I am soooo sorry guys! My Wi-Fi went out and it was terrible!

Disclaimer: I don't own Hetalia...

Arthur had a strange dream once again.

His location was in a palace that looked vaguely familiar, with black and white marble adorning the floor and the furniture the same colors. The office was wall-to-wall with bookcases that had no available space inside. The office was black, and by what Arthur could tell, whoever worked here was very serious about his work. And by his, he meant the man that he believed to be England.

The Queen of the Chess Kingdom was sipping from a tea cup, his robes looking something that was fit more for a king than a queen. His resemblance was exactly like Arthur's, the former Queen of Spades noted; he briefly wondered if America had thought of him when they sex.

"Any word yet from our spies?" He asked, and Arthur, for a brief second, believed he was seen and being addressed to. But a voice that sounded exactly like his Jack spoke up from behind him.

"They arrived last night and are working on meeting with King of Spades today," someone who looked exactly like Yao, who must be an advisor, replied. "They will contact us again tonight, aru."

"Good." England's fingers drummed on the side of the tea cup. "America better do well with their queen. He's a good kid when he wants to be, but he's too inexperienced for such a position. If he screws anything up like last time-"

"Last time will not happen again, aru. America's task is simpler than last time." The Jack interrupted.

Arthur was highly confused. 'What had happened last time?'

The queen seemed to be getting angrier. His hands clenched the cup tighter, and his eyebrows were scrunched together. "You don't know what will happen until it does. We can't let his stupid mistake happen again, China. We're desperate, can't you see?! We're going to a completely different board- hell, we went to a deck! If he fucks anything up, he might as well kiss his throne good-bye and greet his executioner!"

The tea cup went flying across the room, shattering against the closed door. China, the advisor, whimpered.

"You send America a message. Tell him that he will make sure this queen is in place and passes that test and that if he messes up one thing with this Arthur, he will find death's embrace quicker than he ever thought."

"Y-yes, sir!" China ran out of the room, England stood and turned around to glare outside of the window, and Arthur was consumed by darkness.

Actually both had a strange dream. America opened his eyes to find blue. Looking around he saw he was in a garden! All around him America saw flowers in the shape of spades.

'I must be in Arthur's garden back in Spades,' he thought as he continued to look around.

At the far edge, he found something. His double, assumedly King Alfred, was sitting at tea table. His look alike looked angry. Across from him was China?! 'Wait, maybe China also has a double. Wonder what his name is?'

Alfred was studying a ring in his palm. "Any reports from the royal families?"

The other man shook his head. "None, my sources tell me that they are searching desperately. Your plan is working."

Alfred nodded. "What about that bird to the Kirkland family?"

"Not returned yet."

The King pounded his fist against the table, breaking it in half. "Damn it, I want him found. Any reports you found unusual, Yao?"

America blinked. 'So China's double is named Yao.'

Yao nodded. "Several people within the England area asked about the Queen, more than any other county. Most were bounty hunters who say that they saw someone like Arthur. I checked with my records and the Kirkland's own a beach house on their territory. Arthur could have gone there."

Alfred smiled. "Have my horse ready. I will bring at least forty men. I am going on a vacation." His hand tightly gripped the ring in a fist.

Yao nodded and left. Alfred turned to the broken tea table. "Oh Arthur, what am I to do without you?"

And America's dream ended as he woke up covered him sweat.

Arthur was startled awake after his dream by a rough shaking that shocked him into waking up. Beside him and against him, America was trembling, eyes wide and body hot. The former queen, now noticing that he was shaking a bit as well, saw the sweat pour down his body, and could feel it on his own, and he held out a hand, touching his face lightly to receive his attention.

"America...are you okay?" He questioned quietly.

America turned to him, shock and worry visible on his face. "I think I had a vision of your King. He is terribly angry. He pounded a table in half!" The shaking stopped as America took a deep breath. "I am scared for you. He was violent. Even the royal families are being threatened."

Arthur's heart nearly stopped, and his hands curled into taut fists. Alfred was...furious with him. Alfred couldn't have cared. That couldn't be true. But the former Queen of Spades was most surprised that his own dream was similar.

"Your queen is angry as well," he grimaced. "He was talking to an advisor- China- and he threw a tea cup at the wall. I fear for you just as much as you do for me...England said if you mess up again, like last time, and fail, then...th-then you would die."

America paled then he turned red with anger. He stood up on the bed ranting to the room. "I didn't fail! He knew that it wouldn't work! I did just as he ordered!" Jumping off the bed, the King grabbed the desk and broke it into pieces. Some of the shattered wood had cut into America's face.

Arthur immediately jumped to his feet, and turned America around. "America, stop it! Calm down!" He screamed. He wanted to help, he truly, really did. "Whot's the matter?! I don't understand!" Not out of politics, but out of kindness for a friend.

