A/N: Good news! My friend is okay, so things are getting better for me :D So I'm going to take a break from my other stories and continue with this one!

"You are staying here!"

"Nein!"

"You are too irresponsible! You're a rouge too! We'd get stopped!"

"So are you! And I'm more older and awesome then you! Kesesese take that!"

"That has nothing to do with it!"

"If you leave, I'll break something and blame it on you."

"Oh real mature! This is what I'm talking about!"

"Just take me with you!"

I sigh and sit on the sofa, flipping through the channels on a ghost tv called PTV. Everything runs on a elctricity-type energy called pumpkin. I've been sitting here for an hour now, listening to them bicker. I flip around in my position.

"Why can't Gilbert just come?" The albino shot his brother a smug look. Ludwig sighed and his furry ears twitched.
"He could, but he's troublesome."

Gilbert snorted. "He's just worried because I have connections all over Ever After."
I cock my head. "What do you mean?"

"It means he's a criminal." Ludwig's ears flattened and he growled a bit. "We don't need more attention!" The two started to bicker again in rapid German. I recognized a few words like 'idiot', 'nein' and 'dumkomph'.

I guess Ludwig gave up as he shook his head and Gilbert laughed. "AHA! I win! Point one for Admiral Awesome!"

I smile weakly and got up, slinging my back back over one shoulder. "So what now? I assume we have a plan?"

The blond nodded. "Ja. We will head North East towards Nightmare. It will take time since geographically, Ever After is at least 10 times the size of Earth. Luckily, her lair, the Land of Dream Thieves isn't too far from the Capitol. The first stop should be Transverse Town. Unfortunately, we'd have to deal with the fact that you look and smell alive... Boogey's henchmen would be everywhere now that they know you're here."

"Not a problem, West! Like I said, little bird, I have connections! I can hook you up with something to make you look more ghostly!" He floated to his brother and grinned, putting an arm around him. "You remember Antonio, right?" Ludwig shoved him off.

"Nein. No way in Hell."

"Oh don't be so bitter! He's on the way too!"

"I said nein!"

"Are you still mad that he replaced the vanilla pudding with mayo?"

"I waited weeks for those! Not to mention the potatoes you ate!"

"Come on! We don't even need to eat!"

Ludwig sighed, giving in. "I guess... He lives in the Carnival, right?"

"Ja! Like I said, on the way! You ready to go?" Gilbert looked at him with the widest, most dumbest grin I ever saw. It gave me hope.

"Yeah!"

Gilbert and Ludwig said that walking may be slow, but was the only way to get to the carnival. I really didn't know what to expect. Gilbert said that the best way without getting caught with a human was through the desert called Sandland. I couldn't imagine why...

There was no weather, and the air was the same, but I still had lungs. Plus there was sand everywhere and I accidentally kept swallowing it. I guess you could say it looked like the Sahara, but bigger.

After the fifth hour, Gilbert had to pick me up and carry me. His coolness comforted me a lot. I think I fell asleep on him too.
After hour ten (or the 12th, I lost count), he shook me awake. "Yo, we're here!" I yawned and looked up. Behind us was the desert and in front was- Oh maple. In front was the biggest carnival I ever seen. I mean, think of all of the amusement parks, circuses, fairs and carnivals you been too. Take them then smash them all together in a small city. In the distance I could see that the whole place was dotted with rollercoasters, rides, food booths, and colorful tents. Neon lights lit up a huge sign at the front. 'Welcome to Carnival Von Death! Play Until Your Heart's Desire!'. And not to mention all of the people. Gosh, it seemed like hundreds, millions were exciting and entering the front. Gilbert then pointed out the far side. There was one single ticket booth there and no one seemed to want to go there. Weird.

"That's for all of the workers." Gilbert explained. "They have their own secret entrance because the front is too crowded. Only workers can get through, but I'm sure I can smooth it all out." I nodded, then realized something. My whole face flushed a little.

