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Utopia	By : FlayraDowitcher Category: +G to L > Hetalia: Axis Powers Views: 2991 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Hetalia. I am making no money off of this fic.

Chapter List
- 28
- 29
- 30
***Sorry for the long update. I've been sick with the flu and it hindered my creating time. Anyway, there is going to be two more chapters. I want the story to evenly hit 30 chapters. So this chapter is a little shorter, and the next one will be as well with the very last being the epilogue. Some readers may have a lot of questions but I assure you, they will all be answered! So please, read on and enjoy!
***Warnings: Language, violence, dark themes, humor, angst, character death?
***Disclaimer: I do not own Hetalia. I am making no money off of this fic.

Last night and the night before,
Tommyknockers, Tommyknockers,
Knocking at the door.
I want to go out, don't know if I can
'cause I'm so afraid of the Tommyknocker man.
- Stephen King- The Tommyknockers
Chapter 28: The Dark Descent
Ludwig's sleep was light and choppy, jerking himself awake constantly as if plague by nightmares. He always lived in a nightmare, so to have them was a joke. Holding his sleeping lover close, Ludwig took these 'nightmares' for his conscience speaking to him about something that was to happen. It had been centuries since he had even seen visions or had a sixth sense of something that was to come. He prided himself in being the most intelligent out of all the demon dukes. His ability to think quickly, rationalize, strategize and take control is what makes him stand out to the others. With his conscience keeping him awake, Ludwig focused his mental energy (while he had the peace and quiet) on figuring out what it was that is plaguing him. Everything in the past few hours had been almost too good to be true. Before they were nothing more than worms wiggling through dirt that happened upon a magical place and now grew as flowers from that dirt. He was cured, Alfred and Ivan were mental able again, and his mate had somehow found a new ounce of courage. Was this just the calm before the storm? Is this just the eye of the hurricane? Were they all granted some sort of peace only to have it taken away when they face the Fiends? Was this all a trick? None of the others seemed to be troubled by the good fortune they had come upon.
'Something troubling you?' Antonio's voice spoke in his head. 'I can sense you all the way over here.' The familiar said with a laugh.
'Nothing much.' Ludwig replied. 'Just lost in thought. Thinking.'
'About?'
'About this good fortune we've stumbled upon. Everything seems to be working in our favor…yet I fear that this is only a tease. Like it's all going to be taken away from us. To be honest with you, I am very concerned about this final battle. Feliciano has come a long way from when I first met him, but to stand up to the Fiends will be the hardest thing he'll ever have to do.'
'You don't have faith in him?'
Ludwig lowered his eyes. 'I'm trying to have faith. Why couldn't all of this have fallen on me instead? Why did it have to be him?'
'You're asking the wrong person. I think, if you do have any questions, best direct them to the one who knows just a little too much about all of this.'
'Who would that be?' Ludwig's blue eye glanced over to where Arthur and Francis were sleeping together. He kept his gaze focused on the warlock, narrowing it slightly when he saw green eyes open to look back him. Arthur had felt his stare. 'Are you saying that Arthur knows more than he's letting on?'
'Remember this: Arthur has been very close to the Dark One ever since Francis' death. The Dark One has been trying for thousands of years to get to the realm of the Fiends and take over the mortal world by bringing forth the Five Accused Nations. Arthur found Feliciano. Arthur brought your portraits into the human realm. Arthur helped to nudge everyone in the right direction. Only Arthur could speak with the Dark One, save for the moment when Feliciano spoke to It.'
'He knows we're speaking.' Ludwig gently laid Feliciano's sleeping form on the ground. 'I will speak to him.' He stood up just as the warlock was doing the same. Ludwig wondered if Arthur had heard their conversation or just sensed the aura of magic passing through them? He silently followed Arthur away from the others.
"Fancy me now, do you?" Arthur teased rudely.
"Hardly. I don't like to make small talk, so I'll get right to it. I sense that you know more than you let on about this upcoming battle. Others share in my suspicion."
Arthur spun on his heels to face Ludwig. "And who are these 'others' that side with you?"
"It's not important. However, what is important to me is Feliciano's well-being. I think you know something is wrong, or rather; you are prepared for something terrible to happen. It's a feeling that I have, a dark vision, something I haven't had in centuries. A sixth sense I thought was gone to me."
"Is that all?" Arthur rolled his eyes. "Of course something bad is going to happen. We're going up against two powerful beings with a hero who is a coward. You brain is only stating the obvious."
Ludwig started to circle him. "I don't think that's the case. You know too much about this. All this time I was viewing you as a helpful comrade, yet now I suspect there is something more to you…something I can't put my finger on."
