Alright! Updating a fortnight after the last chapter was posted! And the A/N is about the most cheerful this chapter is going to be.

A few weeks have gone by in the story since the events of the last chapter. England has been kept in his cell upon the Valliant and is mostly unaware of the carnage back on Earth.

Warnings: Blood, broken spirits, mentions of several character deaths (well, it is the apocalypse) and one major death happening during the chapter, which was inspired by Tish's line in The Last Of The Time Lords, 'That man made us stand on deck and watch the islands of Japan burning. Millions of people.'

So yeah. You can probably work out who's going to die.

Allons-y!


Three

Apocalypse

The chains are sharp around the edges; I can feel them digging into my wrists, feel the dried and fresh blood alike sticking to my skin, mingling with my sweat. The cell is dark, part of which I'm grateful for. I'd hate to be able to see the state I'm in right now.

I was once strong. I could fight any bloody monster that even dared dream of ending this world. Even after everything, the wars, the collapse of the Empire, that power inside of me that I kept hidden from everyone only grew stronger, as did my secrets. Now look at me; I'm chained to a wall by my wrists and angles like the pitiful weakling I've become.

And God knows what that bastard has done to the other nations. He has ordered the Toclafane to destroy a tenth of the world's human population, but what of the countries themselves? Have they become part of the genocide? Are any of them even still alive, or are they confined as the Master's 'pets' like I am? It's been days, maybe even weeks. I have no idea what's happened to most of them, but I know that some nations have already died. Tish mentioned it a few days ago, but she didn't really have to. I could feel it inside of me when it happened, when certain ones were killed, because we're connected through the United Kingdom. I felt it when my own family died. But what of the other nations?

America...

Oh God, no. America can't fall. He's powerful. He'll fight, I know he will. He'll try as hard as he can to protect everyone, to be the hero he always claims to be. Will the Master reward him for his courage, perhaps try to recruit him? Or will he just ruthlessly murder him?

No, no, no. America can't be dead. I will never accept that.

'Plotting your revenge, old friend?'

I spit out a clot of blood from my mouth and glare up at the widening light source in front of me as the cell door opens. 'Don't bloody call me that.'

'Aw, are we not friends... Iggy?' the Master sneers.

You have no right. Only he calls me that. Don't you dare.

'It's short for 'Igirisu', isn't it?' the Master continues, bending down to get a good look at my face. 'That's the Japanese word for 'England'.'

I say nothing; I decide to relinquish any polite traits I might still have and I resort to spitting in his face. Instead of saliva, it's more blood. The crimson liquid flicks onto his cheek. He doesn't even flinch and shows no indication that he even gives a damn.

'Talking of Japan,' the Master continues. 'I'd very much like it if you came out to play for a bit. There's something I want to you to see.'

Hope flares up inside of me. Japan might be alive and any chance to leave the cell can be seen as an opportunity for me to attempt an escape. But this is the Master. That smile he's giving me is subtle and so very cunning. Whatever this trip out the cell is, it won't be good news for me.

'You know, that little human friend of the Doctor's is becoming a bit of a legend,' the Master informs me as he uses his laser screwdriver to disconnect the chains around my wrists and ankles from the wall. 'Martha Jones... You know, I always used to assume you'd be quite weak. I mean sure, you used to be an Empire. But all that power just disappeared, and what are you left with?

'A tiny little island. But that's not true, is it? I was wrong about you. You're not as weak as you let everyone think. You're hiding away your power, aren't you? The other nations think they know you, but you've been lying to them this whole time. But it's just you now on that island; your brothers are dead, you know. Scotland put up the biggest fight, but he was nowhere near powerful enough... What? Aren't you shocked?' he adds.

I bite my lip. '… Tish told me last week when she brought me my supper.'

The Master laughs and pulls me up roughly. 'You really are emotionless. I guess you are stronger than I thought. Your family are dead. Even that pathetic little wannabe country.'

This is news to me. 'You... you killed Sealand?'

'What do you care? I thought you never acknowledged him as a nation anyway. So, were you upset when Tish told you?'

I wanted to cry when I heard the news. I actually almost gave in to my emotions. I've always resented my brothers for how much they hurt me as a child, but I still almost let my feelings flow out. And now I know Sealand is one of the dead. After all the hurtful things I've always said to him, never making it up to him...

'Of course not,' I reply, holding my head high the gentleman I still hope I am.

Show no emotions. Show no weakness. I will not give in to him.

'Come on,' the Master says silkily, grabbing my arm and pulling me forcefully along.

I haven't stood up properly for at least two weeks. My legs are scarred terribly and not one spot on my body has been left unscathed. I can barely walk. I trip but try and stay standing. I can't be weak. I have to stay on my feet.

