Finally decided to update this after.. uh... *go checks* HOLYCRAP O_O I've left this alone for THAT long?

GAWD guys I'm sosososososo sorry! QAQ I won't be updating real fast after this either thanks to my insanely packed scheduled OTLll

I'm sorry again. Excuse my mistakes. Hetalia is not mine.

Thank you in advance for reading!


Alfred couldn't decide whether it was all just a stupid dream or harsh reality.

To make a long story short: he was kidnapped, met a bunch of superpowered kids, worked in a freaking coal mine, and then found out that he was a superpowered kid himself. Which human in their right minds would not think of it all as a dream? Well, unless that particular person is left-minded, but whatever.

Alfred watched as the white flame in his hand flickered off. He blinked as his eyes readjusted to the lighting around him and stared at his palm. This should not be happening.

"How could this be?" Alfred ran his hand across his forehead in exasperation. "I'm pretty sure my ancestry is a 100% mortal."

"Bloodline does not have a thing to do with us having powers," Arthur spoke up for the first time since Alfred's display of his Gift. The corners of his mouth were turned down into a deep frown. Apparently, the idea of Alfred having powers bothered even him. "Kids like us are known as the "Gifted" for a reason. We are blessed – or cursed, depending on how one sees it – with these special abilities."

"Oh joy.."Alfred mumbled.

"So do you still want to stick to your escape plan? Knowing that you're one of us now," Arthur said. "This place might be the only sanctuary in the world for people like us, you know."

"Are you kidding me?" Alfred gave him a coy smile. "Which part of this place looks like a freaking sanctuary to you?"

"You don't even know where we are," the Brit said. "Much less where to go."

Memories of his dream of the man in the huge house flashed in Alfred's mind – the breathtaking scenery outside the window, the size of the living room alone, the warmth of the fire in the fireplace.

"I might not know where we are," Alfred looked straight into Arthur's eyes. "But I'm pretty certain that I know where we should go."

He told Arthur his dream.

The British boy's frown deepened. "I've heard many stories from the guards over the years, but none of them seem to relate to what you just said. It might have been just another dream, Alfred."

"It isn't," Alfred insisted. "I'm sure it meant something. I can feel it. That's where we need to go."

Arthur stared at him, his expression unreadable. Alfred could swear he could see the gears turning in his head, thinking of the thousands of possibilities that lie ahead.

"Do what you want," Arthur finally said and walked away. Alfred exhaled and leaned against the wall, staring blankly ahead. Everyone else was sleeping, not peacefully, but fitfully enough.

Alfred brought his palm out and willed for a ball of light again.

xXx

"Wakey-wakey you little twerps!" a man's voice boomed in the chamber, his face twisted with mockery. Alfred unintentionally groaned as he slowly woke up, rubbing his eyes in attempt to drive the sleep away. He had no idea when he'd fell asleep again, but that didn't matter. He repositioned his glasses and stood up, willing himself to be awake. Alfred knew he couldn't afford to lose any more time.

The blue-eyed adolescent calmly let himself be shackled and led to the coal mine. Alfred no longer felt confused, which was a little strange since it was only his second day there. Alfred's attention was all around: the tiny crack on the wall, the keys on the guard's belt, the chained up door across the hallway, the dark open chambers they'd walked passed.

Alfred made sure he could remember it all to the very last detail.

After a while, he let his gaze wander around until he saw the other group of adolescents walking towards them from the opposing direction. Alfred noticed Feli's brother huddled close to an older boy with olive green eyes, dark messy brown hair, and slightly tanned skin.

He stole a glance at his Italian friend. Feli had darkish bags under his puffy eyes, but was otherwise looking fine. Alfred silently vowed that he would reunite the brothers, even if it's the last thing he did.

With that in mind, he stopped at his assigned station and began working half-heartedly. While his arms moved, he'd once again let his attention focus elsewhere. He noticed the window high above them, but it was impossible to reach it without a huge ladder, or the power to fly.

Then there was the trapdoor on the floor, sealed with a thick padlock, but thankfully not wielded shut. Alfred smiled. A possibility.

But he knew he needed plan B's. He gazed around some more, his attention suddenly attracted to Arthur's station. Alfred could've kicked himself for being slow. Right next to the British boy, was a tunnel. The lighting was dim as the only illumination available was several torches, but Alfred could a set of frails, as well as a wooden trolley for carrying coals to the outside world. It had never crossed Alfred's mind that the results of their slavery would be used as the masterminds' money income. If there was a way out, Alfred was sure this was it.

Now he just had to find a way for them to get out of their cells and reach there without being caught.

Alfred figured his face must be showing it pretty obviously, because he got smacked roughly on the head by a guard while he was busy thinking.

"Wondering how you can escape through that, four eyes?" the man sneered. "Fat chance. There's a bunch of our people the whole way. You brats won't be able to even make it halfway through.

Says you, Alfred thought, but said nothing. Without another word, he readjusted his grip on the shovel and got back to his work.

xXx

Alfred spent less time sleeping and more time plotting ever since he'd discovered the escape route. He would either sit in his corner staring off into space while his mind worked, or practice using his powers until he felt that he'd finally got a little hang of it.

Soon Alfred had dark bags under his eyes. His eyesight was becoming worst and his glasses needed to be changed. Alfred asked Kiku if he could help him with his glasses, but the quiet boy shook his head apologetically.

"I can't make one without knowing how bad it is," Kiku had explained.

Alfred could've screamed with frustration right there. He couldn't believe his plans would be ruined just because of some glasses – until Feli offered to try and help. With Feli's healing powers, Alfred's eyesight improved back to how they were when he'd arrived there. The Italian also offered to heal it completely, but Alfred told him not to. Just getting them back to how they were before made Feli pale and sweating. Alfred knew Feli's powers drained him too much.