"You will maintain your distance of me, Duke Ludwig." Arthur warned in a dark voice. "Perhaps I just see and understand more than you do. You are nothing more than a demon, powerless without the other five to help you. I, on the other hand, am self-reliant and I need no one to excel in power. All these centuries you've been lounging about with the others while I've been studying with the Dark One to learn all that I can. All my knowledge comes from the Dark One. You are circling me as if you suspect I am a traitor."
Ludwig stopped before him. "I do not know yet. It seems to me that you know something more that you aren't sharing."
Arthur smirked. "Well, then you'll just have to wait and see what happens. Why spoil a surprise?" He was amused by Ludwig's glare. "You worry for Feli, as you should. He is going to need all of us in this upcoming battle. If we start fighting amongst ourselves or doubting each other it will only add to the chaos that is sure to come. I truly don't know what to expect from here on out. We can plan out different scenarios and try to guess the outcomes, but what good will that do?"
"Just try to answer me one thing. About Feli…how much do you plan on helping him?"
"He will have to do most of it alone." Arthur conjured up a small orb in the palm of his hand. "He will have to face the Fiends alone if they are to be defeated." The orb started to grow. "But he will never truly be alone. Body and spirit are two different entities all together. That's all I know." The orb faded.
Ludwig stopped Arthur from walking away. "What do you speak of? Speak plainly, warlock!"
"Unhand me!" Arthur pulled his arm from Ludwig's grip. "Keep bothering me like this and I will see to it that your legs are crippled once again! I will speak no more of this!" He started to walk back again but stopped for a moment. "I will give you this hint; a little riddle." Arthur turned to face him once again. "Feliciano will have a Legion, and that will be his name."
Ludwig growled as he watched Arthur walk away. "What is that supposed to mean? I hate riddles." He went back to Feliciano who was still lost in a peaceful slumber, smiling like a child with nothing to fear. Ludwig brought his mate back into his arms, enjoying the feel of the smaller body snuggling into his. He hoped that they would survive this battle so there could be endless nights together like this, cuddled close, and feeling safe. But Ludwig did not trust Arthur, knowing that from now on he would have to keep close watch on the warlock in case he betrayed them.
After their moment of restful peace had ended, the party gathered again to continue further into the cave and left the beauty of the crystals behind them. Arthur took the lead, using the orb on his staff to light the way as the caverns grew darker. Ivan, Alfred and Gilbert followed behind Arthur with their weapons drawn. Feliciano was in the middle, holding onto Ludwig's hand in a vice-like grip. Kiku had transformed into his kitsune form to seat himself along Feliciano's shoulders to give the demon a little more comfort. Feliciano smiled, leaning his head over to nuzzle the soft white, red-striped fur of Kiku. Sadiq brought up the rear with Francis walking alongside him. Everyone remained silent as they walked along, feeling the cavern growing narrower as they went forcing them to single file. If the ceiling became any lower, Ludwig, Ivan and Sadiq would have to crane their necks or crouch. Arthur assured them that they would all be entering into a much larger area. Alfred was getting a little bit claustrophobic and so was Gilbert.
Arthur stopped suddenly. "Sh! Listen!" A symphony of moaning could faintly be heard.
"What is it?" Feliciano whispered, quickly hiding behind Ludwig and peeking out from around him.
"I'm not sure." Arthur listened again. "It seems to be many, not just one or two."
"Of what?" Gilbert asked.
"I…I don't know. Could be anything." Arthur shined his staff brighter. "Could be a wind tunnel…another monster…or spirits?"
Ludwig looked to Kiku. "Have you any thoughts? Do you sense anything?"
Remaining in his kitsune form and jumping up to perch on Ludwig's shoulder, Kiku answered telepathically. 'They are spirits. Tortured souls.' He answered sadly. 'This must be the place where the Fiends keep those they have killed. They cry out for salvation, for hope, for an end to their suffering.'
"Are they harmful?" Asked Sadiq.
'No. They won't hurt us. We just have to walk through them.'
"Walk through them?" Alfred tapped his bottom lip. "But if we can walk through them, then that means they're ghosts- er spirits! Don't spirits flock to Feli?"
Feliciano ducked further behind Ludwig.
"Shit, you're right!" Arthur hissed. "I wasn't prepared for this! The spirits will flock around him and alert our arrival to the Fiends."
"What can we do?" Ludwig twisted his tail with one of Feliciano's. No one had an answer until Antonio appeared, forcing Feliciano out of hiding behind his mate.
