NOTE ABOUT FUTURE UPDATES: We are going to be slowing the posting schedule to once a week instead of every three days-ish. Real Life is getting busy and the chapters are getting longer from here out, which means we need more time to wrap up the edits.
Enjoy the next chapter!
Canada was going to go crazy if he had to just sit and wait much longer.
He, Prussia, and their companions had returned to the hotel after an excellent early lunch. Prussia had suggested going to visit the Smithsonian American Art Museum or the International Spy Museum, both of which were close to the hotel. Unfortunately, Canada had insisted on returning to the hotel. He'd manage to get ahold of Ms. Williams during lunch and she'd agreed to look into the question of what "proof" the government had located since America had appeared back in April. She'd promised to come by the hotel to discuss the matter, and Canada, pressured by time slipping away, had gone ahead and arranged for a private dinner with England and France.
And now, they'd been back for over three hours, and there hadn't been so much as a peep from Ms. Williams.
Prussia had given up trying to talk down his increasingly nervous friend and had retreated to his blog and the Internet.
"Without something to show them, they'll never believe me. What do we do if Ms. Williams didn't find anything?"
Resisting the urge to roll his eyes at Canada's growing panic, Prussia lowered the lid of his laptop slightly and leveled an exasperated look at the other Nation. "If the woman doesn't have anything, we implement Plan B: kidnap and tickle torture," he declared.
Canada froze mid-step then turned slowly. "We are not going to tickle them into changing their minds! Why is that so hard to understand?" Canada groaned and dropped his head into his hands. They were doomed. England and France would leave tomorrow convinced that America was a dastardly, underhanded, covert agent of evil and they would never ever be convinced otherwise. This was the end, there was no hope, no-
Knock knock knock.
Both personifications jumped and turned to stare at the door to the hotel room. After a moment, the knock sounded again.
"Sorry, coming," Canada called, dashing over to open the door. On the other side, Canada found America's friend and predecessor: Jennifer Williams.
Following the terrorist attack in Austin, she had become a woman of significant power and influence. Her swift and decisive actions during the event had made her one of the highest ranked members in the State Department, and, besides the President, she was the conduit through which the government interacted with America and the other personifications. In addition, America himself considered her a close and personal friend. Ignoring Ms. Williams, at this point, was pure folly; not only did it offend America, but it cut off invaluable lines of communication.
Jennifer pushed her way into the room immediately, giving first Canada and then Prussia a small nod in greeting. Their partnership in foiling the terrorist attack back in April had given them a unique relationship that was practically unheard of between Nations and humans of other countries.
"I'm glad you called," Jennifer began as she settled down in an armchair identical to Prussia's, setting her briefcase on the floor next to her. "Everyone has run themselves ragged getting this NATO conference ready and tempers are high right now. I needed the break."
"I know what that's like," Canada sympathized. He hovered awkwardly for a moment before sitting on the edge of the bed and fidgeting with his hands, unsure how to proceed.
Jennifer gave him a thoughtful look, her eyes flickering briefly over to Prussia. "Why don't you tell me what this is all about?" she asked in a calm voice. "You didn't exactly go into a lot of detail earlier."
Canada sat still for a moment, hands frozen, pondering just how blunt he would need to be. Best to just lay it all out, he finally concluded. "How much have you worked with England and France since Austin?" he tentatively asked.
"England and France?" Jennifer looked at him with some surprise. "Not very much so far. We've all been focusing on bringing America into the government and getting him up to speed. We certainly had a number of Nations come to visit over the past few months so they could meet him, but neither England nor France were part of that crowd." She tipped her head to the side, causing a few locks of curly brown hair to sway from their usual spot framing her face. "To be perfectly honest, this meeting has been the first time since Austin that we've communicated."
"Well, they aren't handling America's . . . existence, I guess you could say, well." Canada sighed, shoulders slumping. "They're convinced he's either lying about his background for personal gain or is up to something even worse - namely, that he was working with the terrorists in Austin."
"They've gone totally verruckt," Prussia agreed. "Even for our kind, forming conspiracy theories is a sign you're losing it."
"We were hoping that the United State government had found something that can verify what America has said about his past," Canada concluded.
