Sophie glanced at the screens, mediating and making decisions. With Germany missing and France, Italy and England attending other matters, it was up to her to act as ground control for the EU and their allies. The footage and data arriving on her computer was not reassuring:
Riots were breaking out in Eastern Europe. Pro-socialists were gaining ground in the Balkans, the Baltics were attempting to control the situation but were now under threat of surprise attacks. Finland had already been ordered to lend support against a potential attack by Russia.
Turkey had not yet responded, though his reasons were less sinister than the other no-shows: Earthquakes and floods had been taking their toll on him lately.
The fallout was now affecting Spain, Morocco and Algeria, not to mention Canary Islands and the Azores. It would soon reach her and her neighbors in hours. Her government was already administering facemasks, as were the others.
In Sub-Saharan Africa, the Pro-China parties were coming out of the woodwork, quietly taking over Angola, Ethiopia and Kenya. She was at least confident Nigeria was on the Allied side, despite Nigeria accepting the most investments from China than any other country there. Bloody altercations at the more unstable borders. Worst of all, South Africa had finally done what she had threatened to do for years: Annex Lesotho. Satellite imagery confirmed plans to invade Namibia, Botswana and Mozambique, to seize their mines, no doubt. South Africa must be Gazelle, Belgium thought. This was bad, now that the Hegemony had a member in almost every continent and region, assuring that any upcoming war would surely have twice as many theatres as World War 2 did.
She looked out of the window, gazing at the Zwin Estuaries and the faded grandeur of Bruges. She knew that, on the brink of mutual nuclear destruction, all of them would be reduced to ruins far worse than what had happened here. She prayed that both sides would have the wisdom not to resort to the nuclear option. She felt so helpless, being a tiny country contributing only slightly to the power of Europe.
"A girl empire?! What would the others think?!" were the words her brother spat out when she announced her bid to join the race during the Age of Colonies, an adventure that ended in tragedy and bloodshed. All her leaders lied to her. As she enjoyed sugary treats produced by the colonies, she was kept blissfully unaware of the carnage her own people were inflicting upon Africa. Netherlands was right, not that she could've been better at administering the natives, but that she did not have the stomach to bear the horrible truth behind the romantic claims of the Colonialist Powers.
"What a fool I was, and am" she spat to no one but herself. A fool to believe then that she could do what others couldn't, to bring forth peace and prosperity where there was nothing but hatred and poverty. to think now that she could help, when she was a mere blip on the power scale of the World Powers.
"We tiny nations are powerful" said a voice behind her. "We can do things those sprawling empires can only dream of doing". Sophie swiveled her chair to see Israel, who had apparently teleported right next to her.
"But Arthur's wards prevent Apparating within these walls!" she said in incredulity.
"And who do you suppose taught Arthur to set up those wards, dear?" asked Israel.
"I know this isn't a backstab waiting to happen" said Sophie. "You would've gone for France or Germany. Or maybe you already did"
"If I were an enemy, which I'm not, I'd strike YOU down first, Belgium" replied Esther.
"Why in the world would you, or anyone do that?"
"I have a story: A few years ago, the goddess Gaea attempted to take over. It was a takeover on a massive scale, and I am not sure if I myself, nor with the help of the other Magic Nations, could've stopped her. Do you know what her first move was?"
"Attack Olympus with a large-scale invasion? Kill the demigods?" asked Sophie.
Israel shook her head. "No, she had Hera, queen of the gods- well, their gods, anyway, kidnapped. Without her, the other Olympians would fall apart, blinded by personal goals, drawn apart by suspicion and fear. That's why the Olympians prioritized her rescue above any pre-emptive strikes against Gaea and the Giants. I should know, Athena kept me updated on their plans during the crisis, in case they needed me to intervene. A Second Age of the Giants would be bad news for the Children of Abraham."
"Athena?! But she's a pagan deity"
"Is she not spoken of in abstract form in my own Scriptures? No, Sophie, the 'other gods' were never demons in disguise, that I am forbidden to speak to them. They have their purpose, which is why the Good Lord saw to create them for other nations"
"And he kept you for Himself" finished Sophie.
"For a while, until the rest of you could fathom monotheism. Some gods were bloodthirsty, anarchic forces, like Molech and Tiamat, and I saw to their destruction, with the Lord's aid. Others obeyed their function and so now enjoy continued existence and influence in the lives of mortals. The Greek, Egyptian, Norse, Yoruba and other pantheons are still here. They govern such things as love, death and war. Big concepts, Sophie, there's enough room for many of them. But Our Father is still the final arbiter of all decisions, all actions".
"Now back to Hera. If you put two and two together, you'll know why you're the cornerstone of Europe"
"I still don't"
Esther smiled. "Because you're the heart of Europe, Sophie, not just because you control the gemstones, the banks and the trade routes, but because you are the moral voice of your family. You are the glue that keeps them together. When they drift apart, you bring them back together."
"What, like the power of heart stuff in cheesy kids shows? I'm the heart of the team?"
"Heart is a powerful thing, Sophie. Why do you think so many rituals involve a heart sacrifice?"