'I can block them all from Feli, but I will need Matthew's help.' He reached his ghostly hand out towards Alfred, watching as Matthew appeared. The other spirit took Tony's hand and reentered Feliciano's body.
"How do you plan on doing that?" Arthur asked him.
'We can simply block their view of Feli using our own spiritual aura. They will think two spirits are floating with them and nothing more.'
Kiku raised his paw. 'I believe I can also be of some assistance. I can neutralize their spirit forms to give them a sense of peace and enlightenment for a short time. It may quicken our passage through them."
"I wouldn't recommend that." Arthur said. "Only reason being is that it may upset the spiritual balance in this place, which will alert the Fiends to us. Remember, we are trying to sneak up on them for an attack, not having them come after us." The moaning was growing louder.
"Let me go first." Ivan offered, moving in front of Arthur to take the lead.
With Arthur's staff still lighting the way, and the two familiars hovering around Feliciano, they moved towards the growing sound of woeful souls. Another light appeared from the opposite end coming towards them. It was a soft red glow creeping along the walls of the cave. Ivan continued to walk on while the others were hesitant for a moment or two before following. With the red glow coming closer the spirits within it were beginning to emerge. They weren't transparent human forms like Antonio or Matthew but solid black silhouettes of legless humans with round heads and long arms. Most were crawling along the walls while others twirled or merely floated in the middle, crossing over one another. The familiars took their place around Feliciano while Ludwig urged his trembling lover onward. Passing through them was effortless. As their bodies passed through Antonio or Matthew their forms lit up blue yet the spirits paid no mind to it. Their moaning seemed endless, as did their dark parade.
Feliciano knew that he wasn't the only one who could feel the affects of these tortured souls as they passed. The sorrow, pain, confusion, fear and hopelessness was so strong that even he felt all of his happiness draining away, pooling out through his toes. The endless feel of constant sorrow affected the rest save for Ivan and Arthur. Feliciano glanced around at the other's expressions, seeing their similar woebegone faces and sharing in their sympathy for these tattered souls. Feliciano feared that if they stayed in here any longer the sorrow would get to them as well, and they would be lost in this sea of souls too.
"We've made it!" He heard Ivan call from the front. The souls had passed through and continued on their endless journey, taking the sound of woeful moaning with them.
Feliciano let out a sigh. "Whew, that was a close one."
"I thought I was going to drown in that madness." Stated Sadiq.
"Dude, same here!" Alfred said, shimming his wings. "Glad I'm alive and not in that group!"
'Those poor souls.' Matthew whispered sadly, floating back over to his brother.
'It was terrible.' Kiku agreed. 'I only wish things had been different for I would have helped them.'
"But it's not our problem." Ludwig stated flatly. "We have our mission and have wasted enough time already. Are we getting any closer to their main lair?" He asked Arthur.
"I can't sense anything but we have to continue onward. Francis, I want you up here with me." Francis weaved around the others to join Arthur in the front. "If we use that dark parade of souls as a spot marker, then I would say that we are nearing the main lair. The Fiends collect tortured souls as well, so perhaps there is a main conjuring spot nearby. Maybe. It's just a hunch."
"Well we won't know anything by standing around here yapping." Ivan scolded. "We have some Fiends to catch."
Arthur had been right in his assumption. They came upon a vast, open cavern lit dimly with thousands of candles and torches. There were steps spiraling down along the wall to the center floor where three massive stone tablets stood. They descended the stairs carefully with all their weapons drawn, unsure of what they would be seeing once reaching the ground floor. The area had a sort of dark aura around it, smelling of death, decay and despair. The stone tablets matched the images on the watery entrance, Arthur noticed, and walked up to the one that had a huge crack in the middle. It was also gray in color while the others were a dusty tan.
"These tablets are ancient." Arthur said softly, gazing up at the cracked one. "The Fiends are as old as the realm, abyss, and earth themselves!"
Ludwig walked over to Arthur with Feliciano clinging to his arm. "Would you say then, that this cracked tablet is Griot?"
"I'm sure of it. The markings are too old for me to translate, but I am certain this is Griot. Which means the other two are Nerissa and Merkova."
Sadiq chuckled. "It's always the ladies that live out the rest of us."
"They're not women; they're Fiends." Ivan reminded them. "Just because they take the form of a woman doesn't mean our weapons or claws won't attack them."
Francis walked up to one of the tablets. "Why aren't they doing anything? They must know we're here."
"Maybe they're watching us." Gilbert knocked on one. "It feels like regular stone."
Alfred flew up and perched on one. "Nothing weird here, bros."
Feliciano shook Ludwig's arm. "Does that mean everything's okay? Maybe they sealed themselves away in fear of me?" Gilbert gave out a mocking 'ha!' at that.
