Hetalia - The Cold of War

Chapter 26! Happy Easter! Thank you everyone for being patient, it's greatly appreciated when schoolwork is weighs you down. Also a thank you to all who reviewed, you continue to amaze me with your support.

Question Time!

SecretParadox Hatsuki asks: Would it be forbidden for a high-ranked Angel to be mated with a human?

Well, here is the ironic part. Angels aren't capable of natural reproduction, they can't mate with other beings, nor even each other as they have no sexual organs. Because of this, the thought of having a child was unthought of as it wasn't thought to be possible. The reason Victoria was able to give birth to Arthur was because of Eros. Being the god of Love, he used his powers and gave Victoria the opportunity to make love with Gisil, resulting in Arthur. Secretly Eros desired the creation of a hybrid, and so was thrilled when he saw the impossible love with Angel and Human. Of course, when heaven discovered what had happened, there was a commotion but no action was taken against Victoria as as a Seraph, she is essentially their princess. Gaia was overjoyed that such a miracle happened, happy for Victoria that she had joined with her favoured creation, and so most Angels followed their Lady's feelings. Gaia's and Eros' bond strengthened following the event while other Gods looked on with jealousy.

Willow Leaves asks: Does Francis come back in soon?

Ooh yeah, he'll be back. We'll see our beloved french frog soon, he and Arthur are to play their roles.

Thank you for submitting your questions, they're such fun to answer and now, without further ado, on to the chapter!

Enjoy!

100 years forward into the most present, An Imperial Warship above the floating Isle: The Elder Grove, The Prison Brig

In the confined dark cell, two soldiers breathed out in relief when the Angel they had pinned slumped into a deep, deep sleep. The winged being's previously struggling weak body went limp and it's eyes rolled back into it's head as the overdosage of the sedative drug took effect. The only movement were the ragged pants of the terrified men, the creaking the steeply rocking ship. Slow with caution, the larger soldier who had held the Angel to the boarded floor, raised himself up and stood above the still creature. He shakily looked over to his comrade who had just jerked the needle out of the Angel's cuffed arm.

"Bloody hell that was close," His comrade shook as he continued to look down at the subdued being fearfully "Did you hear it? It spoke, just as I injected it". The soldier that stood over Arthur and took a moment before he squatted down, an overconfident smirk slapped across his face now that the danger had subsided.

"Yeah, actually sounded human," He remarked and let out a low impressed whistle, "Oh boy, Georgie, you should come over and have a closer look at it. It looks like so unreal, like a work of art or somethin'". The squatting soldier went lower to peer closer at Arthur's sleeping face, his hand twitched and he slowly reached out.

"What are you doing?!" Georgie squealed a high pitched squeak at the intrusive motion, the needle dropped out of his hand as both hands flew to clutched his hair line in horror.

"Relax, he's not going to wake up. Just…wow, isn't it amazing? An actual Angel, right under me," The soldier wondered as his fingers enclosed around Arthur's lax chin, his thumb stretched to experimentally brush across Arthur's warm lower lip as he tilted the head from side to side. The other soldier made a strangled noise inside his throat and waved his arms wildly in panic.

"Don't fucking touch him!" Georgie squawked shrilly before the air suddenly shifted and grew cold as if a ghost had entered the cell. From the darkest corner, completely shielded from the yellow corridor lights, a ruff, deep voice rumbled like a jaguar.

"Took tha words right outta ma mouth, boy" The shadowy silhouette growled and both soldiers screamed in terror and back-pedalled as far away as they could; the distinct smell of urine revealing they had promptly soiled themselves. The figure gave out a dark chuckle as it moved, a huge titan of a figure that the shadows seemed to cling to. The soldiers clutched at each other with matching twin tear trails down their ugly faces.

"G-gghost! It's a ghost!" Georgie wailed as he uncontrollably trembled, "O-hh oh, please Spector sir, have mercy!". Ignoring them, the figure only stomped closer until it stood over the chained unconscious Arthur. With a snap of his finger, the thick manacles snapped free and the figure crouched to lift the angelic being bridal style.

"What substance did ya inject him with?" The figure thunderously interrogated, "Speak swiftly an' perhaps I won't tear out ya tonsils an' hang them from y'ar ears". The soldiers' knees knocked together as they quaked in fear.

