Chapter 3 Berlin (Has Lots of Germans in It)

"You stay there." Lovi instructed for the fifth time, glaring at Toro as her companions slept. The storm raging outside tipping the boat to and fro was not helping her mood. The dog barked affirmation, but right as she got into bed it jumped up to a place at her feet. She silently screamed in frustration. "Fine, stay-a there for all I care!" And went to sleep. A green mist crept closer, egged on by an unseen sorcerer, waiting till she was ready for them to fill her dreams.

She was in a courtyard, stone walls of a castle surrounding her. "Come on!" A young boy called out to her. She fondly put his face to being her younger brother who spent his time in Seborga before she followed him happily, leaning this way and that from uncaring.

Toro growled as he was roused from his sleep by Lovi leaving the bed and walking out the door. Worried for her safety, seeing the green mist surrounding her, he pounced onto Antonio. The spanish man slept onward until a careful pounce on the gut had him rubbing at his eyes. "W-what is it, Toro?" The young dog barked and bounced towards the empty bed. It took a few minutes for his addled brain to see what was being shown and he jolted to his feet, crying, "Lovi!" He skidded out of the cabin they had been given and started out into the storm. Familiar with the seas and its harsh winds, he didn't mind as his loose shirt was drenched by waves, and he climbed the crow's nest to see Lovi sleepwalking to the edge of the ship. Muttering a prayer, he grabbed a loose rope and swung down to where she was, calling out to her. When that did nothing, he grabbed her from behind, pulling her close to him.

"Come on in!" Romulus called out to her. Lovi giggled and walked closer to the edge of the log that led to the water. Soon the friendly faces below morphed into that of monsters and kind voices into that of a hissing man's thick with poisonous intentions. The monsters clawed at her pulling her back and forth, some wanting her in the water and the others keeping her away.

Lovi fought against Antonio with vigor, head butting his already tender stomach, as he held her back. "Lovi! Wake up, come back to me Lovi." He pleaded. She slumped into his arms before an earsplitting scream erupted from her.

"The curse... The curse is after me!" She told him in a frenzy, clutching him close to her and weeping into his shoulder.

"Shh," he hushed gently, "it's okay now. It was just a nightmare. It wasn't real." His words did little to console her as she continued to hold him close, him allowing her and giving her the same treatment.

"What the hell is going on here?" Arthur's voice yelled as he came charging to toward them, only stopping when he saw Lovi's shaking figure in Antonio's arms. "Is she alright?"Antonio didn't answer, but got to his feet and started to his cabin. Before he could go however, Arthur grabbed his arm. "Whatever is going on... Just don't screw up." The spanish man nodded, and the captain let go.

"W-what..." Lovi said after a while of being cradled in his arms. She stiffened as the full realization of what she was doing, and with whom came to her. "Let go of me you tomato jerk!"

"Only once you stop shaking." He whispered back. She noticed her own shakes now and blushed. If she fell asleep on his shoulder that night, smiling in her sleep and feeling safe for once, neither of them said anything.

Nikolai watched Antonio save Lovina from drowning in the ghostly image the relic projected and slammed his hand down on the table. "That insolent little princess is hard to kill. Damn that conman!" His thumb popped off and the white bat put it back on.

"Sir, you are getting really stressed out. And that's bad. Stress, it's a killer sir. My nephew just fell over one day mid mango. And he's a fruit bat sir all skin no fat no blood no nothing. You need to calm down." The bat said looking around. He picked up the relic and threw it. "That should get rid of that stress bringer."

"No!" Nikolai yelled catching the relic before it hit the ground. "I sold my soul for this and you almost broke it. This is my life force don't break it."

The bat put his wings in the air. "I get it you break it you bought it. Now how are you going to get your revenge because that's all you're gonna think about until it happens."

"I seem to have to do it myself." He shook the relic and shot up into the air.

"I had a white horse~a and I-" The change in the accent gave her away. Lovina had always had a harsher way of saying things.

