So, a bit shorter than usual, and a bit longer to get out than usual but...geh.. you can't blame me. I was totally distracted by all the USxUK love that was going on (made me soo happy. those two are totally my OTP~) and then the olympic games!
the olympics are...weird, to put it mildly. i mean, they were talking about the luge track at whistler...and then my physics teacher was just telling us last weekend about how he was going up to whistler...it's so strange living so close to where the olympics are happening....kinda cool tho. -3- personally, i'm looking foward to the male russian figure skating. does anyone kno if that guy is going to be competing? i hope he is...
ok, i'm going to shut up now. hope you enjoy!
Ch. 11-A Decision
Arthur shifted again, trying to get comfortable. Following the disaster in Indiana, the group had continued its push eastward, being extremely careful to avoid main roads and large cities. While passing through some small town in Pennsylvania, they'd spotted a "WANTED" notice for Arthur.
"Mon petit Angleterre", Francis had reasoned while trying to keep an enraged Briton from strangling him, "It was bound to happen sooner or later."
Arthur rolled over, the sleeping bag providing some relief but not a lot. They were still in Pennsylvania, and had decided to stop in some of the woods to sleep. Toris had volunteered to keep watch; he would sleep during the drive down to DC. They were close, so close to their destination, to Alfred... Arthur wanted to push through, to keep going, but he realized that in order to be able to rescue Alfred, they were all going to have to be in top condition.
Something that's not helped by sleeping on the forest floor in the middle of the day he thought dourly as he turned over again, and finally managed to doze off into a fitful slumber.
Alfred stared at the ceiling, watching the flies buzz around. He was thinking about his latest conversation with Sydney. The boy had changed since he'd started talking to Alfred. He became more open, easier to talk to. He wasn't a stupid boy, Alfred had quickly realized. He was a fast learner, and in the past week, Alfred had been teaching him about world history, starting with the great Mesopotamian river-civilizations. (Despite his attitude, Alfred was still a nation. He was quite well-informed about history, even though he usually acted like he knew nothing.) The boy had been particularly fascinated by the Golden Horde.
"How did they conquer so much territory?" Sydney had asked, staring at the map, "They…they started with hardly anything…"
Alfred smiled, and nodded, "The Golden Horde, and the fall of the Kevian Rus were revolutionary moments in history." Alfred frowned, "The nations, myself and the others, as you know, are defined by our people. Our people essentially determine when we are born, and when we die. There are moments in history, moments that define the nations. The fall of the Kevian Rus was one such moment, a moment when a nation was essentially "defined" for the centuries to come."
"Oh really?" the boy had looked up from the map, "Which nation did it "define"?"
Alfred shook his head, "The Mongols were great generals, great conquerors, and great butchers. Remember, great and good are seldom the same man. A man can be great and terrible; there are many instances where this has happened. Maximilien Robespierre. Genghis Khan. Alexander the Great. None of these men are what we like to think of as "good", but great? Yes, there is no doubt they were. The Mongols were a great and bloody people. In many instances, they are praised for "uniting" Asia and spreading tolerance. They united Asia by killing anyone who defied them, and only tolerated religious freedom because they were too busy conquering to really mess with such a "trivial" topic. They raped, beat, destroyed the nation..." Alfred paused, a shadow passing over his face, "The Mongols separated him from his family, and he was so young at the time…in human years I don't think he was even a teenager. It defined him for centuries to come, defines him even now. He's never recovered from it, you know. Look at his history. From that moment on, it only spirals downward, a path of blood, misery and suffering…" Alfred trailed off, frowning thoughtfully.
"Umm…"Sydney looked rather confused, "Who's "he"? Which nation did this define?"
Alfred looked back at Sydney, a dejected look settling across the nation's features, "Ivan Braginski" he responded, "Russia."
Alfred rolled over. Why had he told Sydney that? He never opened up about Ivan. The man was crazy, a forbidden topic. However, Ivan was the only nation Alfred ever had really considered an equal. They had a sick relationship, Alfred knew, but a thrilling one. The nation challenged him, forced him to remain alert at all times, twirling that blood-stained pipe and grinning that maniacal smirk…Alfred always met it with a smirk of his own, neither powers backing down, neither gaining much ground. With Ivan, Alfred felt that he could just release everything.
