Hellhole to Hetalia Heaven [ADOPTED BY @pastalover11]

Chapter 15~

Zera and Erica bantered back and forth, teasing each other about things that only they knew of. The guys looked on in amazement as word after simple word, which meant nothing special to most people, sent the girls laughing so hard that tears came to their eyes. Even Kaali, who seemed to understand through her bond with Zera, ruffled her feathers in amusement.

The noise level gradually grew as more of the guys turned to form their own conversations. It all abruptly silenced when a loud rumble echoed through the room. Zera and Erica both stared intently at Zera's stomach. They both started cracking up again, and Zera attempted to speak through her laughter, "I guess I'm pretty hungry!"

Several countries smiled a little at Zera's obvious mirth; her laughter and joy seemed to be contagious. Even Kurnaz seemed to chuckling in his own way.

"I'll make-a pasta!" Feliciano cheered, skipping into the kitchen and dragging his brother with him. Ludwig followed, claiming he needed to make sure they didn't make too much of a mess.

Zera looked around to see all of the guys, except one, with varying expressions of mirth and enjoyment. They all laughed and talked with the ones they got along with. However, Zera noticed one of the Nordics was scowling, his eyes closed, whispering "Nei, nei," repeatedly. Zera moved closer to him, realizing it was Norway. Kurnaz went up to her room after being accidently dumped from Zera's lap.

"Lukas?" Zeralina waved her hand in his face, then tapped one of his paws. When she got no response, she pushed him lightly in the shoulder, saying his name louder this time. "Lukas?"

Still no answer.

She turned to Emil, who stood nearby to her left, and had turned his attention toward them in curiousity. "He's in some kind of daze. Do you know how to get him out of it?" Emil just shrugged, so Zera turned back to Lukas. "I think he might be talking to his Snap."

Emil gasped lightly, and the other countries who heard her whispered words fell silent. Vlad spoke from behind her. "How do you know about the Snaps?

"That's not important right now. He's probably gone too long without talking to Mary, and it led to his Snap acting up. If that's the case, the only thing that will get him out of this is Mary or something that will subconsciously remind him of her."

The guys stayed silent while she thought for a moment, and Erica walked over and sat on Zera's right side. "I've got an idea. I don't know how well it will work, but it might do the trick. Erica, sing the male parts for me."

Erica nodded, though she wasn't sure what song Zera had in mind.

Then Zeralina began to sing. "I don't like walking around this old and empty house."

Erica recognized the song, and jumped into the lyrics. "We'll hold my hand, I'll walk with you my dear."

"The stairs creak as you sleep, it's keeping me awake."

"It's the house telling you to close your eyes."

Emil stared in shock, for he had also recognized the song immediately. It had come from an Icelandic band, after all.

"Some days I can't even trust myself."

"It's killing me to see you this way."

Then both girls sang, their soprano and alto voices blending. "Though the truth may vary, this ship will carry our bodies safe to shore."

Lukas' ear twitched, but he did not otherwise stir. Zera told the others, "they sang that together at one point, but they didn't even get that far." She stared at Lukas, then began listing mindless things in the hope of catching his attention. "Remember having coffee with her in the mornings. Remember how glad she was to see the Northern Lights." Lukas' tail flicked. "Remember how beautiful she was when you took her to the Gent Suite. Remember Mary, remember her when she risked her life to save you."