Oh my gosh another chapter in less than a week? Holy shit. So the first chapter of my Moulin Rouge UsUk story is up, so check that out, tell me what you think!

Finally Alfred and Arthur will be reunited! I hope you enjoy the chapter!

Chapter 8

"I feel I must apologize, mon ami. I did not realize how strongly you felt about your Alfred."

Ever since Arthur had come to Swan Lake those months ago, Francis had been constantly trying to get a kiss out of him, trying to woo him. When he was human Francis was known for being a womanizer, but he would never force himself on someone. He thought Arthur was just playing hard to get or something. But after seeing the look in his eyes and hearing the way he sang, he knew Arthur was dedicated to this Alfred person.

Arthur was a little surprised that the frog was apologizing. Yes he had been annoyed with his flirting but he didn't expect to get an apology. They were friends, though he wouldn't say so out loud, and he didn't take it too seriously. It wasn't like he had much else to do nowadays so he saw the frog's antics as some form of entertainment to pass the time.

"It's alright, Francis."

"No no, he is obviously very important to you and I've only been thinking of myself."

"Everyone does that."

"Please Arthur, don't make this harder than it needs to be. Just accept my apology."

"Alright alright, I accept."

"Good. Now we can kiss and make up," Francis puckered his lips at the swan.

"Francis," Arthur and Antonio warned.

"What? What did I say? I was joking!"

Suddenly Gilbert yelled from the shore, "Attention!"

Francis yelped in surprise and fell off of Antonio's back into the lake water.

"It is noon. Prepare for take off, Your Highness. Toni, Franny, you know your job."

The turtle saluted their self-appointed leader. "Ready for action."

"How about you, Franny?"

After pulling himself out of the water, the frog just ignored the bird while he dried himself off.

"Francis?"

Still nothing.

"My lord?"

There we go.

"Oui, I am ready."

"Then we're off!"

Gilbert and Arthur took to the skies, their plan finally in motion.

"Have a nice flight," Antonio called to them.

"Remember! If anything happens to him, I'll have you whipped, flogged, put on a wrack, and then have your back legs fried in butter!"

In the forest outside Alfred's kingdom, the prince and his Italian friend went in search of the Great Animal. They dismounted their horses and readied their arrows.

"What makes you think the Great Animal will be here?"

"I just have this feeling that something is coming...This is the closest I've gotten to finding Arthur, I'm willing to trust my gut."

"So how will we find it if it can become anything?"

"I'll know it when I see it."

"Oh yeah, that's real fuckin' reassuring."

"Just stay close."

Lovino bumped into his friend's back trying to get away from another bug he feared could be the creature they were hunting. "Yeah sure, whatever you say."

The Italian prince stayed fairly close, putting on a brave face on the outside but fearing a bit for his life on the inside. But as soon as he turned his back for a second, Alfred had wandered out of sight.

"Al? ...Alfred? ...Where the hell are you, bastardo?!"

"Shh!"

Turns out Alfred was only behind a tree not five feet away.

"Oh, there you are...J-Just making sure you didn't get eaten," Lovino stuttered embarrassed.

Alfred just rolled his eyes and smiled at his friend, then continued his search.

Lovino was only alone for maybe a minute before he set his eyes on a dragonfly buzzing around him. He tried to aim his arrow at it but it kept moving out of the way. "Dammit, stay still!" He fired but missed horribly, his arrow shooting up above the canopy.

Flying above the forest was Arthur and his eagle companion. The prince was feeling a bit nervous flying so low above the trees.

"Maybe we should fly a bit higher...You know, to avoid any hunters."

"Don't worry, Your Highness. My awesomeness can sense a hunter from a mile away." Right after this was said, an arrow came flying past the canopy and just barely missed Gilbert's head. "Ahh!"

They could hear a yell come from below, "Alfred!"

