A Gilded Cage of Broken Wings (Oneshot Collection)

The Misguided Aunt

Michigan had heard about the new colony, about Sandwich Islands, the country that his Grandfather had taken under his wing. He had heard about her...relationships with America, how she thought that America was good, that he was family.

That he can be trusted.

Michigan was eager to avoid her for that reason. He didn't know what nonsense America had told her about him, but Michigan was pretty sure that Sandwich Islands would try to recorrupt him with America's delusions.

Unfortunately, he was not so lucky.

"Michigan," Grandfather asked a few hours after Sandwich Islands had arrived, "I want you to help me."

"Yes?" Michigan asked, eager to do anything he could to help his grandfather.

"I need you to help me show Sandy that America is using her and that she shouldn't trust him and should begin to distance herself from him," Grandfather asked, placing a gentle hand on Michigan's head.

"Are you sure I'm the best—" Michigan began before Grandfather's hand suddenly tightened around his hair, pulling it sharply.

"You are the only colony of America that has been decorrupted. What better person than you to show her the delusions and backwardness of America?" Grandfather said. Michigan nodded.

"I understand. I apologize for questioning you," he said. Grandfather smiled, and Michigan felt Grandfather's grip on his hair loosen.

"Good boy. Now, I think it's best you start now, before she takes to lashing out. Ireland has sworn to be troublesome, so the sooner you help her, the less likely she is to be corrupted by his madness," Grandfather said before pushing Michigan forward some. Michigan stumbled before recatching his balance and rushing off to find Sandwich Islands.

She was easy to find despite having the same flag as so much of his family due to the air of confusion and unfamiliarity around her.

"Are you Aunt Sandy?" Michigan asked, just to verify her identity. The colony startled before nodding.

"I am," she said, "Who are you?"

"My name is Michigan," Michigan began, watching her for any trace of recognition. Much to his disgust, she seemed to recognize his name, a sign that America was probably feeding her lies about him.

"Oh! Lika's so—"

"I'm not that bastard's son! I am Canada's son and Britain's grandson, and I've always been British because I refer to acknowledge anything between myself and that...that monster," Michigan snapped, anger flooding through him. He hated this. He hated to be associated with America. He couldn't wait until the day America dropped this delusion and Michigan could finally live in peace.

Sandwich Islands' eyes widened as she took a small step back, seemingly caught off guard by his anger.

"I'm sorry," she said, her tone nervous. "I had been told you were Amelika's son."

"I'm not. That...America took me away from my family; he hurt me and tainted me. I was lucky enough to be saved, but...other territories have to suffer under him. I...I hate him," Michigan said, trying to ignore the pain that came with those memories, the months of learning who he really was and where he belonged.

"That...that doesn't sound like Lika. Any time he brought you up...you could hear how much he misses you," Sandwich Islands said. Michigan scowled.

"It was probably all just a trick to fool you. He's probably trying to steal you from Grandfather because he's upset that I wanted to be with my real family. You're just being used by him to hurt Grandfather," Michigan reasoned. It made perfect sense. Why else would America care about any of his half-siblings if not to corrupt them and turn them against Grandfather?

"I am not! Lika loves me, and he cares about me as a person. He's not using me to try and get back at Beretania," Sandwich Islands said, crossing her arms with a small huff. Michigan suppressed the urge to roll his eyes. How could she be so stupid to believe America about anything?

There must be something about the savage mind that would explain it, as Michigan could see no other reason that someone could believe something so delusional. Well, he could think of one other reason, but Sandwich Islands was a favorite of his Grandfather, and Michigan was not going to risk the punishment that would probably follow, pointing out how she was mad.

He knew Grandfather would just see it as Michigan looking for an excuse for his failure. Even if she were mad, Michigan would still be expected to convince her of the truth.

"How can you know that? How can you dismiss the pain I suffered just so you can feel like you're in the right? How can you do any of that and claim you aren't being manipulated?" Michigan asked, his voice a mix of anger and confusion, slowly getting louder.

He needed to show her she was wrong, and that meant pointing out the flaws in her argument until she had nothing left to argue with. Then, she would have to agree with him and realize that he was right.

"I don't know what kind of pain you are claiming to feel, but it's obvious that Lika loved and adored you," Sandwich Islands said, sounding annoyed, like she was the one arguing with someone who was defending a nonsense claim.

"He only cared about using me to make himself look better! I never meant anything to him! Don't act like you know my personal relationships! He killed my brother!" Michigan snapped before turning away. He knew he had a job to do, but he needed to calm down before he let his anger get out of hand.

At least he gave Sandwich Islands something to think about. Hopefully, with time, she would realize her mistakes. If Grandfather hadn't promised to give her independence, then he would have had the time necessary to teach her the error of that way of thinking, as he did with Michigan.

She would be better off with them forever anyway, safe, away from America, and safe from anything else that would harm her.

America was hurting her, and Grandfather wanted to help her.

Why couldn't she see that?