The room was dark. I could almost feel a cool chill in the air. I hugged my pillow closer to me. I pulled my feet closer to my body. My teeth were chattering. I don't know if I had ever been this scared in my entire life.

I had invited Japan over to my place to watch this "movie." It was actually really scary and I was glad to have him with me. I don't know what would happen if I were alone.

The movie was about this guy who had recently come across a lot of money. Since he hadn't ever had that much money before, he didn't quite know what to do with it. He ended up spending it on huge parties and leading an extravagant life. He even gave money away to people who needed it, because he was a nice guy and all. But then, he realized that most of the money was a lie. All of the riches never existed in the first place. That's when the poor guy hit rock bottom. He hardly got anything to eat. Not even a few hamburgers! I was so scared it felt like I was dying. I could practically see my life flashing before my eyes.

"How…interesting," Japan said after the movie was over. "I must have been mistaken. This was nothing compared to the stories of my country."

"How can you say that? That was horrible!"

"Excuse me if I don't consider your home movies that scary."

"Ah! Having it based on a true story makes it even scarier that poor hero!"

Japan got up off the couch and gave me a small smile, yet there was no happiness on his face. "Your view of the world is still so small. There are several countries worse off than you. I know one in Europe that this depression is literally driving him insane."

"Europe…that rings a bell. Yeah, that was probably the last time I saw you! At France's house! You're part of that league thing I made up. How is it all going?'

The smile slipped from his face. "How regrettable. The League of Nations failed miserably. It probably would have had a chance if you had been there."

"What? You guys couldn't even keep up a simple little league. It's just a whole bunch of people held together by bonds and promises!"

The corner of his mouth turned up a bit. "Ah, to be young and naïve again. Bonds and promises are so easily broken. Injustices reveal themselves even within the best intentions." After his cryptic response, he left.

People were worse off than I was? Was I really so caught up in my depression that I had neglected my hero duties? What in the world was really going on? I got up and started heading to my office. My legs were still a little shaking, but I could get over it.

My house was dark. The hallways were filled with shadows. I almost didn't see the figure lurking slightly outside the door.

"Oh, Japan! You really scared me! I thought you had left, man! You shouldn't sneak up on your friends like that."

He didn't say anything. I only heard a slight shing as Japan pulled his katana out of his sheath."

"Japan? What are you doing?"

"How regrettable," Japan echoed. In the blink of an eye, he swung his sword at me. I was almost too stunned to move. I raised my arm as a last minute defense. The sharp blade cut through my leather jacket. Cold steel tasted my warm blood. It seemed like pure luck that he hadn't hit anything really critical. But, it still hurt. It hurt to be betrayed by my friend.

Japan slipped away into the night. I was alone in the dark. The blood from the cut on my arm dripped off my hand, staining the carpet. Suddenly, I could hear a ring. I left a trail as I made my way into the office. The phone on the hero's line was ringing. My attendants were rushing around me applying first aid as I picked up the phone.

"Well, I don't see why I have to be the one to call him. It's not like he answered his phone in ages. We've probably tried this 10 times already. Nothing is going to…oh it stopped ringing. Hello? America? Are you there?"

"England? Is that you? What's up?"

"Oh, well, you remember Germany, right? I think you met him in the Great War. Anyway, he's gone a little cuckoo if you know what I mean. Ha ha! It's funny…cause we made him make all those clocks…I guess that wasn't all that funny. He snapped and is planning to take over all of Europe. And the fact is, we need your help. God, I can't believe I just said that. I'm probably never going to live this down."

"I'll be right over," I said and slammed down the phone. I headed out toward my plane.

"But sir, you can't leave now," the attendant said as he finished wrapping my wound. "What about your cut?"

"I can't think of myself and my own misfortunes right now. Europe needs me, so I'm going to go over to help. I'll deal with Japan later."

I climbed into the pilots seat and flew off into the night, over the ocean that separated me from my calling as a hero.


"All right, now that America is here, we can discuss our strategy on how we're going to take down the Axis powers," England said. Before I had arrived he had gathered the rest of the Allies. There were the usual France and England, but there was also Russia and China. Russia still had that creepy smile on his face. He seemed even scarier than the first time I saw him, if that was even possible.

"Dude, what is Russia doing here? He seems a bit shady," I whispered to France while England is talking.

"I know! But, it's better that he's on our side. His country is pretty big and strong now, you know," France whispered back. Even if he was on our side, my gut told me I couldn't really trust him. His eyes looked like he was contemplating how he was going to take each one of us over.

"I'm not going to follow opium's plan, aru," China interrupted. "Why should we have to listen to him? I'm the oldest one here after all, aru."

"Well, I'm the largest. That means you should become one with me and listen to what I have to say, da?" Russia said. The room erupted. Everyone was arguing with each other. They really couldn't function without a hero.

"Guys, how are we going to fight with each other if all we do is fight with each other. All of you should listen to me because I'm the hero who is going to save all your asses."

"Oh really? And how exactly are you going to "save" us," England said rolling his eyes.

"Russia, you'll be my backup, just keep attacking Germany from the East. China, you'll be my back up by fighting Japan until I can come get him after I finish up in Europe. France and England, you guys will also be my backup. You guys will tag along as I invade France and get his country back. I'll be the hero by taking down Germany and Italy from the west."

The room was silent.

"Ignoring you being the hero and the rest of us being you backup, that might actually work," France said.

"I hate to agree with the frog, but he's right."

"As long as its not opium plan, I'm fine with it."

"I'll be doing fighting, da? I like fighting. It's so good to be with everyone. I'll be happy when it's peaceful, though, when you'll all be one with me."

I shuddered at Russia's afterthought, but I too longed for the past peaceful time.