literature

Magical Mischief: Part One

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*Read the description below, there is a picture/drawing from a fellow deviantART member that goes along with the short story.*

England sat on the couch in the library. For the greater portion of the morning, him and little Alfred were reading stories and learning about certain things the boy would have to know about his future as an older nation. Arthur looked down at Alfred. The boy asked a question a moment ago, and wanted to know about chants. He had managed to find out some secrets about his older brother, and his magical past. He also knew about his brother being a pirate, having seen pictures hidden away in Arthur's study.

Slightly scratching the side of his head, England tried to see his way around it, because he really did not want to get involved into curses with the little boy. Arthur's days of being a pirate were not to be relived, and the chants and curses…those were to be buried as well. He cleared his throat and responded to the child's question.

"Uh Alfred...I am not entirely sure I remember these chants...the book you know…changed…its not the same." America blinked and squinted looking down at the book.

"How can a book change?" He looked up frowning skeptically at his older brother. "Are you trying to trick me!?" He crossed his small arms over his chest and when he didn't get answer he spoke again. "Well if you don't remember it lets find a curse you DO remember!" Alfred started to flip though the pages, and Arthur sat there. Biting back his lip. This was bad…bad for the child to even question.

"America...I just don't think its very safe to do this, right at the moment. A lot could go wrong, and we might get hurt...you don't want that do you?" He watched as the boy turned pages, and was very intrigued. Alfred sighed then closed the book. He then started to climb off his brothers lap.

"Fine, if your too scared to do a little curse then I don't need you to teach me." I will just have to ask someone else.....maybe France!"

England stood up helping the boy down. He was quite annoyed. He was not going to have his little brother go to the one nation that made his skin crawl...well, other nations did that, but especially France. He cleared his throat, and halted the boy from leaving.

"Now now Alfred...I am not afraid to teach you, its just not a good idea. And...I forbid you to go and ask France. He is trouble, and just a wretched nation." He looked at the clock, and with the time they spent in the library, England was beginning to feel like a cup of tea was in order. The child on the other hand had to keep busy. "Alfred...come along, you will accompany me to the dining room, or you may choose to go outside." It was very easy for Alfred to decide which one he wanted to do.

"I will go outside and play" He said turning around as if to put the book on the shelf, though he had his own ideas of what he was going to actually do. "I haven't had any real fun all day, and its boring inside with you."

England watched what his little brother was doing, and the little remark he had just stated, and he firmly grabbed him by the arm.

"Hmm...okay, that's fine Alfred...but...before you go outside."  He took the book from the child's grasp, and put it back on the shelf. Smirking at the boy, he continued. " I don't think you will have a problem at all standing in the corner for fifteen minutes before going out to play?" He held the boy's arm while walking briskly down the hall towards the dining room. He knew the child would have something to say. Alfred gasped a little and gave some resistance.

"AH!...what? no fair! I wasn't naughty! You just don't let me have any fun!" The younger boy whined and tried pulling away from his bigger brother. "I bet France doesn't make his little brother stay inside all day and put him in the corner all the time when he hasn't done anything wrong!" Alfred knew bringing up France was a soar spot for England, and he did it on purpose as his way to get at him.

Pulling him slightly harder, but not seeming like a brute, they arrived in the dining area. England got down on one knee, and held the boy firmly by the shoulders.

"Excuse me Alfred...being naughty is not only in forms of doing something, but it appears in a form of communication. I warned you just the other day of your cheeky little remarks, and there you have gone and did it again. I am not boring nor will I EVER be considered that." He turned America around, and gave him a firm pat on the backside, pushing him gently to the corner. He stood up, and continued speaking. "And as for the way France treats little Matthew...it is none of my business...but I am more than sure France would not put up with the likes of the snarky attitude of you!" Leaning against the table, England glared. "You will stand there for twenty minutes. Is that understood?"

