Translation notes:
Scheiße= shit

Chapter 6: New Duties

Streetlights flashed on as the sun sank below the buildings. While the pink and purple clouds faded into the dark sky, Alfred solemnly strolled down the street, his eyes not looking up at the passing strangers. The doctor's words echoed in his ears. Feliciano's shaking body and uncharacteristic callous words stabbed Alfred's heart.

"Would I be proud of myself if I wished for Gabriel to live?" Stupid question. Feliciano, Gabriel's parents, Gabriel's friends, everyone would be overjoyed if Gabriel unexplainably woke up from his coma and still responded to words and touch. Didn't Alfred want to be a hero, a hero who saved the helpless in the direst situations? Yet, Alfred also could not brush away the feeling, an admittedly selfish feeling, that he still should not do it. But why? Mathias's unexpected demise did shock him, yet Alfred vowed to become a magical boy to carry his legacy. Was it because Alfred secretly wanted to save his wish to benefit himself? However, a life was more precious than perfect grades, popularity, getting rid of your worst enemy, and becoming drum major.

"As I said before, consider your intentions carefully. Evaluate what you truly want and consider the setbacks." Arthur's warning repeated in Alfred's head.

"Dad, I'm not being selfish now…" Alfred muttered to himself. "Why do you have to go and make everything so complicated?"

"I want to help Feliciano." He continued mumbling. "It's what friends do. Once when Tony grants my wish, I'll turn into a magical boy and need to fight witches. That's all."

That was not all. Alfred still could not explain what was holding him back from making this selfless wish.

"I haven't seen Tony for a while. I would go around and try to find him, but Dad's gonna get mad if I come home late."

Looking up, Alfred came to a stop at the unfamiliar buildings surrounding him. Glancing at the nearest green street sign, he thought, "Dang. I was so lost in thinking, I wandered off somewhere."

A lone figure stood in the middle of the empty intersection.

Common sense screamed at Alfred to immediately leave the scene. Yet, Alfred cautiously crept closer to the person. There was something familiar about it, something recognizable about his or her dark silhouette.

"Oh! Privet, Alfred!"

"Dude, Ivan?!"

That was it! The height! The build! Everything pointed to Ivan's identity! Yet, there was something still missing…

"What are you doing standing out here, man?!" Alfred exclaimed.

The streetlight's orange glow illuminated Ivan's approaching figure. On his exposed neck, which was usually covered by his white scarf, was a strange mark.

"Is that a witch's kiss?!"

Dread overcame Alfred as Ivan towered over him, his face having the same, exact too innocent smile. Though, it was not the disgusted, gross feeling that made Alfred want to shove Ivan away. Rather, it was a chilling, unnerving feeling, a feeling that reminded Alfred of how dangerous witches were to normal humans.

"I was searching for someone to go on a trip with me." Ivan answered, his violet eyes leering at Alfred.

"A trip?" Alfred nervously chuckled. "Where?"

"Somewhere wonderful, like a world filled with sunlight and sunflowers." Ivan sighed dreamily. "Would you like to come with me?"

Blood running cold in his face, Alfred peered up at Ivan, whose unnerving stare made him feel he was shrinking smaller and smaller. Fixated on Alfred's cowering figure, Ivan's smile widened before he seized him by the arm. The sole of Alfred's shoes scraped across the side walk as he futilely struggled against the tight hold.

"Dude, what the hell?! Stop!" Alfred yelled at Ivan, who paid no heed.

"Damn. This is gonna leave a bruise." Alfred's aching arm throbbed as Ivan led him through the doors.

The sound of a lock clunking shut reverberated in the darkness, followed by liquids splashing onto the floor. Alfred's eyes began to water from the fumes. Despite the intoxicating smell making Alfred lightheaded, the people continued to mindlessly pour gas out of plastic containers, their eyes dulled with emptiness. On their necks was a mark exactly like Ivan's.

Empty containers were piled at the room's corner. All the hypnotized people formed an arch around a man. Held in his hand was a box of matches.

Contrary to Arthur's views on video games, hours spent playing Grand Theft Auto V provided Alfred some knowledge.

