Chapter 10: Judas in the Game of War
A/N: Screw waiting until 7:00. Guys, it's official. This is the longest chapter out of the entire story thus far (5,072). Quick note within a note- there might be just a hint of OOCness in here. IDK I tried to fix it but something keeps telling me I always could have said it better. Of course now you'll be looking for it which makes it even worse.
"We need to get back to the others. Now." England stood from his place at the table and began heading out, followed by the rest of the company, until Feliks spoke.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you. You still have no idea where your clock is. Going back to tell them there's a traitor in their midst won't bring it back any faster." England spun to face him.
"Well then what the bloody hell do you suggest we do, hm? I can't just call them up on my cell phone now can I? I can't take a day to fly over there on my jet either. And if they die while we're still over here our chances of getting home in one piece are about as high as finding a needle in a pile of needles."
Feliks rolled his eyes and stood, shedding the black robes for a dark pink button-down and black trousers. "Just take the one on top when no one's looking. I don't know what a cell phone is but if you need a way to talk to them I know somebody who can help."
"And who would that be? Or better yet, how far away is he?" England asked mockingly, crossing his arms.
"Lukas, the White Knight." Feliks took the lead and walked straight out the front doors of the castle, waving off servants who tried to stop him.
"I thought you guys were like, mortal enemies or something?" America said from the back of the group.
"We are, but he totally owes me for not killing him last time. I totally crushed him and even mortal enemies keep their word over here. I suggest you stop expecting the same from your kingdoms. Doesn't seem to be working out to well for you." He slowed and backtracked to Canada. "You're Canada right?" A Poland in another dimension recognizes him but his own family still forgets. How sad. "Can I borrow your cloak?" The Canadian nodded and returned to walking in step with Matthew.
"So how far is Lukas' place?" Matthew asked as Feliks led them around the side of the castle.
"Not far, just at the foothills of the mountains. He's been here for about a week messing around over there. I hear he wants to tunnel through them. No one else really pays attention to that land."
"Where are you taking us? The train station is the other way." China spoke up, agitation evident in his voice.
"First, the trains don't run down there because, as I just said, no one really pays attention to it. And second I hate trains so we're taking more reliable transportation."
England's guard went up at that. Please don't say what I think you're going to- they rounded a corner and Feliks stopped proudly in front of the building.
"Ponies!"
"Romano, I need you to stay here and keep up appearances. Can you not fight me for once in your life and follow orders?"
"Shut up, potato bastard! I never have and never will take orders from you. What am I supposed to do when people start asking questions, eh? Tell them 'oh the great King Ludwig, Queen Kiku, and Jack Feliciano are all unavailable please call back later'? This is war you know!"
"I don't care what you have to do! Are you not home to the 'O so magnificent Italian mafia?' Think of something, dummkopf!"
Germany and Japan had quickly decided to deal with treasonous Spades citizens in person and that meant dragging Italy along with them so he wouldn't do something stupid. That also meant leaving Romano behind alone, an idea he was clearly against. He gave up on trying to reason with the man and instead turned to Japan to get the boat going. It would take a few hours to make it to Spades and their castle and they had no time to waste.
After Gilbert dropped the bomb that there was a traitor in their midst behind the entire war, the two had been working all day on who it could possibly be. They went over the entire first encounter in their heads again once they were clear of the harbor.
"Remember when he said it wasn't that hard to figure out?" Japan said looking rather odd at the helm of the ship dressed in a crimson coat. Germany and Italy stood on either side of him leaning against the railing.
"Maybe he was implying that it would be someone we met already. Though he talked exclusively to Alfred, Arthur, and Yao after he made the deal with me, maybe it is someone they know." Germany offered, his normal slicked back hair whipping wildly in the wind.
"He said it was the Chessmen. What if they were hired to throw off the scent of whoever really took it? An easy way to blame it on the other kingdoms at first and if people began digging they would look to Chess, which we did." Japan said, his hand reaching back for the third time since they'd arrived for a katana that wasn't there. A ghost of a scowl crossed his features as he was reminded of that fact once again.
"It sounds like whoever this was knew how to cover their tracks. They would have experience and influence in the world. Say they did hire someone. Wouldn't they have to pay them for their services? Your average thief doesn't have the resources for that." Italy spoke up, on topic for once. His allies turned to him after exchanging a glance.
"Italy?" Germany asked.
The redhead shrugged. "I don't know. It just seems like someone with a lot of money and power would be behind it."
"Like a royal." The blonde said in realization. "So that narrows it down to four: Alfred, Arthur, Yao, or Matthew."
