As the countries came upon the shooting range the redheaded state mentioned, they beheld America trying to hold a brunette child with a rifle slung over her shoulder from a leather strap and a raven-haired boy from attacking each other as the redhead from early was shouting at the two to knock it off while another dark-haired girl rolled her eyes as she fired an arrow into a target from a longbow.

"What are you to fighting about?!" America cried as the girl continued to try and push against him to reach the other state who had taken to hiding behind his father.

"He said I don't exist!" the girl cried out as she tried to fling herself at the boy.

"Well, that's because you don't. I mean have you ever met somebody from Wyoming?" the boy asked in a joking manner.

"Colorado," America asked dangerously, trying to stop the boy before he could continue causing the situation to accelerate further.

Unfortunately for America though, that day was not today. "We still don't even know if the entire State of Wyoming wasn't some government conspiracy to expand out west." This made America facepalm as the girl finally managed to break free from her father and rush at the boy, Colorado, who decided this was probably a good time to start running for his immortal life as the girl shouted an array of colorful vocabulary that most of the countries didn't know a child of what looked to be an eleven-year-old make, followed closely by America who was trying to grab the girl before the boy ended up having to heal himself.

"Aren't you going to help?" the redhead asked the ebony-haired girl who was still firing arrows into the targets in front of her.

The girl asked turning to her sister after releasing another arrow. "What's the point? They'll be back to trying to destroy each other the moment father has his back turned," she said with a shrug. The redhead had no response to that, making the other sigh for a moment before turning to the countries. "So you're the countries who came to see us today?" the dark-haired nine-year-old asked.

"Oh, um...yes. Who are you?" England asked, squinting her eyes at her. Strangely, she looked really familiar somehow. Now, of course he never met her before since again he like many countries didn't even know the states existed, but this girl with straight dark hair, almond-shaped brown eyes, and tanned skin itched his mind for a bit.

The girl looked up at him before saying, "Oklahoma or Ahyoka or Ela if you'd like. You're England, right?"

"Y-yes," England asked.

"My aunt told me a lot about you," the girl said, turning away from him to pick up a long red wool cloak with a green design on the edges over her fringed brown vest and cream button up before dusting off her tanned pants kicking the dirt off her brown cowboy boots.

"Your...aunt?" England replied in confusion. America and Canada didn't have a sister and if they did wouldn't he had been the first to know. England looked back at the other countries who were just as confused over what the young state said.

Oklahoma nodded. "Well...great-aunt if we want to be technical," Oklahoma said as she walked back over to the countries who wore bewildered expressions at the statements. "You don't remember?" she asked England, who upon hearing that tried to think back to whatever she might be talking to him. Great-aunt? Wouldn't that mean that America and the other guy have an aunt? That wasn't possible though. America and his brother were just wandering about in the wilderness until he took them in, so who could she be talking about? "You really don't know?" she asked again.

England looked at her and said, "I apologize, young lady, but I don't have any recollection of who you might be speaking of."

Oklahoma paused a minute looking at him with a judging look before opening her mouth and out came, "My aunt is Cherokee."

And like that England nearly fainted and felt like a mountain of bricks had just landed on him as his skin visibly turned paper-white. Cherokee? As in the Cherokee tribes? Native American tribes also had representations? But that didn't make sense he met the representative already. "She's your...aunt?" he asked the state.

"Yes. She was the one who raised me when I was born," Oklahoma said. "She also told me you killed my grandmother so is that true?"

If England's skin wasn't already pale, he was now practically ghost-like. He stared at the girl a moment longer and flashes of someone else came to mind, a woman with similar features but more grown and mature. He had seen her only a few times, once when he came to Roanoke Colony to try and figure out how an entire colony could just disappear and then at Jamestown when he had America as his new baby brother. Back then he never realized she was a representative until after she disappeared. However, he never killed her. They barely interacted. "Well, I don't know why she would tell you that because I didn't."

"Well, not just you, I suppose, but you did. Just not directly she said," Oklahoma said, not even changing expressions. "She told me as you and the other European powers set up colonies, it may have made father and the other guy stronger but it also made grandmother ill as her influence on the countries began to shift until eventually she died," Oklahoma replied. England, Spain, Sweden, Netherlands, and Finland all gave quick glances at each other before back at the girl.

