CHAPTER 41: THE FINAL BOSS
Canada started mentally preparing himself for a fight when Riddle let out a rasping, hissing noise he had come to recognize as Parseltongue. It seemed he was summoning the Basilisk. Okay… how am I going to fight this thing? I've still got my wand, but unless a Disarming spell can get rid of its fangs, it's not going to be much help. Kumajiro's got claws, at least, but he's so little. I've got no idea how thick that thing's scales are. Would he be able to pierce them? Fawkes has talons and can fly, maybe he can help. And I may not be at America's level, but I'm pretty strong. I could probably do some damage with just my bare hands. But Harry's completely helpless. I'll need to make sure he's safe. And how does the whole death-glare thing work? If I just avoid looking the Basilisk in the eye, will I be okay?
As the statue of Slytherin's mouth opened and something moved within it, Canada pushed Harry behind him. "Harry, get out of here," he ordered. "I can deal with this, eh."
"What? No!" Harry's voice was shaking as he spoke, but that didn't belie the determination in it. "I'm not going to leave you and Ginny!" Still, despite his brave words, he was obviously scared. Truth be told, so was Canada. Throughout all their adventures up to this point, Canada had never felt he was really in danger. His friends had been in danger, and he'd been worried sick and frightened about them, but it had always been them in danger, not him. This time was different. If he couldn't defeat this Basilisk and save Harry, he would be trapped in an underground chamber nobody could reach with a sociopath intent on learning about his immortality through any means necessary. And the Basilisk itself could trap him in a prison of nothingness every time it looked at him.
Canada and Harry backed away from the statue until their backs hit the Chamber wall, eyes squeezed shut. Canada grabbed Harry's hand. They'd probably have to start running soon, and he didn't want to lose track of him. Plus, it was good to have physical evidence that he wasn't alone. Canada felt a breath of wind on his cheek and guessed that Fawkes had taken leave of his perch on Harry's shoulder.
Something huge hit the floor of the chamber, something huge enough to make the ground shudder. It seemed the Basilisk had made its way out of the statue's mouth. Canada could hear its scales hissing against the stone floor as it uncoiled itself. Then Riddle let out another hiss, and Canada guessed it was along the lines of 'kill him'. He could hear the snake slither across the floor towards them. He and Canada started running at the same time, eyes still shut, free arms stretched out to feel anything they might crash into. I can't even imagine how stupid we look right now. If we die at this moment, it's not going to be very dignified. Riddle seemed to have the same thought, laughing at them with that cold, villainous cackle.
Harry tripped and fell to the ground, nearly taking Canada down with him. As it was the nation ended up falling to one knee. Judging from the sounds nearby, the Basilisk was only feet away from them. He desperately tried to pull Harry to his feet, but he wasn't fast enough. There was a loud, explosive spitting sound right above them and Harry was knocked out of Canada's grasp. For a moment he feared the worst, but then he heard a gasp of pain and the thump of something fleshy hitting something hard. Then there was more mad hissing, and the sound of something thrashing wildly off the pillars. Despite himself, Canada opened his eyes to the tiniest of slits to see what was happening.
The Basilisk wasn't facing them, thankfully, so Canada gave it as good a look as possible through his eyelashes. It was bright green and thick as a fairly old tree trunk, and currently its upper body was raised off the floor, head weaving between the pillars. Then he noticed Fawkes soaring around its head, and understood the sounds he'd been hearing. The Basilisk was snapping at the phoenix like a dog snapping at a ball held just out of reach. Not the most noble of comparisons for the King of Serpents, but it sufficed. Then Fawkes attacked, sharp golden beak disappearing from sight and a sudden shower of dark blood spattering the floor. The snake's tail thrashed, just barely missing Canada, and before he could shut his eyes it turned around. He looked it straight in the eyes and, to his immense relief, didn't sink into nothingness. Fawkes seemed to have gouged its eyes out. The prospect of Canada, Harry and Ginny getting out of here alive was suddenly far more plausible.
