TO THE HETALIA FANS OUT THERE

The Clover Kingdom

SUMMARY

Alfred Jones has always felt like something was... off with the Clover Kingdom; and it doesn't help that no one can remember what happened one hundred fifty years ago. As Alfred becomes more curious as to why the citizens' memories are hazy, dark forces are at work to put Alfred out of commission.

STORY

~Prison; Unknown Location~

"Open the door." A light voice echoed off the damp walls.

The guard nodded his head. "Of course, sir." The guard pulled out a loop of keys and unlocked the iron door. He opened the door and stepped against the wall as the man walked past him into the hallway.

The man strolled through the dimly lit hallway unhurriedly, ignoring the cries that came from inside the rooms he passed.

Finally he came to the last metal door. The room was more secluded then the other cells with walls laced with silver and protected by a spell, preventing the use of magic against it, that is, from on the inside.

The man pointed his staff at the metal door. "Aperio janua." The ruby point began to glow a soft green. The glow raced down the staff, glowing brighter until it hit the man's hand, suddenly disappearing. As quickly as it had vanished, the ruby began to glow again and shot a green beam at the door. The light, instead of reflecting off the silver door, spread across the surface until a dark green club stained the metal.

The door began to slide into its compartment, creaking as it went, and stopped with a loud thud. The man's smile widened as he walked into the dark room.

The dim light from the torches on the walls of the hallway revealed a young man curled in a ball opposite of the door. His ripped green clothes were faded almost to the point of being grey. The boy's brown hair was plastered to his grimy face from sweat. The only sign of strength was from his eyes that glowed with burning hatred.

The first man stopped in the middle of the cell, looking down at the smaller man that had begun to shake from the cold air the open door let in. "It's nice to see you again, comrade."

The boy looked away. "If only under other circumstances..."

The man continued to smile, ignoring the comment. "I hope you have reconsidered my proposition."

The boy suddenly stood up, folding his bleeding hands into fists. "Don't you understand? I don't want to help you. That curse will do more harm then what you think. That's why it is called a curse."

The man laughed at this remark. "I know perfectly well what it will do." He started to pace around the room, seeming to be studying the silver in the walls. "I'm fully prepared to make the sacrifices needed for this plan to work."

The boy huffed. "Then you are preparing yourself for your own demise, Ivan."

The man called Ivan's smile disappeared as his eyes widened. It had been a long time since someone had called him by that name, and hearing it from him sent shivers down his spine. Ivan forced the smile to return to his face, but it held a dark feeling behind it. "So you won't reconsider?"

The boy spat at the ground in front of him and rubbed his mouth. "Nothing you can do will make me help you."

Ivan strolled back to the entrance of the cell. Glancing back at the boy, he said, "We will see." The man poked his head out into the hallway. "Bring Yoet in!" he called.

The boy poised, now allowing fear to streak across his features. "Y-Yoet?" He watched in horror as a guard came into the room carrying a small screaming boy by the collar of his heavy coat.

"Let me go! Let me go!" The child yelled as he flailed in the air. Ivan circled the duo, never letting his eyes off the small boy.

The boy looked between Yoet and Ivan. "Why is he here?" He demanded.

Ivan chuckled darkly. "If I can not gain your help with just your pride holding you back, maybe putting your brother's freedom into the mix will be more... tempting."

A tear escaped the boy's eyes. "We were such good friends when we were younger. What did we do to deserve this?" he barely whispered.

A look a sympathy crossed Ivan's face. The large man was quiet for a moment, then said slowly, "I am tired of this constant conflict between the kingdoms. The Heart's queen is always starting something with the King of Diamonds, then they drag the other rulers into the bickering. There hasn't been peace for centuries because no one can get along." Ivan's gaze, which had been trained on an interesting patch of floor, suddenly lifted to the boy. He began to walk towards him. "The only path that leads to peace is through one kingdom, one Suit, and one Court. And I believe the king of that court, should be me." Ivan stopped in front of his subject. "Now, if you don't comply, comrade, you and your brother will be charged with treason by flouting the King's direct order, and this boy," Ivan motioned a hand to the small child, "will be drawn around the Capitol. And if you keep refusing, the coachman will make another lap for every time you say no."

COMMENTS
If you're thinking that this is a Cardtalia fanfoction, you are right.