Hello! I apologize profusely for that really long, unforeseen hiatus. I left stuff unfinished, didn't I? Well, anyway, this will probably be the final installment in the series (for now at least, I may reopen if I feel like writing lots of Spamano again (I blame those Nordics, argh).

Anyway, this is a sequal to another fic titled "The Tale of the Drinking Contest and the Princess", but it's not really necessary that you read it.

Title: The Tale of La Principessa y el Matador
Rating: K+
Warnings: Genderbended nations, a not entirely accurate representation of bullfighting. If you're one of those animal rights people, it may not be for you.
Characters: Rome "Romulus", Fem!North Italy "Feliciana", Fem!South Italy "Lovina", Spain "Antonio", Germania "Sigmund", Sealand "Peter", Aragon!OC "Carlos"
Summary: AU!Kingdoms. King Romulus VII of the Roman Kingdom devises a plan to get his eldest daughter married off.
Pairings: SpainFemano

Notes: As I stated above, I do feature a bullfight, however, for reasons of length and time, I cut out several details. I apologize in advance ;;;

The only things I own in this fic are the AU concept and the character of Aragon. Hetalia, Nyotalia, and all recognizable characters are property of Hidekaz Himaruya

Once upon a time in the Kingdom of Rome, there lived two princesses. Princess Feliciana was petite, beautiful, and charming to everyone she met. The girl was much loved by the people and everyone wished that one day she would rule the country. However, there was a problem: her older sister, Princess Lovina.

Princess Lovina was everything her little sister wasn't. Yes, she was rather pretty, but her manners were very much lacking, her skin was tanned, her dresses were always torn and dirty, and it was like the girl wouldn't know charm if it came up and slapped her in the face. Where Feliciana spent her days flitting about from one task to the next, Lovina spent hers lounging about eating tomatoes or skimming through books that might hold her interest. She was rude, loud-mouthed, vulgar, and had a tendency to threaten or attack people she didn't like (which seemed like most everyone).

When it came time for her to marry, her father, King Romulus VII was in a bit of a bind. While Feliciana had a long line of suitors ready and waiting to woo her, nobody dared try and tangle with Lovina. The last man who tried ended up being chased out of the castle and having tomatoes thrown at him by the princess who claimed he tried to touch her inappropriately (the young man swore up and down that he didn't and never returned).

Needing a solution, he set out for the Kingdom of Germania. Several months before, the story of King Sigmund's infamous drinking contest had reached the Roman's ears and so he was determined to go ask the man's advice. It took him a while to get the German to even receive him (apparently Sigmund was still upset about that little joke with the Roman army crossing the borders). Once in the presence of the blond, Romulus explained his little problem and requested (more like begged) for the wise man's help.

Sigmund gave in and sent King Romulus away with these words: "Hold a contest for a popular event and don't tell anyone which princess you're offering up for marriage." It sounded simple enough, but what kind of a contest should he hold?

A bullfight! Yes! He'd use his prized bull! Soon the decree went out: Anyone who could defeat the king's prized bull in a fight would get to marry his daughter.

Antonio was the youngest brother of Carlos, king of Iberia and when he heard the decree, he couldn't help but want to enter the contest. Five years ago, Iberia had been a poor nation, and Antonio went to work as a gardener at King Romulus' palace to try to make a little extra money.

It was there as he tended to the tomato patch that he met the Princess Lovina. He couldn't deny that she was rough around the edges and somewhat unpleasant at first, but deep down, she really was a sweet, adorable girl and he really liked that, plus, she shared his love of tomatoes so how could he go wrong?

He had his mind set on entering that competition and winning! Only problem was… he wasn't very good at bullfighting. But his older brother was! The young prince trotted off back home to bother said brother into teaching him the art of the matador.

Soon, the day of the contest arrived and King Romulus and his two daughters took their place in the box over looking the ring. A huge crowd had turned out to see the bravest men in all the kingdoms come forth and try their hand at trying to defeat King Romulus' bull. It was an evil-tempered beast, very large for his kind, covered in coarse, dark fur with wickedly sharp horns, and people whispered that certain unlucky criminals were tossed into a pen to be gored to death by the animal. It was an creature that few men would dare face unless they were absolutely mad. Some of the contestants would die today, everyone knew that. Bullfighting was a sport of life or death.

One by one, the prospective suitors tried their hand at defeating the bull. Each one failed. Some lost their lives, finally when one contestant, a small boy from the Kingdom of Britannia, was carried from the ring on a stretcher as two officials tried to restrain the bull, Feliciana began to cry and Romulus let her leave. Lovina stayed, watching the gory spectacle with grim fascination.

They were down to the final contestant, no one had managed to defeat the bull so far and Romulus feared his plan wouldn't work. The contestant was announced and Antonio waited behind a closed door as they released the animal. He swallowed his nerves, hoping the two months of training his brother had given him would be enough. Finally, it was time to take the stage, as it were. One false move and he'd end up another casualty… all for his Lovi…

This was like a dance, he thought, a really frightening one. Time seemed to slow down as he danced around and around the bull, confusing it and evading its charges until finally, the pivotal moment arrived. With a whispered prayer and a held breath, Antonio jammed the blade of the espada he carried into the bull's neck and leapt backwards as the creature convulsed and fell to its knees.

A great cheer rose from the crowd. He'd defeated the bull! Romulus was applauding and cheering. Yay! Now he'd be able to marry Lovina off! Lovina was studying the matador as he bowed and smiled and waved, even as two officials escorted him up to the royal box.

King Romulus made a very long-winded speech about Antonio's bravery and skill at defeating the bull, waxing poetic about the deed and how it was done until one of his advisors elbowed him. "Oh, right… for your bravery, we award you the hand of our daughter, the princess Lovina. Any objections or complaints from Lovina were silenced when Antonio grinned like an idiot, thanked the king, and hugged her… in front of… well… not the whole kingdom but a decent chunk of it certainly.

Weeks later, her suspicions that he was the crazy gardener who taught her how to plant and take care of tomatoes were proven correct and for once (much to her father's never-ending relief) she agreed to be a good little princess and go through with the marriage. Feliciana ended up taking in the little Brittanian boy, Peter was his name and he insisted on being known as the emperor of the great Sealandic Empire (he was really the younger brother of Chief Mage Arthur of the Britannian Kingdom) and spoiling him rotten.

Romulus was happy. His daughter was getting married and he was forging an alliance with the Iberians. Now all they had to do was decide who Feliciana was going to marry… and there was still a long line of suitors.

Well, he could always hold another bullfight.

And then they all lived happily ever after.