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Arthur came to Jamestown with his colonists. The voyage was long and rough. There was much to be desired. They all thanked the Lord for their safe arrival to the New World. As Arthur rowed to the beach along with his brothers and some of the colonists, they spotted a small boy on the shore. The boy was more visible due to the golden sunrise on the horizon. This boy hadn't noticed the the rowboat as he continued to play upon the shore. He had moved to climbing a tree to reach the eagle at the top of it, his back to the ocean and the approaching danger, when the rowboat landed softly.Arthur signaled to his brothers to capture the child, who had started to sing in a language Arthur had never heard before. He was halfway up the tree when Ian grabbed his ankle. He panicked, releasing the tree and being caught by Ian and William. William, Wales, had caught his arms while Ian, Scotland, caught his legs. The boy struggled in vain against the grip the nations had on him. Arthur, England, approached."What is your name, child? I am Arthur." Arthur looked at the boy expectantly.~Who are you? What do you want? Let me go! Great Spirit help me!~ The little boy with copper skin was yelling and struggling."Can you understand me?" Arthur gently asked.~Let go! Let go! Mata help!~ The boy screamed.The group was shocked at the tattoos the boy had- eagle wings across his back, a bear paw on left arm, strange lines around each arm and one on his thigh, eagle claw marks on his right arm, a small turtle and many more tribal tattoos.Arthur realized that the boy was both important and was close to a complete panic attack. He managed to grab the child in a restraining hold, similar to a hug. The boy's ear was over his heart, arms forced behind the boy's back by the empire. Ian tied the boy's arms tightly and securely tied the boy's knees and ankles together to prevent the boy from escaping and to prevent an attack from the boy. The boy started to struggle harder to the point that Arthur was struggling to hold the boy still, his screaming getting louder."Ian! Gag him! Now!""On it." Ian found some clean cloth and managed to successfully gag the screaming Native. The sounds were almost completely muffled, barely heard by Arthur. He placed the child on the ground in a kneeling position after magically reinforcing the rope to be stronger than the child's great strength."Ian, how old do you think he is?" Arthur studied the child in front of him. William answered before Ian had a chance."Physically no older than five I'd wager."The child realized that there was no escape. He stopped making any noise and stayed still, tears streaming down his face. The child seemed to have given up.'What do the pale faced ones want? We freed them from Gaha, helped them to recover before forcing her across to a strange land and sealing her away forever! When Big Bear returns from his long visit to his icy lands, he will be very mad at me for wandering so far from any tribes and being so close to the coast!' That thought made his tears come ten fold. Ian bent down to the boy's height to study his eyes, dark emerald eyes meeting sky blue eyes. The boy was the first to look away from his captor."Arthur, his eyes are sky blue unlike the brown of the others we have encountered in the past. His hair is also shorter than the other ones." Ian continued to study the boy as Arthur was thinking. Ian glanced to William when they sensed the presence of a very old nation that also felt new. They decided not to tell Arthur of this."We could keep him captive, possibly even tame the savage." Arthur mused. "Make sure the savage cannot break free before placing him in the row boat, Ian. Everyone else start your jobs of seeing if this place is inhabitable." Arthur helped his men explore the beach and wooded area. Ian, on the other hand, was struggling to get a solid grip on the boy, having been headbutted among other injuries. The boy flinched and struggled for the four hours that Arthur was away. Ian eventually sat down in front of the kid and sighed."You are going to be one hell of a fighter when you grow up. You'll probably even rebel against Arthur." Ian whisper as he watched the boy struggle with the ropes on the sand, still crying. Arthur, tired and hot and hungry from no noon meal and very angry, saw that the savage was not on the boat yet and told Ian to help the men pack the row boat. Arthur grabbed the boy and forced him into a kneeling position, the small face gripped tightly in his hands."Stop struggling and crying. It will make it easier for both you and I." Arthur hissed at the boy, the anger of the day beginning to cloud his mind. Maska didn't understand what the white skinned one wanted and tried to free his face and twist his upper body to escape the Empire's grip. Arthur became even angrier and hit the boy hard across the face, leaving an imprint of his hand on the boy's face and knocking him to the ground. Maska froze, sobs shaking his whole body as he tried to curl up. Arthur grabbed the boy's shoulders and forced him into an upright position, his mind telling him that what he had done was wrong. He forced the native to look at him, his heart breaking just a little at the absolute fear in the eyes that met his. He gently wiped away the tears before forcing the child onto his lap and hugged the boy. He sang an ancient lullaby, laced with powerful magic, that caused the boy to stop struggling and fall into a very deep sleep. He passed the native to Ian, not meeting his brother's eyes."I'll watch him until it's time to leave for the ship." Ian glared at Arthur before wrapping the boy in a blanket and placing the boy on his side, head resting on Ian's lap.
