America came walking into the room, holding money and laughing. "How was your meeting today? Was it as corporate as always?" Mexico asked.

"You bet! And it was awesome! Without the small businesses stealing our profits, we're rolling in the dough!"

Puerto Rico looked up from the floor. "Does that mean we're getting another stimulus check soon?"

America laughed. "Absolutely not! You want handouts right now? It's one of the most capitalist times of year, I'm not going to just throw money around."

"Are you at least coming to the party later?" Mexico asked.

"You mean that pathetic gathering of countries I don't care about? Nah, hard pass."

Sighing, the two started leaving. "I forget how little really changes after elections," Mexico mumbled.

Ignoring Mexico, America leaves. He returns home to his bedroom with Lucifer. Hours passed, and America was sitting on his bed of money scrolling to find out if he was actually going to delete tik tok like he's been promising to do all year. His searches were interrupted by his phone suddenly vibrating. He screamed and dropped it.

Lucifer looked up from the kinara he was lighting. "What are you doing?"

"Luci, it's horrible! Somebody is calling me! Who does that anymore!"

The devil stared at his running mate. "Honey, it's probably just your extended warranty again. Ignore it." He turned back around falling asleep, tuning out America.

It wasn't his extended warranty, it was Germany, but America hit ignore anyway. Seconds later, he gets a zoom call from Germany, which he begrudgingly answers.

"What the hell do you want? Don't you understand that my time is more valuable than yours?"

"Listen, I wanted to warn you zat if you keep doing ze scheiße zat you've been doing, your past, present, and future vill come back to haunt you. Trust me, I'm trying to help you before itz too late"

"Okay Germany, I just forgot the part where I asked. Maybe if you weren't so busy trying to convince the world that you're not fascist anymore, I would care about your blatant fear-mongering. Bah humbug"

"Listen!"

"BAH HUMBUG!" America yelled and slammed his phone down "They're just mad that I'm more successful than them, like any other country matters, bah. Can you believe this Luci?"

He turned to his bed and saw that Lucifer was no longer there. Confused, America got out of bed. Suddenly, he started to hear a faint whistle, almost as if it was a tea kettle. "Luci's making coffee? But it's, like, midnight. Or 4:30. It gets too dark too early to tell the difference anymore." He started heading toward the noise, he found somebody that looked an awful lot like Britain making tea. The only thing strange was that he wasn't wearing Britain's normal clothes, but wispy white robes instead. He looked paler, or maybe dustier, than usual.

"Britain, What the hell are you doing here?" America said as he grabbed a gun and pointed it at the figure

"Listen here you bloody twat, I'm not Britain"

America shot the figure aiming for his head but watched the bullet pass through leaving him unphased. Somehow the ghost was able to drink the tea he made.

"I'm the ghost of the past, you can't kill me, you imbecile"

"I get it, you're here to lecture me about my past, well I've already been canceled by twitter, made an apt apology video, and had an exorcism. So sorry, not sorry, you're job is done"

"You think that solved everything? This year alone you've almost started world war 3, completely mishandled the pandemic, started the largest protest in human history, actively contributed to climate change, and let millions of people die along the way"

"Yeah...and?"

The ghost sighed " Let me show you the error of your ways"

Before America could say anything, the ghost brought out a wand. With a wave, they teleported somewhere outside in what seemed to be an old town

"Where are we?" America asked

"Were in your past, look, there you are right there as a child, look how innocent you were, even cooperating with the other countries"

They watched as young america ran up to his older brothers. "Mummy Fwance, Daddy Bwitain! I has big plans, one day I'll be a big countwy just like you!"

A younger, more old-fashioned dressed, Britain replied, "Good for you America, we have some good news for you too!" Britain and France looked at each other.

France smiled sweetly and started raffling America's hair. "We are going to acquire anozer country togezer named Canada. You are going to be a big brozer!"

Child America was overthrown with joy "I get to be a big brother?!"

"Oui, oui" France nodded. "Uncle Spain and Aunt Aztec are forming a country named Mexico too. He'll be really close to you!"

Britain nodded. "And since we're all technically siblings, not parent and child, Mexico will be your brother too!"

