"A man's feet should be planted in his country, but his eyes should survey the world." - George Santayana
A/N: Sorry no updates! I was studying for exams. Updates will be every few days or so from now on. Pinky swear. On an unrelated note has anyone else besides me noticed that Seychelles, Vietnam, and Taiwan rock the Powerpuff Girl colors? Blue. Pink. Green. I'm just sayin'. (^.^")
And as promised at the end of this chapter, I will have explained the process of page capturing.
Ahem. Enjoy!
"Let's run through this just one more time, just so you at least know the basics. I'm going to quiz you. First question. What's your name?"
"Republika ng Pilipinas," I replied easily enough. We've gone through this too many times. I've actually lost count.
"Human name?"
"Perla Magallenes."
"Good! Now, which class?"
"Um..."
"Come on mate, you know this. I know you know this." Keith begins, "Know why? Because...This is the fifty-third time in the row we've gone through this. If you don't get it by now, I'll go off into that corner over there and bash my head in."
"Pacific Island?" I guessed. Australia winced. Wrong answer. He gives me a tired grin and corrects me.
"...Asia."
"That was a trick question! What are you then? Which class?"
"None. Well, not really none. I'm a class all my own. Australia is a country and a continent."
I puffed out my cheeks like a small child. Country and a continent? Not likely! He'd have to be a big country continent thing then. Maybe that's why he was tall? Tall people were big, right? I called him out on it, just 'cause I thought he was lying.
"No way!"
"Way."
"Really?"
"Really."
"No lies?"
"Ridgy-didge."
He gives me a thumbs up ans flashes a smile. Cheesy as it is, I laugh. Keith then goes into a variety of mock-heroic poses. It's vaguely familiar. I wonder where I've seen it before...?
"You're right to doubt him. He's called you a basket case once before. You and E.T. Actually E.T. was more of a burden."
I shift uncomfortably. Whenever Sol speaks it really makes me wonder if I'm crazy, because no one else seems to hear him. Not even Keith. Even if people could hear Sol, I don't think they'd like him very much. He dislikes everybody. And I think he watches me when I sleep. Someone taps my shoulder and I look up.
"You alright there, mate?" asks Australia, eyes drifting not-so-secretly towards Sol, "That, uh, toy givin' you trouble again?"
"N-no! No. What makes you say that? Sol is ju-just a toy. So soft and cute!" I lie. I guess these situations have happened even before then, when I had my memories. If Sol was right about Australia calling me a basket case, I don't want to give him any reason to call me one again. He's been the only visitor I've had here.
"This boy is from the 'Land Down Under.' Notice that his land is literally under the Philippines. He's beneath you in literal and metaphorical sense. Why you continue to be his ally, I can only imagine."
In a fair world, I'd have my memories, no Sol, and be everyone's ally.
In this world, I'd have Sol, no memories, and have only Australia.
Life is unfair.
"Cry, Kookaburra, cry! Kookaburra, oh how life can be!" Sol sang mockingly. If Australia could hear this, I'm sure he wouldn't be smiling right now.
Maybe if I close my eyes, Sol won't be there when I open them.
"Laugh Kookaburra, laugh!"
...I highly doubt it though.
ヘタリア！
Much later Australia said he had to leave, not before giving my head a little farewell scruff . I waved goodbye as he shut the door and listened as his footsteps receded into the dull hospital sounds. Holding Sol against my chest, I flop on the bed with a resounding whump!
The doctors said that my head injury may have been the cause for my memory loss. Actually they're not completely sure themselves. In fact, I've heard some nurses whispering about it the other day. A blow like that to my head shouldn't have been enough to give me amnesia. A case like mine. So unusual. Sharp brown eyes. Whisper, whisper. Whisper. Whisper.
I touch my bandages again. In another few days, or so the doctors say, I should be able to take them off. Good. At least I won't look like a head case. Even if I am one.
"Stop pitying yourself," ordered Sol, "There are challenges coming up that will require you to use all of what little brain power you have left."
"Can't I wallow in my own pity for a little lo-challenges?"
