Hetalia: The Fifty Stars

Chapter 34: First Blood

Kansas. The 34th state is known to be the innocent sweetheart of America. Never cussing or causing mischief of any degree, her kind manners can force the biggest meanies to soften up to her. If anyone were to touch hair on her little, red head, they were expected to get pummeled and scorned by the rest of the states. She is truly a precious cinnamon roll.

To those who know little about this sweet, young girl, she had a traumatized past before becoming a state. During a time when the northern and southern states were stressing over the slavery issue, Kansas unintentionally became a battleground between pro and anti slavery forces. A territory at the time, the federal government allowed her new residents to decide whether she was going to be a free or slave state.

Consequently, this caused northern and southern migrants to fight among themselves over controlling Kansas's fate. The bitter violence that came about became known as Bleeding Kansas, an event that foreshadowed the eventual war between North and South. For poor, little Kansas, it was an unhappy time.

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"Nebby. Why did Missouri look at me like that?" I asked, worringly.

Nebby looked down on me with pitiful copper eyes. Her troubled gaze turned to the train then back to me. "I don't know," she mumbled with uncertainty. "Kansas, I got a bad feeling something horrible is going to happen to you."

My crystal blue eyes widen, my face paled hearing what she said. "What do you mean? Did I do something wrong?"

Nebby shook her head, trying to comfort me. "No, you haven't done anything bad. It's just..." She brought me into a tight hug, stroking the top of my ruby red hair. "Can you promise me something?"

I nodded into her shoulder. "Sure. What is it?"

She removed me from her hug, staring sternly into my eyes. "We're going to be separated from now on," she started. "It's going to be difficult for both of us. I may not be able to see you as much, but I'll still be watching you. No matter what happens, I want you to be strong. For the both of us. Okay?"

Choo! Choo! "The train will depart in one minute. Last call for tickets before departing!" the conductor's calls echoed throughout the train station.

Nebby looked behind her to where the train conductor stood. "I need to go. Goodbye." She hurried away.

I took a step forward, reaching out for her soft hand. "Wait!" She stopped to turn her head back to me. "What if I can't become a state? What if I mess up and fail them?" I said teary eyed.

Nebby hurried back to me, brushing the glassy tears under my left eye. "Remember what I told you. Stay strong and you'll do just fine." She briskly kissed the top of my forehead. "Goodbye."

Her short, platinum blonde hair whisked away in the air as she hurried back to the train. I watch her depart, gazing on from the platform, the train chugging out clouds of steam as it marched back to Nebby's home. Alone, I cried to myself, already missing the warmth from her hand.

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'Stay strong... For the both of us...' I recall quietly to myself.

At the back of my mind, I always thought about Nebby, and what she's doing right now, whether she had the same problems as me trying to work on her statehood. I hope she's alright. I heard nothing bad going on in her home, so she must be doing well. I hope...

I still miss her. Since we were born around the same time, I consider her as a sister. Sure, we looked different. She's on the tall side and I'm on the short side. Her hair was short and blonde while mine was long and red. Brown eyes and blue eyes. Despite our differences, she was always nice to me, and I couldn't help but rely on her protection whenever we were together facing the unknown world.