Book 3 - Retrievers

XXIV - Channeler

"How did you get that from seeing ghosts?" Russia asks, baffled.

"Well, you shouldn't be able to see them," Louisiana says.

"I thought it was normal."

"Well, clearly it's not," Massachusetts replies.

"What are y'all even talking about?" Texas asks, with Alabama on his back and North Carolina hanging off his arm.

"Russia has magic!" Louisiana exclaims.

"What kind?" Texas asks.

"I don't know, but something is clearly going on."

"Hold on, I'm going to go get my book," Massachusetts says, turning around.

Russia takes a moment to hand America the fuzzy blanket and he sits next to him. America throws his legs onto Russia's lap, and Russia grabs America's good leg, rubbing it absentmindedly.

'I have magic?'

'What does that even mean?'

'Wouldn't I have noticed?'

Massachusetts comes running back down the stairs and jumps down the last few steps. He tumbles down and comes to a rolling stop in the landing.

"Sett, what's making you so excited?" Rhode Island asks.

"Russia has magic! I can't believe I didn't put it together sooner," Massachusetts says excitedly, hurriedly flipping through a large, old-looking leather book.

"Wait, I thought the ice thing was magic. What does that have to do with the ghosts?" Texas asks.

"Elemental stuff is different, Tazzy!" Arizona exclaims, jumping on the back of the couch, "I don't have any magic, but I do have fire. And just cuz Russia had ice doesn't mean he has magic! Magic has colors."

"But Russia doesn't have a color," Ohio comments.

"Just cuz we've never seen a color, that don't mean that he doesn't have magic abilities. I got a color, but I need something to draw magic from. Russia is probably the same," Louisiana explains.

"He's a channeler!" Massachusetts cuts in.

"A what?" Russia asks.

"A channeler. So you'll need an actual magic source to experiment with...." Massachusetts says, staring off into space for a moment.

"Hold on. Wait. Where is this coming from?" Russia pushes.

"I'm a channeler. It's pretty much just means that I can take magic from other sources to use. But I can't hold magic. Massy is like a battery, so he can fuel himself, but I need a source," Louisiana says, waving her hands.

"Channelers can do three things, and you've already been doing one of them. You've been reflecting magic. It's why you can see ghosts when Louisiana is using ghost powers, and you also started glowing, reflecting Dad's magic," Massachusetts explains, "Also, Dad could channel magic into you. Dad wouldn't have been able to do that if you didn't have some ability."

"But how could I have never noticed?"

"Well, you were probably too busy staring at Amy," Dixie says with a dry chuckle.

"And, you don't seem to have an internal source. If you did, you probably would've accidentally used it before," Massachusetts comments.

"Huh."

"That... actually makes a lot of sense," America comments.

Dixie laughs.

"You've been too in love to notice," Dixie teases.