Chap 11: The Four Aces Battle Game

AN: Ok … I don't know if this is any good. In fact, I still don't know how my mind came up with such a twist to the story but … Hope you like it?

Lucia Vargas yawned as she felt someone forcefully shake her out of bed. Who the fuck dares to wake her up during siesta?! Blinking her deep brown eyes open, she met the identical brown eyes of her sister.

"Dina … What the fuck do you want?!" the Sicilian girls growled darkly, shooting one of her pillows at the Sardinian girl.

"Ve! Sicilia! Don't be mad! I'm just worried! Fratelli haven't come back home yet!"

"So what? The bastards are probably fucking Spain and Germany!"

"Luciiiaaa! Wake up! You're sleep talking nonsense again! Lovi and Feli were gone to this weird conference thing in America and they haven't come back yet!"

"Ok, so they're fucking the American bastardo in a threesome! Send them condoms and it'll be fine!"

"Sorella! Don't be like that! Scusi, I woke you up during your siesta but I'm worried! It's been almost two weeks since they've been gone!"

At that, Sicily reluctantly lifted herself away from her pillow and sat down on the bed, glaring at her sister with her grouchy-I-just-woke-up mood.

"Due settimane? That's a long fuck even for them."

"Sorella! Please stop saying stuff like that! You sound like Francia and Corsica!"

"The Hell's your problem? You've been seeing Vatican again, haven't you? The guy's a bastard, alright? I told you to stay away from the religious freak, si?"

"Scusi, sorella! But what about Fratelli?"

"… Feliciano, I don't care. But Lovino better get his ass back over here and make me pizza or I'm personally going to fucking US of flippin' America and drag him back home! … I'm hungry."

"I'll make you pasta!"

"I said I wanted pizza, Stupida!"

"Ah si! Scusi! I'll do it! In the meantime Sorella, could you put your gun away?"

"What gun?"

"The one under your pillow. It's dangerous! You'll hurt someone!"

"That's the point of a gun, Stupida. Where's my pizza?"

"Ah si!"

Sardinia ran off to the kitchen while Sicily growled and got out of her bed, only wearing her underwear and bra. She took out her gun … guns from under her bed and pillow, and started to look for clothes to wear. She paused as she heard noise from outside her window. Gun charged at the ready, she silently reached to her window ledge and peered out. A man was sleeping outside on the grass next to her tomato plants. The Italian girl narrowed her eyes on the sleeping man and aimed her gun.

"Sorellaaaaaaa! La pizza è presta!"

… Well, the guy's sleeping so killing him can wait. Pizza can't.

"Si! Si! I'm coming!"

"Sorella! Why didn't you put any clothes on? And I told you to put your gun away!"

"There's a creepy guy sleeping next to my tomato crops. I'm killing him after pizza."

"Ve? A creepy guy? Ah si! You mean the one I passed on my way to your house! He's still there?"

"Whatever, Stupida. Pass me the wine!"

"Veee … Don't you think he kind of looks familiar?"

"Do I look like I give a damn?"

"He looks like … uh … I don't know but I've seen him before!"

"Bene, bene, now shut up and let me eat!"

"È buono?"

"Si, si, buono!"

Sicialy patted her sister's head like you would a puppy, causing Sardinia to giggle happily. The two girls ate, forgetting all about their previous discussion and their missing brothers. Well, by the time they remembered, they would probably first have to deal with the sleeping guy in the tomato crops. Assuming Sicily didn't kill him.

Back 2 weeks prior, in a castle on the Anglo-Scottish border …

"Yo Dudette, so what game are we playing?"

She chuckled at America's "Dudette". Oh, he would be so surprised if she told him the truth! Just to see his face, Alice was tempted to tell him.

"Please refrain from butchering my language, Alfred." She spoke with a smirk and a pointed look at the American whose eyes widened in astonishment. Not just America, but they all felt the sensation that this girl was …

"No way! That's exactly what England would say! You're an alien! You kidnapped Arthur and stole his brain!" America shouted as he pointed accusingly at the girl calmly sipping her tea.

"Really? An alien? You couldn't come up with something better?" Alice dead-paned and Alfred felt his conviction drop but his suspicion only rose consequentially.

"If you're not an alien … what are you?" he mumbled darkly. "And why do you sound like Arthur?"

"Beat me and I'll tell you!" Alice giggled, but her smile was all but reassuring. She was enjoying herself, plain and simple, and the malicious gleam in her emerald eyes was not one to take lightly.

"Aiya, then what game are we going to play?" China spoke, bringing reason back to the confused group. He also felt disturbed by the woman, even more so than the others because he was certain to have met her before. But no matter how hard he tried only blurred flashes came to his mind. He just could not remember her. Or maybe something was preventing him to remember.

