I offer this chappie in return of my two weeks of no updates? It's extra long compared to the others?

Sorry about the wait, school got the best of me and then I ended up sick earlier too. From now on, updates will probably be on the weekend. And weekly. Thank you for supporting this story guys! The end will be on it's way soon, so please stick around!

Chapter Twenty Four

Matthew and Natalia were still standing parallel to each other, silently, in their stands, as the Royals filed in after their discussion break. They were being watched by guards, and Matthew was okay with it, because after the trial, he'd talk to Natalia without any watching eyes.

"Do you have anything else to say Mr. Williams?" Roderich yawned as everyone settled down. Matthew nodded.

"I do. I recall that Natalia was accused of stealing from Kingdom Spades," Matthew stated bluntly, avoiding contact with his family as he said so. He could hear Alfred begin to cough, quite loudly, trying to hint Matthew to stop speaking. Matthew internally winced, knowing he was trending dangerous waters. Proving Natalia innocent endangered his identity as Ace, but…

He'd be careful.

"Yes, she was," Roderich replied, suddenly not looking too interested in the trial. "What do you have to say about it?"

"Matthew," Natalia suddenly spoke softly, barely audible. "Don't."

Their eyes met, but no words were exchanged. Matthew frowned, unsure of why Natalia didn't want him to speak. He shook his head at her.

"This is impossible because-" Alfred was coughing loudly again. "Everyone… has a misconception as to where the Royal treasure is located," Matthew spoke carefully, picking out every word with caution. "But the treasure is really located somewhere no one knows, other than the Royals of course. And it's guarded so heavily, that it's impossible for it to be stolen."

"If what you say is true, how do you know this?" Ivan questioned. "How do you know about this if this is something that the King, Queen and Jack of Kingdom Spades know?"

I messed up. Shoot.

"I-I think the lad is confused," Alice stuttered. "Evidence was found that the girl stole from us. Her hairband was found, and identified by Sir Ivan."

Matthew swallowed, but shook his head. He was about to disagree, but then Natalia spoke up.

"Yes! I stole from Kingdom Spades!" Natalia cried. "Matthew's just trying to protect me!"

"Really sister?" Ivan inquired. "Or are you trying to protect him?"

"I find it unlikely that the boy would have knowledge like this," Francis spoke up, surprising Matthew as he really looked at his Papa for the first time since the trial had begun. "He, after all, is a normal citizen of… Kingdom Diamonds."

He's lying. He's lying to protect me.

"I thought the boy was a Spadian," Elizaveta frowned. "His sword bares the Mark of Spades."

"…We have many Spadian suppliers," Francis slowly said. "Don't you agree, Alfred?"

"H-huh? O-oh yeah! It's true! We're famous for supplying swords to Kingdom Diamonds!" Alfred was quick to agree. Matthew's hand unconsciously shot up to his Mark, nervous that it would be dragged into the matter. One look at his Mark, and then everyone would know.

"Mr. Williams is a Spadian," Sakura said. "He mentioned it when I approached him and Ms. Arlovskaya while they were in my Kingdom. He said that they were both from Kingdom Spades."

"Um, I-I," Matthew buried his face in his hands, fingers digging into his hair. "I-I lied."

"What reason did you have to lie?"

Matthew's heart skipped a beat. They were close to figuring out what Kingdom he belonged to – they'd look for his Mark eventually. It was only a matter of time before he was exposed as the Ace.

But…

If he was addressed as the Ace of Spades in court, he could easily testify against many of the other accusations. Like theft from Kingdom Clubs – they were like every Kingdom. They hid their treasure where normal people couldn't get to it.

"You know what?"

Silence.

"I am so sick and tired of worrying about who I am!" Matthew spoke slowly, hand sliding away from his face. "I have something to confess! About who am really am!"

"…Matthew! Don't!" Natalia's voice was shaky. Violet eyes met blue. Though his heart was already running a marathon, one look at Natalia had his heart trying to outdo itself. He swallowed, looking to the stands where the Royals were seated.

