Chapter three! Last we left off, America and Greenland came home from their first meeting together. What happened the night afterwards? Let's find out, shall we?

Greenland's Nightmare…

We played in the snow, Big Brother and I. It was such a trivial thing, I know, but there was so much to do. We would make snow men and build igloos together. We had competitions to see who could catch the most snowflakes on their tongue. Big Brother always had a lot of responsibility. He always had so much going on. I knew that the life of a full-fledged country was much more fast-paced than that of a colony. Yet, he always made time for me, his little colony. More than that, his little sister.

Big Brother was always good to me. He always protected me. He always spoke up for me. Sure, he could be really loud and bossy, but he loved me. And I loved him. That's what family does; we embrace one another's flaws.

We laid in the snow of our front yard, making snow angels. The faint smell of chocolate hung in the air. I knew that Mr. Finland was making hot cocoa inside for us when we were all tired out and in need of warmth. I laughed as Big Brother said something funny about Mr. Norway needing to lighten up. It wasn't even all that funny to be honest, but he always knew how to make me laugh. A sudden chill bit through my coat, and I shivered. Denmark saw I was cold, and rolled over towards me, holding me tightly against his warm body. I inhaled his familiar, comforting scent and began to feel sleepy. With Big Brother, I knew I was safe. I knew he would protect me.

Suddenly, I felt him being ripped away from my embrace. I looked up to see him being dragged away by men in Nazi uniforms. I ran after him, crying and calling his name over and over. I tripped, landing face-first in the snow. I got up to my knees and cried his name again and again. "Denmark! Big Brother! Bring him back!"

He called back to me in a saddened and helpless tone: "I love you, little sister! It's what's best!"

Hot tears ran down my icy face as he disappeared from my sight. I was all alone in the world now. Big Brother was no longer there to protect me. I hugged myself as my body grew colder and colder. He was gone, and there wasn't anything I could do about it.

Suddenly, a hand grabbed my arm and began to drag me away! Before I could break free, another grabbed a hold of my ankle! Another took the edge of my coat, and another wrapped itself around my throat! More hands tried to tear me in different directions, and no matter how much I kicked and struggled, I couldn't break free! I screamed Denmark's name again and again, even though I knew he wouldn't come.

The hands morphed and melted into shadows, enveloping my body. They squeezed and tightened around me, constricting the life out of me. As one shadow crept over my face to smother my desperate breath, a voice dark whispered menacingly to me: "Your brother isn't coming for you… Too bad you couldn't do anything to help. You're so useless! Worthless! A sorry excuse for a would-be country!"

A searing pain shot through my chest at these words. I knew this was the end. I knew there was nothing left for me. My lungs felt as if they would explode as the life was wrung out of me, until…

"Greenland… Greenland! Wake up!"

I awoke suddenly in a cold sweat. My heart raced, and I couldn't seem to get enough air into my lungs. I looked around me. I was back in Mr. America's house. Rain slammed against the window and thunder gently shook the air. I realized Mr. America was holding me by the shoulders. It was all… a dream?

He looked at me with a concerned expression of which I had never seen him wear before. "Hey, Green… You alright? It looked like you were having a nightmare, so…"

I couldn't hold back my emotions anymore as I clung to him, my body racked with sobs. "He was taken away from me… and I… I couldn't do anything…! I'm so useless… so pathetic…"

I felt his big, strong arms wrap around me as he held me firmly. "It was all a nightmare. It's ok. You're safe now…"

His fingers ran through my hair and he shushed me quietly. I had never heard such gentleness in his voice before. He held me a while longer as my tears soaked into his nightshirt. I couldn't stop shaking. Though it was only a nightmare, it was true… I couldn't do anything to stop Denmark from being taken away from me. I was useless.

But I had to change that. I was only a colony, sure, but I could do my best! I had to become stronger to help my brother! I had to become strong… I had to… get… stronger…

America's P.O.V.

I held her there in her room for a while as she fell asleep in my arms. I wasn't sure what scared her so bad, but it must have been really something. She was shaking, and she looked pale, like she was going to be sick or something. This war had torn her family apart. Even worse, it was tearing her apart. She needed me now more than ever. I rubbed her back until she fell asleep. I heard her mumble something before she drifted off:

"Big… Brother…"

At that moment, the realization hit me. I wasn't supposed to be her Hero, someone to save the day all the time and stuff like that. Denmark wanted me to be her Big Brother, someone to be there for her and be strong for her. I was responsible for her. I never had a little sibling before, but I knew I had to try my best for her. She needed me to. I laid her down on her pillow and pulled the covers up to her chin. As I left, I took one last look over my shoulder at the sleeping colony. That was when I made my resolve to be the best temporary Big Brother I could possibly be.

Aaaand... cut! What will happen the next day? Who knows? We'll find out when chapter four comes out! X3 Thanks for reading!