WOW THIS ONLY TOOK ME MONTH TO WRITE SO SORRY IT SUCKS

YOU MAY JUST WANNA PEEK BACK AND SKIM THROUGH THE LAST CHAPTER JUST TO REFRESH YOUR MEMORY REAL QUICK
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Song: Courtesy of the Red, White, and Blue by Toby Keith

"You know, I've always had this issue." Shelby muttered as she leaned over the side of America's pool, gliding her fingers over the surface of the water slowly. "I never even think about people's feelings. Its almost like I forget people have them."

From the water emerged a white whale, which blew mist from it's spout in order to the breath the oxygen. It emitted a growl-like humming sound.

"Well, yeah, I have feelings. But they don't do anything for me. They just sit there an make me all... Emotional." She muttered, turning on her back, causing some of her hair to fall into the water. "This isn't about me, though. This is about Alfred. How am I supposed to make it up to him? Can I even make it up to him? Ugh, he'll never forgive me for this. Singing a song about the Revolutionary War from the perspective of King George is on the list of things NOT to do when your best friend is the personification of the United States." She rambled, crossing her arms over her chest and closing her eyes. The whale forced more air out of his spout.

"Start with an apology? Well, yeah, but words can only do so much. This really hurt him, Walter. Oh, you should have seen the look on his face..." Her voice shook as she covered her face with her hands. "I have to apologize in a big way. It has to be loud, extravagant, something phenomenal and boisterous that only Alfred F. Jones could appreciate it." She said, dragging her hands from her face, her blue eyes set in determination. "But what would fit the bill..."

The whale let out a loud song, and splashed Shelby with a huge, salty wave, causing her to shout and shoot up from her spot on the deck, only to shout as she lost balance and fell into the water. She popped back up, coughing violently as she swam the edge of the pool, where she hung her head. "Okay, next time you have a good idea, you need to tell me calmly. Please." She muttered, before coughing again.

America peered out of his bedroom, before stepping out fully and shuffling to Shelby's bedroom, where he pushed the cracked door open gently. "Shelbs? You in there?" He inquired, his voice still rather hoarse from the emotions of the day. The teen's room, however, was empty. The radio she had plugged her phone into to play the song was still on, but with nothing to play, it belted out static. The light was off, however, showing that Shelby had left the room consciously and wasn't kidnapped (as Hope kindly pointed out to the pair of Americans that the Michigander had a habit of getting picked up by strangers... And Poland). The red cape she had danced with lay spread out of the floor, and leaning against the wall, completely crumpled and caved in on one side, was the crown she wore.

His frown deepened, and he stepped inside, unplugging the radio and picking up the crown, turning it slowly as he assessed the damage of the accessory. He glanced at the red wall, where there was a visible chip in the paint, likely where the crown had made contact. He let out a sad sigh, turning out of the room with the crown still in his hands, making his way to the living room. "Shelby? Where'd you go..." His sentence trailed off as he arrived in the room, where AmeriCat sat, slapping a letter that sat on the floor. Alfred picked it up slowly, opening it to reveal Shelby's penmanship.

Dear Alfred,

Meet me at the place where you held your birthday carnival... Please. I know you're upset with me right now, but you're gonna have to trust me.

~Shelby

America pursed his lips, his eyes falling to the floor in thought. He was upset with Shelby at the moment... But Alfred didn't have the heart to hold a grudge like Shelby can. Not when so much seemed to be going wrong lately. He didn't really want to lose his Shelbaraptor too. Even if she did his hurt feelings, he was positive they would be able to work out their issues like they always have. Taking a deep breath, he snatched up the note, grabbed his keys, and left the house.

As sad as he was at the moment, America had to admit, he was rather curious to see what his mortal friend was up to. When he arrived at the old carnival location, he didn't notice anything special at first. The stuff he rented for the 4th of July had long been removed, leaving only a wooden stage some people at the White House had paid to set up. That's when he noticed something out of place.

Shelby stood in the center of the stage, her original wardrobe ditched for a red t-shirt that cut into a fringe crop top with a white tank top underneath. She had on a pair of simple blue jean shorts, but settled on her waist was a fluffy tutu sporting the colors of red, white, blue. The entire upper left corner of her face was painted a navy blue with little white dots throughout it, and she had 13 red and white stripes across the rest of her face. She was adorn with several layers of Mardi Gras beads, all the colors of the American flag, as well as a American flag cape waving behind her.