'No need to pretend to be strong after all this, England,' the Master whispers in my ear, his hot breath pressing against my freezing skin. Despite it being warmer than my body temperature, it sends shivers down my spine. 'I know the truth. You may have your legacy, but that's worth nothing now. You're too sentimental. Look what happened with-'

'Don't mention him,' I spit.

'Who? I was speaking of two people: the Doctor and America. Which one were you thinking of?' He gives me a sadistic smile. He knows how much I care for them both. How I tried to stop him from weakening the Doctor. How I sent America back the Earth along with Martha to save him.

'Go to hell.'

'I've made this world hell. Does that count?' he says.


The Jones family are in their usual positions. Mrs Jones and Tish are waiting to serve the Master and Lucy. Mr Jones is bringing in a dish of food, two guards on each side of him to make sure he doesn't try anything. I'm told by Tish when she brings me my food that Mr Jones rebels in small but meaningful ways; anything to keep his wife and daughter safe. Leo hasn't been caught yet, and no one's sure if he's even still alive.

And Martha...

God knows where she is. Hopefully she and America made it to safety. I can't bear to think of what might have happened otherwise.

'Lucy, come over here and greet our guest,' the Master says. 'He's finally allowed to crawl out of the cell for the big event.'

'What big event?' I demand as Lucy Saxon bows before me. I notice the dark bruises on her neck, almost hidden by the sea- no, TARDIS- blue dress she's wearing today. So the Master abuses not only the entire word, but even the people who are meant to mean something to him. That bastard.

'Just a special occasion,' the Master grins. 'You and the Doctor have front row seats.'

My gaze finally meets with the sad brown eyes of the old man in the wheelchair a few feet away, sitting beside but not facing one of the windows. I can tell he knows what's going to happen.

'Someone should go and get Harkness,' the Master suggests, turning to the guards at the door. 'No one wants to miss this one.'

My eyes travel around the rest of the room. Guards at every station, windows polished and the view... well, I'd say spectacular if there were a view. The clouds are obscuring the Earth below, and I'm glad. If I could see what that monster has done to my planet...

Oh my- bloody hell...

It's Russia. He stands at the edge, covered in chains like I was in my cell. Instead of his usual innocent-seeming smile, he frowns. His violet eyes look dead. It's like he's... broken. His scarf is gone. So is his coat. Without them, he doesn't seem like Russia.

'Get over here, Russia,' the Master commands, his voice strong and authoritative. 'You too, China. You don't want to miss the show.'

China's here too? So the Master overpowered Russia and China? This really is the apocalypse. At this rate, he's perfectly capable of defeating Amer-

No! I won't think like that. He'll never beat him. Never.

'England,' China greets me, his small figure quaking slightly. The guards have brought him in from God knows where and he's covered in wounds. No one has bothered to bandage him up. He has more blood on him than I do.

'What's happened?' I ask him and Russia as the three of us are lead over to three seats beside one of the window. I am put on the right one, Russia on the left and China in the middle. 'Are you alright?' What a stupid question. Why did I ask them that? Of course they're not alright.

Russia and China are silent for a few seconds before Russia says in a voice barely audible, 'They killed Ukraine and Belarus.'

His sisters. The Master has killed his sisters, just like how he had my brothers killed.

So they really have broken Russia. This man is just an empty shell of the great nation he used to be.

China and I offer our condolences, but it's not going to make a difference. What I learn next tells me that everyone is dying, and everything is ending.

'The Asians like myself have all been captured, aru,' China whispers. 'The Nordics and the Baltics are still alive too, except Denmark and Norway. They were executed three days ago after they rose up against the Toclafane. They're saying that Iceland is next, if anyone tries to do anything else. Poland's been killed and Lithuania's being tortured as we speak, aru.'

Russia looks down at his lap, not saying anything.

'Even Switzerland isn't safe, aru. They had Lichtenstein murdered when this all began.'

This can't be happening, this can't be real...

'France, Italy, Romano, Spain and Germany are alive, but they killed Prussia-'

'I know,' I interject. 'I heard the Master laughing about it when it happened. He said it was easy because Prussia was no longer a country.' I'm shaking with fury at both the memory and all the news I'm receiving.

It's just a dream... this is all a bad dream. It will end. They're not dead. The world hasn't ended...

'Australia, New Zealand, Ireland and the rest of Britain are gone, aside from you, aru,' China says hesitantly, obviously unsure about bringing this up.

I bite my lip and keep my grief to myself. I know the Master is watching.

'Netherlands and Belgium are dead, aru. And there was some other country I couldn't remember. He died when he tried to escape with France and the others.'

'Canada,' I croak, feeling ashamed that I even used to forget him. He, like all the others, must be remembered. I will not forget.

'Cuba's been destroyed, Seychelles has been locked away, and Austria and Hungary have been imprisoned too, aru.'

