Growing Up Means Being Alone

Characters: Russia, China, ???
Pairings: Hints of Russia/China ???/Russia
Rating: PG
Summery: Russia explores his neighbors with a mysterious stranger.
Story:

A long time ago in a land where it was cold even in the height of summer there was a small boy. The boy had pale hair and wide eyes that reflected his loneliness. Every day he would wander the empty landscape in his rags looking for a friend, and every night he would curl up alone and cold.

One day the boy came across a river, and went to drink from its clear water. When he learned over the water he saw the reflection of a mighty dragon staring back at him. Leaping back the boy ran from the shore, and hid in the trees. As he watched the dragon emerged from the morning mist it took the form of a long boat’s figure head, confusing the boy who had never seen one before.

The long boat came to a stop by the shore, and several large men leapt off the boat. The tallest one wore armor and a helm, and barked orders at the others. Then men quickly went about their businesses, and he took off his helm revealing short hair as golden as the sun and eyes as blue as the ocean. The hidden boy couldn’t hold back his gasp.

The young mans eyes narrowed dangerously at the sound and his gaze traveled across the trees and bushes seeking the source of the noise. Fear crept into the boy, and he covered his mouth to prevent any other sounds escaping. Still the man wondered closer and closer to the boy. Stepping away from the approaching man the boy stepped on a twig, and the cold blue eyes were on him in a second. Terrified the boy turned and ran, but his shoes were so ragged that the tripped on them.

The boy felt the blunt end of a spear pinning him from behind. “Who are you?” The young man asked.

Blinking the boy remained silent, as he wondered at the sound of some one else talking to him.

The butt of the spear was pushed harder into the boys back. “I asked for your name, boy.”

“I don’t have a name.” The boy answered with more confusion than fear.

The pressure from the spear was removed, and the boy was easily flipped around to see hints of concern in the man’s eyes. “What do you mean, you don’t have a name?”

Blinking his empty eyes the boy said. “I’ve never seen any one else so I never need one.”

With a frown the man licked his thumb and removed a smug from the boys face. “We are called by others the Rus, and these are our lands now. So I shall call you Russia.”


The man took Russia, and dressed him in the slightly used leathers and fur. The clothing wasn’t pretty but it protected him from the cold and made him feel more human. Russia joined the men on their long boat which they quickly navigated down the rivers his land.

Together they explored the southern land that Russia claimed, and eventually reached Constantinople. There Russia was taught how to fight by the young man, and they received great wealth for protecting the city from invaders.

Russia grew to love the warm sands, easy gold, and beautiful minarets towering the city. Unfortunately his companion was infected with a wander lust, and they took off in their long boat again.

This time they went to the east past the warriors who rode horses. To a land were they met a man who called himself China. While shorter than Russia’s friends stood straighter and was more dignified. He wrote poetry as well as fought bravely. He still looked like a teenage boy though, but if one looked he had the eyes of an ancient man.

Instead of working for China the young man traded with him for riches. With gifts of gold they got jade pendants, exotic spices, and figures of a serene man. Yet surrounded by the riches of an ancient empire Russia could only gaze at the exotic beauty of China.

China didn’t mind because he was used to the awed stares of the others, and new that no one could touch him let alone such a small child. Russia still stared though, and worked up the courage to speak. That was when his companion came to him with tired eyes. “It is time to go home.”

Russia didn’t cry or shout, but something told him that he should have wanted to. Instead he went to China. “Some day we will be one, with you under me.”

With that promise the young man and Russia left and traveled north to the land of winter. They then traveled further north were Russia dared not go on his own. The cold crept into his bones and he shivered. The young man wrapped a fine fur around Russia’s shoulders, and smeared lard on his face.

They sailed the rivers together until they reached the shore of the Baltic Sea. The young man turned to Russia and said, “It’s time for me to go home.”

“Can I come with you?” Russia asked hopefully.

They young man shook his head. “You are an adult now, and you have to learn on your own.”

Russia was surprised at this, but looked down at himself to see he had grown, and with a blink he realized he was even taller than the young man. Still he gave a sad look to his companion. “I don’t want to be alone.”

“Sometimes you have to be.” The young man answered with sad eyes. Taking a step closer to Russia he kissed his cheek, and turned away from Russia. Climbing into his boat he raised the sail.

Slowly the ship began to move into the sea, and Russia couldn’t hold back any more. “At least tell me your name!”

Running to the edge at the boat the young man took his helm off again. There his blond hair was set in disarray in the wind as she shouted. “My name is Sweden.”

Russia watched as Sweden disappeared in the oceans fog until once again he was alone.

I might make foot notes for the historical goodies, but I'm don't want to spoil the surprise for those who don't know the ending.