Thanks to Mx Akiyata and madders10 for reviewing.

This chapter's title is a bit of word play between 'making peace' and 'piece'. You can probably guess what's going to happen.

Disclaimer: I don't own Hetalia.

Chapter 77: Making Piece

In an attempt to make peace, a Piece will be claimed.

It's strange how the worst things come with the best intentions.

…

Oliver was on the phone with Allen, listening to the American as he told her about his apocalypse legend. She still couldn't figure out why they hadn't thought of it sooner, but it was certainly one step forward.

So far, she had called five Nations to get them to tell her about their legend, and asides from her own and possibly Matt's, hadn't found any other connections.

She had a notebook with her, in which she wrote the details of Allen's story. The only clue was that a group of puppetmasters was involved.

She hung up the phone and sighed in frustration. She had called Marius to get the other to learn about any ancient legends, and Sigurd was working on the legends from the other side. Of course, the Norwegian had complained that she had received the hardest job, since apparently there were more legends in the other world. The other Greece alone had more than the entire Europe on their side.

Oliver then moved to the next option, which would be Felic. She would also need to ask the Pol if she knew anything about Lithuania's legend, since Tolys couldn't be reached by any of them.

"Poland, I need you to tell me about any apocalypse legends you have," Oliver said. "Also, can you tell me Lithuania's?"

"How much detail do you want?" Felic asked.

"As much as possible."

"Great. Do you have any idea how boring it is here?"

Oliver giggled as Felic took a few moments to complain, before he started to recall the legends that he hadn't thought about in almost four hundred years.

…

"I hate this world," Sigurd muttered. "Why do they need so many legends?!"

"They're dreamers," Gabriel said, shrugging.

"Well, the dream is over. You know, I think someone in the past had the power to see in the future. They saw that I need to sift through this, and so they thought 'hey, why not make Sigurd's life hell?' It's the only logical explanation!"

Gabriel chuckled at his sister's antics. Almost, he could pretend that nothing had happened to their relationship, and that they were still as close as they were when he was still a child.

…

Matthew was humming happily, flipping another pancake. This time, it was he, Lovino and Kiku who were on breakfast duty. The only one among them who wasn't particularly quiet was Lovino, and he first complained about the silence, before filling it with endless ranting. And of course, the Italian ranted about everything and everyone.

For now, he was ranting about his counterpart.

"Seriously, he's worse than Feliciano and the Wine Bastard combined!" Lovino ranted. "Oh, and let's not forget the Pink Bastard. It's like he's their lovechild or something. No, wait, I don't want that image in my head."

Matthew chuckled at that, and Kiku also cracked a small smile.

"I guess I'm lucky to have Matt as a counterpart," Matthew said.

"Hai," Kiku said. "At least neither of you have counterparts that are cruel and sadistic. Kyo is making things very hard for me."

"I guess you're right," Lovino sighed. "But seriously, why are they all so fucked up?"

"Their environment is different to ours," Matthew said. "They were raised by cruelty. And many of them were alone. They hurt as many people as possible, since that's all they've ever known."

"But why are some of them nicer, like that Northern Korean Bastard?"

"Because they grew tired of it all, and want to believe that things could be different."

…

At the breakfast table, Arthur kept yawning, rubbing her eyes every now and again.

"What's wrong?" Francis asked. "Couldn't sleep?"

"Oliver kept us awake," Alistair said, suppressing his own yawn.

"I thought they're supposed to leave us alone now," Rosa said, her eyes wide.

"Oliver found something that she wanted Arthur's opinion on," Will said. "She kept us up for at least three hours."

"What did she find?" Lukas asked.

"Well, she suspects that there's a reason our Deathplayers resemble our male forms instead of our female ones," Arthur said. "And why the other Poland and Lithuania returned to their male forms after Toris and Feliks were turned into Reds. She also came to the conclusion that something involved in the Deathplayers' plan has to do with their apocalypse legends."

"That explains the phone call," Eva said. "By the way, where're Gabe and Sigurd?"