Please don't let this be real. Please, please, please...

I'm terrified to ask because the answer could break me so very easily. But I have to know. I can't live not knowing.

'And... America?'

China sighs. 'His country has been brought down. Many states have been destroyed, aru. He himself is missing.'

A glimmer of hope swirls within me. America hasn't been captured? He might not be dead?

'He's strong,' I say, staring out the window. 'They won't find him. He'll find a way to beat them-'

'England,' Tish says gently, appearing beside me. 'His... his people have been defeated...'

'He's alive,' I state. 'That's enough. There's hope.'

'Don't ever believe that, old friend,' the Master says, approaching our chairs and sending Tish scurrying away in fear. 'There's never hope for your pathetic little planet. You're too weak here, all of you.'

'Is that so? Then what about Martha?'

I can immediately see that I've struck a nerve. The Master's smile fades into an ugly grimace. 'She's just a stupid little human. She won't amount to anything.'

'She's going to save the world,' comes the Doctor's hoarse voice from his chair a few windows away.

'The world's beyond saving, Doctor,' the Master spits. 'I've made it so.'

'Don't underestimate her,' I say coldly. 'She'll beat you.'

'You've put your faith in a silly little girl from your pathetic little country,' the Master replies.

'Martha is much more than that,' says an American voice from the main door. Captain Jack Harkness is being brought in by the guards, chains around his arms and legs like there were on me. His shirt is tattered and his eyebrows are scrunched together in pain, but he still grins and winks at me.

'You're ridiculous. Now,' the Master continues, turning to China, 'you put up one hell of a fight before I finally captured you. You've set my plans back at least a month.'

China glares up at the Master, but I can feel him shaking beside me.

'You're about to receive your punishment. Are you ready?' the Master asks, his face completely serious.

'You do not frighten me, aru,' China answers.

'Is that so? Well, get ready. You've all got front row seats.' The Master pulls something out of his trouser pocket. A weapon? Is he going to kill China?

'Don't-' I begin.

With his free hand, the Master hits me around the face. Hard. My skin burns, and over the sound of my ringing ears I hear him say, 'Hush now, England. You'll have plenty of time to talk in a minute.'

My eyes meet the Doctor's again. I can see from his expression that he knows what the Master is planning. He's strapped to the chair despite him already being in a fragile state. They really don't want him to try and interfere in whatever the Master is planning.

The Doctor knows what the Master is going to do, and he has no way of preventing it.

His eyes say, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry.

'Hey, Arthur,' Jack says quietly, leaning down to speak to me. He's no longer smiling. 'This guy can't be serious about killing countries, right? Can you actually die? Aren't nations immortal?'

'We can be killed,' I reply, trying not to think of my family. 'If the people are dying then we can be weakened. The physical representations of a country such as myself can be killed like a human can. The land and the people will be damaged because of it. I'm not entirely sure what exactly happens. I've known of nations who eventually fade as their legacies die...' I trail off. Jack's probably gotten the message. I'm more concerned right now with what the Master is going to do to China.

The Master is addressing China again. 'So... your punishment is...' He pauses dramatically, then reveals the item; a mobile. '… a phone call!' His mouth splits into a crooked grin, delighted at the shocked looks on our faces.

'… What kind of punishment is that, aru?' China demands, obviously having expected a lot worse.

The Master pouts. 'Don't you want to chat to anybody? I've already got the line ready for you. There's someone who wants to talk to you and guess what? I'm feeling generous.'

I glance at the Doctor again, wondering if this was all some kind of joke. But the Doctor still looks devastated.

There's something I'm missing here...

'So go on then,' the Master laughs. 'I'll put it on loud speak for you lot. Spill your hearts out or whatever. This is the last chance you're getting for this.'

What the hell does he mean by that? What's he not telling us?

'… N-ni hao?' China says hesitantly, staring at the phone. 'This is China speaking, aru.'

There's silence on the crackly line for a second, then we hear, 'Konichiwa? China-san, is that really you?'

'Japan!' China and I yell in unison. Russia stays quiet.

'England-san too,' Japan says and we hear him breathe a sigh of relief. 'I am glad you are both still alive.'

'Russia's here too,' China says, actually smiling. He's not usually this happy when talking to Japan, but deep down he does truly care. This reminds me of America, and my chest clenches painfully at the thought of where he might be right now. 'Are you alright, aru?'

'I'm doing better than some of the others,' Japan admits.'Most of my people are homeless. Tokyo was bombed yesterday... Millions are dead...' I can hear the pain in the voice. It's always like that for a country when a major city from their land is attacked in some way. My mind flutters to all the memories of the London Blitz decades ago, and how much it all hurt. Japan must be in complete agony.

'Do you know who is left?' Japan asks, sounding quite desperate.

