At first I had planned to release this chapter as well as the next as one...but then I didn't exactly know which route this would take until I started writing it. Which means the next chapter will probably be a fight chapter with Arthur vs... Well you'll find out by the end of this chapter. There's also a ton of cuss words buried in this chapter, most of them in different languages, so look them up on your own accord. The only Russian phrase in this story translates to my love. Things are going to start picking up, and 2ps are going to start being picked off from here on out to lead up to the final battle. I still don't own Avengers or Hetalia, nor do I ever expect to. Please enjoy the chapter and don't forget to review, because when I feel like this story is appreciated by someone, words tend to come easier, strange right?

Chapter 14
A Twisted Love

The Crime Lord was well aware that his companions were scared of him. He savored in this fact, it wasn't like he had put in all that hard work for nothing. But recently, Nikoli had bigger things to worry about than his comrades. Three years ago he'd learned about his true love's continued life in the other world, the mirror world. And, to make it better, this dimension held an alternate version of his most trusted subordinate.

While the Russian Crime Lord knew that this girl would not be the perfect copy of his dearest subordinate, the excitement of seeing Zamora overwhelmed any worry he held. His beautiful Zamora. Nikoli hoped there were not hurt feelings from last time, after all, it wasn't like he'd wanted to kill her, it was just part of the job.

Crime Lord would finally be able to rebuild his family, finish taking over his universe and get rid of those disgusting comrades of his. All things would go as plan, and it'd only costed him a fortune to get started.

Last night he had purchased the live video feed from Puppet Master, for only the small fortune of one million American dollars. He would wait until the Mage was all alone, or with his love, or maybe if his love was with someone who wouldn't be too challenging before pouncing. And if that didn't work, he'd test Mangus's nightmare powers on all of United World.

But, first thing first, Nikoli had a ride to catch to his neighboring universe, on a trip for four portal there, which he and Mangus would take and return on with Zamora and Mage. All things would go according to plan. There was no longer anything in the universe that would pit itself against him. Not even death itself.

New Years had come and gone. Without word or trouble from the 2ps and the still MIA Director Fury. Although, Gwen didn't particularly mind Fury's absence too much, he needed to chill every once in a while. The other members of United World ruined that for her, saying Fury had too much valuable information to just leave him in the hands of the enemy. So, the team split up into pairs to scout New York City for anything suspicious, in civvies of course.

Gwen, still cautious of interacting with Francis and Toni, chose to go with her Russian teammate instead. Although she knew it wasn't their fault, yet the fear that had overwhelmed her when they'd forgotten who she was, was just too terrifying to face again. Not to mention, Francis would probably enjoy a day with Maddie, and Toni with Chi.

You may not avoid them forever, especially if that means you will be hanging out with the Russian more, Zamora snorted in her thoughts. Gwen's counterpart had been talking a lot recently, but had eased up on the uneasiness that normally lingered in her mind while Ivan was around. I can try, you also have to get over your wariness about Ivan, she replied, chancing a glance at the tall Russian who was silently walking beside her.

He looks too much like Nikoli, it's impossible, Zamora growled. Gwen stifled a laugh at that, her 2p was normally able to do anything, and unwilling to give up, yet facing down the Russian was but an impossible dream.

"I hear police sirens," Ivan commented suddenly, keeping his voice low. "Let's go check it out, could be the 2ps," Gwen replied, "Lead the way." What she hadn't meant was "Ivan let's run as fast as possible down the streets to where you are hearing the sirens from." But that was what she got. There was but a moment when she thought she lost the Russian, only to catch a glimpse of him turning down an alley way.

She rushed after him, already out of breath and wondered briefly if Arthur would yell at her for changing into an animal in public to run after her comrade. She turned down a few corners, always just catching the last sight of Ivan before he turned down the next one. Gwen ran for what seemed to be whatever, until she nearly ran into a dead end brick wall.

"What?" she asked aloud, hoping she hadn't missed a turn from before, but no, she'd seen Ivan go down this way. Where was he?

Gwen, something isn't right, we should get out of here now, Zamora, ever the voice of reason, called out in her mind. It isn't like Ivan would just lead us to a dead end, Gwen frowned, looking around. She lifted a pale hand to the cold wall, pulling back suddenly at the excessive coldness. A cracking echo filled the alley, and Gwen looked down at the corners of the wall as ice laced it's way up in a thick layer.