"I...I see," England replied. "Why are you telling us this?"

"I was curious to see if you knew. Guess not," Oklahoma shrugged, before seeing the guilty expression on their faces. "I don't blame you if that's it."

"You don't?" Spain asked.

"Not really I suppose," Oklahoma said. "I mean I was only created because father's government wanted to forcefully relocate Aunt Cherokee and her people for gold. However, she's still pretty mad at y'all," Oklahoma continued.

"Well...um...," England said, not completely sure how to respond to something like that. The past is always an uncomfortable subject for countries because most, if not every country had done things that were acceptable then but by modern standards...not so much. That's the yin to the yang to be a country. Sure, they got to see how their people grew and evolved but they also had to live with the knowledge that one of the only reasons they were alive was on a sea of human blood and bodies.

"Come on," the other girl said breaking England out of his existential crisis. "Did you really have to bring that up?" the girl continued before turning to the countries that had been suspiciously very quiet up to this point. "I'm Montana or Molly," she said. Oh, thank God, someone, to distract them from uncomfortable truths. "Nice to meet you. Wanna see my-" the girl paused before starting to violently cough and beating her chest as if something had all of a sudden trapped itself in her lungs. She started to hack and choke, causing the countries to look between each other then back at her. Should they get her water or something? Before they could answer, the girl managed the cough up a sapphire? Um... "fossil collection," the girl finished as if she didn't just hack up a precious jewel.

"D-did you just cough up a sapphire?!" England cried out as America, pausing from chasing the two arguing states dove in and grabbed the jewel, stuffing it into his inner jacket pocket, before running after the states before gunshots could go off.

"Huh? Oh yeah. Happens all the time," Montana said with a shrug.

"You just cough up sapphires?" Prussia asked. "Can you teach me!?"

"Sorry, it's not something I can really teach. It's just something I was born with since I'm the Treasure State," Montana continued.

"That still doesn't explain why you have such an ability," England said.

"I have a lot of precious stone in my state," Montana said. "But if I'm being honest, that's not where my real treasures lie."

"Excuse me?" the countries said in synchronized unison. She didn't consider jewels as real treasures? What was wrong with her?

Montana just smiled at that before shrugging her shoulders once again. "Jewels are pretty I suppose but not very useful at the end of the day, right Oklahoma?"

Oklahoma, who had quickly become bored with Montana's conversation with the countries went back to practicing with her bow. "Huh? Oh yeah. Sure."

"Besides cattle raising is much more profitable and useful than collecting jewels for a living. You can get milk and meat from them so you never grow hungry and you can trade them for a profit," Montana said. "Actually, in my state, we have three cattle heads for every human who lived there but that could also be because I don't want more humans ruining the beautiful landscape I call home especially Californian celebrities. Ew."

"Nani?" Japan asked at the last statement.

"Oh, nothing," Montana said.

"Will you two finally quit it?" America cried as he walked back over with the two states he had been chasing slung over his shoulders like a bag of potatoes.

"He started it!" the brunette cried.

"She's blowing it out of proportion like she always does!" the boy responded as America dropped the two down in front of the countries.

"I don't care who started it, just quit it. I have enough headaches from the Californias and Texas being at each other's throats without you kids adding to it," America sternly said to the two as he wiped his hand down his face. "Now give me your gun, Wyoming."

"But Pa!" the brunette, Wyoming, cried out in protest clutching the leather strap.

"Now," America said, and reluctantly and obviously angrily, Wyoming handed the rifle over to her father. Colorado began to snort in joy at the girl's miserable face before America glared over at him. "And that said, don't think you're getting off. From this moment on, no biking or skiing cause you're grounded."

"But Dad!" Colorado cried out his face switching from one of glee to horror.

"No buts. I've told you so many times not to pick on your sister and it feels like I'm talking to a brick wall and this time, you two made me chase you around the shooting range so now you get to pay for it," America said before turning to the countries his large grin once more on his as he scratched the back of his head. "Sorry about that. Kids you know," America continued.

