England groaned as his conscience awoke. What happened?
His mind recalled the previous episode: the world conference, the choice of leaving, the portal.
Of course! The portal.
He wanted to lift his hand to rub the sleepiness away from his face, but he cannot do so.
What?
Something was restraining his hand—both of them.
The English country flickered his eyes open, and was greeted by darkness.
But once his eyes adjusted to the darkness, his vision found a faceless hooded head inches away from his face.
"Holy mother of pumpernickel!" He screamed, his legs flying up in front as he falls back onto the chair.
"Ugh, England," a familiar voice with an American accent groaned next to him. "Quiet down, people are trying to sleep—Holy Hamburgers What the—!"
Soon, the rest of the party woke up. That is when they all realized that they were all bound to a chair.
"They're awake."
The boys looked up from where they heard the voice, which might have came from one of the cloaked figures of the dark.
"Wh—where are we?!" France asked, terrified.
"What's happening, aru?" China cried, looking frantically around the dark room.
"Wow, this is pretty fun, da~" Russia stated, leaning back on the chair with a carefree smile.
"Waaa!" Italy wailed, "please don't hurt us! Please don't hurt us! We're not gonna fight you! We promise—"
"Italy, calm down, desu." Japan whispered to his Italian ally.
"Who are you and where did you take us?!" Germany demanded, glaring at the cloaked figures—which he counted five—within the darkness.
"Silence!"
The countries looked up to one of the dark figures that stood nearest to them, whose voice they realized was rather high-pitched, making them assume its feminine gender, and with the accent: an American girl perhaps.
"Wait, you're a girl?" America asked the cloaked person, squinting his eyes to have a glimpse under the hood.
"Well yeah," the girl answered, propping her hands on her hips, "What? You're expecting us to actually be guys because you think girls aren't able to—"
"America." Another feminine voice with a hint of a British accent from the other four cloaked people hissed.
The unknown female in front—which the countries assumed to be the leader, turned to the voice, "Oh, yeah, sorry."
America leaned over to England and whispered, "Didn't that one at the back just call my name?"
"Yeah," the English nation nodded confusedly, "I thought so too."
"Do you people know why you are in this place?" The leader asked.
"Well, since you probably didn't hear my friends asking where we are, then no. No we don't." England answered sarcastically, emphasizing the word friends for a double-sarcasm effect.
"Well then did you know that you people were in the meeting hall, passed out?"
"What?" England sat up straight, "What meeting hall?"
"You mean the place where we hold our world meetings?" France asked with a raise of his blond brow that he so meticulously pluck neatly to annoy the English country.
"Aha!" The American-accented girl exclaimed, pointing an accusing finger at the boys. "So you people do know!"
"Good job, Frog Prince." England grumbled with a side-glare towards the Frenchman.
"So speak!" She commanded, "what were you all doing in our conference? How did you get here when the only people allowed to enter there are our bosses and us? And most of all: who are you people?"
"What do you mean, your conference?" America threw back, leaning over as far as he can on the chair, "what do you mean only you and your bosses?"
"You're not the one who's supposed to be asking questions, intruder!" She hissed, "I am the heroine here, and when I command, you do as I say! Unless you're the villain and you want to fight me—"
"Villain?!" America exclaimed, sitting up straight and glaring at the cloaked girl, "I am America, unless you haven't noticed, you uncultured swine—"
"America!" England hissed. "Such ungentlemanly behaviour! Even when these ladies have abducted us, they still have to be respected. It's gentlemen's code."
"Precisely."
One of the four other figures, who had called the leader earlier, stepped up. "I must say, good sir, you have made me proud that I still have men who remembers their creed as a gentleman." She stated in a strong British accent. "May I know your name?"
"Why do you want to know the names of these people?!" The first girl stomped her foot at the other childishly, pointing directly at England's nose, "England, you should know better that us good guys don't make friends with the bad guys!"
"Bad guys?! Us?!" America growled, "Last time I know, heroes aren't the ones abducting and tying up innocent peaople!"
"Innocent?!" The first girl with the American accent whirled her head back towards the country, leaning her concealed face over to his, "How do you call people who sneak into places where they shouldn't be innocent?!"
"Boys, ladies, please." France interrupted, leaning towards America and the girl's direction, "This situation we are in are getting us nowhere. How about you untie us, and we can converse this topic freely in a much more pleasant venue, non?"
