Hello all, thank you for reading! How have you been? I hope everything's been going well! I'm so sorry it's taken me an actual month and a bit to update, but I have a few more writing and non-writing commitments now so be prepared for slower updates. This one-shot is pretty rushed, sorry about the dropping quality. Just so you know, I won't ever stop this book unless explicitly stated, so if I haven't updated in ages know I haven't given up.
Also, should I start to include Alternate universes one-shots? Up until now everything as been in-universe, but I'm wondering if I should divide this book into two sections, one with AU's and the other that could exist with canon. I'd love your input on this!
Context: Basically more bets between Australia and America with an unwilling Canadian and an excited Prussian thrown into the mix. I also live for these nations messing with each other, so there's that.
Enjoy!
"This is a bad idea," Canada said nervously, standing uncomfortably at the gates of a graveyard.
"Pr-probably, but I-I'm the hero so-so it's all g-g-good!" America stuttered, shivering from both the cold and the creepy atmosphere.
The pale moon was out in the night sky like a massive dinner plate, stars twinkling beside it like shards of glass. It was a clear but cold night, as winter slowly creeped up on autumn. Dead trees grew around the overgrown cemetery showing it's minimal maintenance. Overall, America could't have picked a spookier time or place for a picnic.
"Tell me again why I'm here," Canada said, pushing his way into the burial grounds.
"Be-because you love me and d-d-don't want me to d-die alone in a graveyard?" America said.
Canada considered it for a moment. A long moment.
"I'm starting to reconsider it," Canada muttered but America didn't hear.
"I d-didn't think that this would b-be so hard," America said. "I thought this w-was an easy win. Aus is m-more shifty th-than I thought. He k-knows I hate supern-n-natural s-stuff."
Canada shed his outer jacket and tossed it to his brother. His shivering was getting annoying and Canada already came from a cold country so he would be fine without the jumper on. Okay, maybe a tiny little part of him wanted his brother to feel better too. Plus, it had a Canadian flag on it too, so suck it America.
"T-thanks!" America couldn't get it on fast enough.
"What is it with you and Aus and these bets?" Canada said. "Every time you get the chance to see each other you spend your time dong something stupid. Why don't you just… enjoy each others company?"
America didn't seem to hear him and shortly after, a shout came from across the stone memorials.
"HEY LOSERS!" Someone yelled. "WHAT'S UP?!"
America screamed and latched onto Canada's arm like a koala, "GHOST!"
It wasn't a ghost, but it wasn't exactly far from it. Prussia could be seen in the distance past a few rows of large black stone, standing out like a sore thumb due to his pale head of hair and skin. His red eyes even added to the effect.
Prussia ran up to them and scowled, "Hey, I might be pale but I'm not a ghost!" he said indignantly.
"Oh, it's just Prussia," America said, removing himself from his brother's arm.
"What're you doing here?" Canada said.
"I heard there was a bet so I came to grace you with my awesome," he said.
"Is Germany here too?" Canada asked hopefully. He didn't think he could handle Prussia, Australia and America with only New Zealand as back up.
"Nope," Prussia said as if it didn't crush Canada's hopes and dreams, "I think Poland dragged him and Lithuania shopping or something."
"R.I.P dude," America said.
As the trio continued to the meeting spot in the eerie twilight, they refrained from any unnecessary chatter. Walking atop hundreds of dead bodies required some level of silence as not to feel like more of a disturbance then they already were, especially as they traveled deeper in. Canada wouldn't say that having a stroll through a graveyard was peaceful or pleasant, but there was something about being one of the only living things around that felt reflective.
As the three moved from behind a particularly large head stone, they saw the nation they were looking for. Australia was sitting down in the space between two graves and a tree on a red picnic blanket with candles and a basket, looking far too cheery for someone technically sitting on dead people.
"G'day guys."
"Hey man," America said, sitting down heavily on the blanket. "We picked up a ghost on the way here, hope you don't mind."
"I'm not a ghost," Prussia grumbled, "I'm just pale."
Australia and America snorted, reaching into the basket and pulling out some bread rolls.
"Where's Zea?" Canada asked. He saw no reason in standing any longer then he had to, so he dragged Prussia to sit beside him with the others and the candles.
"He didn't want to come," Australia said. "Said something 'bout not wanting to get caught up in all these bets, but I got a replacement so jokes on him."
Prussia said, "Replacement? I don't see anyone else."