"No, don't!" The people turned their heads at Alfred's scream. Alfred thrashed in Ivan's death grip, which still remained as unbreakable as ever. "STOP!"

"Why, Alfred?" Ivan asked coolly. "This is the only way we can go to our destination. The only thing that is holding us back is our bodies. After when we get rid of these bodies, we can finally take a trip to a new, wonderous place!"

"If you light a fucking match, everything's gonna fucking blow up!"

Ivan giggled at Alfred's panic. "Just wait, Alfred. Just wait."

"LET GO!" Alfred yanked his arm free from Ivan. His jacket slipped through Ivan's fingers as he dashed towards the man. Rushing footsteps splashing in the spilt gas, Alfred's hand snatched away the match box. Angry, glowering eyes turned to him.

"Look what you've done!" The people growled as they staggered towards Alfred, their clawed hands reaching out.

"Shit, shit!" The main door was locked, and the windows were too high for Alfred to climb or jump through. Clutching the match box, Alfred cautiously walked backwards from the menacing hoard, unaware of the labyrinth portal that spawned on the wall behind him.

Alfred's back did not expect to fall through empty space. He screamed as he fell into the vertical labyrinth, the portal leading to the outside world vanishing above him.

Moments passed. Alfred could not tell how far he was from the bottom, assuming that there was a bottom. If it were not for his hair whipping upwards and the air gushing in his ears, he would have thought he was floating helplessly in the air. Square photographs whooshed past him, each a frame-by-frame depiction of Alfred's final interactions with Mathias—telling him how much he wanted to be a magical boy like him, Mathias confessing how selfish and miserable he was, and Mathias's valiant brawl with the familiars, concluded with his headless body crumpling onto the ground in a bloody mess.

Whiteness flashed into Alfred's eyes which blinked to clear the shimmering stars in his vision. A serpentine witch dove at him from above. Its head reminded Alfred of an expensive black camera Francis used to use to take pictures of the family, days before the smartphone age. Lens buzzed and turned, focusing on the witch's prey.

"I guess is what I get for being a selfish coward."

"BAM!" The witch was blown back by an aqua blue blast. Waving white robes flew after the monster.

"Feli?!"

Bubbly magic balls emitted from Feliciano's palms at the witch, causing to bump and crash against the labyrinth's walls.

"TAKE THIS!" Feliciano yelled, releasing an enormous energy sphere at the witch. The discharge was enough to send it plummeting down. It struck the ground with a sickening crack, its solid surface splitting out and spraying red and black liquids .

As the labyrinth dissolved, Alfred landed softly on the ground. "Feli!" he cried as he hurried towards his friend. "What's up with your clothes and powers?"

Feliciano smiled and chuckled. "I changed my mind." When he changed back into his casual wear, a light blue Soul Gem appeared in his hand.

"Dude! Did you…?"

"Yes I did! Before you ask, let's get everyone out of here!"

Standing atop a building, Kiku watched multiple flashing red and white lights hurrying down the streets. Sirens honked and shrieked. Multiple pitch-black windows turned a bright yellow. Nearby residence observed the uproar below.

The lights halted around the hospital. Ambulances' doors flew open. Herds of stretchers carrying unconscious people were wheeled inside, one of which that carried Ivan.

Inside one of the hospital rooms, a pair of sky-blue eyes snapped open. They darted at the window and peeked at the night sky, wondering what the commotion was about.

Feliciano Vargas changed.

Outwardly, he looked exactly the same as when Alfred last saw him. His auburn hair was parted in the middle. He still had the curl on the left side. His smile remained soft and sweet as usual.

Yet, Feliciano walked with his head held higher than usual. The doors slid open in submission to him, humbly welcoming the city's newest hero and his sidekick Alfred into their domain. As the two stood next to each other for the elevator, Feliciano's folded his arms, his posture straight and tall. Alfred's shoulders sagged on his slumped figure.

The elevator's doors opened. As he and Feliciano stepped in, Alfred remarked, "I haven't seen you this happy since our football team got the winning touchdown at last year's homecoming game!"

"Mmm hmm!" Feliciano replied with a bubbly grin.

