HAPPY BELATED CHRISTMAS! AND HAPPY BELATED NEW YEAR!

...Heh. I haven't updated this since last year. -gives everyone special New Year cookies as an apology-

Also, for those of you who haven't heard the good news...

I GOT A LAPTOP FOR CHRISTMAS I MEAN FINALLY IT'S SO BEAUTIFUL AND SHINY AND I DON'T HAVE TO USE THE FAMILY COMPUTER ANYMORE AND I JUST AHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHACVGBHJNKFDJHBANJEDMKSLFHGKJNMESRFNMDKFGVGHNJMFGFDKJGMFDJSNMSLIFJDAZXCFVGBHNMFRDJKNMRFDHJNMASLJSDFGHJKGFVOKMDFVMBGNJDasdfghjklpoiuygbasdfghjklojjasesfgardftg

Okay. I'm done.

OH YEAH THAT REMINDS ME, GUESS WHAT PEOPLE. THE WRITER'S BLOCK IS GONE, BABY. WOO!

But... not the procrastination. I'm so sorry. D:

Review response majig~

Alfred-San- That's what I aim for. ^ ^

RainbowCookies8D- Hi. :3

Yep, that's what happened. Also, I'm glad you worked out that issue with Germany. ^ ^

Guest- I love you guys... TwT

You'll just have to read and find out. :3

My hair sucks. It's nice and soft, but tangled as crap. And brushes. I have a tendency to lose brushes really easily. I had like four different brushes, and I lost every single one of them except for this little tiny one that's meant to be carried around in a purse. -fail-

Defenestration- Fellow grammar Nazi. -salutes-

Yeah, I know the beginning sucked. I'm sorry. :P

Also, crossovers. Human to pony/ pony to human. It's just so shippable~ =w=

Ramengrl- R-really? You think so? ;w;

xlilslayerx- I am too. 0-0 They freak me out, but this one plot bunny... and then... yeah.

Let's go hide in the zombie apocalypse room and eat icecream and watch anime! We can take 'em~ #n#

Who wants to hide with us? :D

When I woke up, I was in...

I was in... um...

...I don't know. White was everywhere.

I thought I was floating. There was no floor that I could see, and I felt nothing against my feet. I reached out. Nothing.

Was I dead? Had the wound on my forehead finally killed me?

This surely wasn't what I'd expected. Wasn't I supposed to go to heaven? I'd been a good Christian, hadn't I?

Wait. I wasn't supposed to die in the first place.

Right?

"You're not dead, my dear."

A warm glow enveloped the empty space, making the air shimmer with a golden hue. Colorful orbs of light surrounded me.

I watched as the orbs surrounded me, transfixed.

A woman appeared through the light. She was tall, with flowing dark brown hair, glowing skin, and sparkling apple green eyes. She had a kind, motherly face, and she wore a full length green dress that rustled like leaves when she moved.

She linked arms with me. "Let's go for a walk."

As we walked, the air around us shifted and twisted, changing colors, and eventually we were standing in a beautiful, warm garden. Fragrant flowers grew all over the place, in sections of grass, stretching up over archways, and curling up around trees. Everything was thriving.

My eyes widened as they took in our surroundings. "Who... who are you?" I asked in awe.

She smiled down at me, her eyes glittering with life. "Come sit." she said, gesturing to an intricately carved wooden bench.

"Who am I?" she took my hands in hers and gave me another warm smile, as she was letting me in on a delightful secret. "I am your mother. The mother of all the nations."

"My... my mother?" I asked, looking up at the woman seated beside me. She was wayyyyy too pretty to have been my mother.

"It's true, dear. I am Mother Nature." She dropped my hands and turned to look at the birds chirping in the tree a few feet in front of us. "I don't normally speak to my children, but this is of the highest importance. I need you to help me."

"How can I help you? I can barely stand with the injury on my forehead." I said, wondering what she needed help with.

She waved her hand, and the pain, which had dulled significantly since waking up here, vanished completely. I reached up to touch my forehead. It was gone without a trace.

"Thanks... mother." I said. It felt strangely right, calling her mother. Like she'd raised me herself, and I'd been calling her that since I was born.

A very disturbing thought then popped into my head. "Wait... does this make all of the countries siblings?"

Mother Nature laughed. "No. Yes, they all have the same parents, but our DNA works in different ways than human DNA does."

