America had cuts and bruises everywhere. They were healing rapidly, as they should be. But there was a woman pacing back and forth, holding a whip like weapon who kept hitting him. They seemed to be conversing, but the nations couldn't understand what they were saying.

Prussia cursed under his breath, "I wish I knew what they were saying!"

Japan looked toward England, who was intently watching the screen, "England-san, can you translate this like you did with that sign outside the canyon?"

England thought for a moment, "I think so. Hold on a moment." He took out his wand again, and waved it over the screen. He whispered, 'Vertere Eloquium.' The screen flashed again, and coherent speech started to sound out from the screen:

"I'll ask you again. Where is it?" The woman demanded as she hit him with the whip.

America spat out blood, "Your cronies took it remember? I haven't seen the damn thing since you kidnapped me!"

The woman spun on her heel and began to pace again, the beads in her hair clicking as she walked. She held the whip in both hands, "Oh, America. Why are you being so difficult with me?"

America shook the chains he was shackled to, "Well, you haven't been the most hospitable host in the world."

The woman stopped in front of him and cracked the whip at him again. She continued pacing, "Just give up! I will find out."

America gave a small chuckle, "Hehe. I ain't ever givin' up." He was quiet for a moment and then leaned his head back against the rock, "Damn..."

The woman looked at him sharply, "What is it?"

"Between you and those voodoo guys, I sure got my hands full!" America responded.

The woman stopped pacing yet again. She looked extremely offended by this. Instead of using the whip, she kicked him square in the stomach. She leaned down and got real close to America's face, "If you ever want to see your brother again, you will tell me where it is."

America looked straight into her face, unflinchingly. There was a moment of silence, and America spat right into her eyeball. She recoiled, "How dare you do that!" she exclaimed as she wiped the spit from her face.

America snorted, "Oh yeah? Well how dare you! Nobody threatens my brother. Nobody!"

The woman looked taken aback by his tone for a split second, but then she composed herself again, "You seem to forget who the captive is here." she said as she smacked the whip against his face again.

America didn't even flinch this time. Instead, he shifted and leaned toward her, "What happened to you Skiri? Last I checked, you were a perfectly good person. When did you go rotten?"

Skiri started to pace again, "After you and your brother abandoned us, relations deteriorated among the tribes. People would disappear nightly due to monsters. Neighboring tribes got into feuds and killed each other off. The rivers dried up, you will notice. I joined the witches to survive. Now, several hundred years later, you show up. You and all your immortal friends." She said that last word like it left a bad taste in her mouth.

America interrupted her, "Now is the part that you tell me you're dastardly scheme right? Just a fair warning, the bad guy always loses directly after that." He grinned at her, as if oblivious to his situation.

Skiri hit him upside the head, "You can't be that idiotic! You know what I want. I want that blue marble. With it, I can defeat my enemies. Nobody will be able to stop me and I will be invincible!"

America laughed, "Hahaha! Bitch please. You're a bit behind the times, aren't you?"

Skiri looked at him, "What do you mean?" she demanded.

America pretended to act innocent, "Oh...nothing. You go ahead and try your plan, and tell me how that goes. Okay? Ya'll can give me the play-by-play by texting me. Do you need my number or do you already have it?"

Skiri looked really confused, "Uhhh, what? What do numbers have to do with anything?"

If America hadn't been chained to a boulder, he would be rolling on the ground laughing, "AHAHAHAHA! Oh god, stop I gotta pee!"

Skiri started to get mad, "Quit confusing me!"

America just kept laughing. To add insult to injury, he continued, "Lol, you don't have a cell? Get with it already! Rotflmfao!" By now, America had switched to English without realizing it.

Skiri fumed hopelessly, "Speak normally! I demand it!"

America continued laughing. Skiri has had enough now. She thought for a moment, "I have a way to make you obey." she grinned evilly, "You and your brother. I think you know what I have in mind."

America stopped laughing, "You wouldn't."

Skiri just nodded, "I would, and I will. Morals are of no consequence to me."

The woman walked away and Germany leaned back away from the screen, "We've seen enough I think..." He readied his gun, "...and I know where that blue marble is."

Japan looked shocked, "You do? When and how did you find it?"

Germany fished it out of his pocket and held it up, "I found it on the ground."

Prussia eyed the gun, "What are you doing?"

Russia got out his pipe, "What we are all thinking, da?"

England shut off the screen with a wave of his wand, and ran a hand through his hair, "That git has much to answer for."

France drew his dagger, "If zey lay a hand on mon petite mattieu..." he left the rest unsaid.

One by one the nations emerged from behind the boulder. Japan took the lead, finding a route along the wall that would lead them right to America without being seen by the Anasazi. The nations snuck over to him as quietly as they could. America looked up in surprise when England hit him upside the head, "America, you have some explaining to do!" England hissed at him.

America looked over England's shoulder to see everyone else, "Dudes, I'm so glad to see you're all right!" he whispered.

Japan approached America and began to cut through his shackles, "We must get you out of here. Now stay still."

America frantically signaled him to stop, "No! Not yet. I gotta find my brother and this is the only way." America pulled away. He suddenly perked up, "Iggy dude...is that what I think it is?"

England looked confused, "What?"

America gestured, "That pouch..."

Prussia snickered, "He nailed France with one of those things. Wish I'd known about them sooner! They would have made the best pranks!"

France clutched his chest dramatically, "Oh, do not remind me of that dreadful experience!"

Germany cut off France's act, "America, what's this?" he held the blue marble for him to see.

America's eyes got really wide, "Oh, crap! Get that thing away from here! Run far away and hide that where they won't find it!"

Russia cocked his head, "Why? What could such a little thing do? How is it so dangerous?"

There was a shuffling noise on the other side of the boulder. America freaked out even more, "Go now! They're about to check on me. I'll be fine."

England stayed steadfast, "We can't just leave you with them!"

America shook his head vigorously, "Don't be like that now!"

Germany grabbed England's shoulder, "Come now! We have no time."

England looked like he was about to protest, but common sense won. The nations got away just in time to see one of the Anasazi men walk around the corner, with a large black knife. When they got out of earshot, Prussia whistled, "Wow. That was a corny moment."

England scowled at him, and Japan stared at him in shock. How could he say that at a time like this? Russia just stared off into space, evidently deep in thought, "So..." the tall nation mused, "...what now?"

Germany looked toward the campfire in the distance, "We follow them of course. America has to stay captive to find his brother. So when he does, we will get them out."

Prussia rubbed his hands together, "I like it! The man with the plan! What do you think Japan?"

Japan flicked something off his shoulder, "It is a smart idea. I agree with Germany-san."

Russia shrugged a bit, "Why not?"

France laughed, "Ohonohon, I am good at the stalking. Zis will be a piece of cake!"

England glared at the campfire, "When I get my hands on her..."

Japan sat down, "It is decided. Now all we have to do is wait for them to make a move."

Done with yet another chapter! By now I'm just making it up as I go! Huzzah!

Thank you for all the reviews and such! They're like little balls of sunshine and happiness!

Later dudes. ^J^