I don't own Hetalia!end/AN/
9:35 AM Norway
It only seemed to get colder as the sun rose and they trekked north. Slovakia was holding tightly to Czech's hands, trying to keep them warm.
He didn't understand how this had happened to them, but he trusted in Czech. Czech would help figure out a way, she was very smart, even if she was also kinda an ass.
And Czech was smaller, skinnier than him. He wanted to protect her, like he could never do before. He nodded to the front of the group, where a grim Germany and a shy Poland led the way.
He didn't understand why those two, but he trusted that Germany knew what he was doing. Germany was smart too.
But what really lingered in the back of his mind was what France had said. Slovakia wasn't stupid, but he felt like it right then. If this wall was impenetrable, and extended throughout the area, if it was some kind of dome or circle or what have you, how exactly did going north help? It would only make it colder, and if they were truly trapped, it was wasting time.
What did he know, though? He hadn't exactly studied extensively in his youth. He'd been too busy working, fighting, doing all those things he needed to to survive.
Still, he looked around uneasily at the skinnier, less protected nations. He already knew Czech was struggling. He could see Moldova slowly drifting out, and a less conscious look on Romania's face as he walked along in the cold without sleeves or legs to his jumpsuit, all sacrificed to protect Moldova.
He could see little Northern Ireland's teeth chattering, though he was a teenager. He could see the sunnier nations shuddering in the cold, the Italies and Spain and all the rest.
This couldn't possibly work, could it?
They were walking on a hill, a sort of mountainous type area, but not really a mountain. Of course, this was what Slovakia had been told.
"Czechosl—I mean, Czech and Slovakia. You're slowing down," Bulgaria said helpfully, a long branch he was using as a staff steadying him as he followed after them. His eyes looked concerned, though, and he had the porcelain white cheeks of many of the nations.
Czech's teeth chattered, as she said, "Oh, go p-p-piss on a rock, Bulgaria."
Slovakia said, "If you're not going to say something useful, don't say anything at all. That's the rule."
Bulgaria nodded his head. "That's not a rule."
"Y-y-you nodded your head when you m-m-meant no, again," Czech said, rolling her eyes. Her fingers were getting harder and harder to keep warm, despite Slovakia's attempts to completely envelope her hands in his.
Bulgaria cursed under his breath. "I just want to make sure we all—well, who's left—make it out. That means you guys, too."
Slovakia nodded, saying, "We kinda have to go slow. I... she'll lose her fingers."
Bulgaria started to shake his head, an understanding expression on his face, before quickly switching to nodding. "Yeah, okay. I'm going to see what I can do for Romania—he's falling behind too."
Slovakia didn't mention his pessimism about that case. Romania was near enough to naked, in his opinion—neither he nor Moldova was going to make it out of this.
But Bulgaria moved back, and Slovakia could see him rub Romania's arms, which seemed to dully startle the nation.
It was just as Slovakia was thinking that he and Czech might make it, that he could pull them through, that there was a cracking noise under his feet.
The world fell out from under Slovakia, Czech, and Slovenia's feet.
He didn't have the chance to think before they plummeted out of sight.
9:56 AM China
Afghanistan was scared. Not only was she extremely uncomfortable without her burqa, constantly ducking her head down and feeling her cheeks burn and her heart do a weird flip-flop, but she was with the other Arab nations.
A common mistake among people like America and far away nations was that the Arab nations got along.
They distinctly did not. Iran and Iraq had been at each other's throats for a long time. Afghanistan didn't trust either, having also been at odds with both. She had suffered a lot in the recent decades, both through her own rulers and of course, Europeans trying to come in and control her.
She was breathing slowly, thinking of verses from the Koran that comforted her. She knew she was unlike European nations, all of whom had abandoned God long ago.
"It's most important to find Russia," Iran said, a sharp look on his face. He looked about the group, which was made up of several Arab nations. None of the more Muslim eastern nations were there.
"And why is that?" Iraq wanted to know. "I think it's more important we take out Israel."
