Hetalia: The Fifty Stars

Chapter 46: The Sooner The Better

Oklahoma. The 46th state was both Oklahoma Territory and Indian Territory prior to statehood. The area that made up present-day Oklahoma was originally Indian Territory. In fact, Indian Territory was much larger than present-day Oklahoma, however, throughout the 19th century American settlers and the federal government had cut away much of its land into the form that is seen today.

By 1890, the Oklahoma Organic Act was passed, converting parts of Indian Territory into Oklahoma Territory. American settlers began inhabiting the area, some sooner than others. Indian Territory at the time was already distrusting of the American settlers. To see the Americans make use of his "sold" land made him quite upset. Little did he know of his new neighbor who'll change his future.

☆☆☆☆☆

Long ago, there was a young boy born from tears. Drenched in blood from the sores of sorrowful men, women, and children, he was simply given the name Red.

He was bathed in the nearby river. All the blood was removed, revealing a normal-looking boy of Native American heritage. His caregivers were many Native American tribes who all loved the boy dearly. No one questioned where the boy's parents were, or why he remained young throughout the years of his existence. They simply saw him as a gift from the spirits of the land. Someone who would look over them after everything they had went through.

As beloved as he was, Red was miserable in a sense. He recalled the first time he met his people, most of them distraught and heartbroken, sickened and tired as though they walked for days without rest. Most of them were from the East from what he heard. They were forced on foot to his home by the people whose skin was as pale as the frigid snow. The ones who drove them here were known by many names. White man, Americans, murderers, there were many names. However, Red knew them by one name only: enemy.

His people were the victims of conquest. Their native homes were threatened by the Americans who drove them into violence and bloodshed. Even when they tried to negotiate on a truce, most found themselves lying still under smelly blankets sent as a peace offering by those cursed Americans. The bravest warriors tried with all their might to defend their homes, only to be pushed away by muskets and steel swords stronger than wooden spears and flimsy arrows. Faced with the possibility of annihilation, the chiefs succumb to the White man. As punishment for defending their homes, the White man sent them far away, forcing them and their families westward into a designated haven that was Red's home. In reality, it was a prison.

A place for the unwanted. A place distinct to his people. A place no one asked to be. This section of land was given a name of foreign origins: Indian Territory. That was the place Red represented. He hated it, but he grew to accept it — like most of the Native Americans. They should be thankful for this so-called generosity. They should be fortunate they were allowed to live in peace. They should be grateful not to face anymore bloodshed. It was laughable, yet the White man were the only ones laughing.

Red lived with his people, feeding off their thoughts and emotions. He listened to their voices, remembering them in his head. Their anger, their sorrows, their fears, he was constantly influenced by their presence. Such turbulent emotions developed a cancer known as "hate" close to his heart. His cancer was thanks to the White man. They were cruel, unreasonable, and despicable. They were no longer human, but monsters in Red's eyes. They were his enemy; a cancer that'll one day wipe his people off the Earth if he wasn't careful. As such, he was extremely protective of his people, especially against the White man.

In the passing days and years of his long life, Red watched the outside world change from a distance. He watched as the White man migrate westward, destroying trees, building homes, and make the land as ugly as possible. It was atrocious.