AUTHORS NOTE: So now that that's out of the way time for a flashback. Sorry it's such a short chapter, but it couldn't really be helped. I didn't want to get into the next real plot point in this chapter, so there's something for you to look forward too. Probably.

Also in case you're wondering why I chose China out of all the other countries out there with long histories... China is the only nation out of the 'main characters' in Hetalia that isn't either shown as a child, or known to have a national ancestor (Such as Germany and Germania or HRE, and Greece with his 'mother' Ancient Greece) at some point. So while there are other characters that meet these criteria like the most of the nords or Turkey (who was at the very least shown to be an adult during Greece's childhood so perhaps he could have been Troy)... I just felt like letting China be the old man. If anyone feels passionate about that then... well this is just a story written on the whim of a random college student who didn't bother to do any actual research, so please remember that, though I will be sure to listen if you PM me or leave a review complaining about historical inaccuracy.

Chapter 2: Witchcraft

There were already many people there even before Yao had arrived, he opened the door quietly and took a seat at the table where there were already many sitting. Yao didn't recognize any of the others. Of course he didn't, they all came from lands very different from his, their hair colours, their faces, even their languages, nothing about them was familiar to him. So he simply sat there, quietly.

There were others that were remaining quiet like him, but many of the people gathered had started to argue even though many of them actually couldn't understand what the other was saying at all. Most of these arguments were probably over trivial things like a customary greeting of one culture just happening to sound like a lewd word of another, or perhaps they just didn't like each other and felt that they needed no other reason than that to shout at each other. Some of the gathered people even seemed as if they might start an all-out brawl any second now- Yao hoped that if they started fighting that he wouldn't get dragged into it.

He stayed quiet to prevent himself from getting involved with all the bickering as he waited for whomever had invited them all here to show himself and explain what they were here for-though he had no idea how one person was to be expected to communicate with all of them at once. Perhaps it had actually been several people that had worked together to plan the gathering, that would certainly explain how they were able to send everyone an invitation- after all surely it was impossible for one person to speak all the languages that would have been necessary to draw all these people into one place.

Finally after a few more people had made their way in a woman that had remained quiet until that point gave a shout, effectively earning her the attention of all the gathered peoples.

She was relatively plain to look at, even if her features were quite unusual to Yao who was used to seeing people with only dark hair that may grey with age and dark eyes to match- making her brown hair and green eyes foreign to him. She then cleared her throat then began to speak, "Ic diht beginnan eac friuc min bealucræft to fullæst us to ácnæwe an oþres."

Yao -and many others in the room- had no idea what she'd said, but something in her voice and tone had made it clear that it was something important and that they should listen to her. After moment passed she spoke again as she waved a small stick around and a blueish smoke filled the room for only a few seconds before dissipating.

"Well, can you understand me now?"

It took Yao a moment to process that he could -in fact- understand what she was saying. On some level in his mind it registered that she was still speaking the same language that she had been before, the language that he couldn't understand at all, and yet he could now understand what she was saying with perfect clarity, as though she was speaking his language. It was the auditory equivalent to staring intently at a bunch of random black and white shapes then suddenly realizing that it was actually an abstract painting of a dog, the painting itself was still the same arrangement of shapes, it just suddenly meant something to those looking at it.

There was a murmur of shock, making it clear that Yao was not the only one experiencing this. And it quickly became apparent that they could understand each other too. How were they all suddenly able to understand so easily? What was it that the woman had done with that stick to make it possible? Witchcraft?

Definitely witchcraft.

"I understand... but how is this possible?"

"As if that matters, we're here to meet not to exchange secrets."

"Meet about what? Huh?"

"How the hell would I know?"

"So rude! In my country we would never-"

"Well your country is full of backward thinking barbarians!"

"Oh yeah? Well your country is full of greedy pigs!"

"Don't say that..."

"Well, don't side with him simply because his country has taken over yours."

"Eh? But..."

"Quit arguing, all of you," The woman interrupted before the other could get to the point of actually breaking into a fist fight, "I did not bring you all here to fight."

