Lenny: ooh wow, this is great! We got some reviews and lots of follows/favorites. Thanks, PITUP's going to love this when he sees this. Sorry it was a short chapter, I had to stop and make the chapter short because i had to go somewhere rather abruptly. But that's okay, anyways, this one might be short too because i want to know which character i should use for a ...certain...role... and you'll find out the role at the end of this chapter. ;)

Arthur slumped onto the carpet of his house. Today the beatings seemed worse, if that was possible. The teacher made him clean the floors of his classroom because he was late they didn't even bat an eye at his injuries. What's worse was that the teachers knew The Bad Touch Trio and the Braginski siblings were the ones who bullied him, they didn't do anything to help poor Arthur. They didn't suspend or give the bullies detention, they didn't even say what they did was wrong! They ignored the Brit and his problems. The school counselor checked on him every now and then just to make sure he was alive, but he probably wouldn't even do that if he had a choice, he only did it for his paychecks every month.

So Arthur had to mop the floors clean, even with his heavy breathing and aching lungs. His wrist was still broken but that didn't give any excuse to leave during his 'job' as the teacher liked to put it. But even as he stumbled to the nurse, she only gave him a fucking icepack. The icepack in no way helped his wrist or bruises. The dulled the pain, sure, but the nurse didn't even clean his wounds or give him band aids. When Arthur asked for one she nervously looked away from him and told him no, her eyes darted to him and to the window. She then ushered him out of her office. It was obvious someone put her up to this, someone was making sure nobody helped Arthur Kirkland. Arthur sighed painfully. Probably those Braginski siblings, everyone was afraid of them, even the teachers, and they would do anything to get out of their way and stay alive.

xxx

Arthur lay against his front door, panting. Francis laid a particularly hard punch on his stomach before he left school grounds, and now Arthur could taste blood whenever he coughed. He just wanted to rest, wanted to rest his tired eyes and disappear into the only sanctuary he had. His dreams were the only escape he seemed to have, they were the fond memories of his childhood, when his only worry was having to eat broccoli at dinner.
Arthur almost fell asleep, when suddenly his doorbell rang. The sandy blond jumped up in surprise and winced at the pain following afterwards. He slowly stood up, using the wall to help him. His hand trembled and his vision dotted slightly when he turned the doorknob open. The Brit's eyesight went blurry before they focused on the tall, sunny blond before him, concern in his sky blue eyes.

Arthur couldn't help it and fell onto the American's shoulder, his panting breath tickling the others neck. Alfred chuckled nervously, "Looks like they got ya good, huh?"

Arthur's emerald green eyes glared up at him, "Yes, because I love getting hurt." he said sarcastically, wheezing.

"C'mon," Alfred lifted him up bridal style and walked to his own house which was right across, "We gotta fix you up."

Arthur gasped but soon relaxed reluctantly because he was afraid of falling if he squirmed too much. He held onto the American with the odd but endearing cowlick in his hair with his good hand. He rest his head cautiously on his neck before relaxing. Honestly, he didn't know if he could even trust Alfred anymore. Arthur just didn't know. Don't get him wrong, Alfred had always been there to bandage his wounds and lend a shoulder to cry on. But...sometimes, Alfred himself took part in the bullying as well.

Alfred opened the door to his house and walked to a couch, setting the Brit on it. Arthur groaned in pain and then closed his eyes. He waited until the throbbing pain in his wrist left. When he opened his eyes he saw Alfred getting the first aid kit. Arthur sighed, was that really to life? Sleep, go to school, get beaten, come back home, Alfred fixes his wounds, repeat? I have a sad life, I'm a sad person.

Alfred glanced at Arthur through glasses hidden eyes. He frowned when he saw him wince whenever he breathed. Alfred knew it was unfair of him to not help in school, but he repaid it by helping him with his injuries, "Does it hurt?" he asked when he grabbed the wrist gently turning it.

"OW! Of course it bloody does, you git!" cried Arthur.

Alfred sighed, "We have to go to the hospital then.."

"No!" Arthur said before he attempted to get up, "Ow!" then he laid back down.

