ok so again this chapter took a little longer than i thought to write but hopefully it'll be worth it.
so i'll see everyone at the end of the chapter where I'll exlain why this took so long *takes author special tunnel slide*
Chapter 12
Ever since England found out that Arthur's soul had been living in his body and that he had experienced everything that he had done in his overly long life he began to question a certain part of his life. That part being his feelings for America; were these feelings that he has had for so long his own or were they Arthur's feelings for Alfred being pushed through as America and Alfred were the same person in looks?
This was something that England truly wanted to know the answer to as he knew how America felt about him; and there was one thing that he didn't want to do and that was break America's heart if it turns out that what he had been feeling was Arthur's feelings and not his own. Because there was one thing that England knew from experience a very long life and heartbreak do not mix and especially when you have to keep seeing the person that caused the heartbreak.
So as soon as Arthur had left his body he started to question everything that he liked about America in the past just to see if it was his true feelings or Arthur's.
"Arthur?" Alfred couldn't believe what his eyes were seeing, leaning against a wall looking like they were about to collapse was none other than Arthur. He looked to where America and England where hiding just to make sure that it was indeed Arthur and when he saw that England was still with America his heart all but sky rocketed.
Arthur was at first shocked when he heard someone say his name; he first thought that it was Francis and that he had been found by him but once he recognised the caring and loving nature of the voice and knew that it was none other than his beloved Alfred. "Alfred oh my deck it's you."
Alfred quickly rushed over to him embracing his love in his arms properly this time. "Oh Arthur it's you, it's you. I actually have you back oh Arthur."
Arthur didn't say much as he just held himself close to Alfred momentarily forgetting who he was running away from and just enjoyed once again being in the arms of the one he loves. When he remembered what had happened for him to be here with Alfred he pushed himself away from Alfred which caused the other to be shocked and saddened by the action of Arthur pushing him away. "We have to go. Francis . . . he might not be too far away. We have to get out of here now." Arthur tried to run but found that as soon as he even tried to take a single step his legs gave way under him, leaving Alfred to catch him before he fell to the floor.
Alfred helped Arthur back up to his feet, placing one of Arthur's arms around his neck. "Then we better shake a leg then." The two Royals looked to who had just spoken to them seeing that it was none other America and England.
The group were making their way back out of the Diamonds castle but not at the quick speed that they wanted to be at. Arthur's body was too weak from not properly moving for the last decade and therefore every so often so that he could rest before continuing their escape.
They had just stopped for the sixth time and they were starting to hear the sound of someone coming up behind them. They were no were near a way out of the castle; England knew that if they carried on at the pace they were currently going at that they would be caught in no time and there was only one plan that he could think of to get out of the castle.
England stepped away from the group and looked to where they could hear the sound of someone getting closer to them and their pace was quickening meaning that whomever it was they would catch up to their slow moving group in no time, he turned back to the group and told them of the plan that he just thought of on the spot. "At the pace we are going we likely to get caught pretty soon so . . . America you and Alfred get Arthur out of here whilst I stay here and act as a decoy."
America was stunned by what England was suggesting as a plan to get out of here. "What? No way are you staying here by yourself England."
"Yes I am America. Whoever it is that is following us is probably looking for Arthur and of course we can't let them get Arthur. And seeing as me and Arthur are exact copies of each other in appearance I have to stay behind, distract whoever it is long enough for you to get out of here and then I'll meet you outside by the horses." England could see that America was going to say something so he just held up one of his hands to say that he wasn't done speaking yet. "I can take care of myself and besides your job as a hero isn't done yet and a hero sees his job through to the end isn't that right America?"
America was left speechless by England's words but knew that he was right. He was a hero and a hero sees his job through to the end no matter what. "Ok but you better make sure that you get out of here not long after us."
With that Alfred picked Arthur up bridal style who started to complain and say that he was fine to walk on his own, but Alfred wasn't going to listen to Arthur's complains he just wanted to get his beloved to somewhere safe. With that he and America started to run off leaving England to himself. As England waited for whoever it was that was following their group he quickly made some changes to his appearance so that he would look more like Arthur, he took off his waistcoat and tie and hid them in the first place that he could find.
As he just finished hiding the articles of clothing when the person came into his view, he had to stop himself from breaking from the plan when he saw that it was none other than Francis that had been following them.
