p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: small;"span lang="EN-US"The boat departed as the last nation goto n board./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: small;"span lang="EN-US"Everything turned into a mess as Portugal, Porto and faro tried to explain to most nations how the carrack worked, helping those 3 you could see Spain, England, Prussia, France,…/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: small;"span lang="EN-US"In the stern on the ship, away from the commotion, stood 2 nordic countries, Denmark and Norway. The ex-vikings knew already how to handle this kind of boats, even though Viking ships were quite different, someone, long ago, taught them; Sweden was in the same position as the duo, but he decided to remain by Finland's side instead of wandering around the boat./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: small;"span lang="EN-US"Unnoticed, a young-looking small brown-haired girl approached the Nordics on the stern./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: small;"span lang="EN-US""Are you Mr. Norway?" she asked the shorter nation. His surprised nod caused the girl to beam in happiness. "I've heard so many stories about you! Sister always loves to tell them!" she chirped./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: small;"span lang="EN-US"Lukas frowned as she mentioned her sister, already guessing who it was. Why, you ask? You'll discover that later on…/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: small;"span lang="EN-US""Then you must have heard of me too. I'm Denmark, the King of Northern Europe!" shot Matthias, not noticing his friend's reaction, while ruffling the child's hair./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: small;"span lang="EN-US""Yes, I did!" the girl nodded innocently. "And Mr. Sweden too, but most stories I hear are about Mr. Norway!" stated the small female, casting a glance at the silent male./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: small;"span lang="EN-US""Tell me, lass, what's your name?" asked the Danish, kneeling down to her height./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: small;"span lang="EN-US""I'm Madalena, Madeira's personification!" she declared proudly./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: small;"span lang="EN-US""So, your sister is Lisbon…" Matthias muttered. In that same moment, Lukas turned away from the two, not exactly sure about what he was feeling, happiness, sadness, pain, longing, maybe it was all at the same time, he wasn't sure. The small girl looked confused at the Norwegian's actions, while the Danish's face held comprehension and a hint of sadness./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: small;"span lang="EN-US""What happened?" Iceland's familiar voice caused Denmark to get up. Turning around, he saw the 3 remaining Nordics looking in between himself, the child and Lukas./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: small;"span lang="EN-US""Nothing." Stated the Danish, his voice lower than usual./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: small;"span lang="EN-US""Are you sure? I've never seen Norway like that." Finland intervened, his face twisted in worry./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: small;"span lang="EN-US""Ja!" Matthias nodded. But the look he traded with Sweden told something quite different., that sole look told an ancient story, that look was one that no one except the 3 ex-vikings and a certain Portuguese city could understand./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: small;"span lang="EN-US"After the traded glance, Denmark held a troubled expression, while Berwald held some kind of indescribable mix of emotions in his eyes./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: small;"span lang="EN-US""He's probably just feeling sick." Matthias suggested, his voice a bit strained and far too serious to be believable./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: small;"span lang="EN-US""He was a Viking, he can't be seasick!" Iceland remarked, raising an eyebrow suspiciously./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: small;"span lang="EN-US""Don't be so harsh, Emil! I have a feeling that this is all about the old days…" Tino commented./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: small;"span lang="EN-US"The air was so thick with tension it could be cut with a blade. The environment caused by all the tension was putting Madeira in the verge of tears./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: small;"span lang="EN-US""Oh, what do we have here…?" Finland wondered, noticing the state the small girl was in. "What is your name, little one?" he asked as he kneeled down to her height, offering her a kind smile./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: small;"span lang="EN-US""I'm Madeira, or Madalena if you prefer." Sniffed the green eyed girl./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: small;"span lang="EN-US""Well, it's a pleasure to meet you, miss! Do you mind if I call you Maddie?" said the Finnish, trying to calm the brown haired girl down as well as moving the attentions away from whatever problem was bothering the older Nordics./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: small;"span lang="EN-US""Sure, you can!" Madalena nodded with a happy smile./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: small;"span lang="EN-US""You can call me Tino!" he offered. "I'm Finland, and also… how was it said in Portuguese? Ah, yes. I'm Pai Natal!" ha stated cheerfully, the foreign words coming out rather awkwardly from his mouth, causing the small personification to giggle cutely./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: small;"span lang="EN-US" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: small;"span lang="EN-US"Somewhere else, deep within the ship, inside a cabinet, was a girl, (f/n), the personification of Lisbon./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: small;"span lang="EN-US"Why was she in here and all alone? She was hiding from someone who she had meet a long time ago. She had