50 States: Chapter 21
AN: I am so sorry for the wait, starting college and studying for my Driver's test is really a handful! I AM NOT abandoning this story! I promise.
Enjoy!
"Damn, it's too bloody dark!" England growled as the group struggled to get through the pitch-black darkness of the tunnel. They couldn't even see their hands in front of their faces.
"OW! That's my foot!" China yelped.
"Sorry, China." Germany grunted.
"...What is this?"
Japan had been sliding his hand against the wall and felt a long pole-like object against his palm. He gripped it and pulled it downwards. There was a click and light instantly filled the tunnel. The nations saw that they were a few feet away from another door.
"Vell done, Japan." Germany praised.
"Arigatou, Germany-San."
England aimed his gun and pressed his ear against the door before kicking it down. After checking for any signs of movement, he called back to the other three nations that everything was clear.
The room looked like an empty cellar. There was a wooden stove along with a large pile of wood next to it. Possibly used to keep the area warm during the winter. There was also a staircase that had another door at the top. England grumbled something incoherently before climbing the steps and cautiously opening the door with the other nations behind him.
They entered what appeared to be a living room. There was a fourteen-foot couch and two armchairs with a coffee table in the center of the room. The furniture had light brown wood and cream-colored pillows. There was a limestone fireplace with a gold antique mirror placed above it and the room smelled faintly of lavender.
"Are we back in the house?" Japan asked, inspecting the room.
"Looks like it." England commented. "What-"
"Shh!" Germany hushed the Brit and motioned for them to listen. Sure enough, they heard footsteps coming from the hallway in their direction. The nations scrambled to a hiding spot. Germany and England behind the couch, China under the table, and Japan behind one of the armchairs. The footsteps halted at the entrance of the living room and there was a sigh.
"Come on out you Duffers." A female British accent called out. "I'm unarmed."
The four peeked out from their hiding places to see London standing in front of the living room's entrance, watching them with an annoyed expression on her face.
"Alfred sent me to get you." Elizabeth stated. "Since you've found your way back into the house, you are now out of the game."
England, Germany, China, and Japan sighed in relief.
"Finally!" China exclaimed. "These games are driving me insane."
London gave a slight smirk and muttered under her breath. "You don't even know half of what the children are capable of, China."
"What?" England asked, not quite hearing what his capital had said.
"Nothing." She said, simply before gesturing for the nations to follow her. "Well, come on then. I'd like to get back to work as soon as possible."
…...
America watched as London escorted England, Japan, Germany, and China out of the living room in the first floor before turning his gaze to the outdoor cameras. After being sprayed by the skunk from Illinois's trap, Poland and Hungary had found the swimming pool and were trying to get the smell off of them. Alfred couldn't help feeling bad for them. It would take more than chlorine to get the smell off. Meanwhile, France and Italy had stumbled upon Prussia's base and said man, along with his godchildren, shot at them without mercy.
Minnesota laughed at how feminine Italy and France's screams were. Latvia tried to suppress a giggle and Estonia couldn't help smirking at the screen. Ukraine and Liechtenstein watched with wide eyes while Switzerland watched intently. He would never admit it out loud but he was impressed with how Delaware, New Jersey, and Massachusetts had infiltrated the saw mill. America's states knew how to use guns, even if they were not real.
Alfred turned to the doorway after hearing it open. It was Warsaw.
"Spain wishes to speak to Mexico and South Italy." Felka informed.
America furrowed his brows in thought, pondering if this would be a good idea. He picked up his walkie talkie.
"Susie, it's Dad. Do you copy?"
"Hey Dad, what's up?" Connecticut's voice rang on the other end.
"Is Lovino with you?" He asked.
"Yeah," Susanna confirmed. "You want to talk to him?"
"Yes, thank you." Alfred waited for a moment before Romano answered.
"You wanted to talk, Alfredo?"
Romano usually only referred to people as Bastard or Jerk, but he always called America 'Alfredo' in his home when he had lived with them during the Industrial Revolution and whenever he visited. Lovino had never been good at interacting with others except Rome and Naples until he became a godfather. Despite what the other nations thought, Lovino was very caring but only to those he trusted.