"Aw Arthur zhere you are. Now come on let us go back to my room and carry on where we were. I have to say zhat little kick to zhe face zhat you gave me wasn't zhat nice of you, but I am willing to forgive you now come with me mon cher." Francis stepped towards England only for the other to step back from him. England could see the early sign of a pretty nasty looking bruise that was starting to form on his face from what he could assume was how Arthur managed to escape from Francis's clutches.
"I am not going anywhere with you Francis. I am getting away from you as fast as I can for all that you've done to me the last fifteen years." England had to continuously step away from Francis as the other kept walking towards him.
"Oh come on mon cher I am sure zhat you are just in shock after being asleep for so long, come let us go back to my room so zhat we can talk and maybe do a little more than talking." By this point Francis had quite backed England literally into a corner and was eyeing him up like a predator that had just cornered its prey.
With literally know where to go England once again had to think on his feet and quick. So with little to no time to think he decided to give what Francis wanted; England wrapped his arms around Francis's neck and pulled himself closer to the taller blond. "You are right Francis and now that I think about it I never did truly love Alfred." England started to twirl his fingers into Francis's hair. "I need a man that is more . . . passionate than Alfred could ever be."
Francis was initially shocked by the smaller blonds' sudden change in behaviour but quickly welcomed it as he pulled the other closer to him, his arms tightening around the smaller blonds' waist. "Oh mon cher you have no idea how long I've waited to hear you say that. Mon cher stay here with me here in Diamonds and leave Alfred with the imposter that has taken your place." Francis brought his face closer to England's so that his and the others lips were just a breath away from each other. "We can rule Diamonds together, just you and me mon cher." With that Francis captured the others lips in a kiss that was reciprocated by the other.
England did his best to hide the shock and disgust that he felt as Francis kissed him. "Why do I feel so disgusted by this? I mean I've kissed France plenty of times in the past and I know that this isn't France . . . but why does this feel so wrong." He wrapped his arms around Francis and pulled the other closer to him as he deepened the kiss.
Francis pushed England closer to the wall as he broke the kiss but only for a split second as he started to leave a trail of kisses going from England's cheek down to his neck where he came to a sudden stop. "You're not Arthur."
England froze on the spot as Francis words reached his ears. "Wh-What are you talking about my love I am Arthur, like you said my imposter is with my former King back in Spades."
Francis grabbed at the collar of England's shirt as his anger towards the smaller blond increased. "Non you're not; because zhe real Arthur, my Arthur doesn't have a scar on his neck."
England's blood ran cold. How could he have forgotten that old scar on his neck? He cupped the side of Francis's face and brought it level to his and smiled just before he spoke. "Well I guess I've been found out." With that England kneed Francis in the stomach winding him before he took off like a bat out of hell. "I can only hope that I bought the others enough time to get out of here. Also I'm going to kick that bloody Spaniard's arse to Antarctica next time I see him."
Outside the castle America, Alfred and Arthur had made it safely back to the horses. Due to Arthur's lack of physical strength he was on the same horse as Alfred. He was sitting in front of his King with one of Alfred's arms wrapped around his waist to steady the smaller blond and to make sure that he doesn't fall off the horse. And well neither of them would admit it in front of America but they both wanted to be as close as possible to the other as much as they could for as long as possible to make up for the time that they were apart.
America on the other hand well I guess you could say that he was on the edge of his saddle as he nervously waited for England to join them. He was getting so nervous that it was starting to make the horse nervous as well. He kept looking towards the Diamonds castle hoping that he would see England climb over the walls at any second.
When Arthur noticed what was happening with America he knew that he had to speak up. "America you need to calm down and try to relax, England will be just fine he can handle himself and he'll be here in no time."
America finally took his eyes away from the Diamonds Castle and looked towards Arthur. He couldn't help but sigh as he locked eyes with Arthur. "I know, but still can't help but feel uneasy. I mean I feel as if I should be in there helping him." America gestured back to the castle as he spoke. "And yet I'm out here waiting like I'm a child that he told to run and hide, when I could've helped him by staying. I'm no hero I'm a coward, that England will only ever see as a child that he has to protect." Tears started to well up in the corners of his eyes.
Arthur moved closer to America, with the help of Alfred guiding their horse closer to the nation. When he was close enough to America he placed a lightly shaking hand on his shoulder. "Trust me when I say this America that is not the case, well it might have been when you were younger, but now he sees you as the man, the nation that you've become. Now I might not be in his head any more but I can take a very good guess as to what he was thinking when he came up with his plan. And that is if anything were to happen whilst we were escaping and he was acting as a decoy then you would have been there to help. And do you want why he made you do this?" America nodded his head in response. "Because you are one of a very few people that he trusts."
