Laaaate. But the wordcount makes up for it, right? Right? Agree or the Evil Minions will get you~
Disclaimer: I do not own Hetalia: Axis Powers or any of the characters.
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"My my, Arthur, I didn't realize how handsome your friend is."
"Shut it, wine-freak." Arthur seethed. The Evil Warlock simply laughed and tossed his blond hair over his shoulder.
Francis watched them as though from afar. He was the Evil Warlock. Or rather, the Evil Warlock was his double in this world. His magical, powerful, evil double. But why had no one said anything? Why hadn't anyone noticed?
"Arthur…" Francis muttered, not moving from his spot.
The fairy king turned to him, his look of anger melting away at the forlorn expression on Francis' face. "I'm sorry Francis, but I don't get to choose who's who. Even if could choose, I would never have –"
"I know you wouldn't." Francis interrupted. "But still…it's quite a shock. Why didn't you say something earlier?"
"I didn't know." Arthur admitted. "I didn't even notice the similarities between everyone else before you mentioned it in the lake! And even then how could I tell you around everyone else?"
"Why did no one else notice then? Is everyone as oblivious as you are?"
"Maybe it's because you don't belong here." Arthur replied "You have nothing to tie you to this world since you have no magic. That's why I couldn't make the connections between the people here and the people back home. Be thankful for it, otherwise everyone would have killed you the minute you stepped into the room."
"Yes, the small ray of sunshine on a rainy London day." Francis said, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
A small chuckle interrupted the two. "Now may not be the best time to have a private conversation, no?" The Evil Warlock said as he eyed Francis. "I don't know what's going on or what sort of magic this is, but I'm sure that this copy is nowhere near as good the original. I will still defeat you, Arthur."
"Copy? How dare you!" Francis said angrily "No one calls Francis Bonnefoy a copy of anybody!"
Arthur placed a hand on his arm to hold him back. "Calm down, Francis. You can't take him on by yourself."
"I hardly think so." The Evil Warlock sneered.
Arthur glanced up at the cage where Prince Peter sat. "Why have you captured Peter?" he demanded.
"He knew more than he should have." The Evil Warlock simply said.
"What do you mean?"
Peter called down from the cage. "I heard them in the forest and they saw me! I swear it was an accident! I didn't mean to! I'm sorry!" The Prince let out a chocked sob.
"I told you your eavesdropping would get you into trouble one day!" Arthur was ready to reprimand him he but caught himself. He could scold the boy after they were all safe and sound. "But don't worry, I'll get you out of here, I promise!"
"What a touching brotherly moment." The Evil Warlock cooed. "Such a shame I'll have to break it up soon."
Arthur turned to him angrily. "I demand you explain this plan of yours at once!"
The Evil Warlock laughed "You demand me to? Who are you to demand anything of me? You aren't above me! Unlike your servants and loyal subjects, I can do as I please without your consent." He spat at them angrily. "But I pity that you'd have come all this way just to die."
"Tell us what you plan to do! If you're going to kill us then it should be no problem then!"
"I'm sure you are familiar with a popular dish called escargot?" The Evil Warlock said after a moment.
"Escargot?" Francis repeated "You mean snails? You have those here too?"
"Oddly enough, yes we do. Everyone seems to love them here, especially a certain vain hooded freak." Arthur replied, never taking his eyes off of his nemesis.
The Evil Warlock disregarded the insult. "I had my minions gather a large supply of them for me. We had to, ah, negotiate with a few people but they seemed fine with it." He snickered and Francis knew that those people didn't get off so easily. "Once I had enough I stewed them in a special potion I created myself. I'll send them out to the public tonight under a borrowed name and once the people ingest it their minds and souls shall be mine!"
Arthur gasped "W-what? You can't mean –"
"Yes, mind control! Terribly cliché, but most effective. With my magic and skill I'll have them under my control in no time and they'll happily hand the land over to me." The Evil Warlock cackled, his blue eyes bright with vengeance.
"Land? That's what all this is for, land?"
"Why else would I be doing this? So I can get more friends?" The Evil Warlock hissed. "You're more of a fool than I thought. But no matter, I needn't waste anymore time explaining my reasons to you."
"I won't let you get away with this! I defeated you once and I can do it again!"
"Can you?" The Evil Warlock smirked "Let's see how you two fair against my apprentices."
He spread out his arms and shouted "Rise my minions! It is time!"
There was a sudden swirl of lights so bright that Francis had to turn away. When he looked back again he saw that two cloaked figures had appeared on either side of the Evil Warlock. When they looked up he couldn't suppress his gasp of surprise. Alfred and Matthew stared back at him with devilish smiles on each their faces.
"You called us, master?" Alfred asked, bowing to the Evil Warlock.
"Yes," the Evil Warlock pointed at Francis and Arthur "those are the two you have to take care of."
Matthew squinted at them "That one looks a lot like you, sir. Didn't you say only King Arthur would be here?"
"Apparently he brought along a friend. But they shouldn't be a problem for the two of you."