Japan shook his head. "It wasn't Alfred. He may not be a carbon-copy of America but I know what he looks like when he's hiding something. There was nothing but anger and at the whole situation and fear for his people in those eyes. Like America, he loves his land and his people too much to do anything to threaten their safety. I've known China longer than anyone, it wasn't him either. He values honor and loyalty nearly more than his own life at times. You just have to trust that I know he's innocent."
"I trust your judgment, Japan." Germany said with full sincerity. "Then that leaves two: Arthur and Matthew."
"Isn't Arthur the one with all the magic? Maybe it was him." Italy suggested absently, pulling out a white flag and toying with the frayed edges. His allies stared at him. Germany was about to comment before Japan cut him off.
"Apologies, Germany-san but let's think about this before we jump to that conclusion." Germany closed his mouth and motioned for Japan to continue. "Magic may not even be in play here, Alfred is capable of it as well. Matthew is the one who suggested we call Gilbert, making us falsely accuse Chess and send away three of our strongest people to a foreign country where they are unable to help us at all." Japan began pacing slowly between them, going through the evidence for them as well as himself.
"We haven't heard a single word from them since they departed. Matthew also left with them last minute with the reasoning that they needed someone who knew the politics of their kingdom. Allistor is a top captain in their navy; he would have been more than enough to explain the basics of Cards. Also, going with them would allow him a front row seat to the investigation and put him in a position to steer them awry should they get to close to the answer."
Germany crossed his arms and stared at his ally. "So you're saying he used them as a way to escape the war as well as the spotlight." Japan stopped pacing and nodded.
"He might be planning to leave from there 'scot-free' as England-san would say."
Germany sighed. "Why is it always the quiet ones?"
"So, Toris was all like, 'No, there's like, no way it could be me. I'm not a leader.' And the rest of us just weren't buying in. After all, if you're chosen then you are a leader. But he didn't think so…" England tuned out Feliks' tale of how their latest king came to be and slowed his horse to fall slightly further behind them. He fell into line with Matthew who looked slightly annoyed as well.
"I don't know if I trust this guy." He said, glancing at the blonde in the lead.
"Why is that?"
He shrugged. "I don't know. It just seems odd that he's so ready and willing to help after we accused his people of a crime they really didn't do."
"Maybe that is precisely why he's helping us. Clear his countrymen's names and get us out of his land all in one shot." England replied, shifting slightly in his saddle. No, journeying on horseback was not high on his bucket list but it did bring back a sense of euphoria for a time long past. Back when there really were knights and castles and kings and queens. This land was like a dark fairy tale: The hero would be his company and the damsel in distress would be the kingdoms of Cards.
England laughed lightly. Finally America actually got to play the hero he'd been dreaming to aspire to his whole life, complete with a crown on his head and a horse by his side. He had to admit the young Nation's outrage at Alfred's title had been rather amusing, convincing him further that this "mysterious force" at play in this world went out of its way to make ironic decisions in its leadership choices.
Up ahead Feliks' pony slowed and he held up a hand as a sign for caution. Everyone's guard rose instantly and even the noises in the forest around them seemed to stop. That strange sense of euphoria had England reaching down for a sword hilt that wasn't there; that hadn't been there in over two hundred years.
Out of seemingly nowhere the loud crack of a bullet hitting a tree just a few inches to the left of Canada's head made the horses panic and rear up, nearly throwing their mounts in the process.
"Uciekaj!" Feliks yelled. Everyone was quick to follow the universal command. Abandoning any sense of formation all thoughts went to one word: escape. And they did; a minute later five horses and one pony sprinted onto the open road and away from any cover of trees. If the bandits wanted to take them on, they would have to do it face to face.
But no one followed them, no one attacked them. For a moment, they questioned if they'd imagined the whole thing. Feliks dismounted and did a head count.
"America, China, Allistor, England and…" All eyes turned to the last member of the group.
"I'm Canada." He said. Matthew was gone.
"What the hell do we do now?" America yelled, clearly upset that he'd let his brother's duplicate get captured by ruthless bandits and unlike them, he could die. Humans were very fragile creatures, especially those with a price on their head.
"We continue on to find Lukas. They won't kill him if they know who he is; they'll want to ransom him to the highest bidder which will probably end up being me or one of my enemies. Sorry, but Lukas is top priority." Feliks re-mounted his pony and grudgingly led them closer to what would be the Pyrenees Mountains in their world. Was it really that outrageous to think that they would be completely safe from harm on foreign soil? There very well could have been spies from the very beginning watching their every move, waiting for the perfect time to strike, knowing they wouldn't nor couldn't do anything about it.