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The boy shifted slightly in his slumber, Ian watching the boy's every move. Ian remembered the treatment that Rome had given him. He could already tell that this would be difficult for the nation. His thoughts were interrupted when the boy whimpered, his blue eyes looking frantically around as he tried to get away from the Scott. Ian grabbed the boy and placed him in his lap, similar to how Mata had held Maska long ago. Maska didn't try to get away from him as he had with Arthur. Arthur noticed this and glared at Ian. Ian sighed before turning the native so that Arthur couldn't look at the boy, hidden in the blanket still around him. He looked at the unnaturally old eyes, even for a nation, that told of countless years of peace and war."Ian, give the savage to me." Arthur yelled at his brother. Ian recognized the gleam in the pure emerald eyes and didn't even hesitate to hand the personification over to the empire, the blanket falling off the boy. The moment Arthur had a hold of the savage, the boy started to wiggle and muffled screams and tried to escape from the white skinned one that had hurt him."No, puppet. Cease your struggling!" Arthur hissed into the boy's ear and earned himself a bloody nose from the force of the child's head colliding with his nose. "Stop!" Arthur demanded as he tightened his grip on the savage boy, most likely hurting the boy. The boy recognized the word and became still, eyes filled with fear and expecting to be hit again.'The poor lad thinks I will hit him again,' Arthur mused before grabbing the savage's face and looking into the eyes of a thing more ancient than anything he had ever seen. There was fear, knowledge, peace, war, and curiosity. The main thing that Arthur saw, though, was hate and distrust. Arthur sighed. He tried to tell the boy that he would not hit or hurt the boy again. The boy looked at him blankly. The sun was setting and the boy started to shake from the chill of the night, his sky blue eyes focused on the woods. The boy was terrified of something in the woods, the personifications noticed and urged the men to finish packing the last of the supplies. The temperature dropped all of a sudden, frost and ice starting to appear."Everyone back to the ship now!" No one argued with Arthur's command as they all got in boats and started to row away from whatever was coming towards them. Arthur had picked the boy up and ran for the closest boat, the boy constantly trying to look at the woods now covered in mist, frost, and black icicles. The boy was trying to say something, gesturing towards the woods, but the gag prevented it from being heard. He became frantic in his head jerking towards the ship and the muffled sounds were almost pleading in their slight tone. Loud thumps and terrible grunts were heard approaching them."Hurry!" Ian yelled at Arthur, the last one to reach a boat. All the others were farther in the water. Arthur threw the boy to Ian as William pulled the empire into the boat, the mortals starting to row frantically. They were only a short distance away from the shore when a hideous black monster emerged. It was horrid, the body of a demon and it towered over even the largest of men.Arthur ripped the gag of the boy and pointed to the beast. The boy shook his head fearfully, trying to hide behind Arthur, trying to show them that the monster was never to be mentioned. Its name was only safe to whisper on the hottest day in summer, even then it was not safe. Arthur grabbed the boy and forced him to look at it. The boy whispered something so softly, earning a hard shake. He said the name of the beast after a moment. Wendigo was the name and the beast's head turned towards the boy as the word had been said. It howled and seemed to scream from the loss of its meal. Maska shook in total fear, the beast had been the last curse Gaha had ever placed upon him and his people. The Wendigo, a Native American horror myth, tried to reach the boy but was kept from doing so because it refused to cross the water. The boy was completely on the opposite side of the boat, almost falling out and wishing that he would. Arthur noticed and roughly and with too much force, grabbed the boy's bound arms and tossed him to the bottom of the rowboat at the empire's feet. Maska landed in a kneeling