decided something; she would only go out of this cabinet after nightfall, after everyone else was sound asleep. She still hadn't gained enough courage to face him…/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: small;"span lang="EN-US""I can't see him, not yet. I'm sure he hasn't forgiven me yet…" she whispered, the (h/c) haired girl was sitting on a corner; her back was facing the wall as she hugged her knees to her chest. Her gaze full of sorrow, pain and longing was casted on the ocean beyond the small porthole. "They attacked him, his wounds were deadly, he survived by so little, and it was my entire fault. He hasn't forgiven me yet, he can't have…" her whispers were slowly turning into sobs and her shoulders started shaking as ancient memories assaulted her mind, causing tear to fall from her (e/c) eyes./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: small;"span lang="EN-US" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: small;"span lang="EN-US"That night, Lisbon quietly emerged from her room to watch the stars. This was the northern sky, the sky that always remembered her of her happier memories…/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: small;"span lang="EN-US" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: small;"span lang="EN-US"Oh the ship's hold, where all the males were staying, everyone was asleep, except for 3 of the Nordics. One of them decided to go outside, thinking that, maybe, a little stroll outside on his own could help him relax and cast all those mixed emotions away long enough to let him rest in peace for the night./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: small;"span lang="EN-US" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: small;"span lang="EN-US" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: small;"span lang="EN-US"With the other 2 Nordics, the story was different…/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: small;"span lang="EN-US""You know what has been bothering Norway." Certain Finnish stated./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: small;"span lang="EN-US""Ja!" Sweden nodded. "It's a sad story, one that should never have happened…"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: small;"span lang="EN-US"The Swedish man's statement caused Finland to frown: "Why do you say that?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: small;"span lang="EN-US""Norway is a country, Lisbon is not, nor is she a human; therefore, their love is allowed. But…" Berwald sighed. "… something went terribly wrong along the way…"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: small;"span lang="EN-US""Why not just tell the story, Su-san?" Tino suggested, obtaining a nod from Sweden in response./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: small;"span lang="EN-US"Their conversation had caused the other two Nordics. So, Denmark offered to help Sweden telling the story, while Iceland stated that he also wanted to know what had happened./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: small;"span lang="EN-US""It was a long time ago, when we were still ruthless Vikings…"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: small;"span lang="EN-US"Everything turned into a mess as Portugal, Porto and faro tried to explain to most nations how the carrack worked, helping those 3 you could see Spain, England, Prussia, France,…/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: small;"span lang="EN-US"In the stern on the ship, away from the commotion, stood 2 nordic countries, Denmark and Norway. The ex-vikings knew already how to handle this kind of boats, even though Viking ships were quite different, someone, long ago, taught them; Sweden was in the same position as the duo, but he decided to remain by Finland's side instead of wandering around the boat./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: small;"span lang="EN-US"Unnoticed, a young-looking small brown-haired girl approached the Nordics on the stern./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: small;"span lang="EN-US""Are you Mr. Norway?" she asked the shorter nation. His surprised nod caused the girl to beam in happiness. "I've heard so many stories about you! Sister always loves to tell them!" she chirped./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: small;"span lang="EN-US"Lukas frowned as she mentioned her sister, already guessing who it was. Why, you ask? You'll discover that later on…/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: small;"span lang="EN-US""Then you must have heard of me too. I'm Denmark, the King of Northern Europe!" shot Matthias, not noticing his friend's reaction, while ruffling the child's hair./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: small;"span lang="EN-US""Yes, I did!" the girl nodded innocently. "And Mr. Sweden too, but most stories I hear are about Mr. Norway!" stated the small female, casting a glance at the silent male./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: small;"span lang="EN-US""Tell me, lass, what's your name?" asked the Danish, kneeling down to her height./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: small;"span lang="EN-US""I'm Madalena, Madeira's personification!" she declared proudly./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: small;"span lang="EN-US""So, your sister is Lisbon…" Matthias muttered. In that same moment, Lukas turned away from the two, not exactly sure about what he was feeling, happiness, sadness, pain, longing, maybe it was all at the same time, he wasn't sure. The small girl looked confused at the Norwegian's actions, while the Danish's face held comprehension and a hint of sadness./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: small;"span lang="EN-US""What happened?" Iceland's familiar voice caused Denmark to get up. Turning around, he saw the 3 remaining Nordics looking in between himself, the child and Lukas./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: small;"span lang="EN-US""Nothing." Stated the Danish, his voice lower than usual./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: small;"span lang="EN-US""Are