Hey guys! Short chapter today! (Or not!)

Anonchan1: True and true. Also true, and I would hope so. I don't even want to know. Right and I don't know... I get it now and it is adorable! Lucky! Not so lucky, was it poisonous? Remember a few times how I'll say in the actual story that LL blanketed a country in her aura (The most recent I can remember is Greece when he came to help Charlemagne's daughter) and it's not that different here. If a nation is surrounded by an aura and one close to them spreads their's out and wraps it around person A's, then it's like a double sided shield. The person under it can't sense outward and anyone else can't sense the person under it. Does that make sense? He would be. Height is actually a sensitive topic for Prussia- if he had had better nutrition growing up, he would be a centimeter or two taller. Our favorite albino didn't get enough to eat growing up! Between them, their promises hold, they have to. It was another agreement they have and they manage together with them. It'll come up. Prussia heard a voice snickering (in my opinion) "CONGRATULATIONS. CONGRATULATIONS. YOU ARE-", But I think you know who the troll is. England, who has more energy than Liberty did when she first found out, passed out and Liberty's been using her magic more and more over the years, along with a huge burst in the 1400s, slowly depleting her. They're it absolutely killed her to treat Teuton the way she did in Chapter three of the main story. Hell, I'm going back and it's killing me!


France looked around the table, "Well? who's going to speak first?"

"Well..." Germany said, looking around. Canada took the hint and picked it up, looking at America.

"America, this all started with a single word from you, but you have nothing to do with the Thing, do you? Is it safe to assume that it's just a coincidence that it looks like Tony? That's all I want you to confirm," He said, crossing his arms.

He cocked his head, "Hm? You think they look alike? I don't think so, though... Anyway, I definitely have nothing to do with it."

Prussia faced down his nephew, "Yeah? Then, if we are to believe you, we're in even bigger trouble." America bowed his head. His days under Von Steuben weren't lost and he still listened to the albino more than his brothers.

"...You don't blame me?" Japan sat forward in his seat.

"What?" Prussia shook his head and went to put a hand on the blonde's shoulder in comfort. He looked like he wanted to lean away from the touch, but the comparative child leaned into the man's hand.

"It's pretty much my fault that you got dragged into this. If I hadn't bugged you about it, none of this would have happened," Alfred whispered, looking away. Liberty sighed and the other were silent in shock.

He chuckled, "I thought you'd blame me more. I'm rather disappointed. But it's okay for you to get made at me now."

Japan breathed, "America..."

"Is that really what you think?" China laughed, hiding his grin behind his hand.

The brit facepalmed, "You really have hamburgers for brains. Stop spouting nonsense."

"Well, sure, this may have started with a word from you...but we're the ones who went along with it, eh?" Canada asked, looking his brother in the eye.

"Yes, yes. We could have chosen not to come, but we hose to come with you," France said, leaning forward to get his point across.

Russia smiled, "You're the one who laid down the rails, but we're the ones who chose to walk on it. It's not your fault."

"I thought I raised you better, Freddie. You can't take all the credit yourself for a group's actions," Liberty said with a smiled.

Her son covered his eyes and sniffled quietly, "I see. Thank you. If you say so, I..."

Germany smiled at his long-distance family, "That's why we need to work together. By joining forces like never before, we'll make it through."

Liberty nodded and raised a hand, "Can we please address something questionable?" Germany hummed and she sighed. "Can we please call the monster something? I'm getting sick of calling it the beast."

"What else are we supposed to call it?" France asked, looking at her amused.

She flushed, "My vote is Steve."

America's eyes widened and he stood, slamming his fists on the table, "WHAT THE HELL MOM?!"

"What? Because of your precious avengers?!" She yelled, standing and slamming her hands on the table in a nearly identical manner.

"If it makes America react like this, I'm all for it," England said with a grin.

France hummed and Japan looked at her curiously, "Why give it a name?"