position, facing the empire and just wanting to go back to his plains.'Why me?! Why is it always me that is taken and used?! Why didn't they let the wendigo just eat me?!' Maska was frustrated, even praying to the spirits to let him die. He felt his face being grabbed and his mouth forced open. Another gag had been placed on him, tighter than the other had been."Behave and you will be allowed food." Arthur was met with another blank look. The boy noticed the ship they were heading for and tried to get a better look, twisting his head. The hand on his face forced him to look at the White Skinned one in front of him. Arthur shook his head while saying no. The boy's eyebrows furrowed, his exhaustion seen by all. He would not sleep while this white skinned one was near. Arthur's hand remained on the boy's cheek as he started to softly chant under his breath. The boy had been fighting off his magic but he was the stronger and the boy glowed softly for a moment. After the spell had been completed, he watched as the boy's eyes slowly closed in sleep, his head falling onto Arthur's lap. Ian glared at Arthur."Did you really just cast that spell?" Ian looked mad, his magic felt even madder."Yes." Arthur sounded just as smug as he looked. "Would you like to heave a fighting and struggling little boy who also happens to be a nation onto MY ship! I sure as bloody hell don't!" Arthur huffed after that and the rest of the journey was silent. Arthur ended up hauling the sleeping personification up the ship's ladder, heading towards his cabin. Ian was hot on his heels."I am going to secure the savage to the bed. Find some cloth and water to clean him. Heaven knows when he last cleaned himself." Arthur had finished securing the boy to the bed when he felt the pull of a magical sleep. He couldn't fight it as Ian had grabbed him from behind and forced his face down onto the bed, close to the bedpost that the child was tied to. "I...Ian.." Arthur succumbed to sleep before he could even threaten Ian."You just rest now laddie. I'll watch over the both of you." Ian promised, pulling a chair over to watch the two sleeping personifications. He had fallen asleep shortly before sunrise, Maska waking up at the moment he had fallen asleep. Maska saw wood all around him, he was sat up against something that felt like a post, and he was hungry. He started to wiggle and squirm, not caring as the rope bit into his skin and caused him to bleed. He became more frantic and used more power, his movements waking up Arthur. The boy had fresh tears streaming down his cheeks. Arthur sat up and started to wipe the tears away. The boy moved his head away from Arthur as much as was possible."Stop." Arthur whispered it to not wake Ian up. The boy didn't hear him and continued to struggle and try to get away from him. The ropes binding the boy started to faintly glow blue, the boy's magic trying to help. Arthur slapped the boy harder than he had on the beach, the boy's head hitting the wood with a slam. Ian woke with a start before sighing again. Ian smiled evilly for he had just come up with a plan that would piss Arthur off and would be amusing as hell. He walked to the door before saying something and leaving with a smirk. This is what he said."How about you teach him English, dimwit. Bet you can't do that."
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Arthur glared at the closed door for a few minutes before shifting his gaze to the boy. Arthur smirked at the fear in the blue eyes. He removed the gag, the boy started to say something, getting slapped."You will only speak English. I believe that you will learn fast." Arthur saw the confusion in the boy's face. He knew he had to be patient with this one, something he was not skilled in. After hours of 'teaching' the boy English, the boy was able to say, Arthur, England, Scotland, yes, no, and even a few sentences. Arthur was quite proud of this accomplishment, ignoring the hatred that burned in the boy's eyes. He had to be stern with the boy lest he not learn his place.Ian didn't return but a crewmember brought Arthur some food. He had not allowed the boy food as the boy had been disobedient. Arthur ate at the desk in the room, watching the savage try to shift in his bonds. Arthur silently strengthened the magic on the ropes binding the child. Once Arthur was satisfied with the strength of the ropes and had eaten his full, he left the room after closing all curtains and blowing out all candles. The savage would be more cooperative once he was broken.Maska watched as the White One left, the place he was in was in total darkness. He let a tear fall before summoning enough magic to send a message to all the tribes that he had been taken and if he would ever return, he would never be the same. He could feel his people mourn for him and their forgiveness for whatever would be done while he was under someone's control. He had sensed that he would be forced to do terrible things to the people living on his lands. Unlike the White Man who represented his