Ludwig frowned. "No, Feli. In here they are at their most powerful. We are on their battleground, their territory." He felt his lover move even closer to him.
Kiku changed into his human kitsune form. "The Fiends are here. I can sense them within these tablets. Only they have not awoken yet."
"I say we bring the tablets down and smash'em!" Alfred flapped his wings boldly.
"That will do nothing." Arthur scolded the eagle demon. "We need to call them out if that's the case." He said to Kiku. "What would summon them from their sleep?"
Ivan walked up to Ludwig and Feliciano. "They fear Feli the most. I say that Feliciano transforms into his angel being. That would wake them up."
Arthur snapped his fingers. "Perfect!"
Feliciano started to whimper and whine. "But…but I don't want to! I'm scared!" He turned pleading amber eyes up at his lover. "Please Ludwig…please! Don't make me do it! I can't do it! I can't!"
"You have to!" Alfred flew down to land beside him. "We're all here to help, Feli! We will do whatever we can to keep you safe!"
"It is YOU that they fear." Sadiq reminded him with a smile. "In a way, you are the strongest person here just for that little reason."
"We need you now more than ever." Ivan smiled at him.
"Just look at all the friends you have." Francis added. "We won't abandon you."
Feliciano looked around at the faces of his friends all smiling at him with such courage that he himself did not feel. All their hopes were riding on him and his powers. Such strong words from loyal friends should have given him the strength to feel brave, if he were a normal person in a storybook or a movie. This wasn't fiction; this was reality. Everyone's hopes were riding on him defeating the Fiends with power he did not know how to properly use. Feliciano just wanted all of this to be over without any one getting hurt or having to fight. "I don't want any of you to get hurt."
Ludwig turned Feliciano around so that they could face each other. He got onto one knee before his smaller mate and took his hand. "Feli, the group of us; we demons, have been fighting and suffering every day of our lives. We have been hurting ever since we asked the Dark One to spare our lives. Don't let your fear of us getting hurt hinder you in any way. We are used to pain and suffering. If anything, we are so prone to it that we can fight it on all levels." He kissed the top of Feliciano's hand. "Do not worry about us."
Feliciano was so touched by Ludwig's words and his simple little kiss that it gave him the little bit of confidence that he needed to transform into his angel being. His light filled the room with warmth, love and hope. Four angel wings sprung from his back, stretching high and wide while the jewel in his chest glowed bright. Everyone watched his transformation in awe until the ground started to vibrate violently. With weapons ready everyone gathered in a circle, back to back, with Feliciano in the middle. Antonio appeared above him with his axe drawn and ready. The tablet representing Griot suddenly crumbled in to a million pieces and a cloud of gray dust. Everyone was silent after the trembling of the cave had stopped immediately.
"Well," started Gilbert. "That was anti-climatic."
Sadiq lowered his bow. "I struck a pose for nothing!"
"We're not Charlie's Angels, you dingbats!" Francis piped in.
"I don't know," Alfred started "If my hair was longer with more volume, I could be that Farrah Fawcett chick."
Gilbert turned to look over his shoulder at Alfred. "Let me know what mirror you look in, because I want to look in it too."
"Get some Windex then!" Arthur shouted. "Shut up, all of you! This is no time for joking!"
Ludwig slapped a hand to his face. Everyone was back…sadly.
"What does this mean?" Kiku asked, looking at the crumbled tablet. "It's not making any sense."
"Ludwig, I'm scared!" Feliciano clung to him. "What is happening?"
Ludwig shook his head. "I don't know, Feli."
"Guys?" Gilbert started. "Is it just me or is there a mist on the ground?"
Casting their gazes downward each one could see the mist gathering around their ankles. No one could move. Arthur saw what was happening and took this sign as his chance to set forth his gamble. "Everyone! Stay strong!" He conjured up a powerful spell full of dark lightening and wind that cast them all away, separating them individually. Each one found themselves alone in a white wasteland of nothing. All that existed for miles was white sand, gray skies, and a soft breeze. Silence was all they heard.
Feliciano started to panic when he found himself alone without his friends or Ludwig. He didn't know where he was or what was going on. He shouted for the others but no one called back. Next he tried for Antonio, but even his familiar was not present with him. 'Where am I?' He wondered with fear, wrapping his arms and wings around himself to shrink away from the world. Taking a few steps forward he saw the form of a demon with large feathered wings. Upon moving closer he saw that it was Alfred. "ALFRED!" He called out to his friend but the other didn't hear him. Feliciano threw himself into Alfred's back, wrapping his arms around the demon's waist. "Alfred! Speak to me! Al-" his voice froze when he saw a colonial scene before him, like something out of a historical town in Virginia. He looked up at Alfred whose eyes were bright green and staring blankly. Feliciano was seeing what he was.
