The Will To Power
Chapter One - The Hubris of Independence
Summation: England/America- AU where America loses the war of Independence. Washington is hanged, and England tries to reconnect with his colony. Earlier chapters more Dark!Ficish, hopefully will get more fluffy. Also will show the impact of the failed American Revolution on a global scale.
Disclaimer: I do not own Axis Powers Hetalia and do not profit in any way from this.
Warning: Sorta Creepy!Fuck England ahead.
A/N: Will try to update this one as soon as I can seeing as it's the oldest. Questions, comments, concerns? Drop me a PM or let me know in a review. ;)
"He who permits himself to tell a lie once, finds it much easier to do it a second and third time...he tells lies without attending to it, and truths without the world's believing him. This falsehood of tongue leads to that of the heart, and in time depraves all its good dispositions." -Thomas Jefferson
How odd that such a normally cheerful room could seem so empty when one was unused to sitting in it alone. The blond gentleman shifted in his armchair, watching the tranquil country landscape from the room's single window. The embodiment of the Kingdom of Great Britain had grown used to the constant company of the house's lively inhabitant while visiting. Arthur had always patiently borne the chatting, laughing, and shouting for as long as possible before bringing his young charge back into line. It was with dark humour that he realised how much he missed it, now that there was a chance that he'd never hear it again.
At least the screaming had stopped.
He had never seen Alfred so upset before, if upset was really the appropriate term for the intense rage and despair that had seemed to take hold over the colony. Arthur was ashamed to admit how physically taxing it had been to restrain him earlier. It wasn't out of viciousness that he had forced his young charge to watch, but out of the necessity that he realise how futile his efforts were in going against him. It was for his own good; at least that's what he kept telling himself.
Arthur knew he wasn't the best brother or father figure, perhaps hadn't paid enough attention to his growing colony. It would be natural for a rebellion then, wouldn't it? But as long as he kept his British America on a tighter leash he would be able to show Alfred that he wasn't fully ready to be on his own.
It had upset him when Alfred had started to question him. Questioning the way his government was operating (It had been working quite well for centuries thank you very much!) as well as the structure of most societies in Europe.
The job of a colony was not to question or argue. The colony was there to advance the interests of its' sovereign nation. The Glory of the British Empire must be put before all else.
He pressed his hands to his forehead, as if the pressure might displace the melancholy that had settled over his life. The familiar mantra in his head kept ringing. His boy, his precious boy. Arthur had tried to protect him from the world, had given him more in freedom and leniency than most colonies would receive. He hadn't been able to stop himself, though if pressed about why, he did not have a readily available answer.
Unfortunately he could not let this failed revolution slide; the young colony had to re-learn his place in the scheme of things. There would of course be more restrictions on the rights of the 'citizens' who inhabited the colonies, not to mention taxes and the repayment of war expenses. As for Alfred himself…
Arthur didn't want to hurt him, even though he himself still felt very much hurt by Alfred's betrayal. He hadn't thought it would be this painful, had not even considered the scenario a possibility. Who would dream that the only person who ever greeted them with a heartfelt smile would turn on them?
How quickly Alfred had run to what he had been calling his 'fathers'. Franklin, Jefferson, and Washington had been all the boy would go on about at length during the failed diplomatic talks. They had not deserved him, not his bright-eyed boy.
The boy who no longer had the appearance of one, for America had grown much while Arthur had been gone. Alfred looked to be in his late teens now, yet he was still so young. Too young to manage by himself. Far too young for independence.
He turned and eyed the clock on the mantle distastefully. It might not be a bad idea to go check on Alfred, it had been nearly an hour now since he'd heard anything from the room he'd locked him in when they had arrived. He had not wanted to do it, but Arthur had decided to follow his resolution to put America back into his place. A colony must mind its' superior. Even when that superior had just executed your father-figure.