Chapter 24

"Peter, Peter! You have to tell me what happened. Peter, please listen. Bring me to Denmark. Is he inside the barrier? I can only help him if he is," Norway heard screams outside his house and ran downstairs to find Peter crying in the front hall. He never thought he would see the micronation again, especially after Sealand was blown up. He also thought Peter was with Berwald, but that was obviously not the case.

Peter, however, did not listen to Norway. He kept crying and shaking. The poor kid was going into shock. Norway took in a deep breath and ran to grab some warm blankets and a cup of water. He scooped the kid up and brought Peter into the living room. "I am really hoping he is within the barrier, Sealand, because I don't want to leave you alone here. I will be back as soon as I can."

Norway patted the kid's head then left the house and ran out into the yard. Denmark was not easy to miss, but Norway could not tell if he was within the barrier or not. He took a deep breath and climbed down the steps. Slowly, he crossed the yard, pausing every few seconds to make sure he was still able to go back inside. He could barely feel the magic, but he knew it was strong. When he reached Denmark, Norway knelt to feel the man's face. He was still warm, and Norway could hear his raspy breath. Blood was still slowly pumping out of his nose. Both a good and a bad sign. Norway lifted the unconscious man up and slung him over his shoulder.

"You idiot Dane. I could count on you to do something like this. I don't know how far I can carry you this time," Norway grumbled as he brought Denmark inside. He carried him to the bedroom and set him down. Then he ran down to the basement and grabbed all his medical equipment he could carry and brought it back up. Sealand was calming down and sipping water, but he did not respond when Norway called out to him. The Norwegian sighed and entered the room. He staunched the blood flow from the nose then spilled a cup of water over Denmark's forehead, hoping it would wake him up.

At first, it did not, but a few moments later, Denmark stirred and groaned. "Dammit, Peter. My body hurts so much. I think I am dying. Please, get help…"

"He did get help," Norway whispered. "You are safe."

"It's cold."

"You are inside."

"Inside where?"

"My home. You made it back."

"But… But Sealand blew up," Denmark replied.

"This isn't Sealand, idiot," Norway sighed.

Denmark struggled to sit up, but when Norway pushed him back into bed, he said, "Then where am I?"

"Can't you see?" Norway asked. "This is Norway. You are back in my house."

"But that is impossible," Denmark ignored the question and rubbed his eyes.

"Stop touching them," Norway pulled Denmark's hands away from his eyes.

Denmark grumbled, "But everything is blurry. I have something in my eyes."

"You are weak and your body shut down. It will take time for you to recuperate. Until then, stay in bed," Norway instructed. He moved to leave the room.

"Wait!" Denmark grunted. "Please don't leave me in here."

"I am going to make some food and check on Sealand. He is still in shock from what happened to you," Norway said.

"You mean Peter," Denmark corrected.

Norway, however, seemed unfazed. "Denmark, he is still Sealand. He crossed the barrier mostly unharmed. If he was Peter now, he would not have been able to cross."

"He.. crossed?"

"You did too. I do not know how, when you were just Matthias before, but you made it through." Norway opened the door.

"I mocked it, Norge."

"What?"

"I mocked it. I told the barrier I was human and it pushed me back. I said I was a nation but did not believe it, and when I ran at the barrier, it threw me back and almost killed me. It would have killed a normal human with the electric shock and speed at which it threw me, but I lived, and that's when I knew. I knew it, Norge. I knew I was still nation, and the barrier had tested me, so I fell through, hoping you would find me because that was my only chance of living."

Norway stopped. "What about where you were living? Was it just you and Sealand?"

"Oslo is taken over by the few Danes who were allowed passage to Norway. Most of the people were left on the island to die or find a way off on their own. You did not give my people life, and now these few men and women are bound to kill you. And they do not appreciate the weak. I would not have made it back to them in time, and if I had, they would have left me behind."

"In time for what?" Norway's brow furrowed.

"The biggest storm of the century they say," Denmark laughed. "No one will survive it."

"And the magic is weakening."

"What do you mean?"

"I can feel it. Something has been eating away at it for a long time now," Norway sighed. "I really must check on Sealand now."

"I am sorry."

"Excuse me?"

"It was me. I was only trying to get in."

Norway opened his mouth to say something, but his expressionless face had returned and he shut the door behind him, leaving Denmark alone.