Peter wants to grow up. Sealand wants to be a Nation.
He no longer thinks this is possible.
Peter has no idea when he suddenly realized that his existence was a joke. He had taken Sealand's word for what they were. Peter was perfectly happy believing every single word of that. They would become a Nation. They would be important, noticed, believed, recognized, everything. Everything a Nation was, they planned to be. And Peter has no idea when he started to realize that the entire thing was a joke.
Maybe it is because of England's reaction. Or lack thereof. Sealand will do anything to make England notice them and England continues to ignore them. Once Sealand had Germany's attention, but once Achenbach was gone then Germany was back to ignoring him.
They were nearly taken in by Sweden, they were nearly taken in by Spain. Sealand says this is their path to all of their goals. Peter believed this, once, and now he is not so certain. This gets them noticed, to be sure, but that is it. They do not grow this way. This is not the path to become a Nation.
Sealand has been lying to him since the day they existed. Peter realizes that there is no way Sealand could ever become anything, not in being who he is right now. Sealand will only just barely exist as anything and Peter has to follow along. Because Sealand just barely exists, Peter just barely exists.
In just barely existed, Peter supposes he should be happy enough he is a child, that he is anything at all. All in all, there was not much to say about it.
Peter would want to play instead of being responsible, just as Sealand would get distracted from his goal of what he wanted to become.
"I heard Scotland telling that jerk England a story," Peter said, leaning over to pick up a pebble on the beach. Sealand, as always, responded immediately.
"Oh yeah? What's it about?"
"I've heard it before... I think," Peter frowned. "Peter and Wendy."
Sealand stayed quiet. Peter was not certain why. Because it hit so close to home? Then it should be funny, or strange, or creepy, right? Not cause Sealand to look so scary. Not cause Sealand to...
"Let's go see what England's doing."
"'Kay."
Sealand has always been a bit more of a leader then Peter. Not that Peter cannot do it if he wanted, oh he could, but Peter prefers playing pretend. He prefers pretending that he is grown up. If he was actually twelve years old, the irony would have been lost on him, but it is not. Not that it keeps him from feeling how he feels. He pretends he is grown up and Sealand pretends he is a Nation.
Maybe that was what all of this has been about in the first place. Maybe Sealand is not lying to him, maybe this is just a game that keeps them in existence. Peter thinks about it, wants to ask someone, but thinks that talking to it with Sealand would make him loose the game. And there is no one else to talk to.
It is lonely, so Peter plays pretend with pretend people. Not like the people England thinks he sees, Peter does not actually believe they exist. It is just nice to pretend they do. He wonders whether being grown up would mean the loneliness would go away.
"It's part of being a Nation!"
Peter swallows.
"I'm sorry, Peter, but it's just what I am."
Sealand says it with a smile and Peter is comforted. Until it plagues his mind again, but forgetting is so easy.
Peter is, after all, only a child. Sealand is, and never forget this, only pretend.
Next will be Greece, Sweden, Denmark, and others... I thank those who gave requests, to tell the truth Rome never came to mind, but I am certain it will be a fascinating write when I get there. There are a few people I am surprised no one has asked for yet, but we have enough time until then, I believe. Thank you.