THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO REVIEWED I REALLY APPRECIATE IT, THANK YOU ESPECIALLY TO THOSE WHO GAVE ME STATE INFORMATION IT HAS REALLY COME IN HANDY WITH THE OC MAKING PROCESS.
Also I don't know much about cars, I had to do a lot of research for this beginning, so if I have anything wrong I'm sorry.
Michigan led the countries outside to the vast parking lot because she was the only one who actually knew where their car was parked. When they reached the car it looked much worse than it originally had.
"Wow, your car looks worse than I remembered. Where the hell did you get it?" Michigan remarked. England fumed, he had paid good money for that car after all, and yes he hadn't used it for a couple years, but it should still be good!
"I bought it a couple years back and left it in America for when I visited," England answered.
"Man, I can't believe you guys got up here alive!" Michigan exclaimed. She knelt down next to one of the tires and poked it, then shook her head. "Toss me your keys." England threw his keys to the states and then Michigan proceeded to try and start the car. The engine made an ugly sound, then it turned over, made another ugly sound, and then went quiet.
"Hey, Germany, can you check the engine for me?" Michigan called through the window. Germany walked over to the front of the car and popped the lid. He took in the sight of then engine and then proceeded to swear, a lot, in German.
"When was the last time you drove this car?" Germany called to England.
"Five or six years ago," England replied. Michigan and Germany locked eyes.
"Well, that explains a lot," Germany muttered.
"What's your diagnosis?" Michigan asked.
"I think it has the big three problems."
"Are you serious?"
"Ja, but it's hard to be sure. This engine is so dirty I can hardly tell eins (one) part from another, und I think something is broken."
"Damn, this car is whack, it's like ten pounds of shit in a five pound bag," Michigan told the countries.
"What does whack mean?" Italy asked.
"It's like when something is like crappy, or something," Poland explained. Italy nodded, but still looked confused.
"Yeah, anyways, there's no way you guys are driving this car anywhere anytime soon. Three of the tires are pretty much flat, the axel on your left side back tire is severely cracked, I think there might be something wrong with your brakes, and the engine has the big three!"
"You may have forgotten you are talking to eight countries that don't know much about cars. We don't know what the big three is," France reminded Germany and Michigan.
"The big three are the three main problems an engine can have; they are a bad fuel mix, a lack of compression, and a lack of spark. These three things can have many different things contributing to the problem," answered not Germany or Michigan, but Japan. Michigan beamed at Japan.
"I forgot that you make cars too, no offense or anything. My people just tend not to buy them, it's considered traitorous. Although, Honda, in particular, is becoming pretty big," Michigan commented.
"No offense taken, I don't blame you seeing as you are the home of the other big three," Japan responded.
"The other big three?" Spain asked aghast.
"Ja, Ford, GM, and Chrysler," Prussia answered.
"You like cars too? I thought you might but I wasn't really sure, but it makes sense that you do like cars, I mean why wouldn't you? That's a good question right? Yeah, that's what I thought, anyway, yeah of course you would like cars, cars were nearly invented by you. Germany probably learned about cars from you!" Michigan rambled.
There was a moment of silence as the four people grinned at each other, bonding through their love of cars. Then Romano cleared his throat loudly.
"Damn it! Stop being all weird and figure out how we're gonna get to town!" he yelled.
"Da, it would be nice if we got moving soon," Russia agreed.
"Oh yeah," Michigan pulled out her cell phone. "Yo Indie! So I've got the saddest car you'll ever see, can you tow it to the garage?….Yeah, it's in spot fifty-four…Cool, thanks…See ya!" Michigan hung up, and then she walked over to an SUV a couple spots away.
"We can fit seven people in here, the others will have to ride with me. The SUV is Owen's car, so don't worry okay if you damage it." Michigan tossed the keys to Romano and then continued on to a large, black F150.
"So who's riding with me?" she asked while getting into the truck. Poland looked nervously at Romano.
"I am, I'm, like, totally not in the mood to, like, die," Poland declared and hurried after her.
"Little Romano probably isn't the best person to drive in this snowy weather, you should give me the keys," Russia told Romano. Romano paled and practically threw the keys at Russia.
"Ja, I have to agree with Poland. I'm too awesome to die!" Prussia yelled and then took off to the truck with France right behind him, neither of them wanting to ride in a car with Russia driving. He might hit a tree just to spite them all.
"I'm too beautiful to die!" France yelled as he ran.
"You bloody wanker! You're a country, a car accident won't kill you!" England bellowed. Germany sighed.
