Hello again everyone. TheBookAlchemist coming to you with yet another story that I really don't have the time for, but will be writing this nonetheless. I think this the first completely original story I've ever written, without using the first couple emails of an RP or getting the idea from someone else and I don't know why this popped into my head, but it sound like so much fun to write. Even though this will be nationverse, I will use human names, because it just sounds so weird anymore to call them by their country names. Also this...won't necessarily be ooc. There will be all the elements needed, but just split into a mess. So please enjoy as I try my best to stick with both stories as well as do my best to not let this be to much of a let down and thank you for at least giving this story a chance. As my mom says about TV shows. You should always watch the pilot. In this case you should always read at least the first chapter of something you find interesting.

Thirteen Frogs and a Brit

Chapter one: The Shallow Frenchman

-I'm a plain line breaker. Ignore me and keep reading please-

Arthur hummed as he sat worked in the basement of his large home. Well more specifically he was in his magic room in a room off to the side of the basement. Shelves lined with all kinds of potions and things for brewing more potions. His precious mint bunny circling him every now and then withe lazy squeaks as he flipped through his spell book, trying to figure out what spell would be best for the damned frog. He loved Francis he really did. Arthur had been the one to reluctantly confess about a year ago. They still fought and argued pretty regularly, but not as much as they used to and that was mostly because of the fact that Arthur was still learning how to properly show and give emotions. As well as show them himself as well.

The reason why he was down in his magic so casually in mid-day though is because of the fact that he needed to brew something that would convince Francis magic was real. That was one of the things that still managed to irk him to no ends was that he still laughed in his face whenever magic was brought up. So Francis and him had made a deal. If Arthur could prove to Francis that magic is indeed real and not at all a joke then he would stop making fun of him for it. HIs first thought was turn the pain in the ass into a frog for a week since it would be so appropriate and honestly funny to watch him and croak around...maybe even a little adorable as well. Oh who was he kidding it would be fucking adorable. In fact that was what he was in the middle of looking for when he instead stumbled upon something much older, but much more interesting. "To get a better grasp of what someone is like use this spell to pull them into their most vulnerable and honest state." He murmured as he let a finger trail along with the words that he read.

He stood there for a good five minutes looking over the spell in curiosity, part of him did want to better know Francis. Of course he knew him as a the pain in the ass hopeless romantic that he was. The Perverted Frenchman who wore designer brand clothes and cologne whenever he was leaving the house, but sometimes he wondered if it was all an act or maybe there was more to him that he didn't want people to know about or didn't care to show as much as he did other things. Then again how much more could there to be to him? Francis could be quite a shallow man at times, at least that's what his opinion was at least. He stood a couple seconds more now debating whether to turn his beloved into a frog or to split his personality. On one hand it would to be adorable to turn him into a frog, but he could also use this deal to possibly learn about the man he had thought he had known for centuries...yet only really managed to start knowing about a year ago. HIs mind was made up as he started collecting the things he would need to brew.

An hour later he stood, stirring the final project, a beautiful translucent mixture that tended to change colors depending on the lighting he was in, while he spoke the required incantation to finialize it.

"To find the truest of self

To know the deepest of wounds

To figure out the darkest secrets

Bind this spell.

Let victim be split

Let caster be whole

In three days time all will be known "

Arthur smiled lightly as it gained a light glow and he gave it a swirl. Nodding in satisfaction at the finished product, he carefully transferred it to a smaller vile and corked it so as not to spill the precious liquid, it did read that the taste though would be rather bitter...mayber Francis could make a little a sweet treat and then he could spike the one Francis would eat. Not like he wouldn't know what was going on. Francis was the one who came up with this after all. So it's not like he would be doing this without consent or something.

With his mind made up he shed the cloak he was wearing and blew out the candles. Giving a small whistle for mint bunny to follow with, the green plush bunny flying lazily after him, before he shut the door and mad his way up the steps to the kitchen where the smell of something wonderfully delicious accosted his nose and looked around to find Francis at the stove working on something for lunch. He smiled a little as he stood back for a couple minutes. Just watching the way he worked, observing him. It was funny how quickly Francis started to move around his kitchen as if he had been there his whole life. That and the garden where they would often tend to flowers together.

"Hey, what's for lunch? It smells delicious.." He said at last as he made his over and somewhat awkwardly wrapped his arms around the taller man. "Mm..and what's that cologne you're wearing today? It actually smells nice for once."

