It's been a week since the party fiasco and things had returned to as normal as we could manage with some help from the higher authorities. The party would have been the talk of the month if headmaster UN hadn't proclaimed the event as classified to those who attended(which was basically everyone).
I was thankful for that because I really didn't need anymore attention. People behaved normal enough but I could tell they were itching to ask me about it.
As for me? I was let off with nothing more than a slap on the wrist and fine to pay. And they tagged a stupid security official to babysit me for a week. Annoying, yes. But I honestly expected more.
Russia, on the other hand, was taken somewhere and no one had heard from him yet.
I mean, I get that hiding an Awakening is against our fundamental rules (especially one as powerful as Russia's) but still... I decided not to linger on it.
Awakening sessions reopened a week later. Mr. NATO continued to monitor the countries who had awakened and, of course, I wasn't allowed to participate.
"Sorry 'merica. Orders are orders." NATO gave me a pitying smile.
EU was the amplifier this time. I was forced to wear an Awakening Restrictor designed specifically for me to make sure I couldn't trigger and blast the whole place into smithereens.
The duels continued as I sat and watched on the sidelines. Boredom kicked in very quickly and I started to doze off.
That's when I heard screams of panic. I jumped to my feet in surprise and glanced over at the noise.
It was a case of Awakening gone very wrong.
I glanced over at NATO who was at the far end of the Coloso with the students who had already awakened.
So, instead of getting the one and only person who had a chance of helping, I turned and raced into the danger, completely forgetting about the powerless predicament I was stuck in. Y'know, like the smart and awesome guy I am.
The country was covered in wounds and blood and was laughing in insanity. Black metal daggers formed from the rocks where the country's blood spattered and began to fly at the other students who shrieked and fled for their lives.
EU was unconscious with daggers stuck all over his back. The crazed country giggled, eyes darting around for their next victim. They settled on me and I took an unconscious step back.
"YOU!" A dagger came hurling at me. Usually, I would have held out my hand and the blade would melt it into a puddle of goo. But I couldn't. BECAUSE I HAD THE RESTRICTOR ON.
I was barely able to dodge it. The country let out an annoyed whine and three more daggers flew at me. I dodged again but this time, the knives froze in midair, did a 180, and came right back to bite me in the butt. (not literally)
I moved just in time to save my life but one dug deep into my calf. I hissed in pain as blood began to gush from the wound.
The attacker yelped in delight and skipped towards me. I struggled, trying to pry the restrictor off but no luck. She stopped a few meters away from me, with a gloating expression plastered over her face.
"Bye bye America." A final dagger was pointed at my heart, one I knew I couldn't dodge.
I smiled sadly. It's been a while since someone made an attempt on my life. Can't say I miss it. The blade launched into the air, and flew to pierce it's target.
I squeezed my eyes shut, preparing for pain.
But it never came.
A chilling breeze covered my skin instead. I looked up to see the tip of the dagger inches away from my chest. The only thing separating it from me, was a sheet of ice that held it in place.
"What the hell," said an all too familiar voice.
Two agents dressed in white tackled the psycho and knocked her unconscious. Another was accompanied by Mr. UN and a team of medics, who rushed to help those who were injured. One also came to treat my wound.
"You're back? I honestly didn't think they were gonna let you go," I laughed, then winced as the medic disinfected the cut.
"Well, it's still in discussion... though I don't know exactly what is being discussed." Russia replied.
"One thing's for sure, ordinary restrictors don't work on you either!" another voice piped in, "I guess it's back to the drawing board for me!"
It was a young woman with dark blue skin and pixie cut hair. Shining freckles dotted her face like stars with a red streak running across her face. She wore a simple collared shirt, blue jeans and a white lab coat with her emblem over her heart. Her left eye was replaced with a bionic one and her right arm was a highly sophisticated prosthetic. It was my good friend NASA.
She smiled when she saw me, "Well Little Boss, you're going to get a custom collar buddy!" she teased.
"Quit it with the nicknames NASA, I'm not small anymore and YOU KNOW IT," I flustered as my face turned red from embarrassment. Russia stood idly by with a confused look on his face.
"You two know each other- actually, I'm not that surprised." he sighed.
"Yeah," she said, "I used to be a normal person and then NATO and Ame found me and gave me the job to help the humans fly to the moon."
"And she's been tinkering and exploring as the National Aeronautics Space Administration ever since." I finished.
Russia looked at me disapprovingly, "You said that just to sound smart didn't you."
After things had been cleaned up, we were dismissed and headed back to the main grounds for lunch. But was I allowed to go eat my meal in peace? No. I was held back by one of the agents.
"Mr. America, the Headmaster would like for you to meet him in his office so please head over there if you may."
I yanked my arm out of his hand in annoyance, "Fiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiinnnnnnnnnnnnnnneeeeeeeeeeee," I grumbled.
I walked down the hall to a grand set of doors to the room where Headmaster UN resided and was greeted by another group of white uniformed men. They escorted me in (not that I needed it at all). It seemed as if I had walked into the middle of a serious conversation between NASA and UN. Russia was also there with a bunch of agents watching his every move for any hint of defiance.
Mr. UN addressed my presence first, "America, good to see you. Take a seat," he said as one of his floating hands pulled up a chair from behind. I reluctantly complied.
"Sir, would you care to fill me in?" I suggested. UN took a deep breath and laced his fingers together as he gathered his thoughts.
"America... Do you remember what we discussed directly after the incident? Do you remember the words I spoke?"
I wracked my brain as bits and pieces of our conversation floated back.
Flashback:
America stood in front of his house that was suspended in the air with giant pikes of ice. Two weeping girls clawed and screamed as panic consumed them. Kazakhstan stood by Canada and America stood there as a sinking feeling filled his stomach.
"This is the Eternal Winter. It's Russia's Awakening."
These words only helped solidify the dread that held him in place.
"Undoubtedly, you have realized it too now." A voice called from behind. The authorities had arrived.
The Powers gazed at the mess and nodded to their men to start escorting the crowd away from the scene. UN made his way down to the frozen Superpower.
"I- I had my suspicions... but I still don't want to believe it," America whispered.
UN leaned down to his height and muttered, "Whether you choose to believe it or not does not change the situation. You know this ice is unbreakable and unmeltable by any normal means."
America clenched his fists as he hissed, "You don't have to finish. I know what you are implying and I really don't like it. But I don't seem to have a choice now do I?"
UN handed America a black fingerless glove as he announced, "United States of America, in the name of the United Nations, you are permitted to summon the Fire. It seems that only you can fix this now."
To be continued...
AUTHOR'S NOTES: Damn, I really can't focus right now. Save my sanity please.