"What do you think you're doing?" America glanced up at Germany who stood at the doorway of the room.

"Oh, hi Germany. What's up?" America greeted him casually.

Germany didn't greet him back. His arms were crossed and a demanding look on his face told America that he better explain why he was pinning Turkey down on the floor by sitting on him.

"So it's a funny story, you know." America said lightly. "So I asked Turkey to join the Best Buds Group-"

"The what?"

"Long story. Anyway, he said that he would as long as some people aren't in it and I told him that everyone's going to be in it." America said. "But then he said that he would try to make amends with others if I win in a wrestling match." America shifted his weight forward and Turkey gritted his teeth in annoyance. "I think I totally won this one."

While Turkey yelled for America to stop crushing him, Germany shook his head in utmost disapproval. He'd have to start making rules like 'No challenging one another' or 'No sitting on each other'.

"America, get off the man." Germany barked.

"Got it." America got to his feet, brushed off his pants and held a hand out to Turkey.

Turkey looked suspicious and refused his hand, grumbling, "Why would I trust someone who attacked me out of nowhere?"

"Dude, you were the one who started it."

Another rule Germany had thought up: 'No arguing like little kids'. He rarely ever found himself looking after children (in fact, he believed he had never really done that before unless he counted Italy's childlike behavior) and he wasn't going to start now.

With one hand, he grabbed onto America's jacket and with the other hand, he grabbed onto Turkey's collar. He forced them away from each other and said, "You two have ten seconds before I start yelling. If you don't want me to yell, I suggest you drop the subject and go do something useful, like forming a plan for your team."

During lunch that day, Germany had assigned them teams ("If they're going to be organized, we will too." he had declared.). There were no team leaders yet although Germany was going to make the doppelganger's captains and co-captains correspond to theirs as much as possible. He had expected everyone to group together and plan after lunch but they went their separate ways, much to his slight annoyance.

America and Turkey opened their mouths and Germany expected them to argue back but they stopped when he went on 'Angry Mode' and they snapped their mouths shut, nodding.

Germany released them and they fled together, not even daring to turn their heads and watch Germany.

"You two look pale. What happened?" France asked as America and Turkey returned to the rest of the Best Buds Group who were lounging around in the living room.

"Germany's on the warpath." America said in a half-whimper.

"He must be getting really irritated." Turkey added in.

"Well this is our last chance to save the world and you two were fooling around." Switzerland scolded them. "Are you joining or not?"

"Now Switzerland," France said calmly, patting Switzerland's arm gently. "You can't go around talking in that tone if you're supposed to become good friends with everyone."

Switzerland huffed. "Do you really think everyone will join? I highly doubt that some countries will be willing to. Especially with this guy here." He glanced at America.

America laughed nervously. "Uh, yeah, well, I'm trying to get along with everyone but it's hard. Especially with that Cuba...every time he sees me, he gets into a rage and yeah. I don't know how we're able to actually stay under the same roof."

"I just talked to China about the group." Japan said, approaching them. "He said he'd be considering it as long as he's able to own the Spratly Islands. There are a lot of territorial disputes about who owns the islands. Relations about them are tense for him, Taiwan, the Philippines, Vietnam, and Brunei."

"Brunei is missing right now." Switzerland said to himself. "But do you think China can sit down with the ones who are here and talk it out?"

"I doubt they're willing to." America said pointedly. "They've been at it for a while now."

"I also talked to Belgium and the Netherlands." Japan added, coughing. "Belgium wants to join but the Netherlands won't join if Spain will be joining, which he already has."

"He has?" America asked, surprised.

"Italy asked him to." France said. "You were too busy fighting with that guy." he nodded to Turkey.

"It wasn't a fight." America said. "It was a friendly wrestling match, right?"

"Whatever."

"So does that mean you have joined, Turkey?" Japan asked warmly.

Turkey shoved his hands into his pocket and sighed. "Uh...I'll join if the European Union lets me in." He gave France a look and France avoided his eyes.

"Why would you want to join them?" America asked, stunned. "Remember, they're in serious debt right now. And speaking of serious debt, some of them owe me money..."

"Oh yeah, the eurozone crisis. Yeah, forget it. I'm glad I didn't join then. Yeah, I'll join this group thing." Turkey said, shrugging.

"Great! Now let me introduce you to the members! Remember, all new initiatives have to make amends with everyone to be able to become a full member." America said, wagging a finger at Turkey.

Before Turkey could complain that he didn't want to talk to every single person, America latched onto his collar and dragged him to the nearest group of buds. "Onward!" America said excitedly, glad that there was another member.

