Meeting the 4th Player(Chapter 2)

Chapter 2: Inventor's Workshop and Meeting Spaine

"Please, don't hurt anyone. P-Please." Amerika stated looking at Britain in the eye. "I don't want to see b-blood anymore." He closed his eyes and held his hands to his ears, as if reliving a horrible memory. "No more gunshots. No more blood. P-Please, Arthur. No more." His voice was starting to waver and tears started to fall from broken closed eyes.

"Dude! You don't just go shootin' people like that!" America stated loudly from in-front of the shocked welsh man.

Whales sat down as Kanada led everyone, but America, Britain, Amerika, and Whales, silently out of the room and showed them the guest rooms.

"Come, Amerika, I'll put you to bed." Britain helped Amerika out of his chair and ushered Amerika out of the room, glaring at back at Whales when Amerika's back was turned. America watched the two leave through the double doors and sighed, not noticing that Whales laid his head on the table.

"...You two saved me from getting shot.. Why?" Whales looked up at America and was shocked to see a kind smile on the man's face.

"Because, We're heroes. We don't wanna see anyone get hurt like that except bad guys." America stated, pulling out a random chair and sitting in it. "And, you don't seem like a bad dude. I mean your pretty cool, even if you dress like England, but whatever. Plus, Britain gives me these weird vibes." America shrugged and looked at Whales.

Whales looked at the door and then the american. "I'd advise you to stay away from Britain. The songbird sings songs of insanity. Broke the others in his nest as the little robin made his fall. Beware of the bloody songbird. Or you'll be kept in the nest of thorns, forever. " Whales watched America lean back in his chair.

"Oh yeah. I was gonna ask. What's with the riddles everywhere? Songbird? Is that Britain?" America asked looking at he welsh man, Whales merely nodded.

"We never talk about what happens in this house. If we do he gives us punishment so we use riddles to explain to each other what we mean. You remember Britain calling me Red Kite. Well that's my code name. The songbird is Britain, sparrow is Kanada, big brother lapwing is Aireland, red hawk is Skottland,little lapwing is North Aireland, eagle is Mexiko, and the-" Whales was cut off by the door opening, revealing a pissed off Northern Aireland. "-little robin is Amerika."

North walked over to his older brother and smacked him up side the head, moving his hands in front of him occasionally pointing at America. America stared, when North started to move his hands in front of him and his mouth moved but no sound came out. "What is he doing?"

North and Whales looked each other, then at the american. "Oh yeah. You didn't know... North is a forced mute. I'll translate, so you don't get confused." Whales stated as Northern Aireland stated to sign.

North signed to Whales and looked at then looked at America moving his lips. "What were you thinking, you idiot!? What happened if Amerika didn't move his hand? You would have a bullet though that thick skull of yours?!...Well that was the non-cursing version of what he said." Whales stated translating for North, in a different tone then his own as if actually talking for the Irish man then returned to his normal tone. North whacked Amerika in the back of the head and signed to Whales frantically.

Whales's eyes widened but he kept calm. "I know but he has to know. It involves him... I see, I understand. I'll bring him to his room." North left the room and closed the door behind him.

"What did he say?" America stated looking at Whales with his head tilted to the side.

"Oh nothing. Just that I should bring you to your room." Whales stated, standing up.

America chuckled and walked out the door. "That guy cusses a whole lot for a mute guy. 'What the bloody fuckin' hell?' Wow. Just wow." America almost burst out laughing at Whales's face.

"Wait?! YOU KNEW WHAT HE WAS SAYING?!" Whales stated running after the laughing american.

...

"Um, Why would Whales want to poison Britain?" Canada asked his serious 4p as they walked down the hall with their bears. The others already had been directed to which rooms they would sleep in.

"They want to get rid of him." Kanada stated blatantly. "The thought in their minds is: Down with the red. Down with the dread. . Personally I think they are justified to think that. But, don't tell Britain I said that." Kanada shifted the rifle on his shoulder and continued to walk.

Canada followed silently behind the taller blonde, until the older suddenly stopped in front of a door.