After a quick glance at Harry to make sure he was still alive (he was), Canada charged at the Basilisk. Kumajaki, who up until this point had probably been running in circles with his eyes closed, did the same. Canada didn't really have a plan beyond 'hit it and avoid getting bitten'. America would be proud. While Riddle hissed instructions at his monster, Canada reached it and punched it as hard as he could. He was pleased to feel something crack beneath his fist, and the Basilisk's agonized spitting increased. Kumahero seemed to be doing some damage, too, his claws managing to pierce the snake's scales and draw blood.
Canada thought he heard Harry muttering something, but couldn't quite decipher it. He was quickly distracted by the Basilisk's tail swinging at him, which he barely managed to duck. Once he didn't seem in immediate danger (any more than he already was, anyway) he went for a different tactic. He wrapped his arms as far around the snake's body as he could and began to squeeze. This time he could actually hear bones crack. The Basilisk's spitting became almost ear-splitting and it turned its head to lunge at Canada.
The nation dived out of the way quickly, but not quickly enough. One of the serpent's fangs grazed his left ankle, and he knew immediately that his hopes of defeating it had gone down drastically. He'd read that Basilisk venom was one of the most destructive substances on Earth, and he immediately knew why. As a nation, he had a high resistance, if not full immunity, to poisons. It stung, but it would only slow him down at most. This time, though, he got the feeling he was getting full blast. White-hot pain spread slowly but steadily from his ankle. He tried to get away from the snake, but his left leg crumpled beneath him and he fell to the floor, forcing him to crawl. He looked over at Harry and saw him looking back at him, his expression one of horror. Wait, is that a sword? Where did he get a sword?! Maybe he can kill it on his own… Canada's vision seemed to be growing fuzzy around the edges.
He became aware of Kumakuro at his side, licking at the wound. "Who are you?" he asked between licks, his voice shaking.
"I'm… sorry…" Canada whispered. His sight was definitely fading, but he was still able to witness Harry facing off against the Basilisk. "Go… help Harry…" The bear looked at him with those huge black eyes. If bears cried when they were emotional, he got the feeling Kuma would have been fighting back tears. As it was, the bear simply nodded, touched his nose to Canada's hair, and charged at the Basilisk with the mightiest roar he could muster.
Canada watched the rest of the fight in silence, focusing on staying awake even as the Chamber became blurrier and blurrier. Twice Harry dodged the Basilisk's lunges, probably helped by Kuma clawing at its side. But then it swept its tail and sent the bear crashing into a wall before lunging once again. Finally it seemed the snake's aim was true, and Canada saw Harry stab his mysteriously acquired sword into the roof of its mouth. He would have cheered if he had the energy. Any jubilation vanished when the Basilisk keeled over and revealed one of its fangs buried in Harry's arm. Canada crawled over to him as the boy slid down the wall.
Harry pulled the fang out, but if just a graze was enough to damage Canada this much, there wasn't any hope for the human. The nation managed to pull himself up into a sitting position against the wall next to Harry. "Well… we won, eh…" he murmured, the words coming out much less clear than he'd intended.
"Yeah… you were brilliant, Matthew…" said Harry thickly. Fawkes the phoenix landed next to them. "You were, too, Fawkes…" Harry was obviously fading fast. His head lolled onto Canada's shoulder, and his breathing was haggard.
It seemed Riddle wasn't content to let them die in peace. "I am disappointed, Matthew Jones," he said, standing in front of them. "I thought you held the secret to immortality… And now you're as good as dead. Even Dumbledore's bird knows it. Do you see what he's doing? He's crying."
Canada blinked and looked at Fawkes. Blurry as his vision was, it was clear that thick, pearly tears were trickling down its glossy feathers. Phoenix tears… Canada's heart leapt. Phoenix tears! The bird lowered its head towards his ankle, but he pulled it away. "No… Harry first," he muttered. The bird looked at him for a moment, then nodded its head in understanding and went over to Harry.
