Hey, Neko here. I guess you can say this starts out as a filler chapter, but it gets REALLY important at the end. It may even clear up some questions… so stick with us until then, please!

Author's notes:

No soundtrack for this chapter. D=

Two meters is roughly seven feet, for all of you who use United States customary units. ;)

Alberto = Cuba. His name came from a former soccer player, Alberto Delgado. Look him up sometime.

Translations: (Wow, lots today. Again, correct anything that's wrong. Kami's only a level 1 French student.)

Bastardo – Spanish (Finally, a language I can speak! :D) – Just remove the 'o' and you have your translation. ;)

Désolé! Ne me blesse pas! – French – I'm sorry! Don't hurt me! (or something around there…)

Parlez-vous français – French - … I hope I don't need to translate this. =\ (Do you speak French)

No lo hablo nada – Spanish – No I don't speak it

Lo siento – Spanish – I'm sorry

Asombroso – Spanish – Amazing (Sorry, I like Spanish. =3)

Hasta luego mi amigo – Spanish – See you later, my friend

À plus tard mon ami – French – Later, my friend

Anden – Danish – Second (just a reminder. ^-^)

Chapter 9 – The Snow and the Soul

The autumn leaves soon melted into winter snow. Matthew began to teach Alfred how to ice skate. They'd been at it for a few days now, but Alfred didn't seem to make any progress. However, Alfred kept an optimistic attitude, knowing that if he learned how to ice skate, he could spend more time with Matthew and learn more about what his brother liked to do. Better yet, it would keep him right next to his side instead of leaving him.

"You need to bend your knees more," Matthew commented, skating over to Alfred who had just fallen flat on his face.

Alfred lifted his head up to look at his brother. He crossed his arms and rested them against the ice. "I am bending them."

"Not enough," Matthew replied. "Your two-foot glide is starting to look like you're trying to fly away."

"Well if it wasn't so hard to keep your balance on ice," Alfred muttered under his breath. Matthew sighed and helped his twin onto his feet. "Here, watch me again, and-"

"Mattie, we've been at this for long enough today," Alfred groaned. "Can't we do something else?"

"I thought a hero never gives up." Matthew smirked.

Alfred's hair bristled on the back of his neck. "I'm not giving up! I'm coming back to it later. Iggy always said…" His voice trailed off and he looked away from his brother.

Matthew felt a pang in his heart. Ever since Arthur left, Alfred wasn't as cheerful, even though he tried to hide it. Alfred depended on Arthur's constant bickering not only to keep a lighter air around him but also to relax his nerves. It bothered Matthew that he wasn't enough to keep his brother happy, especially since he sacrificed his relationship with his family, the thing he treasured most, to be with his brother.

"So, anyway," Alfred continued. "Want me to show you what I do for fun in the winter?"

Before Matthew could answer, Alfred grabbed his hand and yanked him towards the castle's front gate. He pushed Matthew behind an ancient maple tree and shushed him. Matthew took time to marvel at the maple tree's size. It must've been at almost two meters wide! Matthew turned his attention to the ground, where his brother seemed to be digging through the snow.

"Alfred, what are you doing?"

"Quiet!" Alfred looked over his shoulder at his brother. "What does it look like I'm doing? I'm making a snowball. You do know what a snowball is, right?"

Matthew creased his eyebrows. "Of course I know what a snowball is!"

Alfred stood up and pushed a snowball into Matthew's hands. "Hold this." He peered around the tree and focused on a guard standing still by the castle gates. Alfred smirked and chucked the snowball past the tree, flinging the snowball at the guard. It hit the back of his head, and he turned around in pure fury.

"Alfred, bastardo, come here and face me like a man!" he growled and marched over toward the tree.

"Direct hit!" Alfred chirped and ran away, yelling over his shoulder, "Run for it, Mattie!"

Matthew was confused, until he looked at the snowball still lingering in his palms. His eyes widened and he started to run, only to be cut off by the guard.

"I got you now," he hissed, grabbing Matthew by the shirt collar. Matthew squeaked in surprise and his hands flew up to grasp the man's wrists. "You've hit me with those damn snowballs for the last time!"