"This is your room. I'm right across the hall." He paused and pointed at the large door directly in front of the wooden door. "If there is an emergency, don't be surprised if I run into your room waving a gun or sword around. And Matthew?" Kanada took off his sunglasses and looked at his younger 1p self.

"Um, Yes?"

"Be brave and strong. This world is cruel and will suck up your innocence, chew it up, gargle, spit it out, step on it, and burn it." He pat a hand on the younger's shoulder and went to his room, followed by the large polar bear.

Canada stood in front of his door for a second, but was snapped out of his thoughts when Kumajiro patted his face with a soft paw. "I'll try."

Kanada sighed as he slid down the back of the wooden door.

"You okay, cub?"

"Yes. Just, I don't get how this will work. I know Al may get help but how about the rest of us?" The Canadian sighed and stood up and got ready for bed. Cumajiro sat in front of the man's bed and fell asleep. As the Canadian got in bed, he knew the night would be hell for him. All through the night, the man tossed and turned in his bed.

Little did he know, across the hall. Canada was having the same sleep problems. After the quiet Canadian had went inside his room, he took off his coat and boots and had tried to sleep. He awoke many times in the night and tried many times to fall back asleep.

...

America laughed to himself softly as he walked down the long hallway. He lost Whales sometime when he was running down the halls. He looked around but couldn't recognize his surrounding. The hallway was dark and looked as if it went on forever.

"Where am I?!" America ran down the hall, finally coming up to a crossroad. He looked up and saw a metal sign on the wall. "West Wing?" America looked down the halls and heard someone walking towards him one way. "Oh crap!" America whispered and ran down the other hall marked B. 's Workshop. The sound of his and two other footsteps rang through the empty hall. He turned to his right and hid behind a large plant, as he heard the foot steps getting closer.

"-and America will help us, of course." America recognized that voice, then he realized. 'Britain?! ...Wait did he just say my name? Nah, probably means the 4p me.' America thought as he hid lower behind the plant listening to the voices.

"And you believe he'd help us? " A another voice added, as the footsteps came closer to Alfred's hiding place.

"Of course. I did raise him back when. Oh, and don't forget to cook for the World's Ball. We're hosting it this time and unfortunately I have to invite everyone. I just hope this time Ludwig doesn't bring Swittserland. That man needs to learn to stop pick-pocketing and stealing my things." A bead of sweat made it's way down America's cheek, as the nation pressed himself closer to the wall. Closing his eyes as the footsteps stopped.

"Did you hear that?" Britain's voice carried down the silent hall. The sound of a gun being loaded and the safety taken off, scared America half to death. 'Oh god, I'm gonna die. Oh god, oh god, oh god. What if I don't recover in this universe? Oh god, What if I become like my 4p? No offense to him but I don't want to be sick like that! I can barely stand it if I get a cold in winter!' America panicked slightly, wondering how far he could run before getting caught or shot.

A clank of metal sounded and everything went quiet. "It was probably just my newest invention. Go send the invitations. I'll see, what's fallen over this time." The voice stated.

"Fine. Report to me tomorrow then. Good night." America heard a sigh and the sound of footsteps getting farther away. Relaxing a bit that Empire had left, America waited for the other man to pass.

Footsteps turned into the hall where Alfred was hiding and America had to cover his mouth before he made a sound.

"Are you planning to keep hiding? I know your there. What are you doing here, boy? I thought Whales brought you back to your room." Walking over to the plant, the man held out a hand to the freaked out American.

"Aireland?" Standing up, the two walked silently to the double doors at the end of the hall. The orange haired man unlocked the door, waited for America to walk inside, then locked the door behind him. Inside the workshop was filled with design after design of future projects and inventions. The dark green walls either scorched or covered by plans. Hanging from the ceiling, were metal contraptions and hanging auto-mail. There was stairs leading to what seemed like the other's office, yet nothing seemed to be on the man's desk that looked plain with nothing but a cup of pencils on it. The Irish man led America passed some inventions to a corner of the workshop that had a pair of couches that faced each other on a square green carpet with a table in the middle. On the couch pushed against the wall, was an Irish wolfhound that had prosthetic back leg, who's head perked up when they walked in. Ireland sat down next to the large dog and the dog moved so that it's head was on Aireland's lap.

