Disclaimer: We don't own Hetalia.
A/N: Hey, everyone!
Sorry for the really long wait. But we're back! Hopefully the last chapter made you feel better about our long absence. We're back in school now, so we should be able to get a regular schedule up.
Enjoy! Please review!
Mary Hoffman
Livia clutched her younger sister's hand tightly. Her breath came out in frightened short gasps and her eyes flicked to every tree in the surrounding woods. It was just her luck to hear a horror story about vampires from her great uncle the same night she and her sister had to walk home in the dark.
Livia's younger sister Marilena was walking with her head held high. Each step she took had a sure feeling to it. No doubt she was trying to be brave for Livia.
Swallowing hard, Livia turned back to keeping her eyes on the path. The full moon cast strange shadows across the packed dirt. The twins walked on for several minutes with an undisturbed silence. Until the bushes not three feet to their right trembled. Shrieking loudly, Livia practically jumped into her sister's arms.
"Livia!" Marilena shouted as she staggered under her sister's weight. "It is probably just a rabbit."
"Scuze," Livia muttered an apology and stepped away from her sister. "I simply do not like the story we heard. It was so creepy!"
"Vampires are not real," Marilena said wisely. "It is not possible." She began to make her way down the path once more, only to freeze at the sight of a shadow up ahead. The shadow turned to reveal a man standing in the middle of the path.
"Oh, salut," the man said, flashing a grin. Marilena swallowed hard at the visible fang and red eyes of the stranger.
"Oh, Doamme," Livia screamed, breaking the silence. "It is a vampire!" She pointed a trembling finger at the man's astounding features.
"Dumnezeu ne salveze. (God save us.)" Marilena made the sign of the cross over her chest.
"Um, I am sorry?" the man asked in a confuse tone. "Have I done something to frighten you?"
"It is trying to seduce us!" Livia squealed, hiding behind her younger, and undoubtedly braver, sister.
"Acum mă stabilesc de a dormi, (Now I lay me down to sleep,)" Marilena began whispering the childish prayer to herself as she backed away from the 'vampire'.
"Ehhhh?" The man's head fell to one side in confusion. "It is my eyes, is it not?" He hung his head in defeat. "Why does this happen every time?"
At the words, Marilena stopped backing away and frowning at the vampire.
"What are you talking about, vampir?" she demanded.
"I am not a vampire," the man said, raising his hands in surrender. "I am . . . human."
"No human could have red eyes." Marilena crossed her arms and nodded fiercely. "It is the sign of the Devil."
"It can happen to people," the man reasoned. "I know a friend who also has red eyes."
"Trimite-l înapoi în iad, (Send him back to Hell,)" Livia chanted aloud, her hands clasped before her. "Trimite-l înapoi în iad." The man's palm came in contact with his forehead with a loud slap.
"Your friend is the Devil?" Marilena asked hotly, her eyes narrowing.
"Nu!" The man threw his hands into the air in desperation. "I am not a vampir! They do not exist!"
"What about Dracula," Marilena pointed out. "That is a true story."
"That is about one of my ruler," the man sighed. "He was not a true vampir."
"One of your rulers?" Livia asked curiously, peeking out from behind her sister.
"You must be a vampire." Marilena reached into her coat pocket. "If you speak of many rulers, then you are no doubt immortal. There is only one creature that is immortal like that."
"And what is that?" the man sighed. His fang glinted in the sunlight.
"A vampir," Marilena spat before suddenly darting forward and stabbing the man in the chest with a wooden stake. She danced back, watching the man carefully.
The man stared down at the wooden stake for a brief moment before he finally reacted.
"Pentru dumnezeu! (Good God!)" he shrieked and tore the stake out, tossing it to the side. Livia screamed in terror and leapt into the bushes to hide while the man screamed profanities in Romanian.
"Perhaps . . . I was wrong," Marilena admitted. "And I may have just murdered an innocent man . . . are you by any chance a chaplain?"
"Pentru dumnezeu, woman," the man cursed. "You are the spawn of the Devil!" He pressed a hand to his bleeding chest tightly, all the while glaring at Marilena. "Who stabs a random man like that?"
"Any woman who is confronted by a strange man with the eyes of the Devil and fangs," Marilena said confidently. "And I have another stake with me if you call me the Devil's child again."