"Exactly."
Another one spoke up, and now having the same accent as the French nation. "I agree with this man. America, chére, this little interrogation play is ridiculous! Especially this unfashionable cloaks. It's so heavy and hot." She complained, proceeding to hold the hood to take it off.
"France!"
"Oui?" France replied with a smile, but it soon faded into confusion when the girl who called went over to the third person instead of him.
The American girl stopped the French-accented one from her action, "don't show your face! These people might be spies or double-agents! If they knew who we are—"
"Well then calling us by our names seems to be a bad idea, now, huh, America?" The British one said.
"Hold on just a minute, now." England interrupted, "I've been wanting to ask this for a while now. Are you girls addressing each other with our names?"
"What are you talking about?" The British one turned back towards England. "Your names?"
"Ugh, way to blow our disguise, England." The American faced the other in such a way that she may be glaring from under the hood.
"There, again!" England said, "You called her England, and they call you America—"
"Yeah!" America interjected, "even though I'm America! The hero! It's me!"
The leader halted, facing the American silently for a moment, before his words sank into her mind, "Wait, what the hell are you—"
"Excuse me?"
The nations and girls simultaneously looked over to the fourth figure.
"I was wondering when we can get to, um, encourage the answers from these boys as to why they're here in the first place?" The girl, who they noticed to be the tallest of them all, asked in a suspiciously sweet, Russian accent.
"Oh, let me guess," France said, "you're Russia?"
"Eh?" Russia glanced over to France, "But France, you know Russia isn't a girl."
"Zdravstvuyte!" The girl greeted, walking towards France and suddenly wielded a shovel inches from his nose.
"Sacre Bleu!" France shrieked, throwing himself back on the chair from shock.
"Now," the Russian began, "I don't really care who you people are, so if you value your face, may you please tell us now why you all ended up here?"
"Russia!" The American yelled. "China, do something!" She called over to the last cloaked figure, who seems to be the smallest of the five.
"Wait, what, aru?" China raised his head up, "Did you call me, aru?"
"Bàoqiàn, America." The petite figure said in a high-pitched Chinese accent, as she shakes her head in rejection. "But I know better than to restrain that when she's excited, aru."
"Waaaaaa~" Italy wailed once again, making the girls glance over to him. "Please don't hurt big brother France! He's a good guy! Maybe a pervert most of the time, but he's a good guy!"
"France?" The French-accented girl repeated, "Guy? But—"
"Get a grip, Italy." Germany hissed, "your crying will only make our situation worse."
"Who you calling Italy?" The American-accented one asked, "Italy's not here—"
Suddenly, the door behind the five cloaked girls opened, blinding the boys with light they so much needed since they woke up.
At the doorway stood a feminine silhouette, with curly locks in a ponytail, but with a lone strand of swirl on the left side of her head. "Ciao, everyone!" She spoke in an obvious Italian accent.
"Italy!" Called the American girl, "Speak of the Devil."
"Italy?" The boys echoed, glancing over to the Italian nation, who seems to be just as confused as the others.
The girl turned on the lights, making the boys squint their eyes from the sudden brightness into the room. But the light definitely helped them in their situation.
The girl—who was called Italy—was an averagely-tall young woman. She had rich mahogany curls that were held back into a ponytail, as stated earlier. But she sported a lone strand of curl on the left side of her head—just like the Italian country himself. Her skin was a pale olive, which was expected since she was deemed to be a Latina. And her eyes were big, bright, and brown. She was wearing business clothes—as if she had just been on some sort of business engagement.
"Ve, America," the girl smiled at the leader, "Germany wants to know if you girls got anything out of the intruders yet."
"Germany?" The boys then looked over to the German country, whose brows were furrowed from being completely at a loss.
"And don't those cloaks look hot, ve?" She asked, pointing towards the girls' attires.
"Alright, fine!" The American girl threw her hands up in defeat. "Since you people keep complaining with concealing our identity with these, then let's forget this!" She angrily threw the hood off of her head.
Now with the light switched on, the nations had a better vision on the faces of their abductors, especially the supposed leader of the five.
She had shoulder-length blonde hair in slight waves, pinned away from her face by two star clips. Her face was fair, but not pale. As if she only ever went out every morning. And her eyes resembled America's: a bright marine blue.