"Sit." America sat down across Aireland, a bit freaked out by the hanging fake limbs and metal contraptions behind him and the large dog. "Now, Why the hell are you walking around the halls by yourself?" The man's hazed over blind green eye closed as he started to pet the dog's head.

"I kinda, just got lost when I was running away from Whales." America told him, scratching the back of his head. "My bad, dude."

Aireland sighed and looked at America seriously. "You could have gotten killed, boy. Your lucky I said something. Britain would have shot you between the eyes before even seeing you. Do you have any last questions before I drop you off to your room?" The man crossed his arms over his chest and put one of his feet on the table.

"Wait, I thought you were the cook. Why do you have a laboratory? Are you some kind of mad scientist?" America asked looking around the room.

"I'm not a mad scientist, I'm an inventor. I think cooking and building is near the same concept. Follow the directions and add your own flare. I don't see the difference. Any other questions?" Aireland stated, staring back at America.

"What's a World Ball?" Aireland sighed and leaned back in his seat.

"A World Ball is a gathering of all the representatives of the six empires in a Ball that conspires twice a year, once in the summer and once in the winter. The World Ball is hosted by a different empire every year. All the empires are invited to the host empire's home." Aireland looked up to make sure America was paying attention and then looked back at the sleeping dog next to him. "Anything can happen during the World Ball. Last year was the Thai Empire hosted the World Ball. Since we go alphabetically, we are next, then the Dutch Empire, the German Empire, the Italian Empire, the Nordic Empire, then once again the Thai Empire. This started 123 years ago. The World Meetings stopped long before World War 3, so we needed a system to ensure the other empires wouldn't start a war."

"Wait, so its a party version of the World Meetings?"

"To some sense, yes." The man sighed, standing up. "Well, I'll bring you back to your room, but never do that again. You shouldn't walk the halls at night when you have Amerika's face. You'll get yourself killed."

"Wait, I still have some questions!" America stood up as Aireland did.

The man disappeared behind a curtain, and came back with a jar of tool shaped cookies, tossing it at America. "Not now. I'll answer any other questions tomorrow, you need to get to your bedroom before Britain or anyone else notices your not there." The man stated as he walked passed the confused American. "Whales made those sweets. And I don't exactly like sweet things, so you can have them." The man sped walked in-front of the American.

The walk to America's room was quiet, both of the men deep in their thoughts. The two stopped in front of the room and Aireland put a key in America's hand discretely. "A key to my workshop. Just knock before you enter, if you want to talk or hide. My brothers occasionally hide in there because it's the one place, Britain refuses to enter." America nodded and Aireland disappeared around the corner. America looked at the oddly shaped key and shrugged, putting it on his necklace with his dog-tags as he entered his room.

"So, you still have them. The dog-tags I gave you during world war 2." America turned around and couldn't believe who sat on his bed.

...

The scratching sound of paper being signed over and over again, was the only sound in the small office, until a knock sounded at the door. Green eyes met the door. "Who is it?"

"Orange flame of the Refrain Pact."

"Come in, Aireland."

"Chasing the 1p toward my workshop. Do you know how stupid that was, Whales?" Aireland stated walking in and sitting across from the Welsh man who flashed him a smile. "Songbird almost shot him in the head."

"He needed a place where he could go to, without Songbird trying to drill propaganda in his head." Whales stated back, going back to working on the piles of paperwork on his desk. "The younger Arthur visited me just before you left. He wanted me to keep America away from this world. To send him back with out telling Britain." Whales sighed and the pen landed on the desk. "If only he knew Britain stole all our keys and hid them away."

Aireland nodded as the door opened again and a red head with a bandage around his head walked in. "Tch. They should just go back to their own damn time." The man leaned on the wall next to the window and looked out into garden. "They don' belong 'ere, in this time."

"We all know that, Skottland. But, if the little robin's condition gets better, maybe he can lead the rebellion." Aireland stated lighting a cigarette, handing one to the Scottish man.

"Thanks. Needed that." As the two smoked, Whales cringed and glared at the two from his desk.

"Will you two stop smoking in my office?!" The Welsh man growled and the other two chuckled.

"Sorry 'bout that, Lad." Skottland said as he opened the window.

