"Matt, you're making a big mistake,"
"Not at all, brother dear. I haven't been so right in centuries…"
Canada presented his brother to Khione and Iran.
"If you think you were serving puppeteer realness, you're wrong. I knew the moment you talked about the sea serpent in Helena"
"That was a bit careless of me. I admit, I did think I was the smart twin,"
"So what now?" asked Alfred.
"Now, we wait for the full moon to set, or rather for the Sun to rise. In the dawn light, we shall usher the dawn of the Second Golden Age. The giants will rise from England and Spain's blood and the Hegemony will rule the world"
Canada beckoned to the Boreads. "Bind him. Gag him."
Back in Ontario, Kiku and Maria sprinted into action. "What do we do?!" wailed Maria.
"Piper hasn't called yet. We have no choice. Israel said the ritual will happen at dawn. It's midnight already"
"Even if we get to Quebec, we can't exactly waltz in. We need some sorta war chariot,"
"I can help you with that,"
Maria turned. "Chris McLean?!"
"The one and only. Listen, I never got to thank you for freeing me and the crew from those monsters or whatever. Nobody plays a player! So, to give my thanks, I'll let you guys have my World Tour plane! It'll take you to Quebec in time and let you crash in unexpectedly!"
"But the Palace of Boreas is hidden from mortal eyes," protested Japan. "We'll never find it from the air,"
"Duh, that's why I'm giving you a capable pilot!"
"Over here, friends!" Dawn waved from the cockpit. "I have the Sight. I can find Boreas' palace and lead you there. Are you sure you want to crash the plane into it?"
"Yeah, for maximum damage and distraction," said Maria.
"I love it!" said Chris. "Make sure you stop those guys! No world means no All Stars Two! So here's your challenge! Stop the ritual, save your friends, or I'll make you walk the Dock of Shame!"
"Sure thing, Chris! You can count on us!"
The plane took off eastwards, toward Quebec, towards the Winter Palace, towards Alfred and the captive nations.
Alfred knew he had to stall for time. He knew help had to be on the way. He could feel it in his bones, but he had so little strength left and any moment he could pass out.
Iran had activated the spell over the cage. Arthur yelled. "Alfred! Matthew! Can you hear me?!"
"We can hear you, old man!" laughed Canada. "We'll be hearing you scream as the life gets sucked outta you, too!"
"Leave Dad out of this!" yelled America. "It's me you have beef with, Mattie, and you know it!"
Canada looked darkly at him. "You know nothing about me," he spat.
"A sweet end for the most powerful dynasty the nations have ever known!" yelled Iran. "The hour approaches!"
"Matt, Dad has nothing to pay for, it's me you want!"
"I'll enjoy gutting you over and over again once I'm done. For now, I'm dealing with our old man"
"You were his favorite!"
Canada laughed. "Of course you'd think that. Well, what do you say, Dad? Al thinks I'm your favorite!"
Alfred saw monsters gather around the caverns. So many allies of the Hegemony had come out of the woodwork. Rogue demigods, vampires, skinwalkers, a few demons and other monsters he could not identify.
Arthur stirred within the cage. "I have always loved you two. You were my firstborn…"
"You never did,"
"I have always loved you and respected you, Matthew"
"You don't love me,"
Canada pressed on. "You kept doting on fucking Alfred while he took every single goddamned chance to disappoint you! It's always been you and America, even when he revolted! I never left your side, and yet, it was as if you never saw me there,"
"That's not true, my son. You know it isn't,"
"I KNOW WHAT I KNOW, OLD MAN!" Canada spat in England's face.
"I'm done being forgotten by my own family. I'm done cleaning up after my brother's messes. I'm done with putting up with your lies and hypocrisy,"
Alfred thought about Bruno and the Madrigals. About poor blind Mary and the Ingallses. He began to realize all the pain he had caused Matthew.
"Tonight, I make a toast to my new family, eh? Hail the Hegemony!"
"Matt, forgive me…" spoke Alfred.
Canada turned around and laughed. "What?"
"Forgive me,"
"So now, you're gonna try and act like the good big brother you imagine yourself to be?"
"I'm not apologizing for whatever you think I've done to you,"
"Eh?"
"I'm sorry because I'm about to kick all your asses up in here!"
Canada sensed too late the plane crashing into the Ice Palace. Explosions rocked the cavern and his vision went dim.