The grass crunched underneath Prussia's thick, black, boots as he had finally managed to get Hungary to go with him on his journey to this apparently amazing secret thing that was so very important to him. Before they had left the mansion the maid had made sure to put on some proper clothing fit for the outdoors. Her hair was up as well, much like she use to wear it when she was a child. It was nice. Kind of nostalgic really.

Prussia began conversation.

"Eliza? Did I ever tell you how I found Gilbird?"

"No. Not that I recall." The girl replied.

"Well it's a long story and I'm sure you wouldn't find it very interesting at all." Gilbert continued. "It makes no sense either considering how awesome I am!"

"If I wasn't interested I wouldn't have asked!"

"Alright, alright! Sheesh! But I'm telling you, it isn't as great as you would think it is!"

"Those are surprising words considering who they are coming from." Hungary said with crossed arms.

"Yeah. You're right." That sly man grinned. "Well anyway, before we get too off topic..."

He paused for a moment, straightening up his back and scratching his neck. Something about him seemed as though he didn't want to turn around to face his old rival.

"...It was a long time ago. I was on my way home from a great battle, when I heard this tiny chirp on the ground. It wasn't a very lively chirp, but it was certainly there."

He bit his lip, then released it from underneath his teeth. For some reason this was hard for him to talk about. Of all things, it was his pride that was stopping him.

Elizabeta looked at him. For once she seemed quite interested in his story.

"Well? Tell me more. You've gotten me curious now."

"First promise me you won't laugh."

Hungary let out a sigh.

"Cross my heart."

"Ok." He closed his eyes. "The little bird was injured on the battle field. His left wing was broken. So I scooped him up and took care of him. Then once he got better he's been following me ever since." He chuckled. "Honestly I didn't even notice he was doing it for a while until it was pointed out to me!"

Eliza's face softened when she heard this story. Gilbert had taken such good care of his little friend that it didn't even seem as though the little guy had ever been injured at all. There really was a soft side to the man.

Hungary let out a small chuckle, only for Gilbert to react with a dramatic point.

"OI YOU SAID YOU WOULDN'T LAUGH!"

"Oh no Gilbert. It's just that..." Her expression was a gentle one. "...I never knew you could be so sweet."

The comment took Prussia aback. His face was getting warm. Shit. This must have meant he was blushing! He raised his arm to cover the evidence tho, and turned around swiftly.

"Yeah well. Don't let it get to your head." He continued on, crunching noisily in the leaves below his boots. "The thing is this way."

Eliza followed in her dirty boots. She hadn't worn these in ages. As she was in good enough spirits to clean Mr. Austria's house, it seemed as though she didn't have the time to clean her own outdoor footwear. It didn't matter too much tho. They were bound to get dirty again sooner or later.

They stopped in the middle of the forest clearing. There was nothing there. Nothing but trees, grass, and dirt. Hungary was confused.

"Well? Where is this thing you wanted to show me. Gil? Gilbert what are you doing?"

The strange man appeared to be crawling around on the dirt. Occasionally he would press his head to the ground and knock a few times, then scoot to another area and do the same thing. Gilbird hopped about close by, pecking as though mimicking his master.

"I don't see what you are trying to accomplish Gilbert. There is a ground there, I know this."

A hallow noise and a loud "AH HA!" caused Liza to stop talking momentarily before becoming curious again.

"What is it?" She asked as Gilbert hectically began feeling the ground with his fingertips.

"A door! I discovered it while on one of my outings. I think it's magic or something."

"Magic?" Hungary tilted her head.

"Yes, magic! I know it sounds weird but for some reason every time I come out here during the day it doesn't sound hollow like this whenever I walk on it and usually disappears. But every night I go out here around this time, the door comes back!"

Eliza was about to doubt him, but as she watched the man dig his fingers into what appeared to be dirt, he lifted up the strange trap door that he was originally talking about in the first place. It seemed now that Eliza wanted in on the mistery, and walked beside Prussia to look down into the deep darkness below them.

Before she could stop him, Prussia was already climbing down some sort of rope ladder attached to the side of the doorway.

"G-Gilbert are you really going to go down there?"

The white haired man looked up at her, eyes shimmering with childish delight.

"Aren't you going to follow me?"

"D-down there?" She stepped back. "In the dark?"

"Yes in the dark!" Prussia's eyebrow raised into a teasing smirk. "Unless you're too scared."

"Don't joke like that. We don't know what's down there!"

"Ah ah! Correction. YOU don't know what's down there. But I do~" He replied in a sing songy voice. "Don't think that I woke you up in the middle of the night just to show you a magic trap door. Now come on."

The man held out his hand, then continued.

"Let's go on an adventure. Just like old times."

