Author's Note- Hi everyone, welcome to my newest series of one shots. This collection will be a new type of challenge for me because instead of focusing on parts of the world I know (aka the arctic) I will be focusing trying to get to know countries from around the world. Because I am going to be challenging myself with something new I am going to rely on you, the reader, to help give me some good ideas. So if a topic, story or country are particularly interesting to you let me know and I will try to incorporate it into a future short.

Disclaimer-I do not own Hetalia or world history.

A Time to Be Born

In many ways the birth of a nation is just like the birth of a human child. Every country that is created is unique and they bring a new perspective of the future. Their births are also often heralded by labor pains. For the United States, it was the Revolutionary War, for Belarus, it was the collapse of the Soviet Union, for the Republic of South Sudan it was genocide.

Unlike a human birth, the personification of a nation often was fully aware of their shift from a region, territory, or colony to a fully fledged nation. They keenly felt the pain of being torn away from the support of their parent country. In a matter of moments after signing their official document of independence the infant nation felt the cold harsh reality of the world crash down on their shoulders. At this point a country is trapped in limbo.

This limbo was incredibly frightening for the personification of South Sudan. For the first time since he eyes blinked open as a toddler in the desert, he was completely alone. He was not part of the vast Egyptian empire. He was not clinging to his sister Sudan. He was his own master, but that didn't mean his destiny was not in the hands of others. He knew that just because a nation declares itself to be independent, does not mean that it will welcomed by the international community. If he is shunned now, South Sudan will never be able to enjoy its full potential. Still there is no way to turn back.

The Republic of South Sudan will crawl towards nationhood until he is strong enough to walk. He will walk until he is able to run a fully functional government. Maybe someday he will as powerful as countries in North America and Europe and will be able to reach up his hands to fly amongst the stars. Until that day happens he will be content putting one foot in front of the other and take baby steps towards the future.

Historical Note-Since 1990, 34 countries have been created. 12 of these were created when the USSR dissolved. Five were created when Yugoslavia dissolved. The rest became independent due to various other reasons. Eight of these countries were created when countries split in half (usually due to ethnic differences in various regions of the country). Three were former colonies administered by the United States. One country was dissolved when it merged with a neighbor. The rest were islands which had been self governing for some time, but hadn't officially separated from a larger government. Currently there are an additional five regions which are currently petitioning to become independent countries, which mean there will be plenty new countries born in the future.

End Note- So what did you think? I would really love your feedback.

Next Chapter- A Time to Die- Prussia was dying. The whole world counsel knew it. They all were watching him slowly dissolve away as the memory of his country passed from living memory. To be honest, the personification of Prussia had lived far longer than expected. He had had the time to come to terms with death…that still didn't mean he was ready to say goodbye…