Here is the next one, my friends~

This story is something that i have had blumbling around my head for a while now~ It's based off a a picture (zerchan 809875) and all rights go to that person who made it because it is BEAUTIFUL! It had me enchanted by it for MONTHS~~~~

So, this will eventually become a story and this is the PRELUDE to that story (so when this point in the story comes, it will be between chapters because you already read it at that point~) it's title is jut what i called it at the time of writing it and might change depending. I'll let you know if it does~

There were too many people to properly see anything other than the nations beside him, not to mention the costumes made it impossible to find them. Carnevale, one of the most exciting times to be in Italy, when everyone is dressed in costume and masks, seemed to be the worst time to be searching. They could be anywhere, even with a specific city and building, there was no chance that either of them would stick out or make themselves known. Hell, that was the whole point though. He wanted it to be this way. He wanted the nations to be lost within the crowds while his new pets casually evaded them. It made Spain sick. How had this situation even come to be? How had no one noticed?

Oh right, because they were normal until he decided to stop playing. That's when this nightmare began…

Beside him, Germany growled in annoyance as the citizens and tourists danced around them without a care in the world. This ball was just another design in his plan and clearly everyone else wanted to play along. The few nations that had come had split into pairs to search for the brothers, leaving Spain and Germany together since, technically, they were the only two actually invited. Then again the little handwritten note of 'bring as many guests as one wishes' on both invites was rather conspicuous, so it could be assumed that he did want more nations to come, he just wanted it to hurt Spain and Germany the most.

"We won't be able to find them. This is impossible."

"He invited us for a reason, Antonio. He wouldn't do that unless he wanted to dangle them in front of us and to do that-"

"-they have to be in sight. I know." He did know. This is all England had been saying since they arrived earlier that day and were swept away by the celebratory crowd. "I just don't understand why he's waiting! It's not like we can even do anything, they won't listen!"

"Just wait. It's already been forty-three minutes since the parade ended and this dance began. He's just making us sweat." Antonio nodded, letting his head hang down a bit. At least they wouldn't have a problem being found when the time was right.

He and Germany had gone with half masks, both done in colors that were obviously done with their homelands in mind. They wanted to be so easily recognized that any simple person could tell where they were from. Spain had gone with a yellow mask that had red jewels and feathers along with his extravagant matador outfit.

Germany wore a white mask that only covered the right side of his face and had a few black and red scrawling designs on it. His outfit was an old spare Teutonic Knight uniform that Prussia had found when he was looking for his. Since it was Gilbert's, the arms and chest were a little tight on the thicker German, but he didn't complain. He had to find Italy and that tromped what little discomfort he suffered with.

The two nations decided that they should probably walk around since that was what the others were doing and it would be more productive than standing there and looking out of place like they did. Keeping close to each other, they wandered around the large, medieval room, swerving around its many drunken occupants. It would be a lie to say the place wasn't magnificent. The ceilings were high and the windows were large, giving a beautiful view of the setting sun and the Italian landscape. Delicate chandeliers hug from the ceilings and shed light on the happy dancers while a large stage was set up towards the front where a stringed band was playing. A second story rested above them, easily seen from the balcony that hung above the back half of the room opposite the band. Both nations would have been lost to its beauty if they weren't desperately searching for their lost lovers.

Antonio let out another groan of annoyance as another forty minutes passed and all that had happened was that they'd run into a few other countries who'd had no luck either and five drunk, Italian women had tried to dance with either him or Germany. This was getting ridiculous! Already almost an hour and a half had gone by and there was no sign of either Italy. "Maldito! Germany this has to be a farce. It's been too long already! Something should have-"

His words died on his tongue as his vivid, emerald eyes locked on a familiar pair of hazel. Just a handful of meters away, standing still within the throng of moving bodies, stood a man wearing a dark red medieval tail coat with gold detail down the front and a black, frilly jabot collar that matched his black cuffs. Antonio barley took notice of his outfit though. He was drawn to his eyes, such remarkable eyes that had entranced him since the day Austria gave him over as a child.

Hidden behind a full, white face mask, with the eyes dripping black and a black feather cascading off the right side, was the true identity of this person, but Spain didn't need to guess. This was Italy Romano, the little nation he'd watched grow since childhood. It was actually him. Lovino. Their eyes remained locked, the rest of the world ceasing to exist as Spain was slowly pulled into a trance by those hazel eyes. He moved closer. His feet taking him where his mind couldn't process until he was just close enough to touch him, just a few more people to push aside when Lovino broke contact and was gone.