people, Maska represented the lands and one idea called freedom. The White Man came in, furious and started to hit him and punish him for the magic he had sent out. Once the man was done, Maska's chin was gripped tightly, the man's face too close."You belong to me. You are my property. I will never let you go, savage." Arthur snarled, his emerald eyes seemed to be on fire. Maska spat some blood at him."Never." Maska's eyes told Arthur everything. He cut the rope connecting the boy to the bed and dragged the boy by his long hair to a small closet-like space. He threw the boy to the ground, walked to the desk where the gag had been placed before the lesson, forced the gag into the boy's mouth, and tied it as tightly as possible. He kicked the bound figure a few times before grabbing the hair and forced the boy into the very cramped space. This pattern continued for the few weeks that it took to sail to England, the boy kneeling in front of the Empire during the 'lessons' and getting beaten for every small infraction or for no reason at all. Arthur never bothered to feed or give water to the savage as the savage was as immortal as he was.When the ship docked, the boy found a steel collar placed around his neck, a blindfold over his eyes, a metal gag replaced the cloth one and metal clamps where the ropes had been before. Arthur made sure that the metal restraints were as strong as possible and the collar could only be removed by him. He threw a sheet over the savage and carried the savage to his waiting carriage. The boy lay on the floor of the strange moving thing, Arthur's foot digging into his back. Once the thing stopped moving, the door opened and he was roughly pulled out of the carriage by strong hands. He tried to fight back weakly but the slap he received caused him to go limp.Arthur smirked as his new land was placed in one of the many rooms in his mansion far from the general populous. The savage was breaking and would soon become loyal to him. He watched in amusement as the child tried to free himself, unaware that he was being watched. The boy was lying on the hard stone floor of one of the farthest and deepest rooms in the mansion, cold and no chance to escape as there were no windows and the door could not be seen from the inside unless one knew where to look and the spell to open it. The boy stopped when he heard Arthur's huff of annoyance. Arthur secured the boy in a kneeling position before leaving. He had ordered one of his other colonies to go every day and teach the savage English and put the savage in its place. The colony that had been assigned had stopped coming after three years. The spells that Arthur cast never weakened and Maska had lost hope long ago of ever seeing the sky. Colonies would still come in and beat him when they had a bad day or needed an outlet for anger or if they were bored.Arthur honestly forgot about the savage for a few years, possibly even decades or centuries, having been preoccupied with many other things, including loving and caring for his children. France had sold the land to the north of the Thirteen Colonies, called Canada or Matthew. The boy was so cute and sweet, following the rules and was doted on by him. As France left, he had asked how America was doing. Arthur lied about the colony, having not seen him for about 185 years. After Francis had left, worried for America, Arthur made his way to the room that the savage had been kept in.Maska heard the door open, footsteps approached him. He tensed slightly before a hand rested on his cheek. He knew that Arthur had returned. He felt Arthur's eyes looking over him, assessing him. A wave of magic swept through him, a muffled scream escaped him as Arthur had changed the boy's skin and hair color, made his hair short, and cleaned off all the grime and dust and blood. Arthur whispered in his ear that the changes would never be undone, that this was the final sign that Maska belonged to the British Empire.Maska felt the man remove a few chains and forced him to stand. He was quite unbalanced from lack of using his legs. The clamps on his legs were removed and the ones on his arms but his hands were chained in the front as Arthur didn't trust him. Arthur dressed the savage using his magic and removed the gag. The boy didn't even try to speak. After the collar was glamoured invisible, Arthur led the savage to the parlor. The savage fell once, Arthur just pulled him right back up by the hair while mocking the savage of the unbreakable collar and shackles that would forever bind him."Come now, puppet. I am letting you out of the room until you disobey. The blindfold will be taken off once you are in the parlor. Do not speak unless spoken to and stay where I place you and in the position I have you sit. You will not look anyone in the eye for any reason. If you so much as show any sign of breaking those rules, you will be punished." Arthur threatened as they neared the parlor. Arthur had shoved him onto his knees right next to his elegant chair, not removing the blindfold immediately.All of his colonies had started to gather into the room as it was Christmas and they would be opening presents before the traditional Mass and feast. Most of them were shocked at the battered teenager at Arthur's feet. Arthur removed the blindfold after all of his children were assembled. Startling blue eyes blinked at the sudden brightness before the head was turned to the ground.
