Thanks to Lovesbugsalot for reviewing.
Disclaimer: I don't own Hetalia.
Chapter 101: Flock Together
We really need to find out what they're doing.
We'll commence with our game, and we will find the answer.
And our stubborn friend will help us in our task.
…
When Alida went to the kitchen the next morning to check what was happening, she was surprised when she heard scraping sounds coming from her oven.
She frowned. The eggs couldn't have hatched already, could they?
She opened the oven's door, and sure enough, four birds were nestled there, and every now and again they would scrape the inside of the oven.
She stared at them for a moment, before turning to the door.
"BRAZIL!" she shouted.
…
Ricardo woke up when he heard his Nation's name shouted. Of course, he recognised the voice, and she was either really angry with him, or seriously annoyed.
Neither option bode well for him.
He looked towards the other two, who were also jolted awake.
"What was that?" Miguel asked.
"Alida's calling," Ricardo said, climbing out of the bed. "I need to hurry. She's mad or something."
"How can you tell?" Roberto asked.
"She usually calls me by my human name or by a nickname. Never Brazil. She reserves that for when she's mad."
Ricardo rushed out of the room, leaving the other two behind.
…
Alida's shout had woken up the group that was in the living room, and Bruce frowned in confusion. They saw Ricardo rushing past.
"Someone's in trouble," Bruce commented.
"I've gathered," Ricardo said.
The Australian watched the Brazilian for a moment before turning to Jett.
"You as curious as I am about what's going on?" Bruce asked.
Jett grinned, nodding at his counterpart.
"You know it!" Jett exclaimed.
…
"I wonder what that was all about," Miguel said.
"Don't know," Roberto said, going towards the corner where they made a little nest for his new phoenix, as well as Feniksa. "Hey, do you think it might be because those other eggs hatched?"
"Maybe," Miguel shrugged. "I think the other South Africa would be upset if she found a bunch of birds in her oven."
Roberto smiled, cooing at the newborn phoenix. Suddenly, both birds seemed to tense, squawking loudly.
"What's wrong?" Roberto asked. "Why are you acting like that?"
Miguel observed the birds, and suddenly he was grabbed from behind, a hand clasped on his mouth. He saw another figure stand slightly in front of them, and Miguel's eyes widened.
The Deathplayers.
He tried to alert Roberto, but his voice was muffled, and the birds were squawking loudly.
Eventually Roberto turned around, and he widened his eyes when he saw the other figures that were in the room with them.
"Hello, Roberto," the Brazil Deathplayer said. "How about a little game?"
…
Ricardo came running into the kitchen, seeing Alida glaring at the open oven while four little birds were inside. There were also scratch marks on the interior of the oven.
That might have been the reason why she was mad.
There wasn't any abnormal heat, or at least not as much as there should be. He saw that she had turned the oven off, since he assumed it would have devoured too much electricity.
"I hope you're paying for repairs," Alida said. "Now tell me: What kind of birds are they and why are they here?"
"They're phoenixes," Ricardo said. "They were Mahesh's idea."
She turned her sharp eyes on him, and he almost flinched back. Almost.
"And when did he tell you this idea?" Alida asked.
"When I was looking for New Zealand through the psychic realm, I ran into Mahesh's spirit. Well, he kind of pulled me away from the Deathplayers when they wanted to keep me there while they were after Roberto."
Her eyes flashed, and she turned completely away from the birds.
"How many threats were there?" she asked. "Or attempts?"
"It was basically that threat, unless…" his eyes widened. "One of them tortured Miguel last night in his dream. I think…"
"They would have threatened Roberto to hurt him," Alida finished.
"And he didn't give them what they wanted."
"Which is?"
"Information about what I'm doing. Our plan to stop them."
"Ricardo, where's Roberto now?"
"In the bedroom we used… He's… alone… with Miguel."
His eyes widened, and he immediately ran out of the kitchen, ignoring the Nations that had been listening at the door. He needed to get to Roberto. The Deathplayers were opportunists, and they would use this one to their advantage.
His thoughts drifted to Roberto's words the previous night, and he couldn't lose his counterpart so soon.
…
Marius and Sigurd were looking through the spellbooks again. It was something to do, and if they managed to find something that Luciano wanted, that was good.
The Italian had called the previous night to ask them to search for a way to reverse the spell that had turned them into women. Marius and Sigurd hadn't been bothered, at least until Luciano told them why it was urgent.
Luciano had said that if it happened to her, they would be the ones to pay for it. And after giving it some thought, they wouldn't want such a cruel fate to befall the Italian. They wouldn't have liked it either.
"Can you get us some ice tea?" Marius asked, not looking up at the Nations that had decided to stand guard over them.
Tino sighed, before he left the room. The Nordics had decided to keep an eye out in case the Deathplayers captured them for 'safekeeping'.
Besides, now that the last potential Reds were in the other world, there wasn't much more that the Nations could do.
…
Roberto stared at the scene with wide eyes. The Spain Deathplayer had a firm hold of Miguel, and the Brazil Deathplayer was standing right in front of them, their eyes flashing with sadistic anticipation.
"What game?" Roberto asked in a nervous voice.