"Love~a having picnics with~a my sister very much." Felicia finished tiredly, all tone of happiness gone, for the girl pretending to be her sister.

"You are dismissed." Ludwig said standing behind her, adding his strength to her's as she watched another liar and actress leave her.

"I was sure it was the right one this time. I will have to think of harder questions next time." Kiku apologized. The young man bowed apologetically to his queen.

"There~a won't~a be a next time. I can't take it anymore..." Felicia whispered. She looked at Ludwig with deadened eyes and the whole room could feel her heart shatter. "Please, don't make~a me have to see another person pretending to be~a my sister. Lovina... is~a... gone..." Felicia burst into tears as she turned into Ludwig's embrace, unable to continue. Long after she had fallen asleep, he took her to their bedroom, sighing as he brushed her curl gently.

"I had hoped you wouldn't give up." And he fell asleep, his arms encasing her.

Heracles knocked on a door to a large house and rocked back and forth waiting for the door to open smiling comfortingly at Lovi and Antonio. A small Asian man answered the door and smiled softly. "Heracles this is a nice surprise. What are you doing here?" The man's Japanese accent very noticeable when he spoke. He bowed politely.

"Hello Kiku." Heracles said bowing in response. "I'm here to because I'm pretty sure that I found Lovina."

Kiku shrugged and motioned for them to come in. Kiku circled Lovi looking her up and down. "Well you do look like the lost Princess." He sat them all down and started asking Lovi some questions (How does Lovina like her tea? I don't like-a tea it's too English. I prefer-a coffee.) The questions lasted for about an hour until it came to the last the last question. "I'm sorry if this question seems a little stupid but how did you escape when the castle was attacked with Queen Felicia and King Ludwig?"

Antonio groaned silently to himself. No one knew that except the King and Queen and himself of course. He hadn't taught Lovi how to answer that question because he didn't want to expose that it was him that had led the royal sisters out of the castle. But Lovi surprised him, as she had made a habit of doing, by saying, "There was a young-a man who opened a wall, or a door in the wall-a that is, and we went through the servants tunnels that connected to my room." Antonio looked at Lovi and almost laughed out loud. He had found the real princess of Italy while trying to find a fake one to trick the queen of Germany! Oh the irony. But that laughter turned into a sudden shame as his past returned to haunt him. What would he do now that the woman he had fallen for was the real deal? Curse his too loving heart.

Kiku picked up the tea tray that had been served and bowed, "Well you answered every question correctly."

"Great!" Heracles said a smile on his face. "When do we get to see the Queen?" Antonio left the room to think after Heracles asked that question.

"I'm afraid you don't." Kiku said sadly. "The Queen refuses to anyone else who claims to be her sister no matter how convincing."

"What-a?!" Lovi yelled getting up.

Heracles looked at Kiku. "Kiku can I have a word with you alone?"

"Yes of course." Kiku said with a bow following Heracles into a side room.

"You have to help us." Heracles hissed. "Lovina saw Oliver earlier, and we both know who she is."

"I know, Heracles-san, but Felicia is refusing to see anyone else. I can't do anything, both of our hands are tied."

"Then leave something up to chance."

Lovi waited for a few minutes until Heracles and Kiku exited the room. "Miss if you wish you can come to the ballet tonight me and the Queen never miss a showing. You may be able to meet Queen Felicia there." Lovi nodded politely.

After most of a day of shopping, they were finally outside the ballet house. Well, at least Antonio and Heracles were. Lovi was still getting ready, and it gave Antonio some time to think, if only Heracles would stop talking about how they actually did it! "Stop your fussing, mi amigo. She's the real deal."

"Ah, right."

"No I mean it!" Antonio snapped before giving his friend an apologetic look. "I was the one who helped them escape in the palace."

Heracles gave him a surprise and concerned look. "You never told me-"

"It wasn't important."

