"I'm finding it hard to believe that you traveled all this way by yourself," England said to Netherlands, breathing heavy from exhaustion. "We've been walking for quite some time, and we're not even close to reaching the top."
"I've been up there before," Netherlands stated darkly. "And its Spain's fault that we're not-"
"Hey! It's not my fault that I had to get a rock out of my shoe!" Spain protested. "And I'm not the one who-"
Estonia stepped in front of Latvia blocking Spain's view of the small nation. "Hey, its not Latvia's fault that he tripped and fell on his face."
"Did you really have to remind everybody, Estonia?" Latvia asked. "Its kind of embarrassing."
The Spaniard chuckled remembering how hard the Latvian had hit the ground. "I was actually referring to-"
"Why are you guys slowing down?" Switzerland called from a little ways up the mountain. "We already lost enough daylight-"
Austria cut him off. "Oh, don't act like I didn't do anything to slow us down. I'm pretty sure that you were the one that suggested that we have a bathroom break."
"Hey, France was the one that-"
France cut Switzerland off. "If you ate England's cooking for breakfast, then you would be having bodily issues-"
England turned towards France pointing his homemade spear, the one he made during the long bathroom break, at him. "That is no excuse, you didn't have to eat the breakfast-"
Italy cut England off. "France, you willingly ate England's cooking?"
"Yes, he willing did," the Englishman stated. "In fact, he even filled his plate with seconds and thirds this morning."
"I did no such thing!" the Frenchman declared. "You're the one that-"
"Everybody shut up!" Germany yelled stopping any conversation from continuing in further. "We all keep getting distracted! Smoke and fire should be our main priority! And if you can't remember that, then how do you expect to be recused?"
Japan raised his hand.
The German pointed at the Japanese man. "Do you have something you would like to add?"
Japan slowly lowered his hand. "I was just thinking that maybe some of us should wait behind. Like only having a set-"
"Wonderful idea, Japan," Germany said cutting him off. "Italy, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Greece... Uh, where's Greece?"
"I haven't seen him since the first break," the Frenchman mentioned.
"If we didn't have a break, then we wouldn't be having this problem," the Englishman said darkly. "If you didn't suggest-"
France cut him off. "Hey, Switzerland was the one that suggested the break."
"Yeah, but you're the one that abused the break with your half hour-"
"If you ate England's cooking-"
"Nobody forced you to eat-"
"Everybody shut up! We need to stay focused. Getting angry with each other isn't getting us anywhere." Germany paused for a second to glare at the others. "Italy, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Austria, Switzerland, Spain, and France will return to the beach-"
"Why do I have to return to the beach?" Italy asked. "I want to-"
"Italy, I don't want to carry you. I know that you're going to-" The German paused unsure of how to word what he wanted to say. "I just need you guys to find Greece and wait on the beach. You can start building houses or something."
The Italian smiled. "Okay, that actually sounds like fun!"
"Good, so Japan, Netherlands, England, and me will continue up the mountain-"
Switzerland cut Germany off. "I want to see the top of this mountain."
The German sighed. "Fine, you can come too."
"Can I tag along as well?" Spain added cheerfully.
The Dutchman looked at the Spaniard darkly. "You're no good for a job like this."
"But-"
"We don't want you," Netherlands said, flatly. "We have plenty of people."
"But-"
Germany cut Spain off. "Maybe you should just go back to the beach..."
The Spaniard nodded understanding that the German was avoiding a fight. "Alright."
The German sighed. "So, Japan, Netherlands, England, Spain, Switzerland, and me will continue-"
"If Switzerland gets to go to the top of the mountain, then I want-"
"You didn't get invited to the top of the mountain," the Swiss said cutting the Austrian off.
"Neither did you," Austria mentioned. "If Switzerland can make it-"
"Fine, you can come too-"
"What?" Switzerland asked as Austria smirked, and the Spaniard looked more disappointed.
Germany sighed again. "We're losing enough daylight. Spain and France, lead everybody else to the beach-"
"Do you really think it's a good idea to have France lead them?" England asked cutting Germany's orders off.
"Hey! I can lead a group-"
"No you can't. You're the one that-"
"I don't care who leads the group to the beach," the German stated cutting the Englishman off. "Latvia can lead it for all I care. Right now, I just want to get to the top of the mountain."
The Latvian's eyes went wide. "I'm leading the group back to the beach?"
"No, he was just using you as the example," the Estonian told him.
"Oh."
The group of nations that was sent back to the beach started on their way back. And the group of nations that was determined to make it to the top of the mountain, and back down before nightfall, started their way forward.
