Chapter Two: Never Ending Life
All twenty Nations proceeded through the regal corridors of the castle. The interior was a charcoal grey stone, with lanterns lit along the walls, adding a warm, orange glow to the dank castle, and a royal red carpet along the floor, with small gold designs along the borders.
The whole building looked very well kept despite its age, however it still held a medieval feeling which chilled the Nations to the bone. They could imagine soldiers clad in metallic armour, holding shields and swords as they returned from battle or potentially invaded the castle to take control. The feeling reminded England of the 1066 Battle of Hastings against the Normans.
"This is pretty cool, huh Romano?"
"Shut up, Spanish bastard!" Romano snapped at the Spaniard.
Liechtenstein quivered as she walked hand in hand with Switzerland. Sensing the smaller nation's unease, the Swiss male looked down to her and gave her a small, reassuring smile; this was rarely seen to anyone, including Liechtenstein.
"I won't let anything happen to you Liechtenstein. I promise you." He whispered in encouragement; his grip on the tiny female's hand tightened.
Russia had his usual grin on his face, as the nervous, trembling trio walked behind him with the addition of Poland. Germany, Italy, Spain and Romano stayed very close to one another, the German providing his Italian with calming words and protection; whereas, the Spaniard was only getting words of insult and complaint from the other Italian. Canada walked beside Prussia; China was discussing something about food to Japan; Austria was describing some music to Hungary and England and America were still holding hands as they trekked through the castle.
"Hey! There's a door here guys!" Italy cheered, his amber irises lighting up in excitement.
The stronger of the nations, America, Germany, and Prussia, pushed open the heavy, mahogany doors. They all stepped through it into a lavish banquet hall. Candelabras lit up the dreary room, revealing the large, oak dining table, and chairs, in the centre of the room.
England looked around and gasped, his emerald irises shrinking, before running out; letting go of America. Spain's peridot eyes widened as he took in the surroundings, almost as if he had seen them before.
"Dude?!" America dashed out of the hall, after the Briton, only to find him sitting on the floor, curled up, his head in his knees. The American knelt to the Brit, placing his hand on his shoulder to reassure the other of his presence. "Britain, you okay?"
"We… we shouldn't be here." England looked up at America; his face had lost its usual glow. The older male was shivering violently. America frowned and pulled the Briton into his chest, hugging him tightly, gently running his gloved fingers through the other's blond hair. England clung to America, his hands gripping tightly onto his bomber jacket; his knuckles turning white.
"If shit hits the fan, we're getting out of here. I promise. Do you trust me?" America mumbled into the Brit's hair. The words seemed to ease England as he relaxed into America's arms; before pulling away and gazing up at him with those emerald irises. America gave his former brother a genuine smile and helped him up; England smiling back.
"I trust you Alfred… Thank you… that does calm me down a bit. The thing that worries me is that… I recognise this place." England spoke, his face falling slightly again.
"Oh? How do you remember it?" America quirked a brow, his sapphire eyes confused behind the thin sheets of glass.
"Well I was here, back when I-"
"LIET!" England was cut off by a loud scream from the hall. In worry, the two ran back into the large hall only to find, Poland kneeling on the floor, sobbing over Lithuania's body.
"Liet… wake up. Please, like, wake up!" Poland cried; but Lithuania stayed motionless, his eyes shut and lips parted. Poland gritted his teeth and buried his face in Lithuania's chest.
"P... Poland." The said nation jumped up and looked at the person who spoke his nation title.
"L-Liet! Hang in there! We'll get you help, I, like, promise…" Poland's words faded as Lithuania placed his blood-stained hand on his cheek. The Polish boy responded, by placing his hands over the Lithuanian's; tears streaming down his cheeks.
"N-No need… I've lost too much blood…" The Lithuanian spoke, his face grim and pale, his blue eyes clouded with acceptance of his death. "Feliks… just promise me one thing…"
Poland's sobs increased as Lithuania spoke his human name. "Y-Yes Toris, anything!"
"Just…get out of here…a…alive." Lithuania panted, his eyes beginning to glaze over. Poland nodded and kissed Lithuania's forehead, then with one final smile and breath…Lithuania's eyes glossed over and his chest stopped rising and falling. Poland gritted his teeth and hugged the Lithuanian's body, ignoring the cold crimson liquid soaking his pale pink shirt.
"W-What happened?!" America cried; his sky-blue eyes tear stained.
"W-We have no idea. L-Lithuania just fell." Estonia shook as he spoke.
"A stab wound." England spoke; advancing toward the body and the sobbing Polish boy. He knelt down and placed his hand by the wound; closing his eyes. "This was caused by a very similar weapon to what I would have used when I was a pirate so long ago." England looked up and brought his left hand up as well; a lime green glow caressing his fingertips as a figure of a blade appeared before them: a severely sharp cutlass.
"But if that's something that we pirates used to use… how did it get here when we caught no sight of it?" Spain enquired, glancing over at the Brit.
"That, I don't know. It is most strange." England's eyes widened, before he yelled. "Everyone get back!" All the nations jumped back…except for Poland. "Poland, get over here, NOW!"
Poland looked back to them, his usually bright eyes now dulled by the sight of the Lithuanian's death.
"Poland, please get over here! Think of what Lithuania told you! The promise you made to him!" This statement from Latvia caused the Polish boy to jerk out of his trance and get up; running to the others.
England looked up and his eyes widened, "It can't be..-!"
Spain replied, "It has to be… what else could it be?"
Romano snapped at them, "Why the fuck are you speaking in riddles?! Tell us what's going on!"
England pointed up to the floor above, the balconies surrounding the hall; two translucent figures were chasing one another, both holding jagged blades with pistols in their holsters.
"Look out!" America pushed Britain and Japan out of the way as a gunshot resonated through the room; the trio missing the bullet as it hit the doorframe with a loud crack.
"Everyone, out now!" Germany barked; then he and Prussia made sure everyone got out of the room safely.
"Germany!" Italy ran to the German, when he came out of the dining hall, completely unscathed. "Are you okay?" The Italian was shivering in fright from the startling sounds and from the thought of his German being hurt.
"Ja, I'm fine Italy." The German reassured the Italian with a gentle, comforting hug. "England, what was that?"
England looked to the other blond; "Me." That was the only word he spoke.
"But… England. You're here right now, aren't you?" Canada whispered, shivering in Prussia's arms.
"That was a past self. My pirate self. I may seem a gentleman now…but when I was a pirate I was ruthless." Britain's eyes darkened, his teeth grit and he looked down at the floor in shame.
"Ve, but there were dos figures right?" Italy spoke. "Who was the other one?"
"The other figure was me. England and I were great enemies back in the pirate era." Spain stated, folding his arms across his chest. "Our pirate selves were fighting one another."
"Just like the old days." England folded his arms, shutting his eyes.
"But what do we do now? Should we leave?" Liechtenstein suggested.
"We should go. Before anyone else is lost…" England glanced over at Poland, who was hugging himself tightly, his shirt stained with Lithuania's blood. "Let's go now."
So… England and Spain's conflicted past had come back to haunt them; they took Lithuania's life. It truly seems that a Pirate has a Never-Ending Life…