"Mein Bruder ist ein Dummkopf." (My brother is an idiot)
xXxHETALIAxXx
After an uncomfortable car ride, they arrived in town. The group walked together into the heart of the town. They were passing one of those restaurant/bars where they played sports all day long on massive TVs when Michigan ditched them.
"Oh my God! That's the game I missed last night! Now I can find out what Penn did that pissed York off so much," Michigan squealed, yes, squealed, before dashing inside to watch the hockey game that had just started, before she could desert them Poland grabbed her arm and had her tell him where the best clothing stores were. The rest of the countries shrugged and continued on. They soon split up into smaller groups, and that's where the real trouble began.
It all started with France and England, actually the entire thing is mostly France's fault. It truly started, when France flirted with the cashier at Starbucks and got his coffee for free.
"I just don't think it's right, leading women on just so you can spare a few dollars," England argued. France chuckled.
"You're simply jealous that you do not have the same affect on the ladies as I do."
"Jealous my ass, if I wanted to pick a lady up I could do it," England retorted.
"Then go ahead, show me your great flirting skills," France challenged.
"I will."
England marched over to a young lady in her early twenties. After two minutes the woman walked away laughing.
"Oh, don't look so disappointed Angleterre."
"I'm a failure," England moaned.
"I wouldn't say that, you did pick an extremely beautiful woman. She probably has higher standards," France comforted.
"I bet you could have done it," England groaned.
"Oui, but I am a master of l'amour," France agreed.
"That's not helping."
"I know! I'll teach you how to flirt, just watch me carefully."
France sauntered up to a slightly younger girl who was quite beautiful. The girl had long, braided black hair, chocolate colored eyes, and lovely caramel skin. She was a true Native American looking girl, in fact she was a Native American.
"Bonjour Mademoiselle, I was just walking through the city thinking there was nothing more beautiful than today and then I saw you."
"Aww, that's so sweet. What's your name?"
"I'm Francis Bonnefoy, and may I ask your?" The girl giggled and nodded.
"I'm Emma Jones."
That's where things began to go down hill. Emma is one of the states, South Dakota. That's not too horrible of a thing, unfortunately, she's one of the few states with an extremely overprotective brother. An extremely overprotective brother, who just happened to hear what France said and was now storming over to where France was corrupting his baby sister, so that he could kick his ass.
"What the hell did you say to my sister?" North Dakota roared.
"It was just a little compliment, that's all," France insisted as he backed away from the towering mountain of rage.
"A little compliment? It sure didn't look like a little compliment, it looked like you were trying to corrupt my little sister!"
"Non, non it was nothing like that!"
"Oh, great you're French too! Now, I know you were up to no good!" North Dakota was gearing up for a fight. France was desperately trying to calm the state down, but alas he failed. Then North Dakota took a swing at France, and the fight started right in the middle of the sidewalk. This fight also efficiently blocked the entrance to Hubbard's Comics and Games Store.
Despite common belief, France does know how to fight. He's actually good at fighting, he used to be one of the toughest countries around. So, when North Dakota started swingin' at him France dropped the peace negotiations and put into action all the moves he had learned. North Dakota was beating him though, not because France can't fight, but because he really, really, wanted to hurt France.
"STOP IT!" cried a feminine voice, no not Emma, North Dakota was deaf to her cries. This voice held authority, it belonged to a state that was old and had that power. North Dakota stopped whaling on France and hung his head in guilt; he hadn't meant to get caught.
"You should know better than this, Aksel Jones," Virginia lectured. "Will and I were just heading to the airport when we hear a rather loud commotion and so we came to check it out and we see you beating up one of our guests!"
"Guests? Since when did we have guest?" Aksel asked in confusion.
"They arrived last afternoon, this is Francis Bonnefoy."
"Oops." Will snickered. "You really screwed up this time Hulk."
xXxHETALIAxXx
Italy was searching frantically through the people for someone he knew, for anyone he knew. Italy had just turned around and when he looked back the other countries were gone! It was not a pleasant feeling to be completely abandoned in an unfamiliar city.
Through the crowd Italy spotted a familiar mop of blonde hair, and he heard a British voice say something, he wasn't sure what he said but that didn't matter. All that mattered was that Italy had found someone he knew and that someone wasn't Russia!
Italy burst through the crowd and threw is arms around England in happiness. It's too bad that it wasn't England.
West Virginia jumped in surprise, and instinctively flipped the person onto the ground, thinking it was an attacker, when in reality it was actually only Italy.
