Eestlane olen ja eestlaseks jään,
kui mind eestlaseks loodi.
Eestlane olla on uhke ja hää
vabalt vaarisa moodi.

I am Estonian, and will always be Estonian.

If I was born as Estonian;

I'm proud to be Estonian.

Free just like forefathers before me.

….

Eduard sat in front of an old radio. He was patiently waiting for clock to hit midnight.

"Two more minutes" he thought, listening to Finnish. He could understand bits of it, but not much.

Or that's what he told Ivan. He understood Finnish perfectly, thanks to listening to Finnish television and radio. He knew watching these were forbidden, but everyone else was doing it. Besides, he could see what was happening in the West.

The old grandfather clock hit twelve. It was time.

And then, the music he had been waiting for whole day. His beloved anthem was coming from radio.

To be careful, he turned the volume lower.

He mouthed the words of anthem, not daring to sing, should someone hear him.

By the end of the song, he was crying. Eduard wiped his tears and turned the radio off. He would be forever grateful for the fact that Finnish and Estonian anthems had same melody.

…..

Eduard stood in awe. He had not expected so many people to turn up to this demonstration. Inside he was really proud of his people.

'We have to honestly disclose our nation's history – Even if much of it has to be re-written.' One of demonstrators spoke loudly, using rolled up paper megaphone to be heard over the crowd as public address systems had been turned off by KGB.

Eduard felt proud, and for a slightest moment – he smiled. (1)

. . .

"So, I propose to make an organization for support of Perestroika." came from his television.

Eduard remained skeptical. True, Estonians needed someone to lead this awakening, but was this group the right one? So far the other movements par Heritage Society weren't so popular. The group for publication of Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact was seen as to quick-paced to many.

"Well," he mused "better to be afraid than regret.."

….

"EESTLANE OLEN JA EESTLASEKS JÄÄN!..." sang the crowd, holding hands and not caring that probably somewhere there were Soviet troops waiting for chance to arrest them.

Eduard was quite literally crying. Thousands and thousands of people had gathered to Song Festival Grounds to sing. His heart was swelling of pride.

Then, he heard the sound of a motorbike. The man waved the Estonian flag as he rode his motorcycle along the crowds.

He couldn't believe it.

It was his beloved blue, black and white flag.

He felt ecstatic as the whole ground erupted in cheering.

Suddenly, he could see flags coming out from crowd. They were old and colours had faded, but it was so great to see the flag that had been forbidden.

The applause the flags got were enormous.

And if anything, he was crying and had the biggest smile on his face at the same time.

He quickly joined in singing the anthem that people had started to sing. After all, it was proper to sing his anthem.

…..

"'So, Singing Revolution, jaa?" he murmured to himself as he read the newspaper. "Certainly fitting." he mused.

….

"And one time, we will win for sure!" said man intro microphone. (2)

Eduard smiled and congratulated him on great speech. He surely hoped that one day he would be free from Ivan.

….

"So I here, right now, demand freedom and independence for Estonia!" Yelled man into microphone, grinning.

Eduard clapped his hands, but he saw leading members of Popular Front frowning; so much for the co-operation between Popular Front and Heritage Society.

"I will have a word with them later." Eduard thought while giving them looks.

…...

"Estonia, stop this non-sense and use your rightful flag!" Russia said smiling, "And why are you trying to gain independent from me?" he made a sad face.

"Well, Russia, I got few lines for you..." Eduard said with blank face. After all, this man had made him suffer.

"Stay strong, people of Kalev, and let your home land stay strong as rock!" He said with greatest smirk on his face. 'Mnja, kahju küll, Ivanikene..' (3)

"Whoa! Good one there, Igaunija!" Latvia said, patting him on shoulder. (4)

Lithuania and Prussia just smirked.

Finally, something interesting was happening during their annual get together.


A/N: I'm so, so sorry for not updating faster ;.; Anyway, here is chapter about year of '88! And HUGE thanks to my sweetie, AmericanDerp for beta reading it for me!

(1) The Hirvepargi demonstration. It actually happened in '87 but with focus being on phosphorous mining in last chapter, I felt as that It will fit into this chapter better. It was first demonstration in Estonia.

(2) One of most well known quotes from Singing Revolution. It became legendary.

(3) He is mocking Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic's anthem here. Second sentence means 'Too bad, Ivan'

(4) In my head-canon Latvia is bit of an prankster and can appreciate the good sarcasm.