"Essence of Datura! Oh please, please don't hurt us. We promise to live a good life from now on!" They pleaded as they fell to their knees, repeatably bowing with such force that their heads smacked against the floor each time. The figure unseeingly smirked and turned towards the wall of the cell that separated them from the outside world. With two wide stride, he crossed with the Angel in his arms and slung all it's weight over his shoulder as to have an arm free. With careful aim, the figure placed his knuckles against the smoothed wood. The familiar adrenaline shot of magic coursed with him and with a powerful telepathic blast directed through his fist, the wall of the cell splintered with the blasted pieces being whipped away by the outside blizzard. The whole structure of the ship shook from the shock wave and snow and ice swarmed to fill the sudden gaping gap. The Imperial men screamed again and clung to the ground as the wind tore in and whipped chaos into the interior of the ship. Above them, hectic footsteps thumped and ran about to investigate the cause of the explosion.

The figure stood with Arthur and looked far down at the floating Isle of the Elder Grove and it's snow covered pines. The air sprites that had accompanied him, were invisible to human eyes, cried for him to jump, their wispy arms held open to catch them. The figure tightened his hold on the Angel.

"Don't worry lad, I've got ya" He whispered before he stepped out the Imperial Warship. Plunging into a free fall towards the snowy ground.

The North, The Nordic Kingdom, Outside the City Gates

Else where, standing in ankle deep in snow and clothed thickly in winter furs, twins Alfred Jones and Matthew Williams stood huddled together. Anchored on their backs were enormous rucksacks of equipment and provisions that threatened to send them on their backs, each with a tightly wrapped bed roll on top. The pair stood with furiously chattering teeth and Matthew's eyes were trained on the misted snowy city while Alfred watched the barren, flat wintry plain of the wilderness.

Alfred let out a huff of regret from behind his scarfed mouth "Jeez I wish I had gone for that extra puffy vest, these several layers are barely cutting it" He complained to Matthew as his goggled eyes peered through the amber lens at the landscape. He kept getting glimpses of something moving and he was secretly hoping he'd get to see some early northern wildlife.

"I did try to warn you," Matthew sighed in response, almost too quiet to be heard over the wind's howl "Let's hope Lukas would get here soon eh?". Alfred gave a nod and turned back to watch the plains, giving his brother an attentive slap when he saw something defined moved towards them. Matthew's brows rose in alarm as the thing got closer, his hand snaked behind and gripped the pistol that was in it's holster at his lower back. The brother's froze when the thing coming towards them was revealed, impossibly, a large white horse with a straight single horn on it's head. It was completely white with a long fair mane that had clumps of snowflakes laced in it, and on it's back, a cloaked body was slumped. Alfred felt his blood run colder then it was when he recognised the colour of the cloak, it was the same as Arthur's which meant…

In anyway other time, Alfred would of been all over the unicorn. But the need to see if the figure was who Alfred presumed he was was stronger. He immediately ran towards the horned horse, ignoring it reaving and huffs of annoyance as he pulled back the thick cloth of see Allistor Kirkland near dead beneath. Alfred cursed under his breath and reached to desperately check for a pulse. He found it, weak and slow, but still there. Alfred spun and called back over to his brother,"It's Allistor!". Matthew's hidden face instantly became alarmed and he sprinted over in the snow, dismayed when he saw the condition the man was in.

"We need to get him back before he freezes to death" Matthew shouted over the gale as he pulled a metal flask from his belt and tipped it's alcoholic contents into the man's gaping chipped lipped mouth, tilting his head up so that the fiery liquid would spill down his throat. Alfred nodded and together, the two of them hauled the slack Allistor off the horses' back and with one arm over each shoulder, half dragged half carried him back into the northern city.

The North, The Nordic Kingdom, 'The Crossing Ales' Tavern

"Warm water! We need some hot food and water!" Alfred yelled as he kicked open the wooden door of the closest tavern. With the help of Matthew, they hulled Allistor Kirkland in from the cold, the man's chestnut shaggy head hung forward limp. The bustling tavern was lit in warm candlelight and was stifling with a open fire hearth; above the roaring flames, a large iron cauldron of stew bubbled. Customers frantically cleared out of the brother's way as they staggered over to the hearth and propped up Allistor in front of it. As Matthew became to quickly strip Allistor of his freezing wet clothes, Alfred stood up to address.

