Chapter 2

The next day brought the next session of the world meeting in Melbourne and with it, very little in terms of surprise for Wy. If she didn't have any faith in the idea that the other nations could co-operate and negotiate with each other before attending these meetings, the previous day had made her give up any and all hope that they could. However, that didn't mean that negotiations couldn't be carried out in small groups, which for Wy, was the important thing. She needed to have a conversation with Austria and Hungary over a few things after all. They had hinted at an opportunity she didn't want to ignore, so she wanted things straightened out.

Arriving early, Wy sat down in a mostly empty conference room. There were a few nations there, though none that Wy was very familiar with so in her case, she might as well have been alone. Nobody would notice her anyway, especially if they were all sleeping like Greece was. She got out her sketchbook, pencil and coloured pencils and got to work, as she often did when she was bored and needed to occupy herself for a while. Plus, this sketch would have meaning and she hoped it would prove to be very useful.

As time passed and more nations gathered in the room, she managed to finish off her drawing, proud of the concept and the execution. The important thing, though, was that her audience liked it. She got lost in thought about how to go about discussing with her potential tutors, until she heard a soft noise.

"Psst!" she heard from behind here. Wy took in a deep breath and let out a sigh of exasperation. She knew what was coming this time as she turned around to the origin of the sound.

"Yes Sealand? What is it this time?" she asked, sounding a little irritated that her thoughts were interrupted for what she thought was going to be something completely irrelevant and unimportant. Sure enough, Sealand popped up from behind the plant he again used as his hiding place and smiled at the Australian girl.

"I just wanted to see how you plan to talk to Mr Austria and Miss Hungary! They're both important countries and I'd love to see you get involved with them! It might help me get recognised as the nation I deserve to be!" Sealand seemed to strike a pose of pride and glory at the thought of achieving the status he felt he deserved.

Wy scowled at the young boy before replying quite venomously "This isn't about you or recognition! I'm trying to gain a means of learning from older nations! I can talk to them myself and I'll do just fine." It didn't matter how she replied to Sealand, he was used to it and continued smiling that boyish, slightly oblivious smile of his before he made his point.

"And you want some form of parental figure….right?" he said, as if to remind Wy of a possible ulterior motive that she had mentioned to him the day before.

This set the girl back to thinking for a moment, before she spoke up "Well, that would be nice, but first things first. I've got to get them to want to have me first." She looked at Sealand before attempting another scowl, though this one clearly not as irritated as before continuing "And maybe...just maybe I can mention you to them and put a good word in for you. But don't get your hopes up!"

Sealand, who was at least somewhat used to Wy's tendencies by now, laughed a little to himself and smiled "I won't be expecting it any time soon then!" he said before walking off. Even he knew that with Wy, it was hard to get a straightforward answer from her. Especially if it involved him.

Now with a little time and space to think again, Wy cast her mind back to the conversation she had with Australia the previous evening. He had no problem with her going about this the way she wanted, which she expected considering how laid back and lenient he usually was towards her, so she felt it was basically all up to her from here on. The chance was there and nothing was stopping her from taking it.

Before long, the room started to fill up and in and amongst all the arguing between the nations, Austria and Hungary slipped into the conference room almost completely unnoticed and took their seats next to Wy, who had clearly been expecting them, but as she usually did, she tried not to show that. Wy could hear the other two whispering to each other, but had no hope of working out what they were saying, especially in a loud room filled with louder nations.

Eventually, it was Hungary who broke the silence between the pair of older nations and the young micronation. "So, Wy" she said in a soft, almost mothering tone which really caught Wy's attention "Have you considered Mr Austria's offer?"

Wy smiled at the Hungarian before looking over at Austria, who had raised his eyebrows in expectancy of an answer. Slowly reaching for her sketchbook, she spoke "Well, I'd love to learn from Mr Austria and also you Miss Hungary if the chance arises." She started browsing through her sketchbook, before Austria answered her.

"You realise that despite you being the Artist's Principality, you'll have to study more than solely art? I already have one over active artist micronation in Vienna and I'd rather not have another." He said in a stern, strict tone. It wasn't something Wy was used to, yet she expected it from the Austrian and took it in her stride.

"I understand that. Not to sound arrogant, but art isn't something I need to be taught about any time soon." She said in a confident voice that she very rarely used unless she was about to reveal something important. "However, languages might be a good thing to learn as well as a little bit of history." She briefly turned her attention back to her sketchbook before continuing, "You both must have very interesting stories to tell. Both in unity and separation. Though no matter what Versailles says…" she deliberately paused there. Her two "audience members" were already lost for words at what she already knew. She hadn't been taught anything by them yet!

After a moment's silence (between the three of them at least), Wy turned around her sketchbook and continued her sentence "There will always be strength and unity between you." Austria and Hungary stared at drawing of a black eagle holding a golden hammer and sickle in its talons, like in Austria's coat of arms. However, instead of the Austrian flag across its chest, there was a white cross on a red background and on the eagle's head was the Holy Crown of Hungary.

Austria was the first to recover from the stunned silence and turned to his Hungarian partner "I think we might have found some great potential here."