"Didn't you say you're scared, though?"

The elevator's doors closed. Feliciano selected the floor. "Yes. Even though I didn't look scared when I was fighting that witch, I was. I was even scared before I made my wish."

The floor pressed against the boys' feet as the elevator went up.

"But I don't want to lose my loved ones." Feliciano continued. "With these new powers, I saved you and Ivan.

With a "Ding!", the doors rumbled open.

"And I saved him."

Overjoyed German-accented voices chattered in Gabriel's room. Giving each other side glances, Alfred and Feliciano nodded together before creeping behind the chairs, taking a peek at the scene. Seated on a chair, Gabriel's father smiled at his teary-faced wife giving his only son a kiss on the cheek. Sniffing, Gabriel's mother wiped her tears with a lacy white handkerchief. Gabriel's body laid against the pillows and mattress, still wrapped by bandages and soiled by scars. Yet, he weakly smiled at his overemotional mother and blinked at the annoying gleams reflecting off his father's glasses.

"Let's wait for them to leave." Alfred whispered to Feliciano.

"No, we can do it another time." Feliciano replied, unable to stop smiling at the heartwarming scene. "Let's give Gabriel some time with his family. Besides," Feliciano showed Alfred his Soul Gem, which began to flicker. "I have something to attend to now."

After taking the elevator down, Alfred and Feliciano made their way down the front lobby, passing the help desk and hurrying nurses. As soon they stepped into broad daylight, they were met with a dark purple dress and a rather busty chest protruding from a white blouse.

"Hey!" Natalya pointed at Alfred. "You're always sitting next to Big Brother!"

"Oh, you must be Alfred. I'm Katyusha, Ivan's older sister. This is Natalya, his younger sister." Katyusha greeted.

"Nice meeting you." Alfred strained a small smile. "Gee, even I have to force a smile for his family! I never knew creepiness can be genetic!"

"Ivan constantly talks about you!" Katyusha continued. "He always says how he likes having you in his section!"

Alfred's mouth dropped, forming an o shape. Even Feliciano rose a brow at the surprising statement.

"Ivan's motivated by competition. Since people usually pick small instruments, he's mostly left alone. However, with you around, he has someone to grow with. He says your dedication, persistence, and spirit always inspires him."

"I've been helping him all along?!"

"Trust my words, even if Ivan has his… special ways to express his gratefulness."

Natalya grabbed Katyusha's arms. "C'mon! We gotta get Big Brother!" she huffed as she dragged her older sister away.

Katyusha waved goodbye at Alfred and Feliciano. "See you two at the next game!"

"Goodbye." Alfred said before turning to Feliciano. "Man, seriously?!"

"I never guessed Ivan saw you that way." Feliciano replied with a shrug.

Alfred followed Feliciano down every alleyway, into every building, around every landmark bustling with people. Both kept their eyes on passing strangers necks and the ground for scampering familiars. Yet, Feliciano's Soul Gen still only had a weak glimmer.

"Still no witch, huh?" Alfred asked.

"Yeah… I guess that's good?" Feliciano sighed. "Looking for witches is harder than it looks…"

"Hey, when you go looking for witches, do you still want me to tag along? I can't fight, so I'll only get in the way."

"No, you can join me if you want to! I think I'll be very helpful! It'll help me focus on defeating the witch and not run away!"

"Sounds good. Where are we right now, anyway? I hardly been to this side of the city."

Feliciano looked up from his Soul Gem. The smell of freshly-baked bread drifted out of bakery selling brötchen and pretzels. Across the street, a man was walking his Doberman Pinscher. He gently tugged the leash when his dog stopped at the sausage links displayed in a wurst shop's windows.

"Oh! We're in a German neighborhood!" Feliciano said. "I've been here a few times. Gabriel lives here!"

The memories of Gabriel giving him a tour of the neighborhood warmed Feliciano's heart with nostalgia. That day, Gabriel took him to the same exact wurst shop, insisting to prove him that sausages were tastier than meatballs. Despite the bratwurst's juiciness melting in his tongue, Feliciano asserted that its tastiness was due to the day's blistering, summer weather.