She frowned and looked at him, "If it installed this much fear in us, shouldn't we give it an appropriate name. Also," she added looking at America, "Over The Hedge."

He sat back down and slammed his head into the table, "Moooooooooommmmmmm, noooooooo." Germany sighed.

"All in favor of naming it 'Steve'?" The only one who didn't raise his had was America, "Alright then. It's new name is Steve."

"Goddamn you mom," America whined. Prussia chuckled and ruffled his hair.

The room was silent until Venie looked up, "...Hey."

Germany looked at him, "What?"

He tapped the tips of his fingers together, "Um, well. Can you listen to me? There is...something I want to tell you."

"S-sure go ahead..." Japan said.

"Then, can you all come with me to the basement? If we're not there, I can't talk."

Liberty looked at him, "Feliciano? What's going on?" She asked in the earliest form of Lombardic she knew. It was one of the only languages that only the Italian siblings knew, other than maybe Estonia and Lithuania.

He smiled and responded in kind, "Trust me." She nodded bumping into his shoulder lightly. There was only one main thing in the basement and that was the cell. The woman had an inkling of what her brother wanted to do and he knew it. The man was counting on the fact that she would trust his decisions.

"The basement? Can't you just talk here?" Prussia asked, placing his hand on his blade.

Veneziano shook his head, "It's really important, so...please. I feel I'll only be able to talk if we're there."

Germany crossed his arms, " I see. Then let's all head down there. But before that, I also have somewhere I want to go."

"Where?" England asked as he stood. His grimoire was on the table and there was a fresh grease mark on the edge, obviously freshly read.

The taller man grunted, "The cave with the burnt ropes. I saw something lying on the ground, but I couldn't pick it up at the time."

Japan nodded, "All right. Let's all go together, then."

"Yeah! ...Thank you," Veneziano said, but his smile was twisted around as always. The group trickled out again and Liberty grabbed her brother's shoulder.

"I'm trusting your decision, but I'm also trusting your ability to not do anything stupid," She growled in Lombardic.

He smiled sadly, "If we get out out of here, you can hit me if I do."

"Only if it's really bad. You're smart, I've told you time and time again," Liberty whispered and pulled him into a hug. He paused and curled his arms around her.

Veneziano missed moments like these. He knew it would happen over and over again, but he could feel the love and trust in those hugs. It made him feel guilt when he remembered all the times he failed her. When he tried to save her from dying, but she was so headstrong. He was happy that Prussia was here to keep her reined in, but even the other times he was with her, she would always be the first to... She hated the thought of not being able to save her family when she even had a child at home. He had found out a while ago about Carina, but he promised her he wouldn't interfere. After all, she did the same with his plans. If he ever got out of there with everyone else, even if she made it, he would keep an eye out on the little one for her. It was the least he could do.

Prussia smiled and waited for them. He was a little angry he couldn't understand what the two were saying, but he had to trust them. The Italian family, even if was large by their standards, were still thick as thieves. It was occasionally a joke among the other countries that the Italians would stick to whoever would likely win, switching sides as often necessary to achieve that. It was another reason some wanted Liberty to get a DNA test. To Veneziano and Romano's shocked joy, she had venomously refused. "I AM NOT LETTING ANYONE GET ANOTHER CLAIM TO ME. I AM ITALIAN AND GET THAT THROUGH YOUR SKULLS."

He chuckled at the memory and a finger flicked him under the nose, "Come on, we're going to be late." He nodded and closed the door after the siblings. He had a bad feeling about this.


Veneziano smiled bitterly as they all gathered in the cell room. Liberty was looking at him passively and he couldn't appreciate it more. "Before I say anything, I have a favor to ask of you. You, see, there's a box inside the cell, isn't there?"

They looked at it through the bars and China hummed, "Yeah. That one, right? What about it?"

He looked at it sadly,"Can you open it for me? I can't open it, and I want to see what's inside."

America slammed a fist to his chest, "Then I, the hero, will open it!" He, China and France walked into the cell and go to the box in the top right corner.

