Reopen the Golden Gates

Alfred Returns

The food was amazing, and FREE! Which was a great bonus for the nations who had none of the USA's currency. Which looked very colorful from what Mathew could tell. Sweden had woken up Shawn long enough to eat a bit before the little micronation fell back asleep. Sealand looked around excitedly, then he spotted someone. "Dad dad, it's Alfred." Peter tugged on his dad's sleeve.

Finland looked over to where Peter was pointing and his heart stopped for a second. Because Alfred and Nanook looked like they came right from the Viking era. But there were two men trailing behind him and they were decked out head to toe.

"Their outfits are beautifully crafted," Francis noted watching the four walk over.

The taller of the strangers had dark skin and strangely light hair. His eyes where mitch matched, one a light purple and the other a light brown to grey color. He sported a smile but carried himself with pride with a fake axe over his shoulder. He wore a tunic and not other accessories other than what was normally worn.

The smaller of the strangers had light skin but heavily freckles, brown hair that was almost the same color as his dense freckles. His eyes mirrored the taller as they were two different colors, one dark brown to black and one a bright blue that was a similar shade to Alfred. He held a book tightly in his hand and wore a cap and cape.

The strangers stopped short of the table, talked a few seconds with Alfred and Nanook. The taller ruffled Alfred's hair and the smaller waves before they walked off towards the mermaids as Nanook and Alfred walked to the table.

"Woah! Where did you get those outfits?" Feliciano asked, almost tripping over his chair.

"Uh, it was sewn for me? I commissioned it" Alfred said not really not knowing how to respond. Matthew got up and wrapped his arms around Alfred, appreciative but very confused, hugged him back.

Nanook looked just as confused but pat Canada on the back.

"Who were those two that just went to the mermaids?" Germany asked.

"Huh? Oh, this year's organizers. Jeffery and Kenneth. Kenneth is the taller one" Nanook explained.

Germany nodded, pleased with the answer however England seemed more held up on the two mystery men.

"Anything else interesting around here?" China sighed fanning himself.

    "Uh, I know that there's a battle going to happen soon." Alfred said, trying to remember the agenda for the festival.

That grabbed everyone's attention, fake battle or not that would be entertaining to watch. Yao hummed pleased before standing. "Let's go see it, bad fake acting or not I want to watch." They followed Alfred who was blabbering about the festival's history and past themes.

"Oh it's starting" Alfred said looking at the fenced out arena. Two fences separated the public from the two beefed up teens that were on the opposite sides. They were going at each other and they took some liberties with their fighting styles. Overall it was well done, the weapons were well made and they landed blows on each other that would definitely leave a few bruises.

"Uncle Mat! Is that how you used to fight?" Peter asked, pulling on Mathias' shirt.

    "Close, but their weapons are spot on. I hope they aren't real." Mathias smiled and elbowed Sweden gently. "Too bad you couldn't see much of the action." Berwald only hummed and kept his expression the same, but his eyes reflected that he wished he could have seen what was going on around him as it would have saved him many of the injuries he obtained during childhood.

"Too bad we were just kids back then huh bro?" Nanook laughed hooking his arm around Iceland's shoulders. Emil only groaned, "We aren't brothers." "Whatever helps you sleep at night" Nanook rolled his eyes. The battle came to a close and the duo disappeared into a building with large letters of 'Employees only.'

"We can go say hi?" Alfred offered as the crowds dispersed. The group agreed and they entered the building.

"Dom I swear," A tall, tan and dark haired teen with splotches of near white across his skin and hair, laughed while tossing his weapon at the other.

'Dom' had grabbed the weapon easily and twirilled it before noticing the nations. "Oh, hello! Hope ya loved the show," he greeted joyfully and the other turned to look at the nations as well.

"Hey."

Dom sported a smile, dark hair and tanned skin. They looked like siblings.

"Ve~ your fighting was really convincing!" Feliciano gleamed skipping over to the duo.

"Thanks but that wasn't acting," Dom laughed.

There was shocked silence as they realized that it really wasn't acting as they removed their armor.

"But we're both fine, we are trained to not actually permanently hurt each other. But this pain did sprain my wrist last year."

"You went for my head Dom"

"Yeah I deserved it."

China expected the weapons, "Solid wood?" He asked, holding the worn axe that was weighted pretty well.

"Yes sir, our sistah made 'em" not, Dom said and Arthur scoffed at the accent.

"Siete fratelli?" Feliciano asked as Levino pulled him back to be in the group as Dom took the axe from Yao he spoke "Yeah, well half brothers but same sentiment."

"We should get going" Germany advised Alfred which got Alfred's attention.  "Hey, is there anything you guys recommend we go do?" Alfred asked the duo.

"Shops," Was the answer from the teen with vitiligo.

"He means to get dressed up, y'all stick out when you're in normal clothing," Dom expanded on what the other said.

"Sounds fun! Can we?!" Peter asked excitedly, bouncing on his toes.

Alfred smiled, "Oh course, Nanook and I are dressed up so everyone else should be too" he gave that Hollywood smile and led everyone out.

"Hey Alfred?"

"Yeah Mattie?" Alfred asked, turning to walk backwards to face his brother while he spoke.

"How do you know those two?" "oh, you'll know soon Mattie" Alfred gave a reassuring smile and pat Canada's shoulder but he was surprisingly gentle. It was a welcome change from Alfred's normal unintentional roughness.

"Something up kaikaina?" Alfred asked.

"Kai- what?"

"Brother in Hawaiian, did you see the tropical mermaid when you entered? She's Hawaiian, she's the one who taught me."

"Had to learn the old fashion way?" Matthew teased which made Alfred laugh.

"Yeah, but seriously, what's up?" Alfred asked his eyes filled with concern.

"I'll tell you later, I want to see what these shops have to offer" Matthew dismissed the question.

"I'll hold you too it" "Turn around before you walk into someone," Matthew sighed.

Hawaiian:

Kaikaina - Brother

Country Names:

Greenland - Nanook

West USA - Alfred

England - Arthur

Canada - Matthew

France - Francis

Russia - Ivan

Norway - Lukas

Denmark - Mathias

Iceland - Emil

Sweden - Berwald

Finland - Timo

Sealand - Peter

Ladonia - Shawn

China - Yao

Japan - Kiku

Germany - Ludwig

Prussia - Gilbert

North Italy - Feliciano

South Italy - Lovino

Spain - Antonio

Spanish Florida - Domingo (Dom)