"He knew that it would fail!" America repeated as he grabbed on to Arthur. "He knew it."

Arthur grabbed America to calm him. "Whot happened?! Whot failed?!"

The taller fell to the ground with his head in his hands. "Last time my queen tried to get an ally. He tried a land across from us, Horiscopia. It's a land based on when you are born. The rulers there found out and supported the White Chess Kingdom. We would have died if England didn't act the way he did. It was all my fault."

The former queen dropped down beside him and held America close to him in a hug. "I'm so sorry. I'm so...so...sorry. I'll make sure you don't fail. I swear to it."

America hugged him back. "Thank you."

Arthur smiled. He didn't care what he would have to do. He would make sure his friend wasn't harmed, and that they both succeeded. "Now, how about we get dressed and eat?"

"No," America stated. "I must keep you here. I will get our food. You better rest up; you have the challenges later today."

Arthur nodded and smiled kindly. "That's fine with me." He stood on two feet, and then helped America to his. "Do you have anything for me to wear, though?"

America put his robe back on, the grabbed all the clothes on the floor. He ran out of the room. "None for you!"

Arthur blinked in shock, and tried to catch the king. "Hey!" The door was shut before he could get him. "America!"

Said person didn't return or respond.

Arthur frowned, and plopped back on the bed and pulled a sheet over his naked body, Illumi and Patches coming up beside him. His own cat snuggled into his lap purring, while the King of the Chess Kingdom's feline leaned against his leg. He smiled at them, petting both simultaneously. "Whot am I to do with him..."

Illumi purred and cuddled closer to the other feline. Arthur laughed when his hand was scooted away from Patches, and Illumi stretched over the orange cat. The four legged queen yowled and scooted off the bed. The human Queen laughed as his pet chased after him. It almost slightly reminded him of... No. Of course it wasn't.

When America came back, he entered with bacon and boiled eggs. His face was in a frown. "I got England's message this morning," America said as he walked over.

Arthur froze as he reached over to take the plate from the king. 'Of course,' he remembered. 'He was sending a letter.' "Whot did it say?" His voice was surprisingly steady, but his hands were trembling.

"The usual threat. If I don't succeed, I'll die. Blah, blah, blah." The King said sitting down. "England has been saying that for years."

"That's horrible..." Arthur looked down at his plate. His hunger was slowly diminishing, but he lifted up a piece of bacon and nibbled on its end. "America...haven't you ever wanted to get away from that for a while...just to have some time to think?"

America looked at him. "Of course!"

Arthur placed the piece of bacon down, and grabbed the top of America's hands. "I was thinking of this before last night...but I just want to know...didn't you wonder why I wasn't at my castle, where I should have been with Alfred?"

"My spies told me you had a lover's argument."

"What do you- oh..." Arthur looked down at his plate. "I wouldn't exactly call it a lover's argument, when only one side is the lover...he was simply having little affairs here and there with the maids."

America grabbed his hands. "What are you trying to say?"

Arthur looked up into his sky blue eyes. "Well...I was awoken by a special clock that warns me of danger, and when I checked to see if the king was up, I found him with a maid and...we fought, to put it simply. He seemed upset with me, so I said that...he would never have to worry about my existence again."

"Well, you're quite wrong. He is searching every nook and cranny of Spades for you. In fact, he is coming here." America said in response.

Arthur's stomach dropped, and the beats of his heart quickened. His eyesight became dizzy, and he nearly fell against the bed, voice going up several octaves. "H-he's coming...h-h-here?"

America nodded. "With forty men, just to find you."

Arthur was at a loss for words, tried to find them, but then took to pouncing on America, sending his food flying onto the floor. "Please don't let him take me. I can't go back!"

America hugged him, trying to calm the distraught man. "I am sorry. I have to give you back."

"Please don't." Arthur dug his face inside America's shoulder. "I don't want to go back to him... I can't be hurt again."

"I am sorry but I must follow orders." America forced the other to look at him. He was frowning as Arthur didn't say anything. "I am sure he will be okay. He is worried, I am sure."

Arthur held back the tears that threatened to spill. He didn't want to be hurt again. His heart could only handle so much. He grabbed Illumi, who climbed up beside him. Arthur decided to resign with his fate, since it was already decided for him. "When will he be here...?"

America rubbed his back. He felt pity for Arthur. Arthur was not as strong as Alfred, America, or England. He could really be hurt. "Tomorrow afternoon." He paused for a minutes. "I will let you in on a secret if you stop crying."

Arthur paused, wiping at his eyes. The Queen of Spades wanted to just break down and cry. But he kept it all inside, and looked up at the other. "Whot is it?"

"Alfred has kept your ring and said that he didn't know what do to without you." America replied as he gripped Arthur's hand. "Sounds like he cares to me."