The two men looked at Jennifer, one expectant and the other hopeful.
"What precisely do you think we would have been able to find?" Jennifer demanded, crossing her arms as she leaned back in the chair, her tanned face unreadable.
"I, I'm not sure," Canada admitted. He gave her a pleading look. "There might be a letter that mentions America, or Alfred F. Jones. Photographs, maybe, or land records."
"And what do you plan to do with this theoretical evidence?"
"Show England and France," Canada replied. "The way they're thinking right now and all the different Nations they're talking to, well, I can see them working themselves up into such a frenzy that they actually decide that they need to do something to stop the man they think is a fraud."
"The United States of America will not tolerate any assault on its national personification," Jennifer responded, her eyes narrowing.
"And that is how we get World War III." An unusually fierce look suddenly crossed Canada's face as he straightened up. "They attack, you counter attack, and then missiles get launched. If there is even the slightest chance we could have stopped a war right now and we don't? If you withhold a piece of evidence that could stop England and France's paranoia in its tracks?" Slowly, Canada shook his head. "I will not be dragged into a war I tried to prevent. When England and France show up demanding his head, I. Will. Not. Help. And as much as I might want to, I won't be able to help him either. My first duty," he continued, "is to my people and my people alone."
Prussia sucked in a soft breath. Waves of icy menace were emanating from Canada, dragging the temperature of the room down until their breath was visible before them. His normally soft violet eyes had taken on a red tinge, and Prussia could almost hear the groan of glaciers and stampeding elk in every word he spoke. The Great White North was one of the most frightening powers in the world, and they were all fortunate that he was so slow to anger. But when he was properly upset. . . a shiver ran through Prussia, one not caused by the plummeting temperature.
Memories of Canada fighting on a battlefield flashed through Prussia's mind. The normally quiet Nation had turned into a red eyed, howling berserker, ripping through Nazi soldiers as though they were tissue paper, wielding his rifle like a club after he ran out of ammo while an enormous white bear roared and mauled human flesh alongside him.
He could see the sudden fear in the American woman's eyes. It was rare for a human to see a Nation in such a state, the full weight of the nation, it's lands and creatures, pouring out of him in such a visible fashion.
Jennifer took a shaky breath, unable to stop the shivers wracking her body. Her breath ghosted in front of her and the sweat from her trip to the hotel crystallized on her flesh. "I'm glad I was able to bring something with me, then," she stated, relieved that the fear coiling in her gut couldn't be detected in her voice.
The menacing power emanating from and surrounding Canada evaporated. Slowly, the temperature began to climb back up as the air conditioner automatically switched over to heat.
Canada winced internally as he saw the small tremor in Ms. Williams's hands as they picked up and unlocked her briefcase. In the background, he could hear the goldfish swimming frantic circles in its small bowl, clearly distressed from the sudden temperature shift. He hadn't meant to manifest the howling wilderness that made up most of his lands. It had just . . . happened. Perhaps he should apologize?
No.
It was important that the United States government understand what was at risk. They had been insulated from the personifications for too long. They had sent human representatives, yes, but that wasn't enough. They hadn't had centuries to get to know and understand their Nation's true self.
The governments of the British Isles knew very well the magic that their personifications clung to. Whatever the humans personally thought, they knew that their nations at least could manifest versions of folktale creatures around them and cast curses on each other. For God's sake, there were official policies and guidelines for what to do when Scotland or England were indisposed because of some curse or another they'd cast on each other! Northern Ireland, poor lad, had found himself representing the United Kingdom at an EU meeting once because England, Scotland, and even Wales had all managed to turn each other into corgis!
America had likely been on his best behavior around the humans since the Austin incident. There was no way they'd seen him manifest any otherworldly powers their kind possessed. Even his ability to demolish over a dozen hamburgers in a single sitting could be explained away as him being a young man with an active metabolism.
No, no matter how much he hated frightening a good, decent, honest woman, it was better that they know.
Jennifer had managed to get her trembling under control by the time she pulled the relevant folder out of her briefcase. "There's only one letter in here," she said quietly, holding the folder out to Canada, "but I think it will do the trick."