Japan, France, and Switzerland watched after them before exchnaging concerned looks. "Do you think this alliance will work out?" Japan asked quietly. "There are a lot of people already, and even though they may say they forgive another, they might not truly feel it."

"That's the flaw with this." Switzerland clicked his tongue. "People lie and people hold grudges even if they say they don't. I don't know how America is going to pull this off."

"He's unpredictable, non?" France chuckled. "The group won't last long, but it's nice to think that everyone will be friends. It's a calming thought."

"A false thought." Switzerland muttered.

"True, but France is right. It's relieving, especially in this situation." Japan sighed, smiling. They were silent for a while, and then Japan excused himself to recruit more members and France mentioned he was going to go pour a glass of wine.

"If I can find some, that is." France huffed to Switzerland. "All that's here is beer, beer, and more beer."

Dinner was held in the conference room. Everyone ate and conversed at the same time, pointing things out and suggesting new ideas. They were all grouped together with their individual team, all seven of them. Germany, along with the help of his brother Prussia, assigned each team to a unit. Just before dinner, Germany returned to the basement to question the doppelgangers even more, but their will had returned.

"We've already told you so much." Dark South Korea scowled. "We're not saying anymore, no matter how much love is exposed to us."

Dark South Korea was right; Germany had called in Italy and the others to return to the basement and tried to get more information but they didn't say anything. Their faces were contorted in disgust and discomfort but they held their ground, much to Germany's displeasure.

Even though they didn't get any new information, Germany felt like they would have enough for now.

Halfway throughout dinner, the power went off again, and Germany had a feeling that the doppelgangers were up to something. Whatever it was, they couldn't do anything about it but keep planning.

Korea wasn't there though, and neither was China. Germany sent the two and see if they could find North Korea, Korea's brother. Korea was stunned by Germany's odd request and expressed extreme dislike to the idea of visiting his brother, despite them sharing a border. This was the first time Korea had been dead serious in a long time.

"China will back up up in case if something happens, but if you can get North Korea to join forces with us, we will have a good chance." Germany said. He too had doubt and he was somewhat concerned about the two, but there was no other option.

He wondered what North Korea would do or say.

"West, pay attention to the awesome plan." Prussia snapped.

Germany blinked and looked up at Prussia. "Sorry. I was thinking."

"You think too much, West. It's bad for your health." Prussia chided. "Now, listen here. You said that Dark Estonia revealed that the doppelganger's Division One, led by our awesome doppel-"

"They aren't 'awesome'." Austria interrupted haughtily. "They are always interfering with our attempts to restore order."

"We didn't even have order before them." Prussia laughed. "But whatever." The features of his face softened and he said seriously, "Their hideout is in Schwerin and that's where their division and weapons are. The targets that they're going to attack is apparently our surroundings. They'll be dropping nuclear bombs and crap in Italy, the west part of Russia, and Saudi Arabia. That's a big no-no."

Prussia went on to explaining to the team that they will be setting out the day after tomorrow. "Because today is planning, tomorrow is preparation, and then, on the day they attack, we come in and stop them." Prussia said sternly. "This is our job. This is Team One's job."

He was doing a good job of giving out information. Germany remembered this part of him, the part of him where he was serious. Germany missed this side of Prussia; it was good to not have a brother who constantly pestered you out of boredom.

Meanwhile, Team Two was led by America and Sweden. Germany wanted to correspond the doppelganger's captains with their own forces; the originals would understand their opponents better than anyone else.

America, too, had gotten much more serious and mature. He explained to the team that Division Two's hideout was in Los Angeles. "They're planning to bomb me, Canada, and Mexico. You two, don't worry, we're going to stop them from bombing us." America added to Canada and Mexico.

Mexico had been quiet all this time, but he nodded at America. Canada, who was relieved that they wouldn't forget saving his people, smiled at America.

"Uh, you know..." America murmured. "It's kinda hard to concentrate when you're poking me with your fork, Cuba. Ow!"

America reached up and rubbed his cheek tenderly.

"Sorry. My hand slipped." Cuba said indifferently.

America didn't see how it was accidental that Cuba poked him; he was out of his seat and right next to him. But he didn't argue with Cuba; he had to remember that he wanted to be best buds with everyone. His teeth stopped grinding in annoyance and he put on a smile.

"It's okay, dude."

Cuba stared at him, only to have Canada lead him back to his seat. "Why don't you finish your dinner first, okay?" Canada laughed nervously.

Team Three, led by Russia, were the most nervous out of the other teams. They had heard Germany had sent out China and Korea to North Korea, and if North Korea came to be their co-captain, then they'd be in a nightmare.

"He's not so bad once you get to know him." Russia said sweetly. "He's misunderstood."