Arthur gasped. "Alfred? He's here!" Before he could move, Gilbert took a hold of his head and looked into his eyes. "Hold on now, Arthur. Do not lose your head. We will stick to the plan." But Arthur wasn't listening. All he could think about right now was now close Alfred was. So he tore out of Gilbert's hold and darted down into the forest. Gilbert called after the prince, "Arthur!"

Alfred moved slowly through the woods, alone now that Lovino had wandered off somewhere. He kept his arrow retracted in case something were to jump out. When he heard a rustle in some bushes he jumped and quickly aimed at it. After nothing came out he just ignored it and moved on. Maybe he was just being paranoid, but it felt like everything in the forest was out to get him. But that did seem like a possibility when the Great Animal could be literally anything. So when he saw something moving in the sun seeping in through the canopy, he quickly hid with his back to a tree. He peeked out from behind and saw a swan, flying towards him. He thought how strange it was for a swan to be in this forest.

"A swan...Are you kidding me right now?" It reminded him of the swan on Arthur's locket. Did this Great Animal think it was being funny? Was it mocking him? Well he was finally going to kill this creature. He would finally get Arthur back.

Arthur had spotted Alfred just before he hid. His wings glinted in the sunlight, giving off an almost magical feel. He flew towards his love, not realizing his ill intention. "Alfred..."

Alfred took in a deep breath before coming out from behind the tree, expertly aiming at the swan. "This is for Arthur!" He shot and...missed? Just before the arrow would have pierced the white bird, something swooped in and pushed it out of the way. So Alfred took off in persuit.

Arthur and Gilbert went back up above the canopy, flying back towards Swan Lake. "Thanks for the save, Gil. That bloody bastard shot at me!"

"Well you do look different than he remembers." The black eagle looked back and saw the prince still chasing them. Just like they wanted.

"We need to go faster, he's too close..."

Yes, Arthur was happy to see Alfred again after all these months. But he didn't expect to be shot at. It was understandable, he was unrecognizable to the other. To him he was probably just another animal to hunt in the forest. But he was still going to give him a scolding of a lifetime later. That is, if he lives through this.

"Too close?" Gilbert looked down again and couldn't see the blonde prince anymore, but knew he was still running after them. "He can't even see us any-" And for the second time that day, Gilbert barely managed to escape getting shot in the head with an arrow. "Ah! Speed up, speed up!"

"I told you, he's faster than he looks."

"Don't worry, Your Highness. The awesome me always has a plan!"

Arthur pressed on, wanting to hear his supposed plan, "Well?"

"Um..."

"Gilbert!"

"Ok ok! I have an idea! When he's ready to shoot again, fly into the sun and use the light to blind him!"

Alfred had hopped onto a large rock, his path clear of trees or anything else that might cause him to miss again. His eyes and arrow following the birds up as they flew higher. But just as he was going to release his arrow again, he had to look away, the sun temporarily blinding him. He shut his eyes tightly and moved a hand to shield them.

"You see, I told you it would work. All we have to do is stay in the light and everything will be ok." But what they didn't notice was that the sun behind them was setting. Looking down at Alfred, they saw the mountain's shadow fall over him. They looked back to see the sun set, then gasped when they turned around again and found Alfred wasn't on the rock anymore.

"Where did he go?!"

Arthur turned and gasped again when he saw Alfred standing on a higher pile of rocks behind them.

"Gil, quick! Into the trees!" They dodged another arrow by diving back down into the forest.

"Dammit..." Alfred muttered before jumping off the rock to chase them again.

This was the first time Arthur had ever been afraid of Alfred. Sure they fought when they were kids, but Arthur had never been afraid because he knew Alfred would not truly hurt him on purpose. He never used his full strength on him. Any time they had been injured was more often than not Arthur's fault. He was more bark than bite. But this was different. Alfred looked at him like a predator would look at his prey. His glare was full of hate. All Arthur could think about at the moment was getting away from the man he had longed to see for so long.

Arthur and Gilbert hid in the trees while Alfred looked up and all around, searching for anything white in the leaves.

"We need to do something, or we're dead."