"Woah." America breathed.
"I'm sorry, Italy." She said to the girl on the doorway as she slips off of the cloak, revealing the similar outfit with the Italian stranger. "go tell her to wait a little longer, grab some beer and watch some anime with Japan, or whatever."
"Japan." The boys repeated once more, taking a glance at an equally-confused Japanese country.
"I am very confused right now, desu." Japan muttered.
"Actually, we do have something," the British girl said.
She too had stepped out of the cloak, as well as the remaining three girls. This one had blonde twintails that ends on her calves. The fringes at the side of her face were secured by red bobby pins, it matched the color of her red glasses, and behind that were a pair of emerald eyes, similar to those of the English country who was still tied down on the chair with the others. Her eyebrows were dark, but delicately shaped and not having four additional layers on top. Freckles dusted over from her nose and out to the apples of her cheeks, complimenting her pale skin. And like the American and the Italian, she was also wearing crisp business clothes.
"It may sound as if you'd want to laugh, but these gentlemen call themselves the same names as us." The English woman told her.
"Ve?" the Italian girl tilted her head to the side, "you mean they call themselves the same countries as us?"
"We are those countries—" America corrected, but was interrupted.
"Yeah!" The blue-eyed American girl nodded, and pointed towards the country of freedom, "you call yourself America, even though America is clearly me! The heroine!"
"Nu–uh!" America rebutted, "I am the Hero of America! It's me!" He turned to England, "England, tell her!"
"I'm sorry, but," the British girl spoke, "I'm England."
"No, you're not, mademoiselle." France purred, "you're much too lovely to at least be related to this hideous piece of monster brows."
"Lovely?" The French maiden scoffed, "wait until you get to taste her most wonderfully special homemade pastries, monsieur."
The French maiden was a lovely woman with confidence and poise on her shoulders—at least that is the others' first impressions about her. Her hair was the color of chocolate, wavy and held up into an elegantly messy bun, topped with a simple crown at the front of her bun. She had smooth, fair skin that she clearly took good care of. Her eyes were a lovely lavender, exactly like France's.
"You, however, mademoiselle," France said to the French girl, "are possibly me, since we both share the same beauty."
"Unless you want to walk out of this room with a flat nose, then I advice you to kindly shut your mouth." The British girl spat at the French one.
The two girls glared at each other, the same way France and England usually do.
"Anyway," the American girl continued, "this is the last time I'm going to ask you boys this before I tell China to karate chop your heads into two: who are you?"
"I'd like to see China break his hand attempting to split my head, first, da?" Russia requested.
"I'm sorry, aru, but I'm clearly a girl!" The small Chinese girl huffed.
The Asian girl can easily be mistaken as a pre-teen, because of her baby-face, bright brown eyes, and deep auburn hair in twin buns. The overly-long sleeve of her formal Chinese-styled outfit did not show any maturity either. Not even the adorable frown on her face caused by the Russian country.
"Bàoqiàn, Russia," China told the country tied up beside him, "but I cannot seem to do what you'd like me to do, aru. Because one: my hands are tied up behind me, and two: I am not stupid enough to do that, aru!"
"That guy just said aru." The American female told the petite Chinese, "I thought only you use that exression."
"Can I hit them with my shovel now?" The Russian girl asked.
Now this girl definitely resembles the Russian country. Her long tresses were an ash blonde, and her lilac eyes were as gentle-looking as Russia's—as if they were also hiding away the sadism she clearly has, like that suspiciously sweet smile she has while she held that shovel. And like him, she was also tall, but not skinny like the average Russian citizen. Especially not on the bust region. The only thing different about her was her nose, which was still tall, but not as prominent as his.
"You girls are still wasting time. Step aside."
The girls all looked behind them the same time as the boys looked over to where the voice came from.
The Italian girl stepped out of the doorway to let in someone else, a fierce-looking, tall woman. Her hair was blonde, cut into a neat pixie cut. Her eyes were a vibrant blue the same shade as the sea, but her glare towards the boys were as icy as the peak of the Everest. Her complexion was not pale, but at the same time not tan. Her skin had a natural rosy glow, probably because she knew exactly how to have a right lifestyle. She carried an intimidating aura—like the way the German country usually has—as she walked further into the room, her heels clicking intimidatingly on the floor.