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Maska was blinded by the brightness of the room. He blinked as the eyes of the white demons watched him for a few moments. He felt strength returning to him, legs no longer numb, head no longer covered in thick mist. He heard the cries for freedom from the people that had called his land home and he accepted them as his people the moment they started to live there. Maska laughed mentally for Arthur was a fool. All this had occurred in the few minutes it had taken for the British Colonies to realize what was in front of them. Maska observed all the colonies from his place on the floor. Arthur was the one to break the silence."I do believe that it is time for gifts lest we be late for Mass." At this statement, gifts were passed around. Laughter, joy, pranks, sibling quarls, merriment and a sense of family filled the massive room. Maska was all but forgotten during this time. Arthur only spared a moment to make sure that the savage was still in the position he had been placed in. Arthur could not even imagine what was to come from Maska's silent promise to destroy the empire he had built just like the mother, Gaha, had done thousands of years before."Alright children, time to get ready for Christmas Mass!" There were complaints as the colonies shuffled out and got dressed for the dreaded service, leaving Arthur alone with the savage. He grabbed Maska's hair and dragged the boy to one of the walls of the room and connected the chain to a ring in the wall. Maska didn't give Arthur the satisfaction of hearing any sounds of discomfort or pain. Arthur undid his pants and forced Maska to open his mouth. Arthur forced Maska to remain absolutely still as he thrusted into the savage's mouth, choking the boy. He completed this task five times before doing up his pants. Arthur simply smiled as he caressed Maska's cheek before slapping him. He leaned in to whisper in the savage's ear, breath hot against the shocked and silently crying boy. "The colonies won't be anywhere near your room for a few years and you are quite beautiful looking like this. I don't know why I didn't use you like this before. Unfortunately, I will have to wait instead of continuing to take you until we return. You must understand that as a father I am responsible to help my children. Frankly, I'd rather stay with you but Leon is too young to dress for such an event."As Arthur exited the room, Maska allowed himself to sob for a few minutes before testing the strength of the chains connecting his wrists to the wall. He almost laughed in relief as the chain shattered like fragile glass. All the chains broke away as he stood. The shackles were thin metal that he could not break, invisible to the eye and the collar that he wore was permanent and invisible. He found a window to slip through, climbed down the building and made his way to the docks with the help of some of the colonists that happened to be there. As he reached the docks, one of his people came up to him and asked for a name."My name is Alfred F. Jones. What is yours?" Maska was confused at how easily that name felt right. He listened to the person ramble on about needing to return to America but needed another worker. Maska, now Alfred, offered his services and they set sail. The crew had an unconscious need to care for and protect Alfred, a sentiment that Alfred was oblivious to. When they finally made it to Boston, they learned of the Massacre of five Americans that occurred on the very day that Alfred escaped from Arthur.The people of Boston were kind to him for the five years that he was there. He felt a pull to head to Lexington and Concord, followed it, saw Arthur on the battlefield, and he shot Arthur who didn't even recognize the person he had enslaved for 185 years. Alfred silently laughed about how he fired the shot heard round the world. Alfred lived with a family for a few months before the pull happened again. He felt the pull leading him to Philadelphia. He followed the pull and ended up interrupting the Constitutional Congress as they were debating the Declaration of Independence. It was a very awkward situation for all present. Luckily, Benjamin Franklin knew about the personifications of nations and thus the assembled people heard what Alfred had to say. On the Fourth of July, 1776, Alfred F. Jones sent a copy of it to Arthur's personal home as a big sign that he belonged to no one.Arthur read the document and had a sudden realization. That savage boy that he had abused, neglected, raped, and probably caused severe mental trauma to had to have been the personification of the Thirteen Colonies that