"Of course they won't." Alfred grinned and stepped forward "You ready, Mattie?"
"I always have been." Matthew replied, stepping forward so he stood next to Alfred.
The Evil Warlock gave Arthur and Francis one last smile before turning away with a flourish. "Finish them."
There was a flurry of movement as Francis fumbled with his sword while Alfred leapt forward towards Arthur. The wizard apprentice curled his hand into a fist to hit him but Arthur moved out of the way just in time and the tiled floor cracked under Alfred's fist.
"What the…?" Francis stared at the cracked floor with a mixture of shock and horror.
"Super strength," the Evil Warlock explained from somewhere in the darkness "it's Alfred's skill. He's very good with everything but it seems that strength is what he is gifted with."
"We'll see how well brawn fairs against brain, then." Arthur replied, pointing his wand at Alfred.
"Bring it on, fuzzy brows." Alfred sneered.
Francis watched as the two clashed, Arthur dodging Alfred's hits while trying to send spells at him. It was after a moment he realized that Matthew was still lurking around. He turned back to where he'd last stood, but no one was there.
"Boo."
"AAARRGHH!" Francis jumped and turned around, sword pointing in front of him, only to see no one.
"Looking for me?" Francis looked to his left and saw Matthew materialize in front of him.
"W-what…?"
"Matthew, on the other hand, has the gift of invisibility." The Evil Warlock said "He can disappear and reappear at the drop of a dime. He was wondering why no one ever seemed to see him until I came along and told him of his talent."
"But master can see me." Matthew said, circling Francis "Master could always see me. He saw me for who I was when no one else could. It's all thanks to him that I have control over my power now. I am indebted to him."
Francis tried not to let the fear show in his eyes as he turned to follow him, keeping the sword pointed at the apprentice. "I'm sure there are many ways you could repay him that don't resort to violence."
Matthew shook his head. "I'm afraid not. So goodbye, clone of Master." With a small chuckle he disappeared once again.
Francis turned around frantically, eyes searching for the wizard apprentice. He saw Matthew materialize to his right out of the corner of his eye and jerked forward when a red light flew at him. Matthew growled in anger before disappearing. Another flash of red came at him and Francis just narrowly avoided it.
"Will you fight me or simply dodge my attacks like a coward?" Matthew hissed, his voice reverberating around Francis so he couldn't tell where the voice was coming from.
"If dodging your attacks will keep you busy and me alive, I'll keep at it." Francis shouted in reply. He couldn't tell him the real reason he wouldn't fight him properly. Though he knew they were not the same person, the apprentice looked far too much like his Matthew back home. He couldn't bring himself to attack him, even if hate and anger were all that filled those violet eyes.
Lost in his thoughts he failed to keep track of Matthew, and by the time he noticed a flash of blond hair it was too late. He felt a searing pain shoot up his left leg and stumbled to the ground. Matthew appeared and looked down at him. "Pathetic. Poor Arthur must be regretting bringing you along. You can't even save your own life, how could you save another?"
Francis glared at him, clutching his leg. The cut wasn't too deep, nothing like the other wounds he'd had in the past, but it still stung. He heard a loud thump and turned to see Alfred's fist in the wall, Arthur crouching nearby and breathing heavily. Francis knew that if Arthur didn't get an attack in soon he wouldn't last against the strong apprentice. He had to help him; Arthur was his only way out of this world. But he had to beat Matthew first before he could help him.
He could hear Matthew muttering something under his breath and knew that he didn't have much time. Francis' eyes found his sword lying not too far away and reached for it. When his fingers closed around the cool metal handle he closed his eyes and swung his arm, striking out. He heard Matthew cry out and Francis snapped his eyes open in panic; he hadn't meant to hurt the man too badly. But all he had managed to do was give him a shallow cut in the cheek.
Alfred had heard his brother's cry and whipped around towards him, worry creasing his face. "Mattie!"
When Alfred turned away from him Arthur saw his chance. He pointed his wand at the apprentice and shouted out a spell. A stream of blue light came from the tip of the wand and hit Alfred on the back of the head. He fell forward with a thud, unconscious. Matthew roared in anger and made to lunge at him but Francis was quick. He hit the back of his head with the sword's handle and Matthew fell on top of Alfred.
Arthur stepped over to them and waved his wand. Ropes appeared and bound the two apprentices' hands and feet together. "There, that should keep them knocked out for a while."
"NO!" shouted the Evil Warlock, his face contorted with rage "How could this have happened? I had trained them so well!"
"Give it up!" Arthur replied, looking the Evil Warlock in the eye. "We have defeated them. Nothing else stands between you and me!"
A look of panic flashed on the Evil Warlock's face before a smile spread across his face. "Don't be so sure yet, Arthur dear. Don't think they're the only minions I've acquired over the years."
Arthur stood straight and confident. "Bring him out, then. Have others fight your battles for you like the coward you are."
"You'll regret that." The Evil Warlock snarled. He clapped his hands together and called out into the darkness. "It's your turn, come forth and finish them off!"