"You are mad," the man spit. He stumbled to the side, blinking hard and shaking his head as if to clear it. "Stabbing a stranger!"
"I do not think I like you." Marilena pulled another stake from her pocket, this time wrapping a silver necklace around it. "Perhaps you truly are a vampire but one stake is not enough."
"This is the sixteenth century!" the man said exasperatedly. "Who carries stakes in their pockets?"
"One whose great uncle just told them horror stories about vampires eating innocent young girls wandering by themselves in the night." Marilena stepped toward the man, the stake in her hands.
"Romania?" a voice suddenly called out. The man winced at the name, leaning against a tree for support.
"I am over here, Bulgaria," Romania called out. "It is best you do not come. There are some mad women over here."
"Mad women?" A man with dark hair and eyes stepped out of the dark trees. He balked at the sight of the stake in Marilena's hand. "You were not joking!"
"Another vampire?" Marilena asked, shifting her grip on the stake.
"I am not a vampire." Bulgaria took a large step back. "I am a nation." Once more, Romania's palm came in contact with his forehead.
"A what?" Marilena cocked her head in confusion. "More work of the Devil. You are nothing but a vampire trying to trick me into coming near you."
"Bulgaria," Romania said slowly.
"Yes, Romania?" Bulgaria took another large step back.
"Run." Both nations turned on their heels and raced through the trees, trying to put as much distance between themselves and the stake wielding woman as possible.
"And stay away!" Marilena shouted after the two men. "Bastard vampires, thinking they can attack my little sister and get away with it."
"I am not your little sister," Livia pointed out, crawling out of the bushes. "I am older than you."
"You are little, though," Marilena said. "Come, we best get home before Mother sends Father out to find us."
"Very well," Livia sighed and stood to her feet. She took her sister's hand and followed her back to the village.
Needless to say, Romania did not leave the house for a very long time. When asked where he got the scar he simply stated 'don't wander around in the dark on your own, it's not safe'. He had nightmares of Marilena for months after that.
^.^ | ^)^ | O.O
Finland finally managed to heft the pot of water onto the stove. Turning around as she wiped her hands on her apron, she shrieked at the sight of a tall nation standing behind her.
"Su-san!" the female nation wailed. "What did I say about sneaking up on me?"
"Hn." Sweden stood silently for a few minutes before he finally spoke, frightening Finland once more. "You could h've let me h'lp." He pointed at the rather heavy pot of water.
"Eh?" Finland glanced behind herself before rubbing the back of her head. "Anteeksi, (Sorry,) Su-san, I was able to do it myself, though."
"Hn." Sweden glanced at the window before moving to stare out of it. Finland sighed to herself. Why did Sweden have to decide he was going to live with her? He was going to give her a heart attack one of these days. The silent room was suddenly filled with the loud ringing of the phone, making the female nation jump in surprise.
"Haloo?" Finland held the phone to her ear. "Oh, hello, Tanska. Yes, Su-san is here." Sweden peeked over his shoulder at his name. What was Denmark doing calling him? "You what? But why? But that's still no reason to do that!" Finland sighed and hung up, making Sweden think Denmark had hung up on her. The female nation turned to look at Sweden.
"Wh't did he w'nt?" Sweden turned away from the window and crossed his arms, leaning against the counter.
"Tanska has declared war on China," Finland explained. "He said he wants us to meet him back in America. He's forming the Danish Empire and needs us to join." Sweden's eyes flashed with fury at the words.
Finland nearly jumped out of her skin when the phone rang again. It was several seconds before she remembered to answer the singing device.
"Haloo?"
"Haloo, Äita," America said breathlessly. "Have you talked to Far Dan at all?"
"I am not your mother!" Finland nearly screamed, forgetting who she was talking to for a moment. She held the phone in such a tight grasp, Sweden could hear it creaking. He wondered for a brief moment if he should step in. "Why does everyone call me 'Mother' or 'wife'?"
"Is Far Sve bothering you again?" America asked meekly. "Or am I really being that annoying? I thought you liked it when I call you Äita?"
"Oh, I'm sorry, America," Finland squeaked out quickly. "It's just that my life has gotten very stressful lately."
