Author's Note: The chapters will get happier after this one, I promise. And this is the last chapter to contain the America criticism I seem so fond of. o_o I've got to stop writing fanfiction while watching The Daily Show, seriously. XD

Title: Born This Hetalian Way

Song: Bloody Mary

I was born to move on.

The fighting had to stop. It had gone on far too long. What had started out as a fight for independence during World War II had escalated into a horribly complicated conflict that Vietnam could no longer stand.

Her life had been rough under France. He controlled her, Cambodia, and Laos as colonies, using them for their resources and land. Vietnam wasn't stupid though. She knew that another major reason was just so he could keep up with the other European powers.

After nearly a hundred years of French rule, Vietnam found herself under Japan's control during World War II. Not so surprising. After all, he controlled the majority of the Pacific, especially in Asia. She and the other nations fought and waited for the war to end. To them, it was nothing new, the control, the colony status.

When she was finally freed in 1945, Vietnam found herself facing a new problem. This problem was much larger than anything she had ever faced before, because she was suddenly involved in several messes at once. Yes, France's rule had been the easy part. Now, she had to create an identity for herself, work out her own problems, and create the right ties with the rest of the world.

She knew what was going to happen. As soon as World War II ended, America could no longer hide his intense dislike of Russia. The two had put their differences aside to fight the Axis Powers, but they had far too many of those differences in order to keep putting them aside.

It only got worse when the Chinese Communist Party won the Chinese Civil War. Vietnam had seen everything, watching China fight his doppelgänger in hopes that he would not fall to communism. Russia's Soviet Union, however, was far too convincing and strong. China, therefore, was left with two options: 1. He could fight until he was too weak and his doppelgänger took control of his country, or 2. he could admit that it wasn't worth fighting anymore and accept the new government. He chose the latter. His doppelgänger disappeared, leaving him to swallow his pride and move on with his life.

It would happen to her. There was no stopping it.

It had happened to Korea, too, but that had ended in a stalemate. With neither side willing to back down or fight anymore, Korea and his doppelgänger split up and divided their land. The Korea the world knew and loved became South Korea, run by anti-communist forces, and his doppelgänger became North Korea, content to live under Kim Il-Sung. After that, South Korea changed. All the years of Japan's harsh rule and now the threat of his terrifying doppelgänger transformed him into a paranoid, troubled man. He kept his smile and cheer, but the other nations saw right through him, knowing that he was scared deep down.

It would happen to her. She knew it.

She saw the corruption in the creating of her new country. She saw the influences behind every single decision. She knew she was nothing more than an example for the rest of the world, because she knew that America's only intention was to contain communism.

"I'm gonna do everything in my power to keep you out of the hands of communists," America said to her one day on a trip to Vietnam's country with his current boss. President Eisenhower agreed and turned to Ngô Đình Diệm to have a separate conversation. America didn't seem to notice. "Trust me, Vietnam," he continued, "it's what's best for you."

Vietnam was quiet for a moment, processing the words in her head. She then looked up at America sadly and said, "He rigged the voting system with help from your boss. How am I supposed to create a good, honest country if my main supporter is promoting corruption?"

"You WANT to turn communist?" Eisenhower suddenly asked, turning away from Diệm and focusing his attention on the girl. "Do you have any idea of what your people asked for? There was an overwhelming majority in favor of the communists taking over the country. If we let the people vote fairly, you'll be a victim of the Soviet Union in no time."

Vietnam frowned. "At least it would be an honest election."

"We're trying to help you here!" America suddenly shouted, forcing the girl to look at him. "I'm not going to let that commie control you, Vietnam. I won't! He's EVIL! An evil communist!"

Vietnam looked down at her feet for a moment, letting the words sink in. She was so confused, but she knew what was going to happen. No matter how much she tried to protest, no matter how convincing she was, no matter the weaknesses she found in America's argument, she would not be able to stop the coming fighting. More than just not being able to stop America, she wouldn't be able to stop her own leader. There was no breaking Rule 1 for the sake of Rule 2 here, because even she had no idea what was right anymore.

She finally looked up and held the tears in her eyes back. Her doppelgänger stared back at her with huge, insane eyes and a grin so wide she could see every side one of its teeth.

