The Nikita glare was shooting the European nations could have easily killed them if it was a gun.
Likewise, the atmosphere within the teepee was intense and almost begging to make America snap from her place cross legged on the animal pelts. The bonfire inside the large teepee caused the slightest change in anyone's expression to become dramatic. For a while, as the stillness crawled by, she watched the smoke from the fire float up into the ceiling and into an opening at the top.
The colony's gaze was drawn back to the scene at the glance of Dream Listener uttering something under her breath. She continued to look at the old women who, along with some of the other Elders, silently regard the foreign countries who sat by the entrance of the home.
While the Germanic one, Prussia, laid lazily on her side, like nothing there was to her importance. She had tied bandages around her arm where America had shoot her. It made the colony feel a little pride that despite the country acting so nonchalant, there was a sign of agitation within the female country when she moved her wounded arm. Many must not get a chance to shoot her, and by that scar running over her check, America could wager that this women was a tough one in a fight.
Spain, on the other hand, was seated cross legged too, looking comfortable, an ease placed on his shoulder by the way they slouched some, and a soft smile on his lips.
She hated them.
"They have no right to have stepped foot on this land!" Nikita shouted, gray eyes piercing right at Spain and Prussia.
"Nikita, silence. You are only here to tell One With The Land what happened. After you are finished, leave." Those brief words had him clutching his jaw and made America remember that is how a loved one shows their love in these hazardous situations. America eyed the dried blood patched onto his upper lip and jaw, and frowned. His nose was still painfully bent. She needed to fix that.
She glowered at her fellow personifications with a curled upper lip, surely revealing teeth. "Who's the one who hit him?" She demanded.
Prussia's laughter was a mixture of a cackle and a hiss, "Do I win a prize if I say it was- m-me?" her last words caught onto her howling of devious joy. At the harsh sound coming from her mouth, her head of white snow bobbled in sync. America watched Prussia in distaste. She was wearing some mockery of a man's uniform, with the black pants cut scandalously short, her legs surely only hidden by those thigh-high boots typically known to wealthy men, and a blue jacket just well enough to stretch over her bosom.
America clicked her teeth together in annoyance with the whole thing. She knew she shouldn't critique this women, look at herself, but… argh. Europeans.
Spain tapped Prussia's leg with a sheath of a sword, a thing America had not seen when she was strangling him. "Shame Prussia. These good people take us into their homes, and you laugh in their face." His sentence didn't match the expression on his face. It was too carefree, almost as if this was a huge joke. America felt the disgust start to show on her face. "Show our hosts some," his eyes swept over the Elders and landed on Nikita, making America narrow her eyes, "respect." He ended with a stretched smile.
The women kicked him in the knee with a hard jerk of her heeled boots. "Shut your damn mouth asshole. You of all people have no reason to preach to me."
Beside her, Elders muttered questions about what they were saying. She was about to reply when Nikita had enough of his short-lived silence.
"Old One," Nikita hissed, clear irritation on his face that he couldn't understand the countries, "We were about to settle down for the night, when I heard a cry from one of the men who was on portal. I came around to see what was wrong, but just as I went to see, these two, these Whitemen," He spat out that word, "had already made their way into the village. When I tried to speak, that one," He bluntly pointed at Prussia, "hit me."
Prussia, at response of the crude gesture, started to crow louder. She clutched her stomach, full out in laughter. Nikita was pale with anger at her rude dismissal of himself. He looked about to stand up and go over to Prussia to finish their brawl.
Wrong move.
She didn't know this country, but at first glance, it was obvious she was strong. Maybe in another situation, America would've felt more mirth at finally meeting a new country (a women no less!) but this wasn't a moment to be happy.
"Nikita, sit down!" America said in a low and steady voice. America didn't look at him, instead focusing on the two beings positioned in front of her. Nikita started to argue just as Dream Listener snapped at him.
"Nikita leave us!" He appeared ready to lunge at the inhuman beings set before him (Amelia wasn't sure she would pry them apart too fast. The gift of surprise he could give would catch them off guard and leave them some bruises…) but his grandmother held his eyes long enough to get him to leave in a steamy rush.
