"About time we made it," North Korea sighed as he climbed out of the manhole.
He was grateful there was a car in front of them that hid them; he wouldn't dare climb out if they were out in the open right in front of the tower.
The storm had died down, though it was still frosty and windy. In contrast to the white snow, their clothes would attract the eyes of the enemy and this realization alarmed North Korea the moment Poland stepped into the streets and took a casual gander.
"All of this snow would make, like, a pretty big snowman," Poland mused. "What do you think, Liet?"
North Korea spun his head around and shot Lithuania an urgent glare. Lithuania coughed into his fist and reached out to grab onto Poland's arm. "Another time, okay?"
"Nothing's happening though," Poland pointed out. "We should be, like, fine."
"For now," North Korea murmured, "but who knows if we were spotted." His gaze shot up to the tower looming over them in the gray sky. Whatever was waiting for them in that tower, they'd have to prepare themselves for it. A brief message had arrived from Germany's house and though it was incredibly difficult to make out from behind the static, they were assured that America, China, and Japan had completed their mission.
It piqued North Korea's interest that Japn's team also had to deal with a tower and almost asked how they got in but he refrained himself from doing so; it would be shameful if he were to ask for a hint on how to do his own task.
Still, getting into the tower would be difficult, although his gaze suddenly lowered and fixed itself back at the manhole they had just climbed out of.
Estonia pushed his glasses back up the bridge of his nose and asked, "So what do you think? What are we going to do now?"
North Korea rolled his head casually on his shoulders silently, oblivious to the looks of uncertainty of the others. He then proceeded to sigh and smile cruelly at the tower. "I saw we walk in and negotiate," he said coolly.
"What?" The others stared at him and North Korea found himself slightly amused at the surprise and shock that etched onto their paling faces.
"You're insane..." Estonia muttered, wincing. "They're doppelgangers, North...they'll rip us to shreds if we approach them directly."
"They need us alive, don't they?" North Korea asked. "I just want to talk to them."
Ukraine furrowed her eyebrows in slight concern. "But do you know how to talk to them?"
North Korea wondered if he should take offense to Ukraine's lack of faith in him, but then again, he didn't really blame that. Instead, he stuck his right hand into his coat pocket and pulled out his gloves that he stored away in fear of getting them drenched from the sewers. "It shouldn't be hard," he said in an even tone, pulling the gloves over his hands. "Germany tortured them through kindness. Surely the lot of you can reproduce this kindness. I will use this as my trump card."
"But they probably already know of this weakness," Lithuania said. "Don't you think they'd be incredibly cautious about handling us?"
"If they're so wary of us," North Korea said, raising an eyebrow, "then what is there to worry?"
There was a small silence. Ukraine had a nervous frown on her face and Estonia and Lithuania both shifted their weight around. Poland stared at North Korea for a few moments, as if wondering what was going on in his head.
"You know..." Poland said slowly, "sometimes, I think that you're all just, like, talk."
The other countries snapped their attention to Poland and then back to North Korea, watching for North Korea's reponse.
North Korea's jaw would have dropped if he didn't stop himself. Recovering from his sudden shock, he cleared his throat and replied ever so softly, "We shall see."
"Russia!"
A voiced called the country, and yet he wasn't so sure if it existed. It sounded so faint, as if it was a mere figment of his imagination.
"Brother!"
It sounded familiar.
"Get up!"
Up? Up where? Where was up? What was up?
"Russia! Big brother! Please!"
The voice was starting to irritate him. Why wouldn't his mind stay silent and let him enjoy the peace and silence?
Although, all of a sudden, he didn't feel at peace. Something hurt. A lot. Yes, he was sure of it. But why? And how?
A light pounding sound echoed, as if someone was running towards him. Heavy breaths were taken and the voice cried out, "Brother!"
The country blinked. It was dark. A revolting smell appeared, lightly at first, but now it overwhelmed him. However, he could not gag. He could not move. There was something on top of him, and it was heavy. Was this the cause of his pain?
He tried to flex an arm but his arm was dead; both of them turned out to be unresponsive. He tried his fingers and found, much to his slight amusement, that they were useless as well. Though his eyes had not yet adjusted to the dimness, he could blood running and pooling up on the ground he laid on.
He could feel the stickiness of the blood that soaked the back of his coat. He could now taste again; the somewhat familiar metallic tang filled his mouth.
As his sense slowly came back, the voice he had heard seconds before came directly above him. A shadow entered his range of sight and the voice spoke again. "Brother! You've won! You've defeated your doppelganger!"
