/= "Servant of Evil –classical- Instrmental" =/

As the ship pulled into the harbor, everyone exited the boat. Li Xiao turned to Feliciano and realized that he was wiping tears away from his eyes as he was wrapping bandages around his forehead and wrists. He looked confused as he approached him quietly without alerting the others.

"What happened to you?"

"V-ve!" He turned his head before calming down. "I…I was attacked by Shadows."

"Atta- and you didn't say anything or called for help? How many were there?"

"A-a lot…but I got rid of all of them."

"Geez…do you need Arthur?"

"N-no, I'm fine…"

Li Xiao steadied the Italian as the small group headed deep into the city. Despite how Kiku know how the story went, nothing was happening at all. There weren't any uprisings or even people openly complaining on the streets. As Kiku moved everyone behind a few buildings, he noticed that there was no increased security.

"What's going on?" Gilbert blinked.

"Nothing's happening…"

"…well, isn't that a good thing?" Alfred shrugged. "Nothing means that we can take at least a five minute break."

"We can't just take a break." Ludwig spat. "That wretched woman tried to kill me! She has to pay!"

"That's it. We were supposed to come back in the middle of an uprising." Kiku rubbed his chin. "It was as if stopping Ludwig's death stopped the entire story from playing out."

"Doesn't that mean we saved Charice?" Arthur blinked. "From what I can tell from here, she's supposed to die at the end of this story."

"Yes, but…" Kiku froze. "Now I know."

"Know what?" Antonio leaned forward. "Talk to us."

"The Knight in Red…there was no Knight in Red…"

"Knight…in Red?" Matthew blinked.

"The story says that an army overthrows the queen's reign with two leaders: the Blue Prince and the Red Knight. We have one Blue Prince, but no knight." Kiku lifted up his fingers. "And as a result, the story can't progress."

"So…who was supposed to be that guy?" Alfred looked around. "Anyone?"

"You're an idiot." Arthur smacked his head. "Antonio was supposed to be him."

"…huh?" Antonio froze. "Me?"

"And you're an idiot as well." Arthur shook his head, before proceeding to hit his head as well. "Yes, you. You're supposed to be the Red Knight."

"If what we are seeing is true, then all of the people that were supposed to be the players of this story would have to be the kidnapped victims." Kiku stated. "And since you were kidnapped as well, you would have to be a player in this game as well."

"Then…why did the murderer throw Antonio into an Iron Maiden before putting him in the world?" Gilbert pointed at him.

"…because he didn't want the story at all…he wanted the setting."

Everyone turned to Li Xiao as he looked up.

"I thought you guys knew this already. Rizal's the murderer."

"WHAT?" Alfred jumped. "I mean…it crossed my mind, but…it's true?"

"Rizal? The man that I was talking to before he tried to kill me?"

"Yeah, that guy. He wanted this landscape because it was perfect for Charice: she's the queen and he serves to her every need. The only problem is that for this setting to work is that they needed other people in here; people that are going to make the place more realistic. That's why he resorted to kidnapping." Li Xiao pointed at Antonio. "You were chosen as a target because you were a perfect Red Knight, but then again a dead Red Knight would still count as one."

"So…I'm supposed to…lead the revolution to Charice's kingdom?"

"Of course." Kiku nodded. "No version of the story mentions when you two meet, only that you meet him instead."

"I see…I guess we should meet him then."

"No. Only you."

"Eh?"

"You're the Red Knight. Only he will be meeting the Blue Prince, and he will be the only one that will move the story along." Kiku stated. "But knowing you, you'll find Lovino where you want to find him."

"…what are the rest of you guys going to do?"

"We…might be a part of the army, so that we can take a check with you." Matthew stated, holding Kumajiro. "That way, we can be in the castle."

"What about me?" Ludwig stepped forward. "I'm a warrior. I should be able to be a part of this army as well."

"I'm sure you would, Ludwig sir. The only problem is that your part of the story is over." Kiku pointed out. "Lovino is using your death as his motivation. If you come in now, he'll lose it and the story won't continue."

"…that means…"

"For the rest of this day, you'll be on the sidelines, man." Alfred grinned. "But once the war's over, you can come back all flashy and stuff!"

That statement made Feliciano cringe.

"I guess I'll stay in the city until I hear news of the raid." Ludwig sighed. "Strange, though…that I'm not doing anything useful."

