The next day, Italy went downstairs to see Texas and Tito all snuggled up in blankets, using Cali as a teddy bear. Being the parent he is, he took a bunch of cute pictures, and then sent them to Mexico and America, and all of them awwwwww'd. He figured he should let them wake up on their own, and not make a big deal out of them looking like a couple of besties, especially since he didn't want to embarrass them into hating each other more. So, he began making breakfast, calling Philipa to initiate step two of this kidnapping plan.

I: good morning

P: Philip is still asleep, when do you want me to send him over?

I: in a bit, I'll let the boys eat breakfast first

P: ok, call me when you want me to bring him over then

I: of course

Soon, Texas and Tito woke up, and went to eat some noms.

"Sooo... how long are you kidnapping me for?" Texas asked, slightly surprised his parents haven't tried to save him yet. "...my parents are ok, right?" Texas asked, worried that maybe he got the lighter end of Tito's evil genius plan.

"They're alright, they've sent a superhero to save you," Italy said. Texas gasped excitedly.

"Yay! Sunshine!!" Texas exclaimed.

"Who's that?" Italy asked. Tito scoffed.

"Philips superhero name... it's dumb," Tito said.

"It's not! I helped him pick it!" Texas exclaimed. Tito just scoffed.

"What does the Sun even have to do with his powers?" Tito exclaimed.

"The sun gives him more power, duh," Texas said. Tito grumbled, but then realized that that meant Philip had no power at night, so nothing would stop him and Texas from being sea monsters then. He was content with this fact.

Once the boys were done eating, they went to Tito's room to play. Texas was trying to get California to stand up, but she didn't seem like she wanted to. Meanwhile, Tito was digging through his closet.

"Whatcha lookin for?" Texas asked, trying to get Cali to stop attempting to eat his finger.

"Nothing, don't worry about it," Tito said. Texas shrugged and tried to get Cali to say his name. Suddenly, Tito stood over him, shoving a necklace in his face. It had a black wire chain and a sea-blue charm. He saw Tito had a similar one that was a deeper blue.

"This is how we'll know we're sea monsters. If you're wearing the necklace, it means you're in your sea monster form," Tito said.

"But I thought we just automatically did when it gets dark?" Texas asked.

"No, that's just the only time we should... sea monsters are heavily hunted, especially by superheroes like Philip, who think we're evil," Tito said.

"But... I like Philip," Texas said. Tito scoffed.

"I noticed... you can still be his friend, but he can't know we're sea monsters," Tito said. Texas nodded and put his necklace in his pocket.

Meanwhile, Philip, wearing his fancy new cape and mask his mom got for him, climbed up the fire escape ladder to Tito's bedroom window.

"Texas! I'm here to rescue you!" Philip exclaimed. Tito gasped angrily, and grabbed onto Texas, but in a nice way that didn't hurt him.

"No! Give up now, or die trying!" Tito exclaimed. Philip climbed into Tito's room and the two of them began play-fighting. At first, it seemed to be innocent enough, but Tito began getting a bit nervous by how aggressive Philip was. Texas put California safely in her baby carrier, and then tried to break up the fight. Tito got in front of Texas and shielded him, glaring at Philip.

"I stole him fair and square! We were just about to play chutes and ladders!!" Tito exclaimed. Philip didn't care. He was a superhero after all, he could beat up anyone with ease. So he shoved Tito aside, who hit the ground with a thud, and Philip grabbed Texas's arm. However, even though Texas wanted Philip to win the fight, he also wanted to make sure his nemesis wasn't hurt. He knew Philip was his savior... but Tito's fall was way too real for him not to be a bit worried.

"Hold on, he's bleeding!" Texas exclaimed, seeing that Tito scraped his arm on the way down.

"I know, it's what he gets for stealing you!" Philip exclaimed, continuing to pull Texas along.

"Wait! I wanna time-out! Is he ok?" Texas exclaimed.

"No time-outs! We gotta go now!" Philip exclaimed. Texas tried to stop and check on his enemy, but Philip yanked his arm.

"Ow! Stop pulling me!" Texas exclaimed. Philip let go, but seemed annoyed.

"Im saving you! Now c'mon! We gotta hurry outside before something happens!" Philip exclaimed. Texas looked over at Tito, and realized he was holding up a rubber dart gun.

"Tex, get out... me and Philip will settle this," Tito said. Texas was worried, because Philip was able to hurt Tito when he had the invincibility stone, so he doubted that a simple gun would stop him. Tito shot at Philip, but when the bullets bounced off his chest, Philip didn't flinch or play dead. He walked up to Tito, and leaned back to throw his ultra mega superhero punch of justice.