"No, I didn't throw the snowball," Matthew stammered. "I'm sorry. I didn't know Alfred was going to throw it at you."

"Don't try to confuse me," the man barked. "I know you threw it. You had a freaking snowball in your hands! What do I look like, an idiot?"

"Désolé! Ne me blesse pas!" Matthew then began to mutter incomprehensibly in French. The man raised an eyebrow.

"When the hell did you learn how to speak French?" he asked in a softer tone.

"My papa taught me French since I was little," Matthew replied, his heart still racing. "P-parlez-vous français?"

"No lo hablo nada," the man replied. "So... I guess you're not Alfred then, huh?"

"No." Matthew shook his head.

"Sorry about the mishap, kid. It's just you look so much like him and... I'm Alberto."

"Mathieu."

"Well, it's nice to meet you."

"I'd be happy to meet you too if I was on the ground."

"Oh, lo siento." Alberto placed Matthew's feet down on the ground. "It's just, you look so much like him and I react without thinking sometimes and..." Alberto continued to apologize, making Matthew smile. No one had ever apologized to him this much before, at least not without him apologizing profusely back.

"-ith me or something?" Alberto asked, shaking Matthew from his thoughts.

"I'm sorry, what?" Matthew looked up into his dark eyes.

"I want to apologize for confusing you with your idiot brother. Would you like to get some ice cream or something?"

"Oh, uh… sure," Matthew replied, and the two of them walked back into the castle.

~o~o~

"The bastard still writes to me every once and a while," Alberto laughed, shoving a spoonful of maple ice cream into his mouth. "But I guess brothers are brothers, right?"

Matthew absentmindedly shook his head. He played with the remains of the ice cream in his bowl, not really wanting to finish it but not wanting to waste it either. Alberto may have seemed rough around the edges at first, but the two had quickly become acquaintances. From what Matthew understood, Alberto moved to Peleo-India after moving out of his father's house. From there, he signed up to be a palace guard and would have gotten captain rank, if it wasn't for how much he detested Alfred. But he said he doesn't protect the country for his ruler, but more so for the people. Matthew admired his chivalrous attitude.

Alberto continued, "Anyway, where did you find this maple ice cream? It's amazing!"

"Oh, I make maple syrup," he replied. Alberto raised an eyebrow. "Well, not like that. It was an old method that my mother gave to me before she died. She said that it was a natural sugar from trees and could be used to sweeten anything. She taught my papa how to do it, but I've always been the one in the family to make the best syrup, not to brag or anything."

"And why not?" Alberto replied. "This stuff is asombroso!"

Matthew smiled and looked out the window. "It's getting late, and Alfred will be wondering where I am. I better go."

"So soon?" Alberto looked out the window, not realizing how much time he spent with Matthew. "I have to get back to my post anyway. Hasta luego mi amigo."

Matthew turned away from the door and smiled. "À plus tard, mon ami."

~o~o~

"There you are!" Alfred yelped and charged at Matthew. He flung his arms around his twin and nearly sent the both of them sailing to the floor. "I thought he killed you! I'm so sorry; I won't leave you alone like that again. That was totally not heroic of me."

"Alfred-"

"What kind of big brother leaves his brother defenseless against a bully like that?"

"Alfred!"

"God, I'm so stupid. I never should have-"

"Alfred!" It wasn't loud, but Matthew finally got his brother to shut up. "It's fine. Alberto and I are friends now."

"Friends? With that?" Matthew nodded his head. "You sure we're talking about the same person?"

"Alfred," Matthew hissed. "He's a nice guy, once you don't tease him by throwing snowballs at him."

"Yeah, and he isn't giving you a black eye," Alfred muttered. Matthew imagined Alfred walking around with a dark eye, while Alberto marched away triumphantly. He giggled and then turned his attention back to his brother.

"So... I was thinking..."

"Mattie, we've been over this," Alfred moaned. "It's cold out, and I don't feel like walking down to the town."

"But it's been forever since we've been there!" Matthew retorted. "And I haven't been able to see my family for three weeks now. I miss them."

"I don't know," Alfred turned his gaze away from his brother.

"Please?" Matthew's eyes began to glisten. Alfred told himself not to look, but turned his head anyway.