"I will finally have fwiends! I can't wait to share evewything with them!" young America exclaimed

As the scene started fading away, adult America turned to the ghost of the past. "Huh, I guess things really were different back then…"

The ghost nodded. "But something changed, didn't it? Something made you uncompassionate and power hungry and led you down the path to where you are today. I know what it was, and I remember it like it was yesterday. Twas the 16th of December, a few days before Christmas." He looked to America with a scowl. "You threw all that bloody tea into the harbor and wasted thousands of dollars you git! Why'd you have to go do that!"

"Oh, shut up Britain. You knew how much I hate giving you money."

"I'm not Britain, I'm the ghost of the past!" America rolled his eyes, making the ghost even more annoyed. "Fine, let's look at a time a bit closer to now. The 1920s!" He flicked his wand and the scenery changed to a bustling New York.

"Wow! Just look at my roaring 20s!" America exclaimed. "We just won the Great War not too long ago and things are going awesomely! It's not too late, I should make the 2020's like my 1920's. We just need to kick out all the commies again."

"Didn't you ban alcohol this year? A bunch of small businesses closed! Crime was skyrocketing! Right around now the Spanish Flu was a super big threat, and later you had a huge Pneumonia problem. I have to say, the 1920's really wasn't much better than today. So to avoid another major depression, shouldn't you learn from your past and try to do better?"

"Cut the malarkey, there's a reason why I'm alive and you're a ghost. Nothing could ever take me down from being number 1. It's the best system we have! It really shouldn't be questioned or improved upon."

The ghost looked offended. "You know what, this is bloody stupid." He waved his wand and made the surroundings America's room again. "History always sucks. It really has been all downhill since 1776. Just listen to the present."

"Ew, listening. That's never been my strong suit."

"Better learn fast," the ghost said. With that, he was gone.

America was alone once more. "That was weird. What's Britain even trying to do?"

"I think the ghost of the past was trying to help you change your ways…" someone said.

America looked around. "Who said that?"

The voice spoke again. "Oh, sorry." He became visible and turned out to look like Canada wearing some gray robes. "I'm the ghost of present day."

"Canada? Young me was just talking about you."

"N-no. The ghost of present day… I'm here to show you the present." He walked over to a door and opened it to show a warmly lit room. "Please follow me."

America thought for a second and shrugged. He followed the ghost through the door to see a bunch of countries in a large room. Basically, everyone had a drink in their hand. France had a drink and a protest sign.

America looked around. "Hey, this is that dumb party everybody was inviting me to." He tried poking a drunkenly sleeping Italy, but his hand just phased through. "What the…"

"We're here to watch, not touch."

"Watch what? France protesting? He does that as often as he revolts. It's nothing new."

"Please wait eh…"

Japan looked to Mexico "Is America coming?" he asked.

"I think he drank too much and fell asleep like Italy," China said.

"No. He's being an ass like always."

France laughed. "He's just like the bourgeoisie. And la police. And power companies. Zey are all faux cul."

China nodded. "And a sell out. He bends over to fulfill my censorships way too often." He laughed. "It's pretty pathetic to see from such a powerful country."

"America is too loud and scary. I don't want to be his friend," Italy mumbled, despite still being dead asleep.

"Now you say something bad about America, Japan," France said.

The island country was taken back by the request a bit. "What? America is my friend! I do not want to insult him behind his back!"

"Pussy," China insulted, then drank some baijiu.

"Come on, amigo. America isn't here, and Canada isn't here to tattle either," Mexico said.

America crossed his arms. And looked at the candian ghost. "F***ing Mexico. Should I go back to building the wall?"

"Um, please don't…" the ghost replied.

Sighing, Japan took a sip of his sake. "I guess America is too rash, impursive, and sugar obsessed for my liking."

The drunk countries cheered. "I'll drink to zat," France said. They all took swigs of their drinks.

America looked pissed. "Looks like someone wants to get nuked again."

"America, please, you're missing the point," the ghost pleaded. "These people are some of your closest friends. Maybe you should listen to their criticisms instead of trying to attack them."

"No. Screw them. I hate this. Is it time for the third ghost yet?"