"Challenges. Hard ones. Like figuring out how to tie your own shoelaces."
"I'm being serious!"
"Have it your way then. The challenges I speak of are important if you wish to remain a country for much longer. You see, unlike your Australian friend, other countries are just waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike."
I asked, "Strike at what? Me? Are you telling me that people want to attack me? For what?"
"No, I'm telling you that everyone wants to braid each others hair and sing Kumbaya," he sneered,"Anyone who isn't Australia, for God know what reason, wants you gone. Or rather wants to rule over you in a manner that would make Prussia's sudden 'disappearance' look like a Lost and Found case."
"But what about the challenges! You told me something about challenges," I asked again. Sol filled in information lapses with insults for me. How such a cute plush could be so ugly just beneath never ceased to boggle my mind.
"I'm getting there. No interruptions. No exceptions."
"Sorry..."
"Ahem. Challenges. Now I don't have much time for this, so pay close attention," started Sol, "Your history is the key. The country with the most of your pages gathered is going to be declared your ruler. In a few moments, I'll be quiet for a bit. My time here draws nigh. Bye!"
"Wait, how do I fight them? Sol? Sol. Sol! Tell me how to fight them! I don't...I don't want a fate like that..." I begged, but to no avail. Sol was again, a simple sun doll. His sewn-on smile mocking me with the words that would not come. Bright blue eyes staring me down with its azure glare.
I was now very, very afraid for my future. If it came down to a fight the hospital staff wouldn't allow that, right? Right? I tried to assure myself that as long as I was in this hospital, with its sterilized white walls, I'd be fine. Every shadow, every sudden movement, every squeak and scrape was an invading country ready to take my head. Nurses with pain medicine were out to poison me. The lady coming to change my sheets was going to get rid of my body. My doctor with the austere eyes was the Grim Reaper.
Sol's vague and disturbing advice was enough to keep me acutely vigilant through the night. I trusted no one. I trusted nothing. I didn't even trust myself not to fall asleep. My eyelids began to droop and I could feel myself slowly slipping into an unwanted sleep. Fighting it only made me want it more. So I surrendered.
Your history is the key.
Sol...what do you mean?
ヘタリア！
"I haven't seen Perla here in days...What happened to her?"
"Who knows. I hear Kiku through her whole history out of a window! With those chances, she'd be territory by now."
"So, a burnout country like Gilbert?"
"Not even! Worse I'd say. She wasn't very strong. Plenty of allies, but when it comes down to it, wouldn't another landmass be a nice addition? Like what Puerto Rico is to Alfred."
"Oh my, I suppose you're right. She wouldn't stand a chance without her memories. And even then, she'd simply fade without them."
"Yeah..."
Kiku winced as he heard all of this gossip as to where his possibly former friend was. As of yet, he hadn't heard of any definite stories of anyone conquering Philippines. Mostly gossip about what would happen to her. No one had much faith in her, it ? He couldn't blame them. Perla exhausts herself by mostly fighting off her brother and his questionable ideals. This constant battle with him left little resources to do much else. Even with America-san and Australia-san helping.
Things were not looking up for Philippines. He made a note to pray at the shrine later.
ヘタリア！
Hours before...
"I caught a bunch of her papers. The Filipinas shall be mine again! Then I can put her in a little white dress and make her call me 'Big Brother Spain' and-" Spain started, before he was cut off by a furious South Italy.
"Hey Tomato bastard! Don't go perving on any countires while I'm still in earshot. Especially when you go on about your weird fetishes," Romano barked. He tolerated Spain's bouts of passion-fueled ramblings at the best of time, but when he went out and got detailed about his dress fetish...God, he'd needed duct tape to make Spain shut up last time. Which, ended up in a rather, uh, "sticky" situation. The Spaniard only smiled in response.
"Ah, are you jealous Lovi? Don't worry! You were always the cutest of them all. The maid outfit you wore...So adorable!"