The swat of course didn't hurt, but it was definitely a reminder to Alfred as to what would come if he continued his attitude. America rubbed his bottom, the few swats he had received from the morning for playing a joke on Hughes, had long lost their sting, but he didn't like the threat of getting a spanking, he turned his face to the corner to pout then realized Arthur's words.

"Wait? You said fifteen minuets before!!!" He voiced in a very high pitched whiny way looking back behind his shoulder seeing the older nation glaring at him seriously. England did not make a change in his expression, he just twirled a finger as to motion the boy to turn around.

"Be quiet, and face the wall. The extra time is to make you understand your place."

Alfred knew what he meant by the gesture and turned back around before England told him to, there was nothing left for it now that he was here where England wanted him...staring at a stupid corner...standing still. He fidgeted and sighed heavily to remind England that he was still there as the moments seemed to slowly tick by, the only thing that gave Alfred delight was the prospect of returning to the library, getting that book back and learning one of those curses and use it on his big brother, then he would think twice before putting him in the corner.

England smiled and looked to the clock, only six minutes had passed, and it would drive the boy nuts. Walking over to the servants bells, England chimed them, and waited for Hughes. The butler as always, made his way to the dining room, and stood before his Master and waited his command.

"Ah Hughes...please see about preparing some tea, and eh...perhaps a mug of milk for Alfred. Also, I have a couple of things to take care of in the meeting room, I have to see about meeting with Japan...he is planning something interesting." Hughes nodded and responded.

"Ah very good sure." The butler looked over at the boy, and raised an eyebrow. "Mutiny on the bounty sir?" England shook his head, and then whispered.

"Naughty chap is being punished...he has TWELVE MORE MINUTES." Hearing that he still had so long to go Alfred started to bang his head against the corner and worked up a forced cry.

"My big brother haaaattteesss me!" He whined pitifully and banged his head in the corner again. "My legs accchhh and I gotta peeeee!"

Dismissing his butler, Arthur looked over to the "pest" standing in the corner of the room. He shook his head, and paced the room. The boy has always pulled this sort of thing. He would complain, whine, try to do anything to get out of standing in the corner. Normally England would just result in flipping the child over his knee, but he was not going to do this. Withholding certain activities seemed to work, and he was not falling for it right now.

"Alfred...you have five minutes now. I am not fretting your situation right now. You will just have to wait. And for the matter...I do not hate you, I am getting very upset with you, and you will lose outside privileges if you do not straiten up, but I do not hate you."

Alfred didn't say anything, he knew he brother didn't hate him, but he had no other way to express how much he hated it when he made him stand in the corner. Alfred sighed and tried his best to not fidget and whine for the rest of the five minutes, he shifted back and forth on his feet. When he was sure the five minutes were up he slowly turned his head around to see if England was still there and was ready to let him come out....though he wouldn't ask…afraid he would make him stand there longer. Looking back at the clock, Arthur saw that the time was up and he cleared his throat.

"Alright young man...you may step away from the corner. No more of this silly nonsense about me hating you, you know very well I love you very much. Now, go ahead, sit down at the table. I suspect some lunch is in order, Hughes made you some fish and chips...and, as much as it is not so appealing to me...ketchup for your...eh chips." He directed the child to the table where Hughes was coming round with the delightful fried fish, and french fries, alongside a mug of milk. The butler bowed.

"Young Master's lunch is ready, and for you Sir, a watercress sandwich with a side of cranberry chutney."

Alfred had been so busy pouting he had not even realized how hungry he now was, he eagerly went to the table, he really loved fish and chips it was the best lunch he could think of and it was even more so wonderful with the ketchup, he eagerly took up his fork and spoon and started to dig in heartily smearing the ketchup all over his chips.

"I love it when we have good British food" He munched, not meaning to sound as insulting as he did.

England sat at the table smiling at the boy. He knew that the boy meant well, and that some of the cuisine that is served in the Kirkland household was not always for young palates. He took a spoon to his chutney and put it to his lips. Fish and chips was a great meal, but all that grease sometimes did not agree with Arthur.

