Note: about the Spanish in this chapter. I got three different ways of saying one thing, so if your suggestion isn't there, that doesn't mean I don't value your help, it just means I went with a majority

Disclaimer: Animerockchic does not own Hetalia or Beauty and the Beast

"Then I said: I can be whatever you want me to be! And you should have seen the look on his face!"

Ciara smiled wanly at Francis. "Cool story, Francis."

"Needs dragons and shit?" Ciara laughed. "Exactly."

Arthur scampered after them, calling Ciara loudly. "Ciara, is dinner ready?"

The pair turned to face him. "Just about. I've no clue what he likes so I cooked up pretty much everything in the kitchen."

Arthur nodded. "Good." He turned away from them. They both gasped loudly at the winding handle on Arthur's back. Arthur turned back at them. "Well, don't just stand there gaping. Get to work."

Francis nudged Ciara weakly. "You tell him."

Arthur put his hands on his hips. "Tell me what?"

Francis began laughing awkwardly. "Now, don't get upset... but you've got... something on your back."

Arthur tried to twist himself around in order to see his back. "What the bloody hell are you talking about?" He caught sight of the winding handle and screamed. "What the hell is that!"

"It looks like a winding handle to me."

"Well get it off me!" Arthur flapped his arms around in agitation.

Francis shrugged and began turning the handle. After a few turns, he stood back. "Yeah, it's not coming off."

Arthur turned to face him. "What the hell do you mean 'it's not coming off'! It wasn't there when I went to bed! Why is this happening?"

"It's the spell I'm afraid." Said Ciara

Francis patted him on the shoulder. "Just try to relax."

Arthur glared at him and began pacing frantically. "Relax. How in the name of God am I supposed to relax with this...appendage on my back? Is there no dignity left for me? What's going to go next? My mind?"

"Calm down, mon ami, it will be alright." Francis put his hand on Arthur's shoulder.

"I'm frightened, Francis." Arthur mumbled.

"I know. But you are not alone."

"We're all in this together." Chimed in Ciara. Francis pulled the three of them into a slightly awkward hug.

"It's time for dinner. Where is he?"

They broke apart quickly at the sound of Antonio's voice.

"I'll go check on him. Won't be a moment." Arthur hurried off.

"I told him to come down! Where is he?" Antonio growled.

"Try to be patient, master. He's after losing his family and his freedom all in one day."

"Uh, Antoine. Have you thought that perhaps this young man could be the one to break the spell?"

"Oh course I have!" Snarled Antonio. "I'm not a fool."

Francis smiled. "Good! So! You fall in love with him; he falls in love with you and poof!" His candles ignited. "The spell is broken! We are human again by midnight." Francis' eyes filled with hope at the thought. Then Ciara had to rain on his parade.

"Francis, it's not that simple. These things take time!"

Francis turned on her. "But we don't have time! The carnation has already begun to wilt!"

Antonio sighed in defeat. "It's no use, he's cute and I'm...well look at me!"

Francis leaned over and whispered in Ciara's ear. "He has a point." Ciara swatted him with her spout.

"Master, you have to make him see past all that."

"But I don't know how!" Antonio sat down heavily, his head in his hands.

Ciara hummed thoughtfully and pursed her lips. "Well, you could start by making yourself more presentable. Straighten up! Try to act more like a gentleman."

Francis began miming a swordfight with the air. "Impress him with your rapier wit!"

"But be gentle."

Francis pressed his hands to his chest. "Shower him with compliments."

"But be sincere."

They both looked him directly. "And above all..." Antonio's head had been darting back and forth between them and it was slowly driving him mad.

He stood up and roared. "WHAT?"

"You must control your temper!" In unison, the shoved him back into his chair.

Antonio howled furiously. Arthur, who had just walked in, immediately turned tail and made to leave the room. Antonio's head snapped up and glared at the back of Arthur's.

"Well?" Antonio snapped.

Arthur turned around, a look of polite confusion on his face. "Well what?"

Antonio rose from his chair and moved in front of Arthur. "Where is he?"

"Who?" Asked Arthur, looking completely nonplussed.

A low growl erupted from Antonio's throat.

"Oh! The boy!" Said Arthur, acting as though he'd only just remembered Lovino. "Well, he's actually in the process of... circumstances being what they are... he's not coming."

"...Que?"

"He's. Not. Coming." Said Arthur as though spelling it out for a tantrum-throwing toddler.