"You have to! It's not good to leave it like that." Alfred said, crossing his arms, intent on getting the other blond to the hospital.

"No, I'm not going!" Arthur said back, crossing his own arms.

Alfred held the staring contest for five minutes before he sighed again and gave up, the Brit wouldn't go and that was final. Alfred set the wrist on a cushion and left to get an a icepack after Arthur told him it was throbbing.

As Alfred opened the freezer, he dug around a bit before grasping the icepack. When he turned around he jumped when he saw his brother, Matthew standing there, "Oh hey Mattie, didn't see ya there!"

The younger brother looked slightly uncomfortable before setting his gaze onto the American, "Uhm Alfred, why is um, he here?"

"Who?"

"Arthur." Who else? Matthew wanted to say but bit his tongue.

"Oh, he got hurt so i'm helping him,-"

"You have to stop." Matthew interrupted, his royal blue eyes suddenly serious.

"W-what?" Alfred was a little shocked at the serious tone his brother almost never used, "What are you talking about?"

"You can't keep bringing him here like this. I understand, you feel bad for him but he's bad luck, the others will see him and they'll start to beat you up as well. I don't want to see you get hurt, and neither does Mom."

That was right. Mattie was right. But it wasn't also Alfred who bullied when he helped Arthur, Matthew too, although the quiet blond wouldn't admit it. Last year Alfred had stood up for Arthur. Alfred got into a fight with Gilbert and it ended up with him in the hospital for a broken leg. The Bad Touch Trio had also surrounded Matthew and beat him up in the bathroom. In that whole year, the beatings for the three of them continued until Alfred stopped helping Arthur when he saw bruises on Mat's face and his mom curled up in the couch, crying for their safety and how she was a bad mother.

Alfred looked at his icepack, torn. He wanted to help his brother, but he also wanted to help Arthur.

Matthew sighed and placed his hand on the others shoulder, "You can help him today.. But after that, please,..don't go near him again."

Alfred nodded before walking into the living room where the Brit was. What kind of a Hero am I...?

xxx

"W-what?" the green eyed blond whispered, dumbfounded.

Alfred led him to the door, "I'm sorry." the usually hyper blond said, looking down, "But I can't help you anymore."

"But why? What did I do!" he said.

"I'm doing this to protect my brother, it's not your fault.." but they both knew, that was a lie.

Arthur stepped back, betrayal in his eyes, "I thought... I thought we were friends!"

Alfred closed his eyes, "I'm sorry.."

"Fine, you dirty liar! I fucking hate you! I hope you rot in hell!" he screamed, tears gathering in his eyes before he staggered down the stairs to his own house, limping.

Alfred couldn't stand watching the pitiful display of Arthur 'walking' home, so he closed his door, guilt heavy in his heart before walking to his room. He passed Mattie on the way but didn't even glance at him, "I'm doing this for you.." the American whispered.

Matthew leaned on the wall, "I know" he said looking at an photo before slowly placing it facedown, "I know." the photo was of a small Matthew timidly holding onto little Arthur's hand.

xxx

Well. He did it. He finally accomplished it. Lost everything he had ever loved, cherished or liked. He lost his mum, his family and now his friend. Now what? What was left of his life? All that was left to officially complete his misery filled life was for them to take his house.

Arthur fell onto his outdoor chair, his tears streaming out freely. Normally he wasn't like this, he wouldn't get worked up and cry, I trusted him.. that bloody git! I can't believe it.. Again and again. Why does this keep happening to me? Maybe today was his breaking point.

The colorful fairies stroked his hair, their faces sad. His puffy red eyes closed, until he was once again in his land of merciful dreams.

xxx

"Artie? Sweetie pie? Hurry down here, your friend is here!" his mother called.

Little footsteps were heard scrambling upstairs, "Coming, mum!" Arthur walked down the stairs, one step at a time, afraid of falling down.

His mother chuckled from downstairs, "He'll be down in a minute, dear. I'll be in the kitchen if you need anything." she said to the boy next to her who just nodded happily.

Little Arthur ran into the room, "Francis! You're here!"

Francis grinned and pinched his red cheeks, "Bonjour, 'sweetie pie'." the french boy said, mimicking Arthur's mother.

