So far so good with the updating on time. :) Here's chapter 2 of Zombie Land.
Forgot to disclaim: I don't own Hetalia. :'(
America's jaw hung open as he watched his seemingly carefree father figure sip on some more tea and try to compose himself. One of his guests reached for the remote and paused Doctor Who. The world was falling apart whilst England was having a tea/Doctor Who party with a load of strangers.
For once, America was truly lost for words.
It was Canada that found his words first, "Wha- what's going on here?"
England and his guests all looked away from the trio. They were all quiet for a while, as if trying to decide the best course of action. It was the biggest of England's guests that spoke first, "Canada," a small but genuine smile spread on his face, "Good to see ye alive."
Canada opened his mouth to reply but America came out of his stupor and spoke before he got the chance, "No thanks to you," he said shakily, "Who are you anyway? And how do you know Mattie?"
The man's startlingly green eyes snapped over to look at America, his expression changing from warm and pleasant to one of amused distaste. America dismissed his urge to shrink back and stood his ground under the man's scrutiny.
England, realising that the situation was going from already disastrous to worse, decided to take over before his brother could make things even more irreversibly catastrophic than they already were.
"Alfred, Matthew, Kiku, before we discuss, ah, matters, allow me to introduce you to my brothers. The one sitting to the left, closest to you is the Republic of Ireland. You will, no doubt, have seen him in the world meetings before."
America looked over at the vaguely familiar man to his left. He placed his cup onto his saucer and, in turn, placed his saucer on the coffee table before looking up at America, Japan and Canada. He nodded his head at Japan when he politely bowed in greeting and smiled at Canada and America before turning back to his tea.
"The one sitting next to him is Northern Ireland. He is the youngest. We call him 'North' and Republic of Ireland 'South' to avoid too much confusion"
America tilted his head to the right so he could get a better look at the youth; he looked to be in his mid-teens. North smiled warmly and nodded his head at Japan's "Hajimemashite."
He looked rather conflicted as he exchanged greetings with America. The warm smile was shown to Canada. America frowned; this wasn't going to plan - what happened to him yelling at England for trying to kill him?
England moved onto the next brother, gesturing to him as he spoke, "This is Wales, or Cymru as he also likes to be called."
America stared. This one didn't have the fiery red hair that the other three had and looked a lot more like England. He decided to call this one 'Wales', he doubted that he would be able to remember Gum-ri... Coom-ri... Wales' other name let alone pronounce it.
That left the closest one on the right; the one that Canada seemed to know.
"And this," England sighed, "is Scotland, the eldest. He started a colony in Canada in the 1600s. He's another one that's responsible for your brother's strange hobbies..."
America turned back to Scotland and noticed that the man was looking at Canada again, pride burning in his eyes. Canada smiled sheepishly. He started when England began to speak again, this time to his brothers.
"Every one, you all know Canada so there's no need for introduction there. The one in the middle is America and next to him is Japan." England turned back to the trio still stood in the doorway, "Now that we have introduced ourselves, would you be so kind as to tell me what you are doing here and why you felt the need to kick down my front door."
America remembered what he was doing there, in England's house.
"You wanna know what I'm doing here? Really? I thought you were supposed to be clever! You do realise that the whole world has gone to hell while you and your brothers are sat here, drinking tea and eating crumpets?!"
"Of course I realise. Why else do you think I closed my borders? I want to know why you ignored that and came here anyway."
America looked at his father figure and saw him in a new light. Gone was the man that had lovingly brought him up; gone was the broken man he had left, and gone was the man he had painstakingly rebuilt a relationship with. Before him was a different England, one he had only seen peeks of before, one that was hell-bent on survival.
It was almost repulsive.
"You were just planning on sitting here, weren't you? You had no thoughts about coming to help us at all, DID YOU?"
England looked straight at America impassively. He said nothing as America grabbed his shirt and bunched it up.
It was that scene that a drenched France ran into.
"Angleterre! Are you alright? les zombis... Amérique?"
America looked over to France, "This, this BASTARD was going to leave us all to get eaten."
France's eyes met England's, "Is zis true, Angleterre?"
England looked away.
"I see. I understand."
"But..."
"Amérique. There is no time for this. Les zombis are making their way onto le sol anglais."
England's eyes widened, His brothers started to rise from their seats, "How?"
"Le tunnel sous la Manche."
"Don't tell me you forgot to close the tunnel!" Wales groaned.
England suddenly pulled himself away from America's grip.
"It's too late to argue about it; Alasdair, Sean, Llewellyn, James, come on. Now!"
The British Isles brothers pushed past their uninvited guests and ran out of the house, shouting at each other. America caught phrases like, 'How could ye no mind?', 'I swear, I'll take North with me and leave you eedjits for it!' and most mysterious of all, 'Bloody twonk!'.