I still didn't completely understand, but decided to drop it. Talking about it made my stomach feel queasy.

"Now... as for what I need your help with." She stood up and looked into my eyes.

"I'll help you... as much as I can. I don't know what I can do, though."

Mother Nature let out a sigh of relief. "Good."

She began to pace. "Right now, you are being held prisoner by your second player, along with the second players Speirell and Tassland." she paused for a second, before continuing. "I believe they want to kill you."

I felt my heart drop into my stomach. "What?"

"Don't worry. You'll be free before that can happen.

"The second players are, as you probably know, the counterparts of the nations. Every country has one. They are... very jealous beings, you could say. Most of them keep it hidden down inside of them, and just focus on making trouble. But some of them are unable to just ignore their jealousy. There are quite a few of them who look just like their first player, which gave one of them an awful idea... to kill their first player, and step in as their replacement without anyone knowing. All they would have to do is make a few behavior tweaks. And as soon as they had enough second players masquerading as the real ones, they would attack... they would overpower the first players, and the world would fall into their hands."

I took a second to let all of this sink in. A world ruled by 2ps... it couldn't happen.

A question was still floating around my head. "Wait... but countries can't die... and our wounds heal really fast. Right?"

"That's not entirely true." Mother Nature said, picking a beautiful flower from a tree. It had several layered petals. At the center it was red, fading out to a light cream color, and the ends were tinged with a dark pink. The whole thing glowed with life when Mother Nature touched it.

"A country can die. There are three ways: If the actual country is completely destroyed, if their second player kills them, or if they commit suicide."

"Why... why would a country commit suicide?" I asked. I couldn't picture any of the countries going that far.

"There are several differences between human behavior and country behavior, most of them barely noticeable, but there. Suicide, however, is not one of them. A country would commit suicide for the same reasons a human would: depression, mental issues, shame, feeling as if no one loves them... or they might just want to escape. Unlike humans, countries will never grow old and die. They have to endure decades, centuries, even millennium of getting close to people, only to watch them die, or experience natural disasters effect their own bodies, or constantly fight other countries. When they commit suicide, they do die... however, they can come back.

"Suicide for a country is sort of like... going into a coma... that you have control over. Their body vanishes from earth and appears in the White Space, and they stay there for as long as they want before 'coming back to life'.

"Oh." I said, looking down at my hand. "What's the White Space? Is that where I woke up?"

"Yes, it is."

"What... what does a country do in there?"

Mother Nature folded her hands neatly behind her back. "It varies from country to country. Some just sit and think. Others speak to God, or, very rarely, to my husband and I."

"They talk to God? But what about the non christian nations?" Would I have seen God, too, if Mother Nature hadn't come to get me?

"They see whoever their god is." she smiled down at me. "No, dear, you wouldn't have seen God. I brought you to White Space myself, you didn't die."

Her face changed to a more serious expression. "But you could, which is why I need you to-"

Suddenly the garden began shifting violently, blurring into another landscape. The wind began to howl, along with another noise that sounded like the low hum of a baritone saxophone.

"Not yet, husband!" Mother Nature yelled into the noise. Flowers were being uprooted and zoomed around us. "I need more time!"

"Who... who is your husband?" I asked, my voice coming out a soft whisper.

Despite the quietness of my voice, she seemed to hear me. She turned her head to look at me. "Father Time."

Then she turned back to whatever she saw, something I couldn't see, and continued yelling to it.

"Father... Time?" I said to myself.

With a jolt, the bench I was sitting on lifted up. I scrambled off of it and over to Mother Nature. "Mother!" I cried as the heavy stones flew up around us, one nearly hitting me in the head. I ducked, and it missed me by a centimeter.

"Here, child." she drew me close to her side. "Listen. Father Time has given us as much time as he could, but this was never supposed to happen. We're almost out. Here is what I need you to do: when you go back, you'll be at Germany's house. Right now, the Axis are on a plane flying there. Your second player is with them. I'll use my powers to make sure they don't run into any trouble with the storm they're flying through. Lock all the doors and windows to Germany's house, and wait for them to return. Confront them outside, and do not let your second player get into the house. Jason and Tokyo are already there, and she might get to him before you can stop her. I would suggest locking him in a room with no windows."

"Why all of this for just one second player?" I shouted over the noise, which was growing louder every second.