"What the hell?" Will asked in confusion as Italy began to moan about pasta. "Liz I think he's unconscious." When Virginia knelt down to assist her brother Aksel took his chance to continue the fight. Except, this time, France was prepared.
xXxHETALIAxXx
"Oh really? That's how it works?" Germany asked in interest.
"Yeah, it's a really neat system," The police officer replied, just as interested in the converation.
"Ugh, Bruder why are you asking all these lame questions, stop interrogating the poor cop," Prussia complained. Germany glared at his brother.
"I think it's important to know the customs of other countries."
"I agree, too many people are involved singularly in their own country and know nothing about the world," the officer agreed.
"Well why do I have to be with you?"
"I don't want you causing any trouble." Prussia was about to continue the argument when he was interrupted by a burst of static.
"Officer Parker there is a 4120 on Wheeler street can you go put a stop to it?"
"Yes sir," Parker responded.
"What's a 4120?" Prussia asked.
"It's a fight," Germany answered before following the police officer.
By the time Germany, Prussia, and Officer Parker got there the scene was starting to look pretty chaotic. Italy was moaning louder than ever, Virginia and West Virginia were shaking and yelling at him. North Dakota and France were still fighting, and England and South Dakota were trying to break it up. Germany and Prussia jumped into action, trying to pull apart Francis and Aksel, however they ended up just creating a bigger fight. England accidentally nailed Prussia in the gut, and then Prussia shoved him away, England was then angry so he jumped back on Prussia and another fight was then born.
"I'm gonna need some backup." Sensing that there was nothing he could do Officer Parker stepped back and waited for his backup to arrive.
xXxHETALIAxXx
"Come on Romano, let's get some lunch!" Spain exclaimed as they walked through the city.
"No, now fuck off," Romano replied, scanning the crowd for his brother.
"Oh come on, it will be fun. We can catch up on old times," Spain said.
"I said no, damn it!" Romano yelled before quickly taking off in the other direction.
"Romano, wait! Come back!" Spain called as he ran after the Italian. Romano kept running. He saw a giant crowd gathered and decided that it would be great to get lost in. Then he heard the familiar sound of his brother moaning over the lack of pasta. Romano shoved through the crowd to see his brother on the ground with two states hovering over him while all of hell broke loose behind him. He was going to go and check to make sure his brother was okay, but somehow ended up getting in a yelling contest with West Virginia. When Spain arrived he just ended up getting sucked in to the fight, but what would you expect from a former conquistador?
Meanwhile, Japan was a few feet away from the fight but he wasn't involved. All Japan wanted was to get into the video game store, but he couldn't because the crowd was blocking the entrance. He tried to push through but he kept getting shoved back, so he spent several minutes trying to get in the store and ended up getting several people yelling at him.
Then Russia arrived. His presence alone made everyone pause, for he was giving off a very malicious aura. Russia picked up Japan from where he was trying to get into the store in vain and then he picked up France who was about to punch North Dakota. That was the scene the backup cops saw when they arrived. Needless to say, they were all arrested with the exception of Will and Elizabeth who took off yelling that they couldn't miss their flight.
xXxHETALIAxXx
Two and hours later
Poland hummed to himself as he walked out of the clothes store, he had found some fabulous clothes. Also, he was starting to get really into thrift store, he really liked the vintage look. "I should totally find the others, they probably want to go. I wonder, where did they all go?" Poland wandered back to where Michigan had dumped them, figuring that she'd know where they were.
Poland walked into the bar/restarunt and found Michigan with some unfriendly looking teenagers. They were watching the hockey game, still. It was almost over so Poland sat down and started to watch too. Maybe he could figure out 'what Penn did to piss York off so much', it sounded interesting. The game ended and the teenagers left leaving Michigan and Poland alone.
"So did you figure it out?" Poland asked.
"Figure what out?"
"What Penn did to piss off York!"
"Oh yeah, I did." Poland looked at her expectantly.
"Well, are you going to, like, tell me, or I going to have to, like, sit here like a totally uncool person?" Michigan grinned.
"Okay, so Penn was already mad at York because one of his players beat up one Penn's players. Anyway, this game is at Penn's place and there's a fine line between cheating and playing tough, so undoubtly York probably thinks Penn crossed that line. I have to admit there were some iffy plays in there, and then there's the fact that Penn won," Michigan explained. Poland nodded.
"It sounds like they have a lot of sexual tension." Michigan burst out laughing.
"Penn and York? You're kidding! That would never happen!" Michigan exclaimed.
"Why not?'
"They're both part of the original thirteen, most of us aren't actually related, but those thirteen grew up together, fought together, ate together, and drank together. They're closer than most siblings are, even if they don't act like it. None of the thirteen would ever date."
