DX I have to apologize again. in this part there are 2 types of POV shifts. My formatting got messed up, so I'm substituting yet again. for sudden scene changes within the flashback "..." is used. for shifts between past and future conversations "/\" is used.
/\
The room flashed and the four were once again in the same room, only they were just entering. "This is where I found it," Italy explained showing England the closet in the room. Only it wasn't a closet anymore. An entire room appeared where a closet once stood. A large echoing grandfather clock alone stood forebodingly in the room.
"Good. This will be it then. Do you still have the key?" England asked Italy.
Italy nodded holding out in his palm. He hadn't let it out of his hand since he first got it.
"Don't ever let it go. With any luck it will travel back in time with us and we can leave as soon as everyone realizes the danger," England reminded him of their plan.
England opened a spellbook he had secure in his hands. It was the very same spellbook he found last time, although he found it in the library on the first floor, not the third. Things moved around in the mansion without warning. Among other things they found a useful piece of information on a sheet of paper scattered across the table. The leaflet appeared to have been torn from a book, or judging from the hand scrawled notes, a notebook. The note held information about the clock, and what it could be used for...
England spent a considerable amount time looking through the spell book once he got it. He performed a number of spells in it, to try and benefit the next world. There was still one left to try. He would have to get it set up before Italy started the clock.
"England, what's this 'last thing' you needed us to do?" America asked.
England pulled out an old and smushed rice ball. "You remember what Spain and Romano... or maybe you weren't there... But Germany, you should.." England sighed. His body ached; they had been at this too long. So much of his power had already been used up. He was running on empty. England held out the rice ball in his hands, "Dou you know how a mochi is made?"
"Huh? what are you talking about Japanese desserts for all of a sudden?!" America asked, concerned that England had finally lost it. He'd been watching him slowly lose his strength a little at a time. He'd be more concerned if wasn't for the fact that everything wasn't about to reset.
"When we saw Spain and Romano all that time ago, they said there was supposed to be a mochi here. I have no idea how else it could have gotten here. so in order to keep things consistent, our last priority is to make one," England sighed heavily.
"And how are we doing that?!" America asked. Last they checked they didn't have a mortar or whatever it was they used to make these things.
England placed the smooshed rice ball in the palm of his hands and pressed, while he did this concentrated on putting his magic into it, compacting it, pulling and constricting it's malleable shape. It was pretty low level magic, but he was already passed his limits. The exertion left him light-headed as he opened his hands to reveal a newly pressed mochi. It was a little lumpy, but the result was the same. England held it out to them, trying not to let his exhaustion show, "Like this," He stated. Of course That wasn't all. What point would there be in making a simple mound of rice? no, his intentions we to give it a life and a purpose. To create something that could protect future versions. To do what he could not.
"That's it?" America asked, "Then what did you need us to bring all this stuff for?"
"I found the spell in the book. I intend to place a charm on it for protection. It will create a creature capable of doing everything we've been trying to in this world. Although I hate to say it... I don't have quite enough strength yet to give enough energy myself. You'll have to find something for it to eat," England explained. All set. England called out to Italy who was waiting anxiously in the clock room, "Italy, you can start now."
...
This was it. They were really going back. And when they did, Italy was sure he would once again think it was only the second time. He would have to go through all of this again. He hoped it would be alright though. The key firmly held in his left hand he reached up with his right; stopping the minute hand in it's place. The first full swing of the pendulum completed with heavy thump. A short electric current ran through Italy as he pulled it one minute back. It took every bit of strength he had to not let go in that second. Letting go would make time start to reverse, holding on would make it freeze. Only it did this by stealing time from Italy's life.
...
England recited the spell carefully. Was it working? Had time stopped? Had it slown down? This was a time consuming process, and they had been stalked by those creatures ever since the incident with the front door. They were running very short on time.
England said the following words as he allowed the spell to take as much from him as it needed, "patronus de perierat."
...
