Disclaimer: I am not Himapapa.
"This way," Austria insisted, leading them further into the confusing maze.
"Admit it, you're lost," Switzerland whined. "Let me lead the way."
"I know exactly where I'm going," Austria told him. "Just let me get there."
Korea met Estonia's gaze and rolled his eyes. The bespectacled nation nodded his agreement with the sentiment.
"Darling, you know I have faith in you, but you aren't exactly the best at directions," Hungary remarked. "It's been hours."
"We're almost there, I'm sure of it," Austria replied. "Just a bit farther this way."
They continued walking in silence.
It was Sealand who heard it first.
"It sounds like there's something up ahead!" he exclaimed gleefully.
Now that Sealand had mentioned it, Korea could hear it too. The low hum of the creature, and war cries that he suspected belonged to Denmark. He found himself staring at Austria. Was it possible that his sense of direction was so bad that it wasn't affected by the constantly changing landscape?
"Come on, let's go!" Sealand yelled.
He began to take off to the left, towards the noise, but Austria immediately grabbed him.
"This way," he said, pointing right.
"But-" Sealand objected.
"I say we follow Austria," Hungary spoke up. "He's led us right so far."
"I'd have to agree," Switzerland admitted. "I think he's onto something."
Korea looked around. Everyone seemed unsure of what to do.
"I say we go with Austria," he decided.
"I'm, like, totally with Austria," Poland declared.
"I guess me, too," Lithuania agreed.
"I suppose I'll support Austria," Estonia decided.
"Me, too," Latvia agreed.
"Fine, we can go Austria's way," Sealand agreed.
Austria only smiled slightly as they all decided to back him up. Then he began walking straight forwards.
"I thought you were going right!" Sealand pointed out.
Austria gave him a confused look.
"This is right," he told him.
Sealand sighed and grumbled under his breath.
Korea himself was beginning to doubt that Austria really knew where they were going, when the trees suddenly opened into a wide clearing. In the center of the clearing was one of the creatures, bigger than usual and emanating a horrible glow. Facing it were the five Nordics, all looking rather ragged.
"Well, he actually did it," Estonia remarked.
"I'm impressed," Korea added.
"To battle!" Sealand yelled, running towards the Nordics.
The rest of the group shared a glance before swiftly following him.
The creature, sensing that it had lost the advantage, disappeared.
"Come back here you coward!" Denmark yelled. "I'm not finished with you!"
"Just be glad it's gone," Norway told him.
"Sealand?" Finland gasped as he saw the tiny micronation. "I thought we told you to stay home,"
Sealand pouted.
"Don't treat me like a little kid," he whined. "I just wanted to help."
"You were supposed to stay with Ladonia," Sweden reminded him.
"I was with him!" Sealand insisted. "We were coming here together! But he couldn't get inside and once I got in I couldn't get out!"
"Of course he couldn't get in," Estonia remarked. "No internet service. The phone service is pretty weird too."
"So we really don't have any way of communicating with the outside world," Korea assumed.
"Unless…" Estonia muttered.
He quickly whipped out his high-tech cell phone and began fiddling with it.
"What are you doing?" Hungary asked.
"Trying to contact the outside world," Estonia replied cryptically.
The other nations crowded around the nation, eager to see what he was doing. From Korea's viewpoint, it didn't make much sense, but he supposed Estonia knew what he was doing.
Suddenly, the cell phone screen wavered, before a blurry image of Ladonia appeared. He looked mad.
"How dare you go in there and leave me alone!" he shouted.
Sealand cringed.
"I didn't mean to," he said. "I thought you were with me."
"Idiot!"
"Ladonia, please," Austria interrupted. "We don't have time for childish arguing. I know some of the other nations are planning to come here to help out. You need to deliver a message to them. Tell them to bring plenty of food and supplies, especially weapons. Warn them that there are monsters in here and that, once they enter, they won't be able to leave until this is over. Do you understand?"
Ladonia nodded.
"Yup! I'll tell them, I promise," he agreed.
"Thank you," Austria replied.
"The awesome me is back!" Prussia declared as he walked out of the bathroom.
America laughed.
"Wow, you really picked a bad time for a shower," he observed.
"What'd I miss?" Prussia wondered.
"Oh, nothing much," France told him. "Only Italy waking up and half the group leaving on a scouting mission. You really shouldn't take such long showers."
Prussia looked around.
"Only us left?"
"Well, Russia too," England told him. "But he just left. I'm not sure why. He insisted he had something to do."
Canada, who had just woken up, turned pale.
"Did he say what he was doing?" he asked.
"Not that I recall," England said. "Why? I figure he can take care of himself."
"I should go after him!" Canada insisted. "Not even Russia should wander around here alone!"
Without waiting for a response Canada rushed down the stairs and out of the hideout. France, England, and America exchanged glances, before taking off after him. But Prussia was quicker. He raced down the stairs and into the closet. As his hand was on the door handle, he suddenly stopped as he heard voices in the room beyond.
"I won't let you do this!"
That was Canada's voice.
"You're blocking my way!" America hissed. "Let me at that commie bastard! What's he doing to my brother?"
Prussia quickly shushed him.
"I think we might be able to find out what Russia's been so secretive about lately if we keep listening," he explained in a hushed whisper. "Canada has to be in on it. Maybe they'll let something slip."
"Good plan," England agreed.
"Bad plan," America countered. "I'm not leaving my brother alone with the commie!"
"Either shut up or I'll make you leave!" Prussia demanded. "I want to know what he's up to."
America grumbled, but remained silent, which was good, because Prussia wasn't sure he would actually be able to enforce that threat.
"Foolish little nation, do you think you can stop me?"
That was Russia.
"I can try!" was Canada's reply. "Russia, we're your friends. Don't betray us like this!"
"I don't have friends."
Crushing silence descended on both the two in the room and the group in the closet. Finally, Canada spoke up.
"I'm your friend."
The silence following those words was total. Everything seemed to freeze for a few breathless seconds. Then came a harsh crack and the gentle thud of a body collapsing to the ground.
For a few moments afterward, everything was still, uncomprehending. Then, it collapsed into chaos.
Author's note: This story just reached 100 reviews! Wow! Thanks so much for all your support. Seriously, I love it. Every time I see a new review it just gives me a warm and fuzzy feeling inside (I'm going to stop talking now before I stop making sense)
Also, if there are any characters that haven't shown up yet that you'd like to see, feel free to make a request. I'm planning on including a lot of characters, but let me know if there's anyone you'd especially like to see.