The ghost of the present shook his head. "No. Just one more thing. Follow me again. Canada opened that same door they came through, but now it led to a snowy outside.

Through a window, a miserable looking man was working as a cashier, with Isreal yelling at him, and the same three christmas songs he's been hearing all month were still playing.

"Look. That's Puerto Rico, working on a holiday. He has to, because he can't afford not to. A lot of other countries are in very similar situations too, America."

"Awe man, is Puerto Rico gonna die?"

"What? No," the Canadian ghost said.

America scoffed. "Well, then why should I care? He's not doing that bad. He has a job and everything."

The ghost sighed. He knew that he'd have to talk in a way America would relate to. "He's so poor he can't buy a PS5s or an Xbox X."

"Well, at least he can play Cyberpunk 2077 on their consoles that can't process it."

The ghost shook his head. "He can't afford Cyberpunk either, America."

"Wow… for real? Then he could barely afford The Last of Us 2. That poor bastard."

He was going to correct him again, but it didn't seem worth it.

"You know what," America said, "Good for them. Cyberpunk is glitchy as hell, the PS5 looks like a toaster, and the Xbox X didn't even bother releasing any games. Who needs 'em anyway."

The ghost of the present looked at him. "I, um, think you're missing the point…" Suddenly a bell rang, which made the ghost cover his ears. "NOOOO!" He starts nervously laughing as he fell on the floor dying, "I'm sorry, eh. I have to go. Hopefully, the final ghost can help."

The ghost of the present disintegrated in front of America "Damn, he didn't even give me a present"

It was calm for a second, America abandoned in the snow until he saw a shadow of a darkly cloaked figure walked up to him

"Are you the ghost of December future? Are we going to the 2120s?" America asked.

"Yes and nyet," the familiar sounding voice said. He took off his hood to reveal that he looked just like Russia, but with some light skeleton-like makeup. "I am da future ghost, but we are not going to the 2120s. The Earth and humanity does not make it."

America blinked. "W-what? Then when are we?"

He didn't respond. Instead, he started walking into a newly forming city with America following. America looked at the skyscrapers around him. They were cold and dead, covered in snow. Fog and smoke was everywhere. It was abandoned. For such a large city, with such tall buildings, the lack of everything was appalling. "Where are we?" The ghost still didn't respond. "What happened here?"

"Everyone is at home social distancing like they should, but there have been some major improvements," the future ghost said.

"Like what?!"

"Look." America's eyes followed the ghost's gloved hand as it pointed.

They watched as China and Mexico walked by having a conversation

"You're looking a lot better"

"Si, amigo. Gracias to my instant citizenship and universal health care!"

"I still can't believe they abolished the police system too."

"See, I told you it was gonna be easy moving to America!"

"Wait that can't be!" America looked at the Russian looking ghost, who was smiling. "What kind of Hell is this? Is this what Lucifer has been talking about?"

"Nyet, comrade. The devil had nothing to do with this: this future was always inevitable."

"And what is this future?"

The ghost smiled even wider and chuckled. "Why, you are Socialist of course!" He said it with such jubilation, but it felt like he was breathing daggers into America's chest rather than speaking. Him, America, a communist? It could never be…

"N-no, you're lying. Fake news," he said in shock, backing away.

The ghost waggled his finger. "Ah ah ah, that doesn't work anymore. At this point in the timeline, there was a global revolution. You faced the consequences of capitalism."

"I WOULD NEVER! I'D RATHER DIE!"

The ghost's face became shrouded in shadows so that only his unsettling smile was visible. "Oh yeah, the other ghosts didn't show you yet."

"Wait a sec, I didn't mean-" America was cut off by them transporting to a graveyard. A tombstone sat in front of them. 'The United States of America,' it said, '1776-2020'. "That could be anybody," he said dismissively. The ground in front of him collapsed. His feet slipped on the snow and he started falling in. With little other choice, he grabbed onto the ledge of the tomb. Below him, the ground sank more and more. "No, please! I'm too young to die! Take a middle eastern country instead!" The future ghost didn't respond. America looked down to see that the sinking casket was opening. He looked back to the ghost. "Do I have to learn from my past? Or be more considerate of other countries? What do you want from me? I'll do anything!"

