Authors Notes: This is an AU story and my first Hetalia story. I don't own, the idea is mine though. America and Canada are theirs but that is simply because I'm an American so I'm showing a little bias, also I'm really close to Matthew though I won't say on which side and he's my favorite character. Beta-read by Kitty29 Enjoy!
A long time ago, the country of Chagnan was full of shapeshifters that could change intoanimals. It was said that each person had two names, a common name and a soul name which could not be repeated except in times of great need or by their soul mate. Sometimes a person could shape-shift into two animal forms and it was said that these people were destined for greatness. For a long time people in Chagnan lived happily, humans and shapeshifters living side by side . Until one day when across the mountains came invaders who overran Chagnan with the help of the royal family's most trustedadviser. The invaders set about destroying the shape-shifters and repopulating the country with 'normal' people with a new king at the head of the government. Partof the royal family and some of the shape-shifters managed to escape into the Baijo forest which surrounded Chagnan on two sides. The shape-shifters, renaming themselves the Kai'tun lived waiting for the right moment to attack and re-gain what they lost.
Gilbert of Shanna, son of a noble of medium stature in King Ivan's court slowly slipped out the door of his room, red eyes darting around as he slowly made his way down the long hallway. He wore dark blue silk pants and a dark purple silk short-sleeved shirt, with a green wool cloak around his shoulders.
"Hey Master Gilbert." A voice hissed from beside one of the statues, and Gilbert jumped, startled.
"Antonio." He said softly, once he'd identified the voice and relaxed. Antonio was a servant in the mansion and the closest thing Gilbert had to a best friend.
"Where are you going at this hour, Master Gilbert?" Antonio asked, slipping out from his hiding spot and standing next to him.
"Away. I don't know where yet though and I told you to just call me Gilbert." Gilbert admitted, knowing that Antonio would make no move to stop him.
"Thought so, but really dressed like that? Well I'm going with you." Antonio stated slipping a cloth sack across his shoulder. Although Gilbert couldn't see him because of the darkness, he was positive Antonio was smiling.
"What no, you can't come with me; I'm too awesome to travel with anyone. Also what do you mean dressed like that?" Gilbert protested, trying to keep his voice down so that no one would wake up.
"I know where your brother is." Antonio retorted, "I can bring you to him if you want, but I have to come with you, and you aren't going to get anywhere dressed like you are. Come with me for a moment, I'll grab some clothes for you to wear."
Gilbert's eyes widened when he heard Antonio's words. A chance to see Ludwig again? That was too tempting to resist. Ludwig had tired of their father's, Lord of Shanna, cruelty to everyone and anyone except those closest to the throne and run away from home five years earlier leaving Gilbert to their fathers wrath. Although Gilbert hid it behind a cheerful front inside he worried for his younger brother. Often did he find himself thinking of him and hoping he was okay.
"Fine," he said, and then added in an afterthought. "You deserve it anyways for putting up with my asshole of a father." Antonio laughed softly before gently grabbing his hand and walking forward.
"Follow me." He hissed, "Follow me and trust that I know what I'm doing. We'll talk when we get out of here." Gilbert nodded his head even though he knew Antonio couldn't see him.
"Come with me," Antonio said, gently tugging Gilbert into one of the many guest rooms. "Wear these." He pushed some clothes into Gilberts hands and Gilbert pulled them on. These were made of a heavy fabric, though colored in the same dark shades as his old clothes.
The escape of the mansion was quick and easy, the guards on duty not looking towards the servants entrance, which as Gilbert thought about it was un-professional. Passing through the servants quarters and out the back kitchen door Gilbert could have sworn he heard whispers of "Good luck Master Gilbert" or "Give Master Ludwig our love" but he brushed it off. He had done nothing to earn the servants well-wishes.
"You are so popular Master Gilbert." Antonio commented lightly as soon as they were out on the long road, his voice slightly louder but filled with warmth and hope.
"What do you mean?" Gilbert asked. Part of him wondered why he wasn't saying 'but of course. I am awesome,' but he waved it off.
"Surely you heard the servants' well-wishes?" Antonio said, sounding surprised. Gilbert paused to look at his friend and asked softly. "Why would they want to wish me well? I've never done anything to stand out to them."
Antonio laughed softly obviously amused. "You were kind to us, unlike your father. Don't look at me like that, I'm serious. Anytime you said please or thank you, anytime you didn't yell or hurt us, that was a mark of good in our books. Of course they would want to wish you good luck."
