Confederate America

Chapter 9

Warning: Offhand discussion of suicide. It's one sentence, but still there.

The South: 1867

Montgomery "Amelia Jones", the Southern part of the United States, sat in her office, staring at a rolled up piece of letter stock, issuing a new Act by the United States, something she was now a part of again. North's soldiers were in the South now, but President Johnson before mostly left them to their own devices in the government before that. Her people were being elected into office with not much push from the North.

Until this letter with the new Act arrived.

Montgomery gritted her teeth, reading it over 3 times. She read out loud. "Reconstruction Act of 1867, That said rebel States shall be divided into military districts and made subject to the military authority of the United States as hereinafter prescribed, and for that purpose Virginia shall constitute the first district; North Carolina and South Carolina the second district; Georgia, Alabama, and Florida the third district; Mississippi and Arkansas the fourth district; and Louisiana and Texas the fifth district." (1)

She threw it down on the table, cursing North in Spanish, French and English. She rubbed her face roughly, feeling how gaunt it was. She was still healing from the War of Northern Aggression. She still felt half starved, her uniform hanging off of her limbs, her burn scars from Sherman's March spanning her neck, chest and back. This was another Act to insult the South, she knew it. Her people would have no authority, the northerners would be on her soil and she would have to deal with North, she had been ignoring him unless she was forced to talk to him for the past 2 years. This was just another way to control them. To control her. She knew it. "Damn bastard."

She was in her home in Virginia, so she knew North would be going there first. She had a home in every state that belonged to her, some nicer than others and some big enough to just be a glorified shack. A knock alerted her to call out. "Yes?" She already knew he was here, she could feel it the moment he stepped foot on Virginia soil.

"General Jones, a General Jones is here to see you." She could hear the confusion in their tone, which always happened with the humans when they were in the same place at the same time.

"I will be out within 10 minutes." Montgomery grimaced, shifting her jacket on, still in the Confederate colors of gray. She made sure she was presentable enough and her bandages were covered by her uniform before opening the door. "North."

He looked over at her, clenching his jaw shut tightly when he saw her clothes. His cheerful tone was nowhere to be seen as he said. "Monty, don't you have anything else to wear?"

She arched an brown eyebrow at him mockingly. "...And why should I?"

"So you do not run into trouble."

Montgomery scoffed. "By who?"

North sighed, fixing his glasses on his nose. "The other northerners who are coming down south."

Montgomery growled under her breath. "Humans? Oh, please. The Carpetbaggers are trying to come and make a fortune at the South's expense. It is already disturbing that the Republican Scallywags are hiding in the South."

America felt his temper spiking, lately it was something Monty was really good at causing. "Watch it, Monty. Just go change and then we can talk."

She barked. "About what? This?!" She tossed the parchment card at him. Her ears were flushing red, her ire from before rushing to her mind. It was that same expression she had when she was furious, similar to his older brother.

America already knew what it was. It was the reason he came here. "Monty, it was necessary."

Montgomery scoffed roughly enough to hurt her throat. "Oh, I'm sure." She could already feel foreign boots on her soil all over the south. She knew the second North appeared in Virginia. From Florida to Virginia, she felt it. A part of her she didn't want to listen to, missed her brother, but another part recoiled at seeing the northerner on her territory. It was too fresh.

Her mind was also conflicted majorly. It was feeling joy for her newly emaciated citizens, but feeling the anger of her other citizens over the result of the War. She was feeling both things at the same time and it was very conflicting, leading to a lot of headaches. Dealing with North and his smug Northern face was not helping.

North looked exasperated. It was a strange thing to see on his face, remembering his cheerful grin from her childhood. Then again, the War of Northern Aggression changed them both. "C'mon, Monty. I just wànted to check in with you." He smiled brightly at her.

Montgomery narrowed her eyes, she could see the falseness behind that smile. A part of him may have been here to see "Monty", his sister, but a big part of him wanted to keep an eye on her, just like the federal government did of her states. Some haven't even been accepted back into the Union yet. "Is that so, N'rth? I know you wanna keep 'a eye on me."

America's face was blank, realizing she caught on to his hidden message/goal. He whined a little. "C'mon Monty…"

She fought the sisterly urge of sticking her tongue out at him. Instead, she decided to show him her famous southern hospitality. "Well, thank you for stopping by."

America frowned, he knew that tone and the hidden meaning behind those words. It was a polite way of telling him to "buzz off". "Montgomery. Is there anything you wanna ask me?"

She shifted on her feet. She thought she made herself clear. Looking at him just reminded her of her loss."I thought I made myself clear, should've known you wouldn't get it."

America's blue eyes flashed in anger, an anger he was trying to hide from her, but she knew him too well. "That's enough, Montgomery! Did you think we wouldn't check up on you?"