The ghost wrapped his freezing fingers on America's trembling arms. "Nyet, but you still have some hope. America, you have to make changes fast. But before that, stay six feet away. To the left, right, in front, or behind, it doesn't matter as long as it's six feet." He pulled on America's arms, making him dangle over the hole, the only thing keeping him up was ghostly grasp.

"Even six feet under would work."

With that, the ghost let go. "NOOOOOOO!" America screamed as he fell into the coffin at the bottom of the hole. He could feel the fiery depths of Hell below grow more powerful with every inch he plummeted. America closed his eyes to brace for impact.

Within the darkness of his eyelids, nothing happened.

...

His eyes shot open. He looked around, breathing heavily.

"What's wrong, Merica?" Lucifer asked, comforting his running mate.

"I'm in Hell! Is this apt punishment for my crimes? Eternal torture? Woe is me! Luci forgive me for I have sinned!"

"What are you talking about? We haven't gotten there...yet."

America realized he was in bed with Lucifer. He must have fallen asleep.

"Oh Luci, I had the wildest dream! You were there, and you were there, and YOU were there"

"What are you talking about, you abandoned all the other countries."

"It's not too late! I can change! I can CHANGE! I still have a chance!"

America runs to the window and sees Puerto Rico still in his work's uniform walking in the snow.

"What day is it, my fellow country?"

"Que? It's New Year's Eve, of course! What other holiday would it be?"

America turned back inside slamming the window. "Did you hear that Luci! This year is finally f***ing over! But there's something I have to do!"

Seeming to be hungover, America stumbled into the warmly lit room from before to find the other countries, not dressed up like ghosts in the slightest. "See, I told you that you couldn't handle Spirytus Vodka," Russia said, then drank some straight from the bottle.

"You've been out for hours, eh," Canada added.

Britain nodded. "Yeah. You're bloody lucky you didn't miss it."

"Miss it?" America questioned.

Germany glanced back at America with a raised eyebrow. "Ja, zee ball drop. It's a tradition zat you started."

Looking at the clock, he saw that it was 11:36. Only a few more minutes were left to save 2020. "Don't worry guys,I know this year has been hard on all of us, but we survived together and I couldn't have done it without you guys, thank you! God bless us, everyone!"

"What has happened to America? Is he possessed again?" Japan asked.

"I do not know, but I rather like zis aimant side of him," France purred as he put down his protest sign.

Lucifer came into the room. "Luci!" America exclaimed, catching the demon's attention. "I know what I have to do! Let's make a deal!" as quickly as they entered, they left again. The countries were left there to stand in confusion.

It was 11:57 when America made it back to the other countries with presents in his hands. He plopped them on the table. "Merry Christmas everybody!"

"It's New Year's, you-" Britain started to say, but then he sighed. "I won't fight it" Britain was the first to unwrap his present, he couldn't believe what was inside. "Blimey…" he mumbled.

"Vhat is it?" Germany asked.

Britain looked from his present to America. "This can't possibly be the Coronavirus vaccine is it?"

He smiled. "Yep! The Pfizer vaccine! It really will be a happy New Year! F*** 2020!"

"Wow America, that's amazing!" Canada said.

Germany looked astonished. "I can't believe it… You actually did something useful…"

"Friends, look, it is time," Russia said, drawing their attention to the screen. It was 11:59, 11 seconds to midnight.

"Desyat," he counted.

"Nuen," Germany continued.

"Hachi," Japan added.

"Sette," Italy mumbled in his sleep

"Six," Britain said.

"Cinq," France added.

"My new year is two months away," China said.

"Tres," Mexico exclaimed.

"Deux." Canada said.

"One!"

Altogether, as one Earth, they yelled "HAPPY NEw yea-" All of them stopped. The ball stayed in place and the clock didn't click to midnight, but instead turned to 11:60. 2020 hasn't ended.

… It never will.

WILL NOT BE CONTINUED...however...

There will be a thirteenth chapter of America and other countries explaining the references and responding to some of your comments! January 15, 2021 will be the deadline to have us respond in the next chapter, thank you so much for reading and making it this far!