"Tell me about it," America said. "Look, Far Dan has kidnapped Japan and Vietnam. Ukraine and her daughter have gone missing. Several other nations have disappeared as well, Canada being one of them."
"He kidnapped them?" Finland asked quickly. "But Tanska said they joined the empire." She winced when Sweden growled, snatching the phone from his 'wife'.
"Äita?" America said. "Did you go somewhere? Äita?"
"Hallå, Am'rica," Sweden interrupted the younger nation before he could go on. "Wh't is h'ppening."
"Canada heard Ukraine and his daughter went missing and he just walked out of the hospital," America said quickly. "I think he said something about heading up to the Canadian Wood. But that's miles away."
"We'll c'me," America assured his son.
"Tak, Far," America said. "But I think it's best if you stay put. I'm calling National Lockdown. I'll talk to you later. Farväl." Sweden blinked in surprise when he was met with the dial tone. The tall nation sighed and shook his head. He would never understand his son.
"What did he say?" Finland asked anxiously, wringing her hands.
"He is c'lling N'tional L'ckdown," Sweden replied and stopped Finland by grabbing her hands gently. "We c'nnot go to him yet. Ukraine and her daught'r h've g'ne m'ssing."
"Missing?" Finland squeaked out. She stared up at Sweden in horror.
"Fin." Sweden knelt before his 'wife', still holding her hands. "Do you r'member wh't we t'lked about?"
"Joo." Finland nodded jerkily. Sweden sighed again and nodded once.
"P'ck your bags," he said as he stood. "We are going into h'ding unt'l th's is r'solved."
"Is that what you truly think, aru?" Something struck Sweden on the back of the head hard, sending him tumbling to the floor.
"Su-san!" Finland flew forward to kneel beside her friend. Sweden managed to get to his hands and knees, shaking his head slightly to clear it.
"Does your idiot son truly think he can stop me?" China towered over the two Nordic nations, a sneer on his face. "I will bring that fool stumbling to his knees. He will beg for mercy before I am through with him, aru."
Anger coursed through Sweden's veins and the tall nation leapt to his feet with a roar. He whirled around to throw China into a wall for threatening his son when he was met with a darker man. The two men struggled with each other, grappling as they collided with a wall.
"Su-san!" Finland stepped forward to help her friend but was stopped by China's foot on her stomach.
"I do not think so," China said dangerously. "Your dear husband is busy, aru."
"He's not my husband," Finland snapped. "Why does everyone keep saying that?" Shoving China's foot off her, she clambered to her feet and took a fighting stance before the Asian nation.
"You truly believe you could defeat me?" China crossed his arms with a growing smirk. "I have grown stronger with every nation I have captured, aru."
"I fought in a war against Russia on my own, and won," Finland countered.
"And I survived five thousand years without any help," China hissed back. "Who do you think is the better fighter? The female wimpy wife or the aged warrior, aru?"
"Female wimpy wife?" Finland shrieked in an earsplitting tone. She completely ignored Sweden and the stranger fighting behind her now. "I will show you female wimpy wife!" She charged China, ducking under a punch and driving her shoulder into the other nation's stomach.
"Aiyah!" China stumbled back, rubbing his stomach. "Dammit, what is wrong with Hong Kong, aru?"
"Pakiainen! (Bastard!)" Finland delivered a round kick to China, causing him to stumble back once more. He swore in Chinese, rubbing his red cheek.
"What is going on?" he wondered aloud. "Forcing Hong Kong to become my Special Administrative Region again should have made me stronger, aru."
"Perhaps it's your age," Finland sneered. "Perhaps it's catching up to you."
"Perhaps you need a lesson in respecting your elders, aru." China suddenly darted forward and wrapped an arm around Finland's waist. Jerking quickly, he sent the female nation spinning into the wall.
"Ohya!" Finland hit the wall hard and slid to the ground. She glared up at China, scrabbling to get back onto her feet. "Su-san, Tanska, and Norway are my elders. I do not need to show respect to you!"
"What a brat," China said coldly. "If you are not careful, you will go the same way as Korea, aru."
Finland froze, glaring daggers at China. "What have you done to Korea?"
"I have dissolved him," China said with a proud air. "That fool will be dead by next week. There will be nothing that stands between my perfect brother and his rightful land, aru."