Accepting the folder, Canada flipped it open and sucked in a sudden deep breath, his eyes going wide. "This can't be," he breathed, a tingle running across his skin as he stared down at the first piece of paper, which described the origin of the letter contained in the folder. After taking a deep breath, he began to read outloud:
The Papers of George Washington
The University of Virginia
George Washington to Future Presidents of the United States of America 20 Sep. 1796
DATE: September 20, 1796
SERIES: Classified Series [ 1775 - 1799 ]
Background
The Papers of George Washington, a grant-funded project, was established in 1968 at the University of Virginia, under the joint auspices of the University and the Mount Vernon Ladies' Association of the Union, to publish a comprehensive edition of Washington's correspondence.
Letters written to Washington as well as letters and documents written by him are being published in the complete edition that will consist of approximately ninety volumes. The work is now more than two-thirds complete.
Historical Note
The Classified Series, 1775-1799, contains letters, documents, and publications created by or sent to George Washington that are closed to the general public. The majority of records in the Classified Series were written by Washington himself and maintained by members of his family, beginning with his nephew Bushrod Washington, until they were donated to the Library of Congress. Additional materials are from donations to the Library of Congress, the National Archives and Records Administration, and private collections.
The series was formally created by the Papers of George Washington Project in 1971 following their discovery by the processing archivists. The materials within this series were reviewed and chosen by the Librarian of Congress, the Archivist of the United States, the Secretary of State, and the President of the United States. The materials undergo additional security reviews every twenty years.
Additional Note(s):
The September 20, 1796, letter written by George Washington to his successors is obliquely referenced in early writings of the first Presidents of the United States of America. However, following the sudden death of President William Henry Harrison (March 4, 1841 - April 4, 1841), the letter disappeared and was not seen again until 2014.
The letter was discovered by processing archivists working on a new donation of George Washington materials given to the University of Virginia and considered a piece of humorous fiction. In late April 2015, the Secretary of State ordered a new review of the George Washington Papers, including all recent donations. This letter was added to the Classified Series within 24 hours of being reviewed and is now subject to the same restrictions placed on the series.
Mount Vernon 20th Sep 1796
Dear Sir,
I greet you on the 20th day of September, 1796, after the publication of my Farewell Address to the noble citizens of our young nation.
As our United States of America assumes its place as a Nation of the World, a matter of discordance must be immediately addressed. In conducting Diplomatic work for the peoples of America, you will with regularity meet Men to whom the name of Nations is given. These Men (and on rare occasions, Women of great Beauty and Wisdom), are to be understood to be the Heart and Soul of these Nations given flesh.
It may seem a matter of discord that, unlike the Kings and Dukes of Europe and beyond, you were not granted an introduction to the living body of our United States of America upon assuming the Office of President. You will find that it is the opinion of the Nations of Europe (both the living Man and official statements) that no such person exists for our Republic.
I must convey to you now with great urgency that our Nation lives and walks among us; it is imperative for the sake of the success of our Nation that he live unimpeded by all Branches and Official Bodies of our government.
The strength of our Constitution and the principles under which we fought our Revolution were that all Men are created Equal, that they are born into Liberty and Freedom. Whatever the true nature of the living Nations, it is incontestably true that they are Men and heirs to those unalienable rights enshrined in our Declaration of Independence. To condemn a child, for a child our Nation is, to perpetual servitude to the United States Government is a gross violation of those rights, one in equal measure to the foul practice of slavery practiced throughout the World.
As I write this, our Nation is young, appearing barely 14 or 15 years of age. He goes by the name Alfred Jones; the origin of this name I do not know. Though young still, he has the size, strength, and will of many men. He joined our Continental Army with little personal belongings and I dare say he had not had a reliable source of shelter, sustenance, or the means of self sufficiency until this time. He proved himself in numerous engagements, fighting with the ferocity and skill of the Army's finest soldiers. Indeed, he willfully stood in front of countless men, taking wounds aplenty to save the lives of the mere mortals that are his citizens. And when that fateful day arrived when the British Empire did succumb and surrender the war, young Alfred Jones vanished.