Alfred loved Arthur. There was no doubt in his mind about that. However, strength-wise, Arthur simply couldn't always keep up with Alfred. Alfred had to sometimes control himself around Arthur (not that he minded too much…he would do anything to see that beautiful smile or adorable blush), but around Ivan, Alfred could do whatever the fuck he wanted. There was no holding back, no love, only raw, animalistic, barbaric strength. It was ugly, it was bloody, and it was just wonderful.
Though such a relationship might have been condemned, Alfred knew Arthur really couldn't complain. Considering he regularly had one-night flings with Francis, it would be somewhat hypocritical to do so. Such were the relationships of nations; nothing was established, really. Everyone had slept with everyone at some point, everyone held affairs while in relationships. When you live for hundreds, or thousands of years, such things suddenly seem much less important.
The door was suddenly flung open, disturbing Alfred's thoughts. He sat up, startled. Sydney came in, his face pale and stiff. The doors slammed behind him, and the boy approached Alfred. "A…Alfred" he managed to get out.
"Sydney?" Alfred asked, looking at the boy, "What's wrong?"
Sydney bit his lip, shaking his head back and forth, back and forth. He was crying, Alfred noted, little rivulets running down his face, his nose dribbling slightly. "Th…They…" he managed to gasp out before he gave into his tears, falling to the floor and shaking his head even more violently.
"Hey, c'mon," Alfred got off his bed and knelt next to Sydney where the boy sat on the floor, "C'mon, what happened? It can't be that bad…"
"It…I…I…" the boy reached forward and grasped the front of Alfred's shirt, pulling the nation down, "I'm sorry…I'm so, so, so, sorry…I can't do anything…I…I thought that I could come into power…take control of America, and fix what my Fa…Father did…" he hiccupped loudly and gave into a fresh wave of tears.
"Sydney, what happened?" suddenly fear gripped his stomach, "Oh, god, please don't tell me they managed to capture Arthur and the others…"
Sydney shook his head, biting his lower lip. Relief flooded Alfred, but Sydney still sobbed, "I'msorryI'msorryI'msorry…" he chanted, clutching tighter onto Alfred's shirt, "Goddamnit…I…I…"
"Sydney, calm down, tell me what happened."
The boy looked up at him, "You…they…"
"Yes? What about me and them?"
"They…They…
"What?"
"THEY'RE PLANNING ON EXECUTING YOU!"
The words fell from Sydney's mouth, a shriek, and for a second, Alfred wasn't quite sure if he had heard correctly, "Wait…" the nation said slowly, staring at the boy sobbing on the floor in front of him, "Did…did you say they were planning on…executing me?"
Sydney looked up at Alfred, his blue eyes swimming in tears. Slowly, never taking his gaze from the nation's face, they boy nodded. Alfred blinked then chuckled weakly, "Well this is somewhat unexpected. Why the sudden decision?"
Sydney shook his head, "F…Father knows it's over…he…he know it's only a matter of time…before he's overthrown. The…the demonstration with the Star Spangled Banner...F…FIA's growing strength…and the other nations trying to rescue you…Father thinks that…if…if he kills you…he'll kill the…the old America…and have a chance of staying in…power…" the boy looked back down, dropping his grip on Alfred's shirt. "I…I…can't do anything…he won't listen to me, won't even talk to me…He scheduled it already. A hanging. In two days at noon."
Alfred said nothing, his brain still trying to process the information. His own government was planning on killing him. Was it even possible to kill nations? He vaguely remembered Francis saying something about nations dying once, but he hadn't really been paying attention…What was it? The Nations represented the people, that much Alfred knew. So, the only way for a nation to die, to truly die, would be if the people no longer identified with the nation…The American people still referred to themselves as "Americans" but did they associate with the nation, with him anymore? Alfred frowned. He was taking Sydney's news rather calmly, though he didn't know why. Perhaps, as a nation, death just seemed like such a foreign concept.
"A…Alfred?"
"Yes?"
"D…Did you hear me?"
"Yea…yea, I did."
"Well?"
"Well what?"
Sydney looked shocked, "Aren't you worried!?"
Alfred frowned, "I suppose I am. Maybe I'm in shock? For some reason, I don't feel too worked up about it."
"You're going to die. Wait…You're a nation!" as if just realizing it, Sydney's face lit up, "You can't die then! You're a nation, right?"
"Yes…" Alfred nodded slowly, "But I can still die, remember the conversation we had about the "defining moments" in history?"
"Yes, what about it?"
"In those "defining" moments, one of two things happen to the nations. We either change with the moment, or we die and someone else takes our place. I…I think that this "second revolution" is one of those moments. It's definitely caused enough of an upset."
