The Heroes had left the ship seeing an entrance within the mountains. Right now they were climbing the rocky surface of the mountains trying to reach said entrance. Well most of them were climbing.

"How are you doing that?" Spain asked, panting softly.

"Haha," The Black mage laughed, his feet hovering inches from the ground. No strain of climbing up the peek for him. "It's an ability called float~"

"How about sharing some of that ability with us?" huffed the bard.

"And waste my mana? I think not."

The rest of the group sighed but eventually made it into the cave. "Are you sure the crystal is here." Norway asked.

Iceland nodded. "Yes. It's about finding it's location through the winding mountain tunnels."

Arthur summoned a small ball of fire in his hands, lighting up the dark passageways.

The group walked for a long while in silence.

"This is looking hopeless," The bard sighed. "We're lost in here. Perhaps that knight is too. Let us go back."

"We can't just go back," the scholar sighed. "We need to make sure this life source is okay."

There was another shared sigh within the group and they continued on until the passage way split into several different ways.

"Now what?" Spain asked. "Do we just split up?"

Iceland glanced at each road. "Well…"

"Oi Oi, This is ridiculous. I feel like we've been running around this cave for days! Are you sure you led me to the right place little guy?"

The group tensed up, seeing the albino appearing from one of the passageways, most likely talking to the little bird on his head.

He froze when he saw them. His scarlet eyes wide. Their expression was similar.

"We can't fight here," whispered Iceland. "It may cause the cave to collapse or something."

It seemed a Knight may have had a similar thought. "Keseseesese," he cackled and bolted down another passageway.

Spain took charge. "I'll chase him, Norway follow me, the rest split up. We have to find the life force and protect it!" The Spaniard ran off, chasing the knight through the caves. The Summoner right behind him.

"This way then," the Bard sighed running down the only option left. Arthur sighed following, the scholar just a step behind.

They ran through the winding tunnels, hoping they didn't end up getting lost deeper in the depths.

The Austrian bard narrowed his eyes. "I see something ahead. Arthur can't you make that light any brighter?"

"Not unless you enjoy getting burned." scoffed the Englishman.

"Oh!" Roderich now realizing what he saw. It was nothing. He slid to a stop warning the others to do the same. His boots stopping just before the edge. He barely got a sigh out when his heart started racing again Arthur and Iceland slamming into his back. He put his hands on the wall. "Idiots!"

The Black Mage peeked over his shoulder. "What's down there?" Iceland did the same to his other shoulder.

"I don't know. All I can see is fog. And I don't care to find out.

"Is there a way to cross?" Iceland asked.

"No." The Austrian huffed, removing his hands from the wall to fix his glasses.

"Hey! Move!" A rough voice growled.

The Austria's held the sides of the wall again, his boots sliding closer to the edge. "Stop it!" he demanded.

"Eh? Why?" Silvery hair pushed the mage out of his way so he could see. "Or. it's a cliff. Well that ain't convenient."

It was the knight! Which meant the other's would be right behind! "Back up at once you buffoons" The bard demanded.

"Don't you boss me around," huffed the black mage. The Knight nodding in agreement.

The bard felt another force hit his back his toes sliding off the edge. "Back up!" he shouted.

"Are you guys stuck?" asked the ever cheerful voice of Spain.

"NO!" the group declared.

"I'll give you a push."

"NO!"

And with one big push, Spain pushed the whole group, and the knight, off the cliff.

The Austrian felt his heart stop as he felt a the group cling to him. They were going to die!

But before he could really complete that thought his feet hit the ground, but with the force of everyone clinging to him and panicking made him fall over right after that. The drop had only been a few feet, if that. The mist had hidden the ground from them making it look like the fall could have been much longer.

"Everyone okay?" Spain asked.

"You could have killed us!" snapped the Black Mage, pushing himself up of the bard whom everyone had landed on.

Spain landed gracefully beside the group as it's members picked themselves up off the ground. "It's foggy down here."

"It's a mist." Iceland said calmly, brushing his dark brown robes off. "The Evenstar is creating it."

"Kesesese~" and with that the Knight was off running into the white mist.

"Stop him!" Norway shouted giving chase.

Through the mist there was a bright light. That had to be where the life source was.

"AHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

Everyone froze looking for the sudden obnoxious laugh.

"There!" Iceland pointed up. On a ledge above the party there were five figures spread about, forming a half circle around the group. The one in the center had his hands on his hips. His fingers in reach of some scary looking guns in holsters, there was also a whip at his hip. A brown fedora sat on the blondes head, with one little blonde hair sticking straight up. He also had bright blue eyes and square glasses.

