Chapter 29
"Bela, we are here," Finland said when the fog dissipated. In front of the pair stood the remains of a once great city. A few buildings stood or leant against one another, but the only place without damage was a nice looking mansion at the top of a hill ahead of them.
"Is that it?" Belarus pointed.
Finland nodded. "The only question is if he is alive. Norway put some kind of barrier around his house to keep others out. All we have to do is test it and see if we can get in."
"Are you sure it will let us in?" a voice called out from behind the pair. The two whirled around and found Sadik and Hungary behind them.
"We headed north. Somehow we were able to make it past Russia's territory-" Hungary started, but Belarus interrupted her.
"It's my land now. But please continue."
Hungary glared at her but continued. "Like I was saying, we made it through. We passed through your land, Finland, and it was in that time the storm hit. We hid out during the storm in your land then found a boat and came across to Sweden that way. We've been walking for days and just found you. You two are the first people we have seen in weeks."
"You are lucky," FInland nodded.
"So," Sadik spoke up, "how will we get inside?"
"We have to be careful. Norway's magic may have a mind of its own. We must not play with it. Even I don't know what it will do to us if it wants to keep us out," Finland explained. Everyone whispered amongst themselves until Finland cleared his throat and added, "First, we need to find out what it wants to keep out. We should head there now and find out."
"How?" Belarus asked.
"I know of a few tricks," was all Finland said.
When they trekked through the city, Finland kept everyone close by his side. Nobody was out walking around, but it didn't mean the place was abandoned. Shadows fell around them, all still except one.
One shadow danced about ahead of them.
Belarus stopped the group and picked up an iron rod from the ground. "Show yourself!" She shouted and she shielded the group. Hungary stood next to her with another rod in hand.
The shadow stopped, then disappeared. The two nations looked at one another and pursued the shadow where it disappeared around a corner. Belarus picked up speed and moved ahead of Hungary. She rounded the corner with the rod lifted, then ran straight into something. She flew back into Hungary and the girls tumbled to the ground. Finland and Sadik caught up, and when Belarus picked herself up, she saw that their eyes were wide. Right in front of them Sealand was sprawled on the ground.
"Sealand?" Finland ran forward and picked the boy up. Sealand groaned, but when he saw Finland, he smiled.
"Mama… I didn't think I would see you again."
Finland smiled back, ignoring the name Sweden taught the micronation to say, and said, "Nor I you."
"I was looking for Denmark," Sealand said. "Have you seen him?"
"Denmark? He's alive too?" Finland asked.
Belarus spoke up, "We haven't seen him. But we saw a shadow move and tried to chase it. Could have been him."
"We'll find him soon. First we are going to Norway's house to see if we can get in," Hungary told Sealand.
"I just came from there. You have to be a nation to get in. No ex-nations allowed."
The nations awkwardly turned to Sadik, who frowned. "There's no way we can change that, is there?" He looked at the ground.
Sealand shook his head. "Not unless you really believe you are and it's true. People still have to believe there is a Turkey and you do too."
"We will still head over and see what we can do," Finland promised Sadik, and the group continued toward the house.
However, when they reached the edge of the hill, they found two more ex-nations standing there. Lovino and Ludwig looked up when the group approached them. Lovino was standing over Ludwig who was sitting and picking at his arms. Scabs covered his arms and face, and his hair had fallen out in several patches. What was left had been hastily combed back.
"You two are alive," Finland breathed.
Hungary glared at him. "What do you mean they are alive? Did you think they were dead?" She turned to Lovino. "Lovi, why did you run away from us?"
"I was looking for my fratello," Lovino said.
"And?"
"Nothing. But I found this bastard, and we escaped Russia."
"Russia? Don't say he followed you here!"
"No!"
"Da."
Everyone turned around to find Russia. The tall man had reddened and scarred skin that once was as damaged as Ludwig's but had healed a little. HIs nose was broken and twisted slightly, and his ratty scarf was tied tightly around his neck. Also like the German, much of his hair had fallen out. The whites of his eyes shone red. Belarus visibly took a step back. "Brother," she said. "You followed us."
"I did," the Russian smiled. "It wasn't too hard."