Francis chuckled lightly as he stole a kiss from Arthur's forehead. "Bacon chicken Alfredo pasta with salad. There's als a cheesecake cooling in the fridge for later once we eat. As for my cologne, I don't remember the name of it, but it's something I picked up a while ago as a sample. Sadly it's almost out so I only wear it on a occasion." He retracted his arms from the hug they had given Arthur. As much as he wanted to just hold him for the rest of eternity he would be damned if he let anything burn. "Did you finish up with spooky spells down there and everything?"

Arthur pulled away as well once the arms were retracted and leaned against a counter out of Francis's way. "I did, and I have something that's sure to prove to you not to trifle with a master of the dark arts." He said with a light huff and crossing of his arms.

Francis still couldn't help, but laugh about that, he really did try and take it seriously, but he just didn't understand how one could be so serious about such a non-sensical topic. "Well what do you have in store for the fabulous me then? Anything special?"

Arthur just a playful smirk. "When we eat dessert, you will find out. Until then I'm not giving you any hints or clues for what it is to come."

Francis pouted slightly as he dished them both up a bowl of pasta and fixed them a salad and set the table for them before he took a seat of his own. "Are you alright? You look paler than usual...you feeling okay?" He asked with light bit of concern to his voice as Arthur slid into the seat across from him.

Arthur quirked a light brow at the question presented before he nodded. "I've been a little under the weather today, but it's not a big deal."

"Maybe you should take a little nap and hold off on this little deal of ours until tomorrow…"

Arthur gave a smug little smirk towards the Frenchman. "What's this chickening out already Francis? Like you always do?"

Francis merely scoffed as he heard the accusation. "Hardly. I'm merely concerned about my precious chou chou. Your petty little spells and nonsensical potions don't scare and with my luck you probably fucked up the spell anyway."

"Oi! I'm not a bloody cabbage and you should fear what my spells can do! I made sure this one would this would correct and would work the way I want it to."

Francis only offered another laugh and gave a small shrug. "I'm sorry I just can't take it seriously until I have some actual proof. And I'm not going to go through with it until you lay down for an hour after lunch. If you don't our deal is off."

Arthur sighed, but none the less he gave a nod of agreement and Francis gave a victorious smile. They always had a hard time saying no to one another no matter how stubborn they liked to say they were.

Once that little score had been settled they ate lunch and made mundane small talk as they usually did. Mostly Francis trying to prod and poke for questions about what tye spell would do only to be denied any sort of an explanation, which, Francis would never admit it, but he was kind of scared to go into this blind. He wished that he could hage at least some sort of exanation about what would happen.

Arthur finished eating first and sighed as he head off to their bedroom; he would never admit to the damn frog, but he was a little tired so perhaps a little rest before they got on with things was a good idea.

Francis finished his own and collected the dishes and cleared the table and wiped it down before he got started on the the dishes that he had used to cook lunch while his beloved rested up.

-I'm a plain line breaker ignore me and keep reading-

It was about two hours before Francis woke up Arthur with a cup of tea brewed to perfection and a slice of chesse cake and carried it up to their room where was happily snuggled up under the blankets. His side rising and falling evenly with peaceful breathing.

Franci set the tray down on the nightstand and Gave Arthur's shoulder a couple shakes. "Cher, it's the man of your dreams calling."

Arthur stirred and slowly cracked his eyes open. "Keep dreaming frog." He mumbled stubbornly as he pushed himself into a sitting position and took the offered tray.

"No need to be so stubborn everyone knows it's true."

"First of all not everyone only, and secondly why don't you go to sleep and do a little a dreaming yourself."

Francis just waved his hand as he took a minute to admire Arthur's shirtless form before he chuckled. "Anyway, I'm going to go get some wash going and then we'll get down to our deal. Is there anything you need washed?"

Arthur looked around before he lazily pointed to the shirt he had been wearing earlier. "Thanks...and...thank you for the tea, as well." He murmured. "You made it just the way the way I like it."

"Two sugars, pinch of honey and some milk, the way you've been drinking it since you were little and I was just older than you." Francis said as he plucked the shirt off the back of the chair and plopped it in the basket. "I'll be back up in a couple minutes. Enjoy your tea. And your cake."

Arthur gave a little laugh at that as Francis left before he looked over as he saw the other poke his head in with a playful smirk. "Or you know...you could lose the other two articles of clothing and we could have a different kind of fun."

A red streak flew across Arthur's face and he nearly choked on the bite of cake when he heard what he said before he grabbed the book he was currently reading and tossed it at the Frenchman's face which unfortunately ducked behind the door. "You pervy git! Go run the laundry!"

