Cora
This is an idea I had, but I don't know whether I should make it a proper story... so I decided to just post the first chapter and see what the response is. If using Pluckley Village (a real location) and using the ghost legends for my own purposes offends someone, would you please let me know so I know to always use fictional settings? Thanks.
I'm a bit rusty, I haven't uploaded anything onto FanFiction for a long time, so please let me know if I am doing something wrong- I feel nervous, actually!
Pluckley Village,1858.
A small group of lawmen, armed with rapiers and early versions of guns had finally cornered the highway man that had been terrorising aristocrats in the area for months. Up until now, Beilschmidt had managed to evade the law but his luck had finally run out, thanks to an anonymous tip. The highwayman had been found, waiting in the shadows of Fright Corner, most likely aiming to attack Lady Mei as she returned from her trip to her relatives' manor.
Armed only with a small pistol and dagger, the lawmen had thought that Beilschmidt wouldn't stand a chance, but they had underestimated him. The highwayman put up quite the fight, managing to evade most of his enemies' attacks.
Lady Mei and her maid Camille had been warned by the lawmen further up the road and were now waiting for someone to return and tell them the coast was clear. Suddenly, a gunshot ran out, startling the two women.
"I'm scared, my lady." Camille whispered, tugging on her long brown braid.
"As am I, Camille." Mei replied, placing her hand on her maid's shoulder. "But we must have faith in the captain and his men. They are risking their lives for us, and others who could be in our position. They have more men than Beilschmidt, they will win."
A second gun shot rang through the area, making Camille whimper.
"Alright, Beilschmidt," the captain said, panting. The pistol in his hands smoked slightly, and the blood staining Beilschmidt' s clothes indicated that it had met its mark. "It's over."
The infamous highwayman was on his knees; his two weapons being guarded by another one of the lawmen. "Mein Gott," he wheezed. "This really is the end, isn't it? Alton… Es tut mir Leid... "
The captain pulled out his sword, and in one thrust he dealt the blow that would end Beilschmidt' s life.
Pluckley Village, 2016
Arthur watched in horror as the group of men cornered the albino on Fright Corner. There was some yelling, and some cursing, and a gunshot. However, none of these seemed to affect the man with white hair. If not for the crimson for the crimson patch on his shoulder, one would think he was completely unharmed.
"Mr. Beilschmidt!" snapped Arthur irritably. "Can you please stop with this racket?"
"Sorry Artie!" cackled Beilschmidt, stepping out from the group. The translucent lawmen continued on fighting, as if he was still there.
Arthur rolled his eyes. "Your noise is disturbing the locals! I'm having a rough enough night already without you making the headlines for ghost hunters again!" He muttered a few words under his breath. The lawmen glowed a light green before disappearing, however Beilschmidt remained on the corner, looking quite out of place with his long black leather cloak with its high collar.
Beilschmidt scowled. "Your no fun, Artie! You don't understand how boring being dead gets! I have to entertain myself somehow! Can you just let me accompany you tonight? I promise I'll be good!"
"No." Arthur replied immediately. "You're a pain to haul around, and anyway, my rounds are almost over tonight anyway."
"I bet you let Dicky go with you." Beilschmidt grumbled.
"No, I don't." Arthur replied. "But maybe I should start letting him come along. Maybe it would serve as a lesson to you…"
"But I could help you!" protested Beilschmidt. "If you come across some trouble I could lend you a hand! I'd like to see Dicky do that!"
"I've never needed help before." Arthur replied. "So I doubt I' need help now!"
"But Artie!" Beilschmidt whined. "You said so yourself- everything's a bit restless at the moment."
"End of discussion, Beilschmidt." Arthur answered in a no-questions tone of voice. "You are not coming with me."
The ghost scowled before disappearing in a flash of silver light.
Arthur sighed. The ghost did have a point. He often wished someone would come with him on his rounds, but his pride just wouldn't allow the help. Especially from one such as that insufferable highwayman.
'I'll just go check the pub before going home.' Arthur thought. 'After all, school starts tomorrow so I better not sleep in.'
When the teen entered The Blacksmith's Arms, he was greeted by absolute silence. It was late at night, so it appeared that everyone had either returned home or retired to their rooms on the top level- apart from that one guy sprawled on the floor, sporting a nasty cut on his forehead. The man had obviously had too much to drink.