Spain froze, suddenly lost. Where had he gone? Shoving the remaining people out of the way, he stood where he knew his lover had just been and looked around, catching the swish of red to his left and fighting to run after it. Wait for me, my love! I won't let you go!

"Antonio!" Germany's yells did no good as the Spaniard was swept away into the crowd. "Scheiße!" What the fuck had just happened? Spain had stopped talking and when Germany turned to question him, he'd just started pushing through the people like he saw something. When trying to follow, Ludwig was held back by the clueless dancers until it was too late and Antonio was gone. "Dammit, Now what?"

He reached into his awkward outfit for his phone, about to text that he'd lost Spain when he felt someone run a hand down his back. Confused, he turned and deadpanned at the man standing a few feet away. Dressed similarly to his brother, Feliciano wore a blue coat with white jabot and cuffs. His mask covered only the top half of his face, the right side was white with a black points coming from the top and bottom of the eye while the left side was gold with red detail and black and red feathers coming out from the center.

"F-Feli?"

The half nation's lips were turned up into a smile while his amber eyes captivated Ludwig's azure. Ludwig was so entranced that he missed how the younger Italy was slowly backing up until he too turned away and disappeared from sight. The German blinked before he realized he'd just lost his lover again and, in a frenzy, he pushed and shoved to follow the woosh of blue that seemed to always catch the corner of his eye. He couldn't lose his lover again. Not when he was so close to having him back.

Like a moths, the two nations were drawn by their eyes towards the flame. Neither thought as their bodies took them towards either side of the room, the back corners where the crowds were thinner and no one was looking. So easily separated from their allies.

So easily manipulated.

He just saw him! He just fucking saw him so where did he go? Feliciano couldn't have just disappeared. That wasn't possible! "Feliciano?' Germany pushed aside a few civilians that happened to be in his line of travel. "Feliciano!" He yelled, receiving nothing but looks from the people around him, which he didn't even notice. His light blue eyes scanned the few people that were here at the back of the large room, the outskirts, as it were. This was all part of the game and games tended to test one's mind constantly. If Italy had been first found in the crowd, then perhaps he was not there this time. Germany frowned, turning towards the walls, searching for the blue clad nation that he sought.

Antonio spotted him, or at least what he knew had to have been Lovino, at the very back left corner of the ballroom. A door, one that probably shouldn't have existed, was placed in the side wall against the corner; its door was wide open, calling him to enter.

Stepping through the doorframe, he was met with a long, dark hallway that certainly had no place with the bright, joyous room behind him. More of his 'magic'. Ludwig's eyes narrowed, his sense of purpose blotting out any sense of fear and driving further him down the unnatural corridor. There was a reason for this and he would find it. He would find Feliciano.

As he neared the end, he noticed a soft candle light flickering against the ground and walls through an open doorway on his right. This is it. I can feel it. Straightening his back, Spain stepped through the portal and into a room parallel to the grand ballroom. Across from him was Germany, seeming to be in a similar position as himself, just with opposite turns involved.

The two looked at each other before turning to make out the dimly lit room, noticing some kind of mass that seemed to be in the center as candles on either side sprang to life.

"Lovi!"

"Feli!"

Both Italians sat calmly on the mass (a dark green couch), their masks in place and their bodies slightly rigid in their poses. As one, the heads slightly turned apart from each other, like a mirror, and their hands reached up to remove the masks.

Spain and Germany couldn't hold back the shock from how beautiful the Italians were; their skin held a pale glaze to it, their eyes seemed to shimmer with a color and brightness that was impossible in this world. They don't look real.

"And they aren't, mister Germany. Thank you for noticing."

Behind the Italians, the figure of a man began to form. His face was covered by a dark mask, making his true identity unknown. It was hard to see much else as, despite the candles at either end of the couch in front of him, his body was still shrouded in darkness. All that Spain could make out was that he was taller than either himself or Germany and that he wore a dark cap that windlessly billowed around him. If he hadn't been so angry, he would have been terrified of the otherwise cliché villain before him.

The man gave a deep chuckle. "Yes, I know I must look rather cliché to you, but it is Carnevale. If one isn't making a fool of himself, then one is simply not doing it right. Now, please, if you don't mind…" He snapped his fingers and then gestured to two chairs opposite the couch that certainly hadn't been there before. "You are both my guests, in a manner of speaking, please have a seat. We have much to discuss." Antonio swallowed and looked over at Germany to see if they should take his offer or not, but Ludwig had his glare set strictly on the masked man in front of them as he began walking the few feet to the chairs. Antonio followed, hesitantly sitting down.

"Ah, good. Forgive me if I do not sit, but I prefer to stand. That way I can see everything."

