12/5/2011

-Information I feel that is needed to understand the story is at the bottom, and is represented by a *. Any other questions just review or send me a message, I promise I will reply.

-Thank you for all of the reviews and favs so far! I hope I don't disappoint any of you!

-I do not own Hetalia.

-o0o-

In the Hearts Castle Stable

"Alfred!" A voice cried, sounding alarmed. In a far-off corner, a teenager with gold blond hair and clear blue eyes looked up from his position on the hay covered floor.

"Yeah? What is it Roger?" He asked, washing a beautiful brown horse that lay on the ground in front of him.

"The, uh, Queen is here." Roger said nervously. Alfred stopped moving and faced the small apprentice, an uncharacteristic frown on his face.

"Kiku's here?" Roger winced at the familiarity at which the other used the Queens's first name.

"Yes, sir. He's here. Your Majesty said he wishes to see you."

"Doesn't he have a meeting or something today? What's he doing here?"

"I don't…" The smaller boy shook his head. Alfred sighed.

"Alright, might as well bring him in then since he's already here."

Roger nodded and disappeared through the double wooden door, leaving Alfred alone with his thoughts. Tired, he leaned back on his heels and ran a hand through his messy bangs, causing the horse he was cleaning to whinny in complaint at being abandoned. Alfred laughed and reached over to pet her, just as the doors flew open. Roger re-entered, looking so nervous that he almost appeared to be sick, and behind him followed a small Japanese man wearing a light, flowing maroon robe. In his right hand he held a small bouquet of dark red flowers, the Eternal Implement* of the Queen of Hearts. As the two approached, Alfred slowly stood up and brushed his pants free from dirt and hay. Then he straitened and beamed at the Queen, who watched him expectantly. Roger, on the other hand, almost seemed ready to pass out from shock at being in the presence of a Royal.

"Nice to see you again, Your Majesty," Alfred said politely, dipping his head. "What can I do for you?"

"Alfred, a pleasure as always," The Queen offered him a faint smile. "I wish to speak to you about something-" his dark brown eyes flitted to Roger, who was standing frozen, and then back to Alfred. "-alone, if I may be so rude."

"Oh, uh, yeah, sure. Roger," The boy jerked at the sound of his name. "Do you mind if I speak to the Queen alone for a moment? I'm sure it won't take long."

"O-of course!" Roger squeaked, turning as red. "Your Majesty," he made a hasty bow towards the Queen and scuttled away, running as fast as his legs could carry him.

"I think you scared him a little there, Kiku," Alfred said, chuckling.

"Hai, he seemed very nervous," Kiku frowned at the shutting door. "Did I do something to offend him?"

"You didn't do anything," Alfred grinned at his friend. "The kid's just not used to being around high ranking Royalty such as yourself." Kiku made a face.

"I wish you would stop calling me Royalty," He walked over to the doorway that led outside to the grounds and stared out at the sunset. "We have known each other since long before I ever became Queen." He slowly lowered himself onto a bench that rested against the stable wall.

"Technically, you were already in the running for Queen when I first met you." Alfred joined Kiku and watched the dark red colors bleed into the sky. The sunsets in the Hearts Kingdom were always red, never orange or gold like it probably was in the Diamonds Kingdom. Sometimes Alfred wondered what it would be like to travel to the different Kingdoms, each so different from Hearts, but he knew that it would be a wasted trip. He would never be able to find a home in another Kingdom like he had here with Kiku and his friends. "Besides, that's why I call you by your first name and not by your status or title."

"That is true," Kiku fingered the flowers in his hand, running a thumb over a dark petal. "And that is also why I enjoy your company so much. You don't treat me like I'm special; you treat me like you always have."

"Well, you've always been Kiku Honda to me," Alfred admitted. "Even after you became part of the Royal Deck, you were never 'The Queen' or 'Japan'. You were still my best friend, regardless of what you now stood for."

"Thank you, Alfred." Kiku reached over and squeezed Alfred's hand once before letting go. Alfred grinned in reply.

"No problem. Anyways, why are you here? I thought you said there was this big meeting thing you had to attend today."

"Ah, well, yes, the meeting was today." Kiku purposefully avoided Alfred's gaze.

"And…? Did you go?"

"Yes, I did."

"'Did'? Don't those things last all day?"

"Normally, they do. But today we finished early." Alfred raised an eyebrow.

"They never end meetings early, you told me that yourself." Kiku remained silent. "Don't tell me you snuck out or something before it ended." More silence. "Oh, god, you did! You snuck out! I can't believe this!" Kiku abruptly stood up, offended at being accused of such a thing.

"I did not! It was Feliciano-chan's idea, Ludwig-san and I just followed his example!" Alfred laughed.