"We promised we would protect him." America muttered, falling behind to match stride with England who shook his head.
"No, we didn't." (*)
Feliks knew he was in the right location when soldiers bearing the white horse emblem stepped in their path and wouldn't let them pass.
"Like, you guys are on my land you know." He said, electing to remain on his pony three heads taller than the largest soldier. "I'm here to speak with the White Knight. Tell me, where is Lukas?"
"Who are you?" One guy asked, finding it hard to believe Feliks could be anyone of importance.
Said blonde glared and dropped the hood of his cloak. "I'm here to speak with Lukas. Tell me where he is." Sometimes it was hard to remember Poland was rather spineless, at least in the face of Sweden. Right now he was milking every ounce of royal status he could muster and using against the soldiers, who faltered slightly.
"Feliks? What are you doing so far from home, Polsk?" A new voice called from a small shop off on the side of the road.
"I could ask the same of you, Norweski. Up until the highest peak of that mountain range every inch of this land is Black Knight territory. I'm letting you stay here 'cause I'm lazy. I've totally known you were here the whole time." It was then that Feliks dismounted and confronted him, looking rather comical being a head shorter than him.
"What do you want, Feliks?" He sighed looking like his day just took a turn for the worst. The Pole turned back to the group, grinning.
"Nations and Captain, meet the White Knight Lukas. White Knight Lukas, meet the Nations and Captain." The five nodded in acknowledgement, England slightly upset with his introduction. "So, since you owe me for sparing your life I have a favor to ask." Feliks looked like a nervous child asking his parents to go out for the first time in his life. Lukas stiffened slightly, eyes narrowing at the request.
"What exactly do you want me to do?"
America realized the nervousness was just a front as Feliks' smirk was only visible from his perspective. Alfred had been right: the Nations in this universe really didn't hide behind masks and if they did it was only long enough to get what they wanted. This was Feliks' mask and he wore it like no one else. He had Lukas in the palm of his hand, probably knowing he would from the very beginning.
"My friends here are in need of a way to contact their allies in the west and you, being a magic man far superior to that of myself, seemed like the perfect candidate to make that happen."
Lukas scoffed, "A simple spell like that? I figured you would waste that favor on something a bit more complex."
"I didn't say that was the favor now did I? There's more to me dragging myself all the way out here than just passing a message." Feliks' calm, icy tone was unnerving at best. The others could see how he became the eldest of Black royalty. He made you drop your guard and pass him off as nothing more than a fool unfit for such a title before leaving your dying body in a place no one would ever find it. In some ways his drastic change in personality was scarier than Russia.
At least with him you could expect some insane plan involving excessive torture. But with Feliks, and this may apply to Poland as well, he didn't need a terrifying persona and he achieved the same exact results. He had ruled pretty much all of Eastern Europe once upon a time. (1)
Lukas clenched his jaw before responding. "Fine. I have a temporary home just up the road, but you probably already knew that didn't you?" The smirk was all he needed to confirm those suspicions. "We'll do the spell there. On the way you can tell me who your 'friends' are."
Feliks clapped him on the back, tugging the reins of his pony forward as they walked in sync. "With pleasure."
"We need to speak with Alfred immediately, let us pass."
"On what terms?" The guard of eight retorted to Japan's demand.
"We're allies right? Does it matter what the terms are?" Italy spoke up from behind him. The guards said nothing, refusing to let them pass. Behind them a blonde solider with a number ten on his sleeve was walking with two others and glanced at them in passing, halting when he recognized them.
"Stop! Let them pass, let them pass!" He yelled, running over to greet them. "They are very important people, as you know, and should be directed straight to the king and queen."
"Yes, Commander Dylan, it won't happen again." They let the trio through and the doppelgänger of Wales personally led them up to the castle.
"I sincerely apologize for the treatment. Most of our people- military especially- are still touchy about the previous war and don't like allowing foreigners inside our lands without a fight." The familiar explanation fell heavy on all of their hearts, even oblivious Italy. It seemed these two worlds shared more circumstantial history with each passing second, none of it good. (2)
"It is not a problem. We just need to speak with your leaders as soon as possible." Dylan nodded as he led them up the long flight of stairs in front of the main castle doors.
"Yes, well I just spoke with Jack Yao inside so he should still be around." The trio entered the castle alone and upon walking toward the war room bumped into Kiku who did a double take.
