M:   Mandara and Derogan watched as Johann left with looks of confusion.

"I don't think he understood what we were talking about," Derogan commented, Mandara nodding in agreement.

"Well, I guess we should get blankets and pillows here," Mandara reasoned, he hopped off the chair and went over to the door, "you coming?"

"No, I can't walk very well, my back hurts too much."

"Oh, ok, I'll be back then, though Johann may be back before me depending on how much I will be bringing back."

Mandara opened the door and left for his and Derogan's room, though he made sure to tell the knights guarding Mandoria's room what was going on so they would be more lenient about people going in and out of his father's room.

N:   When Johann arrived at Mandoria's room, he thought that he had to give a long explanation about bringing England; however, was surprised when both of them were allowed in. One of the guards did give him a sideways look at the boy as he clutched onto the bag and sped in with the English country close behind.

"Oh God," England muttered when he saw Mandoria, taking in the sight. He then noticed Derogan in the room, and seeing him all bandaged up, he went over to him and gently patted his back with his left hand, "I would ask you if you are alright, but present circumstances suggest otherwise."

M:   Derogan winced as England patted his back but bit his tongue so he wouldn't yelp and make him feel bad.

"Y-yeah, you could say that, but I'll be ok, just not sure if Father will," he said, "Mandara is coming back with blankets and stuff so we can camp here and stay with him. Sorry if Johann disturbed you, there was a little bit of a miscommunication and he thought that we asked if you would join us, but I'm sure you would rather spend time with your own family ... or ... with Sir Anglo at least."

N:   "It's quite fine, Johann didn't disturb me," he started to fiddle with his tunic when he saw Derogan wince. "And I had the last couple of centuries to spend time with my fathers, even more so since I handed control of the country to British Empire. Also from what your father said to me earlier today," he glanced at the King Wing, "I am going to use my time left here in the Kingdom of Mandoria to spend time with Mandorians, not English."

His eyes started to wander in the room; he felt like an intruder, especially after what Saxon and himself had done. "Us English," he muttered, shaking his head, "always causing a mess wherever we go."

M:   "Be thankful you're not Prussians," Derogan muttered with a chuckle, "whenever they come around, all hell breaks loose in one way or another," he caught Johann's gaze for a split second and realized what he said so reiterated himself, "but of course, not all Prussians are bad, we do get quite a few who have come here to find a better life, I guess the ones in uniforms and armor are the cursed ones, and no offense, but I still believe that Saxon is pretty cursed too."

Derogan then turned away from England back to Mandoria, gently taking his father's hand into his own, "and besides, this was my fault; not yours, not even Saxon's, I ran away and I got myself captured, now Father is paying the price for my screwup, as per usual," he paused as tears started welling up in his eyes, "just another reason why I shouldn't be king, Father is fighting for his life and it's all my fault."

Derogan fell to his knees and buried his head in his arms as the emotions he tried to suppress finally spilled out.

N:   Johann rushed to Derogan's side, "Derogan, it's not your fault, alright? You didn't know that the Prussians were there, you didn't know that you were going to be captured." However, he felt like he was talking to a brick wall, so he looked up at England for help.

The country went on his knees, making sure that he doesn't lean against his right arm. "Johann is right, it is not your fault. It's mine for bringing the Prussians into the area then not keeping tabs on their movements," he sighed, resting his hand on the prince's head, "let it all out. You shouldn't have kept that much pent up inside, so let it all go."

Johann and England stayed by Derogan's side, trying their best to comfort him.

M:   Derogan did just that, he never liked people seeing him cry, it made him feel weak when he showed emotion, he wouldn't even cry in front of Mandara, but this time he just didn't have the strength to hold it in anymore.

He cried for a few minutes before he ran out of tears and his sobs subsided into sniffles.

"S-sorry about that, I don't like crying in front of people, especially Mandara. You're not supposed to cry when you're king, it means that you're weak, so I don't." He admitted.