"And when was the last time you've seen him?" Lithuania asked.

"Uh..." Russia stopped for a long time as his team watched him silently. "I don't know. But if he doesn't come, then I'll have you as my co-captain, okay Lithuania?"

Lithuania gulped. He had just gotten a horrifying chill and he could feel that it came from Belarus. "R-Russia, why don't you give that title to Belarus?" Lithuania offered in attempt to spare his life.

"Huh? But I want you to be my co-captain. Or are you not grateful?" Russia loomed over Lithuania with a bittersweet grin. On the other hand, Lithuania could feel the edge of Belarus' knife resting across his back.

Grimacing, he wondered what to do. "Uh...excuse me. I must go to the restroom." Lithuania said hastily, getting up from his chair.

Russia waved at him, saying that he shouldn't take too long.

"Russia?" Ukraine asked kindly. "Where is their hideout? We need to know where."

"Oh, yes. Their hideout is in Omsk. They're going to attack the east side of me, north of China, and Iran." Russia said casually, as if there wasn't a need to be concerned.

He then stopped talking and sat in his chair, pleasantly smiling.

"No pep talk?" Poland asked in a drawling tone. "You totally need to give a pep talk."

"I don't know what to say." Russia admitted. "No one has ever taught me how to give a pep talk. Um, succeed or I'll mess your face up? Kol kol kol kol kol kol kol..."

His team stared at him. Russia had a feeling that it didn't work.

Team Four, led by Japan, were having a better pep talk than Russia's. Japan told them that the hideout they were going to take over was in Kawasaki and that Division Four was going to attack Japan himself, south of China, and the Korean Peninsula.

"We are very short on time." Japan said firmly to his team. "But despite the odds, we can help each other and overcome them. We will rely on each other like family-no, we are family, even though we may come from different ends of the world. We are all alike, yes? We are all different, but we're still the same. We are family, and as a family, we help each other save each other. Through tough times, we will prevail and defeat the doppelgangers and normalize the world once more. We can not afford to lose."

Team Five was led by China and Vietnam, but since China was with Korea, Vietnam briefed everyone. "Division Five is in Suzhou. They will be targeting India, Indonesia, and Australia. The distance can be troubling if we are too late to reach Suzhou in time, so we must get there before they start their attack. No exceptions."

She watched as the team took deep breaths, exchanging looks with everyone. "I know it's nerve-wrecking, and it's a lot of pressure." she said softly. "But I have faith in everyone and there is no doubt in my heart."

Team Six was led by France. To Team Six's surprise, he wasn't trying to make passes at anyone during the briefing. "There's too much work to be done." France explained to the questioning team. "Now back to work. The hideout is in Bordeaux-a wonderful place by the way. I have a vacation house ther-"

"Whatever happened to 'work'?" Romania asked with a small grin, raising an eyebrow at France.

France clapped him on the back heartily. "Ah, mon ami, just side details to captivate your attention. After this I might attract tourists, non?" France laughed before continuing on. "They want to attack me, Spain, and Egypt."

"We're leaving to Bordeaux tomorrow, right?" asked Spain nervously. "I don't know about you but I don't want my people to suffer."

"I don't either." France said. "But Germany says that it depends on how far away our destination is. My house isn't far from here, so I think we'll be leaving in the middle of the night, the night before they attack."

"That's so close to when they might bomb you guys though." Belgium remarked. "Will we make it in time?"

France sighed as his team murmured to each other, troubled. "Mes chers et mes fleurs, please do not worry. I promise we will make it in time. However, we need to be a team and work together. We must have undying belief in each other and work with passion."

Spain nodded eagerly. "Yes! Teamwork is the way to go, amigo!"

"Mon ami, you have the right idea!" France exclaimed, and they threw their arms around their shoulders, grinning at the team. "Alright! Tomorrow, we prepare! The next day, we save the world with passion! Then the next day, we party!"

"If we win, that is." the Netherlands said in a low voice.

"Aw, don't be so grumpy. Have confidence." Spain said, giving the Netherlands a big grin.

"Don't look at me. You look like an idiot." the Netherlands scoffed, and he looked away from Spain and France, poking at his dinner.

Unfazed, Spain added to France, "You know, if we're going to party, where should it be at?"

"We've already made plans to party at America's afterward." Greenland said slyly.

"Did you tell him?" France asked.

"No."

As Team Six roared in laughter (excluding the ones like the Netherlands), Team Seven was trying to get England to tell them everything. England was shooting looks at France's team because they were so loud.

"England, hey, over here." Denmark waved a hand in front of him. "We still need to know where we're going."