Italy leaned against the clock, panting, just catching his breath as another electric current ran through him. His heart felt like it was about to burst, and his whole body felt as if he were on fire. The clock slipped another minute backward, zapping another minute from Italy, as he cried with long shallow breaths.
...
A face appeared on the newly formed creature as England struggled to find his balance.
"England! Are you alright?" America and Germany asked helping him find his balance.
"Yeah I'm... fine," England answered as held his head. His vision was blurred and he hurt everywhere. The magic he used now was slowly killing him... "I'm going to get some fresh air," England said walking out of the room as carefully as possible, "Find it something to. eat."
England tried to get his bearings as he left the room. He made it to the stairs. The room with the piano... He'd wondered about it all this time, but the risk was too great. Still all this time he felt a strange presence from there. ...They only had a few minutes left. What could it hurt to look now?
...
America looked at the door not long after watching England leave. What was he doing here again? His memories were starting to fade. The mochi, right. It was happily chewing on lettuce now. ...Where did England go so suddenly? "I'm going to go after England," America announced suddenly worried about England's physical condition.
...
"Wh-what the hell, you again," England stated in confusion. How did they pass him? Why, how were they here?! England felt a stab of pain as an unnatural wound opened in his shoulder, "Ow!"
America asked with concern, "Yeah...Um, what happened to your shoulder?"
"Nothing. It's...nothing," England tried not to let it show.
England looked at Italy. Something was different about him, he seemed older... "...? Wh-what? Is there something on my face?" Italy asked nervously from England's stare.
England shook his head, "No. I see..." England took a pause to breathe. That made sense now. Of course they weren't the same, "That's it..."
"England! Your shoulder is bleeding!" America shouted with concern.
"Yeah, I know. Stop freaking out..." England took a pause for air. He could feel his magic ripping at the seems, tearing his body apart as it tried to compensate, "Ow..."
England walked further into the room, leaning on the piano for support. "Say...America, what is your purpose here?" England asked. Surely they had to have some reason for visiting the past. Why was it that their worlds seemed to be so connected?
"What?! W-well...to escape with everyone..." America panicked.
"I know that. What I want to know is, why are you in this world?" England rephrased.
The three froze.
"Want me to be...even blunter?" England asked, realizing they were very short on time, "Tell me what you, Italy, and Germany are doing here. Why have you come...to this world?"
"...We're looking for the journal," Germany stated quick to the point.
"Germany!" Italy scolded him. This England wasn't supposed to know. They were supposed to be careful about what they said.
Germany continued anyways, "We can't find it anywhere. Without it, we can't go back. That's why..."
England was relived at least one of them was going to explain. Of course it was the journal. Why didn't he think of that sooner? It always did strike him odd that there would be two journals, "Hah! Then fucking go back already. Always loitering around and making a racket, you lot..." England through the journal to their feet. Honestly... this group from the future needed to stop coming back here.
"The journal! It was with you, England?!" Italy exclaimed with shock, as he picked it up off the floor.
"I found it on the first floor..." England explained. Another unnatural wound opened across his stomach,"Ugh!..." Time seemed to flash suddenly across the room. Freezing, blinking, "What the hell?!" England became aware of their urgency quite immediately. Italy wasn't going to be able to keep it still much longer... "You've got to run! They're already feeding it!"
"Wh-what?! What are you...talking about?" Italy asked confused by the sudden urgency and change of topic.
The door burst open and one of the larger monsters entered the room. Ha... It finally caught up...
"It's here," England stated matter of factly. He'd been expecting it for sometime now,"You guys go back. Don't intervene anymore!"
"W-wait! Are you going to fight alone?! You can't!" America worried noticing the size of this monster and the critical condition England was in.
This might be a chance England thought. He could warn them in person. If only briefly, "Sorry, we don't have much time. You're going to die very soon. Just listen to what I have to tell you."
"What? Wait...I don't understand..." Italy shook his head completely lost.
It didn't matter if he didn't understand yet. The warning was the same, "Just listen to me! That's all you've got to do! Don't go to the second floor. That's all." England had no idea how Italy might die in the future, but if it was at all for the same reasons as the last time, he could at least try and keep him from meeting that fate.
