Dark Waters

Chapter Nine

Chapter Nine

"They're here? In our world?" America said slowly and Matthew nodded. "How do you plan on getting them back?"

"We're going to find the discord crystal. The one that got me home." Canada explained. "It's way up north. Close to Nunavut."

"That'll be a trip." England said and the couple nodded.

"Couldn't you use magic to help them back Cher?" Francis asked raising an eyebrow. Arthur sighed and shook his head.

"No, I don't have my books. I won't take the chance of messing up." The Englishman said. "It wouldn't be safe for them or for us."

"It's okay, we von't mind the trip." Prussia said snaking an arm around Matthew's waist.

"And umm..." The Canadian bit his lip nervously. "We're going to go back with them. To their world."

"What?!" Alfred said loudly. England looked surprised, but France didn't. "Mattie, you're really going?"

"Yes." Canada sighed. "We haven't been happy with the Scouts and they're friends, practically family." He shook his head. "We could probably come back later."

"You don't have to bro." America said with a small smile. "Stay where you're happy."

"You'll get to fly again." England said and Matthew smiled.

"You're finally leaving." France sighed sadly. They both nodded looking down. "I expected it to be soon."

"Ja." Prussia said with a small smile. They sat around and talked for a while. France asked if they wanted to stay for supper and they agreed. Matthew wanted to spend as much time as possible with his family before leaving. The goodbyes were hard knowing it could be the last time they could see them.

"See you later fifty one?" Alfred asked with a small smile as the pair readied to leave. They knew he was fighting back tears.

"Yes, hopefully." Matthew said hugging his brother tightly.

"You better take good care of Matthieu." Francis warned pulling Prussia into a hug.

"I vill. I promise." Gilbert said with a slightly cocky smile. "Bye Franny, later Arthur."

The couple took each other's hand as they stepped back. They waved sadly as they started to walk. Prussia put an arm around his shoulders and kissed his forehead. Canada sighed leaning into his side. They made it to the Garrison post and picked up their horses. The couple rode quietly for a while until they were outside the city.

"Are jou okay?" Prussia asked noticing Matthew's expression.

"Yeah. I feel bad leaving them, but the Storm Hawks are like family too." Canada sighed. The albino rode closer and leaned over to kiss his cheek. He was glad for his support. "Thanks Gilly. I love you."

"I love jou too, Birdie." The Prussian hummed. They rode quietly through the night for awhile until he spoke again. "Did Franny look older to jou?"

-❄️"I like nonsense, it wakes up the brain cells. Fantasy is a necessary ingredient in living."❄️-

A few days later...

"Well, you're off?" Shadis asked. The Storm Hawks smiled and nodded. They had just finished tacking up their horses and were ready to go back to the Scout headquarters.

"Thank you for teaching us." Piper said.

"It was no problem. You're good kids." The man said with a smile. He turned to the pair of scouts. "I'd like to speak to you two for a second."

"Okay." Matthew said. "You guys go ride for a bit. We'll come and get you."

The Storm Hawks had finished their training and the couple was confident that they would be able to make the trip. They had the skills, but no actual experience outside of the training. The Scouts knew they would still have to be careful.

"You're not coming back after this trip, huh?" Shadis asked crossing his arms. He knew the pair well enough that something was up.

"Yeah." Canada sighed. "We're going with them."

"I knew it." The man said with a smile. "Are you telling Erwin?"

"Nein." Gilbert shook his head. "We don't vant to risk him stopping us from going and them getting home. They von't be able to get home vithout Birdie."

"I won't be the one to snitch. I didn't know anything." Shadis said and the Scouts smiled. "It was good to know you two. You were great Scouts and even better people."

"Thank you, Keith." Matthew said with a smile. "It was good to know you too."

"You better get going." Shadis said with a small smile. "Don't keep your commander waiting."

The pair smiled and nodded both shaking his hand before mounting their horses. They waved as they rode towards where the Storm Hawks were. They smiled and started down the trail towards the Scout headquarters. It was the first time the Storm Hawks had rode outside the training area.

Matthew wasn't too worried about them riding, they had all built up trust with their horses. He was just worried about them getting cornered by a titan. He had watched their training and knew that they were capable of killing a titan, but didn't know if they would. The Storm Hawks had always been against killing. The Canadian didn't want them to have too if he could help it.

They made it there after a few hours. They cared for their horses and let them out to the fields. They wouldn't be leaving until tomorrow. Canada could tell the Storm Hawks were a bit nervous to meet with Erwin again. They knew the nations weren't telling the commander about leaving. They had been so excited when Matthew said he and Gilbert would go back with them.

Canada sighed as they walked toward the meeting room. They were only a few minutes early luckily so they didn't have to wait around. Erwin and Levi were already inside.

"Welcome back." Erwin greeted gesturing for them to sit. "How did the training go?"

"Good. They picked everything up quickly." Matthew said with a smile.

"Great." The commander said. He set a piece of paper and a pen in front of Canada. "Please draw out the route you'll take and the timeline."

Matthew nodded and quickly sketched it out. "We'll take the same route out of the walls as we did to the ocean." He said as Erwin looked the map over. "After there we'll be going north east until we get to Hudson's Bay. From there, we'll follow the shore north."

"And how long will this take?" The commander asked.

"About four days once we're outside the walls depending on weather. It could go either way." Matthew sighed and Gilbert nodded. "There shouldn't be many titans. It will get colder the further north we go."

"That's always good." Erwin sighed sitting back. "So, about five days there including travel in the walls and two days to search or emergency day. Twelve day round trip."

"Ja." Prussia said. "Ve'll need shovels."

"Right. We've got those." Erwin's said.

"Good, we'll leave tomorrow morning." Matthew said and the commander nodded.

"I will send a pigeon to Anna." Erwin said and they stood up. "Have a safe trip."

The Scouts nodded and gestured for the Storm Hawks to follow them. They quickly gathered the supplies they needed. They'd check it over in the morning. The couple lead them to where their room was and went to the room next to theirs. It had been marked as a storage room, but they knew it was a bunk room. It was the last room along the hall.

"You guys can stay here for the night." Canada said opening the door. The Storm Hawks nodded. "We'll be right next-door if you need us."