The Shot Heard Around the World (Countryhumans American Revolution)

Taking Back Boston

March 17, 1776

The Siege of Boston had been going on for eleven months now. United Colonies had not been part of the siege the whole time but rather left and rejoined the army based on where his duties led him.

He was back in Boston again because he had received an urgent report from Commander Washington, saying that on March 8th, he had received a letter from the British General Howe, informing Commander Washington that if General Howe's men were allowed to leave Boston unmolested, the city would not be burned.

It was news that the siege would be broken soon, and United Colonies rushed to be there to see it.

He needed to be there to see it, needed to be there to see them take back Boston, the hotbed of rebellion for years. It felt almost poetic that as soon as his people began to consider the idea of independence, the city of rebels was taken back.

United Colonies had never heard Massachusetts sound so excited.

"Father, father, father, please let me have control. I promise I'll behave. I just want to be there to see it!" Massachusetts begged.

"You can see it from here, Mass! Cut it out!" Virginia snapped. United Colonies hummed, wishing he could respond without making himself look insane. It was hard being in public sometimes because of that.

Right now, United Colonies was standing by the cannons Henry Knox had dragged to Boston through the winter's snow and ice, all the way from Fort Ticonderoga. They were the most important piece of the siege, as they were what broke it in the first place.

"Those Lobsterbacks didn't know what hit them when we got our cannons on the hill!" Rhode Island bragged. United Colonies felt his lips twist into a slight grin at the small colony's words. He wasn't wrong. According to what he had heard from the soldiers, it was the threat of the cannons that had made General Howe back down.

"Henry Knox did a very brave thing. The siege had gone on long enough. For the sake of both sides, it was better it ended," the unfamiliar male voice said.

"And this is a huge moral boost for us! Between this and Moores Creek and Common Sense, more and more people will begin to see the validity of independence!" North Carolina declared cheerfully.

United Colonies watched as the ships began leaving Boston Harbor, and he could...he could feel Massachusetts, right there with him, watching as well.

"Don't get excited yet. We still have a long way to go. Even if...and independence is still a very big if, but even if we declare independence, we still have to fight the most powerful army in the world. We still have to fight our Grandfather," Georgia said.

"We've won a lot!" Rhode Island declared.

"Because we caught them off guard and because Grandfather hasn't brought the full might of his army down on us. Are you saying that you can and are willing to fight Grandfather?" Georgia asked.

United Colonies head fell into an uneasy silence as he felt Massachusetts back away.

"No, Mass, come back," he whispered. He didn't want to lose Massachusetts' presence, because with him gone and the others silent, it made United Colonies feel painfully alone.

"Sorry. James can be pushy." Massachusetts said. United Colonies did his best to hide his visible shock. James? Who was James? Was that the human name of one of the colonies?

"Don't worry, Father. Just...none of us like the idea of fighting Grandfather. We're...scared," Virginia said.

"Speak for yourself!" Massachusetts said, "And we both know if York were here right now, he would agree with me."

United Colonie began to feel uncomfortable; he was listening to a conversation he was not meant to hear, as if he were listening to something private. He tried his best not to focus on the conversation and instead on the white sails of his father's ship billowing in the harbor.

"But can we really—" Virginia began before Massachusetts cut her off.

"Let's rehash this later, Ginny. Today is a celebration! My capital has been recaptured!" he declared, getting closer and closer to United Colonies that the line between them seemed to blur. United Colonies' head began to hurt, and he was starting to realize that was a sign someone else wanted to take command of their body.

Seeing no reason not to let Massachusetts take control and not wanting to think anymore about what fighting his father would be like, United Colonies began to retreat back inside his mind, leaving Massachusetts in command.

Plymouth nearly stumbled as he realized he was in command of the body, not having expected his father to leave.

"Wait, Edward's left?" Uncle James asked as if Plymouth could answer without getting them all locked away for being mad.

"I think so. I don't know why. Father was set on being here to watch this," Virginia said.

"He did watch most of it," Rhode Island began, "Many of the ships have started leaving."

"It was Mass and Ginny's stupid fight that drove him off!" Georgia complained, and Plymouth bit his tongue to keep him from arguing with her, hands curling into fists as he silently fumed.

"I wouldn't say it's that," Uncle James said with a sigh, "but there's no use arguing about why he isn't here. He's not here, and that's the end of that story. Massachusetts, please behave."

Plymouth elected not to respond to his uncle, somewhat hurt that no one trusted him to take care of their body and be responsible. Breed's Hill had been a battle! That was why he had attacked England. He wasn't...he wasn't trying to get them in more trouble with Grandfather. He had just been so mad, seeing England killing and attacking their people, and had just reacted.

He didn't mean to injure England that badly. He didn't mean to take away England's ability to speak. He knew things were bad between them, but he didn't want that. Plymouth knew he would live with the guilt of that action forever.

It wouldn't be the first time blood stained his hands and conscience.

"It's good to see you get Boston back, Mass. I know this is a big thing for you and your people." North Carolina said. Pushing aside the decades worth of guilt, Plymouth did smile.

Regardless of the past, in the present, here and now, Boston was back in his hands.

And he couldn't be happier about that.