Eliza hesitated for a moment, pulling her delectate fingers back before finally reaching out and taking Gilbert's stronger hand. He gripped tightly, smiled crookedly at her, then helped her down into the black obis.

The woman found her footing on one of the tight rope pieces holding together the ladder. To be honest she wasn't so sure of this situation, however at the same time she couldn't help but have that childlike curiosity that she had been trying to hide for so very long. They were almost to the bottom.

"Here we are." Prussia said while lighting up a torch. He had already stepped onto the ground, Hungary following soon after. She made sure to stay close to Gilbert as he had their only source of light. Other than that, it was still pitch black. He began to walk out in front.

"W-wait Gil." She plodded up close to him again.

"What's wrong Eliza? Can't stay away from my awesome faaace~?"

"Guh! This is not a time to boast about your manly facial structure!"

"Manly is it?" Gilbert stroked his chin. "I knew you liked it!"

"Oh shut up."

She looked around.

"Where are we going anyway?"

"Just a few paces more."

Prussia had reassured. He then stopped and looked around. There were two tunnels. One to the right and one to the left. He took Hungary with him to the left. She was clinging onto his arm. She didn't want to say anything out loud but this underground cave gave her the creeps. She noted a few bats sleeping and hanging from the ceiling. There was also that creepy old cave sound of distant dripping that was giving her goosebumps on her arm.

"There are no big animals down here right? I didn't bring my gun."

"Of course not! Silly girl. A couple of snakes here and there but that's ok, I'll protect you."

He was joking of course but Eliza didn't know this.

"Snakes!?" The girl said in shock.

Prussia laughed his own snake like chortle and turned to look down at her. She got the point.

"You're fucking with me aren't you?" A deep sigh escaped.

"The cave closes for some reason during the day, so if there are any animals down here besides the bats, good luck to them."

"You idiot, we practically ARE animals. I hope you intend to take us out of here before daylight if what you are saying is true. About the cave closing I mean. Sounds like a bunch of pathetic bull crap to me but whatever. Why question when you can just witness later on anyway? It would be just my luck too."

Gilbert had stopped listening.

"Just a little further and we'll be there in no time."

He said this with confidence in his voice. However his expression had turned into one of concern as they got closer to their destination. Whatever this was that he wanted to show his friend was still very important to him.

Finally they came at a stand still. It was a dead end, but it seemed to be Prussia's destination. He stared at it for a moment, then turned to Liza.

"Check this out." He said to her, hinting that she should watch.

The platinum haired man then carefully placed the torch into some kind of holder attached to the wall. After that he backed up quickly, guarding Elizabeta with his arm and causing her to step back as well.

The wall BURST into flame, causing both individual's hairs to raise and flow about them. Their bodies glowed a bright orange from the reflection of the igniting fire momentarily, then all began to sit calmly once again.

There was something different to be noted. After Gilbert had lit the torch, the wall began to light up again. The spark licked across the cave. It went along the sides and right in front of them. Hungary looked at this with an expression of awe, then finally, their surroundings were glowing with a fiery outline of some giant picture.

"It's a map." Gilbert pointed out to her. "A very old map. Take a good look at it."

"It's beautiful..." Eliza's voice trailed off as she was still stunned by the shimmering sparks surrounding her and Gilbert.

After finally taking it all in, the girl stepped quickly to one of the countries.

"There's Holy Rome!" She grinned. "And ancient Rome too? Greece. Egypt! And there's China right there! They even separated them. An ancient world map and a modern one. Amazing."

"Yes. That's what I thought too." Gilbert nodded. "There's something wrong though. Do you see it?"

Hungary looked back at him with a grin still on her face from the excitement.

"What is it?"

"On the map I am very dull. My fire isn't as bright as the rest of them!"

"Oh that's a silly thing to worry about! I'm sure it's just a coincidence."

"But it's been happening every time! On both maps too! Why would that happen?"

"Gil you're looking into this too deeply! It's just a map you know. A very interesting map. But just a map."

"Did you know that I went to visit my brother at his home the other day?"

"No. What does that have to do with anything?"

"Barely anyone knew me!"

"So?"

"So...so what if I'm disappearing?"

Hungary stopped what she was doing and her eyes started to get a small hint of gloom in them. She wouldn't say that this affected her of course because of her own pride but, to be honest the thought of it made her rather upset.

"What do you mean Gilbert? You're right here. I can see you. I can touch you." She reached for him, but he stepped back.

"That might not la- mm. Nevermind."

"What? What is it Gilbert?"

"It's nothing. We should probably get going now. Maybe you were right and I'm just being paranoid. Come on." He took her hand, ready to lead her out of the cave before the sun could manage to peak over the horizon. There was something he wasn't telling Eliza...and it was beginning to bother her.