10/24

"I'm driving," Prussia said once more.

"No you're not," Hungary answered. "Or if you are, we're going to change pairs."

"Fine with me, missy," Prussia hissed. Anyone looking could see air crackling with electricity between them. Germany could do nothing but sigh.

"Oh, please stop fighting you two," Lithuania pleaded from the next snowmobile in line. "Besides, it's already been decided, no use arguing over it."

"Those two fight whether its useful or not, you'd better just give up, Lithuania," Switzerland said with a disapproving voice. "It's true that they are too loud and irritating, but as long as I have no permission to shoot them..." He glared in warning, deathly sharp daggers at the fighting duo who sensed the bloodthirst wafting in their direction and settled down for the time being, if still ready to fight at the drop of a hat.

"It worked." Estonia raised his eyebrow, amazed.

"Good work comrade Switzerland," Russia patted his shoulder. "We must not fight with each other."

"Don't touch me!"

"Shall we depart already?" China sighed. "We have no interminable amount of time in our hands."

"Agreed," Germany added. "We've decided the pairs and the General will show us the way from here on so get on your vehicles already."

Nine snowmobiles were ready to depart; only their drivers had scattered around the place, all doing various things they shouldn't be doing. When the combined bloodthirst of Switzerland (who wanted the mission over as soon as possible), Germany (who wanted order), Sweden (who wanted to save Finland) and Russia (who wanted everyone to get along) hit all the unfortunates they finally started to gather up and quiet down.

Two people could ride one snowmobile, so pairs were decided mainly so that all those who had in some cases not even been on a snowmobile before or just had no discernable talent with one could go with someone who had and did. Unfortunately this lead to the pairing up of Prussia and Hungary, who ended up as the ones left over and became the only pair in which both passengers could do the driving. The rest of the pairs were less catastrophic. Only Belarus was in a bad mood again because she still couldn't be together with her older brother, but was stuck with Greece instead. He was snuggling closer and closer behind her, and Belarus was getting closer and closer to shoving him off his seat and leaving him behind.

Since everyone was here for the same reason and had themselves decided to come, it was relatively easy for them to keep going, despite the occasional hindrances such as currently Italy who wanted to finish his snow sculpture no matter what. When Germany noted that he'd be left behind if he wasn't on his seat behind the German in two seconds, he moved remarkably quickly however. It took him five and a half seconds, but Germany let that slip. When Italy was finally on his seat they were ready to depart. The sound that came when nine snowmobiles started at the same time was quite impressive and first slowly, but gradually a little faster the vehicles disappeared from the parking lot.

"Russia!" China raised his voice over the engines. "Where are we actually going?"

"Only the General knows," Russia answered loudly. "Hang on tight, comrade China, there is going to be a bump."

After a moment Switzerland drove his and England's vehicle beside them. The Englishman shouted something Russia didn't quite hear, but it got him listening closely enough to hear the next one.

"This city is said to be the hometown of Grandfather Frost, right?" England asked, holding Switzerland's shoulders tightly to not fall off while leaning towards the other snowmobile. "Why are we leaving the town?"

"Velikiy Ustyug is just currently the only place where one can move to the separate dimension where Old man lives," General Winter answered on Russia's behalf. For some reason, he didn't seem to have to raise his voice to be heard. "He has to live in a hidden place, otherwise his home would be a tourist trap."

Switzerland did something that looked like huffing and said something, but the sound didn't reach anyone.

"What?" England shouted back.

"I can so understand him!" Switzerland barked over his shoulder.

At their left, Prussia and Hungary were having another argument but the loud noise of the mobiles did a good job of covering their voices. Denmark and Sweden were driving close enough to the old rivals to hear them, apparently, as Denmark appeared to be participating the conversation. It seemed to England that he was also preventing Sweden from changing course, while Sweden looked like he would gladly be somewhere where he didn't have to listen. England cringed in sympathy.

.-.-.-.-.-.-.

"We're changing dimensions," General Winter said. Despite that they were all still driving his voice carried to everyone. "You might get a little dizzy and whirly for a while, so please slow those machines of yours down. If you feel like throwing up afterwards, please do it somewhere I can't see. Seeing green bunnies for a few minutes after the transition is perfectly normal. If you however feel anything like your eyes and toes having switched places you're probably allergic to the other dimension and should go see a doctor, which we regrettably don't have anywhere nearby so you'll most likely soon have a fit and die."

The nations were suddenly very silent. Even Hungary and Prussia had stopped arguing. Quite a few switched off their snowmobiles immediately and when the others noticed it, the whole expedition stopped. Italy and Poland looked ready to go back immediately and many others looked very suspicious. Lithuania's expression clearly said 'why me?', and only Hong Kong remained in perfect deadpan. Russia smiled.