At this the trio heard a lot of commotion coming from the other side of the wall. They all looked up to the wall and could see that in the distance that England was running along the top of the wall heading in their direction.
Meanwhile back inside the Castle just as all of the commotion was just starting England was running for what felt like his life, his lungs and legs burned with every step but that didn't stop him he just kept going as he wanted to buy the others as much time as he could. Every twist and turn that England took left him confused as to where exactly where he was inside that castle but not even that stopped him.
He was eventually stopped when he came across a large amount of castle guards blocking his way. England tried to go back the way he came in the hope that he might find a different route to take only for that to be quickly blocked; he was surrounded with no way to escape, England would have used his magic to get himself out of this situation but a teleportation spell even a small one would require a lot of magic which he still didn't have. He noticed that there was a window behind him, but with a quick glance outside he could tell that he was too high up to jump and come out safely the other end.
As England was trying to think of a way to get himself out of this situation he noticed that a gap in one lot of the guards opened up. He was about to go for the opening when Francis walked through it not looking that overly happy.
Francis walked up to England and when he got to the blond nation he started to circle around him. "Well what do we have a here a petit lapin . . . non a rat disguised as a lapin. A rat caught in a trap. A rat zhat is going to tell me where what I am after is or it's going to find itself without a head."
This time England didn't have to think on his feet, because he was used to these kinds of situations with France that they feel like second nature to him. "I don't see myself in a trap. I see myself exactly where I need to be."
Francis stopped in his tracks right in front and how to stop himself from laughing right then and there. "Where you need to be, I find that hard to believe."
The King of Diamonds continued to talk but England wasn't paying attention, he was too focused on working on his plan of escape from the sticky situation that he's found himself in. The only way he could think of was the window behind him but he was too high up to jump out of the window to survive even with the benefit of being a nation.
He could tell that he had some magic but not enough for what he would like to do, he had enough for maybe one or two spells at a push but that would be the most that he could do for now.
England was brought out of his thoughts when Francis got up close to his face. "So tell me little rat just exactly how are you going to get out of here when you are surrounded and are not even able to take another step."
That's when England decided to just go with it, it might be risky for him but it was the best plan and it would cause quite a bit of chaos and panic. With a smile on his face he looked Francis dead in the eye and said "Like this." With that he snapped his fingers and the window behind him shattered, sending glass everywhere causing Francis and the castle guards to cover their eyes. And whilst distracted England used this as his chance and jumped out of the window and used what little bit of magic that he dig up to help cross the distance from the castle to the castle wall.
As the top of the wall approached England braced himself for the landing as he couldn't give himself a soft landing. Once he landed on the top of the wall he looked back towards the castle and could see that Francis was at the now broken window looking directly at him, when their eyes met England held up his middle finger to him and then took off like a bat out of hell to where America and the others were waiting for him.
As England ran on top of the wall he could hear that in the distance that the guards where still chasing him but that didn't bother him as he could recognise the tree patterns which meant that he was back to where America was. As soon as he was just above the door that led them inside he jumped off the wall, his only hope was that the tress would give him a soft-ish landing with as few broken bones as possible.
When America saw that England jumped off the wall he spurred his on into the direction that England was in. He noticed something he was heading towards his fellow nation, England was falling too fast so he spurred his horse on faster and readied himself to catch him. "Damnit why isn't he using any of his magic to slow himself down like normally." As America got closer to England he readied himself to catch the other.
When England jumped he noticed that he had just missed out on his opportunity for the landing that he would have preferred and so as the ground got closer he closed his eyes and braced himself for the pain that was about to receive upon landing, but no pain came all he could feel was something wrapped around him almost carrying him and when he opened his eyes he was met with a pair of blue eyes framed by a pair of glasses. "Did . . .did America just catch me whilst on the back of a horse?"
"Did you seriously think that I wouldn't catch ya ha Iggy? No matter what I will always be there to catch ya." With that America placed England on the saddle in front of him with an arm around the smaller blond's waist and headed back towards Alfred and Arthur.
When they made it back to the others there was no time to get the third horse as the guards were on the other side of the door so they spurred their two horses on as fast as they could with both of them carrying two people each.
As they were making their way back to the port they did their best to out run and confuse their pursuers. It took them longer to get back to the port but they did it and there didn't seem to be any sign of the castle guards behind them and they were in luck their ship was waiting for them.
They quickly dismounted their horse and Alfred quickly grabbed Arthur's hand and headed towards the ship. "Come on quickly before they catch up with us, the castle guard horses tend to be faster than other horses. We might have out run them for now but they will catch up to us in no time."