"What do you want?"
"I want you back. And I want all of them gone."
"I won't let you hurt them."
"I didn't think you cared about anyone but me."
"I did, but they treat me better than you ever did."
"Won't you become one with me, sister?"
"No."
"But you are my sister."
"And I do not want to become one with you, brother."
"But you must. You must want to," Russia's eyes widened as he stepped toward her. He brought his hand out from behind his back and produced a metal rod, a little longer than the one Belarus held.
"What are you doing, Russia?" Belarus stepped back.
"I will kill all your friends. One by one, until you become one with me."
"Never."
"I want my people back, sister. You will give them back."
"I will never give them back. You have betrayed them. You made them lose trust in us all."
"They betrayed me."
Russia took a step forward and swung his pipe at Belarus. She backed away, but he still nicked her shoulder, and she fell to the ground. He swung his pipe up at Finland and Sealand. The boy covered the Fin's face, but as Russia swung down, another figure intervened.
Denmark.
Metal cracked against bone, and Denmark gritted his teeth as the impact sent him to one knee, but he held his ground. "Damn you, Russia. You hurt my family and me enough. You won't take more of us." As he said this, Russia swung down once more and smacked Denmark's face. He barely flinched.
"What will make you fall, I wonder?" Russia chuckled as Denmark rose to his feet. Blood trickled down from his cheek and one arm hung uselessly to the side.
"Nothing," Denmark spat, and Russia lifted the rod once more, but just as he aimed to hit Denmark again, Belarus rose and leapt onto his back. She pressed her own metal pipe to Russia's throat and pulled. The Russian made gagging sounds and barely grazed Denmark's shoulder.
"You will not hurt them. Like Denmark said, you have hurt them enough; they are done putting up with your pain," Belarus glared at him.
Russia shrunk down a little.
"That's right," She hissed. She stopped choking him and leapt down.
Russia, however, was not done. He turned back to Belarus and said, "But as I recall, I was not the only one hurting these people. Sister, weren't you right by my side throughout the whole war?" Russia chuckled.
"The war is over. I am no longer on your side. I am on theirs," Belarus pointed to the other nations.
"But don't you want to tell them what you did?" Russia smiled.
Belarus frowned. "Many things. But that was war, and I could only do as my government asked. Now, I have my own will, and I choose to help my friends."
"Friends tell each other their secrets. And you have a big one," Russia leaned into Belarus's face. She averted her gaze.
Finland was the first to pipe up. "What did she do? I'm sure we can forgive it."
"Sister, why don't you tell them?"
"It's not important."
"Is bombing their capitals really unimportant? I'm sure Ludwig here would still love to be a nation. Denmark too. And wouldn't Finland just love to have Sweden here with him? That can't happen because of you, sister."
"My government made me. That was not my choice. And they bombed us back. Ukraine is dead because of them. Does that make me hate them?" Belarus growled, but as she looked over, the kindness in Finland's eyes had left. Lovino was holding a more exhausted Ludwig up and glaring at her. Denmark's mouth hung open as he pointedly brought his gaze from her to his arm and back.
"You have hurt them enough, brother. You can stop now."
"No, I can't," Russia laughed as he turned back to the other nations. "I think it is time to return to Denmark, isn't it?"
The Dane wasn't paying attention. He was still staring at Belarus. "You bombed me?"
"Yes," Belarus muttered, her head down. Neither paid attention as Russia advanced upon Denmark. It only took one blow to cut him down. Denmark screamed as he fell. The cold metal cracked against his head and his vision darkened. No one stepped forward to stop Russia. He towered over Denmark and spat on him before raising his pipe and beating him repetitively across the back. Denmark curled up and cried. Russia beat his legs and his chest. Bones cracked. Just as he aimed for one final strike over the head, a cold wind blowed, and he stopped in his tracks.
"General Winter?" He whispered and dropped the pipe. Clouds billowed overhead, and flurries fluttered down.
General Winter, however, had not arrived. A cloaked figure glided down the hill from the mansion and stopped just before them. The figure took off his hood and a pair of violet eyes glared at Russia.
"You will not kill Denmark," Norway said.