"That was not nice, General," he chuckled.

"Okay, you won't die, it was a joke," the General admitted and gave a long exhale, producing a small cloud in front of him that soon started snowing. "And getting an allergic reaction is extremely rare, I've seen only two people falling victim to that."

"Was that supposed to make this easier for us?" England asked rolling his eyes and nodded to Italy who really wanted to go home. Germany patted him to calm him down.

"There's totally a limit what I'll do for Finland," Poland put in, hugging himself tightly. "What could that kind of illness, like, do to my skin?"

Lithuania sighed and shook his head. Since they had already come this far he figured they could as well continue to search for Finland, and Poland was not going to be the one to back out. "Poland. I've heard that crossing dimensions is good for your hair."

"Honestly?" Poland screamed and grabbed Lithuania's waist tightly again. "Let's go then!"

"That was quick," Turkey mumbled to Estonia's ear and the Baltic nodded.

"Lithuania is used to that."

"Wait a moment," Germany interrupted when the expedition was about to start forwards again. "I was wondering about this before, but..." He frowned. "Won't they notice us if we come there this loudly?"

"Now when you mention it," England agreed and they all turned to look at their guide.

General Winter didn't look concerned. "Leave it to me. I'll fly near the castle before you and fill the air with small ice crystals that reflect all the sound back. Since they're small, you can't see them, so the Old man won't notice you unless you're just horribly out of luck."

"Cool!" America exclaimed and nudged Hong Kong in excitement. "I mean... fucking cool! Won't you borrow me those crystals?"

"Or me, I'm more awesome," Prussia suggested with a grin. Hungary glared at him, knowing exactly what was he planning to do with them.

"The likes of you can't control them. Only I can," General answered, crushing all their dream castles of Awesome. "Now, shall we, ladies and gentlemen?"

"Any time," Belarus said. She gave Greece another violent shove in hopes that he would learn to keep his distance.

They started the engines again and the journey continued. They were only just gathering speed when everyone's vision blurred for a few seconds. When it cleared again, the landscape had changed and now instead of a forest they were driving on a wide snowy field.

Turkey whistled but no one heard it. Now that they were driving closer to each other, in the open and slower it was possible to hear a little more though. And no one got sick, luckily.

"Germany! Look!" Italy cheered and pointed somewhere to the field. "It's a green bunny!"

"Er..." Germany muttered and glanced in the direction to be polite only to be surprised. "Oh, there really is..."

"I didn't see that, I didn't see that..." Switzerland chanted to himself.

"Hey, Old Freezer!" Prussia surprised everyone by suddenly shouting out loudly. "Is this the right direction?"

"Freezer...?" General repeated doubtfully, before nodding a yes. "It's a one day trip in that direction."

"Okay!" Prussia cheered, grinning viciously. "Last one out of the field is France's pet until New Year! I'm not gonna lose to you!" Saying this, he already picked up speed and took the lead.

"Hey!" America objected and followed quickly. "False start! Prussia!"

"Ah! That sounds fun!" Italy laughed, jumping up and down on his seat. "Let's go, Germany! Germany!" he demanded. The German sighed and picked up their speed (he really didn't want to be France's kitten for a week). The other pair who was even more desperate not to lose, although both of them had rolled their eyes to the idea of a race, was England and Switzerland. The penalty would have been plenty enough incentive, but it was also Prussia who had declared the challenge.

"Come on, come on!" Poland hit Lithuania's back. "You can't lose! Who knows what France will do to you! I can't let that happen! Go, go, go, go! "

"Yes, yes, I heard you, shut up," Lithuania sighed in defeat and sped up, although they were already a great deal behind. Behind them followed Russia who was laughing again and having the time of his life, China looking terrified behind him. Belarus was immediately behind him, following his brother like a shadow, while Greece seemed to have fallen asleep. Sweden and Denmark were already far ahead. Both had immediately agreed to the race, in fact Denmark had almost fallen off when Sweden had stepped on the gas before he had even fully understood what the Prussian had said. Currently they were already beside Prussia and Hungary, America cursing up a storm in their wake. Everyone was determined to do anything to win.

Almost everyone, anyway. No one noticed that one snowmobile still kept to the basic rules of not driving like mad with a borrowed snowmobile, in unknown terrain, during a secret mission.

Turkey looked at his driver, interested. "You're not going?"

"I. Am. Not," Estonia answered very slowly, wondering why even Germany had abandoned him. Especially when he had said he'd come with to keep them level-headed.

"Oh." Turkey shrugged and went back to watching the scenery. At least he could watch the landscapes better. It wasn't everyday you get to go to a different dimension. And France could be interesting.

A/N: NuttyEmmy: http: / / xkcd. com /391/