Note to all readers: Don't put your flash drive in the washing machine. It's not good. D:
"Hello?" France called out as the busy signal echoed through England's phone. He sighed and half slammed the phone down on the receiver. England sat up on the couch he was rudely shoved on and cracked his back, eyeing the Frenchman.
"What the hell was that all about?"
"Nothing in particular." France smiled. England groaned and pinched the bridge of his nose. France continued, "What were you and America talking about?"
"It wasn't America," England sighed, and remembered the stranger's words. "America's gone missing."
"Missing? But I just saw him yesterday. He was looking for you at my house, strangely enough, and insisted that he talk to you immediately. He must've been missing your se-"
"DON'T you dare finish that sentence," England hissed. "Well, if he was out looking for me, that explains why they couldn't find him at the White House, but why wouldn't he answer his cell phone."
"No service. Low battery. He left the ringer on silent. The possibilities are endless."
England paused. "I'm going to call him just in case."
France's eyes widened. "I don't think that will be necessary. He's on the television right now."
"What?" England grumbled, and then turned his attention to the screen. "Bloody hell…"
The female reporter announced, "I'm here live at the capitol of the United States of America, where the largest alliance has just been formed in world history. The United States of America and Canada have joined together to create one nation, making it the largest country in the world. When questioned, all answers came from the men in charge of the whole union, Alfred Jones and Matthew Williams."
"We've been allies for so long, and we share the longest unguarded border in the world," Alfred commented, "Together, we'll begin to create a perfect world for everyone to live in peace."
The reporter showed up again on the screen. "I'm Willa Don Belevit, reporting on-"
England turned the television off, and the two stared at the screen, dumbfounded. Joining America and… whatever the country name was… together as one country? What were they thinking? Better yet, where was the angry mob of citizens from the poor country joining their obnoxious neighbor?
France rubbed his chin. "I think we better get over there and talk to him to find out what this is all about."
"Agreed." England walked over to the table, grabbed his house keys, and exited his front door. France followed directly behind him. England's eyes caught France's as he opened the door to his car. "Do you mind?"
France blinked. "Mind what?"
"Keeping your distance?"
"Oh, but England, we're going to be on a plane together for eight hours. You might as well get used to it."
"You're not spending eight hours on a plane next to me."
"But England-"
"No! I said no, I mean no, you are not coming with me!"
~o~o~
"Keep your hands to yourself, don't talk to me, don't touch me, and you better not sure as hell better not breathe on me," England hissed as he looked out the window of the plane. France smiled and turned his attention back to the magazine in front of him written in French.
"Um, England, it says here in the magazine that America is joining a country called "Canada". I wonder what their government was thinking."
"… Never heard of that country before," England slouched in his seat.
"What a shame! It says he was you colony at one time. You're such a terrible older brother."
"I'll have you know I was a wonderful older brother! That ungrateful brat left on his own accord."
France rolled his eyes and turned his attention back to the magazine. "You know, he looks an awful lot like America. Maybe that's why we don't remember him."
England sighed, wishing France would shut up. "Poppycock. I know America when I see him."
France smiled and shook his head. "So… why are you so anxious to see America again?"
England groaned. This is going to be a looong flight!
~0~0~0~0~
Where... where am I? I can't see anything. What happened? All I remember is that strange girl, and... oh, that stupid deal! I bet it was all a trick.
"Canada."
My name... am I dead? Maybe... maybe she wasn't lying. Maybe I will be recognized now.
"Canada!"
Canada's violet eyes blinked, and the world around him slowly came into focus. He was lying in a field with white flowers surrounding him and soft grass tickling his cheeks. The sun lit up the cloud it was currently hiding behind, and a gentle breeze rustled his hair.
"Hey, you're finally awake."
Canada turned his head towards the voice. "... America?"
"Yeah," he smiled his signature grin. His hair, which Canada didn't think could get any messier, was matted down to his forehead. The right lens in his glasses was cracked in three places. His bomber jacket was unusually muddy and the right sleeve was torn around his shoulder. Canada eyed his figure over; America looked like he just stepped off the Pearl Harbor battlefield. "Who else would it be? God, it's been a while since I've seen a familiar face."
Canada's eyebrows furrowed, and he blinked in confusion. "Where... where are we," he asked as he sat up. He noticed the mountains towering in the distance with snow covering their caps and scattered trees ready to lose their autumn leaves.
"The hell if I know," America grumbled. "All I know is I signed some stupid paper and... don't tell me you fell for it too."
"Hey! I wasn't thinking clearly. Though I'm not surprised you took the deal." Canada blinked, running America's words over in his head. "Wait, that person came to you too?"
America stood up, the breeze blowing his hair into his eyes. "Yeah. She said if I signed the paper, everyone would look at me as the hero I really am and stop blaming me for everything."
Canada thought of a choice remark, but kept it to himself. America offered his hand out to help Canada stand, who took it without hesitation.
