If you missed ch 7 for some reason, be sure to read it! Or else you'll be very, very confused.

Arthur glided through the halls of the castle on light feet. It was well into the night, as they had arrived back long past midnight. Arthur had bid the twins adieu back at the servant's quarters, and he was sent into the castle alone.

It was always quite dark at night, and if Arthur hadn't grown up wandering around the great stone building he surely would have run into walls and tables. He kept to the few secret passages he knew when he could, only there did he feel safe enough to produce a faint magic glow on his hand. When he finally arrived at the door to his room, he was completely drained of energy.

He opened the door slowly and slipped inside. It took him a while to realize that there was a light on in his room, and a figure in the armchair beside it.

"Oh, I see His Majesty is back home." Yao grumbled.

Arthur froze in his place and looked over the Jack.

His brows were furrowed and it was clear he was utterly angry. "Please, don't mind me. Have a seat," Yao said harshly, gesturing to the armchair in front of him. Arthur took small steps towards it and sat down, not meeting the Jack's eyes.

"Just what were you thinking?"

Arthur kept looking at his boots. He was still in peasant clothes. "I...I figured you wouldn't know I was going out since today is...you know..."

"Yes, I am well aware what today is!" Yao yelled. "In fact, I had planned on having a serious discussion with you because of what today is. But, well, apparently you have better things to do than run your kingdom!"

Yao took a deep breath and leaned back in his chair. "Now, I cannot put off this conversation any longer than I have. Arthur, listen to me."

Arthur looked up at his Jack. The man's anger had faded, and he now wore a weary expression that showed his age. "Arthur, you are an intelligent boy. As I'm sure you are aware, your destiny is not what we have thought it to be."

Arthur's eyes widened.

"Yes, Arthur. I know you have the powers of a Queen. I am the smartest man in Spades, I had hoped you did not think so little of me."

Arthur muttered a short apology.

Yao sighed. "Be that as it may, I am also sure you know that along with your powers increasing, you are shown a bit of your future at your coronation."

"Yes sir."

"Do you know what your parents saw?"

Arthur looked at Yao blankly. "No, sir."

"They saw each other dying on the battlefield. But they also saw this leading to the war's final end. Their selflessness stopped the war."

Arthur's eyes widened. They had seen...their doom? And they left to war anyway?

"Arthur, I was not shown my death. I was shown something else." Yao caught Arthur's gaze and held it firmly. "I saw a coronation. At the time, I had thought it was yours. But I now know better. You had already been crowned as Queen. The person next to you, though, was being crowned king."

Arthur's eyes widened. He had seen...Arthur's own future!

"I am surprised you haven't figured out who the King is meant to be already, but I believe I must tell you before the fear of change strikes all of our hearts. The King is Alfred."

Arthur stared at Yao blankly. Then what he said dripped into his consciousness. Arthur wanted to faint. All tiredness of before had left him, his heart beat fast and heavy in his ears, and he could feel that his hands were sweaty.

Yao allowed him a small smile. "My power is not the like the Queen of Hearts, but it does not need to be. Arthur, I know that you love him. I believe the magic has not changed that yet."

Heat rushed to Arthur's cheeks. He wanted to die. He wanted to melt into a puddle right there and have someone sweep him up...

"A-are...Will we tell him?"

Yao sighed. "I believe it would be best if we did. In my understanding, the boy has not had any proper schooling. If he is to run the kingdom he needs a head start. I would also much rather break the news to him slowly."

Arthur put his head in his hands. "...when?"

"Oh, let's say...tomorrow. I'll take him out of his training. Now get a good night's rest, Arthur. You're going to need it."

…...

The room fell to complete silence when the Jack of Spades walked in. They had been training in pairs, using dull swords to practice fencing.

"I need to see Alfred Jones."

Eyes flickered to the blonde in question. What had he done? He seemed like a nice enough person...He was always so kind. But...no one was called by the Jack of Spades for simple reasons.

Alfred stared bug-eyed around the room but eventually worked up his courage and dropped his sword, making his way to Yao, his armor clanking loudly against the silence. All eyes stayed trained on him.

"Yes, Your Majesty?"

"I need you to remove your armor and come with me. You're not in trouble. I simply need to speak with you."

Confusion ran through the guards. He wasn't in trouble? Then why would the Jack himself speak with him?

