Chapter 10
"Peut-on se reposer un moment? Dieu, je suis si fatigué ... "
"Shut up, France," Switzerland snapped irritably. "We've barely been walking for two hours."
"But mon amie... I am so tired," France muttered, his hands reaching up to brush a few limps strands of his soft blonde hair away from his face.
"Yes, we got that, thank you France," Japan growled, his normally polite attitude gone as he stared intently at the cat that wove through the trees in front of him. "If you are so tired, go back and stay with Liechtenstein."
France frowned and was silent for a moment, his eyes moving to follow the cat that had somehow convinced Vash and Kiku to leave the safe zone. He knew he shouldn't have whined, but...
I am scared, France admitted silently. I am scared of what we will find... only I cannot let the others know this. They would think that I was weak.
"You don't have to complain to hide your feelings, you know," a slightly arrogant voice pointed out from somewhere beside the Frenchman. France glanced down at the Chinese man who had moved close to his side at some point, his light blue eyes narrowing in confusion as he tried to figure out what China meant.
"We are all frightened," China continued, ignoring France's scrutiny. "You have friends missing, Switzerland and Japan do not know if their loved ones are safe, and I cannot find most of my own family. So you see, we all worry about what we will find at the end of this journey. There is no need to hide your feelings for fear of being weak."
Francis frowned, wondering if the Asian nation had somehow learned how to read minds during his thousand years of existence.
"I can tell from the expression on your face what you are thinking," Wang Yao muttered, once again guessing the Frenchman's thoughts. "Your expressions are very easy to read, Francis."
"I see..." France's frown deepened and he glanced back at the cat that Switzerland and Japan were following a few feet ahead. Was he really that easy to read? Was that a weakness? He supposed, in some circumstances, it could be... so why did he suddenly feel comforted by the other country's words? Perhaps he enjoyed being understood for once.
Vash gave a shocked yell from the front, immediately drawing the attention of his companions. China and France hurried to join Japan at the Swiss' side, their eyes sweeping the trees for any sign of danger.
"What is it, Vash?" Japan demanded, his hand going instinctively to the sword strapped at his side.
"I thought I saw-," Switzerland began, his gaze locked on a particular patch of trees almost directly in front of them.
"Mathieu?" France interrupted, his mouth falling open when he caught sight of the blonde Canadian walking beside England. "Mon cher enfant, what are you doing out here?"
"P-papa?" Matthew called in reply, his quiet voice carrying easily through the trees.
"Ah, hell," Romano's irritated voice came from somewhere ahead of Canada and England. "Not more of these morons..."
"Ve~ Japan? Is that you?"
"Italy?" Japan blinked, shocked by the sudden appearance of his former ally as the younger Italian appeared at Canada's side.
"What the hell- Dude! Francis!" Prussia called loudly, his red eyes flashing happily as he joined the small crowd that was now gathered in front of Switzerland and his companions. "You're okay! Had the awesome me worried for a bit... Antonio's here too, by the way, although good luck getting him away from that little Italian shrimp... kid's more protective than you are, Switzy."
Switzerland didn't reply to the taunt, his eyes now focused entirely on the small blonde girl that seemed to be hiding behind Prussia and a newly-arrived Sweden, her purple ribbon barely visible over the shoulders of the two men.
"Lila?" he gasped in shock.
Liechtenstein peeked tentatively around the side of the quiet Swede, her eyes wide. She smiled sheepishly at her brother, waiting warily for his reaction.
"H-hello, big brother," she mumbled, her cheeks going a bright red when he glared at her.
"What are you doing out here? I told you to stay home and be safe!" Vash snarled, his blue-green eyes flashing furiously.
"I... I wanted to come too," Lila whispered.
"You wanted to come? What do you think this is, some damn camping trip? This is dangerous, Liechtenstein! You don't even have an army, how am I supposed to fight when I'm too busy worrying about you?"
"G'v 't a r'st," Sweden interrupted suddenly, his deep blue eyes flashing behind his glasses. "Sh' w'nts t' h'lp, s' l't h'r. Sh's br'v' t' g' 'n h'r 'wn."
Switzerland glared at the Nordic country, his mouth opening to argue.