"Um, Gil? Can you put me down now? I can walk..." He laughed and let me down. Ludwig shook is head, but the wolf ears perked up in amusement. Great.
We the closer we got, the more nervous I was. What if they catch me? Ludwig said if they caught me, I'll never get home!

"Hey what's the pass- You!" The man and the ticket booth looked bored and grumpy, at least until Gilbert reached him with that stupid grin. Now he just looked furious.

"Oh Lovino! I didn't know you were running the entrance booth today! Look, I really need to see Antonio for-"
"Forget it, potato bastard, you can suck my balls!" He shifted his eyes to me and Ludwig quickly walked in front, blocking his view. I noticed he had a strong Italian accent too.

"Look, can you maybe bring someone else out here like your brother or Antonio? We really need to talk to him."

"Only workers are allowed this way! Besides, I'm not letting your annoying fuck of a brother or you in here!"

I peeked over Ludwig to see Gilbert chuckle and lean on the booth.
"You can't tell me you're still mad! It was a joke!"

"You played food fight with my tomatoes! You have any idea how hard it is to get those, four inches?"

"H-Hey! That was out of line! I'll have you know that I have five meters of awesome!" Ludwig and I both face-palmed.

"Ha! In your dream, asshole!"

I took a closer look at the angry little Italian. Lovino had dark eyes and dark brown hair with a stubborn looking curl twisting out. He was wearing similar clothes to Ludwig and Gilbert. I guess he died around the same time. It was slashed everywhere too and there was a prominent rope burn on his neck. He turned and glared at me.

"Who the hell are-" Lovino stopped mid-sentence to scream then swear in rapid Italian. Behind him was a tall laughing man, accepting the weak swats. "Lovi! Those are my friends you're harassing!" Out from the gate popped another person, a boy who looked almost identical to Lovi except he had lighter hair.
"Ludwig!"

"Oof!" I was pushed back, but then I smiled as the small Italian boy leapt into the large German's arms.

"Ve! I missed you a lot! I thought you were never coming back, or dead! But then I realized we were dead, so I wasn't really worried anymore! But still! I thought you forgot about me!" The boy rambled on and Ludwig sighed, explaining to him that he had only been gone for a few days. It was a pretty cute sight, then I realized Lovino was still swatting at the other man. I nervously looked at Gilbert and he just grinned and pulled me forward.

"'Tonio!"
The man looked up, smiled, then quickly wrapped his arms around the Italian, wrapping one against his mouth and the other around his body. "Hola! You need something?"

"Actually yeah. This is my friend Matt! He's, uh, a bit different then most spectators, so for some reason he doesn't float like the rest of us. You said you had this cloak that made you look ghostly, still have?" I was about to open my mouth, but Gilbert nudged me. Hard.
What? That's so stupid! Like anyone would actually believe that! Its so ridic-

"Si! That's very unfortunate! But if you pay the price, I can give it to you!" Gilbert flashed me a smile and Lovino struggled in the man's grip. I guess he is slow...

"So what will it take? I have a few coins, some food, and a tomato too!" Gilbert took out what he had and Antonio shook his head sympathetically.

"Sorry, amigo! This item is really rare! Unless you have a something more valuable, I can't do it!" An idea popped in my head and I reached in my backpack.

"Will these work?" I handed him the geodes and the umbrella. I would have gave him the food, but I ate it already.

"Woa! Those are some pretty nice stuff! Si! Let me get it!" He let go of Lovino and disappeared. The Italian glared at me.

"You're alive. He might be a fool, but I'm not." I froze.

"I know you hate me Lovino, but please don't drag him in it-"

"You're lucky I'm smart too. No way in hell am I gonna tell those dogs to get you! I don't want them here! They'd scare away business!" I sigh in relief.

"Thank you."

"Well you better be you piece of sh-" He yelped as Antonio leaned down and pecked him on the cheek. "Fucking bastardo!" Antonio stepped out of the booth and gave me a black cloth and I gave him my geodes and umbrella and the tomato from Gil. No way I was gonna give him Kuma.

