I would first like to thank ALL OF YOU who read this and the people who are following it AND the ones who added it to their favorites. I was literally rolling around on the floor, convulsing in absolute happiness. I apologize for spamming your email twice, but I edited the first chapter a little. Anyway, please, enjoy the story and I cannot stress enough how HAPPY the fact that YOU, random person, are taking time away from your life to read this. *Feels all the love and gives you a giant cookie*. As always, I'd love a review, and all flames will be used for s'mores by me and the people not flaming.
The next morning, at the crack of dawn, Arthur was woken to a knock on his door. He walked downstairs and looked through the peephole, only to grimace. Francis. Reluctantly, he opened the door.
"What do you want frog?" Arthur asked, opening the door. Francis walked in.
"Is that anyway to greet a guest like myself?" Francis asked.
"Yes, and I don't remember inviting you inside my house." Arthur snapped. Francis turned to him.
"You deserve better then this little old hut."
"I like this little old hut."
"It's no place to raise a child."
"I was raised here and I turned out alright."
"Arthur," Francis stepped closer to him. "If you were my husband-"
"Let me stop you there, Frenchie." Arthur said, holding his hand up. "If this is another marriage proposal, you can shove it up your arse. I will not marry you. Not now, not ever. Now please get out of my house." Arthur said. Francis frowned.
"Arthur-"
Before he could finish, Arthur shoved him out of the door.
Francis landed face-first in a mud puddle. Ivan, Francis' right hand man, looked down, laughing.
"I take it he said no again?" He asked. Francis looked up and shot him a glare.
"Mark my words Ivan," Francis said, standing up attempting to brush off the mud. "I will be married to Arthur. Make no mistake about that." Francis warned before storming off back towards town. Ivan just smiled and followed behind him.
"Sounds like fun, da?"
Arthur, on the other hand, had dressed himself, getting ready to go look for Queen. He walked to Peter's door to check on him-
-And found the bed empty.
"Peter?" Arthur called, worried. "Peter?" He ran outside. "Peter? PETER JAMES KIRKLAND ANSWER ME!" He called. Nothing. Arthur looked at the forest. "Peter, when I find you I am going to spank you so hard you won't walk straight for a week."
Arthur trudged through the forest. Had it always been so big? He glanced around. Still no sign of Peter.
"Peter!" He called out. Nothing. He wanted to just fall down and cry. How could have let this happen? Peter was the only family he had left. He didn't know what to do if something had happened. Just as Arthur was about to lose it, he saw a castle surrounded by an iron gate. There, on the other side, was Peter's favorite hat. Arthur's heart soared. Maybe he was safe!
Arthur ran to castle, knocking excitedly. The doors opened and Arthur walked in.
"Peter?" He called. No answer. "Is anyone here?" He started up the stairs. For a castle, the place was extremely quiet. He went a little further until he heard a door behind him creak. "Peter?" He called, turning around. He went through the door and saw candlelight going up the stairs. "Hello? I'm looking for my little brother… excuse me." He said, running up the stairs. He looked around. It was some sort of dungeon.
"Arthur?" Came a weak voice. Arthur rushed to another door.
"Peter!" Arthur cried happily. He grabbed Peter's hand and frowned. "You're freezing cold…"
"Arthur, there's a monster." Peter coughed.
"Peter, who put you here?"
"The monster. You have to hide before he finds you."
"Not without you."
"What are you doing here?" Said a thundering voice. Arthur whirled around and saw a nothing but a huge black silhouette.
"Who are you?"
"The master of this castle." They growled.
"I've come for my brother. Please, let me take him home. Can't you see he's sick and cold?" Arthur said.
"Then he shouldn't have trespassed here!" The silhouette growled.
"But he could die!" Arthur begged. "Isn't there anything I could do?"
"There's nothing you could." The silhouette said. "He's my prisoner."
"Maybe I can…WAIT!" Arthur shouted. "…Take me instead…"
"You…" The silhouette mocked. "…You would…take his place…?"
"Arthur no! He'll eat you!" Peter shouted.
"If I did," Arthur began. "Would you let him go?"
"Yes, but you must promise to stay here forever." The silhouette said. Arthur looked up, meeting bright blue eyes. He squinted, but couldn't make out anything else.
"Come into the light…" Arthur said. The silhouette stepped into the moonlight.
Black hair. Black ram-like horns. Leather wings. A devil tail. Peter was right. He was a monster. Arthur turned away for a moment.
"Arthur…" Peter whispered before Arthur stood up and walked over to the man.
"You have my word." He said. The man walked passed him.
"Done." At that, Arthur fell to his knees. Peter raced out and hugged Arthur.
"No, don't leave me Arthur!" He cried. "Don't leave me! I promise I'll be good!"
"Tell Ludwig to take good care of you, alright?" Arthur said, trying not to cry. He wiped his brothers tears. As he did , the man grabbed Peter. "Wait…PETER!"
The man walked outside to a carriage.
"Let me go!" Peter cried, thrashing around. "Give me my brother back!"
"He's no longer your brother." The man snarled before throwing him into the carriage. "Take him to the village." At that, the carriage lifted itself and started towards the village. The man walked back up to the tower to see Arthur crying.
"You didn't let me say goodbye…" Arthur sobbed. "I'll never see him again…and I didn't get to say goodbye…" The man looked at the ground.
"I'll…show you to your room…" He said. Arthur looked up.
"My room…? But I thought-" The man turned around.
"You wanna stay in the tower?"
"No."
"Then let's go." Arthur followed him down the stairs. The man grabbed a candelabra and began walking down a long hallway.
The man looked back. Arthur had silent tears flowing down his cheeks.