"They're still in the library," Lukas said. "We should probably take them something to eat."

"Do we need to do it for Sig?" Mathias whined.

"Ja. And what's with the nickname?"

"I don't want to call her by her full name."

…

"It would have been nice if the ancient legends had been written down," Marius complained.

"Word of mouth was more valuable to them then," Ricardo said, sighing. "I still don't see why I have to be helping you."

"You get visions, right? So I was thinking we could use you to channel some of the ancients to hear their legends. I'll record it."

"I still don't trust you. Being in a trance-like state with only you around… You can see why I don't like it."

"Well, we're on the same side," Marius said. "Unless you want someone you actually trust to be around you?"

"I would prefer that, sim."

…

"I'm telling you, I don't like this," Mathias said.

Lukas sighed, carrying a tray with two plates of food on it. She had to listen to Mathias complaining about taking food to her counterpart, especially considering everything she's done to her.

"Tell me," Lukas said, "if it was me doing all of those things, would you have let me starve?"

Mathias looked at her, appalled.

"Of course not," he said. "You wouldn't have done the things she did."

"And what if I become a Red?"

"Norge, that won't happen. Those Deathplayers will need to get through me before they get to you. Besides, you're too strong for that."

Lukas sighed.

'No I'm not,' she thought.

…

Sigurd yawned, closing the book. This was boring work, and she really started to hate the Nations of the other world.

"I wonder why they have so many myths," Gabriel remarked.

"They obviously had nothing better to do," Sigurd mumbled.

The door opened, and the two turned to see Lukas and Mathias entering, with Lukas carrying a tray of food.

"Thanks," Gabriel said, walking over to take the tray from Lukas. "One thing I love about your world: the food."

"Just don't try any of Arthur's," Lukas said. "It's essentially toxic waste."

Gabriel nodded, having heard enough stories of Arthur's cooking. He placed the tray on a nearby table, and Sigurd eventually drifted towards the food as well, looking at it suspiciously.

"Are you making progress?" Lukas asked.

"No," Sigurd muttered, grabbing a piece of toast. "Your world has too many legends."

There was silence for a moment, before Lukas sighed.

"Here's a little tip," Lukas said. "The Roman myths are basically plagiarisms of the Greek myths. The Greek versions are better."

"Thanks," Sigurd muttered, biting into her piece of toast.

"Let's go," Lukas said, pulling slightly on Mathias's arm, and the Dane seemed to get the message.

And Mathias seemed more than happy to leave.

Once they were gone, Gabriel turned to his sister.

"I guess I should have a word with Emil sometime about what Lukas said last night," he mused.

"That can come later," Sigurd said. "Unless you want to leave me alone?"

"Um, I guess I'll wait for Evie to take over for me."

…

Nicolai watched Vlad, his head cocked to the side. To the world, Vlad seemed to be her normal, cheerful self, playing with the children, but Nicolai couldn't help but think that there's something seriously wrong.

The light in the Romanian's eyes had dulled somewhat, and the other's smiles didn't quite reach her eyes.

They were in one of the living rooms, with the two Moldovas, Camille and the Micro Nations as well. And Vlad was playing with them while Nicolai was watching, unable to do anything else.

He had to check in with the other Nations to see if any of them had noticed it as well. But there was one thing that didn't seem to change.

Vlad was very good with kids.

…

Lukas was sitting in a room with Emil and Berwald, Mathias having gone to spend some time with the other two members of the awesome trio, and Tino having gone shooting with the rest of the sharpshooters.

Lukas sighed, wondering how she would try to make peace with the two of them, when Gabriel came in.

"Where's Sigurd?" Lukas asked immediately.

"Eva is taking over," Gabriel said. "Emil, can I speak to you? Alone?"

Emil frowned, but nodded his head. The two Icelanders left the room, and now Lukas and Berwald were left alone.

Lukas sighed. Neither of them was particularly chatty. Usually, that wouldn't be a problem, but with Lukas as nervous as she was, it wasn't a good thing.