So she had been the one to bring them here after all. Most had already assumed as much. But why? Why would someone wish to go through the effort of gathering so many people from different countries all in one room? It was clear looking at them that they had nothing in common. Some of them appeared to be wealthy or at least well-off, some seemed poor or even just barely scraping by. Some looked quite civilized compared to the others, while some wore only animal pelts and carried crude wooden or stone weapons. Why gather such people and then make it so they can communicate? Surely the woman had a reason.

"Then why did you bring us here?" Someone finally asked what everyone else was thinking.

"Kings, emperors, any sort of leader really, surely I am not the only one who has noticed that they do not always make the best decisions, they are selfish and only think of gaining more gold for themselves," The woman replied, sounding almost as if she'd practiced this short speech several times before she'd called them all together, "I am not suggesting we overthrow them but I think the world needs people who will do the best for the people. Someone to represent each nation that would understand the people and do what is right for more than just the monarch."

There was a brief moment of silence as everyone tried to understand what it was she was suggesting, if she wasn't suggesting they overthrow the monarchy. At the very least she seemed to be talking about undermining the divine authority of the rulers... but was that really what she was trying to do? It seemed like she just wanted someone that could advise the rulers on how to keep the people content.

"I know what you mean, but the kings have the divine right to rule however they please," one man said with a shrug, "We have no right to contest that."

"Even so, it is not fair to the people." The woman retorted.

"It is not as if there were anything we could do to change the way things are, what exactly are you proposing?"

The woman had expected this, it was only natural for people to react this way. No one would understand such an outlandish concept so readily. Many rulers were seen as living gods, or people empowered by gods to rule, of course no one would understand what she was suggesting so easily when she seemed to be speaking against them. She would be patient an do her best to explain as clearly as possible so that they would all understand, and hopefully they would all agree.

"I am proposing that we become the representative that I spoke of before. The one's who will keep the will of the people in mind and not simply the kings," she stated boldly, "That is why I have called you all here. If you all agree I will use my magic to make it so we are all connected to our respective states, both in country and in nation."

"What does that even mean?"

"We will not die until our states do, but we would be subject to the whims of the people and pains of the land..." The stated, hoping that would serve as plenty explanation of what she was trying to say.

"Immortality? Count me in."

"Even with magic such a thing would be..."

"But states have fallen in the past, you're saying that we would fall with ours if we agree to what you're suggesting, yes?"

"Magic of this kind has never been attempted before now, so I cannot say for sure," She answered the person that had spoken up in a sullen tone, "I believe that at the time when our state falls we would likely die with it."

Nearly everyone frowned as a nearly tangible ripple of unease spread through the room.

They could become immortal with this, but at the same time there was the chance that their respective states could collapse within a week. These were just ordinary people who knew nothing of the inner workings of their nation's politics aside from what was told to the public -they were not yet corrupt, this was why the woman had chosen them. They were nervous to risk the possibility that they would be tying their lives to a sinking ship, their lives could be cut short just because they chose to go along with the idea of this strange woman... or they could become immortal, and live as long as their state remains strong.

Remain human and live as long as you can, or become a state and risk an early death in exchange for the possibility of immortality. None knew which option was wiser, they all hesitated, thinking seriously if it was really worth the risk.

Finally someone spoke up, "Let's do it ya little cowards, it's not like a nation can fall apart so easily! My lands are thriving, and I intend to keep it that way!"

That had done it, just one person making the decision was enough to sway all the others. Agreement spread through the room like a wildfire until all doubts had been cleared and all the assembled peoples had agreed. Everyone believed their homeland was in fine shape and wouldn't collapse for centuries, maybe even millennia to come. They were all honoured to be given the opportunity to live by the side of the countries from which they hailed.

The woman smiled, and told all the others what would need to be done to make them into symbols of their respective states. It was a complicated spell, the preparations took months, but in the end all the people that had been gathered became states that would one day fall, whether that took months or millennia.

Era after era passed. Many states fell, and many rose in turn to replace them until all the ancient states had given way to their modern counterparts. China alone had survived in all the time that had come and gone since that first world meeting, he was the only state that remained that had at one point been a human.

He was the only one that could do anything to help his fellow nations now that the magic was wearing off.