(Sorry if it seems like I'm over-glorifying Texas and making him seem cooler, better, and more worthy than all of the other states.

I mean, it's not my fault Texas is the best state

Im joking I'm joking pls don't kill me-)

Everyone is staring at me... which is very uncomfortable... but this doesn't last long, seeing that the mansion begins to crumble beneath our feet.

"We gotta get out of here!" New Jersey exclaimed. Everyone started rushing out of the mansion... and something must've knocked another thing over which made that thing catch on fire because next thing I know, EVERYTHING IS ON F*CKING FIRE. Everyone gets out safely, except...

"Where's New York?!" California exclaimed.

"He was in the lounge taking a nap!" Connecticut exclaims.

F*ck... somebody needs to get him!

Wait... don't I have powers now?

I look at my arm and realize it's on fire... but I feel no pain...my skin isn't actually burning... as if I'm immune...

OH F*CK I SHOULD PROBABLY GO HELP HIM THEN

I run into the house, without a second thought.

"TEXAS WHERE THE F*CK ARE YOU GOING THE HOUSE IS ON F*CKING FIRE ARE YOU INSANE!!!!?!" I hear California exclaim.

I navigate through the crumbling hallways to the lounge. New York is crawling through the hallway, trying not to breath in too much smoke. I am about to help him out, but suddenly the roof above us gives way... I stick up my hand...

And an ice shield forms around us.

Amazed, I stick my hand out at the fire blocking the hallway, and water shoots out.

SO F*CKIN COOL?!?!

I help New York out of the mansion... he's a bit burnt, but luckily Wisconsin seems to still have his power. Suddenly, Florida, California, and Louis have me wrapped in a tight hug.

"You idiot!!!! Don't just run into a burning building without any explanation!!!" California exclaimed.

"Sorry, sorry...," I say. Florida gently runs his hand over my wounded arm... and the teeth marks he left. He let out a sob and threw his arms around me. I held him close. "It's ok... it's not your fault," I whisper. Florida gently releases me, seeming a bit calmer, but when he sees the damage he'd done to Louis, he breaks out into more sobs. Louis grabs his hand.

"Florida... hon, look at me... it's ok... I'll be ok... I'm not mad at you," Louis said. Florida hugged him.

"M...on...ster....," Florida hissed.

"You are not a monster! Don't call yourself that! The real monster is confederate! Florida I... I care about you ok? I'm so glad you're ok," Louis said. The two stay wrapped in each other's arms, and I decide to go check on New York.

"Uh... what did I miss?" New York asked. I chuckle.

"Um... a lot... I might be magic now so... whoops," I say. New York takes a deep breath.

"Well... um... that's new...," New York said. We look over at the destroyed house. "by the way... Sleeping is f*cking phenomenal and I plan to do it way more often," New York says, trying to lighten the mood. I laugh.

"You do seem less uptight, I have to say,"

"I'm gonna do this sh*t all the time, like, I did kinda wake up to a nightmare... but boy do I feel refreshed," New York said.

"Well... I guess... everyone is fine-,"

"Uh, not if we don't have a house," New Jersey said, before Delaware elbowed him. "Agh! What? I can't say we don't have a house?! What is that? It's not a house!" New Jersey said, motioning to our crumbled home.

"Well... if Texas has some of our powers... can he try and make a new house using them?" Rhode Island asked. I shrug.

"How? I don't even know how my magic works," I say.

"Well let's see... if you have my power, you can create a mountain... a cave in that mountain... and that should be livable enough... until we find something better I guess," Colorado said.

"Again... how?" I ask.

"Envision a mountain, see it rise from the dirt... stick your hand out and make it rise," Colorado said... that's pretty vague, but I'll try...

Suddenly, a steep little mountain forms.

"Hey, that works! Now for a cave! What I like to do is pretend I'm swinging open double doors. Just push your hands forward and out!" Colorado directs. I do as he says, and a cave opens up.

"Guys look!! I'm magic-ing!!!" I exclaim.

"You're doin great son!" America exclaimed. (Just an endearing nickname, the states aren't his kids)

We go inside the cave, and using my newfound powers I try to make it fun. I envision something, and rocks form into it. I even make a cute little stone couch! It's adorable!

"We're gonna have to figure out all of the powers you have, so we can teach you to use them well. I say you've got terraforming down pretty well," America said.

"Yep! Now just comes... everything else... first things first though, we should see if anything from our home is still salvageable," I say.

"Lead the way!" America said.

HELL YEAH I GET TO LEAD THE WAY NOW?!

Hold on... stay humble... be a good boy...

Besides, I'm only as good as my fellow states are as teachers sooo...

Anyway, I make it rain to quell the lingering flames, and we poke around. Since the pocket dimension rooms are in their own dimension, they weren't harmed during the crumble, we just don't have any way to access those realms without our home. Most of the stuff in the library survived, including my bed, which I will gladly keep for myself... or maybe...

"Hey, New York... you seem to like this whole 'sleeping' thing a lot, so if we can't find anymore beds, you're welcome to have mine," I say. New York smiles.

"Aww really? Thanks!" New York said, before his expression turned somber. "I...I'm sorry about everything Tex... and for everything I said about you... I... I was a real jerk...," New York said. I smile and shrug.

"You got some rest and finally woke up on the right side of the bed... I don't mind," I say. New York smiles, and I help him set up his room in our cave-home. He takes a nice long nap the rest of the afternoon.

Once we're done searching, Connecticut makes some food, and we get some rest. Florida is helping a few other states convert our (luckily undamaged) large shed into an infirmary/food and tools storage area. The other states still seemed a bit weary of him, but seem to not mind him too much. Louis watches him with a smile.

"You two became pretty fast friends, Huh?" I say. Louis chuckles softly.

"I always noticed him... y'know, I wasn't just spending all of my time locked away in my room talkin to the spirits... I'd always try to check on y'all by sneaking around in the spirit realm... see how you were holdin up... especially you, since... well... you were an outcast like me... and I won't lie, I was a bit frightened of Florida myself, but seein you two interact and get along... I... I just...," Louis said.... I notice that the Rose in his coat pocket... the white petals fade to red.

"You just...?" I urge.

"Florida is a real great guy... super kind... funny... caring... loving... and...," Louis said, turning slightly red. I smirk... so... I guess I gained Georgia's power, because I can tell exactly what's goin on here...

"And... attractive?" I guess. Louis chuckles, trying to hide his giddy smile.

"Awww that's adorable!!! Oh my gosh that's so cute!!! Ahhh you gotta tell him!!!" I exclaim.

"No way!! First of all, we're all kinda in a 'doomed, fearful, and hopeless' situation and... I dunno!!! I'm the creepy basement voodoo man!!! Why would he feel the same way?!" Louis exclaimed. I roll my eyes.

"Okaaaaaay okaaaaay..... you don't have to tell him immediately... but once everything is solved, I am so being your wingman!!" I exclaim. Louis smiles, but it suddenly turns somber.

"...if... if everything is solved...," Louis said. I frown... and look back at our broken home...

'If' indeed