Just a warning/FYI, I will be referring to all of the Ancients with only their names. So when I say Greece, I still mean Ancient Greece. Just wanted to make that clear! :)
The memory came back with a pulse of bright light, showing the tiny Yao holding Greece's hand as they walked along a sandy path.
Kiku and Xiao looked at each other before following close behind. Little Yao still held his panda close to him, and his curious gaze traveled around. He still looked to be about two or three years old.
"Where are we going?" He asked, his voice slurred by a thick Chinese accent. Greece smiled down at him.
"To meet the others," Greece said. Yao looked up at her with wide eyes, before nodding.
They continued to walk, until they entered a small wooden lodge. The inside was lavished with beautiful furniture, and a large fireplace crackling on the right wall. Greece led Yao along until they entered a large room with a table in the center.
Several other people sat around the table, talking loudly and laughing. It reminded Kiku of their own World Meetings.
"Are those... other Ancients?" Xiao asked. Kiku shrugged, before nodding. "Are you serious? Yao got to meet all of them?"
"Guess so," Kiku murmured, looking over the nations.
Said nations quieted down when Greece entered the room with the small boy. Their gazes traveled from Greece to Yao, looking curiously at him. The small nation shrunk away from the gazes and hid himself behind Greece's leg, pulling the white fabric closer to him.
Greece chuckled and patted Yao on the head gently, before looking up to the other nations. "Nations, we have a new arrival; this is China."
The room was silent for a moment as the Ancients processed Greece's words, before it erupted into talk.
Little Yao flinched at the sudden noise. He stepped back when a rather tall woman with dark skin and short black hair stepped forward.
"Where did you find him?" She asked, her voice laced with an accent Kiku couldn't put a finger on.
"He was in the meadow about a quarter mile left of my own home. He was crying and scared," she added, glancing down at the small boy. "So please be gentle, Egypt."
Egypt looked up and blinked, smiling at Greece. "I would never do anything to scare the poor boy," she said, turning a smile down at Yao, who still cowered behind Greece. "Hello, little one, I am Egypt."
Yao looked almost ready to step forward and stop hiding when a flash of green and red whizzed into view, directly in front of Yao.
Two men had moved to look at Yao. One had long, blonde hair and green eyes, wearing a green cape that seemed to blow behind him. The other, Kiku recognized. He had short brown hair with a distinct curl at the top. He wore golden armor and a red cape rested on his shoulders. His amber eyes looked happily down at Yao. It was Feliciano's Grandpa Rome.
Upon seeing two men staring him down with almost crazed smiles on their faces, Yao's calm broke once more and he began to wail. The little boy threw himself behind Greece again, who glared daggers at the two men.
"Gaul! Rome!" Egypt scolded, grabbing the men by their capes and pulling them backwards.
"What?" Gaul, in the green cape, frowned.
Egypt flicked the back of his ear with her long nails, and the man flinched. "Look what you've done!"
She pointed to Greece, who was now holding the crying Yao in her arms and whispering sweet nothings into his ears. Yao's panda was squeezed tightly to his chest.
Rome sighed, standing up. "Geez, we were only trying to be friendly."
"Well obviously he's shy," Egypt shot back. "Maybe you should've taken that into consideration before scaring the daylight out of him."
"Him?" Gaul asked, also standing up. "I thought it was a girl!"
Greece was startled as suddenly Yao's head snapped up. He glared through his tears at the two men, wiping them away quickly.
"I am a boy!" He shrieked, wiggling his way out of Greece's arms and miraculously landing on his feet on the floor. He beelined towards Gaul, throwing a small fist at the man's kneecap.
Xiao laughed beside Kiku, and Kiku couldn't help but smile as he watched Gaul wince a bit.
Rome reached down and grabbed the back of Yao's shirt, lifting him off the ground. Yao shrieked, drowning out Greece and Egypt's protests.
"Oh don't worry, I'm being gentle," Rome waved the women off, and set Yao down on his shoulder.