The countries nodded since they didn't want to be on the receiving end of whatever that was, while others were just watched as he disciplined his children. Their focus then shifted to the two states before them. The shoulder-length brunette was a lightly-tanned child around Montana's physical age of eleven with their dominant color being green. Not only were their eyes a sea-green, but they also wore a 3/4ths camo olive green cargo jacket over a cream-colored, long-sleeved shirt with yellow-green denim pants with a few holes and a pine-green scarf pinned like a bandana by a golden star. The only thing on her body that wasn't green seemed to be their brown boots that peeked out from under their pants.

Colorado, on the other hand, was a pale teenager about fourteen years old with America's eyes with a wicked glint but his black hair fell in short waves. On his body, he wore a red t-shirt with a pair of blue jeans and black sneakers. Overall a very basic outfit in the opinion of the gathered nations.

"My name's Colorado or Carlos James Jones," Colorado said with a salute.

"Oh um, hola," Spain said before noticing something strange about his name, specifically his human name. "Carlos? Why Carlos?"

"Oh, that. My mama gave that name to me before she died," Colorado said with a frown.

"I'm sorry to hear that," Spain said with a sympathetic look.

"It's okay. I don't really think about it much anymore," Colorado said looking away.

This seemed to strike a nerve in Wyoming. "Well, you should. Your mother gave you life and you don't care!?" they yelled.

And like that, another yelling match began as Colorado went red in the face from anger. "How dare you?! I never said I didn't care, I just don't want to think about it all that much!"

"You still should! Your poor mother must be heartbroken to know her son doesn't even think about her own death that much," Wyoming cried over him.

"I was actually a year old when mama died and I went to live with Papa so excuse me if I don't have that many memories of her," Colorado cried back. "Also, just because you were raised by your mother at the start of your life doesn't mean we all got the chance to! Right, Oklahoma?"

"Leave me out of this," she cried from the other side as she notched another arrow and let it fly.

"Okay, enough you two!" America yelled over them as the yelling got more intense which shut them up. He clutched the bridge of his nose before turning to the brunette and saying, "Wyoming your turn and be nice."

Wyoming rolled her eyes before closing them and taking a deep breath before looking over at the countries. "I'm Wyoming or Anne Jones."

...Wait. The countries paused. Anne? "You're a girl?" England asked, bewildered because he was honestly leaning on the side of this child being male.

"Yeah and?" Wyoming asked adjusting her stance and crossing her arms.

"We kind of assumed you were a boy," Italy said. "Don't worry, people thought I was a girl growing up."

"Right," Wyoming said turning away from the Italian. "Frankly, I don't give a damn what you think I am or who you are."

"You don't?" England asks.

Wyoming shakes her head. "I'm not the equality state for nothing. Besides, I'll be dead soon enough anyway."

"I'm sorry what?" Germany asked shocked by the casual way the girl informed them of her impending doom.

The brunette state looked up the German nation with a raised brow. "Oh, you didn't know?"

Germany shook his head. "We didn't know you and your siblings even existed."

"Well, if you must know, I have a supervolcano living in my stomach ready to blow up one day, killing me and Montana and causes us to have painful attacks," Wyoming shrugged not seeming to care that much about her own impending doom.

"Thanks for reminding me of that by the way," Montana groaned from the side.

"Besides neither of you is going to die," America shakingly said, staring intently at the two girls before him with an emotion the other countries never thought they would ever see in the American's eyes, fear.

Wyoming and Montana looked between each other before sighing. "Whatever you say, Pa," the redhead said, smiling up at him. America looked between them and tried to grin back though it looked somewhat forced to the countries.

"I'm sorry to hear that," Germany finally said, truly unsure if that's the right thing to say.

Wyoming just shrugged again. "Who cares? Anyway, are you guys leaving soon?"

"What? Can't take too much social interaction, Annie?" Colorado said. "Guess I can't be surprised since most people, even the author (Author: Hey, leave me out of this!), forgot you even exist."

"Oh, bug off, you overrated European rip-off," Wyoming yelled back. "And did you forget that I was one of the first places in the world that gave women the right to vote?"

"You were?" Italy asks.

"Yes. Why does no one know that!?" Wyoming cried.

"Well, you are pretty forgettable, little sis. I mean if it wasn't for Yellowstone and Old Faithful, I doubt people would know anything about you," Colorado teased.

