Author's Note: I decided to kick-off this series with this story, with the main character played by the ever-lovable Russia, because it truly reflects us, as a society, today. We all live in a fast-paced society, or a "push, push" world as the episode says, and we all want some time to imagine the perfect place to ponder about life at our own pace.
After reading my copy of Hetalia: Axis Powers, I saw that Russia really wanted to live in a place filled with sunflowers (his happy place to an extent). However, this is an example, mine's and Rob Sterling's, of what happens if a person becomes so obsessed with their happy place that they sacrifice everything just to get there.
On that happy note, read on!
P.S.: The introduction and the conclusion are paralleled after Rob's real spiel from the episodes.
XX
A Stop in Sunflower
A Hetalia Axis Powers / Twilight Zone story
Based on the episode A Stop at Willoughby
Starring…
Ivan – Russia
XX
"This is Ivan Braginski, a man protected by a suit of armor all held together by one bolt. Just a moment ago, someone removed the bolt, and Mr. Braginski's protection fell away from him and left him a naked target. He's been cannonaded this afternoon by all the enemies of his life. His insecurity has shelled him, his sensitivity has straddled him with humiliation, his deep-rooted disquiet about his own worth has zeroed in on him, landed on target, and blown him apart. Mr. Ivan Braginski will, in just a moment, move into the Twilight Zone-in a desperate search for survival."
XX
Ivan came out a loud meeting with his boss. As he helped run the country, everybody puts a lot of pressure on how he does, for the country's reputation depends on it. As he goes home, Ivan couldn't stop thinking about how terrible that meeting was and what his boss said:
"Your deal not only cost us our reputation, but also made us a laughing stock in the international community," his boss said angrily. "I am now not sure of your judgment anymore."
"This is a push business. Push and drive!"
"It's push, push, and push all the time and its push, push, and push down the line!"
XX
Ivan got out of bed the next day and boarded the bus, which headed to his work-place. Since he didn't really sleep at all the previous night, he started to drift in a beautiful dream:
He saw that his train stopped in a beautiful place full of sunflowers. As he slowly got out of his seat, he saw a man standing at the deserted train-station.
"Excuse me, sir," Ivan asked. "Where is this place?"
The man smiled.
"It's called Sunflower," he replied. "It's a peaceful, restful place, where a man can slow down to a walk and live his life full measure."
As Ivan looked around and felt the warm sunlight hit his face, he suddenly felt a jerk and fell on the ground.
As his vision started to cloud, Ivan only thought one thing about this place:
"It's so beautiful."
XX
The day at work consisted of more work and more stress, but the thought of Sunflower kept Ivan going through the day. When he came home, he saw his wife, Ivanna, silently looking at all her jewelry, which was bought with his hard-earned money.
He sighed as he put his briefcase on the side of the wall.
As the bag dropped onto the ground, Ivanna turned around to look at her husband.
"You're late," she said with a sour look on her face.
As Ivan sat at the table by his wife, he started to day-dream about Sunflower with its beautiful flowers and warm environment.
As he started to immerse himself in his pleasant experience, Ivan was brought back to earth by his wife, who tugged on his coat.
"There's not much money left in the bank account," she nagged. "Are you not working hard?"
Ivan sighed again as he turned to face his wife.
"Do you only think of me as a money-maker?" he asked, though he already knew the answer in his head.
Ivanna smirked.
"Where would you be if it weren't for my appetite?" she said in a sarcastic tone.
Ivan smiled to himself.
"A town called Sunflower, a little town that I dreamed about," he replied.
Now Ivanna was very curious about this area.
"Tell me about your dream," she asked.
After she said this, Ivan launched into a beautiful description of the town, with its comforting warmth, peaceful feeling, and acres of sunflowers.
When he finished, Ivanna, instead of being sympathetic to her husband's fantasies, slapped in right in the face, causing Ivan to fall onto the ground.
"I really made a miserable, tragic error in marrying you," she huffed as she kicked his briefcase and left the room. "I married a guy whose big dream is to become a country hick."
As Ivan got up and nursed his bruise, he only thought of sleeping, for he would start to dream about the one thing that mattered most to him: Sunflower.
XX
A week went by and Ivan boarded the train in a state of maniacal depression. Work caved in on him and he called Ivanna on his cellphone, expecting comfort from his wife. When she didn't pick up, Ivan sat in his seat of the train and stared sadly at the passing sights. As he continued to stare, the train suddenly started to slow and Ivan found himself in Sunflower, much to his shock and surprise.
Ivan rubbed his eyes, for he thought it was a trick. Then, one of the conductors helped him up to his feet and held out his hand in a comforting way.
"Time to go," he said as Ivan dropped his briefcase from his hand and followed the conductor out of the train.
As he walked out into the sunlight, Ivan was greeted by many happy faces that were all calling his name.
"Ivan," they chanted in a happy chorus. "Ivan."
"Welcome home."
XX
A paramedic was hurrying to the scene. As he arrived to the area, which was by a stopped train, he went over to the train engineer and asked what happened.
"This fella's Ivan, who works for the government," the engineer said. "The conductors said that Ivan suddenly woke up, muttered something about a sunflower, and jumped off the train."
As the paramedic was tiding up the area, he saw a truck arrive on the scene.
"Good," he thought to himself as he started to head back to the ambulance. "They can handle this."
The truck was sent by the Sunflower Funeral Home.
XX
"Sunflower? Maybe it's wishful thinking nestled in a hidden part of a man's mind, or maybe it's the last stop in the vast design of things - or perhaps, for a man like Ivan Braginski, who climbed on a world that went by too fast, it's a place around the bend where he could jump off. Sunflower? Whatever it is, it comes with sunlight and serenity, and is part of the Twilight Zone."
