The residence of England was bustling with life as nations gathered again for another world meeting. Almost all representatives were present except for the Nordics, Russia, China, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Poland, Ukraine, Belarus, Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary, Austria and their former friends turned enemies – Germany, Japan and North Italy. The present nations remained agitated and spoke in whispery voices, all of them were exhausted from the massive assault of the Axis on their respective countries. Even the great America was seating silently in one of the corners of the meeting hall, deep in thought when he was approached by England and France. The two newcomers grabbed a seat and sat down on each sides of the American.
"Never did I see you look like that until you had made the decision to bomb the Axis' vital cities, mon ami" France leaned back on his chair and took a swig of one of the most expensive wine he found on England's cellar. America's silence made the French intrigued more on the blond nation with rimmed glasses whose azure eyes were once alive with energy now bereft of liveliness brought by the Second World War. With all the pain and sorrow that they witness as their beautiful world transformed into a treacherous and merciless place, with the continuous decimation of their own populace, they will never be the same. The representative of Finland has long been gone, Austria was dying with the annexation Germany had made, Poland might meet the same cruel fate within the wretched four walls of Auschwitz, Belarus and Ukraine remained missing until now and all that they knew to the sisters were they were regarded as highly-sought prisoners of war of the Axis, and Russia was currently fighting with Prussia in the same place that the Russian and the Finn had the battle.
"Haven't I made the right decision to launch a huge-scale attack on them, right?" America remained troubled by his choice, but looking back to all the abominations done by the Axis he needed to quickly execute their verdict to prevent more casualties. The Kingdom of Italy was collapsing and so was the Third Reich. The only problem that remained was the Empire of Japan and the said nation took up the most space on his troubled mind. He knew fully well that Japan would suffer the most tragic consequence the Allies had set and the possibility of dissolution was eminent. Japan… Why don't you just surrender? Even if your country had done grievous deeds to us, I cannot… I cannot bomb your vital cities knowing that another representative, another friend of mine would die. We had already lost Finland, we were already losing Austria and Poland, and would we also lose you too, Japan? Please… Please give up! I do not want to lose any more friends!
"Is that the great America we had known before?" England was in his usual self of scoffing at his former colony. As a former colonizer of America, Britain knew fully well the emotions and feelings of Alfred Jones. Even if America is not under his dominance anymore, America would always be Britain's America. Seeing the discomfort of the blond nation he was aware that America was making second thoughts on blasting Japan just to end the Second World War, but in order to stop the global war to continue raging on, a price must be paid and the answer is already obvious - the inevitable dissolution of another country.
"Do not forget the death of Finland nor the worsening condition of Austria and Poland. Remember that Finland fought with all his best to protect his nation's freedom and his people against Russia even if it cost his own life. Remember the pitying conditions of our fellow representatives, Austria and Poland. The two should have been spared but due to the corrupted ideals of the Axis they had paid the heaviest price among us, nations. Amerique, Japan is also our friend too and so is Germany and Italy but this is no time for you to be compassionate to them. Would you even dare to look in the eyes of our fellow nations when they knew that the great America, the very nation that they could always rely can't protect them from the Axis plainly you are hesitant to counterattack their former friends?" France set down his emptied wine glass on the carpeted floor and gazed at the slumped form of America. Even England approved the statement of France, there was no room for further uncertainties.
"Finland visited me when I was doing paper works in my office, days ago" England watched his fellow nations all engaged in hushed discussions of their own before shifting back his attention to America and France. "Finland… He changed a lot after his untimely death" England knew that America was hanging on every word he was telling even if the blond nation remained stationary. Though America barely exchanges conversation with Finland, the representative did not expect that they will lose Finland during the Winter War.
"Did he forgive us, England?" France perked up on the sudden change of topic, it was a long time that he heard the name coming from the British. After the unfortunate death of Finland, no one dared to speak his name, the world knew the very reason behind the demise of one of the kindest and most cheerful representative. After the ill-fated incident, the remaining nations barely see Russia afterwards.
"Finland forgave us… He forgave me from not being there by his side when he needed me the most"
Tap! Tap! Tap! Tap! Tap! Tap!
"Enter!" The door opened and a soldier entered the room, England's back was on him as the British were staring passively at the swirling snow now overlaying the entire Europe. "What brings you here, Lieutenant?"
"It is my gravest regret to inform you that Mr. Tino Väinämöinen has passed away, Commander" An eerie silenced dawned on the room, no one broke the deafening stillness, only the ticking sound of the wall clock could be heard until England finally gestured the soldier to depart the room. The soldier exited the room silently leaving England all alone again, leaving the representative suffocate in painful solitude of Finland's passing.
"I am sorry…" A lone tear coursed down his left cheek and for every tear that fell down from his eyes, things that should have been for Finland flashed before his sight – a painful remembrance of him deserting the representative when Finland needed him the most. "I am sorry, Finland! I am sorry!" No matter how many times England said those words, those words were now useless. He promised to stand side-by-side with Finland against Russia, but he let Finland fought all alone when he knew that Finland would not survive the Winter War. Because of him, Finland was now laying lifelessly somewhere far away from his home. Now its too late for England to correct his mistakes and not even his magic could bring back the life of Tino Väinämöinen.
