Chapter 8: War Memoirs

The quintet was eating quietly when Aeris broke the silence. "Oliver?"

"Yes dearie?"

"Could you fill us in a bit on how your world ended up like this...And what exactly is currently going on? We found some information, but we'd like to hear it from someone who experienced it first hand."

"How did you find information?"

"The newspaper headlines that were in the library." Aeris answered.

"Oh, yes those. Of course I can fill you in. As you've already found out, there was a war. It started in 2049, and ended seven months ago on Christmas day in 2054, leaving decimation and ruin behind it. There were barely any alliances, and the alliances that were were shaky and unreliable. Only one alliance remained relatively strong throughout the entire war, America and Canada. The rest of the alliances withered away as the war progressed. Eventually, it was every nation for themselves. We called it world war three. Because it was indeed a world war. Everyone was at war with everyone else. Friends, relationships, families...they were all but shattered."


"I'm sorry, Britain, but you're gonna have to leave. I don't want to shoot you...but I'm not afraid to."

Matthew...sweet little Matthew...why did this have to happen to him...why did nuclear bombs have to be dropped on Ontario...

"Britain, you need to go." I turned, I was surrounded by the Canadian and US armies, and America and Canada were at the front, both pointing guns at me.

"America? You too?"

"Mattie's my brother. If he wants you to leave, then you have to leave. Can't you tell we don't want you here? You broke our trust, and you betrayed our alliance to you. Again. Trying to get that back is senseless. Now, you're our enemy, and it's too late for forgiveness." America's voice was cold. There was no sadness or remorse in the words spoken. The war, the lost resources, the hostility around the world..they're so young, they don't know how to properly deal with this...they don't consider the consequences. They react on impulse...based mainly on emotion. They're too young...

"D**mit...d**mit why...you're both so young...why did this have to happen to you..."

"We don't want your pity. Shoot him Al, we can't have him crying on the battlefield like some teenaged girl." Canada's voice was bitter. The most bitter I had ever heard. This wasn't my little Matthew...this wasn't my little Alfred...

"Britain, you have 10 seconds to leave before I open fire." America said.

I held up my hands in surrender.

"I'll leave. Fine. I'll go..." Just be careful...my little boys...


Oliver had trailed off again, his eyes had started to grow misty, and tears were starting to fall.

"Ollie? Don't get upset, calme-toi!" He had an arm around the Brit's shoulder, and had pulled him into his chest. "Merde! Why do you 'ave to go and upset 'im like zhat? Can't you see 'ow difficult zhis is for 'im!" Francois said sharply, voice under toned in fear.

"No...No," Ollie sniffled, "It's okay, dearie. It's just hard to relive the memories. But I can deal with it. I feel better talking about it anyway. And please refrain from cursing, my dear, I don't want to keep reminding you." Francois let go of him and he continued.

"It was a war over resources. Resources ran out all over the world and America and China called off their trade agreement, which disrupted our entire global trade network. Poverty and famine spread across the entire world. We began to fight over control for the few remaining territories with left over resources.

We bombed one another's capitals, determined to weaken each other. Most of us lost our moral senses, and became ruthless slaughterers, dropping bombs, sending nukes, ordering our military units to kill anyone who got in our way. We wanted the resources for our people and our people alone. We didn't care about anyone else.

It reached the point that people within our own nations were fighting each other. There were riots, street fights, gun violence, and massacre. Hysteria was high, everyone was afraid that their home would be the next target. People started to go mad. We would destroy each other.

There was no UN to solve this. There was too much fighting and hatred. It seemed that no one would emerge as a victor. Everyone began to lose hope. The capitals were destroyed and nations were beyond control. Everyone had been driven mad by grief, anger, hate, greed, and hopelessness. There were no safe places anywhere. The air was thick with the reek of death, smoke, violence and bloodshed.

We, as nations were not strong enough to survive in this world, and we began to go mad. Canada was among the first. The destruction in Ontario and in the entire nation was too much for sweet little Matthew to bear..."

He trailed off once more, and the girls felt his pain and grief shoot them through the hearts. Canada was their home...

"Wh-when you say that "we, as nations..." What do you mean? Do you represent your nations? Are you diplomats or military leaders?" Anika asked shyly.

"We are the nations. We are their personifications. What happens to our nations and people is automatically reflected on us. For example, if our people go mad, we go mad. If two countries become a commonwealth, the two personifications get married. Our capitals are our hearts...if they get attacked, we have a heart attack. As a result, we age much slower. We heal twice as fast, but scar easier, because it's history marked upon our bodies. And we die when our country dissolves. Does that make sense?" Ollie explained.

The girls nodded.

"...Anyway, nations started to go insane. We were not strong enough to survive, so we changed. Not all of us, but most of us. Some of us changed so much that they forgot who they were supposed to be. The destruction of the world changed them all to insane, broken, hopeless, sociopathic killers. I was among the few who were able to hold on until the end.

I tried to preserve what I could. I tried to rekindle hope in my people. I tried to form alliances with countries who hadn't fully given up hope. But there weren't any. Everyone had either given up or was too weak to do anything. And...a small part of me started to give up as well. Because I know I failed." Emotion was prominent in Ollie's voice as he narrated the sad story.

"Time passed, and the war ended on a stalemate. Everyone was left in destruction and ruin. At least...we thought it was everyone. There was one country who stood out among the rest of us...Italy.

He took control of every nation, establishing himself as the king. Everyone was too weak to protest. So we appeased him. He promised to fix everything. He did manage to fix a couple of things, but he ruled as a ruthless, paranoid dictator. A lot of us didn't approve of his ways. There was a rebellion. It failed. They were slaughtered. Now, he's put restrictions on everything. He's forbidden any nations to communicate in fear of another rebellion. I'm afraid I'm risking everyone's life by housing Francois. He has a network of secret police in every country, to pick off everyone breaking the law or disagreeing with him. And for this I am sorry...

...I would say now that everything is better but worse. At least we're under control now...but that's not the point. We're under his control. After Italy took over...that was when I started to go mad. But even so, I know I am stronger than I used to be. However, since Italy took over, since the war began, I wish it never happened. I wish the world could go back to the way it was. But at the same time...I don't want to give up this power I have. I am stronger than Arthur ever was..." He trailed off again, before continuing, "This is a mad world, my dears. I'm afraid you're in danger. Which is why you must listen to everything I say. I want to protect you, see. I have to. Because I still believe everything will get better. I still believe this world has a chance and I must protect the heroines that will help me attain that dream."

"Heroines? What do you mean?" Alexi asked, concerned.

"That, my dear, is a conversation for another time. Now, it looks like everyone's done, so I am going to go get dessert." Without another word, he got up, collected the dishes, and departed.

"Heroines?" Alexi looked at her friends for explanation, but they were as confused as she was.

She looked at Francois, "Do you know what he means?"

"'E zhinks zhere iz still 'ope. 'E's an idiot. Zee world 'as no chance of going to back to zee way it was. It's beyond repair."

"Does he think we're the ones to save it?" Alexi wondered.

"'Ow should I know. If zhat's what 'e means, 'e's setting 'imself up for disappointment. No one can fix it. It's too late. 'E's an idiot. By now 'e should know zhat optimism gets you nowhere."

"I still believe this world everything will get better. I still believe this world has a chance..."

In her mind Alexi could not help but pity the Englishman.