"What's in that box?" Canada asked as he peeked in through the doorway.

He paused, "Err...Hope?" Canada cocked his head, but didn't say anything more.

America grunted as he pulled on the lid, "Huh? What the hell?! It won't open at all!"

"You're pathetic. Give me that," England said as he sauntered it. Prussia followed closely to see him fail.

"Maybe it's locked?" Russia suggested, watching England fail. He and Canada joined the others. Liberty looked over to her brother, back to the cell and back, raising an eyebrow. Veneziano paused for a moment and nodded.

Germany walked towards them, "Let me try." Venie put a hand on the blonde's shoulder.

"Germany." The man waited and Japan entered the prison to join the others.

"What is it?"

Veneziano cocked his head and smiled sweetly, "You just found something, didn't you? Maybe it's some kind of clue. Can't I take a look?"

Germany blinked in confusion and handed it over, "You mean this? I don't think it's much, but...oh, well..." The shorter man took it with a nod and stuck it in his pocket. Germany frowned, "Italy-" The man shoved his shoulder into Germany's side and slammed the door shut.

The nations, all but Liberty and America charged forward. Japan looked at his friend in disguised heartbreak, "Italy?!"

"Hey, America, why don't you say it?" He asked, looking up. His eyes were full of tears, but he couldn't feel them in his shell.

The man clenched his fists as the others looked at him, "Italy!"

"Say it. In front of everyone. Who lured them here?" He snarled.

China took a step back and his face was horrified, "What are you talking about?!"

"America?" Russia asked, turning to his old 'friend'.

The Italian walked to the cell door and rested his head on one of the bars. "By the way, there's nothing in that box. It's just an empty box. Sorry."

"It can't be...What's the meaning of this?!" Canada asked, looking to his friend in growing terror.

England growled and turned to his little brother, "Hey, America, what's going on here? What are you hiding?!" He remained quiet.

"Huh? Aren't you going to say it? Why not? Read the atmosphere for once!" Venie cried, gripping the bar he was resting on.

Germany stood in front of his friend and grabbed the same bar, but it was too thick to touch him, "Italy! Open this door!

He smiled with a falling spirit, "Aww, but if I open it, you'll get mad at me. Then again, you already are."

Germany slammed his hand into the cell door, "Son of a-"

"Italy..." Prussia breathed, watching his old friend.

"Aren't you going to say it? Fine, then. You see, I'm the one who told him the rumors about this place," He cried, throwing his hands up.

France's eyes widened, "What?"

Veneziano trembled and Liberty wanted to do nothing more than to run and hug him, "I'm the one who told america about this place. And then America immediately went to ask everyone to come check it out~" America was quiet.

Japan's eyes flew back and forth between nothing, "Th-then..." The man swallowed and nodded.

"Right. It wasn't America who started it. Because I told him. That's why you're all here now."

Prussia's face was full of shock as he leaned on the bars, "You told him? You're kidding, right? Why?"

He shrugged, "No reason in particular. I just happened to hear the rumors about this place, too, and then I told America~"

Liberty growled, "Bullshit. You don't remember." He bowed his head and she knew she was right.

"Why did you lock us up here?" France asked, changing the subject.

"Hmm...Because you would get in the way? You'd gang up on me and ruin all my plans. So, just stay there for a while, okay?" He asked.

"You're fucking kidding me! I'll just-Shit! Because time's stopped, my magic-" England began.

Veneziano cocked his head, "Ah, that's right. Thank you~ You were really helpful! Well, I'll be going now. Thank you for finding this for me, Germany~ You, too, America; Grazie, Sorellona, for trusting me; thanks for everything!".

America was silent and he smirked bitterly, "...You really should have learnt to smile a little more naturally." Venie stiffened. "Did you forget what we said yesterday? The one who laid out the rails... Yeah, it was you. But I chose to run on them. I could have chosen not to, but I chose to get on those rails. No one thinks it's your fault."