England glanced at him and then at his group. "Oh, yes. I'm sorry." he coughed. "Right then. The hideout is in Edinburgh and they're going to hit me. Oddly enough, they're attacking overseas in Brazil and Argentina. I'm not sure why but maybe the other divisions have covered the other countries."

"Why are they attacking certain countries first? Is it based on population? Is it based on power? By what factor are they attacking them for?"

"There can be many different factors that prompted the doppelgangers to pick those countries, but whatever those factors are don't concern me." England said stiffly. "Our job is to destroy the weapons in the right hideout and stop the doppelgangers."

"What do we do to them after we destroy the weapons and stop them from attacking?" asked Finland.

"Tying them up very tightly proves to be a good way of keeping them in place temporarily." England said thoughtfully. "But I assume there will be dozens of doppelgangers per division; tying them all up with the limited number of people we have now probably isn't the best idea."

Silence. There were moments where one person would start to say something but then stop and mutter in embarrassment, "Never mind."

"Accept them." Norway said tonelessly after a moment. "If our doppelgangers are there, accept them and make them lose their will to stay in a physical form."

"Yeah, do an 'Italy'." Denmark said, grinning.

England scratched the back of his head. He 'Britannia kicked' his overboard; he knew that if he couldn't swim, then Dark England couldn't swim either. Eventually, Dark England probably stopped panicking for a split second and teleported away.

However, England had never teleported before; there was a lot of things his doppelganger can do that he couldn't. He wasn't sure if there was a limit or a certain amount of magic used for it. Maybe Dark England wasn't there to lead his division. Maybe kicking Dark England overboard was a good thing.

Or he could have made his doppelganger hate him even more and made him slightly more powerful.

"I'm going to have difficulty accepting my hatred." England muttered to himself.

The day ended with everyone carefully studying maps of the city where the hideouts were located at. China and Korea returned late at night and somehow, they actually got North Korea to come with them.

Since the majority of the countries were still up studying the maps in their bedrooms, they heard Korea call Germany from his room. "My brother is here, Germany." Korea said wearily, knocking on Germany's door.

Korea led Germany and all the other nations that were curious about North Korea downstairs and into the living room.

China glanced at them when they swarmed into the room and sighed, "Aiya, why is everyone here? North Korea is actually more timid than South."

"So, what, do we call you 'South Korea' now?" America asked Korea, keeping a careful eye on North Korea. America had always had unsettling feelings about that guy.

"Nah, just keep calling me Korea, da-ze." Korea murmured. "Call him 'North'."

North Korea reminded some of them of the doppelgangers. He had an indifferent, nearly icy gaze every time he looked at someone. They assumed that when China meant 'timid', he probably meant less hyperactive.

"I don't mean to bother you." Germany said calmly to North Korea. "But have you happen to run into someone who looks just like you but with red eyes?"

North Korea regarded Germany with suspicion. "Do you mock me?" North Korea asked in a low, quiet, tone.

Germany realized that a question like that was going to offend North Korea unless he knew what was going on. Judging by the fact that North Korea wasn't aware of a doppelganger of himself, he probably had no idea of the situation the rest of the world was in.

And so Germany filled him in, making sure not to say anything that might cause a negative reaction from North Korea; he was rather powerful in a scary way because they never knew what he was thinking. Even Japan, who often made people wonder what was on his mind, wasn't that scary.

North Korea glanced at Korea after Germany was done explaining. Korea wasn't looking at his brother; he kept his gaze glued out the window.

"Do you think I'd really believe this?" North Korea asked, eyes darting back to Germany.

Germany narrowed his eyes. "Have you not seen the emptiness outside? We have evacuated nearly all of the world to the countryside, where they are in camps and bases and away from potential hideouts these doppelgangers might have built. And the power is off throughout the entire world, or is your power on still?"

When North Korea stiffened and admitted that his power was off, Germany added, "I'm telling the truth."

North Korea's expression didn't change. It was impossible to read his face; his doppelganger even expressed more emotion than his original.

Germany blinked. "Follow me."

He led a reluctant North Korea to the basement with the world following them. Without power, they couldn't turn the light on, so Germany found flashlights before they descended into the basements and beckoned for North Korea to come forward with him.

The doppelgangers glanced up at the beam of light and bored a vicious glare into Germany's eyes. The atmosphere in the basement was considerably icy, despite it being early summer.

"Take a look for yourself." Germany said, pointing his beam of light towards Dark North Korea.

Dark North Korea's dark scarlet eyes flickered up to his original, and North Korea stared back at him. It was quiet for a while; the tension in the air kept everyone on their toes, waiting for what would happen next.

North Korea took his eyes off of his doppelganger and turned his gaze to Germany.

"I believe you."