Just then, Mandara came in with pillows and blankets in his arms, he didn't hear what Derogan said but he saw him leaning against Mandoria's bed and that Johann and England were surrounding him.

"Brother, is everything ok," he asked worriedly.

Derogan turned to the doorway where Mandara was standing, he wiped his eyes and tried to put on a strong face, "yeah, everything is fine."

N:   England understood that Derogan had to be strong for his brother, but he also didn't like that he pent up all of the emotion as well. He handed the prince a handkerchief before standing up. Turning his attention to Mandara, he smiled, "You are actually going to stay here for the night, I hope that you have the space for one more."

While England went to Mandara to help him with the pillows, Johann stayed next to Derogan, "we're family now," he whispered so Mandara wouldn't hear him, "it's alright. Crying doesn't show that you're weak, it only shows that you can feel."

M:   Derogan just nodded, not feeling like speaking at the moment. Johann was right, it was ok to cry around your family, but he knew that if Mandara saw him upset it would be despairing for his little brother.

"Would your parents be ok with you staying here with us," Mandara asked England, "it sounded like you were in a lot of trouble and I don't want to dig you into a deeper hole with them."

N:   "I am a grown-up, and I can go where I want. As long as I am not causing any trouble I'm fine. But -," England raised his hand, "I probably should tell them before they turn the castle upside down trying to find me." He placed the pillows on the armchair, made his way to the door, and left to find his parents.

Johann, once England left, went to his bag and started handing out the snacks he got from the kitchen. Helping out Mandara with the blankets and pillows and when they were done, he asked, "is there something we can do?"

M:   The brothers glanced at each other, also wondering what they could do. Derogan looked out the window and saw that the sun was beginning to set.

"We could watch the sunset," he suggested, "Father never locks his balcony door and it doesn't get too cold out at this time of year."

"Yeah, we like to stargaze too, to pick out shapes and patterns in the stars." Mandara agreed as he was munching on an apple.

N:   "Sure," Johann nodded, so he got up, grabbed his pillow, and made his way to the balcony. Slowly, he opened the door, receiving a small gush of wind. Carrying his pillow, he propped it up against the wall next to the door, positioning the pillow so he sat up and the pillow was against his head.

Without knowing it, he started to hum a tune that his mother used to sing to him, and the atmosphere of the setting sun made him tired and nod off a bit. However, when he did, his pillow slipped causing him to hit his head against the wall and to be in a sudden state of alertness. When he realized what happened, he rubbed his head and grabbed a pear, trying to forget what happened.

———

England searched from room to room, trying to find his fathers, until he heard their voices through a door. Cautiously, since he wasn't supposed to leave his room, he knocked and waited for an answer. Saxon called him in and so he did.

"Where have you been, young man?" the entity asked, although he didn't look up from the book he was reading. It was the book from before about the British Empire.

"Nice to see you too, faeder," England replied, completely ignoring his question. He instead walked up to Anglo, "Fa, since I am your responsibility, I am just telling you that I will stay in Mandoria's room tonight with the boys, or as long as the king remains in his present state."

Anglo looked up from the book he is reading, which was about the Mandorian gods, and replied, "how is the king?"

"I don't know, he hasn't been receptive to anything, but he will come through."

"Hmm, ok. Well, you can go and be in the company of children," the winged country smiled.

"Well, at least they are not crazy. Remember what little America did to you?"

Anglo shuddered at the memory. It was his turn to take care of America while British Empire was away, and while he was sleeping, the little country thought it was a good idea to set some of his feathers on fire. Luckily Anglo wasn't too hurt, but he was weary around the child ever since.

England used the silence as his cue to leave, and when he just walked through the doorway, Anglo called out, "Have fun, fauntkin," earning an annoyed grumble from the younger country, amusing him.

M:   Mandara and Derogan followed Johann outside and sat on the other side of the double door to watch the sunset. They heard what their friend was humming but said nothing, since usually when people did that they were enjoying themselves.