"You tell me." Alice spoke while sipping her tea. This situation really made her day! To think she was worried about getting bored alone here! Teasing these guys around is hilarious and entertaining! Though she didn't have much time left, it'll still be a laugh to spend the little time she had left playing with them. The guys won't know. Not unless she tells them~

"Any game?" Japan asked with a sudden idea.

"Yeah." Alice nodded but frowned suspiciously. Oh-oh … when Japan made that face, he usually comes up with some weird thing. The last time was a creepy Japanese comic … what did he call it? Doujinshi? Yeah that! Featuring America and (Alice could not believe it but…) Arthur in an awfully suspicious relationship … WHICH THEY DO NOT HAVE! PLEASE KEEP IN MIND THAT THIS IS ALL JAPAN'S CRAZY IDEA! FICTION ONLY! NOTHING REAL!

Japan ushered his idea to the others. There were a few arguments but eventually the nations all seem to settle down with a common idea. Alice watched them, the ghosts had long left (bored) and William was too busy with his writing to pay any attention to the world around him (as usual).

"Ve? Why me?" Italy asked with a pout.

"Italy-kun, please! It has to be you because nobody else here can do it!"

"Just do what he says stupido! You've done it before anyway!"

"Lovi, you did it too, remember?"

"Chigi! Shut up or I'll kill you!"

"Allons, allons, let's all calm down! And if you want, Big brother can help prepare …"

"France, stay out of this!" Germany warned before turning to Alice. "We decided."

"Oh? You only get one try. You agree to those conditions?"

"Ja. The game we want to play … is a role-playing character multiplayer … uh … what was the rest?"

"Role-playing character multiplayer Four Aces Battle Game!" America exclaimed with sparkles in his excited blue eyes.

Alice stared at them for a minute.

…

… Uh?

"The hell is that?"

"Allow me to explain!" Japan smirked as he took out a notebook and started to draw the setting of the game on it to explain to the confused host. Alice watched, intrigued but also slightly exasperated by the weird choice of game.

"It's a video game in which we take the form of a character that each gets his own special attribute and special ability! It can be anything but the setting of the character cannot change once the game starts! It's a multiplayer game, implying that we work as a group and using strategies to benefit the common goal. The Four Aces Battle Game refers to a prototype game I am currently working on and that challenges the players to four boards of card games of any type and to which the players must win all four to unlock the final battle! In this role-playing game, I think we should modify the original plan of the battle and make it a real full-fight using our characters' abilities. The Four Aces we earn after winning the four challenges are used as bonus effects in the battle. It will randomly trigger an event that will benefit us in some way or another. To finish, I will add that there is the possibility for players to sacrifice their character's life in order to support the others and help them win. The loss of a person will not mean that he lost just that he is on temporary stand-by until the game is over. If all players are dead, we lose. For the design, I thought we could …

"I see. Indeed it is an interesting proposition."

They all looked back at Alice who was now in deep thought. She smirked, slightly excited by the perspective of this new game.

"Very well. Let's play the Four Aces Battle Game. Only, this won't be a video game. Let's make it more realistic."

"You mean a simulation?"

"Didn't I tell you before? The setting is mine to decide. This castle will be the grounds of the game. It will not be a simulation … this is real life, boys. You die and it's game over."

"W-wait! That's not …!"

"Scared?"

The nations silenced as they heard the challenging mock in the girl's voice. They all heard a distinct ring in her voice that sounded familiar … as if someone had spoken those very words, that very same way once before. And it was irritatingly frustrating! Prussia was the first to break this silence.

"The Awesome Prussia is scared of nothing and nobody! Bring it on!"

"Very good! Now … Let's see, what characters are we having? Oh and you can only select four of you to play."

"What? Why?" Antonio frowned in confusion. Since the beginning he's been staring at Alice with the nagging feeling at the back of his mind that he knew this girl. But where on earth had he met her before? And when? And how could he not remember?

"You said four challenges. Then that means you only need four of you."

"But what about the final battle?" Alfred piped up.

"Fine, I'll give you one extra but he'll only join for the last battle. This game is seriously sounding like one of those stupid video games you play with your damn alien freak." Alice muttered that last part but America clearly heard it.

"How do you know about Tony?"

For a second, the girl silenced in shock at her carelessness but soon and wide grin rushed back to her lips.

"Figure it out, love!" She purred darkly before walking out of the room though a door that materialised itself right next to her. A door that just stood on its own, not linked to a wall and barely touching the ground. The nations watched the girl walk away and the door vanish after her.

"I'll leave you to decide who's going to be one of the four players. I will personally choose the fifth at random. Once you have decided and are ready to play, ring the bell." Alice spoke before leaving the nations to their demise.