"No! You have nothing to confess!" Francis was the first to yell, startling everyone. He stood up from his chair, quickly shaking his head.

Papa…

If he did reveal himself, then even if Francis did want to meet with Matthew as his son, it would be questioned by the Kingdoms. It was enough to start another civil war in Kingdom Diamonds.

"Don't say a word," Alice was speaking calmly as she too, stood up from her seat. Her face was pale. She was shaking.

If the Ace of Kingdom Spades was revealed, what would happen to the Kingdom?

Matthew unconsciously took a step back, a bit of guilt weighing down on him.

"Matt… I swear if you…" Alfred was still seated, inhaling and exhaling loudly as his eyes focused on his little brother. Matthew tried to smile, reassuringly, but there was really nothing he could reassure for what he was about to do.

Foolish, yes. But… it was more than Natalia too.

This was about who he was. This was about how tired he was of keeping his identity a secret. If it was all just out… he didn't know what would happen, not really. All he knew was that…

It'd be over. The whole thing.

He looked back to Natalia, whose eyes were pleading him to not speak, as though she knew what he was going to say. He smiled at her weakly.

This is going to save you. It has to.

"I am the Ace of Spades!" Matthew announced. "I know… that Natalia Arlovskaya cannot be responsible for stealing anything! I know that she couldn't have committed treason to Kingdom Clubs too! How? It's impossible! Every kingdom heavily guards their secrets! I of all people know that! And how can she steal from Kingdom Clubs when their treasure is hid well like Kingdom Spades?"

People began to converse amongst themselves loudly. All the Royals were either surprised, or shocked, if not horrified like his family and Papa.

"And you know what," Matthew continued, voice rising above the chatter. "There is no way in hell Natalia would kill Katyusha. I know Natalia well enough to know that!"

"Stop," Natalia whispered, barely audible above the loud chatter. "Just stop."

"The one responsible for all of this is Ivan Braginski! He's the one who did all of this!"

"Matthew Williams!" Alice screamed. "Y-You… what have you done…"

But Matthew wasn't listening. His heart pounded in his ears as his eyes locked with the murderous eyes of Ivan.

"You think you can accuse me of all of this comrade?"

"I know I can."

Ivan laughed. Matthew's blood boiled.

No more running.

Adrenaline had begun to consume him as he yelled.

"Why do you hate your sister so much Ivan?" Matthew pressed. "What did she do to you to make you hate her so much that you put her in a position that could kill her?"

"Advisor Smith, grab Williams." Ludwig's command didn't go unnoticed, and the tension between Ivan and Matthew quickly shifted.

"No!" Alfred and Francis were quick to object, but a few guards from Kingdom Hearts had begun to make their way to Matthew.

"Protect the boy!" Francis commanded aloud, and within seconds, Matthew was surrounded by about a dozen guards, forming a circle around his stand, their backs towards him.

Hearts want the Ace. Me.

Diamonds is protecting me.

Spades will support them.

Clubs hasn't done anything yet.

Matthew's sword was quick to make an appearance as he drew it out.

He hadn't considered this. He was so stupid.

"Mattie! Don't worry!" Alfred yelled, his voice was barely heard amongst the chaos. "We'll get you out of there!"

"Kill the boy!" Ivan's voice boomed.

"What?! No!" The Queen was quick to protest.

"He knows too much Elizaveta," Roderich's voice was faintly heard.

"What are you talking about?"

Matthew's protectors were quick to be engaged into battle, and within seconds, he was left alone in the newly formed battlefield. There were blurs of movement around him, and suddenly, someone grabbed his wrist.

Natalia.

"We have to get you out of here, you idiot," she hissed, eyes scanning their surroundings. She disappeared for a moment, but then appeared by his side, holding a small dagger. "Why did you expose your identity?"

"I was sick and tired of hiding, running," he muttered as he gripped his sword, quickly blocked an attack from his left. So maybe it wasn't a smart decision. At least he got it out.

