In the last episode, we spoke about how Joshua Washington lived his life until June 18, 2006, when the cousins Sean Trichenberg, Maverick Mobley, Jacquelyn Claire Ritterwolff, and Marika Yovenko appeared in New York, claiming that they came from a world where gods and monsters were attacking the United States, a world where the September 11, 2001 attacks had happened.

And the funny thing was, though, the cousins seemed to know what they were talking about, which amazed everyone even more than the situation should.

"OK, can one of you PLEASE just tell me what's going on here?" Sean snapped as he, Mobley, Jacquelyn, and Marika found themselves suddenly standing in a room where the Trichenberg family had met with President Wilson at the end of World War 1. No one said anything. "How did we even get here?" he snapped.

"Well, I hate to say this, but this must be one of those "alternative timelines" that Lewis Hawkins had warned us about," said Mobley. "Only that problem is that the timeline we're now is the real timeline, for better or worse."

"Who cares about that?" said Sean. "All I know is that we're stuck here in this strange place. It may look like the United States of America, but it's not. It's not our home, not anymore."

"Does it matter?" said Marika. "We're not in America anymore!"

"What's an America?" said Jacquelyn with a confused look on her face.

"You see?" Marika snapped at her cousin. "Jacquelyn doesn't know what America is anymore! I hope you guys are happy with yourselves!"

"What are you talking about?" said Mobley.

"Because of what you and Sean did, we no longer have an America!" Marika snapped. "In fact, you essentially destroyed this country just to please yourselves!"

"Well, you should know that Uncle Sean chose to save you over stopping Henry Moore and saving the world," said Jacquelyn.

"And what does this prove?" said Marika.

"It proves that we care more about you than we care about the world," said Sean as he stared at Marika. "Besides, there may be seven billion people living in the world right now, but what is seven billion people compared to one special person?"

"Besides, the world would have been a very dull place if you didn't exist," said Mobley. "What worth is seven billion people if that one person you love doesn't exist?"

Little did the Trichenbergs know that while they were talking, Joshua had overheard them while doing his work. There seemed to be so much going on in the other room that he ended up listening to everything.

Yet he didn't know that he would need those cousins very soon...

* * * * *

Jacquelyn stared at herself in the mirror before picking up a magazine and reading it. She gasped as she read the article about the discovery of the hidden documents talking about the firebombing of America during the Civil War and the founding of Columbiana. (Of course, Jacquelyn had once starred in a movie detailing that particular part of American history; that movie barely succeeded in theaters.)

She said, "Uncle Sean, you gotta see this! Get Mobley!"

"What is it?" said Sean as he and Mobley came to where Jacquelyn was.

"Here, read this," said Jacquelyn as she showed them the article in question.

"Why are we reading this article?" said Mobley.

"You always liked reading about American history, so you tell me about this article," said Jacquelyn.

"Oh, snap!" said Marika. "She got you there, Mobley!"

"Yeah right," said Mobley as he took the magazine. After 15 minutes of reading over the article, he said, "Well, I must say that either this article is a joke, or maybe we've found some truth about something they tried to hide."

"Such as the fact that in this version of America, the firebombing that Sir David threatened to do actually happened and we're not in the United States anymore?" said Sean.

"And if that's true, then this isn't the United States of America anymore, it's the Empire of Columbiana," said Jacquelyn.

"And if that's Columbiana, then George Walker Bush is no longer the president of the United States," said Sean. "Which is a shame because he ordered the excavations after hearing rumors about the firebombing."

"And there appears to be a royal family named Washington ruling over Columbiana," said Marika as she read the article. "And they're all descended from a man named Ishaan Washington..."

At this, Joshua could no longer take it anymore. He stood up from his seat and went to the room where the Cousins were. He said to them, "I couldn't help but overhear you guys talking, but did you say Ishaan Washington?"

"We did," said Sean. "Why do you ask?"

"Because Ishaan Washington was my great-great-grandfather," said Joshua.

"Well, according to this article here, Ishaan was the first king of the Empire of Columbiana," said Sean. "And because you claimed to be his descendant, that makes you the king of Columbiana..."

Joshua's face fell as he realized the reality of the situation he was now in. His body swayed and he quickly hit the floor as Jacquelyn screamed in horror...