General POV:

Canada pointed ahead, "They're in there."

England looked skeptical, "Are you sure? it's rather obvious isn't it?"

Prussia smacked England upside the head, "I think we should go with the guy who's been here a while."

Canada ignored their exchange and nodded, "This is the last place I remember before...that thing."

There was no door, but that didn't matter since it got to dark to see about a foot behind the threshold. The opening was circular, with carvings around it's edges. Two statues stood as silent sentries on each side.

Canada gave a nervous laugh, "But I suppose it is a bit obvious..."

France stepped closer to Canada, "Would you rather stay here? You seem to be dreading even stepping into zat dreadful darkness."

Canada started to speak, "N-"

Prussia interrupted him, "You could stand guard at the door, you'll be safer here."

Russia shrugged, "Either way, we will solve this problem, Da?"

Canada shook his head violently, "N-no!"

Japan watched him sympathetically, "We understand, Canada-san."

As the nations spoke, Canada got frustrated. The northern nation finally stomped on the ground, assuming a defiant stance, "NO!"

The others stopped talking and stared at him in shock, he never spoke that loud.

Canada continued, "I will not stand idly by as my twin brother faces god knows what torture in there! Maple people, Does it take this much to get a fucking word in a conversation?!"

Silence feel over the group. France stared at his former charge, not wanting to believe his ears. He exploded, gesturing wildly, "Please Canada! I don't want to see you hurt! I can't come zat close to losing you again! Stay safe for my sake!"

Canada shook his head, "But I have to be brave, for my brother's sake."

Germany put his hands on France's shoulders and shook him, "Get a hold of yourself man!" he let go as France subsided, "We need to save America now. If Canada wants to come, then we have no right to stop him."

Silence reigned. Japan shifted uncomfortably, "Ah...we should go...now."

"Skiri will not wait for long." Russia said ominously.

No one mentioned how at that moment, it wasn't hard to believe that Canada was America's twin brother.

Prussia kicked another loose rock, "How far does this hallway go Birdie?"

Canada's voice drifted up to him from his left, "I'm not really sure. It shouldn't go much farther though.

England rubbed his hands together, "Sooner we finish this the better. I don't want to see anything happen to America." He said this last part more to himself.

France looked in England's direction strangely, "Wait, did you just express concern for Amerique?"

England looked down, "Well...yes. I-I still care about him of course..." the British nation scowled, "I don't want you mentioning that to him! I'll never live it down."

Japan, who was trying to look like he wasn't listening, saw something out of the corner of his eye. Two beady red eyes on a tiny hunched over figure. Rather than alerting the others, he nonchalantly sidled over to where he saw it, intending to get a closer look. Nothing was there, but Japan knew he wasn't mistaken. He reentered the group and whispered to Germany, "The walls have ears...and red eyes."

The blond nation nodded, "Ja. I've noticed. Should we...?"

Japan shook his head, "No, then the enemy will know they have been spotted."

The two nations jumped at Russia's voice right next to their ears, "It does not matter seeing as how we've arrived.

There was a purple light at the end of the tunnel, it wasn't a constant light though. It faded in and out at random intervals, casting eerily dancing shadows on the walls. Canada went ahead of the group, and whispered a warning, "Don't let her spells hit you. It won't kill you, but she will use you for her own devices if given the chance."

"Speaking from experience, I'm sure." Prussia said jokingly.

"Will America-san be attacking us too?" Japan asked, ignoring tactfully ignoring Prussia.

Canada shrugged, "I don't know. It's hit or miss with control spells."

Russia readied his pipe, "I hope that he does, it will make this trip worthwhile, da?"

The nations charged into the room ready for anything. Russia battered away guards with his pipe, and France took down the stragglers. Meanwhile the rest went for Skiri who was standing at the center of the room. Japan went for her first, but got sidetracked by a huge shadow wolf she summoned. Germany jumped to help his friend. Prussia was knocked back into Canada by a wave of force as Skiri absently waved her hand. England matched her blow for blow magically. She would throw lightning and he would dodge and respond with a fireball. Skiri would send a mini sand storm and England would flatten it with a gesture.

Things continued like this for a while, until Japan and Germany finished off the shadow wolf. Japan came up behind her and held his blade against Skiri's throat, while Germany pointed a gun at her. She stood still as a statue when all the activity died down and attention focused on her.

Canada advanced dangerously, "Where is he?" His voice was soft, and incredibly dark.

Skiri smirked, "Who?"

"You know exactly who I'm talking about." the northern nation growled.

Skiri pretended to think for a moment, "Hmmm...Oh yes!" Her smile grew, "The other one." she stopped.

England spoke, "You've already lost. The blue marble is in a place where you'll never find it. At this point you're just making it worse for yourself."

Germany continued, "We could simply hand you over to Russia over there." he thumbed at the tall nation, who smiled as he turned his pipe over in his hands.

Skiri shrugged, completely unafraid, "You could." her voice held a mocking tone.

"Listen bitch." Prussia began, "We're all supposed at home right now, enjoying the simple things like air conditioning, water, electricity...little things like that." his voice raised a little, and Skiri gulped, "But here we are, in the desert. We're dirty, hot, tired, and sick of your shit. So if you don't mind to terribly, we want America back. Then we can all leave this hell hole, and move on with life. Alright Scaly?"

Skiri was silent for a moment, as she composed herself. She finally spoke, "You want your friend back so badly?" Her smirk returned, her tone dismissive, "You can have him." She disintegrated in Japan's arms and blew away like sand.

The room was silent, as the nations stared at the space where Skiri just was. Russia looked around, "Effective, " he commented mildly, "but rather cliche, don't you think?"