"So then you can die?"
"I…I think so."
"No" Sydney's hysteria seemed to be returning, "No. no! You…you can't! You have to save your people; you have to fight for them, goddamnit! Don't just sit there! Help me! Think of a way to get you out!"
"This place is too well-guarded."
"SO YOU'RE JUST GOING TO SIT THERE?! WHAT ABOUT YOUR PEOPLE!? THEY NEED YOU!"
"I'm not worried about my people."
"Wh…what?" Sydney looked at Alfred, his mouth slightly agape, his eyes bulging, "Don't you care?"
Alfred smiled, "I care. Of course I care. I love my people beyond belief, but am I worried for them? No. They're American. They are patriots, and as I love them, I know they love me. Each man must for himself alone decide what is right and what is wrong, which course is patriotic and which isn't. You cannot shirk this and be a man. The American people will decide what is right, what is wrong, and what they are willing to fight for, to die for. The American people are idealists, dreamers. They are my children, and I love each and every one of them."
You know what's so wonderful about being an American? Anyone can do it. It doesn't matter who you are, or what you believe in. It doesn't matter your age, your class, your race. Anyone can be an American. It's a beautiful thing, really. And when you have that kind of diversity, when the people from all over the world come together under one title, anything is possible." By now Alfred was standing, his face flushed in happiness as he talked, "Don't you see, Sydney? I'm not worried about my people. They can look after themselves. The American people will not stand for such a government. Your Father can kill as many people as he wants. He can fill the streets with the blood of the patriots, but the American spirit will never be vanquished."
"Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. For Americans the greatest treasure is liberty, is freedom. For this, for these rights, they will fight, they will die, and goddamnit, my help or not, by that bastard's will or not, they will triumph!"
Sydney was staring at Alfred. The boy opened his mouth, closed it, then opened it again, "I…I still don't understand why you aren't at least scared" he finally managed to croak out before turning from the room and leaving.
They were forced to enter DC on foot, ditching the car in some outlying woods and proceeding to the last FIA stronghold on foot. It was an average house in the suburbs surrounding DC, and while soldiers still patrolled the area, the group had been lucky and reached the household with no incident.
"Glad you could make it." A man had come and greeted them once Julie had explained who they were. "You can stay here for as long as you want. Plan your attack on the White House carefully though. We can provide you with ammo and firearms, but there's only so far a good gun can take you against a horde of musclemen."
"Don't worry" Arthur reassured him, "We're going to get scans of the White House. Mei?"
"Yes darling?" a voice responded in his ear, a high falsetto.
"Gilbert" Arthur growled, "Connect me up with Mei."
"You know Artie I just realized something"
"That's wonderful, I don't care. Now connect me!"
"And that is that you have not been hosting very many drinking parties lately."
"WHAT THE FUCK!?" Arthur screamed besides himself with rage, "I'M TRYING TO STOP THE WORLD FROM BEING BLOWN TO DAVY JONE'S LOCKER AND ALL YOU CAN THINK OF IS DRINKING!?!? FOR THE LOVE OF GORDON BENNET, CONNECT ME WITH MEI NOW YOU DAFT MORON!"
"Oww…geez Artie. Yelling doesn't get anyone anywhere you know. I'm the one with the connection you need. So, in order to get it, I'm going to need some compensation."
"You…sodding…little…wanker…"
"So then you're game?"
"Arthur" Matthew, who had heard the entire conversation on his own earpiece, came over to Arthur, "Just…say yes, we don't have a choice, you know."
Arthur closed his eyes, "Fine. Yes. Yea. Whatever. When we get back, we'll do something. Ok. NOW CONNECT ME."
"See what a wonderful thing cooperation can be?" Gilbert cackled, switching over the connection to the technology team.
"Hello?"
"Hey Mei" Arthur responded, getting his temper back under control, "Could we get scans of the white house?"
"Scans of the White House….scans of the White House…Yea, we can do that." Mei stared intently at the screen before her, scrolling downward as she looked through the numerous files they had succeeded in hacking, "Ah!" she said, grinning, "Here it is! Just give me a second, I'll…wait…what the!?"
Arthur frowned as Mei's voice suddenly changed from one of confidence to one of panic. "Mei!?" he cried out, "Oi! Mei! What's going on!?"