Alfred's determination to escape slowly inspired the others as time passed. Feli and Kiku – of course – were the first ones to agree to work with him to escape together. It took a little longer for the others to warm up to him, but eventually almost everyone in their batch were in it. Soon everyone was planning strategies and practicing their powers. Alfred noted down his comrades' Gifts and cracked his mind to see which part they could help out in.

The process was taking a painfully long time, but Alfred pushed the thought out of his mind. Patience is always the key, he kept on reminding himself.

He couldn't concentrate in his mining work, and was often punished for it by being locked up somewhere else and beaten by the guards or not given his meals. Sometimes, Alfred suffered both. But he gritted his teeth and took it all quietly without complaints, constantly telling himself it would soon be okay, it would fine as soon as they carry out their escape plans.

Fortunately despite his continuous times of spacing out during work, the guards did not suspect anything. They've been doing their job long enough to know how the adolescents would be once they get used to their life as slaves. Alfred had an advantage over that, at least.

Before long, even the other batch of adolescents were notified of Alfred's escape plan. Wan Mei, a quiet Asian girl whom Alfred knew through Kiku, had the ability to transmit her voice into people's mind without having to talk. She had agreed to help inform some of the older teens over there and ask them to spread the news as soon as she sees them.

The next time the two groups bumped into each other, Mei had delivered the message to the green eyed boy whom Feli's brother was always with, a muscular blonde boy with light blue eyes, and a few others Alfred had helped picked out. Their first reactions when they heard were stares of utter surprise and disbelief, but at the following day, they'd nodded grimly at Alfred to show that they've approved of the plan.

Alfred had never felt so proud in his life. He was on the road to becoming a hero, a dream he had since he was a kid. It was childish, Alfred was often told, but he'd never listened. Now he really was going to be a hero, but of course; he might be the one leading the escape, but he needed the help of his comrades. Alfred knew he couldn't survive alone.

Weeks passed, and Alfred was sure they were ready. Everyone had spent all the free time they had vigorously trying to get a hang of their powers. It was challenging, for they had to do everything without making a sound or else the guards outside would come bursting in and finding out all about their plans. Arthur did the supervision, as he had been there the longest and was the only one who'd actually mastered his Gift. Feli's condition was slowly getting from bad to worse, since he'd insisted to train with everyone else. Alfred kept an eye on him every time they practiced, making sure he did not push himself too much.

Alfred himself was slowly starting to understand his powers. He extracts fragments of light from his surroundings, compiling them into a single ball of energy. Arthur's powers were the complete opposite. Arthur extracts fragments of darkness from his surroundings. One thing similar about their Gifts is that they could then shape those balls of energy, morphing it to anything, even swords or wings.

When light is removed, there is darkness. When darkness is removed, there is light. It might seem like an unending cycle, but both boys had never dared to try using their powers at the same time. They had both came up with a hypothesis that if they did, there would be only nothingness left behind and probably something really bad would happen.

The big night came. Mining duties were especially tiring that day. Alfred wasn't sure if it was just his anxiety, but work seemed to drag on forever.

Maybe they know, a nagging voice echoed at the back of his mind. Shut up, he thought. Be positive.

Alfred had ordered everyone to sleep after that to avoid them from falling from exhaustion during the escape mission. It might seem like too much to ask, but he wanted every one of them to be able to make it out alive. No one must be left behind. Not after what they've all went through.

Even so, Alfred couldn't sleep. He sat in his usual corner, staring blankly at the empty floor in front of him. His brain was being hyperactive about the whole escaping thing and his heart was beating up a storm – and all those didn't exactly help him sleep. Alfred took in deep breaths to calm his heart. He could not panic. He must not panic or it could be his downfall later.

The blue-eyed boy felt a presence sink down on the spot next to him and turned. Arthur ran his fingers through his tousled blonde hair and sighed. Alfred stared at him.

"Nervous?" the Brit asked, not looking at his companion.

"It's that obvious?"

Arthur shrugged. "Don't worry about it."

"Easy for you to say."

"You're not doing this alone, Alfred," Arthur did look at him now. "Don't forget that you've got us to guarding your back."

Alfred swept his gaze over his friends; some peacefully asleep, some seemed to be just resting. Arthur was right. He needn't worry. They could do this. It was two huge groups of superpowered kids against god-knows how many mortal guards. What could go wrong? Some of Alfred's confidence returned.

"Thanks Arthur," Alfred flashed him a grin.

"Hmph," A smile tugged Arthur's lips as well, but he managed to keep a somewhat straight face. But it soon faded as silence fell upon them. Then the boy stood up.

"It's time," he announced.

Alfred threw his head back and breathed out a long, slow breath. He then too, got on his feet. Together with the Brit, he woke their friends one by one; whispering to their ears and shaking them gently to avoid making too much noise. It was a slow process as their numbers were not little, but Alfred had decided that it was better to not take the risk.

Alfred stood in front of the group assembled before him about ten minutes later, studying the faces of the comrades that he'd come to know so well over the time that'd passed. Despite being woken up from their sleep not that long ago, everyone looked grim and determined.

"Tonight is the night," he said, just loud enough for the silent group to hear. "We've gone through a lot, but we'll get out. I promise you guys that we'll survive this and escape."

A few nods.

"Believe in yourselves and trust each other," Alfred continued. "It's one for all and all for one – remember that, all of you. Fight this battle bravely, and victory and freedom is ours!"

He smiled a confident smile and raised his fist into the air, his friends following suit.

And the escape mission started.