"Oh, be quiet would you.." brushing Francis' hands from him.

But Francis didn't leave him alone, he took one small hand in his own and proceeded to open the front door, "Let's go! Gilbert and Antonio are waiting for us!"

"Oh! Mum, I'll be outside with my friends!" he called out.

"Ok sweetie pie, come back with them so we can all make some sweets!"

"Okay mummy!" he said back happily.

Francis smirked at him, "Sweetie p-"

"Oh bug off Francie pie." they both laughed his own joke before exiting the door.

"Gil! Atonyo!" Arthur yelled cheerfully, still having trouble pronouncing their names.

Gilbert, ever the rough and brash, ran over and tackled him flat on his back, "I thought you were NEVER coming." he smirked mischievously, "I think you need a punshment!"

Arthur tried to push him off when he began tickling the Brit, unmercifully, "No! Ahahahahaha s-stop! Hahaha!" drool began to seep out of his mouth.

"Aha! Wight on your...TUMMY!" the red eyed albino said, before tickling the others stomach.

Arthur squirmed and laughed harder before Antonio laughed too, Arthur's laugh just really was too contagious.

Gilbert then stopped and just lazily laid on Arthur, smirking down at him. Arthur didn't notice but his legs kicked softly in excitement as he saw a caterpillar crawling on a flower next to them, "Wook! Wook a worm!"

Antonio giggled and squatted down, "No silly, dis is a caterpillar." he stuck out his finger so that it crawled onto it.

Arthur's head turned to look at the brunet as his green eyes widened in curiosity. Francis smiled, "Oui, one day it will turn into a beautiful butterfly."

Gilbert was annoyed that Arthur's attention wasn't on him so he stood up and helped the blond up as well, "Come on Artie, I found something over there!" so the albino took the sandy blond to a rock and with the help of Antonio, moved it aside.

Francis scrunched up his face, "Ew.. What is zat?"

"A dead snake." Gilbert grinned.

Arthur gasped and hid behind Antonio, "Wot if it bites?"

"It's not gonna bite if it's dead, Artie." Gilbert said shaking his head.

Francis poked the dead snake with a stick and accidently poked right through the snake. Little clear maggots wiggled out along with black flies. Arthur hugged Antonio's back from behind, "Ew, ew, ew, YUCK!" his eyes squeezed shut and he felt sick, the snake smelled awful.

Gilbert saw this and looked at Francis who winked and nodded, he turned to the Spaniard who just smiled. Gilbert picked the dead black snake with the stick and put it in front of Arthur's face. Arthur squealed and ran to a tree. They ran around in circles before Arthur tripped on a rock and fell into the shallow part of the lake. Arthur sputtered and resurfaced, blond locks sticking to his forehead. He glared at the trio(but it looked like a little pout instead).

Gilbert bent down in front of his face, "Awh, someone got a wittle wet?"

Arthur stuck out his tongue and crossed his arms. Francis pulled him up to his feet, "Hehe, he's mad."

"Stop being mean to him, Gilbert." the happy brunet said.

But that didn't stop the trio from ogling the Brit. He was truly beautiful. With droplets of water dripping down his hair and face, his blond eyelashes soaked but long and his wet pink lips puffed up in a pout to show that he was mad. Like an angel. Save for the angry expression though.

Arthur turned from the group and walked to a mossy clearing, he sat down next to white and pink flowers. Sun cascaded down from the heavens, a warm orange glow settling on the small Brit, dust particles floating about from far away, the dust particles looked like tiny, sparkling fairies. Arthur sighed and let his hands touch the soft blades of grass under them. He looked at complete peace. Then his eyes flicked upwards at the trio and narrowed slightly, he turned his head and 'hmphed' before turning his nose upward.

Gilbert snickered into his hand and Antonio just outwardly laughed. Francis giggled and sat down next to the wet boy. Francis stroked the drenched hair, "Come on, mon ami, it was an accident."

Arthur glanced at Francis with his big green orbs before shaking his wet hair, droplets flying everywhere, "I feel.. gwoss. My clothes are sticking to me."

"Just let it dry out!" Antonio said smiling.