Once again Spain's eyes slide to Nikita as he left.
After he was gone from his view, Spain looked impressed, not with Dream Listener, but with America, his dark green eyes smiling as well as his mouth. "You handle them so well, it makes me envious that I couldn't do that the first time I met the Indians." America's breathing became stressed when he said that. Not only was it completely insulting, but he dared called them Indian.
"First off Spain, they are Native Americans, I ain't India you idiot. Second, I do not control them."
He chuckled, shoulders shaking a little, and held up a hand in surrender. "Sorry, Sorry. America, this all just… brings back memories, that's all… It was an accident that we acted so- roughly. Tell them we're sorry."
Prussia snorted, plucking at the skins on the floor, "Speak for yourself." She boasted.
America rolled her eyes. That was the closet they were getting to an apology. "They say they're sorry for handling this situation the way they did." She explained to the Natives. The Elder's whispered to each other, heads inclined to hear better.
Next when they finished their talk, Dream Listener looked at America, "They must leave at once." She said, "Tricksters and people of dishonor are not welcomed here," The Elder spoke that part to their direction as if they could understand. But America was sure they assumed what she meant by the coldness in her manner.
Spain's smile twitched at the corner, making America wonder what was up with him. Prussia scoffed at the Elder's words, sticking out her tongue in a brutish manner.
America forced back her insult for these people.
The Elder's words though… She should've seen that coming, but still, she couldn't keep her mouth from questions. People of dishonor? They never used the word people for herself. Did the Natives know that Prussia and Spain were so-called spirits? It could've been seen as disrespectful, but… "They're spirits like me, and you honor us, so is there a certain way you want me to say-"
She stopped suddenly at their shared looks. Someone murmured something in the back and the others practically growled.
"Old One, we did not know they were spirits," stated an Elder from the back, an old man with thinning long white hair, "We have seen them before yes, but when they first came, they were cloaked behind hidden truths. They came before us, letting us think that she was a demon, or a shapeshifter." The other muttered in agreement, outrage starting to grow in their tones, "They did not tell us the truth but let us continue to believe our own lies. They have humiliated us."
America stared at them, then remembered the time Windy told her that they traded once with a women with white skin and red eyes, and she understood.
"Where do they come from?" Asked another Elder.
Amelia hesitated, already foreseeing where her answer will take her. "They come from the home of the Whiteman, Elder."
Dream Listener's frown was permanently stitched onto her worn features. The old man from before leaned forward to her ear and began to feverishly whisper things to her. Dream Listener put a hand up, silently ordering him to stop.
"No, they are not like you One With The Land," The matriarch fumed mutely. All of the Elders stared at Spain and Prussia. "They are foreign... They are the spirits of the Whiteman, the ones who have hunted us for sport, kill our men and children, and rape our women for laughs. That explains all their deception, all of their abhor. They are not spirits of this land. They are not you. These beings belong to the Whiteman. They are not you Old One. Not you." A chill slithered up her spine, slow, making sure to give America a full feel.
Spain was the first to get fed up with the looks. "What?" He retorted silently, keeping his eyes on America.
"They didn't know you were countries." She almost yelled. Why did every one of these nations intend to make everything complicated for her?!
Prussia shrugged, her long legs moved, giving the dyed red leather of her boot a shine in the fire. "They didn't ask."
Now she was very close at throwing herself at her and shoving a piece of burning wood right down her-
"What does it matter? They would've wanted us to bless them or something, and I've had enough with helping Indians." He made sure to say it that time. Bastard.
America stood, looming over everyone in the room. "You are in my home, you insult my people, so why aren't on your damn knees begging me for forgiveness Spain?" The nation laughed. Actually full out laughed, throwing his head back and letting the noise fall over everybody. Prussia snickered, shaking her head.
