"GET BACK HERE, ARU!"
"Hahahaha~!"
China was chasing Korea around the house, waving his wok. Today, Korea had purposefully switched out China's clothes with women's qipaos, which turned out a very rude awakening for the sleepy Chinese man.
Luckily, Korea wasn't too fast of a runner and ended up tripping, giving China the chance to give him a good wok smack.
Before he could do anything, though, Hong Kong casually walked into the room and slapped an envelope on the table, getting China's attention.
"Is that the mail, aru?"
"No," said Hong Kong. "It's a telegram. For you. From dad. Bye." And with that he grabbed his firecracker basket and ran out again.
China, whose anger had gone somewhat because of the distraction, waved his hand dismissively to Korea. "You're free, aru. I'll kick your butt later, aru."
"Heck yeah, da ze!" Korea took the chance and went after Hong Kong while China picked up the letter. He slit the envelope open and read it, brown eyes widening with each word.
Dear China,
The reason why I'm even bothering to send you a telegram is to inform you that I have finally—yes, finally—found an antidote to that dragon curse I accidentally cast on you three months prior. I'm quite sure you know what I'm talking about.
The curse is entirely liftable by magic, of course, so whenever you're ready, come over. I'm home all day today, believe it or not.
Britain
China stared at the telegram almost incredulously before bursting into cheers. "YES! YES! THE OPIUM JERK FINALLY DID SOMETHING RIGHT, ARU!" He did a little happy dance in the middle of the room and dashed off to find out where Korea put his clothes.
Hetalia!
China excitedly knocked on England's door, bouncing slightly with his energy.
England answered the door, already in his black magic cloak. "Ah, I knew it wouldn't take you long."
"Save it," China said shortly. "If you don't mind, can you please remove this stupid dragon curse from me, aru?"
"Alright, alright. Come in."
Within minutes, China was standing in England's amazing little magic circle. "Hurry up, aru! I wanna be normal, aru!"
"As if you were normal to begin with," England muttered, hoping China didn't hear. He raised his wand, and started chanting the magic words as the circle began to glow. Soon, the whole room went white, before fading out.
"There," said England, lowering the wand. "That should do it."
"I don't feel any different, aru," said China, scanning over himself briefly.
"Well, did you ever feel any different when you were normal and calm?"
"OK, good point, aru."
"Exactly," England deadpanned. "That was the reversal spell, however, and I made sure I had all of the spell so it doesn't turn out like the genderbend incident."
China rolled his eyes at the memory. "I don't usually trust you, but I'll give you the benefit of the doubt for now, aru."
"You're so difficult."
Hetalia!
A month afterwards, usual business had commenced around the Wang household.
Which meant Hong Kong and Korea were being dorks again.
"Ohohohohoho!" Korea laughed, sitting on top of the couch because standing meant bonking his head on the ceiling. "I, the King of Evil, rule over this land with an iron fist, da ze! None shall oppose me, or they shall meet my friend the guillotine, da ze!"
"Stand down, King of Evil!" Hong Kong announced, brandishing a Minecraft sword. "You will surrender without a fight!"
"NEVER, DA ZE!"
"Would you guys quiet down, aru?" China said with annoyance. "I'm trying to cook, aru!"
"Sorry, da ze! But Hong Kong is trying to conquer my kingdom!"
"But your kingdom is a pile of pillows, a Shinatty-chan doll, a lightsaber and some scrolls."
"SHUT UP, DA ZE! HOW DARE YOU INSULT MY KINGDOM, DA ZE! YOU'RE GOING DOWN!"
"Bring it on, kimchi boy."
Cue tons of fighting, wrestling and screeching.
China was getting at his wit's end by this point. He slammed his hands down on the counter and walked into the living room, to see the ball of violence in the center. "I said to QUIET DOWN, aru!"
Hong Kong and Korea both looked up and flinched, eyes widening for a second.
China's temporary parent-mode ceased and he cocked his head at their slightly panicked expressions. "What?"
"Holy..."
"Did I..."
"Didn't England...?"
"No way..."
China was growing confused. "What? What's wrong, aru?"
Hong Kong's eyebrows knit together. "Did Dad cast that reversal spell correctly?"
"I assume so, aru. Why?"
"Your eyes are gold."
"WHAT?!" One trip to the mirror later, China stomped over to England's house.
Hetalia!
England was expecting another magical case to solve or maybe even America, but even America didn't pound on the door that hard. He answered the door. "Hullo?"
He immediately drew back once he saw the frazzled-looking, dragon-eyed China. "Oh, China! I didn't expect to see you. Wha—"
He was cut off as a wok came down on his head. "I actually trusted you, aru! I gave you one simple job, to remove that curse, and yet you still screw everything up, aru!"