But Texas got in the way before he could hit Tito. Luckily, Philip faltered when seeing who his fists were headed towards, but the momentum of a superhero could only be slowed so much...

"What's going on up here?!" Italy exclaimed, him, Philipa, and Mexico running upstairs upon hearing Texas crying. Mexico picked up his son and began carrying him away. Philip felt sad for Texas, and felt really really awful for hurting him. And then he looked over at Tito, the bastard who had the AUDACITY to kidnap his friend.

He knew what had to happen.

After all, in the world of superheroes, the ends justify the means.

"Tito hit him!" Philip exclaimed.

"What?!" Tito exclaimed.

"I saw it! I was trying to get Texas away from him but Tito punched him!! He's evil!" Philip exclaimed.

"Tito! That is absolutely no way to treat anyone! Nemesis or not! You are grounded!" Italy exclaimed. Tito was crying, because that was uncalled for.

"I didn't do it!! Philip did!!" Tito cried.

"Philip would never!" Philipa exclaimed.

"Oh really? This wouldn't be the first time Philip played unfairly! Holly is still scared of him!" Italy shot back. Meanwhile, Mexico was downstairs, trying to help Texas calm down, and it was mostly successful, especially since he had candy to offer.

"What happened Mijo?" Mexico asked, giving Texas a hug.

"Philip w-was gonna h-hit Tito... a-and I know he was trying to save me, b-but Philip is really strong... I didn't want him to kill Tito!" Texas exclaimed.

"Oh...," Mexico said softly, knowing he had to tell Philipa to teach her child to play nice. "But how did you get hurt?" Mexico asked.

"Philip was about to hit him so I got in the way," Texas said. Mexico nodded. Italy and Philipa walked downstairs, the two of them still arguing.

"I need to control my son?!? I have no doubt that this was an accident! Tito would never actually hurt someone on purpose, even if they're playing pretend! He knows the difference!" Italy exclaimed.

"You set this up in the first place! I can't believe I even thought this might be harmless! You're an enabler! And you wonder why Francesco turned out they way that he did!" Philipa exclaimed. Both Italy and Tito had a look of shock and disgust. Mexico groaned.

"Guys, guys! Calm down!" Mexico exclaimed.

"Calm down?! You're acting as though Italy's kid didn't just punch yours in the face!" Philipa exclaimed.

"Because he didn't!" Mexico exclaimed.

"...what?" Philipa said.

"Awesome, do you want to apologize now, or continue to make yourself out to be even more of a bi-,"

"Shut up, both of you. Texas, what happened?" Mexico asked. Texas looked over at Philip, who was staring at him expectantly. He knew that if he wanted to be a good nemesis, he'd go along with what Philip said and get his mortal enemy in trouble.

So, naturally, Texas put on his sea monster necklace.

"The two of them were fighting, but Philip was getting too angry. He pushed Tito and I think he was bleeding so I got worried. Philip was trying to save me, but I wanted to make sure Tito was ok, but Philip kept pulling me and I didn't like it. Tito pointed his gun at Philip, but Philip didn't react to the bullets because they didn't actually hurt, and he was about to punch Tito so I got in the way because I didn't want him to punch him," Texas explained. Philip was looking down in guilt.

"...Philip... is this true?" Philipa asked. Philip was silent, but eventually nodded. Tito was looking up at his dad with tears in his eyes. At this moment, Philipa and Italy finally noticed the small scrape on his arm, which was still bleeding.

"I-I.... Italy, I'm so sorry...," Philipa said.

"No...no, it's ok.... You were just sticking up for your kid and went a bit too far...," Italy said, however it was clear Italy was still upset.

"Philipa, I know Philip is a nice kid. I'm sure he has the absolute best intentions... but for the love of god, until you teach him the difference between make believe and real life... I don't want him near my son," Mexico said, before picking Texas and Cali up. "Thank you for having them over," Mexico said. Italy nodded. They all parted ways, and Texas felt real stuck.

"Papá, you weren't serious about me not seeing Philip again right?" Texas asked.

"Tex, he hit you," Mexico said.

"He didn't mean to hit me," Texas said.

"He meant to hit Tito," Mexico said. Texas was silent. "That doesn't make it much better, huh?" Mexico said.

"It doesn't... b-but... Philip is nice to me, and he just wanted to help!" Texas exclaimed. Mexico sighed.

"Tex, when you and Tito play-fight, do you ever swing at him with the intention of hurting him? And I mean really hurting him," Mexico said. Texas paused.

"No... no I don't," Texas said.

"And does Tito try to hurt you?" Mexico asked.

"....No," Texas said. Mexico nodded.

"Philip just needs to figure that out... and once he does, I promise you two can hang out again, ok?" Mexico said. Texas nodded.

"Ok...,"