Less than three days later, the girls were off to Denmark, meeting up with Berwald and Mathias as the aircraft went over the vast countries below. Chloe found it amazing and strange all at once as the children slept within the vast machinery, yet the knowledge of the other nations standing behind them and helping in plans was shocking.
Making her way to the cockpit, she saw the gray sky before her as Marie and Amber flew the massive thing.
"You do know how to fly this?" she asked.
"No." they replied.
"What?" she nearly screamed.
"Don't worry sweetie." Amber reassured her, "It's hard to explain but after Brie came up with the thought of the girls within us, we somehow channeled Hanna and Amelia and now, well can fly. I swear I can hear Amelia giggling in my head as I hold the controls."
"You?" Marie laughed, "I can hear Hanna saying she wants to have full control and fun up here."
Both shared small jokes of flying as their characters seemed to slip away from them as they spoke freely. Chloe shook her head and went back to the others, hoping to calm her nerves. She saw Harper sitting in the seat, her legs tight against her as her eyes watched the clouds, just to turn her head with Chloe when Nora begrudgingly came out from the back.
"Note to self, next pregnancy, don't fly. Air planes and me won't get along." she announced to them, gaining small laughter from everyone.
"What are you doing Juliet?" Brie asked.
"Taking in my husband's books. The ones he kept hidden." she said, her eyes never leaving the pages, "They will come in skillful use especially with Lukas. I can't fully rely on Vlad ever since the ball-"
"A memory I wish to forget." Harper interrupted.
"Yes, agreed darling. Yet they are the only two that understand Arthur and if I can understand this and mimic Arthur, we might have a hand up on our side."
"How so?" asked Chloe.
"Magic." she barely said above a whisper.
"Really?" Amber laughed, "Magic, come on. This isn't Harry Potter."
"I know that but there is something's that will be unexplainable to you all and it is needed." she ignored the woman's laughter as she continued reading.
Lily shook her head as Grigori snuggled against her side, watching as Alexei and Liberty were side by side as usual, gaining a small smile from Chloe. She saw Jeanne holding tightly to her brothers and sister as her eyes never left the window, yet drowsy with sleep. Thomas lightly chattered to Elizabeth as Adeline and Sophie were sound asleep together as Lincoln slept on his sister's lap. She wondered how the children would stay safe as they were all away, far from home and the comforts they knew so well. Yet every time she saw them, they marveled her with their understanding and strength in situations.
"Hey girls, we're in Ålborg, ready to land." Marie called back.
"Right." Juliet said as they all readied the children for the landing, "Once we get there we have to hurry and get to Skagen. Mathias said he had vehicles ready for us once we land."
"Reason for rush?" Brie asked.
"Only a small time opening for the barrier that Lukas has. We have to cross it as it's open or we don't get in at all."
"So much for trying to take it easy." Lily sighed.
Before long the aircraft landed on the tarmac, two vehicles in sight as the plane came to rest outside the hanger. Doing as told, the women loaded the children within the large SUV's and made it for the small-town Juliet talked about.
The country itself seemed desolate and lost, as if people were just gone. Not a soul was seen as they drove. An hour entering town after town, not a single living thing was seen. It added to the growing fear within Chloe as they finally came up to the town and the small launch they were to leave from.
"Um, there are row boats here." Marie stated. "I don't know what you are thinking Juliet, but I am not rowing all the way to fucking Norway."
"We're not waiting for that, something else. I wasn't told what to fully look for yet." she replied.
"So, we wait here in a damning situation out in the open?" Amber said, tension rising in her voice. "Come on Juliet, what in god's name were you-"
"Mommy look!" Lincoln shouted.
Within the foggy waters came forth a large vessel, one that Chloe had seen in books of history and lore as the dragon head stood out from its mast and the large sails of the Viking arms pushed it towards them. Now this was more interesting in her mind.
"Hej!" someone shouted, "Glad to see you girls are waiting for the King!"
"Dear god him?" Amber sighed as Lincoln giggled in excitement.
"Issues?" Chloe asked.
"Not really, but every time Alfred has him over the man brings massive amounts of Legos for the kids and leaves them all over the place. Do you know how evil and sinister it is to step on one of those bastards? Satan himself would swallow his own hell before jumping that feat."
The large Viking ship came to port as a large wooden board landed on the ground. Chloe heard Nora give a loud groan as the thought of more travel hit her.
"Don't worry Nora, I'm in the same boat as you." Harper chuckled at her, "Pun intended."
"This is not a boat, Tokyo." they hear Mathias correct her, "It's a ship and she's a beauty."
The Dane disappeared as Berwald pushed him aside as he held his hand out to them all, "Hurry girls, there isn't much time."
