A.N. Hello my awesome peoples! Thank you to IcelandicLicorice, Chykori, Poisonlilie, shojouchan, and Patient Harmony for reviewing! Thank you all for your encouragement, I'm going to try to start making the chapters longer starting…now! Here's a quick shout out to my buddy who reads this but isn't really in the fandom (Hi Tez!)! And now, ONWARDS!

Disclaimer: I do not own Hetalia.

Lovino kept his hand on the hilt of his knife as the group walked through the woods. The teens were just near the border of Hearts and Diamonds, and Lovino realized that he and Vash had turned around when they joined Matthew and Yao. Lovino shrugged, it didn't matter anymore, as long as the four stayed together none of them would die.

A sharp pain shot through Lovino's head and he stumbled, catching himself before he tumbled into Vash. The blond turned and looked Lovino over asking, "You feeling alright?"

Lovino nodded as another burst of pain shot through his head. Matthew and Yao leaned over the brunette and told him to sit down. Reluctantly Lovino did so as Yao asked questions.

"Do you have a headache? Are you going to be sick? Can you keep going?"

Lovino swallowed and grabbed his head as another shot of pain came about, fuzzing up his eyes. "Head hurts, not sick. I can walk," Lovino said through clenched teeth.

Vash shook his head but helped the stubborn brunette up and stayed next to him in case something happened. Yao and Matthew shared a look that Lovino couldn't read, but he kept walking.

As they walked, Lovino's headache subsided and he let his mind wander. How was Feli doing? He hoped he was okay. If that Roderich even so much as touched him the wrong way Lovino would –

"Not again." Matthew's quiet voice cut through Lovino's thoughts. The blond was clutching his head and he had squatted down, Yao was rubbing Matthew's back and talking softly to him.

"What happened?" Lovino asked, stepping forward as Yao answered. "Matthew started having headaches just before you two joined us. He said something about hearing voices but he never elaborated on the subject."

Lovino nodded. If Matthew was going crazy there was no way he'd admit it. Looking around, Lovino saw something jump out at him and he stumbled backwards into Vash.

"What was that for?" The blond asked, a bit miffed at Lovino.

Lovino gaped at his surroundings. Colors jumped out at the brunette. He could see the small details on the trees around them, and he could see farther than before. Looking at Vash, Lovino waved his hands to their surroundings, "Aren't you seeing this?"

Vash gave Lovino a worried look and shook his head. "What do you mean? Everything looks normal."

Lovino shook his head, "No. How are you not seeing this?"

Matthew stood and joined the group, "I think Lovino's experiencing a similar thing that I am. I can hear voices, all of yours too, but only after I get those really bad headaches. What if Lovino's doesn't affect his mind, but his sight?"

Lovino looked at Yao who was biting his lip, "What do you think?"

Yao gave a shaky breath and said, "I think you and Matthew are unintentionally using magic."

The statement silenced everyone. Vash gave a questioning look to Yao, and Lovino motioned for him to continue.

"Matthew and Lovino are Aces. They have a higher potential for magic. What if they activated it somehow and they can't control it? That would explain your headaches, Matthew hearing things, and Lovino seeing things."

The three nodded and Matthew glanced at Lovino, who felt a bit irritated but contained himself. "What is it?"

Matthew bit his lip, "If we are using magic, how do we control it? If we collapse in a fight we'll be absolutely useless."

Lovino shrugged, and the group kept going. After a bit Lovino's sight returned to normal, but his head still throbbed. Probably a side effect, Lovino thought, as they walked. Lovino messed around with his dagger by tossing it to himself and catching the handle. This annoyed Vash to no end and only encouraged Lovino to continue his actions.

-LINEBREAK-

Matthew let out a breath of relief as he thought back on what Yao had said. It did make more sense that Matthew and Lovino would have magic slipping out and no way to control it. The blond started thinking and visualized a map of the kingdoms in his head, Matthew could only guess where they were at the moment, but he tried his best. Thinking on what the group said they needed and wanted to do, Matthew started charting a course and was about to talk to Yao about it when a voice sounded in Matthew's mind. "Don't go through the northern Hearts path, there's been checkpoints and soldiers looking for Aces and Jacks."

Matthew looked around and saw that Vash was busy talking to Lovino about what he saw and Yao was walking in silence. Matthew bit his lip and thought back, "Who are you?"

A laugh from the voice echoed in Matthew's mind. "Finally, a two-way connection! It doesn't really matter who I am, but who you are."

"What does that mean?" Matthew thought, wondering what the stranger meant. "It doesn't matter right now, but instead of heading through the northern Hearts path, go straight through the southern path. I know it's risky, but it'll get ya closer to where you need to go."

Matthew tried for another reply from the stranger in his head but to no avail. Matthew envisioned the map again, only going the way the voice had said to go. It was a longer way to travel. The voice obviously didn't know what he was talking about, unless there was a reason.

"'It doesn't matter who I am, but who you are.'" Matthew voiced, drawing the others attention to him.

Yao gave Matthew a look of confusion, Vash narrowed his eyes in concentration and seemed to think while Lovino asked bluntly, "What the hell does that mean?"