"Spain wants to speak to you and Rosa." Alfred stated, cautiously. There was silence on the other end, until Lovino gave an irritated sigh.
"Figures." He muttered before addressing Alfred. "Bene, I'll talk to the Tomato Bastard but I can't guarantee that Rosa will."
"Me neither." Alfred agreed. It would take a lot of convincing to get Mexico to talk to Spain now that he knew about her children. After all, both North American countries remember conquistador l'Espana. Alfred and Rosa were grateful that none of their children had been born during that period. America shuddered whenever he remembered the things he had seen on what was now Florida's land.
"Good luck, Lovino." Alfred said before ending the call and turning to Felka. "Thank you, Felka. I'm glad you're feeling better."
Warsaw smiled weakly and nodded her thanks before exiting, possibly to look for Budapest or maybe even Berlin. America sighed when the Pole was out of sight. When New York had informed him of Warsaw's meltdown last night, he couldn't help feeling the urge to punch Poland. The North American family and the capitals were fiercely protective of one another and every attack by a nation made them even more reluctant to trust the countries.
Capitals such as London, Madrid, Berlin, Tokyo, and Ankara were especially ashamed and/or disgusted with their nations.
Elizabeth despised England for taxing the colonists when they practically had nothing. The people had very little money to begin with and trade was often used as payment. But the arrogance of the British even after the war, made her even more repulsed, especially when she learned of the Massacre of Amritsar in India.
Isabel was furious at every attack on Mexico by Spain. She was like an older sister or second mother to Rosa and was very loyal to the North American family. During the Mexican War of Independence, Isabel had been captured by Spanish authorities after a loyalist had stalked her and discovered she had been passing information to the rebels. Rosa had found her mutilated body three days later after the Spaniards had dumped her in a river. Like nations, capitals couldn't die and Madrid woke up a week later, wrapped in bandages with Mexico at her bedside. Rosa begged her to get out of the country and live with America to heal. Reluctantly, Isabel agreed. She never spoke about what had happened after she was captured until a year after the Mexican-American War. She had been tortured for two days but she never allowed herself to betray Rosa and the rebels. Madrid was mangled alive on the third day and dumped into a river.
Monika was very ashamed of what her people had done during World War II. Like Warsaw, she was a victim of the Holocaust and had been deported to Auschwitz for giving aide to German resistance fighters. During her imprisonment, Berlin and Warsaw had become inseparable and Felka had become her closest friend ever since. It could be seen in their eyes when the two women were together, a mutual understanding. They had been separated when Monika was forced to go on a Death March and Felka had been lost in the crowd. She had to run for miles in the bitter cold as she and the other prisoners were chased from the camp by the SS guards all the way to Bergen-Belsen, where she remained until the camp was liberated by the Americans.
Tokyo had been devastated when Japan invaded China. The details of the mass murder and assaults in Nanking made her physically ill before breaking down into tears. Unlike their countries, Chun Yan and Sakura got along very well and both deeply respected and admired one another. This attack had severed any chance of her forgiving Japan. To her, this heinous crime was unforgivable and after all Chun Yan had suffered at the hands of the Japanese, Tokyo had openly sworn in a tone that made the temperature drop, that she would never acknowledge any relation to Japan's personification.
Ankara had only seen Turkey as a thug, a bully, and a murderer. Throughout most of her life, she lived in hiding, occasionally disguising herself as a man, for it was dangerous to be a woman during the Ottoman regime. Especially a woman with no family. Ankara's skill in hiding and deception prevented her from being seized into slavery. She had saved and occasionally stolen money to get to America until 1904 when she finally boarded a ship to her new destination of the time.
"...Dad?"
Alfred turned to Minnesota, who was looking at him expectantly.
"Sorry Sweetie, what did you say?" He asked, smiling apologetically.
