Hetalia – Of Magic and Might
Chapter 21! Summer is here and let the chapters pour in! Thank you for all the new reviews and followers I've received, you all inspire me to continue writing and updating this story :) Welcome new followers thank you for joining us, I really appreciate that you enjoy this story and want to see more. Without further ado the next chapter!
Enjoy!
Whale-Tail Island, The Resistance Headquarters, Alfred Jones' and Matthew William's bedroom
Arthur Kirkland opened his rich green eyes and immediately shielded them against the sudden bright light. Lowering his arms down slowly Arthur tried again to observe his aquatic surrounding. He was underwater, floating in a boundless turquoise body of tranquil water. Warm sunlight sparkled on the surface and illuminated Arthur's clear aqua surroundings. Arthur smiled contently and gazed at the playful sun beams that danced in the water. He wasn't alarmed because Arthur had been here a few times in the past.
At first he thought that it had been simply a reoccurring dream. However when he had discussed it with Allistor, Allistor had been surprised and told that Arthur he had already discovered his mindscape. The mindscape was a realm that opened infinite possibilities to its user, and it was extremely difficult to unlock. The mindscape could be used to revisit old memories or perfectly capture new ones. Some sorcecers used it to contract others via dreams and others used it to open themselves to visions of clairvoyance. No two mindscapes were the same, each one was personally crafted to match the users mentality. When Arthur asked what Allistor's mindscape was, Allistor had described it as a great library built inside a giant oaken tree. Allistor explained that he used it to store all his knowledge on magic and he was able to review his memories when he forgot the nitty details.
Arthur wasn't quite sure what he used his mindscape for. It wasn't quite inappropriate for storing memories and he'd never figured out how to reach out to others. As Arthur thought of the neutrality of his mindscape, distant voices echoed into the depth from above. Looking up Arthur tried to make out who's voice it was, a blurry image of a face with red hair was looking into the water and calling to Arthur desperately.
"Allistor?" Arthur asked to the person and tried to swim towards the surface. As Arthur due nearer to the surface, his beating arms and legs began to feel heavy and slowed down. The water had began getting colder. Ice grew and spread across the surface, blocking out the sunlight and sending the water into subzero temperatures. Arthur gasped as the cold slammed into him, knocking the air out of him. His breath coming out in a burst of bubbles. Arthur struggled to reach the surface, placing his hand on the freezing ice boundary.
The cold was seeping into his bones, chilling his blood and immobilising his body. Arthur's eyes dulled and half-closed in defeat. He couldn't move, he couldn't feel. In Arthur's now murky waters, a mass of shadows stirred from the darkest depths of the mindscape. Wispy shadows slowly rose upwards towards Arthur, reaching to drag him down. Arthur saw the approaching danger with wide fearful eyes yet was unable to move. This is it, Arthur thought as he closed his eyes in defeat. He was too weak to save himself. The shadow was reaching for Arthur's ankle when Arthur felt a sudden rise in temperature of the water. Snapping his peridot eyes open, above him it looked like the ice was thawing. An intense concentrated sunbeam was melting through the ice, breaking through the icy boundary and penetrating into the waters beneath. Arthur's body temperature rose and Arthur found he could once again move. Not taking his chances Arthur hurriedly swam and broke through the surface into reality with a gasp
Arthur woke with a jolt. He was awake! He was awake and very hot and confined… Arthur tried to move his torso to no avail. He was pressed against something large and heavy.
I'll roll and try to break its hold, Arthur thought to himself as he prepared to throw himself against this weight. On the count of three Arthur threw his whole body against his confiner, causing him to briefly roll on top before the continuing momentum caused him to continue to tip sideways. Causing Arthur to fall off the bed, dragging his heavy confiner with him. Arthur and his confiner landed with a crash on the floor with dual screams of terror.
"Ahhh!" Arthur hear his confiner yell as he was finally released him in shock, now Arthur was free he could clearly see the person beside him.
"Alfred?!" Arthur cried in surprise as he struggled to righten himself. Alfred was rubbing the back of his head that had been smacked when Arthur had caused them to fall.
"Woah, rude awakening much Arthur. I'll think I'll skip the alarm clock next time" Alfred winced as he sat up and heaved himself to his feet. Arthur made to stand up when he noticed that he was sporting a pair of steel handcuffs.
"What the hell Alfred, why am I handcuffed?!" Arthur shouted as he tugged at his cuffs, this really wasn't his morning. Alfred sighed and placed both his hands on Arthur's shoulders, looking him square in the eyes.
"What do you remember after we spilt up?" Alfred asked studying Arthur's confused face.
"I remember being with Francis- oh my god! Francis! Where is he?!" Arthur realised looking desperately around as if Francis was just out of sight.
"Francis is safe, Arthur. We're at the Resistance's home base. You and Francis got captured when you trespassed onto our land" Alfred explained calmly. Arthur scowled and his eyes widened in remembrance, he glared at Alfred and awkwardly slapped Alfred across the face with bound hands. Alfred clutched his face and stared at Arthur in bewilderment waiting for an explanation.
