History TearJerker / AxisPowersHetalia

* We went this long without talking about China? He's 4000 years old and has seen many come and go. He's raised several of the other Asian countries only for them to betray or leave him. There's one strip where he recalls finding little Japan and when Japan later slashed him in the back, and in present times he's still torn up about it. And his song "Aiyaa Four Thousand Years" hints that that time has likely taken a toll on his mind, and certain lyrics are definitely directed towards Japan.

*** The look on England's face when Sealand is overtaken and his bewildered sounding reaction: "But... I told him not to go" is another moment. Made worse by the fact that until then he had been acting in his typical brusque manner with his brother.

-->'''Dog:''' But...wait, [[WhamLine didn't I bite him a week ago?]]

* Russia's StartOfDarkness. "[[http://community.livejournal.com/hetalia/1045.html Hey, Lithuania... We don't want children who can't play nice, right?"]]
** Russia. Bloody Sunday Massacre 1905. Enough said.

* Even though France is a [[AnythingThatMoves lech]], a liar and an all around [[ManipulativeBastard bastard]] at times, he has his moment to be pitied. At the end of the first volume, there is a sketch of a much younger France with a girl with short hair and wearing armor. And she tells him, "I'm fighting for you, you know!" Yeah, she's Joan of Arc. We know how that ended. To think of France, hedonistic and arrogant, startled and then drawn to this one girl, only to lose her- it makes you feel for him at least a little, right?

** It's somehow worse when you realise that England was the one who killed her. Yeah, it's not like they hate each other for no reason.
*** Actually, it wasn't England. Yes she was captured, yes she was taken to the English... but [[EveryoneHasStandards they returned her to the French]] saying basically "She's a French citizen, deal with her the way you want to." Which makes it ''even worse'' than if England ''did'' kill her.

*** If England's mistreatment of his brothers only started after the "pelting with stones and arrows" phase (which might have corresponded to their days during/right after Rome came along), that would explain it. And it might have begun then because even in other contexts England is shown to have been a relatively weak country and slower to mature than, say, Spain or France. Heck France is once shown to be twice his age during a scene expressly taking place when England already has a bishop (when England tries to grow his hair out).

--> "I will notÂ… ask for water!Â… ach, I wish I had a beer to wet my throatÂ… I will not ask for food! Â…if onlyÂ… I had someÂ… wurstÂ…" *collapses*

* Poland is shown to have had a ''very'' rough time over the past few centuries: [[GloryDays His once mighty Commonwealth gone]]. The land split between Russia, Prussia and Austria...then watching Russia take Lithuania away from him. And that's not even getting to what happens to him in UsefulNotes/WorldWarII. Really, there's a good reason why he keeps "[[TheDeterminator rising like a phoenix]]."

-->'''Germany:''' (peeking cautiously through one eye) It's ok to just answer as much as you want to answer. Ahem! Your question is: "What would happen if Cuba and Spain talked to each other?"

** In fact, the only time we hear even any hinting of what happened is in Spain's character song, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L37YjFzrxMY La pasión no se detiene]] right where the usually cheerful music stops and then continues sorrowfully he sings (translated from Japanese): [[ConflictingLoyalty If the supieror gets angry,]] he won't leave me to be [[IJustWantToBeFree carefree...]] [[FridgeHorror for the precious possessions and silver that won't return...]] It appears then, that Spain and the others are quite aware of what he did, but don't bring up his [[DarkAndTroubledPast painful past.]]

* The Chibitalia chapter ends with the Holy Roman Empire (rumored to be [[spoiler: a younger Germany]]) [[spoiler: leaving Chibitalia aka Italy, kissing him and saying that he's "loved Italy since the 900s and will keep loving him no matter how many hundreds of years pass."]] [[ItWasHisSled If you're familiar with European history, you can guess how well that ends.]] [[spoiler: If the HRE=Germany theory is true, they meet again as adults, but of course Germany]] has [[LaserGuidedAmnesia forgotten all about it by now]]. [[spoiler: He ''may'' have started to recover his memories in the Valentines Special, but it's not clear.]]
** Rather small in comparison to the TearJerker the entire chapter was more or less built around, but the look on [[TeamDad Austria]]'s face when he acknowledges that [[spoiler: the Holy Roman Empire has left]] - especially when compared to [[SternTeacher his earlier (rather harsh) portrayal]].

