Iron Will |Reader x Countryhumans|

Stranded on the Surface

Written August 30, 2024

"COMRADES!" The shrill cries of the oblasts rang in unison. Kazakhstan descended, staring down at the gaping hole that was now closing up.

"It-It's all- It's all my fault." The boy stammered softly. Moskva placed a reassuring hand on Kazakhstan's shoulder.

"Don't say that, Zaky." She said sweetly, giving him a pat. Kazakhstan stared at his feet in shame, wings dragging on the ground as he approached the vanished sinkhole.

"Now what?" Chechnya asked, his arms crossed firmly across his chest. "We're stuck in some sort of freaky-deaky wonderland with no way out and our babysitter and leader are probably dead!"

Moskva shot Chechnya a sharp look, her calm demeanor giving way to frustration. "They're not dead, Chechnya," she snapped, though her voice trembled slightly. "We have to believe they're still alive and find a way to help them."

Kazakhstan knelt by the closed sinkhole, tears welling up in his eyes. "I shouldn't have flown up... I should've stayed with Papa," he whispered, guilt weighing heavily on his small frame.

Omsk, her earlier confidence completely shattered, stared at the spot where Y/N and USSR had vanished. "We need a plan," she murmured, echoing her previous words, though now they sounded more desperate.

Leningrad, who had been quiet until now, stepped forward, his voice steady despite the panic in his eyes. "We can't fall apart now. We have to stick together and figure out what these imps want. They're playing with us, and we need to outsmart them."

Yakutsk nodded in agreement, his usual calm demeanor masking the anxiety churning inside him. "We need to find another way down. There has to be a way to reach them. And we need to keep the imps from causing more trouble."

Ukraine, trembling but trying to be brave, looked up at his siblings. "We can't give up on Papa and N/N. They'd never give up on us."

Moskva squeezed Kazakhstan's shoulder again, her voice firm. "We'll find them, Zaky. We just have to keep moving and stay strong. Papa always says we're stronger together."

As the group began to regroup, determined to find a way to rescue their lost comrades, the imps continued to watch from the shadows, their laughter growing softer but still present, like a persistent echo in the eerie forest.

The group continued their way through the forest, eyes wary. They had no idea how to get to USSR and Y/N, and they weren't about to try. "If this is a game, then there has to be a way to win." Russia said firmly.

The group trudged forward, their steps heavy with the weight of uncertainty. The dense foliage seemed to close in on them, the vibrant colors of the forest now feeling more ominous than beautiful. The imps' giggles and whispers echoed around them, reminding them they were never truly alone.

Moskva, walking near the front, clenched her fists. "Russia's right. If the imps are playing games with us, there has to be a way to win." She glanced around, trying to spot any signs or patterns in the trees, anything that could give them a clue.

Chechnya grunted in agreement, though his usual bravado was tempered by the situation. "Fine, but what are the rules? How do we even start to figure this out?"

Yakutsk, ever the strategist, slowed his pace, deep in thought. "Imps are tricksters, but they're not invincible. If we can figure out their game, we might be able to turn it against them. But we need more information. We need to observe them, see how they react to what we do."

Ukraine, clinging to Kazakhstan's hand for comfort, looked up at him with wide eyes. "What if they try to hurt us again? Like what happened to Papa and N/N?"

Kazakhstan, still battling his guilt, gave his brother a reassuring squeeze. "We'll protect each other. That's what Papa would want. And we'll be smart about it."

Omsk, who had regained some of her composure, nodded. "We have to be careful. They've already shown us that they can change the ground beneath our feet. We need to stay alert for any traps or tricks."

Leningrad, still keeping an eye on the imps flitting through the trees, spoke up. "If we're going to win, we need to understand what they want. Imps don't just cause chaos for the sake of it. There's always a reason. Maybe they want something from us."

Russia, her resolve hardening, added, "Or maybe they're testing us. Seeing how far they can push us before we break. We can't let them break us."

With renewed determination, the group pressed on, their senses heightened and their minds focused. The path ahead was uncertain, but they knew one thing for sure: they would not let the imps win. They would find a way to reunite with USSR and Y/N, no matter what it took.

I'm feeling silly today. I like to make fun of the way Lukashenko speaks. He sounds so goofy. With that being said, here's a list of people I ship throughout everything:

North Korea x Russia (ChoRus)

Okinawa x Australia (Aussinawa)

One-sided Italy x Japan (ItaPan)

Italy x Spain (Spitaly)

Donald Trump x Joe Biden (Triden)

Vladimir Putin x Aleksandr Lukashenko (Lukin)