Disclaimer: I don't own Hetalia.

In a main village surrounding a royal castle that's liked quite a lot, a single man of the archery guard walks around. He had just gotten word that the idiot gunman went after the spy set in the Russian's camp, and he was nonetheless pissed. Damn idiots going to get himself killed. That's all Alister could think as he made way home.

Slamming the door open to his place, he hollered for his brothers. "Oi, ye brutes get yer arses in gear! The King's summoned us!" He walked into the living room, grabbing his bow and quiver that awaited him.

A pair of feet stormed up from the basement, revealing a stressed Welshman. "Fer what?" He scurried over to the kitchen to grab a sandwich that his Irish brother just finished putting together. Aiden gave the man a glare, but Alun just ignored him. "What's he want?"

Alister strolled through the entry way, leaning on the counter, stealing yet another sandwich Aiden made. The Irishman sighed. Chuckling, Alister stared seriously at his brothers. "I'm not sure, but Antonio said it was important."

The two nodded, Aiden making the last sandwich, eating it before the other two could grab it, and headed out with the other two. With their bows at their side, ready for any attack to surprise them, they advanced towards the castle.

Approaching their destination, the three stopped once they saw two others in the courtyard. One fellow was a tall man in with a smirking laugh, the other was a small boy in a sailor outfit. Glancing at each other, they proceeded towards the castle. As they drew nearer, the conversation could be heard from those two.

"...de a new invention." The Aussie smiled more as the boy jumped up and down. "Now calm your jets there, Peter. It's not quite done yet, or safe for that matter."

"Aw, come on Logan!" The boy whined as he pouted. "Tell me at least what it is, desu-yo."

"No can do, little guy." Logan ruffled his hair, a complaint coming from the boy. "When I finish it, you'll be the first to use it."

The three ran out of ear shot after the boy cheered. A smirk was placed on all three faces as they entered. As soon as they came into the foyer, Sepher came out to escort them to the King. Once in the grand hall, the men were able to see the unfamiliar face of their King.

"Your highness." Alister bowed as he got down on his knee, the other two replicating his movements. "To what do we owe the privilege of seeing your true face?"

The King grinned as he stared upon the men. Before he could speak his words, Alun peeked at his face, gasping. "Blimey! You look like Arthur!"

Alister was about to scold him, but stopped when he heard the King laugh. He finally looked at the real face of the King, eyes widening as he saw what Alun said was true. "Now boys," the blond King rested his cheek against his fist as he leaned to the left, "I believe there is a story I need to inform you of, for my life will end up being short." Alister shook his head as he stood, ceasing as the King rose his hand up to stop him. "How I know is that my dearly beloved visited me from the grave, forewarning me."

They grew silent more so then when they received word of their brother possibly being dead. Standing, they all were ready to hear the words of their King. "For we all know that I have no heir," the three nodded, "but you all are dearly wrong." Aiden glanced at his brothers, seeing the same reaction he was making; shocked surprise. "I have two heirs, both boys. This is where I want to tell you my story; of how I have two sons who no one knows of their true blood."

-|)-x-(|-

It's been a few hours since we started moving. The Russian has stayed in front of the group, making sure that his comrades don't lose their place or get lost. I was in the middle of the bundle, watching out for that American idiot my master has fallen for. He was being resilient as ever, making everything harder for those who are around him.

"Hey!" Speaking of which, he was now bumping against some Russians just to piss them off. His smirk knotted my stomach in the most disgusting way as he rammed into a solider. The ones who tried to put him back under control were easily pushed down and stomped on. I quickly glanced up at Ivan, but he kept his eyes forward. I sighed.

Passing by a few trees, some of the men were able to push him against one. I grabbed my bow, loaded an arrow, and shot it at the idiot. It landed just an inch to the right of him, scraping his cheek. I walked over to the group, noticing their big eyes full of shock for the unexpected arrow. I smirked.

Coming up closer to Alfred, I yanked out my arrow, giving him a scowl. "You will behave or your bloody arse will have an arrow up your anus." He paled as I smirked. A could see a chill run down his spine as I showed him my teeth. "That would hurt, but it'd be pleasurable to hear your painful moans." I chuckled, turning back around to catch up to the group. "Follow us without rebelling and nothing will come to harm you." Peering over my shoulder, I raised the arrow's tip to my face. "Also, if you behave, I won't defile master's body. Just for you you bloody idiot."

