Requested by HatsumiBamboo

August 8, 1628

The war has been going on for about ten years now. I always believed that peace will finally spread throughout Europe, but now I'm not so sure. Catholic vs Protestant. The Holy Roman Empire vs the rest of Europe. Us vs them. I never liked the idea of war, it never seemed necessary to me. I hated learning about it in school and I never studied war strategy's in school. Higher ranking soldiers would say it's a shame. "A waste of a brain." But I believe that there's better things to use a brain for than to strategize for war.

But then the Bohemians attacked. Or protested. When the new Emperor was chosen he send messengers to the Protestant state of Bohemia. But they were so angry when the emperor tried to reform them the people threw the messengers out of the windows. One of those messengers being Soren, who lived and send word back to the emperor. And now a decade later a whole war in Europe is on the loose.

I remember the day Aiden became a general. His almost evil mind made him perfect to lead an army... into chaos. Though he wasn't alone, he has me. With my help he became more skillful with strategy, and I'll never forget his kindness to me. Everyone says he's evil but he's just as confused like the rest of us, through some convincing he let me stay in the castle! My own room in this giant home of the emperor! Granted my room is small and far away from royalty but it's better than sleeping in a tent.

But living in the castle means I have to do something important. Something useful to the empire. So Aiden gave me the job is tracking down the most wanted thief in Europe. Petra the golden killer. Every day I look at her wanted posters on the wall, each one showing me where she was last. Though not in the same language I can guess where's she's been. After all, the ottoman empire is Arabic, Russians have their own alphabet, and I caught on to English very quickly. But, I prefer writing and speaking in my native tongue. But I can understand a Spanish, French, Russian, or English person. After all, Soren was a scholar before a messenger and he taught me everything I needed to know. He isn't dead but he retired, staying in the library all day. I hope... no. I pray Petra will slip up and make herself vulnerable. Then one day I can be a scholar and finally be 'useful' for something other than war.

Lukas closed his notebook and looked at his wall that was full of wanted posters. All of them basically said the same thing. All of them wanted Petra: the golden killer dead. They never said alive, they just wanted her dead. Lukas never knew why she was called 'The Golden Killer' so did a lot of others. Some say it's because she uses a sword made completely out of gold, others say it's because she kills the rich by burning their homes but the only way of escape is to give up their gold.

Once in France, Lukas heard a story about Petra. Some man said something about he saw her kill a diplomat with nothing but a small bag if gold and the clothing she had on. No one believed him at first, but no one knows for sure how Petra kills her victims. It's always random every time, so maybe she could've killed a diplomat that way.

As Lukas stared at the wall a messenger pigeon flew in through the hole in the other wall which he called a 'window'. Lukas took the small piece of paper attached to the birds leg and read the note.

Come to my library at once! I have an important mission for you!   - Soren

There was no time to lose, if Soren sent you a message then it was important. Lukas put on some peasant clothes instead of his armor and dashed out the door. Before you know it (but it was actually ten minutes) Lukas was standing outside the castle library walls. He opened the door to find not an alarmed Soren but a calm and peaceful one.

Lukas closed the door and walked up to his idol who was reading a book by a giant fireplace. "Soren? I received your message, is everything alright?" He asked.

Soren didn't look up from his book and he didn't say anything, he just kept reading. Lukas put a hand on his shoulder, "Soren, are you okay? You're never this quiet even if you're reading."

Still no answer, but just as Lukas was going to say something a third time a new voice spoke. A feminine one. "I think I can explain..."

Strange, Lukas thought. Why would a woman be in the library? All the women I know that live here can't read... But that's only the maids. Maybe it's the emperors wife? One of his daughters? Does he have a family? I never spoke to the Royal family before...

But the woman who spoke wasn't from the royal family, or any royal family. As she stepped out from the shadows of the many tall bookshelves Lukas saw who it was. He went to grab his sword only realizing he left it in his room. The woman was none other than Petra... Petra the golden killer.

"You set me up!" Lukas yelled looking at Soren. But Soren finally closing the book, laughed. Even Petra let out a chucked, but Lukas was terrified. All his thoughts where scrambling to find ways to prove his idol wasn't evil.

As Soren got up out of his chair (which Petra sat in very quickly) he walked over to Lukas, to which he wasn't surprised when Lukas backed up. So Soren stopped in his tracks and explained, "Lukas, let me explain. I know you'd refused to believe that I would set you up, and you're right. Child, I know it's your sworn duty to kill Petra over here... but I'm begging you not to."

"Soren do you know how many people she's killed? Hundreds! Hundreds of innocent men and women who didn't deserve to die! And you are asking me to spare her? Aiden would have my head cut off if I did that!"

Petra spoke up, "Those monsters deserved what they got. If not me then they would walk away free of their crimes."

"Crimes against what? Crimes against doing their jobs and obeying the government? Yes I agree, some of them where a little vicious but it was either do what they where told or get beheaded!"