"That's for hitting me with a rifle you ass!" Arthur hissed as Alfred continued to rub his face.
"Wa? I never hit you dude, you must be talking about my brother Matthew. He's the one who brought you in" Alfred replied defensively as there was a loud knock on the door followed by the sound of it opening. A face near identical to Alfred's appeared in the doorway. The man looked a little younger then Alfred was and his sandy blonde hair was longer, reaching past his ears. His light violet eyes held a suspicious glint as he observed Arthur.
"Arthur this is my brother, Matthew" Alfred introduced, sensing the tense air between his friend and his brother. Matthew regarded Arthur cooly and motioned for Alfred and Arthur to follow him out.
"General Ludwig wants to speak with you Arthur. I'll be escorting you to his office, no funny business from either of you" Matthew remarked and held the door open as Arthur and Alfred pasted him, sharing a glance with his brother as he passed.
'Dear Ludwig,
Today I awoke up after dreaming about pasta flavoured pizza! It was so delicious that I ate it in one bite, but then I was sad because it was all gone and I didn't get the chance to share any with you. Things are a going well with the restaurant, the people here really like my pizza and I have a client who a wants to buy my art! It's so exciting! Also I think two of your agents came to see me and ordered pizza with two other men! They looked so happy that they reminded me of when we went on that holiday to that beach. Hey hey I saw a potato when I shopping and thought of you, which made me sad again. Everything would be much much better if you were here with me. I think I understand why you can't come and see me, but you a really confuse me because you don't want me to see you! So instead I included a cute picture of me and a picture that I drew of the Emperor. You should pin it to your punching bag and take all your mean stress out on it! I really want to see you, why don't we meet on that beach that you took me to?
Possano le stelle sorridere sulla nostra prossima riunione, custode del mio cuore,
Il tuo Feliciano'
Ludwig set his letter down and reached for the envelope it came in to search for the two pictures Feliciano had sent along with his letter. Pulling them out, one picture was of Feliciano smiling into the camera as he watered a beautiful bouquet of lilies and sunflowers. His smile was radiant and it seemed to instantly brighten Ludwig's office. God Ludwig missed him. Carefully placing the picture down, Ludwig picked up the other picture and allowed himself a small amused chuckle. Feliciano had drawn a crude impressionists portrait of Ivan, Ivan's nose had been greatly exaggerated to comic lengths. Ludwig folded the drawing and put it in his pocket to pin it up later, he also lifted the picture of Feliciano and placed it in his wallet in his inner chest pocket above his heart. Ludwig looked up to the door as a polite knock emitted from it.
"Enter" Ludwig called, watching agents Jones, Williams and a blonde handcuffed man entered his office. Finally, Ludwig though to himself. Finally he had the opportunity to gain an advantage over Ivan. Mentally cracking his knuckles Ludwig prepared for the introduction that would send him down on his future path, though whether it was to success or failure Ludwig did not know.
Ho ho ho, interesting ;) We are introduced to Arthur's mindscape and some relationship build up between Ludwig and Feliciano.
The reason that Ludwig doesn't want Feliciano to move to the base is because, while it might seem contradictory, he doesn't want Feliciano to be in danger. Ludwig knows that while having Feliciano nearer would be safer and happier for the both of them. Ludwig doesn't want Feliciano near the base because he doesn't want Feliciano to see the chaos and harsh reality of war. He doesn't want Feliciano to see his brutal side which he must have to fight this war. He also knows that Feliciano would want to fight on the front lines, thus placing himself in greater danger. This relationship is very supportive and understanding, each partner understands each other's situation and they work through it. I love writing and exploring these two.
The Mindscape concept is fun to write, and rather abstract but easy enough to understand. The mindscape can only be accessed when asleep and interestingly, is not limited sorcerers. Meaning that we will be visiting other character's mindscapes. The mindscape will change its environment to match the users mental state. For example if the user is mentally sound, their mindscape could be a great stable tower, while a unstable user's mindscape could be a violent volcano riddled with earthquakes.
Sorcerers would use mindscapes to expand their knowledge of magic and use its supernatural capabilities, while a regular person could use it as a mindpalace for storing memories or use it To manifest their desires. Some never realise that they have actually unlocked their mindscape, simply thinking that they frequently have lucid dreams.
Arthur's mindscape symbolises limitless potential and shows that there are no boundaries to his power. Unlocking your mindscape is rare, so not all characters will be shown using theirs. However I can say that while we won't be seeing it in the story. Francis' mindscape would a grand ballroom hoisting a formal ball, good food and interesting people would be in abundance. Francis' mindscape would show Francis' desire and appreciation of all things of grandeur and culturally rich. In future chapters, whatever mindscapes we don't see, I may include in this Authors note.
In the scene of Arthur's mindscape, it's fairly obvious who is associated with themes of Winter and coldness. However what was that shadow then you ask? Hmmmmm :)
Translation (Italian) :May the stars smile on our next reunion, keeper of my heart, Your Feliciano
Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoyed this chapter! If you are enjoying this story and want to see more, be sure to follow and leave and review to tell me what you think of this story, your opinions, your predictions :) Once again thank you for reading!
Untill next time folks!