Something in Antonio's eyes snapped.

"Ya veremos sobre eso!" He stormed off in the direction of Lovino's room.

Arthur ran forward and clutched Antonio's trouser leg while Francis dashed forward in an attempt to hold him back.

"Your Grace, Your Eminence! Please be reasonable!"

"STAND BACK, EYEBROWS!" Arthur released Antonio. Antonio wheeled around to face Francis who was psyching himself up in an imitation of a prize boxer.

"Francis, stand aside!"

Francis stood aside, arm spread wide to allow free passage. Antonio stomped past. The chase resumed with calls and shouts bouncing off the walls resulting in a cacophony of pleads, shouts and admonitions.

Antonio slammed opened the bedroom door and marched over to the bed on which Lovino was sitting.

"I thought I told you to come down to dinner!"

Lovino folded his arms and looked away defiantly. "I'm not hungry, bastard!"

Antonio began pacing furiously. "I am the master of this castle and I am telling you to come down to dinner!"

"And I'm telling you: I'm not fucking hungry!"

"You're hungry if I say you're hungry!"

Lovino scoffed. "Don't be fucking ridiculous!"

Everyone, bar Lovino and Antonio, inhaled sharply.

"...Que?"

Lovino glared at him. "You can't just order people to be hungry. It doesn't work like that. Besides, it's rude."

"Oh", said Antonio sarcastically, "rude, is it? Well then, if you don't come down, I WILL DRAG YOU BY THE HAIR!"

Francis tapped Antonio cautiously. "Now, Antoine, I have no idea where I'm getting this from, but... that may not be the best way to win the boy's affections."

Antonio half-growled. "But why is he being so difficult?" He turned to Lovino. "Why are you being so difficult?"

"Why are you being such a bully?" Lovino retorted.

"Because I want you to come to dinner!" Antonio pleaded in exasperation, half throwing a tantrum.

"Aha! So you admit you're being a bully!" Said Lovino in triumph.

"Deep breaths, master, deep breaths." said Ciara soothingly, seeing that Antonio was close to breaking point. Arthur and Francis emphasised her point by demonstrating.

Antonio's head snapped over in their direction, causing them to freeze mid-inhale.

"I'll give him one last chance." They exhaled in relief. Antonio turned back to Lovino. "Would you be so kind as to join me for dinner?"

"Ah, ah, ah! P...p...p..." Antonio glared at Arthur then returned his attention to Lovino. "Please."

"No thank you."

"Fine, entonces MUÉRTE DE HAMBRE!" Antonio stormed out of the room with Ciara, Francis and Arthur in hot pursuit.

"Antoine, please!" Begged Francis.

Antonio wheeled around to face them. "If he doesn't eat with me, he doesn't eat at all!" He continued his journey to his rooms in the West Wing where they knew he would sulk for hours.

Francis sighed and held his head in his hands. "What were we thinking? We'll never be human again."

"So it appears." Agreed Arthur.

Ciara stared at the two of them sinking into despair in disbelief. "So that's it then? We just give up? After only one half-arsed try? Ye can, but I sure as hell won't. I can't give up until my nephew can run through these halls again. And he's your nephew too, Arthur. And Francis, do you really want to spend the rest of your days afraid to hold or even touch Jeanne in case you end up setting her on fire? And what about the poor master? Hasn't he suffered enough?"

They both looked up at her in surprise at her determined face. Arthur nodded.

"You're right. We can't give up while there's still a chance."

Ciara smiled smugly. "I always am."

Arthur ignored her. "Francis, you stand guard and if there is even the slightest change, inform me at once."

Francis gave a mock salute. "Oui, mon capitain."

Ciara and Arthur left, leaving Francis alone in the corridor. He sat down, positioning himself just so, with a good view of Lovino's door and so that he was comfortable. He yawned, it had been a long day and the boy was hardly going to leave his room anytime soon. A short nap couldn't hurt...

A/n: Ya veremos sobre eso = we'll see about that

Entonces MUÉRTE DE HAMBRE = then, STARVE

Gonna be 16 on Sunday, woo! And I'm going to be on stage in rags as an orphan, woo! And then, I'll be Hecate from the Scottish Play and Hero from Much Ado About Nothing, woo! So, yeah me= big acting fan, big Shakespeare fan :) Any way hope you enjoyed and review and favourite please

Ja!

Animerockchic