"She is your perfect equal!" Mother Nature yelled back, letting go of me with one hand and started rummaging around in a hidden pocket on her dress.

Once again, I felt my heart drop into my stomach.

"Here!" Mother Nature pressed something into my hand. "I will instruct you through your mind when you get back."

Mother Nature started to fade away.

The shifting landscape grew dark around me. "Mother!"

"Good luck!"

"Um... was this really a good idea?" Chugoku asked nervously, clutching her stomach.

The plane was rattling more than it was supposed to, and making ominous sputtering noises every few minutes.

Carolyn was curled into the fetal position in her seat, Dakota trying her best to reassure the distressed nation.

"Of course it was!" Dakota said cheerfully, seemingly oblivious to all the unsettling noises and rattles. "We've got America and Em up front, so everything'll be fine."

She glanced over at England, then over to Russia and France. They were all asleep. "If those three can sleep through this, then I'm absolutely one hundred percent positive that-"

"You're positive, you say?" Em's voice came over the intercom.

"Absolutely!"

"D-mn, I didn't know you and Russia were that close already!"

Dakota turned redder than anyone had ever seen her, extremely grateful that Russia was asleep. "Not that kind of positive!"

The sound of Em and America's snickering poured through the speaker.

"Hey, Emsie? Middle school called, he wants his jokes back." Dakota giggled at her own comeback, then tried to forget what just happened and went back to trying to calm Carolyn.

I opened my eyes.

The ceiling stared down at me.

I was on a couch.

I sat up with dizzying speed, waited a second for my vision to clear, then ran to the front door and locked it.

"Jason!" I yelled. "Where are you?"

"Upstairs." came the faint response.

Thankfully, Germany's house wasn't as big as mine. I found the stairs without a problem, and Jason was in the first room I saw. With him was Tokyo. They were looking at a... Japanese to English dictionary? I would have to ask later.

I grabbed his arm. "Jason. There's no time to explain. Come with me."

"Wha-"

"On second thought, Tokyo, you come too." I hauled both of them to the first bathroom I saw, luckily, it had no windows.

"Okay, Jason. I need you to lock the door and turn out the lights as soon as I leave, and no matter what you hear, do not come out. Not even if you hear me calling you. Don't speak, or move around, or do anything that makes noise. Come out when you hear me knock three times and tell you, "July 28th.""

I relayed the message to Tokyo and left before they could question me, shutting the door behind me.

Finding all the entrances to the house was tricky. Germany could have some sort of trapdoor, or secret entrance for military reasons. I had no idea. I rushed through the house, locking all the windows and the back and side doors.

Then I ran into Germany's room. He probably had a gun in there.

Stop.

I came screeching to a stop, just outside the doorway to what I guessed was Germany's room. Mother?

Yes, dear. Listen very carefully.

I nodded and leaned against the wall, catching my breath.

There's a bracelet in your bag.

I pulled my bag off of my back and dug around until my fingers felt the bracelet. I pulled it out and looked at it. It was kind of pretty, but other than that, it looked like your average everyday charm bracelet.

What do you want me to do with it? I asked, turning it over and holding it up to the light.

Find a way to put it on your second player's wrist. It will immobilize her, and leave a permanent mark on her skin.

I nodded. Right.

I headed down the stairs and over to the door, then stopped and listen.

There was a car coming up the driveway.

I threw open the door and locked it behind me, then hid behind a conveniently placed tree.

A laughing Italy emerged from the back of the car, followed by a slightly smiling Japan. Germany got out from the driver's seat. He wasn't smiling, but he didn't look as serious as usual.

A smiling, laughing girl that was the spitting image of me stepped out of the passenger side. The only difference was that she had her hair tied back into a ponytail. I quickly pushed away the unpleasant memories the image of her sparked. She playfully nudged Germany and said something I couldn't here, and he laughed.

Germany actually laughed.

Germany actually laughed.

I began to feel insecure. She was obviously better at telling jokes than I was.

Maybe she was better for them. Laughing relieves stress, and Germany must have a bunch of stress piled on his shoulders, and-

Child. Don't doubt yourself! It's an effect all the second players have on their first players- but don't worry. The first players have the same effect on the second players. She's feeling a bit insecure, herself, even though she doesn't know you're here.