"I say that someone stays with him." Alfred pointed at him. "If Rizal's coming after him again, we might as well get someone to cover him before he remembers how to fight him."

"I know how to fight." Ludwig spat.

"I mean fight Rizal." Alfred turned to him. "Normal fighting means aren't going to work on him."

"I'll stay with him." Gilbert pat his back. "I think I'm better suited to do so."

"I'll do so too." Matthew stated. "You should as well, Alfred."

"Yeah, I'm on it. As long as Iggy-chan gets to come with."

"THE NAME IS ARTHUR, you bloody git!"

"Sure, sure…I might've gotten Charice's mannerisms."

"…you're a bastard."

"I don't need this many people, you know." Ludwig stated.

"If you know anything about Rizal, having four of us is actually less than needed to beat him." Gilbert pointed his finger at him. "Besides, we need the rest of these guys to get in the army."

"…I guess so…" He sighed. "If anything, I want to see that woman's head bleeding with a face begging for mercy…"

That statement scared the world, so they decided to go their separate ways on that note. As Ludwig passed Feliciano, he saw the Italian pathetically working on replacing his bandages that were still covering open wounds. He scoffed.

"Pathetic."

He left them all, leaving those that were behind staring at Feliciano as he barely finished the final wrap. Odd enough, he didn't seem like he was going to cry. On that note, Kiku turned back to Antonio.

"So then…where do you think Lovino will be at?"

"…I have…one place…"

/=+=/

Lovino sat quietly at the pub table, staring at the map in front of him. News had just reached him that the love of his life had died by the queen's hand, and he knew he had to take action now. There were more than enough people that will rally to his call if he asked for it, but he just needed someone who can organize an army…for he was usually the one who did this…

"Are you having problems there?"

He looked up and saw a young man standing just above him. He was wearing a strange red outfit and had a huge axe strapped to his back. Despite his intimidating appearance, his sun-kissed skin and curly brown hair seemed to make him innocent…and his emerald eyes reminded him of…

"…yes…do you know of the queen that rules this land?"

"I know her well. She had recently devastated most of my trade ships because she assumed we were spies." The man sat down. "I have thought of trying to bring my hand up against her, but I have no idea where to start."

"Well, I'm planning on overtaking her as well." Lovino leaned forward. "That bitch killed the one I loved."

"…is that so." His voice sounded pained. "How so, if I may asked?"

"…killed him in cold blood…out of nowhere…just for the sake of having my hand in marriage!" He spat. "Is that how love is supposed to be? Forced and out of nowhere, when no one wants it?"

"No…no it is not. Love is a beautiful thing, fragile like a blooming rose." The man's voice was calming down. "You don't know what would damage it."

"But that queen…took the corpse of that flower…and burned it into ash…like it meant nothing…like his life meant nothing to anyone at all!"

"…this man…must've meant so much to you."

"He did…he meant the world to me." Lovino looked down. "He protected me from the beginning, he wanted nothing more than my well-being, and clung onto me like a fucking magnet. And yet…somehow I fell in love with him."

"…I…see…"

"You couldn't ask for a better man…he was serious, but caring at the same time. He's scary when mad, but he's never mad with me. He never wants to hurt me, and would rather die than see me bleeding out or some shit like that."

"…"

Lovino looked up and realized that the hurt look had returned to the man's face. What caught his attention was that the emotion had looked like it was the usual part of his face: like the mask was off his face. And he couldn't help but feel sympathy for the man. He leaned forward.

"What about you?"

"Hm?"

"What did she take away from you?"

"She took away someone that I cared about too…but differently."

"Differently? How?"

"She talked to him and convinced him that I was the enemy. It was only after that I found him that he had completely forgotten about me and he hated me." The man smiled. "But I still love him, no matter what. And I want to save him even if he'll never remember me again."

"You still have a chance of saving him."

"…I've tried so hard…there's no way I can save him now." The man leaned forward. "But…thank you."

"Don't tell me you gave up on him."

"He fell in love with someone else, and looks so much happier with them than with me. Isn't love making sure that the other one is happy?"

"…you're an idiot."

"Hm?"

"Sure, the other person is happy, but what about you? Can you really live your life watching the man you love having a life you wanted with them?"

"…I've done it for years."

"Hm?"

"…nevermind." The man leaned forward. "So…what is your plan?"

/=+=/

Hey…that one Germano fangirl who left a review. I support your OTP and I do think it's good, but…you're in a room filled with GerIta and Spamano fangirls. You might want to run now…