The horses raced out of the stable, their riders bent on getting away from the knights flooding into the room. They were shouting angrily. They found Ivan.

It was still raining, but it was getting lighter.

Alfred watched as the town whisked past, women shoving their children out of the way so they wouldn't get trampled, the houses, the shops, and those few people who decided it would be fun to throw a stone and see if they could hit them.

The hole in the giant wall they came through a while ago loomed into view. There were knights there that seemed ready to stop the 6 on their horses at all costs. But Arthur flew his hand forward and to the side. The knights seemed to follow the hand, blasted by some invisible force. Alfred could feel that tingle go down his spine and he noticed Mathew shudder.

The horses soon ran far past the palace. It wasn't even a speck in the distance when they decided to stop for a break. The horses seemed like they needed a rest desperately.

"Well that was fun," Alfred muttered, but he still put on a smile.

"Alfred, are you alright?" Arthur asked him, his green eyes boring into Alfred, but he looked away.

"Yeah, 'm fine!" Alfred said, rubbing the back of his head. "I want to make sure you're okay," he turned his attention back to Arthur. "You seemed pretty freaked out about that…rifle…" Alfred had to think about the name of the thing.

"I was caught off guard," Arthur muttered, his face reddening slightly. "I wasn't expecting that much of an explosion on the inside of that thing. I was sure the wood would have cracked…"

"Alfred," Antonio spoke up. "You did not seem fine when Ivan started talking with you."

"What happened to you while we were recovering?" Gilbert pressed.

"Nothing!" Alfred replied quickly and happily. "Absolutely nothing. Stayed in the palace most of the time, now that I think about it."

"Ivan said he watched you kill people," Francis said.

"Alfred, please don't lie," Mathew muttered. His innocent blue eyes looked right into Alfred's. They looked like freaking puppy dog eyes. The two had perfected that face when they were little in their town. They always got what they wanted. But Alfred knew better. And he wasn't going to let anyone of them worry about him.

"Nothing happened, bro," Alfred kept on smiling. "Promise, 'kay?"

"Fine then," Arthur sighed. "Let's get going to the port as soon as possible."

"Sweet!" Alfred said. And then he paused for a second. "But what's a port?"

"You haven't been to one yet, have you?" Mathew asked.

"Where are you from, the middle of nowhere?" Gilbert laughed.

"Yes," Alfred and Arthur spoke at the same time.

"I've only been to one," Mathew shrugged. "But they're really cool, Al. They're towns on top of the ocean."

"What's an ocean?" Alfred asked.

"I will teach you these things later," Arthur sighed. Alfred noticed that he couldn't help but grin. "Let's get going first. The further we get from those knights, the better."

"Nervous?" Antonio asked and Arthur rolled his eyes as he kicked his horse to go forward. The others followed suit and they were soon off.

The port was a whole new experience for Alfred. He had never even seen a boat before in his life, so he was filled with questions. They had to ditch their horses before they came into town and led them away, couldn't let the knights knowing they were there. They managed to fit in easily enough, well, except Alfred.

"So where do the boats go?" Alfred asked Arthur another one of his endless questions.

"Well, those are ships, not boats, for one thing," Arthur chuckled slightly at Alfred's innocent questioning. "And they go where ever they are needed. Like Africa or other countries to get important supplies."

"So, how big is the ocean?" Alfred stretched his hands behind his head.

"Fairly large," Arthur said. "I've never been in it, but I've heard it reaches all the way to Asia."

"How outdated are you?" Francis scoffed. "It goes to the New World."

"What's the New World?" Mathew asked.

"No one really knows," Gilbert added.

"I've heard of the New World," Alfred said. "I heard about it in the palace. There's this town there that I heard them talking about that sounded interesting. What was it called again…?"

"First thing's first before we go anywhere," Arthur sighed. "We need to clean up. We should find an inn and go from there."

They eventually got rooms in the inn, the Three Musketeers wound up having to share a room, Arthur got his own room, and Alfred and Mathew shared a room. They were on a very limited amount of money, so they would only be able to spend one night. And then there was the problem of trying to find a ship to the New World…

"A bath?" Alfred asked Arthur. They were alone in Alfred and Mathew's room, Mathew was talking with the Three Musketeers, catching up probably.

"Yes, you are in need to wash yourself," Arthur stated bluntly. "I'm not even quite sure the last time you did so. I've never seen you do it."

"And I'm pretty sure you never will," Alfred crossed his arms. "You aren't gonna stay in here and watch me. Last time I checked, I didn't need help. I am seventeen."

"Fine," Arthur said, but closed the door to the room, staying inside. "But I need to ask you a question first."

"What, dude?" Alfred groaned. "I'm tired! I just want to sleep."

"Are you sure that you're fine?" Arthur asked him. His face was serious.

"Yes, I told you before, I'm fine," Alfred smiled at him. It was an innocent smile, but it had no depth to it.

"I don't believe you," Arthur stated, leaning against the wall, crossing his arms.

"Arthur, I swear-" Alfred began, but Arthur cut him off.

"Alfred, I want you to know that I really care about you," Arthur said, his expression was not softening. "I need you to tell me how you really feel."

"Arthur," Alfred went over to Arthur, placing a hand on his shoulder. "I swear I'm fine. There's nothing wrong with me."

"You're lying, I know it," Arthur practically glared at him.

"How do you know?" Alfred chuckled.

"The way you acted with Ivan," Arthur stated. "That was not fine. And now you're trying to play off that nothing happened. You are not fine and I want you to tell me what is wrong."

Alfred glared at him for a while, but soon his expression softened and he moved forward to wrap his arms around Arthur, holding onto him for his life. He buried his face in Arthur's shoulder to hide the fact that he was about to fall into tears.

