In the shadow of night, two men snuck through the chilly forest of Hearts, swiftly arriving at a camp on the border. There, they bowed at the foot of their King, just outside his tent. "We have news from Hearts. Spades has arrived."

Wordlessly, the King stared out at something they did not have the capacity to see. Taking his silence as means to continue, one whispered, "The new monarchy of Spades has joined forces with Hearts, my King."

His King turned, violet eyes narrowed, white and silver coat grazing the snow, and murmured, "Good."

—

Yao arrived in the dawn, earlier than Alfred and Arthur had expected, and like usual, wherever he walked, his monarchy followed behind him like eager puppies. "And how was your trip?" Alfred started.

Apparently, Yao was not a morning person. "Seeing your faces in this bitter weather made me want to puke." Translation: I am overjoyed to see you, even though I hate this weather, and my trip was less than pleasant.

"Have you discussed our strategies with Ludwig yet?"

"Why must you follow me everywhere? Are you not adults?" Translation: I am on my way to see him now, and I am glad you are accompanying me.

Arthur opened the door for him, receiving an irritated huff as thanks, and the full monarchy of Spades walked into the palace's conference room. They sat at one end of the round wooden table, Hearts at the other.

"You are late," Ludwig observed. "It must be a Spadian tradition."

At least Yao was zealous to defend his beloved monarchs. "They were greeting me, not loitering. If you are concerned about our punctuality, then by all means, let us start." He leaned back in his seat, gesturing to the table for someone to rattle off their strategies.

If Ludwig was perturbed concerning Yao's insolence, he didn't voice it. "We discussed splitting up."

Kiku pointed to the map spread out on the middle of the table. "Hearts is divided from Clubs by a river. If we divide the army of Hearts into two sections, we could cross the river and attack from the north and south side."

"But risk them splitting into two groups?" Yao's brow furrowed.

"That's where Spades comes in," Ludwig stated. "If Clubs is wise, they'd split into two groups, thinking they could finish us off without realizing that they leave the center open. You'd lead your army across the middle of the river, into that exposed center, and attack both groups-"

"Pinning them in," Arthur finished, glancing at Yao. "And we secure victory easily."

"Correct."

Yao frowned. "You all underestimate Clubs. Although I have never met the King, he is sly and cunning, and will not fall easily into your traps."

"But can he withstand our numbers? We surely outnumber Clubs," Feliciano, the Jack, spoke up.

"It's a chance we'll have to take," Alfred said.

Everyone fell silent. Yao opened his mouth to speak, when the door was slammed open by a guard, startling everyone. He panted, "Clubs is preparing to cross the river!"

Ludwig stood swiftly, his chair falling to the ground. No one paid notice. "We can't let them cross-"

"Then we intercept them now," Yao demanded, briskly walking out of the room. Alfred and Arthur raced after him, the monarchy of Hearts following. Luckily, as they emerged outside, Ludwig's troops were already waiting, and mounting his horse, Ludwig took off, the thundering of hooves following him. Alfred looked to Yao with wide eyes. "Do you know where our army is?"

Yao furiously snapped, "I just arrived here, imbecile! That's your job-"

He was interrupted by Arthur, who tugged on both of their wrists, dragging them to the castle stables. Before either could question him, they saw the army of Spades, all assembled and waiting, even their own horses. Alfred turned, slack jawed, to Arthur. "How... how did you...?"

Shrugging, Arthur replied, "I woke up early, and assumed it'd be wise to make sure they were ready." He smirked and prepared to mount his horse, Alfred following swiftly behind, but paused as his gaze fell on The Queen and Jack of Hearts, who apparently hadn't followed their King.

"Do you need horses?" Alfred offered, brow furrowed.

Kiku shook his head, a polite smile on his face. "We are not allowed to fight, only the King. Are you not aware of the law?" Feliciano fiddled nervously beside him.

Arthur glanced at Alfred, then at Yao, who looked uncertain and almost guilty. "Law?"