"I hope you are enjoying that Alfred...Hughes made it specifically for you. Um...what do you plan on doing after lunch?"

With his cheeks stuffed full he swallowed before answering and coughed a little then grabbed his milk and drank it down.

"I was thinking about doing some studying....perhaps some Geometry" He said grabbing a napkin and wiping his face with it. "I want to grow up and be boring like you big brother."

He said this with the tone of sincerity, though he was indeed being cheeky, he decided that he would play Arthur's game, and see what he thought of him if he acted as posh as Arthur wanted him to. England shook his head...he liked to see the child act in a way, but he was not going to act on it. Being just as sarcastic he followed through with the game.

"Oh really? Study some geometry...well, I suppose if you so want to study, then we can end lunch right now, and go back into the drawing room if you wish little one? Shall we? You know, skip the outside playing all together, and get on with another lesson? I have so many different problems for you to work on." Alfred didn't expect that from Arthur and all of a sudden his little game wasn't so fun

"EH!..No I was just making a joke, besides didn't I hear you say you had a meeting with Japan? And that you would be busy for the rest of the afternoon?" He munched a chip timidly looking at his brother with big blue eyes.

Nodding his head, he knew he was too smart for the little boy. Standing up, he knew he did have a meeting to get ready for, Japan would be arriving in a little while, and it was a meeting that could not be rescheduled.

"Yes, yes...I do have a meeting with Honda...and let me make you perfectly aware that I expect you on your best behavior while you are outside. I can not have any interruptions while I am meeting. So go ahead and finish your lunch, and go outside. I have to tell Hughes to prepare the meeting room. Francine will be around if you should need anything, but please...for my sake, and worry, stay within the mansion gates, and garden, do not wander Alfred."

He walked to the boy, leaned down, and kissed him on the top of the head. Then turning on his heel, he walked down the hall towards the room in which him and Japan would be conferencing.

Alfred nodded and let out a sigh of relief , he would not joke about doing studies again and he promised to stay within the boundaries and watched Arthur leave, he finished up his lunch and was about to climb down from the table when he spied the butter knife next to his fork and remembered what it was he was going to do, he wasn't sure if he would need it but it would be hard to get later, so he took the butter knife and slid it down into his sock to hide it and started past Hughes,

"I gotta get something first...then I will go out into the yard to play Hughes!" He felt the need to announce this and started for the library he needed that book of pirate curses.

Seeing as the child was occupied, England walked towards the meeting room. In that time, the room was pristine in appearances and was set up with glasses of water, and writing materials. He waited, and within moments the doorbell chimes rang. Hughes who was down in the dining room still, nodding at little America and his zany little ways. He walked to the door to welcome Japan. Opening the double doors, in walked the gentle black haired, brown eyed nation. He smiled and bowed to the butler, and in almost a flash saw a small little boy run past him.

Alfred was trying not to be noticed and the only way he knew to do that was to be fast and run, he had to be quick. He figured less time to be caught, he ran to the library and frowned looking at the bookcase then his eyes brightened as he saw the old leather bound pirate curse book, and had to stand on his tippy toes to reach it. He managed to grab it and then clutched it in his arms, but he wasn't sure if outside was the best place to perform curses and since England would be busy in the meeting room he was sure that he would be safe and sound in the library learning pirate curses. He opened the book and decided to look for the most scariest curse he could fine...the bloody bones one. He got excited and sat down on the floor.

Japan was lead down the hall. He arrived at the meeting room, and England stood up, walking over. He bowed to the fellow nation, and then extended a hand. Japan embraced it with a smile.

"Hello Mister England, very good to see you. I am very welcomed in your home. I did happen to see a little nation run by me...someone you know?" Japan smiled at England, and with Arthur looking back, he smiled.

