"What are you talking about?" Alfred glared at Arthur, "America's not going to be destroyed."
"…Never?" Arthur replied, with a certain pity in his emerald eyes, "Rome was destroyed, Greece was destroyed, Prussia was destroyed, Spain was destroyed. All great countries are destroyed. Why not yours? How much longer do you think your country will last, forever?"
Arthur had been avoiding this conversation for years. He loved Alfred, and he wanted only the best for him. But, seeing the conditions in Alfred's country, Arthur had to confront Alfred about something America feared the most: his collapse.
As everyone knows, America's economy is going down the drain. Jobs are being lost, the stock market is plummeting, and the U.S. dollar is quickly losing its value. Not only is money being lost, but so is the United State of America's morale. Not just the citizen's hope, but Alfred's too.
"Arthur! Everything's going to be fine! My country made it through the Great Depression, and we can make it through this!" Alfred was temper flew wildly has he spoke with Arthur.
"You're wrong!" Arthur had to now hold back tears, "You can't! You've made it through so many tragedies, Alfred, but one county can only take so much!"
Arthur knew exactly how Alfred was feeling. Being the world super power felt better than anyone could imagine. Sure, along with that title came certain responsibilities, but there was a definite pleasure that came with that title. It meant you and your country, were more powerful than all the rest. How could that not give you a bit of an ego boost?
Arthur took a long sigh, and at that moment, he knew he had to tell Alfred, the United States of America, the truth of his destiny, "You're not young anymore, Alfred. You've gone from this little boy, to a strong, self respecting country. You've been through Hell and back. You got through the Civil War, World War I, World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. You've gotten through economic crisis, political crisis, social crisis, and so much more. But, Alf-… America… It's time to accept defeat."
"No…" Alfred was starting to lose his will to fight. He knew he was wrong. He knew what was coming. He just didn't want to believe it, "No, no, no. You're…you're wrong…!" Alfred started to slowly shake his head as he put his face in his hands. "My country can and will last forever! So what if our economy isn't the best, and maybe thousands of people are jobless, and this war in the middle east isn't going anywhere… and people are losing their lives in it… And maybe our political system can't agree on anything! A-and what if people are rioting more and more! That-… That doesn't matter! I'm America! I can do this!" It was obvious Alfred was holding back the urge to cry.
Suddenly, with the last of his will power, Alfred stared Arthur down, "You're a shameful opportunist! What you don't understand is that it's better to die on your feet than to live on your knees! Which is just what your damn empire did!"
"You have it backwards," Arthur knew, however hard it was, he had to keep his temper at such a delicate time likes this, "It's better to live on your feet than to die on your knees. Face it, America. You're country it- it's dying. You know the saying, 'the sun never sets on the British Empire'? Well guess what: It did. I have fallen from grace, now it's your turn."
"I-I…I…!"
Alfred burst out sobbing, burying his face into his hands as his knees hit the floor. Arthur caringly put an arm around him as he too began to cry. Together, they cried of each other, their loss of their power, their people, and most of all, for themselves.
They cried for the fact that they had lived on their feet, and had died on their knees.