"Well I think possums have the right idea. When you've got no other option, it's best to play dead." Gilbert took some red berries from the tree they hid in and smeared them on his chest, resembling blood. He fell back out of the tree, landing with a thud on the ground near Alfred's feet.

The prince lowered his weapon and walked over to the fallen bird, wondering if it was really dead. The answer would be no. How did he figure it out? He figured the bird was alive when it suddenly bit his foot. He yelped out in pain and dropped his bow, hopping and holding his foot trying to make the pain go away.

"Kesesesesese! That outta slow him down a little."

"Still no sign of them."

"I hope that imbecile knows what he's doing."

Just then, Antonio spotted Arthur and Gilbert coming their way. "Incoming!"

Francis took hold of a couple fireflies, waving them around to get their attention.

Gilbert called out, "There they are!"

It was then Alfred stumbled upon Swan Lake. For a moment he forgot about his pursuit of what he thought was the Great Animal to take in the sight before him. An abandoned castle by a lake, the moon reflected in the clear water. Though it was run down and old looking, it was in a way beautiful. How had he never found this place before?

Arthur and Gilbert landed where Francis and Antonio were waiting for them.

"Alright, Your Highness, it's time."

But Arthur seemed to hesitate. "I...I can't..."

"What? Arthur, you have to!"

"He'll kill me if I go down there!"

"You may not get this chance again. You need to do it now."

He knew that it wasn't likely this would happen again. He knew if he didn't do it now, he might never see Alfred again. So with some nodded encouragement from the others, he flew down to the water.

Alfred looked at the bird, confused as to why the Great Animal would come to him after all the running..er..flying away it did. But he didn't question it further and readied his arrow, aiming it at the swan in the middle of the lake.

Just as Arthur touched down in the water, the moon's reflection was covered by the clouds. He looked horrified at Alfred, expecting to get shot before he could transform.

"I've got you now..." Alfred muttered to himself. But before he could release his arrow, that blasted eagle from before swooped down and knocked him right in the head. Sick of the bird interfering, he aimed at the black eagle instead. Just as he was about to shoot it, there was a bright yellow light coming from behind him. Gilbert's distraction bought just enough time for the clouds to pass by the moon, the reflection shining under Arthur once again. Alfred quickly turned back to the lake and what he saw was something he never expected to see. The swan was engulfed in a whirlpool of water and light. When the water receeded and the light faded, left in the swan's place was...Arthur. He could only stare in disbelief. Was it an illusion? Had he finally lost his mind trying so hard to find the lost prince?

"Alfred..."

Hearing his voice convinced him. This had to be real. Arthur was standing right in front of him. He had finally found him. He dropped his bow on the ground and ran into the water to Arthur, wrapping his arms around him tightly. It felt so good to have him in his arms again, to feel his warmth, to hold his smaller body against his. He found it difficult to pull back, but when he did he was surprised to see tears in the Brit's eyes.

"A-Arthur, what's wrong?!"

The crying prince smacked the other upside the head. "You almost killed me, you wanker!"

"Ow! I'm sorry, I thought you were-" He was cut off by Arthur flinging his arms around his neck in a tight hug.

"You bloody git...I missed you..."

Alfred didn't hesitate to hug him back. "I missed you, too...No one believed me when I said you were still alive..."

"You can't stay here."

"What? Arthur, I'm never letting you out of my sight again!"

"Alfred, I know you don't listen very well when you're excited, but you need to listen to me now."

From where they were they could hear an almost childlike voice calling, "Arthur? Where are you?"

"Oh no..." Arthur paled, now whispering.

"What? Who is it?"

"He has me under a spell...Please, you have to go."

Alfred frowned. This must be the man who kidnapped Arthur and killed King Scott. The Great Animal.

They heard the voice call again, this time closer and louder, "Arthur!"

"Let him come. I'll-!"

"No," Arthur cut him off. "He has great power, you must get out of here...!"

"I'm not going without you."

"I can't leave, when the moon sets I'll turn back into a swan. I can only become human again from here. Please, just go...! You have to trust me..." Arthur pushed him forward, trying to lead him away from the lake.