America and England didn't need to be told twice as the four of them headed to the ship. When they made it on to the ship they did cause a good number of glances to be thrown their way. Alfred went over to the captain for a brief second but then was back over to the group as the captain stared to shout orders to his crew.
Within a matter of minutes the ship was sailing and Diamonds was getting further and further away; they could finally relax, they were heading back to Spades, their mission was complete Arthur was back in his body and with Alfred once again.
As their journey progressed a thought dawned on America. He made his way over to England who was by the railing of the ship looking at the horizon. America stood next to him with his back to the railing; he looked up to the rigging and spoke. "So just how are we getting back home ya know to our world?"
England was shocked by America's question; he use up what magic he had and most likely wouldn't be back to full strength for at least a week if not longer. "I . . . I don't know."
Alfred and Arthur who weren't too far away from the nations overheard America's questions and made their way over to them. Alfred had his arm around Arthur's shoulders as he spoke. "I'm sure that if we work together we can find a way to help you get back home."
"Or zhe awesome me could be of assistance." The group of blonds looked to where they heard the new voice coming from. America and England were both surprised to see Prussia but looking like he was dressed as some sort of demon.
"Prussia? Dude what are you doing here as well?" America pushed himself off the railing shocked to see another nation in the world.
"Prussia? Nein my names Gilbert and I've always been in this world, I'm one of the jokers and your only way of getting zhe two of you back to you vorld." Gilbert said as he gestured to America and England. "Because unlike zhe two Arthur's over zhere I have an unlimited amount of magic so a portal spell pffft piece of cake. Und besides zhe two look a likes are throwing zhe world out of balance." This time Gilbert gestured towards Arthur and England before once again gesturing to America and England before snapping his fingers and creating a portal. "Zhere you go."
America scratched the back of his neck in embarrassment. "Sorry dude, you just look like the guy that's dating my brother." America looked over to the portal that Gilbert opened for them. "Thanks Gilbert you're a real life saver bro."
Before America and England walked through the portal they looked back to Alfred and Arthur; to Arthur in particular for England. "I hope that you don't go repeating yourself and getting caught by Francis again because I'm not sure if I want to go through this again."
Arthur crossed his arms and grinned "Oh don't worry when we get back to Spades we are going to make him pay for what he's put us through."
Alfred and America didn't say much they just shock hands.
With their goodbyes done America and England stepped through the portal which closed behind them. Gilbert suddenly appeared next to Alfred and leaned over and asked the King a question. "Soooo seeing as zheir vorlds version of me is dating zheir vorlds version of your bruder . . . does zhat mean I can finally have your blessing to date Matthew?"
Alfred sighed as he caught sight of gilberts puppy dog like stare. "Alright I'll think about. Now cut it with that stare."
Canada could finally understand how America felt when they had no idea where England was, he was worried about his brother. He had no idea how America was doing after he stepped through into that portal. Did he find England? Were they both ok? These were just some of the questions that were racing through his head. The only things that he had to comfort him was Kumajiro and Prussia; Norway had stayed for a bit when the albino nation arrived but left he remembered that he left Denmark in charge of his stuff and even though he had one of his trolls keeping an eye on the Dane but he still worried that he would get into his magic supplies and fuck things up.
So now it was just Canada and Prussia in England's house waiting for America to bring him back home. They were sitting in the living room on the sofa; Prussia was sitting next to Canada on the sofa with one of his arms wrapped around the younger nation's shoulders whilst he hugged Kumajiro.
"I'm so worried Prussia. What if they don't come back?" Canada couldn't stop himself from burying his face in Kumajiro's soft fur.
Prussia pulled Canada closer to him in order to comfort him as best as he could. "Hey now birdie don't zhink like zhat zhey vill come back especially if zhat bruder of yours has anything to do vith it. I'm sure zhat zhey'll be back soon so don't vorry a zhing. Und if you need something to distract yourself from vorrying zhen i'm sure zhat I can provide zhe perfect distraction." Prussia then pulled the polar bear from Canada's arms and placed him on the floor before pushing the blond down onto the sofa and looked down at him with an eyebrow wiggle.
Canada was shocked by the sudden action. "Really Prussia this is England's house we can't."
Prussia couldn't help but smirk as he knew something that Canada didn't. "Vow you really don't remember new years eve five years ago cause zhen you had no problem vith location zhen."
