Matthew (Canada) is not a main character but I do have big plans for him, I have big plans for everyone. Everything is going to shit! BTW this chapter I'm changing the rating. M. Just a warning. Francis gets really fucking weird.

Also, I finished my exams today. Sorry about not updating… school… sadly… comes first. I've had some cool ideas for this fic as well as a possible spin off. Let me know if you're interested.

Francis loomed before his magic mirror. He didn't chant any kind of spell or press into it like usual. He only watched himself. He eyed his reflection and wondered why he couldn't remember anything before The Unravelling. He removed his cloak, it hit the floor in a heavy thud. He unbuttoned his shirt and removed that too. He removed all of his clothing until he was completely naked. The room was cold, walled with stone. The only object in the room was the mirror itself. He took in a deep breath, not feeling the chill in the air.

He raised his hand and lightly touched the glass with his finger tips, they were singed with magic. This mirror is powerful. He pressed harder with his hand, rolling his head on his neck, feeling the power flow through him. He sighed, sinking to the stones of the floor. He felt the cold now. His body was hot with magic.

His eyes grew wide and he pulled his hand away from the mirror and rolled onto his side. He dry heaved. He weakly got onto his hands and knees, he felt so sick but he could not throw up. He had done this once before, thought he hadn't taken it as far as to try and absorb some of the magic, only attempting to feel its presence. His body wasn't like Gilbert's, he couldn't take so much magic at once. Was it magic? Magic didn't feel like the right thing to call it. It was more than magic, it was power. Power was swelling inside him, leaking out of his mouth like bile from his stomach. He managed to sit up when he felt less nauseous and the room was no longer spinning. He took in another deep breath, in and out. In and out. He could control it, he could take it. He swayed with each breath, back and forth, in and out. He listened to his heart beat falling back into an irregular regular pattern. It beat in his chest like a drum.

Francis kept his eyes closed before moving slowly, crouching down, pressing his body into the ground. He felt some of the power in his hands and pulled it out of nothing, giving it a physical form. It looked like tar, slowly oozing from his palms. It was so hot his hands turned red. It hurt. He slowly moved his hands to touch himself. He rubbed the liquid down his chest and stomach, trancing it along his bones and the sides of his ribs. It hurt. He placed a trembling hand of black onto his face and spread it down his face from his eye to his jaw. More and more of the tar came from his palms and he rubbed his down his sides roughly. It hurt but he enjoyed it.

His hands travelled down to his cock. He jolted at the touch. His hand moved up and down slowly, easing the length into hardness. He wasn't used to this. The physical power. He choked out a moan when he got himself up. He closed his eyes, dancing his fingers around the tip. His hands stroked along as he stumbled naked and greasy to his reflection in the magic mirror. He pressed himself to the glass. He felt the power flow through him and his breath grew haggard. He let out a repulsive moan, continuing to rub the tar into his skin. He played with his nipple, his whole body hard and active and shaking. His hips worked with his fingers until he finally came.

He relaxed against the mirror then, catching his breath. He saw his own eyes then, the irises gone completely red before fading back into blue. He realized he was covered in the muck and his own semen. The power overtook him, ravishing his body, bent Francis to its will. It hurt. He loved it. He wanted more of it. Still naked he sang into the mirror, pressing his body to it until his soul went through the glass leaving the body behind. It travelled to where Alfred was, the boy was sleeping.

"Oh my sweet Alfred, there's a whole world out there and I will make sure you experience it with me."

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Gilbert sat in the corner of his room, he had started letting Alfred stay with there with him. He could see what no one else could. He could see Francis's specter hunting Alfred, sometimes touching him. It repulsed him. What had the unraveling done to Francis? Gilbert rub his hands trying to clean them somehow. Francis change because of the unraveling but he hadn't become power-hungry until Gilbert showed him the mirror.

Gilbert hadn't been changed by the unraveling like the others. Gilbert also hadn't lost his memories like the others. Normal humans were thrown back-and-forth in time the way the sea tossed normal ships. The countries weren't human, however, so history changed all together with them. Gilbert looked at his hands. Everything he touched became imbued with some kind of magic that came from somewhere within him. That started happening after the unraveling.

