Yo dudes! I think I've found a beta/editor for this god forsaken fic! I often fantasize about this fic: the things I can do, places I can go, hearts I can potentially break. The main thing I wanted to explore were different kinds of toxic relationships as I myself have been in MANY. None of them were even romantic? WTF right? Anyway, new chapter and whatever.

Gilbert stood at the mast. Most of his crew was sleeping below deck. The sun was rising. Gilbert watched as the edge of the sky grew light. He took in a deep breath of the salty-damp air and willed some more of his magic into the ship so that it could fly on its own until someone woke up. He closed his eyes, feeling the mist on his skin. He breathed in and out, listening to the air and the waves far below. He opened his eyes again and whistled, he heard a bird's wings somewhere nearby.

A little yellow bird landed on Gilbert's shoulder, a small note around its neck, "Hello birdie, what do you have for me?"

The bird moved its head a little to reveal a small canister for a small note. He retrieved the little paper and reached into one of his coat pockets for a fistfull of seeds. The bird enjoyed them as he read.

"Hello Beilschmidt. A little birdie told me you were looking for a little Beilschmidt. I've also heard you're keeping a princess locked away. The Andromeda proposes a trade: your brother for the princess. The trade will happen on the eleventh at sundown, on Opheroidia Island. Any tricks and the pretty blonde won't make it."

Gilbert stared at the note horrified. Was it really Ludwig? Had his brother appeared at last? How long had he been searching? Was Ludwig alright? Gilbert tried to remember the Andromeda, who was its current captain again? He vaguely recalled a set of bushy eyebrows; it was probably the former England. What was he called now? Something Kirkland. That was enough for Gilbert to address the man when he saw him so he didn't bother remembering further than that. Last he heard Kirkland killed the former captain in his sleep, still even in the days before the unravelling En- Kirkland was crazy. Still, he doubted a hand would be raised to his brother past the initial capture. Gilbert only wanted Ludwig alive, Kirkland would know that.

Gilbert shook his head. He shouldn't rationalize his brother's safety- He should go to him and make him safe. But what about Alfred? After everything that's happened he couldn't just trade Alfred away, Alfred needed him. And somewhere Gilbert was starting to think he needed Alfred too; in some strange way he wanted Alfred with him. He needed Alfred for more than the original plan now, something's changed.

He gave the bird a peck, using some of his magic to restore its energy for the fly home. He used a little more of his magic when he touched his ship again. The crew would be awake soon and then he could rest. While Gilbert couldn't sleep he did often feel dizzy and weak after using excess magic. This morning he wanted to throw up a little bit but he managed to keep it down. He travelled back to his room. He wouldn't sleep, he would just lie back. Maybe he would lie with Alfred.

Gilbert wanted to call sleeping with Alfred a mistake, that in doing so he was filling a void. He knew that Alfred sleeping with him probably was something that shouldn't have happened. Still Gilbert wanted to do it again. He wanted to hold Alfred close to him and kis him again. Maybe it was strange to say but Gilbert loved to watch Alfred sleep. Alfred seemed so alive when he slept. He would have given anything to see into Alfred's dreams. But that wasn't Gilbert's power. Maybe it was. But he would never dare explore it. Dominion over pieces of reality was enough to drive him mad. Dominion over his friends would completely isolate him, he'd never trust anything again. Why did Alfred want to sleep with Gilbert? He thought about it, and then he didn't. Only a few days ago was Alfred thinking only of Kiku. Gilbert shook his head. Feelings change, maybe Alfred's had too.

He entered his quarters where Alfred was sleeping. He would never give Alfred over to the Andromeda. What would all his work have been for? He needed Alfred on the Brandenburg. He needed to focus his powers. With Alfred by his side he could reverse the effects of The Unravelling and bring back the old world.

He gently shook Alfred, trying to wake him. Alfred didn't seem excited to wake up. Gilbert shook him some more. Alfred only groaned and hid deeper in the blankets. Gilbert leant down and gave him a little kiss on the temple. Alfred woke up then, a true princess.

"Hmm?" How eloquent.

"Alfred, it's important."

Alfred sat there waiting to listen. He didn't seem afraid of Gilbert. Gilbert had to admit he was a little afraid the sex would turn Gilbert into Francis in Alfred's eyes; but it didn't. Alfred seemed fine with him still, which calmed Gilbert enough to begin explaining the letter.

"But I won't give you to them," Gilbert concluded.

"What about your brother?"

"I thought about it. They don't know how I," Gilbert choked on the next word, more afraid than he thought he'd be, "How I feel about you. I'll use that to my advantage. If it's alright with you, I'd like to use you as bait. We'll get Ludwig, I'll trade you for a moment. Then, at the first opening, I'll shoot."

Alfred's eyes widened with terror as Gilbert pulled out a pistol from under Alfred's mattress, handing it to him, "and if I miss, shoot the captain."