Canada was left stunned for words, he had very vague memories of that new years eve party but what he could remember was drinking the punch and then waking up the next morning in bed with Prussia, not that that surprised him they had been dating for a while at that point, with possibly the worst possible hangover that he had ever had in his life, it was later on that he found out that someone spiked the punch with some of Russia's homemade vodka leaving everyone who was at the party with the most painful hangovers ever, some even thought that England was dead due to how little he was responding to anyone checking on him. Canada was brought back to the here and now when he noticed that Prussia's face was getting closer to his.
Prussia was only a breath away from kissing from Canada when he was stopped when they both heard something falling down the stairs. They both got up from the sofa and went to check it out and when they reached the stairs both Canada and Prussia were left stunned for words as they saw both America and England as a tangled up mess at the base of the stairs.
When England stepped through the portal that Gilbert made he found themselves at the top of a set of stairs which caused him to stop dead in his tracks so that he wouldn't fall down them, but that proved to be pointless as when America stepped through proved to be more than enough for the small amount of space on the top step for both of them. England was the first to fall down the stairs but not before America tried to grab him which only succeeded in pulling him down along with England, he did however quickly pull the smaller blond close to him to protect him as much as possible from the impending fall. And that is how they ended up tangled up together at the bottom of the stairs both groaning in pain from what they have just been through.
Prussia was about to laugh at the scene laid out in front of him and Canada but he did his best to stifle it. "You two have some explaining to do, but first ve need to call everyone zhat's been looking for you."
England was confused as he looked back and forth between America, Canada and Prussia before pushing America off of him so that he could sit up. "Looking? For me? who's been looking for me?"
America smiled and said. "Everyone dude."
After a quick explanation was given phone calls were made; and after a short while nations started to show up at England's house happy and relieved to see him back safe and sound. There was however a slight incident when Spain walked through the door one that required America to hold England back as he was going to true to his words and make the Spaniard pay for leaving the scar on his neck back in their pirate days.
Sometime had passed since that day things had gotten back to normal after a very very big drinking session were some of the more tired nations drank themselves stupid and then slept for a good week.
England was in his kitchen kettle in hand as he made himself some tea, as he was about to the leave his kitchen he made sure to grab the second cup that he had put to one side for his guest. England made his way to his living room with both drinks one in each hand. When he reached the living room he put the second cup down on the coffee table and then sat down on the sofa.
"I made you a coffee the way you like it although I have no idea how you drink it with that much sugar in it." England said as he took a sip of his tea.
America leaned forward to pick up his drink off of the table and taking a sip. "Thanks dude. And I've actually started to cut back the sugar in my coffee."
England sat down next to America drinking some of his tea. "Well colour me impressed America. It's not another one of your fad diets is it?"
"Nope." America took another sip of his coffee before placing it back down in front of him. He then rested one of his arms on the back of the sofa so that his arm was almost around England's shoulders. He looked at the smaller blond as he sipped his drink as he wondered if he could have the same sort of relationship with England as Alfred and Arthur have.
"I can feel you staring at me America. Is there something on your mind?" England was about to take another sip of his tea but stopped as it felt as if the other was burning a hole in the side of his head.
America didn't stop looking at England even though he had been caught. "I still meant what I said all those months ago. And if I'm honest . . . I'm jealous of what our other selves have. I truly do want to be a hero but only your hero England." America grabbed England's free hand and stood up bring the smaller with him making sure that England was facing him. He then pulled out his phone, it took him a few seconds but he put his phone down on the small coffee table and then moved both him and England to a more open space in the room and just as music starts to play from America's phone he leans in close to England and whispers in his ear "let me be your hero" perfectly in time to the music.
They start to dance with America taking the lead. England was left stunned no from America suddenly pulling him into a dance but the look in his eyes as he quietly sang along with the song perfectly word for word. "That- that look. He genuinely does love me."
It was with this that knew that he no longer needed to question his feelings for America and as the song came to an end leaned up and captured America's lips in a kiss.
THE END
A/N: *slides out of tunnel*
and that is it folks thanks for sticking around for so long and being patient with me to get this done.
as you all know 2020 hasn't been a good year for anyone and i was working on this in what free time i could get (essentil worker here) but i was having a hard time with getting the ending just right cause i've had it pictured perfectly in my head for years and trying to find the right words was sometimes tricky.
but it is done, i am happy with it and there is a sequel in the works which i will be starting soon.
so keep an eye out for . . . The return of the Queen: whatever it takes
favs, follows and reviews are all welcomed, please let me know what you think of this.
till next time gxgirl-93 out