Arthur squeezed his eyes shut to stop the water from falling from his eyes. He didn't know what to do. He was extremely puzzled and confused and lost. He didn't know why Alfred would suddenly come for him, when he had done nothing to keep their relationship alive. The king was always mocking or insulting him. He wanted to believe it, but he was unable to comprehend it.

"Whot about the test?"

America frowned. He thought that would make Arthur happy. Happy that Alfred was coming for him. "The test starts in an hour. You will have three challenges and a surprise fourth."

Arthur nodded. "Is there anything I need to be ready for?" Anything for him to get his mind off of tomorrow afternoon's events.

America shook his head in a negative fashion. "I can't give you hints. A Queen is prepared for anything that comes his or her way. That's what England always said."

Arthur chuckled in amusement and kneaded the souls of his eyes into his hands. He didn't have time for this kind of stuff. But, then again, he would be prepared for anything. "Well, your Queen runs the entire kingdom. I am only the voice of the people, but I will expect anything." He was silent for a bit longer, waiting for a response, when he noticed the look America was giving him. "Whot is it?"

"For someone who looks so much like England, you act so differently. I keep expecting you to say and do one thing but you end up doing the opposite." America explained. He stood up and got his real clothes on. "I will go to prepare, your clothes will be with me when I return."

Arthur was hesitant, but he nodded. "Alright." The former queen was sure that America almost said "England" when they talked, just like how Arthur almost said "Alfred". "I'll be here; I suppose...and be careful." He stood on tiptoes to place a gentle kiss upon the king's cheek, backing away when his cheeks burned with embarrassment.

America smiled. "It's just upstairs."

Arthur blushed. "O-oh...well, still...never know whot can happen.'

America smiled at the blush and nodded. He grabbed his sword to make the smaller happy before going out.

Arthur let out a breath and stuffed his face into the pillow. Now, with America gone for a bit, he could get a bit of his emotions thought out. Besides, he still didn't know how to feel about Alfred coming to rescue him.

About an hour later, America came back in with his clothes. "Hey Arthur I- Wait! Why are you crying? Did someone hurt you?" America asked as he dropped everything and ran over.

The queen was still and apathetic as the strong arms lifted him up. He let the tears fall down his face, not bothering to touch them. "It's nothing," he murmured. "I'm just so confused."

"A penny for your thoughts?" America replied as he wiped away the tears. "We only have ten minutes."

Arthur leaned against the other, listening to his slowly calming heartbeat. "I just don't understand Alfred sometimes..."

"Why?"

"He's said that I'm nothing and drove me into the ground with hurtful words, but now he wants me back."

America frowned deeply. "Was he just angry? I say things I really don't mean anything when I am angry. I just spew hurtful words."

"The ruder words, he said the night I left, but...he's always saying rude things, sometimes out of spite."

"Did you ever think maybe just maybe that he was jealous? Or even liked you? Children often pick on each other as a sign of caring."

"Have you ever thought why England said rude things to you...? I don't think Alfred ever liked me. Even when we weren't fighting and were civil with one another, I could see how he didn't want anything to do with me. He can't hide his emotions within himself...he is too easy to read."

"Maybe it's you who was holding back the relationship. I know I need to face my feelings, it your turn to embrace them. You only think Alfred has one side. Have you tried to see the other? To agree to do something new? Alfred might just want to be with you but both of you are too stubborn to change at all."

Arthur shut his eyes, silent and awestruck that America barely knew him and yet knew that the former queen had been so stubborn to do. He hadn't, until just now, realized what he had been doing it all of the five years he had spent beside the King of Spades' side. He believed and hoped now was the time to finally look at himself, and want something new when it was offered to him. He would miss the short amount of time he had spent with the Chess King, but now, he would be waiting to form new memories with the kind, loving, handsome King of Spades.

"We've only known each other for so long...and yet you seem to know me as if we have been friends for years." He smiled up at America. "I promise. I'll try to be better to him."

"I am glad you are happy," America said as he stood up. He went over to pick up the other clothes. Then he returned them to Arthur. "Here this is a single black toga and a green cloak. You will need these."

Arthur gingerly took the clothes from him, and started to put the toga over his bare body. "Whot's it for?"

America smiled. "Well, first you have to heal yourself with magic, then a thinking based test will be given, after is a fight with me, and the last part is homework per say."

It didn't seem too bad as he thought it would have been. The fight with America would definitely be a challenge, but otherwise, he knew that he would be able to handle it. "Alright then." He slipped the cloak over his body and smiled small at him. "I think I'm ready."

Arthur was lead to the open deck. The whole ship was chess themed. Several guards were posted but no one seemed to be doing anything. America turned as we went up to the helm.

"Arthur, you need to heal yourself right now."

The queen raised a bushy eyebrow in suspicion, but did as he was told nonetheless. His left hand glowed green, the light spreading all over his body. Hastily, any bruises, scars, or wounds he had received in some way disappeared. Now he felt fresh and new. The stinging in his lower backside also disappeared.