"Please, Switzerland, just let it go," Canada added, his voice surprisingly loud for once. "Let Liechtenstein help. We're going to keep her out of the fighting, of course, but she can help free some of the captured countries. Besides, it's not like you're the only one with friends to worry about."
Vash felt his cheeks redden and he glared at the Canadian before returning his gaze to his sister, his eyes softening when he saw the tears that were gathering in her wide eyes.
"Very well," he muttered reluctantly. "But stay close to me or one of the others, alright? Don't put yourself in danger... only focus on freeing the others."
Lila nodded eagerly, her expression grateful. Switzerland sighed in recognition and walked to his sister's side, his arm going around her shoulder protectively.
"Where are you all going?" he asked.
"To free the other countries, duh," Prussia responded immediately.
Switzerland rolled his eyes impatiently.
"I meant, where do you think that the countries are being held?"
"In the aliens' ship a few miles north of here," a new voice interjected quietly. A tall German with long blonde hair and worn armor detached himself from the trees, Romano and Spain at his sides. "I'm Germania," the German added, seeing the question in Switzerland, France, and the Asian nation's eyes. "The grandfather of Prussia and Germany."
"Like Grandpa Rome!" Italy piped up happily, his hand already latched around Japan's arm.
"Italy-san... please do not touch me," Japan sighed, his lips curving unwillingly into a small smile.
"Ve~ but Japan is so comfy! Not like Germany but..." The Italian's face darkened at the mention of the missing country, his grip loosening slightly on Japan's arm. Kiku blushed in shame at having brought up his other ally and gently patted Feliciano on the head.
"We will find him soon," he assured the nation. He turned to look at the others, his brown eyes going immediately to Germania. "You seem to be the leader... what is our plan?"
Germania shook his head, a wry smile twisting his lips.
"I can only lead you to the ship and help you hold off the aliens," he argued. "You must figure out the rest for yourselves."
"We need people to get the captured countries off of the ship," England piped up immediately.
"Some of us need to help Opa hold off the aliens," Prussia added, his tone uncharacteristically serious. "Even if Rome helps, he can't hold the aliens off alone."
"I will help," Canada spoke up suddenly, causing several countries to stare at the normally silent boy in shock. "I have my rifle with me, and I'm a good shot. It'll give us more time if we can kill the aliens at long range."
"I'll fight with Germania and... Canada? Yes, Canada," Switzerland added fiercely. "But my sister goes to free the captured countries. I want her out of the fighting."
"'ll l'k 'ft'r h'r," Sweden muttered. "Sh' c'n h'lp m' fr' m' w'f."
Liechtenstein nodded in agreement, her fingers playing anxiously with the damp purple ribbon in her hair.
"I want to help the captured countries," Japan added quietly. "Although I want to help in the fight..."
"I will fight, little brother," China interrupted quickly. "You take care of our family."
"And you can still fight the aliens if they get too close while you're freeing the others," France pointed out. "Besides, we do need some fighters to protect the captured countries in case they are too weak to fight, non?"
"What are you going to do, frog?" England demanded.
"I could ask you the same question, Angleterre. I will help where ever I am needed."
"Arthur will want to be with those who are freeing the other countries," Canada said suddenly. "So perhaps Papa will help me and Vash?"
"Oui, of course, mon petit Mathieu."
"I will help fight as well, si?" Spain added.
"Oh no you don't, bastard," Romano snapped. "You're still injured and weak. No way in hell am I letting you fight."
"Lo siento, Lovi, but I must."
Romano frowned and bit his lip, his hazel eyes flickering to his twin.
"Then I fight too," he said stubbornly. "I won't leave this stupid bastard."
"Lovi," Spain argued worriedly. "You don't like fighting. Help the others-."
"I don't give a damn about the others," Lovino snapped, ignoring the other countries present. "All I care about is you and Feli. I won't leave you when you're injured, Antonio! I won't!"
"Stop, Lovi!" Spain interrupted, his green eyes flashing angrily. "We don't have time for this. You cannot fight, and I won't let you get yourself killed because of your pride."
"You think this is about pride, bastardo?" Romano screamed.
"Ve~ this isn't the best time, Lovino," Italy interrupted anxiously. "Please, can you wait until we've rescued Germany?"
