America came down to the kitchen where Australia and Canada were sitting. He didn't sleep well the previous night. There were too many things going on in a place that brought up too many memories. Canada was staring at his mug and Australia was reading something on his phone.

"Where's Artie?" America asked, sitting down.

Australia snorted with laughter, "Are you still trying to find a nickname for him that he actually likes?" When America and Australia lived together in the house, the two of them were always trying out different nicknames for England. Their guardian of the time hated them, and continuously knocked them down.

"He needs one. Besides, he hasn't said no to Artie yet. Where is he?"

"He's outside in the courtyard."

"This early?"

"Al, it's almost eleven," Canada stated blandly, giving his brother a slightly miffed look.

Before America could retaliate, the Australian national anthem started to play. "Welp, duty calls," Australia said before he stood up and walked outside the room.

America and Canada sat there in silence for some time. "And how are you doing, Matt?" America asked slowly.

Canada didn't answer; he just kept staring at his mug.

"Matt. Earth to Matthew." America waved a hand in front of Canada.

Canada blinked and looked up. "Sorry, I… was just remembering something."

"Was it important?"

"Not really…" America wasn't convinced; if it wasn't important, Canada wouldn't have been staring at his mug like it was the most interesting thing in the room. "Al… do you remember playing with the fairies?"

"You mean the imaginary friends that we came up with? Sure do."

Canada didn't say anything further. Instead he got up to wash his cup. Kumajiro got off his chair and followed.

"Ok, I swear to God that thing wasn't real," America said, pointing at the polar bear. He felt like he was missing something.

"He always was, Al," Canada said, sighing.

"But he never moved."

"That's because I was holding him." Canada turned the mug upside-down to let out the water, but for some reason he kept shaking it as if there was something else in there that wasn't coming out.

"And he didn't blink!"

"You were looking away." Canada's grip on the mug slipped and it fell into the sink. It didn't break, it just landed with a tinking thud. "Merde," Canada muttered worriedly. He picked up the mug again and looked in the sink.

Australia came back into the room, "I'm getting a new boss, apparently," he said throwing himself back in his chair.

"You too?" Canada asked, looking up. In his right hand was some doll, which confused America as to where Canada got… the doll was moving, brushing herself off…

'That's not a doll, is it?' America thought.

"Yeah," Australia said, "It was kinda unexpected that this person got in too. Oh, so guess what happened last night?" Australia turned to America, "Scotland totally owned England."

"What? Seriously?" America asked, taking his focus away from the creature in Canada's hand.

"England was up?" Canada asked alarmed.

"Yeah, he thought he was in the middle of some war in Scotland. Man, he was a hostile little thing. I forgot that he can put up a pretty big fight."

"Well, he did take over a lot of the world," Canada said, "Did he recognize you?"

"Nope, not a bit. Kinda sad, but," Australia shrugged, "You should have seen what Scotland did, though. He picked up England like a mother with her kitten."

America laughed. He could see it now. He turned to say something to Canada, but he had ran out of the room.

"But enough on that. Tell me, are you seeing anyone?"

America shook his head, "Nah… not really in a dating mood right now. But Canada is, and you'll never believe who he's been seeing."

Australia grinned, "I'm all ears, mate."

88888

Canada came out into the courtyard nervously. He wasn't looking forward to actually running into England if he was still in that hostile mood. But he did know that he had to see him eventually. That, and Canada needed to be outside. The car ride yesterday took a lot out of him. He was used to being out in the fresh air.

In his hand was a fairy that landed into his mug that morning and wouldn't leave until he dropped the darned thing. She was looking very put off, but at least she was ok. Canada was worried for a moment that he killed her. Once he was outside, Canada placed her on one of the flowers. The fairy stared back at him accusingly for a moment before flying away.

Wales was under the big tree next to Ireland, watching Northern Ireland and England running around the area, chasing the fairies. It was play, and Canada calmed down a bit seeing the smile on England's face. Those two soon collapsed to the ground and started picking flowers that grew all along the edge the courtyard.

"Nice day, isn't it?" Wales said as Canada sat next to him.

