Russian Rebound Reversal
Chapter 2: Truths and a False Fate
It started out just like any other day for Ivan Braginsky. It was sometime in the late afternoon, and as always Russia was in the mood for fueling up and indulging himself in a bottle of vodka.
He was just in the middle of opening up his fridge when all of a sudden, the most bizarre thing happened to him; out of nowhere a bright glowing circle that looked like some sort of portal appeared beneath him and started deconstructing the nation's body top to bottom.
The next thing Russia knew, he was in a seemingly neverending white void and shortly after taking a glance behind him, his violet eyes grew wide as he saw two sealed stone doors detailed with the most foreign words and symbols.
Russia, deprived of his precious vodka, had hostile thoughts storming through his head:
Where on earth did that portal take me? And at the worst time, too! I didn't even get a chance to drink some vodka. This must have something to do with Britain. He's always involved in weird magical stuff like this. Oh, when I get back, I'll be sure to-
"Hello," a mysterious voice said, disturbing the nation's mental ranting.
Russia immediately snapped back to reality (well if he could call what was going on a reality) and stared dumbfoundedly at what he saw before him: a white silhouette with a faded black outline that had the same impressive height and stature as him. The figure was just an outline of his body; no hair, no clothes. The only distinctive feature you could see on it was a satanic grin on its face.
"A-and just who you might be?" Russia asked more timidly than he had hoped.
Hmm, what's wrong with me today? I'm usually at least a little more stern than that when talking to people. Am I turning soft, like that Can... uh...Canadia?... Hmm, whatever his name is... Anyway, the last thing I want to do is to look weak in front of this guy. Let's see what his motives are.
"Oh, I'm so glad you asked me that!" the figure answered, excitedly? Guess this guy doesn't get that many visitors.
"I am called by many names. I am the world. I am the universe. I am God. I am Truth. I am all. I am one. And I am also, you," the supposed Truth recited to the bewildered nation in a monotonous tone as if it was his millionth time doing so.
Russia could do nothing but stare and make a quiet gasp as the stone doors lingering behind him opened up in a split second and twistingly revealed an immense, formidable eyeball surrounded by a black vacuous emptiness.
"Hey, what's going on? What did I do wrong?" a slightly horrified Russia exclaimed as a myriad of morbid extending arms clambered out of the darkness and started to drag him inside.
"Oh, you'll know," the figure responded bluntly, "after I show you, the Truth."
Now what in the world could that mean? Russia thought as he struggled trying to break free from the Gate's tight grasp, but it was no use.
Guess I'll find out soon enough.
Xx-xX
It was a rather short fifteen years of peace after the Mongols invaded during the Battle of the Kalka River (1), until one day in the late December of 1237. It was a sight one could only wish they could unsee. Russia felt helpless as he heard the cries of innocent civilians being brutally slaughtered ringing throughout his eardrums and felt an intense burning sensation within his body as his capital, Moscow was put up in flames, all thanks to Batu Khan, who led the merciless Mongols.
Hey, why am I remembering this? What's happening?
In a single instant, all of Russia's memories that could be as early as the time when one of his bosses infamously titled Ivan the Terrible (2) beat and eventually killed his oldest son in a fit of rage to as recent as the guilt-wrenching Massacre of Prisoners in 1941 (3) were forced into his mind. As if all the memories of his country's past wasn't enough, there were also endless bits and pieces of overwhelming knowledge about the world, the universe, some kind of strange science, and just about everything being drained into his head all at once, breaking the nation down both physically and mentally.
My head feels like it is going to burst! Someone please make this stop...
No, I'm a nation... I should be able to take this. I've been through worse, right? Even if I'm being reminded of all those painful times right now...Keep it together!
But just as suddenly as it had started, it was all over. Once again Russia was in front of the two stone tablet doors and he stood standing there, paralyzed in shock.
"How was it?" the Truth asked anticipating Russia's answer.
"Wha-what was that?" was all Russia could manage to say at the moment.
"You tell me," the figure responded.
"Why?" Russia asked, "Why did you show me all that? I didn't ask for anything like this. You had no ri-"
"I had all the right!" the Truth protested, "It's not your fault you got caught up in an alchemic rebound, but-"
"But what?" Russia demanded, becoming more impatient. This "Truth" is starting to get on my last nerve.
"Let me finish then!" the Truth hollered, "It wasn't your fault for this happening. However, because you ended up here, it's my job to show whoever enters the Gate the Truth. And now, you have to pay a toll for me revealing it to you."
"What? A toll?" Russia asked, "But that's not fair! I never agreed to this!"
"I know it's unfair, but what can you do about it? It's what I have to do," the Truth stated simply, "But because this all happened by accident, how about I make a deal with you?".
"What kind of deal?"
"I'll give you a say in what I take from you in exchange. It could be anything. An arm, a leg. Hell, even your stupid scarf will do!"
"Hmm...that sounds interesting, but I will decline on giving up my scarf. My big sister Ukraine gave it to me when we were little and I never want to lose it. It's like a part of my own body, you know?"
"Okay then...So, what body part will it be?"
"Hmm, maybe my heart, I guess. It does seem to pop out of me sometimes and it gets kind of annoying when it does. People seem to freak out when it happens too," Russia said as if it was the most normal thing in the world.
"Y-your heart? Are you sure?" the Truth asked.
"Well, I am the embodiment of a nation after all so that makes me immortal as long as my country doesn't fall," Russia explained, "I don't think if anything happens to me physically it will negatively affect my nation. It does work the other way around, though."
"If you say so," the Truth replied, "But don't blame me if you end up needing a transplant."
In no less than an instant later, Russia suddenly felt an empty feeling inside of his chest. Looking in front of him, he saw his heart being reconstructed and placed within the body of his Truth, who was giving the now literally heartless nation a cruel devilish chuckle.
I hope I didn't just make a huge mistake...
(1) The Battle of the Kalka River was when the warriors of Russia first encountered the Mongol armies of Genghis Khan in 1223.
(2) Ivan IV (aka Ivan the Terrible) was the first Russian ruler to assume the title of Czar and reigned from 1547-1584.
(3) The Massacre of Prisoners was a series of mass executions committed by the Soviet NKVD against prisoners primarily in Poland, Ukraine, the Baltic States, and other parts of the Soviet Union from which the Red Army was withdrawing after the German invasion in 1941.
A/N:
Sorry if Russia seems a little OOC. I don't think it happens too often when he gets to experience fear (aside from dealing with Belarus), so he just thinks he's turning soft or weak or something along those lines in his inner dialogue when he first saw the Truth. Or, maybe those kind of thoughts are really what he thinks like all the time and just hides it behind a sweet face?
Anyways, I would just like to thank SpartanCommander, Shadow-Gaze14, XxAxelRoxasXionxX, and Doc (didn't feel like typing out your whole pen name) for their awesome reviews on the original 2nd chapter! I just love reading all the feedback and knowing that some people are actually reading my story. Thank you all so much!
Also, I turned anonymous reviews on a while ago, so don't let that hold you back from pressing that review button! See you next time!