"Come on, you bloody twit! I won't keep waiting around for you." Arthur shouted, pinching the bridge of his nose as Francis fought with a bear. Apparently this was supposed to just be a trivial thing that was to either be dealt with quickly or ignored. It had only been a couple weeks since he'd found the joker's crest on his tunic, and now he was expected to have mastered magic already. He heard the sucking of teeth as he finally felled the beast with his sword, nearly cutting it's head clean off, but not having used any of his new abilities.

"For the last time, I can't use magic!" He shouted, running after the man who was supposed to be his "mentor" even though he mostly just left him to get hurt and then jumped away, not even bothering to teach him the spell he used for that. Luckily, he'd learned by ear, but he was hardly supposed to be a master when the other was obviously trying to get him killed.

"Then you should die and leave the position open for someone who's not a complete idiot." He spat back, nothing but venom, as usual. Francis was tired of it.

"Me dying won't bring your father back, Arthur. You'll just get someone else you can compare him to and hate." He said, grabbing the smaller man by the shoulders and turning him around. This was going to be settled one way or another right now.

"What do you know? I just don't like you! Don't think you're so special that I would even think of comparing you to him." his green eyes were like emerald swords as they tried to cut into the Hearts native.

"Why? What do you not like about me?"

"Your hair is too long, and you care about your appearance too much. You're always looking at roses, or trees, or birds, rather than feeling them. You should be able to feel the magic around you by now, but instead, you shut it out. You're an idiot, a fanciful, blundering fool who thinks he's more important than he is." he explained, clicking his fingers and teleporting to behind the taller male.

"Why didn't you tell me that before? I thought that you were supposed to be teaching me!" That would have been nice to know before hand, Francis thought. He thought he was going mad when the trees started talking to him.

"Oh, that's nice. This, sadly, isn't the face of someone who cares. Get a move on, and stop trying to be my friend. You're going to die soon anyway."

"You don't know that. Maybe I'll just become very sad. My story just has to be tragic, no?"

"I don't want to be expected to comfort you in your blubbering either."

"Maybe you die, and that's what makes me sad?"

"Then why would you want to be friends with me. Then you'll meet tragedy. You really are daft, aren't you?"

"Maybe, just maybe, I think that having a friend and loosing him is better than being alone. I mean, the fairies are all well and good, Arthur, but sooner or later you'll have to get to know people."

"I don't see why. You all appear to be fools and pretenders as far as I can see. But we need to keep moving. I've seen what happens when one of the suits gets a hold of a Joker, and it isn't pretty. I'd rather not repeat the experience."

"What happened?"

"The Clubs thought that they could harness my magic...use it to take over the others. It took my father four days to find me." As he spoke, he removed his cloak, and then his tunic. Scars marred his pale skin, his body lithe, and giving the appearance of being too thin.

Some of them were wide, as if they'd cut chunks out, while others were raised and white, forming symbols he'd never seen before. His expression went from curious to horrified, and then to a scowl.

"I'm sorry. I didn't-"

"That's the problem. You know nothing." He looked as if he expected to be struck as he pulled the rough cloth back onto himself, and started running. Francis trotted behind, his long legs allowing him to keep up though he chose to do so far enough back that he wasn't bothering the other joker. He obviously needed his space, and for once, Francis could hear the trees speaking words which he understood, rather than just hearing them mumbling. He enjoyed it, and wondered if soon he would get to see Arthur's fairies.

O-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-O-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o

Ludwig walked into the heart castle, his head held high. Even though in three months they would be trying their best to kill each other, they were to play friend until then. He was eager to meet his new opponent, hoping that it would be someone worthy of battling, one who would bring him honor in defeat or victory. He didn't meet him at the banquet as he expected, or in a surprise bout to get to know each other's skills as he'd hoped, but because he thought he heard a maiden crying, and, even in enemy territory, he felt the need to rescue her from her tormentors.

But when he walked into the room he heard the bellowing from, there was a small man rocking back and forth on his bed, and only half dressed. He had a soft body, small compared to his grandfather, though nearly everyone was, and his hair fell into his tear stained face. Ludwig walked closer, hand on the hilt of his blade, figuring that this had to be some sort of cunning trap to kill him before the battle. This new one could be treacherous, but certainly no kin of Romulus could be so. . .weak.

"Do you need help?" He asked, honestly hoping that this were a trap just so he could thwart it and have something exciting to do.

"Um...Hello! I am Feliciano. It's nice to meet you-oh, why'd it have to be you?" He started looking up, and when he saw the card, he knew immediately who it was. The person who he'd been sitting there, sobbing in preemptive fear over was the one who had found him.

"So you are the Jack?" He asked, thoroughly disappointed. "I guess I won't be getting that honor after all..."