"Would the states like even date? Don't you all feel like siblings?"
"It's complicated, most of us didn't grow up together. We're more like a group of kids whose parents are friends. We're not exactly related, but we're stuck together."
"I guess that, like, makes sense, but have, like, states actually, like, dated?" Poland asked curiously.
"Yeah, not many because nobody wants to make life awkward considering we all have to see each other at least once a month. We've all dated a couple of humans though, I mean why not? We're eternally teenagers." Poland nodded again and they lapsed into an awkward silence.
"A gay baby was just, like, totally born," Poland muttered. Michigan laughed.
"Dude, do you know where the other countries are?"
"No, I ,like, thought you knew where they, like, are."
"Dude, I've been watching hockey for the past two and a half hours. What have you been doing?" Poland gestured to the bags on the ground.
"I've been, like, shopping."
"For two hours?'
"Please, two hours is a short trip."
"How do you shop for that long? I can't do that. I like getting stuff, but I hate shopping."
"Clearly you've been shopping with the wrong people."
"People?"
"Yeah! Your, like, shopping buddies!"
"I'm suppose to have shopping buddies?"
"Totally, next time I'm so taking you shopping and you'll, like, enjoy it!"
"Do we have to?"
"Totally, knowing how to shop is a vital skill."
"I can shop!"
"Really? Where do you like to go?"
"The internet."
"Ugh, I had to explain this to Liet too! Dude, the internet is, like, totally cool, but actual stores are the best. Stores are, like, reliable."
"Fine, you can take me shopping, but I'm bringing Illinois."
"That's, like, even better! We can form our own shopping group!"
"Can we go gun shopping?"
"Maybe you should, like, talk to Switzerland about that. Clothes stores don't, like, usually sell, like, guns."
"I'm joking, I go to gun conventions every six months with a couple other gun slingin' states."
"Your family is weird."
"The world is weird."
"True that sister."
"What happened to your valley girl voice?"
"My what?"
"Your voice, you were talking like a valley girl, and then you weren't."
"That's so racist! But it's okay, I forgive you, and you shouldn't, like, judge a book by, like, its cover."
"Truer words were never spoken."
"Now what?"
"We should probably find the other countries."
"Yeah, totally, just let me check my twitter first."
"Okay, sure."
"Michigan?"
"Yeah?"
"The countries are in jail, with two people named Emma and Aksel."
"Well, shit."
"Truer words were, like, totally never said."
xXxHETALIAxXx
While the countries were waiting for Poland and Michigan to mosey their way down to the jail they decided to get to know the states a little better. Well, South Dakota anyway. North Dakota didn't say much, he just sat emotionlessly next to his sister.
"You two are a brother and sister?" Italy asked curiously.
"Yup," South Dakota beamed. "I'm Emma Jones and he's Aksel Jones!"
"You're like me and my fratello!"
"Sort of, we're diferent states. Oh, and I'm awfully sorry about getting you all thrown in jail," Emma apologized.
"I'm sure most of them don't mind, they spend lots of time in jail. Isn't that right Prussia?" Russia answered. Prussia slid away from Russia, over to his friends France and Spain.
"It's alright, why don't you tell us about yourselves? We're here ton met you states," England agreed.
"Sure thing!"
South Dakota told the countries about the first Europeans she met in 1743, they were the LaVerendrye brothers. France deflated a little knowing that he flirted with his daughter, but he inflated more at the thought of having met more of his own kids than England had met of his kids. South Dakota also told the countries that she learned French from the LaVerendrye brothers, and that North Dakota was her twin. She skimmed over the part of history where she was separated from North Dakota, and skipped straight to the part where they became states on the same day.
"North and I are still super tight, even though we're not the same territory anymore!" she added cheerfully.
South Dakota didn't have very many bad memories, her childhood was relatively uneventful. She wasn't involved in the revolution, the War of 1812, or the Civil War and those were the wars that really scarred some of the states. There was one awful time though, one memory that she kept locked up inside her head.
They were still living with their father at the time, seeing as they were just territories, so it wasn't unusual for America to take them on a trip or call them down for a story. Today was different, America was rather serious and he looked…sad. President Harrison was with him.
"Emma, Aksel, I have some not-so-great news for you," America started.
"What is it papa?" Emma asked curiously. Aksel nodded in agreement. America pulled the territories a few feet away from the president.
"Well, it's about your statehood. You two aren't going to be a state."
"What do you mean?" Aksel asked nearly emotionless, his only feelings were given away by the twitch of his eyebrow.