"Say something to him dude…" The candelabra said. The man looked up at it, then turned to Arthur.
"…Alfred." He said. Arthur looked up. "My name. It's Alfred."
"I'm Arthur Kirkland." He said. Alfred turned back to the candelabra, who motioned for him to go on.
"I hope you'll like it here. This castle is now your home so you can go anywhere you want- except the west wing." He said.
"What's in the west-"
"It's off limits!" Alfred shouted, whirling around and facing Arthur. Arthur immediately shut his mouth and kept walking. They came to a room. Arthur stepped inside. "If you need something, my servants will take care of it." Alfred said. The candelabra nudged him.
"Like, dude, dinner." He said. Alfred took a deep breath.
"You will join me for dinner. That's not a request!" He shouted before slamming the door closed.
Back in town, Francis was drowning his sorrows in wine.
"Who does he think he is? That Brit has tangled with the wrong Frenchmen!" Francis growled. Ivan and Antonio sat next to him while Gilbert poured more drinks.
"You've got to pull yourself together amigo!" Antonio said.
"Da, it will all work out." Ivan agreed.
"Here, have some beer." Gilbert said, sitting the big mug in front of Francis.
"Nothing helps!" Francis moaned. "Arthur is borderline unobtainable!" Ivan pat his back.
"You will find some way to get him. You're a smart guy."
At that, Peter came barging into the bar.
"He took him!" He cried. "He took him! He took him!"
"Peter?" Ludwig stood up from his seat as the young boy ran into his arms. "Peter, what happened?"
"The monster took Arthur!" He said. "He took him away from me!"
"Monster? What kind of crazy dream is that?" Francis laughed, causing others to laugh as well. Ludwig glared.
"Shut up." He snapped before dropping down to Peter's level. "Let's get you home, alright? You feel warm so I bet it's the fever talking." Ludwig scooped up Peter and walked out the door. Antonio turned to Francis.
"That little Chico's always good a laugh no?" He asked, downing a mug of beer. Francis looked towards the door and a smile appeared on his face.
"Gentlemen, I believe I have a plan to get Arthur's hand in marriage…"
"Oh, sound like fun." Ivan shivered.
Back the castle, Arthur was crying on his pillow. He was interrupted by a knock at his door.
"Who is it?" He asked, wiping his nose.
"Berwald. Your tea is ready." Came a stern voice. Arthur opened a door and a tea tray rolled in. The teapot and teacup had eyes.
"You're…you're a…" Arthur began, backing away, only to bump into the wardrobe.
"Careful dearie!" Said the wardrobe.
"This is…impossible…" Arthur said, sitting on the bed.
"I know it seems that way but," The wardrobe laid on the bed, causing it to sink. "Here we are! I'm Elizabeta. Call me Liz."
"Arthur."
"I'm Tino!" Said the little teacup. The teapot nodded.
"Berwald." He said while pouring tea into the cup. "Don't spill." Tino hopped over to Arthur. Arthur picked him up and began to drink the tea.
"Wanna see a cool trick?" Tino asked. Arthur nodded. Tino then blew bubbles. Both of them laughed until Berwald let out a firm 'Tino.'
"That was a very brave thing you did." Liz said.
"We all think so." Tino confirmed. Arthur looked down.
"But I lost everything. My brother, my freedom, my dreams…everything…"
"Everything will turn out right in the end. You'll see." Berwald said. "Now, Tino, we have to help with dinner." He said, hopping back on the tray. Tino hopped up.
"Bye." Tino said before leaving. Arthur turned to Liz.
"Well now, what to dress you in for dinner. Oh, let's see what I got in my drawers!" Liz said, opening herself. "Oh, this green suite will go great with your eyes-"
"Thank you but, I'm not going." Arthur said.
"But you must!" Liz gasped.
A clock, named Toris, walked into the room, clearing his throat.
"Dinner is served."
Down in the dining hall, Alfred was pacing back and forth.
"What's taking so long?" Alfred mumbled. "I ordered him down…Why isn't he here yet?" He snapped at Berwald and the Candelabra, Feliks.
"He's lost his freedom and family in one day. Give him time." Berwald said.
"Hey, Alfie, have you like, thought that maybe, he could be to one to break the spell?" Feliks asked.
"Of course I have!" Alfred snapped. "I'm not blind or stupid."
"Cool, then like, you fall for him, he falls for you, poof! We're human by like, midnight!" Feliks cheered.
"These things take time." Berwald said.
"But the rose is wilting."
"It doesn't matter anyway." Alfred said. "He's so beautiful and I'm…well look at me!" Alfred shouted.
"Help him see past all that." Berwald said.
"I can't." Alfred said, plopping down in the floor. Berwald hopped off from the mantle.
"Straighten up! Act like a gentleman!" he said, Alfred did as he said. Feliks hopped off the mantle as well.
"When he walks in, give me, like a million dollar smile. Go on, like, smile!" Feliks said. Alfred gave a big grin, showing off his fangs.
"Don't scare him…" Berwald said, causing Alfred to frown.
"Like, impress him with your smarts!"
"Be gentle."
"Give him loads of compliments!"
"Mean them."
"And, most importantly." Alfred looked at both of them.
"Control. Your. Temper." They said in unison. At that, the door opened. Alfred straighten himself. Toris came in sheepishly.
"Hello…" He said weakly. Alfred's brow furrowed.
"Where is he…?" Alfred growled.
"Who? Oh yeah, Arthur. Well um, due to the…circumstances being what they are…he's not coming…"
AADFHKJSDHFKSAHDFKJHSKJDFHJKS I AM SO SORRY IT'S A CLIFFHANGER! /SHOT/
Next chapter soon, I promise.