"This cloak was meant for the living actually, so they looked dead! You just tie it around your self like a towel, yeah, that's it! Like a cape! There's a hood too!" I gasped as I put it on. My skin almost look transparent! My feet were floating off a little too! I was floating! I took a better look at myself as Antonio held up a mirror. My blond hair was dirty messy and a little curl was sticking out. My clothes weren't too bad, I mean I was in a red hoodie and jeans. Pretty plain. But somehow the cloak looked... Elegant on me. It just seemed to fit me perfectly. There was even a hood. Maple..

"You look good in it!"

"Wow! You look dead!" Gilbert smiled and thanked Antonio.

"West! Let's go!"

I looked over and saw the Italian still hugging Ludwig then a disappointed expression washed across his face. "Ve.. You're leaving?"

"Ja. I'll be gone for a long while, so stay here, ja?" He shook his head furiously.

"No! I'm coming! What if something happens to you? Hey fratello, I'm coming with Ludwig!"

The other was struggling, but slowly giving in on the Spaniard's kisses. "F-Fine! But if you end up at the bottom of the sea, I will kill those potato bastards a second time! Nh, stop it!"

"See? I'm coming!" He stubbornly linked arms with Ludwig and looked at us. "Ve! Let's go!" Ludwig's ears flattened in annoyance, but he finally agreed. "Fine.. Let's head Westward, ja?"

To get to Traverse Town, we were able to take a train actually. It was nice not having to walk and not getting weird glances at everyone. Gilbert bought (stole actually) some pumkin muffins, pumpkin juice (not as bad as it sounds), and some other snacks (pumkin seemed like the prefered flavor here). The train took about an hour. We then had to walk again for about five hours. During the trip, I learned that the small Italian's name was Feliciano, or just Feli. He died with his brother during World War II after being deserters of a war.

"How old were you?"

"At the time? Ve, I was only 15 and a half! I mean, Lovi is a year older then me, but it was too much for us! They found us running away and hung us!"

They both drifted to the Carnival were they decided they wanted to live. They met Antonio and another man, named Roderich, a very rich aristocrat, who took care of them. Later, Ludwig befriended him after discovering they died around the same time period. Feli grew awfully close to Ludwig and Gilbert said they were 'closet lovers'. ("Nein! We are not!" "Kesesese!")
I also told Felciano about myself too. I told him my story and how I wasn't dead. Unlike Gilbert, who was a Jinn and had wolf ears and Gilbert who was a poltergeist, a trouble maker, Feli was just a regular spectator. But he seemed to know more connections then Gilbert. In fact, it seemed like his sense of direction was better then a dog's (no offense to Ludwig). Gilbert had to pick me up again. I feel pretty embarrassed, but whatever get's to my brother faster!

"Matt.. Hey wake up!" Was that Alfred's voice? Ugh, did I fall asleep again? "Hey little birdie! You still alive?" ...

"Nhg, I'm awake, I'm awake..." I yawned. "We here at that place?"

"Ci! We're finally at Tranverse Town!" Gilbert let me down and I took a good look at it. Unlike anything I've seen so far, this looked like the most normal thing I've seen. It was just like any other town with house, buildings, and such. I guess the only difference is the ghosts and demons walking around.
Ludwig stopped abruptly and looked at us.

"Alright, so luckily Transverse Town doesn't really have any Sniffing Phantoms, but that means there will be a lot of theives and-"

"What are Sniffing Phantoms?" I giggled. It sounded almost silly.

"Sniffing Phantoms are like the guards of large city. They will sniff you and can tell if you are a theif, a criminal, and alive." He looked at his brother. "It would be hard for both of you to get through the capitol, you know..."

Gilbert just laghed and roughly slapped his brother on the back. "Relax! We have a while to worry about that! In the mean time, one of my buddies are here and he owns a bakery so-"

"Nein. We aer not seeing him, Gil."

