Insanity

Some Nations would go through a phase where in they would be overwhelmed by their insanity. Examples ranged from Revolutionary France to Nazi Germany (in Russia's case; that would be a complicated story). The tides of revolution could drive Nations mad with ideals and aspirations, which would lead to a path of ruin.

Our story takes us to an Asian and former Communist Nation, Cambodia. To be precise, it was Cambodia under the rule of Khmer Rouge.

In the Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh, people were gathering into a courthouse there. Among the congregation of people there, there was a single soul who just stood still and unmoving. He wore a rather expensive black suit with tie. He kept his hands together, and they were shaking as if he were facing a monster.

"Cambodia," a voice called out.

The man turned around and saw a girl in a black suit and pencil shirt approaching the Cambodian Nation. Her ponytail quickly identified her as the Nation of Vietnam.

"We shouldn't call each other by our Nation names," Cambodia spoke.

"As long as we speak in our language of the Nations, we won't invite trouble," Vietnam said, "shouldn't you go in? It's an important trial for you, the Kingdom of Cambodia."

"I… I…" Cambodia stuttered.

"You don't want to," Vietnam spoke, "but you know you will have to face it eventually, your past as Democratic Kampuchea."

"Please… don't…" Cambodia muttered softly.

Democratic Kampuchea was the previous incarnation of Cambodia after the Communist Khmer Rouge took over the country. However, the Khmer Rouge regime had caused one of the greatest genocides in the Cold War.

Phnom Penh was in chaos and thousands of foreigners and fellow Cambodians were fleeing on the spot. Unknown to most there, the newly-formed Kampuchea was there as well and helping out in the evacuations as he headed to a hospital.

Inside the hospital, there were dozens of ill people and doctors treating them. His uniform put a sense of fear in the atmosphere, as the patients backed away from them.

"Everyone, the Americans will be bombing this city soon," Kampuchea announced, "for your safety, leave the city now."

A Cambodian doctor saw his presence and walked up to him.

"But sir, some of these patients here are in critical condition," the doctor insisted, "they can't be relocated at their current stage."

Kampuchea only grunted, and took out an iron baton. He quickly whacked it on the doctor's head, and the doctor fell with blood bleeding out.

"Leave now," Kampuchea spoke eerily, "if not, I'll make you…"

"AAAHHH!" the Cambodian cried, running away from the courthouse.

"That kid… he can't face his own problems…" Vietnam lamented, "And to think that he's the heir to the powerful Angkor Empire."

Cambodia continued running away from Vietnam and the courthouse, all this while dwelling on a certain thought.

"America was only an excuse… I knew it from the start…" he thought, "… it was just … to renew myself…"

Suddenly, he bumped into another person. As he recovered from the impact, he realised it was the Nation of China, Wang Yao. He was attired in a formal black suit as well.

"Huh… Mr China…" Cambodia exclaimed.

"Cambodia, you look a bit pale," China remarked, "don't overwork yourself, okay?"

"Overwork… myself…" the Cambodian murmured.

"Congratulations on your independence from France!" China greeted the new Kampuchea, "it is even better now that you embrace Communism to guide your country. I can help you."

"Yes, my boss idolises your government's policies," Kampuchea said, "We want to perfect them and create a true nation of Communism at once."

"Don't rush things through," China warned, "I tried that with my Great Leap Forward, but failed to achieve what I wanted at first."

"If that's the case, I will just work even harder to perfect your policies," Kampuchea said obliviously, "the world will remember that Democratic Kampuchea led them to a new world, a world of true communism and without evil."

"I'm very sorry!" Cambodia yelled, "I should've listened to you back then!"

With that, Cambodia ran off again, away from the courthouse and China. Yet, it was not long before he bumped head-on to another person.

"Cambodge, are you alright?" the person asked.

"French…" Cambodia murmured, "That voice…"

"Ah, you need a good old-fashion French kiss to cure you…" the voice continued.

"France!" Cambodia exclaimed, "I'm okay, very okay!"

"A shame, I was hoping to lay one on you," France admitted, "so Cambodge, how is your day?"

"Can I not describe it?" Cambodia pleaded.

"Come on, if you got problems, Big Brother France is always here," France proclaimed, "Maybe I can help you in some way."