She tilted her jaw stubbornly, crossing her arms over her chest and hiding the wince as her burns pulled at her skin tightly. She also ignored the shover that went up her spine at his anger. The War only ended 2 years ago. "I expect you to respect me enough to tell me the truth."

"All I ask is to convince your citizens to behave if you don't want a problem."

"Amusing, I was about to say the same thing."

America gave a stiff nod, realizing he wasn't going to get anywhere with her. "Fine. Make sure they do, otherwise you won't like it."

She scoffed, but America turned away, storming out of the room, down the hall and out of her house. She could hear the door slam. She always knew how to push his buttons. Must be a sibling thing because England was good at that too.

She waited for him to leave before collapsing in a hard backed chair with a hiss and a groan. Her old wounds were throbbing. She almost felt like it was due to being in close contact with North.

"General Jones!"

She raised a hand, letting out a pained grunt. "Ah'm fine." She lurched to her feet with a stumble. Her voice was coated in pain, her southern accent more pronounced. "If ya need me, ah'll be in ma office." she slammed the door closed, yanking off her gray jacket quickly. She cursed up a storm. "Dammit! It's been two years! How long is 'his goin' ta take?!"

It would take until 1877 to fully heal. The end of Reconstruction when the federal soldiers left the South. Monty felt like she could finally breathe once it happened.


April 1945- London, England

It has been a long time since the war started, 6 years. Which felt like 50 years to the personifications and their nations. Any annoyance Monty and America had for each other was gone by 1943, especially with the tragedies, victories and losses they had with the Allies. Italy had surrendered to them by then.

At that moment, they were sitting around a circular table. North, Montgomery, England, Canada, France, the Italies and Russia. They were all in differing states of disarray. Romano looked worse than Italy, which made sense considering the attacks on Sicily, even if it was two years ago. England looked strained from the effects of the Blitz and France from occupation. Russia and China did not look any better. American and Montgomery looked exhausted. Montgomery's fine uniform was ripped in places with deep bags under her eyes and her hanging down past her collar. America looked just as tired, his own necktie missing.

Montgomery said. "Now that the Nazi offed himself, why is this shit not over yet?"

England sent her a disgruntled look. "I am sure such vulgarity is not necessary."

American laughed, agreeing with his sister. "Relax Britain! Monty has a point. We took over Germany, but the Japan dude is still fightin'." Real annoyance was bleeding into his voice. It was hard to keep up with his cheerful personality with the War still going on.

China nodded his head. "The Westerners are right. Japan still be fighting, aru." China looked just as aggravated. Everyone in the room knew what Japan put him and his nation through during the War and even before it.

Francis arched a blond eyebrow in England's direction. "Angleterre, you forget about the potty mouth you've 'ad over the centuries."

"Shut it, Cheesy Monkey!"

"Black Sheep of Europe!"

Canada said quietly. "We should get back to the topic at hand." He was ignored and Canada sulked, "Housers."

Russia smiled brightly. "Just need to be controlling Japan like Germany, yes?"

Most of the room shivered at his threatening smile. Romano crossed his arms across his chest. "You guys have a plan, si? Now that you beat the potato bastardo?" His brother winced, worrying about Germany, but Romano sent him a sharp look to keep quiet. He's sick of hearing about that bastard and now was not the place to say it, especially in front of the Allies.

Montgomery and America stiffened a bit, but thankfully they were not to be noticed by the other nations. They did have a plan, but they and their president were hesitant to push forward with it. Project Manhattan in New York. Even though Montgomery didn't like it, when she was back in the States, she spent a lot of time up north. They weren't going to say anything, especially to the Communist, Russia. Montgomery and America were both in agreement on that.

Montgomery crossed her arms over her chest and leaned back in her chair, tilting her head to the side in thought. "We're finished with most of the battles in the Pacific. We could invade Japan, but that would make the War last longer."

England narrowed his eyes. "How much longer?"

America scratched the back of his head. "Uh, could be a year or two, dude."

France was alarmed. "That long?"

Montgomery frowned in annoyance. "Yeah, Islands are annoyin' to fight against." North and Montgomery both agreed upon a warning to Japan before having to take drastic measures. North and her were in agreement on this too.

America led out a forced laugh, hard to tell, except for the other American in the room. "Don't worry my dudes, we'll figure it out. After all, we're the heroes." Montgomery laughed with him, causing the other nations to roll their eyes. They didn't want to do that to Japan, but his leadership was giving them no choice at this point.

Russia stared at them with his head tilted. Both Americas glared back at him. Tension between Russia and America has risen during the War. France cut in quickly. "Well until then, we have stay steady, non?" England agreed, also noticing the tension. It was strange to see France and England getting along, considering they've been at each others' throats for centuries.

Everyone agreed, not realizing how far America and Montgomery would be pushed.

Notes

1. First Reconstruction Act, March 2, 1867. (Primary Source)