The Lost Prince

A Battle of Wits

The group of friends watched Roderick and Elizabeta's coach drive away and they waved happily. After the coach dissapeared they all headed back inside. Gilbert slowed down to walk beside his towering brother.

"I'm sorry, about what that old geezer said to yah." He said.

"He was testing me." Ludwig shrugged.

"Testing you?!"

"I would have done the same." Ludwig smirked. "A bad Man would abandon his duties to become rich and live in a castle, a good man does his work first then receives his riches if he deserves it." Ludwig explained.

Gilbert looked confused. "You got all that from that?!" He yelled.

"Yes?"

"Haha that's my baby bro for yah!!" Gilbert nodded crossing his arms. "You're almost as brilliant as Mattie."

"I'm not that smart!" Matthew said embarrassed.

"He whipped me good at chess." Antonio sighed.

"Ludi kicked grandpas butt!" Feliciano said as if he suddenly remembered.

"Why don't you two duke it out on a chess board." Lovino said sarcastically.

"Yeah!" Gil said excitedly. "A battle of wits."

"Oh we don't have to." Matthew laughed shyly.

"Why not Mattie??" Gil said let down.

"Well I...."

"I agree this is kind of silly." Ludwig said taking Matthews side.

"Afraid to lose?" Lovino smirked.

"Lovi." Antonio warned.

"Hey, I get it." Lovino shrugged. "They say the more muscles they have the dumber they are."

"Ludi's not dumb!" Feliciano squeaked.

"Oh so you're both just chicken?" Lovino pushed.

Matthew started to laugh and they all looked at him confused.

"Mattie?!" Gil whined.

"S-sorry, it's just funny. I would't have ever thought someone would try so hard to make people play chess." He smiled.

They all kind of laughed to themselves and Ludwig smirked.

"Well I can't see the harm if they're all trying so hard." Ludwig announced. "Shall we?" Ludwig's asked Matthew.

"Only if you wanna." Matthew nodded.

"If you wanna LOSE!" Lovino yelled.

Ludwig gave a confident smile to Lovino.

"We'll see." He cocked.

*************************

The Prussian King sat in between his mate and his younger brother watching intensely as they made their moves on the black and white bored. His new found friends, Antonio and Lovino, sat across from him. One with the same intensity, the other with broad annoyance. Ludwig's young student, feliciano however did not seem to care in the matter. He sat against the wall on the floor playing with a kitten and a feather.

"Are you gonna move already?" Lovino said annoyed.

"Give him a second." Antonio said puzzling as well.

Ludwig made him move and immediately after Matthew moved.

"How did you know he would move there?" Antonio said amazed.

"I didn't, but he could only make 3 smart moves so there were only 3 moves I could counter...... I um.... Sorry." Matthew laughed to himself awkwardly.

"Gotta bring up your A game." Lovino smirked at Ludwig.

"Ludi's not just all muscle." Feliciano suddenly put in.

They all looked at him as if he had said something extraordinary. He looked at them with eyes closed and a wide smile.

"Now I must sing!" He said cheerfully and begun with sing sillily.

"Well he was intelligent for a second." Ludwig shrugged.

They all laughed a bit except for Lovino who rolled his eyes.

"Air head." He said glancing at his brother.

"Alright come on you two finish this game already!" Gilbert yelled impatiently.

"Alright fine." Ludwig moved a piece and Gilbert thought the game was over.

"FINALY!" Gilbert yelled.

"Check mate." Mattie said innocently moving the last piece.

Ludwig looked surprised but then he smiled.

"Good move Matthew." He said nodding proudly.

"I'm over it." Lovino said standing up. "I'm gonna go to bed."

"Yeah same." Antonio yawned.

"Well then I guess we'll all go." Ludwig said stretching as he stood up. "Feli?"

"Hm? Bed time? Okay!" He said hopping up.

The four of them walked out of the room and Gilbert waited for Mattie to get up.

"You won." Gilbert said excited.

"It was fun playing against Ludwig." Matthew smiled up at him.

Gilbert took Matthew in his arms and swayed side to side.

"Do you wanna go to bed?" He asked playfully.

Matthew giggled. "Yeah, but I'm not sleepy yet." He smiled.

"I'm sure I can help you with that." Gil smiled kissing him kindly.