"Shut the hell up, Feliciano!" Lovino snapped.
"He's right, Lovi," Spain insisted, his tone softening as he tried to soothe the angered Italian. "Please, help tu hermano, por favor? For me?"
Romano glared at the Spaniard and turned away, his hands curled into fists.
"Fine," he growled. "But you get yourself killed and I swear I'll eat every single one of your fucking turtles!"
"Not Señor Tortuga!"
"Okay, will you two stop with your lovers quarrel?" Prussia shouted. "We should be helping the others not freaking arguing about who gets to fight! Gott!"
"I agree," Japan added. "Are we decided on a plan?"
"Oui," Canada murmured. "Germania, Switzerland, Spain, France, China and I will hold off the aliens. The rest of you will free the other countries and get them off of the ship. Those of us who are fighting will follow as soon as you are safe."
"Good plan, Birdie!" Prussia crowed. "Now come on. The awesome me needs to rescue West and the others!"
Germania rolled his eyes and turned back to the path that he had been following before the arrival of Switzerland and his companions.
"Come along then," he muttered. "We are wasting time."
"Grandpa Rome!"
Rome smiled and walked out of the shadow of the alien's ship to meet his grandsons, his hazel eyes shifting anxiously to check their surroundings.
"Feliciano! And Lovino! Cari miei nipoti! Come stai?" he greeted cheerfully, his eyes flickering to the other countries for a brief moment before focusing entirely on the Italian twins.
"Ve~ Stiamo bene, il nonno," Italy replied happily. "Have you seen Germany? Is he okay?"
"Si, I have seen your friend, Feli. Egli é ben," Rome said carefully. "What's wrong, Romano? Why are you so quiet?"
"Ve~ Lovino is upset because big brother Spain won't let him fight!"
"Shut up, Feli," Romano snapped, his face still flushed with fury from his argument with the Spaniard.
Rome raised his eyebrows and glanced over at the Spaniard who was eying Romano anxiously from his place beside France and Canada.
"I see..." he murmured. The ancient empire looked over at Germania, his expression abruptly serious. "The aliens only have a few guards on the level with the prisoners, so it shouldn't be much trouble getting to them."
Germania nodded, his blue eyes unreadable.
" Preußen," he muttered. "Remember the path that Rome leads you on. It will be the only way out once we get inside."
Prussia nodded grimly and motioned for Germania and Rome to go on. The ancient countries turned silently and slipped through a panel of the black spaceship that opened at Rome's touch. Canada and Switzerland followed with the other countries that were fighting, their hands fastened tightly around their rifles. Prussia motioned for the rest of the countries to follow him, his muscles tensed in expectation of a fight.
Rome led the group of countries through a seemingly endless labyrinth of off-white hall ways, his hands occasionally reaching out to touch several hidden panels in the pearly walls. He paused at the last panel and poked his head through the newly-revealed doorway, his eyes narrowing in concentration.
"There are about five aliens in there," he muttered. "Two more than there were when I last checked."
"We'll take care of them," Switzerland muttered, his hands gesturing to include Canada and the other fighters.
Rome nodded and stood aside to let the other countries pass. Canada slipped in front of Switzerland, his rifle already raised to shoot.
"Remember Vash, grab the rifle after I kill it," he muttered.
Switzerland nodded and shot his own rifle, his eyes flashing slightly when the shot alien turned around to face him, a gleaming silver rifle identical to his own clutched in its ebony hands. Canada shot the alien again without missing a beat and waited until Vash had collected the silver weapon before he fired again, his bullet cleaving through the second alien's skull like it was made of butter. China and France darted past the two countries and attacked two of the remaining aliens with their respective weapons. They waited until Switzerland and Canada had shot their adversaries before ducking to retrieve the silver replicas of their weapons. The four fell back to where Rome and the others still waited as Spain decapitated the last alien with his ax, his green eyes tightening slightly in pain from his barely-healed wounds.
"Alright," Rome muttered. "You five stay here and guard the entrance. The rest of you follow me. The prisoners are farther down this hallway."
