Gilbert tapped a finger against a chess board—its pieces in the midst of a thrilling but silent battle. "Nah, that won't work," he huffed. "Umm...my Light Queen uses a fireball to take out your bishop."

"That's not how chess works." Peter shrugged, nearly as bored and frustrated as Gilbert.

"Chess works how we want it to work. My Queen uses a fireball on your stupid bishop."

"Okay, fine." Peter leaned forward to examine his side of the board. "Uhh… My...pawns jump in the way to sacrifice themselves. My Dark Queen eats their souls and casts a necromancy spell on your graveyard."

Gilbert huffed and stood his dead pieces up in a line beside the board. "Alright, you get two pawns or one...let's say... A bishop, I think. A good sacrifice deserves a good piece."

"Yeah, but who says the Dark Queen cares about a bishop?" Peter bit his bottom lip as his eyes passed between his side of the board and Gilbert's lined-up graveyard residents. "Doesn't matter what the pawns want—or the bishop. The Dark Queen's the one casting the spell. Let's see…"

Gilbert stared at the Dark Queen piece with a frown as Peter thought. "Okay, Pete, I'm already bored. You're gonna make me wait, too?"

"Only a minute! Just gotta go in for a huddle." Peter leaned down to the Dark Queen's level, and he looked over the painted wood. His eyes widened ever so slightly in surprise. "Hm. One-track mind. Determined, though. No bishop, Your Highness? Oh. Okay, we want a knight. The Dark Queen resurrects your light knight and summons him to my side of the board by Their side."

"Cruel move." Gilbert passed his once-dead knight over to Peter. "Summon him to your home field, Highness. Give him time to run to you and get brainwashed properly."

Peter hovered the knight piece over the square beside the Dark Queen. "Hm… Alright, fine. I concede." He placed the knight at what would've been its starting position as if it had been a dark knight all along.

"Interesting move. I like it. But I think your goal is way easier than mine."

Peter tilted his head as his eyes scanned the board. "Really? A lot of strategy has to go into my plans for everything to be set in motion at the right time."

"Well...I guess." Gilbert leaned back in his chair. "Let's just make them play each other. I don't know what to do next. I just wanna watch the fight."

"Gil," Peter warned.

A frustrated huff shook Gilbert's body. "Right, yeah. I don't mean like that." His pout pulled into a grin. "After all, we've got a great show about to start in Cards, right? How close is Arthur to drawing blood?" His head tilted to peer out of a wide window showing the whole of Cards—or it would if Cards was small enough to see from the edge of one border.

"He looks like he's getting much closer, but he's doing everything he can to pause our Aces instead of killing them."

"Oh, he can't pause all of them. Even with those avoidance spells he's using." A chuckle bubbled in Gilbert's throat. "It's kinda cute. He's like a child playing with a key to a leviathan's cage."

Peter squinted. "Looks like Natalya noticed the 'leviathan's' fins. Or at least the strange current and shadow in the water." He shrugged. "Sooner or later, Arthur will have to face Natalya and Lovino. He would've had a much better chance pausing them instead of our bleeding hearts: Antonio and Matthew."

"Makes you wonder which one will unleash the true Spades Queen within him. What do you say? Wanna bet?"

"Gil—"

"I'll put...retooling gravity on Lovino. I say Lovino will be the one to push Arthur, and Arthur will draw blood from Natalya. If I'm right, you have to be the one to recalibrate gravity."

Peter rolled his eyes as he continued to gaze out at Cards. "...I honestly think that Natalya might roast Arthur some. He'll have to fight them both. I move that he'll cut one of them or take off a limb from them before freezing them in time."

"Interesting."

With a nod, Peter went on: "He's so afraid of losing himself. There's no way that bit of blood won't be enough to get him to turn. I don't think he'll even need to kill someone this time around."

"Oh, that's not enough. There's an absurd science to these things. The lock won't budge on a simple technicality. Someone has to die for him to lose himself all the way."

"If you insist."

Arthur's pace slowed to a stop at the outdoor theatre entrance. His eyes glazed over at the sight of Emma's troupe's posters. He suddenly sucked in a gasp of air as he realized this was the sixth time he had circled the castle town square and ended his journey at the theatre. The last time he'd seen a play had been months and months ago. His heart tugged at the chance—ached, rather. His entire body felt as if it were being yanked—persuaded.

Arthur did promise Emma that he'd see one of her shows.