The kids didn't have to be told twice as they all ran on and bombarded Mathias with play and questions as the women made their way on, keeping to Berwald. With a few pulls and hoists of things, the ship was off, at an oddly fast pace.
"Lukas has it going faster than the actual current." He told Chloe as she watched the water below.
"How is that possible."
"It's Lukas, we don't ask much."
"I am curious as to why an old Viking ship?" Marie asked.
"Hey, she is not old. She's just a baby still." Chloe laughed as Mathias gently patted the wooden deck as Berwald sighed at him.
"Genesis can track modern ships and technology. It's too dangerous to try and do it the right way, so he had us take the old ship."
"She's not old!"
"Anyways, over the loud on. They won't be able to find us due to the ship?" Amber questioned.
"Nej. And the storm above as well. It's not natural, it's his doing. It's why we have such a brief time limit."
"How long would it take normally?" Chloe asked.
"A day or so depending on weather and waters, but with his touch, we should be there within an hour." he replied.
"Wow, talk about handy work." Juliet spoke as her eyes never left the book.
"I do have one question Berwald." Brie began, "What else did they hide from us?"
The man went stiff as Mathias paused twirling around the kids. Both shared looks to each other, a sign that Chloe knew all too well between people. With a nod, Mathias move the kids farther away as Berwald sighed.
"They have been taking capitals and cities hostage ever since you became a capital and your sister Sicily. We don't know what they want or what they plan. The only thing they demanded was for them to give in."
"To surrender themselves." Nora said.
Berwald nodded, "It was their last resort before more were taken."
"How many so far?" Harper asked.
"The two latest were Istanbul and Reykjavik. Before that was Lagos, Rio de Janeiro, and Salzburg."
"Was? Nein, nicht Rainer!" Marie shouted, fear written on her.
He gave a mournful nod as the truth sunk in, Brie shook her head, "My god, poor Delilah and Roderich, they have to be worried sick."
"He's trying to hold back all attacks. I saw him the other day. He's ready to crumble." the man stated to them.
"So, they have been kidnapping our people, either to torment us or try and find a new capital." Lily said.
"That is what we have gathered."
"Seems like they are ready to open up on the world." Chloe slipped out before she could stop.
"That is seems and it is why we are taking all precautions that we can get." Mathias said coming up to them. "We got to keep our eyes open as we get to Egersund, we're entering the graveyard."
"Graveyard?" they all chimed.
"Yea. Ever since Lukas found that spy in his land. He went nuts and set up all kinds of security on levels we can't reach. It's why he's been hidden away for so long. We knew Genesis would try and get them, but when Peter brought images over from what he found outside the nation's borders, well we knew he meant business."
A chorus of whoa and awe came from the front as the children all looked over the sides. Moving to see, Chloe was astounded by the sight, for graveyard was the true term for it.
"Told you." Mathias said, "Lukas means business."
Ships overturned, tails of planes sticking out of the water, to vehicles below the waters, it was a mass graveyard for those that tried to enter this land. The ship veered around the obstacles and waters as a freezing wind came down on them.
"Shit, he's got a storm brewing." Mathias yelled as he pulled blankets out, wrapping the children together.
The world was nearly white as the snow and ice stung at her face, making everything harder to deal with. Chloe was lucky to hang onto Nora and Harper as the others kept close to the children.
"Jord!" the Dane yelled as Berwald readied everything for them.
"Girl listen." he tried to shout over the howling winds, "Once you get off, you need to keep straight. Keep your eyes open for an arch, the moment you find it, you'll find Lukas."
"Are you crazy?" Nora shouted, "We can barely see and inch in front of our faces, how can we walk a straight line?"
"As one would say, if there is a will, there is a way." he quoted, as he lowered the board down again, "Hurry there isn't much time."
They all quickly got off as another set of winds blew through them, sending Chloe in a visible shuddering spell.
"Good luck girls!" Mathias yelled as they pulled away, "Kick their ass for us. We'll be waiting!"
With another gust, they were gone from sight as Chloe and Harper hung onto each other, Nora finally joining them as the mothers gripped their children tightly to them.
"This is insane!" Amber yelled.
"You're not used to winter." Lily said as her and the boys walked over to Juliet, "You know the way then?"
With a short nod the woman moved forward, yelling words lost in the winds and snow.
"So, I guess we follow." Nora shivered.
Following Juliet in the storm was harder than thought, Chloe was lucky to keep her eyes open as the stinging in her cheeks slowly faded to numbness. She was lucky she could feel her fingers and toes as they trudged through the high rising snow. Chloe's head snapped up with Nora and Harper as a strange melody filled the air. They weren't alone as they moved forward, the others noticed it as well as Juliet kept going.
