Hey everyone! Don't worry, I haven't died. I just got really caught up in school and it took me forever to write this chapter. For some reason I found this chapter really hard to write. But anyways, enough of that. I own nothing, as usual.
Grumbling, Matthew grabbed another document from the seemingly endless stack of papers on his desk. This was not where he pictured himself two years after becoming his own country. He should have expected it; Arthur had always been too busy with his own paperwork to spend time with his colonies, but Matthew had always figured the man had so much because Arthur was an empire, but it seemed that every nation had their own share of the mountains of paperwork their boss got. The purple eyed nation had even more to do than normal because his parliament had agreed to buy Rupert's Land from the Hudson's Bay company, a purchase that would soon add a vast amount of territory to Matthew's new country. Yawning, Matthew rubbed his eyes blearily. He had been in the office for over eleven hours filling out paperwork, letting the humans of his parliament go home without having to work overtime.
England turned to Canada in concern, moving to put a hand on the young country's shoulder. "Just because you're a country doesn't mean that you're invincible. You need your rest."
Canada smiled sheepishly and rubbed the back of his neck as a red blush bloomed across his neck and cheeks. "I just figured that because you were always working, that's what I was supposed to do."
"Canada, I've told you many times over that Eyebrows is not a model country." France laughed. "In fact, don't do anything he tells you. He's wrong on every account."
Whirling around to face the Frenchman, England poked the other country in his chest as the green-eyed man's face turned red in rage. "Well, Frog, I seemed to have done something much better than you had because my empire lasted much longer than yours did!"
France was just about to retort with a fist to England's face when Germany caught the blow and gave the two countries a stern looked. "If jou to can't get along, I vill move you to opposite ends of zhe room."
France and England grumbled, but said nothing as they refused to look at each other.
"Vee~" Italy said, clutching Germany's arm and gazing up adoringly at the other country. "Germany is very strong."
He glanced at his clock sleepily and wondered if it would be alright if he went home. He was exhausted and just wanted to curl up in his bed with Mr. Kumajumbo or whatever the bear's name was. Making up his mind, Matthew stood from his desk and blew out the candles in the office, closing the door behind him as he left the parliament building.
oO0Oo
Matthew woke in the morning to Mr. Kumajarl bouncing on his head and demanding food.
Canada laughed as the animal in his arms repeated the same statement and gave the polar bear a few treats he kept in his jacket pocket for that exact reason.
"I'm hungry!" the bear whined. "Who are you?"
Giving a smile despite his aching heart, Matthew rolled out of bed and picked the bear up, walking towards the kitchen of his small house. "I'm Matthew, the one who feeds you." The fact that his bear was forgetting his name worried Matthew. Ever since he'd left Arthur's house to fight his brother and defend his lands in the War of 1812, Mr. Kumachco had been asking him who he was, like he didn't remember Matthew.
America frowned. "Tony remembers my name, even if it comes out amongst curses and swear words. I wonder why Mr. Kumajiro doesn't remember yours, bro."
"I don't know," Canada said. "But it's been happening for awhile now, so I've gotten used to it."
Pushing the thought aside, Matthew set his bear down on a chair and pulled out several sausages and a few slices of bread from his icebox. After adding more wood to the fire that warmed his stove, Matthew cooked the sausages, brought them to the table and sat next to Mr. Kumajiro. Bread and sausages with maple syrup wasn't as good as pancakes with syrup, but Matthew had been so busy lately, he hadn't had the time to spare to make the delicious breakfast food. Cutting up the sausages, Matthew felt the beginnings of a headache start to tap at his temples.
"Ow," Matthew grimaced as he took bite of his sausage rolled in bread. "I think that headache is a sign that I need more sleep, what do you think, Mr. Kumajico?"
He smiled at his pet, but the bear only said. "Hungry!"
oO0Oo
"Sorry! I'm so sorry!" Matthew said as he pushed his way through the crowded streets near his parliament building. A constant headache had been pounding in his head for over a month now, never disappearing but never increasing in strength, so Matthew figured it had something to do with all the paperwork he'd been going through because of the purchase of Rupert's Land.
Finland tilted his head in suspicion. "I don't think it's because of that." he said slowly.
It had hurt so much the night before that he'd laid down in bed earlier than normal to see if he could sleep it off.
No luck. In addition to the headache, he'd totally forgotten about the meeting with the House of Commons until he'd spotted the note from his Prime Minister attached to a document that he'd pulled from the pile. Now Matthew was late and had to fight his way through the crowds that spanned the sides of his snowy streets to get to the House of Commons. Slowing to a stop at the doors, Matthew took a moment to straighten his jacket and brush the snow from his hair before entering the room looking more dignified than he had moments before.
"Mr. Williams, how nice of you to join us at last." Matthew's Prime Minister, Sir John A. Macdonald, stood at the front of the room, going over some notes.
Matthew flushed as he took his seat. "Apologies, sir."
With that, the meeting started. Matthew tried to pay attention, he really did, but his headache was no longer a gentle tap, but now a pounding rhythm against his forehead. The room also seemed warm, warmer than it should be in March, especially in Canada. Matthew's head slumped against his chair as his vision started to blur, causing Macdonald to pause in his speech, but continued when Matthew waved away the silent question, but Matthew didn't miss the concerned glances the man sent his way every few minutes.