"I-I-I'm sorry…" Alfred muttered, he didn't even notice as Arthur embraced him back. "It's just that certain things happened and I…I just want to forget. Please let me forget what it felt like."

"A-Alfred, I-" Arthur muttered.

"I don't want to sink back to the level that he did," Alfred said, meaning Ivan. "I-I don't want to remember what it was like to have all of my family die, when I could have done something to stop it. I don't want to remember feeling my heart ripped out of me as I watched every person I cared about die in front of my eyes. Don't make me…I don't want to sink that low again…"

They stood there like that for a while, Alfred shaking and holding on to Arthur like he was about to die.

"I'm sorry," Arthur muttered and went to petting the back of Alfred's head. "I didn't know that was how you felt."

"I just want to forget," Alfred pleaded. He held on to Arthur tighter. "Please."

"I will let you forget," Arthur said sadly.

"Promise me you'll never leave me," Alfred said.

"Well, you're going to have to promise me the same thing," Arthur said.

"I'm not very good at keeping my promises," Alfred muttered.

"I trust you," Arthur said.

Alfred pulled apart from their hug and took a step back. He carefully looked over Arthur.

"You do?" Alfred asked and Arthur smiled.

"You're the first person I've been able to trust," Arthur chuckled. "You're the first person I've met that hasn't hated me on the spot. You chose to save me over your own mother. And you saved me, when everyone else was killing me. And you stayed with me and tried to protect me even though I had gotten you kidnapped twice. You're the only person I have ever been able to trust so far."

"What about the Musketeers?" Alfred asked him.

"I'm pretty sure our relationship is just them respecting me. Because of my name," Arthur shrugged.

"I wouldn't give a shit if you were a Kirkland or a Smith," Alfred grinned and quickly kissed Arthur. "All that matters to me is that you're Arthur."

"So you really do love me?" Arthur asked.

"What makes you ask that?" Alfred chuckled.

"I'm just making sure you weren't so excited in seeing me again that you lost your judgment," Arthur smiled.

"What judgment?" Alfred laughed. "I've never had such a thing in my life!"

"That's not true," Arthur smiled. "You've judged me and decided I was worthwhile to stay around."

Alfred smiled and kissed Arthur's forehead.

"So this means you'll promise?" Alfred asked him.

"I promise I won't be going anywhere," Arthur smiled at him.

"Then I promise I'm not going anywhere," Alfred said. "As long as you keep your promise."

"Now all that's left is to go to the New World," Arthur said dreamily. "Leave this behind us…"

"Well," Alfred said loudly and suddenly. Arthur nearly jumped in surprise. "If you don't mind, I would kind of like for you to leave now. I still don't want you to watch me bathe."

Arthur laughed. "Fine then. Get some rest, and I will be seeing you tomorrow."

Alfred nodded. "When we leave everything behind."

Arthur left, leaving Alfred to think to himself. A part of him really did want to leave everything behind. Leave everything that caused him pain here, where it belonged. But he still felt a part of him wanting to keep it with him. To remember so he will never do it again. But remembering was a little too much. Because remembering meant that his mind would never to able to fully heal itself. His heart would still have cracks in it that would never be able to cover themselves up. He would never be able to recover from what he had done while he was broken. It was impossible to forget. Impossible to leave behind. It was a burden he would have to carry forever.

And it would drag him down to Hell if he allowed it.

That was Arthur's job, to make sure that he didn't go down that path. Love was supposed to heal, love was supposed to make everything okay. All Alfred had to do was believe that it would.

Alfred eventually took his bath, after he was done thinking to himself. And then Mathew came into their room. It had been a while since they had slept together, 2 years. They had shared a bed back in their town.

Alfred was grateful for Mathew's warmth, considering it was a cold night. That, and he needed someone to hug. And Mathew acted almost like a teddy bear for Alfred, cuddling with him gladly. Alfred had missed his brother and he was pretty sure that Mathew felt the same way. Alfred was happy that Mathew had turned out fine, he was happy that Mathew hadn't been changed with what happened, and he was incredibly happy that Mathew was actually able to keep his promise.

Alfred was able to see his brother again.

"So, how are we going to get onto the ship?" Antonio asked.

"And how are you so sure this is the right one?" Mathew asked.

"Because I asked around!" Alfred said happily. They were in front of a ship that was bound for the New World. "Some very nice people said that this ship was going to the right place!"

"Where are we going, anyway?" Arthur asked.

"I finally remembered the name of the town!" Alfred spoke excitedly, nearly ready to jump up and down in happiness.

"It's called Salem!"

And this would be the end. I know it doesn't seem like the end, and that's because it really isn't! There is going to be a sequel...even though no one guessed the clever bit... Wanna know what it was? I will tell you...

So, the colors of the British flag is red, white, and blue. Arthur was wearing red, white, and blue.
The colors of the Spanish flag are red and yellow. Antonio was wearing red and yellow.
The colors of the French flag is red, white and blue. Francis was wearing red, white, and blue.
The colors of the Prussian flag were black and white. Gilbert was wearing black and white.
The colors of the Canadian flag are red and white. Mathew was wearing red and white.
The colors of the American flag are red, white, and blue. Alfred's tunic and blue, and his horse was red and white.

So, anyway, look out for the sequel! It's called the Salem Alfred Trials. You can look on my profile for the summary. But it may be a while before I update it. I want at least 3 chapters written before I upload.

And a very special thanks to all of you reviewers who have followed me through this story, even when I accidentally set the two main characters as America and Egypt... Oops! And when FanFiction has been stupid and won't let you see the updates!

Anyway, ta-ta for now!

And I don't own anything...as usual...