Countryhumans Oneshots #2

10. Canada - Maple's Magic Pancakes

Yep, Canada again. I even gave him his own book and I still use him all the time in oneshots!
Also, warning: a bit of swearing at the end, but not in English, so most people reading this probably won't understand it anyway (I think).

Welp-

'The weather's better than usual' was Nada's first thought that morning; he wouldn't have to spend hours digging through snowdrifts today, an unusual feat for early February, but most definitely a welcome one.

He'd awoken fairly early that morning - around 5a.m. - a realisation Canada quite enjoyed as he gazed at what was undoubtedly the most gorgeous sunrise in months, a spellbinding fade of crimson, peach and amber. Eventually, he tore his eyes from his bedroom window's stunning view, shutting the curtains once again and selecting that day's clothes (first t-shirt-weather day of the year, he realised).

Cheerfully, he raced downstairs, rushing into the kitchen as quickly and quietly as he could. There, he dug through the contents of the assortment of in-built pine cupboards on the kitchen walls, at last pulling out everything he needed for his legendary Magic Pancakes. The provinces had been begging him to make them for weeks, perhaps months, but they had no idea that he'd been shopping for ingredients since before Christmas. Hopefully they won't wake up yet, he grimaced, chuckling to himself as he added a tablespoon of maple syrup to the batter and emptied a portion of the concoction out into the pan.

Allowing it to simmer, the Canadian sprinkled the pancake in crushed hazelnut, shaking powdered cinnamon over it immediately afterwards. Turning the pancake over, he repeated the process, reminiscing over the last occasion he had smelled the familiar aroma of what his family called 'Maple's Magic Pancakes'.

It was almost five years ago to the day that he'd last baked them; it had been the birthday of one of the provinces - a very young, excitable Nova Scotia, as he remembered - and that had been his gift to her. At the time, Nada and his family were short on money, so gifts were sparse for a decent while, but nonetheless, Nova had loved her special breakfast, as had the other provinces (except Saskatchewan, who was allergic to nuts). Maple still remembered the massive bear hug she'd given him afterwards and the barely intelligible words of thanks he'd received from the twelve-year-old girl...

"Hey, Maple Man!" someone called cheerfully from behind him.

"Morning, Ontario!" Canada waved back, handing him a plate and a pancake.

"Are those-?"

"Yep, I finally got around to making them! Want one?"

"Course I do! Thanks, Nada!" Ontario laughed, before yelling up the stairs, "PANCAKES! WE'RE HAVING PANCAKES, Y'ALL!" The other provinces, most still in their pyjamas, rushed down the stairs after that, practically falling on top of each other as they scrambled to grab a plate.

"Nada, do you have any without-?"

"One nut-free pancake!" Canada beamed, handing Saskatchewan a plate he'd kept off to one side before she could even finish her question.

"You're the best, Maple!"

"Like them then, eh?" he chucked at the provinces at the table who'd nodded in agreement, stuffing their faces with their delicious treats.

"They're even better than poutine!" New Brunswick exclaimed.

"Non, c'est nul!" Quebec exclaimed, disgusted at her half-brother. "Tu as un idiote! Poutine est superb!" [Sorry if that's wrong, I didn't use Google Translate that time, I just did it myself...]

"But-"

"NON!"

"Quebec-"

"Leave her be, New Brunswick," Nada sighed. "You won't change her mind anyway."

"Eh, well," New Brunswick shrugged, "More pancake batter for us if she won't have another one!"

"That's the spirit!"

"I NEVER SAID THAT!"

"Tough luck, Quebec!"

"Tabarnak..."

1. Again, kinda short, sorry!

2. Sorry about the weird ending, but oh well, who cares-