Eventually, Mandara fell asleep on his brother's shoulder, it hurt a little but Derogan didn't mind

"Hey Johann," he said after a bit, "do you think I would be a good king? Don't say yes just because you don't want me to feel bad, I want your honest answer, would I be a good king after everything I've done?"

N:   "I -," Johann stuttered, he didn't want to make his friend feel bad, but he had to answer honestly. He sighed, "You are brave and strong. You fought against Prussia and you made me feel welcome here. However, the things you do tend to be short-lived and not thought through, acting on emotions rather than logic."

He looked at Derogan, his eyes trying to show he's sorry, "so honestly, you are a good person but you wouldn't be a good king." He quickly looked away, not wanting to see Derogan's reaction.

M:   Derogan didn't react badly, he sat there and contemplated Johann's words.

"Thanks," he said, "I knew that I wasn't meant to be king but no one will listen, I know that I am arrogant and that I don't always think before I do something, they say that I'll grow out of it but this is just who I am. I'm glad that someone else sees me as me and not as a king, thank you."

N:   Johann sighed in relief when he heard what Derogan said.

He looked up into the darkening sky and asked, "You will be alive for Gott knows how long, centuries perhaps, so if you don't want to be king, what do you want to do? And I will not accept a one-word answer."

M:   "I don't know exactly," Derogan said, "I've always had a fascination with the knights and fighting. Warfare has always interested me so I see myself doing something involving that."

He looked back to his father's unconscious figure and sighed sadly, "I just hope it doesn't come sooner than I want it to."

N:   The boy hmmed, "warfare is not only about knights and fighting. You also think about the people who get caught in the crossfire."

"I hope so too," muttered Johann, he saw Derogan's face, "and your father will come through."

At that moment, England slowly opened the door, making sure he wouldn't disturb the king, and made his way to the boys. He entered the balcony and asked if Mandoria showed any sign of consciousness. Johann only shook his head.

M:   "Nothing like this has ever happened before," Derogan said, "the only thing close was a year ago when King Prussia came to trick Father into forming an alliance with him, and when Father refused he attacked him. I jumped in and distracted Prussia so Father wasn't harmed, though the same couldn't be said for me."

He pulled up his pants leg and revealed a giant scar running down the length of his calf.

"Prussia's sword caught my leg by accident," he explained, "but I'm scared that Father won't be as lucky as I was."

N: Johann scrunched up his face when he saw the scar. He knew that Prussia hurt Derogan, but wasn't aware of the severity.

The English country crouched down and observed the mark, "you are quite brave to fight that Prussian. All countryhumans have had their share of conflict but you had the misfortune to experience it at an early age. It is understandable that you are scared for your father, but until it happens, you don't know." England turned to face the human boy, "Is that not right, Johann?"

"Hmm, yes. Prussia," he murmured. The boy only looking into the distance and wasn't paying attention to what the country was saying.

M:   "That doesn't make me feel much better," Derogan muttered under his breath as he pulled back down his pants leg.

He felt Mandara snuggling into him further so he wrapped his wing around him.

"Sir England, if something were to happen to Sir Saxon, what would you do, would you stay by his side until he recovers, or would you laugh in his face and say he got what he deserves?"

N:   England wasn't prepared for the question, so he sat down and faced the door to the balcony. He sighed, "if you asked me centuries ago, I would have chosen the first choice immediately. However, as time went by, more often than not, I would be opposing Saxon. There were definitely times when I believed that he got what he deserved, but one way or another, I would return to him since he is my father."

He buried his head in his hands, and growled under his breath, "why did he have to be the Head of Insurgents?"

M:   "Because he didn't have a choice," Derogan answered, "he talked to me earlier when I blamed him for all this misfortune that has happened while he is here. He said that his father before him was the head of insurgents, and when he died someone had to take his place, guess that someone was Saxon."

Derogan leaned his head against the wall and sighed, "imagine being forced to do something that everyone hates you for, it doesn't matter who you are on the inside when everyone judges you on the outside. Of course, I'm not saying that excuses the horrible things he does." He gave a fleeting glance to Johann, "but who knows, maybe he has a reason that we don't know about.

