I SINCERELY APOLOGIZE MY HUGE 3-MONTH DELAY ON THIS CHAPTER. SHIT HAPPENED BUT IT'S ALL GOOD NOW, 'KAY?

MIGHT BE OOC IN THIS CHAPTER, BUT WHATEVER

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June 18, 2017
Allies' House

The German wanders near the tree. He scans through the environment, hoping to spot his friend. He has looked through every area, yet the Italian is nowhere in sight.

"Where could he be?" he asks himself worriedly. "I saw him right there going to bed, like I told him to. He should have been here by now..."

He continues to look around. He doesn't want his friend to get lost, and that thought strikes him in his mind.

"Did he get lost? No, no," Germany assures himself. "He'll be here... He'll be here..." The blond takes a couple of deep breaths.

"Ve~ Germany! Luddy, where did you go?~"

The blond swishes around to see Italy walking towards him.

The brunette says, "Oh, there you are! I was looking every-"

In all of a sudden, Germany is nearly inches away from the Italian's face.

"You made it!" The blond is now calm. "I was so afraid you wouldn't come!"

Italy is taken back from his friend's happy attitude. "Is everything okay, Ludwig?"

"What? Of course, of course. Everything is okay now that you're here. Everything is okay," the German assures the Italian.

"I'm happy to hear that!~" Italy giggles.

Germany continues. "You're hear now, and that's all that matters. We're best friends, right?"

"Si! Best friends forever!" Italy exclaims in excitement.

Germany takes his hand. "Forever and ever and ever.~"

The Italian's verbal tic escapes from his mouth, but the blond ignores it.

"Come on," Germany urges, "let's go visit America. We can all go cloud gazing!"

Italy winces at the name. "Germany, don't you hate Alfred?"

Germany turns confused. "Hm? Why should I? You like him, don't you?"

"But you always talk about how much you hate him," Italy defends.

"Well, not here.~ Here, we're all friends. We all love each other, and we all love you," Germany adds, hoping it would cheer the Italian up.

Much to Italy's surprise, he questions, "Really? Is it really that great here?"

"I pinky swear on it," Germany promises. "This is your perfect world, and I'm here to guide you through it."

The brunette shouts for joy. "Ah! This place really is wonderful!"

"You are, too," Germany blurts out, flushing a tint of pink.

The Italian laughs, hugging the German. "It's not everyday you're complimenting me! I'm so happy!"

The blond laughs along with him. "Your face is almost tomato-red. Now come on, friend! Let's go on our adventure!"

"Lead the way, captain!" Italy tightens his grip with Germany's hand.

They skip down the field together, laughing as they swings their arms in synchronization.

-

Prussia stands there, trying to fill his brain with all of the information that he had been thrown upon him. "So...a creature from a mirror...is in their brains and eating them through their dreams?"

The remaining nations and mortals are in America's nursing room. Austria, Canada, and Italy are unconsciously laying on beds. America, Hope, and Shelby hover next to Canada. Hope is laying her head on Shelby's shoulder as her hand traces on her ex-boyfriend's palm, tears dried up. France stands on the other side of Canada. Prussia stands next to the Austrian, his eyes mortified but his face calm.

Germany, Japan, Seborga, and Thaovy look over at Italy. Thaovy and Seborga are clutching each other's hands tightly, their faces worried. Australia, New Zealand, Annalise, Jenna, Taylor, Sammi, Russia, Mexico, and China are offside of the others. They create conversations about the situation that has been brought upon them.

"Well, no. The longer this creature keeps them in their dreams, the more they disconnect from their bodies," his brother explains to him further. "That's what ends up killing them."

Prussia widens his eyes. "O-okay?"

"Don't worry, mon ami. It sounds strange to us as well," France says to his friend.

"Anyway, why do I have to stay here?" the albino asks, frustrated.

"Because you have to watch us over our bodies and tend to anyone of us if we get injured," Germany explains as he folds his arms.

"But if Roddy and Feli are in trouble, shouldn't I come with?" He grins. "After all, we all know you wouldn't stand a chance without the awesome me by your side!" The albino leans up close to his brother's face.

"We can manage," Germany urges as he pushes the Prussian's face away.

"Well, if you did join, you could fight along side me, da?~ We could be battle partners!" Russia butts in with a cheery voice.

The white-haired nation flinches. "Uh, I think I'll stay out here after all."

China snorts. "Good choice."

"Suit yourself," Russia says before chuckling his signature laugh.

As soon as he finishes laughing, England enters the room with a bottle in his hand. Everyone else in the room gradually stop talking as they stare at the Briton. He carefully places the bottle on the table.

He looks back at the nations and mortals. "All right, an ascending dreamscape potion. Before we can drink this, we need to find out which of these bodies is the host."

"Host?" Japan can't help to stammer out.

"The creature usually chooses one person to base their world from, one who is pure of heart and is most likely to fall victim to its trap," England adds. "Now this particular potion will not only allow us to enter the dreamworld but will also help us find the host. I'll simply place a small amount on each victim's skin that will react once it comes in contact with the host's."

America's face slightly turns pale. "It won't hurt them, will it?"

"No, it's painless. It will just make the infection reveal itself, that is all," Britain assures.

"How? Like breathing fire outta their mouths?" the American jokes, earning a few giggles from Thaovy.

"What!?" England exclaims. "Er... I suppose? Anyway, let us begin."

He first approaches Austria and drops a small amount of potion on him. Nothing happens. "Hm. Nothing happened. It's not him." He repeats the same process with Canada, who held the same results as Austria. He finally reaches Italy. As soon as he drops the potion onto the Italian's skin, a bright light sparkles from him. "Ah-ha, so it's Feliciano who has truly fallen prey."