* Also the "[[http://community.livejournal.com/hetalia/531.html Cleaning Out the Storage]]" chapter, [[spoiler: when America remembers how England helped raise him... only to nearly kill the rebellious America during UsefulNotes/TheAmericanRevolution and [[TwistedKneeCollapse break down]] in tears when he can't bring himself to do so.]] ([[spoiler:''"You used to be... so big..."'']].)
** The Drama CD made it even ''worse''. One phrase: "For all you've done for me, [[spoiler: England]]... ''Thank you''." Until then, I was "meh" on Creator/KatsuyukiKonishi's voice acting, but that CD drama is what sold me in.
** The Drama CD most definitely made it worse. After [[spoiler: England]] sinks to the ground, he says "Why did you do this, damn it... I thought we would always be together" The confrontation is also more heartbreaking.

* [[http://community.livejournal.com/hetalia/66480.html "There's a side of Lithuania... I don't know".]] SEVERE MoodWhiplash there, since that part was PlayedForLaughs until [[spoiler: Lithuania gets into a a bath tub and we see his scar-crossed back.]].

*** Let's not [[RonTheDeathEater completely demonize America]], though. The beginning of "Cleaning Up the Storage" and his words in the flashback when [[spoiler: England breaks down]] shows that, even if he doesn't show it, he ''does'' love and care for England in his own way, and he's kept ''every'' single memento of their relationship (whatever you want to call it). The toy soldiers England made him, the suit he brought him, [[spoiler: the weapons they pointed at each other]]... and at the last one, America himself ([[StepfordSmiler who had acted rather normal, if a little sentimental]]) almost cries. Both sides have suffered, and WarIsHell.

* The movie can get downright painful. How about the very end, where [[spoiler:the countries, save Italy, are finally overwhelmed by the Pict and in the process of transforming into Pict themselves. With the last of his strength, Germany tells a horrified Italy to "smile."]] *Sniff*.
*** The look on England's face when [[spoiler: Sealand is overtaken]] and his bewildered sounding reaction: [[spoiler: "But... I told him not to go"]] is another moment. Made worse by the fact that until then he had [[spoiler: been acting in his typical brusque manner with his brother]].
--> "I will not… ask for water!… ach, I wish I had a beer to wet my throat… I will not ask for food! …if only… I had some… wurst…" *collapses*

* The whole Valentines day Issue. Germany being happy for once and actually [[spoiler: proposing to Italy. With a custom 'tomato'shaped ring no less]] Since Italy is such a ditz he doesn't really understand what's going on. Germany also stays up all night reading relationship books for advice. Seeing such a stoic trying to understand all his conflicting emotions, sniff. That issue is just full of Germany being [[TheWoobie a woobie]].

* There's nothing overtly sad about "Ren Ren Renaissance"; it's just a bouncy, syrupy sweet duet between Grandpa Rome and Chibitalia about how much they love each other. And then you remember [[spoiler: what happened to Rome...]]

** "Nations can get very busy with diplomatic talks, fights and being commanded around by their bosses, and so it can be very hard for them to get close to anybody outside of the battlefield or politics." This was always a topic that was hinted at but never truly shown... until now. The fact that they used chibi![[spoiler: America]] to demonstrate makes it worse.

[[TearJerker/AxisPowersHetaliaNonCanon To view non-canon work.]]

* America's face in the last panel [[http://community.livejournal.com/hetalia/5087111.html here]]. It projects how, even though [[{{Tsundere}} America bugs England constantly]], when he sees that England is happier around his, ahem, 'imaginary friends' than America, America's a little [[LoveHurts heart broken]].