The temperature in the room chilled suddenly, and Arthur smiled slightly, for before him in the room, three ghosts appeared. One of the ghosts was in a thick arm chair, staring intently into the fire.
The only female ghost followed Arthur's stare and shrugged. "Oh, I wouldn't mind Lars, Arthur. He's just thinking."
"He's always thinking!" snickered the other ghost, wearing a cavalier's uniform. "Anyway, I'm off, nice seeing you, Arthur!"
Arthur chuckled. "Goodbye, Henri. And how are you faring tonight, Bella?"
"Oh, it's been just great." Bella replied, a hint of sarcasm in her voice. "Just the same old thing since I died." The Tudor maid smoothed down her apron. "Although, a fight did start between two fellows a couple of hours ago, so the day wasn't a complete bore. But enough about me, you knew what I was going to say before I asked."
Arthur sighed. "It's that Beilschmidt again. He's just been a bit restless these past few days."
"Oh, I wouldn't be too harsh on Gilbert." Bella consoled. "He's just lonely, being stuck on Fright's corner. I feel quite bad for him. I was very lucky, you know. When I died, I was all alone, but then Lars had his accident and Henri appeared here a few years later. It's such a comfort having others to talk to in the same predicament. No offense intended."
"It's fine." Arthur replied smoothly. "I admit that I am rather jealous that you can get along so well."
"Ah, you're thinking of your brothers, aren't you?" Bella said knowingly.
Arthur nodded. "We just have nothing in common."
Bella giggled. "You're quite right. In fact, I believe that Allistor was partially responsible for the disagreement that took place here this evening. You two are very different."
Looking down at the unconscious man, Arthur sighed again. "He needs to control himself."
"We're almost like siblings now," Bella commented, thinking of Lars and Henri. "Maybe you all should just try to understand each other more?"
"Perhaps." Arthur replied doubtfully.
"Now go!" Bella exclaimed, a fierce look entering her green eyes. "You have school tomorrow!"
"Ah, you're right." Arthur admitted. "I'll see you next time, then?"
"I'll be here."
"You got home quite late last night, didn't ya, Arthur?" Dylan chuckled. He was the only one of Arthur's brothers who hadn't yet left school, however this year would be his last, him being a year older than Arthur.
"Well, so did Allistor." Retorted Arthur, rubbing his eyes as he made himself some breakfast. "He's twenty two, he needs to get a job instead of hanging around in taverns and pubs."
"But he's twenty two." Dylan replied, slinging his back pack with a red dragon over his shoulder. He'd had it since he was twelve but the Welsh dragon had grown on him and Dylan had kept in top condition. "I'm off, got ta meet with Liam before school starts."
"I don't know how he can stand you." Arthur commented as Dylan left the house, and the seventeen year old followed a few minutes later. He wasn't met at school by anyone in particular, just acknowledged by the few who had been in his classes the previous year.
Romano and Feliciano Vargas, Alfred Jones and his step brother Matthew Williams, Yao Wang and his half-brother Kiku Honda, Francis Bonnefoy and Antonio Fernandez-Carriedo, Arthur's nemesis and rival since he was seven, Teresa Bonnefoy, Francis's sister who had been pushed up a few grades, Ivan Braginski and Matthias Khøler, Berwald Oxenstierna and Tino Väinämöinen "The Nordic Gang" were his classmates this year. They were mostly the same from last year, excluding the Vargas twins who had moved to Pluckley Village from Italy during the holidays and… the last name on the list made Arthur pause. Gilbert Beilschmidt. He blinked, and when Arthur looked again it actually read Ludwig Beilschmidt.
The morning passed without a fuss, and Arthur discovered he had missed the company of some of his classmates. But not Francis, that git was going to continue being a pain all year, Arthur could see it. Kiku had always been a friend of Arthur's but had never had any close friends and Arthur was pleased to see him being acquainted to Feliciano and Ludwig. Matthew was trailing his much louder brother all day, and Arthur thought to himself for the umpteenth time that if the Canadian being dragged around by either his brother that the boy could be a ghost.