Yao walked closer to the King and Queen. "I abolished it in Spades after the death of the King. You have the right to restore it." His voice quieted, a tense air between the three as Arthur stared at Alfred, eyes searching.

Snapping the tension, Alfred said determinedly, "We fight together." He held his hand out for affirmation- Arthur clasped it immediately, a pleased expression on his face. Yao followed, and Alfred, glancing at their hands unified in agreement, thought, This is the coolest thing that has ever happened to me, hands down.

They mounted their horses, and with a final wave to Kiku and Feliciano, Alfred led his people after Ludwig into war. Exhilaration made his heart leap furiously as they caught up to the army of Hearts: even though he had faced war before, knowledge of what laid ahead never ceased to make him nervous.

The army of Hearts stopped abruptly- Alfred called his soldiers to a halt and rode up beside the King. "What's wrong?" Ludwig pointed ahead, eyes narrowed. Alfred caught sight of Clubs wading through the river, some already on the bank, including the King. Alfred gazed at him, brow furrowing. I know him.

"Our plan is foiled unless we can drive them back, yet we can't charge blindly out into the open."

"I have an idea," Arthur hissed, reigning his horse back as he approached the two Kings. Ludwig looked surprised, glancing indignantly at Alfred.

"Why is he here? The law-"

Alfred opened his mouth to reply- Arthur beat him to the punch. "Do not tell my King how to run his Kingdom." His caustic words left Ludwig silenced: Alfred felt his heart swell despite the imminent threat. "They know not that we are here. We can't risk revealing ourselves, so we ambush them. Let them come into the forest of Hearts- we have the advantage."

"How do you suggest concealing ourselves?" Ludwig shot back.

"The trees." Alfred gestured above them. "Like Arthur said, we have the advantage. Hearts knows this territory better than anyone."

"But we must do away with the horses. We might have the element of surprise, but we will loose our height."

"That won't be necessary," Yao intervened, riding up beside Arthur. "Split the armies. Spades is at a disadvantage as much as Clubs is- this isn't our land, and we sure as hell can't fight from the trees. We will take the horses and circle around."

Frowning doubtfully, Ludwig asked, "Circle around?"

"To the clearing. If you can drive Clubs out of the forest and back into the clearing, we'll be waiting- they'll be pinned in from both sides. Then we can battle them back to the river, and hope for a surrender." Yao glared at Ludwig, chin high. The King of Hearts silently observed them, eyes narrowed.

"Fine," he conceded. Dismounting, Ludwig handed his reigns over to Alfred and turned to his troops, commanding them do the same. As they began to climb into the trees, The King of Hearts turned to the monarchy of Spades for a short moment, and with a slight nod, ascended into the nearest spruce tree.

Honestly, there was no time to rethink or plot extensively- Clubs was closing in quickly. Alfred clicked his tongue, motioning his army to follow, racing out of the woods. Before he could become lost in thought, Arthur rode alongside him, shouting over the thunder of hoofbeats, "We can't just lead the extra horses into battle- it would be a lost cause. Let me take the men with Hearts' horses and leave them at the castle. We'll rejoin you at the clearing as soon as possible."

It made sense. The extra horses would either get in the way or be taken over by Clubs. Yet, Alfred didn't like losing at least half of his army, including his Queen. They approached a fork in the road, which meant Alfred had to make a hasty decision. "Be quick," he called back. Arthur smiled and took off in the other direction, Alfred yelling for men with extra horses to follow the Queen, and led his section of men down the opposite road.

Once they circled around completely, Alfred led his army to the clearing, hoping that Ludwig had driven Clubs out of the forest. Hearts had driven back Clubs sufficiently, in position for Spades to intercept them and send them reeling toward the river. Turning to his army, Alfred raised his fist, and with a loud cry, the army of Spades rode into battle.

Blades and bodies clashed- screeches of fury and howls of agony echoed in the air. Alfred's horse, spooked, reared up and sent Alfred to the ground. Whirling around, heartbeat audible in his ears, the King of Spades viciously fought, sweat dripping down his forehead, every move seeming fast-forwarded, like a jump through time.