"You!," He shouted and pointed to the barmaid, a well-do plump middle aged woman in her forties "Get me some of your hottest stew. I don't care what's in it, just make sure it's hot". The woman, despite her bewildered expression, nodded her head and dashed over to the cauldron with bowl and ladle in hand. Alfred then spun and pointed at a crowd of skinny boys.

"Oi!," He called out to them, their capped little heads snapped up in response, "A silver piece for the first one to bring Lukas Bolshevik here". The boy's greedy eyes flashed and the door hadn't even shut before they were speeding the roads towards the Palace. All around, the tavern's customers were muttering and whispering to themselves as they finally recognised who Alfred and Matthew had brought in.

"By joe! That's that sorcerer who killed the Yeti! The red haired one, Kirkland!" They cried as Alfred crouched and accepted the steaming bowl of stew off the barmaid. Allistor, now bare save for his undergarments, was looking more alive. His skin that had been blue, was not as pale and his limbs jumped and reacted when Matthew tested them. Those Greek-fire eyes was embers of what they once were as they opened and dully saw Alfred raise a wooden spoon to feed him. Allistor distantly eyed the spoon but made no move to open his mouth.

"Don't make me force this" Alfred warned with a dangerous glint in his eye, and the Scot's mouth unclasped. Alfred carefully tipped the meat stew in and made sure to watch that Allistor swallowed before he repeated the process. As the barmaid laid out Allistor's clothes to dry next to the smouldering fire, Matthew took out the medical pack from his rucksack and began to clean the minor scrapes and cuts littered across Allistor's body. They worked like paid nurses: cleaning, wrapping and feeding the wounded sorcerer until there was nothing left to be done but rub the circulation back into his joints and wait for Lukas to arrive.

In a croaky voice, Allistor slurred in an drunken-like state, "Fucking, uh- son of a. Fuck. Gimmie five an' I'll give ya ten, ya…pickled dastard".

"He's delusional, eh" Matthew diagnosed as he reached backwards to check the dryness of the clothes "Hopefully Lukas will know what to do". Allistor groaned and licked his lips thirstily, drinking thirstily when Alfred raised his water skin and poured it's contents into his mouth; his eyes glossy and unfocused.

"Jeez dude, what hell were you thinking?" Alfred quietly muttered as he returned the container to his belt and looked pitifully at the sorcerer he had come to see as an ally.

The tavern door was thrown open again and inside rushed Lukas led by a scrawny small boy with angular elbows and knobbly knees. Lukas' face seemed to darken and he promptly marched over to Allistor as Alfred fished out a silver piece from his pocket and threw it to the eager lad. Lukas knelt beside Allistor and searchingly reached out to feel where his face was. Then, without warning, he drew his fist back and punched Allistor square on the nose.

Allistor howled and clutched his throbbing hooter. Lukas stood in shadow to the fire before Allistor and tilted his head as if he were looking down at Allistor, disapproval and anger radiated off him.

"That's, for abandoning us you coward. Do you think if you just run away from the problem it'll solve itself?!," Lukas scorned, his hands planted firmly on his hips "I've a good mind to box your ears like a child". Allistor groaned and spat out the blood that had collected in his mouth from his bleeding nose onto the floor; the barmaids whimper of protest was faintly heard over the row.

"Bassa! You'll have no mercy from me!," Allistor outrageously roared as he attempted to lung off his feet and attack, only to be stopped when Alfred and Matthew moved and forced him to remain sitting. The frenzied Allistor violently shook to dislodge them. "Awa' n bile y'ar head! I'll string tha lot of you pups by ya wee ankles!". Lukas shook his head at the unbecoming display.

"He's in no condition to have a reasonable conversation. We should take him back to the Palace, and wait for his rationality to return". Alfred nodded and helped Matthew quickly pull Allistor's warmed clothes back on their owner before, with difficulty, they lifted the man and made for the door. Lukas dung into his pocket to search for some coins for the barmaid's trouble, the woman quickly palmed them and her gaze, like all others, in the tavern, followed the four out of the door. The fire popped as another log was split, the action releasing a miniature firework of embers as the white snowflakes continued to flurry outside the window pane.