"What are you talking about?" England exclaimed, after recovering from the hit. "I made absolutely sure that that spell was correct! I checked everything I could to make sure everything was in place, complete, and ready! There was no way in hell that spell could've been messed up!"
"You...you..." China was ready to bring his wok down again when suddenly, something in his mind clicked into place, making him freeze.
"China...?"
China found himself unable to move as memories started flooding into his mind.
*******
The world was burning, or at least it felt like it to him. China ran through the debris of the battle and searched the sky, the smoke, the bloody ground, all for her.
"CHUN!" he called. "CHUN, WHERE ARE YOU?"
No answer, until a small voice cried, "I'm over here!"
He brightened instantly. He ran towards her, seeing her beautiful horns and tail glistening as he moved to her. He was so grateful—she was OK, and everything would be alright in the end...
Chun stood, smiling in happiness as he came, until something that changed everything happened.
BANG.
She had been shot.
Chun Li fell to the ground, her face turned into an expression of pain as she plummeted. She laid on the ground messily, her hair strewn over her face and her eyes closed.
China came to her body, eyes suddenly devoid of emotion. He wouldn't see her again. She was dead, she had died, she will never see him again...
He dropped to his knees in the sadness that came over him. She was gone.
Suddenly, there was light. A small bright blue light was peeking out from the sky, shining down on China and Chun like a spotlight. China stared at the light, bewildered.
Suddenly, a shape started coming out of the light. It was long and snakelike, running down towards the ground where the dead girl lay. China realized what it was instantly.
A dragon. A Chinese dragon with pearly blue-white scales and a long tail.
Just like Chun.
"Ch-Chun?" China croaked.
The dragon did not speak, but the voice was there. "Thank you, Yao. Thank you for getting me to believe in myself, to know what it truly feels like to be loved, wanted, and happy. I will never forget you."
One of the dragon's long whiskers were placed on China's forehead, much to his bewilderment.
"As my thanks, I have brought you a gift," said dragon-Chun. "I herenow bless you with the fire dragon's spirit, a form after your own heart." China felt a hard surge of power run through his body as the dragon's whisker began to glow.
The whisker was removed, and dragon-Chun said, "I have to go now. I love you, Yao. I always will."
Then, the dragon turned and started soaring for the sky, back into the blue light.
China chased after her, a hand outstretched. "No, Chun! Don't leave me! Please, I'll be all alone without you! CHUN, DON'T GO! WO AI NI! WO AI NI!!"
The dragon did not seem to hear. It soared up into the light and faded, leaving the dirty red sky.
China stood there, grief surging through his form. Chun Li, the half-dragon, was gone. She would never come back. And because he lived forever, he would never be able to die and see her again.
He grasped his head in his hands, tears spilling from his eyes.
The eyes that were now golden, like a dragon.
And then he threw his head back and screamed.
*******
"CHINA! CHINA!! GET A HOLD OF YOURSELF!"
China found himself being shaken by England, who started freaking out upon seeing China's utterly blank, faraway expression. And then keeling over.
China blinked and stared up at England, his eyes filled with sudden remembrance and tragedy. "Ah...yes...I remember now, aru..."
"What? Remember what? Tell me!"
"Stop shaking me and I'll tell you."
England released him and pulled up some chairs for them as China began to explain.
"Many centuries ago, before I even found Japan, I met a girl. The girl had horns, gold eyes and a tail, just like a dragon's, aru. I had found her attempting to kill herself in an alleyway, and she explained that she was proclaimed to be a devil because of her horns and tail. I, knowing how I was a nation and wasn't human either, sympathized with her and helped her become happy again, aru. But...in the war...she was shot...and her dragon's spirit was released..." He took a deep breath. "Before she passed, she gave me the fire dragon's soul. That's why I have these abilities, aru..." The look on China's face was one of remorse.
England was shocked. More shocked than China had seen him be in a very long time. "Dear me..."
China stood up, smiling sadly. "I know now why all this happened. I had that power dormant all these years, I even forgot about it when I found Japan. You must have woken it up again, aru." He turned to leave. "I'm sorry I accused you like that, aru. It was wrong of me. I'll be going now, aru."
England stared after him as he left, still bewildered. It was days like these when suddenly he didn't see an annoyingly scary Asian with girly tendencies.
He saw an old, troubled soul that endured years of wisdom.
Hetalia!
China listened to the gentle swaying of the bamboo in the wind as he walked the path to his house. He didn't feel anything; he hardly felt the breeze at his back. No, he was too busy thinking, remembering. Mourning.
China sighed. He was such an idiot—he knew he would never forget about Chun, even when he really tried. The fact that he was suddenly reminded of that grim day really gnawed at his heart, cursing the ways of the world somewhat.
He chuckled grimly. "Me and this old, oriental spirit of mine," he joked to himself, staring up at the gray clouds.
He continued down the path, giving farewell to those old memories.