"But you are in love with her!"

"No!" Antonio growled out. "I can't be okay! Princesses don't date kitchen boys, so we pretend that nothing happened. Lovi will get her family."

"And the money?" Heracles raised an eyebrow. Antonio didn't have an answer. Heracles sighed. "You should tell her."

"Tell-a me what?" Lovi asked coming out into the street. A green, full length dress with long sleeves was pressed close against her slim body, showing off a figure that not even Antonio had known was there, making it hard for him to think. A white sash had been tied around her waist, and a red headband pulled back part of her hair.

"Y-you look bonita." Antonio breathed. She blushed.

"Whatever you-a tomato jerk."

"It will be fine." Antonio said, placing his hand over Lovi's as she wrung one of her sleeves in nerves. "I'm going back there to introduce you, wait here." She didn't however, but he didn't know that. As she approached the door she heard him talking with the Queen.

"-Wait! Don't go, please! If you'll just hear me out-"

"I~a know what you are~a after! I've seen it all~a before." The voice was familiar and Lovi decided that it was Queen Felicia. "Young men training young girls to~a pretend to be~a my sister."

"But if your highness will just listen-"

"Haven't you~a been listening! I've had enough."

"Please, I-"

"I don't care how much you have~a fashioned this~a girl to sound~a like her or act like~a her." Felicia's voice seemed near tears and Lovi could almost see it for herself. "In the end, it~a never is her."

"This time it is her!"

"Antonio!" There was a pause. "I~a have heard of you. You~a stole my brother-in-law's ship for your own wants, were banned from~a your own country, and~a were holding auditions just~a for this purpose." Lovi gasped, a sharp pain in her heart. Had everything been a lie? Even the almost kisses? Just to get her to like him and trust him? She shook her head. Of course it had been, who would ever want her over someone else. He was just like everyone else.

"But please-"

"No!" Felicia nearly screamed. "How many times~a will you pain me for the money?! Ludwig, I don't~a want to see him~a anymore." There was a muffled noise and soon Antonio was thrown from the room by a blond man who gave them both a stern look that almost seemed familiar.

"She is Lovina, please you have to listen to me! I'm not lying!" Antonio screamed at the closed door. In his frustration he didn't notice Lovi until he turned around. His face turned into horror.

"It was all a lie, wasn't it?" She growled at him.

"Lovi-"

"Don't-a 'Lovi' me! You used me! I was just part of your con to get money?!" Upset, she started to walk away, followed by the annoying Spaniard.

"No! No, you don't understand I-" He fought with himself before he admitted, "Okay, yeah it started out that way, but you really are her sister!" He placed a hand on her arm and she jerked away.

"Would you stop it?!" She asked. She turned to face him, and with every statement she shoved him back. "From-a the very beginning, you-a lied! And I-a not only believed you I-a-" She stopped herself. Fell for you, you tomato jerk. Tears stung her eyes.

"Lovi, please. When you spoke of the hidden door, and the young man that helped you… Listen to me that was-"

"NO!" She screamed. "I DON'T WANT-A HEAR ABOUT ANYTHING-A I REMEMBERED OR SAID! NOW-A LEAVE ME ALONE!" The crowds were watching them now.

"Please, I-"

SLAP.

Her hand stung his cheek quickly, and with hidden strength. She stormed off, ignoring it as he called after, her heart broken.

Antonio waited as Felicia left to her carriage. Ludwig, ever the gentlemen, was opening the door for her and he took it as his chance to steal the carriage, leaving the King behind him. He could hear muffled cries of surprise from inside but didn't stop until he reached where Lovi was staying, entering the compartment. Felicia was immediately glaring at him with desperation.

"You have to talk to her." He demanded. "Just look at her, please."

"I won't be badgered~a by you any~a longer. And~a what did you~a do with~a my husband?"