'Papa!' Little Alfred called from the wheat field. 'Paaaaapaaaaa!' he giggled and wove through the tall wheat. 'You can't get me, Papa!'
Little Alfred was only six years old as he ran from his father in the wheat. After a few attempts at dodging his father, Alfred let out a pleasant, surprised scream of joy as his father found him, scooping him up high in the air and swinging him around. Both laughed happily as they spun round and round, kicking up dandelion fuzz as they danced. Alfred squealed while trying to catch the flying fuzz. His father laughed with him, taking his young son into his arms and holding him close.
'Papa.' Alfred whispered. 'My Papa.' He hugged his father around the neck.
'My Alfred.' His father whispered back. 'My son.' The images went on to see the father and son enjoying time together; catching frogs and fish, hunting, farming, horse riding, building, gunning, everything a typical father and son would do.
"Papa…" Alfred whispered. "Father…"
Feliciano gasped. "No! No Alfred! Don't listen! Don't look at it!" Feliciano tried to cover Alfred's eyes. "It's a trick! They're trying to fool you!" But Alfred didn't move, nor did he listen.
'Your brother is dead.' Said his father. 'You finally come back after both he and your mother are dead?'
'Father, I did not wish this upon us.'
'No, you did not wish it, but you damn well brought a plague upon this house with your patriot ways!'
"I didn't mean it, papa." Alfred fell to his knees, still in a trance. "I didn't mean for it to happen…I wanted only what was best…what I thought was best for them…"
"ALFRED! WAKE UP! PLEASE WAKE UP!" Feliciano shook him but it did very little good.
'What happened to my little boy?' His father stood up from the chair. 'What happened to my little Alfred?' Blue eyes were filled with sadness on an aging face that has known nothing but unhappiness. 'How could you turn against your Papa like this?'
"I didn't!" Alfred reached to the form of his approaching father. "I didn't mean for this to happen…Father…Papa…please, believe me! I am Alfred! I AM STILL YOUR SON!"
'You killed them…both of them! With your pride! With your goddamn pride!'
"STOP YELLING AT ME!" Alfred shielded his ears. "STOP IT! STOP IT, PAPA!"
'You've destroyed this family! You killed your mother! My beloved, my wife…the mother of my children.' His father cried. 'You left little Matthew, who choked on his own breath while calling for you! You…' his voice dropped to a low whisper, 'you broke my heart when you abandoned this family.'
"I'm sorry, Father! Please, forgive me! I know now what I should have done!" He stood up and reached out to his father with a sad smile. "We can make it better, Father! We can! I'll beg God for forgiveness…I'll be a good Englishman here in the Colonies! I-"
"Will die!" Came Nerissa's voice from the form of his father. His father held a large gun that fired multiple rounds at Alfred, filling his body with bullets.
Feliciano screamed. One second his friend was standing as a demon, but the moment the dead body it the ground it was a human instead. Alfred's dead and bleeding form was HUMAN! He was in his period clothing, as a HUMAN! This was different from the visions he had seen before, much different. He knew of their human deaths from what they had told him when the Dark One approached. But now, seeing the previous visions acted out differently, Feliciano still had to wonder if each death had happened differently than the demons themselves had thought? Or maybe, the Dark One altered the memory of their deaths just enough to possibly control them? Either way, he couldn't rest long to ponder on it. All the images were gone, along with Nerissa, leaving him with Alfred's body in the white wasteland. 'Will this be the fate of all my friends?' He thought for a moment, letting his angel form return to his demon one. 'I'm sorry, Alfred.' He touched his friends heart and felt a warmth shoot up his arm and into his chest. From Alfred's body came his spirit and entered inside of him, much like Antonio and Matthew do. Feliciano gasped, feeling Alfred's soul and powers within him yet couldn't find or speak to him. The jewel in his chest flickered brightly before fading. 'What was that? Is this another trick or is this real?' Leaving Alfred's body, Feliciano ran in search of the others, hoping that this wouldn't be their fate as well.
He came upon Ivan shortly after, calling out the demons name but receiving no answer. Ivan had the same glowing green eyes as Alfred did. However, there was no scene in front of him playing out. Instead there were four bodies, broken, bleeding and tortured dragging themselves along towards Ivan. Feliciano trembled at the monstrous corpses of ripped flesh and bones creeping closer. Ivan had no fear of them; in fact, the demon was smiling.
