A/N: Next chap is out~ Fast wasn't it I'm awesome aren't I -shot- anyways thanks for liking/fav and continuing to read my fic. Hope you look forward to the next chap~

Me: Yes, i didn't bother editing her msg above.

Disclaimer: Don't own Hetalia.

Chapter 14

"-ke up."

Alfred groaned, feeling something cold and wet sliding down his face. "Wake up." A muffled yelp escaped his throat when more cold and wet substance fell onto his face and into his open mouth. Alfred jumped up onto his feet, only to slip and fall down hard onto the… cold soft ground? He glanced his groggy eyes down to see soft white snow below him before looking up at Ivan's smiling face, raised hand holding a huge pile of snow.

It took a moment for reality to hit Alfred in the face, literary, as Ivan smacked the loosely packed snowball at him.

"Get up, it's dawn." Ivan said, offering a hand to a scowling Alfred who took it, muttering something under his breath Alfred turned his head up, staring at the bleak cloudless sky, yawning heavily.

Alfred looked to see Arthur standing in front of him. The emerald eyed man held out a piece of charred looking matter, waiting for Alfred to take it. "It's bread. I baked it back at home. Eat it." He stuffed it into Alfred's hands, a hint of pride in his voice before turning towards Antonio by the Faris, another of his 'bread' in hand.

Alfred eyed the dark matter in his hands before shrugging, taking a small bite, noting that it didn't taste as bad as it looked. He took a look around chewing slowly before walking over towards Yao and Kiku who were sitting at the corner talking. They both greeted him as he approached them to crowd at the fire.

"Ah Alfred-san, we were discussing over what would be the best course of action to take right now." Kiku looked up, hand holding a twig as he continued to scribble on the snow.

"Isn't that simple? We head back to Sanctus and Oblitus, warn everyone, rally the troops and come marching back." Alfred said, taking another bite as Yao and Kiku stared at him with horror.

"It's not that simple." Yao sighed when Ivan came over, dusting his gloved hands. "We don't have any evidence of what is going on."

Yao elaborated on, giving Kiku an apologetic smile. "I don't know about Oblitus, but even if His Majesty do believe you aru, the rising Monte numbers are already putting the soldiers on the edge. Ordering them to invade another nation would cause nothing but unrest aru, to both the army and the people."

"Likewise, we have to warn Nullus. With their representatives killed, they have no idea what is going on. We have to inform them as well. Worse, they might think that we're invading another nation and side with Urbis instead." Yao gave another deep sigh, shoulders slouching when Arthur, who was holding a teacup, joined the conversation along with Antonio whose face was twisted comically with the bread in his mouth.

Alfred scowled, stuffing the remaining dark matter into his mouth. "That's three places we have to head to."

"That's why we're discussing." Yao rolled his eyes. "Nullus is in the direct opposite direction of Sanctus and Oblitus. Travelling back to Sanctus first then heading over would waste precious time. Moreover I doubt they would be happy to see anyone from Sanctus, given our tense relationship with addition of the ownership of the crystal cave."

"Can we do anything with your magic?" Antonio asked as Arthur shook his head sadly.

"I can't teleport. My magic doesn't allow it. It allows me to condense the essence of the object and preserve it in a pocket dimension formed by my magic. The object is then reconstructed from the essence," Arthur explained, drawing a small magic circle and pulling out a book. "In other words, storage magic."

Alfred's eyes widened in excitement. "Does that mean that you have fireballs stored away somewhere?"

Arthur shook his head, causing Alfred's shoulders to slump down. "That's just a conversion of my magic into basic attack and binding skills. I can't store such volatile things. If anything, nobody's magic would be strong enough for teleportation, especially across long distances to work. It's impossible."

"What about Al? He warps around." Ivan asked the emerald eyed man.

"His magic most probably work like an anchor. It allows him to warp himself as well as objects to his own magic, which in this case takes the form of the cards that he throws. But since magic will eventually dissipate, it is impossible for him to teleport back to Sanctus with some hope that some lingering magic might be still present." Arthur hypothesised.

"If only the Wavhone works outside Sanctus." Alfred complained.

"The wavelengths of the Crystals here are different from those back in Sanctus. It won't work with a different wavelength." Yao shrugged.