"Hahahaha~!"
China was chasing Korea around the house, waving his wok. Today, Korea had purposefully switched out China's clothes with women's qipaos, which turned out a very rude awakening for the sleepy Chinese man.
Luckily, Korea wasn't too fast of a runner and ended up tripping, giving China the chance to give him a good wok smack.
Before he could do anything, though, Hong Kong casually walked into the room and slapped an envelope on the table, getting China's attention.
"Is that the mail, aru?"
"No," said Hong Kong. "It's a telegram. For you. From dad. Bye." And with that he grabbed his firecracker basket and ran out again.
China, whose anger had gone somewhat because of the distraction, waved his hand dismissively to Korea. "You're free, aru. I'll kick your butt later, aru."
"Heck yeah, da ze!" Korea took the chance and went after Hong Kong while China picked up the letter. He slit the envelope open and read it, brown eyes widening with each word.
Dear China,
The reason why I'm even bothering to send you a telegram is to inform you that I have finally—yes, finally—found an antidote to that dragon curse I accidentally cast on you three months prior. I'm quite sure you know what I'm talking about.
The curse is entirely liftable by magic, of course, so whenever you're ready, come over. I'm home all day today, believe it or not.
Britain
China stared at the telegram almost incredulously before bursting into cheers. "YES! YES! THE OPIUM JERK FINALLY DID SOMETHING RIGHT, ARU!" He did a little happy dance in the middle of the room and dashed off to find out where Korea put his clothes.
Hetalia!
China excitedly knocked on England's door, bouncing slightly with his energy.
England answered the door, already in his black magic cloak. "Ah, I knew it wouldn't take you long."
"Save it," China said shortly. "If you don't mind, can you please remove this stupid dragon curse from me, aru?"
"Alright, alright. Come in."
Within minutes, China was standing in England's amazing little magic circle. "Hurry up, aru! I wanna be normal, aru!"
"As if you were normal to begin with," England muttered, hoping China didn't hear. He raised his wand, and started chanting the magic words as the circle began to glow. Soon, the whole room went white, before fading out.
"There," said England, lowering the wand. "That should do it."
"I don't feel any different, aru," said China, scanning over himself briefly.
"Well, did you ever feel any different when you were normal and calm?"
"OK, good point, aru."
"Exactly," England deadpanned. "That was the reversal spell, however, and I made sure I had all of the spell so it doesn't turn out like the genderbend incident."
China rolled his eyes at the memory. "I don't usually trust you, but I'll give you the benefit of the doubt for now, aru."
"You're so difficult."
Hetalia!
A month afterwards, usual business had commenced around the Wang household.
Which meant Hong Kong and Korea were being dorks again.
"Ohohohohoho!" Korea laughed, sitting on top of the couch because standing meant bonking his head on the ceiling. "I, the King of Evil, rule over this land with an iron fist, da ze! None shall oppose me, or they shall meet my friend the guillotine, da ze!"
"Stand down, King of Evil!" Hong Kong announced, brandishing a Minecraft sword. "You will surrender without a fight!"
"NEVER, DA ZE!"
"Would you guys quiet down, aru?" China said with annoyance. "I'm trying to cook, aru!"
"Sorry, da ze! But Hong Kong is trying to conquer my kingdom!"
"But your kingdom is a pile of pillows, a Shinatty-chan doll, a lightsaber and some scrolls."
"SHUT UP, DA ZE! HOW DARE YOU INSULT MY KINGDOM, DA ZE! YOU'RE GOING DOWN!"
"Bring it on, kimchi boy."
Cue tons of fighting, wrestling and screeching.
China was getting at his wit's end by this point. He slammed his hands down on the counter and walked into the living room, to see the ball of violence in the center. "I said to QUIET DOWN, aru!"
Hong Kong and Korea both looked up and flinched, eyes widening for a second.
China's temporary parent-mode ceased and he cocked his head at their slightly panicked expressions. "What?"
"Holy..."
"Did I..."
"Didn't England...?"
"No way..."
China was growing confused. "What? What's wrong, aru?"
Hong Kong's eyebrows knit together. "Did Dad cast that reversal spell correctly?"
"I assume so, aru. Why?"
"Your eyes are gold."
"WHAT?!" One trip to the mirror later, China stomped over to England's house.
Hetalia!
England was expecting another magical case to solve or maybe even America, but even America didn't pound on the door that hard. He answered the door. "Hullo?"
He immediately drew back once he saw the frazzled-looking, dragon-eyed China. "Oh, China! I didn't expect to see you. Wha—"
He was cut off as a wok came down on his head. "I actually trusted you, aru! I gave you one simple job, to remove that curse, and yet you still screw everything up, aru!"