"Well, at least my major airport isn't shaped like a swastika!" Wyoming cried back. "And that I don't have statues that looked like they came from Hell!"

"I'm sorry what was that first part?" Germany asked before being slapped in the face by Colorado who threw his arms up in protest.

"You read way too many conspiracy theories about me!"

"The statue killed its creator!" Wyoming yelled back as the beginnings of another screaming match were about to begin.

"Okay, you two! Do you want to end up cleaning the stables again?" America strictly asked.

"No," Colorado said.

"I guess not," Wyoming continued rolling her eyes.

"Good," America said before looking back at the gathered nations with a questioning expression before looking back at the countries and then at the shooting range where Montana had joined Oklahoma as she started to reach for one of the rifles hanging from a wall that was filled with them. "Montana! Oklahoma!"

"Yes?" Oklahoma said, turning away from practicing.

"Yes, Pa?" Montana asked, pausing in her grabbing.

"How about we all have a little contest with the countries?" America asked before turning over to the countries who were staring at him. "If they're up to it."

"What kind of competition?" England asked with one of his abnormally large eyebrows raised at the American country.

"Since we're by the shooting range, why don't we have a shooting contest?" America said. "Except for you, Wyoming, you're still grounded."

"But Papa! You know I always wanted to show up a country," Wyoming whined which made the nations look over at each other.

America put his hand on her shoulder, "Well, you should've thought about that before you try to give your brother brain damage."

"...Fine," Wyoming said after a pause.

"I'll pass too, pops," Colorado said. "I only came here to mock Wyoming on the fact few people, even the author forgets her existence."

"Why you-!?" Wyoming about to lunge at her mocking brother before America caught her mid-jump.

With Wyoming struggling against his super strength, America glared over at his son before saying, "Colorado? March to your bedroom right now."

"B-but, Papa!" Colorado tried.

"Now!" America said, unwilling to put up with his son for the time being. Relenting with a groan, Colorado complied literally military marching back to the house and to his room. That done, America put the still seething state back on the ground before turning back to his two other daughters, with Montana now wearing a pair of safety glasses, ear muffs, and a decorative brown leather holster with a pistol tucked inside around her waist.

"Since you guys are ready," America said as the two girls nodded, he turned back to the countries. "Anyone up to face them?"

To the shock of everyone, it was Italy Veneziano to be the first to shove his hand in the air, waving it around frantically, "I wanna try!"

"Are you sure, Italien?" Germany asked.

"Oh yeah, captain, don't worry! I was pretty good with a bow back in the day," Italy said with a big, cheek-to-cheek smile on his lips as some of the other countries looked between themselves before back at Italy.

"I was also rather decent with a longbow during the Middle Ages," England said, standing straighter with a proud smile on his face.

"Alright then, you two will take on Oklahoma," America said as Oklahoma turned away from them to soon come back with two plain bows, placing them in the hands of the countries. "However, anyone wanna take on Montana in sharpshootin'?"

"Would it really be wise to compete with such a young girl?" Finland asked looking at the redhead whose sweet face turned into a smug smirk.

"Afraid I'll destroy, old man?" Montana asked mockingly. "Then again your old joints might give out before you could even pull the trigger."

Finland looked back at the child shocked before his face twisted into a scowl, "Young lady, I'll have you know I've been shooting since you were sperm and I personally fought Mr. Russia during the Winter War!"

"I will have my vengeance soon enough, Finland. Just wait," Russia said with a smile.

"Don't t'uch m'wife," Sweden emotionlessly said.

Ignoring the two other winter nations, Montana continued. "And yet you're still afraid of a little girl?" she asked again looking off slyly.

"No-" Finland said, his face slightly red.

"Prove it then," Montana finished crossing her arms.

Finland turned to America, determination clear in his eyes, "Get me a gun. I'm gonna teach your child how I treat naughty children during Christmas."

America paused for a moment, worry in his eyes but did as Finland asked and came back with a pistol, safety goggles, and earmuffs for the much older nation.

"Anyone else?" Montana asked surveying the states before her.

Germany took a deep groan before saying, "Well, despite how childish and pathetic this is I suppose if Italy is doing it then, perhaps I shall partake in it as well."

