a/n:: Hey guys! So, this is my first time publishing on fanfiction, so there may be some things messed up with how it works. If there is, I apologize. Anyways! Thank you for bothering to look at my story, and have a nice rest of your day ^^
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It all started with Peter Kirkland.
A cold winter day in January the young micro-nation didn't show up to the World Conference, and the only one who noticed was England. The British man brushed it off as he was sick, or perhaps he simply forgot. He was a child anyways! Why should he care. He had raised several young boys in his lifetime. Alfred, New Zealand, Peter. He knew the drill, children weren't to be held responsible for any silly grown up things.
But Peter wouldn't miss anything any of the real countries went to, he wouldn't miss the chance to prove he was like them. This thought bothered Arther for a while until he decided he would check up on the younger country, children needed someone to be there for them once and a while. All Peter had was him, and he was lucky to. All children needed a responsible adult to look after them, and he was the best at doing just that.
When Arthur arrived at the Sea Fort he walked across the deck, looking over at the ocean. The stone legs of the sea fort were covered in barnacles, and they seemed to be reaching upwards and towards the rest of the bunker. Yearning to reach the threshold that the young micro-nation lived in. A a few yards above the water was darker, most likely from waves splashing up against it constantly, and it faded into a lighter grey color. Making it to the door that led to the bunkers, which Sealand stayed in, he stood at the door for a few moments before lifting a closed fist. The blonde Englishman knocked loudly on the door, "Sealand. It's me, Arthur." No response. "Sealand?" Silence. "Sealand!" Arthur frowned before trying to open the door, but all that happened was make a small thump that indicated something was holding it in place. England sighed in exasperation, the boy knew better then to keep him wait-
Suddenly the door flung open, nearly missing his face. "Sealand! What in the bloody name of-" Peter Kirkland stared defiantly up at England, his small frame thinner then it normally was, but not necessarily noticeably. England's brother sniffed, his bright blue eyes glinting with annoyance.
"I'm sorry but you can't stay. I have bigger things to worry about." Peter said lightly, before shutting the door on the other. England simply stood there, taken aback by the brutal honesty his small brother had spat at him. The English nation took a couple steps back from the door, before turning on his heel with a sniff.
"Well, I wasn't worried anyways." England said tightly as he made his way across the deck, his shoes clicking on the metal platform of the sea fort.
—
Peter grunted as he fixed the locks on the heavy iron door before walking back down into the living spaces. Entering the kitchen, two woman were at work cooking and cleaning as the men either were out trying to put something up to stop the spreading or researching it. He walked through the room and peeked up at the food, and one of the woman looked down at him. "Sorry, hon. Dinner's not gonna be done for a few hours." Everyone knew everyone on the Sea Fort, so it wasn't a surprise that she knew him. Well, she didn't know he was the representation of her land, but she did know he was a young boy living with her on the Principality of Sealand.
"Oh, that's okay." He chirped, before dropping back onto his heels. Currently he was on door duty, and was supposed to be running food back and forth to the men when it was done. Him and another young girl, but currently she was sick so he had to do all the work.
Sealand was assigned to answer the door because he was the only one who seemed to know the random people that showed up at the sea fort. Well, most of the people inside knew Arthur by now as he seemed to show up the most. Despite him saying that he didn't care about Peter. He'd believe that for a second.
But, some of his friends liked to show up too! Mostly Seborga, as he seemed to be lonely and bored twenty percent of the time. Sealand wasn't sure why he didn't go talk to his brothers, Feliciano and Lovino, but he didn't mind that the ginger haired Italian came to see him. Peter had only briefly talked to the two Italian brothers before and Romano was like Wy. Worse. At least Wy was nice some of the time. But Italy was nice! He didn't really like Germany though, and he was usually around Italy. Ludwig was too much like Arthur for his liking.
He rubbed up and down his arms when he entered the next room, and noticed the windows were open and frowned. Snow was piling up on the windowsill and a cold breeze swept through the room. Clear, plastic, totes were piled up in the corner. Most of them contained seawater, that sat still in the boxes. One or two of them though were holding a series of small metal boxes inside of them, which Peter knew had the white powder inside.
The windows nor the door were supposed to be open, as they hoped it would stop the spreading a little. If it made it this far. Walking over to to the open window, he poked his head out and looked around, seeing if it was open for a reason and not just left open from somebody wanted fresh air. Seeing no one near the window, he shrugged and pulled his head back inside. Reaching up, Peter went up onto his tip-toes; he pulled the window down with a small grunt of effort, stopping the waft of cold air that was flooding into the room.
Looking around, a microscope that was sitting unattended on the table caught his eye. Walking over he glanced at it, and saw nothing laying on the platter. Shrugging slightly, he grabbed it and walked over to the cabinet where microscopes were put, swinging it back and forth in the process. Opening the wooden cabinet he set it down, before closing it again and walking out of the room. He stopped in the doorway and looked back into the room, feeling like something was off. His blue eyes narrowed slightly as his gaze swept across the room, before shrugging and turning away. Everyone was on edge, it was probably just that.
—
White barnacle looking creatures blanketed the ocean floor completely, the sandy bottom hidden beneath them all. Bubbles would occasionally rise from cracks, or some would pop and flakes of white would explode in a small puff, before scattering around the immediate area. The water seemed to move more slowly around the creatures, like sludge in a tar pit.
The closer you got to the shore, the less the barnacles that were on the floor and seemingly the more the water. If it was simply a trick of the mind, the slow water and the less water, it was an impressive one. The creatures spread in all directions, reaching towards the closest land masses. United Kingdom, Netherlands, France. They were all slowly, carefully and quietly making their way closer to the rest of the world, away from the small sea fort that Sealand claimed as his own.