Chapter 13 Blood and tears
Alfred stood next to Mexico and Spain. All three of them looked in confusion as Arthur's pirate ships joined the navy's ships and rapidly approached the Armada. The armada still outnumbered them, but before they got into firing range they all heard a gunshot blast across the ocean and certain ships roared into flames. Antonio's eyes widened with fear as he watched the fiery ships approach, still being sailed.
Alfred heard Antonio mutter something about new weaponry. Alfred was pretty sure it wasn't a new weapon but he had no idea what was going on. All he knew was that he was frightened. His family was fighting Mexico's and he didn't want to lose his family again, but he didn't want his friend to lose his family either. Of course it didn't look like he could have both. He gripped Mexico's hand and tried to look brave. In his other he held his revolver.
"Va a estar bien, lo prometo. (It is going to be ok I promise)" Alfred assured Mexico
But before anyone could speak or Antonio could give orders there was a sound of numerous canons being fired. All three ran to the side of the ship that was closest to Arthur and his brothers fleets. There in the front of all the ships was Arthurs schooner, The Black Thorn, which had been blasted by a large ship of the line just across from it. The Thorn turned into a black cloud of splintered wood and then when the splinters of wood died down all that was left was a black skeleton of the ship.
"Wasn't that one of England's own ships that fired?" Asked a puzzled Mexico
Alfred jumped up and snatched Antonio's spy glass from his hand and scanned the ship of the line. There he felt his heart sink and tears well up in his eyes.
"Uncle Iain and..." Alfred was silent
It was the long blonde haired man from his dream. His papa France. Alfred let out a yell of frustration and threw the spy glass down. His uncles had turned against his dad, so had his papa, the Armada just wanted to take his dad out... really what chance did England have against at least three enemies at once? Alfred felt his eyes sting with tears as he tried to hold them back. He started when he felt a hand grab his sleeve softly.
"It's ok, we found each other now." A familiar yet unfamiliar quite voice said
Everyone turned to look and there grasping Alfred's sleeve was a longer haired purplish eyed clone of Alfred. Alfred stared and the others gasped. The clone just smiled and hugged his shocked brother who finally let out his tears.
"I'm Matthew or actually known as Canada, I'm your twin brother Alfred, or should I say America?" The younger twin said while they hugged.
Suddenly Alfred's eyes flew open and he pulled out of the hug. He was a little slower to realize the obvious unlike Antonio and Mexico who were approaching the nervous looking Canadian.
"Matty, how did you get here?" Alfred asked
"Just don't look behind us." Mathew replied with a whimper.
Naturally as he said not to do it everyone did it. The deck held large puddles of blood. Infact it looked like blood had flooded the deck. As the four walked on the damage could be seen. Men from Antonio's crew looked up from there awkward positions on the deck with glassy eyes. Some had sword marks others had had throwing knives embedded in their chest or neck, but most had had their throats slit.
Alfred had to fight the urge to throw up as he felt blood soak through his boots. Judging from the pale looks on the other boys faces they felt just as horrified and queasy as him. Even a seasoned fighter like Antonio looked pale as he weaved through the remains of his crew.
"Now, now, this isn't a sight for those boys to see now is it Spain old chap?" A voice said coming from the shadows
Antonio span round as did Alfred. There glinting angrily in the darkness where a pair of wild green eyes, almost feral cat like, a quality his elder brother had permanently but only showed up in their owners eyes when he was in a wild rage. The man in the shadows laughed a cold laugh and stepped into light.
Alfred was so shocked that he collapsed to the ground and Matthew knelt next to him with a whimper. Arthur was soaked in blood, his decorated sword was by his side with blood dripping down its blade. Luckily his jacket was red, as this hid some of the gore, which was what it was designed to do. However his black pants and boots where covered in the thick red liquid and his pale face had ruby droplets on his cheek which stood out perfectly. His expression held a cold smile that obviously spoke of a man who had lost everything he loved in a short amount of time.
"I've come to take my son back. Comprendo? But first..." Arthur informed them as he walked to a nearby canon.
Antonio took a step to stop him but stopped, his curiosity getting the better of him. Arthur loaded the canon at an amazing speed. He then lit it and leapt back with a cold smile gracing his features.
"Au revior mon amour."Arthur muttered to himself quietly
In response to Arthurs farewell the canon blasted and at a blink of an eye the ship of the line that Francis and Iain where on exploded in a burst of splinters and flames. The extra gun powder that Arthur knew was in the hold gave it extra explosive strength. After all he, Arthur, had given the gun powder to Francis. The ship became a ball of flames. Matthew wasn't aware of who was on it but Alfred was. Alfred let out a gasp of horror.
Arthur noticed the gasp from Alfred and strode across to him and placed his hand gently on the boys head.
