The trio looked at each other, and gulped. No, no, Lithuania did not just invoke the wrath of fate. Fine--he probably did.
"...Y-you go answer it, Lithuania." Latvia's soft little voice piqued.
"N-no! H-how about you answer, Estonia?" Lithuania was attempting to push the task to his other sibling, who shook his head.
"L-Latvia's right! You should answer it, Lithuania!" The Estonia backed away from the door, shoving the task towards the eldest of the trio in the attempts of avoiding being the one to first come in contact with whomever or whatever was knocking.
"B-b..." The Lithuanian also backed away, frightened and trembling (not that he wasn't on a usual basis).
"Do it!" The other two siblings said in a harsh tone, the third gulping as he slowly stalked towards the door. Oh, dear, he shouldn't have lost his temper like that and then invoked fate upon him to do her wrath against his questioning and rebellious self! This was just the worst!
The handle was soon grasped in his trembling hand, turning it and pulling, gulping as he swung it wide to reve--...
Oh, he should've never tempted fate. Tear sprung to the brunette's eyes as the cold whipped to his face, and two voices behind him let out shrill yells. They knew who the creature was from sight, they knew who it was...
This was someone as frightening as Ivan himself, a person that struck terror and fear into their hearts as much as... well, anything could to a nation--short of a nuclear holocaust, this was the worst thing to be before them at this time. The one and only General Winter was in the doorway, bent down to poke his head through. The giant season started to snake into the doorway, his body unnatural as he fit partially through. He infected the area around with his cold, his own face to be close with the Lithuanian's.
Trembling in fear, he backed away to only face that old, weathered, pale gray face look at him with curious and knowing old eyes. It was as if he was staring into the coldest depths of the world--but truly, he was, wasn't he? The old man with his dark hair, the the helmet of spike, like the Germans had once had so many years ago, in the first 'World War' that no one ever thought would have something worse to follow. He was frightening, a strange colored old creature, looking at Toris with all-knowing eyes.
He completely ignored the two shaking brothers behind the eldest. "Where is Ivan?" He asked, the voice as chilly as he. It slithered and caused more shivers to the three.
"...H-h-h..." His voice died.
Eyes flittered to the two that had tried to make themselves disappear, one pointing, the Estonian, to where Ivan was. "Get him here." It was an order, and the Latvian rushed off.
From the silence but the shaking, they could hear the murmurs--the scared squeak of Raivis, and the panicked tone of Ivan. It wasn't long until large footfalls were heard--and the Russian had slammed open a door, coming into this main room. He glared hard at the waiting season. "...Winter..."
"Talk to me outside..." It was also an order, the creature slinking out of the doorway as he came, disappearing from the entry, taking his steps away from this place. Russia looked at the three as he stood at the doorway.
They saw fear in his eyes.
Lithuania had only seen that twice before, and gulped. Voices died in throats, the Russian left and closed the door with only a few words to them.
"Don't open the door, don't look out the windows." He didn't have to say anything else--why would he bother?
Usually, when Ivan went out with Winter... there was usually sound of a fight that followed, the two of them were infamous for going after each other's throats. It was a yearly struggle, a battle they replayed over and over and over.
If Russia won, the winter was mild, a happy time for Ivan. If Winter won, the winter was harsh, and Ivan was unhappy--sometimes sick. If neither won, which had never happened, the universe would probably collapse on itself and everything would then cease to exist so it truly didn't matter in the first place.
"Who do you think is going to win?" Estonia asked his brothers softly, the three of them had settled around the fire, not trembling due to the lack of Russia, and other scary people--and warmth that chased away the cold. "General Winter, or Russia?"
Latvia shuddered. "...I don't know... Either way, it's going to be bad for us! It's always bad for us!"
Lithuania sighed, unable to calm to two. "...It's...just..." He sighed. "W-we have to trust everything will--"
"I hope Russia wins." Estonia said. "The winter will be more mild that way, and maybe we'll be able to visit our own homes like last time Russia won. Wasn't that a nice time? I'd like to see Finland and Sweden again..." A sigh.
"M-me too..." Latvia agreed, curling more to himself.
"...I'd like to see Poland... even if he is a jerk..." Toris muttered into his knees.
All they could truly do was wait for what happened.
--
There was no commotion outside, nothing at all. Not a shot fired, not a cry of pain. It was as if for once the two powerful men were speaking instead of using brute force against one another--wasn't that the worst? Thankfully the wait was over as the Russian came back inside, smiling as he closed the door.
The Baltic states looked expectantly at Russia, wanting news. It showed in their eyes.
"...Tomorrow... They'll be here."
"Who?" It was Eduard that poked his voice out.
"The enemy of course! And, well, tomorrow... Tomorrow I have to face them off, da..." The Russian had this sad sort of smile on his features, looking at the trio he had captured so long ago.
"Tomorrow we'll have a winner."
Charan-Amaya: Dearie me, that came a lot faster than I expected. Well--as promised. The lot of you reviewed and I produced a little chapter that brings me closer and closer to the conclusion I've had planned since not long after the start of this little project. I hope the lot of you really enjoy this chapter, it is probably the fastest one I've pushed out of me and onto the screen. It was difficult, but I did it. I want some praises.
Ten points to the person that guesses the ending. If you actually do--I'll be the most amazed creature in the world and kindly ask you to stay out of my mind because that's private and I really don't want you in there.
The steamy scenes are for ME ONLY. Kay? Okay. Well, I feel better.
You know the drill, four reviews a chapter and I'll go on as soon as possible! Well--tonight was just a great muse, well, this morning. I have school in a few hours. Oh bad for me, good for you? I can write more when I get some more sleep into me which is hopefully sooner rather than later.
Forty and I continue, forty and whomever makes the fortieth gets a free one-shot Hetalia with a pairing/plot of their choice, etc. It's going to be rather fun to do this!
Well, read and review!