"Ok, you were once involved in a violent revolution at your place…" Cambodia spoke up, "so… you killed many of your own people. How can you live with it?"

"Ah, the lovely French Revolution… the true awakening of moi," France spoke, "I only did what was right for me then, and not one of my countrymen seemed to be right for moi."

"You never regretted it… killing your people…" Cambodia reiterates.

Kampuchea stood calmly in a chamber. In front of him, there was a small fireplace and several objects burning in its flames. An iron baton, a pipe, a sword, a knife, and even a pot of boiling water; the flames were licking the cold steel. Soon, some guards threw a man into the chamber.

"Ah, welcome to the Interrogation Chamber," Kampuchea greeted, "according to our catalogue, you claim no education background. However, we have claimed evidence that you are actually a schoolteacher, educated in French."

"No, please!" the man begged, "Spare me! I'll do anything!"

"Yes… I shall see to it… at once…" Kampuchea spoke ominously.

Kampuchea gave off a sinister grin, and grabbed a white-hot pipe from the burning fire.

"Please, have mercy!" the man pleaded, "I'll do anything!"

"I am your Nation, Kampuchea…" he spoke again, "…and you Old People are in my way to change myself… farewell…"

With a single thrust, a deafening cry echoed throughout the prison, followed by quietness. Blood was splattered on the Kampuchean's face and he smiled.

"NNNNNOOOO!" cried Cambodia, before dashing off again.

"Huh?" wondered France, "I didn't even have the chance to lull him into a false sense of insecurity …"

"I'm not like you… at least you became a great power…" Cambodia thought, "Me… I was pathetic… I let my people die and so blind to the truth…"

While he was assaulted by his thoughts, the Cambodian butted into another person again.

"Not my day today…" Cambodia remarked.

"Cambodia, are you alright?" someone asked.

The Cambodian groaned, looking up to see Vietnam and Thailand next to her.

"It's… you two…" Cambodia said, "Thai, I got no time for border issues. Viet, don't bother me please."

"You see, he's been acting weird today," Vietnam said, "okay, many Nations face this back in the World War. You don't need to worry."

"Ana~ Cambodia, you can tell us about your problems," Thailand said, "we are your neighbours, and we are great friends too ana~"

"Friends, huh?" the Cambodian spoke, "but I… I tried taking land from you two, the land you took from Papa Angkor!"

"Viet, I think you just triggered his trauma switch," Thailand reasoned.

"Kampuchea, you need to reassert yourself," Kampuchea's boss spoke, "You are the sole heir to the Khmer Empire who once ruled this region. You should reclaim those lands back."

"But… will there be objections from other countries?" Kampuchea asked.

"Thailand and Vietnam are not allied with China," the boss continued, "China will want his few allies in the world; you'll be fine."

So, Kampuchea began on its military actions against Vietnam… but it escalated to an actual war that was not in favour of Kampuchea.

Kampuchea was facing his nemesis, Vietnam. The Vietnamese held her rifle at the captive Nation. They were inside a dreaded prison camp, where Kampuchea himself worked in. Vietnam took a glance at the inside, and she was shocked.

Within the building, dead bodies were lying everywhere. Skulls were piling up to form an entire mountain range. Blood stains were seen on the walls and floors of the place. At once, the Vietnamese grabbed Kampuchea by the collar of his uniform.

"What had you been doing?" Vietnam demanded.

"Cleansing myself of evil," Kampuchea said, "my lands have been polluted by foreigners for so long. I shall restore the empire my father created!"

"You… you're insane…" Vietnam exclaimed, "You will be coming with me."

"No! I won't go back to that stage, not again!" Kampuchea cried.

"Cambodia, snap out of it!" Vietnam yelled.

Cambodia came to his senses and immediately went in for a hug with the Vietnamese. Tears were staining her clothes.

"You're crying…" Vietnam remarked.

"I just don't know how to handle it!" Cambodia cried out, "my time in the Khmer Rouge… I had no idea… I'm such a monster! Papa Angkor would never forgi…"

*Slap!*

Cambodia halted his ranting, and rubbed the side of his reddened face. Vietnam stood up astride, and glared at the Cambodia.

"Okay Cambodia, that was in the past. Khmer Rouge is gone," Vietnam said, "you are Cambodia and you can't run away from your shadow. Just accept it and move on."