His lips were sealed as he nodded, afraid I'd harm myself as I'm in control. Just to prove a point, I nicked my cheek. "There~." I said, putting away the arrow. "For every wound given to you my master receives. Of course, that's only if you misbehave." Giving out a dark chuckle, I trailed behind the lead Russian, avoiding Alfred as best I could.

As I came closer to the brute of a Russian, I could make out a short chuckle. My eyes wandered, landing on Ivan. He was laughing. "You sure know how to keep someone in line, da?" I smirked along with him.

"It all comes down to what or who he cares for dearly. Being in his lovers body," I paused to chuckle, "that gives me an advantage. No matter how hard he pulls against us, I'll take the reins and fight back. It may be in a dirty way, but it's a clean plan in my book."

Ivan nodded, glancing at me with his famous childish smile. "That's why I like you Artemis. You don't think twice about using violence or weapons on people, or yourself." He looked forward again, letting me conceal the satisfied smile I tried to hide. For some reason, I take pleasure in satisfying this Russian; probably because I know he's just as crazy as I can be, or even worse. My smirk turned sinister. "Do you know what to do?"

I glanced up at the man, at first confused by what he meant, then grinned. "Yes. I do." After stating that, I ran ahead of the group, heading into the main village, commencing our plan.

-|)-x-(|-

Once near the village limits, I slowed down a bit. I knew what to do, but Arthur was placing doubts in my mind. Leaning on a tree, I gave my master a visit. "Stop interrupting my thought process you bloody ingrate."

He just smirked. "Getting nervous are we?" I scoffed. "You shouldn't do this. Just because I gave you full control doesn't mean that you have to-"

"Stop." He was about to continue his sentence, but I shouted. "Just shut up! I'm not going to turn into you no matter how hard you try. A curse never change for their master and I'm not going to start that process."

He sighed. "You know me too well." I smiled. "But with the given time I've had in my own body, I've gotten to know you, too." For some reason, I froze. He turned his back to me, arms crossed as he talked. "You claim to be a bloody killer. That's true, but there's a part of you that you try to hide. You're not like other curses, as I can gather." He glanced at me over his shoulder. "Though I haven't met anyone else with a curse, I can tell that you're different.

"For example," he started walking around me, almost in some sort of circle, "the last time I got to you, you remembered the time when I was young. It was before I met the wolves, I believe, when I found the dead rabbit that was my only friend at that time. You soothed my sadness, and calmed me." He wasn't looking at me at all as he told me all of this. It was pissing me off, but I just stood there and listened.

"There were other times as well." He continued. "Other lives that you plagued." He stopped walking for a brief second. "There was one fellow who you loathed and wanted to kill. You were trapped in his body, but you found a way to kill him without harming yourself." He looked up at the white sky, humming. "You were once in a woman's body. You could've fallen in love with her, but your black heart at the time killed her; she couldn't stand you at all." He frowned at that memory of mine, but shook his head and started walking again. "You had this one fellow you didn't mind being with. You stayed with him until he was an old man." A sincere smile was placed on his lips. "You were stuck with him and gained a sweet side. You cared for the man as if he was family to you. You never forced him to kill, you helped him in every way you could, you couldn't do anything to harm him."

He continued on about my previous master. I was trying so hard not to concentrate, but all the memories came back. The nostalgia of the relationship between my master and I, it was a nostalgic feeling that was gained over the years. That master wasn't the only one to put up a fight with me, but it was different; he won the fight.

I shook my head. "Then the last one you had before me," my eyes widened as he said that. I didn't want to remember. "He abused your power, also abusing you." I hugged my arms, shielding myself from the thoughts racing through my head. "He was the first one you made actual contact with; the first one you could touch and manipulate. He used that to his advantage."

"Stop..."

"He would grab a hold of you, and keep you close to him, draining you of your mental control." I started to lean forward as if I'd hurl, grabbed my head, and started shaking. "He..."

"Stop." Arthur's voice was plaguing my mind as those memories came back to me. Closing my eyes, I wished for it to stop. "Stop. Stop. Stop." I was begging.

I could see it all again. The bloody bastard of a master I had was sick. He already had mental problems as it was, but my presence made it worse. He was the first. The first for everything. He forced me to do so many things, and it still shocks me since I'm a curse; a thing taking human form that doesn't even exist, tangible when it's not supposed to be.