"Come on!" she shouted, "We're getting close!"
Pushing on, Chloe felt the two girls beside her shiver along with her as the melody grew louder as chants filled the air. Looking up, she couldn't believe what she saw. Within the whipping snow filled wind there was an outline of a blue archway, nearly four meters in height as they came up to it.
"Alright, does no one else find this...odd?" Brie asked, gaining nods from everyone.
"I think we all do. The song is coming out of there as well." Marie stated, "It might be best if we just-Juliet!"
Chloe looked over to see Juliet and her children walk through the archway, nothing slowing them down as they all stood outside the piece.
"Oh ja, just walk in, ja simple like that." Marie let out.
"Nothing scary about a strange archway in the middle of nowhere in a blizzard, da?" Lily said, holding tightly to her boys as they went through the arch next.
"They're crazy." Brie spoke as Amber followed behind.
"Well, who said we were all sane?" Marie asked as she went in next, just to have Brie join.
They stood there, staring at the archway. Chloe felt frozen, not just from the cold but by the awe of the thing before them. It wasn't possible that it was there, yet-
"I think we need to follow." Harper said through chattering teeth.
"Have you seen the thing Harper?" Nora asked.
"Everyone else went in, we might as well." Chloe reminded, "Together?"
The two women locked arms with her as they moved to step through the archway, the winds slowing down as the songs melody filled the space as they walked through, just to be awed. What once was snow and winds had turned calm and peaceful waters and rolling greens of the land. Not an inch of snow seen. Chloe was in shock as the town came to view, quaint and quiet as the wall behind them was nothing but white, dutifully protecting its land and people.
"Mama?" she heard Alexei say as Lily let out a startled scream.
She saw all the women stare in shock as something caught their eye just to feel Nora's grip tighten on her. Looking over with Harper, she saw why. Walking along the side, gracefully walking the sloping hill was a large green creature. It paused as it looked at them, a horrifying fear rose in Chloe's back as it let out a low rumble and continued its walk.
Now things weren't adding up. A weird storm and a large green creature, anything else would just test her sanity if it decided to pop up.
"Look out!" she heard the girls yell.
She turned only to be met with large swords and feet walking towards them, the things before them seemed to not even notice them as they stepped over her and the girls as they clung onto each other for dear life. As they walked away, she realized them to be, what she could only think of as giant Viking ghosts as they blended into the wall, the archway disappearing behind them.
"Please tell me you both saw that?" she asked.
"Hai."
"Shì de."
"Good, I'm not alone." she nodded, "Now I worry about my sanity."
"Skynd deg pappa, de er her!" she heard a child yell.
Finally looking at the others, they all turned to see a little girl standing on the crest of the hill, smiling down at them. Joining her side was a blonde man, his features stoic and calm as the little one bounced in excitement.
"Finally." she heard Nora say, "Norway."
"Sorry about the storm." he apologized as he filled the cups with coffee, "It was the only way I could defend Katyusha and Anja."
"What about your government?" Chloe asked.
"I went over them." he replied, "They were going to try and make peace with them. After seeing what they could do to people and even hearing after the wall, I believed I made the best choice."
"You did honestly Lukas." Amber sighed.
Chloe's mind fell to Feli as she said that. He made a choice last minute to defend her and others.
"They won't kill them girls. They're too valuable now." he spoke up.
"How do you mean?" she asked.
He settled himself down in the seat as he sighed, "The Axis and Allies are the main hold on the world as we speak. They want war yet don't. They have large numbers, yet if every nation gains upon them they will be eradicated and they will have to start over from scratch. Having the men puts the war on hold for we won't harm our own. Think about it, three power house nations and two once empires. They have power in their hands of history, yet not enough to overthrow the world."
"British and Roman empires you mean?" Juliet questioned.
"Yes." he nodded, "Both had great power and wealth of nations that they are willing to gain it. China's history of rulers and strength isn't far behind."
"Alright, that makes some sense. So, they have the boys for reasons, mainly due to past and strength, oui?" Brie asked.
"Correct. France in this case is being able to rise after falling hard. Japans stealth and cunning backs China's knowledge and age. The two empires as I said were great beyond compare and many dictators and rulers wanted to have the power they once did. Germany, sad to point out is the power of the Nazi's and how they function. Yet they are alike with the Soviet Union when it was together. Power in numbers and rule. The bigger the fight, the harder the fall on the enemy. America give them the ideal of every one of them put together, how the young nation rose to the top and stood there for so long no matter how many looked down upon it." he explained, "That's why they will hang onto them. They are the meaning to hope around the world. Both to the nations and the people worldwide."
