Hey everyone! First of all, thank you to those of you who followed or reviewed! It really helped to motivate me, especially as I've been waging war on my computer after it almost deleted this chapter many times!

With a bit of luck, I'll be returning to my usual update schedule from now on!

Not much to say, apart from this chapter was a lot of fun to write (I love the magic trio)!

Constructive criticism is always appreciated!

Disclaimer: I still don't own Hetalia. It will always belong to Hidekaz Himaruya.

Today's character list:

- Feliks Lukasiewicz: Poland

- Aleksander Nicolescu: Bulgaria

- Vladimir Lupei: Romania

Enjoy!


Arthur Kirkland's house was neat and tidy, albeit a bit strange. There were dreamcatchers and bird feeders hanging from the ceiling, dusty pots and lamps on the shelves, old books covering the floor and horseshoes clinging to the walls. Tiny fairies and pixies flew around, every now and then picking something off a feeder and gathering on the roof of a dollhouse.

Lukas decided not to mention the creatures for the time being, installing himself on an old fashioned armchair and waiting for the Englishman to return. His eyes rested upon a green bunny with tiny wings that smelled strangely of fresh mint.

Soon enough, the strange man returned with a tray containing a teapot, two mugs, some milk and sugar, alongside some strange burnt things that Lukas guessed might be scones.

"Sugar? Milk?" Arthur sat down.

"Neither. Thank you," he grasped the hot mug from his host's hand.

"Please feel free to have a scone. I made them myself."

For some reason, the fairies started to shake their heads frantically. Slightly worried about whether the green-eyed Brit was trying to poison him, he politely declined.

"The fairies have been very excited to meet you. They've been pestering me for days. So tell me, lad, where are you from?" Arthur finally started the conversation.

"Norway. Your house is very… individual," Lukas chose his words carefully, eyes never leaving the assemblies of tiny winged beings.

"The fairies like them. As does Mint here," at this, the blond gestured towards the sleeping bunny.

"I see… She's quite an unusual rabbit, isn't she? What is she?"

His words provoked quite a surprising reaction. Emerald green eyes looked back at him in shock. Millions of flying creatures gathered behind the Brit. The rabbit opened its eyes and perched on her owner's shoulder.

"You can see them too?" Arthur gaped at him.

"Of course. They're difficult to miss, aren't they?" the Norwegian couldn't help smiling.

It had been a long time since he had last met someone who saw the same things as he did. It was always reassuring, reminding him that he wasn't crazy. Obviously this was the first time the man opposite him had met anyone like him.

"How?"

"I don't know. I've always been able to see them," the blue-eyed man shrugged.

Arthur stared at him for a few seconds before taking another sip of his tea. The pretty fae settled back onto the bird feeders.

"Well then, I suppose we'll just have to conclude that the world is a strange place," he smiled.

"Indeed."

"How did you get here?"

Lukas hesitated. Lie or tell the truth?

He can see the supernatural, so he shouldn't be taken too seriously. But I'm not risking it.

"I'd heard about safe-isles before, so I thought I'd try living in one. Sadly, my ship sank. I'm lucky I didn't die," he lied smoothly.

Much to his surprise, however, Arthur raised his eyebrows.

"Really? And you just happened to pick the Isle of Hetalia?" he smiled slyly.

"It's one of the safest isle there is."

"I know that, Romulus Vargas himself owns it. I'm not stupid," the dirty blond rolled his eyes.

"So where else would I go?"

"You just decided to leave? Like that?" again with that smile.

Why of all people do I have to spend the afternoon with the one who doubts something?

The Norwegian sighed inwardly. He really didn't have much luck lately, did he?

"Yes, I did. Is there a problem with that?" he glared back at Arthur.

"You weren't fleeing the Army?"

Lukas froze. The way Arthur smiled showed that he knew. Lying was pointless. It really wasn't his week. But how did he know?

"My cousin still lives in the mainland. He keeps me up-to-date with what's been going on over there," the green-eyed man explained.

"Is that why you invited me over?" the blue-eyed male sighed.

"Partly. The fairies really did want to meet you, though. So, what really happened?"

And so Lukas told him everything. Of how he had been on a mission with the Lady and his brother when they had been ambushed and how he had jumped into the ocean, leaving his companions. Arthur listened intently, nodding and frowning at various points of the story.

"So you're the famous "guy who knows everything" Peter's being going on about. Don't worry, I won't tell anyone. I'm not too fond of the Army myself. I mean, they started this war, didn't they?" the Brit chuckled.

"The war you're talking about ended years ago when the Army took over. We haven't been bombed since," Lukas shook his head.

"Then why do you fight against the Army? Surely they've brought peace to our world?" the shorter male frowned in confusion.