Doppelganger?
"Now that bastard will never come between us!"
What?
"Russia? Are you with me? Brother! Please answer me! I want to hear your voice! Russia...Russia...brother?"
Russia blinked slowly. He tried to speak but he stopped himself. Whatever was on his body shifted and the shadow above him became tense.
"I don't understand," the thing on top of him said slowly.
"Why aren't you dead?" the shadow above Russia demanded shrilly.
The thing rose warily and the immense pressure was lifted and Russia was finally able to look into the red eyes of his doppelganger.
"I don't understand why you fight so hard," Dark Russia said. There was no trace of resentment or distaste. Rather, there was an odd tone of curiosity and, to Russia's surprise, defeat. Never had he heard a doppelganger sound so defeated.
"When people are certain of their own beliefs, they fight for them," Dark Russia said. "I had believed that we were right. You believed that you were right. But even after I explained everything...why do you still fight?"
Russia stared up at the darkness. Belarus made no sign that she was going to answer. They both waited for Dark Russia to continue on.
"Could it be because countries are selfish?" Dark Russia asked. "No...people are selfish, not the countries themselves. The people make up the country, so I can't blame you for it."
The crimson in the doppelganger's eyes suddenly faded from a brilliant scarlet to a more subdued shade. Dark Russia shrugged his shoulders and laughed. "Well...I can't help it then. You don't really follow your own actions. The people make you do it. They brought it upon themselves, da?"
"No."
Dark Russia raised an eyebrow at Russia.
"We, as countries, exist because of our people; this is true," Russia said. "But we too have consciousness. I'll admit it. We are as cruel as humanity."
"So then we were right?"
"No, I didn't say that," Russia murmured. He closed his eyes. He felt exhausted and even speaking took a toll on him. "If you are a part of me, and I am flawed, then how can you be sure that you are not as well?"
There was another silence and Russia assumed he gave his doppelganger something worth mulling over. His determination to end the doppelganger crisis had paid off and sent Dark Russia thinking over who was right.
No, neither party was truly right. There was no complete and absolute "right" when it came to humanity. Most of the time, things were considered "right" by those of the majority, and only the majority that won or overpowered the other.
Russia could safely assume that he and the other real countries of the world were a majority and the doppelgangers were the other. The conflict was whether which party was "right" and this was determined through force.
If it was force they wanted, they'd get it.
And so Russia delivered it.
And now, he and Belarus could only wait in the darkness for the doppelganger to collect his thoughts.
Dark Russia's lips twitched upwards into a smile though his eyes narrowed into cunning slits. "I think you're right," he said casually. "As emotions, we too are flawed. Well said, Russia."
"So you'll go back into him now?" Belarus asked suspiciously.
"No, not yet," Russia said hastily. He paused and heaved a heavy sigh. "I'm weakened," he breathed, taking in shallow gulps of air.
Arms wrapped around his head and Belarus' lap served as his pillow despite the fact that blood threatened to stain her clothes. "I will fight for you, big brother," she whispered, stroking his hair gently.
Russia had no power to pull away or push her surprisingly gentle touch away. Instead, he looked over his doppelganger, who raised an eyebrow at him. Through a brief stare, Dark Russia harrumphed. "You'd think my job was done."
"If you think we're right, then shouldn't you help fight for our cause?"
Dark Russia's eyes gleamed. "I'll see what I can do."
It surprised the group how smooth North Korea sounded when he requested a talk with Dark Russia. The doppelgangers merely shot him a quick look of indifference with a small hint of suspicion before they informed him that the doppelganger he was looking for was out.
"Then who can I talk to?" North Korea asked patiently.
"Why do you want to talk?" Dark Ukraine asked. Her eyes flickered over to her original and they both shared a look, although the doppelganger version seemed much more sinister.
"I want to negotiate," North Korea said simply.
"Oh?" Dark Latvia cocked his head at his piece of information. It was odd to see someone who looked identical to Latvia (save the eyes) to hold himself so confidently and slyly. If the real Latvia was there, the differences would be even more obvious.
"What do you have in mind?" Dark Ukraine asked.
North Korea held his hands together behind his back and allowed his gaze to wander. The lobby of the tower was inviting despite the danger it posed to him and the rest of the world. There was no way there would be weapons here. Perhaps Germany gained false information; perhaps some bases held weapons while others were safe places. Or maybe Omsk served as the information-gathering division's base, if the doppelgangers had established such a division.
"Why conduct a meeting here? It's very impolite," North Korea said sternly, as if scolding them. "Take us to a private room and then I'll talk."