Right behind her was a shorter, more petite girl. Her features gave off a hint that she was Asian—preferably Japanese. She had black hair styled into a bob cut. Her eyes were a bright chocolate brown. Though she was not wearing a kimono, but modern business wear, just like the rest of the girls. She silently stood right next to the Italian girl.
"Germany," the American girl walked up to her, "I told you, we got it covered!"
"Really?" She spoke in an icy German accent as she raised a brow at the American, "well if you have, then can you please tell me what reason they told you as to why they came here?"
The other girl opened her mouth, but she closed it again, but with a pout this time, as she raised her hands in defeat. "Okay fine." She turned around and muttered, "freaking show-off."
"Actually, Germany," the British one stepped up to her next, "we have found out something."
She turned towards her in response.
"Yes," the British said, "these boys—" she regarded the men still tied down on separate chairs. "Have been calling themselves as us."
"For example," the American spoke up again. She pointed a finger so near towards America's nose that he pulled back. "This four-eyed dude with a moon-hair thinks he's just as heroic as me."
"Excuse me!" America interjected, "I'm actually more heroic than you because I'm the real America!"
"And well," the British girl looked over to England, "you're the one he called England, correct?"
"Yes." England nodded.
"Ve~" the Italian girl beamed as she bounced towards them, "so which one of you is Italy?"
"Ciao~"
The girls turned to look at a brightly-smiling Italy, "that's me! Italy!"
"Ve~" she hopped towards him, "so do you love pizza just as much as I do?"
"Actually," Italy said, "I like pasta more."
The girl blinked, "Oh."
The American girl scoffed, "So they weren't telling—"
"It's alright! But you tell me what happened to you when you were a kid instead?" She asked him.
"Si." He answered. "I grew up under signore Austria. Signorina Hungary took care of me and guided me until I grew up. Oh, and my first love is a boy."
The girl gasped, "Ve... That's exactly like my childhood! Except that my first love is a girl."
"My turn." America said, and turned towards the blue-eyed, blonde girl of the same nationality. "Your favorite food in the whole world, like me, is hamburger."
"Eeengk!" The girl imitated the sound of a wrong answer in a game show, "Wrong! My favorite food is hotdog!"
America's mouth were left agape, "Hotdog... Well, you are a girl, so—"
"The heck is that supposed to mean?!" She flared.
"Nothing." He quickly replied, "Let me try again: so ever since you were a kid, you've dreamed of becoming free."
She stared at him intently as he continued.
"Everybody calls your best friend an alien because he's a weird-looking dude you just found in a UFO wreckage site thingy years ago. You may be the hero, but your only sibling always thinks that they're never good enough, although they just never really tried hard enough to see what they really are. You hate being called fat—but I think that's an exception since you're a girl. Oh, and when you wanted to be free, the actual way you did so... Wasn't exactly how you wanted it to go." He finished, then asked, "Should I keep going?"
She was now staring at him with wide eyes, she swallowed, then looked away from him, "No. I believe you now."
Everyone else looked from America and the girl.
"So," the British one spoke up, "they're telling the truth."
"England, not so fast, da." The Russian girl said, "You know, I always go by the saying: trust, but verify. So why don't we make sure that all of them are telling the truth, da?"
The British smiled, "Good idea."
She then turned to England, "So, how can you say that you and I are the same country?"
England smiled, "You have very charming companions, my lady. It's a shame your allies cannot see them. If only they can see the sparkles from the flutters of the blue fairies' wings, as well as your adorable flying pink bunny. Don't you agree with me?"
Her eyes widened in surprise, getting off guard. She looked over to her side where the pixies were at, looking at her with the same surprised expression. She then looked over to her flying pink bunny going over to his lap.
"One question," she looked at him again, "if you do see them, where do you think flying pink bunny is at?"
"Why, she's over here." He answered, looking down over his lap where the rose-furred rabbit with wings is looking up at him.
She then turned to the girls and stated, "I believe him."
The French maiden walked over to France and told him, "Monseur, I'd like to ask you a question for you to prove that you're also France, is that okay?"
France smiled at her and responded, "A fine idea, mademoiselle. Shoot."
"What did your first love do before..." She looked down, "I mean, what was the greatest thing your first love had done for you?"