There was no going back.

When they came for her, she would be ready.


But nothing could prepare her for just how long the fighting would go on. Her doppelgänger fought hard, loving the support from China and Russia. That same expression always stayed plastered on its face, even as the bombs detonated and the guns fired. No, it was enjoying it. It was finding pleasure in the pain. Those were the kinds of things doppelgängers lived for. China's had been the same way, as had South Korea's.

One day, while taking a rest from the fighting, Vietnam took shelter in an abandoned hut and sat down in the corner, trying to figure the mess out.

"What do I do?" she asked herself. "What do I do?"

This would take a while.

That got her thinking about the doppelgänger. It was out there, fighting mercilessly and loving every moment of it. But why? Was every doppelgänger like that? And, if each one was, WHY was it like that? What if the doppelgänger was right? Then what? Then that would make her, Vietnam, the bad guy, she rationalized. But, yet again, there was no real way to say who was right and who was wrong. When the trouble had first started, Vietnam only knew that there would be fighting, a lot of fighting. She did not know how it would all turn out.

Suddenly, she remembered something. Russia, in his communist vs. anti-communist revolutions, he had not had a doppelgänger.

"Why?" she gasped, looking up at the remains of the old hut. "It makes no sense. The communists were fighting anti-communists in a civil war-like setting. That creates a doppelgänger! Any civil war creates a doppelgänger! It's happened to all the other countries throughout history!" She paused and panted heavily. "Why...? Why was there no Russia doppelgänger?"

She feared the answer, even though she did not know what it was.


Too long and too large. That was what the war was.

Vietnam knew that her Southern soldiers were poorly armed and that the soldiers in general were poorly trained. Were they even a military? It was hard to tell, since they mostly fought in the guerilla style. The Northern soldiers were much better trained. When Russia and China were devoted to something, they went all-out. America, bless his heart, tried his best to help the South, but the North was advancing every day.

Then Diệm was assassinated in 1963 during a coup. That was the same year America's boss John F. Kennedy was assassinated, leaving Lyndon B. Johnson in charge. America seemed rather fond of him, from Vietnam's point of view anyway. He was concerned with social change in his country, which, according to America, was awesome.

However, to him, Vietnam was not a priority. He acknowledged that he needed to help fight communism, but she wasn't important to him.

That changed when he realized how dire of a situation she was in. When he heard of the problems that had arisen from Diệm's assassination, he expanded America's place in the war, sending the nation himself over there to fight the North.

Vietnam didn't know if she was relieved or angry when she saw America firing bullets. The South Vietnamese economy grew, as did the levels of corruption in the country. The coups and rigged elections happened constantly, all the way in the 1970s. Just like the fighting.

Vietnam covered her ears as the bombs exploded around her. She shut her eyes tightly and prayed that it would end. But to whom would she pray? It was useless. She had always known that this would happen. She had known that it wouldn't be easy.

But she had chosen to go along with it.

She suddenly hated herself. Her hands fell to her sides as the bombings ceased for a brief moment, reflecting on what she had done. Or, rather, what she hadn't done.

"I never tried to change anything," she whispered, not hearing the bomb that went off near by. "I never stood up. I never told America what I wanted. I never told ANYONE what I wanted." She looked down at the burnt grass as her eyes widened. "I just accepted things as they were and didn't try to stop them."

Suddenly, she stood and her eyes scanned the landscape. There was America. She could see the unsure look on his face and the fear in his eyes. He didn't see her though, too worried about the surroundings. Vietnam couldn't blame him. They were both scared to death.

"But I have to do something," she murmured. "I have to talk. I have to say something." She went to move towards America but felt a sharp tug on her arm. Surprised, she looked over her shoulder and nearly screamed, for her doppelgänger was staring right at her with that same crazy gaze and bloodthirsty grin. In a moment of panic, she tried to pull away, but the grip on her arm was too strong, and the doppelgänger actually twisted her arm around so it snapped. She shut her eyes, cried out in pain, and crumbled to the ground, clutching her broken arm as soon as the doppelgänger let go. Then she felt herself being lifted up and tossed aside. When she opened her eyes, she found that she had been thrown rather far away, and a look of horror came over her face. The doppelgänger was moving towards America.