The older female persona snapped her fingers to get America's attention. "Boy oh boy, girlie," She grinned with knives for teeth, "You got a lot to learn. It's funny because all of this bitching you're doing, yeah you know that, it's pointless. Spain, France, England…Gott knows how many more have come here and picked and picked and picked you for everything you got. These people of yours? They've been suffering for centuries before now, but just because you finally decided to look, you think you can make everything alright? Precious. Just like a child to think."
She breathed deeply through her nose, forcing herself not to let her words pierce her.
"Old One, please sit down." Dream Listener said, but despite the gentle words she used, they were hard. In many case, Amelia sat back down.
She swallowed, begging her mind and body to focus and stay calm. "What do you want?"
Spain piped up cheerfully, "You."
"Me?"
"Yup. France set us to bring you back to civilization."
"We owe the slut a couple of favors, and," Prussia raised her pale brows, "I had nothing to do."
America closed her eyes for a moment, cursing herself. Of course they came for her. People like them don't go around in the colonial wilderness for giggles. How did they even get inside her home? England had most of the ports closed off from other European countries. Then again, France made it seem easy to slip on in.
Even so….
"The Spanish Colonies." Those guys way down south were perfect stepping stones for two wealthy countries to tread on.
Spain nodded at her understanding. "Yea… my children are so useful sometimes, it makes me feel like a proud padre." Her mouth creased in loathing. She knew how Spain treated his colonies in the new world. He made England and France look like parents of the year.
What did France want with her? He's never gone to the trouble of actually looking for her. There was something amiss going on.
"One With The Land?" Dream Listener finally asked, a thin slice of impatience dabbing on her face.
"They came for me." She said wearily. "Their business is with me. I'm sorry for having them trouble you." America lowered her eyes when she saw them looked tired.
Nevertheless, Dream Listener nodded, opening her mouth to tell her it was alright. "The ways of the spirits are no business of ours unless they wish it," She said the words with that sprinkle of olden wisdom America wished she possessed.
America murmured a quiet thank you. The Elders continued to look tired, she could see the apprehension buried deep in their black eyes though, and she figured out what needed to be done. "We'll leave at once." She assured them.
The old man from before frowned, "The sun has already fell, Old One, it will be difficult to-"
"Elder, I know this land, its animal, its ways. I am One With The Land after all." She moved her blue gaze back to Dream Listener, "I've had enough of troubling you all. Please respect my decision. It is my only chance to repay you; by not allowing these strange spirits linger any longer within the tribe."
From behind her, Spain said something low and under his breath, making his companion bark out a laugh like a horse. America felt a knot take its grip deep into her neck at their jeering. They had no regard for her. No respect. Nothing. And why should they? She thought angrily. She hasn't done much, or anything to really prove herself. Yes she's taken them down single-handedly, but America hasn't shown she's anything else but brute strength. A stupid child is easy to control, but a smart one will gain attention for their logical thinking.
She straightened, turning her back completely at the countries as if they weren't there, "So I ask of you, Dream Listener, will you do me the honor of blessing my trip back?" She bowed, still on her knees, and head almost touching the ground.
"Raise your head One With The Land." Amelia did so, and was met with something she couldn't place inside the human's eyes. Dream Listener put her palm on her forehead and started to chant something softly. It took America a second to realize that it wasn't normal sentences, but a song.
There, in her sapphire orbs, tears formed, but she bit down on the soft meat of cheek. Please make me be strong. The thought wrapped itself around her mind.
Once it was done, Dream Listener lowered her hand, making America look up at the old women, and saw her smiling a small proud smile. "Let you roam for all time."
America felt a cry edge up her throat but she forced it down, and smiled just as widely. "May you and your people be forever blessed." Amelia stood and turned to see the other personification staring carefully at her. Then, at her eyes falling on them, they looked at one another, a message passing by their glance, and followed her lead at standing.
They walked out of the teepee and she was at the entrance of the home, when she heard the rustle of movement behind her. She glanced back then turned around completely, jaw dipping down. The Elders had given their own bow at her, arms crossed, and upper body bend at the waist. Amelia's gaze softened at the soft.
They were equals.
America spun back out the teepee to meet Spain and Prussia plotting in hushed tones. "We're leaving now." She interrupted loudly. They paused in their conversations and looked up at the night sky spotted billions of stars.