"So... now what?" Canada asked.
America shrugged his shoulders. "I've been trying to find someone I know for the past week or so, but no one looks familiar."
"The past week?" Canada gasped. "But I talked to you two days ago."
"No... I'm pretty sure I've been here longer than that," America scratched his head.
Canada ran his eyes over America's body again. "That explains why you look so horrible."
"Yeah.. hey!" America grimaced, but Canada changed the subject.
"Are there any other humans around?"
"Yeah, follow me." America took Canada's hand, and dragged him through the field. Canada watched as the scenery flowed past him, nothing looking familiar. He definitely wasn't anywhere near home, that's for sure.
~o~o~
The two stood on top of a hill staring down at a nearby village, which looked like it stepped directly out of a renaissance fair. Children ran and laughed, chasing each other as dogs barked and followed along in the game. Farm animals chattered in their selective crates, awaiting their fate. Women and men littered the streets, talking in a language Canada couldn't understand.
"I told you we weren't alone," America said, placing his hands in the pockets of his jacket. "I went into the town to look around yesterday, but they kept looking at me like I was some kind of disease. I tried to ask someone what was going on, and they hid under their cart and put up a sign with weird letters on it."
Canada again thought of a choice remark, but chose not to say it. "Well, I'm going to check it out. Maybe you're seen as like a bad omen in this world or something."
"Hold on!" America grabbed his shoulder. Canada rolled his eyes, predicting America's words in his head. "I'm the hero, and you're not going alone. I'll go first, and you can be my back-up."
"Right," Canada huffed. The two nations escalated down the hill and towards the town. As they walked into the streets, a group of children nearby stopped playing and watched them walk, their mouths agape. The dog immediately lay down in the grass and bowed its head, and its ears flattened against its skull.
"I told you. They act really wierd," America leaned over and whispered in Canada's ear. The kids jabbered to each other in a foreign language, their eyes not leaving the two nations for a second.
"I've heard almost every language in the world, and that isn't one of them," Canada mused. "This definitely isn't Earth... but it looks so much like home." The kids laughed and rustled around in the grass. A girl nearby ran over to the two and tugged on Canada's shoulder. He looked down and smiled. "Oh, hello there."
The girl's mouth formed into a soft smile and she held up a ring of flowers. "E toi."
"Umm," Canada cocked his head. The girl pulled his shirt downward and tried to reach his head.
"E toi. Flore para toi," She spoke again. Canada bowed his head down and allowed her to put the flowers on his head.
He stood up and smiled. "Thank you." The girl grabbed his sleeve and called over to her friends. They laughed and dated forward; the girl pulled Canada with them.
"Hey, wait a minute!" America cried and chased after Canada and the kids. "Where are you going?"
"I don't know," Canada called over his shoulder. "Just come on!" America caught up with Canada and walked along side of him.
The kids weren't the only ones that reacted strangely. The townspeople whispered amongst themselves. Some seemed fearful, while others smiled and studied the two strangers. The girl looked up at Canada and spewed a jumbled mess of words he couldn't understand. Canada and America exchanged expressions.
"I'm sorry, but I don't understand you," Canada scratched his head.
"Of course not!" A voice echoed all around them. America yelped "Ghost!" and jumped up into Canada's arms. An orange, red, and yellow puff of smoke exploded in front of them, and a man wearing an animal skinned cloak stepped forward.
"Canada, he's wearing the same mask that the girl had," America whispered. "You know, the one that tricked us into coming to this place." Canada nodded in agreement and realized he was still holding the other nation in his arms. He huffed and dropped America flat on his ass.
"Welcome, great ones, to the land of the mortal!" the man continued, spreading his arms wide.
"Great ones?" America questioned.
"Land of the mortal?" Canada cocked his head.
"Yes. You were sent here by the higher ups of your world to walk among us, were you not?"
"If that's what he calls it," America grumbled, and Canada shushed him.
"Um," Canada rubbed the back of his head. "Can you tell us where we-"
The High Priest interrupted Canada and spoke in his native language. The crowd went nuts and stampeded closer to the two lost nations. Canada backed up against America, his nerves on high alert, while the more extroverted nation accepted the attention with open arms. They examined Canada's hair, marveling at how long it was for a boy and the peculiar shade, considering they all had black hair and golden eyes.
"Not friendly, eh?" Canada turned his head to peer over at America.
"I don't know what you did," Alfred replied, one of the people taking off his glasses and examining the cracked lens. "But whatever it was, you need to tell me."
Canada sighed and tried to relax. However, the strange glint in the High Priest's eyes sent shivers down his spine. Something wasn't right.
To Be Continued…
Okay, so not as long as the Hero and the Servant chapters were, but I'm only one person. And I don't plan on this story being too long anyway. There's about 15 chapters total, so it shouldn't take too long to finish up. I'll try to update at least once a week.