Australia grinned and reached into the basket before pulling out a little lizard. America jerked away in surprise, looking back and forth between the bread in his hand and the lizard in Australia's. It wasn't a very scary looking reptile, at least for Australian standards. It was largely grey and spiked, but had two small sandy splotches on the sides of it's head.
"S'a Tuatara," Australia said. "They're only found at Zea's place so I thought the little sucker could stand in for his country."
"Of course you did," Canada said.
"Cool!" Prussia said, reaching out to pet it's head. "Hallo New Zealand two-point-oh!"
New Zealand 2.0 blinked.
Canada guessed that his probability of surviving the night dropped about 50 percent.
The bet wasn't all that dangerous to begin with, which was a nice change. All they had to do was spend the whole night in the graveyard and get out at sunrise without leaving. Beyond that, there were no rules. Canada had no idea why America had agreed to it given his fear of the supernatural, but his brother had always been stubborn and it was unlikely to change. America could also be crafty when he wanted to, but so could Australia. Canada wondered if either had a plan on how to get the other to leave.
"How's about we tell ghost stories?" Australia said.
America bit his lip nervously, "H-how about not?"
Australia grinned, "Y'aren't scared are you?"
"N-no," America said, "I'm just tired. Why don't we just… sleep?"
"Absolutely not," Prussia said, "I came here for fun not a literal snooze fest!"
"You can just play games on your phone or talk to Canada," America said. "Sleep it where it's at!"
"You're just scared that a ghost'll come and posses us," Prussia said. "Maybe they're just waiting for the right moment."
"Th-that's not funny," America stuttered. "They can pr-probably hear you!"
"Oh yeah?" Prussia grinned. "Come out, come out ghosties! I got some friends who want to meet you!"
"No!" America protested, trying to shove a hand over the other nation's mouth.
"Show yourselves you glorified bed sheets!"
"Prussia please, I'm begging you dude!"
"America wants to meet you! He told me himself!"
"NO I DON'T!"
"Yes he does!"
SNAP!
America and Prussia screamed as a massive snap and crunch filled the air. Canada's hands flew up to cover his head, thinking a branch above him was going to fall and Australia held his lizard protectively. The four nations sat in the deafening silence with varying levels of fear on their faces.
"That was just… a coincidence," Australia said, the lizard in his hand looking just as scared as him.
Another snap echoed throughout the cemetery.
"Oh no, oh no, oh no, Prussia you summoned a ghost!" America shouted, his voice stretching across the whole burial ground.
"I didn't think it would work," the Prussian confessed, looking nervous.
The Tuatara in Australia's hands started scuttling about, trying in vain to break free from his care-taker.
"Crikey Newer New Zealand, what're you doing?" Australia said, voice slightly shaky.
"He can sense the ghost!" America cried.
"I doubt there's a-" Canada was interrupted by another louder crash.
"Wait, Zea Number Two, stop it!" Australia tried to calm the frantic animal, but all it wanted to do was get away.
"I think New Zealand Two want's to leave, Aus," America said, "and so do I."
"Dammit, okay," Australia got to his feet. "Stay away from my substitute brother you bloody ghosts!"
The others slowly rose to their feet and looked around nervously.
"BE GONE!" A loud, raspy voice shrieked at them in a distorted tone.
Australia swore viciously, almost jumping out of his skin. He took one look at the terrified animal he was holding and ran like the wind tot he exit. Prussia shoved Canada in front of him and started pleading for the ghost to stay away from him and take the North American brother instead while the nation in question stood still in terror.
What was happening?
"YES!" America cried, pumping his fist in the air as he heard the gate shut that singled Australia's leave from the cemetery. "I WIN!"
Canada glanced at his brother, sure he'd gone crazy.
"Uh, America, are we not going to talk about the ghost?" Canada said, voice thin as mist and feather light.
America turned to them and grinned, "What ghost?"
From behind the tree they sat at, a pleased looking England sauntered out with a megaphone in his hand and his phone open.
"I'd say we did quite well, didn't we?" England said smugly.
"Y-you were the ghost?" Canada said.
"Yep," England smirked, "and I was a bloody good one too. Serves Australia right for leaving his spiders in my teapot yesterday."
"So there's no ghost?" Prussia said from behind Canada.
England rolled his eyes, "No. There's no ghost."
"I knew that!" Prussia exclaimed. "The whole time I was just fooling you!"
England stared blankly at him, "… sure."
"Isn't having England freak Aus out cheating?" Canada said.
"No one said I couldn't get help," America shrugged.
Canada sighed and started walking away, Prussia calling after him that he was sorry for using him as a human shield.
Next time he'd take a page out of Zea's book and just not show up.