'You killed us!' One groaned out. 'You killed us all!'
'It hurtssss! My eyes! My eyes!'
'My legsss!'
'Give me back my handsssss!'
The corpses moaned out while gathering around Ivan's feet. Feliciano had to step back in fear of being seen by them.
"You were traitors and double-crossers." Ivan said to them. "I feel no remorse for torturing the lives out of you, and I will do it again. I have no humanity!" Ivan erupted with his dark power and blew them away, silencing the area once again. He turned to see Feli standing there. "Hi!" He grinned.
"Ivan? You can see me?"
"Yes! Are you alright?"
Feliciano wanted to tell him about Alfred but didn't get the chance when an arrow came soaring through the air, pierced through the iron scales in Ivan's back and stuck out the front. Feliciano screamed while Ivan looked confused. More of the same arrows came soaring, striking through his back and chest until his form was littered with them, just like his human death. Ivan spat up blood, stumbling on trembling legs as he tried to remain standing to fight the arrows. He watched in confusion as his demon features started to disappear. Once each demon part was gone, Ivan felt himself return to being human, remembering the pain and suffering of being littered with arrows. Unable to fight the pain without his demon strength, he gave one last look at Feliciano before collapsing to the ground, feeling the last bit of life leaving him.
"IVAN!" Feliciano fell beside him, trying to shake him awake. Ivan was their strongest demon and without him, fighting the Fiends would prove to be twice as hard! But why were Ivan's visions different from Alfred's? He touched the strong shoulder, and like with Alfred, the Russian's soul snaked its way into his body. Gasping for breath, Feliciano could feel Ivan's strength pooling within him. With both Alfred and Ivan's powers in him, Feliciano could feel his courage slowly building up deep inside his own soul. "I don't want to keep seeing my friends die…what if…what if Ludwig dies like this? Ludwig!" He had to find him! He had to find his mate, his lover, HIS Ludwig. Even if it meant passing by the others, he had to find Ludwig.
"Wait!" He spoke out loud to himself and stopped. "What if I'm supposed to do this? What if I'm supposed to collect the others' souls like I did Alfred and Ivan? Is this how I'm supposed to fight the Fiends? By watching my friends die and collecting their souls?" He looked down at his boots. "I don't like this. I don't like it at all…but…what else can I do? I have to find Ludwig."
Feliciano hoped he wouldn't pass another friend but he did come upon Sadiq so he stopped to go up to him. He didn't bother calling out to him for Sadiq had the same features as the others. The image was of a room, a palace room, with Heracles kneeling on the bed, holding himself tight as if trying to melt away. His body was unclothed, covered in bruises and red marks from what looked to be handprints. This must be the time when Sadiq took advantage of him.
"I didn't mean to lose control." Sadiq said to the form on the bed.
'But you did. Fuck you! Don't touch me! Don't come near me ever again!'
"There's no excuse for my behavior…I cannot undo what I've done…but let me make up for it? Please-"
'NO! Stay away from me! You may have women and men fawning all over you but when it comes to someone saying 'no' you force your authority! Bastard! You don't like it when someone tells you 'no'! If you can't have what you want or feel entitled to, you just take! I could never love a bastard like you!'
"I can make it up to you! Please, let me make it up to you! I'll treat you like a king! Like a god! I'll worship you, like Pygmalion loved and worshiped Galatea."
'You will never let me go. I'll never be free until you are dead. Do whatever you wish, but I will not be wooed by you. I will see you punished for this. Your death will come by my hands!'
"I will keep trying to make it up to you."
'You deserve death.' It was Merkova's voice now coming from Heracles.
Feliciano turned away and closed his eyes, knowing what was going to come next but unable to bear the sight of it. He heard flesh being pierced, heard Sadiq's cries of agony and the roaring laughter of the Fiend. When he finally turned to look at his friend he found Sadiq's body to be elevated and pierced by spears. Every part of him was run through with spears, his blood dripping down the poles to pool at the floor. The spears had pushed him high so Feliciano had to crane his neck to look up at the human form of his friend. Sadiq, like Alfred and Ivan, was in his period clothing. Were these scenes their TRUE deaths? Or were they intensified because it was the lair of the Fiends? Whatever the reason, Feliciano flew up to Sadiq's pierced form and removed the soul. Three down, one more to go.
"Ludwig."
It was getting easier to leave behind the images and bodies of his friends as he hurried through the wasteland. He wondered if he would stumble upon Gilbert, who wasn't one of the Five Accursed Nations but still a demon the same as they. And where was Kiku? And Arthur and Francis? Would they suffer the same fate as the rest? But they weren't demons, so where are they? He couldn't even speak to Antonio. 'I just need to find Ludwig!'