"What … the hell?" Romano blurted out and none of the others could answer.

Minutes later …

"Alright, are we all clear on who is entering the game?" Germany asked and everyone nodded.

"Kiku, are you sure you don't want to enter?" America turned to his friend who simply shook his head with a smile.

"No, Alfred-san. I think you will be much more suited for this than me."

"Why don't I play too?" Russia crept up on the shy Japanese man who jumped in fear.

"I-I'm sorry Russia-san but I analysed everyone's capability and estimated that America, Germany, Italy and China were the best suited for the game. China's experience and knowledge is vast and should be useful."

"Oh, yeah, like with the dragons!" Spain rolled his eyes as he snarled. Before China could retort, Kiku was already continuing his explanation.

"America has already tested my prototype recently and is the best of us after me when it comes to games."

"Because I'm the hero!"

"In this game, there is always a female character with the purpose of healing and supporting the others. Since we don't have Gilbraltar with us anymore, I assumed Italy could do just as well."

"Veee … But why me?"

"Shut up Fratello and deal with it!"

"Besides, I am aware that Italy is extremely good at card games and very lucky which could prove vital later on. Finally I chose Germany for his quick thinking, his leadership and her rationality at taking decisions with a clear mind no matter the situation." Kiku concluded his explanation.

"Hm mm. Couldn't have chosen better myself!" the soft laugh of a girl resonated in the room, making all the nations jump in surprise.

The door reappeared and Alice walked back in, a smiled on her beautiful face. She was followed by the butler in white.

"We didn't ring the bell …" Kiku started but now, looking around, he noticed there wasn't a bell to ring.

"Sure you didn't? Guess I misheard. But I believe you are decided."

"H-Hai. According to the programing in my game, I selected four characters for our players."

"And what character might I be?"

"I-I left this to be your choice?"

"… That's sweet! Thank you Kiku!"

"Hai?" Kiku stared in slight shock at the smiling girl. He had never told Alice his human name, so how did she know?

"Oi! Bunny!" The blond girl called and immediately the white butler bowed at her.

"My Lady?"

"You heard them! Let the game start!"

"As you wish."

Elsewhere in the castle …

Peter walked down the shifting corridors of the castle. He was trying to get his head around the discovery Victoria had given him. It was just … unbelievable and yet it made complete sense! It's so obvious he could not believe he hadn't realised it himself!

"Now, what will you do? Forget or Silence?"

Leon's words rang over and over again in the blonde's mind. How could he forget something as big as that?! Well, he knew how he would forget. Those fairies around the place could probably erase his memory. But did he want to forget? No. Definitely not.

But how can he keep such a big secret silence? And especially from Sweden and Finland? Sweden was so intimidating that Sealand could never lie to him, nor could he feel it in his heart to trick the innocent warm trust of Finland. He's sure to tell them! And they'll definitely tell Norway and Denmark and Iceland and then the whole world will know! Oh god! What can he do!

"I can't forget … so I'll have to hide it?"

Peter shook his head. This didn't feel right. Why should they keep this a secret! Why? It wouldn't hurt anyone to tell the truth and in fact, would save England a lot of trouble! But it was England's choice to keep this secret. And no matter what Peter said, he knew he had no way for convincing him otherwise.

A small light flew towards the pondering boy. He only noticed the fairy when he was faced with her figure millimetres from his nose. He recognised her instantly from earlier but also from his memories.

"B-Bell! You scared me!"

The fairy smiled … well, what looks like a smile for a fairy. In fact it looked creepy and scary but Peter assumed she just wanted to feel calming and warm. Not working but never mind!

Trouble young Peter?

The voice rang in the boy's head and he barely held back his shriek of surprise.

"W-what … did you …?"

You changed. You weren't that fearful of me in the past.

"I-I grew up …"

Yes. You did. Pity. I liked the little kid that believed in magic and making the impossible real.

"You … I … I don't really remember much …"

I would be surprised if you remembered anything. I personally was the one to seal away your memories. Will I have to do it again, little master?

"What … I … I can't … I don't know! I don't know what I should do!"

Well, until the game is over, I guess you have plenty of time to make up your mind.

The fairy shrugged before flying away.

"Wait! What game? What are you talking about?"

The Mistress doesn't hate this place but it's so lonely and isolated. She needed the distraction. No … that's not it. She needed … contact with the outside world. But that's too dangerous. It cannot be allowed. Ah well … I'll just erase everything. Again and again …

"What …? Bell, wait!"

But the fairy vanished in a blink of the eye, leaving Peter alone in front of a blue sealed door.

"What is wrong with this place?"