~Ontario's PoV~
I took a short breath, pausing before the huge wooden doors. Flashbacks of that day came back to me, of the first and previous time I had walked through these doors. It had only been three years ago, but it felt like decades.
After the explosion at Halifax, I had been sent as an official messenger with a summons for the personifications of Norway and France in Matthew's send since he had been unable to do so. Now once again, I was back here for almost the same reason. Not quite, though. This time would last for who knows how long. Because of one reason.
After the war, Matthew had gotten himself into trouble with the mind-broken Germany. After a few months of possibly constant torture, he had been found by a search party consisting of America, Britain and France. Now, he lay in a hospital at our capital city, Ottawa, deep in cardiac arrest.
And guess who had been appointed as the temporary representative of Canada until he awoke.
I took another deep breath, shaking my hands.
Last time had been different.
Last time, it was -or should have been- a simple, quick get-in-get-them-get-out situation.
It was meant to be a one-time thing.
This time however, it wasn't. And I had a sickening feeling I'd be standing back before these very same doors in another month, when the next meeting came around.
It wasn't a good feeling in the slightest, and not just due to nerves.
"Ontario?" A strong voice called out to me from down the hall. I turned towards it, only to see America half-walking half-running at me.
"Hi, America." Mentally kicking myself as my voice cracked, I nodded at the American. I guess one could call him my cousin, if anything.
"What're you doing here?"
"What, do you really think the Canadian Confederacy will go without an official representative until Matthew wakes up?"
"I'm not talking about that, dude. I'm talking about why you're pacing in front of the door."
"The first impression I gave the Personifications wasn't exactly the greatest." When he didn't respond, cocking his head questioningly at me, I sighed. "Halifax. I was the one who came to get Norway and France for the trial, remember?"
"Right…" He muttered. I nodded slowly, almost sarcastically.
"Yeah. That and I have no idea what to do."
"You've already done it though, dudette."
"That was different though-"
"Again, you're not getting my meaning. It's no different than a meeting at Parliament."
"But those are other Canadians… Humans, no less. It's not the same no matter how you look at it." He grinned at me encouragingly.
"Come on. Not too long ago you and the others were dominating battlefields, in more ways than one. Don't tell me one of the legendary Canadians cower at the prospect of politics." I just glared at him. He choked on what I was assuming was spit. Always the same… A part of me hopes he won't ever change, though.
"Good point, dudette… Politics are more terrifying than a rifle." He laughed half-heartedly.
"Coming from you," I managed a joke despite my mood. "I think the last thing on your list of fears is a rifle."
"That is true." He chuckled.
"America, what the bloody hell are you doing?" We both turned around to see a still weary-looking Britain and France coming towards us. "Ontario? Let me guess-"
"I'm here in Matthew's stead." I cut right to the chase. The Brit nodded, before looking over to America.
"I get Ontario, but you have yet to answer my question, you git." I eyed the two of them, knowing an argument would break out in a few moments. They're not even in the meeting yet… Matthew always told us about it, but… France took a few steps towards me, grabbing my arm and pulling me off to the side.
"You're nerveux, Ontario." He said simply. I pursed my lips, suddenly unable to meet his gaze.
"Just a little bit."
"It is alright to be scared, mon chère. It is your first time, after all."
"But it's not though! What if the other countries think of me as a joke because of what happened three years ago?" Once again berating myself when my voice cracked, I forced back the tears that threatened to fall. I don't know what it was about the Frenchman, but I just felt like I could open up to him. Like I could rant on about my problems for a thousand years, but he'd always be there to listen.
"They won't. They wouldn't dare to." He smiled, gently stroking the side of my head.
"How can you be so sure about that though…?" He paused, looking back at America and Britain briefly.
"You both go on. We'll join the meeting soon." America shot me a worried glance. France must've caught it, because he snapped angrily at him.
"'ave some faith in moi! Ontario est comme mon fils!"
"Chill dude! I'm just worried about her is all!" He snapped back, "I have a right to that, don't I?!" France looked at me. I cracked a grin.
"I'm used to it, really." With a sigh, France turned back to the American.
"Oui, oui, tu as…" What came next really shouldn't have surprised any of us.
"Good, 'cause FREEDOM!" And with that America turned and bolted through the door like he was a hero, cackling hysterically. Britain looked at us, sighed, and walked in after him.
"Take your time, Frog."
"I'm shocked, Bretagne. Was that kindness I just heard?" He gasped, clutching a fist to his heart.
"Oh, shut it you git." Britain didn't turn around before the door closed behind him, so he failed to see the gentle smile that had lit up France's face. I felt a moment of sadness for the French. Everyone's so busy thinking about how he's such a flirt, they all completely fail to see this soft, gentle side of him…
"You wanted to talk privately?" I asked him after a second of silence. He nodded, softly putting an arm around my waist and leading me down the hall.
"Do you know what makes a country, Ontario? What makes us, us?" I nodded, unsure of where he was going with this.
"Yeah. Government, borders, economy-"
"Non non. Not zhat. I'm talking about what's in here." His free hand pressed against my chest, directly above my heart. "Oui, that is all a part of it. But that is not the most important thing."
