America, England, and Italy stared into the room. The small closet was all but empty. Inside there was just one person, tied up and gagged like a spy. Russia.

"What the blazes?" England muttered. It was Russia, surely it was Russia? This Russia wasn't in uniform- at least not any uniform the three countries recognized- and his eyes were blue. And he was terrified. He stared up at the three looking confused and lost. He glanced from face to face, hoping to see some sign that they were friendly.

"It's the commie… Right?" America asked, unsure.

"It a-certainly a-looks like him…" Italy commented.

"Should we untie him?" England suggested.

"Let's start with this…" America said, taking the fabric out of his mouth. The Russia look-alike didn't say anything when the rag was removed, but the fear in his eyes did seem to die down a bit.

"Russia?" England asked him. The Russian shivered at the sound of his name. "Is that you?"

"S-s-s-sort of…" Russia stuttered nervously.

"What do you mean by 'sort of'? Are you his 2p?" America asked. Russia shook his head.

"I-I'm not s-supposed to be Russia anymore." The other countries looked at each other.

"So… Ian locked you down here and took your place, right?" England said, adapting China's theory. China…

"Y-yes."

"That's good enough for me," America said, untying the ropes binding Russia. Neither Italy nor England disagreed.

"We should get him out of here. Take him back to your place," England said to America. "Germany and Prussia should still be there too." America nodded. Russia- now freed from his bindings- took his hands out in front of him and stretched a bit, although he never looked away from the other countries faces.

"Um… e-excuse me for asking, but, um… W-who exactly are you?" Russia asked. The other countries froze.

"Eh? Surely you remember me! America! Right, Russia?" America suggested. Russia blinked at the unfamiliar name and looked to England.

"Well, you must know me, right? England? Ring any bells?" England said hopefully. Russia shook his head. "What about Italy?" Russia looked over at the third country- Italy.

"Italy? That at least sounds familiar… I don't think we've ever met though…"

"Oh? A-really? I suppose it's nice to a-meet you then!" Italy said, trying to be his usual cheerful self.

"Bloody… How long have you been down here?"

"I-I don't know. Since before Tectonic Knights became Prussia…" Russia said, "I-is that a long time?" England and America shared a look before England nodded.

"Welcome to the twenty-first century, dude!" America said, putting his hand on Russia's shoulder. Russia's face showed a little shock, but he more or less accepted the fact quickly with an 'Oh, I suppose that's fine/makes sense' attitude. They helped Russia stand and led him carefully out of the basement. They noticed how thin he was, and how small his muscles were.

Russia shielded his eyes from the bright light coming through the windows. If you ever woke up one morning to find snow outside your window, that's still nothing compared to this. Locked in the dark basement for almost 2,000 years, coming up to find a Russian snow storm right outside the window. Needless to say Russia's eyes were burning from the brightness.

America went back into the basement to rescue the others who were chained down there, while Russia adjusted to the light. The 2ps and micronations were grateful to America until he started boasting about how he was such a hero and then pretty much all of them except for Sealand left in disgust.

America stared almost mournfully at the bodies of some of the micronations who had been living in his borders, Molossia, Talossa, Toserof… Sitting alongside their 2ps, dead. Their deaths were at least a little bit easier to accept than China's was… They weren't full countries, they weren't… America couldn't help but consider the possibility that if he had recognized them as countries they might not have died… It's not like America was close with them or anything, but he still felt guilty…

"America, are you coming? We're ready to go now!" England shouted down at him. America covered the faces of all the dead countries and 2ps in the room- China included.

"Yeah…"

America came out a minute later, his eyes noticeably more red, although no one mentioned it. The four of them wet out into the storm and headed for America's house.