Thanks to Krystal, gowripramodnair, EverythingMath, Dragonfire78, BloodLily16, Miss Akiyata and madders10 for reviewing. Thank you so much for the great response.

As for Canada's role in all of this, it will be addressed next chapter. Or at least, you will be reminded about it.

Also, it's been brought to my attention that I foreshadow things and never act on it. Keep in mind that I don't plan ahead, so some of those things are by accident, though I do occasionally use them when I get stuck. Think of some of them as red herrings.

Disclaimer: I don't own Hetalia.

Chapter 60: The Second Red Piece

It is time to collect the second piece.

The first Rook.

…

"What do you want to talk about?" Vlad demanded.

"Tell me, is there something else involved?" Marius immediately asked. "That time when we came to torture Wales, we saw something else before we were abruptly sent back to our world. Something that looked like Canada, Brazil and South Africa. I want to know what they are."

"Old spirits that hate Nations," Vlad said. "I think that's how the Africans described them. I heard they take the form of those they're playing with."

"I see. And how exactly do they play with you?"

"Same way you do, just to a different extent."

"Tell me, can they alter a Nation?"

Vlad frowned in confusion.

"I don't know," he admitted. "We don't know too much of them."

"I see. There's also something else I want to know."

"And what's that?"

Marius smirked, standing from his seat. Vlad instantly felt nervous, and wanted to push himself from his own seat, but the arms of the chair seemed to grab him, and the chair pushed itself forwards far enough to pin the Romanian to the table.

"There's something different about Raj's blood," Marius said, walking closer. "I want to see if it's applicable to the rest of you as well."

A dagger appeared in Marius's hand, and Vlad instantly knew what would come.

…

The entire morning, Fletcher had been grumpy. Every time he tried to get to sleep, he would have a dream of him being tortured by the other version of the Nordics. He'd wake up in pain, but after a few moments the pain would fade. After the fourth time, he decided that it wasn't worth trying to get to sleep.

And naturally, others had picked up on his grumpiness. Some of the other Nations were avoiding him, while others commented that he was definitely related to England.

What did that have to do with anything?

"Hey, Kiwi!" a voice called out.

New Zealand growled, coming to a stop as Australia walked up to him.

Jett stared at him in confusion for a moment, before shaking his head.

"You want to play some rugby with Annie, Sofia and I?" Jett asked.

"No," Fletcher said, surprising Jett. "I'm not in the mood."

"What's wrong?" Jett asked.

"Nothing!" Fletcher snapped. "Just leave me alone. I told you, I'm not in the mood."

Fletcher stalked off, leaving Jett to stare after him in astonishment.

…

"This is beyond torture," James commented.

Mathias had woken up, and the New Zealander and Greenlander were staring in surprise as the Dane was practically inhaling his breakfast, drinking beer along with it.

"I know you don't like Denmark," Eva said, "but at least you weren't raised by him. And the two of them have the exact same eating habits. It's disturbing."

"How can anyone eat like that?" James asked.

"It's nothing," Mathias said with his mouth full. He used the opportunity to swallow. "You should have seen us in our Viking days. Now that was eating."

"I think I'll pass," James commented dryly.

…

Emil was drumming his fingers. Without the other Nordics, he was bored, plain and simple. Of course, he would never admit that to them. He had even asked Anna for her folders so that he had something else to do, other than stare at the ceiling.

His stomach was still a little sore, and he didn't want to move unless he had to.

"I don't like Sigurd," he muttered.

…

Jett went to find Anika and Sofia, who were waiting for him at the front door, wearing rugby jerseys of their respective national teams.

"Where's Fletch?" Anika asked.

"He doesn't want to play," Jett said.

The South African and Argentinian shared an astonished gaze.

New Zealand didn't want to play rugby with the three of them?

"Is he sick or something?" Sofia asked.

"He seems to be in a really bad mood," Jett said. "Like, England bad after being visited by his brothers back in our colonial days."

Anika winced, and Sofia could only assume that it was bad.

"Maybe we should go check on him?" Anika asked.

"I think we should give him some space," Jett said. "Sorry girls. Perhaps another time?"

