The Way Things Are (UKUS)

Dependence

I'll never forget the day I won the war against my brother. It was raining on the battlefield, blood mingling with the mud beneath our feet as my army stood behind me, guns drawn. I had my bayonet pointed right at him and yet he still stood proudly before me, his blue eyes angered and fearful at the same time. I had him beat, General Washington had surrendered and he had no one left.

"All I want is my freedom..." Alfred had said, "I'm no longer a child-" but before he could finish I had pulled back on the breech of my musket and he became silent.

"Your rebellion is over, Alfred. You will yield to me....or you will die." My finger was heavy on the trigger, ready to end him. But the bastard was still.....still only a child. In appearance, he looked no more than fifteen years old. And like a child, he stubbornly refused to listen to me. As he began to raise his musket, I rushed forward, slashing my bayonet against the stock of his gun. It flew from his hands and I could tell from his expression that his whole life was flashing before his eyes. He was so afraid to die....my little brother. I remembered when he was small, just a wee thing....how we'd hold hands on the way to his home. He was always a strong child, even now. He didn't beg or cry.... only awaited death. Slowly, I lowered my gun and exhaled deeply. My voice was much gentler when I said, "Idiot, there's no way I can shoot you." with a signal from me, my men brought forth some rope and bound my young colony before me, tears streaming down his rosy cheeks. I looked at him for a moment, my hand stretching out to caress his cheek and wipe those tears away, but instead I clenched my fist and turned away from him to address my Lieutenant, "Take him to the brig. I'll see him later."

Now here I am in front of Alfred's capitol building, Philadelphia, in the year 1783.....eight years he put me through this foolish hell. Eight years he wasted my time, my money, my resources. I wasn't about to let him off scot free. I headed down the halls....past the rooms where he'd committed treasonous acts such as the writing of that despicable "Declaration of Independence". I remember the shattering look on his face hours ago when I had shredded that signed paper before him. Now I found him alone in a back room, still wearing his blue coat as he sat in a chair with his head hung and his hands folded in his lap.

"I warned you. I told you there would be severe consequences when this all started, 'United States of America'." The name he had given himself rolled off my tongue with disdain. I gripped the boy's arm and dragged him up to his feet. He stood at his full height, about a head taller than I, and glared fiercely at me.

"What more can you possibly do to me, Arthur?" He snarled, "I want nothing more to do with you!" I drew back my hand and struck him hard across the cheek, so hard that he fell to his knees with a yelp of pain.

As I dragged him to his feet and yanked him with me towards the front entrance of the building, I growled over my shoulder, "I'll have no more of that kind of talk from you, Alfred. You will show me the proper respect. You belong to me. And now.....now I will show you that you truly have nothing left to fight for."

As I shoved him out the door, he stumbled before catching himself and looked around at the scene before him. His eyes widened in horror as his mouth fell open. Smoke filled the air as houses were set aflame, screams resonating through the air. Citizens and soldiers were gathered around a tall gallows and watched as the traitors of this "country" were marched towards them.

"Wa.....WASHINGTON! JEFFERSON! NO, HAMILTON!" Alfred cried out in complete devastation as he watched his former leaders being hung. Some died instantly, necks snappped.....but some hung and struggled for air for quite a few minutes before dying, it was truly gruesome.

  Alfred started to wail, he almost sounded like a little boy again.....it was almost endearing. I stood with a stone cold expression as the men were hung, three at a time. When all was finished, the crowd dispersed and Alfred stayed on his knees.....sobbing into his hands.

I stepped forward and placed a hand on his shoulder, my voice stern as I spoke to my disobedient colony, "You will not cross me again.....you are my little brother and I will be the one to rebuild you from your ashes. But it will come at a heavy price that you've only begun to pay with the deaths of the traitors." my hand went into his golden hair, ruffling it affectionately as I had when he was but a child, "Now.....take off that silly blue coat."

He looked up to me, eyes red and puffy....full of despair and.....just a small glimmer of hope. After all, I had always taken good care of him in the past. Even he knew in his heart of hearts that I would be the one to help him back to his feet. 

I turned and walked down the steps leading to his capitol. I would need to give him a few months of space first, this wouldn't be easy for him. His pride was shattered.....but I would be the one he could depend upon.