France waved to the group trotting up the mountain. "Goodbye, England, while you're getting all sweaty from hiking-"
"Shut up, France!" England called as he hiked up the mountain.
"I was just going to say that I was going to make a lovely little home for us to share," the Frenchman finished as the Englishman, and the other nations in his group, climbed further up the mountain.
"I don't think he heard you," the Italian commented. "Want me to yell it to him?"
France chuckled. "Sure, why not?"
"England! France said that you and him our going to be roommates!" Italy called up the mountain. His voice echoed back from the rocks, informing everybody that England and France were going to be roommates.
From where England was on the mountain he blushed. "Frog," he mumbled to himself.
"I'm glad that the they're making housing arrangements," Germany said smiling. "That's some order that we really-"
The Englishman cut the German off disgusted. "I am not going to room with France."
The hike up the mountain continued in some awkward silence after that. The silence remained silence until Austria tripped and fell on his face. Just like Latvia did earlier, but slightly more amusing.
"Austria, the top of the mountain is forward," Switzerland said when he hit the ground.
The Austrian glared at his Swiss companion, and quickly got back to his feet. "You're the one who tripped me!"
"I did not! You're just a natural klutz."
"You did too trip me! And I am more graceful then you'll ever be!"
Germany stepped in between them keeping the two nations from fighting. "Both of you stop it. We only have a little bit of hiking left. Do you really want to kill each other before-"
"Great idea, Germany. From there, I can push this idiot off the top of the mountain," Switzerland said stepping around Germany to slap Austria.
The Austrian blocked the slap. "Not if I push you off first!"
The German pushed the Swiss away from the Austrian. "Stop it! Both of you! We're going to remain civilized!"
Netherlands frowned. "We're wasting time again."
"Yes, of course, sorry," Germany said feeling a little bothered out by Netherlands' character. "Let's just try to make it to the top of the mountain." He started walking forward again.
"Better not walk next to me," the Swiss spat to the Austrian.
"Better not walk in front of me then," the Austrian retorted.
Japan sighed and turned to England as they walked. "I can't tell if they're joking, or if they really want to kill each other."
The Englishman smiled to himself. "That's love for you."
The Japanese man frowned confused. "What?"
"I didn't say anything."
Japan frowned and didn't say anything. Neither did the rest of the nations traveling up the mountain. The walk was as silent as an empty room in a church.
"I think this is where we had our first break," Lithuania said when they made it to a familiar looking rock.
"I don't see Greece," Estonia replied sighing.
"Well, did you expect him to just wait here for us patiently?" France asked. "If I were playing hooky I wouldn't wait here."
"Where would you wait?" Italy asked.
"I don't know..."
"Shouldn't we be asking, where would Greece wait?" the Estonian asked.
"Yeah," Spain agreed. "Maybe he decided to take a nap on the beach. That guy loves to sleep."
"That he does." The Frenchman chuckled remembering something that probably happened before they arrived on the island. "He's probably snoozing on the beach, getting a nice tan, and avoiding work."
The Italian joined him in laughing. "I wish I would have thought of doing that."
"Well, you can take a nap when we make it to the beach-"
Estonia cut France off. "I thought we were going back to find Greece and build shelters."
The Frenchman smirked. "That's exactly what you guys are going to do. I'm going to join Greece in napping."
"But, Germany asked all of us-"
"It doesn't take that many people to make a house." France paused for a second. "Actually, I'm not sure how many people it takes to make a house... I never made a house before." He chuckled. "All the more reason for me not to make one."
The Spaniard frowned. "Didn't you promise England that you would build a house for you and him to share?"
"I didn't promise anything. I was just-"
"Yeah, you did," Italy added. "I was the one that yelled it loud enough for everybody to hear."
"I was just teasing him," the Frenchman finished. "Besides do you really want me hanging around you guys while you're getting all sweaty and manly looking making houses?"
The Lithuanian blinked. "Is that a warning or something?"
"Its what ever you want it to be, darling." France gave his famous laugh.
Spain sighed. "Fine, you can join Greece in-"
"Wait Greece is getting out of work too?" the Estonia questioned.
"We don't even know where Greece is," the Spaniard said. "If he's not on the beach, then we'll have to go looking for him."
"I hope he isn't missing," Lithuania said. "I would hate to wander around this place in the dark, and I don't think Germany-"
Estonia cut him off. "I'm more worried about Netherlands being upset."
The mention of the Dutchman made the Spaniard sigh. "You don't have to worry about him. If that guy gets upset, then he'll take it out on me."
"Oh?" asked the Italian.
"Yeah, didn't you hear him earlier? He didn't want me joining the rest of the group to travel up the mountain. I'm sort of thankful that Germany told me to go back down the mountain." Spain sighed. "I don't think Netherlands likes me too much."