he had been constantly searching for a good 191 years. He wept for his deeds and the lost time he could have had with raising his son instead of committing such terrible deeds. He mentally swore as he entered a war he knew could start the decline of his empire. Ian took the document from his brother, read it, and laughed. Arthur fumed as the war in America continued. He swore as he fought in Yorktown in the hopes of getting the boy back and change him into a child and treat him correctly. He could feel the boy's presence but couldn't find him. He found himself ranting to one of the soldiers before the battle had ended."Damn those blasted Americans. I have to win this war but they are fighting like those savages and using tactics that are so random, I can't even anticipate the attacks. They attacked Christmas day. They fought during the winter. You don't fight in the winter. They have changed the way of war and I fear that they will continue to do so." Shortly after that ranting session, they had to surrender to the Americans and recognize them as the United States of America. Arthur saw those sky-blue eyes as he boarded a boat. He would never forget those eyes but could never remember what the personification looked like. France, Spain, and Prussia were just like Arthur in that sense.Those blue eyes never came to world meetings and America had isolated itself. Only humans came to the meetings. No one ever mentioned it because they knew the personification was out there, hidden in the lands that were his. Even when the capital burned and the nation was almost torn in two in a brutal Civil War, the Personification of America remainded hidden from the eyes of the world.
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World Wars One and Two passed, the nations only catching glimpses of impossibly blue eyes. The American Empire, the old nations had dubbed it, remained stronger than ever. The personification of America laughed as the other nations would pass him on the streets, in government buildings, and on the battlefield. The collar and the shackles would burn sometimes and kept him from growing. He could no longer practice magic or even try to stay away. The burning was less when Arthur would pass. He still laughed though as Arthur couldn't sense him.He couldn't help it. He was more than just America. He was El Dorado, Atlantis, and a necropolis before he was anything else. Gaga had awoken him and forced his hand to help the living and he hated her for it so he destroyed her. He would always be a necropolis before anything else, knowing the secrets of the dead and the dreams of the living. The other nations were similar to the ancient ones but tried to look like they didn't lust for blood. It sickened him.Every meeting that passed without America's appearance set the others on edge. No other country had ever been able to hide for 231 years. Something about today though made them believe that the missing country would be found. The date was 9/11/2001, an ordinary day with clear skies in America. The meeting was being held in England but half of the staff was American. Suddenly, one of the workers who was setting up the projector for the millionth time that day screamed as wounds opened. The television that was on in the background started to talk about a plane crashing into one of the twin towers.Arthur rushed over to the American worker and helped apply pressure to the worst wound. Impossibly blue eyes clouded with pain met his. England knew immediately who this potentially 15 year old boy was. Without a second thought, being over heard by all the other countries, he revealed the boy's identity."Hush, America. You'll be alright. No need to hide anymore. I promise I will never hurt you again. I can never truly express how sorry I am for the way I treated you but I will protect you now." Arthur meant every word that he had stated. Eyes filled with distrust, but resigned to the fate of being taken care of by his parent country, closed in unconsciousness. None of the other countries protested as Arthur and his former colonies moved America out of the meeting and to the home they had grown up in.
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Arthur had removed the shackles and the collar but kept several monitoring spells up. America was in severe pain. It broke Arthur's heart. He sent Matthew to retrieve the tome and mage staff that was made from several different sacred American woods, bound and purified in the flames of the White House long ago and covered in spells written in the blood of the fallen soldiers. He would be using a very dark spell to right the wrongs of the past. He would ensure that America wanted nothing, spoiling him rotten. He made an unbreakable vow to care for and protect the young nation, plotting the best solution. He sent a text to his brothers, who opened the floo network for the entire family to come through for the ritual.Matthew was as quick as possible, not caring if it would have bad consequences for America. He just wanted