"I cannot help but agree with that assessment." France responded.

Germany raised a hand before the conversation could be sidetracked, "But moving on. Where is America? Skiri spoke like she would hand him over to us, one way or another."

"I'm not inclined to trust anything she says right now." Canada said venomously, "It might be a trick, it's how she operates after all."

Japan started walking around the room, "I've been thinking, " he said, "Canada-san, you said that control spells don't work all the time right? When exactly do they not work?"

Canada thought for a moment, "It depends on the people involved. Skiri is a rather controlling personality, so it isn't hard for her to use those kinds of spells."

England continued his train of thought, "But America is one who does not respond well to authority, as history will show."

"So...can we assume that America isn't necessarily being controlled, but held somewhere instead?" Prussia asked.

France gave a small hopeful smile, "If anyone can resist Skiri, it's him."

Russia cocked his head, "You all have an admirable amount of faith for Amerika."

Germany eyed him, "And you disagree?"

The tall nation shook his head, "No, I never said that. It's just something I thought I'd point out, given how most of you usually have some sort of grievance or insult against him."

"Not against him," England said, "Against his government? Yes. Against his ridiculous ideas? Yes. But against America himself? Most definitely not."

Others nodded in agreement. Prussia walked to one side of the large room, and started to inspect the walls, "Okay then. Now that we've got all that touchy feely stuff out of the way, we can get back to business." He knocked on a panel of symbols, shook his head and moved on, "Before you ask, places like this usually have secret passages. Since there's only one way out, back the way we came, we can safely assume that America is somewhere here, but hidden."

Canada gasped and made a beeline for the back of he room, "A long time ago, America told me that this symbol," he pointed, "Meant 'opening' or 'door.'"

"Whenever did he teach you hieroglyphs?" Germany inquired.

Canada started to tug at the wall, trying to open it, "Back when they were relevant." He said noncommittally.

France came up to help Canada, "And when was that?" He searched the wall for seams, not finding any.

"A long time ago. If you want specifics then you'll have to ask America. I'm not even supposed to be telling you this." Canada responded.

"Are you sure that you aren't mistaken Canada-san?" Japan asked, "If it's a door, it must be stuck because it won't open."

Russia came forward, "Move aside please?" The other Nations recognized that tone of voice, and cleared the path. Russia came forward, pulled he pipe out of his coat, and gave it one decisive hit. The panel broke, showing a darkened room.

"Did you really have to break the door?" Germany asked.

"In Soviet Russia, the door breaks you." Russia responded with a bright smile.

Rattling chains interrupted the exchange. A dark form in the back of the room shifted, "Dude, if you're here to finish me off, could you at least be quiet about it so that I can sleep?"

England rushed forward, relieved to hear America's voice. He hugged America, something he hasn't done in years. America looked surprised, "Iggy? Hey! Okay I'm happy to see you too!" America tried to move as England released him, "I would hug ya back, but I'm kinda stuck."

Prussia came forward and broke the chains with his sword, "Glad to have my drinking buddy back! How bout you never do that again? Ever."

America rubbed his wrists, "I'll try not to." He said dryly. He stood up shakily, "Please tell me that you got that damn marble out of here." He exited the cell, holding the chains, "These are some quality chains!" He said cheerfully, "Magically reinforced, so that I couldn't break 'em while being in them!" He threw them away and muttered, "I hate that." to himself.

Canada was the second person to slam hug him, "You're an idiot. Why didn't tell me you were having issues like that? I could have helped!"

America hugged him back, "The kidnapping thing was new to me." He peeled his brother off and surveyed his surroundings. He did a head count, and took in everyone's tattered clothing and ragged appearance, "I didn't want to cause everyone this much trouble! Why didn't you go home?"

France scowled a bit, "People in deerskin underwear destroyed our cars. What savages!"

"Not deerskin, but probably coyote. Deerskin was-erm..." America shook his head, "I mean, couldn't you have called someone?"

"We don't have reception out here." Germany said, "And the landlines don't work."

Russia clapped his hands together, "So! Unless you have some sort of magical conveyance to whisk us away from here and back to civilization, we have a long walk ahead of us, da?"

Prussia raised his hands in mock defeat, "Noooo! No more walking!" He got on his knees and clasped his hands in prayer, "Please Lord! Anything but that!"

Japan regarded Prussia for a moment and turned to America, "You would probably know best. How far is the nearest town?"

America thought for a moment, "It's a bit of a walk...actually a really long walk...but we don't need to do that." He called everyone to attention, "No one's answered my question! Where is that blue marble? I kind of need it to get home!"

Germany fished it out of his pocket, "Here." He handed it to America.

England raised his hand, "Wait, that reminds me. He pulled out his wand and waved it around. The bag of colorful marbles from earlier appeared. The english nation handed it over to America.

America regarded the bag with a nostalgic look, "I haven't used these in a long time..." He shoved them in his pocket. America glared at the blue orb in his hand, "This little trouble maker," he held it up, "Will take us home. I want you all to imagine your own homes, otherwise it won't work and you'll be stuck in limbo. Will this do for that magical conveyance you wanted Russia?" he smirked. Before anyone could respond, there was a flash of blue light and a rush of water.

England POV:

England woke up on the floor of his kitchen. His torn clothing was sopping wet. He groaned and got up, "So...water is the blue marble's power? What's so special about that?"

He walked into his living room and found his cell phone on the coffee table. There was one text message. It read:

*The desert's master is the one who has mastered the water supply. ;)

-America

Done! It's finally done! That was so hard to finish, at least for me.

Thank you so much for the attention I've gotten for this story, I know it kind of dragged on for a while. Mind giving a final verdict on this story with a review?

Later dudes. ^J^