"Oh my actual God." Alfred whispered, getting out of the car and making his way up to the stage. He could now see that Shelby also had a microphone gripped in her hands, and a determined look in her eyes. "Shelbs... What're you doing up there?"

"I'm here to tell you something." She said into the mic, making her monotone voice boom loudly in America's ear. She pressed a button hooked to the belt of her pants, and a guitar sound came from the speaker as the music started.

Shelby began singing shortly after. "American girls, and American guys. We'll all stand and salute, we'll always recognize, when we see Old Glory flying, there's a lot of men dead, so we can sleep in peace at night when we lay down our head." She sang gently, and America instantly recognized a sort of country tone to the words she was saying. However, he didn't understand how this song was supposed to make him feel better- being reminded of dead soldiers was always depressing.

Still, Shelby kept going. "My daddy served in the army, where he lost his right eye, but he flew a flag out in the yard until the day that he died. He wanted my mother, my brother, my sister, and me, to grow up and be happy in the land of the free." She smirked slightly at those lyrics, and Alfred found himself doing so as well. "Now this nation that I love has fallen under attack. A mighty sucker punch came flyin' in from somewhere in the back." The words seemed to get more powerful and more emotional as it continued, and Alfred was suddenly reminded of the 9/11 attacks. "Soon as we could see clearly through our big black eye," her eyes seemed to sparkle as her smile widened, "man, we lit up your world like the 4th of July!

"Hey, Uncle Sam put your name at the top of his list, and the Statue of Liberty started shakin' her fist. And the eagle will fly, man, it's gonna be Hell, when you hear Mother Freedom start ringin' her bell, and it'll feel like the whole wide world is raining down on you!" She saluted at Alfred, who realized just how widely he was grinning now. "Brought to you courtesy of the Red, White, and Blue."

An epic guitar solo started playing through the speaker, and she started dancing a little bit, beckoning Alfred to come up to the stage. She grabbed his hand and they spun around the platform, laughing with glee before the music slowed down again, and Shelby let go, pursing her lips as she grabbed the mic. "Justice will be served and the battle will rage. This big dog will fight when you rattle his cage," she pointed at Alfred as she sang that line, and he laughed, "You'll be sorry that you messed with the U.S. of A... 'Cause we'll put a boot in your ass, it's the American way!

"Hey Uncle Sam put your name at the top of his list, and the Statue of Liberty started shakin' her fist. And the eagle will fly, man, it's gonna be Hell, when you her Mother Freedom start rinigin' her bell, and it'll feel like the whole wide world is raining down on you! Brought to you countess of the red, white, and blue!" A shooting sound rang out, and fireworks began exploding in the sky above the stage. "Ohhhhhhh, hoooooooo, of the Red, White and Blue. Ohhhhhhh, hohohoooooooo, of my Red, White, and Blue!" By the time the song finished, Shelby's face was flushed from holding all those notes, and she took a deep breath, glancing at America.

He gave her a thumbs up. "10 out a 10, would watch again." He teased, and she smiled weakly, before shuffling over to him and locking her eyes wide his. Alfred's grin faded as he sensed the serious mood.

"Alfie... I'm... I'm... Sorry." She stuttered, ringing her fingers nervously. "I shouldn't even be listening to songs like that, let alone be singing them in your house, when I know the Revolutionary War is such a touchy subject with Arthur and all. I just- I wanted to remind you that even though those memories are painful, that you shouldn't regret having them, because without them, you wouldn't be the amazing, awesome you that I love and would throw a little concert for to show you. And I'm sorry I remind you of Arthur. I could try acting more French or Italian, but I honestly don't know if those are any better. I'm just sorry for the whole thing, and-"

Suddenly, Alfred's hand clamped down at Shelby's mouth. "Well, dude, you sure have the whole rambling thing down that Italy does, so you're already part-way there." He laughed, removing his hand from her mouth as she crackled a half-smile. "I accept your apology, Shelbs. But seriously, you probably could have just apologized like a normal person instead of doing all this." He gestured his hands at the set up.

She laughed. "Go big or go home, eh?"

He punched her arm gently. "Sure. But seriously, like, let's go home. I'm starving and could use some grub."

"Same here. I feel like I've been working on this whole project for a month now."