"Then what is it?" Grinning, he met my eyes steadily. Once again, I was hit by how tired he seemed. Had I not been talking to him face to face, I never would've imagined he was in such a state.
"Tell me, Ontario. What is it that kept you fighting during Ypres? Vimy? When everyone else 'ad failed or turned and ran, you, Matthieu, and the other Provinces all 'eld your ground. You all kept on fighting, even when everything about the situation seemed 'opeless," When I still couldn't find an answer, he continued. "What about the One 'undred Days of Canada then? You all accomplished what 'ad been thought to be impossible, pushing les Allemands back treize kilomètres in a single day. That is no small success, mon amie, and it takes far more than skill alone." I knew he was serious when he didn't address me as 'my dear,' and I couldn't stop the small blush from creeping across my cheeks at the indirect compliment.
"That was all of the Confederacy though. It wasn't just me," I sighed, "I wouldn't have wanted it to be just me either. I don't think it would have ever been possible to do all that stuff without the others." As much as I hate to admit it, even Quebec. Though she was getting on my nerves most of the time…
"But you were a big part of it. That is more than enough."
"Though it still-"
"Ontario. You never gave up. You and your friends gave, and gave more even when there was nothing left to give. Even after the tragédie at 'alifax, even after your hearts were broken by it, you kept on giving. That is what I'm talking about, mon chère. The strength of the heart."
"What…?" He chuckled quietly, once again pressing the area above my heart.
"This is unbreakable. You are unbreakable. And don't let any of us tell you otherwise."
"But what if they still do?"
"S'ils le fons, tu l'envoyais pour me parler." He winked. "Because we've all been in the same boat at one point or another. We're supposed to have eachother's backs at the end of the day, and if any one of us abandons that notion there's nothing stopping us from knocking some sense into them."
"But don't you do that anyways…?" France laughed openly at that.
"Oui, mais that is besides the point. We fight outside wars because we know the other so well. Because we are friends." I raised my eyebrow. Without having to say anything, I think he understood my thoughts, because he let out a brief bark of laughter again. "Even Angleterre et moi. The two of us are rivals, oui, but we are there for eachother."
"Yeah… I've noticed that. Considering one of your many, many battles with eachother only took half an hour."
"That was an unfair fight!"
"That was what you call 'be ready for anything on the field'."
"We were!"
"The Brit's had every advantage imaginable." He paused, mouth open and a finger held up. Though no words came out of his lips.
"'ow do you know about that anyway?!"
"The main First Nation tribes did have their own personifications, you know. Beyond Alfred and Matthew," Now it was my turn to grin cheekily at someone. "Ever hear of Algonquin?" With a groan of defeat, France started walking away.
"We don't want to be too late, Ontario. Let us get going. We 'ave a meeting to attend." I took a deep breath. You'll be fine, Ontario. Girl up.
"I 'ave never 'eard that one before, mon chère." I blushed lightly when I realized I had said that aloud. He didn't mention it again, though.
Silently, we both walked back to the large wooden doors I had been pacing in front of not thirty minutes before. France stopped in front of them, turning back and gesturing to me. I paused, forcing the butterflies in my stomach down before pushing open the doors to my new life.
Once again, I was hit with the odd feeling of everyone turning towards me. America was standing right on the inside of the doors, and as soon as France and I stepped in he brightened, grabbing my wrist and practically dragging me over to two empty seats. He sat me down right next to Mexico - the ravenette shot me a brief, reassuring smile - and then proceeded to sit down in the chair on my other side.
"America?! What are you-?"
"Speeding things up, dudette! What does it seem like?"
"It seems a lot like you just dragged me halfway across a room!" He gave me his signature grin and thumbs up.
"Good, 'cause that's what I did!" I groaned, slamming my head against the desk.
"It'll be fine. Just don't say anything, don't question anything, don't get into the fights, and you'll be fine, amiga!" Mexico said, a little too darkly, and I glanced up at him.
"Why do you say it like that…?"
"You'll… Ah, apprenderás, amiga… You'll catch on soon." The warning look he gave me was nervous enough to freeze over my soul.
Canada, give me your experience. Give me your help. Because, for the love of God, I have a feeling I'm going to need every last bit of it...
A/N: Oh Ontario… You will. You will need everything Mattie has. Namely his overwhelming patience. XD
Just to completely clear things up, this is a flashback chapter as to what went down after Mattie's whole thing. I was planning on putting it in after introducing the Provinces but I figured it would be better if it went before, for whatever reason.
YOLO!
Also I'm currently working on a little fic based around the Halifax Explosion, so that'll hopefully be up soon. And I've finally learnt how to do the horizontal lines, so I'll be using these rather than single line breaks.
English to French;
Nerveux: Nervous
Mon chère: My dear
Ontario est comme ma fils: Ontario is like my daughter
Oui, oui, tu as: Yes, yes you do…
Les Allemands: the Germans
Treize kilomètres: Thirteen kilometers
Mon amie: My friend
English to Spanish;
Apprenderás: You'll learn (Any thoughts from native Spanish speakers on this one…? I just have a bad feeling about it.)