"Something wrong?" Berwald asked, bringing Lukas out of her thoughts.

"Why do you ask?" Lukas asked.

"I know you. There's something wrong."

Lukas sighed, getting her thoughts in order. Berwald waited patiently, understanding that Lukas would need time to figure out how to phrase it.

However, before Lukas could say her thoughts, they were interrupted by something that they had hoped to avoid.

"Finally. We were wondering when we'd get the chance."

…

"What is it?" Emil asked.

Gabriel hesitated, before sighing.

"I think… you need to show Lukas that you appreciate him as a brother more often," Gabriel said.

"What? Where did that come from?"

"Well, last night, Lukas kind of, I don't know, snapped. I think he feels that he isn't a good brother or something."

Emil's face started to feel warm.

"Of course he's a good brother," Emil said. "It's just… I don't want to be treated like a little kid. I'm sure you understand."

Gabriel fixed him with a stare before sighing.

"Sigurd hates it if I call him 'brother'," he said. "He said it's pathetic and idiotic. I think he also doesn't like being reminded that we're related. When I was little, he used to dote on me. He spoiled me, and he protected me. Now he hardly even wants to speak to me. That was why I joined the South as a spy, you know? I wanted my big brother back, and if it meant getting him away from the other Europeans, then so be it."

Emil stared at his counterpart in surprise, before sighing.

"I guess I should go check on him," Emil said. "Was he really that upset?"

"He said that he wanted you to say it of your own accord, just once," Gabriel said. "Just so that he knows that he wasn't a failure as an older sibling."

Emil looked towards the door, running a hand through his hair.

"I guess I should talk to him," Emil said.

Emil tried to open the door, and his eyes widened when he found it to be locked.

"No," Emil whispered, tugging hard on the door. "Lukas! Berwald!"

"It's no use," a familiar-sounding voice said. "You're not going in there."

The two Icelanders turned to see a dark-haired version of Norway. He was wearing a black fur coat with black pants and black snow boots. The two paled, and Emil started tugging even more frantically at the door.

"No," Emil said. "Big Brother!"

"Also, they can't hear you," the Deathplayer said offhandedly.

"You," Gabriel hissed, before charging at the other.

The Deathplayer smirked, easily sidestepping the white-haired Icelander.

"Having two of our targets in the same room is definitely a bonus," the Deathplayer said.

"The last beast," Emil said. "It's inside Ber, isn't it?"

The Deathplayer smirked, and Emil started pounding on the door, trying to break it down. Gabriel, meanwhile, tried attacking the Deathplayer again, and this time, the Deathplayer grabbed his wrists, pinning him to the ground.

"You can't win against me, boy," the Deathplayer hissed. "Soon, little Lukas will be added to our collection of Reds."

"No!" Emil shouted. "Big Brother!"

…

Natalya grumbled, opening her door, seeing Roberto and Lobsang.

The Brazilian arched his eyebrow.

"Aren't we supposed to be relying on the buddy system?" he asked.

"Oh, shut up," Natalya said. "I have things to try to figure out that I don't want anyone else interrupting."

"We'd just like to know if you are able to see what the Deathplayers are up to," Lobsang said.

The Belarusian narrowed her eyes.

"No," she said. "I have tried, but it just doesn't make sense."

"Have you been able to figure something out, at least?" Roberto asked.

"Only that whichever tarot card I draw, they will be upside down, and the present will always be The World. The crystal ball is cloudy. Tea leaves evaporate. The spirits won't answer me. In other words, no."

The two males sighed.

"Please, if you manage to figure something out, tell me," Roberto said. "I don't like the fact that none of us are able to learn what they're up to."

Natalya scrutinised him for a moment before nodding.

"Alright, fair enough," she said. "And if you have any success, tell me as well."

…

Lukas struggled frantically as the leonine creature held her back.

The rest were attacking Berwald. The Swede only grunted each time, the avian having clawed up his chest, the lupine having bitten his shoulder, the draconian having bitten his upper arm and breathed fire on it…

"Stop it!" Lukas shouted, trying to struggle free.