Lunch was when it all went square shaped. Arthur was enjoying his meat pie when a familiar cackle reached his ears.
"Kesesesesese! I'm so AWESOME!"
Arthur leapt up in surprise, and followed the sounds of obnoxious laughter to the swing set that was supposed to keep younger children like his younger brother, Peter and his cousin Wendy entertained. There, swinging joyfully on the swings, much to the oblivion of everyone else, was the albino highway man.
"Beilschmidt." Snapped Arthur irritably, eyeing his peers to see who was paying attention. "Why are you here?"
"Oh, hey Artie!" Gilbert, if Bella was right, said. "I was just doing my boring but awesome thing this morning when a nice little birdie told me I could come with him to school."
Arthur frowned, who in their right mind would let such an arrogant German- no, Prussian, as Gilbert liked to boast, follow them around all day? That brought him to the next question- someone else could see the supernatural, and he never knew. Unless it was one of the new kids, but, no offense to them, they weren't the right kind of people. Romano and Ludwig wouldn't believe what was right in front of them and Feliciano was the type to be easily persuaded into thinking he was making it all up, which would cost him his ability.
"Ah, birdie!" called out Gilbert suddenly. "Are those pancakes!"
"Y-yes." Stammered a timid voice from behind Arthur. Matthew had just approached the pair, and was nervously looking between the two.
"Wait…" Arthur realised. "Matthew, can you see Beilschmidt?!"
"Do you mean Gilbert?" Matthew replied, handing Gilbert one of the pancakes, making Arthur and Gilbert's eyes widen. "Yeah, I can. I was just walking to school, and everyone was ignoring me, and then I saw him getting the silent treatment from some fellows and asked whether he wanted to come with me."
Gilbert leapt of the swing and put his pale hand on Matthew's head. "Aw, you're so nice birdie!"
"Matthew…" Arthur rubbed the back of his neck, a habit he'd picked up from his other brother, Connor. "Beilschm- Gilbert isn't- he isn't."
Gilbert sighed. "I'm not alive, birdie."
The mood had suddenly shifted, allowing an awkward silence to surround them. Everyone else in the playground was either unaware or didn't care which made things easier but at the same time worse for the trio.
"W-what do you mean you're not a-alive?" stammered the smaller teen.
"I'm a ghost birdie." Gilbert said, looking almost… sad. "Arthur… would you…"
Arthur knew when he wasn't wanted, and although he wasn't completely sure what Gilbert's intentions were, he had the feeling that Matthew wouldn't come to any harm. He slipped away, just as Matthew stammered out his next question- "T-then why can I touch you?"
Matthew didn't return to class for the rest of the day, much to the disbelief of Alfred and others who had known him for a while.
"Yo, Iggy!" Alfred called, using the terrible nickname that he had used when he was five which had somehow stuck. "Where's my little bro?"
"He wasn't feeling well." Arthur lied. "Matthew said he was heading home."
"My little bro sick?!" Alfred said incredulously. "Well, I never… Dude, that's weird!" But nevertheless he didn't question it.
I'll have to check he's safe after school. Arthur decided. If something happens to Matthew, it'll be my responsibility. He had a lot of trouble concentrating on the last two lessons of the day, maths and art. He kept thinking about Matthew. Was the other boy also a medium? If he was, he'd need help to stop other ghosts in the area from seeking him out. While Arthur had "tamed" so to speak, most of the ghosts like Gilbert, Henri, Lars and Bella, there were still a few rogues that showed up every now and again.
The other thing was about Ludwig. Was he related to Gilbert in some way? If he is, Arthur realised, Gilbert may start acting unpredictably. Which meant that he had to baby sit two humans and a ghost for a while. Once again, Arthur wished he could have someone to share the load of his work and not judge and would understand his troubles and beliefs.
He wouldn't have to wait long.
Cora
With Arthur's class, they are mostly male, but please just remember that there really aren't enough female characters in Hetalia.
Please, please, please let me know whether I should continue this story! I think it would be fun, but I want to know whether anyone else out there would be interested in reading this. I do have a plot or two in mind already, so I wouldn't get a writers block or anything... I think I'm rambling...
Okay then, have a great day! I'm looking forward to hearing what you think. Constructive criticism, please, I really don't want to experience flames again... Please review!