CHAPTER IX: Phone Calls (Part 3)---

-*-*-*-Iron Cell Room-*-*-*-

//Third Person PoV//

Japan tries to cut the bars using his sword, sound of the clashes filled the room.

"It's no use!! My sword can't cut the bars." the slim, Japanese man sighed.

Russia lowered his head, "We can't just use brute strength... Too bad. I don't know what he was going to do, but we have to go after him quickly."

"But then we can't get out unless someone opens it for us from the outside." Canada told them softly.

" 'Someone'...that would be _____... Where did she disappear to?!" England asked.

Prussia looked around. "...She was with us on the way here..."

"Aiyah! We have to look for the girl, too!" China exclaimed.

"It seems that Italy has overlooked ______. What if....what if the girl gets chased by the monster?! Mon dieu!..." France said in a worried tone.

"No... I trust that she knows when and where the monster would show up at a time like this..." Japan told them.

Germany raised an eyebrow. "Huh? How are you able to say that, Japan?"

Prussia crossed his arms and nodded. "Hnn... The frau knows how this...'game' plays out..."

They all looked at Japan and Prussia with confusion written all over their faces.

"What?! What are you guys talking about?" England demanded to know.

Japan looked away. "I'm sorry...but we wanted _____-chan to tell you this herself... "

"Ha~ I knew it... The little sunflower does know something." Russia said cheerfully.

"Ja...it was a bit difficult to believe at first...but she's...not from...'this world'..." Prussia told them.

America went up to them excitedly, "OOH! She's an alien??!"

England rolled his eyes and hit America on the head.

"Oww..." America let out, clutching the area England hit.

"No, you git! I don't think they mean it like that! I think they're referring to the girl...not being from--this dimension?" England concluded.

Japan nodded, "Hai. She comes from a place where this situation we're in is not real...but only fiction."

"I'm sorry, but I'm really getting lost here, aru." China told him.

"The frau hasn't told us the full story yet... she was supposed to do that today... She was supposed to explain to us everything she knew..." Prussia said, looking across the bars.

"Hmm? Could it be that she knew that we'd be locked in here? How come she's not showing up to get us out of here?" Russia inquired.

America sighed. "...What are we going to do? If no one shows up--"

Suddenly, they hear the door open.

"_____! _____! Oh thank god! Let the hero out of this cage now please!! HAHAHA!" the loud American exclaimed. Though, the person who entered was not the girl they expected, but a man with dark brown hair and green eyes.

"Whoa!! Wh-what is this?!What are you all doing?!" Spain asked, confused as to why the countries were locked up in a cell.

"It's not ______, aru." China said.

"Huh? What?! A zoo? A world zoo?!Do not touch or feed the nations?!" Spain concluded excitedly.

France shook his head in disbelief. "I can't believe it... Is he for real?"

Spain snapped out of his amazement, "Oh, I just remembered! By the way, don't you guys have a ladder or anything like that? Roma--"

"Spain!!! Open this cell!!!!" Germany cut him off loudly.

"Ack...! Wh-what? What do you mean? I mean, didn't Ita come this way?" Spain asked them.

Japan motioned at the cell door. "We'll explain the situation later!! Just open this cell first!! Please!!"

===-----=======------========

On their way to the tunnel were the rope ladder was, Prussia turned to Spain.

"By the way, have you seen a frau walking around on your way here?"

"Huh?"

"You see...there's also this young girl who unfortunately ended up trapped here, as well..."

"R-Really? A chica..."

"Yeah...she has (hair colour) hair and (eye colour) eyes..."

Spain snapped his fingers. "OH! Uhm, isn't she with Ita?"

"What?"

"They had their backs turned at me, but I saw her being carried by Ita. I didn't even get to call out to them because I suddenly heard some clashing in the room near me. So I entered it and found you guys."

"M-Maybe Italy wanted to lock her up somewhere, too?"

"That must be the case. For now, let's go to the tunnel with the rope ladder."

"Agreed."

---====-----====---

-*-*-*-First Floor, Outside door to basement-*-*-*-

"First I'll look for another metal piece. I remember where it's hidden... and if I look for them one by one, maybe I'll remember more." Italy told himself.

Italy heads up to the lower right room on the second floor. Little did he know...that he was being watched.

-*-*-*-Second Floor, Fireplace Room-*-*-*-

Luciano, Flavio, Matt, and Allen were in the fireplace room, waiting for Kuro and the others to give the signal that 1P Italy was going inside the room across them.

"So, what did the Kuro guy say?" Allen turned to Luciano.

The auburn haired Italian placed his phone back in his pocket. "He's on his way upstairs. How about your pet?"

"Hey. He's my buddy, get your shit straight. He's already positioned above the room across us, so that he could just pounce on the little bitch later."

Flavio blankly stared the fireplace. "Hey...Luci..."

"What the fuck? Don't call me that." Luciano snapped.