"What are you talking about?" England exclaimed, after recovering from the hit. "I made absolutely sure that that spell was correct! I checked everything I could to make sure everything was in place, complete, and ready! There was no way in hell that spell could've been messed up!"
"You...you..." China was ready to bring his wok down again when suddenly, something in his mind clicked into place, making him freeze.
"China...?"
China found himself unable to move as memories started flooding into his mind.
*******
The world was burning, or at least it felt like it to him. China ran through the debris of the battle and searched the sky, the smoke, the bloody ground, all for her.
"CHUN!" he called. "CHUN, WHERE ARE YOU?"
No answer, until a small voice cried, "I'm over here!"
He brightened instantly. He ran towards her, seeing her beautiful horns and tail glistening as he moved to her. He was so grateful—she was OK, and everything would be alright in the end...
Chun stood, smiling in happiness as he came, until something that changed everything happened.
BANG.
She had been shot.
Chun Li fell to the ground, her face turned into an expression of pain as she plummeted. She laid on the ground messily, her hair strewn over her face and her eyes closed.
China came to her body, eyes suddenly devoid of emotion. He wouldn't see her again. She was dead, she had died, she will never see him again...
He dropped to his knees in the sadness that came over him. She was gone.
Suddenly, there was light. A small bright blue light was peeking out from the sky, shining down on China and Chun like a spotlight. China stared at the light, bewildered.
Suddenly, a shape started coming out of the light. It was long and snakelike, running down towards the ground where the dead girl lay. China realized what it was instantly.
A dragon. A Chinese dragon with pearly blue-white scales and a long tail.
Just like Chun.
"Ch-Chun?" China croaked.
The dragon did not speak, but the voice was there. "Thank you, Yao. Thank you for getting me to believe in myself, to know what it truly feels like to be loved, wanted, and happy. I will never forget you."
One of the dragon's long whiskers were placed on China's forehead, much to his bewilderment.
"As my thanks, I have brought you a gift," said dragon-Chun. "I herenow bless you with the fire dragon's spirit, a form after your own heart." China felt a hard surge of power run through his body as the dragon's whisker began to glow.
The whisker was removed, and dragon-Chun said, "I have to go now. I love you, Yao. I always will."
Then, the dragon turned and started soaring for the sky, back into the blue light.
China chased after her, a hand outstretched. "No, Chun! Don't leave me! Please, I'll be all alone without you! CHUN, DON'T GO! WO AI NI! WO AI NI!!"
The dragon did not seem to hear. It soared up into the light and faded, leaving the dirty red sky.
China stood there, grief surging through his form. Chun Li, the half-dragon, was gone. She would never come back. And because he lived forever, he would never be able to die and see her again.
He grasped his head in his hands, tears spilling from his eyes.
The eyes that were now golden, like a dragon.
And then he threw his head back and screamed.
*******
"CHINA! CHINA!! GET A HOLD OF YOURSELF!"
China found himself being shaken by England, who started freaking out upon seeing China's utterly blank, faraway expression. And then keeling over.
China blinked and stared up at England, his eyes filled with sudden remembrance and tragedy. "Ah...yes...I remember now, aru..."
"What? Remember what? Tell me!"
"Stop shaking me and I'll tell you."
England released him and pulled up some chairs for them as China began to explain.
"Many centuries ago, before I even found Japan, I met a girl. The girl had horns, gold eyes and a tail, just like a dragon's, aru. I had found her attempting to kill herself in an alleyway, and she explained that she was proclaimed to be a devil because of her horns and tail. I, knowing how I was a nation and wasn't human either, sympathized with her and helped her become happy again, aru. But...in the war...she was shot...and her dragon's spirit was released..." He took a deep breath. "Before she passed, she gave me the fire dragon's soul. That's why I have these abilities, aru..." The look on China's face was one of remorse.
England was shocked. More shocked than China had seen him be in a very long time. "Dear me..."
China stood up, smiling sadly. "I know now why all this happened. I had that power dormant all these years, I even forgot about it when I found Japan. You must have woken it up again, aru." He turned to leave. "I'm sorry I accused you like that, aru. It was wrong of me. I'll be going now, aru."
England stared after him as he left, still bewildered. It was days like these when suddenly he didn't see an annoyingly scary Asian with girly tendencies.
He saw an old, troubled soul that endured years of wisdom.
Hetalia!
China listened to the gentle swaying of the bamboo in the wind as he walked the path to his house. He didn't feel anything; he hardly felt the breeze at his back. No, he was too busy thinking, remembering. Mourning.
China sighed. He was such an idiot—he knew he would never forget about Chun, even when he really tried. The fact that he was suddenly reminded of that grim day really gnawed at his heart, cursing the ways of the world somewhat.
He chuckled grimly. "Me and this old, oriental spirit of mine," he joked to himself, staring up at the gray clouds.
He continued down the path, giving farewell to those old memories.