"You paskiainen!" Finland tackled China, fists flying toward the Asian nation.
The stranger grunted when Sweden managed to flip him over the counter. There was a crash as the pot was knocked off the stove and water covered the kitchen floor.
"Be careful, Babylonia," China snapped. "You are going to get someone hurt, aru."
"I am not trying," Babylonia grumbled. "He is harder to fight than I thought. You told me he was ruled for centuries!"
"I also told you the idiot fought for his own freedom, aru," China snapped. Babylonia scowled at him as he slowly rose to his feet, almost slipping on the now wet floor. Sweden charged the empire with a roar.
"You are going to kill your own brother?" Finland shook China by the front of his jacket. "You raised him yourself!"
For a split second, emotion washed over China's face. Realization, shock, sorrow. And then it was gone.
"He is nothing but trouble, aru," China snapped. He struck Finland on the side of the head with enough force to knock her into the wall. The female nation hit the floor, her head spinning. Finland struggled to get a grip on the wet surface.
"Su-san," she mumbled. Sweden growled from where Babylonia was pinning him to the floor by his back.
"You are rather strong," Babylonia noted. "Perhaps you should learn that control truly means. Do you mind?" He glanced up at China.
"Not at all." China was glaring at Finland. "I have other plans for this one." He crouched down beside the dizzy nation. "I am going to make her watch as I tear that little, useless brat to pieces and scatter him to the winds. That fool will not make it to his three hundredth birthday, aru."
"Paskiainen," Finland gasped and tried to kick out at China.
"You may call me whatever you want," China said as he stood once more. "I cannot wait to hear your choice of words when I am the one to kill America, aru." Sweden roared and struggled against Babylonia as Finland managed to get to her feet. Babylonia grunted and tried to keep his grip on Sweden.
"Stay away from him!" Finland swung out a dizzy face at China and missed by a mile.
"Such a fool, aru," China said as he struck Finland on a pressure point. The move sent the nation to the floor in a sprawling heap. Finland gasped and tried to support herself, failing.
"F'nland!" Sweden attempted to throw Babylonia off but could only snarl when the empire pinned him to the ground once more.
"I will give you every night," Babylonia hissed, grabbing Sweden by the back of the head. "On that night you will lose all sense of humanity, you will seek to devour all in your path, you will become the nightmare that plagues all at night.
Sweden growled at the empire's words. Pain laced through the nation's body and he bucked as the spell worked its magic. He bucked with the pain, eventually passing out when it became too much.
"Do you hear that, Finland," China sneered. "Your husband is going to be more a monster than he already is, aru."
"Su-san." Finland struggled to sit up. Her eyes filled with ears at the sight of the unconscious Sweden.
"Good night, Finland, aru."
The last thing Finland saw was a foot aimed at her head.
^.^ | ^)^ | O.O
Austria sat on the edge of the bed and gently shook the form under the covers.
"Romano?" the Germanic nation called in a soft voice. "It is morning."
"Go away, you damn bastard," Romano grumbled. He jerked away from Austria's shaking hand, whimpering when his legs were jostled.
"Nein," Austria said, pulling the sheets back. "It is morning."
"No." Romano tried to keep the last cover over his head with his uninjured arm. "Lasciami dormire. (Let me sleep.)"
Austria sighed and pulled the last cover off. "Come," he said. "It is time for breakfast."
"I can't walk, dumbass." Romano glared up at Austria. "Or did you forget?"
"I quite remember it," Austria said, standing then easily lifting Romano into his arms. "Switzerland, Germany, and I spoke about it last night."
"Chigi!" Romano winced when Austria's sleeve brushed his leg. "About what?" he demanded through gritted teeth.
Austria didn't answer as he carried Romano from the room. Romano was taken to an empty room where Germany was waiting. The younger Germanic nation looked as though he was training with Italy again.
"I'm not being near that Potato Bastard," Romano snapped. Germany didn't make any sign he'd heard him.
"That is too bad." Austria gently set Romano on the floor before sitting next to him. "You have no choice."
"I could drag myself away." Romano pointed out.
"With what?" Germany asked, finally speaking. "You only have one arm to use."
