The world meeting was in progress at America's house, but England didn't seem interested at all in what they were discussing. Instead, England was staring at a simple music box that America had placed in the centre of the table. He knew there was something strange about the box, he could sense it, but he wasn't sure what exactly it was.
The meeting soon finished and many of the nations returned home. All that remained at America's house were the Axis and the Allies. Germany was organising his papers while scolding Italy for eating pasta during the meeting. Russia was bothering China, and France was relaxing with a bottle of wine. Canada, with Kumajirou on his lap, was quietly sitting in his seat while America was stuffing his face with hamburgers.
Japan walked over to England to see if he was okay. After all, England hadn't spoken at all during the meeting, so it was obvious something was bothering him.
"Are you alright, England-san?" Japan asked, sounding concerned about England. "You've been staring at that box ever since you entered the room."
"Oh, I'm okay, Japan. Thanks for your concern," England said, finally taking his eyes off the box so he could look at Japan.
"Is there something special about that music box?" Japan asked, now being more curious than concerned.
"I don't know, I can't be sure of anything yet, but it just gives me a strange feeling," England briefly explained.
"I see," Japan replied, unsure of how to continue the conversation after receiving such an unclear answer. "Well, excuse me."
As that small conversation soon ended, Japan returned to being with Italy and Germany. England called over to America, wanting to ask him about the music box. America tried to reply, but all the words came out muffled due to the number of hamburgers he had shoved in his mouth, so England couldn't understand what he was trying to say at all.
"America, stop eating all those hamburgers, I have something important to discuss with you," England firmly said.
America finished eating a few more burgers before eventually talking to England.
"What's up, England?" America asked as he slurped some of his shake to wash down all the hamburgers he had just eaten. "You sound pretty serious for someone who was daydreaming during the whole meeting."
"I was not daydreaming! I just had something on my mind!" England protested. "Anyway, I need to ask you about that music box."
"Oh, is that what that thing is?" America asked. "Some guy gave it to me and I thought it would look nice. It's just a box, so how is it musical?"
England brought his hand to his face and let out a sigh before giving a reply.
"It may look like just a box, but inside of it is a mechanism that plays music, all you have to do is wind it up and music will play. There should be a key to turn at the back," England explained. "But I've been getting bad vibes from that thing ever since I entered this room."
"How can it be bad if it just plays music?" America asked as he picked up the music box.
"I'm not sure, but just to be safe, you probably shouldn't-" England didn't finish what he was saying as he noticed America doing the thing he was about to tell him to not do.
America began turning the key that was in the back of the music box.
"You idiot, why would you do that when I'm telling you it could be dangerous?!" England exclaimed.
"Chill out, England," America continued to rotate the key. "What's the worst thing that could happen? Everything will be fine because I'm the hero!"
America released the key and placed the music box on the table. The music box caught everyone's attention as they heard the melody playing.
"It sounds strange," England commented. "Maybe it's broken."
America was just about to comment on how nothing strange was happening because of it and that England was being too superstitious. However, before he could get the words out, he and everyone else in the room suddenly felt dizzy. The music box began to glow slightly.
As they regained balance after feeling dizzy, they tried to figure out what had happened. Unfortunately, the melody of the music box playing was too loud for them to communicate. The sound of the music box rang through their ears at a tremendously loud volume. Each of the nations covered their ears to block out the noise as well as they could. The crooked melody continued to play and all they knew about their location was that they were somewhere cold and dimly lit. After a few minutes it slowly came to a stop and all that was left to be heard were a faint melody and the sound of Italy crying.
"Italy, are you okay," Germany rushed to Italy's side.
"Ve~ Germany, I'm scared," Italy cried. "I felt all dizzy, and now everything looks strange."
"Where in the world are we?" Germany asked, just thinking out loud.
Everyone else was asking the same thing as they were all very confused. They appeared to be in a room with walls covered in what looked like clockwork gears and other types of mechanical pieces.
Rather than panicking and worrying like everyone else, England appeared to be busy scolding America for not taking him seriously.
"I told you that damn music box gave me a bad feeling, but you went and played the music anyway! This is entirely your fault," England said, harshly pinning all the blame on America.
"Hey, you can't blame all this on me!" America protested. "You practically let me turn the key, if you hadn't told me about it being a music box, I would have just left it there for decoration."
England couldn't deny that if he hadn't said anything then this may have not happened, but there was no way he could damage his pride by admitting that. Their argument soon caught everyone's attention.
"England-san, do you know what is going on?" Japan asked, expecting England to actually know.
"I can't be sure, but I would guess that America's music box has pulled us inside some kind of music box realm. I would even go as far as saying that we have been pulled inside the music box itself."
"What?" France couldn't believe what he was hearing. "We're inside a music box? How is that even possible?"
"Don't assume I have all the answers," England replied. "I'm only having a guess based on our surroundings and the strange feeling I felt from the box. This may be because of some kind of curse on the music box."
"Is there a way out, aru?" China asked.
"Didn't I just say that I don't have the answers, so stop asking questions," England said, becoming very annoyed.
"This is all very exciting," Russia smiled.
"Ve~ this is scary," Italy continued to cry.
"Don't worry, Italy, we'll find a way out of this strange place," Germany comforted Italy.
"Okay, if you say so, Germany," Italy soon stopped crying.
"This place could be dangerous and you don't have anything to defend yourself with, so stay close to me," Germany ordered Italy to be sure that Italy would be safe.
"Well I have my white flag and pasta," Italy said.
"Of course you do," Germany let out a sigh.
