Hetalia: The Fifty Stars

Chapter 49: Toward A New Future

Alaska. The 49th state was largely isolated from the rest of the world until Russia took a seafaring trip to the Americas and discovered the land that was "Alyaska". While he was exploring the frozen wilderness, he came across a shy, little girl who would grow attached to him for a long time. From that day forward, she enjoyed Russia's company as one of his colonies until 1867.

Around that time, Russia was having troubles at home. He was in need of money, and Alaska's resources weren't enough to profit off of. Plus, Alaska's close location to Canada, one of Great Britain's colonies at the time, made Alaska and himself vulnerable to an attack. He was reluctant at first, but he ended up selling Alaska to America, an event that changed Alaska's life forever.

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There was a man who lives across a narrow strip of sea from me.

His name was Ivan Braginsky.

He was from a very large country from what he told me. He was also very large himself. Big-boned and broad, he reminded me of a brown bar. Then again, his skin was white like pearly snow with no blemishes whatsoever on his round, plush face. In some ways, he looked like a polar bear standing on its hind legs with a mop of platinum blond hair on top of his head.

He usually wore a long, heavy, tan coat that covered most of his body. Rarely had I seen him without his boots or gloves. He also wore a long, beige scarf that covered half his face. I didn't question it at first, thinking it made sense considering my house rarely got any warmer than spring weather.

But one day, I caught a glimpse of bandages wrapped around his neck. Without thinking how rude the question was, I asked him about the bandages. He smiled and told me a polar bear attacked him. He proceeded to bring out his gray stick, telling me how he managed to ward the bear off with his "magical stick". It was an amazing story that only made me admire him even more than before. I didn't question his bandages after that.

It wasn't until I was older did I start to think about the stories he told me, the lessons he told me, the smiles he gave me... I wondered if it was all made-up or not. But, he wouldn't lie, would he? He was my big brother. There was no reason for him to lie to me. No reason at all...

... I would never forget the day I first met him.

I was hunting on the outskirts of the village. I saw a large lump of fur and assumed it was a bear. Their back was turned toward me, giving me an opportunity I couldn't refuse. I took an arrow and shot it with my bow at the bear. The moment the arrow slipped from my fingers, the bear's face turned my way. It was then I realized this bear was actually a man. I couldn't take back my arrow. I yelled and assumed the worst. I thought I had blood on my hands.

That was when he caught me by surprise. Without flinching in the slightest, he snatched the arrow by the stem before it could strike through his chest. The arrow snapped like a twig between his fingers; the pieces fell into the snow. Initially, I was awed by his reflexes. I was also glad he wasn't hurt. But slowly, I began to feel afraid of him... at first...

I never saw the likes of him before. He didn't look anything like the natives, nor did it help he was twice, if not three times, my height. His intimidating size probably matched his might. I could possibly outrun him, but I didn't flee right away. I just stood there from the top of the hill, awed by the sight of his eyes.

Those eyes alone were the reason I stayed. Those eyes were the reason I trusted him. They were the reason I called him big brother.

Ivan was easy to forgive me. All he asked were some basic questions: who I was, where I lived, what I was doing here, why I shot him, and how I was going to make up for it. Unfortunately for the two of us, there was a language barrier. The dark violet aura that surrounded him disappeared once he realized I couldn't speak his language. He proceeded to me by the hand. Rather than run or fight back, I let him take me away from the village.