The monster was still under control of the mansion, and froze with the rest of time, it moved slowly, one step closer at a time.
"Oh..." Italy answered, understanding the warning but not the reason.
"God, what a nuisance!" England muttered to himself. Both a monster and this lot. Honestly! He'd done everything to help prepare their world and here they were loitering about in the past! It all relied on him, huh? Fine he would send them back himself...
Magic began to glow around the three, as England struggled to keep his concentration, while the magic literally ripped him apart.
"I can't move!" America panicked.
"Don't worry. I'll die before it can attack you I'll teleport you back with the journal using what little magic I've got left..." England tried to calm him down. He could handle this. He had no more purpose other than to make sure that that group succeeded.
"Wait! You're-" Germany tried to stop him, knowing there was no way England could survive a fight alone with that thing.
"Please, cut it off," England asked.
A flash and they vanished.
...
Italy's entire body shook as he clasped tightly to the bottom of the minute hand. The hand had become bent from Italy's pulling, and the arrow dug deep into italy's palm in return. Italy had no strength to stand. His heart as well, suffered many painful electric shocks. ... He was going to fall. How much longer until the next swing of the pendulum? 12 seconds... 10...
He was counting down to the end of his life...
The minute hand moved, and the electric current struck once more, coming in strong and heavy. Coursing through Italy's heart, forcing it's beats, and then stopping them. Italy's sight went dark, and he felt a sudden numbness as he dropped. His body crashing falling. His heart had been fried, and his fragile body could no longer withstand the pain. He was dead before he hit the ground. His hand fell limp and the key dropped from his grasp.
/\
"I'm sorry you guys," Italy looked crestfallen as he looked apologetically to the rest of them, "If I hadn't been so clumsy, we would still have the key in the next world, and we might have escaped much sooner."
"There wasn't anything you could do about it. don't be so hard on yourself," England reprimanded him.
"Italy, you really did do your best," Japan said supportively.
/\
America turned the knob to the room on the third floor he had never been able to enter. He'd been informed recently that the room contained a piano... and that it was too dangerous to enter. Well they wouldn't be here in a minute, nothing could happen in this room that couldn't be reversed in a minute, "I haven't seen this room yet. Italy told us not to come here-?! England! What are you doing?!"
England was panting, blood dripping from cuts beneath his torn clothes, as well as cuts caused by the creature he was suddenly facing.
"Oh...it's...you..." England breathed heavily. Didn't he just send America back to his own world? What was he doing back here again? "This whole room is going to blow up in 30 seconds...You've got to run." He'd been keeping track, of every time time stopped freezing. It didn't return this time... and that would put Italy about halfway around the clock. ...A depressing thought.
"England!" America shouted rushing to England's side as he started to faint while his magic pushed it's way from his body.
England sighed heavily, breathing when he could, as he struggled to remain standing.
What the hell are those wounds?! It's no use struggling! In 30 seconds, he said...Even if I take him out into the hallway, that thing will just come after us...And attack the other... America suddenly remembered there were no others. Just Italy and Germany back upstairs. It would all be over in thirty seconds?! Why the hell did they have to spend their last moments fighting this thing?! "...I'll stay by your side. A hero could never forsake anyone," America stood in front, protecting England from the monster's attack.
"...Idiot...fucking...show off..." England muttered out. If he had any strength left he would show America what he could really do.
The room began to shake and glow red. A warning. Ten seconds.
"Only this time, yeah, you're right," America admitted.
So it was this America after all England remembered with relief. "Idiot," he muttered.
"What?" America asked.
-8 seconds-
"You're a failure. Do you really think you were a hero?" England challenged him. Well if it was this America... he still had time to teach him a thing or two.
"England?" America asked with confusion, dodging one of the enemies blows.
-6 SECONDS-
"Listen, I'm a gentleman. Do you know what a gentleman is?" England quizzed him, still panting.
"What?… Well…" America tried to think of an answer for the random question.