It is to my great honor that I had one occasion to speak with Alfred Jones, the United States of America. During the bitterest days camped in Valley Forge, even as countless men starved and froze to death, he was a source of inspiration and hope, sharing rations, clothing, and bedding until he had scarcely anything left to call his own. In that darkest Winter, he succumbed to Death overnight. I was made aware of him when, upon preparing to transport his body away from the camp, he shocked the soldiers bearing him by returning once more to life. It was fortunate that the soldiers thought to consult one of the army's surgeons, Dr. James McHenry, before declaring the act either a Miracle or the result of Witchcraft.
The Doctor sent for me in private to consult on the manner while young Alfred recovered from the frostbite that had killed him. Knowing as I did by then of Nations (thanks to our great ambassador Benjamin Franklin), I made a tour of the hospital tents so that I could have an excuse to speak with him and determine for myself who he was.
The specifics of our conversation I will not share; they are private words that shall remain between he and I. I will tell you, though, that it convinced me not only of his identity as the United States of America but of our inevitable victory. In him I saw the proof that the 13 states of America had broken from the British Empire in heart and spirit and truly formed one nation. How else could he exist if our nation was not already an indisputable fact?
And thus I close this letter. I pray you heed my words: that our Nation lives and walks among us and that his Freedom and Independence is Paramount. I fear that a day may come that those bonds which entwine the other living Nations must envelope our own but I beg that you work to preserve his freedom with all the powers at your disposal.
With very great esteem & regard I am–Dear Sir Your obedt & Affectionate
Go: Washington
Canada let the photocopied letter fall into his lap, with no words to convey his shock at what he had just read aloud. Washington had known. Washington had met America. He'd met America and decided his future for him without even asking if that's what he wanted. There was a fluttery feeling in his stomach, his head whirling as he struggled to process everything. Did America know about this? He'd met Washington - had he realized there was more significance to that meeting than just getting to speak with the General? And he'd been how old? 14 or 15? Or had he been even younger in body before he won Independence?
He opened his mouth to start asking the questions swirling through his mind when suddenly Prussia was looming in front of him, eyes wide, his face like ash. Without a word, the ex-nation yanked off his glasses, tossing them on the bed, fisted his wavy hair into a small tail on the back of his head, and forced him to look up.
"Nein, nein, nein. Mist. Verdammte Scheisse. Ich habs versaut. Ich habs voll versaut. Scheisse," Prussia swore, staring down at Canada. "I didn't realize, it didn't make sense, it- he-"
Canada knocked Prussia's hands away and grabbed his face. "Deep breaths," he ordered, "Deep. In, out, in, out." He breathed in and out with his words, trying to get Prussia to follow along. Slowly, the Germanic nation got himself under control. "Okay, start over, slowly," Canada said softly once Prussia had calmed down, releasing his face and leaning back.
"Right." Prussia took another deep breath, closing his eyes. He opened them after several moments and collapsed on the bed next to Canada. "The Revolution - I was here with Steuben, helping train the Americans to fight. They were pretty much shit. Just a bunch of farmers who didn't even know how to dig a proper latrine." He paused, biting his lip. "I remember seeing this kid around, you know, here and there. Cute, blond, looked a lot like you," he added with a shaky laugh, a plaintive look on his face. "There were times I could have sworn one of our kind was present. But that's crazy, right? England had been lording it up there for over a century. Bragging and showing off every chance he got; as if he could ever be as awesome as me. If there was a personification for his colonies, he would have found him. He seemed so sure . . ." Prussia dropped his head into his hands. "I'm sorry, Birdie. I should have looked into it," he whispered. "I just … I didn't think. I never considered for a moment that England had made a mistake. That he'd simply never found the personification he'd so ardently searched for."
"You- you actually saw him?"
Canada's head jerked around in surprise, so he could stare at the source of the interruption. Jennifer had her hand over her mouth as she stared at Prussia in shock. She suddenly lunged over the arm of her chair, seized Prussia's laptop where it lay abandoned on the floor next to his chair, and shoved it at him.
"Write it down, all of it, every detail you can remember," she urged, then turned to look at Canada. "I think between that and the letter you have more than enough proof," she breathed. "But now we have a bigger concern: how the hell do we tell America about this?"