As he was engaged in to battle, he began to speak louder. "I used to wonder, why me? But then I realized, if not me, it would be someone else. And then they'd wonder the same thing. It wouldn't really change anything. Someone else would be given my burden."

There was a pause as Matthew dodged an attack.

"It's pointless self-pitying and feeling so hopeless all the time."

With a quick blow, Matthew disabled the guard by striking his leg. He didn't have any intention of killing anyone, and hoped it wouldn't come to that.

Natalia quickly pulled him back, saving him from a flying arrow.

"We've got someone overhead. We need to get you to safety."

"No. Running's not going to do anything." Matthew replied, scanning around to find his attacker. He shook his head, unable to find anyone. "If I don't face it now, if I survive this, I'll live my life looking over my shoulder, full of regrets."

"I used to want you to be livelier," Natalia murmured. "But this way, you'll get yourself killed."

Matthew didn't reply as he stuck a blow to a guard. "…How long have you known?"

"About what?"

"Me. Ace."

"When we were traveling to Kingdom Hearts, I put the pieces together." Natalia replied, slashing some guy's arm. "Why would the King of Diamonds want to find some random boy?"

"I-" Suddenly, Matthew was being pulled, away from Natalia. A small clearing allowed him to see Ivan, who let go of him and sadistically smiled at his opponent.

"You will die comrade. You useless Ace. You ruined everything. You will be finished."

"We'll see about that," Matthew muttered, swinging his sword around. The weight was light in his hands. Their eyes locked, and they engaged in battle.

Ivan's sword came down at him, but Matthew was quick enough to block it with his own sword. He pushed Ivan's sword off, and slashed his sword at his opponent. Ivan barely dodged it, and Matthew used that as an opportunity to attack again, and did not give Ivan the chance to attack him. He, unfortunately, was put in that spot when Ivan attacked him repetitively, not giving him the chance to strike while defending himself.

A stab to his right arm.

A slash to his left leg.

A scar on his cheek.

Many wounds on his chest.

The injuries continued to increase, and as Matthew blocked Ivan's attacks, he began to get tired.

Ivan only had few wounds.

Come on Matthew. You can do this.

His sword transferred itself to his left hand, which he was rusty with, but his right arm was growing weaker by the moment. He struck a blow to Ivan's chest, but the Jack seemed frighteningly unaffected.

Matthew's left leg was giving in. It wouldn't support him any longer, and unfortunately, no allies were rushing to his aid. As if on cue, Ivan struck another blow to the injured leg. Matthew collapsed onto the dirt floor, clothes stained in blood.

He was losing too much blood. Way too much.

His sword slipped out of his hand. Ivan held his sword high, and in that moment, everything slowed.

Francis appeared out of nowhere, standing in front of Matthew. Ivan's sword came crashing down on Francis.

Matthew could see blood dripping from his Papa's chest.

The King of Diamonds collapsed.

No. Please no.

His Papa's eyes were unmoving, and the blood didn't seem to stop.

"No, no, no," Matthew murmured, pathetically crawling on the floor to his fatherly figure. He slowly began to shake him. "Please, no."

Matthew grabbed Francis's wrist, eyes not moving from him.

He couldn't feel a pulse.

No.

This wasn't happening.

This couldn't be happening.

Ivan was going to die for this.

Within a flash, body protesting, Matthew stood up, sword in his left hand. He limped towards an amused Ivan, and brought his sword down at his captor.

He gave both of Ivan's hands a good, hard, blow.

Both legs.

Multiple blows to the chest and stomach.

A few to the face.

Anywhere he could get.

"How," Matthew hissed. "Dare you."

Ivan didn't reply as he dodged, slowly backing away while Matthew increasingly moved forward with his attacks, despite the blood loss. He ignored the pain as blood exited his body.

"How dare you hurt him? Kill him." He growled. "I will make you pay. For my Papa. For Natalia. For everything."

"None of this was my doing. It was yours."

"Liar!"

One final blow to Ivan's chest.

Ivan crumbled to the ground.

And in that moment, Matthew collapsed.