You have the advantage. You can do it. Now hurry! Before they reach the door.

Mother Nature was right. I was the one in the Axis Powers, I was the one trying to make peace for this war, and I was the one running the country.

She might have felt the same pain I did when Em attacked, she might hear my citizens' thoughts, and she might look exactly like me.

But she was not me, and she would never take my place. Ever.

I stepped out from behind the tree, and out of the shadows.

She was the first to see me.

Our eyes met, and something shifted inside of me.

Impostor.

"Get away from them." My voice held such venom, such hatred at this one person that I didn't know I was even capable of.

She didn't move, and now everyone else had seen me.

She gasped. "Is... is that?"

"Oh, drop the act. I said get away from them, now."

"I thought that 2ps weren't cannon!"

"I said DROP THE ACT!"

"Germany... what is she doing?"

"I'll give you to the count of five."

"What's going on?"

"One."

She took a step back.

Wrong direction. "Two."

She said something in German.

Heh. Wrong language. "Three."

Germany frowned, but other than that, he didn't move.

I felt like I could kill her right now, and not even bat an eyelash. "Four."

My hair and eyes darkened, and my skin grew pale.

No, child - Do not let the darkness overtake you! All you need to do is put the bracelet on her, nothing more!

I suddenly became aware to the changes, and shook my head to clear it. Mother Nature was right.

I was pretty sure dark!characters weren't cannon either, but apparently that wasn't the case.

I felt my appearance change back and sighed in relief. "Fi-"

I didn't get to finish counting, for 2p!me had taken that split second during my change dark! and back to her advantage.

The next thing I knew, I was pinned to the ground beneath her.

I didn't weigh very much, and evidently neither did 2p!me. It was easy to push her off of me and stand up.

She was just as fast to get to her feet. I punched, she blocked. She kicked, I dodged. For every attack there was an equal reaction, and neither of us was landing any blows.

Mother! I called out in my head.

Yes, dear. You're doing great.

I need you to do me a favor!

What do you want me to do?

Tell Japan to put the bracelet on her. All I can do is fight her. She can read my moves, and I can read hers. So if I-

I understand, child. I do not talk to my children unless it is unavoidably important, and this is definitely one of those times.

Thank you, mother.

I faked punching to the left, knowing she would anticipate it and guard right. In the split second she was paying attention to her right side, I threw the bracelet to the left over to Japan. He caught it and looked confused for a second, but his expression soon cleared. I knew Mother Nature had told him what to do.

[Author's Note- All my lovely readers may listen to action music in this next scene, eat some popcorn, and play it through their heads in slow motion.]

I didn't let my facial expression give away what I'd done.

I lunged towards her, and she jumped out of my reach, into the branches of the tree I'd previously been hiding behind. I pulled out my 'just for show' katana. The blade actually looked pretty sharp. She did the same.

We didn't talk while we fought. It was pointless and wasted our breath.

She dropped down from the tree and swung at me, and I parried the blow. Instead of attempting to force her katana back, I let mine slide out straight and stabbed forward, cutting her right shoulder. Her blade swung forward due to the loss of force holding it off, and it cut off a bit of my sleeve. I pulled my katana back, and swung out as hard as I could. Her katana flew out of her hand, a good fifteen feet away. However, she was quick to recover, kicking upwards and knocking my katana out of my grasp and spiraling up onto the roof.

2p!me jumped and kicked, and I grabbed her leg and pulled her towards me. She waited until she was mere inches away and punched. I blocked her fist and used the momentum to swing her around, aiming to slam her into the ground. She landed on one hand and kicked out to knock my legs out from underneath me. I jumped above the kick and faked a kick of my own, but moved my leg out of the way last second and landed on top of her. I held her in place as best as I could.

"Now, Japan!" I yelled.

2p!me lifted reached up and grabbed my neck...

...and the bracelet clasped around her wrist with a resounding click. Beneath it I could make out a red and black tattoo inking its way onto her skin.

"Hahh." I sighed. "There. Now we'll be able to tell which one is me from now on."

I stood up and looked at the rest of the Axis. "One thing you all need to know about me. I never wear my hair up in a ponytail. Ever."

I turned and walked over to the door. "Now, we need to go inside and talk about someth-"

The door abruptly opened in my face, cutting me off.

"Hey! What the h-ll is going on out here?"

The awesome Prussia was here.