"That's a personal grudge," Iran pointed out, though his face said he hated the intruder just as much. "Russia is the biggest offender out of the group, having been into space many times as the Soviet Union. Yes, we must destroy Israel, but Russia is more important to the aliens."
Iran was playing this to his advantage. His eyes locked with Afghanistan's for a millisecond, as if to say, 'Not a word, not even one breath out of place.' They both knew that they had been in space, but that it was less well-known. They absolutely had to keep this secret, or they would die too.
Then he looked away, as if remembering that she was not in an appropriate state for men to look at her.
"Yes, of course," Iraq muttered, as if agreeing was paining him. "Russia first."
Afghanistan kept her head bowed. In years long ago, she might have felt bold enough to raise it, to offer her opinion. Not in these times, though. Not when they might remember that she'd been to space, and then it would be all over.
She could see plenty of large, sharp rocks that would cave her skull in, like Saudi Arabia. No, thank you, she was going to make it out of this, Allah willing.
"We'd best not forget about Mongolia and North Korea. Mongolia is one of the offenders, so we'll have to kill him-" Iran was interrupted by Iraq, who let out a small laugh.
"Mongolia's probably already dead. He will be no issue."
"As I was saying, North Korea will probably be scrappy. However, all of us should be able to kill him easily," Iran said, dark brown eyes so serious, so free of any hint that he should be on this list.
Afghanistan wished she could be as opaque. For now, she just had to hope she would survive.
10:12 AM Canada
By now, Canada had dragged America over miles of forest. He'd kept expecting the nation to perk up, or at least get out of his depressed state, but he didn't. He must have felt something for Molossia, his own little micronation. Or, it was just America's big soft heart.
Many nations considered him rude and careless, but he did care. He wasn't always good at how he cared, but he definitely gave the most aide to other countries. Canada could still remember America trying to keep track of everyone he gave to, and being unable to name them all.
Still, he didn't doubt that in the moment, America had felt strongly for whatever country he was helping. That was who America had been in the beginning, a big-hearted, boisterous lad.
Canada collapsed against a tree. There was a stream nearby, and if they didn't drink now, he didn't know when they would again. "Come on, America, we need to get some water. It's important to survive, okay?"
America dumbly stumbled over to the stream, and cupped water in his hands. He gulped it up greedily, as if suddenly remembering he needed it.
Canada gulped down water too. It made his fingers go numb, but good god if it didn't make him feel at least a bit of relief. "America?"
"Yeah?" America said dazedly.
"You need to pay attention. You need to wake up, or else you're not going to make it, you understand?" Canada looked earnestly at his brother, willing him to come out of his stupor.
America nodded slowly. "Yeah."
"Are you going to say anything more than yeah?" It was a disturbing development, as America rarely shut up.
"No." America splashed the water on his face, and stood abruptly. His eyes were haunted, filled with guilt and other emotions that Canada couldn't place.
He didn't get a chance to ask further.
With a cry, three of the other North American nations burst in. Guatemala, El Salvador, and Belize.
There was no chance to run. Canada picked up a large stick, preparing to fight them, but America beat him to the punch.
"You're not killing Canada too!" America howled at them, seizing Guatemala's hair and Belize's neck, slamming their heads together. And with America's strength, there was a sickening cracking noise, and both crumpled over.
El Salvador stared at the forms on the ground, bleeding rapidly and heavily. His eyes filled with hate, and he screamed as he came running at America.
America punched him in the middle of the face, surely forcing the bones of his nose into his brain. El Salvador dropped, his scream still on his mutilated face.
Canada stared, a horror pooling in his gut. "America! You...you killed them!"
America seized Canada's wrist in a painful grip, as he said, "No one's killing you. I won't fucking let them."
And suddenly, Canada wondered which side was actually safer.
/AN/ I'm just happy to update. I got a job and I've been working a lot. But, I have time off right now! I hope someone's still interested in this story, anyway. I was kinda having fun with it until I had to leave off for a while. Oh, and Czech and Slovakia are canon now! So I killed them! :D But yeah, I'll probably write something for them sometime, if I can. I am part Slovakian, after all.