He expected the two doppelgangers to look over the others in disapproval. Then again, this somehow hurt him. He knew that out of all of the countries on the planet, he was one of the more secluded one, the one that not many others talked to. And yes, he may have some plans that dissatisfied the rest of the world. However, the idea that the doppelgangers gave them implied that he would be the weak link out of the entire world and that they somewhat trusted him.
At least, enough to not give him such a condescending look.
That hurt. Just a little.
However, he gave no thought about it the moment they entered a room that seemed desgined for meetings. The two doppelgangers took a seat on the far side of the long table and the countries sat on the side closer to the door.
Now that they were in, North Korea longed to make an escape from the two doppelgangers' eyes and search the building. It was two against five; he knew that they stood a chance. Nevertheless, he must stick to the plan he had made prior to entering the tower.
Interrogation was going to be fun.
"I believe that the city here is not a good base and I would like to offer a place in my house," North Korea said, lacing his fingers together as he propped his elbows on the table. Leaning his chin on top of the platform he made with his hands, he added, "And I can assure you that it will be safe for discreet operations. Not many countries have been to my home, after all."
The doppelgangers had not been impressed until now, where they exchanged looks. Even though the looks were mere glances, it was still something and North Korea took this moment to shoot Poland a look, signaling him.
Poland jumped out of his seat and and declared, "The room in here needs to stand out more."
Dark Latvia shot Poland a glare but it quickly changed to indifference once again. "Sit down."
Poland ignored him and walked around the table and to the walls, running a finger along it. "And the walls need to be more shinier, more sleek. This color...it's totally not fitting the style around here," Poland continued, shooting the doppelgangers a look of boredom. "For shame! I say we we renovate the place!"
While Dark Latvia's attention was fixed on Poland, Dark Ukraine's eyes didn't leave North Korea. North Korea gritted his teeth, passing it off as irritation for Poland while in reality he cursed Dark Ukraine's attention.
"As I was saying," North Korea mumbled, attempting not to attract Dark Latvia, "I've had it with the other countries and the ones sitting with me believe the same. We're all tired of the so-called first world countries and how arrogant they are. People could do better, and so I side with you."
"I can believe that you would," Dark Ukraine said quietly, "but the others, I don't believe."
North Korea, again, felt somewhat insulted. He ended up grinding his teeth now but thanks to Poland's rant about the color of the room, he could shoot a glare towards Poland and all would be well.
"Fine. But I'm keeping them. Take me if you will, but I'll keep an eye on them myself."
Dark Ukraine gave him a hard stare. North Korea gave her a hard stare back, though he felt Estonia's foot brush his underneath the table. I know, Estonia, North Korea thought, I'm getting there. If this keeps up, I'll let you know when.
"It's your call," North Korea added. "My house, I believe, is more suited."
"No, it's not my call," Dark Ukraine snarled.
"Do you wish it was?" North Korea asked, raising an eyebrow.
Dark Latvia stood up abruptly and excused himself. Even Poland paused in his antics to watch the doppelganger leave the room. Dark Ukraine seemed slightly alarmed.
"Where is he going?" Estonia asked, directing his gaze back to her.
Dark Ukraine had a strange look on her face, as if she couldn't register why Dark Latvia would leave so suddenly. She must have sense an emergency in Dark Latvia's motions because she too tried to excuse herself.
"You won't leave this room," North Korea barked, "not while I'm here."
He jumped out of his chair and dashed to the left, blocking the doppelganger. Estonia and Lithuania rushed to barricade the doors and Poland prevented the doppelganger from trying to escape by tossing one end of the rope he had to North Korea. Together, the two of them bind Dark Ukraine up and fastened it.
"You!" Dark Ukraine barked, giving her original a crazed grin. "Do you remember World War II? Do you remember how horrible it was? All of those people of yours-"
North Korea clapped a hand over the doppelganger's mouth. "Damn you," he hissed. "Don't pay attention to her," he added to Ukraine's darkening expression. "She's trying to feed off of your-"
Dark Ukraine sank her teeth into North Korea's hand and he withdrew out of reflex, wincing in pain as the blood seeped his sleeve. "Are you going to sit around and do nothing while the rest of the world continues to fight on?" Dark Ukraine added hastily, her grin broadening. "There will be an eventual World War III and what then? What will happen-"
Poland threw excess rope over Dark Ukraine's head and pulled so that the cord would catch on her teeth. Dark Ukraine's head tilted back as Poland tugged at the rope and her words were silenced.