"Ah yes...that is Alfred...my little brother. He was most likely getting ready to go outside...but um...hmm, you said he ran past you? Not towards the door?" England rubbed his chin, and then looked at Japan who nodded. Not thinking deep into it, maybe the boy forgot something in his room, he lead the way, and had the nation sit down. The meeting was to commence.

It took a while for Alfred to find the curse he was looking for, but there it was on page 394, he tried reading it, but the words were very long and difficult, considering Alfred was still very new to reading in general, but it had pictures and that helped. He saw a picture of a knife and some symbols and human hairs cut and mixed with a liquid substance that Alfred couldn't pronounce, then it seemed you had to chant magic words. Alfred pulled the knife out of his sock and took a lock of his own hair and tried to saw some of it off....but it being a butter knife only pulled and hurt, he needed something sharper. He knew where there were some scissors and jumped up from his spot on the floor and started to as quietly as he could run down the hall to the bathroom, Arthur has some scissors there he was sure, but to get there he had to cross the hallway that passed the conference room, he stopped just short of the door and then held his breath and quickly dashed past it...making it to the bathroom. He found the scissors and put them in his back pocket...then had to cross that dreaded conference room area again....he took a breath and dashed past it hoping his speed would make him impossible to see.

Deep into conversation, England was reading something out loud to Japan. He had his head down, and very concentrated on the paragraph. It was a treaty, in which the two would form an alliance. Perhaps the nation would agree. As he read, Honda listened but seemed to notice something out of the ordinary. He wasn't paying strict attention and looked up, sensing a shadow or some kind of movement. He saw trace amounts of blond hair, and the heel of a shoe pass by the room, but just shrugged it off. He was about to sigh when Arthur perked up.

"And this here Honda, will be where the alliance will take place, I need you to read over the proper information, I really think you will like it...."

England droned on, and Japan smiled. He picked up the pen England was holding, and waited until the nation stopped talking. Looking back to the door, he saw the same trace objects as before. Rubbing his eyes, he wondered if what he had seen was real, after all...Britain was into black magic, perhaps it was a ghost of some sort?

Alfred made it back to the library and closed the door breathing hard, he smiled, pleased he had managed this and set to snipping the lock of his hair, he then saw that the curse needed to be out on a special symbol so he ran over to the desk grabbing some paper he tried his best to scrawl the symbol as close as he could to what was in the book. Then finally he managed a glass and still confused as to what the substance was that was supposed to go in it he looked around to improvise, then he remembered where he had seen a place where England had hidden a bottle of amber liquid in a fake book. Arthur of course had not realized that America had been peeking through the keyhole once when England had made what he thought was a good hiding place for his best Brandy. America remembered the place and went to where the fake book was and pulled it out and there was the amber flash, he took it and unscrewed the top and sniffled it...and then sneezed. It smelled horrible but it matched the picture of the liquid in the book and he poured it into the glass and dropped the hairs into it...now all he had to do was chat those funny words, and his first curse would be complete!

Taking the pen, and holding it tight, Japan agreed to the treaty. The meeting had been going on for a little over forty five minutes, and England very satisfied with what he and Japan had gone over stood up from his seat and cracked his knuckles. He felt slightly parched and walked over to the servant chimes. He chimed them and cleared his throat to his guest nation.

"Honda, if you would like, we should take a break now, I suspect Hughes to come in, and he will give us some refreshments." Japan smiled and nodded.

"Yes, Arthur, I am very happy to become an alliance and I believe that tea suits me well right now." He waited at the table, pushing the forms over to England. Hughes arrived, prominent as ever, and stood by the door.

"Master Arthur...Master Honda...whatever can I assist you with?" He stood waiting, and England smiled.

"Yes Hughes, can you please prepare a different kind of tea today, I am thinking a Jasmine with milk, and perhaps some almond biscuits. Also...I would please appreciate it if you had Francine check on America...just to make sure the chap is behaving himself." Hughes bowed, and nodded.