Alfred's shoulder's had relaxed a bit when the Jack had said he wasn't in trouble, but they immediately tensed back up. The man could easily have been lying so as not to cause worry to the rest of the troops. Oh, Alfred was going to be beheaded for sure!

Alfred unlatched his armor and slowly took it off, the quiet pounding in his ears. He striped off his chain mail shirt, feeling somewhat cooler. But he was still shivering with fear. As he followed Yao out the door, he cast one last look to the troops, as if to say tell my parents I love them.

Yao took quick purposeful strides down the hallway. Alfred found the path was familiar. Yao was leading him to the door he often guarded! Relief flooded through him. Perhaps something had happened to one of the guards and he was only filling in.

But when they arrived, Alfred found more than enough guards—in full uniform—standing outside of the door. Yao opened it and stepped to the side, gesturing for Alfred to enter.

Alfred had never gone into the room. He had no idea what to expect. He was a guard, he did as he was ordered and did not question it. But now he wished he had. What was in there?

Alfred walked into the room, Yao quickly following him, snapping the door shut.

The room was dark, as there were no windows. However, lights glistened on the ceiling. They were not candles. Instead, they looked like the birthday present Arthur had given him, only all white and not in any particular shape.

The floor was the purest white marble and the walls were almost silver. At the far end of the room, there was three glass pedestals. Sat on top of the shortest one was a small wristwatch. It looked fairly common besides the fact that it was gold. It was ticking quietly. The next to tallest pedestal held a large—extensively large—wall clock, all gold. It's hands were all ticking, the hour hand moving right along with the minute hand. They would spin in different directions. Sometimes clockwise, sometimes counter-clockwise.

The last pedestal held aloft a pocket watch in the shape of a Spade. It too was gold, but it was not ticking.

Standing in front of this display was undoubtedly Arthur, his cloak adorned with purple and dark blue spades. He was facing the clocks, not Alfred and Yao.

"Artie? What's going on?"

Arthur flinched at Alfred's voice.

Yao walked into the center of the room. "Alfred, we have something to talk about. But under Arthur's insistence, we would be grateful if you would come and hold this clock for us first."

Alfred looked at Arthur. He still hadn't turned around. "Um...okay..."

The Royal Guard made his way slowly to the clocks, looking at Arthur all the while. The blonde remained motionless.

"Which one?"

"The pocket watch, if you please." Yao answered.

Alfred reached down, and picked up the watch. It wasn't very heavy, as he expected it to be. It didn't explode, or start glowing, or burn his skin. Nothing happened.

Then, he heard it.

It was ticking.

It certainly hadn't been before, but now it's hands were moving in a similar fashion to the large clock. "Oh! It's..."

Arthur had turned to stare at him. He had a look of pure horror on his face. Yao was grimacing. "Yes, as I thought. Alfred, you may put down the clock."

Alfred did so immediately. "Wh-what's going on?"

"Alfred," Yao said, placing a steady hand on the boy's shoulder, "have you ever noticed that you were very strong? Stronger than everyone? Without trying?"

"W-well...maybe a bit..."

"Alfred," Yao said quietly, "has anyone ever said that you had the strength of a King of Spades?"

"U-uh...a few times bu-"

"Has it ever occurred to you that they might be correct?"

Alfred stopped. "What?"

"Alfred, you are the future King of Spades."

Time seemed to stop. Realization seemed to come crashing down on Alfred. The only thing to remind him that the world kept turning was the constant ticking of the clocks. "N-no way! I can't be the King! I'm...I'm just a peasant!"

"That didn't stop you from trying to be an Ace."

Alfred didn't know what to do. It...it was impossible! "No, I can't be the king! I think you've just confused me with someone else!"

"Alfred," A quiet voice said behind him. The blonde whirled around. Arthur was facing him now, but he was hiding behind his bangs. "That clock that you picked up belonged to the original King of Spades. It only ticks when it has been touched by the King."

Alfred stared at him, his mouth grazing the floor. "Wh-wh..."

"Al," Arthur looked up through his hair. His green eyes were blazing. "You," he said sternly, his voice radiating power, "are my King."

DRAMA~

Oh, if only I had wifi...Yeah, it's still out. MEH. I WILL POST THIS CHAPTER. EVENTUALLY.

So...yeah. I have lots of angst planned~ Oh I'm quivering in excitement.

Oh, and did any good stories get taken down yesterday? It sucks what's happening...

Sorry for any mistakes, I'm American!

-Mallory