Gwen get out now, it's him! Run now! Zamora screamed. Already the ice was forming a wall on the only opened side of the alley, no way out but up. She quickly transformed into a Pied Wagtail, a small song bird which she felt comfortable to maneuver in should the need arise. Gwen flapped her newly formed wings, lifting her into the air. But the moment she had taken to the skies, the ice had began to move faster, closing her into an icy dome.

The enclosure was complete so quickly that Gwen hit the ice at the top of the dome hard in her small song bird form, letting out a pained chirp as she tumbled down through the air. She lost the form of the small bird once she hit the ground, the impact jarring her tail bone. "That was a feeble attempt, Моя любовь," a heavily accented voice chuckled.

Die Arschmade, Zamora cursed, We're done for. "You're Nikoli, aren't you?" Gwen growled, she pushed aside a whimper of pain as she stood up, her whole lower back hurting. "Indeed, I suppose Моя любовь has told you about me then. My dear Zamora, I have come to take you back home," Nikoli replied, stepping closer to the wounded hero, who took an awkward, hobbled step backwards.

The 2p had gotten strangely quiet at that, and it seemed like she had erased herself from Gwen's mind for the moment. Gee, thanks for leaving Z, Gwen mentally huffed, though she could spare no more thought to it as she faced the villain. "Z does not wish to go with you," Gwen stated, staring at the huge, broad shouldered villain. There was probably a 1% chance of this ending in her favor. The odds were so not awesome.

Of course, that's never stopped Gwen before.

"In fact, she doesn't even want to speak to her murderer, so why don't you high tail it out of here, before the awesome me kicks your ass back to your universe," Gwen rumbled. She needed something fast, but also big and muscular to even begin taking him down. The idea flashed through her mind, in an instant she had been turned into the bulky form of a rhino.

She charged him as his cold eyes flashed with interest. It looked like something had set his will ablaze again as he flicked his hand up. Gwen was forced to stop, her large legs covered in solid ice. After a split second of trying to pull free she shifted into a vole, using the animal's small body to escape the icy prison.
Once freed, she turned into a large lion, once more taking to charging him, she doubted any other technique would increase her chance at winning anyway. Maybe she could hold him off until Ivan found out she was missing, or the other heroes noticed something awry. Surely they wouldn't forget about her. She slowed, her mind distracted with worry, she only snapped out of it when it was too late, a tide of ice slammed her against one of the cold brick walls of the alley. Gwen was forced to shift back to her human form, as she had to do each time an injury stunned her, even momentarily.

The albino hero nearly choked on the blood that spilled out from her mouth. As the ice retreated the former rock star fell to the ground on her hands and knees, coughing as Nikoli merely stood and watched her. Z, I really need help, does this guy have any weaknesses? Gwen questioned. There was no answer, her 2p still withdrawn into the depths of her mind.

"You should give up now, hero. No one is coming to save you," Nikoli commented nonchalantly. The villain was still at ease, it was apparent that Gwen was no threat to him. Hopefully she could catch him offgaurd like that. "Schluss mit lustig! You're going down, der Penner!" Gwen proclaimed. She was out of options, he probably knew that as well. The area was enclosed so any attempt to use her sound wave manipulation would backfire on her unless it was strong enough to break the ice. Shape shifting didn't work, and it wasn't like she could turn into an insect, they were normally only good for transmitting diseases, she needed Nikoli gone now. Then there was Zamora, her trump card, who was currently MIA as well. Gwen was royally screwed.

Maybe her teammates were coming, Ivan had probably informed them that she was missing. It wasn't like they would forget her...

"Do you know her, Francis?"

The words played back into her mind like a haunting melody. "You have been forgotten by your team, have you not, Whisper?" Nikoli asked, his harsh tone turning gentle in a moment. He even looked sympathetic, like he understood her, as no one else had. The fear of being forgotten, of being replaced, being alone. All of them limited Gwen, but they were boundaries she could not break, she never thought she would have to do it before.

"Heroes throw away those who are not immediately useful, wouldn't you agree. But that is much unlike me. I would never throw either one of you away," Nikoli cooed, taking measured steps closer to Gwen. "Halt die Klappe," Gwen murmured weakly, staying down, unable to stand and unwilling to look at the villain.
"We villains never forget our own. No matter what may happen. Is there anyone on your team who would do the same?" Nikoli questioned. Was there someone like that? Who would never forget her? Hadn't Toni and Francis said the same thing once?