"We know you just got over your addiction, but we really needed a smoke." Aireland laughed at the glare and eye twitch he got back as a response.

"Do as you like, but not when I'm trying to sign paperwork." Whales stated back as he continued to sign the papers.

Skottland looked at the Welsh man as he put out the cigarette and threw it into the wastebasket. "So where's North?"

"He went to go send the invitations to the other Empires." Whales answered. "He took Mexiko with him. She probably wants to only visit the Dutch empire, to see her father."

Skottland sighed. "The Lass has gotta learn tha' the Spaniard 'as been long gone from this world."

...

A knock resounded from the front of the lone castle, as North knocked on it. Mexiko tapped her feet, impatient of waiting. North put a hand on her shoulder as if tell her to calm down and she nodded back to the mute man.

"Yes?" The door opened revealing a brunette man, with emotionless green eyes. He wore a black vest over a short sleeve gray shirt, with a dark blue almost black tie and black dress slacks. A thin black collar was visible on the man's tan neck. "Is there something the British Empire needs?" A smile was on the man's face, yet his green eyes looked as if he were already dead.

"The D-Dutch Empire's invitation to the W-World Ball." Mexico stated monotonely, her voice wavered twice as North handed the envelop to the brown haired man and the man nodded back.

"Muchas gracias. Is all that the British Empire needs with the Dutch Empire?"

Mexiko opened her mouth, yet North's hand landing on her shoulder stopped her from saying her feelings. "No, that is all. Thank you for your time, Spaine of the Dutch Empire." Mexiko stated monotonely, as her eyes met the ground.

Spaine simply smiled back to the top of her head, with the same dead expression. "I see. Have a good day, Mexiko..." The man paused and looked at North. "Northern Aireland." The man bowed slightly to them both then turned around as the door slowly closed behind him.

Mexiko was used to this sight already as she raised her head. She'd seen it time and time again for many years. The sight of Spaine's back as he walked away. The same as any of the other times. His back towards them, even if they were part of another empire, as if he was welcoming a bullet. As if he were welcoming death with open arms. Slowly walking towards the grand staircase, as the door closed slowly behind him. And then with an echo the door would shut, and she would be staring at the small indentation she made long ago.

It was the first time she had went to the Dutch Empire's castle, to visit Spaine and see how he was doing. He had opened the door with the same dead smile.

...

"Yes?" The door had just opened and Mexiko was staring down the barrel of a black gun. "Why are you here? Is there something you need?" Spaine stood there with the gun in his right hand, staring down at her with emotionless green eyes and a smile set on his face.

Back then, Mexiko had been surprised the other was being so cruel. "Is that all you have to say for not seeing me in nearly 300 years, Spaine?! What happened to your cheerful eyes and that stupid need to hug me every time you saw me? Where did that Spaine go and why did you replace him?!" Mexiko had yelled back, and still the man's emotionless expression did not waver, if anything his eyes narrowed slightly. "I'm here to give the Dutch Empire his invitation for the World Ball from the British Empire." Mexiko held out the envelope toward Spaine, as proof.

Spaine had simply lowered the gun and placed it in it's holster. "I see. I apologize to the British Empire." He took the outstretched letter. "Muchas Gracias. Is that all the British Empire needs from the Dutch Empire?" He asked and looked down at her.

Her eyes widened and she grabbed the collar of his gray shirt. "Is that all? Really? Your not even the slightest happy to see me? Your daughter? Am I getting through your thick skull yet?" She screamed at his face and he simply stared back at her.

"As a colony of the Dutch Empire, I must get back to work if that is all the British Empire needs. If you may put me down now." Mexiko had let him go and turned her eyes to the ground. "Have a good day, Mexiko." Her eyes watered as Spaine bowed slightly and turned around. She had looked up and watched him with teary eyes as the man walked away. The cruel echo of the door closing snapped her our of her reverie.

Mexiko had screamed at the top of her lungs and took one of her daggers and had taken a stab at the door, leaning against it crying loudly to herself. Her cries had echoed around the courtyard, and she pledged to herself to visit Spain every chance she got to figure out a way to snap him out of his dead state. She swore to herself that she wouldn't give up on him.