"Chigi!" Romano swatted at the other nation who moved out of the way quickly. "Shut up!"
"We are going to help you, Romano," Austria said in a tone that clearly stated he was trying to boss the younger nation around again.
"Yea, well I don't need your help," Romano said, puffing out his cheeks like a child. He whined and swatted Germany's hand away when the nation poked his cheek.
"Don't poke him like that, Germany," Austria chided his younger brother.
"He makes me think of a balloon when he puffs his cheeks out like that," Germany said. Romano slowly flushed a bright red at the words. Finally, he launched himself at Germany.
"CHIGI!"
Austria managed to grab Romano before he could attack Germany, and dragged him to sit back in his lap.
"Since you refuse to cooperate," Austria sighed. "You give me no choice."
"I'll kill him!" Romano screeched, struggling against Austria. "I'll wring his neck and break his bones!"
"Romano," Austria snapped and smacked the Italian nation on the back of the head. "Listen to me!" Romano ducked his head and puffed out his cheeks once more. "You will do as Germany and I tell you," Austria threatened. "Or I will claim you as my own territory."
"You wouldn't dare?" Romano's eyes narrowed dangerously.
"I would," Austria warned his former charge.
"Like hell you could." Romano tried to cross his arms and winced when his broken limb twinged with pain. "I'd kick your stupid ass before you could even get through Veneziano."
"Italy would surrender to us right away," Germany pointed out. Romano glared at him before suddenly lunging at the larger nation once more.
"She would also understand," Austria grunted and tightened his grip on Romano. Romano struggled for several minutes before he finally fell back against Austria's chest sulking.
"What do you want me to do?" he mumbled in defeat.
"Lay down." Austria helped maneuver Romano to lay on the floor. "Germany and I decided you will be doing some exercises."
"What kind of exercises?" Romano asked, squirming uncomfortably on the floor.
"You will bring your knees up to your chest, rotate your ankles, raise your legs," Austria named a few exercises off. "When we are able to get proper blood circulation, then we will begin on the harder exercises."
"Cosa?" Romano struggled to slide back from Austria but Germany grabbed him by the hips to keep him place. "Dammit! That'll hurt!"
"I'm afraid so," Austria said with a nod. "But it will help your legs."
"No!" Romano struggled against Germany, wincing with every movement. "I won't do them! You can't make me!" Austria glanced up at his brother and gave him a nod.
"You can't fight us, Romano," Germany said gravely. Taking Romano's right leg by the ankle, he eased it up to the nation's chest. Romano screamed with pain, writhing under the Germanic nation.
"Stop! Stop!" Romano shouted in pain. "Per favore!" He could feel the nails lancing up his legs with the move Germany forced him to make. Austria smoothed Romano's hair back, looking very sorry for their charge.
"It's for the best, Romano," he said. Romano shook his head weakly. He screamed again when Germany straightened out his leg before bending it up once more. "I do hope Switzerland is able to keep Czech busy," Austria sighed. "I would rather she did not hear this."
"If not," Germany said as he laid Romano's leg back down before taking the other. "She'll just hide in a closet again. She suffers from agoraphobia."
"What the hell are you talking about?" Romano demanded through gritted teeth.
"Agoraphobia," Germany repeated. "It's the fear of open spaces. For Czech it's triggered during stressful situations. It's much like how Hong Kong suffers from claustrophobia and hydrophobia."
"The fear of water?" Romano sneered. He whimpered when Germany bent his leg up.
"Nein." Germany shook his head. "The fear of drowning."
"And what about you?" Romano relaxed as his leg was allowed to straighten once more.
"Was?" Germany cocked his head in confusion.
"What are you scared of?" Romano asked snappishly.
Germany was silent for a moment before speaking. "Being alone," he whispered. Austria glanced up at his brother before lowering his gaze quickly.
"I wonder where she is," he said softly.
Romano stiffened suddenly as he made a strange face. "In Naples."
"Naples?" Austria blinked. "What would South be doing in Naples?"
^.^ | ^)^ | O.O
Australia grinned from where he treaded water in the ocean off his coast. California stood on the shore, staring at the wild nation in either shock or disbelief. Australia really couldn't tell. And it was all because the Land Down Under was swimming with a pod of wild orca whales. One whale in particular was floating beside Australia, giving off the occasion whistle or screech. A few others made playful snaps at Australia.