The older brother brushed it off and continued, "What do you think of the girl...you know..what she said earlier..? What if... what if she's right? What if we could just--"

Luciano shot a glare at Flavio. "--Don't give me that shit, Flavio. She's probably just...brainwashing us or something. Heck, maybe she just made that up so she could talk us out of our plans! If we gave her the chance to choose between us and those 'First Player' bastards, of course she'll choose them and not us! She doesn't care about us. No one does."

The blonde haired Italian looked away, not wanting his brother to see that glint of sadness in his eyes.

"She did seem to be telling the truth when she said she knew us. Hell, she even knew that this guy's a vegan and that I hunt poachers." Matt said, pointing at his brother and them to himself.

"Yeah. Funny, she seems okay to hang out with. I mean, she knows innuendos, too. Haha." Allen chuckled.

"Tch. Stop screwing around. We just need her to tell us how to give the rest of those 'First Players' their 'Game Over'. Then, we'll send her back to her world." Luciano told them.

"Have you ever thought that we could actually live normally?" Flavio suddenly asked.

Luciano raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

"I mean, have you ever considered it? If we were allowed to live like 'normal people', I'd probably own a boutique or have my own fashion line or something!~ Even you, dear brother, could do something else, too. Like, I don't know, why don't you be a mafia boss or something? Back then, you always were interested in them." Flavio smiled wistfully.

Luciano was starting to wonder what's gotten into his brother's mind. Was he serious? It's impossible, right? It's--

"Shh. The target's already in the other room." Matt whispered as he peeked through the door, snapping Luciano out of his thoughts.

"Understood. Get ready."

-*-*-*-Second Floor, Room across the Fireplace Room-*-*-*-

"Was it here?" Italy wondered as he searched the room.

"I've finally got everyone together. I'll definitely get them to escape.

... Or else I'll be confined to a world where I'm all alone...

Then again, even though I tried to be at least a little reliable, it looks like they couldn't trust me...

....If I went back... they wouldn't get mad at me... would they?

They'd say sorry, and they'd yell a lot and scold me, and then...

They'd... hug me, and I'd hug them... and I'd also say I'm sorry...

All this time... Really, all this time... I

...... with them... from here

..."

Suddenly, a monster appeared before him. This Steve was about thrice as large as the usual ones. It started approaching Italy.

"Ts??!!

Oh

...

Ger--ma--"

----====----=======--------=======------

//Reader's PoV!//

"Please...Ollie." I pleaded.

"________, poppet..." he sighed.

I pulled away from him and started walking over to the long table. I just sat on one of the chairs in silence.

"Ollie...I have a question."

He suddenly perked up and approached me, "What is it?"

I faced him, "If...If you guys do happen to accomplish your goal here...what will you do after?"

Oliver froze. "After...? You mean, after I turn them into cupcakes?~" he smiled insanely as the pink swirls in his eyes started to become dominant.

I shook my head, a bit scared of what he just said. "No... I mean...how do you guys want to live your life after this? Are you guys planning on running a whole nation?"

His smile disappeared and his eyebrows furrowed. "Running...a whole nation? That's what Luciano said...but as for myself... I... I'm not so sure about that, poppet..."

"I thought you guys wanted to take over their lives?"

"That...ah well... We do... We want to take away their purpose like how they did to us." Oliver said, twiddling his thumbs.

"Well, doesn't that include taking their place as country personifications? I mean, you guys are their counterparts, after all. You're immortal, too." I told him.

Oliver looked down. "That...That would mean I'd become very busy now, wouldn't it, poppet?"

"Very. Is...that what you guys want? To carry their burden as a nation?" I asked.

"No. No...not that... I-I guess we haven't thought that part out yet...but then...."

"Hmm?"

Oliver looked at me and pouted, "....If I become really busy, how will I have time for making cupcakes? Or tending my garden? Or...or..."

I giggled. So that's what he was thinking?

"Poppet, you're laughing at me." he frowned.

I shook my head and smiled. "I'm not...It's just that, it's cute of you to worry about your cupcakes, and your garden."

He giggled, as well. "Well, poppet, those are important!"

"Why don't you just open a pastry shop or something?" I asked him.

"Huh?"

I looked at him straight in the eyes. "You know...we could maybe pursuade the 1Ps to at least let you guys live 'normally'. Although you probably have to promise them not to put an innocent person into the cupcakes. The one that you gave me...didn't have any, did it?"

Oliver shook his head. "I would never do that to you, poppet!"

"Oh. Then let me tell you, it was the best cupcake I have ever eaten."

He suddenly brightened at this. "Really? That's wonderful. Thank you!!~"

"So, why don't you just open up your own pastry shop? You know, sell cupcakes and stuff?"

The strawberry blonde haired man sat beside me. "Huh. I haven't thought of that before, poppet."

"You guys...could actually have a good life, even without getting rid of the 1Ps. You don't need to kill them. Maybe...you could talk to them? We have words, right? It could work..." I suggested.