But they had lied, they had forgotten her and thrown their precious memories with her down the drain. "There is no one right? Come with me, Gwen. And you will never be forgotten again," Nikoli grinned, holding out a hand towards the white haired heroine.

Ivan didn't know what to do. One minute Gwen had been right behind him and then the next she had mumbled something about leading the way and ran off in the opposite direction. He'd ran after the German, but after a couple of turns, he'd lost the white haired beauty. Arthur would probably kill him if we ever found out that Ivan had let the girl go herself in danger. But he'd already been running around town and calling Gwen's phone constantly, there was no other choice, and he'd need back up should Gwen have encountered a 2p.

He started a group call through the system that Kiki had created and programed all of their phones with. Waiting for one member of the other group to pick up as he listened to it ring on his side. "What's up, commie?" Of course Alfred had to be the first one to pick up, how horrid. "Please get away from the crowd you are with, I can hear them over the phone," Ivan said.

"Whatever, commie. Keeks, over here!" Alfred yelled to his girlfriend, "So what'd you and Gwen find, a portal to their world?" "You found a portal to their world!" Antonio cried over the phone, tapping into the conversation. "What good news," Francis added in. "Nyte, I did not, Alfred was merely being an idiot," Ivan replied. The other callers all 'ah'ed in understanding.

Last to pick up was Arthur, who had taken to patrolling alone since Liv was still resting. "What happened, Ivan? Did you run into one of them? Is Gwen okay?" Arthur questioned, "Everyone is here, right? Go on and get started."

"Right," Ivan replied, trying to figure out how to put it so there wouldn't be a sudden, angry outburst. Just how were you supposed to tell someone that you lost track of their girlfriend? "Gwen and I were patrolling and she suddenly stopped. When I asked her what was wrong she said something about checking something out and then she ran. I couldn't keep up with her and I lost her. I've been trying to call her for the past ten minutes, but she hasn't answered her phone."

There was total silence on all of the other lines, with the exception of a deep inhale by the team leader. "Kiki, once we hang up try to track down Gwen's phone. Chiara please call Liv and make sure she is safe. Toni, call the Avengers to check on Liv, if the enemy is going after us, she's the most likely target being alone and injured. If Liv is in immediate danger, Francis, Madeline, Toni and Chiara you four will go back to base. Madeline, you will be team leader, depending on how Chiara responds, teleport your team to base. The rest of us will be converging on Ivan's location, and if Liv is okay until the Avengers arrive, then join us as well. Alright, get going," Arthur ordered. He hung up and began racing towards Ivan's location as he was the furthermost away.

As the Brit ran, he selected Gwen's contact and pushed the call button, pressing the mobile device against his ear as he ran. He heard the dial tone, once, twice. Then someone answered the phone. "Gwen! Thank god! Where are you at? Ivan said he tried calling you and you didn't pick up! You had us-!" "Who is this?"

Arthur froze in mid sprint. It almost seemed like time became still as a wave of coldness washed through his very veins. "Gwen, it's me. Arthur. Look enough is enough, just tell me where you are," Arthur snapped. He instantly felt disappointed in himself, it was rare for him to snap at Gwen, but it never ended in a good result before, Arthur doubted it would do so now.

"Is this how you normally treat such an angel?" a new voice asked over the line, "I can see why she joined me so easily." "Where are you holding Gwen?" Arthur yelled. Heads turned to look at him all the way down the street but he didn't care. There was only one person who mattered right now, and that was Gwen.

The Russian on the other side of the line chuckled, "You must be Puppet Master's counterpart. The leader of your little team if I'm not mistaken, Spectrum is it?" "Answer the bloody question," Arthur snapped back. "Very well, if that is what you truly want. I suppose, since you are the hero you will be coming alone. Or should I prepare accommodations for all of you?"

"I will be enough to crush you," the immortal growled. "Then come to Wood Chip Vantage Point, Central Park. I have cleared away the crowd already, we will be able to go all out." With that, the Brit was hung up on. Central Park was the opposite way from where Ivan was, but it wasn't like Arthur would need the others. He could handle this man. But still, it'd be a ten minute run. If only Uni was a fully grown unicorn, the maybe he could have caught a ride.

Arthur turned around and ran, towards Central Park, towards Gwen, towards the enemy.