"Do you think we can get Wales to play?" Sofia asked.

"He's still sick," Anika said. "Scotland?"

"He's babysitting the other Venezuela," Jett said. "One of the Irelands?"

"They went to get something from the nearby town," Sofia said. "England?"

"Somehow, I doubt he'll be interested," Anika sighed.

"Looks like we're going to have to wait for another time," Jett sighed.

…

Ricardo looked around.

He was back on the chessboard, the pieces scattered.

He saw Mahesh, who had been pushed off his horse. The horse was lying to the side. Ricardo wanted to go closer, but found that he was unable to move, his own horse unwilling to go.

He looked towards the white pieces, seeing how each of them had a red stain on them, but he froze when he saw one of the knights.

Raj stood out among the white, being the only one that was completely covered in red. Even his horse was red.

He looked to the side, seeing figures that looked like them as well. But these figures had demonic features.

The one that looked like India walked over towards Mahesh, and kicked him to the side. Mahesh was forced to lie on his back, his face twisted in pain. Ricardo could also see a red stain on his chest.

He felt a wave of concern for his friend, and wanted to rush over, but something else caught his eye.

He looked back towards Raj, and he noticed the nearby squares were two different shades of red. From him, a red mist began to form, spreading out towards the rest of the white pieces.

"There's a reason he was chosen first," a voice whispered.

Ricardo turned, seeing the figure that was looming over Mahesh, and on his shoulders rested a snake.

…

Fletcher plopped himself down on his bed, sighing heavily.

He felt bad for snapping at Jett like that, but he desired his space. In hindsight, perhaps a game of rugby would have been a good idea.

"Too late now, isn't it?"

He immediately sat up, seeing someone sitting at the foot of his bed.

This person looked almost exactly like him, except he had black hair, golden eyes, wore a black leather jacket with black leather pants and boots. Oh, and let's not forget the tail and the wings, and the fact that Fletcher's ahoges were replaced with actual ram's horns.

"Who are you?" Fletcher demanded, pushing himself to his feet.

The stranger chuckled, standing as well and stalking over towards Fletcher.

"I'm a Deathplayer," the new figure said, and Fletcher's eyes widened.

"What do you want?" he demanded.

"So demanding, little Rook," the Deathplayer said. "But I'll put it simply: we want you."

Fletcher's eyes widened, and he tried to dart past the Deathplayer, but his arm was grabbed, a hand slapped on his mouth at the very moment he attempted to cry out. In the next moment, he was thrown against the wall, and he groaned.

"Careful," a familiar sounding voice said. "We don't want to kill him."

Fletcher looked up to see someone that looked like Jett, only with golden blond hair, silver eyes, wearing the same leather ensemble as the Deathplayer that resembled the New Zealander, with wings, horns and a tail.

"But it wouldn't be too much of a loss," another familiar voice said.

Fletcher adjusted his view to someone that looked like a red-haired version of Anika, and Fletcher blushed, since he never saw Anika wear something like that before.

"What do you want with me?" Fletcher asked.

"We want to corrupt you," another voice said, and Fletcher turned to see a Canada lookalike.

"Tell me, how did you enjoy those dreams?" another voice asked, and Fletcher saw a lookalike of Arthur.

Fletcher gasped in surprise.

"You were the ones that showed me those dreams?" he asked.

"Yes," his lookalike said. "But those were more than just dreams. They really happened. Care for a clarification?"

Before he could ask, the Deathplayer placed his hand over Fletcher's eyes, and an intense pain flooded through his head.

…

Mahesh tried to force himself to his feet, and he winced as pain wracked through his body.

Whatever those Deathplayers did to Raj, it was affecting him in the worst way possible, and he found that trying to stand was a lot more difficult than he thought it would be.

The revelation that he was no longer a Nation didn't concern him as much as the part about Raj being one of the only ones that could kill him at the moment. Raj wouldn't actually try to kill him, would he? After all, Raj didn't strike him as that sort of person.

Another wave of pain, and he was forced to close his eyes, and he saw a vision of Raj killing his own people.

Yes. At that point in time, Raj would be capable of doing that.