"LOOK GUYS I found a slamendor!" Gilbert yelled from the shore of the lake, struggling with the English a bit.

Arthur gasped and ran to the Prussian, "Oh no! Don't kill it!" Arthur picked it up and let it's slimy body climb over his palms. He giggled a bit, "See? It's fwiendly."

Gilbert looked at the Brit, astonishment evident on his pale face, "I thought it was a small snake with hands and foots."

Arthur laughed and placed the salamander gently back in the water, "No! Haha, and you have to put it in the water, else it'll dwy up and die.."

"SURPRISE ATTACK BRO!" and once again, the poor Brit found himself splashed into the water.

xxx

Before they knew it, almost two hours had gone by while the boys played in the calm forest. Many others had joined them. Like Alfred and his younger brother Matthew, the Italian twins Felicciano and Romano, Gilbert's younger brother Ludwig, Elizabeta, Roderich, Ivan and his sister Natalia, Kiku and his cousin Yao and Vash with his little sister, Lili.
They had all played in the lake, which all began when Alfred pushed poor Arthur into the water. Arthur got a little mad and splashed water onto the American's face. Francis was laughing his head off until Antonio tackled into the water. The Prussian was there, hands on his hips saying he was too awesome to get wet until a very annoyed Hungarian threw him into the water. And so more people kept coming until the lake was swishing uncontrollably and laughter could be heard endlessly, unlike the seemingly invisible Canadian, who was standing there alone. Time had soon past and Arthur heard his mother calling for him to come home.

"Oh!" Arthur whipped his wet blond head to the sound of his mum's voice, "Guess I have to go now." he said.

Francis grabbed his hand, "Can we come?" he winked.

Arthur blushed slightly, "U-um okay I guess...-"

"What about the extremely awesome me?" Gilbert said, grabbing his other hand.

Arthur nodded.

Antonio smiled like an idiot and led the way, "Guess that means I'm comin' too!"

"BYE ARTIE!" Alfred called, "STAY AWAY FROM THE ALIENS!- ow!" Yao hit him on the shoulder before he rolled his eyes and waved goodbye to Arthur, as did the others.

xxx

"Oh my, how did all of you get so wet?" The beautiful long blonde haired woman said as she opened her front door.

"...sowwy mummy." Arthur said as he toed the doormat.

"We were having a waterfight with everyoooone!" Gilbert said excitedly, "It was so awesome."

"Oui, but ze worst zing ever happened!" Francis said.

"Oh? And what's that?" Arthur's mom said walking to cupboard where she pulled out four towels.

"My hair got ruined!" Francis said as he threw his hands up in despair.

Antonio rolled his green eyes and smiled, "Your hair is fine."

"You're such a GIRL!" Gilbert said, sticking his tongue out at the French boy.

"Well, at least my hair isn't white, like an old man!" Francis stuck his tongue out as well.

Arthur laughed behind his hand, "Your hair is beautiful, Fwancis, it's long and cuwly and it feels soft and spawkles in the sun." he said as he caressed the French's hair, causing him to blush by the words, "And you don't wook wike an old man, Gil. Your hair is white wike the snow, and it feels gentle to touch." then he glomped Antonio from the front and laughed, "Your hair looks wike chocolate and smells wike sweet tomatoes. You all have good hair." he said happily leaving the trio stunned and blushing like fools.

Gilbert coughed and crossed his arms, looking the other way trying to hide his red face, "Thanks.." he muttered.

"Si," Antonio agreed, "But no one can compare to you." he smiled, patting the blond head.

"Wot?" he asked.

"Why, your eyes are a deep forest green zat hold life and shine with happiness. Your sweet pale cheeks flush with pink so delicately, it reminds me of a perfectly crafted doll. Your hair is sandy and soft and feels like a dove's feather. And your laughter can make even the ice around an oger's heart melt. And you are like a fallen angel when you sleep, so peaceful and one with ze world." Francis said dramatically but honestly, almost like he was reciting for a play.

"Uhm, how do you know what 'crafted' means?" Antonio whispered to him.

"I read." he said back.

Arthur stood there, his face flushed redder than all of their faces put together, "I ..uh...uhm.."

