Epilogue
May 15th, 2346
"And today we are happy to announce that the Republic of Sealand has been officially recognized by an overwhelming amount of nations." A man standing on a podium smiled and read the name of every country that had signed the official document. The sixteen year old personification stood with Sweden and Finland beaming. Ten years earlier Sealand had managed to claim a fairly large island, and now he had gotten what he finally wanted, recognition. After the news conference several nations came up to greet him, and Sealand smiled. England was the last nation to greet him, giving the boy a hand shake and a hug, telling him how proud he was of him, which reminded him of something.
"Hey England, where's America?" England just laughed as America snuck up behind Sealand and picked him up in a giant bear hug.
"Hey congratulations kiddo! You finally did it!" He laughed.
"I can hardly believe it. I nearly gave up." Sealand beamed.
"But you stuck with it. I always knew you'd do it eventually. Welcome to the big leagues kid. We're all really happy for you." He gave Sealand a nicely wrapped box. "I know that you're going to have a party later, but I wanted to go ahead and give you this." Sealand opened it and found a photo album filled with pictures of him with all of the different countries, though mostly Sweden, Finland, America, and England. Sealand smiled. "Everyone contributed pictures, but I put it together."
"Thanks America." He smiled and gave the country he had always looked up to a hug.
"We sh'd g't g'ng." Sweden looked at his watch and Sealand nodded.
"Alright. Hey can I drive!?" Finland shook his head.
"But Mama!" He laughed. "I'm a grown up now, I should get to drive!" America laughed as well.
"Come on Finland, let the boy drive."
"Fine, you can ride in the passenger seat then." America paled. Sealand was a notoriously bad driver, even more so than Italy.
"Sorry kid, I can't help you. I'll see you at the party!" He and England walked rather quickly off to their car. As the other three nations began to walk to their own car a note fluttered out of the photo album.
April 7th, 2013
Hey Kid,
If you're reading this then congratulations, you've finally become a country. I'm writing this because I'm starting the photo album that this note was in. You're old enough to understand now that I am worried, I'm not invincible, I know, and I'm on the verge of failing, and if I fall, and just in case I don't pull a Prussia, I wanted to tell you a few things. Actually I'll probably just leave this here even if I pull through that way you know everything I want to say. Right now you're asleep in England's guest room, the room that's basically yours anyway. I told you a story today, about a little boy who grew up too quickly. Do you remember? I hope you got my message, and that you had time to be a kid before this day came. The little boy in the story was me, though I bet if you remember you already figured that out. Everything is going to get a lot harder now. You're going to have a lot of responsibility. I'm not psychic so I don't know how you're going to do it, though I suppose if I got out my tarot cards I bet I could get pretty close (and if you ever tell England that I use magic on occasion I will personally skin you alive), but if you end up being powerful it's going to be so much worse. Take it slow. Don't impede innovation, but don't force it. If your parents refuse to teach you, I'll teach you how to fight, because if we don't achieve world peace by then, you're going to need it. Don't become an asshole like I did. Being known as the asshole of the world is not fun. If you can, become strong without becoming a threat, you'll be so much better off. Stay out of other countries affairs for as long as possible because if you start, it's very very hard to stop. LIsten to your boss, but more importantly, listen to your heart because your heart is the voice of your people. You're like a little brother to me, so I'll worry about you, (and honestly, he has a hard time of showing, but England cares about you just as much as I do). Anyway, don't be afraid to ask me for help, and never let your pride get ahead of you, because there's nothing wrong with asking for help when you need it.
You're going to go far kid, I can tell. Be careful, alright Peter?
-Alfred F. Jones/The United States of America
Sealand smiled. Finland looked back at his adopted son.
"What's that Peter?"
"Oh, just the note in America's present."
"That present really is special. I wish photographs had been around when I was younger. You're all grown up now. We're so proud of you Sealand." Finland began tearing up.
"Mama, it's not like you're never going to see me again. I'm just moving out and living on my own, everyone has to grow up eventually." Finland turned around and pulled Sealand into a hug, quickly joined by Sweden. "I love you guys, but you're kind of crushing me." He laughed as they released him and they got into the car. He flipped through the photo album and found a picture of him with his parents, America, and England, one of the oldest in the album, that was right next to a picture of him that had been taken the day the official documents of his recognition had been signed. He smiled. He knew that he was ready for this, though only time would tell if the world was ready for him.
