Hetalia – Of Magic and Might

Thats right folks, it's a double chapter update comin' at you live! Chapter 29! Let's get right to it

Enjoy!

Whale-Tail Island, The Rebel makeshift camp, Beside the dead campfire.

Alfred Jones slammed his opponent's strained fist back down against the flat Boulder and roared in sweet victory. It was the tenth arm wrestling match he had won and he wasn't even breaking a sweat. The flat rock they had been using for the match had started to crack with the repeated blunt force of Alfred's hand crushing his competitors against it. When Alfred had woke up and found Arthur's and Matthew's beds empty, he had been worried until he has been informed they had briefly gone into the town. To entertain himself, Alfred had challenged the whole camp to an arm wrestling tournament. The winner had have Alfred as their man servant for an entire day. Oh how quickly they had got in line, only to get ruthlessly owned Alfred had thought smugly.

"Wellll, not that it wasn't fun but I dunno if I'd class that as a real victory" Alfred proclaimed as he stood up and pretended to exaggeratedly yawn, the camp audience laughing at the easy win. Alfred opponent opened and closed his mouth a few times before finally thinking to a come back.

"You just caught me on a rough day" He said as he weakly tried to defend himself. Alfred raised an eyebrow and smirked at him.

"Oh Tim I didn't know! I understand that a woman's time of the month can be really brutal" Alfred returned causing the audience to shriek and shout in amazement of Alfred's comeback, some of them pretended to be fall back in shock.

"Ooohh someone perform a rain dance because we're got a serious burn over here!" Yelled one of the men and the fun was extended with renewed fits of laughter. Even Tim chuckled at the joke and high-fired Alfred as the laughter lowered to brief snickers. After some time another man called out, saying at the group that had left for town had returned. Alfred smiled in anticipation and raced over in the direction that the man had pointed.

As Alfred reached the clearing and saw the approaching men, he could see that something was off. Jonny and Shard were leading the charge while Matthew and Arthur trailed behind at the rear, none of the men were speaking a word. They were all silently walking towards the camp, looking grimly at the ground. As they came into camp Alfred ran up to his brother and Arthur, excited to ask what Arthur thought of the town. Without even acknowledging him, Arthur marched straight past him. For a moment Alfred was too shocked to register what had just happened.

"Alright everyone! Pack up! We're returning back to base" Matthew shouted to the groans of the listening men, many whom wanted to take their own trip into town. Reluctantly the men began scooping up their effects and strapped them onto the carriage. Alfred snapped out of his shock, and blinked a couple of times before walking over to his brother who was directing the packing.

"What the hey hey Matt? Why are we packing up already? More importantly, what's up with Arthur" Alfred asked his flustered brother. Matthew adjusted his glasses the way he did whenever he was stressed.

"We have to move. There's more Empire activity then we anticipated. Alfred, I think the Emperor has put forward compulsory enlistment. The soldiers we saw were dragging boys out of their homes, ripping them from their families," Matthew paused and looked as though in despair "Arthur watched and was about to help them… But I stopped him. I wanted to do something as well, but I couldn't. I couldn't let him blow our cover and endanger the whole town. I'm sorry Alfred, he probably hates me now"

Alfred hesitated before answering, resting his hand reassuringly on his brother's shoulder. "Dude, you have nothing to apologise for. I'm glad you stopped him. If you hadn't we might of lost Arthur and the base, you're in the right Matt. I'll go and speak with Arthur, knock some sense into his head" Alfred said optimistically, giving Matt a backwards wave as he jogged over to the distance where Arthur was walking alone. Falling into step, Alfred looked expectantly at Arthur to speak first. No answer came.

"Hey," Alfred tried. No answer again. "I said. HEY". Arthur's head snapped in shock at Alfred's shout, Alfred stared at Arthur with determination to get a reply.

"Hello Alfred" Arthur cooly replied, not making any eye contact what so ever. Alfred never fancied himself to be a complicated guy, so he decided he was going to skip to the good bit.