"You sure are something special," Gaul sat, pointing at Yao and booping his nose. The little boy blinked, but giggled a bit. "You can throw a mean punch for being a new nation."
As if proving his point, Yao reached out a little finger and nailed Gaul on the nose. Rome laughed and Gaul jumped back, smiling as he rubbed his nose.
Greece and Egypt blinked as they watched Yao's mood swing so quickly. Rome placed a hand on Yao's shoulder, holding him in place as he jumped a bit. Yao laughed as he was bounced on Rome's shoulder.
"Yeah, little man! You fought off the big bad Gaul!" Rome said, smiling as Gaul sent a pointed scowl at him.
"Yeah!" Yao shouted, pointing at Gaul. "Watch out for Yao!"
Gaul crossed his arms, before reaching out for Yao. "But I can be fun too!"
He plucked Yao off of Rome's shoulder, and spun the little boy around high in the air. "See? So much more fun than Rome!"
Yao smiled and giggled again. Gaul swooped the boy up and down. "Look guys, Yao can fly!"
Egypt rolled her eyes and Rome crossed his arm, though they both still smiled.
"I can see you three will make the perfect trio," Greece said, smiling brightly. "I'm glad to see Yao is liking everyone."
Gaul stopped, placing Yao down. The little boy turned back to the two men, looking sad.
Rome laughed and placed a hand on Yao's head, messing up his hair. "It'll be fine, we'll be around whenever you need us, Yao."
Yao nodded, his eyes sparkling. He turned, and ran back to Greece.
The memory swirled out from Kiku and Xiao, coming back to show Egypt and an older-looking Yao sitting together and overlooking a vast village. Yao looked to be around five or six years old now. Desert bordered the outskirts of the village.
Yao watched the people bustle around the village below. He slowly turned his gaze to Egypt.
"Why did you bring me here?" He asked tentatively, his golden eyes searching the woman's face.
Egypt turned to Yao, before returning her gaze back to the village. "I just wanted to tell you," she began. "That all of us adult nations are very proud of the nation you've become."
Yao blinked. "Oh, that's all?"
He smiled and closed his eyes as the wind blew through his hair, which was down and flowed with the breeze.
"Actually no," Egypt said. "I wanted to give you a bit of advice."
Kiku and Xiao stood behind them, watching the village below. People and animals, like cows and dogs, ran around the streets.
"You are still very young, but please, cherish these words." Egypt smiled at Yao, albite sadly. "Your people and government may control themselves; but you are still yourself. Don't let them get in the way of your life. Don't let them get in the way of you."
Yao blinked, and turned back to Egypt. She gently reached out and pulled Yao closer, running a hand through his hair. "Don't let anyone tell you who you should be."
And just as fast as the memory came, it flashed again. This time, Yao was standing with Gaul and Rome. Yao looked to be around seven now.
He stood holding a wooden sword, facing Gaul and Rome. Rome was currently giving him tips on his stance.
They fought for a while, and soon Gaul threw his sword to the side in the grass at his feet. Yao and Rome also set down their swords.
Yao grabbed his bag, thrown to the side of the meadow they were in, and slung it over his back. Gaul stopped him by putting a hand on his shoulder.
"You are doing very well Yao," he started. Gaul paused, his green eyes sweeping over the field. "Don't ever let anyone knock you down, you hear?"
Rome walked up beside Gaul. "Yeah, and if anyone gives you trouble, tell us!"
Yao nodded, though looked confused. "Yeah, but why are you telling me this now?"
Gaul and Rome exchanges a look before both returning their gazes to meet Yao's.
"Life for a nation is tough," Rome stated. "There will be others who come along and push you around."
"You can't let them do that," Gaul continued. "Whether they are humans who are jealous of you, or other nations who want your land, you have to stand up for yourself."
Yao nodded slowly. "Yes sirs."
And with that, the memory faded again.
Thanks for reading! ❤️