"You mean they've imposed a regime of poverty where speaking out is illegal. The Resistance fights them because they are all murderers. If they truly were any good, then they would have informed the rest of the world that the war is over. Instead, safe-isles believe the war is still ongoing. Even the world's people believe their lies."

"I see… So will you be returning to the mainland?"

"Of course. But there are a few things I need to check while I'm here."

"Such as?"

Lukas looked away. He had many things to do. He didn't have to share them all with this stranger. Instead, he shrugged. Arthur clearly wasn't happy with his silence.

"Remember Lukas, Hetalia's flag is white for a reason. We don't want anything to do with your war," he warned.

Lukas didn't reply. He hadn't wanted his brother to get involved in the fighting, yet he had. War didn't care about what you wanted, after all. It did what it wanted.

The Isle's already involved, whether they like it or not. When the Army finds an opening, they'll attack. After all, there's a Beilschmidt here as well.


"So… when do we go back for him?" Gilbert asked.

"Later. I'll call you," Elizaveta waved him off, having seen Roderich heading off inside.

Gilbert rolled his eyes but nodded, choosing to check on Eduard's progress with Lukas's cross.

Once he reached the lookout tower's main room, he noticed that all the lookouts were currently on break. Raivis was shaking in his corner, writing something down, Toris was listening to Feliks's new rant and Eduard was typing on his computer. They all turned to greet him, albeit with varying tones of warmth.

"Eduard, have you finished with the pin yet?"

The Etonian raised his head and nodded, a satisfied smirk on his face. He pulled out the cross-shaped pin from a drawer and handed it to the German.

"It was definitely a communication device. I've managed to fix it, so it should work. I haven't tried turning it on yet, though," he explained.

"How do you turn it on?"

"You're planning to do it now? Shouldn't you wait for Lukas to return?" the blond frowned, shooting him a disapproving look.

"He's busy. So?"

Eduard sighed but snatched the pin back from him and pressed something. He fiddled with his own computer for a few minutes before stepping back.

"All connected. Now, whether it works or not is a different matter."

There was nothing for a good ten minutes. Just as Gilbert was about to give up, there was a beep and a female voice spoke through the speakers.

"Norway?"


For Sadiq, it was turning out to be a very bad day. When he woke up, Gupta had already left. What's more, he had overslept! Then, once he had finally rushed downstairs, he had run straight into Commander Bachchan. The latter had wasted no time in scolding him for a good five minutes before letting him go. And now he had just managed to join his fellow soldiers at Assembly without breakfast!

He shot a glare at his roommate as he stood beside him at the back.

"Ya could have woken me up," he muttered.

The Egyptian shrugged and turned back to the podium. Commander Nicolescu had just arrived and was discussing something with the traitor. Neither officer seemed happy.

The reason for that appeared soon enough. Their leader's voice echoed through the large speakers in front of the podium.

"Attention!"

They all saluted, Sadiq trying his best to avoid making a rude gesture. After reciting the national anthem, they lowered their hands.

"Today, I inform you that a new member will join your ranks. However, not as a soldier or officer. Instead, he will be helping us out on a case we've been working on lately. He will bunk with Adnan and Muhammad Hassan. That will be all."

As the leader turned the mike off, the soldiers glanced at each other in excitement and curiosity. Who was this new person?

Sadiq was just as curious. The guy would be bunking with them, so he hoped it wasn't going to be another bastard.

"Everyone, meet Mr Vladimir Lupei," the black-haired officer stood up on the podium and gestured towards the doors.

Everyone stared in disbelief. The only thought on Sadiq's mind as a short man with messy honey-blond hair and red eyes dressed in a long red coat with tassels with an odd hat with ribbons hanging down his head walked, no, skipped down the hall to the podium was "who the hell is this weirdo".

"Hello everyone! Nice to meet you all! I'm looking forward to working with you guys!" he beamed at them, showing pearly white fangs.

Commander Nicolescu facepalmed before forcing a smile.

"Yes, please treat each other with civility. Dismissed. Oh! Adnan and Muhammad Hassan, come over here and show Mr Lupei to his room."

The two soldiers walked over to the two men, Bachchan having quickly escaped beforehand. The eccentric man smiled at them and held out a hand.

"Vladimir Lupei, nice to meet you!"

"Sadiq Adnan, and this is Gupta Muhammad Hassan," Sadiq shook the blond's hand.

Gupta simply nodded.

"Show Vla- Mr Lupei to his room, then I want you to give him a tour around the facility. You two are in charge of him," Commander Nicolescu ordered them before turning to the newcomer, "Vladimir, please don't make anything explode."

And with that worrying piece of advice, the three departed on their tour of the facility.