"The king is just at the ballet house, but you need to listen to me." She focused on the wall ahead of her as he spoke. Sighing, he pulled out his secret weapon. The music box. "Do you recognize this?" Her eyes flickered at it before they stayed there, her mouth forming an 'o' in shock.

"W-where~a did you get this?" She asked, brokenly.

"Doesn't matter… I know you've been hurt. But it is just as possible that she's been as lost and hurt as you." Antonio pleaded.

"Fine, I will see her, but don't expect me to believe~a you."

There was a knock at the door. "Go-a away, you Tomato Jerk!" Lovi yelled at it. There was a pause and the door opened. In stepped the Queen. Lovi's eyes dropped to the floor before bowing. "I didn't-a know it was you."

"I know~a who you thought I was. Who~a exactly are you?" Felicia asked, trying to remain aloof but failing at it.

Just like always, a voice at the back of Lovi's mind said, but she ignored it. "I was-a hoping you would tell me."

Felicia circled her. "You~a are a very good actress. I'm sorry~a that I can't believe what the man says and think that you~a are my sister."

"It's okay. That-a jerk doesn't deserve the money. No one should have to pay others to-a find their sister, that was a stupid move." Felicia instead of scolding her, laughed.

"You sound~a a lot like~a my sister." She sighed. "Like~a I said, you are a very good actress. Goodbye."

As she was about to leave, the stray curl sparked a memory and out of a hidden habit, Lovi said, "What-a did I say about-a leaving that curl out? Idiota, that thing is vulnerable. Do you-a even remember what happens when-a you get it-a tangled in mine?"

Felicia started to a halt. "D-did you just… That~a was always something my sister said. We kept that secret, no~a one knew about that." She sat down on the bed, and Lovi sat next to her. "How~a did you know about that?"

Lovi shrugged, tugging at her necklace. Felicia saw it and her jaw dropped. She pulled out the music box, Lovi knew exactly what to do, starting the music box up. They sang to it before bursting into tears and hugging. "I-a missed you, mia sorella idiota."

"Here~a is the money." Felicia said, handing Antonio a box full of gold. "As promised, along~a with my gratitude."

Antonio bowed. "Your gratitude I can accept, but the money… I just can't."

"You~a don't want the money?" Felicia sounded confused. "What~a do you want then?"

"Something you cannot give." He whispered, thinking of Lovi's smile, however rare it was. He turned away to the door.

"Wait, Antonio," He stopped, "I have~a to know… where did you~a get the music box?" He turned to look at her but did not answer. The realization flashed on her face. "You were~a the boy that saved us, weren't you? And now~a you have returned her to me, yet~a you want nothing… What~a changed your mind?"

"It was more of a change of corazon." He whispered back before leaving. Lovi was down the stairs, dressed in a gown of yellow hues, and a crown on her head.

Her eyes seemed to narrow at him. "Hello, Antonio, did you-a get what you wanted?"

"My business here is done." He stated simply.

A servant admonished him saying, "Bow to her highness when you speak to her, and call her such!"

"No he doesn't need-"

"No… your highness." Antonio bowed, cutting her off. "It was a pleasure." And then he left to say his goodbyes to Heracles. Heracles was busy dressing for the ball that night, held in Lovi's- no Lovina's- honor. Toro was at his side, in his own outfit. He smiled at the small animal and his once partner. He cleared his throat, announcing his presence. Heracles turned to him. "Well, I'm off. If you're ever in Rome..." He trailed off, unable to say the words. "So long, mi amigo."

Heracles forced him into a hug, whispering. "Antonio, you are making a huge mistake."

"Trust me, this is the one thing in my life that I'm doing right." Antonio smirked. His gaze flickered to Toro, who he petted one last time. "Goodbye, mi pequeño amigo cachorro, take care of Lovi for me, alright?" Toro licked his hand pleadingly, but he shook his head. "Sorry, buddy, I have to go. Be the strong bull of a dog I know you are." And he left.