"Don't say that!" Italy cried. "I'm sure that he loves you like a brother."
"We are brothers..." The Spaniard paused. "Well, at least to Belgium we are."
"I hope Belgium isn't missing you terribly."
"She probably doesn't even know that I'm gone, France."
The walk continued all the way to the beach in awkward silence. Nobody was sure if they should try to comfort Spain's saddest, or worry what they should do if they didn't find Greece.
Finally, the other group of nations made it to the top of the mountain.
"Look!" Switzerland pointed to the island's only blemish. "That's where our plane landed."
"Way to point the obvious, Switzerland," Austria spat.
"There are the other nations." Japan smiled and pointed to the beach. "They look so tiny from up here."
"Feeling tall for once in your life, Japan?" England asked chuckling.
The Japanese man frowned confused. "Uh... no."
"We came up here too late," Netherlands said disappointed.
"Do we have enough time to build a fire?" Germany asked.
The Dutchman sighed. "I'm afraid not. It'll be dark before we finish gathering logs."
"We should have brought those with us," the Englishman stated twirling his homemade spear in his hand.
"Well, its too late now," the German said hiding his disappointment. "We should head back to the others before it gets too dark. There's no use staying up here now."
"There was no use coming up here," England spat. "If we where just going to walk right back down, then why did we-"
"We don't need you bitter input, England," Germany lectured. "And will you please stop twirling that spear of yours? I'm scared that it's going to fly out of your hands, and poke somebody's eye out."
The Englishman grumbled unhappy, and did what his chief told him too.
The walk down the mountain was pretty much silent, except for the bitter banter between Austria and Switzerland.
The nations on the beach were scattered around looking for Greece. The Greek was unfortunately nowhere in sight. And this information didn't make the Latvian feel very safe.
"Is there something bothering you, Latvia?" the Estonian asked as he sat next to him in the sand. "You didn't say anything during that whole walk back."
"Greece! Greece! Greece!" the Italian called in the background. "Where are you?"
Latvia sighed. "I'm worried."
"About what?"
"I'm worried that we're not the only thing on this island."
"Greece! Greece! Greece!" the Frenchman's voice called down the beach. "Making me look for you is so not cool!"
Estonia blinked. "What do you mean by that?"
Latvia sighed. "Well, Greece is gone missing... And I sort of feel like I'm being watched."
"You always feel like you're being watched."
"No, not the Russia-is-watching-me-feeling. This is something completely different. I think there's a demon on this island." The Latvian hugged his knees. "I think this demon has got Greece, and that we're never going to see him again."
The Estonian awkwardly patted his shoulder in a comforting manner. "Latvia, don't worry. Greece probably just fell asleep somewhere. He'll show up."
"I don't think so."
"Maybe you should tell Germany your worries."
"Greece! Greece! Greece!" Spain called in the background. "It's getting really late!"
The Latvian sighed. "Okay."
The nations, traveling on the mountain, were at the part where the rocks met up with some trees. From there they heard the noises of squealing, and hoofs on a path. As they walked forward the noises of squealing increased till it began frenzy. They found a baby pig, a piglet, caught under a root. The poor thing was throwing itself back and forth in the madness of the terror.
"Pig," England mumbled before he rushed towards it with his homemade spear in hand.
The Englishman raised his hand in the air. He paused holding the spear above the piglet. The poor animals continued to squeal and try to release itself from the root. His spear stayed hovered above the animal. The pause was long enough for England to think and understand what he was going to do.
Then before the Englishman could do anything, the piglet tore loose and scurried into the undergrowth. This left England staring at the place the animal was previously.
"Oh," the Englishman mumbled slowly lowering his spear. He felt embarrassed that he didn't realize how long he had that in the air.
The others laughed at him.
"Gotten soft, England?"
"That was girly than Austria."
"Hey!"
"Dramatic pauses are only for movies, England."
England frowned and turned around to face the laughing nations. "I was choosing a place. I was just waiting for a moment to decide where to stab him."
"You should have cut the pig's throat to let the blood out," Netherlands said. "You can't eat the meat unless you do that."
"I know that."
"Then why didn't you?"
Nobody needed to answer the Dutchman's question. They all knew very well, why England didn't strike the pig. The enormity of a knife descending and cutting into flesh was just too much. The sight of unbearable blood was just too much, for anybody. Even nations that have gone through many gory wars. Nobody gets used to the sight of blood, people just learn to tolerate it.
"Next time," England promised before they continued back down the mountain. "Next time will be different."
A/N
Please point out any mistakes in grammar, spelling, and anything else.
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