"Alright then, dudes. Follow us then," America said as he guided the two states and four nations around the fence to the targets with walls to separate them and lines on the ground to indicate where they would be standing. America and the states went up to the targets and replaced them with fresh ones before handing Germany his own pistol before the states came back and stood on their own lines. "Alright, countries and states, the rules are very simple, aim for the bull's eye, and the closest to the center wins. However, remember your sportsmanship and by that I mean Montana and Oklahoma mind your manners."

"But Pa!" They cried at the same time.

"No buts," America said. "Alright, Oklahoma, archery's first."

At this England, Italy, and Oklahoma notched the arrows into their bows as they each took turns trying to hit the bull's eye.

England was first in this pursuit as he drew his string back to his ear. He remembered back in the day how out of him and his brothers he was always the best out of the four of them when it came to archery that even his no-nonsense mother, Britannia took note of and gifted him with a brand new yew wood bow for one of his birthdays, though he can't remember when. Speaking of yew bows, when he was captured by the frog and his men during the hundred years and they tried to cut off his middle finger thinking he was just another human archer, only to run screaming like the cowards they were when his finger immediately grew back. Ha! He could still remember their faces. What was he doing again? Oh right, the competition the yank put on. England felt the bowstring sufficiently drawn back before letting it fly. Sure he admittedly hasn't been keeping at it for the last few centuries, but even with this low-quality, cheaply-made American bows his natural talent was sure to shine through, right? Right.

"Not bad, Iggy," America said putting extra emphasis on the 'Iggy' part due to knowing England's frustration with the nickname.

"It's England, you bull-headed twit and what do you mean not bad?" England asked personally offended.

"You got eight points," America said, pointing towards the target where his arrow was hanging from the inner red circle.

England gawked before shaking it off. "There must be some sort of mistakes like the wind or something similar."

America shrugged before looking to Italy saying, "You're up."

Italy nodded happily before focusing on his target, drawing his arrow back until he felt the tension coursing through his fingers. He remembers as a child how when he and Romano were living with Grandpa Rome, he at first tried to teach them how to fight which wasn't uncommon for young countries since most would have to see some sort of battle before their hundredth birthday. He remembers that he and Romano were terrible when it came to wielding swords or using shields, however, it was archery that Italy Veneziano truly excelled which Nonno took notice of and gave him a look of pride but also...sadness. He didn't think he really understood at the time since he wanted to be just like his Grandpa. I mean why wouldn't he? Grandpa Rome was the strongest, the bravest, smartest man he knew who wouldn't want to be like him? That was until he died. It should've been impossible. Grandpa was the strongest, wasn't he? But then he did. Italy Veneziano and Romano were alone as the new personifications of Italia and from then on Veneziano did everything he could to preserve what remained of Grandpa's legacy and even beat up Turkey with his beloved bow and even managed to get more than a few good beatings on him. He and Romano were sent away to live with Mr. Austria and Big Brother Spain and from then he never touched his bow. He wasn't allowed to. He didn't know why he was thinking of this as he let the arrow fly. Maybe it was just the familiar feel of wood beneath his fingers. It was rather familiar.

"You got seven points, Italy!" America cried and Italy looked over to see his arrow had pierced the very edge of the red, almost into the blue but whatever.

"Grazie, America," Italy said as he put the bow back.

"You're welcome, Italy," America said before turning to the state. "Alright, Ahyoka you're up."

"I know," she simply said, almost coldly if you asked the countries. She made no noises as she took a deep breath, drawing the arrow back before letting it fly without another word in less than a minute.

"Ten points to the State of Oklahoma," America said, and yes there hanging from the bull's eye was one of Oklahoma's wooden arrows.

"Good job!" Italy said with a smile, however, England was much less congratulatory.

"What? How? How did you get ten points?!" England demanded of the child who put the bow over her shoulder.

"I hit the bull's eye and I practice," the girl said with a bored expression.

England blushed at this before turning away from the child. Practice? Well...He won't admit it.

"Great job, Oklahoma," America said walking up to the state.

Oklahoma didn't look up as she began gathering her things but just gave a little, "Thanks," before walking off.