And so China repeats all the information he gave to me, with the addition of the news of other countries as China recalls all the terrible things that have happened to the whole world.

'… and India has fallen too, aru.'

'But where are you three, China-san?' Japan questions us.

'They're up here with me, watching it all happen,' the Master says with a small chuckle. 'Front row seats as the world ends.'

'… Why are you doing this?' Japan demands, his voice full of pain.

The Master leans against my chair, his spare hand repeatedly drumming the rhythm of four beats with his thin fingers. 'Your last conversation, and that's what you want to talk about?'

'What do you mean it's his last conversation?' I spit.

'England-san? What does he mean?'

'Think of all the nuclear reactors on your land, Japan,' the Master continues. 'Imagine going out with a bang.'

A few feet away, a tear rolls out of the Doctor's sad brown eyes and slides down his wrinkled cheeks.

'Japan,' I gasp, an urgency entering my words as it dawns on me what's going to happen. I don't know how much time we've got left, or even what anyone could do to prevent it, but I can't just sit here and watch it happen. 'You need to-'

The Master's cold fingers close around my throat. 'I've warned you about speaking out of place, England. Hear your friend out before the big bang.'

'I don't understand,' Japan says, fear creeping into his words. 'You've hurt my people enough already. You've hurt all the humans in this world. Please end this.'

'Oh, it will end. For you, anyway,' the Master breathes, his eyes growing very dark.

'What do you mean? Please, you have to stop this. The peoples' suffering has gone on long en...'

From somewhere down below the ship, a huge explosion rips through the air, extinguishing all other sound until...

BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP...

The line is dead. A few seconds of shocked silence plague the room. Finally, someone speaks.

'Party's over,' the Master says with that wretched grin of his. 'It's a little too late, and no one will be listening, but you can still say your goodbyes if you want to. Or 'Sayonara', or whatever. We've flown the Valliant over Japan so we can get a nice good look.'

Through the quickly parting clouds, caused by the blast, we can see the damage. It takes quite a few minutes for anything to be seen through the dense mass of smoke and ash, but finally we can make out a hazy orange glow somewhere far beneath us. Whatever it is, it must be very bright to be seen through all this dense smoke. And as we give the mushroom cloud some time to part and reveal what has happened, I make out the source of the glow, shaped like a very specific island friend of mine...

'J... Japan...' I whisper, staring in horror at the small island. It's alight in flames, not one spot of the land having been missed. The whole country is on fire. And... we were just talking to him, right before...

'… JAPAN!' China shrieks, throwing himself off the chair and against the window.

'You're insane,' Jack hisses from somewhere to my right, obviously furious at the Master.

'Well, it's more fun than being sane,' the Master replies joyfully, absent-mindedly drumming that bloody rhythm on the back of my chair. My eyes blur out of focus, the cries of the shocked around me growing muffled and distant as my concentration drifts away. My mind is now blank, the terrible grief at the thought of so many countries I care about (now with the addition of Japan) having died just tuning out until I feel completely emotionless. Now, the only thing I register is the sound the Master is making. The drumming.

Tap tap tap tap.

Tap tap tap tap.

Tap tap tap tap.

Tap tap tap tap...


'Hello, Mr Kirkland,' Tish greets quietly as the guards push open my cell door for her to enter with my food. She catches my expression and probably remembers all those times I've told her to drop the formalities. It's not as if they matter now, anyway.

'Hello... Arthur.'

'Hello, Tish. How are you?'

'The same.' She steps forwards into the darkness of my prison and places a bowl of stew beside me. There are tears in her eyes and a fresh red mark on her cheek. She winces as she talks.

'Did he do that to you? Or was it the guards?' Even as I ask, I can tell. With the guards, accuracy is not needed; they'll just strike out and the pain will begin. With the Master, precision is required. He knows exactly how to inflict the right level of pain for any particular punishment. For a wound that isn't as bruising as a normal smack, but quick to the point and more like a flash of lightning, Tish must have been trying to talk to the Doctor.

'The Doctor says to not give up,' Tish whispers. 'S-stay strong. We should s-s-still have faith.'

'He would say that,' I sigh. 'He's been in plenty of terrible situations, you know. He's nine hundred and three; he's seen so much...'

'The world has ended,' Tish says in a shaking voice. 'How can anything be worse than this?'

I decide not to mention what happened to Gallifrey, the Doctor's home planet. 'The world hasn't ended, because we're all still alive. We can still turn this around. We bloody well will.'

But the look Tish gives me is one of complete hopelessness. Her sister is down on Earth, trying to save the world, but all Tish sees is a hopeless cause. I understand it. She's given up.

But I haven't.

My family are dead. My fellow countries are imprisoned or worse. The world I have lived in is gone, perhaps never to return to the way it was beforehand.

But I will not cry.

I am not broken.