Lovina sat with her sister before the ball just talking. Lovina looked at a painting that Felicia did on the wall she said, "I remember one time-a I got so mad at Papa because he said that your-a painting skills were better than mine. Of course he was-a right. You were always better-a than me at stuff like that-a."

Felicia laughed. "Perhaps but~a you were always better at~a standing up~a for yourself~a. You were~a always so much braver than~a me."

"Well you were-a raised by fairies. Aren't-a they supposed to-a be a gentle race?"

"If so Lukas, Alice, and~a Nicoleta don't~a fit that ideal. They can~a be very rambunctious when they~a want to." Lovina smiled giving a quick laugh. She had been happier in the past day than she had in the past year combined.

Nikolai looked out over Berlin from an abandoned watchtower, his face set in a snarl. He looked at the small bat by his side. "I'm going to the party for Princess Lovina's return."

The bat looked up in surprise at the man's statement. "Really sir? I think that's a great idea. I can teach you the newest dance steps."

Nikolai shook his head. "Not to dance you idiot I'm going to kill Lovina there."

"Ahh but sir the new dance moves are fun."

"I'm going to let Lovina have her moment in the spotlight and then I'm going to wipe her off the face of the earth when she least expects it." Nikolai growled.

Antonio went up the gangplank to Arthur's ship and was surprised to find the clanging of metal he had been hearing to be Amelia and Arthur fencing. He stared at them as their swords clashed against each other's, and he couldn't tell if this was a practice to keep both of them proficient at sword fighting, or an argument that had took a turn for the horrible. Before he could say anything Amelia pulled out a short stick and turned Arthur's sword into a snake.

Arthur dropped the sword turned snake with a surprised shriek and scrambled up the mast a little ways. Amelia picked up the snake and said mockingly through laughs, "Is Artie afraid of a little snakey?"

Arthur growled back as he climbed down, "Yes. There is a reason I'm going to be King of Britain and Ireland. There are no snakes in Ireland!" Antonio laughed out loud at the last sentence.

"Toni!" Amelia yelled in excitement at the same time as Arthur said "Damn it, the Spanish wanker is back." Earning a soft glare from his wife.

"Hi guys, could you give me a lift back to Italy?" Antonio rubbed the back of his head, playing the idiot that he was well versed in pretending to be.

"What, did your last con go sour and you have to get out of the country as quick as possible again?" Arthur asked.

Amelia glared at him, before looking behind Antonio. "Where's Lovi?" He flinched at her name but said nothing as he sat down solemnly, his mask dropping, for once not feeling an inclination to speak. The married couple looked at each other, before teaming up on him.

"What did you do?" Arthur asked with his arms crossed.

"I found the crown princess of Italy." He said blandly. "She's home and so I'm going to mine."

Arthur laughed, until he realized it wasn't a joke and turned serious, concern in his eyes. "You aren't kidding?... Well, what the hell did you do that for?"

"She's home."

"She's in love with you, and trust me, if you aren't with the person you love, you aren't home." Amelia stated.

"Yeah, right. Look, she's a princess that I used to clean dishes for. Nothing can happen between us anyway, and as far as she knows I only did it for the money."

"Did you?"

"What? Do it for the money?... I guess that was how it started out, but… I don't think that's the reason anymore, I didn't take the money."

"You didn't take gold," Arthur raised a thick eyebrow, "it's worse than I thought. You're not head over for heels for this girl- You're practically drowning in lovesickness. Just go talk with her, if you want a ride you will stop moping and bring her here to accompany you or not at all."

"But-"

"You go back this instant or I will turn you into turtle." Amelia threatened.

"Well, I do like turtles." He said aloud, considering it if it meant that Lovi would stay happy, never seeing him again. It did seem like a tempting career choice. Amelia sent him a glare that frightened him and he immediately jumped to his feet. "Alright, alright. I'll tell her how I feel, and if she still hates me, you turn me into a turtle." And like that he was off to go confess.