He did no such thing.

Well, why not see a show while it was right there? Why not enjoy oneself? Why not learn some history? Why not watch the show about a cult who praised a dark force in ancient shadows and regularly offered sacrifice and love to said all-powerful entity?

Arthur squinted at the poster. The blue spirals could've meant something else.

Sure, the cult worshiped a river. Or oceans. Or water. Or night. Or darkness. Or hydrangeas.

Right… Right, any of those could've been it... Arthur winced at the dull burning against his thigh. He reached into his pocket to feel his Queen's Heirloom radiating warmth. His fingers tightened around the ancient pocket watch. Its pent up energy seemed to beat like a heart in his hand's embrace.

"Look at that!" A voice not directed at Arthur and far behind him called out to her friend. "Isn't that Ace Natalya?"

"What's she doing here?" Another voice joined the first.

"I don't know, but just look!"

Arthur yanked his attention back into present reality. He gazed up at the sky to see Ace Natalya leap tens of feet high and far into the air. Her hair whipped behind her as she used the element of air to launch herself towards the castle. Had Arthur waited a few seconds before looking, he would've surely missed her.

What luck!

What luck?

If Natalya was here, it wouldn't be at all difficult to lull her into a false sense of security in order to lift her Ace power off her. That cut out a long journey to Clubs. Whatever excuse Arthur had to use, he could use, and Natalya would be none the wiser. However, the Diamonds Castle would make it harder to hide her since it was so central.

Wait, a kings' meeting was taking place. Aces were strictly not allowed to attend. Was the War closer than Arthur anticipated?

A cluster of red petals blocked his view of nothing in particular and effectively startled him. Arthur sucked in a gasp and jumped back, only to bump into the rose offerer behind him. He spun around to face the stranger and put distance between them. "Wha— Alfred?" Arthur remained rooted to the spot as a flood of relief came over him, lifting his heart and mind.

Alfred let out a brief laugh. "Art, you shoulda told me you were gonna surprise me." He rested the rose's petaled head against Arthur's nose. "Y'know, we could get in really hot water if the others find out you're here. Shouldn't be too hard since—" He paused, taking a note of Arthur's entire...look. "Well, guess it would be hard," he mumbled. "What's up with your commoner look?"

Arthur accepted the rose and held it at his chest. "I… I could ask you the same thing." He lifted an eyebrow. From the plain look Alfred wore, it looked like he had gotten some advice on how to dress for blending in—unlike Arthur's rushed homely look. Although, it probably looked rushed and homely due to the long journey.

"Oh, this outfit?" Alfred posed and felt the material he wore. "Francis suggested something really simple for walking around town. Tensions were getting a little high during the meeting, so they said it was fine if I left to blow off some steam and grab some tickets. We're planning on seeing the play tonight if you wanna join us."

Arthur sighed and leaned heavily against Alfred. Being wrapped up in those warm arms again brought up the traveling hardships Arthur had to endure—and how grateful he was that he would experience luxury again very shortly. "Maybe. I don't know if I'm up to anything but sleeping for a while." He wrapped his arms around Alfred, reciprocating the other's hug.

"What the hell happened?" Alfred asked with worry in his voice as he rubbed Arthur's back. "Were you mugged? Why're you all the way out here by yourself? Is something wrong with Spades?"

Arthur simply shook his head. "Traveled light and fast. Yao is watching over Spades. I just… I got anxious about not being near you."

Alfred's tenseness left him at the neutral news. "It was your idea to have a kings' meeting in the first place. Hey, you didn't plan this just so you'd be the only queen to show up other than Lilli, right?" He chuckled while Arthur pouted. "Nah. You wouldn't scheme like that. You definitely missed me."

"I did!" Arthur locked eyes with Alfred. "Al, I really did miss you..."

It also helped that Alfred was stationed in Ace Central where one could collect Ace powers like picking books off a shelf—

"And the trip was lonely!" Arthur interrupted the thoughts swirling around his head.

"Hey, you don't have to convince me." Alfred's grin faltered. "I gotta be honest with you. I'm really glad you're here, but the other kings are really worried about your heirloom."

Why?

"Why?" Arthur echoed the thought. "It's practically harmless. Can't be used aside from little dips." He frowned. "They sound like they're worrying over nothing."