"Minnesota told me it's dangerous to swim with tame killer whales," California commented as she crossed her arms. Her bikini top displayed the 'Hollywood' tattoo that ran diagonally across her stomach and her prominent bones due to her bulimia.
"And?" Australia asked, rubbing the head of the orca whale next to him.
"And that looks like so much fun!" California squealed. "Do they only like you, or . . ."
"They know me because of my magic with them," Australia explained. "America and Canada sent me to Greenland for a little while. I like the sheila and all, but damn she's cold! This one is Olalu, she's the head of the pod."
"Yeah, I've told Auntie she needs to ramp up the heat but she doesn't listen to me." California sat on the rock and let her legs float in the water. "I prefer the wonderful heat of the Valley."
"I like my outback." Australia grinned when a yearling nudged at California's legs. "Matsu likes you."
"I like her too." California patted the whale on the head gently. "I like to swim with Shamu at Sea World. I've been attacked twenty-nine times. Minnesota told me if I get bit by another orca, she's not stitching up my legs."
"These orcas are more relaxed." Australia chuckled when Olalu bumped her nose against him. "They don't mind me too much."
"I think they're cute," California said as she patted Matsu.
Everything was peaceful for two more minutes before something landed behind California with a loud 'thump'. The state gave a shrike of alarm and vaulted forward into the water. A large body caught her before she could sink too far and carried her back to the surface. California sputtered and glared up through a tangle of hair at the nation standing before her.
"Hola, England," California said hotly.
"Don't 'hola' me in that tone," England sniffed, drawing her wings taut against her back. "I thought you despised Mexico."
"I do." California slipped from the orca whale's back and treaded water beside it. "But that doesn't mean I can't stop speaking Spanish."
"I suppose," England agreed.
The orca surrounding Australia and California whistled at England. The larger males even leapt out of the water, snapping at the female nation as if to remind her of their last encounter.
"Bloody hell!" England staggered back in surprise. "Don't tell me Atlantis has been egging them on again?"
"No," Australia said, rubbing Olalu on the head. "They just remember what you taste like, mate."
"I am not your mate," England snapped at her son. "I am your Mum. And I didn't appreciate almost being eaten by a pod of orca whales."
"They were just having fun," Australia pouted up at his motherland.
"I do not call getting my wing bitten 'fun'," England said, crossing her arms. "I came to request your assistance."
"What for?" California asked curiously.
"I am forming the British Empire," England said. "France has already agreed, as long as we call it the French and British Empire. Bloody git."
The orcas suddenly stopped moving and slowly backed away from Australia. Olalu and Matsu nudged California into deeper water.
"What?" California dove under the water, swimming with the pod of orcas.
"Now, Australia," England said carefully. "It's not what you think."
"Get out," Australia said slowly. He managed to get close enough to the shore to where he could stand waist-deep in the water. Next to California, Olalu whined in worry.
"Australia." England backed away from her son. "Denmark has kidnapped Vietnam and Japan. He is forming his own empire. I'm only trying to protect myself from another Viking attack."
"You," Australia snarled. "You, you, you. That's all you ever gripe about. 'I never get any respect'. 'Bloody hell, Japan is bombing me again'. 'Why are you leaving me, what did I do to you?'"
"Australia, I am not trying to be vain or selfish." England ruffled her wings nervously. "I am trying to defend my family before someone gets hurt."
"Defend your family?" The water surrounding Australia frothed angrily. "Where were you when I lost good men?" the nation shrieked. "Where were you when I was being tortured and left to die?"
"If you're so bloody furious about the past, then why are you dating Japan?" England snapped, fanning her wings wide open. "You're leading the poor girl on, aren't' you? What are you going to do? Make her think you love her then dump her on the side of the road?"
"I'll kill you!" Australia tore from the water, charging for his mother nation.
"Bloody!" England kicked off the ground and pumped her wings to get herself into the air and out of Australia's reach. "Quite being a prat, boy."
"Get down here and fight like a man," Australia bellowed. The trees surrounding him began to wilt before catching fire.
"Calm down, boy," England snapped. "You're going to sink your island."
