How America Became America

Chapter 2

The nations were presented with two infants in an ancient village. A tipi was behind them, tall and erect. A woman, the same woman as before watched the two closely. She was smiling as she watched her two sons chase after each other.

Arthur looked at one of the infants and saw what was going on. Soon, all the other nations caught on. They were watching Alfred's memories. While the realization hit, they didn't notice as Alfred ran towards a steep hill. They did, however, hear the scream as he tumbled down the hill, quite painfully at that.
When he stopped at the bottom of the hill, his arm was in strange, horrifying angle. The other nations grimaced as the young child cried out for his mother. Seemingly as quick as the wind, Saiska was next to her child, wrapping his arm. When she opened her mouth, it wasn't some lost language, but instead understandable.

"My Ksikkihkíni," she said sweetly. "You know not to run down this mound, and yet, you always do. How many more times do I have to heal you till you understand."

Young Alfred didn't respond, just smiled innocently up at his mother. Before Saiska could say another word, young Matthew appeared next to his brother.

"Little brother," he said shocking the nations, "you know you're not supposed to run."

"You ran too!" Alfred shot back in present time, making the nations chuckle.

"What did Canadia mean when he said, 'little brother?'" England asked

"Isn't it obvious," Francis interjected before the brothers could respond. "My Matthieu is older, of course."

"By a hair," Alfred muttered.

"Still older," Matthew responded quietly.

While the twins started arguing the scene changed. Now the nations were on the shore. In the distance ships were getting closer. The young twins were holding onto each other as their mother watched the ships stoically.

"Boys," she said sternly. "What ever happens, I want you two to watch over each other. If you can help it, stay away from these outsiders."

The quiet made the situation eerier than the morning fog could do. As time passed the nations realized that the ships were of that of Vikings. Saiska held her to boys in the woods, whispering something in their ears, before slowly walking to the invaders.

The nations watched the young twins as their mother engaged with the Vikings. As she turned around to walk back, two figures followed, both blond, tall and scary at first glance. They were Sweden and Denmark, decked out fully in their Viking outfits. If they looked closely, they would see Norway holding down the fort of Vikings.

The scene changed again, making some of the nations groan in annoyance. But they quickly stopped when they realized where they were; a tent surrounded the young children, but with them were the Vikings and their mother. They acted as though they'd known one another for years.

The scene changed once more, it was cold. The ships were sailing away, never to be seen again.

"That was unexpected," Tino, the personification of Finland said, turning to Sweden. "Why didn't you tell me about this?"

"I forgot" Berwald, the personification of Sweden said. It was true, they only stayed for a couple months and it was years ago.

Although Berwald didn't mean it, he hurt both Alfred and Matthew. They really just thought that he was trying to protect them, but to know that he just forgot hurts more than anything else.