"I think those chemicals are still affecting my vision." He mumbled, rubbing his eyes and blinking.
"Uh, Kiku, Japan, Japan, Kiku. Complimenti on meeting each other now goodbye." Italy grabbed both Japan and Germany's wrists and dragged them down the hall, leaving a still-confused Kiku standing alone in the hallway.
As they turned a corner Italy and Yao bumped heads and the latter recoiled, muttering curses. "Feliciano, didn't I-"
"I'm Italia and we have important things to discuss. Where are the others?" It was amazing how one's mood could flip so drastically with a change in circumstance. But that was Italy's mask and he'd been around long enough to know when to when to wear it and when to not.
Yao faltered at his tone, "They are upstairs. We can discuss whatever this is up there."
Once they made it to Alfred and Arthur, Germany took over the explanation.
"We think we've figured out who stole your clock." He wasted no time in getting started. Three sets of eyes widened, eager for an explanation.
"We have reason to believe it was Matthew." Japan stated, nearly getting cut off by Alfred.
"What are you talking about? My own brother would never do such a thing. It's high treason!" Japan launched into his lengthy explanation and the doubt slowly melted from Alfred's face to be replaced with a sheer need for it to not make sense.
"No, that- he would never- Mattie?" Alfred turned to his companions for support but neither said a word.
Behind them white smoke began slowly collecting into an oval-shaped opaque disk. Yao tapped Alfred's shoulder and he turned to face the disk, gawking at the sight of it. Moments later an image appeared on the hazy surface.
The image comprised of seven familiar faces in a dark, low-roofed room. The blonde in the far rear had his eyes closed and was muttering something incoherently with his hands outstretched.
"Hey Lukas, I think it worked. You can stop the creepy chanting now." A blonde off to the side said.
"Poland?" Germany asked, finally making out the faces of China, America, England, Allistor, Canada, Poland, and Norway through the smoky disk. Norway stopped chanting as the disk solidified and became a relatively clear image.
"Nope, not Poland. I'm Feliks and the guy in the back is Lukas, Black and White Knights of the Chess Empire. You already know the rest. Germany right?"
England decided to take over from there. "Feliks here knows about us. Apparently, he met Poland four hundred years ago who withheld nothing. Listen we have important news-"
Germany was tired of this world's endless surprises so he just accepted that fact and moved on. "If it's about having a traitor in our midst save your breath because we just figured out who he was. And Alfred, look, he's not there. Believe us yet?"
Alfred nodded gravely, lowering his head in acceptance. Yao didn't look much better than him.
"Who's not where? And really? Listen we ran into a problem a while back and ah, well it's bad." America said, looking to the others for guidance on what to say.
"Where is Matthew?" Germany asked, more just to hear him say he was gone than for an actual response.
Six faces visibly darkened and Alfred continued. "There were some bandits on the road a while back and we're almost positive they have him. Th-there hasn't been a new ace chosen has there?" Everyone on the other side of the mirror, save Lukas, visibly relaxed at the collective shake of heads. "What's this about figuring out who the thief is?"
"We think- no, we know it is Matthew. There hasn't been a single sign to say otherwise as of yet. What more evidence do you need?" Germany said, not looking at all displeased with having to deliver the hard truth.
"Well, uh, actually I'll ask for explanation later but we still have a problem. The bandits are going to ransom him."
"And why is that a problem?" Yao asked, still fighting to believe the truth but doubting his instincts more and more.
"Because if he's the traitor like you say he is, what's he gonna do for the highest bidder?"
"He'll sell us out. Everything he knows will go to Chess." Alfred said in disbelief.
"Wait." Japan said, the force behind that word making everyone freeze. "What if there were no bandits? It may have been a cover for him to make his escape. Is there anywhere you think he would go? Or any place he told you not to go?"
"Backgammon." America, Canada, and England said without hesitation. Japan shrugged ever so slightly.
"There you have it then."
"Well that doesn't make any sense! What would that old geezer Julius want with incriminating information against Cards?" Feliks said indignantly and Italy perked up.
"Grandpa Rome?"
"Yes, we think all the ancients are in Backgammon. Germania would be there, you know." England said softly. Germany looked downcast, mixed feelings about the mention of his father. (3) "So we have to go to Backgammon to track him down and make him tell us where he hid the clock? How much longer can anyone over there hold out?"
"Clubs is falling back thanks to combined forces of Spades and Hearts but Diamonds just declared war on both of us. France was found out." Arthur said voice low with disappointment more than anything.