"Move on… that's your advice…" Cambodia muttered.

"Viet, it may be worse if you further trigger his trauma switch," Thailand said.

"Then I'm dragging him straight to there myself!" Vietnam declared, pulling the Cambodian by his tie.

The three Asian Nations returned back to a section of the courthouse. Cambodia was shaking and pushed into the dimly-lit hallway.

"Aren't we here for the trial?" Thailand wondered, "This may be unnecessary, ana."

"It's for his own good if he faces those people again," Vietnam said.

"Please, I will do anything!" Cambodia pleaded loudly, "Just not this! I will be your…"

"No buts!" exclaimed the Vietnamese, "and we are here anyway."

At this point, Vietnam stopped and threw Cambodia to hit at several prison bars. Inside the cell, the shadow of a man was seen.

"Make sure you are back at the stand with us," Vietnam said, walking away.

"Viet, please don't!" cried Cambodia, "I just can't…"

"That voice… Kampuchea?" the man asked.

"Y-yes," Cambodia replied, "and it's now Cambodia… Comrade Duch…"

Nations do make mistakes sometimes, but it is important to face those mis…

Monsieur, nobody wants to hear the cheesy crap. And why was I left stunt when Cambodge fled from me? In my scene, this is what should have happened…

Omake – What If scenario: Oni-san France

Some Nations would go through a phase where in they would be overwhelmed by their insanity. Examples ranged from Revolutionary France to Nazi Germany (in Russia's case; that would be…

Monsieur, nobody wants to hear that crap again. Just fast-forward to my part!

(Fast-Forward)

"NNNNNOOOO!" cried Cambodia.

The Cambodian tried to run away from the Frenchman, but France grabbed his hand instantly.

"Cambodge, do not bottle up your feelings," France told him, "Big Brother France will always be by your side."

"France…" Cambodia spoke.

Then, the Cambodian moved in on the Frenchman for a bear hug. France could feel some dampness on his shirt.

"Cambodge… mon dieu, you're crying," France remarked.

"I just don't know how to handle it!" Cambodia cried out, "my time in the Khmer Rouge… I had no idea… I'm such a monster! Papa Angkor would never forgive me!"

"There there, mon Cambodge," France consoled him, "even we Nations had made mistakes, but Dieu would forgive us."

"Really?" asked Cambodia.

"Oui, just follow me to a cheap hotel or a dark alley," France continued, "and I shall explain more, mon petite Cambodge."

Original Character Profile

Name: Seng Rithisak

Represents: Kingdom of Cambodia (formerly Democratic Kampuchea)

Age: 19-20

Gender: Male

Birthday: 9 November 1953 (Independence from France)

Appearance: His attire alternates between Buddhist robes, an old set of casual clothes and a formal black suit.

The Khmer heir to the former super-Nation Angkor/Khmer Empire, he ended up being bullied by Thailand and Vietnam after Angkor's fall. Eventually, he sought for France to protect him and was forced to be with Laos and Vietnam (as French Indochina). During colonisation by France, Cambodia did rebel and failed many times.

Like the rest of Indochina, Japan convinced them to rebel against French rule. After the war, Cambodia gained his independence and was driven into war. In the end, the Khmer Rouge took over and started a period of darkness that Cambodia (and his people) don't want to talk about. Thus, Cambodia is very shy and non-talkative.

His monarchy was restored after a war with Vietnam and UN intervention. He now has to deal with the trials of the remnant leaders of the dissolved Khmer Rouge. He has a trauma switch that is activated whether the Khmer Rouge is talked about.

Vietnam: She's like an older sister, but a land-stealing bully.

Thailand: Also a bully who stole my lands!

China: He's my mentor in many things.

France: He claims to be helping me, but is only helping himself in the end.

Author's Notes

Democratic Kampuchea is the period in Cambodia's history under Communism, specifically under the regime of Khmer Rouge. They actually call for a radical version of Communism that involved clearing civilisation and remaking an agrarian and "equal" society.

Note: Political elite in Khmer Rouge and the military are more 'equal' than the others.

Among Cambodians, the Old People were targeted. They are basically those who educated or anyone that is seen as not communist or proletarian (scholars, landowners, people of religion, etc).

The trial for Khmer Rouge members is still ongoing.