The others nodded and followed the ancient country, leaving Germania to guard the entrance with the other five countries. Romano paused for a moment as he passed Spain, his furious yellow eyes meeting green for a brief moment before he followed the others to the prisoners.
"...And make sure that you do not run into the walls or anything," Rome was saying as Romano caught up. "You could accidentally set off an alarm and-."
Italy let out a startled yelp as the cat that now rode on Japan's shoulders let out a low hiss and leapt from the quiet country's shoulders. The Italian stumbled backwards as the cat ran past his feet, his shoulder colliding with the white wall of the ship.
The others froze as a shrill alarm split the air of the prison, their eyes immediately going to the dazed country that had set off the alert.
"S-scusa," Italy whispered, his green eyes wide with alarm.
Prussian and Romano swore and moved as one to grab the Italian. Romano reached his twin first, his arm fastening protectively around his brother's shoulder.
"Keep going," the elder Italian snapped. "The others will hold off the aliens for as long as they can."
Rome nodded in agreement and motioned for the countries to follow him, ignoring the anxious gazes that England, Liechtenstein, and Prussia threw over their shoulders towards their friends and family members. Romano made to follow the procession, only to be stopped by his brother's suddenly firm grip.
Lovino glanced back at his twin in surprise, his yellow eyes narrowing when he saw the conflicted expression on Feliciano's face.
"Fratello..." he whispered. "We need to follow Grandpa and the others."
"I did this, Lovino," Italy whispered mournfully. "What if the others get hurt? You'll be so mad at me if Spain gets hurt because of me..."
"Don't be stupid. Of course he'll be fine," Romano snapped, trying to hide his own worry. He needed to stay strong for his brother now.
"B-but you're worried about him..."
"Of course I am. Now shut up, Feli. We need to rescue that potato bastard, remember?"
"Ludwig... he'll be mad at me if I get his grandpa hurt," Italy sniffed mournfully. The younger Italian glanced back in the direction of the fighters, his hands reaching into his jacket to draw out the white flag that he carried with him everywhere. "I want to fight, fratello..."
"Wha- No! Feli, that's a stupid- Feli!" Romano swore as his brother tore away from him and ran back towards the fighters, his white flag clutched tightly in his shaking hands. Without a moments hesitation, the elder Italian tore after his twin, ignoring the sudden shout that came from his grandfather.
"Rescue the others!" Romano shouted over his shoulder at the other countries. "I'm going to help my brother."
"Lovino!" Rome yelled again, his voice cracking in panic as his two grandsons disappeared from his sight. The ancient empire hesitated and glanced at the Prussian by his side, his hazel eyes wide. "They can't fight... I can't let them get hurt!"
"Help us free some of the others and then you can go after those idiots," Prussia said firmly. My brother will most likely go with you."
Rome nodded reluctantly and cast one last anxious gaze after his grandsons before he continued down the hallway towards the imprisoned countries, the sounds of battle echoing from behind him.
Okay, I think everyone knows that I don't own Hetalia... yet. Heeheeehee... Anyways, I'm so sorry for the delay! I just found lots of summer homework that my teachers conveniently forgot to put up until a few weeks ago, and I've been helping out at a local camp (it's World War II themed so I'm always laughing at mental Hetalia images lol). But, to make it up to my loyal readers and reviewers, I will try to put up another update in one or two days so that I can torture- Uh, I mean, so that I can make my readers happy! Yep, that's what I'm going to do...
As always, please review because reviews are love and make me smile! They make Spain and Italy smile too if that's any incentive... Review if you want Spain and Italy to smile! Even Romano might smile if you're nice enough!
Translations:
Peut-on se reposer un moment? Dieu, je suis si fatigué – Can we rest for a moment? God, I am so tired
(French) Mon amie- my friend
(French) Mon cher enfant- my dear boy
(French) Angleterre- England
(French) Mon petit Mathieu- my little Matthew
(Spanish) Lo siento- I'm sorry
(Spanish) Tu hermano- your brother
(Spanish) Por favor- please
(Italian) Cari miei nipoti! Come stai?- My dear grandsons! How are you?
(Italian) Stiamo bene, il nonno- We are well, grandpa
(Italian) Egli é ben- He is well
(German) Preußen- Prussia
(Italian) Scusa- Sorry