"Eaa..." the doppelganger chirped. "Ah eel eaaa..."
Fear. Dark Ukraine felt fear. But perhaps she herself did not fear something; she sensed it.
"What do we do now?" Lithuania asked as he and Estonia stacked the chairs in front of the door. "If we try to interrogate her, would she even reply?"
"It seems as if Ukraine holds a strong grudge over World War II," North Korea said under his breath. His eyes flickered over to Ukraine, who stared at her doppelganger with a, to his surprise, melancholy look.
"She's right though," Ukraine whispered. "What if another war breaks out? My people...what will become of them?"
"Ukraine, what will become of your people if you let the doppelgangers win?" Estonia asked. "You can't let that happen. We all can't let that happen. For once we're all on the same side to protect our people, to protect those we cherish."
"But how do I know we won't fight after this?" Ukraine asked softly. "Next time, will I be your friend? Next time, will I be your enemy? Countries have died before. Some died by the hands of their friends."
"We'll worry about that when the time comes," North Korea hissed. He silenced himself when Dark Ukraine attempted to break free. Tightening his grip on the rope, he added, "And unlike me, you have friends who will protect you to no end. All of you do! Now shut the hell up and do something productive!"
His words broke Ukraine out of her thoughts and she was suddenly active, rushing over to help disable her hatred. Germany had told them that tying doppelgangers up was one way to disable one temporarily; the other known way was to pin them down so that they couldn't move anymore.
"Through the neck," Poland said somberly as he watched Ukraine pierce her doppelganger with sharpened pipe. The team had been stocked with them for the purpose of disabling doppelgangers; Belarus preferred to stick with blades, however.
"Russia and Belarus...I wonder if they're okay," Ukraine said offhandedly, gazing out the windows.
"They'll be fine," Lithuania smiled. He flexed his fingers and gazed at them. "Trust me. They can hold their own."
Shouts disturbed the brief peace and the walls vibrated every time a loud thud was produced. Their door bolted several times but the chairs loyally held their place. Until a doppelganger crashed through the bare wall beside the door, leaving a gaping hole into the hallway.
"Russia!" Ukraine exclaimed in relief. However, her face paled and the rest of the team followed suit with North Korea scowling. "Dark Russia?"
Dark Russia blinked at them and smiled like he did when they first ran into them. However, the smile didn't not make them grimace. It seemed almost kind.
"I found them," Dark Russia said to seemingly no one. He cocked his head, disregarding their apparent discomfort. "It's good to see you all so safe and well, da?"
The real Russia leaned over and peered into the hole and his face brightened at the sight of his friends. "There you are!" he exclaimed, though his voice sounded frail.
If it was possible, the expressions of the five in the room had changed for the worse. At the sight of Russia's wounds and the staggering amount of bloodshed, memories of unpleasant battles and wars darkened their eyes and dulled their features.
"Oh?" Russia frowned. "Is no one happy to see me?"
"Russia...what happened to you?" Ukraine asked, throwing herself to her little brother. She tried not to crush the country as she embraced him, panicking over the cuts and broken bones. "Where's Belarus?" she added after examining his body.
A crash echoed in the hall and there were more shouts and curses. Russia and Dark Russia glanced to their right and regarded the noise as if it was normal and expected. "If you follow the curses, you'll find her," Dark Russia said.
"So wait...what? You're like, totally on our side now?" Poland exclaimed incredulously.
"I had a paradigm shift," Dark Russia sighed. "Although I don't know how long I'll stay like this. I might revert back any minute," he said darkly, giving his original a warning look.
Russia smiled gently and, leaning on Ukraine's shoulder, said, "Then let's finish this up."
North Korea blinked. He did not expect this at all. Out of all of his calculations, never did he think this would happen. "Wait," he said, contorting his face into confusion. "I'll ask how you're on our side another time, but I'm curious. Are there weapons here or not?"
Dark Russia gave North Korea a haughty laugh. "They're scattered all over the city," Dark Russia mused. "Weapons are present on several rooftops and some in the parks. Luckily, I've mapped out where they all are and all of this information is in this building. Just find it in the planning room and you can go out and retrieve them."
"At least we don't have to destroy it," Russia beamed. "The others had to, even though it might be more beneficial to keep them."
Ukraine stiffened. "But...surely you won't use them for war, right?" she asked nervously.
"Who knows," Dark Russia grinned.
"No, it will most likely be used to safety reasons," Estonia said hastily. "Should we go on then? I would prefer not to linger around and I'd like to use our advantage before it's out of our grasps."