"We're not going to be a state?" Emma asked in confusion, tears welling up in her eyes.
"No, you're going to be a state, just not together. You see you're being split, one of you will be North Dakota and one of you will be South Dakota," Alfred explained. Emma shook her head violently.
"I don't wanna be separate states!" she cried angrily.
"Why was this decided?" Aksel questioned.
"Your land has two large centers of people, the problem is one is way in the north and the other is way in the south. They're hundreds of miles apart. The other problem is President Harrison is a republican and he's getting a lot of pressure to admit two more states so that the Republican party can have more power," Alfred told them.
"That's dumb," Emma protested weakly.
"Yeah it is, I'm really sorry you two have to do this. If you're ready then we can come back over to Harry, he brought the papers here and is going to sign them when you're ready."
The twins both took a deep breath and then nodded. America led them back over to President Harrison who shook their hands. Then the president took a quill and began to sign the papers. The moment he signed the last paper both of the newly formed states felt a fierce pain in their chests. It felt like part of their heart had been cut out, and that they were now missing something. It was like they had lost part of their soul. The two clung to each other and began to cry, both of them still feeling the fiery pain in their chests.
"Should I go get something for them?" Harrison asked worriedly. Alfred shook his head.
"It's probably best if you just left," he replied almost coldly. The president nodded and left, muttering a quiet apology. Alfred ignored him and swept the two states into his arms.
"Shhh, it will be okay. The pain will fade."
"Hey, Frau, are you okay?" Emma jumped in surprise as bright red eyes appeared in front of her.
"Yes, I just got lost in thought for a moment," she quickly answered. North Dakota looked at her in concern, the countries couldn't tell, but Emma knew.
"That is enough, you can stop bugging my little sister now. You shouldn't have anymore questions left, and if you do then I know what they are and what their answers are, so I will answer them. Yes, we have the same founder, no, I'm not France's son, my 'country of greatest influence' is Norway, hence the name Aksel. That is it, you can stop talking now," North Dakota stated.
The countries nodded wearily, none of them wanted to start a fight again. Plus, they didn't have anymore questions, and South Dakota had gone as white as a sheet a few minutes before. Fortunately, they didn't have to wait long before Poland and Michigan waltzed in.
"We have come to, like, rescue you!" Poland exclaimed. Michigan nodded.
"How did you convince the officer to let you pass?' Spain asked.
"Oh, I told him that this just some was family issues. He understood, see his one brother hates the other brother, so those two are always scheming against each other, and they would always be dragging other family members in. It's kind of a mess, so he feels for me," Michigan explained.
"I don't mean to intrude, but how do you know this?" Japan inquired.
"I've been here a couple times, but this one time in particular it was all Ohio's fault. Anyway, I was locked up and it was a Wednesday night, Paul didn't work the next day and he was going through a really tough time, and he may have been drinking a little. Thus, I was told his entire life story, on the bright side he let me go in the morning with no questions asked."
"That is why you don't drink on duty, it can be used to blackmail you," Germany sighed.
HISTORY LESSON AND CULTURE NOTES!
-Karl Benz was a German mechanic who designed and built the first practical automobile
-Prussia was still 'Present Day Germany' when this happened
-Japan does have a rather popular auto industry
-Michigan is home to the headquarters of Ford, GM, and Chrysler
-I completely made up the hockey stuff
-North and South Dakota were split on the same day they became states
-They became states on the same day
-They were split for the same reason given in the story
CHARACTER NOTES!
-North Dakota: North Dakota has the second largest Norwegian population, so to shake things up, I gave him sort of Norway's personality. I didn't really describe his appearance, so I'll tell you here that he has France's hair and Germany's eyes because he also has a large German population.
-South Dakota: They might be twins, but they're polar opposites, which comes from being the north and the south. I picture her as an outdoorsy, all-American girl. She's Native American looking because of the many Indian reservation in South Dakota.
Other Notes
-I was going to have Poland be in jail too, and have him be the one who tweeted it, and then introduce California but I decided not to because I wanted to give Poland some screen time.
-When I write the countries speaking I don't write in their accent, like 'Vhy?" for Germany, but I do try to use words from their language. The problem is that the only other language I speak is German and I don't speak it well. So if you have any tips on foreign languages that would be great!
-The whole car thing at the beginning, I know other countries know cars, but when I think of the three countries big on the car industry it's Germany, America, and Japan
Again I'm getting all my information from the internet so if I get something wrong please correct me and I'm sorry.
Reviews are like, and constructive criticism is helpful.
Edited 2/16/15