** When you think about it, the reason England has a crush on America is probably because America was really the first person to show him any sort of affection. Then America got angry over England's parenting style (and while it wasn't the best, it's pretty plain that England did the best he could) and had a ''war'' with him. Not to mention that nowadays America shoots England down ''hard'' whenever he momentarily cools down and tries to be friendly.

*** Back to the Revolutionary War, how much does it hurt England? Enough for him to feel wretched each year for the week before the 4th of July. He admits this on America's birthday as the explanation of why he didn't come to any of his birthdays before (despite giving him a unicorn for his bicentennial), and America's reaction is to laugh and make a rather tasteless joke saying that ''he'', America, is not only always looking forward to that day but has visions of England's pathetic crying face for a week before the date which cheers him up. He [[IWasJustJoking apologizes]] afterwards, but [[WhatTheHellHero still]].

** And the fact that Grandpa Rome has a second grandson, who carries a inferiority complex literally the size of a country. Or at least half of it.

*** Back to the Revolutionary War, how much does it hurt England? Enough for him to feel wretched each year for the week before the 4th of July. He admits this on America's birthday as the explanation of why he didn't come to any of his birthdays before (despite giving him a unicorn for his bicentennial), and America's reaction is to laugh and make a rather tasteless joke saying that ''he'', America, is not only always looking forward to that day but has visions of England's pathetic crying face for a week before the date which cheers him up.

** YMMV, of course, but [[@/{{Amethystasheryn}} this troper]] found the dubbed version of that scene in the anime heartbreaking as well. Especially England's "There's no way I can shoot you. I can't. ... Why? Damn it, why! It's not fair!"
** This troper thought the original with "great", instead of "big", was worse because it meant [[spoiler: that England was great because he was his own country, but that he has independce that they're both as vulnerable as opposed to him being as big.]]

** For this troper, what made that strip so heart breaking is that it was Lithuania. He's one of the most kind and gentle characters in Hetalia. Before that we know he's suffered a lot by the hands of Russia but I couldn't imagine that the abuse was [[ScarsAreForever THAT]] severe given that this ''is'' Hetalia we're talking about.

* The manga version of how Switzerland found Liechtenstein and barely rescued her from DyingAlone was pretty sad. The animated rendition made it simply ''heartbreaking''. Having poor little Liech [[DeathByDespair slump against a wall in the rain and lose almost all hope of survival]], wondering what would happen to her and how she wished she was a country "just a little bit longer..." * SOB*
** Oh, ''yes''. I cry every time I watch that scene and that's saying something. What did it for me is the [[CrowningMusicOfAwesome dramatic music]] that starts playing when she falls down against the wall and closes her eyes... something about it is very powerful.
** This. I can't watch that scene without getting tears in my eyes.
** When you add the potential AlternativeCharacterInterpretation brought about by the fact that Liechtenstein was looked after by Austria-Hungary until UsefulNotes/WorldWarI forced them to abandon her, it only makes it all the more painful to watch.
* America's face in the last panel [[http://community.livejournal.com/hetalia/5087111.html here]] just does is for this troper. It projects how, even though [[{{Tsundere}} America bugs England constantly]], when he sees that England is happier around his, ahem, 'imaginary friends' than America, America's a little [[LoveHurts heart broken]].
** I thought he was upset because he thought England had suddenly lost his mind? Since no one else can see England's imaginary fairy friends.
* This Troper cannot possibly be the only one that didn't feel like bawling after hearing China's second character song "[[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Lj3IcrO4DI Aiyah, 4000 Years]]". She doesn't even understand Japanese, but the slow and frankly beautiful part close to the end (3:30 in the full version) was enough to bring her to tears.
** Oh, absolutely YES. That song was just so beautiful and heartbreaking. Some of the character songs don't really help to understand the characters that much, but that one did. (And the China/Japan shippers must have been happy about it...)
** And if you do understand Japanese, or if you read the translations, then you know that the lyrics aren't that joyful, either. It's about China and Japan's growing relationship and what finished it for both of them- Japan's betrayal. ''Even though Japan's betrayal was cut out of the anime.''
-->"No matter if our countries, languages, or personalities are different...I will always love you..."
* And how did we get this far without mentioning China and Japan's main story! How can the last half of this, from the moon gazing to the betrayal to the bar scene, not make you tear up? Of course [[SlasherSmile Russia]] ruined the sad moment, but still! China had already had a long and painful history to go through, but it's implied that what Japan did is what broke him in the end.
--> "I want my Japan back."
** This is horrifying if you consider what happened between the two countries in WW2, and that China is shown to clearly love Japan before the betrayal. Even after it happens he wants them to go back to how they used to be.
* While we're talking about character songs, Germany's "Einsamkeit" always got to this troper, and even more so when she found the translation.
** Oh God, "Einsamkeit"! Poor Germany is both NotSoStoic and {{Moe}}. There's even one line where he says, 'because you are here, I can be myself'. Tell me that's not about his relationship with Italy. Also makes me want to give Germany a great big hug, hearing him be so emotional about his stoic-ness.
** The [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uOcaMSvpqdI Prussia and Germany]] mix of this song had me in tears. The lyrics are time perfectly to characters and it's really just...well, see for yourself.
** And if you think about it the end of Prussia which is portrayed well in this [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PfpUWL1GK9I video]], but Hidekaz Himaruya makes it better in the strips, as he's alive, but he just lost his status.