"I said when are the nations leaving?" Caroline repeated her unheard question. While tormenting the countries had been fun, Minnesota was certain that she would be speaking for everyone if she said that she wanted them gone. While neither of the states have ever been to a World Meeting, until Hawaii's accidental teleportation, they obviously stressed their father out despite masking his real personality. There was also no question that a good number of the nations gave America a hard time. One would tend to catch on that assumption when their father came home looking rather glum and some of the capitals cursing and ranting about their nation's treatment of America.
"Minnie," Alfred scolded before giving Ukraine, Sealand, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, and the younger Baltics apologetic looks.
"Don't get me wrong, I don't mind these guys." Caroline gestured to them before pointing at the screens. "I just still don't trust some of them. Especially the commie."
"But, I thought Russia was a godfather to some of your children." Ukraine said, looking confused.
"No no, not Ivan." Alfred shook his head. "She meant China."
"Oh." Ukraine nodded in understanding.
"Russia's not communist anymore." Minnesota added. "In fact, Russia and the Soviet Union were two different nations."
"What do you mean by that?" Ukraine asked, her confusion coming back. "I've lived under my brother during that time. The Soviet Union wasn't personified."
"Y-yeah, it was all Mister Russia." Latvia said, starting to shake.
"Maybe not quite, Raivis." Estonia cut in. Latvia and Ukraine looked at him in bewilderment and Eduard explained. "While we were searching in the Classified Library, I found a journal that belonged to Moscow. The entry I read said 'I'm starting to wonder if Ivan is gone for good, that the Soviet Union has completely taken over him.' She also wrote something about Russia no longer 'resisting' and that the Soviet Union was making him hurt Lithuania. What did she mean by that?"
Minnesota glanced at America and Alfred began to explain. "When a nation becomes an empire, or goes through a drastic change in a certain amount of time, it's not rare for them to develop another personality. During the Russian Revolution Ivan started acting strangely and began to isolate himself. When Kiev, Moscow, or Minsk tried to confront him, he would throw things and scream at them to get out. He locked himself in his room for over a month before coming out one day and told them what was happening."
"Russia started hearing a voice in his head. The voice was telling him to do horrible things and he would feel as if something was possessing him in a way. He would suddenly feel angry for no reason at all and have a desire to hurt others, especially those he cared about. After the revolution ended, Ivan knew he had to get the capitals out of Europe so he gave them money and sent them here. Anya then wrote a letter to Lithuania to warn him of a possible upcoming invasion by the Soviets. Toris arranged a voyage for the Baltic capitals before the Lithuanian-Soviet War broke out. He may have won, but Toris thought it would be better if Vilnius, Tallinn, and Riga stayed here since Europe was a mess from World War I."
The former Soviet territories were speechless. Guilt started to consume Ukraine's being. She was Ivan's older sister, she practically raised him after their mother, Kievan Rus, had disappeared. Katyusha knew him long before the Russian Revolution. Despite conflicts between their countries, Ivan was very family oriented, hardworking, and responsible. He was ambitious, but also generous. Before the Soviet Union, Ivan always sent Katyusha a gift every year on her birthday and for Christmas. She never received any gifts from her brother until a year after the fall of the Soviet Union.
Even with the tensions between their countries today, Ivan never stopped his tradition of sending her a thoughtful gift. This year's present had been a handmade scarf very similar to the one she had given him centuries ago, except it was blue and yellow. The colors of her flag.
She would have to talk to her brother, and Natalia as well. Maybe fix their relationship in the process, and start a new one with their capitals. Ukraine also had a desire to get to know Oslo, the woman that Minsk, basically her youngest brother, had fallen in love with and married.
Meanwhile, Estonia and Latvia shared a look before addressing their host.
"America, would you mind if Latvia and I have a moment in the hallway?" Eduard asked.
"No problem, take as much time as you need." America replied with an understanding smile. When the two Baltics disappeared, he checked his watch. Alfred wondered how the talk between Spain, Romano, and Mexico was fairing.
AN: I'm thinking about creating a series of oneshots that will take place before and after this story once I finish it. Tell me what you guys think!
Thanks so much for your support!
Hopefully, I'll try to avoid delays like this in the future.