They all laughed.

"Let's go." Gilbert said.

"Sorry for the puddles, ." Antonio said as he stepped into the house.

"Please, "she said nicely, "Didn't I tell you to call me Beth?"

"Oh yeah, right," Antonio said, "Sorry for the puddles "

Beth chuckled, "Just Beth, dear." she lead the boys to the stairs and said, "Now why don't you guys go upstairs and get changed? I'm sure Arthur has extra clothes."

"Race ya up!" Gilbert said before all of them scrambled up the steps to Arthur's room.

xxx

After and hour of searching they couldn't find any clothes that fit them in Arthur's room so they had to borrow from his older brother's wardrobe.

"Oh mon dieu!" Francis said, "Finally!"

"Ja, ooh what smells so good?"

"Mmn, smells like cookies." Antonio said.

"Mum's baking! Let's go, maybe we can help!" Arthur said, running down the stairs.

When they neared the kitchen, the wonderful scent of cookies, pie and cakes wafted over them.

"Yum." Francis said.

"Now are all of you going to help me make some sweets?" Beth said.

All at once, the boys exclaimed, "YES!"

As they were mixing the contents in a bowl, Francis read, "You need two eggs and a some sugar."

Then the doorbell rang and Beth wiped her hands on her apron and walked to the door mumbling, "Who could that be?" on the way.

"Hello!" a familiar voice said.

"Why, Alfred and Matthew. What a wonderful surprise! And how may I help you today?"

"We were wonderin' if Artie could come out and play!" he said and gestured to his red ball in his hand.

"Oh dear. I'm afraid Arthur is busy baking some sweets right now. You are welcome to come in and help if you'd like.."

"OH GOOD! I was walking around thinking 'Mmn what's that delicious smell?' and it was like a whole big mystery because my mom wasn't making anything so I was like 'who's baking? Who could it beee!' then, it's really cool story you'll love it Beth, then i'm sitting there on the sidewalk-"

"Alfred!" Matthew said hitting him softly.

Beth laughed, "It's quite alright, please come in. They're in the kitchen."

"Arthuuuuur~!" the American called. He walked into the kitchen and saw Arthur's face covered in flour while he tried determindly to mix the sticky chocolate batter with a wooden spoon while his mum was gone.

"Oh, Alfred and Matt."

"Wonderful, more hands, here crack these eggs." Francis said as he motioned to the three eggs on the counter.

"Okay, where do I crack them?"

"Over here!" Antonio said and passed him a bowl of milk and flour, some spilling out from the sides.

"Oh so I just-" Alfred started before someone bumped into him causing him to squeeze the egg. The yolk dripped out through the crevices of his fingers, pieces of the shell dropping into the bowl as well.

"Is this gonna be a cake?" Matthew said to Gilbert.

"I thought it was going to be a pie..." Arthur answered him.

Beth smiled at the children in her kitchen, they were all making different things at once and helping out each other, it was simply adorable. Then the doorbell rang again.

"Oh my.."

"We heard you guys were baking?" All of Arthur's friends were outside her door.

"Of course." she said.

"Can we help?" Felicciano said cheerfully, "We brought some stuff to help bake~!"

Beth shook her head smiling, "I am so glad my little Arthur has such good friends. Go on ahead."

Alfred's mom walked in behind all of them, "I'm sorry for this." she said scratching her head, "They were just entranced by the smell. Mmn, well it does smell lovely-"

"My, it's okay. Arthur just loves being around his friends, why don't you come in as well?"

"Sure!"

xxx

"Ohh wow, more people!" said Antonio, "I'm soo glad your mom's kitchen is really big." he said to Arthur who nodded.

"You know, you can make French Toast in this pan?" Elizabeta said, picking it up.

"Of course I know! My father made it in one." Francis said shaking his head like it was the most obvious thing in the world, before shoving his nose in the cooking book again.

"Let us make Zefir." Ivan said.

Natalia nodded and showed her knife before Ivan stopped her, "We do not use knife now."

"Da." she replied, reluctantly.

"Your elbow is in my way!" Gilbert complained.