Canada nodded, though he didn't realize the weather until Wales commented on it. It was a sunny day with only a few clouds in the sky.

"It better rain soon," Ireland said, "North's getting anxious."

"What for?" Canada asked.

"There is a healing ritual he wants to do to help England," Ireland explained, "But it needs to be raining for him to do it."

"I don't think I've seen this one," Wales said.

"You haven't," Ireland agreed, "He usually does it at home, and only if I'm around."

"This should be interesting then."

They sat there in silence for a while, watching the view around them. Northern Ireland came running over holding a flower crown.

"You guys should really join us proper," Northern Ireland said, "Look what we're making." He held out the flower crown, made from begonias.

"I'm fine here," Wales said.

"As am I," Ireland said, looking away.

Northern Ireland put the begonia crown on top of Wales' head, then turned to Ireland, "No, you're not. Come on!" Northern Ireland grabbed his twin's hands and pulled him over to where England was waiting with another flower crown, this one made from unnaturally stubborn primroses. He had a look of innocence on his face, something that Canada had never seen before. England put the wreath on Ireland's head, which Ireland didn't like one bit. Northern Ireland stared weaving another one, when Wales spoke up.

"Scotland was telling me about your lack of magic," Wales took off his flower crown and put it on top of Kumajiro's head.

Canada thought back to his past. He had remembered this one time he was trying magic from England's book. "It just… never worked properly…"

"So you remember something now?"

Canada nodded, "Bits and pieces. I think being around this place again is helping me remember."

"Magic is hard to control and master. It looks and acts different from person to person. Something from England would probably be difficult for you to use since you two are very different. Even I have trouble with England's spells. I'm still wondering why he uses black magic now."

"What's your magic like?"

"I mostly use rituals, and can see into the future. Most of the time it just happens out of my control. Um… Scotland speaks with the dead, and that's about all he does. Ireland does charms and North does healing magic. Both twins can look into the past, though Ireland is forced into it more, like I am with the future."

Canada looked down at his hands. What did his magic look like? Why did he care so much? It wasn't until recently that he even remembered he had the ability. He figured it had to do with Northern Ireland reopening his magic intuition. 'But why was it even closed in the first place?'

Wales took out his spell book and started flipping through it. "I think I have something you can do," he explained. He stopped at one page and read it silently to himself. "Do you know how to play piano?" he eventually asked.

Canada nodded.

"Alright," Wales put down the spell book, "Hold out your hands, palms facing out. Good, now start playing a song like you would on an actual piano. And really concentrate on how the music would sound."

Canada wasn't sure what that was going to do at all, but he started playing "On My Own." He thought back to the time he saw Les Miserables with France, how the music welled with emotion. Soon, he actually heard a piano. Canada snapped open his eyes and saw that a violet light appeared where his fingertips landed. He couldn't help but smile; he faintly remembered nights when England was away on business and it was just himself and America in the house and they would play music and watch the lights that sprang from their fingertips.

England came over and sat nearby, entranced by the music and the light. The Irish twins soon followed. When Canada was done, England immediately said, "Do another." His voice was childlike.

"What song?"

"Scarborough Fair."

"I'll join in for that one," Northern Ireland said, moving so that he was sitting next to Canada.

The two of them started playing the old tune; Canada with the piano and Northern Ireland with a fiddle. England grabbed Ireland's hands and got him to dance. For once, Ireland didn't look completely angry, even if he was still serious. At one point, Canada started singing, remembering the words from when he was a kid. It was a song that England would sing on occasion.

"You have a really nice singing voice," England said when the song was done.

"Thanks," Canada said sheepishly.

"What kind of nation are you? I can tell you're one because of your eyes."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, nation eyes always reflect the land their from," England explained, "Yours sparkle like snow. Are you around Russia?"

Canada shook his head, "But you are right. It is very snowy where I'm from. And there are a lot of forests."

"It sounds like a fun place to go exploring in. Maybe one day I can see it."

Canada smiled sadly. "Maybe."

England cocked his head to the side, confusion filling his face. "What's wrong?"

"It's… nothing. Don't worry about it."