Francis sighed as he heard the shout and looked to the floor a moment before he poked his head through the door. "Sorry...I just thought that maybe..." He shook his head as he let that sentence trail off and after a moment he just closed the door and started to pick his way to the laundry room. It had been fifty years before their last drunken night...sloppy and heated and that wasn't even the kind of sex he was looking for. He had never been able to show Arthur how loving he could be if he would only give him a chance. He wanted slow and passionate kisses...ones of longing and affection. He flicked the light on and started to go through pockets as he tossed things in the washer as he had a habit of doing so that something wouldn't end up going for a bath in the washer as well. As he came across the shirt that had been draped over the back of the chair, he quirked a brow as he felt his fingers curl around something glass, gave a confused look at the vile he fished out. Whose liquid was currently wine red in the dim lighting. Why did Arthur have wine in a vile? That was a bit odd...though...he wondered now how it tasted. Curious he set the shirt in the washer, selected the settings he wanted and left it wash while he stepped. Smiling with curiosity as he uncorked the vile and took a sampling sip. At first he was hit with an overwhelming bitterness that left him coughing, but once he it died down he found the after taste to be quite sweet and pleasant. Drawn to the taste with two more sips he had downed the liquid and left the vile sitting on the counter with the cork.

Arthur sighed as he ate the last couple bites of the delicious cheesecake and sipped the last of his tea with a small pout. Was it gone already...it was so good, he found himself wishing to have another cup, but still a little to groggy to want to get up and move just yet. Where was Francis anyway he should have been back by now.

Francis doubled over as he started to climb the stairs. One hand balling the material of the shirt over his chest and the other gripping onto the balcony as he wheezed and groaned out in paine. What the hell was going on? Why was he so weak all of sudden? What was this sudden agony? If felt like he was being split apart. He stumbled as he reached the next step before he managed to get a grip on himself, but lasted shortly. As he reached the halfway mark he finally fell, entirely. Curling up as agony wracked his body and his stomach flipped and flopped and went in directions he didn't even know were possible. He looked up the rest of the stairs through waning vision as if looking at it might just somehow get him up there so that Arthur could help him. "Art..thur.." He got out in a strangled whisper that wasn't even in the same ballpark as being loud enough for Arthur to be able to hear him and with final grown and painful shiver of his spine he finally lost consciousness.

Arthur sighed as he laid in bed for a little while longer, still waiting for Francis to come back, but he just sat there listening to the wall clock tick the minutes away with no book to read, since it was still by the door from when he had thrown it at Francis, and part of him started to get a little worried that maybe he had been to harsh on the Frenchman for suggesting such a thing and maybe left, so finally after about fifteen minutes had passed pulled himself from the warmth of the covers, pulled on a clean shirt, when suddenly something struck him. The potion! Francis always went through pockets before he tossed things in the washer so he had to have found the vile...oh no….what if drank it?! He went racing out the bedroom door and then took the steps three at a time. "Francis! Francis! Francis come one where are you?!"

When he got no answer, but saw the back door slightly open rushed out find Francis in his blue button down shirt he sighed in relief. "Are you alright Francis? You gave me quite-"

"It's together that we are called Francis. My name is Fleur. I am his inner Hopless Romantic so to speak." Fleur said as he turned to face Arthur. Eyes calm and full of love to give. "Do you know the story about the moon and the sun?"

Arthur eyes widened as he heard what...well what Fleur said and was so shocked and stuck on processing that he just simply shook his head.

"It is said that they were cursed long ago, and the moon was forced to make a choice between himself and his beloved. He will die every night for her for eternity and back just so that she could breathe...I would do the same for you Arthur. He does...love you very much."

Arthur had collapsed onto a bench by this point before he looked up to Fleur with a question he was finally able to ask. "Well this shouldn't to rough..three days and given how shallow Francis is there's what..three, four of you?"

Fleur gave Arthur a light scowl as he heard the word shallow used to describe a man such as Francis and crossed his arms. "Well I was going to help you make introductions and learn names, as well as find the other's, but given the fact you've just used the one word Francis hates to be called, you can have your own luck seeking out the other twelve."

Arthur froze as he looked up to Fleur who started to retreat inside once more. "Th-there's...there's...thirteen of you frogs? I have to keep track of all thirteen of you?! For three days?!"

"Tell them to meet in the living room once you've found them all so we can make proper introductions."

Arthur sighed as he heard the the back door slide shut again before he dropped his head into his hands. "Oh God what have I gotten myself into?"