"I'm sorry. Big Brother was supposed to do all the fighting. I just made pasta and painted, and played with my friends. And then they tell me that I'm going to have to fight you, and you're so big and scary and I'm going to die, but Grandpa doesn't seem to care enough to negotiate..." He became more frantic as the speech continued, brown eyes red and puffy.

"We don't usually fight to the death in The Battle, you know. At least, not when the victory is obvious. But I still don't see why your father would choose you, rather than just elevating a sacrifice. My brother did it, after all, and there are plenty of them who'd love the chance." Ludwig sat down, his hand still on the pommel of his sword, but the other providing awkward comfort for his should be enemy.

"It seems like he's killing off as many of his children as he can. First big brother, now me...and we don't even have a Queen, since Mama Serket died."

"I told you I wouldn't kill you, idiot." Ludwig growled, waiting for the man to get it through his head. Or at least for him to stop crying.

"But I can't just go home having lost. Grandpa would strip me like he did Big Brother. He even told me so. And I'd rather just die."

Ludwig didn't know what to say. He felt a pull to the little guy, but he was still an enemy. He was the child of Romulus, the man who'd given his father more scars that he could count, and the only one who could kill him. He didn't want him to start crying again, or to be as scared as he obviously was.

"I'll think of something." he told him, blushing furiously. Why did he care? He was known for his icy nature, and he was suddenly melting over an, admittedly cute, idiot who couldn't fight or even fake dignity. Gilbert would have a field day if he knew.

…...

"Kiku, you have to stop staring at that mirror eventually." Xiao Mei pouted, her long hair gathered up into a neat series of ties atop her head, pink ceremonial kimono wrapped around her petite frame.

"I suppose." He answered her, his voice monotone. It was nearly time for The Battle. He could feel it, the blood lust that came to the surface once a year. He was the king of diamonds, and he would be battling Antonio, who also seemed to have a bit of a split personality. He usually had a tomato in his hand, perhaps a guitar. But when The Battle came around, he wielded his ax as though it were simply an extension of himself. He still had nicks in his katana from last year, not to mention the scars. He slipped his white jacket on, ensuring that he looked as immaculate as his queen. He took her hand lightly, and started walking out, down the hallway, into the enormous dining chamber where everyone of import waited for him. His bickering brothers, both given the rank of Jack, and his father, Yao the Ace.

"It took you long enough." Yong spat, his braided hair being pulled by Yang, who seemed rather disinterested in what was happening around him.

"Unless Father has a problem, I can take as long as I want." Kiku reminded him, sitting but not eating or drinking. He'd had one too many poisoning attempts from the elder of the twins to trust anything he'd been around.

"Come now, we're family. Let us act like it, even if you brats do hate each other. Batukhan, would you be so good as to bring us some fresh sake?" Their father said, trying to get them to get along. Their half sister, child of one of Yao's concubines, and the six of Diamonds scowled, getting up to do so. She was a better fighter than Mei, but she had no skill when it came to attending court, or dealing with Kiku's unique problem.

"Thank you, Father." The King said, sitting on his cushion, slightly higher than all but Yao's.

"You're welcome, my boy. Tell me, are you ready? I think you may finally be strong enough to carry out our plan." No one needed to expound on what exactly that plan was. They'd known it since Kiku was a little boy.

The youngest, Wang, walked in, wheeling Kiku's mirror with him. The king didn't want to look into it. He didn't want to see the monster he would have to become. But his father's raised brow commanded it, and he stared into the liquid surface. White became black, and eyes of a boy tired beyond his years became dripping with blood they longed to spill. He clenched his jaw while his counterpart smiled, knowing it would be his turn soon.

"Can I go now?" The frowning ten said, crossing his arms. He was supposed to be the king, Yao's favorite, until he'd help the joker boy escape. Still, the ace claimed it was only a phase, and that he would straighten out soon enough.

"Be more respectful, runt." Kiku growled, his katana sliding out of it's sheath with a hiss to land an inch from his little brother's throat.

"Whatever." Wang walked out, muttering about it being his brother's time of the month. Kiku blinked, and then gulped. He was unpredictable around this time, the second self trapped in the mirror starting to get comfortable in his body.

"Control yourself, son. It won't get us anywhere if you start killing your own." Yao warned, even he getting set off edge when his own creation came out.

It had taken effort, and the lives of a few hundred people, but with the Joker boy's magic, he'd managed to split Kiku's heart in half. One which was gentle, quiet, and simply wanting to sit in the shade of a tree and read, the dominant personality. Then there was the one who stayed trapped in the mirror, who existed to be a weapon for the domination of the small world they lived in. It had backfired somewhat, the second having a habit of attacking his family, rather than just their enemies, but he'd been able to stand up to the demon that was Antonio of Clubs, so it was worth it.

"Yes, Father." Kiku said, staring at his hands and trying not to be afraid of his own reflection.