"Maybe if you moved your body over there, this wouldn't happen!" Romano argued back.

"My pastaa!" Felicciano cried as Romano accidently pushed the dry noodles onto the ground.

"Mi dispiace." Romano said absentmindly, glaring at the Prussian.

"No matter what I make, it always ends up bad!" Arthur cried on Francis.

"Yeah this taste awful-" Alfred started before he was elbowed in the shoulder by Yao.

"OW! Dude why the heck ya gotta keep on hittin' me today?" Alfred grumbled.

"Why don't you let someone help make something with you?" Francis said.

Arthur sniffed and wiped his eyes, "Okay..." he walked to a quiet Kiku, "Wot are you making, Kiku?" he said.

"Taiyaki." the Japanese male said back.

"Oooh cool, it looks like a fish!"

"Hai, inside is red bean. Do not worry, it is sweet. And very good." the black haired male smiled.

"Okay." then he walked around to Gilbert and his brother, "Wot are you making?"

"Deutsch schokoladenkuchen." he replied happily.

"Huh?" Arthur cocked his head to the side.

"German chocolate cake!"

"Oh yummy!"

"Arthur." someone breathed on his neck.

"Eeep! *cough* I mean, y-yes?" he turned around, "Ivan?"

"Prosʹba, try this."

"W-wot is it?"

"Zefir."

"Wot's that?"

"A Russian traditional sweet, now try it."

"Uhm okay.." Arthur bit hesitantly into the white swirled sweet but then ate it completely, "Yum this tastes good! Like marshmellows kind of."

"Da, that's good." Ivan smiled slightly before walking back to his sister.

It was wonderful, different aromas and many different kinds of pastries, pies, cakes, or puddings. There was Chinese Mango Pudding, Swiss chocolate rolls, The Baba Rum, Creme Puffs, Strawberry Shortcake, Baked Alaska, Flan, Honey Cake, Zefir, Struffoli, Chocolate cake, cheesecake and more. It was like a slice of every country, right there, in Beth's kitchen.

While surrounded by his laughing friends and smiling mother, Arthur couldn't think of anything else that made him more happy. He wished in his heart that these moments would never end...

xxx

Arthur awoke with an abrupt start. He looked around desperately, tears threatening to fall. His heart beat fast.

Just a dream.. Of course it is. It always is.

Arthur moved onto his hand and knees watching his stray tears fall and drop to the carpet under him, he felt nothing but anger at himself. The sandy blond grit his teeth as his unhurt hand gripped the carpet. Why couldn't things ever go his way? Why did everything ever love just self destructs? Just once. One chance to make amends, the clear his name to-

CRASH!

Arthur looked up through the back, glass sliding door that led to his backyard. Nothing moved. Suddenly, an orangish yellow light shot up into the night sky in the form of a column. After no more than three seconds, the light faded away. Arthur rubbed his eyes to make sure it was real, "What.. What was that?" he whispered.

Flying Mint Bunny fluttered from above his head looking a bit wary, "This doesn't feel right." it said as there was no furthur movement or display of light from outside.

Arthur struggled to get on his feet, but accomplished it and opened the sliding door with a push, "I'm going to check it out.. Whatever that was."

Fifi, the green fairy, flew in his face, "No! No it isn't safe, Arthur, please don't go out there." she said worriedly, pulling strands of hair to keep the Brit in place which of course proved noneffective as he swatted her away with his good arm.

"Just a look, no harm will be done," he smiled, "alright?" he stepped outside, the night was a little chilly.

Fifi glanced at Flying Mint Bunny with her violet eyes and flittered nervously as Arthur limped to the forest, "I sense something bad out there.." she said.

"Yeah," FMB said before sitting on a chair feeling uneasy, "me too."

"I do hope he'll be okay." Fifi whispered finally settling down, sitting next to the flying bunny.

xx

Arthur walked into the dark forest, using every tree he passed for support to keep walking. He saw an orange yellow light, like the very same light that was in the sky before. But this light was in the shape of a large flame. He followed the flame like light slowly, his curiousity inense. Several dwarves and elves warned him but the stubborn Brit didn't listen. And perhaps for some people that was a good thing that he didn't listen. But for others, it was the opposite..
As Arthur reached the end of the forest, white fog was blocking his path and the flame was nowhere to be found.

