Mattie looked up to see her brother run through the den yet again with a set of Pikachu ears and a green bandanna on. She could never get any work done when he was over.
"Hey Mattie…?"
She sighed, "Yes, America?"
"Did you know that Alfie will pwn!"
"P.W.N isn't a word, and that was a statement." Mattie winced, but it wasn't at her
brother's protest. "Could you turn on the news please, Alfred?"
"Why? C'mon let's Brawl instead!"
"Not right now…just please?"
"Okay…" The fake ears flattened, but he obeyed. The TV tuned in to Peter Manbridge of Fox News.
"And the one hundred and forty sixth Canadian member of the armed forces died to day. Trooper Larry Rudd was helping deliver supplies to troops in the Afgani village of Salavat-"Alfred had turned off the television again.
"Canada…I'm sorry…"
"You aught to be, mon frère. It is your fault. If you'd waited for the UN's permission… But actually, it wasn't just you, was it? First it was you and Arthur, then Ludwig joined in…"
"Canada, you know it was Bush's Adminis…."
"I know, and I don't care! One hundred and fifty of my people have died in this damn war YOU started!" As soon as Canada's rage spiked, it fell. She couldn't blame him. It wasn't his fault that his boss hadn't been the best, and the new guy was trying his best.
"I'm sorry, Alfred. I'm really really sorry…"
"Meh, it's okay." He shrugged, "By the way, you flipped back to French."
"…Did I?"
"Yeah. Actually it's kinda-" There was a loud crash outside, accompanied by a flash of lightning. "Dah!"
"It's just a storm…How about we watch you beat me in Brawl? You'd like that, eh?"
"Alfie will pwn!"
After a few repetitive matches (consisting of Alfred and his Pikachu beating Mattie with Princess Peach or Zelda/Shiek), the doorbell rang. Confused, the northern nation left to answer the door. No one- except France, America, and sometimes Prussia or Cuba, would visit her. So who could this stranger be? And what would be so important to go out in this bad of a storm?
A flash of lightning revealed the visitors to be Kiku Honda and Feliciano Vargas. Canada poened the goor and let the older nations in, "Bonjour Italia, Nihon."
"Konichiwa, Canada-kun." Kiku smiled. Mattie returned the smile, and noted that the island-nation looked uncomfortable in her starch-white uniform.
Italia smiled and took on a standard anime pose- legs spread, and throwing up the peace
sign. "Bonjourno, Mattie! We've got something for you!"
"Mattie, hurry up!" She sighed at Alfred's impatience.
"You move too fast." She called back, then realizing her mistake. "And don't-"
"Sonic's the name and Speeds my game!"
"You just have this one cheap move you use over and over." Canada replied, only quieter this time.
"Look who's talking!"
Canada turned back to Kiku and asked, "Can you withhold any videogame that looks remotely interesting from Alfred?" It was usually hard to get her that upset this quickly. But sometimes that twin of hers crossed the line…
Japan nodded, "Or I could not release some Pokemon Events- you know how he gets when that happens. Either way, it's doable"
"Thank you."
"No problem...what were you playing?"
"Super Smash Brothers Brawl- what else?"
"Who was winning?"
"'Alfie'."
Japan shut her eyes and shook her head at the antics of Canada's twin. "Now Amerika-san will definitely not be getting some of the events…butchering my characters like that…."
Suddenly, a cry of: "Ahh! Help! I surrender!" came from another part of the house.
Mattie and Kiku dashed off towards the pantry, where the Italian had snuck off to while no one was paying attention. Their heart attacks were eased., however, by the sight of a white mass of fur sitting atop of the nation, white drinking from a bottle of maple syrup.
Canada smiled and shook her head at the sight, before going over to release the northern Italian nation. "Ah, Kuna…"
"Who are you?" The polar bear (whose name was actually Kumajiro) asked as he was lifted into her arms and moved to the pantry counter, amongst the unopened maple syrup bottles.
"Je suis Canada. And don't drink all of them, some of these are for Gilbert."
Northern Italy was helped to his feet and the company all moved back out into the den, where America had managed to switch games, and was now playing Metal Gear Solid Four.
Japan looking pointedly at him and said, "Can you pause for a moment, Amerika-san?"
"Fine…" The young nation grudgingly paused, and waited for Kiku to speak again.
The darker-haired nation nodded her thanks and looked at Mattie. "I wanted to give you something, Mattie-kun. Consider it a very early birthday present." Kiku pulled out two packages and handed then to the younger nation, "And an apology for accidentally ignoring you…"
The young nation shrugged and accepted the packages. "Not your fault- England does it too…" She opened then carefully, and her eyes widened being her lavender-rimmed glasses .
"Thank you, Japan!" In a rare outburst of emotion, Mattie hugged the other nation, before showing the others.
With Kiku feeling slightly awkward, and the other Nations sporting wide grins, they began an impromptu chorus:
Marykite Chikyuu Marukite Chikyuu Marukite Chikyuu (Je suis Canada) (I am the hero) (Nihon to moushimasu) (Boku Hetalia!)