" You'll see them later. We are all Nations, we're practically immortal. The only one at risk of death here was me. It just mean's you and your brother will be staying with me for awhile." Arthur said calmly
Alfred grit his teeth. That was his and Matthew's papa and uncle. Both whom his father was supposed to love, yet he had mercilessly blown them up. Nations maybe near impossible to kill, but they felt pain. Alfred felt tears run down his face. Will he ever get to meet his papa? Did his father care for anyone but himself and getting power? Alfred clenched his fists and his eye caught on something shiny and silver near his leg. His revolver.
Arthur walked away from his twin sons leaving them behind him and approached Antonio and Mexico. Antonio roughly pushed Mexico behind him and charged at a seemingly unarmed Arthur with a giant battle axe that he had picked up from somewhere in the commotion. Just as he swung the axe to cleave Arthur in half there was a clash as Arthur blocked it with his revolver made of iron which also had roses carved all over it. The force of the collision caused them both to leap back to avoid falling. If you fell in a battle it was hard to get back up, and very easy for your enemy to strike a killing blow.
Antonio quickly regained his footing, he was going to use the end of his axe handle to wind Arthur then give him a blow with the blade but as he turned to get momentum he found himself staring down the barrel of Arthur's gun. Antonio's eyes widened in fear as Arthur smirked his muscles tensing to pull the trigger. However the answering gunshot was not his, instead Arthur dropped his gun and grasped his upper arm. Eyes wide he span to face a determined Alfred.
Alfred grasped his revolver in both hands refusing to lower it even after he shot his farther. The boy stood in front of the two younger boy's looking, even though he was defiantly not aware of it himself, like the hero. The two other boys had tear stained faces, but not Alfred. He was done with crying, that got him nowhere with his bloodthirsty family. He would cripple both of the older nations if he had to, if it meant neither of them would pick up their weapons. He had the skill to do so. He smiled at the irony that Arthur had taught him the skills for him to do such things.
Arthur saw the smile and the hard eyes that Alfred flashed his way. Instead of feeling fear like any normal person, he felt proud. His Alfred was holding a revolver after shooting his own farther and smiling with a calculating look.
"You really will make a fine Pirate." Arthur told Alfred laughing
"No. I will never become a pirate. You're a villain. I want to be a hero so I must not follow in your footsteps." Alfred replied
Arthur looked at his son with a smirk. Really the smirk was hiding the pain of his breaking heart which was far more painful than any bullet in the arm. With a sigh of defeat he raised both his hands and allowed his gun to fall on the blood soaked deck with a clatter. Alfred turned his gun on Antonio.
"Your turn next." Alfred commanded
Antonio raised his eyebrow. He knew Alfred was a good shot. The boy even out skilled him. He found himself secretly agreeing with Arthur the boy would really make an amazing pirate. He allowed his axe to fall to the ground.
"Thank you. Could you both stop for a moment and look around? You've both forced us to see things that no child should ever see. I've been forced to watch my family die, Matthew has seen crew men being slaughtered where they stood, and Mexico was about to see a person he cared about die as well. You claim to care about us, but what parent or guardian would put their child through such pain? Do we matter so little to you?" Alfred asked his breath catching in his throat
"Of course not!" Antonio and Arthur said in union
Arthur sighed and stepped forward. He wasn't too worried about being shot again. He had given Alfred what he wanted right?
"Come boys lets go home then. I suppose I will soon have to hang up my pirates hat completely." Arthur told them.
Arthur knelt on the deck ignoring the sticky wetness of the clotting blood beneath him and held both his boys. Alfred allowed his arm with the gun to fall by his side. Soon all three where in a bone crushing hug. Arthur muttered some words in a mixture of gaelic and latin without moving away from the boys. Mexico and Antonio watched as the three began to fade and then disappeared.
The three blondes landed on something soft as they fell upon the navy schooner. Looking below them Alfred saw his Uncle Wales and let out a cry of happiness and almost strangled him in his hug. Arthur allowed his poor brother to turn slightly blue from the hug before pulling himself and the boys away from him. Tristain stood spluttering .
"Cymru, it's your turn lets finish this." Arthur said absently as he watched his two boys charge off, both obviously thinking the battle was over.
"Fine. Next time Albion could you choose a better landing spot?" Tristain grumbled
Tristain placed a whistle to his lips and blew with all his might. Arthur watched as all the remaining ships and those on fire took formation. They began the chase. The once mighty Armada fired at them, but with the strategic locations of the Brits own ships they were able to take down a few of Antonio's ships.
Still they wouldn't win just with that. The Brits gave chase, and Arthur watched with a smug smile as Antonio, who was still unnerved by the flaming ships, fled. Before Antonio could realize that the flaming ships where nothing special it was too late. Under Arthurs careful navigation of the whole fleet he had chased the Armada upon the very corals that surrounded his island for miles. He watched as the whole Armada fell prey to the rocks and smiled.
"You did it Albion, your king of the seas." Cymru said in disbelief
"I am Cymru, and soon I will be so much more." Albion replied devilishly
Authors notes:
The brittish navy did set fire to their ships and Chase the Armada on to rocks. Scotland and France also used the Auld alliance and decided to attack England while the English where also taking on the Armada. This part was true.
Mexico and America's part was more fiction.