"It's dark."
"Yeah, thanks for the report. I bet you came here on your horses but left them somewhere near by?" She didn't wait for an answer, "We'll get them and start on our way back into town before you take me where France is." Her eyes moved around the area. "You two have some explaining to do on the way. We got some days for you to catch me up on the gossip France has." She undid the ribbon in her hair and retied it in a short ponytail.
It was quiet, no mothers were hurrying their unruly children into bed, no old friends putting out the fire they had huddled behind for a late night talk, and not one person whistling through wooden pipes for a nightly lullaby.
In their places, there were men standing around, acting as body guards, and the father and son wolf keepers around a roaring fire. The animals, by the way, had stood and started to growl lightly at the sight of the Europeans.
"You don't get it do you? Its pitch black out here. Understand? It's nighttime, we wouldn't be able to find our way around in this wood-"
"Suck it up. The dark means nothing to me. I could be blind and still find my way around." America snapped and recognized Nikita sitting by a multicolored teepee, fussing as Windy dabbed at the dried blood on his face. Sun Bringer (without her baby) was standing behind them, a cool look of sharp annoyance imprinted onto her plain features. "Nikita! Windy!" She called out to them. America didn't have time to fret over Sun Bringer, even if a twig of fear blossomed in her heart at the view of the women.
The loudness of her voice in the silence of the area made it seen booming.
Nikita stood at once and met her half way. Windy followed behind him and stayed close to his back at the sight of Spain and Prussia. Sun Bringer stayed behind, eyes narrowed and watching. "Old One," Nikita greeted, a glared aimed at the ones behind America. She winced at his nose.
"Hold still." He looked confused. Amelia had said it in English, but it was better to have him distracted for this next part. Her hand gripped the bridge of his nose tight and snapped it back into place with a disgusting crunch.
He yelled, bowing over to take hold of his newly fixed feature. America grimaced, lips recoiling at his reaction. "Sorry." She said, "I had to do that before I leave." She continued.
"I don't care how fucking well you think you know this place, kid, I am not following you around like some- Ouch! Spain you fucker!" Prussia's snarky voice hung in her ears and she heard a smack, probably Spain, but she didn't take her eyes from the two in front of her.
"You're leaving?" Nikita asked, frown deep set in his handsome face. "With them?" He sneered that last word and she wanted to laugh.
"But Old One, they will harm you." Windy said firmly, a hand clutching Nikita's arm. America smiled at her thinking.
"You two want to know a secret?" Her tone was childish and playful, a great contrast to their situation. She didn't wait for a reply and whispered, almost inaudible, "Only your kind can kill us." Windy's large black eyes filled with liquid and she threw herself into America's arms.
"I want to beg you to stay with us, to become a part of our family, but I know you cannot…" She cried into her ear, soft and beautiful whimpers, "See your dreams come true! Please and I will know we will meet again!"
America couldn't cry, not there, not with Spain and Prussia reading into her every move. But she hugged Windy back and whispered, "I promise."
Weeping Winds detached herself from America, still hiccuping tiny sobs every now and then when Nikita touched her face. His gray eyes held her blue, begging her for something she couldn't figure out for the life of her. His hand fell away from her check, the feel of his fingertips still lingering after they left.
"We will meet again." It was firm and held his own promise. America's felt that that lump in her throat and nodded, determined in her own right. From behind, Spain's hand (she knew it was his by the largeness of it) slip onto her shoulder. Her head moved to see him, but just as she did so, Windy gasped, probably at Spain's seemingly possessive gesture. The noise from her had Nikita shoving Spain away at once, a dagger from his belt to the nation's throat.
"Hey!" Sun Bringer yelled and America could make out her footsteps running towards them.
Spain's eyes were wide as the forest surrounding them. The men around were put on alarm, the wolves barked and pulled from their handlers. "I was just going to ask how much longer was this goodbye going to last." Spain uttered, lips barely moving as the knife Nikita held was almost cutting into his neck.