"Look lets just cut the crap Arthur, Matt told me about what happened in town. Listen he didn't do anything wrong, he was saving your neck," Alfred stated bluntly "I don't see how you don't get that"

"Alfred I'm not upset with Matthew" Arthur replied dully, however Alfred's rant was continuing its momentum without properly registering what Arthur had said.

"You have to realise that you can't just think about yourself now, you can't- wait what?" Alfred blurted abruptly not sure if he had heard right. Arthur sighed and finally looked at Alfred, weariness glazing his eyes.

"I'm not upset with Matthew. He did the right thing, I realise that" Arthur said turning his head to look at the road ahead of them. Alfred was extremely confused now.

"Then why were you so pissed when you came into camp?" Alfred asked as he watched Arthur's face for any clues.

"I was frustrated Alfred. But not at Matthew. I was angry at myself," Arthur explained, turning to Alfred to see his brows raised in an expression that wanted more elaboration. Arthur huffed "I know why Ludwig wanted me to go on this expedition. He wanted me to join the cause, guilt trip me into it. I came along thinking that it wouldn't work, that I'd show him. I'm frustrated Alfred, because it did work. I can't go home and rest soundly after seeing cruelty like that. He got me…" Arthur finished with a defeated whisper, his head hanging and his sad eyes downcast.

"Arthur are you saying what I think you've saying?" Alfred fumbled as he tried to piece his words together, half afraid half hopeful.

"I'm saying that I'm joining you, Alfred," Arthur affirmatively stated, a half hesitant smile on his lips. Alfred opened his mouth to speak when he was shushed, Arthur held up his hand for silence and cocked his head slightly. Listening intently. Turning to the rest of the convoy, Alfred to raised his hand in the signal to halt. The whole convoy instantly stopped silent and crouched low, looking to Alfred for further instructions. For a moment the Forrest was deadly still, even the constant hooting owl had ceased its nocturnal call. The men looked at each other, tense and confused at what they were supposed to be hearing.

Snap

The men froze. The sun was setting, daylight fading from the world. Alfred turned his head to look at Arthur, Arthur's eyes were closed as he tried concentrated to locate the direction of the noise.

"What is it?" Alfred mouthed to Arthur when he opened his green eyes in a moment of grim clarity.

"Hounds" Arthur's mouthed back, his face pale in the dimming light. Alfred silently cursed and motioned for the men to ready their weapons for the oncoming attack. Soft rippling snarls had now become audible, emitting from the way the convoy had just come. They must have been stalking us, Alfred thought as he and Arthur crept backwards towards the convoy. The men drew closer together, all eyes frantically searched for any flicker of movement between the trees of the blackening Forrest. The snarling now so close it sounded as though the hounds were at their backs.

"Light torches! Keep your back to the convoy! Do not let them break the line!" Alfred cried as he raised his fists, wishing he now had picked up a large hunting knife like Arthur's. It was mer seconds after the torches had been hurriedly lit, that the first hound attacked.

The beast bounded out of darkness and launched itself like an arrow at the men's line of defence. Arthur stepped into its line of flight and as it came to land its attack, Arthur slashed in a wide arc with his knife. The hound yelped as it the knife's sharp blade slashed deeply across its neck, it's body turning rag doll and fell past Arthur and the line. It crashed to the ground and attempted to raise before falling limp and surrendering itself to jaws of death. Alfred looked at Arthur in awe when sickeningly he saw Arthur's face was half darkened with the now dead hound's blood. Arthur didn't seem to notice the dark red liquid running down the side of his face as he prepared himself for the next attack.

With the next wave, three hounds stalked into the field of flickering torchlight. Their spitting fangs bared in undisguised lust for blood. Alfred threw a quick glance over his shoulder to see if Matt was okay, his brother's face looked nervous and droplets of perspiration clung to his forehead. Alfred sighed in short lived relief, not seeing the rabid hound that lunged for his exposed throat.

Ooooh wave one begins. I am soooo excited for the upcoming chapter, a lot of exciting stuff :D Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoyed this chapter please take the time to leave a review telling me your opinions, questions and predictions. Once again super hyped for upcoming chapters!

Until next time folks!