"S-s-hut up, dammit! Stop sayings stupid things. People will get ideas." Spain only grinned wider. He loved it when Romano got like this. So red and flushed. A face that he had seen many times before, in a variety of situations.
"Remember your first words in Spanish? What were they again? Please remind me, Lovi."
"Besos..."
"Gladly!"
"You-!"
Hidden somewhere above the trees, the boy with sharp brown eyes observed the scene below. Pathetic. This was the mighty Spain? The Spain that came to the islands and took his...sister....away from him? The one who gave the her that cross she wears so devoutly? Like a leash. He had her wrapped around his finger. Bastard. He was glad when she kicked him out of her life. After about three and a half motherfucking centuries. No rush there.
He scowled. His sister was tainted with foreign ideas and false "brothers." He was her brother dammit. Her only brother. And if she didn't accept that, he would make her. Or destroy her. Whichever one came first. Perla was his sister and his alone. She belonged to him. Fighting him off was useless. He would just regroup and try again.
Perhaps that thief had a right mind when he stole her history. At least with all of these people fighting off his sister, it would be easier for him to capture her. He would see with his own eyes what his "sister" thought of him. His eyes narrowed at the scene below. Hands and lips splayed all over each other. He decided to leave before it got any more physical.
ヘタリア！
Heavy. There was something very heavy on me. I couldn't breathe. What is it? Get off! Get off! The sensation of being unable to breathe properly jolts me out of my slumber. When I open my eyes, I see a pair of sharp brown eyes staring back at me. That and a gun. A loaded gun. How...How could such a person get in here?
My first instinct is to scream. I cannot. The lack of air makes it difficult to even talk normally. My eyes shift restlessly. I am pinned down. There is someone pointing a gun at me. Is this one of the challenges that Sol had told me to prepare for? I don't know what to do. I'm frozen. Suddenly, there's a voice.
"Now Perla, is that any way to treat your big brother? I've come all this way and not even a 'Hello!' Really. You're hurting my feelings," this person said. Those eyes...I've seen them before.
"...Who..?" I managed.
"You don't remember me? Your own flesh and blood? Then let's make you remember! Look at the window over there."
He forced me to look. I thought he was going to shoot me in the meanwhile. He didn't. The lamplight reflecting off the window showed two faces. However the faces were exactly alike. Twins. Curling, dark hair parted either to the left or the right, depending on which face. Brown eyes opened wide in fear or narrowed in anticipation. A not entirely sane smile perched on his lips. Like he enjoyed seeing my skin crawl. Like he'd down scary shit like this before. To me.
"I would hate for you to forget your own brother, sister. Especially because of that bastardly Australia trailing after you all the time."
"Umph!"
"As much as I enjoy bonding with you, I've got things to do...It was fun seeing you again, sister dear. Bye bye."
With that he left, opening my window and jumping out into the moonless night. I did not move a muscle until the nurse came in the next day with my pain killers. She noticed bags under my eyes.
"What's the matter, sweetie? Nightmares?"
"...You could say that."
唄う！
I can show you pain
And make you say my name
You will believe my lies
That I'm not like other guys
That sparkle in my eyes
Is part of my disguise
- Good with Grenades, Bruises and Bitemarks
A/N: Golly. I sound like I actually like doing mean things to Piri-chan! Which at this point may or may not be true. Hehe. Keep in mind, I wrote this half-awake...
Process of Page-Capturing: If a country has an opposing country's page, he/she may challenge said country for sovereignty. If the challenger wins, the country is forced to give up ruling rights to the challenger. However if the challenged country wins, the country gets his/her pages back and is free to kick out the invader. These challenges may occur as long as there is a page to wager.
...If you listen to the song, have a dirty mind, and read the bed bit then it sounds like Piricest. I'm just sayin'.
Review please!
EDIT - Sol is an ass, isn't he? He's singing a children's song. Aptly named, "Kookaburra Song." And unless I'm crazier than usual, "Ridgy didge" is like "Honest, I swear."
I haven't really thought out the couples...What do you like?
PirHon? (^.^)
OsuPiri? ($w$)
Piricest? (LOL)