…

Fletcher looked down at a scene that he had grown familiar with.

James was the one tied to the table, with the other world's Nordics standing around him. He saw Finland going towards him, and he winced at the scream when the Fin shot the other New Zealander's shoulders.

When Finland was finished, Iceland was the one that moved next. He had some sort of bowl filled with a liquid, and he pulled something out. It was a thread soaked in the fluid. Fletcher didn't know what it was, but he watched as the thread was pulled through a needle, and starting from the wrist, the needle was pulled through James's skin, the other's face twisted in pain. The thread was pulled around and upwards, and Fletcher was deeply confused. He watched as the same was done to the other arm.

Norway went forward next, and he had a potato peeler in his hand. He pulled James's shirt up, before he started using it to peel the skin away on the New Zealander's stomach, earning struggles and screams of pain.

Fletcher winced as he saw and heard everything, but he couldn't look away.

Next, Sweden stepped forward, two daggers in his hands. In an instant, he stabbed both through James's ankles, earning another scream.

Fletcher had seen it before, from a first-person point of view.

But now Denmark stepped forward, a war hammer in his hands. Fletcher didn't see this part, and felt immense fear.

James saw this as well, and he tried to plea with the Dane not to do whatever it was he was about to do.

The hammer was raised over Denmark's head, and he brought it down.

Fletcher gasped in surprise as the hammer was brought down on the other's pelvis, and he managed to hear a crunch through the scream.

Denmark smirked, leaning over the face of the crying New Zealander.

"We'll be back later," he said, as the five left.

Fletcher stared in horror as the five left, and he could finally see exactly how the other's pelvis looked like after the blow. Then things became foggy.

…

Alexandru opened the door to his brother/sister's room. Vlad had yet to get breakfast, and he wondered if the other was still asleep.

"Vlad?" he asked, grabbing the sleeping Romanian's arm. "Come on, it's time to wake up."

Vlad didn't react, but he saw that Vlad's face seemed to be twisted in pain. Vlad adjusted his position, and Alexandru's eyes widened when he saw the bleeding cut on the side of her neck.

"Somebody, help!" Alexandru called out.

He turned towards the dreamcatcher, seeing a hole in it.

…

Vlad winced as Marius bit into the cut he had made. Once again, the other was enjoying his blood.

Marius pulled his face away, and Vlad felt a wave of nausea as he saw the mouth completely covered in blood.

"Your blood changed as well," Marius said. "It's grown sweeter. It's delicious."

And Vlad screamed as the other bit down on the cut again.

…

The Deathplayers watched as the New Zealander squirmed on the floor, thankful that he was silent. They didn't need any of the other Nations to interfere. Not until they were finished.

"Were you waiting long?"

They turned to see the King's Knight approaching, accompanied by Raj.

"Not at all," the Queen said. She turned to Raj. "Are you ready?"

He nodded, looking a little disappointed. They knew why.

He had the instinct to kill, but had to restrain it. For now.

He leaned down next to the New Zealander, opening his mouth, revealing the fangs of a snake. With those fangs, he bit down on the New Zealander's neck.

As he injected his venom, the New Zealander's expression twisted even more, and he started to scream.

There was a reason they chose India first. He had the venom that was necessary to turn other Nations into Reds more easily.

…

Ricardo stared in horror.

To know that Raj had the power to inject other Nations with this, for lack of a better word, virus was beyond disconcerting.

He heard a crack, and he turned his face towards the white pieces. He saw the tower of one of the rooks begin to crack, revealing red pieces. He turned to face the black rook, seeing it start to crumble.

He then turned to look at the one on top of the tower, identifying the figure that stood on top of it. And he instinctively knew.

Whatever was happening, it was happening at that moment.

…

Mathias and Eva jumped when James suddenly grabbed his chest, screaming in pain.

"What's going on?" Mathias asked.

Eva didn't answer, but immediately moved to the New Zealander's side, feeling his skin heat up as well.

"Whatever it is, it's not normal," she said.

…

Alistair was watching as Ferdinand started yet another painting when the scream echoed through the mansion.

He saw Ferdinand flinch, and one of his arms wrapped around his waist.

