Disclaimer: Don't own Hetalia.

Chapter 07

After the quick rest, they soon got back onto the car and sped off, leaving the lake behind as the Skykarks now swooped down to feed on the still warm carcass of their once predator. When Alfred had Yao do a detour, both Yao and Ludwig had been expressly unhappy with it. But the next location they'd stopped by had unknowingly set everyone onto a better mood. The lake glistered golden, reflecting the hue of the yellow patched trees around it. They stepped out of the car as the wind came, rustling the tree as the yellow shades of the trees fluttered away from the tree. Feli's eyes glistered in surprise as he recognised the small yellow 'leaves' as birds as they flew around to meet in the middle and swirled, the enchanting spiralling dance in the air reflected on the surface of the water.

"You think this is nice? Wait till you go deeper." Alfred grinned as everyone around him gaped in wonder at the sight before them.

Kiku and Arthur glanced at the angry Chinese following slowly at the back of the group, awkwardly jerking back when Antonio patted Yao's shoulder in comfort. They went pass the sparkling lake towards the woods. It was not long before they reached a flight of stone stairs. They all climbed silently and felt the air getting cooler as they reached the top. Feli let his breath out as his eyes took in the long awaited view. Along the stairs they could make out that they were climbing a mountain but when they're finally up here, the pathway circling along the slope of the mountain they are on connected and circled the one right in front of them was a gorgeous view.

Soon, the path ended. But Alfred led on, they trekked their way up and across. Alfred chuckled as Feli went on about how beautiful this place was as he slipped a few times making everyone jump to his rescue. They joked about ghost, spirits and even cannibals appearing but none complaining about the fact that they had been walking for quite a while now. Some had guessed where this was and felt uncomfortable mentioning it while some, on the other end, was being too busy admiring the sights around them, as birds flew pass, breaking the soft light littering the lush green below their feet. Arthur could feel a slight change in the atmosphere as they headed up to whatever the dumb Alfred wanted to take them. There was a sense of power rippling through the air. He breathed in deep, savouring the fresh cool air, but there was something different in it. It left a slight taste, like someone had added a dash of-

"Salt!" Arthur turned as Feli shouted out in excitement behind him. "Ne ne Ludwig I smell salt! Are we near the sea?!"

"Come on, just a bit further and see for yourself!" Antonio smiled sheepishly instead when Ludwig shrugged in response. They slid carefully down towards the visible continued pathway that lead to an open cave.

"This is… Amazing." He murmured, feeling the pulse of pure energy as they made their way into the cave opening, a few ropes and stairs leading to openings at both their side.

"It's too soon to be amazed." Alfred smirked, walking towards a certain opening.

"Quick walk in and out alright, you don't want to get lost down there," Yao urged as Alfred hushed them onwards. Antonio took out a silver tube and unscrewed it, revealing a light tube. He took the lead, Alfred closely followed by Feli, Arthur and Ludwig entered the cave with Kiku, Ivan and lastly Yao lagging behind.

As they ventured in, Arthur summoned a few light orbs. He left some hovering near them and some out towards the space to have a clearer look. The crystals shimmered from the reflection, glittering in the dark. As they continued slowly on the cave seem to brighten and true to that Antonio kept his light source. Arthur followed on tensely and entered the bright section of the cave. Pure untainted magic poured out from within as Crystals, Astral Crystals littered every corner of the cave. Their light radiating out, illuminating the cave with multitudes of colours. White, red, green, blue, yellow, orange, purple, all the colours coming together in harmony, painting the walls of the cave in a vibrant display of wonder.

"Waa…" Feli's eyes twinkled.

Arthur breathed. It was breath taking, both in appearance and in power. Yao frowned, disliking where this is going. He butted in before Alfred could speak, "Let's go already!"

Ludwig wanted to shoot back but Arthur spoke, stopping him. "Yes, I believe we should go".

They slowly retreated, this time Yao and the others who were once at the back leading. Feli glanced at the glittering crystals and Arthur's magic orbs, smiling timidly in thanks when he caught Arthur looking at him.

Yao led them back to the entrance and was about to leave from the direction they came from, Alfred shouted a complain saying since they were here they should just see the other side and leave from the other side. Without waiting for a reply, Alfred led on. They emerged on a side overlooking the clear blue sea. The other side was a high wall with stairs. The warm sun shined down as birds cried overhead as waves lapped against the smooth rocks. Fishes swam blissfully underneath the currents, spreading out and hiding among the corals whenever a bird dived down, cutting the surface of the crystal clear waters, sending ripples in all directions. They could even see one of the many lands of Nullus past the stretch of water, just a short swim away.

Ivan seeing how distressed Yao is patted his back softly, "Since we're already here and they've already seen it, take it easy. Da?"

Yao smiled weakly back at him, then flumped his arms in the air in defeat, "Ahhhh! I don't care anymore aru!" Yao walked over to a nice patch of grass and sat there, crossing his arms but a smile on his face.

Feli seeing this joined Yao, "Yao-yao could you please tell me more about this place? You can just tell me what you can! It is just so beautiful!"

"Yao yao?" Yao blinked as Alfred laughed, "Yao yao~" Alfred taunted. To be expected Ivan followed suit, "Yao yao~ tell me~"

"Isn't it alright Yao yao-san," Japan sat beside him and smiled.

Yao's smile twitched in anger as Feli cluelessly celebrated a new friend's new nickname.

"YOU GUYS!"

It was only when they were leaving and Feli asked a simple question did Yao and Arthur explained this place. To summarise, both Sanctus and Nullus has been fighting over this place. Sanctus saying it's their land, and Nullus, in their waters.

"Understandable seeing the Astral Crystals in there." Arthur sighed.

"I see…but I really liked the crystals that looked like stars when we weren't that deep in." Feli slumped looking down at where the pathway ends, "It'll be nice to see the pathway be completed one day."

"Yes indeed."

The rest of day went pass without much trouble. After getting back to their car, Alfred constantly had Yao do some detours for sightseeing much to Yao's said disapproval. However Alfred could see Yao was having fun himself, introducing the creatures and fora enthusiastically, picking some herbs along the way. Even Ludwig had become silent and smiled gently at his fiancé's fuss. As night fell, after an unexpected dinner of pasta from Feli, courtesy of Arthur who had brought the ingredients out from his magic circle, the tired party having finally felt the tiredness of the battle and sight-seeing opted to spend the night sleeping in the car instead of setting up a camp.