* For this Troper, Belarus. She's madly- ''blindly''- in love with her brother, and, creepy though it is, you just have to feel sorry for her because it's completely unreturned. He has NEVER shown any affection towards her, and, to This Troper, at least, it's completely heartbreaking.
** This troper feels that way about her too, but for [[FridgeHorror different reasons.]] She's a popular character to ship for heterosexual pairs in the fandom, but keep this in mind- she's so blindly in love with her brother and so ''[[LoveMakesYouCrazy batshit]]'' that she'll likely never form a healthy relationship. You know, with someone else who could probably return her feelings. Instead she lets her love for her brother totally consume her and you can just feel her slowly spiraling to a point where there's not much left for her. Even though she's criticized for being a bit of a FlatCharacter, [[{{Deconstruction}} deconstructing]] her {{Yandere}} tendencies is so ''easy'' and it ''hurts.''
** Adding to this is Lithuania's love for her. He's so unconditionally in love with her, and he could be the person she needs to return her affections tenfold. And yet, she's so obsessed with her brother, she would never give him a chance. So in the end they both suffer, and she doesn't even realize it. To me, this makes my heart break for both.

* Holy Roman Empire's "Marukaite Chikyuu", this Troper's eyes always water up at the last verses.
** This troper nearly started crying at the transition from Chibitalia's to HRE's "Marukaite Chikyuu" in the "Marukaite Chikyuu Nonstop-Version", since HRE's part starts with him saying "I love you".
** I'm not sure if everyone is with me on this, but This Troper was moved to tears by [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vIdebsjD6nk "Makka Na Ito"]], a song detailing the separation of Holy Roman Empire and Chibitalia. It's especially heartbreaking when it talks about [[TearJerker how they will always love each other no matter what because their hearts are connected]] with a red thread, even when the song talks about said connection being ''[[MoodWhiplash broken]]'' because of the war and HRE's supposed death. I think I need a minute...
** What really gets this troper is the scene where Germany asks Italy if he's had a first love [[http://hetalia.livejournal.com/735352.html here]] and Italy answers 'It was another boy, though' (implying Holy Roman Empire).

** Actually, Joan/Jeanne was executed by the ''French''. Yeah. This troper's headcanon is that France's bosses spread the lie that it was England so that France wouldn't be torn apart by guilt - he genuinely doesn't know that he killed her. Then again, if this was why France hates England... [[FridgeHorror OH GOD. Oh god. Oh, god...]] [[JerkassWoobie pauvre, pauvre France...]]
*** Indeed, she was. Confirmed by France himself in a strip from Volume 4. Can also double as a CrowningMomentOfHeartwarming.