"Stop, stop, stop, stop, stop, stop, stop, stop, stop." Tears were felt on my skin. I didn't want Arthur to see me as something weak. "Stop!"

"You were once so kind, but when you took place in that man's mind, he changed you back into that monster you've created yourself to be." Once he stated that fact I longed to be false, I snapped.

I jumped towards him, strangling him. "Stop! Just shut up!" He grabbed my hands, prying them away from his throat. "I've tried to forget all of that, but you just had to talk about it!" I released him as my hands started to shake. "Damn it, I can't deal with you now!" Closing my eyes for a final time in front of him, I became conscious again.

-|)-x-(|-

I didn't realize how long I was passed out next to the tree. There was a person standing in front of me, worried that I was sick. He kept asking me things, but I couldn't understand him. My ears just weren't working. I chuckled. "I must look horrible." I breathed.

"Good, you're still alive!" The voice I heard made my eyes go wide. "I was so worried Arthur, you looked like you were dying." Feliciano crouched next to me, poking my arm. "I didn't expect to see you back just yet. Ve, to bad Alfred isn't in town..."

"I know where that bloody idiot is..." I shook myself, standing up. "He's with Ivan, captured like the bloody fool he is." Feliciano stood up with me, worried that I might faint or fall over. "Don't worry about me you idiot, go to your brother." He wasn't sure if he should go or not. "GO!"

My shout scared him. He turned on his heels and ran home. Shaking myself again, I started running to the castle. Just as I reached the main gate, I ran into my master's brothers. They looked just as shocked as I hoped. Hiding a smile, I began my act. "We got to hurry! Ivan's bringing his troops to attack! Today!" I panted as part of the act, showing that I just ran for a long time.

Alister came up to me, and looked at me with a confused face. "Are you sure?" I nodded. Why the hell would he ask me that? He looked back to the gates of the village with a fierce stare. "How did you separate from him without him noticing?"

I knew he'd ask this. "I slipped away when he wasn't paying attention. I tried to get here as fast as I could to warn you and the King."

"To bad Alfred isn't here to help us." He turned around to get soldiers ready. "He would've enjoyed killing the Russian with us."

"Alfred's with Ivan." He looked back at me. "He told me to go and warn the King before anything happened yet, so I did." For a reason unknown to me, my gut was telling me that the Scotsman wasn't believing a single word I was saying. "Alister, it's true!"

His eye twitched when I said his name, a smirk raising onto his face. "Aye, it is, isn't it?" Just as he got out his bow to load an arrow, we heard some shots. "Damn, he's here already!" Just as he turned to the other two, I smirked, running into the castle. "Shit! Chase 'im! That's not our bother!"

I didn't see if the others followed me, but I knew it was too late; I was already in the grand hall of the King. The commotion outside followed me, but stayed on the other side of the door. "So you've come." Standing in front of the steps that go up to his throne, I stared at the King with an evil, menacing aura. He just smiled. "Alas, to think my life would end this short, and by your hands nonetheless."

I didn't know what he meant by that, but I didn't care. "Your highness," I bowed, taking up my loaded bow, "it's a pleasure to meet you face to face."

"You also, have his voice? Interesting." The smile on his lips never fell. I started to wonder what was wrong with him. "I never knew that this would be the way to meet you and say goodbye." He sighed. "To think I'd have at least a second to talk with Arthur."

I was overly confused now. I didn't understand at all why he wanted to talk with my master. As I was about to ask, a hand appeared on my shoulder, a childish voice coming along with it. "You haven't done anything yet, Artemis, why?"

"So his new name is Artemis?" My gaze was on the King as he stood, arms open. "Nice to meet you lad, though you are obviously my slayer." He bowed to me. "I hope to be of perfect image to you, young lad." His speech was messing with my head.

"Da." Ivan pushed my shoulder, urging for me to finish my job. "He is your slayer, but if he doesn't follow orders, I'll do it myself." His usual smile beamed at the King. "I'll take pleasure in doing so."

"Not if I can stop it!" A gun shot went off, the bullet passing by as the Russian dodged it. I turned around to see Alfred out of his ropes. "You won't kill our king so easily!" He shot at the Russian again.

