Chapter 8
Hey guys~ England part 2 now -u-
Thought I'd start thanking some of those who favourite and alerted, so-
Kobatanuki 2-C (U.S), Koure (U.S), 97chaoscat (U.S), somethingawkward (U.S?), TokyoTwinkle (U.S), MidnightTheHedgei777 (U.S), xNAHVx (?), chickenkitty (?), Geeres (U.K), Anactolica (U.K), and Maiya123 (U.S).
So, um… mainly greetings to those in the U.S! Thank you all! (Hello my fellow British~ is the weather better where you are? It seems just plain COLD here in the south of England, I don't know about you. Also, it never snowed over Christmas, which is a bummer)
Hope you like this… (I doubt sometimes ; n ;)
Anyway, enough of me, on with the chapter…
March 2010
"Alright, with these I can give a good plan of action… From what we were told, the front is in Poland…"
I frown at the notes and detailed plans one more time before placing them in my suitcase, ready to be taken to Paris for a brief with France. My eldest brother amongst the three sitting opposite me, Scotland, puts out his cigarette in my glass of water and says, "So you really want to do this."
That's the first thing he's said to me since he's sat down. Irritated to say the least, I reply, "Yes, I'm sure. Seeing as you three won't necessarily be joining me-"
"No-one said that. Just… not now." Wales interrupts, a tad bit shy under the suddenly tense atmosphere. Northern Ireland just sighs at us all.
"This is only one meeting. We can sort this out another time, lads. Let him have his playtime and we'll talk to him later."
Playtime…? "I'm joining a WAR, not off creating a new child's game." I glare at the brown haired Irishman with little patience, "This is serious."
"Well now, off you go Arthur. You don't want to miss your flight."
I roll my eyes at the dismissive reply and pick up my things, leaving the Houses of Parliament after permission from my boss. France will be expecting me. We spoke only an hour ago about what we were going to put forward as our contributions to the war effort. I can supply equipment, bring in troops, especially my navy if need be, and can most certainly contribute to the front in Warsaw. The phone call from a week ago has, rather reluctantly, been pushed out of my mind for now, because of this war in Europe. Of course, I'm still highly concerned with Canada and America's safety, but the frustration of being able to do nothing cannot help me in this war. This is all about prioritising. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are neutral as of today, but will supply good none the less towards the output of Britain. I'm used to representing the four of us, so I don't expect a huge amount of military contribution from the three of them. No doubt some will join, but…
I take my flight to Paris in haste. I spend the time restlessly checking through my suitcase to double check, triple check that I have my plans.
… whilst trying not to look at my mobile so much. The temptation to try and contact America… or his boss… since the first phone call, I have been given vague information on the incident. Mr Anderson, or whatever his name is, has told me that America's disappearance is still a mystery along with Canada's. He left his phone, his wallet, his car keys - all his belongings at home, as if he walked out, or… I haven't been told whose blood was amongst Russia's, but there was definitely a separate assault. The one piece of information I wanted, and I still don't know if the both of them are okay.
Apparently Russia has been sent to the morgue for analysis. The sheer thought of that makes my blood run cold. I still can't believe he's dead. Belarus was bad enough, but Russia too? What could have possibly led to this? Of all the wars, no country has died, for centuries. Never before has a nation died in a war in such a - seemingly easy way. Not since… the Roman Empire, I believe. To compare such a powerful nation as him to two I've known since I was barely a nation myself… it makes my life - my duty, everything I had thought to be above the life of a mortal human, to be… weak.
I have lived for nearly 2000 years. I am, or rather, I had always thought… I was practically immortal. I've survived war after war, epidemics, extreme conditions - everything. I've lived through generations of Kings and Queens, I've seen my own Empire rise and fall…
… I have seen nations grow up, some to grow up to fight me when I am no longer important in their lives.
Through all this, to hear that a country can die from a single gunshot, a stab in a fatal place, anything… it burns down any security of being safe that I had built from my long life as a nation. Russia died of a slit throat, Belarus died from falling out a window.
How will I die?
I never even thought about it before now.
If I die, what will happen to my people? Will they live under a different name? Will my people no longer live in England, and instead my land will be adopted under another's? I can't possibly imagine what will happen to Russia and Belarus' land. All I know is that their people are alive - and invading.
I feel ill from the ideas reeling inside my head. What will happen to us… will we be able to defend ourselves if the enemy grows stronger?
Again, the small voice at the back of my conscience asks where is America and Canada?
If only I could -
My phone rings. In a sudden panic I pick it up, "H-hello?"
"It's France. We've lost contact with Germany."
I pause to let that sink in.
"What? Completely?"
"Our connections cut off. We can't contact any of them."
"Shit… what are we going to do?"
I hear him sigh. He sounds stressed, "I don't know. How long is it until you arrive?"
"About half an hour."
"Get here as soon as you can. I'll see you soon."
Once I've landed in Paris, I head straight to the meeting room. France is waiting at the gates. He hurries me in. Once we're inside, he faces me with a grim expression.
"They've been pushed out of Warsaw. That's the last I heard before I was cut off."
"There must be some way of getting hold of them…"
"I've tried everything. I can only guess that the Soviets were something to do with it."
"It's possible…"
"D'accord… this is what we're going to do. We'll send over our troops without joint consent from the rest of the nations and hope we'll find them on the way-"
I frown, automatically cynical, "Wait a tick, isn't that a little reckless?"
"When you've lived as long as I have, reckless is sometimes good, mon cher."
"Back when we used swords and arrows, maybe - but we're talking about now! We could be wiped out if we tried doing this on our own-! What if we don't find them and have to face the whole bloody Soviet army by ourselves?"
"We either send our troops or sit here like ducks, Angleterre…"
"Then we wait." I cross my arms, scowling, "I'm not charging in without thorough plans."
"If you think that's the way to go…" Reluctant, he gives in to waiting, "All we can do is look like imbeciles until then. You know… we could always promote an alliance with Spain."
"We wouldn't get very far. I'm sure he would rather stay neutral."
"This isn't a normal war, Arthur. Don't you see it? Riots are happening, everywhere. Not just in Russia. Something is happening. A global revolution - I don't know, but this is going to keep spreading. I can feel it… this is bigger than World War 2. "
Trying to hide my growing anxiety, I ask, "Wh-what are you suggesting? A third World War…?"
France's expression darkens.
"I'm afraid it's arrived."
"I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones."
AHHHHH I'm sorry these chapters are so short! I'll try to make them longer -shot-