The Capital, The Winter Palace, The West Wing's Fitness Ward

The Winter's Palaces' Fitness Ward was one of great grandeur. It was a wide spacious area with a high ceiling and a polished brick red floor and creamy painted walls. There were huge arched windows that gave a view to the Palace gardens, though no green was to be seen under the blankets of snow. Opposite the view, a variety of bladed weapons both antique and practical hung on display with an silent attendant that would fetch one should they be asked. An impressive set of weights were stationed near the eastern wall, but it was at the centre of the room where a large square fall mat lay that was the focus of the room; a circular crystal chandelier swung glittery above.

The room was private, reserved for only the higher ups in the Palace and so naturally, it was very quiet save now with the repetitive sound of a fist against a sandbag. Centre of blue mat, a brown leather punching bag swung wildly as a beautiful woman dressed for sport boxed it. With her long chocolate hair twisted into a bun and olivine eyes narrowed, Elizabeth Héderváry gave the bag what for. Her naked feet switched and bounced on their balls and her frame shifted from side to side as she imagined herself in combat once again; fists held high to guard her face.

She had been in there the whole morning, exercising her body to be rid of the slight plumpness that her new life had given her. And while it was true that she did not deny that living with Roderick in the Winter Palace was like a fairytale, lately she had noticed that her radio contacts to rebel partner Gilbert were getting fewer by the week. The type of information she fed back was usually taken directly from Roderick's office: shipment lists, typed up reports of activity in areal checkpoints, transcripts from suspicious tapped radio transmissions. The Emperor were not only cracking down on their security, they were intensifying their propaganda. Sometimes when she walked about, Elizabeth would catch a glimpse of men carrying large stacks of paper (presumably posters), though she could never get close enough to be sure. For all her successful spying, Elizabeth felt that she was wasting more and more time with the air headed court ladies, that she was beginning to lose sight of her rebel cause. It troubled her deeply, leading her to dismiss the usual female company in favour of solitude in the fitness ward. She had needed to straighten her thoughts into order.

In truth, Elizabeth knew what was happening to her. She was sinking too deep into her cover as Roderick's lady and lover, to the point where she knew that the play-feelings that had came with the role had grown to be real. They complicated matters, almost certain to make her hesitant in a time of future action. And that could not be allowed, especially with her life in the balance. She hated it, but felt the only way to crawl out of this pit she was sinking into would be to leave. Leave while she still could. But ah, if only the thought didn't stab a dagger into her heart.

With a heavy huff, Elizabeth continued to beat her cyclic problems into the bag, her knuckles near raw and red when behind her, the creak of the door caused her to stop and turn.

"Elizabeth?," Commander Roderick Edelstein asked as he swung the door open, behind him a clustered group of men fearfully peered in; having been too scared of Elizabeth's aggressive exercise to intervene and inform that her time slot had ended. The Commander was dressed in his prim navy blue noble coat and white riding trousers, his black boots gleamed as they moved into the room. Forgetting her mannerisms, Elizabeth ran a forearm across her glistening forehead as she forced a smile for him with her dark thoughts still haunting her. "Here you are! I've been looking all over for you" Roderick continued as he reached out to embrace her, appearing to not mind her perspiration or tousled appearance. Elizabeth's eyebrows raised a faction before she laughed as he without warning scooped her up and swept her around in a twirl. They playfully spun until Elizabeth slowed their dance by moulding her lips against his, both of them with giggles bubbling around the endearing kiss. This wasn't pretend.

She happily sighed as she broke off the kiss and felt a pang when she saw the look of adoration on her lover's face as he looked at her. "What's got you in such a good mood?" She teased with a tap on Roderick's nose, the man briefly scrunching it up before he answered.

"I've managed to organise some time off for the two of us. The day Natasha returns from her mission, I'm taking you for a holiday" Roderick grinned with twinkle in his indigo eyes, excitement akin to that of a child's. Inwardly, Elizabeth felt her heart deflate. She did truly want to go, but if she did, the rebel's feed of information would cease. She could not leave the Palace so easily, especially when the activity was climbing. Elizabeth thought back to her diploma of her head against her heart. She had decided if she was to leave, she'd steal as much information as she could before she bolted. She just needed an opportunistic push to work up the courage and take the leap of faith.