* This troper cannot stand the strip where Russia is asking for advice from France's radio show given [[IJustWantToHaveFriends Russia's enormous desire of making friends]]. Specially when every time the subject is wring up he mentions that [[InsaneTrollLogic his bosses advice him to use force]] and his constant failures at it (''specially'' with the Italy Brothers) are just heartbreaking.
* Even thought the movie was mostly hilarious, this troper teared up many times. Especially on the part where [[spoiler: each country is shown beholding their ruined monuments. America staring at Lady Liberty, England with Big Ben, France with l'Arc de Triomphe.]])
** It's possibly made even worse by the fact that for once [[StepfordSmiler Russia]] isn't smiling!
** Oh, the movie can get downright painful. How about the very end, where [[spoiler:the countries, save Italy, are finally overwhelmed by the Pict and in the process of transforming into Pict themselves. With the last of his strength, Germany tells a horrified Italy to "smile."]] *Sniff*.

** The moments after the characters crash into the ocean after falling from the mothership ''always'' gets to this troper. It looks like Germany was the only one to survive, and it shows him staggering across the island, obviously injured and barely conscious, trying to [[TheStoic stoic]] his way through.

* [[http://hetarchive.net/scanlations/nonlinear.php?vais It looks as if whenever a strip is about France and his relationship with his citizens]] is a mix of this and HeartwarmingMoments:

-->'''Young Soldier:''' You're right! Without this plain mortal body, I wouldn't be able to pursue my dream! [[GrowOldWithMe To grow old together.]] [[HeartwarmingMoments Until our hands will be full of wrinkles.]]

** The fact that although England and America's relationship are brought up as are: Japan and China's, Lithuania and Poland's, Poland and Germany's, Russia and Lithuania's, but...even in the darker manga we never hear of Spain's relationship to Latin America and in fact the only one who's ever seen is Cuba and even then he only interacts with America (in hatred) and Canada (in friendship). And yet we see such countries as Australia, Hong Kong, Camaroon, India, the Sychelles, and even [[PlayedForLaughs freaking SEALAND...]] but [[AbsenteeActor no Latin America.]] One must wonder why the author chose to leave out Latin America...even as far as avoiding any mention of what happened there. (Spain's dominance as one of the strongest countries was by default [[BadassDecay equally glossed over inexplicably]]) This problem was [[LampshadeHanging lampshaded]] twice in the Hetalia Bloodbath 2011 first, when the Sychelles (I think) seems to forget what part of the world Cuba is from and says, "We show a lot of cleavage in the West and Africa, but they don't really wear open-chested clothes in Asia. Huh, Mr. Cuba? Huh?" To which Cuba smiles uncharacteriscally and responds, "Why are you asking me this?" The second time...goes like this: (and no, Cuba doesn't call Spain [[WhatTheHellDad "dad"]] or even [[AloofBigBrother "big brother"]] and they never bring up Cuba's [[CanonDisContinuity missing siblings)]]

** To this troper, it does make it [[FridgeHorror worse upon remembering that they are personifications of countries as well.]] Showing this shows how the countries are dying or [[AssimilationPlot being assimilated]] because they [[CouldHaveAvoidedThisPlot didn't work together]] until the end.