"No, Mattie... that's cheating! Come on now, you're not going to cry."

Matthew lowered his eyes. "Oh well, it's not that important anyway, eh? I guess I could wait a few more weeks or so."

Alfred's lips drew a straight line. He inhaled through his nose and exhaled out his mouth. "Fine. Tomorrow morning, we'll go for a walk and-"

"Thanks Al!" Matthew wrapped his arms around his brother. "You're the best." Alfred smiled and accepted his brother's affection. Matthew grinned behind Alfred's shoulder. He knew being passive-aggressive would have its advantages one day.

~o~o~

That afternoon, Matthew and Alfred dressed up as warm as possible. They strolled through the barren oak forest and into the town Matthew once called home. The streets were littered with snow and the occasional couple passed as they tried to keep each other warm. Matthew breathed in the familiar smell of the town, smiling as he stared at the different decorations for winter.

As the two were walking, a snowball pelted into the side of Alfred's head. He shook the snow from his hair and looked around, expecting Alberto to pop out from a snow mound. Another crashed into the back of his head, sending a few stray chunks into Matthew's hair as well.

"Okay, come on out and face me like a man," Alfred growled, spinning around and examining every tree. As he turned his head to look to his left, a third snowball slapped him in the face. There was a faint laugh from behind an oak tree and Søren stepped out.

"Hey, anden Mathias," he chirped and tossed a snowball up and down in the air. "Long time no see."

"Hey, Søren ," Matthew greeted. Alfred wiped the snow from his face.

"What was that all about?" he asked, wiping the melted snow off of his glasses.

Søren shrugged. "No reason. Just felt like it." He looked like he wanted to continue aloud, but merely muttered under his breath instead.

"Is that so?" Alfred huffed, and scooped a pile of snow into his hands. "Prepare to meet the King of Snowballs."

"Oh yeah, well I'm King of the Nordics, so I outrank you," Søren retorted and smirked.

"We'll see about that," Alfred growled, ignoring the fact that he didn't know what a Nordic was, and pitched the ball, only to have it miss its mark.

Søren burst out laughing and stuck out his tongue. "Ya missed me." He dashed over the snow banks and jumped over a row of snow covered bushes.

"Come back here and let me stick that tongue of yours to a pole!" Alfred yelled and chased after Søren . Matthew shook his head and continued go walk toward his house. Before he could approach his road, Mathias stepped in front of him and stopped.

"Oh, hey Mathias," Matthew greeted. "If you're looking for Søren , he's-"

"I know what that buffoon is doing," Mathias replied and folded his arms. "I put him up to it."

Matthew blinked twice. "Why?"

"To get Alfred away from you for a moment, that's why," Mathias replied. Matthew nodded and muttered an 'oh'. Mathias continued, "I wanted to talk to you privately, something I know Alfred wouldn't allow you to do if I simply asked him to."

"Well, I'm all ears," Matthew replied. "What do you want?"

Mathias looked around the clearing for any sign of eavesdroppers and took in a deep breath. "I don't know if you've noticed, but Alfred hasn't been acting like himself lately. At least, he hasn't been acting the same around us."

"Really? That's funny. He's the same old Alfred I've known."

"Maybe to you, but that's because you mean something to him. Something I fear he doesn't feel for his people any longer. Haven't you noticed he doesn't come down to visit the town as much as he used to?"

"Well yeah, but that's because it's cold outside. Alfred hates the cold."

"That may be true, but he used to visit rain or sleet when his mother was still in power. Just being around the people made him content."

"Well, I guess now that he has me, he doesn't need to come down to the town as much to have fun."

Matthias sighed, his point not getting across. "There have been changes. Changes that worry even me. The taxes Natalia placed on us still continue today, and even worse, he doesn't seem to care that we cannot afford them. He always used to listen to our problems, but now it seems as if they are of no importance unless they affect him directly. He's grown more cold to the outside world, and seems to spend most of his time inside the same place he called a prison not too long ago."

Matthew soaked his words in for a moment. "He's really changed that much?"

"Tell me, Matthew, what do you see when you look at his eyes?"

"Oh not this again. His eyes are blue, like they've always-"

"Wrong!"