"What day is she due?" Elizabeth asked airily as she motioned a servant to come over with a white towel, took it, and began to pat herself down. A line furrowed on Roderick's brow when she didn't mirror his own excitement but he continued to smile nevertheless.

"Well, truthfully, it was supposed to of been yesterday. However I've heard back that heavy storms have been plaguing the Northern skies, so they've likely got delayed," Roderick explained before he leaned closer and spoke in his most private voice; reserved for the only their most intimate of moments, "Elizabeth, would you like to hear something amazing?". Curiosity whelmed inside Elizabeth and she moved closer with focused eyes.

Roderick drew nearer, close enough to speak in a breath of a whisper but far enough so that he would be able to see her expression. "They found an Angel in the North. And Natasha is bringing it back here". Elizabeth's eyes shot open wide in shock and she gave a bewildered look at Roderick to see if she was being played with.

"You jest, surely!," Elizabeth cried as she gave him a sharp backhanded slap on his chest before she continued in a lower tone,"A real Angel of Gaia? That's impossible, the imagination of the mind".

"I assure you Elizabeth, Natasha spared me no detail. She's over the moon with her achievement. She reported that it downed three of the Emperor's Deadmen before they were able to suppress it and board it on the ship. But you haven't even heard the most surprising part. Do you remember the little tea room around the edge of the distinct plaza? The one between the florists and the bakers?".

Elizabeth nodded, "The one that has been closed for a while now?"

"The exact same. Well, the identity of the Angel was none other then the co-owner of the place, Arthur Kirkland. Yes, I've told you about that name before. The Kirklands were the family of sorcerers I sought after many years ago. Imagine my surprise when I learnt that not only were there still two of them still walking about, but also that one of them was a secretly a being of divinity" Roderick shook his head at truth, sounding surreal to his own ears. Elizabeth's voice grew dry as she cast her mind back to recall the times when she had entered the quaint tea room. It was implausible to think that blonde english gentleman who had served her lemon tea could possibly be from the heavens.

"Roderick…this is, unbelievable. The capture of an Angel. Gods, isn't that an act against Gaia? Can you imagine the uproar it would cause if the Church of Gaia heard about it? They would wage war, their supporter's are countless. All of the Isles would turn in on themselves" Elizabeth worried, biting the bottom of her lip nervously and her eyes darted to the view of the city as if it would the worshipers would storm the palace in that moment. Roderick slowly entwined his fingers with hers, a deeply thoughtful expression on his face before he brought their clasped fingers to his mouth to slowly kiss.

"You're right my Lady. With an Angel as leverage, His Majesty would be able to control the Church, and by extension, religion itself. It would quite the plan," Roderick mused in a distracted manner, dropping their hands and looking down with a contemplative look "Quite the plan…". Elizabeth shivered for reasons that were not due to the temperature, so lost in her own whirring thoughts that she hadn't noticed Roderick's absence until he was already out of the door. Leaving her to watch his disappearing form, and with not so much a goodbye, he vanished from sight and left her alone in the vast room again. Shock over her lover's suspicious behaviour temporally seized her mind before Elizabeth's military hardened instinct kicked in and urged her to immediately radio Gilbert.

The rebels had to know.

Woo hoo, and the plot begins to thicken. Just wait until Natasha returns to the Capital empty handed...

Explanations:

Essence of Datura - A deceivingly beautiful yellow flower that was used as a powerful sedative in medieval times, contains a calming toxin that causes intense hallucinations and renders one incapacitated.

The Unicorn - Allistor's familiar, as he drew closer to death while out in the wilderness, his unicorn summoned itself and proceeded to carry Allistor back to civilisation. Why Allistor trampled out into the wilderness will be soon revealed.

Bassa - Scottish slang for bastard

The Church of Gaia - So far only hints and references have been made towards this organisation. No details have been explicitly dropped other then that they have a wide following. Their leader is yet to be revealed.

Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you are liking this series and wish to see it continue, then please consider leaving a review to tell me of your thoughts, opinions and questions. They are forever welcome and encourage me to write these out faster for you all. Once again, thank you reading and as always,

Until next time folks!