"STOP!" she screamed. The doppelgänger did so, but it seemed like none of the other soldiers heard her. Not surprising with all the bombs and guns going off around her. She hoisted herself up and screamed again. "I DON'T WANT TO FIGHT ANYMORE! PLEASE, STOP!" She fell to her knees again and begged.

The doppelgänger turned, that same expression still on its face. Vietnam shook. "What are you planning?" she demanded, though her voice was unsure and scared. She hoped the copy could hear her.

It did and its grin widened. It opened its mouth.

"I'M not ready for the fighting to stop."

Vietnam nearly died on the spot. "YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO BE ABLE TO TALK!" she screamed, her broken, battered body shaking and failing her. She stumbled about in a desperate attempt to get to America before the doppelgänger did, but it was no use. She looked up at the copy and began to cry. "Doppelgängers aren't supposed to be able to talk," she sobbed. "Not while they're a part of the original nation..."

The doppelgänger laughed. "It can if it is destined to win."

It turned and launched an attack on America.

And the fighting continued.

America continued fighting until Vietnam was full of nothing but hate for him for all the wrong reasons. But she couldn't help it. She couldn't take it anymore, and she was ready stop once and for all.

Forgetting about her doppelgänger, she marched right up to America and slapped him across the face.

"Get out of my country," Vietnam spat, her face bitter, angry, and hateful, her teeth full of dirt and blood. "I never asked for your help, you idiot. I can take care of my own damn self; I don't need you to save me! You're no hero, America. You're just a world superpower who doesn't want to admit that there might be someone stronger out there! End your stupid war with Russia already! You can both be strong countries without hating each other!" She fell to the abused ground and sobbed, her napalm-induced wounds burning and scarring her for life.

America's troops began to pull out of Vietnam's territory the next day.

I won't cry for you, she thought as she watched the soldiers leave. The fact that you'll be gone doesn't change anything. We're both still covered in blood.

She let tears slip down her cheeks.

But, she continued thinking, if your Cold War continues like this, I should forgive you before you're dead.

North and South Vietnam were unified on April 30, 1975, after North Vietnam took Saigon. Vietnam's doppelgänger disappeared, as she had accepted the new rule.

She swore she would never return to this.


Vietnam opened her eyes as the train from Newark Airport came to its final stop on the line in New York Penn Station. She gathered her things and exited the train, walking up a flight of stairs until she reached the compound. The station was crowded, that was for sure. It reminded her of home. Hanoi was always crowded, no matter what.

"Hey! Vietnam!"

The girl looked up and saw America cheerfully waving to her. She smiled and waved back as the man jogged to her. "Hey, you finally arrived!" he laughed. "Here, let me take some of your bags."

Vietnam rolled her eyes, amused. "My hero," she chuckled as she passed two pieces of the luggage to him.

America's smile widened. "You know it!" He laughed again and the two headed outside the station.

"I'm really looking forward to this," Vietnam said as soon as they reached the busy streets of New York City. "I've been here before, but it's always been on business. I've never been here on vacation before."

"I'll make sure you see all the good stuff," America reassured as they turned a corner. "Not the tourist crap. New York's got better stuff than that."

"How is New York, by the way?"

"Doing well, thanks! He's not here today; he's in Albany. But I'll tell him you said 'hi' next time I talk to him!"

Vietnam smiled. "Thanks. What do you have in mind for dinner?"

"I looked up this cool-looking noodle place in Chinatown if you want."

"Can we have burgers for dinner tomorrow?"

"Hell yeah!"

The two walked down the busy street in silence. At one point, Vietnam noticed that her right hand and America's left hand were both empty. She reached out slightly and took his hand in hers. She noticed a small, easygoing smile appear on America's face, and she smiled back.

Her doppelgänger had been able to talk, but there was one thing it had not been able to do that she would always be able to do.

She could move on.

I'll dance, dance, dance

With my hands, hands, hands above my head, head, head

Like Jesus said.

I'm gonna dance, dance, dance

With my hands, hands, hands above my head.

Hands together.

Forgive him before he's dead because I won't cry for you.

I won't crucify the things you do.

I won't cry for you.

See, when you're gone, I'll still be Bloody Mary.

END