He had two other companions at each of his sides. To the right was a man with slicked back blonde hair and sharp piercing blue eyes. He was in decorative armor and his cape was black, gold and red. He had a large broad sword placed in front of him, his hands firmly on the hilt. Beside him was a girl in all black, her mouth was covered by a mask. But she had dark hair done up and pink flowers in her hair.

At the leaders other side, was someone short, in a white robes. Their face was hidden by the hood of their robes. And lastly their was a man with golden eyes and dark hair tied into a pony tail. Plainly dressed compared to the others, lose clothing that left room for movements.

The party members, and the knight, drew their weapons. Swords were out, and mana sparked at Arthur and Norway's fingertips, the Bard placed his bow carefully on the strings of his instrument.

The blonde haired leader simply smiled. "I'll give the orders here, as I'm the hero!" He swung his hand to the side. "Go! China!"

The one on the far end stiffened slightly in surprise at being called, but in a second he had jumped down. "Ai ya!" He threw a punch hitting the albino in the jaw. Then he jumped up and kicked the Bard in the chest. A swinging kick to the stomach for the Black Mage. An uppercut punch to the Summoner. A quick roundhouse kick to the Spaniard. It all happened in seconds to the group. And they all fell to the ground at about the same time.

The scholar held his large book in front of his face to protect himself from the attacks to come, but the fist fighter made no move to attack Iceland.

England's back hit the ground and he slid a ways back. He groaned and opened his eyes. It was bright. "Oh!" There hovering just above him was a small shining jeweled pendent. The Evenstar!

The mage grinned and reached for it.

"Hahahaha! I don't think so." A click was heard and the Englishman turned his attention to their attackers. The leader was holding a silver pistol at him. Guns were still new to these lands, but one thing was certain, they were dangerous. The emerald eyed wizard scowled but lowered his arm. There was no question what would hit first, a bullet or a spell…

The rest of the other group jumped down from the ledge.

"We've captured them Jones, looks like we wont have to use your super weapon after all." said the girl in black.

"What?" the blue eyed leader cried. "We can still totally use it!"

"Aiya…. It's really unnecessary, aru." the one that had beat them up declared. "Let's just tie them up and throw them out. We've protected the life force, that's all that matters."

"Awwwww. But I really want to use it!" he puffed out his cheeks pouting.

The blonde who was dressed in the fancy armor sighed. "We don't even know if it's safe."

"Seychelles!" The leader cried. "You want to see me use it right! It's going to be really cool!"

The one in the white robes shifted their one weight from one foot to the other, debating. The figure nodded, pulling down her hood. She was a tanned skinned young lady, with dark hair in pigtails with white ribbons. She looked at the American curiously. "It's going to be really cool?"

"Yeah totally!"

"Then let's do it!" she said excitedly.

"That's the spirit!" The American still held his pistol at the mage but pulled another and pointed it towards the ledge his group had been standing at. "Follow my gun boys and girls." he directed them to the large bolder sitting just above the ledge. It was being held in place by a few thin pieces of rope. "Prepare to be dazzled by something awesome!"

The Prussian perked up at the words awesome, he looked up at the bolder to see what was so awesome about it.

The Monk that had destroyed the party looked from Gunman to the bolder to the Gunman to them. His golden eyes widened for a moment. "Wait!"

It was to late, the American fired his gun, the bullet hitting the ropes and splitting them, causing the bolder to slowly roll fee.

"You idiot! We're on the ground too, aru. We're going to get crushed with these morons!"

The Gunman looked around. "Oh I see…"

"You wanker!" The Black Mage snapped gripping the man by his jacket. "What were you thinking." Emerald eyes narrowed looking into blues… surprisingly familiar blues…"I just can't get the hang of magic… please don't be disappointed in me, Iggy," He found himself slowly letting go and he didn't know why.

"Well." The American said brushing off his shirt from where he had been grabbed. "There is of course only one thing to do." His own group nodded slightly. "Retreat!" The American and his team bolted through the white mist, the bolder coming free from it's netting and slamming on the ledge then onto the ground.

"Prisa, prisa! Follow them or we'll be smashed flat!" said Spain jumping up and following. The rest of the team and the knight doing the same. The bolder gaining speed as it rolled after them.

The group of eleven ran as fast as they could through the passageway. Running as fast as they were able to stay just ahead of the bolder.

"I guess," panted the Gunman, "this wasn't such a good idea after all."

"Ai ya," grumbled the Monk.

The girl in white robes pointed. "There is the exit. But!" She glanced behind her. "The life source stealers will get out too."

"We're not trying to steal the life source!" snapped the bard, holding his sides as he ran.

"Speaking of the Evenstar…" Iceland panted. "It was probably crushed by the bolder!"

"Kesesesesese,"

"You're an idiot Jones," sighed the Ninja.

"The bolder crushed the Evenstar?" The American said shocked.

"Oh no! We failed to protect another one!" The Warrior sighed.

