Chapter 1: Introducing: President Alfred!
It was a beautiful day, twenty years after the end of World War Three. Peace had set in quite well, and it seemed everyone was enjoying it. However, on this day, one leader had something else on his mind. As the president of the world's leading country, he didn't have time to muse over such things, not for now at least. It was the day he addressed his people, and he certainly had a lot to say. President America (or as he preferred, President Alfred) stepped up to podium on a low balcony of the White House, looking out over the gathered press standing on the front lawn. Cameras were trained on his as he gave a tired smile, setting his papers in front of him.
"Good morning everyone. In this, the year 2052, we look forward to more than ever. However, we must still be sure to know what has happened in the past. The past year, to be exact." he cleared his throat, before he dived into the task of telling the people about all that had been accomplished in the past year. It was amazing to hear him speak, his voice was so strong and confident that it sounded like he was bragging about what had happened within his borders (he actually kind of was), and it had everyone completely tuned in to what he was saying. Since taking control of the country, he had become quite the public speaker, and during the State of the Union, he always did his best, making many other countries jealous of his ability to have his citizens actually want to listen to him. He knew what to downplay, and what to go into depth on, but above all else, he knew just what to say to keep the mood light.
Like when he would give that little grin he was infamous for, right before he would make a joke that would have everyone, ever who ever it was aimed at if it was, laughing. But then he would become serious, and the crowd would fall silent to wait for his next word.
"I am grateful that over the past few years I've been able to help you all recover from the war that should have ended us all. You are truly resilient people, to have been able to endure all that you have. I am so proud that you have all allowed me to be your leader, and even prouder to be allowed to call myself your protector. This year, like the last, I hope to do even better to keep all of you safe and sound within our borders. However, I do find myself in need of some help from you. Despite all that I do, I find that some of you are becoming unhappy…." the man sighed, looking down at his hands. "If there is something I can do, or even if there isn't, I would like to know why it is that you are unhappy, so I can do my job and try to make things better. Please."
Cameras were flashing as the president looked up again. His blue eyes scanned the crowd that stood on the White House lawn, noting the expressions of everyone there.
"But with my plea for you to come to me, I'm afraid I have to end this State of the Union Address. The past year has been wonderful for us, and I hope that it will only continue to get better from here."
Reporters stood to fling questions his way, but he only waved and smiled, walking toward the door to re-enter his home. An old guard smiled as he approached, steadying his cane as he held out a hand to his president. But Alfred surprised him but taking his arm instead, helping him to walk at his side.
"Mr. America!" the man laughed. "Ah, as friendly as ever."
"Oh please Henry, you used to be my guard, the least I can do is try to make up for all the grief I gave you."
"It'll take more than this lad! Although, I will say working as your guard was the most interesting thing I ever did. I was pretty sad when you returned from that Nation's Meeting and said I could go home."
"Not like you left anyway. You took my old room here!"
"I couldn't leave you here all alone with the staff! They're idiots! They might screw up your burger or something!"
Alfred laughed, opening the door to the Oval Office. "Oh Henry… You always were my favorite."
"Ahaha, well I'll take that complement and head off." the recently re-installed 'Red 1' could be heard ringing in the back of the large room. "It seems like you have business to attend to."
"Right. Take care Henry."
"You too, Mr. President."
The blonde smiled, leaving the aging man to make his way elsewhere, hurrying over to answer his phone. "Hello, America speaking."
{Privet America, are things well?}
"Yeah, sure are." Alfred carefully unclipped the pin holding a series of gold chords from his tie, holding the phone between his ear and shoulder as he tried to ease off the long blue, white fur trimmed cloak he wore over his brown suit. It was hung on a nearby coat rack before Alfred carried the phone to his desk. Once he was seated, he watched the digital screen that was his computer materialize in front of him.
"Do you need something Russia?"
{Da. I was wondering if you could send some more farm equipment over? We haven't quite mastered the production of the harvesters yet, and the ones we have out aren't working properly.}
"How about I send you the blueprints of ours?" Alfred pulled up the questioned items on his screen. "I have them up now."
{Are you alright with that?}
"Anything to help a friend."
{Spasibo! Thank you very much America!}
"No problem." he tapped the screen, and the blue prints vanished. "Did they arrive?"
{...Da! They're on my screen now! Thank you.}
"Let me know if you need anything else. Haha, I'll go ahead and have a shipment of already made equipment sent your way though."
{I'll be sure you receive the payment for it.}
"Thanks. Well, if that's all?"
{Da. Goodbye America.}
"Bye Russia." Alfred smiled, sending out the shipment order as he hung up. With a flick of his wrist, the screen spread out to become multiple screens all around him. On each one was a different region of him, his land, flashing between cities to watch for any kind of trouble. Those screens soon moved to cover the windows behind him as new screens popped up, giving him coverage of his satellites and the international space station. Everything seemed like it was going well, especially considering his track record for keeping peace. His country was enjoying its longest period of peace ever, and he was pleased that the other countries were doing their best to do the same (although after the end of the War, it seemed that Germany was all too pleased to throw a party to celebrate not starting the Third World War, nearly wiping himself out with all the drunken citizens).
[President America, you have a call waiting on line three.]
"President Alfred, Margeret, Alfred." the man chuckled, pulling up a new screen right in front of him. "But thank you for telling me."
{Guten Morgen Amerika -Morgen lil' buddy! - Shut up Gil.}
"Guten Morgen Deutschland." he smirked, watching Germany and his brother as they tried to both fit in front of their own screen in Germany's office. "Heya there Pruss. Heh, have you two finally settled into this whole "leading your own country" thing? It's only been twenty years."
{Haha, very funny. We're just fine over here.}
"So the massive hangover is finally over? I didn't think you'd ever get all that alcohol out of your systems."
{Shut up eaglet.}
"Okay poohbear."
Prussia's face was all he could see on the screen. {Where did you hear that?!}
"Your boyfriend's phone. By the way, if you ever hurt Canada, I will kick your ass so hard your '5 meters', ahem, I mean 5 centimeters will be disconnected and floating around in space."
Prussia sat back down faster than Germany could believe. {What just happened?}
"Yeah, Prussia and Mattie are apparently together now or something." Alfred shrugged. "Anyway, Germany, why did you call? You're usually the only one that never needs anything."
{Well now I do. Amerika, is there anyway you might be able to set up one of your 'security systems' over here for us to keep an eye on things? Now that Berlin-Brandenburg has been united as Prussia, there's been a little bit of trouble popping up every once in a while. Before I called you, I had just been talking to Bavaria, who says there's been some vandalism all over the state.}
"Yeah sure, here," he pulled up the system on another screen, and sent it to the brothers. "This should help you get it all set up. I hope you get your problem under control."
{So do we. - Danke Eaglet!}
"Dis~co~nnec~ted!" Alfred watched Prussia's eyes go wide with fear before the screen went blank, only to blink in shock when he found England waiting on the next line. "Man, what is up with everyone calling me today?"
{Well that's what happens when you're the number one country in the world. I just called to say I saw you State of the Union. It's kinda hard to believe some of your people are becoming unhappy. After twenty years, I would've thought any trouble would have already been smoothed out by now.}
"Things did go quiet after I took control, but I'm not surprised people like that are only just beginning to surface. No matter how hard I try, even I can't make everyone happy. I just have to live with that, and do my best."