Here I go with a brand new series! Thank you for watching and please share a review to tell me whatcha think! This story was meant to be a sequel to another story, but certain elements moved it to become its own story.
"Sigh," Arthur finished dressing and began to make his way down to the meeting hall, where a Cardeverse session was to be held. Servants and various advisors bowed as he walked by as custom for addressing a member of the royal court, but he just gave a small wave or awkward smile back. While he liked being a part of royalty, it was kind of embarrassing too. In Cardeverse, a royal court, or suit, made up of a King, a Queen, and Jack. The King was always a male, no question, but a Queen didn't have to be a female, it was simply a title, but it still made Arthur's face go red every time someone called him Queen Arthur, or even worse, Queenie (by his brothers, of course). But nonetheless, Arthur's rise to royalty was a bumpy road as he was once a poor sorcerer's apprentice and one bad spell away from being completely homeless, but thanks to a childhood friendship with Alfred, King of Spades, and them reuniting under chance circumstances, his life took a turnaround.
"Arthur!" the green-eyed man turned to Alfred, as the taller man ran, or rather, stomped, down the hallway.
"Alfred, a king doesn't run to anybody, especially if he has to speak to the other suits of Cardeverse in a matter of minutes," Arthur straightened Alfred's tie and tried, and failed, to hold down Alfred's cowlick.
"Sorry, I'm excited. Plus you're one to talk. It took to forever to learn the proper etiquette and responsibilities of a Queen."
Alfred tended to talk loud, causing Arthur to hold up his hands to cover his mouth, but then he remembered where they were.
"Quiet down. It did not. I remember passing through every test with flying colours and at record timing." Between Alfred's coming of age and the coronation, there was very little time for Arthur to learn castle etiquette, and sometimes he still wanted to read his magic books instead of going to meetings.
Alfred rolled his eyes as they continued down the hall. The meeting hall was already filled with the other suits as they sat at a round table divided by colour. When Alfred entered the room, each King stood and introduced himself.
"I am King Ludwig of the Hearts. I am here with Queen Kiku and Feliciano, Jack of Hearts."
Arthur was always happy to see Kiku. They were also very close friends and when Arthur became Queen, Kiku was the one to encourage him, as he became Queen 3 years prior. The good news for Arthur was that a Queen didn't have to be married to the King, in fact the Queen of Clubs was actually married to the Jack.
"I am King Francis of Diamonds and I have come with Jack of Diamonds, Vash."
Arthur couldn't stand Francis and vice versa. Alfred had to go through great lengths to make sure the two got along or else a war would start between the two.
"I am Roderich, Jack of Clubs. I have come alone, but I have a statement from the King of Clubs, Ivan, to represent the entire suit."
"That's highly unusual," Arthur noted.
"Yes, but the King has been making some changes in the kingdom and he wasn't able to make it."
"But what about your wife? She's the Queen."
"She hasn't been feeling well and since my job as a husband comes before being a Jack, I had to make sure she was taken care of by staying home."
Alfred nodded understandingly and made his own presentation, "I am Alfred, King of Spades and present are Queen Arthur and Yao, Jack of Spades. Now that we have introduced ourselves, even though we really didn't have to, the Cardeverse meeting can convene!"
"Might I remind you that we do the introductions as a formality?" Ludwig said.
"Yes, I know but we have known each other forever."
"I do see his point," Kiku chirped.
"You always see his point," Vash stared at Kiku.
"OKAY," Alfred raised his hands to have order as the meetings usually went haywire, "today's meeting involves a discussion about an expedition of the land outside the Cardeverse region."
"The land beyond the Himaru Sea? No one has ever been over there, so why should we go now?"
"Because of this," Alfred held up a box and inside was a black opaque object, in the shape of a spade, "this is the black spade of ancient legends, also known as one of the four Aces."
The whole room filled with gasps. Arthur had no idea that Alfred had something like this to present, but he really didn't know the significance in the Ace either, not like Yao.
"Alfred, aru, do you realize what this means?" Yao slightly trembled.
Vash stood up. "Alfred, this expedition must take place immediately. An Ace shouldn't be here and the fact that it exist should be seriously investigated."
"Well it's settled," Ludwig chimed in, "now we just need to see who is going. Since we don't know anything about the place, we don't know if it is inhabited, and if it is, we're going to need ambassadors."
Arthur's attention was peaked again. Queens usually held the role of ambassadors and Jacks were the record keepers, head advisors and historians of the suit, assisting the King as he ruled his section of the land.
"But we will also need those specializing in record keeping to assist the ambassadors," Yao said.
"We can't send all the Jacks and Queens at once!" Vash nearly yelled, thinking of his sister, the Queen of Diamonds.
"How about two Queens and two Jacks go? Just in case. Then in a certain timeframe we'll stay and gather data and come back with our findings."
Arthur rarely said anything in these meetings, but he was eager to leave to stuffy castle for the open sea.
"That's a nice idea," Alfred beamed, "who will go?"
"I will for Hearts," Kiku raised his hand, much to Ludwig's relief, as he didn't want Feliciano on his own.
"I will for Diamonds," Vash raised his hand.
"Since I'm the only one here, I will for Clubs," Roderich sipped his tea.
"Well, that leaves Arthur for Spades. We will prepare and meet back here at week's end with supplies. Now if the Queens and Jacks will please exit the room, us Kings need to speak privately, except for you, Sir Roderich" Alfred motioned to the door and the suits broke apart. Arthur wanted more information about what an ace was, so he caught up with Yao.
"Yao, I need to speak with you."
"Yes, your majesty."
"Please stop the formalities. Even though I have fully accepted my position as the Queen, I can't stand when people do that."
"I know, aru."
"Then why did you do that?"
"Because I know it bothers you." Yao slightly chuckled.
"Haha, very funny. Now I need you to tell me what an ace is."
Yao's face morphed from a smile to a serious look, "an Ace is an item that was, until now, a great legend. It is said to have great powers surpassing any weapon and can overrule any kingdom. Each ace holds a special power that is unique to each kingdom. Spades has Influence, Clubs have Chance or Luck, Diamonds have Fortune and Hearts have Love and Control."
"Bugger, that is quite serious, but why was everyone so taken by the fact that an Ace was found? And that the expedition begin so quickly?"
"Like the suits of Cardeverse, the aces must be balanced and always kept together. Separated, the aces become unstable, however when they possessed by one person, they can give them ultimate power to have anything they desire. All this time, we thought the aces were legend, but they are very true and we may be in danger."
Again thank you for reading!