1775 - 1783: American Revolutionary War

I stood there against a mass of Alfred's brethren. I was alone, I couldn't stand this tension and rain! Alfred lined up his eye with his musket, ready to fire. The intensity of the fire in his eyes was all but overwhelming, I was trying to argue with a brick wall! He didn't relax as he shouted out, "Hey, Britain! All I want is my freedom! I'm no longer a child nor your little brother. From now on, consider me independent!"

How can a guardian stand to let their possession- no child... go free? Think of all the things that could go wrong! Taxes, money, and nobody can forget about war... Even if I do let him go he would be slaughtered just trying to get his bearings! I cannot allow this! No! I surprised him with my charge, he didn't think I had the guts, did he? I gritted my teeth and my breathing grew heavier, I let out a "Haagh!" As the point of my musket was blocked by the wood of his. He couldn't keep a hold on it though, it flew out of his hands and into the mud.

We stood there for a minute, breather hard, this wouldn't come to be! "I won't allow it...you idiot! Why can't you follow anything through to the end!? My voice almost cracked so I held my tongue before more lecturing words slipped out.

His men readied their weapons, "Ready! Aim!" Alfred's eyes stabbed me with hurt, stubbornness, betrayal? Pity? I couldn't tell one emotion from another in his eyes. He was a stubborn brat having a tantrum! If I let him go, he won't understand that life isn't and will never be fair! I have to put him in his place!

...But what would happen if I DID pull the trigger? He might not die, he's a country after all. But if I wound Alfred, his men will want revenge and I'll have to kill them in self-defense. Then their family would want the revenge and they would suffer the same fate. I would have no choice... right? And after many Colonist's have been killed, my loyalists will come back to Europe... too, me. But then who will watch over the new world?

France has already found out about Alfred's rebellion against me, bloody hell, he helped Alfred fight for his... 'independence.' If all of my people left the new world, then all ambitious Europeans will rage war and bloodshed on the land again. That Cheezy Monkey might win this time too, without my indian and colonist allies.

No matter what, I can't kill Alfred. I don't think I could do it even if I wanted to... the boy's just too important to me. The way he goes on about my terrible cooking, or how he complains about 'those boring books' called history. I can't win this one, I've won battles... but I've lost this war...

I let my musket fall to my side and straightened. Alfred looked surprised and gasped, I looked him straight in the eye and said with emotion, "There's no way I can shoot you. I can't." I dropped my weapon and fell to my knees, my voice cracked and I started to cry, "Why? Dammit, why? It's not fair...!" I hid my tears from him, bringing my hand to my face. Why did he have to rebel like this? Dammit! The unfairness of the world is destroying my humanity...

"You know why," He said sounding so wise. I guess I did know why, deep down. I couldn't face it so I locked the reasoning away!

"What happened? I remember when you were great," This pain was unbearable! I was being ripped apart... how can I be great, especially now, when the most important person to me is leaving?!