"The second Red," Ferdinand said.

Alistair's eyes widened, and he immediately ran out of the room as the Venezuelan continued to paint.

…

The Deathplayers watched as the New Zealander's face twisted, and as there were brief images of fangs and claws.

The two Indians had left. They didn't need the other Nations to see Raj at the moment, and they didn't need Raj to see them yet.

The New Zealand lookalike went over to the door, locking it.

No need to involve the other Nations either.

…

When Jett heard Fletcher scream, he immediately knew that something was seriously wrong. He had wanted to take a shower, but after hearing his brother/friend/rival's scream, he decided that his shower could wait.

…

Fletcher was caught in a haze of pain. He felt as though his body was on fire.

Through the haze, he opened his eyes, seeing something wrap around him. Something red.

…

After returning from his vision, Ricardo had immediately gone to tell Bruce. When the Australian found out that something was happening to New Zealand, he immediately pulled out his phone, moving towards the nearest mirror, pleased that Alida had thought of buying a few more.

He saw Jett at a door, trying to open it as screams in a familiar voice echoed through the mirror. Other Nations joined as well, trying to open the door.

And James wouldn't answer his phone.

Finally, just when he was about to hang up, someone answered, only it wasn't James.

"Australia?" Greenland's voice asked.

"Where's James?" he demanded.

"He suddenly collapsed, grabbing his chest and screaming in pain."

His eyes widened. That was exactly how North Korea had described what had happened to Mahesh.

"No," he whispered. "Jimmy."

…

James saw a vision of Fletcher, writhing on the floor, screaming in pain.

There were others that were around him, and he noticed what appeared to be a demonic version of him and Fletcher.

'Please. Whatever this is, make it stop.'

This was pain worse than what he had experienced when he was tortured by the Nordics.

…

"Why is America never here when you need him?" Arthur huffed.

There were about twenty of them trying to force the door open, without any luck.

"Ivan would have been helpful as well," Anika said.

"Stand back," Matthew said.

The others stared at him in confusion, before he rammed the door.

If need be, he could be just as strong as America.

The door was forced open, and they could finally see into the room, just as the screaming stopped.

…

Allen scoffed, kicking the unconscious Argentinian aside.

Soon enough, the humans that were patrolling the area would come to investigate, and he would take the opportunity to slip inside.

Then he had a Canadian to punish, and possibly a pork chop to take care of.

…

Marius finally released Vlad, and he immediately noticed that he seemed to be very pale.

"I'll be watching you," Marius said as he allowed the dream to fade away.

…

The Nations watched in horror as they saw demonic creatures that resembled England, Canada, South Africa, New Zealand and Australia. They were standing in front of something that they assumed was most likely Fletcher.

"Deathplayers," Anika whispered. "And you again?!"

The one that looked like her giggled, and a few of the male Nations blushed, immediately picturing the blonde wearing the dress, and Mozambique and Namibia were glaring at the Deathplayer as well.

"You're too late," the England Deathplayer said. "The second Nation had been turned into a Red."

"What the hell does that even mean?" Alistair demanded.

"You'll see," the Canada Deathplayer said.

The Nations then heard something that they at first thought was sobbing, but slowly realised were laughter. Horrible, insane laughter.

The Deathplayers exchanged a glance, before they moved aside, revealing Fletcher, who was wearing a red hooded cloak. He pushed himself up, and looked towards the other Nations, an insane smile on his face.

New Zealand didn't get a lot of attention through the story, so naturally he was the Red that no one immediately expected. Surprised?

He would most likely be something akin to a poukai.

Australia, New Zealand and South Africa were known as the Tri-Nations, and naturally played against each other rugby. They're the Southern group. They were renamed the Rugby Union after Argentina joined. I figured that if I have a New Zealand-centric chapter, a reference to rugby needed to be made. I actually know a rugby joke at the expense of South Africa, but since I'm not a rugby fan, I'm okay with it. What is the difference between a UFO and the Springboks beating the All Blacks? More people claim to have seen UFOs. (This is for the readers in New Zealand.)

Also, if you want to see a specific character, let me know. I think it will be easier to just say the country name, instead of the human name.