Oliver's expression darkened as he looked away. "You're...just telling me that because you care about the 'First Players'..."

"Ollie, I may care for them...but I actually care about you guys, too. I've liked you guys even before I met you all in real life. Given a different situation where...you guys wouldn't hurt me or kidnap me and take my parents hostage... I probably would have been delighted to see you all."

He turned to face me with hopeful eyes. "R-Really, poppet?"

"Yes, really." I replied, giving him a sincere smile.

"But...we're in this...situation..." he said sadly.

"...Y-Yeah..."

"______...poppet...if...if this 'game' had a good ending for everyone...or rather...if this game never happened at all, would you accept me as your friend?" he asked me shyly.

My eyes widened at his question. "Actually...we could be friends right now." I told him.

"W-We can? But..but we've been such meanies to you..." he stated.

"....I believe in giving second chances. Beyond the insanity...you're always willing to make the people you care for smile. And you don't swear, which is rare--but good. You guys may think that just because you were banished no one would like you, but I beg to differ. If you promise not to hurt innocent people, it'd make me happy. Would you...like to be friends, Ollie?"

Olivers eyes started welling up as his lips trembled. "Poppet! I'd love to!!", he exclaimed, pulling me into a tight hug.

I patted his back to soothe him. "Ollie...why are you crying..?"

"My apologies, poppet... I just...I'm really happy." he said, sniffling in between his words.

"Well, I'm happy you're happy." I told him. He pulled away from our hug and spoke, "I'd celebrate this moment with cupcakes--but I'm all out of them."

"Cupcakes...AH! T-The others! The others are..!!" I suddenly panicked upon remembering the dangers following Italy and the other 1Ps.

Oliver lowered his head. "I'm sorry, poppet. They're already downstairs... Allen probably gave Steve the cupcake already, too... Once the alien kills the Italian 'First Player'...they'll go after the others who are conveniently locked inside the cell."

"No....I--I have to go there! I have to--help..." I said frantically.

I waved my hand in front of me and saw a screen appear.

///

The screen showed Italy, being ambushed by a monster thrice as large as the usual ones. The Italian was slowly stepping backwards.

"Ts??!!

Oh

...

Ger--ma--"

///

"ITALY!!" I shouted, seriously worried about the man about to get attacked by the alien-like monster.

Oliver placed a hand on my shoulder. "Poppet..."

"Ollie...wh-what...what do I do?? I...I can't just...I-I can't just stay here and do nothing!" I cried.

I rushed towards the door and tried turning the knob, tears were flowing down my cheeks. "I-I need...I need to get o-out...and s--..." I suddenly stopped.

"...._____? Poppet..?" Oliver asked, confused as to why I froze all of a sudden.

"....My....parents..." I muttered.

"Oh..."

"No. No. No! Italy's in danger! The others are in danger! But...but! If I try to help...m-my parents..will...they'll be...." I fell to my knees and sobbed.

I don't know what to do. I'm torn between doing two things that I know I should do. Should I? Should I not? What else can I do? Is there another way? How will I get out? How? What? AH!!!

Anymore...anymore...and I might just go...insane...

"Poppet...go." Oliver said.

"H-Huh?"

"I'll allow you to leave. You may go." he said.

"But m-my parents a--"

"If...If you promise me to not tell the 'First Players' about us...I'll protect them." he shrugged.

I wiped the tears from my eyes. "Ollie..."

"You won't be able to go out through that door, follow me..." he said, motioning me towards the other side of the room.

He led me to the mirror. It was the same mirror that Flavio was admiring himself in front of a while back.

Oliver waved his hands and a flash of light brightened the room for a short moment. After that, our reflection disappeared, to be replaced by...a view of...

"Oliver...that's...the bathroom on the first floor, right..?" I asked.

He nodded. "Through this mirror, you'll be transported there. The 'First Player' Italy is in the room across the fireplace room of the second floor. Don't go there directly. Find the other 'First Players' before doing that because Allen and the others are on the second floor, too. Avoid them at all costs. Just do your best to quietly go to where the other 'First Players' are. "

"I...T-Thanks...but why...are you doing this...?"

"...Well...what are...friends for, poppet?" he said, a hint of sadness in his voice.

I hugged him. "...Ollie," I gave him a thankful smile and continued, "what about you? Won't they...get mad?"

He winced a bit. "Well...I suppose I can handle it. Besides," he pulled away from the hug and give a wink, "they told me not to let you out through the door. They didn't say anything about a mirror."

I gave a soft chuckle, as did he.

I turned to the mirror and touched it...my hands started to pass through it.

Then, I remembered my bag.
I scanned the room and spotted it in the corner. It seemed a bit lighter than it was, maybe they took away some of the refreshments. I looked at the mirror again and turned to Oliver. "Thanks...Ollie."

"Don't mention it, poppet. ....Take care."

"....You, too."

At that, I walked through the mirror.