"Shit…they…" her voice was breaking up now, and Arthur had to strain to hear her, "Slipped…virus…system-"
Her voice was suddenly completely cut off, "Mei?! MEI!?"
"What happened?" Jack had hurried over now, looking concerned, "We've lost all connection!"
"Yea. I know." Arthur responded, fiddling with his mike, "Fuck, I think a virus managed to slip into their system or something…"
"And they crashed?"
"Looks like it."
"So we're cut off from the others?"
"I think so…can you get a hold of the idiots?" Arthur asked.
"Lemme try" Jack responded, "Gilbert? Feliciano? Mathais?"
Silence.
"Nope." Jack shook his head, "Look like we're on our own…no scans of the white house, no anything."
Arthur nodded grimly, "I've been in the White House numerous times. We'll just have to go off of that."
Mei glared at the now-blank screen, "Great. Perfect timing." She muttered to herself as she began to fiddle with the keyboard.
"Mei?" a voice addressed her and she looked up. "Kiku" she responded, nodding curtly.
"What happened?" Kiku asked, his face the usual blank mask.
She shook her head, "They got us. Damnit." She shook her head, "We'll be able to get this system up and running soon…but I don't know if we'll be on time. They need the scans soon."
"They've shut down the entire system. My computers are down too."
"Fuck." Mei cursed, biting her lower lip, "We'll never get the system up and running in time."
"No, we can." Kiku shook his head, "But it'll be difficult. We need extra power though. If we can get it, we should be able to shove through the system. Of course, that would notify the Americans to our presence, but at this point, I think it's safe to say it does not really matter."
"We need more power, huh?" Mei frowned, "But where are we going to get that? I hate to say it, but the most efficient source of energy is still petroleum. We've only switched over to renewable energy lately because of the desire to be more environmentally friendly, but I think that we'd all agree that a bit of pollution is better than an all-out nuclear war. Our problem is that…well, we don't have enough fuel, and the nations with fuel have all abandoned this mission."
"So we're screwed." Kiku said, sighing
"Unless you know a nation that's willing to supply us with the oil you mentioned, then yea."
"And therein lies the problem. All nations with lots of oil hate Alfred, are unstable-"
"-and have no desire to help the selfish brat, da?"
"Exactly." Kiku nodded, then paused. His face remained rather emotionless, but if the way he was clenching his fists any indication, he was clearly in shock.
"I…Ivan?" Mei's face had paled considerably as she stared up at the nation that had suddenly appeared out of seemingly nowhere, "Ho…how did you get in here!?"
"What do you mean?" Ivan smiled politely, shrugging. "I came in the front door."
"This is a highly-secured location!" Mei replied shrilly, waving her hands about, "You can't just "come in the front door!"
"But I did."
"You…the…how…" the Asian nation managed to stutter out as she pointed at the giant.
"If that's the only concern you have, then I believe we can get to business now?" Ivan smiled, "I happened to overhear you complaining about a lack of fuel?"
"Yes" Kiku said, his eyes flashing dangerously, "But we will not take any from any source that would potentially use it as leverage in the future."
"How about a nation that would provide it at no cost, with no strings attached?" Ivan was leaning over now, so that he was eye-level with Kiku. The tension between the two was obvious, and Kiku bristled, his face still lacking emotion but his eyes flashing dangerously.
"If this nation was willing to put it in writing, we might have something" the smaller nation responded, his voice taking on a dangerous and guarded edge.
Ivan pulled back, a large grin gracing his feature, "Then it seems like we have come to an agreement, da?"
Kiku hesitated, before nodding, "Hai."
Ok, so in my head cannon, none of the nations are really in an est. relationship...i mean, USxUK is my OTP, but i'm sorry, FrUK is just cannon. and RussiaXAmerica is too....i don't mean to offend anyone who's british by saying england can't keep up with america strngth-wise, it's just kinda..true. i mean, england's more focused on other things while america's like "military! fuck yea!" you kno? guuh.....so hard to explain....
anywho! there's quiet a few quotes in here...imma gonna go with three..i'm not entirely sure actually....
and finally! who noticed the lack of grammatical errors? :D ehehe~one of my awesome friends, brittany (princesscharming101 on ) agreed to beta my fics...after she read them and noticed the gross grammatical errors...she's awesome and i love her~(even though she needs to just admit that megan will ALWAYS win..and she will always lose...fufufufu~) here's her page if anyone wants to check out her fics! (and bug her about that code geass one.....)
.net/u/1621421/princesscharming101