America, Canada, Japan and France were all left staring after the small stampede that had just passed by. Japan murmured something about getting towels for France and headed off upstairs to the airing cupboard while Canada went off to find some clean and dry clothes for them all. America tried to talk to France but was cut off; France wanted to wash and change his clothes before speaking to America.
Once they were all freshened up, they sat around the remains of England's afternoon tea. All of them deep in thought. America was the first to speak, "Why didn't he ask us to come too? We could've helped."
"'E is too proud. Ze fool."
Silence.
"Papa?" This time Canada spoke.
"Oui?"
"What did you mean when you said, 'I understand'?"
"Ah, Canada. I forget that you are so young sometimes. I will put it simply, Angleterre 'as no reason to fight."
France's statement was met by confusion. He sighed, "'O is zere zat Angleterre might fight for?"
America spoke up, "Canada and me!"
"Oui. 'Owever Angteterre believes zat you two are strong enough to take care of eachozer. Aussi even if you were not able to take care of yourselves, zere would 'ave been little Angleterre could do; ze virus started to spread in Washington DC, non? Zere would not 'ave been enough time to secure 'is own lands and zen go save you. Next!"
"Hong Kong, Australia or New Zealand." Canada said, remembering his adopted brothers.
"Hong Kong is too close to la Chine et l'Australie et la nouvelle-Zélande are both islands. Zey 'ave a better chance than most. Aussi, zey are on ze other side of la monde. It would be too difficile to get to 'im to 'elp 'im or ze rest of Asia"
"Then what about the rest of Europe? What about you? You're not on the other side of the world from him?" America said suddenly.
France's face darkened, "Angleterre won't 'help ze rest of l'Europe. 'E is not in real danger so zere is no point."
"But-"
"Zat is ze European way. I would most likely do the same if I were 'im."
"Well then the European way is stupid and selfish!"
"Oui but being selfish is our tried et tested way of survival. Canada was with Angleterre long enough to realise zat. Et Japon is old enough to know for 'imself 'at we are like. Zat is why you do not see zem reacting ze way you are. Besides 'at could Angleterre et ses frères do against ze 'ole world?" France shrugged.
America looked at his companions, neither of them said anything.
"Well if you're so confident England will do nothing, why are you here? You are here to get his help, aren't you?"
"'Oever said I was 'ere pour l'Angleterre's 'elp?"
"What?"
"I 'ave an alliance; une vieille alliance with one of 'is brothers. People question that if it still stands but he will 'elp me. 'E will honour ze agreement et where 'e goes, 'is brothers will follow, if not for me, then for 'im." France said confidently, "Aussi, ze fact zat I just warned 'im about le tunnel will make 'im more likely to 'elp; 'e won't want to owe me..."
America stared at France; he too was just here for himself. America couldn't believe it. What happened to all the fun times they had had with the other countries? What happened to trying to sort out the world's problems together? Was he the only one that had been taking that seriously? America lowered his head. France left the room but America didn't catch the reason why.
He finally looked up to see Canada and Japan's worried faces.
"Guys?"
"It's OK Alfred. We're here with you." Canada reassured his brother, "But... what are you planning to do now?"
"Hai, America-san, what now?"
America smiled at his friends. He would show England, his brothers and France that you don't have to be selfish to survive; that it is better to work together to help everyone.
"First. We go to this tunnel and see what we can do to help. We'll show England that he's not just in this with his brothers!"
With that, America and his friends ran out of the gaping hole that was once the front door, across the garden and onto the street where he then stopped.
He smiled sheepishly, "So... Do either of you know where this tunnel is? Or how to get to it?"
Phew. Not as many words in this one but I still managed to pass 1,000 words :D (Though I'm not really happy with this chapter at all…)
First of all, I would like to thank La Signora Della Grande Cielo for following my story. You are my first follower ever!
I'm sorry if France was a bit hard to understand. I suck at writing in a French accent. If anyone has any tips on how to write him, it would be greatly appreciated.
The UK + ROI brother's reactions to America, Canada and Japan will be explained at some point, just not at this point.
The literal gaping hole in England's plan is revealed! I noticed that while, many Brits are all for stopping boats and planes coming to the UK in the event of zombie apocalypse, but not once, while talking to them, did they mention blocking the channel tunnel. I figure that if the people I spoke to didn't remember the channel tunnel, then it's not too far a stretch to imagine that England would also forget.
Last but not least, I noticed that a lot of my readers for the first chapter were Japanese, probably lured in by the fact that I named Japan as one of the main characters… If you're reading this, I promise to give Japan more action and more lines.
よろしくおねがいします！