"It's simple," the Brazil Deathplayer said. "I'll ask a question, and if you give a wrong answer, my comrade will break one of your paizinho's bones. There are 206 bones in the body, some of which can be broken in more than one place."
"Não," Roberto said. "I won't agree to something like that."
"Wrong answer," the Brazil Deathplayer said in a dark tone.
The Spain Deathplayer smirked, before he moved his hands to clutch at Miguel's right upper arm. The Portuguese's eyes widened, and the Deathplayer twisted his hands. Miguel screamed as a crack resounded throughout the room.
"Não!" Roberto said, trying to rush forward to help the older Nation, but the Deathplayer caught him and pushed him to the ground.
"That's not how this works," the Deathplayer said. "I ask a question, and your answer determines whether or not he gets a bone broken. Understand? Oh, and one more thing. We've already made sure the door is locked, so no one will be able to interfere. Now, do you understand the rules?"
"S-sim," Roberto said.
"Good," the Deathplayer said. "Now, what type of birds are those?"
Roberto swallowed nervously.
"They're phoenixes," he said.
"And why do you have them?"
"M-magic is f-fading. N-no one b-believes a-anymore. W-we thought w-we'd c-create a-a m-menagerie of s-sorts t-to help magic r-return to the world."
"Wrong answer."
The Spain Deathplayer moved to the forearm, where he repeated the procedure and Miguel screamed again. Roberto winced at the sound, his hands shaking.
"How are you making them?" the Deathplayer asked.
"W-we c-created our o-own w-world w-where m-mind and s-spirit c-combine, a-and w-we take them f-from that p-place and bring them t-to our world. M-mind o-over m-matter and all."
Roberto hated the fact that he was stuttering. He was so afraid for Miguel, and so afraid of the Deathplayers taking him to become a Red, and afraid that the Deathplayers would learn of their plan, before they had a chance to really implement it. The Deathplayers were supposed to observe and take action only when it was too late, but they seemed to be really eager in finding out what's going on.
The Deathplayer scrutinised him.
"I can't tell whether it's a right or a wrong answer," the Deathplayer said. He turned to the Spain Deathplayer. "Break something, just in case."
"It's the truth!" Roberto shouted, cringing when another crack and scream came from Miguel. "I promise you, it's the truth."
The Deathplayer chuckled.
"And who is the architect of a world like that?" he asked.
Roberto swallowed nervously.
"R-Ricardo," he said.
"You don't expect me to believe that such a place is all Ricardo's doing, do you?"
"H-he had help. The o-other Tibet a-and V-Venezuela."
"They would be able to do something like that," the Spain Deathplayer said.
"Fine then," the Brazil Deathplayer said. "Next question."
…
Ricardo slammed on the door, trying to get it to open. Every now and again he could hear Miguel screaming, but he didn't know what was happening with Roberto. Deathplayers were there – he knew it.
Alida and the Nations that had been spying at the door had followed behind as well, and each of them had that same nervousness as Ricardo.
"Stop it!" Roberto shouted from inside the room.
"They didn't muffle it," Matt mused. "They muffled it when they took Lukas."
"I don't care!" Ricardo said. "Open up! Leave them alone!"
Ricardo feared for his counterpart, and he was also worried about Miguel. If Marco had been half the person Miguel was, then Brazil could have had a happier childhood. He wouldn't need to rely on Roberto to be his happiness.
But he was also afraid for the two birds that were in the room with them. If the Deathplayers learned of what they were, then all of their work would be for nothing.
"Ricardo," Anika said. "I could… try to pick the lock. My country's not exactly safe, so I'm good at things like that."
Ricardo stood aside and allowed the South African to try the door. He could see she was nervous as well, and knew that it was worry for one of her closest friends.
The same worry Alida would have for him.
"Please," he whispered. "Don't let us be too late."
…
The three Egyptians made their way into the kitchen, hoping to get a bite to eat. They saw a few other residents of the house, looking at the oven with dubious expressions. And it didn't take long for them to realise why.
Omar sighed, going forward and scooping up the birds, which were extremely restless. She gasped when one of them bit her, and she looked down at the one responsible, seeing it glaring at her fiercely.
She blinked, realising that it was the one that belonged to James. Why would the New Zealander…?
"There's something here," someone said, and Omar turned to see Cameroon, watching the birds. "Something's here that's making them restless. They're nervous, and perhaps afraid."
Omar turned to the other two Egyptians, and Khemet was staring with wide eyes.
"The Deathplayers," she whispered.
Gupta took one of the birds from Omar.
"Lead the way," Gupta told the bird.
…
Tears were streaming down Roberto's face as he looked at Miguel. By now, every bone in his right arm had been broken, including all the bones in the hands and fingers. When the Deathplayers said they were going to break every bone, they meant it.
Miguel looked back at him, eyes glazed with pain. Tears were streaming down his own face. But through the haze of pain, Roberto could see only worry for him.
"You're not very good at this game," the Brazil Deathplayer said. "Thanks to you, poor Miguel is suffering."
"Não dê ouvidos a ele!" Miguel shouted. "He's trying to push you over the edge. Don't let him!"