The King snapped his fingers and two servants came up with a table, a chair, paper, a quill, and a bottle of ink. The servants set it up and left to go below the deck.

"Finish these questions within an hour," America commanded as he started to talk to the person steering the ship.

Arthur nodded, took the quill offered to him, and sat at the chair. He eyed the questions, reading them over hastily before taking a breath and starting. Some of the questions were math, other were political questions. The hardest yet most common were short 'What would you do if...' questions. Questions like that, he either tried to save for later when he finished the other, much easier ones first, or he answered them as truthfully as he could. He hoped that he wasn't doing as bad on time as he thought he was.

America switched between just watched as Arthur quickly started to finish the test and talking to the many people that came up to him. "You have ten minutes," the King warned when Lithuania signaled him.

Arthur nodded without looking up, hastily going back to a previous question before the end. All he needed was five minutes, and he could hopefully finish this.

The King gave the other an extra minute to finish after the ten passed. "Alright finish your last sentence." he waved and the servant came back and took the paper away. Said paper went out of sight with the servant.

Arthur rubbed his eyes, his head and hand throbbing. "I've never had to write that much in one hour."

America smiles at the other. "I think you did well. Lithuania will have the test graded soon. Now you have a ten minute break before our fight."

Arthur nodded, and ran his hands through his hair, sighing. "Thank you. I need a bit of rest."

America nodded and took off his robe. He slowly did several stretches to warm up. He was not going to make this easy for Arthur.

"Ten minutes are up Arthur."

Arthur, who had removed his robe as well, nodded. "Alright. Whot are we fighting with? Fists? Swords?"

"I am to fight unarmed and you may choose between a dagger, a sword, or with two small tridents." America responded as he got into a fighting stance.

"That's a bit frightening." Seeing as he was one of the well-trained fighters in the Kingdom of Spades, he picked up the sword and polished the blade thoroughly. "Whot if I accidentally hurt you?"

The King laughed as did the sailors who came to watch. "Don't worry about it. I am sure we will be fine. Any certain rules you want in place?"

Arthur was silent for a long while before shaking his head. "Not really...well...three hits to one person, and the round is over."

America nodded. "I will add that we have no groin shots. Now begin!" With that the taller charged him strait foreword.

Arthur stayed where he was when the other king stampeded in his direction, and ducked close to the ground when a fist swung over his head. One of his legs swept underneath America.

America jumped over the leg and sent out a kick of his own. When Arthur blocked it, the King jumped back several steps. "Not bad. Try this on for size." He charged from an angle now.

Arthur ducked close to the floor, and brought his knee up for defense, just missing getting a hit by a few inches. "You're not as bad as I thought you would be."

America smiled and started throwing punches. He eventually hit Arthur's side on a special turn.

Arthur attempted to dodge out of the way in time, but only ended up getting nicked by America's fist. He fell backwards a bit to create some distance and rub his side. The king definitely looked stronger than him, but to have the force thrown at him was such a shock at how much power he could put into one simple attack.

America smiled at the victory. "Is that all you got?"

Arthur smirked. "Don't get cocky just yet." He made a swing as if to slice at the king's fists, but then turned quickly and gave Alfred a thin scratch.

The King smiled. He didn't even react. "We have a fighter. One point to both of us."

This time America waited for Arthur to start. Arthur bowed to him, out of respect, and charged him, swinging and aiming for his upper arm.

America dodged with a backwards lean. He gave himself space by kicking out and Arthur went back. Getting balanced again, America bounced from one foot to the other. He then got up close and personal. A sword was only good at such a distance before it was useless.

Arthur brought his sword up on the back of America's leg, and sliced upwards. He smirked and took a few quick steps backwards.

America was enraged that he made that kind of mistake. He charged Arthur with intensity. His foot hit Arthur's own foot and he got a very strong punch to Arthur's side again.

"Ah!" Arthur jumped back again, this time gripping his side. That was a rough punch to him. If it were just a bit higher, it might have crushed his ribs. He was sure a bruise would be there later. He glared at America, this time with malice in his emerald eyes. "Well then..if you want to play rough..." He charged the king again, and, hopefully, one last time.

The King just stood there until Arthur came striking his sword down. Using his hands, America used his palms on both sides of the blade to stop the attack. Pushing the piece of metal to the side, the taller simply poked Arthur's nose.

"I win!"

The former queen, shocked, covered his nose as if it really had been hit harshly. "That's not fair! You can't do that!"

America laughed. "So fair. You did well."

Arthur huffed, but gave a smile at him nonetheless. "Thank you. You as well."

America took his hand and led him away from the deck. Once inside the hull, the taller led them back to his room. "You did great, now let's go back. I want you again."

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