"LUDWIG!" He hollered. "WHERE ARE YOU? LUDWIG!"
"FELI! IS THAT YOU?"
"LUDWIG!" Feliciano saw his lover running towards him and he let out a joyous sob. "Ludwig! Is it really you?"
"Yes!" Ludwig grabbed him in a tight embrace, holding his lover close. "I thought you were lost! I couldn't find you! Where are the others?"
Feliciano looked up at him with tears in his eyes. "Dead! The Fiends used their human deaths and fears to kill them! I have their souls inside of me! I'm just so relieved that you're okay!" He leaned in to the burning warmth of Ludwig. "You're alright…"
"That's only thanks to Gilbert's sacrifice. Again. I was made to watch his brutal rape once more."
"Where is he now?"
"I was able to leave the vision when I heard you calling me. I abandoned him for you."
"Ludwig…I'm so sorry…I don't know what is going on."
"You said our friends are dead and you have their spirits, right?" Feliciano nodded. "Then this must be the way to defeat the Fiends. It's Arthur."
Feliciano looked up at him. "Arthur? Why Arthur? What do you mean?"
"I spoke to him before all this, while we were still in the crystal cave. Antonio brought it to my attention. This is all Arthur's doing. That is what I truly think. He knew this was going to happen."
"You think he betrayed us?" Feliciano couldn't believe it. "That doesn't sound like Arthur though! He's helped us so much!"
Ludwig cupped the weeping face. "I believe now that he is still on our side but has taken drastic measures to ensure our victory. He knows too much."
"What did he say when you spoke to him?"
"My biggest concern was if he was going to betray you. Some of the things he said didn't make much sense to me. He was speaking in riddles. He said that you would have a legion, and that will be your name, or something. Also, he mentioned bodies and spirits being the same, or different, I can't remember now."
"I will have a legion? A legion of what? Of souls? Spirits?" Feliciano pondered on the word legion. "A legion of demons?" He gasped loudly, pushing away from Ludwig. "Wait! I think…I think I know what Arthur meant by that! It's biblical!"
"Biblical?" Ludwig frowned. "I care little for knowing religion."
"No! I remember from church and Sunday school! Jesus found a man possessed by demons and when he asked the man's name, he said 'Legion! For we are many'!"
Ludwig's eyes widened. "And you've been collecting their demon souls! That must be what Arthur meant! He knew this was going to happen! That bastard! ARTHUR!" Ludwig shouted. "SHOW YOURSELF, WARLOCK!"
"Stop Ludwig!" He pulled on his arm. "This might be the only way I can fight the Fiends! Arthur always said I would have to do this alone, but what if this is how he is helping us? What if this is a sacrifice he's willing to make to ensure I am able to fight the Fiends? I know he didn't have any faith in me!"
Ludwig looked at his mate. "You may be right. The rest of us knew that we could die in this battle yet didn't calculate on you collecting our souls. If that is how we can help you…then I will willingly enter into that vision and let myself be killed alongside my brother."
"NO!" Feliciano screamed. "You can't do that, Ludwig! I don't want to see you die! I…I don't care about the others! I care about you the most! Please! I couldn't stand to watch you die! I'm not worth it!"
Ludwig pulled his arm free of Feliciano's hold. "It has to be done."
"I might never see you again!" Feliciano cried. "Please don't, Ludwig! Please! I couldn't bear it!"
"I'm sorry, Feli, but I have to do this. I will help you fight the Fiends. There is no going back now. There is no escape from this. If you must be this 'Legion' then I will see the form completed. Don't try to stop me."
"Ludwig…!"
The scene came to them this time. Ludwig stood without doubt or fear as the area changed into that of a battlefield. From above dropped the decapitated limbs of Gilbert landing around his feet. Feliciano wanted to stop him, to protect Ludwig from this death yet the force field from the scene kept him from interfering. From the white limbs sprouted flames, all of which grew to engulf Ludwig's body completely. Feliciano screamed and reached out for his burning lover, begging for all of this to end. His heart felt like it was going to break and explode inside his chest. The fact that he had to watch Ludwig die right before his eyes threatened to drive him mad. When the flames finally ceased only Ludwig's charred body remained. Feliciano watched through silent stunned tears as the form fell lifelessly to the ground while among Gilbert's limbs, which were no longer burning. Feliciano fell to his knees, sobbing uncontrollably over the sizzling body of his lover and mate. He unconsciously reached out and took Gilbert's arm, feeling the soul enter inside of him yet could not bring his hands to touch Ludwig. 'I won't take his soul…I can't…to take his soul would mean that he is truly dead…that he is really gone forever.'