"A gentleman is always ahead of the hero, you know. That's why it came to my mind. About now you'll be surprised…and then…" England suddenly forgot where he was going. Right... He was talking to America. And they were about to...
-4 seconds-
"England…"
"… Listen, America," England panted focusing all his attention on getting his message through.
"Yeah? What is it?" America asked hoping for an answer to england's confusing question, before time completely restarted.
England smiled vacantly as he felt his magic, and his life flow out from him, travelling to the seal he placed on that journal, "Not being alone in your final moments… isn't that bad, surprisingly."
America stared at England for a moment as the movement stopped. There was no breathing... No sign of life at all.
America forced a smile, "You're right. I'm not that bad, either…"
A bright flash and it was over.
/\
"Was that it?" Someone asked waiting for some sort of confirmation. The scene just 'ended' but they were still here. Were they stuck in some sort of limbo?
"That's the last thing I remember," England answered just as confused, "What's going on?"
The scene cleared and a small mochi appeared in the center of the hallway in the attic.
"What in hell is going on?" England asked, most astounded by this. How were they even seeing this memory? None of their past selves were here.
"Is that? The front door key?" Italy asked noticing the key in it's mouth.
The mochi ran through the attic, making a direct beeline for the front door.
"What is it doing?" Russia asked, speaking up for the first time in a while.
"I don't know... Is it-" England watched as the creature pushed against the front door trying to reach the handle. "That creten tried to escape without us!" England realized with abhorration. After all the trouble he'd gone to! ... It's no wonder... He thought it resembles America a little too much.
One of the monsters suddenly appeared, looming over the small mochi. The creature shrieked, and in it's panic, decided to swallow the key. Gulp.
"It ATE it?!" was the reaction of several of the onlookers.
"You're fucking kidding me!" America shook his head.
"So... that's where our key went?" Italy remarked in horror.
The mochi managed to escape the monster by the door as it ran back upstairs, darting into the room on the fourth floor, and nestling itself in next to the bookshelf, guarding the entrance to the attic.
"Oh, I actually think I understand now!" Italy claimed proudly, "The time before this."
England remembered with Italy's prompting. "Ah yes, for nearly the sixth time in a row we all died trying retrieve that key."
"It must have sensed the key was causing us to fail somehow and tried to protect us from it..." Italy explained.
/\
The room flashed white, and suddenly they were all back to the safe room, un-transparent. A little disoriented if nothing else.
"I think I'm going to be sick," Prussia held onto the table for support, as the room spun briefly.
"So then, the mochi has our key? What are we supposed to do with it then?" Canada asked.
"Ugh... Japan?" Italy noticed Japan still seemed to be in a trance. He shook Japan lightly but got no response "Japan?!" He was still in there...
/\
Everyone around him suddenly vanished. Japan alone was left behind. THe white suddenly turned black, and Japan began to see visions. He only got a quick look at each scene, and he couldn't hear anything, but something was about to start, or had already begun. ... Something ominous.
The darkness lifted and Japan saw Russia. He was arguing, with... everyone?
*FLASH*
Russia fell behind the rest of the group, keeping his distance and avoiding conversation.
*FLASH*
A... Phone call? Japan wasn't certain how this was important. ... Until he heard a part of the conversation. ...Something was not right...
*FLASH*
China talking to Russia in private about these things.
*FLASH*
China taking Russia's side, claiming to "know something he couldn't share".
*FLASH*
Canada mention his suspicions only after something big appeared to have gone down. - How long had he known? Japan wondered.
*FLASH* - The scenes were beginning to move much faster now.
Prussia fell during a critical point during the fight. A costly move, since they had no idea what had happened, why, how, or what to do.
*FLASH*
Italy took a single step away from the rest of the group.
*FLASH*
Something with England and magic... There was only darkness here. He could only barely make out the voices, as he was slowly pulled back.
NEXT: Chapter 21: Lost Bonds
Don't forget to review~ :3 I'll see you all in November~ (fingers crossed for the 1st, but expect it to be late)