"He's not that bad!"

Ludwig gave him a dirty glare.

"So he slapped you on the ass a few times! He's French, get used to it!"

"He did more then that!" If Ludwig wasn't dead, I could imagine his whole face flushing.

"Don't be a pussy!"

"Ve, don't mind them! They bicker a lot actually!" Feli looked at me reassuringly and smiled.

"No kidding, eh?"

After a long argument, Ludwig finally gave in and let Gilbert take us to his pervert friend.
We walked through the streets and I clung to Gilbert. There more were creepy people then I thought. Women with books in their hands politely nodded to us as they passed us. They had heavy chains on their ankles and ropes around their necks. "Murderesses! Ve, don't mind them, most of them get therapy in here to live a better afterlife!"

We finally made it to said bakery which looked actually quite cheerful with light blue walls and the words 'Bon Moment Bakery painted on the window in pink. Lovely Time Bakery. Cute. When I was little, my mom made me take French, so now I'm almost fluent.
"Hey, Francis! I'm back!" As we entered the shop, a man with long, blond hair and blue eyes floated out of the kitchen and beamed. "Mon ami! What are you doing here? Animal City is a bit of a ways, non?" He defiantly had a strong French accent

"Honononon, who is this?" He was suddenly beside me, took my hand and kissed it.

"U-um, my name is Matthew..." Gilbert grinned ans slapped him away.

"Ja! He just died so we need some food for him! Preferably a lot! We're going to the capitol to find his brother!" I suppose white lies never hurt anyone...

"Well of course I have some treats. Especially for someone this cute." He winked at me then disappeared in the kitchen again.
There was some whout outside, then some screams. The three looked at each other. "Probably another Rebel riot... Wait here with Francis, Mattie." In an instant, all three quickly excited the door to see what was going on. Great.

A few moments later he came back out with the most mouth watering cakes, macaroons, and pastries I have ever seen!"Hm? Where is eveyone?"

"Out. They heard some screaming and wanted to investigate it."

"Well that's unfortunate." I noticed a small, mischievousness grin playing on his lips. "I'll give you a discount, mon cher! A hundred muns for five!" I swallowed. Gilbert, Feli and Ludwig told me the currency of this world called 'muns'. One mun is about a US or Canadian dollar.
"A-A hundred? But I don't have that much! I don't have any money!" Is that how much it is to eat?

"Can't you give me a break?"

Francis walked (floated) out of the counter and smacked my ass. "There are other ways in paying me if you're that desperate." He winked. Oh God. I movedand tried to swat him away.

"I-I'm not that desperate!" I grunted as he caught my hand and moved closer so our faces were only a few inces apart. M-Maple!
"I'm not a prostitute! Let me g-"

I gasped as a rock hit Francis in the head, knocking us both to the ground. "Oh mon Dieu, that hurt, Gil!"

"You don't have nerves anymore, you pussy. You okay Matt?" The silver-haired boy smiled and helped me up. "I guess it would have helped if I told you that Francis is a Incubus."

"A what?"

"A winged sex demon." Francis got up and smirked, showing off the black and pink wings that I somehow didn't notcie. "He enslaves other beings by kissing them. Luckily he didn't do it to you." He shot his friend a dirty glare.

"Honhonhonhon, I can't help it! It's my nature!" Ludwig sighed and face palmed. Italy just smiled.

"Well, it was a riot, but we took care of it! Ve, Luddy was tough and punched a gaurd too!" he laughed and pulled on Ludwig's ears. "Ja, and that reminds me that we should go! Did you get your food?"

I looked at Francis and he just shrugged. "Oui, why not? It's not like I actually get that much business." He handed me a lot of pastries and I stuffed them in my backpack. We waved him good-bye and we ended up back on our way. But I wish things were that easy. Waiting for us outside were four huge-looking thugs. They actually looked more like ogres or something. Ludwig growled and stepped back, his furry ears flattening.

"Orcs."