"Wh-what!?" Germany and Thaovy yell, synchronized.

China groans. "Ai-yah. Of course it'd be the Italian behind all of this."

England looks down. "I'm sorry, Ludwig and Thaovy, but if we do not get the creature of out him, if we fail our mission, Feliciano will die."

"But he is a nation! He can't just die!" he defends.

The Vietnamese girl attempts to grab his arms and pull them down. "Calm the hell down, Ludwig!"

"You completely underestimate the Fauchereve's power. If Italy's mind completely disconnects, it's all over," England finalizes. "He can never regenerate from such a devastating wound. He will be forever asleep much like Sleeping Beauty. However, this tale will not have a happy ending."

A brief pause is made before France says, "For such a circumstance, that was very poetic of you."

Germany ignores France. "So, there is a chance that Italy will never wake up?"

England nods. "Correct, so I suggest we get down to business." He walks back to the table where the bottle from earlier was placed. "Using a sample of his tainted DNA from the glistening aftermath of the potion, we'll be able to gain access to Italy's mind. And so the potion is ready now." Pause. "Now when we drink these and go into the dreamworld, we are able to manifest a weapon of choice to defend ourselves. But choose it wisely, we can't do it twice. Also keep in mind that in this realm we do not have free reign of control like we would in our own dreams. For example, we cannot fly around or anything like that."

"Aw, man!" America says somewhat dejectedly.

England continues, "As I stated before, if you die in this realm you will 'die' in reality, so be on your guard." He faces the white-haired German. "We're counting on you, Prussia, to keep us alive if we are injured. If you tend out wounds here, we would be tended to in there as well."

"So if I do anything to your bodies here, you can feel it in there?" Prussia asks.

"Can I switch places with Gilbert?~" France winks at England, who only scowls back.

"NO," Britain answers sternly but only leads to the Frenchman laughing.

He groans before saying the last part of his explanation. "Lastly, keep in mind a good portion of the world in there is fake. Do not allow yourselves to become ensnared by the forged happenings of this world or anyone you may see. This is all a dream, remember. However, we must also be careful when we see Roderich, Feliciano, or Matthew for they are real and are able to die, including any other prisoners the creature might have kidnapped as well.

"Just one question," Shelby pops in. "How will we know if they are real or fake?"

England stammers, "I-I am not sure. Too few people have experienced this to have reliable information. We also do not know how the victims of the creature will act in this wonderland, so we must keep them safe and close at all costs... until we can exorcise the creature from Feliciano's mind."

"Wait, hold up," Shelby interrupts. "If we can't save Feliciano, does that mean we'd lose everyone as well?"

"No..." Britain hesitantly answers.

"No, but..?" Germany urges the Brit to continue.

"They'd indeed be free from the creature's grasp. However, they would all be particularly susceptible to becoming the next main host. Some may not even wake up in time before the Fauchereve took over them."

America's face remains serious. "I see."

"Well, before we get started, which of you mortals and the rest of the nations wants to stay or come with us?" England asks.

Hope, Shelby, Sammi, Annalise Dreamz, Mexico, Seborga, and Australia all volunteer at the same time. Britain nods in confirmation.

"I think Jenna and I should stay behind," Taylor states. "As much as our friends are in danger, Gilbert can't be the only one to help with the wounds."

Australia looks to the kiwi. "Are ya coming, Cooper? Sheila and I are."

The New Zealander shakes his head, and the Australian whimpers a little but understands.

"I'd like to come, too!" Thaovy finally answers in determination.

Seborga, shocked, gives her a soft glare. "No, Vy. I think you should stay back."

"Sebastian, stop. I'll be fine!" the Vietnamese girl argues.

"Thaovy, I just don't want to get hurt! You're too young—"

"STOP IT!" she yells, her temper at its limit. "STOP TELLING ME I'M JUST A CHILD! I AM FUCKING FOURTEEN YEARS OLD RIGHT NOW! DON'T TELL ME THAT I'M TOO YOUNG FOR THIS BULLSHIT! I WISH I COULD BE TREATED LIKE AN ADULT—" Nothing comes out of her mouth of after that. Her mind begins to get dizzy. "Ugh..." She faints.

Seborga catches her before she could hit the ground. "Thaovy!" He placed her on a bed.

"Oh no. The creature must have gotten her, too," England claims. "We now have to save her as well!"

Hope ignores everything in the background. Her eyes are on Matthew. Her hand is now squeezing the other.

"Why did this happen..?" Hope whispers. "I didn't want you to be like this. I just wish we were back together again in happiness."

Hope is suddenly lost in thought, and her body is feeling sleepy. In a second, her body hits the ground.

"Hope!" Annalise and Taylor yell as they pick the Canadian up to a bed next to Thaovy.

"He's gotten Hope as well!" America shouts. "He's gotten both of them. I hope no one else is affected."

Shelby suddenly yelps before plunging into darkness. Her body falls down as well.

"Shelby!" Dreamz picks her up and carries her to another bed. "You spoke too soon, Alfred!"

America stammers but slightly hangs his head down. He doesn't want his friends to suffer through this, especially Shelby. She means so much to him.

"Give us the drink now, Arthur," the American demands, his eyes glaring. "Our friends are at stake, so let us save them as quick as possible."

The Briton slightly panics as he hurries to pass all but Jenna, Taylor, and New Zealand the potion.

"Everyone drink on the count of three."

"One..."

"Two..."

"THREE."

The nations and mortals with the potion drink it all. They start to feel drowsy and fall flat onto the ground unconscious.