Matthew shook his head, "I heard it. Someone said to go through the southern Hearts path instead of the northern, he said there were checkpoints where Jacks and Aces were being found."

Yao kept walking, albeit much slower, as Matthew continued to talk, "The route through northern Hearts is faster. I don't know why I was told to go south, but if there are checkpoints maybe it would be a better idea. What do you guys think?"

Yao shrugged, "I think it's your call Matthew. You've been navigating us, so I think you should make our routes."

Lovino nodded in agreement, "Whatever that thing in your head told ya, you should make the decision."

Matthew smiled at the brunettes' replies and turned to Vash, "What about you?"

"I think we should go south," Vash said, meeting Matthew's eyes. "I'm not sure if you and Lovino really are using magic and don't know it, but if we go south and find what we're looking for we might find a way to control your magic, if that's what it is."

Matthew nodded, feeling satisfied with everyone's answer. Yao moved back a bit so Matthew could lead the way for a bit.

-LINEBREAK-

When Roderich had first joined the two brothers he had seen that Feli was a bit distant from Lovino; perhaps they had a fight before Roderich came around. Feliciano had attached himself to Roderich and was intent on becoming friends, while Lovino was wary and wanted nothing to do with the nobleman.

It was only when Lovino was sleeping that Feliciano truly opened up to Roderich and told him how he thought Lovino hated him because he was a Jack.

Roderich didn't consider himself a bad person. He always upheld his business deals when he was with his family, he never told lies to his fiancé, and he always kept his word. Roderich had in his life only made one promise to himself. It was when he was running from his family when they were visiting Hearts for a vacation, the decree had just been passed, and Roderich had started running without a thought about what he was leaving behind. As he charged loudly through the trees of the nearby woods he made himself one promise that he needed to uphold. Live. Live no matter what the cost.

After hearing Feliciano's worries about his brother hating him, the gears in Roderich's head started turning. Each night after Lovino had fallen asleep, Roderich would talk to Feli, who would lie awake. In that time Roderich learned that Feliciano and Lovino had rather close ties. They lived with their parents and grandfather in a Hearts town. After they had escaped Lovino had started getting angry, and apparently Feli thought it was his fault.

It was when Lovino left to cover their tracks that Rodeirch made his move, "Would you like to travel with me?"

Feli had looked up confused, "What about Lovi?"

Roderich shrugged and stood up, grabbing his things. "It's obvious that he hates you; you were right about that. He doesn't like me either, so I'm leaving. Do you want to come?"

Roderich turned and saw Feli close to tears. The younger boy looked heartbroken. "Does Lovi really hate me?" He asked quietly.

Roderich nodded and finished his packing. When he turned around he saw Feliciano with his own pack ready to go.

"You're coming with me?" Roderich asked, wondering if this kid was that gullible. Feliciano nodded and looked up at Roderich, "If Lovi hates me I don't wanna be a burden."

Roderich had then dropped the note he had written and the dagger before he and Feli set out. After a couple of minutes he heard a scream that had to have been Lovino's, but Feliciano just kept walking with Roderich.

While Lovino had the group traveling towards Diamonds, Roderich had turned himself and Feli around and was traveling towards northern Hearts in hopes of finding other Aces and Jacks to join them.

Roderich was definitely not a warrior. Every time he and Feli would encounter a hunter or campers, Feli would start whispering how he would surrender while Roderich tried to compose himself but would always try and find another route to go.

The tall brunette prided himself on knowing fencing but in a real battle was useless. He found this out when he and Feliciano were attacked by a lone hunter. The hunter was obviously weak and Roderich should've been able to take him, but he failed miserably.

Roderich's long dagger wasn't the weapon his was used to using so he was ineffective, the only reason they won the fight was because of Feli who, in the heat of Roderich's battle, had found a stick and had beat the man upside the head when he was hovering over Roderich. It relieved Roderich that the man didn't die from the blow, Feliciano was too innocent to become a killer, but nonetheless it humiliated Roderich to have lost his fight and to have a 12 year old save him.

The two were now reaching the northern Hearts paths where it was common for travelers, performers, hunters, and even convicts to travel through Hearts on the road. It did make Roderich nervous. If he and Feliciano were caught there'd be no way out for them. Striding forward onto the dirt road, Roderich felt Feli right next to him, the younger boy was almost shaking he was scared.

A warm feeling encased Roderich's hand and he glanced down at Feli, who had grabbed the taller boy's hand in fear. Roderich pulled his hand free and sped up a bit, causing Feli to walk faster and not have time to hold hands. Roderich needed to survive, not make friends.

The two received a few looks of uncertainty, but so did all of the men and women dressed as if they had been traveling for a while. Roderich took in his surroundings and spotted a kid around his age. He was fit and looked on guard, as if he was going to be jumped at any second.

One of us? Roderich thought, looking down at Feliciano, he wondered if maybe he had found his next party member in the tense brunette boy.

A.N. DONE! I hope yuns enjoyed this! I think I made it a bit longer…I'm working on it. Anyway, I love reviews and I can't wait to see what you think! Special question! Who is the boy Roddy wants to add to his party? Whoever can guess that will get a special treat! Until next time! – Neko