I appreciate everybody's support for this story. These next few chapters will be trying ones for our heroes, but you all must trust me that this story has a happy ending. Remember that, no matter how bad things seem to get, everything will end well. Just trust me on this.

"Hey dudes! You're like watching America World News. And now for our shortest segment, the segment about not-America. Usually it's our most boring segment because it's not about me, the hero, but tonight this news is actually way interesting!"

"Umm, actually the show is called 'North American World News'...and I don't mean to be rude but I couldn't help but notice that you forgot to introduce me as your co-host...again..."

"And here's Canada, my brother who sells cheap prescription drugs and smokes maple leaves." America swiveled his chair to face the camera, star-spangled sparkles trailing behind him as he spun.

"So now for like breaking news- So Finland and his Magic 8 Ball friend were chillin' in their cold house with all the penguins and stuff-"

"Actually…" Canada piped up from the other side of the set "… penguins live in the south pole, not the north-"

"Yeah whatever. And then Russia came barging in with all of his special forces dudes because he's a total jerk-wad who won't let me have any of his adopted babies!"

"Err...brother? We're journalists...we're supposed to be professional and objective in our news reporting..."

"Yeah yeah, I decided I wanted to break that rule and go all 'Fox News' style tonight, only maybe I'll actually get more than half my facts correct. As I was saying, they were like sitting at their table with penguins and stuff when all of their windows exploded at once and all these Russian special forces dudes came running in."

"Umm…yes…" Canada glanced over uneasily at his starry-eyed brother and continued the report "…An arrest was made by Russia on the grounds that he claims Finland is quote "mentally unstable and dangerous". Russia is defending these claims by saying that Finland's new-found friendship with a Magic 8 Ball is a sign that Finland has, quote "misplaced his Merry-Christmasing-marbles""

"Obviously the magic eight ball is a source of very dangerous black magic. Ve are doing this for Finland's own protection. Ve're just keeping him here in our psychiatric vard until ve can help him overcome this dark and threatening influence."

Canada continued speaking after the clip, confused as to why his brother America had just run offset, but also, to be honest, extremely relieved.

"Officials report that the Magic 8 Ball was at first able to fend off the Russian forces by using its laser vision to blind them. This allowed Finland to time to pull his sniper rifle off the wall. However, when Finland attempted to use the sniper rifle, he found that he was unable to fire it due to the fact someone had stuffed the barrel full of pasta."

/

"Wah?!" Italy sobbed as Germany buried his face under a throw pillow with embarrassment "I didn't mean to make Santa's life harder! I just wanted to give him pasta as a 'thank you' present for being such a nice person..."

"But why the fuehrer would you put 'thank you pasta' in a place like that?"

"I wanted it to be a surprise!"

"Well we're surprised all right! Who is supposed to give me dirty magazines for Christmas now?"

"I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I'm sorry!"

/

"The laser fire continued, however it was rendered ineffective when Mr. Russia himself entered the scene wearing laser-proof goggles. Russian forces were then able to overtake Finland and his 8 Ball friend and place them in custody. The exact location of where the two are being held is still unknown."

"NOT FOR LONG!" America flew back onto the set wearing a spandex suit "I'm the hero! I just flew over my legislative branch and am ready to fly over to commie-land and singlehandedly start a war and then leave it halfway through because I have a short attention span-LASER POINTER!?"

Russia smiled at the video footage of America running around the set in circles chasing the small red dot.

"Vorks every time, though I have you and your 8 ball friend to thank for giving me that idea," Russia turned from the hospital room TV to smile at Finland.

"How the Helsinki did ya find out about that?! Ya weren't even there last Christmas Eve!"

"I have spies everywhere, don't you know?"

"That's creepy Mr. Russia! All of this is really, really creepy!"

"Relax my friend. It's actually not creepy, it just appears that vay because you've been influenced by the dark magic emitting from the Magic 8 Ball. But don't vorry, ve'll help ya through these problems."

"I don't have problems! And how dare ya accuse my friend the Magic 8 Ball of using black magic?! He's a sweetheart!"

"Ah yes, denying that a problem exists is just one of the many signs that the problem is serious. Don't vorry, ve'll help you regardless of vether or not you appreciate it. And in the meantime…maybe you could help us vith some things…"

"I'll never agree to help ya! Give me my friend back!"

"No problem, you don't need to agree to help us. Ve'll just help ourselves…I vas just thinking that ve haven't tested the potency of our smallpox stocks on a human subject in a vhile…"

Finland's eyes bulged out of his head "WHAT? Ya want to give me smallpox?! Why would ya do something like that? The people that disease didn't kill were often scarred for life! All sane humans are in agreement that smallpox is a trend that should never ever EVER come back in style!"

Russia laughed "That's funny, I had heard many people say the same thing…" the room darkened at the snap of his fingers "…about furbies…"

Finland's jaw dropped "No… no please don't tell me…"

"Doo-wah!"

"AIHHHH!" The volume of Finland's scream shattered everything glass in the room.

Russia giggled as he started walking towards the exit. "I'll leave you vith some furbish friends to keep you company vhile I go get the smallpox ready. До свидания,Finland…"