"Not when you have this awesome group to protect him!" Gilbert suddenly came into the room, followed by his brother, the Vargas twins, and the Spaniard.

"Arthur!" Feliciano saw me, surprised that my bow was pointed at the King.

The group hesitated when they saw me, but as Alfred kept shooting at Ivan, they went into the action. All six of them went up against the brute; you'd think it wasn't a fair fight, but if you knew what this Russian was like, then you would think otherwise.

Gazing at the fight going on before me, I lost hold of the arrow latched to the string. It fell to the floor, but I didn't notice. My mind was filled with so much confusion about what I was supposed to do. Why am I here? I gazed at the entire room before concentrating on the King. He smiled, coming towards me.

"You're hesitating. Why is that?" He walked down the steps until he was standing a few feet in front of me. "I thought you were one of those curses where you don't think twice about killing." I winced as those words crossed my ears. "Are you showing me who you truly are? The kind, lost soul that was hurt, shielding himself with an act that's to protect himself?"

My eyes lost contact with his as I stood there. "Artemis?" I sighed.

"I don't know who I really am." I looked up at him, showing him a look. His smile finally fell as he frowned. "I don't know why I was made inside of people instead of as a real person. I don't know if I have a real name or if I'm just 'The Archer's Curse'. It's really upsetting when you don't know who you are." I glanced at the fight going on, noticing how the Russian dodges all attacks easily. "Since I don't know who I am, I believe those who I'm bound to. The first one messed with my mind, telling me I was made to kill. As I went from master to master, I each gained a mindset different to the one before. My favorite mindset was when I was with Nickoli." I smiled. "He turned out to be the most nostalgic person I knew. He even gave me a name, the one I use now." I gripped my bow. "Artemis has become my name, and I'm proud of it, but...

"Once he passed, I gained a new master that tortured me for fun. He used me in ways I never knew a curse could be used. He had me as mental pleasure as he molested me several times a day, but since the mental world is my physical world, it was too real for me." I paused, not wanting to go any farther into my memories. "I changed after that, yes, but only because I needed something to cover myself up and focus on, so I could forget."

I turned my gaze to the King to see him kneeling before me know. He had a sad smile on his face as he looked upon me. Scoffing, I took the arrow on the floor, latching it to my bow. I was ordered to kill him. That's all I have to do with one shot. Arthur's voice suddenly shouted in my head, causing me to lose focus.

"Arthur!" Alfred shouted to me as he saw the weapon aimed at the king. "Don't do it!"

"Yes, Artemis," Ivan dodge all the hits from my master's friends, "Do it!"

Trying to focus on my target, my vision blurred. I cursed as my mind was being taken over with different thoughts. Shaking my head, I focused onto the King, ready to fire. The King didn't even look like he was going to fight. He was ready to die, even if it was me to kill him. My grip tightened as I looked at him. I...I can't...but...

"Artemis!" I hesitated again, but only because it was the American who called my name. My body was ready to shut down as I stood.

The Russian became impatient as he saw me stand there, hissing. "If you won't do it, then I will!" As he dodged my master's friends, he grabbed an arrow, latched it to a bow, then shot it at the King.

The arrow flew by me, but in slow motion. I glance over, watching it fly slowly, then looked at the King. He still had a smile on, but this time it was brighter. Right as I was about to tell him something, the arrow hit him in the heart, killing him as he leaned to the right, falling to the floor. I stared at his body, unable to comprehend what just happened, but then something snapped in me.

I felt empty at this sudden moment, but anger filled it as I shouted. "NO!" Turning around, I aimed my loaded bow at the Russian, releasing the arrow right for the bullseye.

Note: I'm sorry it's short, but the next chapter will be the last chapter and I wanted to end with a cliffhanger. Also, I can't believe I delved into Artemis' history like that. I didn't plan that, but it just came to me. Well, if he was kind before, there had to be a reason for why he was a mass killer now. That's what i was thinking as i typed. Also, it's been like forever since I've updated, not only this story, but every story. This one is almost done, and I'm sad, but also glad. One less story to worry about.

-sigh- ^^; I hope this turned out fine in the end. Also, it's not beta-ed, none of my stories are, so there might be mistakes. If you find one and it bothers you, just send me a message and I'll fix it.

Ciao: I hope you all enjoyed the second to last chapter! Thanks for reading, loves! R&R.