Snow started to fall, and what had already fallen lay tainted with blood- as Alfred felled enemy after enemy, someone backed into him. Startled, he whipped around, face to face with Ludwig, blood that was not his own smeared across his face. Before they could speak, however, another cry rang out- the other section of the Spades army had arrived, reinforcing Hearts and Spades. Energized by the new wave of soldiers, Alfred fought with renewed vigor, and eventually, Clubs fell back drastically. As planned, Clubs fled across the river: an exuberant cheer rose among the army of both Hearts and Spades.

Yet something seemed... off.

That was too easy, Alfred mused nervously, eyes narrowed as he watched Clubs disappear into the woods on the other side of the river. Yao, who had lost his horse also during battle, raced up to his side, panting, "If you think that was it, you are foolish. Clubs does not give up easily, and we have yet to see Ivan."

"The King," Alfred murmured absently, thoughts racing. Realization of the absence of a certain Queen dawned on him all too quickly, and spinning around, he yelled, "Where is Arthur?"

One of the soldiers who had been in Arthur's section stepped forward. "He told us, about halfway through the forest, that he saw someone, and to keep going while he checked it out."

Yao's gaze met Alfred's- the same horrifying thing passed through each of their brains. Yao snapped into action immediately, shouting, "We need horses, now!" Promptly, two soldiers willingly gave theirs over- Alfred, as he mounted, asked the previous soldier he had addressed, "Where was this?"

"Upstream about 20 strides or two-"

Alfred cut him off with a hasty thanks and followed Yao, willing his horse to move faster. Yao hollered over the thunder of hooves, "Ivan is tricky, Alfred. He fights in a way that will mess with your mind. You and I have taught Arthur well, but Ivan plays by different rules."

Sparing a glance at Yao, Alfred observed a man that knew, firsthand, Ivan, even though he denied ever meeting the King of Clubs. Yao could cover up his feelings well with words, but his emotions eventually betrayed him. "I won't let him get to my mind."

"If he has gotten to Arthur's mind, he will get to yours through him," Yao solemnly replied. Alfred didn't understand, and found that he didn't want to understand such grim words.

—

Arthur slowed his horse to a walk after breaking from his section of the army, eyes narrowed as he searched the forest for the flash of a cape, the quick twinkle of jewels that he had surely spotted before. Afraid that the horse would give his position away, the Queen quietly dismounted, snow crunching beneath his black boots.

Warily, he stepped through the forest, eyes searching the branches above, but nothing lunged out at him like he expected. Eerie silence only piqued nervousness, anxiousness: halting completely, Arthur slowly slid his sword out from his scabbard beneath his purple cape. Circling, his ears started to ring, a high-pitched whine that only petrified him more- and then, behind him, a sickly pleasant voice snapped the tension and silence.

"Are you lost, my Queen?"

Arthur whirled around, and with a ferocious snarl, generated a large blue orb of electricity in his hand, hurling it at the King. Mildly surprised, the man dodged neatly, and with a drastic fling of his hand, a green ball of flame flew toward Arthur, who threw another orb of electricity- on contact, the powerful magic exploded, canceling each other out. The smoke cleared, and Ivan faced Arthur, swords in hand. "Surprising," Ivan praised. "Just as strong as I remember. Perhaps stronger."

"Shut up," Arthur growled.

"And apparently just as brash. You will not understand that I am not your enemy."

"You," Arthur snarled, "Are my enemy."

Ivan laughed, and both started circling around each other, a twisted sort of dance. "What lies have you been fed?"

"Power hungry is all you are. You declare war simply for conquest-"

Interrupting with an indignant snort, Ivan said, "Is that what the King of Diamonds told you? Ah, he has always thought that way. Everyone of this generation thinks that way. Foolishly, they have forgotten all that came before this world. I do not seek land, dear Queen." His eyes grew cold. "I seek revenge."