"If you say so," England said unconvinced.

"Come on, England!" Northern Ireland said, "Why don't we go to the forest?"

England and the Irish twins took off, leaving Canada and Wales on their own. "Did he ever really see your place?" Wales asked curiously.

"Not really. I know my land is big, but… there are so many places I still want to show him."

They sat in silence for a long time. "I can make a spell book for you," Wales spoke up, "If you want. I can gather some simple spells for you to try. And we can figure out what your specialty is. Only if you want though."

Canada took a moment to think about it. Magic wasn't really his thing. He probably would be better off not tampering with it. But… it was really cool playing music in the open air. And maybe, he would find a part of himself that he had lost. "I'd like that."

88888

"Where are we going?" America asked. Australia had a wild idea of exploring the forest, and that there was a particular place he wanted to see again.

"I think it's called Lock Uaine. At least that was what I was told when I asked about it as a kid."

"What does the name even mean?"

Australia shrugged.

The forest was starting to freak America out. He didn't like the wilderness all that much; he preferred the hustle and bustle of the city. "Can you at least tell me what it looks like, dude?"

"Well…" Australia stopped in his tracks and closed his eyes in thought, "It doesn't really look all that pretty. It's a dreary kind of place."

"So why do you want to see it?"

"I want to know if it still looks that way, or if it got cleaned up. You know? Besides," Australia opened up his eyes and America noticed they were glowing green, "There are a lot of rocks and stuff there too. The perfect place for an adventure."

"Your eyes are glowing."

"I bet they are. Come on!"

"Why are your eyes glowing?"

"I'm using magic so we don't get lost. Last thing we want is to be here in the dark."

"It's hours away from sunset."

"Not if we get lost, mate."

They trudged through the forest, America on Australia's heels. "Since when can you use magic?" America eventually asked, still not getting over it.

"England taught me. I kept getting lost all the time and he figured I could send up a flair so he could find me. It turned into me being able to find my way around and not needing his help all the time."

They continued walking for a while. The trees came closer and closer together to the point where America could no longer see the sky above. Eventually, the two nations came to a clearing. The sight of it nearly paralyzed America. It was a giant pond full of muck; it wasn't exactly mud because it was black, but it certainly acted like that. The trees surrounding it were all black and charred, almost like there was a fire. The weirdest thing of all was that there was no sound at all. Not even the wind.

Australia let out a low whistle. "Just like I remembered it."

"What happened here?" America asked slowly.

"It was like it when I first saw it." Australia started climbing up on the nearby rock. It was huge, almost as tall as the trees around.

America had an uneasy feeling about the place. He couldn't place why; it was a gut feeling that wouldn't go away.

"What happened here?!" came the cry of England from nearby.

Australia ran back over the America as England ran up to the edge of the lake.

"Engl… oh, God." Northern Ireland appeared and stopped from the sight of the place. He looked over at Australia and America questioningly. The two younger nations shrugged. Ireland came out from the forest then; his face paled at the sight of the place.

"Someone cursed this place," England said, standing up, "This isn't natural."

"Ok," Ireland said, "But why would anyone curse a lake? Especially out here where there is no one around."

England started pacing. "Someone heartless. Someone…" England finally noticed Australia and America. "…someone like one of them!"

"Now that's just rude!" America said.

"You did this. I can tell. This place feels about as rotten as you."

"Come on now, England," Northern Ireland said, putting a hand on England's shoulder, "He can't use magic, so it couldn't have been him."

England looked like he didn't believe it one bit.

"How's this?" Northern Ireland continued, "We go back home and tell Scotty about it. There's probably a few ghosts wandering about here and he can figure it out."

England thought about it after a while before nodding and following Northern Ireland out of the woods. Ireland stayed behind with Australia and America. "He is right about one thing," Ireland said once they were alone, "This place does have your aura, America."

"But how? I don't have magic and this is England's place."

"When magic is cast, it always has the aura of the person who casted it. You did this, and that is a fact."

America gritted his teeth.