He placed the gun in Alfred's shaking hands. This gun determined their lives now. Gilbert noticed Alfred's obvious fear. How long had it been since Alfred had held a gun, used one, maybe even seen one? Would he be able to kill someone if it came down to it? Before The Unravelling Gilbert was never sure he could trust Alfred. Before The Unravelling Gilbert was afraid that Alfred would blow him up again. Alfred was a powerhouse before The Unravelling. But now Alfred was different.

Alfred managed to steady his grip on the pistol, "I can do it. For you, I can do it."

He put on a brave face, he tried to conceal his terror by flexing his muscles in an attempt to keep him from crumbling. He was stiff, a deer in headlights with a glare of cold fire. He wasn't sure he could do it, but he would do his best. Gilbert wrapped him in his arms, silently praying his lover would stop shaking.

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxX

Ludwig's ship sailed into the mists, he stood strong at the bow, "Ready the canons, The Andromeda is in our sights."

His ship prepared to fight, it had yet to lose a battle. However he would take no chances, he would not underestimate this enemy. The Andromeda sank Kiku after all.

Ludwig turned his attention to the wind, it was changing. No, the landscape can't be changing again can it? He turned back to where he saw the Andromeda between the low forming clouds. It wasn't there anymore. He was quiet. His crew was quiet. Everything was quiet. He listened, closing his eyes. Then he heard it.

"Andromeda to the left! Fire!"

The cannons went off. He listened for them to hit their mark. Miss. He saw the ship out in the clouds again, but he had heard it right by them a moment ago? How was that possible?

"Ready the second wave!" His hearing shifted, "HOLD FIRE! THEY'VE MOVED!"

How were they moving so quickly? This was impossible. This wasn't the Unravelling moving the currents, this was something else entirely.

"They're circling us… No… There's more than one ship… No… The ship in the mists is an illusion," he closed his eyes, listening closely as the illusion gave no sound, "They're behind us- they're going to-"

The ship jolted, crash. The damned pirates actually rammed their ship into the rear of Ludwig's. The pirates were boarding the ship and lighting a fire from the back. Feliciano was back there! Ludwig barked out orders, granting permission to kill- Ordering his men to kill. These pirates would all be dead, Kiku included, if anything happened to Feliciano.

He busted down the door with a single kick, "Feliciano!"

Ludwig had two sabers in his hands and two pistols on his belt. There was also a knife in his boot. He was ready to murder some dogs. He slashed and slaughtered everyone he saw. He was the Arian Devil, the guardian to Hell. The few who made it past him would be killed off by his men. Besides, these pirates weren't his targets. He was after a much bigger dog.

He made his way down a blood soaked path to where his Feliciano was hiding below deck. He reached his office and surrounded in fire was Kiku holding his dagger to Feliciano's neck. Ludwig's judgement was clouded, he was in shock. Kiku wasn't a pirate? Kiku would…

"Don't make any movements or I'll-"

Ludwig cut Kiku off, throwing his sword straight for Kiku's face and reaching for his gun. He shot at Kiku five times, managing to get the former commander in the shoulder and hand. Kiku dropped his knife and his grip loosened on Feliciano. Ludwig dropped the pistol and other sword, they were dead weight. He ran forward howling like a monster. He pulled Feli out of the way and punched the Japanese man square in the face, but it didn't knock him down. Kiku's head turned to the side and Kiku returned the favor, smashing an uppercut into Ludwig's jaw, then kneeing him in the gut. Ludwig pulled out his other gun and despite being at such close range, Kiku evaded the bullets. The edge of surprise wore off and Kiku was ready to attack.

Now Ludwig wasn't as quick as Kiku or as smart. He had never won against the smaller man once in his life. But Ludwig was determined. Kiku was always fighting for something. For Kiku failure was never an option. Ludwig knew that feeling now. Death and Life were just things that happened to people, he never cared for either. Now Ludwig wanted to live. He wanted to fight. He wanted to kill Kiku and save Feliciano!

He took an informal swing straight for Kiku. Ludwig was an open target but the madness of the move left Kiku open as well and he bashed Kiku into the wooden flooring beneath them. He kicked Kiku in the face and took hold of the Katana.

"You're fucking dead, traitor," Ludwig said, ready to impale Kiku right in the heart.

"I don't think so," but that wasn't Kiku's voice.

Ludwig's eyes widened as his abandoned pistol was aimed at the back of his head. His grip on the Katana went so loose he almost dropped it. Kiku sat up from underneath the German, taking back his weapon with ease. Ludwig turned his head slowly to identify his assailent. There was no way… It couldn't be… it wouldn't be…

"Oh don't look at me like that Luddy, you knew I wasn't working for Francis," Feliciano smiled, he showed no hesitation; he would kill Ludwig if things went too far.

"I- I thought you were-"

"I never said I was an assassin, you came up with that one on your own."

Kiku shrugged, wincing in pain as he sheathed his sword, "I'll go get Arthur. Everyone's probably dead by now. I'll admit he surprised me running straight for me."

Feliciano's smile didn't waver, "I knew he'd come for me. You really are my champion Ludwig."

Before Ludwig could say or do anything else, before he could act on his disbelief, Feliciano hit him on the back of the neck- effectively blacking him out. All Ludwig could understand was the echoing laughter of his lover