By the time the meeting ended, Matthew was in agony. His head hurt like hell and his vision was blurry with dark spots dancing in it. When the final break was called, Matthew couldn't get out of the room fast enough.
"Matthew!" stopping in the door and leaning heavily on the frame, Matthew turned sluggishly to see Macdonald approaching him in concern. "Are you alright?"
It took a few moments for the question to process in Matthew's mind. "Huh? Oh-right, sorry. I - I think it's just the Resistance in Rupert's Land, it's just messing with my mind, but I'll be-" With a gasp, Matthew doubled over and clutched his head. Images rushed through, a Métis leader ordering men to carry out an order Matthew couldn't catch over the other sounds blurring in his head. A man Matthew knew to be one of the English-speaking Ontario settlers being dragged out, screaming and pleading, by more Métis before being executed by a firing squad. The uproar those actions caused for the opposing side in Ontario.
'What is happening?' Matthew thought.
oO0Oo
Six months after that, Matthew stood with a column of Canadian militiamen and British regulars in the new province of Manitoba, watching over the Métis people who now lived with the English-speaking settlers in an uneasy peace. To calm the resistance that had been happening in the former Rupert's Land, Matthew's government had guaranteed the Métis their land titles and ensured that they had enough land for the next generation of children to grow up with a piece of soil to call their own. The leader of the resistance, Louis Riel, had fled to the United States and was now Matthew's brother's problem. Part of Matthew was happy about that; Riel had been causing an unrest amongst his new and still fragile country, but part of Matthew agreed with the rebel's ideas of preserving Métis culture and tradition in a province that was rapidly becoming under the Canadian influence.
oO0Oo
Over the next decade, Matthew felt the pain of his native people as their ways of life were slowly pushed to the far corners of the country by the new Canadian settlers. He heard their pleas for rescue, for some God or Spirit to save them from the invasion of their cultures. Unfortunately, there was nothing Matthew could do. Every time he broached the subject to his Prime Minister, Macdonald would wave off his concerns with statements that 'they were doing what was best for their country and the natives would just have to learn to adjust'. He couldn't ask Arthur either; he didn't want the Empire to think that Matthew's country was falling apart after less than three decades of being a Dominion. Matthew didn't want to even think about what Arthur would do if he found out, so he kept silent.
England shifted uncomfortably. So Canada hadn't come to him because of what he'd said when America had declared his independence, then when the country had declared war on his brother and fallen into civil war. Burying his head in his hands, England couldn't help the feelings of guilt that washed over him as he watched his former colony suffer in silence because of the fear of England's judgement.
For years, Matthew watched from the sidelines as his people suffered. It seemed like nothing could help the native's plight.
Until Riel returned from exile.
The former resistance leader seemed to lift the spirits of his people and give them hope once again. He organized the Métis people of the North-West and made petitions for their rights. To Matthew, it seemed that everything was working out.
Then everything went wrong.
"Of course it did." grumbled Spain.
What Matthew thought to be a new start for his people quickly turned into bloodshed. He could only watch in horror as Riel seized control of the Métis and once more brought them to rebellion.
"Of course he did." Spain said again, this time accompanied by several other countries.
When he heard that there was armed forces heading to confront Riel and the Métis, he begged Macdonald to be sent with them.
"Please, sir." Matthew grabbed Macdonald's shirt sleeve as the man tried to leave his office. "They're my people, rebels or not. I deserve to be there, fighting next to them." Matthew still wasn't sure which side of the rebellion 'them' was.
Macdonald frowned. "I need you here, Mr. Williams. Your help in the past months has been much appreciated, but I can't let you go into a dangerous place without being a soldier."
"Bullshit," Matthew growled, surprised at the curse that escaped him. He didn't normally curse, no matter what he felt on the inside. Taking a deep breath to calm himself, Matthew continued in a much calmer, but no less venomous tone, "I've fought in every battle this country has found itself in since the Seven Years War and I have been a warrior of my people long before then. I deserve to be there, formal soldier or no. I could go with the citizen volunteers." Matthew offered.
Macdonald let out a long sigh through his nose and did not speak for several minutes. "Alright," he said at last. "I'll let you go, but you must not tell anyone of your position in the government. I don't want the rebels to have anymore leverage than they already have if you happen to be captured.
Matthew could have let out a whoop of triumph, but he kept it contained. "Thank you, sir."
oO0Oo
It really could have gone better, Matthew supposed. With Riel having being tried and hung days before, the rebellion had all but dispersed. Still, the cost was high. So many of Matthew's people were dead, both Native, Métis, and the white settlers, all because his government had ignored the rights of the people and the rebels were worried that their ways of life would be erased by the ever changing world. So many of the Métis were dead or had fled into exile, worried of what would happen to them and their families in the aftermath of the North-West rebellion defeat. Matthew's eyes burned as he thought of the promise he mother had made him make. A promise to take care of the land and his people, no matter what culture they had. Bowing his head in shame, Matthew realized that he hadn't been doing that and he'd let the settlers push his Natives and Métis, his original people, to the sidelines in an effort to better their country.
Matthew was really glad his mother wasn't still with him to see his failures.
Please review if you want me to continue with this story. It will follow Canada from when he was discovered to the present. I will warn you though. I'm Canadian, so the information here is what was in my history textbook and might be a little biased, but I will try my best not to favour one side over another. Many thanks for reading!