"Look," Ireland said, slightly groaning, "I'm not blaming you. I'm just stating a fact. Who knows what happened here? We'll get Scotland to take a look and see if we can get a story and figure out a way to fix this."

"But I can't use magic!"

"You used to," Ireland said, "You used to use it all the time. It was flashy and bright, like you are. Then you suddenly stopped using it. And you couldn't see the fairies either."

"Didn't Wales say once you could look into the past? Why can't you do that now to see what happened?" Australia asked.

Ireland sighed, "That would make it useful, now wouldn't it?" The Irishman looked bitter. "I can only see what I have seen in the past. So, I have no idea what happened in the past for, as an example, China."

"That's useful," America said sarcastically.

"I agree." They all look at the muck filled lake. Eventually, America couldn't take anymore of the sight of the place and left. The whole way back to England's house, he felt this heavy weight in the pit of his stomach.

88888

Canada knocked on America's door hesitantly. He saw his brother come back in a bit of a huff. It had been several hours since then and the sun was setting. "Alfred?" Canada asked, finally getting over his nerves and opening the door.

America's old room was hardly touched from the days before his independence. The only thing that really changed were the sheets of the bed. There was still the toy box in the corner filled with toys from a few centuries ago that museums would consider antique. A small army of soldiers guarded the windowsill, except for one that rested on its own on the bedside table; its left arm was missing, and thusly carried no weapon.

"What, Canada?" America snapped. He sat on the edge of the bed away from the door looking out the window to the courtyard. The flowers sway innocently in the wind.

"Did something happen?"

"No."

Canada rolled his eyes. He hated when America got into a mood like this. He would say anything to get people off his back as he sulked about something minor and unimportant in the grand scheme of things. "Bullshit."

America turned around, shocked with Canada's language. He looked awful. It wasn't that he was crying, but he was emotionally close to it. He looked visibly pained, something Canada has seen several times, especially during war time.

"What's wrong?" Canada joined America on the bed, putting an arm around his brother's shoulders.

America stood up. "Apparently I can do magic. And I fucked up big time." He explained to Canada what happened out in the forest. As the story was being told, there was a sense of familiarity around it, like Canada knew what happened, but not enough to say so. "But this can't be happening," America finished, "Because I don't have magic! I don't know how many times I have to tell people. First Arthur, then Abigail, now the Irelands."

"Have you thought that maybe they're right?" Canada said carefully.

"You believe them?"

Canada didn't say anything at first, knowing full well the next thing he said would be important. "I remember… when we were kids here… we would run around with the fairies of the forest and how you would give them all a light show, the best kind of all. And you turned to me once, saying that when you got a birthday, you would have a light show on that day for your people."

America calmed down. "…magic sparks, right?"

Canada nodded.

"Fine, ok," America sat back down on the bed, "What the hell happened then? Why can't I remember magic in my life, but you can?"

Canada shook his head. "I don't know…"

America let himself flop on the bed. "This blows."

Canada did the same. He held up his hands and started playing "When Johnny Comes Marching Home Again." It was a tune that America would constantly sing for a few decades, and it annoyed everyone at world meetings, mainly because of how terrible America's singing was.

"Neat trick," America said, smiling weakly.

Canada let his hands fall when he was done with the song. "There was one time, we were all alone in England's house and there was a ghost chasing us. You sneaked down and got England's spell book. Together, we tried to find a spell that would banish the ghost which you did. You made me feel safe, like nothing would ever harm us." 'It was the first time you were called a hero,' Canada thought to himself, 'My hero.'

They stayed there in silence like that for a long time, even when the room got totally dark and the only light came from the moon and fairy light outside the window. The moment broke when Scotland found them; he turned on the lights and told them that dinner was ready.

Author's Note: Lock Uaine - Green Lake

Not that any of the characters are saying things with their flowers, but I the author like shoving meaning in fun places. Begonias have several meanings; the one I was interested in was harmonious communications between friends and family members. As for primroses, one of their meanings is youth.

My ongoing headcannon for Canada is that he has a great singing voice, it's just that he is so quiet and he had no confidence in his singing usually. His mysterious boyfriend has changed that; that is a topic I'll be exploring later.