The world was shaking and the sky filled with fire. Other realities were apparent and a lot of people disappeared. The countries are still looking for China. It was as if a nuclear strike went off and the country was blown off the face of the earth. That land was lost in The Unraveling. Maybe it moved to another dimension? Gilbert was asleep when it happened. He was at Ludwig's house, Germany back then. He ran down the stairs to find Ludwig being pulled at by strings of light coming out of what looked like some kind of a rip in their reality. Ultimately that's what The Unraveling was- reality ripping apart on itself.

Ludwig's screaming terrified him and he ripped Ludwig from the strands but they took hold of Gilbert and ripped him apart instead. Suddenly he was floating. He didn't feel pain anymore. Was he dead? Then he heard a voice calling out to him. It was warm and it was shining and it was familiar. It took hold of him but it was too bright for him to see and he couldn't understand what is was saying and yet he knew what it was saying because he could feel it- It's intentions and it's words. He grew relaxed in it's hold before remembering Ludwig. He wiggled back and broke free of the hold and suddenly he was falling when he opened his eyes. Ludwig, Ludwig's house, and the world he knew were gone.

Gilbert stopped remembering then. All he could was remember some nights. Gilbert looked over to Alfred. The boy was sleeping. Gilbert got up from his own bed and quietly made his way over to Alfred's bedside. Gilbert didn't need to sleep much after The Unravelling, maybe it was a curse? As a former country he was used to having a body that was different from humans but now his body was different from his country companions. Alfred slept soundly. Whenever Francis's spirit appeared Gilbert chased it off like a guard dog. He gently brushed Alfred's bangs from his closed eyes. Gilbert tilted his head getting a good look at the boy. The red eyed man took a seat on the floor still playing with Alfred's dirty blonde hair.

"Please be alright," he said to no one in particular.

The next morning Alfred opened his eyes to see Gilbert looking at some maps on his desk. It had been extremely nice of Gilbert to let him stay in his room. For some reason when Gilbert was around the nightmares of Francis would disappear. Alfred knew there was something strange about Gilbert. He was never like the others from what he could remember from before The Unravelling. Kiku barley remembered The Unravelling ever happened most of the time. Alfred was always on his case about trying to remember, but some days Kiku simply couldn't. Some days went by where Alfred could only remember some sounds or feelings.

Gilbert hadn't forgotten anything. Gilbert was some kind of link to the old world. It wasn't as if Gilbert had said anything special to make Alfred think this, it was simply something he knew upon seeing Gilbert. In the moment his blood red eyes mixed with Alfred's ice blue- Alfred knew that Gilbert wasn't like the other inhabitants of Neo Earth. Something about remaining with Gilbert helped him remember his old self, what it felt like to be his old self. The same kind of strength that made Alfred run from Francis in the beginning. The kind of feelings that reminded him of the firefly filled jars hanging in the oak tree by the cliffs. With Gilbert, he felt freedom. This feeling was Alfred burning alive and America rising from the ashes. It made him so happy.

"Someone woke up on the right side of the bed," Gilbert remarked, "Don't try to deny it, I see you smiling. Falling for me?"

"Are all pirates as cheeky as you," Alfred continued smiling, ignoring the albino's question.

"Only the well hung ones."

They laughed, it was such a stupid joke, "So what are you charting so early in the morning, oh Five Meters of Awesome?"

"The islands we've sailed by and the new currents of water. That landscapes have changed since The Unravelling, you know?"

"This is my first time outside of Francis's castle in a long time. For me it just seems the world got smaller."

"Yeah, around five foot five."

"What?"

"That's Kiku's height isn't it?"

Alfred smiled softly, "I wonder if he's still out there."

Gilbert watched Alfred. He was only handsome when he smiled or pouted. Francis had kept him locked away in the loop of his belt. Kiku was probably the only other person Alfred was allowed to talk to- or maybe Alfred only snuck talking to him. He went through phases like this. He would seems so happy and suddenly start melting. It was only a matter of time until Alfred was lost forever inside his own head. Gilbert could see the maze building around him. Tall and heavy walls to keep intruders out but more importantly keep his heart in. Kiku was Alfred's lifeline, Gilbert could only stand in so much. He thought about what Matthew said, that time was running out.

"Hey Alfred," the boy looked up, he seemed so small now, "you like whales right?"