Dark Russia exchanged a look with Russia. "Then I suggest you stay away from me as far as possible," Dark Russia said sweetly.
North Korea located the map that Dark Russia had made of the weapons and checked with Germany about the unusual settings of the Omsk Hideout. Germany sounded relieved that they were doing fine and said to call in their respective armies to take care of it and asked for them to move on and back up the next team.
"But China's already taken care of," North Korea said flatly.
"Oh, yes, my mistake." Germany sounded flustered. "China has gone off to help Japan and they are all now heading your way. Of course, you have it under control so I'll send all three of your teams back to Europe. America's team-"
"Do you have to bring up that idiot?"
"Sorry."
"No matter. Go on."
"America's team will move on to England's when they wake up-"
"Wake up?"
"America bombed himself."
North Korea found this to be highly amusing.
"They'll move on to help England. If England's already done, then those two will move to France. Then, if all of you are done and my house is the only one left, then everyone will be returning back here."
North Korea sighed and tapped his foot as he watched Dark Russia shove a doppelganger through another wall. Perhaps Poland was right and that they needed to renovate the tower.
"So, final orders? Bring in our armies and have them take care of the weapons? Should we wait to meet up with China and Japan's teams?"
"I'll tell them to meet you there so don't move."
"And then we go to France?"
"Yes."
"Why not your house?" North Korea asked. "It's closer. And why not split it up so that you and France both have extra forces?"
Germany sounded exasperated on his end of the line. "It's...a pride thing. I don't want to drag anyone else unnecessarily into my problems-"
"Too late."
A slight growl. "Pride, North. It's all about pride. Only when the others finish their tasks I shall let them in. The plan has been established; there's no changing it."
When North Korea got off the line with Germany, he found Russia on the rooftops with Dark Russia and the rest of the team.
"It's so beautiful when it's not storming," Lithuania smiled. He glanced to his left at Belarus, who was watching the fighter jets soar above.
"I wanted to see an explosion," Belarus stated icily.
"You want to see one of Russia's cities explode?" Lithuania asked, shocked.
Belarus froze. "When you word it like that..." she muttered.
Russia nodded at North Korea when the country approached them and took a seat several feet away from the rest of them.
Russia glanced at his doppelganger, whose eyes sported a more purple color rather than a red one, and Dark Russia grunted. He took several steps towards North Korea and lifted him up and over his shoulders, marching back to the team despite the Asian country's threats.
"There, there," Russia grinned. "Join us just this once. It's not every day we see you gather around with us."
"There's a reason why I don't," North Korea sneered.
Dark Russia refused to let him go and he ended up draped over the doppelganger's shoulder, humiliated at the fact he was easily picked up and hung like a fool.
Although, he had to admit, the sky looked beautiful.
Russia, who was watching North Korea, was pleased at the fact the country had decided to shut up and watch the sky with them. However, he could feel something come back to him, as if his doppelganger-no, his hatred- return.
Although hatred could never truly be destroyed until death, Russia was relieved to have a part of him back. He'd have to learn to control it, and he was certainly glad he had his friends with him to help do so.
After all, America promised that the Best Buds Group would help with this.
The countries watched as tiny figures of people from whichever country they hailed from lined the streets and, several minutes later, appear on the rooftops. Slowly, Dark Russia faded and North Korea found himself falling onto the ground, the doppelganger holding onto him disappearing.
Surely by now the other doppelgangers would fade, and by now, the weapons had been collected and the Omsk Hideout did not exist.
Four down, three more to go.
I'm so sorry! It's late, it's really late! I missed deadlines upon deadlines and...
If you're curious, I blame video games.
But no one's going to blame video games; you guys blame my lack of motivation and, to some extent, myself. I understand.
But! I managed to convince myself to write! Like, seriously, today, I wrote 98% of this chapter in one sitting because I forced myself to. The other 2% was from another day where I was lazy to continue. However, I liked how it turned out.
So, in total, it took me three hours to write the 98%. It's late at the moment; it's like, 2:11 a.m so that shows how determined I am to finish the Omsk chapters!
Next we'll have France (at last!) and then after France we have England for the final part (I hope).
When's the next update? I don't know, so it may be a while. However! I have news! I made a blog and I'll hopefully write more often. Through the blog, you can track down my progress and probably even scrapped chapters that I threw away and all of that stuff. :D
jenniferviendung. wordpress. com (Without the spaces of course)
Other than that, I'm done. I'm like, so tired. Now if only I can get the motivation to write for the other stories...