his brother back. He couldn't tell Maska that he remembered him and just wanted his cub to have a happy childhood. Matthew felt guilty for what he was about to do. It would be the only way to save his little brother and make absolutely certain that no one could hurt him again. His resolve was strong, absolutely certain that it was the only way to secure the safety and wellbeing of Alfred. He handed the tome and staff over, letting a new chapter begin for his very little brother. He turned to Arthur, his Lord Father, with a question in his eyes.Arthur tipped his head in acceptance, recognizing the steel in Matthew's eyes at the task at hand."America, I'm so sorry to do this to you. It's the only way." Matthew's voice was gentle, mixed with magic. It was purple, restraining and almost crushing his brother. The body was almost floating three feet off of the ground, wrapping around every limb and sinking into the American's mind. Cracks appeared, leaving behind a younger, weaker America in its place. America was truly stuck with the visage that Arthur had changed him to, looking almost peaceful as mind magic wiped him of every memory he had, leaving a totally blank mind behind.Arthur started to prepare the last step as the older of his children came down to help with the spell. They had not been informed of who exactly America was, just thinking that America had hidden away from Arthur for all these years. Arthur wouldn't correct them as they didn't need to know about the irrelevant information. America's magical inheritance test showed only what had happened at the hands of the American Government, anything else had been wiped clean, name and age were revealed. At least what Ian had refiled at the Minestry."Name: Alfred Fredrick Slytherin-Lefaye-Pendragon-KirklandFather: Arthur Igvictus Slytherin-Pendragon-KirklandMother: Martha Morgana Slytherin-Pendragon-Lafaye-KirklandAge: 4 (physical and psychological)/~400Species/Creature Inheritance: Personification/Neutral Thunderbird.Etc." Ian had read aloud after entering the room. Arthur was floored. America had become his blood child without any ritual required, which confused the Kirkland brothers. His older children also looked shocked. They all had been expecting for Alfred to take a blood binding potion along with a blood adoption that would have to be repeated at least five times, like it did for them. A sigh escaped Matthew at the revelation. He had done the correct thing.The gathered personifications knew what had to happen. A golem was created to replace America, the way he looked before the ritual had started, in his government with the instructions to help in the relief efforts. Speech and behavioral patterns had been created from the usual routine that they had been able to observe from several of the surveillance cameras now that they knew who and what they were looking for. It was given orders to return to the White House where it would die in a few weeks from complications. The American government knew that a weakened personification could die from a tragedy so no one would ask about what happened.The main spell was very dark. All the ward stones had been updated, not allowing the magic to be sensed beyond the ritual room. A single thought was shared amongst the family that went something like: "He's the baby now. Gotta keep the baby safe."America would become the baby of the family, protected by the entirety of the former British Empire and all of the former and current commonwealth, magic flowing into the staff and the ritual circle. The tome Arthur was using opened to the correct pages as needed.America couldn't fight back, his magic long since sealed away. The magic took, wrapping his entire being in pulsating magic from his most sacred places. There was a sudden wave of all consuming magic, red and black, that completely engulfed the world power. Screams and bones snapping were heard, the room filled with images of war and smoke as Matthew's magic allowed the dark ritual to stick quickly.His entire being shifted into that of a four year old, blood red runes and symbols sunk slowly into the perfectly smooth skin. The child was free of all the scars and tribal tattoos that once covered him. Alfred was no longer what he used to be, free of the pain and suffering. The child that lay in the middle of the circle was deep in sleep, breathing lightly when the circle started to glow akin to the very sun itself. The glowing stopped, a single blue star appeared on Alfred's neck. A matching star appeared on Arthur's magical ring, allowing Arthur to feel the pulsing of America's magic which matched the little one's heart beats. Arthur smiled, a genuine one as he waited for the circle to dissipate to collect his youngest son.