"How does it feel?" the creature holding her whispered. "To be so useless. To watch as your friend is tortured. To be able to do nothing."

Tears streamed down the Norwegian's face as the serpentine decided to wrap itself around the Swede's body.

Lukas closed her eyes when she heard the first crack of Berwald's ribs, and that actually resulted in more than a grunt from the Swede.

"That was a nice sound," the scorpion-like creature said. "Do it again."

The serpentine squeezed harder, and Lukas winced when she heard the Swede scream.

A sound that she had never heard before.

Her eyes snapped open when she heard a roar, and widened when she saw the bear-like creature that came from Berwald's body.

…

The Kirkland siblings decided that they would have some tea, like old times.

Will had just raised his cup to his lips when he shuddered, feeling something horrible. The others noticed this and looked at him with concern.

"Will, is something wrong?" Seamus asked.

"I think… something bad is happening," was the Welshman's reply.

…

Kasem, Mei, Lien and the two Macaus were also having tea when the Thai paused, his eyes wide.

"What's wrong?" Chio asked.

"There's a disturbance," Kasem whispered.

…

Gupta watched with a bored expression as Heracles and Sadiq were fighting again. She had lost track of what it was this time, and was merely watching, deciding that she would only interfere when it got too bad.

However, when she suddenly gasped, the two stopped fighting to look at her.

"Something wrong?" Sadiq asked, concerned.

"There's something here," Gupta said, eyes wide.

…

Lukas watched as Berwald's unconscious body fell to the floor, the cold fingers of dread gripping her heart.

There were now eight beasts.

And they all turned to regard her.

"I think the little ones will be pleased if we deliver their next Piece to them," the lupine said.

"And then," the draconian said, "our game can begin."

…

When the Deathplayer decided to leave, Emil grew worried, and moments later, the door that he was leaning against opened, and he fell into the room with an undignified yelp.

After a moment of recovering, he looked inside and felt tears brimming in his eyes.

Berwald was unconscious and in bad shape, and Lukas was gone.

Emil jumped slightly when he felt fingers against his hair, and he looked up to see Gabriel, staring with the same horrified expression into the room.

Not caring about the tears that fell anymore, Emil embraced his counterpart as they waited for the inevitable screaming.

…

Tolys looked up when he heard a commotion, and he paled when he saw the beasts, carrying a struggling Norwegian.

The one that resembled the captured Nation walked closer, having just arrived, and he smiled at the pale female.

"Welcome, little Pawn," the other taunted.

And like what happened last time, Raj woke up and approached the Norwegian, and there was a brief pause before the Indian bit into the other's neck.

And Tolys covered his ears once again as the horrible screaming started.

…

Eva watched with a bored expression as Sigurd, once again, complained about the other world. Really, it was starting to get annoying.

She let out a tiny smile when Sigurd silenced, eyes wide, before that smile disappeared as the other started screaming in agony.

Eva watched in horror as Sigurd screamed, clutching her head, curling up into a ball. This was something that she had seen before.

"No," she whispered. "Not again."

…

The entire mansion heard the scream. Some went to the library, where the scream originated from, and some went to the room that the Nordics had claimed as their hangout room.

Those that went to the Nordics' room had found two Icelanders holding onto each other, an unconscious Swede, and no Norwegian in sight.

Arthur and Vlad both cursed their inability to keep the magic trio together, while Anna was trying to calm Emil, and Mathias was pacing around, screaming about how useless he was. And some were wondering how to tell Tino, who was outside and didn't hear the screaming at all.

No one wanted to address the issue of Berwald, because they all knew, without it being said.

The Deathplayers had managed to get their final beast.

And I added more stories to be worked on again. Tell me, should I just have a poll again? Because there are a lot of stories that I want to get to, and trying to prioritise them is a little tricky. So tell me if I should have a poll up, and it will most likely be up tomorrow or by the end of the weekend.