Suddenly everyone, other than Germany who was carrying a pistol, started checking what items they had with them to see if they had anything useful.
"I have my katana," Japan announced.
"I also have a sword with me," France says, pulling out his long silver sword.
"Why did you take a sword to the meeting, frog?" England questioned.
"Why was that question directed just at me?" France replied with his own question. "Do you not have your own weapon?"
"Of course I didn't bring a weapon," England said. "Actually, I do have my spell book with me. By the way, if anyone gets hungry, I also have some scones."
Everyone had a look of disgust on their face. They couldn't believe that even when trapped in some strange realm, England still brought along his disgusting cooking.
"No thanks, Angleterre," France said in reply to England hoping that they'll find a way out before he starts feeling hungry. "Italy mentioned bringing pasta, so I'm sure we're okay for food."
"Anyway," America interrupted to avoid talking about food any longer. "I have my revolver with me."
"I have my hockey stick, and I have some bandages, so if any of you get hurt, just let me know," Canada spoke quietly and most likely went unheard by everyone.
"Who are you?" Kumajirou asked, looking up at his owner.
"I'm Canada," he replied with a sigh.
"I have my wok, aru," China mentioned.
"I'm not even going to ask," England commented, not bothering to further question anyone's choice of items they take to the meetings.
"I have my pipe," Russia said, holding it up for everyone to see.
Russia looked rather sinister holding up his weapon with a large smile on his face.
"Well now that we all know what we have with us, what's the plan?" Germany asked. "There are three paths, but we don't know where they lead. One might be a way out."
"The best way to search this place would be to split up," Japan said.
"No way, dude!" America shouted, not sounding at all fond of Japan's idea. "Splitting up is dangerous. People who go alone are always the first to die in the movies!"
"I didn't say we'd go alone," Japan sighed. "We can just go in smaller groups."
"America, I'm sticking with you to be sure you don't do anything stupid," England said while glaring at America.
"You just want to be with the hero so you know you're safe," America teased.
"Don't be stupid!" England shouted at him. "It's your fault we're in this mess"
"Can I join your group?" Canada quietly asked.
He didn't receive a reply. No one had heard him. Before he could ask again, others began to talk, so Canada simply waited until he'd have another chance to speak.
"I'm sticking with Germany and Japan," Italy said, clinging to both of them.
"Ah, could you please not cling to me like that," Japan politely asked Italy as the clinging was beginning to make him feel uncomfortable.
"Sorry, Japan," Italy said as he let go and decided he'd just cling even tighter to Germany.
With everyone quiet again, Canada decided he'd ask again, hoping that he'd be heard the second time. After all, he didn't want to end up alone in such a creepy place.
"Can I join your group?" Canada asked, tapping America on the shoulder.
"Ahhh, ghosts!" America shouted as he felt his shoulder being touched but didn't see anyone there.
Canada stood there frowning at America's response. He was becoming tired of not being noticed.
"There isn't a ghost there, America," England says, realising that America's probably going to be freaking about anything scary they may come across in the music box realm. "That's just… um… who?"
England looks at Canada in confusion as he tries to remember his name.
"Ah, Canada, you're here?" England said, finally remembering who Canada is. "Did you want to be in a group with us?"
"Yes," Canada replied with a smile on his face, pleased that he was eventually noticed.
"Okay then, I think our group is decided, so that leaves frog face, China, and Russia," England stated the obvious. "Now we're all in groups of three."
"That's not fair, aru," China complained. "Everyone else got to choose who they go with."
"Did you not want to be in a group with me?" Russia asked China, sounding disappointed that China seemed so displeased to be with him.
"I was just saying it wasn't fair, aru!" China said, trying to not cause an argument with the large nation who was holding a pipe.
"If you find the way out, then contact the rest of us, but don't leave until everyone is there. Don't leave anyone behind." England ordered everyone as if he had the highest authority.
"We'll go this way! My hero instincts tell me the exit is over here" America shouted and began running down one of the paths.
He had run down the most brightly lit path. It was still quite dim, but some source of light was reflecting off the bronze gears that were on the wall, making that path slightly better lit than the other two.
"Wait up, America, you can't just run off like that!" England shouted as he chased after him. "You're the one who said we shouldn't split up!"
Canada followed England and America at a fast pace so that he would not become separated from them or left behind.
"Why don't we go this way?" Russia asked the two other members of his group as he pointed down the darkest path. "It will be like a fun adventure, da?"
France and China didn't appear too pleased, but the other path was also quite dark, and they knew they would have to go down one of them.
"Fine, let's just go, aru!" China said as he began walking down the dim path.
Russia happily walked along side him, however, France wasn't fond of this 'adventure' they were going on and lamentably followed.
"I guess that leaves us with this path then," Germany looked down the dimly lit path that was left.
"It looks so dark and scary; do we really have to go there?" Italy asked.
"We'll never get out of here if we stand around, we have to go or we'll end up trapped here even longer," Germany explained. "Just don't wander off and you'll be fine."
"Can't we just wait for the others to find the exit?" Italy clearly didn't want to go venturing down any dark paths.
"And what if the exit is down this path? Then it will be even longer before we find a way out," Germany was becoming annoyed with Italy's attitude towards the situation. "I guess you could just wait here alone if you really don't want to come."
"No! Don't leave me alone, Germany!" Italy cried as he clung tightly to Germany's arm.
"Let's go then," Germany said as the trio began to walk the shadowy path.
Japan griped the handle of his katana, preparing for any trouble they may encounter, whereas Italy, who was still holding onto Germany, waved his white flag as they walked.