"Of course. The frog can't do anything right." England grumbled. "It will take us days, maybe a week or two to find him and get him to talk, assuming that's where he went. We all know how far jumping to conclusions got us last time."
Alfred and Yao shook their heads in unison. "Diamonds is a very powerful and formidable opponent and Francis especially after the last war. If Clubs regroups and allies with them we're done. Game over. The Timepiece must be recovered now more than ever."
"All we know for sure is that an underground group called Crimson Pawn did the theft under orders of apparently Matthew. It's not in Europe and we can't just scour the globe for it."
"Actually we can." Lukas said, effectively drawing attention away from England. "I created a locator spell. It usually works for people only but I can tweak it for this. Does anyone have an image of it I can use as a reference?"
"I already tried a locator spell, it didn't work." Arthur said while Alfred ran off to grab a painting of it while Lukas spread out a world map on the ground in his temporary home, the others backing up to accommodate it. When Alfred returned with the painting Lukas studied it, taking in every detail possible before tossing a grey powdery substance on the map and beginning his chant, a pocket watch swaying slightly in his hand.
The powder formed into a snake like shape as it slithered around the continents with no apparent pattern or system. After minutes of anticipation the powder dispersed and Lukas stopped chanting, looking troubled.
"What is it?" Arthur asked. Lukas studied the random display of powder before muttering something incoherent.
"Your locator spell didn't not work; it was just incomplete. This clock isn't anywhere on this Earth."
"What do you mean? Was it destroyed?" Alfred asked, desperately fearing the worst. Lukas just shook his head.
"No…no I can definitely feel it. It's a strong source of power but it's in some sort of a shadow zone. I can't pinpoint it."
"It's in our dimension." England said suddenly. "Think about it. Someone over here opens a gate between our world and the Timepiece crosses it. We now share a link between our world and this one. A day later Arthur makes an ambiguous call for help and out of every possibility his help arrives in the form of us because of that gate. For magic, crossing the inter-dimensional barrier when there's already a link is easier than searching for one in the same field."
"Great factoid Artie but that doesn't explain how we get it from our world back to this one." America said, earning a glare from his former caretaker.
"You need someone from the other side to push it back over here." Lukas said with a sigh, yet another roadblock.
"I'm gonna kill the little bastard when this is all over. I don't care if he looks like my Mattie 'cause I know it ain't him. Canada would never stoop so low, right bro?" Canada smiled warmly at his brother but froze when someone spoke up.
"Wait." Arthur said, sighing longingly and staring at the floor. "Matthew is innocent."
Alfred over at him and Arthur cut him off before he could speak.
"It was me."
Footnotes:
1: Poland is like a cat. Nine lives and then some. It got partitioned three times, ruled an empire with Lithuania bigger than two Ukraines, and survived the tug-o-war between Russia and Germany twice. (Oh and everything that's happening over in Eastern Europe now)
2: Tons of people (read: England) are still touchy about Germans and Germany as I said in an earlier chapter. People like grudges, just look at Cuba for example. We finally forgave each other just this year for the Missile Crisis. Aside from angst there really wasn't much that happened there anyway. No one died, no one declared war. It was more like a massive staring contest for a few decades (and apparently quite a few chess matches). I feel bad for continuously picking on Germany but they are the only ones [we Americans] really still hold a grudge against for their past. We're buds with Japan and they're the ones who bombed us. But some old vets still like to point fingers every now and then. Not that the Nazi regime was better than Pearl Harbor but still, there are some of us who think they're still kicking (this is why foreigners don't like us). And, as far as I know, Germans are the only ones who are insanely sensitive about the guy. Really, if they let it go like the rest of the world tries to this wouldn't happen. He lived, he killed, he died, the end.
3. More history involving a depressed Germany- you all know Germania's role and all but on a grander scheme of things the guy didn't do much to leave a good path for his kids to follow. Not that many of the ancients did because they all crumbled to dust but still. The only one who really didn't leave a legacy for their successors was Native America. Britannia crumbled, Greece crumbled, Rome crumbled. Hey like that one song in "We all Fall Down".
*:If you'd care to reread chapter four or so you'll know what he meant if you don't already know.
Another note- It's implied that Gilbert received payment on Germany's part, I just skipped the information we all already know about our dear departed Nation. And I did pay homage to those US/UK shippers out there, just a little. Your welcome.
So the culprit is revealed! It's about time I'd say. Shocked? Nonplussed? Totally called it? Hate me for cliffies? See ya next week for the reasons why. I hope you enjoyed the extra six hundred or so words.