France's smile turned solemn, and answered softly, "She fought, mademoiselle. Bravely. Risked her life against the Englishmen for her home. For her country... For me."
The maiden looked into his eyes for a moment, seeing their resemblance to hers.
She then looked to the girls, "There's history within his eyes... I believe him."
"So," the ashen-haired Russian girl went up to Russia. "What is your most favorite drink in the world?"
"Vodka, da!" He answered with a bright childlike smile.
"I believe him!" She concluded as she turned back around.
"What?" Her allies chorused.
"That's all you need, really?" The American asked her.
"Da." The Russian replied, "He seems alright to me. After all," she raised her shovel and continued, "if you even dare lie to Russia, you will regret it very much."
The male allies swallowed, except of course the carefree-looking Russian nation.
"So that means you're China, aru?" The petite little asian asked as she approached China from where he was bound up.
"Uh, shi, aru." China answered as he quickly scrutinized the girl. "And you're China too?"
"Shi." She nodded, "but if you really are China, give me two things We are first in doing?"
"The first to travel the whole world, and the first to build a steam engine." He answered easily.
"Who is your first adopted sibling?"
"Japan."
"Where did you find her?"
"Japan's actually a boy in my case, aru." He corrected, "and I found him by the bamboo."
"Okay." She nodded in confirmation, "but which sibling is the one you're irritated the most, aru?!"
China rolled his eyes with a groan before answering, "Korea."
"He real!" She concluded with astonishment.
"So that's the allies." The American girl stated, "which means you dudes," she pointed towards the remaining three boys, "are you girls." She then faced the female Axis.
"We're not quite sure yet." The German lady told her, stepping up towards the boys with her two allies with her.
"Who is your grandfather, by the way, ve?" The Italian girl asked Italy again.
"The Roman Empire, ve!" Italy answered enthusiastically.
"Etto..." The Japanese girl shifted awkwardly, "you're really Japan, ne?"
"Hai." Japan nodded. "I know it's confusing, desu. But I am."
"Just ask him anything that's about you, Japan, ve." The Italian girl told her.
The Japanese girl nodded towards her, then she faced Japan again. "So, if you really are Japan, why did you shut the rest of the world out centuries ago?"
Japan looked down meekly and answered. "I was just afraid that when the Europeans kept visiting our lands, everyone might convert into Christians and forget our own original culture and religion, desu."
The girl blinked, wide-eyed, then whispered, "You're right, desu."
The German woman looked at her ally, then her cool blue eyes landed to the blond-haired and blue-eyed man.
"So it seems you are Germany, ja?" She said, walking closer to him.
"Ja." He answered, meeting her gaze with the same iciness of his, "and you are, too?"
"Ja."
America leaned over to the American girl and whispered, "Is it just me or did it feel like it got colder."
"Either the thermostat automatically turned on," she replied, "or those two."
"So tell me," she leaned in, not seeming to be bothered by his glare, "how can you tell us that you're me, if your hands are still behind your back?"
"Actually," He responded without his eyes wavering from hers, "I've been saving the opportunity for emergency, but now that it seems to be the right time..."
Suddenly, the rope around Germany's wrists fell onto the floor and he held his hands in front.
The room suddenly fell in silence, with all countries' eyes on the two Germans in the room, with all of their mouths hanging agape.
"What?!" America cried, "Germany has superhuman strength?! What in the name of hamburgers—"
"How?" The woman demanded from Germany.
"A Germanic medieval knot technique," he answered her as he stands up, "very firm and keeps the wrist immobile, but can be unraveled by pulling the second-to-the-last loop. I assume that you were the one who tied us up when we were unconscious?"
She held his gaze for a moment, but with no expression painted on her face. No surprise, no annoyance, nothing. then, she turned to the rest of the ladies, "Girls."
the Italian female saluted, "Si, signorina Germania?"
"These men all seem to be telling the truth, as well as harmless." She stated, "You girls untie them." She turned her heel and walked out the door, "We will continue this meeting in the conference hall."
"Wait," the Italian called up, "how do you take it off again?"
Unfortunately, the door was already swung close.
A/N:
And just like that, I'm back~
Ugh! Finally Chap 2 is done!
So let me now work on their meetings
So if you want the next chap to be published sooner, then go click that orange star and let me know your thoughts in the comments!
Until the update!
—K8