"I did say that if you used the bolder, we'd crush the life force, back when you first had this idea…" A deeper voice said.

"Alfie is a dummy~ Alfie is a dummy~" sang the girl in white, skipping instead of running.

The bard huffed angrily. "You all anger me so much, if there was a way for me to express my anger to you all right now-"

"Save it Priss, you look like you're about to fall over, better focus on running, save your anger for another time, ja?"

"Silence you barbarian, it's your fault we're in this mess. You going around destroying the life forces." "Kesesesese, I didn't destroy this one~"

"Shut up," huffed Norway. "Let's just keep running so we don't die."

"I have an idea…" The black mage slid to a stop. Holding out his hands in front of him. Arthur closed his eyes, summoning his magic to his fingertips and forming a barrier in front of him. One that would hopefully stop the large rock.

THUD

The black mage opened his eyes surprised to see that he had made a perfect barrier. He shook his head. Of course he had made a perfect barrier.

"Nice one!" The gunman said, walking back, seeing that they no longer had to flee for their lives. "I knew this one black mage, he was pretty terrible."

"I am of course the best of the best." Arthur said haughtily, turning to look at the American, but finding he couldn't keep the others gaze. Those blue eyes looked so…

"OI! It's West!" The Prussian grabbed the blonde knight's hands. "Where have you been little bro. Man I am so glad I found you! Now you can help me on my most awesome quest. There are two more of those life force things to go."

"Nein." the blonde said pulling his hands away from the other. "I will not assist you on your quest. I have sworn to defend the life forces."

Scarlet eyes went wide. "Defend them?"

"And I will defeat any who seek to destroy them."

"D-Defeat?"

"Ja. Even you, bruder."

Gilbert stepped back when he saw his brother reach for his blade. He couldn't believe this. "Yeah, well whatever. I don't need your help West! I'm better off doin this alone! I've always been better off alone! It's awesome to be alone!" The Knight adjusted his black and white cape and turned and ran out of the cave. He had a job to do, and he'd do it all alone!

The American adjusting his hat sighing. "So, sorry about breaking the second life force. That's totally my bad. If it's okay with you, can we team up, and we'll help you all save the next one,"

Spain smiled happily. "That sounds like a wonderful idea! The more people we have the better things will be." he held out a hand which the American quickly took.

"Awesome!" The American smiled widely. "My team is awesome. We have me, the best Gunman this world has ever seen. Yao is a great monk, as you know his punches hurt. Ludwig is a Dark Knight, Taiwan is a Ninja, and little Seychelles is a White Mage, she can cure anything!"

Spain nodded excitedly. "Wonderful! Our team is getting stronger. Then we must hurry along and get to the next life source and protect it!"

"Right!" the American gave the Spaniard a thumbs up. "No more foul ups!"

Iceland stepped up. I guess we should head South… to the Great Seed."

The Black Mage shivered. "Ugh. I don't want to get back on that frog's ship."

"Ship? We can walk it. We're on the other side of the mountains now. It's a long walk but there is no need to take a boat." the ninja said.

"Then let us go." Said Spain excitedly. Determined to save the last two life sources no matter what.

Japan paused in his story telling for a moment to stretch a bit. The nations had finished eating for the most part.

"That bolder thing seemed really familiar" complained Sealand. "Did you take that from somewhere America?"

"Pssh. No way!" He gave the young blonde a thumbs up.

Arthur rolled his eyes the name off the movie on the tip of his tongue but unable to actually place it. American movies were terrible. He made sure to remind the American of that as often as he could.

"So, like, what's going to happen next?" Poland asked. The other countries looked to Japan, waiting for him to continue.

Kiku smiled, flipping a page in his notebook. "Well, let's see. There are only two life sources left to protect. And Gilbert is more determined then ever to destroy them…"

~A/N ~

Kesesese

That scene with America and the bolder, telling China to go attack the party members has been in my head for ages. I wanted America to be dressed like Indiana Jones, the hat and whip, everything. Reenact the scene where China goes and beats up the Axis Powers, then ends up getting them all almost killed with the bolder. X.D So that part wasn't by chance. The rest of Alfred's team was. And Arthur stopping the bolder was too. Seeing as how these guys have been rolling I was all ready to write about the barrier breaking and the force sending everyone flying out of the cave, but the black mage rolled a perfect twelve.

With Alfred here now I can work on getting a little USUK going. I need Hungary to show up as well soon so my love triangle can begin. Romano for Spain too! X3 I love the ideas everyone is giving me. I in fact plan to use one of them next chapter. ;) I'll be sure to credit you. So thanks for that. Anything else I'm happy to hear it.

I hope everyone enjoys :D And thanks to all the awesome reviewers, favs and alerters. And people who click on this fic in general. You're all awesome.