"It was because you had good taste, Gabriel. That's another thing I need to tell you when I see you again."

"Feli! Look!" Alfred exclaimed, pointing his finger at something.

Across the street, a shadowy figure darted into the alleyway, too small to be a human and too abstract-shaped to be a feral animal. A strong flash of blue emitted from Feliciano's Soul Gem.

The road was clear. Alfred and Feliciano hurried into the alley. Away from the public eye, a swirl of blue bubbles popped around Feliciano as he transformed. A pair of red shoes stood at the center. If it were not for the googly eye decoration peering up and the sinister aura surrounding it, both would have assumed that they were simply abandoned high heels.

"A witch!" Feliciano fired a magic ball. At the last minute, the witch dodged the projectile.

"Come back here!" Blue light flashed the shadowy alleyway. Magic balls tracked the witch, all missing it by a few inches. Heels clicked as the witch bounced on the buildings' walls and hurried away from Feliciano.

"Stop!" Feliciano cried as he ran after his target.

Alfred chuckled to himself. "Like if it's going to listen to you, Feli. But… why is this witch outside in the real world? Aren't they in labyrinths?"

"GOT YOU!" Italy excitedly exclaimed when the witch stumbled. He fired a large ball that was charging in his hand.

"STOP!" A deep voice bellowed. "VAT ARE YOU DOING?!"

"BAM!" A large human figure landed in front of Feliciano's attack with a loud thump. The magic ball deflected off his long sword's reflective surface, hurling it back at Feliciano.

Feliciano's scream resonated in the narrow area, followed by the sound of a body tumbling onto the ground.

"FELI!" Alfred hurried to his friend's side. Feliciano's body ached as he wobblingly sat up. He grabbed onto Alfred's hand, who slowly and carefully pulled him up.

Clicking heels echoed away. "The witch! It's getting away!" Feliciano exclaimed as he yanked out of Alfred's hand.

Large hands seized Feliciano's shoulders, too rough and forceful to be Alfred's. "LET GO OF ME! THAT WITCH NEEDS TO BE STOPPED!" He screamed as he helplessly watched the witch disappear into the shadowy distance.

Ludwig groaned. Great. Another novice magical boy. "Zat's a familiar! It doesn't carry any Grief Seeds! It's not vorth killing it!"

"It is!" Feliciano finally burst from Ludwig's grip and looked at him with pleading eyes. "If we don't stop it, people are going to get hurt and killed!"

"Let it be." Ludwig huffed, his tone was cold and emotionless. "It's only vorth killing once ven it turns into a vitch. If you vant a quality wurst, you need to fatten zee pig first."

"So, you are willing to let people die just for a Grief Seed?" Alfred asked as he glared into Ludwig's ice-blue eyes. His heartrate slowly sped up as his body began to heat in anger.

"Zere's something called zee food chain." Ludwig gruffly began. "Familiars eat humans and turn into vitches. Zen magical boys and magical girls eat zee witches. It's part of zee cycle."

"That doesn't mean we are supposed to let witches kill humans, dude!" Alfred retorted. "We magical boys are supposed to protect them!"

"Don't tell me you two are purely doing zis for saving zee vorld and all zat scheiße." The sound of a sword being pulled out of a sheath rang. "Especially you." Ludwig pointed his sword at Alfred, the tip of its blade pointed at his throat. "You're not even one! You don't know vat it's like to be a magical boy!"

"Leave us!" Feliciano stood in front of Alfred protectively. "We're going to get that familiar! You're not stopping us!"

Ludwig's grip tightened around his sword. "If you're so set on it, why don't I test you to see if you're strong enough to beat one!"

"Get back, Alfred!" Feliciano grabbed Alfred by his bomber jacket, pulling him out of the way of Ludwig's dash attack. He fired a magic ball at Ludwig's turned back.

With a swing, Ludwig's sword dissipated the sphere. "Is zat vat you only got?!" he yelled, rushing towards Feliciano.

As long as Ludwig's sword was out, Feliciano could not make a dent on him. A blur of dark green chased after a fleeing white. Feliciano's robes whipped as he tumbled out of Ludwig's attack.