Gilbert flushed at the unexpected words but didn't reply. They walked on for some time, passing the boundary of Shanna and into the Lord of Gitchken's land. Gilbert simply trusting his friend until they came to an inn on the side of the road. Before they entered Antonio turned to Gilbert and said, "Let me handle the talking, okay?"
The inn was empty except for a medium sized man who sat at one of the wood tables. The man had black hair and when he looked up Gilbert saw that he had brown eyes. "You guys are here at an odd hour." The man stated calmly, his voice heavily accented. Antonio offered a small tired smile.
"Yes, well, do you have any rooms?" The man nodded.
"Yes. I have one room available, if you are willing to share." Gilbert shared a look with Antonio and shrugged. He was tired so he honestly didn't care where he slept as long as he could rest soon.
"That will be fine." Antonio said and the man nodded.
"Come with me." The room was in the attic of the Inn, small with a single bed and a small window open to the chilly night air. "This will be perfect, thank you." Antonio said as Gilbert yawned, covering his mouth. Once the man was gone Antonio turned to Gilbert and said in a tone that brooked no room for argument. "You take the bed, there are some blankets that I'll use on the floor." Gilbert opened his mouth to argue, but closed it and nodded Too tired for further conversation, the two shrugged off their traveling gear before going to bed and falling into an easy sleep.
When Gilbert awoke, he was momentarily confused. He wasn't at home, that much he knew but he didn't know where he was. As he blinked the sleep away from his eyes, the memories came flooding back.
"Oh good you are up." Antonio said cheerfully from the doorway. "I was just talking to Kiku, the Inn owner and I have to say it was a stroke of luck that we stopped here."
"Why?" Gilbert mumbled, stretching like a cat.
"It's a secret. Anyway if we are to reach our destination before night fall we should leave now."
Gilbert swore but stood, his stomach growling. "Can I give my awesome self some food first?" He asked hopefully, not really wanting to start walking right away.
"Nope," Antonio said pulling a bun from a cloth bag and tossing it to Gilbert. "Catch."
Gilbert swore again but caught it, taking a bite he nearly hummed in happiness. The filing was a rich mixture of potatoes and meat with a hint of spices.
"Come on, we'll finish eating on the road." Antonio ordered slinging his travel sack over his shoulder. He started to grab Gilbert's but stopped when Gilbert growled warningly through a mouthful of bun. Swallowing the bit Gilbert said, "I can take it, I'm not your master anymore."
Antonio nodded and the two of them left the room. After paying Kiku they headed back onto the road, which was busier now that it was board daylight. The two of them walked in relative silence for sometime, eating the buns that Kiku had packed them. Gilbert wanted to ask where they were headed but couldn't find a way to ask without sounding 'un-awesome' and so kept his mouth shut. After awhile Antonio turned off the main road and headed toward the forest. Gilbert froze and quietly hissed, "Antonio, are you crazy? Where are you going?" Antonio turned to face Gilbert and said. "Trust me, I know what I'm doing. Come on, I want to be somewhere safe before it gets dark."
Gilbert hesitated, still nervous. Like nearly everyone growing up in Chagnan, he was raised with stories of the spirits and ghosts that haunted the forest. These stories installed a fear in every citizen to the point that those who didn't fear the forest were considered touched in the head, because of this fear there were no guards, as people avoided it for the most part. The forest wrapped it's self around Chagnon on two sides, which made travel to lands beyond it impossible that way.
"Come on," Antonio said, already at the forest's edge. "Or are you too scared?"
Gilbert swore and stalked to Antonio, hating the fact that Antonio knew him well enough to goad him into doing something.
"You sure my brother's beyond the forest?" He asked gripping his bag until his knuckles turned white.
"Sorry can't tell you yet, I made a promise to Kiku." Antonio replied, heading into the forest. The forest was dense and dim, the slight breeze causing the light that managed to find it's way through the leaves dance across the forest. Bird song rang through the air and the distant sound of animals only added to the mysteriousness of the forbidden place. Antonio pushed branches out of the way as he walked, causing them to snap back and hit Gilbert in the face.
"Antonio, careful of where those branches go! They keep hitting me." He said finally, getting sick of being hit.
"Sorry," Antonio said sheepishly, "I didn't realize that they were hitting you." Gilbert sighed and continued to walk behind him, hoping that Antonio wasn't leading him to his doom.