you sure? I've never seen Norway like that." Finland intervened, his face twisted in worry./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: small;"span lang="EN-US""Ja!" Matthias nodded. But the look he traded with Sweden told something quite different., that sole look told an ancient story, that look was one that no one except the 3 ex-vikings and a certain Portuguese city could understand./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: small;"span lang="EN-US"After the traded glance, Denmark held a troubled expression, while Berwald held some kind of indescribable mix of emotions in his eyes./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: small;"span lang="EN-US""He's probably just feeling sick." Matthias suggested, his voice a bit strained and far too serious to be believable./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: small;"span lang="EN-US""He was a Viking, he can't be seasick!" Iceland remarked, raising an eyebrow suspiciously./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: small;"span lang="EN-US""Don't be so harsh, Emil! I have a feeling that this is all about the old days…" Tino commented./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: small;"span lang="EN-US"The air was so thick with tension it could be cut with a blade. The environment caused by all the tension was putting Madeira in the verge of tears./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: small;"span lang="EN-US""Oh, what do we have here…?" Finland wondered, noticing the state the small girl was in. "What is your name, little one?" he asked as he kneeled down to her height, offering her a kind smile./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: small;"span lang="EN-US""I'm Madeira, or Madalena if you prefer." Sniffed the green eyed girl./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: small;"span lang="EN-US""Well, it's a pleasure to meet you, miss! Do you mind if I call you Maddie?" said the Finnish, trying to calm the brown haired girl down as well as moving the attentions away from whatever problem was bothering the older Nordics./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: small;"span lang="EN-US""Sure, you can!" Madalena nodded with a happy smile./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: small;"span lang="EN-US""You can call me Tino!" he offered. "I'm Finland, and also… how was it said in Portuguese? Ah, yes. I'm Pai Natal!" ha stated cheerfully, the foreign words coming out rather awkwardly from his mouth, causing the small personification to giggle cutely./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: small;"span lang="EN-US" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: small;"span lang="EN-US"Somewhere else, deep within the ship, inside a cabinet, was a girl, (f/n), the personification of Lisbon./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: small;"span lang="EN-US"Why was she in here and all alone? She was hiding from someone who she had meet a long time ago. She had decided something; she would only go out of this cabinet after nightfall, after everyone else was sound asleep. She still hadn't gained enough courage to face him…/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: small;"span lang="EN-US""I can't see him, not yet. I'm sure he hasn't forgiven me yet…" she whispered, the (h/c) haired girl was sitting on a corner; her back was facing the wall as she hugged her knees to her chest. Her gaze full of sorrow, pain and longing was casted on the ocean beyond the small porthole. "They attacked him, his wounds were deadly, he survived by so little, and it was my entire fault. He hasn't forgiven me yet, he can't have…" her whispers were slowly turning into sobs and her shoulders started shaking as ancient memories assaulted her mind, causing tear to fall from her (e/c) eyes./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: small;"span lang="EN-US" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: small;"span lang="EN-US"That night, Lisbon quietly emerged from her room to watch the stars. This was the northern sky, the sky that always remembered her of her happier memories…/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: small;"span lang="EN-US" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: small;"span lang="EN-US"Oh the ship's hold, where all the males were staying, everyone was asleep, except for 3 of the Nordics. One of them decided to go outside, thinking that, maybe, a little stroll outside on his own could help him relax and cast all those mixed emotions away long enough to let him rest in peace for the night./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: small;"span lang="EN-US" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: small;"span lang="EN-US" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: small;"span lang="EN-US"With the other 2 Nordics, the story was different…/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: small;"span lang="EN-US""You know what has been bothering Norway." Certain Finnish stated./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: small;"span lang="EN-US""Ja!" Sweden nodded. "It's a sad story, one that should never have happened…"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: small;"span lang="EN-US"The Swedish man's statement caused Finland to frown: "Why do you say that?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: small;"span lang="EN-US""Norway is a country, Lisbon is not, nor is she a human; therefore, their love is allowed. But…" Berwald sighed. "… something went terribly wrong along the way…"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: small;"span lang="EN-US""Why not just tell the story, Su-san?" Tino suggested, obtaining a nod from Sweden in response./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: small;"span lang="EN-US"Their conversation had caused the other two Nordics. So, Denmark offered to help Sweden telling the story, while Iceland stated that he also wanted to know what had happened./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: small;"span lang="EN-US""It was a long time ago, when we were still ruthless Vikings…"/span/p