"Dude, stop!" Alfred shouted at Ludwig, who was engrossed in chasing Feliciano.

"There has to be something I can use!"

There was nothing. Besides an empty tin garbage can, the alleyway was quite clean.

"Ahh!" Feliciano cried as he toppled onto the ground. The back of his head struck a wall, causing his vision to go black for a moment. Amber eyes flickered as Feliciano looked up, blurry vision clearing at Ludwig's towering figure, sword drawn back and ready to kill.

"DON'T KILL HIM!" Alfred's eyes were wide with horror as he dashed towards Ludwig. A glowing wall barrier appeared, blocking his path. Fists slammed on the barrier. "DUDE, HE'S MY FRIEND!"

A metallic clang rang. Ludwig's sword fell from his hand as he unsteadily tumbled back. Regaining his balance, his eyes narrowed at the unexpected visitor.

Body heavily rising and falling with every breath, Kiku glared at Ludwig in a fighting stance, ready to counter any attack with his katana. Feliciano cowered behind Kiku, body against the wall and tears welling up in his shocked eyes.

The barrier vanished, allowing Alfred to enter. "Feliciano!"

Kiku flashed Alfred a shot gesture before turning back to Ludwig.

"Who are you?" Ludwig asked as he picked up his sword. "I have never seen you around here…yet I feel zat we've met before."

"Perhaps we did see each other once." Kiku replied, eyes on Ludwig's sword.

"How did you appear so quickly? You have an unusual power, do you?"

"Possibly. I request you to leave Feliciano and Alfred alone. I do not tolerate people who unreasonably use violence."

Ludwig's deadpan expression looked at Kiku, then at Alfred, at Feliciano, and back to Kiku again. He pushed his sword back in its sheath. "I'll be leaving, zen. Don't enter zis area again. Zat is my only varning." With that statement, Ludwig jumped up the buildings' walls, leaving the scene.

Once Kiku gave him the approving nod, Alfred rushed to Feliciano, who just shakily stood up. "Feli! You ok?!"

"Ouch…" Feliciano hissed. "Yes, I'm fine… Why is he a magical boy?"

"Who knows?" Kiku replied. "I'll escort both of you home now to ensure your safety. I highly suggest to not cross his path again."

"But, the familiar!"

"Leave it to him." Kiku cut in. "Didn't you just see how he dangerous he was?"

Feliciano could not answer. Neither could Alfred, who continued to furiously glare up at the buildings where Ludwig left.

"Oh by the way," Kiku slipped something into Feliciano's hand. It was a Grief Seed, the same one Kiku tried to give to Alfred. "keep this. Check your Soul Gem once when you are at home."

Once when he entered his room, Feliciano shut the door behind him. He could always be more precautious and lock the door, however Julius always knocked his door if it was closed.

Tony was sitting on the bedstand. "How is your second day as a magical boy?"

"I found a familiar, but a magical boy prevented me from killing it." Feliciano huffed. "He wanted it to grow into a witch instead of saving people!"

"What did he look like?"

"Slicked back blond hair, blue eyes, very large." Feliciano answered.

"Oh, that's Ludwig." Tony responded. "He's another veteran magical boy."

Feliciano checked his Soul Gem. Once clean and clear like a blue sky, the gem was now dulled by a grey murky darkness. "Huh? It was clean yesterday." Feliciano set the Grief Seed close to his Soul Gem. "Kiku told me to use this…"

"That Grief Seed is turning completely black!" Tony said as the Grief Seed cleansed Feliciano's Soul Gem. "If it absorbs more darkness, a witch can hatch from it! Give it to me."

"Ok." Tony's tiny hands took the Grief Seed and shoved it where his mouth would have been. The Grief Seed was absorbed by Tony's grey flesh. A glassy crack was followed by a satisfied gulp.

"You ate it?!"

"Yes. It what my kind do. We need to find another Grief Seed before you need to purify your Soul Gem again. If you use a lot of magic, your Soul Gem will be polluted quicker."

"That's why Ludwig wants them. So, he can be stronger!" Feliciano's shaky fist clutched his Soul Gem. "Is that all he cares?"