Alfred nodded curiously. Gilbert got up and walked to Alfred, taking his hand and pulling him out of bed to the main deck. Alfred was blinded by the sunlight at first, jolting to a stop by bumping into Gilbert. They stood by the side of the ship.

"We have a pod Lizzy?" The captain called.

She shouted, "It's Elizaveta! And yes, looks like a family of blue whales!"

Antonio approached them, smiling with all the warmth of the morning, "It sure is lucky, isn't it?"

Gilbert smirked while Antonio cheered, "let me go fetch Lovi!"

The ship lowered and Gilbert held his hand out over the water.

"Prepare for an eyeful kid," he whispered only for Alfred before shouting, "AHOY!"

The whole ship bellowed, "AHOY!"

Alfred wasn't entirely sure what was happening when Gilbert's finger tips shined silver and the air around him picked up. Then Alfred heard it, whale song. Their dorsal sides pierced the water-top revealing their blow holes and backs. They went back under before peaking again, this time surrounded by an ocean mist which carried them safely from the sea and into the air. They had that same silver shine that was radiating off Gilbert. Alfred couldn't believe his eyes. The whales were flying and singing in perfect harmonies.

"Do you want to touch one?" Gilbert asked him.

Alfred nodded feverishly, stars in his eyes. Gilbert held his hand out to Alfred. He reached for it but stopped suddenly. Something like this had happened once before hadn't it? It was when he was a child, before The Unravelling. Alfred quickly cam back to his senses. He took Gilbert's hand and let the man guide him. They climbed up the mast and hung off the rope ladder. Alfred outstretched his hand and one of the smaller whales flew closer. Alfred touched the flipper and it sang loudly, almost deafeningly. Alfred howled back at it, laughing so hard he almost lost his grip on the rope. Gilbert pulled Alfred back in. Was Gilbert always so tall? No, Alfred was a knot lower. He looked up at Gilbert smiling down on him. The question burned a hole inside Alfred, begging to be asked.

"How do you do it?"

"I can't say."

"You don't know?"

"The Unravelling changed everyone. It took from them but gave me this. This is how I've changed. I don't understand it beyond that. I just know I can do these things, I know I can change these things around me into whatever I want."

Alfred knew he wasn't getting the whole truth but he accepted what he was told. It was a hint, a clue, and maybe he could understand it in the future. There was more to Gilbert and somewhere inside himself he knew what.

"Even me?" Alfred asked.

"What?"

"Are you manipulating me," it didn't sound like a question when he said it, it sounded almost like a wish.

Gilbert leaned down a little, "You wouldn't know if I was."

Alfred locked eyes with Gilbert. He found himself being pulled into those blood red irises. He felt closer to Gilbert, as if their bodies were touching though he had barely moved an inch. Gilbert broke their locked gaze when he looked to lower the whales back into the ocean. The two men made their way back to the main deck, the crowds cheering. It was one hell of a party trick. Gilbert raised his hand as if requesting louder applause when suddenly he dropped to his hands and knees, clutching his chest. He was coughing so violently, Alfred wasn't even sure he was breathing anymore. He looked around for help but it seemed no one in the crew had ever seen Gilbert this way before. It was as if everything had frozen.

The ship jolted, knocking everyone off balance. Something flashed before Alfred's eyes. He looked up at the sky, newly grey. A strange light, thin as a hair, floated through the sky. No one else seemed to see it. The little light disappeared as quickly as it appeared and Gilbert stopped coughing. The ship steadied itself as Matthew came running to their side.

"Gilbert, I told you you can't be using anymore magic, not unless you absolutely have to! It's been in and out your control lately and until we understand we have to be careful!"

Alfred stared at Gilbert, mildly horrified but more nervous than anything. It was Alfred's fault wasn't it? He was the reason Gilbert made the whales fly.

"Matthew, is there anything I can do," Alfred almost sounded like he was begging, "I'm the reason he-"

"You can be quiet," Matthew barked.

It took Alfred a moment to recover, Matthew had never been like this before, "I'm sorry…"

"You should be! It isn't just the whales you know. He also keeps the ship flying and the skies clear. He's started chasing away your keeper's specter! You're using all of his energy making him worry about you! You want to help? Leave!"