"They've had this figured out for quite some time now, huh?" Nora said, lightly chuckling at her thought, just to have him nod in reply.
A set of clicks echoed the room as a door opened. Lukas turned his head, repeating the same clicking with his tongue. A petite woman walked over to him, her honey brown hair held in a braid as her grey eyes landed on him.
"Sorry I missed the conversation." she said to them, "All the children are asleep in Anja's room as we speak."
"I see you are still doing the usual." Juliet grinned at her, making Chloe more curious of the woman.
"Old habits die hard." she replied.
"Danke for keeping the children safe for us all." Marie nodded at them, "Now the question is, is where are the men?"
"Which is why I wanted to ask you Lukas." Juliet said, pulling out Arthur's book, "If anyone it's you now. Vlad is out as of now due to the injury and his nation slowly falling apart. Can you help us?"
His wife looked down at him as he opened the book, "I think I should be able to. If I'm correct I have an idea and would like to test it."
All the girls hummed in agreement as he made his way to his office, leaving them with Katyusha, "Ever since he heard the news that you all were coming he hasn't really left that room."
"He doesn't want it to happen to you or Anja." Harper replied.
"When he heard about Emil losing Olivia, he was devastated. Blaming himself that he didn't protect everyone like he should have." she told them, "He may act cold or emotionless, but behind that facade is a heart of gold."
Chloe smiled as she spoke so highly of him, it gave her a tinge of hope that they could find them soon and things would be alright. A knock came to the door, making the girls jump.
"Expecting others?" Brie asked.
"Yes." she said making her way to the door, "And they're not for us, they're for all of you."
A chorus of what's filled the space as the door came open, "Mein Gott that was hell!"
"Gilbert?" Marie shouted.
"Oh hallo!" the hyper man said to them all, "I brought more."
Moving aside, more people came in, capitals with boxes and bags, each heading to the family member they knew so well.
"Chloe?" a familiar voice called.
"Briana?" she questioned as she finally saw her sister, "Briana!"
Chloe couldn't hold back as she threw herself at her sister, hugging the woman tightly as tears fell. It felt amazing to hold her again, to know she was solid and before her. Briana whispered soft words to her, just like he would to help calm her down.
"God Briana, I miss him."
"I know sis, it's why you are here and why I am as well. Lovi made sure I brought things."
"Things?" Chloe questioned.
"Yes, what on earth are you all doing here?" Juliet asked her sister-in-law. "Come now Siobhan, speak."
"Well, we knew ya girls would be going after the worthless dogs for taking yer boys. So, the nations that are close to them decided to add a little help to it." Siobhan stated.
"Ja, its why we brought all this." Gilbert gestured to the items in question.
"So, in this case, it's items some of your souls may have held." Briana said.
"And some you were trained in." Philip or Hanoi added as he placed his hand on Nora.
Lailani, Seoul, nodded as she gave Harper a small hug, "We decided to add the help. These are all items for you to use against them."
Charles, Monaco, hummed in agreement handing a box to Brie as the others followed suit, "Which also with it all, the nations added something else into the mix."
Amber tore open the box Marissa handed her just to gasp at the piece within, "It was Alfred's during WWII."
Each of them opened the boxes, and each pulled out a jacket or cloak from the era. "We agreed with the nations that if they wanted to mess with the Axis and Allies, they would mess with them fully." Marissa finished.
Chloe couldn't contain herself as she slipped on the blue war jacket, how warm and comforting it was, even lingering in his scent. "God it's like it's him."
"Well, it sorta is sis." Briana giggled at her as the others donned theirs.
"Um I might have issue here, Davi." Lily said holding up long tan coat, "Iryna forgot I'm only one fifty-seven, while he is about one eighty-seven."
Her brother-in-law laughed as the bottom of the coat touched the ground as she tried to hold it up, "Oh dear, well you'll make due. That's all he had as of then."
"It seems you all are set and ready then?" Lukas stated as he came to the table.
"Never readier." Amber smiled, as the rest of them agreed.
"Well I have pinpointed only one spot as of now, one that even we nations forgot about briefly."
"Was, since when did we miss one?" Gilbert asked, "And can military get to it?"
"Yes, we all can. If the British Isle can give support along with the North and South American fleets, the Nordics can get there and be additional."
"Where is it then?" Marissa and Amber asked together.
"Greenland." he replied, "Nord to be exact."
"Where the scientist lab and such is?" Lily asked.
"That very one."
Chloe felt Briana's arms wrap tight around her as she felt a surge of adrenaline and power roar through her, "Well, what are we waiting for?"
The women smiled and nodded at her as they gathered the weapons and bags before them.
"Let's get our boys back."