Riddle didn't seem to hear or comprehend what was happening. "I'm going to sit here and watch you die, Harry Potter, Matthew Jones. Take your time. I'm in no hurry." All the colour in the Chamber seemed to be fading, and Canada wished that Riddle would just stop. Talking. But the universe hated him, so the memory continued, "So ends the famous Harry Potter. Alone in the Chamber of Secrets, unable to save his friend, defeated at last by the Dark Lord he so unwisely challenged. You'll be back with your dear Mudblood mother soon, Harry… She bought you twelve years of borrowed time… but Lord Voldemort got you in the end, as you knew he must." Canada dimly felt Harry lift his head from his shoulder and a light weight on his ankle. It seemed Fawkes had finished his work on Harry and it was now Canada's turn. Good. I don't want to give this guy the satisfaction of seeing me like this any longer than necessary.
The phoenix's tears worked blessedly quickly. The pain faded, and Canada's sight began returning. He felt completely back to normal by the time Riddle finally realized what had happened. "Get away, bird. Get away from them. I said, get away!" He used Harry's wand to cast some kind of spell to send Fawkes flying away. "Phoenix tears… Of course… healing powers… I forgot…" Canada felt far too happy that even with Basilisk venom pounding through his veins he seemed more knowledgeable than Riddle. The memory turned his attention back to the two of them. "But it makes no difference. In fact, I prefer it this way. Just you and me, Harry Potter… you and me… and then I can get some answers out of the other one…" He raised the wand. Canada tensed, preparing to launch himself at Riddle, but doubting he'd be fast enough to save Harry.
Luckily, Kumacocoa chose this moment to return to the action, dropping something into Canada's lap – the diary. For a split second, all three of them stared at it. Then Harry grabbed the diary in one hand and the Basilisk fang he'd pulled out of his arm in the other and brought them together.
There was along, piercing, satisfying scream. Ink spurted from the diary like blood. Riddle writhed, twisted, screamed and flailed in a way that almost made the last few hours worth it. And then he was gone. Harry's wand fell to the floor with a clatter and there was silence, except for the sound of ink still dripping from the diary. It seemed the Basilisk venom had burned clean through it.
Canada took the diary from Harry's loose grip without protest and ripped it in half. Noticing Harry's confused look, he shrugged and said, "That guy really bugged me, eh."
A/N: And the climax is finished! Now we've just got the denoument left and I'll be FINISHED! Then five more books, with four of them being over twice the length of this one... Oh, boy. I NEED ENCOURAGEMENT HUGS \(^-^)/ Okay, now Q&A. To SoulxMakaLover37: I can't even imagine what Umbridge's reaction to getting hit with yaoi would be, so I'll go with that. Down with sense! To TheChibitalian: 1) I had to google what jumpstyle was, and it looks exhausting. I don't like anything that requires vigorous jumping. 2) Well, the only one of those I've actually played is Skyrim, so I guess I'll go with that. 3) America only gives nicknames to teachers he doesn't like, and I think he'll like Lupin, so no nickname, sadly. To Marzue: The main one I listened to was a playlist of manwithoutabody reading Forbiden Fruit: The Tempation of Edward Cullen. The fic is rated M, and with good reason, so I wouldn't suggest it if you're uncomfortable with that kind of stuff, but if you are it will make you laugh at things that shouldn't be laughed at. And you should feel honoured. It's important for an aspiring writer to learn how to take criticism. To 95Jezzica: Yay, you're back too! I think they'll just try to help him, for reasons that are possibly spoilery. To RussianMochi: I mostly just watch the English Dub, too. And it's definitely an interesting idea. Poland has a phoenix in his coat of arms? How fitting. I'd have to check if he has an official national animal, but I think I've just figured out what his Patronus would be. Thank you all for being wonderful! Pages Left: 13. NEXT CHAPTER: America and friends make it out of the Chamber. See you all next time!