Gilbert pulled Matthew down to him, his eyes red with hate, "jealousy doesn't suit you, little birdie."

"You're cruel," he muttered in an equally hateful tone.

Gilbert let Matthew go before standing up on his own, "Everyone listen to me. I am the captain. I'll do as I please with my own power. I alone will determine its limits and if you have a problem with that then by all means return to the wastes from where I first plucked you."

He wasted no moment taking Alfred with him, disappearing into his quarters. He could feel Matthew's scorn and Antonio's grin. He slammed the door behind him. Gilbert released his iron grip from Alfred's wrist before hanging his coat on the door knob, blocking any lingering crew that felt like peeping through the key hole. He turned back to Alfred to see him watching his feet.

"Hey Gilbert, how come you're so nice to me?"

"What brought this on?"

"You took me from Francis because I was his princess but since then I haven't been much of a prisoner and more of… something else…"

"I don't know, something changed when I finally met you again."

"What changed," Alfred asked, finally meeting Gilbert's eyes.

"How I feel about you."

"How," Alfred took in a slow breath, Gilbert moving closer to him, "you feel?"

He smirked, finally reaching Alfred, "Yeah… You sort of… remind me of my little brother."

Alfred sighed, "a brother?"

"I had one before The Unravelling. I've been looking for him for a long time, you… have been a sort of place holder."

"I have?"

"But then," he was right in front of Alfred now, their bodies fully aware of each other's presence, "something else changed and you became something a little more precious."

They lingered in each other's air for a moment, Alfred's heart beating so fast he couldn't help but command his keeper, "kiss me."

Their eyes closed and Gilbert softly pressed his lips to Alfred's but it wasn't enough. As Gilbert's lips parted from his own Alfred removed his glasses and pulled Gilbert back in, smashing their mouths together. Gilbert met his ferocity. The kisses weren't violent and invasive like Francis's but they were strong. They were passionate. Gilbert's arms held him close by the lower waist and around his shoulders. Alfred's hands went from knotted in Gilbert's shirt up to his neck, his face, and his hair. They wasted no time in exploring each other's bodies. Alfred gasped.

"I want you."

Gilbert didn't hesitate. Before either of them really knew what was happening Gilbert had Alfred pinned under him on Alfred's bed. Alfred's hands worked expertly on the buckle of Gilbert's belt. This was it. There was no going back. He didn't want to go back. All he knew in that moment was Gilbert. Gilbert would save him. Gilbert would change him. Gilbert would love him.

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxX

Matthew watched his machines below deck, measuring Gilbert's powers and Gilbert's general body. The largest one was meant to help take some of the weight of magic off Gilbert's shoulders, helping the ship stay above sea level. It didn't do much other than hover without Gilbert's help but it was something. He remembered when Gilbert found Matthew. His position wasn't completely different from Alfred's. He took him from that world and gave him a place to stay, a home. He was one of the first people Gilbert went to find after The Unravelling.

At one point Matthew asked Gilbert to transfer his powers into Matthew, hoping they could work together. It was a terrible mistake. As soon as it began Matthew felt sick and threw up. The fluids were black and unnatural. For whatever reason, Gilbert is the only one with a body strong enough to handle the magic. It isn't transferable.

After all the time they spent together it wasn't a surprise that Matthew started having feelings for his captain. He was sure with a little more time Gilbert would have come to feel the same way. Then came Gilbert's plan. It seemed like a fine idea in the beginning. He had no idea what Alfred's presence would do to Gilbert. He was loyal, he was good, he lived his life for Gilbert; but none of that mattered when Alfred suddenly appeared. He thought he would be happy to have his brother back but that quivering little princess they found was no his brother. The terrified boy in a dress was only the bane of Matthew's existence.

"I have to get rid of him…"

"He should return to Francis…"

"Who said that," Matthew spun around, there was no one there.

"If he returns to Francis then you will have Gilbert again…"

"How would I even get him there? He would never willingly go back to Francis."

"But he still belongs to Francis…"

Matthew grinned then, his eyes glinting with dark magic, "But he still belongs to Francis."

"Take him back to Francis…"

"Take him back to Francis," Matthew echoed.

End of the chapter. Shit's about to hit the fan. XD