Chapter 4: Remembering That Day
~Back at China's house~
"Could France be with Stormfire?" Sealand asks, looking up at Britain.
"No, don't be silly..."Britain starts to snap at Sealand, trailing off when he starts to think. "You know, you may just be right. He's stupid enough to get himself captured. China, where are you going?"
"To call Japan," China responds, disappearing into his house. He reappears a few minutes later. "Japan is on his way,"
Britain sighs. "He'll probably bring Italy and Germany with him,"
"I'll go call Latvia!" Sealand exclaims, running into China's house to call his Baltic friend.
Before Britain could comment, a soft footfall attracts his attention. "Oh, hi Japan,"
"Hello Britain, hello China," Japan says with a slight bow.
Just then Sealand walks out of China's house, a disappointed expression on his face.
"Is Latvia coming?" China asks, already guessing the answer.
"No, he said...hey Japan's here!" Sealand says, his expression lighting up when he sees Japan.
"Hello Sealand. China told me you had a problem,"
"Yes. My friend Stormfire's been captured by this hideous beast! It took her under the water at the pond where we were racing. I tried to rescue her but the beast knocked me out,"
"Who is this Stormfire?" Japan asks.
"America's rebellious sister," China answers, "The one who's called Isabella,"
"Ah, Isabella," Japan says with a nod, "But are you sure she's still alive. If she's been taken under the water..."
"Yes she is still alive! Britain you can do magic, you can use it to tell us if Stormfire's still alive. And if France is with her!" Sealand exclaims.
"Alright," Britain says with a sigh, "I guess..."
~Back in the underwater prison~
"Why do I get the feeling that I'm being watched," you say with a sigh, opening your eyes and looking around. France was over a ways away from you trying to clean his cloths. You sigh and close your eyes again. "At least when I lived with America I never had to worry about this happening to me. Oh, to be free again. Feeling the wind on my face. Breathing the fresh, cool air..." you think, tears coming to your eyes. "Well, no use in hiding from the memory now," you think in resignation, letting the memory of your freedom from America, one month ago today, on August 23, wash over you.
"I'm sick of your bossy attitude! I just want to do what I think is best! Not listen to you all of the time!"
"Dude, calm down!..."
"No, don't say that to me! I'm sick of your constant use of like, dude, and hell. Why can't you just speak normally!"
"Why? Because I'm the hero! All hero's talk like me!"
"No they don't! Only idiots talk like you!"
"I'm no idiot! I'm the hero! Are you challenging that?"
"Yes I am! I want to be free! Like you wanted to be free in the 1700's from Britain!"
"That...that was different! I had a government, land, people. I had a chance!"
"As do I! I have all of that! Land, people, a government. It doesn't matter if I don't have as much as you! I still have a chance! Just let me try it out on my own!"
"No! You'll never survive out there! You'll..."
"I'll what? Get captured? Ha! I have an army, I can fight. Do you doubt that too?"
"No, I know you can fight. Damn it we're fighting right now,"
"Not like this. Hand to hand fighting. With guns, knives, blunt objects. Like this,"
"You...you wouldn't shoot me! You wouldn't dare!"
"Oh, I'd dare alright. But I'm not going to kill you. Can't have America dead now can we? But I will injure you! Just let me have my freedom!"
Tears come to your eyes as you continue to remember your argument with America. He was a good person, just loud, obnoxious, and overly protective of you.
"Stormfire, are you alright?" France says, coming over to you, a worried expression on his face. He goes down onto his knees and looks into your face.
"Yeah, I'm alright. Just remembering my revolution from America, that's all,"
"Ah, oui, you're the one who had America all sad," France says, sitting down and putting an arm around your shoulder.
"He was so nice, just overly protective. When I wanted my freedom he didn't want to give it to me. So I had to fight him,"
"How long ago was this?"
"A month ago today," you say, leaning into France and resting your head on his shoulder.
"Ah, today was the day you won your freedom. Come here mon cher," France says, pulling you closer. Knowing that he knows his boundaries with you, you don't resist.