he returned the hug, "Ich liebe dich, Feli." [3]

"Ti amo, Holy Rome~" [4]

Fin.

Translations:

[1] Asshole

[2] Thank you very much.

[3] I love you. (German)

[4] I love you. (Italian)

All done! I'm glad its over, so I can focus on getting my other stories written and such. But thank everyone of you guys for reading this and I hope you'll stick around for more of my stories in the future if possible!