"But of course my lord. I just saw Francine in the parlor dusting, I will retrieve her right away, and I will prepare your sustenance. " Exiting the room, the butler made his way down the hall. England and Japan just talked. Something in the air however did not sit right with Arthur.

Alfred closed his eyes and said the chanting spell as soon as he said it his eyes popped open and he eagerly looked at the glass....there is still sat on the paper symbol....the hairs floating down to the bottom of the glass. Alfred frowned and looked at the book again...maybe he didn't say it loud enough, he took a deep breath and said the curse again....still nothing...he pressed his lips and this time waved his arms around to emphasize as he said the curse. The glass still looked the same, frustrated Alfred pulled the book closer to him and tried again this time spelling the words out as he thought maybe he was saying them wrong, while he was focused on the book the hairs in the glass slowly started to glow and then snapping like a spark the glass of brandy suddenly flashed and was on fire, Alfred had not even been looking at the glass but heard the popping sound and looked up, eyes wide he jumped back. The contents of the glass on fire he was stunned, he wasn't sure if this was how the curse was supposed to look or if he should try to put it out the flames were almost hypnotic to the child and he stared at them eyes becoming glassy.

Hughes arrived into the parlor, spoke to Francine, and then went back to the kitchen. Preparing the tray, he walked down to the meeting room, and walked inside, setting it down. England nodded with a smile, as did Japan. The two grabbed their mugs, and consumed the tea. Meanwhile Francine walked outside, she stood by the door and noticed that Alfred was not where he was supposed to be. She checked the garden, and then top the gate. Knowing the boy was to follow the rules, she ran back inside and began to follow he instinct and check the several rooms. She checked the drawing room, and noticed he was not there. The scullery was vacant, the bedrooms inhabited, she check the billiards room, he was not there, nor was he supposed to be. She then ran down to the library, perhaps the boy was reading, sometimes he liked the picture books. However once opening the door, Francine was surprised to see the small boy sitting in a small pile on the floor, with a small fire growing. Her eyes widened and she gasped.

"Master Alfred! What....what are you doing? Oh....you...you naughty boy, oh..." She had no idea what to do, but England had to be made away, and right away.

Alfred didn't even hear Francine, didn't even see her, all that seemed to consume him was that beautiful flame in the class, it danced and flickered staying perfecting within the boundaries of the glass, it seemed to sing to him call him with a melody, it seemed so inviting almost intoxicating to look at he felt as if he could reach out and touch the flames, that's what it wanted him to do, its what he was supposed to do he was certain of it, he slowly reached his hand out entranced by the cursed flame, convinced that he was meant to take it up in his hands.

Francine ran down to the meeting room, she was huffing and puffing. When she got to the door, she had to hold it together before finally breaking into hysterics. Hughes who had heard her shout, met her at the door, and stood by her side, with a worried look. Blabbering, and not making any sense, she alerted both Japan, and England who both stood up. England's hands dropped the cup of tea, and he looked worried, and spoke to her in a semi alarming tone.

"Francine...Francine, whatever is the matter...tell me. What is wrong you silly girl!?" He had been approached with her before for seeing a mouse, and it was nothing to get worried about. Hughes holding her hand, and fanning her, she managed to blurt out four things.

"Master....Alfred....Fire...Library..." She looked up to Arthur who's eyes widened with fear, and anger...more fear than anything. He did not even say anything to Japan, and quickly ran out of the room, down the hall. He approached the library, that had been ajar, and burst through it. He looked to the floor and saw little Alfred in front of a glass flaming, and he yelled to the child.

"ALFRED! ALFRED...MY BROTHER, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?"
Taken from :iconarkham-insanity:'s picture.

[link]

This is Part One of Magical Mischief.

Plot: Arthur should have put that book of spells and curses up one shelf higher, curious little Alfred is about to cause some serious damage.

The little boy really, really does not learn.

Followed by Part Two:
[link]

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Jenny345's avatar
Alfred you naughty child.