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Hello readers!

By the way, if you're wondering why nobody's using guns even though it's nearly the 21st century, it's because this is more awesome. And the Nations are just old-fashioned.

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Dark had nearly settled around the icy forest. Winter howled, whirling around what had been a battleground just moments ago. It hissed menacingly as Lithuania came near, calculating the worth of this man who seemed a threat.

"What are you doing here? You work with those pitiful men to destroy me, is that right? It is so unlike you to fight. You were such an obedient worker, do you remember?" Russia's voice was cool and dark, as always. At the sound, Lithuania shivered in revulsion, reconsidering his previous thoughts of compassion.

"You ran, didn't you? You ran from me, called yourself Lietuva when all you are is a pawn of mine..."

Fury, the anger and discontent of his people after so many years of pain and oppression. What was he thinking, clinging to such an archaic ideal as honor in this unfriendly world that that made little distinction between himself and the aggressor? Better to have his revenge now and be done with it. It would be what his people wanted. To finally abandon the gentle and passive person he was known as. To take the blade he carried and drag Russia through the same agony he had lived for all this time...

There was noise in the distance.

"You're gonna be fine, just trust me, okay? We're not going to, like, hurt you or anything." Poland led the rescued woman beside him, trying to comfort her, trying to establish any trust he could. The words were cut off when he came into sight of the other Nations. He ran to his friend's side, dragging the astonished woman with him.
"Liet? What's going on? Where's-" But as he asked, he saw. And his concern changed to joy. The shift did not escape Russia's notice.

"Ah, Poland. You smile still. Even when you remember the troubles of your history?"
"I lived. And there's nothing you can do to change that!" The triumphant glare of the Phoenix, a glow of glory that nearly matched the one expressed eighty years ago: the victorious glory of his rise and return. Though now his manner was more menacing, more violent. It was a sign of trouble when Poland abandoned his childish attitude for that of a warrior. Wary of this sudden strength, the rescued girl again tried to run.

"Who is this?" Russia said, and she stopped to look at him. Russia the person would of course look familiar to her. The Nations were always seen as such by their civilians.

Winter, angered by the attention she was giving to Russia, shrieked in its ice-laden voice.

The woman backed away.

Winter spiraled closer to Russia, hissing a message, covering the Nation's bloody coat with frost. Russia tried to strike at the other Nations, but fell back with a cry of pain. He growled like a hurt wild dog, clutching at the deep gash cut through his arm.

His people were dying. No event passed among the people without manifesting in the Nation's life. Likewise, any incident in the Nation's life had a counterpart among his people. Lithuania looked to the woman standing in the snow, and to the tyrant he hated. The tyrant, or only a being led to destruction by his government's plotting? The question was new, had never been considered before. And yet the eldest of the Baltics found himself pitying the Nation before him, the Nation who had been forced to abandon the needs of his people for the needs of his politicians. Though he still hated Russia for obeying those rules, for causing seemingly endless pain and destruction among Lithuania's own people, it was sympathy he felt for the Nation who lay now in so much pain of his own.

It had never been easy, dealing with the emotions that humans had given the Nations. Such a spectrum of feeling was difficult for beings who were often forced to sacrifice their free will to leaders or armies. Many had found themselves niches in the spectrum, attitudes that they rarely had to change, Austria, sensible and vain. America, ignorant yet caring. Prussia, crude and warlike.

Poland, carefree resilience securing his survival through the centuries. And Lithuania, his strength tempered by compassion.

Rarely did they make decisions for themselves, led as they were by politics and war. But when they were among only each other, with no human interference, such arrangements of emotion and virtue guided the Nations' acts.

Winter howled still, hanging in the sky. Protective. Lithuania could do nothing without angering the elemental wraith.

"Be at peace, Morozko! I mean no harm," he declared. Winter snarled but obeyed, and the air turned calmer. Yet the spirit stayed tense, not trusting anybody but Russia.

Lithuania took the bag of medical supplies from his belt.

"WHAT? What are you doing, Liet? This is our victory!" Poland yelled, outraged.

"I have seen too many of my people die to even consider supporting Batukhan's attack."

"We could be strong again! Like we were before that bastard even had a country of his own!"

"It's been two hundred years. Times have changed." This time, Lithuania would not quietly agree. This was his time, the time to be firm in his morals and opinions.

Poland was furious, confused as to why Liet wouldn't attack when he had the opportunity. But this wasn't his fight.

"Fine then. Just get whatever you want to do over with." Poland's tone was not as full of outrage as it had been before. He too had watched helpless as his people were slaughtered, and was beginning to understand Lithuania's reasoning. The two of them had once been friends, once been enemies, and it would not do to stir more conflict. That was not what was needed.

"If it helps our...or any civilians," he said, "I'm, like, all for that."

Whatever the truth, Lithuania had made his decision. He would attend to Russia's wounds. After, the Nations would return to the conference building to find shelter for the civilian woman, and to report Mongolia's unprovoked attack.

Maybe Lithuania had given up his chance for revenge foolishly. Or maybe the world had changed, and protecting the lives of the people had become more important than the Nations fighting among themselves.

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Please review :) it helps me write.

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