Jostled by his strange words, Arthur attempted to hide his fear. "You cannot trick me. There is no world but this."

"Ah, but the windows of your soul tell otherwise." Almost nostalgically, Ivan continued, "Your eyes, even back then, always revealed your true emotions. You doubt yourself."

"You are vermin," Arthur hissed, voice shaking slightly.

"I am not, and you know that. All of you know the reason why I fight is just, and yet you choose not to remember. I am fighting for you, Arthur. For all of us." Reaching into his pocket, Ivan tossed a small tube to the snowy ground, rolling near Arthur's feet. "Are you curious? Do you want to know why I want revenge?" Arthur didn't reply. "Touch it. Touch it and you will remember as I did."

Emerald eyes were drawn to the strange glowing tube- Arthur could easily bend down, pick it up, possess the knowledge Ivan had.

No. He's playing with you.

Arthur gripped his sword tight, and with an angry, shrill cry, launched himself at the King. Blades clashed rapidly as Ivan countered, sending Arthur reeling back with sheer force. But as strong as Ivan was, Arthur was agile: he easily recovered, dodging Ivan's heavy blade, and swung at him again. The strike of swords resonated through the otherwise silent forest, neither sides relenting, until Arthur managed to slash Ivan's forearm, a deep cut that seeped blood instantly: yet, just as his eyes darted to the wound, Ivan, with a swift hand, slashed Arthur from hip to chest.

Gasping out, Arthur stumbled backwards, sword still held out at Ivan threateningly as he tried to recover, adrenaline kicking in and masking the pain. Ivan simply watched, and with a regretful expression, murmured, "My fight does not lay with you, Arthur."

"You made your fight against me the moment you declared war on Spades," Arthur panted out, eyes narrowed.

Shrugging, Ivan tossed his sword into the snow. "I will not fight you."

"Coward!" Arthur spat. He lunged wildly at Ivan, barely nicking his upper thigh. Wincing, Ivan roughly dodged and wrestled the sword out of Arthur's hands, and with a clatter, it fell to the snow alongside his own. Arthur threw a punch, connecting firmly with Ivan's jaw and sending his head reeling to the side, but before he could repeat, the King caught his fist, and just as he sent Arthur backwards into the snow, the ground reverberated with the sound of horses.

Ivan murmured, "Well, well. It would seem I have stalled long enough." With a sickly pleasant farewell, he picked up the strange object he had tossed at Arthur and disappeared into the forest.

Arthur's eyes widened: realization dawned on him. He's been playing for time. Struggling into a sitting position, Arthur lost his train of thought, hunching over, chest seemingly on fire, and cried out at the pain. Alfred was suddenly jumping off his horse, kneeling beside him, asking, "Arthur? Are you okay?"

Gaze blurring, Arthur gripped Alfred's forearm to steady himself. "Ivan... Ivan's been stalling. There must be another wave coming."

Alfred looked up at Yao, who dismounted with much more finesse than the King. "How could he be stalling by fighting you?"

"Because he knew that you'd come for me," Arthur replied quietly. "You must return. His whole plan was to lure you away from the army."

"We can't leave him here," Alfred said. "He's wounded."

"I'm coming with you!" Arthur indignantly opposed. His outburst drew a sympathetic look from Alfred and a roll of the eyes from Yao.

"Don't be stupid. He and I will return to Hearts." Yao strode forward, he and Alfred both supporting Arthur as they settled him on Yao's horse. As soon as he was situated (against his will), Yao turned to Alfred, quietly murmuring, "If what Arthur said is true, then you must remember my words. Ivan will do anything he can to win. Know that."

Nodding, Alfred mounted his own horse, eyes catching Arthur's. There was too much that he wanted to voice- yet nothing would come out. The King took off, racing back to his army, praying that he didn't return to a massacre.

—

"He's been asleep for a couple hours. No, no, It's routine, don't worry. I'll return soon."