"Ha! Services you right for hitting me bastard!"
America put her hand on Nikita's arm. "Nikita, stop. He wasn't going to hurt me." The Native's eyes didn't move from Spain's dark green, and just as America was going to take matters in her own hands, she saw Spain smile, dangerously gentle and innocent. It was terrifying.
She was close enough to hear him hum deep in his throat, seemingly elated at something. "Ah… I see now." Out the corner of her eye, America saw Nikita sneer at it. Despite Spain saying it in a different langue, his tone of voice was enough to assume it was an insult of some kind. "Mestizo…" Nikita's eyes enlarge, and the black pupils expanded, almost consuming the gray irises. With shaking hands, he tossed Spain back, a tremor running through his body.
Mestizo? America pointed Nikita with a stare of surprise, but his express… it was that of a beaten child. "Spain!" She barked, shoving him away, yet all she could see was Nikita's terrified face and hear Prussia's cruel cackles. She grabbed ahold of both Prussia's and Spain's arms in an iron grip. Her heart was racing at what happened even though her thoughts were beyond mixed up.
She heard a call of her name and glanced back. Windy was holding Nikita, the young man staring, jaw slacked at their leaving form. Sun Bringer was the one who had called out to her. The young mother was running up to catch them, "Wait, One With The Land!" Her long black hair jumped with each step she took. America's grip on the nations tightened as the women came closer. She didn't them slow down and they were quickly reaching the end of the teepees. America didn't have time to let the women speak first however.
"Why didn't you tell me that Nikita was only half Prinova!?" She spoke sharply, "I would've been more careful letting him around this one." She tugged on Spain's arm, jerking him harder to follow her, and even if they were dragging their feet, she had more than enough strength to pull them along.
"His mother was raped by a Whiteman and died in childbirth. Why would we tell you that, uh?! So you could critique his blood?!" Sun Bringer snapped back, a small pant coming out of her mouth, "I didn't come to talk you about that!"
America was mentally exhausted at that point, sweat tearing out of her body at each passing moment. Prussia kept clawing at the hand holding onto her arm, but let out the occasional giggle in remembrance at what had occurred with Nikita. "What?!"
"I know what I have said before may have hurt you, but if you have any love at all for the ties you have made here these past suns, then please, never come back."
She turned abruptly at Sun Bringer, the border of the teepees with within a few feet. Spain moved in step with her then, watching her facial expressions when Sun Bringer spoke.
"I'm sure my sister has told you my life story, and yes, I do blame you, but even so, I will push back my hate for the love and happiness of my sister. I was not lying when I said we are people of the past. We will die and you will not," All of this was coming out in rushed lines, "I love my sister and I know how foolish Nikita is, how much of a pig he can be, so I beg of you never to return. My sister is a blind simpleton if she cannot see how her mate acts around you!"
None of what we was saying made sense. "Mate? As in lover?" America hurried to understand.
"Yes! Nikita is her mate and if you come back, you will not have ruined my love, but Weeping Winds' as well!" Sun Bringer stopped at the border of the teepees, like some magical force was keeping her from coming out.
America wasn't looking at her anymore. Her eyes stayed pinned onto the black sight of the forest in the distance. She pushed her body faster and faster until she was basically carrying both Spain and Prussia in her urgency to get away. There was no need to know where to go, the colony only knew she needed to get away from the place she left behind- again. Maybe personifications and humanity weren't so different after all.
A/N: Dang… intense to the max.
Mestizo is a term used by the early Spain settlers in the new world to describe people of mixed European and Native American blood.
I wrote half of this yesterday, and since I got out of school early (yay for hail!) I finished and edited this for all of the peeps who only tell me to update in the comments :p. If anyway has any questions, don't be afraid to comment. The story has finally finished the Native American story arc guys! Things get real, or realer (is that a word?) in the next chapter.
And again, I am on Tumblr if anyone wants to follow anime trash XD Comment, favorite, follow me!
P.S For any Vocaloid fans, read my new story It's in my Blood! A Kagamincest zombie Apocaplyse!AU