The wavelengths of the Crystals is based on the land it recedes in, so even in one single nation, most crystals have different wavelengths, making it a really hard task to attune each and every one to a single wavelength. Furthermore, the wavelength of one nation's crystal would have to be used as the main, none of the nations liked the idea being controlled. Messages being intercepted and stolen aside, no one really knew what might happen to the other crystals if something did happen to one of them.

Alfred leaned back breathing out heavily, watching Arthur in his blue coat, Kiku in his blue robe like uniform and long pants, Yao in his maroon dress shirt coupled with a formal jacket, Antonio in his white dress shirt and sleeveless red collared jacket, and Ivan with his blood red shirt covered by his light tan coat and long scarf. His eyes widened when something clicked in his mind. Alfred sat up immediately, eyes sparkling at his sudden idea while the rest turned to him in question.

"There's two groups of us isn't there?" Alfred waited with a huge smirk on his face as the some nodded, the others already knew what he was going to say. "We could just split up. One to Nullus one back home."

Alfred sat there chest puffed up, the silly smirk still on his face as the rest looked at him in disbelief of how he was so proud of this idea. Arthur sighed and finally spoke. "That's a huge risk to take."

"This way we can be at both the places at once!" Alfred argued.

Arthur opened his mouth to protest when Kiku interrupted. "As regrettable as it is, Alfred-san is right, it is the only way to make sure both places are safe."

Yao sighed this time. "If we're careful there shouldn't be any problems aru. We would definitely be able to reach the places faster."

Arthur quietened down as Ivan did not protest and Antonio shrugged to show their agreement, causing a huge victorious grin to appear on Alfred's face.

"Fine. Since Nullus wouldn't be welcoming of Alfred, I shall head over to Nullus." Arthur offered. "Kiku, I'm sorry to ask you of this, but can you head back home with Feli?" He look over his shoulder at the still sleeping figure. "I'm worried about him and it would be good for you to have a look at the situation back home."

Kiku nodded in agreement as Ivan spoke up with a smile, "I'll head to Nullus as well. It would be more interesting than going back."

"I'm going to Nullus too aru."

"I guess I'll head home then." Antonio shrugged seemly indifferent, building a mini snowman.

"So everything is settled." Arthur stood up, patting away the snow.

"N-no."

Everyone turned abruptly, shocked at the stuttering voice. Feli stood in front of them, head low and shaky hands clenching the ends of his uniform. "I don't want to go home. I-I'm going to Nullus." He looked up, eyes full of determination and tears which he was desperately holding back.

"But Feli, heading to Nullus would be very dangerous." Arthur tried to persuade the brunette as Feli shook his head frantically.

"I-I, I can't go home. Not with Ludwig still missing. I-I can't walk pass the places we visited without him. We promised to go there together once we're back. I can't. Arthur, I can't go home without him." Feli's small frame started to shake slightly as he clenched his uniform even tighter.

"Feli…"

"And, and if Luddie was hurt on his way out… I can't Arthur. I don't want to regret knowing I might meet him again! Pl-plus Ludwig told me to take care of you. I don't want to disappoint him."

Arthur took a small step forward, opening his mouth when Kiku placed a hand on his shoulder. He watched the usually expressionless man give a small smile, shaking his head. Arthur sighed, crossing his arms. "Alright."

Feli immediately brightened up, his amber eyes glistening as a few stray tears found their way down his cheeks.

"If that's the case, I'll accompany Kiku to Oblitus." Yao said, earning a nod of gratitude from Arthur.

"Alright then, everybody done?" Ivan asked as he ignored Antonio's protest and dropped an armful of snow onto the fire, with Antonio's little snowman being part of the pile.

None moved until Arthur stood up, deciding that it was time.

"Be safe." He said softly.

Alfred nodded and flashed a huge bright grin back, heaving himself up onto his Faris. "I'll see you back home."

Both groups turned, trotting softly across the snow as they headed in opposite directions. Alfred and Antonio to Sanctus along with Kiku and Yao to Oblitus. While Arthur, Feli and Ivan headed the other way to warn the Nullus against Urbis. Both groups had no idea what dangers could be lurking with every step, but there was no way they would just roll over and play dead while such a threat was out there. They were Princes and their charges, and they would protect their nations no matter what.

He stole a glance back at the group trotting farther and farther away, feeling a pang of jealously. Arthur's thick brows furrowed as he shook his head, stamping out his impulse to just turn around and join them on their way back home. He turned, tugging on the reins of his Faris stiftly, in the direction of Nullus.