* In the manga, Spain captures North Italy from Austria and prepares to fight a duel with him with his intimidating [[AnAxeToGrind battle axe.]] Austria tries to dissuade him, "Never thought I'd face you on a battlefield, so be kind and give Italy back." It's especially saddening for Austria seeing as how all his former friends and now even his former "husband" turned against him [[WeUsedToBeFriends (they were married under the House of Hapsburg)]]. But Spain refuses saying that now he has a French king so France is kind of his boss now and that since everyone's turning against Austria, he doesn't think Austria is capable of taking care of Italy anymore. Plus, he wants to reunite the brothers since he already has South Italy. Soon, North Italy [[PleaseSpareHimMyLiege begs his "Big Brother" Spain]] not to attack Austria and to untie him. Spain then imagines a [[WhatCouldHaveBeen happy life together]] with the two Italies, [[FondMemeoriesThatCouldHaveBeen "When this is over, you can be with me forever!]] We'll be together day and night...Oh, it'll be heaven!" But as soon as North Italy's untied, he goes running to an equally confused Austria. And cue Spain's HeroicBSOD. Fortunately though...he snaps out of it, smiles, and decides to let Italy go back with Austria wishing them a [[IWantMyBelovedToBeHappy happy life together.]] And the most heartwrenching of all is the [[http://www.hetarchive.net/scanlations/nonlinear.php?mrt last panel]] when Austria and Italy are looking at the night sky and they remember Spain and Austria thinks, [[BittersweetEnding "Took me three days to forget that joyous face of yours..."]] right until [[MoodWhiplash "Nice Bananas"]] and in the epilogue we see Spain back home with South Italy crying.

* And how did we get this far without mentioning [[http://aph.starry-sky.com/c_n0.html THIS strip??]] You know, China and Japan's main story! How can the last half of this, from the moon gazing to the betrayal to the bar scene, not make you tear up? Of course [[SlasherSmile Russia]] ruined the sad moment, but still! China had already had a long and painful history to go through, but it's implied that what Japan did is what broke him in the end.

* This troper found [[http://aph.starry-sky.com/chrismas_bonsai5.html this strip]] about Prussia saddening it tells [[AlternateCharacterInterpretation something]] [[WoobieDestroyerOfWorlds different]] about him.
** And if you think about it the end of Prussia which is portrayed well in this [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PfpUWL1GK9I video]], but Hidekaz Himaruya made it better in the strips, as he's alive, but he just lost his status.
* Did anyone else start feeling bad for Romano and just want to give him a hug while telling him it'll be alright after reading [[http://aph.starry-sky.com/files/srm8.gif this strip]]? Especially with that face he made as he watches his brother draw?

* This troper cannot stand the strip [[http://aph.starry-sky.com/v2_058.html where Russia is asking for advice from France's radio show]] given [[IJustWantToHaveFriends Russia's enormous desire of making friends]]. Specially when every time the subject is wring up he mentions that [[InsaneTrollLogic his bosses advice him to use force]] and his constant failures at it (''specially'' with the Italy Brothers) are just heartbreaking.

** To this troper, it does make it [[FridgeHorror worse upon remembering that they are personifications of countries as well.]] Showing this shows how the countries are dying or [[AssimilationPlot being assimilated]] because they [[CouldHaveAvoidedThisPlot didn't worked together]] until the end.

** This troper thought the original with "great", instead of "big", was worse because it meant [[spoiler: that England was great because he was his own country, but that he has independce that they're both as vurnerable as opposed to him being as big.]]

** "Nations can get very busy with diplomatic talks, fights and being commanded around by their bosses, and so it can be very hard for them to get close to anybody outside of the battlefield or politics." This was always a topic that was hinted at but never truly shown... until now. The fact that they used chibi![[spoiler: America]] to demonstrate makes it worse.

** And if you do understand Japanese, then you know that the lyrics aren't that joyful, either. It's about China and Japan's betrayal. ''Even though Japan's betrayal was cut out of the anime.''
-->"I Love You..."

* How did we get this far, and past China's character song, and not mention [[http://aph.starry-sky.com/c_n0.html THIS strip??]] You know, the one that its about! How can the last half of this, from the moon gazing to the betrayal to the bar scene, not make you tear up? Of course [[SlasherSmile Russia]] ruined the sad moment, but still!!

* [[http://hetalia.livejournal.com/12663675.html Davie]]. Who knew something consisting of only two words and [[PictorialSpeechBubble Pictorial Speech Bubbles]] could be so heartbreaking?