N: "I have heard that excuse too many times from my father," England grumbled, "He would come back from another kingdom, tattered from a revolution, and would wash the blood off his hands as if it was nothing."

He looked up, "but he wasn't always like this. I would always remember the times when I was only a boy when Faeder would take me to the top of a hill and we would simply watch the sunset together, telling me he would always care for me. But because I know he was different before, I am afraid that over time I would become like him, just as how he became like his father."

"He might have shielded you," piped up Johann, breaking his silence, "he might have been the same before but you only were not aware of the other side of him." When he heard Derogan's last comment, he replied, with a hint of anger, "well, he better have one."

M:   Derogan was going to comment on Johann's angered tone of voice when he heard faint groaning coming from inside Mandoria's room. He jumped to attention, causing Mandara to be startled awake.

"What's going on," he asked.

Derogan didn't say anything, he was listening for more noises. When none had come for a while he stood up and slowly made his way back inside to Mandoria's bed, Mandara following soon after.

"Father, are you awake," he asked, gripping the injured king's hand.

Mandoria was still unconscious but his body was somehow still reacting to the noise, causing him to moan in pain and shift his head slightly.

"Zalia," he muttered in a very quiet voice.

N:   Johann and England followed the princes' into the room, wanting to know what caused the noise.

"Who is Zalia," England asked quietly, as he didn't know the Mandorian family that well. Johann shrugged, having never heard the name before. He walked up to the King's bed and asked, "King Mandoria, are you awake?

M:   Mandoria made no other noises or movements, slipping back into full unconsciousness.

"S-she is ... was ... our mother," Mandara explained, "though only Derogan knew her, as she died giving birth to me, Derogan was five. We don't talk about her very often though."

A sob broke him out of his explanation, he turned to Derogan and was extremely surprised to see him tearing up.

"Don't go, Father," he was saying, "you can't leave too, not like Mother, I can't watch you both die, please."

N:   Johann gently hugged Derogan, trying to comfort him. "Your father is not going to go. I know what you are feeling and I do not wish it on anyone."

England awkwardly stood as he watched everything around him and mentally scolded himself for asking the question. He remembered what the elder prince said about crying in front of Mandara, so he quickly found a handkerchief and handed it to Johann to give to Derogan.

"I am sorry for asking," he said solemnly, "I should have guessed that she was close to you all."

M:   "It was so long ago," Derogan muttered after a while, "I can't even remember her face."

Mandara looked at his brother, he never sees him upset so it upset him.  He hugged Derogan too, "everything will be ok, big brother, Father promised he will always be with us and he never breaks his promises."

"Yeah, I know," Derogan muttered rather ruefully, then yawned, tired from another crazy day, Mandara following suit.

"Maybe we should get some sleep," the older prince suggested, "surely Father will wake up tomorrow, r-right?"

N:   "He will wake up," Johann replied, however, he wasn't sure himself. The boy let go and gathered some of the blankets and the pillow he left outside and prepared himself a bed on the floor. He also assisted Derogan and Mandara make their beds for the night ahead.

England wanted to stay to see what would happen in the morning, but he wasn't going to lie down on the floor since he wasn't a kid. Instead, he sat in the armchair and made himself comfortable.

"Sir England," asked Johann, "wouldn't sleeping there be bad for your neck." The country shrugged and smirked, "I am going to stay here, but I think I'm a few centuries too late to be with you boys." However, he did get a pillow to support his head.

M:   "That's ok, but you're welcome to come down here if you get uncomfortable," Mandara said.

He and Derogan finished their beds and went back over to Mandoria to tell him good night, hugging him tightly like they were afraid that if they let go he would die. They eventually did let go and blew out the candles lighting up the room, electricity having not been invented yet.

They both said their goodnights to Johann and England and retired into bed, though Mandara almost immediately ditched his and snuggled with his brother, silently crying himself to sleep.