Francis braced himself, expecting more wizards to appear out of nowhere. But all was silent. Suddenly, the ground began to shake beneath his feet. Short, little accompanied by the sound of footsteps.
Thud.
Thud.
Thud.
The Evil Warlock laughed maniacally and opened his mouth to taunt them, but whatever he said was lost to the sounds of the footsteps coming closer. Francis stepped closer to Arthur, gripping the sword in his hand. Suddenly the footsteps stopped and another creature had emerged out of the shadows. Francis and Arthur slowly looked up to see a sixteen feet tall giant smiling down at them.
"Kolkolkol…"
Francis tried not to let a squeak of terror escape his mouth. He glanced over at Arthur but the Brit seemed just as frightened as he was. The giant continued to laugh its strange laugh, emitting a dark aura while smiling.
"This is big fellow is Ivan." The Evil Warlock said, as though he was introducing a friend. The giant gave them a wave and tossed an end of his scarf over his shoulder. "I found him wandering around the mountains one day on my walk. He seemed a little lonely, being up so high in a cold place, so I invited him to come join me."
Francis' mouth opened and closed, not sure what to say. He turned to Arthur who was also staring at the giant in disbelief. "What do we do now? How could we ever beat that thing?"
Arthur didn't answer for a moment but blinked a couple of times and stood up to his full height. "I don't know how, but we'll think of something. We can't just give up now! Peter is counting on us and I refuse to let him down."
It may have taken him a lot of screw ups but he's finally getting how to be a good big brother, thought Francis. He too stood up straight and held his sword up. "Then let us fight that monster together."
"You may have beaten my apprentices, but I'll be damned if you beat him." The Evil Warlock looked up at Ivan "Go and finish them!"
Francis felt adrenaline rush through his veins. Before Ivan even had a chance to move he was running at full speed towards him, brandishing his sword and shouting. Once he was close enough he swung his sword at the giant's ankles with all his might and grinned when he felt the metal cut through skin. He looked up at, expecting to see a pained look on his face. But Ivan just looked down at his ankle, expression slightly shocked.
"Ouch." He said, watching blood trickle from the shallow cut. "You're going to pay for that."
"Arthur!" Francis yelped, nearly dropping the sword as he hastily backed away "Mon dieu,fight him! I don't want to die here!"
"You idiot, what the hell made you think that was going to work?" Arthur shouted. He pointed his wand at the giant and muttered a spell. A flash of green shot out and wound itself around Ivan's legs. The giant struggled for a bit, unable to move forward, before giving one huge tug and the rope dissolved into air.
"What happened?"
"My spell, it didn't work. It wasn't strong enough." Arthur said in disbelief. "I've never fought a giant before, but still…"
Ivan stepped towards them, still smiling with his arms outstretched. "I'm going to squeeze both of you until juice comes out, da?"
Francis clutched onto Arthur's arm, sure that this was the end. He would die here in this strange land at the hands of a giant and he hadn't slept with anyone in days! He shut his eyes, not wanting to see it happen. "Au revoir, Arthur. It was nice knowing you." He said as the giant's hands got closer.
"STOP RIGHT THERE, ARU!"
The castle doors slammed open and in strode Yao, his black mane flying in all directions with Shinatty following after him.
"Yao!" The Evil Warlock greeted him "How good of you to join us! You can help Ivan with our two guests."
"Oh, I'm here to help alright." Yao said, glaring. "But not to help you, aru."
The Evil Warlock blanched. "W-what?"
"I'm sorry, sir, but I don't work for you anymore." Yao raised a hoof and pointed to Ivan. "Shinatty, ATTACK."
The giant stone cat gave him a swift nod and charged at Ivan, who moved away from Arthur and Francis to defend himself. Shinatty raised a fist and punched Ivan square in the jaw, causing him to stumble back.
"Yao!" Arthur gasped when the unicorn approached them. "What made you change your mind?"
"Kiku's waiting down there, isn't he?" Yao replied, not looking at him. "We can't let him and Peter down, that's not what big brothers do."
Arthur looked at him in silence for a moment before grinning. "Glad you're back, Yao. We've missed you."
Yao didn't reply, instead taking to directing Shinatty's attacks against Ivan. Though not as tall as the giant, Shinatty was a powerful opponent and its eerie grin seemed to be mocking him as punch after punch hit its mark.
"No! Ivan!" the Evil Warlock started towards his minion before Arthur blocked his path.
"Let the two of them fight." Arthur said, tapping his wand against his chin "You're my opponent now."
The Evil Warlock grinned and rolled up his sleeves. "Bring it on, your highness."
[End Chapter 17]
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Yes! I finally got to introduce the rest of the Allies. I hope you enjoyed liked their powers, I knew that Matthew simply had to be a warlock of sorts just for that. Ivan as a giant seemed to be the role made for him.
More things will be explained in the next chapter. Excuse the lateness of this one and the possible lateness of the next. Life just got a lot busier. Ugh.
Now leave a review or Mattie may just show up at the foot of your bed tonight~ Not that you'll see him of course.