America sighed at this before putting on his usual cheery expression and turned the countries. "Well, looks like in archery Oklahoma won but then again I'm pretty sure she was born with a bow in her hands...I'll have to ask Aunt Cherokee about that," he finished, as Oklahoma began talking to someone on her iPhone. "Anyways, let's see if Montana can take on Germany and Finland in firearms."

"Oh Pa, of course, I can," Montana said with a smile as she twirled her gun, with the safety on as the two countries rolled their eyes.

"Good luck, Molly!" Wyoming called from behind the fence. "Though I wish it was me up there."

"Alright same rules, hit the target and not each other. The closest one wins. First up, Finland," America said and Finland aimed at the target.

Finland took a deep breath as he aimed at the black and white hanging target. Finland still remembers when he first used the pistol in what...the 1700s was it (when you live for hundreds of years too, you will forget things too) and he had to admit he was terrible at it. He had been so accustomed to using swords or bows that when he first used a gun it felt alien to him and he could hardly aim with the damn thing. He actually didn't use them at all until he was forced to with the industrial revolution and if you asked him then if he imagined that they would be his best friend in the Winter War he probably would've laughed in your face. However, eventually, he found that he was an excellent sniper and that became his gun of choice and he became feared even by Russia for his sniping skills. However...his eyes drifted to the black pistol in his hands. Sniping he was excellent, using a little pistol like this not so much but he can't back down now. Not after his declaration. Well just take a breath and hope. If not, be polite. And bring her coal for Christmas. With that in his thoughts, he shot at the target, hoped it hit.

"Looks like eight points. Not bad Finland," America said with a smile and Finland nodded as Germany stepped up a grim expression on his face.

If Germany was being honest, he didn't know why he accepted the contest. He didn't like guns. Maybe at one point, he did...but that was before...Nevermind. It was too hard. He knew he said it was for Italy but...his hand was shaking a bit. Steady. Steady. Remember your training. Germany took a deep breath to calm down. Just breathe. He took another breath. Before looking up at the target he took another breath and held the underbelly of the gun and fired.

"And Germany got four," America announced as Germany could feel the judgment in their eyes, but he did it. He walked over to Italy's side since it always provided the German with some comfort. "Alright, Montana, you're up."

Montana nodded at her father and held up her pistol, one of her eyes closed, her finger on the trigger when her hand began to visibly shake. She began to violently sweat as she used all her strength to put the safety on and set the gun down on the box beside her before hitting the ground. A large gasp arose from Germany, Finland, and the gathering nations as the tiny child began to clutch her stomach shaking as America dove to her side and held her.

"Oklahoma!" America called as he looked over at Wyoming who was in a similar condition and clutching the fence for support as Oklahoma who was nearby the brunette held her by the waist before looking up at the call of her name.

"Yes, father. Do you mind helping me take Wyoming and Montana back to their rooms?" America said as he stood up with Montana being cradled in his arms.

Oklahoma just nodded as she looked over at Wyoming and gestured to her back which Wyoming shook her head at before hitting the ground with another violent attack. Oklahoma had no reaction but simply bent down and grabbed her older sister piggyback style with the older girl practically hanging down over the girl.

The countries didn't know what to make of the scene as America and the three girls started to head back to the house and the former didn't return for at least eight minutes. Those eight minutes were filled with nothing but silence and uneasy confusion at the two girls who were fine moments ago but then looked on the verge of death. What happened?

America finally returned without any of the girls in tow. "Hey guys, I'm back. Sorry about the shooting contest. Montana and Wyoming's gonna have to be resting until lunchtime comes around," he announced.

"Are they going to be okay?" Finland asked, his former anger at the girls gone replaced with worry. I mean sure they were a bit competitive and egotistical but they were children who seemed to have gone through something painful.''

"They'll be fine it just seems like that supervolcano's acting up a bit again," America said. "But they're tough, don't worry."

Finland stared at him but sighed and nodded.

"So since the contest is over, how about we head over to one of the quieter spots?" America said. "There's usually one or two states over there."

The nations nodded because after all this arguing and shouting they could use a break from all of it and they followed America, leaving the shooting range to a small part of the estate with a flower garden and a greenhouse where a young girl was having a little tea party.