Suddenly, the white wasteland turned bright red all around him. He looked around to watch as the dead human bodies of his friends fell from the sky to land around him. He looked at all of them, noticing that Arthur, Francis and Kiku were missing from the corpses. Overcome with despair and sorrow, Feliciano gave up on everything; hope, life, and love. Such a life was not worth living if it meant he couldn't be with Ludwig the way he wanted to. Exhausted, he collapsed in the center of the carnage to hide his face in folded arms.
'Make it all go away. Just go away. Make it all go away. I can't bear it. I don't want to do this anymore. I don't care…not with Ludwig and my friends gone. I don't care!' The bodies around him stated to fade one by one, leaving him alone in a now vast cold area of pitch darkness; but he didn't care.
"My friend," came Kiku's voice from around him. "You must get up!"
"No, Kiku. I don't want to. Ludwig is dead…my friends are dead…this fight is worth nothing to me if I cannot have all of them back. This will not be a happy ending…I don't want to do this. Just leave me here to rot."
"No one is dead, Feli." Said Kiku. "They live inside of you."
Feliciano could feel Kiku's hands on him but he refused to lift his head. "I want them living beside me…not in me. Let me die with them. Kill me. Please."
"I am forbidden to take a life." He spoke softly, stroking the soft brown hair. "Everything happens for a reason, my friend."
"Death shouldn't happen. It shouldn't happen to anyone!"
"It is only another stage of life. Feli, lift your head, my friend. Lift your head and see your destiny."
Feliciano shook his head from his folded arms. "No."
"Giving up now will only ensure that your friends never come back to life!" Arthur's voice joined them. "You have to use their power to help defeat the Fiends!"
Feliciano growled after hearing Arthur's voice. "I don't trust you! This is all your fault!" He still would not look up. "I don't trust in anything anymore! Even if I defeat the Fiends I don't even know if my friends and Ludwig will come back to life! If you really allowed them to die like this then how could I trust you?"
"You have to trust me!" Arthur shouted. "Alive you can still save your friends but if you're dead then it's all over! You would have failed them! Get up, Feliciano Vargas! Get up NOW!"
'I can't do it. I just can't.' He whispered to himself. 'I don't even want to. I don't. I just want this to go away. I want to die. I want go to sleep forever. I want to forget…to not feel anything ever again.'
"YOU CAN STILL SAVE THEM!" Arthur shouted.
'If I could save them I would have done it already. If I fight…nothing may change. If I win…nothing may change. It's all a gamble that I'm too afraid to take. I'm such a coward.'
"Feli, my friend," Kiku whispered to him. "We still have a chance to change the outcome of this fight. Someone is here to help you. I have summoned them for you, from the Spirit World, with help from Antonio and your brother. Everyone is counting on you. Please, open your eyes."
Feliciano slowly lifted his head, peeking over his arms to see a pair of feet laced in Roman sandals. Slowly drawing his gaze upwards he saw the towering form of Grandpa Rome standing before him. Feliciano shied away a little at the man's intense gaze upon him. He lifted himself up on his elbows to get a better look at the spirit. Grandpa Rome leaned down and held out his hand for him to take. Feliciano looked at the outstretched hand but turned away from it, lowering his head and gaze once more. Grandpa Rome stepped closer to him, waiting for him to react but Feli ignored him. And then, he heard the sound of Grandpa Rome start to walk away. Hearing the retreating footsteps forced him to lift his head and look at the spirit leaving him.
"WAIT!" He cried, not really knowing the reason why he did. Grandpa Rome stopped and turned around to face him. "I…I…" He shied away again.
Grandpa Rome turned away once again and started to leave.
Feliciano thought about his brother, of Lovino, and the story they had shared. 'We are decedents of the once mighty Rome. You just have to find that strength again.'
Amber eyes widened at the memory. Grandpa Rome was the strength and spirit of a once mighty empire. That blood flowed through his veins! His demon friends all had a past and so did he! He could find the strength in Grandpa Rome! But…did he have the courage to take the chance? He asked himself, was he willing to take a chance in hopes of saving his friends and lover? 'You just have to find that strength again'.
Feliciano's eyes narrowed and he forced himself to his feet. If he could find that strength to be a Roman warrior once again, then maybe, just maybe, he could change the fate of everyone. He looked at Ludwig's corpse, still hesitant about touching it to absorb his soul.
He only hoped it was not too late when he cried out, "GRANDPA ROME!"
End Chapter 28 TBC
- 28
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