A knock on the front door drew Ludwig from his book. Putting on his slippers, he went to open the door.

Standing outside was Kiku, the mystery boy who interfered with his battle with Feliciano. "Eh? Vat do you vant?"

"…I have a request for you." Kiku said. "If you accept it, I will never enter your neighborhood's boundaries to hunt witches. I will also make sure Feliciano will not do the same."

"Feliciano?"

"The boy you were fighting today. He is a novice, so he is still learning about the basics. I greatly apologize for any inconveniences he brought."

"Ja, I accept your apology. Make sure he and his friend are not seen here again. I vill not hold back again. Vat is your request?"

"A few weeks now, a witch known as the 'Walpurgisnacht' will arrive."

Ludwig rose a questioning brow. "Walpurgis Night?"

"Yes."

"How do you know zat?" Ludwig asked suspiciously.

"I just know." Was Kiku's curt answer. "The Walpurgisnacht is a very powerful witch. One magical boy or girl cannot defeat it alone."

"Hmmm, so you're asking me to team up with you! Vill you keep your promise?"

"I will. Once when the Walpurgisnacht is defeated, I'll guarantee that other magical boys and magical girls will not kill your witches."

"Zat seals zee deal." Ludwig gave Kiku a firm handshake.

Turning off the shower nozzle, Alfred stepped out of the bathtub onto the bath mat. He dried his body and hair with a towel before tying it around his waist. Despite the refreshing coolness washing over his head, Alfred's thoughts still blazed with anger towards Ludwig, the magical boy who allowed a familiar to run loose and nearly killed his best friend with little mercy.

As Alfred ran a comb through his damp hair, his phone vibrated on the counter.

"Hey Al." Feliciano's message said.

"yeah whats up" Alfred typed.

"Tomorrow night, I'm going to go back to that neighborhood to find that familiar again. I can't stop thinking about it! I don't care if Ludwig tries to kill me again! I don't want people to get hurt!"

"whos ludwig?"

"Tony said he's the magical boy who fought me today!"

Alarm crept up Alfred's back. "dude! dont!"

"Why?"

"i dont want you to get killed!"

"But other people will die if that familiar is still out there! Who knows, its next victim can be one of your fathers or Matthew!"

"It might even be you. You were nearly killed by witches two times if it weren't for another magical boy!"

Alfred's heart froze at Feliciano's statement. Staring at the message, he shakily set his phone down. The screen went black.

"Alfred, has anyone told you how much potential you have?"

Tony was seated on the sink counter.

"DUDE!" Alfred exclaimed, his face turning red as he turned around to hide his bare chest.

"Most magical boys have to train hard to become strong like Ludwig and Mathias." Tony continued. "They start off like Feliciano and work themselves up to the top. But you have exceptional natural talent."

"What does that mean?" Alfred asked, turning at Tony.

"You can use lots of magic and your Soul Gem would not be corrupted one bit. If you got into a fight with a magical boy like Ludwig, you can beat him with no struggle!"

"Are you suggesting that I should turn into a magical boy now to protect Feliciano? I still don't even know my wish!" Alfred crossed his arms defensively.

"It's just a suggestion." As he jumped off the counter, Tony latched onto the door handle and swung the door open. "You might be a hero to people and magical boys alike if you defeat Ludwig to some degree."

As Tony walked out into the hallway, Alfred wiped his glasses with his towel, set them onto his face, and stared as his clouded reflection in the steamy mirror. The shower's heat rushed through the open door, replaced by the hallway's cold air. Goosebumps appeared on Alfred's naked skin as he shivered.

He had never felt so unsure of what to should do.

Author's Notes: Welp, I've been pretty lazy with uploading here. I do have more chapters completed. They are just not uploaded here. I'll do my best to update this story more frequently. If people are impatient, the story is up to date on my AO3 account.

I'm not sure how OOC Feliciano is in this chapter, since he's portrayed as a coward in canon, while here he's fighting witches. In Hetalia hunan AUs, some characterizations do deviate from canon personalities to some degree, so I don't know what's the line between that and OOCness.