After being led out of the water and towards the forest, Alfred turned back to Arthur. "There must be some way to break the spell." There was no way he was giving up now that he found Arthur. Spell be damned.

"There is." Arthur was almost embarrassed to tell Alfred. He knew it was the only way, but it was so cheesy. Like something out of a fairytale. He blushed faintly and glanced away from Alfred, not able to look him in the eyes as he told him. "You must...make a vow of everlasting love."

A blush spread across Alfred's face. But he didn't think about it too much before answering. "I'll do it!"

"And you have to prove it to the world."

"The...the world? How do I do that?"

"I...I don't know...!"

Ivan's voice got closer, "Arthur?"

Arthur gasped and pushed Alfred forward again. "Go...!"

Though against his better judgement, Alfred turned to leave. But stopped when a brilliant idea struck him. "The ball..." He turned back to Arthur with a smile on his face. "Tomorrow night, come to the castle. In front of all the royalty of the world, I'll make a vow of everlasting love!"

"Tomorrow night..." Arthur wasn't yet sure how he would make it to the castle at night as a human without Ivan finding him, but he would cross that bridge when he came to it. "Yes, I'll be there."

"Arthur?!"

"I-I'm coming!" Arthur finally answered. He did a shooing motion towards Alfred. "Go...!"

Alfred reached to the back of his neck, unclasping the necklace he wore. He tossed it to Arthur who caught it with ease. Arthur looked down at the necklace, surprised to see it was his swan locket. When he looked back up Alfred was gone.

"Arthur," came that chilling voice from behind him. Arthur quickly turned to face him, hiding the necklace behind his back. "Didn't you hear me calling you, Arthur?"

"Yes, I was just...on my way to come see you."

"Oh really? I thought I heard...voices."

Arthur paled but he tried to keep his composure. "Voices?"

"Yes...You weren't talking to yourself, were you?"

"Yes, I was! I...I've decided to become your...queen."

Now that was not something Ivan expected to hear. He knew the prince was lying but it was still a surprise. He decided to humor him. The sorcerer got down on one knee in front of the prince and smiled that innocent smile of his.

"Oh Arthur, you've made me so happy. I'll be a good king, you'll see. I'll wear nice clothes and I'll even trim my hair." He stood back up, his smile turning into a smirk. "By the way...you wouldn't happen to know who this belongs to, would you?" He revealed to Arthur the bow he found in the bushes. Alfred's bow.

And the last of Arthur's composure was crushed. Ivan knew all along that Alfred was there. He knew he was lying about talking to himself and about becoming his queen. He had heard everything.

"Think you're going to the ball, huh? Where your prince will make a vow of everlasting love. Did you really think you could fool me?" Ivan threw the bow into the lake.

Arthur had had enough of this. Being stuck at this lake with the sorcerer, feeling like he had no way out. But now he did. He was determined to finally escape this place and now that he had a chance, he wasn't about to let it pass him by.

"I will never be yours. I will marry Prince Alfred, and you cannot stop me!"

"Oh? Well I hate to tell you this, Your Highness." Ivan took hold of Arthur's hand he had been hiding behind his back and forced his fingers open, revealing the locket. He took it from Arthur and dangled it in front of him out of reach. "But you won't be able to go to the ball tomorrow night."

"You think you can stop me from going? If you want to keep me here...you'll have to kill me."

Ivan laughed loudly at Arthur's declaration. "No, I don't think I will. You see, you've forgotten one very important thing. Tomorrow night there is...no moon."

Every bit of determination and resolve Arthur had at the moment disappeared. Suddenly the only hope he had was taken away from him. If there was no moon, he couldn't become human. He couldn't go to the ball.

He ran into the woods, away from Ivan and his laughter. Away from the cold violet eyes that might see him cry.

My god, I struggled with parts of this chapter like you wouldn't believe. The struggle is real.

Well I hope you enjoyed this chapter. I'll see you all again when I see you.

Review!