Arthur wiped sweat from his brow, pushing his aching bones was tiring. He breathed in deeply as his heart raced.

CRUNCH!

Arthur flinched at the sudden noise. He gulped. It came from.. in front of him. Shit he thought, Maybe I should've listened to Fifi. His fingers trembled but his eyes scanned the area. Just like before, the fog was too thick to for him to see beyond. A cool breeze swept some of the fog away, but it wasn't all gone. Arthur stepped foreward slowly, Baby steps..no need to rush. He was now in the middle of the fog and completely lost, he didn't know right from left or from where he came from. Then his heart froze when he saw an ominous shadow. The figure chuckled darkly and it seem to echoe. And when Arthur blinked, the shadow was gone. As Arthur turned around to find out where the shadow had gone he cried out in shock when the black shadow was directly behind him, his entire eyes were completely blood red and glowing. The shadow's white, sharp teeth were turned upwards in a frightening grin, while everything else on the shadow's body was pitch black.

"Ah!" Arthur fell onto his bottom. When he looked up, the shadow was nowhere to be seen, "W-wha.." He knew this 'thing' was bad, but something about it piqued his interest you could say, made it want to quench his curiousity even more.

"Why do you not come closer, Arthur Kirkland?" the dark voice called out suddenly.

Arthur jumped, "H-how do you," he stood bravely, looking around at every corner before walking in a straight path, "How do you know my name?"

The 'thing' chuckled lowly once more, "A better question would be, who doesn't?"

Arthur shivered as he heard something swish past him from behind, "What do you mean?" he asked, as he continued to walk forward.

"'Worthless Arthur'...'Nobody likes Arthur'...'Eyebrows'...'Fairy Boy'.." the voice said mockingly, "You are quite hated, aren't you?"

How did this thing know about him? How did it know about the names? "..I didn't choose to be."

The fog was clearing up as the Brit kept walking, "Of course you didn't choose to be, Arthur." the whispery voice said, "It's not your fault."

The ever so naive Brit slumped his shoulders and his eyes closed halfway, todays events really took its toll on him.

"All you want to do is to have the world be like the past. For your enemies to be your friends again."

Arthur gasped softly but kept walking, albeit hesitantly this time, "Y-yes.."

Arthur finally reached the end of the fog, and there was that same small flame like light from before, it flickered from the bottom of a tree, as he looked up, there on the tree branch was the shadow, the moon's light cascaded from the sky and the figures face was illuminated. The sinister grin was still set in place and his red eyes were narrowed but its eyes weren't completely red anymore, just the irises, like they should be.

Arthur took this in with scared, wide eyes. Sure he could take on bullies and their harsh words and cruel punches, but this.. this was an entity, a demon! His green eyes shook and darted looking at all of the demon, taking all of it in. Sweat trickled down his temple and his palms felt cold. This was unlike all the other magical and supernatural creatures he had ever encountered, "What.. just what are you?" he asked before he could stop himself.

The demon smirked evilly, "Why, my dear Arthur I am a Dream Eater."

Lenny: Well. How bout that? xD Like it so far? Want to drop a review?Please do so. Ah..so poor Artie encountered a...a DREAM EATER! my, as if things weren't bad enough.. well this might be for the best hehe hint^^; SO i really need your help on the next chapter, who should the Dream Eater be? please, this is crucial to the story. If you would like to PM me who instead of a review to keep it a secret and surprise from everyone else, please GO ON AHEAD! and pleeeeeeeeease do it soon. I'm thinking like Romania ...or idk it would help if i got some ideas. Til next time, Thanks !

so basically most of the bolded words in the dream/memory was child talk, u know the "wittle" or "wike" just so u know and dont get confused. They're around 5-7 or so.

oh mon dieu: oh my god in French
Mi dispiace: excuse me/im sorry in Italian
zefir: like a dry marshemellowy treat. its a Russian traditional sweet.
Ja: yes/yah in german
Pros'ba: please in Russian
((if theres anything else u dont get just hmu))