"Who are you?" The German's deep voice cut through the atmosphere like an accusing knife.

"Cutting right to the point, I see. Who am I? You may call me Damian, although that is only one of my many names for, like yourselves, I am quite old. I will not say how far back my life extends, but I will inform you that I have much experience in this life and all it has to offer."

Antonio narrowed his eyes, unsure if he should believe him. "So what does that make you then? You aren't a nation."

"Oh, no! I am nothing like that. Consider me… a master of puppets."

"Excuse me?"

Damian smiled, the very formation of it sending a chill down Antonio's spine. "There are a few magickal things in the world, señor, like yourselves for example, and it takes a rather gifted mind to tap into them."

"A mind like yours?" Germany growled. "Indeed. A mind like mine." Antonio swallowed. "You call yourself a puppeteer and your first words were that they 'weren't real'…"

"Just take a moment and decide for yourselves what that means." They did. They looked across from them at the northern and southern halves of Italy, at their ridged poses, their dull and yet shining eyes, their glossy skin. Neither of them had moved since their masks had come off. Both stared out at nothing with their heads slightly tilted as if it was held up by a string. Dios mio… "What did you do to them..? Are they even-"

"Oh, they are the nations that you believe they are. Mostly."

"Mostly? What the fuck does that mean? What did you do to them?! Cut this cryptic shit and start talking! That's what you want, isn't it? To gloat? Then start already!" The 'puppet master' sighed. "Alright then." Reaching out dramatically, Damian snapped both of his fingers and whispered "Sleep." Instantly, both Romano and Veneziano collapsed against the couch, their bodies bending in ways that should have been impossible for anything other than a ragdoll. Feliciano's head rested directly onto his shoulder while his body slumped to the side. Romano's torso slumped forward so that his arms dangled off the front of the couch.

Both Germany and Spain jumped to their feet in shock and outrage. "What the fuck was that?" "What are did you do?"

Damian raised his hands, silencing them. "I apologize, but the subject you ask to hear about upsets them. I am simply doing them a favor. Now please, sit." Grudgingly, the two nations did as they were told. "Good. How shall I begin?"

"You can start by saying what the hell you did to my boyfriend."

"Hmm, alright then. Simply put, they are under my spell by ways of dark magick." Spain frowned. That much was obvious. Damian chuckled. "Yes, well mind you, that was the simple version. In a more complex story, they are possessed by a brand of demon that I created, a lower level one to be specific, to serve and entertain me. Why, you ask? Well, that is my own business I'm afraid, but do not worry. You will find out soon enough."

Ludwig's eyes widened as he looked at the broken 'puppet' of his lover. "What the hell is wrong with you? Why the hell-" "I already answered that. I will not tell you why I did this, but I can give you a reason why your kind have now been put under my radar. It's a fascinating thing, your species. Nations that live and grow as their land; virtually immortal. That means, you last longer than the typical human."

"This kind of possession and black magick…it takes its toll on the body and soul. Wears them out. Just look at what it's done to the nation of Italy in a few short weeks. You wouldn't believe how many humans I went through until I heard about the nation personifications! I was just so curious that I had to see for myself what all the fuss was about. Little did I realize that I had found the perfect vessel for my demons."

"Their soul? You bastard! That's why you put them out for this! They're in there! They can hear and see everything that's happening around them!"

"And feel and use their own minds! That is why they are them and yet not! Trapped inside their own minds unless I command them to come forth. They know everything and yet they are unable to move or breath or live. The demon lives for them and even then, it will only do as I say. Any broken rules and the creature of darkness will harm the true occupant of the body. It's beautiful, no?"

No, it wasn't. It was disgusting! Just what did this twisted fucker do with these demons? What did he make Lovino and Feli do against their will. "H-How? How did you even do this?"

"Every one of you has something inside them that I can latch onto. I know because I've already done this. I have been inside every nation's mind and found what I can use against you. I've even picked out a special demon for each of you because, it's as I said, each one of you will fall into this little trap of mine. That is why I will speak so freely about this. Tell your friends; inform them of what is to come. All of you will be mine. Every. Single. One."

Intense, no? That ending is still weird. Sorry.

So, i have some news for you all. Better Than I Know Myself, the story that i had been rping with Youruglyduckling and that was uploaded to her account will now be moved to mine. The reason? Well, she and i had a falling out. The story (as in the FIRST trilogy) is done, but we started (like JUST started the second 'book' of the second trilogy (which might or might not get posted at all). So i have it all and i will be re-editing it and be posting it here with the same title and little 'glimps' thing that you write. Just an FYI~

R&R