"Quiet," the Spain Deathplayer snarled, wrapping his hand around Miguel's throat. "You have no room to talk."
"It's not just about Roberto," the Brazil Deathplayer said, inclining his head towards Miguel. "It's about you as well. I'm not sure how you escaped from me last night, but you're not getting away this time." He turned back to Roberto. "And now, shall we start the next round?"
Roberto sobbed, not wanting this to continue any further. He wanted this to end. He didn't want Miguel hurt anymore.
"Answer me."
Roberto nodded, knowing that he had no choice.
"Are you hoping that your little canaries will be able to defeat us?" the Deathplayer asked.
"How can they?" Roberto whispered. "They're just birds. And they wouldn't be adult enough to fight you anytime soon. How can we possibly use them to defeat you?"
The Deathplayer scrutinised him, but he seemed to accept the logic of Roberto's words, since he didn't say it was a wrong answer, which meant that Miguel was spared extra pain.
"Do you think that you can avoid becoming a Red?" the Deathplayer asked.
Roberto looked up and stared at him with defiant eyes.
"I don't know if I can," Roberto admitted. "But I will do anything in my power to try. Even if it means sacrificing myself. I would die rather than become a Red."
The Deathplayer narrowed his eyes, and he had just opened his mouth when the door burst open.
…
Anika beamed when she heard the lock give way, but there was no time to celebrate. She quickly opened the door, and she and Ricardo were the first inside the room.
And they froze when they saw the scene.
Roberto and Miguel looked at them gratefully, but the Deathplayers looked furious at the interruption. The Brazil Deathplayer rounded on Roberto and grabbed the Brazilian, pulling him to his feet. Ricardo saw red, and he rushed towards the pair.
Too late, as the Deathplayer and Roberto disappeared, right as Ricardo was about to tackle him. The other Deathplayer threw Miguel to the ground, earning a scream of pain as he landed on his injured arm. He turned to Anika.
"We'll see you soon, Queen," the Deathplayer said before disappearing as well.
Everyone else filed into the room, looking at the scene with concern. But Ricardo had other things to worry about.
He took the smaller phoenix, before turning to Miguel.
"I'm going to fulfil your promise," he said, before running off to the mirror room.
…
Roberto struggled as the Deathplayer grabbed him, and he paled when he saw that he had been taken to a cave. And he could see the Reds, including Raj. They were torturing the captured Nations.
Roberto wondered briefly how that happened, but he had other things to worry about.
He really didn't want to become a Red, not only because he would become a slave to the Deathplayers, but also because the Deathplayers had hinted to the first Nations that he would kill. Portugal, Macau, Mozambique, Angola… All the Portuguese-speaking Nations. His family. And he didn't want to hurt his family.
Once they sensed his presence they stopped, and Raj was the one that came closer. Roberto swallowed nervously, still struggling to get away.
"Please Raj," Roberto whispered. "Please don't do this. Please. You were my friend. Don't do this."
Raj grabbed a fistful of his hair, and Roberto swallowed in nervousness.
"If I do this," Raj said, "we will be friends again."
Roberto whimpered when he saw Raj nearing with fangs, and he closed his eyes as he was bitten.
And then the fire raged through his veins.
…
As soon as Ricardo reached the mirror room he cried out, knowing that it was the pain they felt once their counterparts became Reds.
He gritted his teeth, determined to succeed in his mission. He wondered if he could focus the destination on Roberto's house in his capital. If not… would he be able to use the teleportation spell that all Nations of his world could use?
He didn't dwell on the thought, focusing on Brasília and trying to get there before he collapsed. He needed to do it.
He fell to his knees as soon as he reached the other side of the mirror. The pain spiked, and he put the bird down before he clutched his head, screaming at the pain.
He didn't notice as the bird became surrounded in a green glow.
…
The Deathplayers watched as Roberto screamed while the transformation was taking place. He suddenly stopped, eyes confused, before a smile graced his face.
It was too soon, and all the Deathplayers and the Reds knew it. The Reds even took a few steps back.
Roberto turned his attention to the Deathplayer that resembled him.
"I will never be Red," he said.
They all stared in surprise as his body gained a soft green glow, and what looked like butterflies floated upwards. When the light faded, Roberto's body was made of ashes, which quickly fell apart and scattered on the cave floor.
It took them a moment to realise that they had lost one of their Pieces.
…
Ricardo panted in exertion, feeling the pain subside into a dull ache. He didn't know what happened, but only that Roberto was in the process of becoming a Red, but things just… stopped.
His mind was in no state to process this new development, still trying to catch up to everything that had happened within the span of about two minutes. Was it really two minutes?
A piercing sound cut through the air, and he opened his eyes to see where the sound was coming from.
He stared in surprise at the thing in front of him. He had brought the phoenix – Roberto's phoenix – and placed it in front of him when the pain became too much, he was sure of it.
But it wasn't the bird. Far from it. And it was crying.
He picked up the baby and tried to comfort it as best as he could, still confused over the entire situation, and the baby opened its eyes. Ricardo froze when he saw the green eyes that looked up at him.
It was Roberto's eyes.