"So Feliciano, the guy who can never come up with a bright idea to save his life, was actually able to convince you and Ludwig, the two most refined and realistic people I have ever met, to abandon an important meeting right in the middle of it? Oh, man, Kiku, this is hysterical! I would have never believed this!"

"Nothing was going on, we were just discussing borders and new battle strategies," Kiku nervously bit his lip. "You don't think the Officers will mind, do you?"

"Nah, they were probably just as bored as you were." Alfred grinned up at him. "Sit back down, you already did it, so there's no point in going back." He patted the empty bench beside him and Kiku sat down again.

"Is that what you wanted to talk to me about?" Alfred asked, watching the dark outlines of a flock of birds against the sky. "'Cause, no offense, but you could've told me that in front of Roger."

"I like talking to you alone when there are no ears to listen to our conversation and no eyes to see our reactions. And, no, I wanted to ask you about something else."

"Okay, shoot." Alfred closed his eyes and relaxed against the wall.

"I wanted to know if you would like to go to the Alhliða Gathering** with me this year." Alfred's eyes flew open and he stared at his friend, surprised. "I know you like meeting new people, and I think this would be a great experience for you. In fact, I find it hard to believe that you have never gone before."

"But, I'm not allowed to go anywhere else besides Hearts, remember? The last time I went to another Kingdom, I ended up punching that Braginski guy in the face…and then the last King of Hearts and the King of Clubs forbade me from ever traveling again."

"Yes, but Braginski-san is now Russia-san, and the new King of Clubs. He was a candidate the last time you saw him, but he was chosen by his Kingdom's Eternal Implement, and was crowned ruler. Therefore, the King's threat is no longer standing, that is unless Russia-san decided to renew it, which he did not. Also, the Gathering is always in No-Man's-Land***, no one can banish you from going there." Alfred sat up straighter, and his eyes lit up with excitement.

"So, that means I can go without being punished?"

"Hai, I believe so. I doubt Ludwig-san will deny you from traveling with us; he is your friend too, after all." Alfred laughed out loud in joy, and threw his arms around Kiku in a bone-crushing hug.

"Thank you! Thank you!" he cried, tightly squeezing the smaller boy.

"Alfred!" Kiku gasped. "I-can't-breathe!" Alfred immediately released him.

"Oh, god, I am so sorry! Are you okay?" he asked, panicked as Kiku sucked in as much air as he could into his lungs.

"I am fine," he said finally. "But you must learn to control your strength, Alfred. Is that not what training in the military is for?" Alfred smiled sheepishly.

"Yeah, I guess. But I've never been good at following the rules."

"That is true." Kiku sighed and shook his head. "Does that mean you will attend the Gathering with me?"

"Yes, of course! As long as Ludwig says its okay, I'd be happy to go! Will you ask him for me, though? If I ask him, he'll probably give me that calculating stare of his that always makes me feel like I've done something wrong."

"Normally you have done something wrong," Kiku reminded him patiently. "But, yes, I will ask him. He will not say no though; he likes you, as does Feliciano-chan and I."

"Thanks, Kiku. That means a lot to me." He hugged Kiku again, but this time more gently. "You have no idea how happy this makes me. This Gathering is going to be amazing!"

-o0o-

"Each player must accept the cards life deals him or her: but once they are in hand, he or she alone must decide how to play the cards in order to win the game."
Voltaire

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Translations according to Google:

(Icelandic)Alhliða- universal

(Japanese) Hai- that's how the word "yes" sounds in Japanese when spoken out loud.

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Background Information (Sorry for the lengthy explanations):

*The Eternal Implements (also known as EI's or Imps) are magical objects that are specific to each Kingdoms' King, Queen, and Jack, and have special mysterious properties that only their owner has access too. In addition, it is the Eternal Implements that choose the next rulers of the Kingdoms out of the candidates, and not the previous King, Queen or Jack. Jokers do not have Eternal Implements. Examples of Eternal Implements: Kiku's flowers, Arthur's clock, Elizaveta's sword, etc.

** The Alhliða Gathering is a Holiday where anyone who is able to travels to a town in the middle of No-Man's-Land. Everyone wears white, so it is impossible to tell who is from which Kingdom, and they basically just celebrate being alive. It's a day to forget differences and to accept each other for who they are and not for what Tattoo they bear.

*** No-Man's-Land is a very long strip of territory that spreads throughout the Suit World and divides the 4 Kingdoms. As a result, none of the 4 Kingdoms' borders touch each other, and anyone is allowed travel through the territory because it does not belong to any specific Suit. However, it is often called the "Joker's Territory" because that is where the two are seen the most.