All right, all right, I know I said China and Japan would make more appearances...but, well, I forgot I had to do this part first...OTL
It was evening by the time they finally set out, amid a hoard of weapons and tanks, and all manner of aggressive objects they could find; Feliks had even dug out his old sabre. As if he could do the footwork required to wield it effectively...
Russia kept his eyes trained ahead; Poland had not relented on the plan. He thought he knew what he was doing. Stubbornness had always been his best and worst quality.
America lead the group to their next hideout, his keen eyes scanning the snow ahead of them; he was lucky there was no sun out, or he'd have had to use snow goggles. On a day as important as this, they needed as much forewarning as they could get.
He never saw it coming.
One moment, everything was quiet, deathly still. Then snow was exploding, boiling hot in his face.
He could literally hear the skin on his face sizzle at the contact, as he fell to his knees. There was a yell behind him, but he couldn't know who it was. Everything went black for him a matter of moments later...
Russia had immediately turned back for Poland...only to see nothing where he used to be. Nothing but the very tops of the wheels of his chair, sticking up through the snow.
"POLAND!"
His fingers scrabbled through the snow, finding nothing but bits and pieces...nothing Poland.
His arms were dragged back, and he blindly tried to fight it. Poland was not supposed to die. He was supposed to look death in the face and laugh. He was supposed to keep coming back, no matter how Russia tried to beat him down. He couldn't be gone like this.
He had to still be there, buried beneath the snow. He was waiting to be dug out.
"-is not there-get back-" Words leaked through to him, but he could not let himself be dragged away. He felt a sharp prick on his neck, and his body went limp against his will. It was like falling asleep, but awful.
"NYET!"
"-will be okay-home-"
Russia felt his eyelids fall shut, and he remembered no more.
America was the first to wake, reaching into the darkness with a small cry. Canada held him tightly, speaking to him in hushed tones. America could be their eagle-eye no more.
When Russia awoke, it was to the sound of muted weeping, and he turned onto his side with a soft sigh.
After all these years...
All the torture and effort, and manpower wasted...
He was gone.
The last person in Eastern Europe.
He was alone now.
He looked down at his hands; he had ruined his mittens clawing through the melted and refrozen snow. His fingers were now decorated with sharp, thin lines of red. He would do worse to the enemy, when he got his hands on them.
He stood abruptly, heading over to the table.
He would make a better plan. One where Poland did not lead the charge. He would lead the charge, and they would win. He would not die like Poland.
"Canada. Having plan to make."
Canada moved to his side a couple moments later, finally leaving his brother's side. He was quiet, examining what Russia had scribbled across the map thus far.
"...I see. A suicide attack?"
"Nyet. We will win." Russia began to mark out his attack.
"A trick? But Japan knows where we are now. He knows we're coming."
"Is why we trade your troops with mine. No one remembers Canada, da?"
Canada pursed his lips lightly at this, considering.
"...that is true...If I leave half my troops with you...we should be able to trick him into focusing his attention on us." He agreed.
"Then is decided?"
"It is agreed. We win, or we die trying."
Blinking lights and whirring machines seemed to be the only sign of reality in this dark, dark place.
Poland gasped to life amidst the dead machinery, looking about wildly. He didn't know what had happened; how had he gotten here? Had they been attacked? Was everyone all right?
"Poland. You are awake."
Poland found himself staring into the dead eyes of none other than Japan.
"...let me go..."
"That is not possible, Poland." Japan clicked and whirred as he moved about, eyes unblinking. He reached out, examining Poland's frail body.
"I am to get the truth out of you, by whatever means necessary."
"I will never speak!" Poland bellowed, straining against his metal bonds. Japan stepped back.
"I see..." He was finally in the light, basked in the glow of the computer screen. Poland could see him for what he really was...
Japan's metallic face glinted in the light, as he used the computer to lift another inmate. Poland's voice raised in shrill horror.
"WH-WHAT HA-HAVE Y-YOU DONE TO HIM?"