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Arthur couldn't help the feelings of joy, victory, and love that started to fill him. It was a good thing that Arthur had won the war on the magical side of things, still the biggest Empire on the planet in the magical world. He was far more lenient with the magical side of his empire than the non magical side. It would help him to build a case to keep America in his custody, especially with no memories to help him get back on his feet. Soon, America would be his and this time, no one would be able to take him away.Ian, William, and Patrick sent the older children to prepare for dinner as they watched Arthur. The children scattered, excited at the prospect of free food cooked by Francis. Matthew hesitated at the door. He knew the truth and Arthur knew that he knew. Arthur turned to study him."You won't repeat it?" Matthew asked softly."I make this vow: Alfred will want for nothing. I will protect him fiercely, making my former attempts look like nothing. He will only know patience and love from me as he should have from the beginning. I will sooner die than allow harm to befall him." Arthur's vow glowed golden, irrevocably bonding America to him and he to America. Matthew sagged in relief, leaving the room to talk to his papa."You do realize that Alfred has no memories now, right?" William inquired. Arthur nodded, turning to retrieve a set of children's pajamas, a soft fleece blanket, and a pull up from the small stool in the corner of the ritual room. All of the fabric was soaked in Arthur's magic even as he ignored the pattern on the blanket. The very pattern of the first flag Alfred cherished more than life itself. Arthur would not rid the child of his own flag even if he despised what that flag meant to himself."Yes. Matthew discussed with me what he remembered from before we arrived in the New World. He wished for a new slate for Alfred to start life with, free from all that their 'mother' did to them. I told him to do what he believed was best for Alfred."The three brothers winced with the sheer amount of poison that Arthur was able to place on that one particular word. Arthur hummed appreciatively as he approached the slowly shrinking circle. His brothers brought the prepared holy water and cotton wash cloths with them. They had to wash the blood and ashes off of the little child before they could bring him upstairs, where there would undoubtedly be two American officials waiting to interrogate the entire family on what had happened at the meeting and afterwards. His children had practiced the lie they would tell the Americans and unfortunately, Alfred would have to be present but not awake. He cast a spell on the blanket so that the flag wouldn't be visible to the agents after dressing the sleeping baby and swaddling his son. The brothers and father and son walked up, sitting in the family room, unbothered by the agents. He cradled the baby with such care, as he looked to the golem."Are you sure that you don't wish to remain here?" Arthur asked the golem."Thanks for healing me but I'd prefer to go and help in the relief efforts." The golem dutifully replied with the nerves of a teen talking to an estranged parent. "Plus, I am definitely not the personification of magical America so I don't have to do that."The agents simply nodded, leading the golem out of the house, a third one they hadn't noticed immediately asked a question:"What did he mean by not being the magical personification? Why would him not being magical be an issue?"Arthur sighed before answering as the other personifications were getting ready for dinner or helping Francis in the kitchen."Are you aware of the terms of declaring America as an independent Nation?" Arthur was genuinely curious."No. Why would that matter?" The agent looked frustrated."The magical side of the war was won at the cost of loosing the other side of the war. It was also a totally different situation than in the non magical side. The desire for peace was much more prevalent than on the other side. There are still patriots and minute men alive on the magical side, all unpunished and happy. They chose the flag of Betsy Ross as their official flag and the Magical Great British Empire cares greatly for the success of both Americas. I have personally sworn to never allow the magical side to be harmed and have defended my child with all the might I have had. If I can lend aide to the American government, I will be more than happy to do so." Arthur stated, his eyes filled with the weight of the combined histories of the two nations, the ages that he has seen, and unfathomable power that seemed to dwarf the agent. The thought that there were Americans that were still part of the Magical Great British Empire was shocking to the agent."I... I see!" With that, Arthur dismissed the agent with a warning that although America had been healed, he was physically weaker than before and that magic couldn't help anymore. He also asked to be updated on his son's health on a weekly basis which the agent agreed to, unaware of the fact that the baby was his country both Magical and Non Magical and it was only to know how quickly the golem would turn to dust and "Fade" as the nations called it, turning into dust on the winds. He wasn't aware of the manipulation of the personifications.