Alfred's gaze traveled around the town square. Despite it being bustling with activity much too busy to pay him and Arthur any mind, Alfred preferred to take this conversation elsewhere. He hooked an arm around Arthur, tugged his hood over his head, and guided their walk towards the castle. Alfred leaned down to Arthur's ear and spoke in a lowered voice, "They're afraid of the more bloody side of Spades history. My mother had to give you the rundown when you were apprenticing, right? So you pretty much know all the terrible stuff the kings think you might do."

Arthur swallowed the lump in his throat. "Is that so?" He spoke in an equally soft tone. "I don't know whether to be insulted or flattered."

"Flattered?"

With a quick shake of his head, Arthur dispelled the unhelpful line of thinking. "That they could think I could possibly conjure enough power to be a threat to anyone. From what I can tell, Spades Queens don't have a lot to offer the world. If one can live up to having any kind of power, it could be flattering. But. I'll choose to be insulted. They think I could possibly lose myself?"

Alfred decided to drop the first part of Arthur's speech, assuming the other would get to the moral line of thought faster if he just left it alone. "Yeah. I don't think you'd lose yourself, but they're not convinced. They want you under house arrest."

"House—" Arthur covered his mouth; his first word was entirely too loud. He yanked Alfred into the castle's front garden, far from prying ears. "They want me under house arrest? For how long? To what extent?"

"I don't know. I wanted to kill the idea as soon as they said it."

Ah, yes, yes, killing the idea sounded good.

Arthur shook his head. "... This is just to quell their worries, right?"

"...Art, no, you don't have to—"

"Of course I do." Arthur rested his hands on Alfred's chest. "... Of course I don't want to, but if it's something that'll soothe their worries and keep us in a time of peace that much longer, then… What choice do I have?"

That's right. Play it up.

"I'm not—" Arthur's hands gripped Alfred's shirt as frustration shot through him.

The garden was silent save for the breeze rustling the tree leaves and bushes. Alfred watched Arthur go through a few stages of thought process. For such a loud-looking mental conversation, Alfred felt surprisingly left out. "Hey," he whispered and brushed a thumb against Arthur's cheek. "Hey, wake up. Arthur, wake up."

Their eyes met.

Arthur exhaled his caught breath. The stress in his eyes diluted with the slightest bit of calm. He rested a hand against Alfred's hand; that particular warmth was so welcoming. "Sorry. I'll go under house arrest. Everyone's been so gracious accepting invitations I sent out. The least I can do is…" Lock himself away. Keep from being a danger.

What an absurdly humorous thought.

Humorous?

"Arthur, how the hell did you make it to Diamonds half asleep?"

"Eh—Alfred, sorry. I was paying attention." Arthur mentally scolded himself for dipping out of the conversation again.

"Ahuh. Well. I said that I want to try and talk the kings out of house arrest, but it's good to be flexible. We gotta make sure they know that you're not someone who'll hurt others." When met with a soft nod and with eye contact, Alfred wrapped an arm around Arthur's waist and guided him inside. "Now, let's show everyone you're here so we don't look like we're scheming."

"Please listen!" Lovino shouted as he caught his breath between words. "I've just come from Antonio's."

Lovino's voice echoed throughout the throne room. Ludwig, Ivan, Francis, and Lilli turned their attention to the flustered Ace in the doorway. "Ace Lovino, you're not supposed to be here in Diamonds," Ludwig gently scolded. He eyed Lovino with a concerned gaze. "A kings' meeting is built on trust. No queens, no jacks, no aces."

"King Ludwig, you don't understand!" Lovino quickly gave his king a couple deep bows to show he still remembered his manners at the very least as he rushed further inside. "I was going to see Ace Antonio, but there was something wrong!"

Ivan lifted an eyebrow. "Something...off?"

Lovino lifted his head to meet Ivan's eyes with his own frantic gaze. "Much more than that." His words ghosted out in a whisper as if announcing Antonio's fate would curse him as well. He shook his head and stood up straight. He gasped in a stabilizing breath and released it. "When I entered Ace Antonio's home, I saw his plants wilting and his body—" Lovino gulped. "His body was frozen."

"Frozen?" Ludwig's eyebrows drew together as his tone dropped into seriousness. "Explain. Frozen how?"

Lovino lifted his shaking hands as he pictured the image. "Just— He was just...slumped back." He mimicked the position as best he could without taking a chair. "He wasn't breathing. I couldn't move any part of him—not even his hair. Not even an eyelash. His eyes wouldn't open. And—he had a…" Lovino tapped his own forehead. "He had writing on his forehead. It looked like a sign or a spell or something like that. I can't—" His gaze passed between the monarchs. "I've never seen anything like it."