California watched the two nations nervously, clinging to Olalu.
"Don't tell me what to do!" Australia screamed and a wave of dust filled the air.
"Australia!" England's wings faltered for a second and suddenly she plummeted to the earth. Wincing, she tried to push herself up." Bloody hell, boy. Watch it."
The dust spinning in the air slowly began to settle. Blinking hard, it took England several minutes to see anything. The pod of orca whales had moved further out with California. They were nearly a mile away.
"Australia?" England looked around herself. "What did you do this time?" She leapt to her feet when she saw her son stumbling before falling on his side. Australia curled up tightly, coughing into his hand.
"Australia?" England hurried to the island nation's side, pressing a hand to his forehead. The larger nation's breathing came out in quick, short pants. "Bloody hell, I'm calling Minnesota." Gently rolling Australia onto his back, England reached for her back pocket. Australia coughed heavily, as though trying to clear his lungs.
"What is it, lad?" England rubbed her son's shoulder soothingly. "Is there sand in your lungs?" She tossed her phone aside when the dialtone sounded. Australia ignored England and rolled over, coughing harder.
"What the bloody hell is your problem?" England scowled down at her son. California padded across the sand to look down at the two island nations.
"Aussie?" the state asked nervously. Australia wheezed something, managing to get to his feet and stumbling toward his beach home.
There was a sudden loud screech as a large extinct eagle landed beside England. It looked between its brother and mother before slowly changing back to the island nation of New Zealand. The small nation hurried to pull his pants on.
"Hey, Mum," New Zealand muttered, flushing brightly.
"It's nothing I've never seen before, lad," England sighed. California ogled New Zealand until England covered the state's eyes.
"What's wrong with Aussie?" New Zealand managed to finish up with his pants and turned back to his mother, a darker shade of red.
"Iggy's making another British Empire and Aussie doesn't want to be part of it," California said quickly. "You're hot, by the way."
"California!" England's hand connected with her forehead with a loud smack.
"Um, thanks, I guess." New Zealand turned to look at the beach house. "He's sick now, isn't he?"
"I believe he is, lad," England said softly. She couldn't help but feel it was partially her fault.
"And he doesn't want to with you?" New Zealand glanced over his shoulder.
"Of course not," England said sadly. "Why would he want to return to me and leave his freedom behind?"
"Because he doesn't have a choice," New Zealand snapped back. "We all know what Aussie's like when he gets sick. He doesn't do well with it anymore."
"I know." England turned back to the ocean. "But there's nothing I can do. He won't listen to me. I need to head back to Scotland before he comes searching for me."
"And we're coming with you," New Zealand said hurriedly. "Come help me get Aussie ready. He's going to need a mum soon."
"I'm turning that prat into a chinchilla again if it's the only way," England said as she turned back to the house.
California checked her phone just as a text arrived. "Aw, I have to head back home," she said. "Dad says we all need to be home before he officially calls National Lockdown. I'll see you later, Hottie, Iggy."
"Don't call me Iggy!" England shouted over her shoulder.
"Whatever!" California called back, running for the water. It was a long swim back home.
"I'm never going to survive that girl," New Zealand moaned.
"Don't worry, I'm sure it could be worse." England patted her son on the shoulder. She pushed the front door open before entering. "Australia?"
"Go away," Australia coughed from the bedroom.
"Australia, you have five seconds to come here before I turn you into a chinchilla again," England threatened. The nation only grunted in response. "You're going to regret this, boy." England began to make her way down the hall.
^.^ | ^)^ | O.O
Greenland's eyes flew open and she released a terrified scream. Bolting upright, she struggled with the layers of quilts covering her.
"Greenland!" Hands tore the quilts from the struggling nation. "You're fine. It's oaky." America soothed his sister.
"It's here," Greenland whimpered. "It's come."
"What has?" America asked worriedly. "Is Canada back?"
"The månen bæst, (moon beast,)" Greenland whined. She cuddled close to her younger brother. "It's come."
"Moon beast?" America frowned as he thought through the old myths. "Vampires?"
"Månen bæst," Greenland whispered and glanced out her window at the waning gibbous moon. "And we don't have much time."
A/N: What did you think?
Don't worry, Naru, I'm rallying my troops for this war!