"I should have been with Finland fighting Russia even if my government forbids me to do so. Maybe, just maybe I was with him on that day then perhaps Finland might still be alive until now" England gazed at the empty seat of Finland at the other end of the long table never to be occupied by Tino again. Even if Tino would be replaced by another representative, the truth that the former representative of Finland died would never change; an excruciating reality that he would bring to his own grave.
America should bomb the vital cities of Japan, straightaway. America could not bear anymore the tremendous weight of the unceasing stare from the two representatives and he looked up, dark circles formed underneath his once lively blue eyes from the countless sleep-deprived nights.
"Would you all be with me?" The intensity of America's pleading gaze was enough for England and France not to doubt their intuitions to remain by America's side.
"Of course, America. Of course…" England genuinely smiled, and he enveloped the blond nation in warmth, tight hug. After millennia had passed, his love toward his former colony never changed. For once, America craved for such affection and he let himself be wallowed in his centuries of long-forgotten attachment towards England.
"Thank you, England! Thank you for not leaving my side…" America whispered with relief and for a long while, he felt immense joy and contentment in his life. Years and years of him living with England are long over, but in that moment all those memories came back to him like huge waves from the sea of longing came crashing to the shore of the distant past. America felt he was transported back to the bygone years of being a child nation under the custody of England. After a long time he felt at home at last.
Boris dragged the two female nations amidst their protests and the inharmonious battle reverberations surrounding them. Based from the intensity of the battle, the Germans already encircled the area. A very slim chance of escape for the two nations are laid before them, Boris knew that no hope was left for them. After the crossroad the three of them traversed, there was no more turning back. There was none for them to return to. All were now lifeless and in ashes. Their enemies are pursuing them beyond death. Not even the twins, Olesya, Vasilii, Anton and the rest of the guerillas survived the sudden onslaught of Germany. The wicked ideals of the Axis killed millions of civilians and soldiers alike.
"Boris, you should flee with us! You'll not be spared when you get caught!" Belarus pleaded to the red-haired man but the leader of the guerilla remained silent and stiff.
"Father, please go with us!" Ukraine pleaded; innumerable tears fell down from her once porcelain face now smudged with dirt and ash. Boris remained passive until they reached the storehouse. Boris forcefully slides the door and he shoved the two personifications inside.
"Go now, Kats. There's no more time to lose. The two of you are too precious to lose" Boris smiled, tears pooled on his eyes as he slowly close the door, their distance are getting wider every now and then. Ukraine and Belarus were his children even for just a short time and being sundered from them was losing again his family twice, the pain was too much to bear and only death could free him from such agony. The pain was getting unbearable as Ukraine clutched on her adopted father.
"Shhh… This is inevitable. But dear, this is the only way. The two of you must live…" Boris gently kissed Ukraine on her forehead. "Long live, my dears. We will see each other again" It was the final moment that the two representatives saw Boris alive before the door shut on them.
"FATHER!"
"Shhh! I hear voices" Ukraine covered her mouth with her hands, their hearts thumping in the semi-darkened storehouse. "We should escape whilst we have time, sister!" Belarus whispered through her clamped lips, her hands are becoming clammy and her legs wobbled more if they remained for too long. She looked again to the trap door partially hidden among the stacked hays. Every seconds wasted is an inch closer to the iron grasps of the Axis, two hearts beating at the unfathomable speed of life, tears of grief for the beloveds that gone to soon clouded their visions and the tuneless ensemble of war encircling them.
"Belarus!" Ukraine landed hard on the rough, cold ground of the escape tunnel. Belarus descended next, the last ray of light from the opened ceiling of the storehouse extinguished as the trapdoor closed above them. "Just trust me, dear sister. Father showed me this tunnel and where it leads to. He knows that you will disobey him if…"
"What is this, father?" Belarus eyed the open trapdoor of an abandoned barn with keen interest.
"Just promise me dear that whatever happens the two of you must go on"
"Father!" Boris ruffled the silvery hair of Natalia, a loving look etched on his aging face. Natalia knew soon enough that he was serious. After all, for a life to live one must sacrifice. In this kind of world they are existing right now, they will live while Boris and the rest will die.
"I know Ukraine will just protest if I bring her here. So I guess its you that should accomplish this task. If the need to use this path arises, the two of you must flee through this tunnel, understood? Don't worry, its just a straight path, you will not get lost. The two of you must live. No buts!" He chuckled but he fell silent afterwards.
"You really miss your family…" Belarus could feel the tremendous sadness of the red-haired man. As a personification, she didn't know the feeling of having a family – a human family. Humans are fragile things but they are more than that
"Brimming happiness I had when I met the two of you, aside from Vasilii and the rest of the group. God gave me another family even for just a small amount of time" Boris smiled, immeasurable depth of sadness lodged in his heart. At the same time, overwhelming relief that he will soon be reunited with his other family. His family is already waiting for him at the other end of his life. "Besides, I could not leave them behind" Boris indirectly pointed to Vasilii and the guerillas. They swore they will fight until their last breath – for their freedom, for their beloved country! "Will I have your word, young lady?"
"With a heavy heart… Yes"
"We must leave now, sister! Do not be stubborn! You cannot do anything to stop this war from happening!" Belarus towed Ukraine forcefully, away as farther as her strength could muster until a powerful quake shook the earth. Belarus and Ukraine will live from all the sacrifices of the people who gave up their lives in their places.
"до побачення, Father"