"Not you too. I'm being serious."

"So am I. It worries me that only you see blue eyes, and the rest of us see gold. What worries me even more is that his eyes changed to gold after I preformed the resurrection spell the night Natalia killed you both." Mathias paused for a moment, waiting for a reaction Matthew never preformed. "I'm worried that Rin's soul may have attached to Alfred's during his resurrection."

"Rin? Who's Rin?"

"From the old legend. Don't you know your family's history?" Mathias continued to explain how Rin was the one who started the prophecy Matthew and Alfred were a part of right now. Matthew noted the similarities in Alfred's personality and linked them to what Matthias had told him earlier.

"So, you think my brother's being possessed?"

"Partly. I think Alfred's soul is in there. The only time his soul is in full control is when he's alone with you. Rin cannot stand the sight of the servant because it reminds her too much of the brother she betrayed, so she hides whenever he's around you."

"But if she's present right now, shouldn't we worry about Søren 's safety?"

"He can handle himself. It's you I'm worried about."

"Me? Why would you worry about me?"

"Haven't you found yourself out of control sometimes? Do you ever feel like someone's forcing you to make every move, as if you were a puppet on a string?"

Matthew stared at Matthias and nodded his head. "Yeah, but how did you know?"

"It's part of the curse. But I'm sure Arthur told you all about the curse before he left." Matthew's blank stare answered his question. "You really don't know what's going on, do you? Alfred can control your actions through orders."

"It all makes sense now. Back at the house, when he was giving me all those stupid little things to do. And that night I yelled at Angelique… he whispered in my ear to get rid of them." Matthew's eyes narrowed. "Did he know?"

"I'm not sure if Alfred himself realizes it, but Rin does."

Matthew clenched his fists. "Let's hope for his sake he doesn't know. Thanks, for everything Mathias. I'll try to keep on the lookout for you."

Matthew went to walk around Mathias, but Mathias held out his arm to stop Matthew. "Be careful, Matthew. I fear something terrible is about to happen. And I think you're involved."

"What?"

"Alfred's-" Mathias was about to continue, until Søren jumped over a snowbound and crashed into him. Mathias rubbed the back of his head, which hit rather hard on the ground below, while Søren laughed on top of him. "Will you get off of me?"

"Oh, sure," Søren replied, stood up, and helped Mathias up along with him. Alfred leaped over the bank as well, snowball in hand ready to launch at his opponent.

"Alfred!" Matthew cried, trying to divert his twin's attention. "I've changed my mind. I need to go home and lock up my maple cabinet before Alberto finds it and eats it all on me."

"No problem!" Alfred threw an arm around Matthew, forgetting all about his competition with Søren. "A hero never lets down a request that includes Alberto is the villain."

Matthew rolled his eyes. "Oh, Mathias, before I go, give a message to Angelique for me. Tell her I only did it because of the curse." Mathias nodded his head.

"Now, away my sidekick," Alfred cried and dashed up the trail. "We haven't a moment to lose!"

Matthew smiled and tried to keep up with his brother. However, his mind couldn't help but return to what Mathias had told him. Was it really true; does Mathias not trust Alfred anymore? I do feel something different about Alfred, but I thought it was only my nerves. And if Mathias noticed it, how many of the other townspeople noticed as well? What if they all rise up against him one day like they did Natalia? Matthew shook his head. No, Alfred's not evil. He may be arrogant, self-centered, thick, oblivious… okay, he's not perfect, but that doesn't mean he's evil. I know the real Alfred. Even if no one else trusts him, I'll make sure I'm at his side, even if I'm the only one standing.

To be continued…

Short chapter is short. Sorry, as I said, it was a bit of a filler, but the ending was important. I hope you were all taking notes during Mathias's explanation. =D And if not… go read again.

And again, thanks to our reviewers!

OrangeJuice101, Hinata Uzumaki-sama, Italy (you know who you are :D), xoxox. sailor. gemstone. xo, Lone Star Gazer15, and nupinoop296! You all rule! =D

And also, thank you darandomninja for betaing once again for us. ^o^

Um… I don't know what else to say. ^^; So see you all later.

~Neko