Venie was silent, even when Japan wasn't, "Italy! Please, open it! You don't have to do this alone! We can all-all together-get out of here-!"

He shook his head sadly, "...No. We can't."

"Italy!" Germany roared, hitting the bars again.

"I'll tell you one more thing. The Thi- er, Steve, is after me. That's why no matter how many of us are gathered together, it will target me and attack me first. That's why I tried to keep close to the doors as much as possible, though it was a little pointless. This ends here. I'll make this the last time. ...If I come back, give me a good scolding."

Liberty sighed and reached a thin hand through to her brother, "Come back soon, Italia. I didn't become a pictonian for you for nothing." Veneziano smiled at her sadly and grabbed her hand and brought it to his face. She caressed his face for what she hoped wasn't the last time and it grew wet.

"I'll try, Sorellona. You're going back to your little Bambina in no time," He cried and pulled away and out the door. Liberty sobbed and slid tot he floor, listening to her friends bash on the things keeping them from saving their friend. The warriors with swords tried slicing at the metal, but it was no use. Prussia came and pulled a trembling and sobbing Liberty into his arms.

"Why did you do that, Amalia? You knew, so why?"

"I trust Venie. I know he's trying h-his best, and I promised long ago that I-I would stand behind his decisions if it came down to it."

He growled, "Damnit Amalia."

She snarled and looked at him, "Like you would have done any different for your brother. Venie has had his mind torn apart so many times and he doesn't have Luciano." Prussia paused and shrunk back. After all, he remembered what it was like to lose Gilen. He nodded and put his forehead on hers. "Thank you. Let's just try to get out."

Then, hope appeared. Spain walked in and a grin lit up his face. "Whoa! Wh-what is this?! What are you all doing?!"

"Someone showed up..." China said in disbelief.

The Spaniard cocked his head happily, "Huh? What?! A zoo?! A world zoo?! Do not touch or feed the nations?!"

"I can't believe it...Is this for real!?" France laughed.

"Oh, I just remembered! By the way, don't you guys have a ladder or anything like that? Roma-" Liberty's heart sank.

Germany slammed his hand on the bars again, "Spain! Open this cell!"

Spain jumped back, "Ack...! Wh-what? What do you mean? I mean, didn't Ita come this way?"

"We'll explain the situation later! Just open this cell first! Please!" Japan begged. Spain nodded and went to open the cell and Prussia and Liberty were the last ones out.

"Go ahead, I need to get my life together," Liberty whispered. Prussia looked at her and nodded, tapping on her gun carefully.

"Fire that if you need us. We'll come running." She nodded again and she was left to her thoughts. Leaning on the wall by the door, she hoped and all but prayed that her brothers were smarter than the way they were acting. A door opened and she went out of her own.

Hazel eyes met her own and she growled. They widened and their owner tried to run back, but Liberty grabbed his collar and slugged him in the face, "DAMNIT ROMANO. I WANTED ONE BROTHER TO NOT JUMP IN HERE AND WHAT THE FUCK TO YOU DO?"

He grabbed his face in shock, but he frowned, "What the hell, Ragazza! I came to-" She pulled him into a hug and started crying.

"You piece of shit. You aren't supposed to be here. I was worried I was never going to see you again." Romano chuckled and knocked on her head a few times, maybe a little roughly, but she deserved it.

"Are you ok, Liberty? You just hit like a girl." She cried and tightened her grip on her brother and he rubbed her back. "You're ok, I'm here."

"I know. I wish you weren't. I lost you once already," Liberty bawled. Romano smiled. "I didn't want to have to worry about you."

He pulled her away, "Hey, you're one of my citizens, I'm supposed to be the one worrying about you." They laughed.


That was weird and I'm pretty sure not a short chapter anymore. And about this last part, Liberty will almost never assault her brothers (They can count on maybe one hand), but they went and did something stupid. What would you do in her situation?