Ivan nodded solemnly. "That sounds familiar."

Ludwig stared, shocked by the description. "Yes," he answered absently before bringing his mind into the present, "yes, King Ivan?" He looked to the other king. "Do you know anything about this?"

Ivan shook his head lightly as his knowing eyes passed over both the other king and ace. "Before I was invited to Diamonds, Ace Natalya told me, my Queen, and my Jack that the Sun is tilted."

Lilli leaned forward in her throne and spoke up, "Tilted?"

"Yes. Tilted. It's off. It doesn't make sense. Logic is leaving us. First the Sun has tilted, and now Ace Antonio is frozen. Ace Natalya was unfamiliar with the Sun tilting as well. She said that she and the other Aces had never experienced anything like it." Ivan locked eyes with Lovino. "Were you able to reach his heart? Were you able to feel anything through your suit alignment?"

"It was… It was just…" Lovino's eyes fell closed as he pictured the feeling. "Frozen. Paused. Unmoving. He didn't feel dead. He just felt on hold. Like the Jokers—" Lovino's eyes snapped open. "Like the Jokers...like if they were trying to fix something or change something."

"Ace Natalya said they wouldn't waste their time with little pranks like making the Sun tilt. Do you think they would want to draw a fright out of you?"

Lovino shook his head. "No. They're serious about world-changing stuff. They'd never make such a scary scene and leave me to suffer for so—"

The throne room door flew open again, and Ace Natalya stood there in the doorway, frame stiff, and expression serious. She took a bow and heaved a sigh of relief upon seeing Lovino. "Sorry for intruding, my Kings and Queen."

"Ace Natalya, a kings' meeting is being hosted. Aces aren't welcome." Ivan spoke with a disapproving frown. His concern about being labeled a schemer overtook his gratitude for Ace Natalya's help.

Natalya's eyes rested on Lovino and then traveled back to Ivan. "Forgive me, King Ivan. But my duty to the Balance comes before my loyalty to my suit. I'll leave immediately, but I must submit new information to the board of kings first."

Lovino could only hold himself back for mere moments until he finally ran over to Natalya and took her hands in his. "Have you seen the state Antonio's in, too?" His eyes locked with hers in a desperate worry. "King Ivan says you saw the Sun tilt. What do you think they're planning?"

Natalya shook her head, her eyes widening at the news. "I don't know who—Antonio's in a state? I'm here because Matthew wasn't responding… I don't know where he is, and he usually checks in with us." Worry snuck into her tone no matter how much she tried to keep it at bay. "I haven't heard from him in a week at least."

Lovino paled and his grip on Natalya's hands tightened. "Antonio's frozen—"

"—in ice?!"

"No, no… More like...frozen in time. Put on hold."

"Ah! We're not supposed to do this on our own!" Natalya's composure cracked. "Matthew and Antonio are older than us both! They're supposed to have answers!"

"They're going to take their answers to the grave!"

"Lovino, don't say that!"

Their joined hands shook together as sparks of fire breathed to life and died around them as the two young aces vented to each other.

"Aces!" Francis's voice echoed off the stone walls, silencing Natalya and Lovino's worried ranting. They each still had each others' hands in a death grip, however. Francis looked on with concern. "If you two can't get a hold of yourselves and figure this out, what hope do the rest of us have? There have to be other ways to figure out what's going wrong without relying on Ace Antonio and Ace Matthew."

Natalya dug her nails into Lovino's skin as she realized what they may have to do to get to the bottom of everything. "We may have to summon the Jokers."

"Wait—" Lovino looked to the open doors. Two familiar warmths floated down the hall and comforted him like a warm hug. Air graced his lungs, and his lips pulled into a relieved smile.

King Alfred turned the corner with a sheepish grin. "Hey, so it turns out— Oh." He took note of Natalya and Lovino before letting out a sigh of relief. "Oh, good. You invited representatives from your countries. This is gonna look so much better then. I ran into some company on the streets." He reached an arm out to the previously mentioned out of sight company.

Lovino nodded, somewhat eager to see Antonio and Matthew again. Their kind and knowledgeable presences would sort all this confusion out and strike down the dreadful unknown. When he instead saw Arthur step into view, the light from his smile died.