Fragments of words filtered in through Arthur's mind, awaking him from sleep. Blinking, he tried to keep his eyes open long enough to focus on at least where he was, yet found that the task was too hard, and drifted off again, strange shards of memories, of words, racing through the darkness. Everything was jumbled, as if on fast-forward.

"Arthur?"

That simple word pulled him out of his strange dream. Alfred hovered over him, blue eyes searching his. Groggily, Arthur replied, "Alfred?"

"You've been out for awhile."

"How cliche," Arthur huffed softly. Alfred gave an amused, soft laugh.

"We won," he murmured, but lacked the exuberance Arthur had expected. Tentatively, Arthur slid his hand over Alfred's, as if to comfort him, however ineffective and trivial it seemed. Alfred didn't move away. "But our losses were great. Clubs had a second wave attack, as you expected. We eventually drove them back, but Ivan never appeared. Only to you did he expose himself." Frowning, Alfred's eyes shone with uncertainty. "Yao is as clueless as I am over why."

Arthur remembered the encounter, remembered Ivan's strange words. "Do you remember the old wives' tales in Spades? They always rumored that Ivan sought revenge over a past grievance. When I accused him of only fighting for conquest, he laughed, and said..." Arthur trailed off, swallowing. "He said that he fought for revenge."

"Revenge against Spades?" Alfred questioned softly. "What does he wish to accomplish by that?"

"He wouldn't even fight me. I had to attack him." Arthur's eyes searched Alfred's, searched for answers. "He kept claiming he was my ally. That we... were friends."

Alfred pondered this, and looked away for a moment. "You have never met him before?"

"Not once, as far as I can remember."

The King's eyes burned intensely into Arthur's when he looked back. "Did he say anything else?"

Arthur opened his mouth to tell Alfred about the strange other world Ivan had mentioned, but the door opened inopportunely, and in walked Yao, who appeared irritated as if his feathers had been ruffled. "Ludwig reports that Clubs has drawn back into their own territory."

Sighing slightly, Arthur felt a pang of relief that the other King was safe. Alfred frowned. "They haven't surrendered. Why would they do that?"

"They're drawing us in," Arthur murmured. Both Yao and Alfred turned their gazes on the Queen, sitting up slightly in his bed. "How far have they retreated?"

"Spies account that they are returning to the capital city," Yao replied. "Tomorrow morning we will discuss our plans in Hearts' conference room. Until then." He slightly nodded to the monarchs and strode out.

Silence was left in his wake as Arthur stared up at the ceiling, trying to recall all of Ivan's words from their encounter, wondering why Ivan had only revealed himself to him. Alfred changed and eventually settled in beside him, jostling the bed roughly- Arthur hissed out in pain. His chest still burned from where Ivan had slashed him.

"Sorry," Alfred apologized, turning on his side to face Arthur. "I forgot that you were injured."

"You aren't better off yourself," Arthur observed, gazing at the nicks on his face, down his arms, across his chest- the deeper cuts were bandaged with white cloth that looked slightly blood-stained beneath. He tried shifting toward Alfred, forcing himself onto his side despite the pain. "I thought we were royalty. Where's the fancy pain-masking medicine?" He teased, lips quirking.

Alfred laughed- Arthur caught himself admiring the way the King smiled. "Sorry. Ain't got none."

"Is that the second time you've apologized in one minute?" Arthur shot back, trying to ignore the way they gravitated toward each other, closer and closer. Alfred didn't reply, a hand reaching out and brushing back Arthur's hair behind his ear. The gesture made Arthur's chest constrict, and not from pain. He closed his eyes self-consciously, wondering when he had started to feel such strange emotions. There was something painfully familiar that struck Arthur as he lay beside Alfred, and his thoughts flickered to his encounter with Ivan. Another world? Could it be... I knew them?

Arthur quickly discarded that idea as preposterous, focusing on Alfred carding fingers through his hair, reveling in the comfort it brought until it lulled him to sleep.

—