"Enough!" Soren shouted, causing the two to stop bickering. With a calm voice he said, "I know you two have big differences but this task is important. As you clearly know, Europe is at war. It's chaos everywhere you turn, so I need you two to try and stop it."

Lukas was shocked. "Stop the war? Soren that's impossible!"

"You didn't let me finish," Soren groaned, "you two must stop the British and Scottish from attacking. And the only way to do that is kill Sir Fred of Wales and blame it on the Spanish."

"Why can't we kill Sir Ivor of Poland and blame it on the British? Why kill a man who has a family and is next to poor?" Petra asked.

"Because we need those trade routes in Scandinavia to be clear, or as clear as we can get them. Getting the British out and away from us will make things better in the long run. I know only you two can do the job, and can do it quickly. Lukas, you are by far my most intelligent student and I know you can come up with a plan to help bring the British down. Petra, with your strength and will-power you can kill a man with only a few hits. You both have your hearts set in the right place, and Sir Fred has barely done anything wrong in his life but he needs to go. With France on the verge of joining the war we need to make Great Britain weak. Because I'll be damned if we let those Catholics win! Now get going, you have much to do!"

Soren left the giant library in a huff, leaving the two alone in the quietness. Well not completely quiet, for all you could hear was the fire crackling.

"So... I guess we're partners blond guy." Petra said still looking into the fire.

Lukas rolled his eyes. "The names Lukas, and I guess so. But don't get any ideas, just because I look weak doesn't mean I am. And once this is over I'll be sure to arrest you faster than you can say butter."

"Whatever you say. Now about this Fred guy, we know he's British so he must be in England."

"But England is huge! We'll never find him in time!"

"Relax Blondy, I know a guy. Only one problem... he's in London."

Lukas sighed, "Meet me at the port in an hour. I know a guy who can get us there."

Without looking at him Petra stood up and opened one of the giant glass windows and jumped out of it. Before Lukas could grab her he realized that she was climbing down the stone wall. Clever... Real clever, he thought.

~~~~~~

So an hour passed by and Lukas was already at the port. He wasn't in armor like he should've been but he looked more like a middle class man, not rich but not poor. A satchel Aiden's wife made him hang around his body and the sword he held dear sits in it's holder on his belt.

Petra arrived not a moment too soon, for she looked like a woman in men's clothing... because that's what she was. Her red hair was noticable for not a lot of people in this part of Europe had ginger hair; and the person Lukas talked to would recognize her instantly, possibly turning both of them in. He needed a plan, so from his satchel Lukas pulled out a little light and navy blue bandana and handed it to Petra.

"What's this for?" She asked.

"Your hair. It's too noticable, wrap it around your head at least until we get to Dover... Here let me help."

"I can do it myself, I'm not one of those women who needs a man to do everything for her." Petra shot at him, snatching the bandana from his hand.

As he wrapped it around her hair a man with a scruffy face walked up to them. A peg leg, scars all over his face, eye patch, and clearly missing teeth from the way he smiled. It was none other than Jack the Swedish pirate. With his black smile he gave Lukas a big hug. "Oh little buddy it's been so long!"

Lukas smiled and gave his friend a pat on the back. "It's nice to see you alive Jack."

Jack with a sneaky eye turned to Petra. "And who's this little lady?" To Jack everyone was little, he was over six feet tall.

Petra growled, "Call me little again and you'll lose your other eye."

"Feisty one aren't ya?" Jack turned his attention back to Lukas, "you got lucky I was in town buddy. Now what do you need me for? Does Aiden need me to fetch something for his wife again? Or the new Emperor need me to kill some Catholics?"

Petra cocked her head to one side. "Aren't you Catholic?"

Jack looked about and whispered in her ear, "No I'm not. Between you, me, and Lukas I'm actually a Jew."

With a surprised look on her face Petra watched as Jack and Lukas chatted. So while Lukas was explaining something to Jack, Petra noticed the ship at the end of the dock and wasted no time climbing aboard. Looking up at the mast looked like it went on forever, and all he ropes and rigging seemed like it went to heaven.

Jack and Lukas finally got onto the ship, agreeing that Jack would take Lukas and his 'friend' to Dover, England. But when they finally set sail, Lukas and Petra realized that it was going to be a whole days trip to Dover. After all they where standing on a pirate ship, possibly carrying hundreds of supplies and gold with a plenty of crew on board. It was going to be a long journey...

August 9, 1628

It's been a good day so far, as least the weather was on our side. Currently we're near the English channel, meaning Dover, is near by. It would be wise to stay aboard the ship until morning when we arrive. Well to be honest I'm not sure what day it is, I'm guessing a day has passed since the moon is heading west.

Jack, has always been an... Interesting character. I never understood why he became a pirate or how he managed to steal a ship like this, the thing's massive! But Jack and his first mate Nurm have always been a dynamic duo. Jack being the bronze and Nurm being the brains. Now that I think about it I've never seen Nurm talk... I meant heard. Well I've heard Nurm talk but never in a language I understood. And if he isn't speaking in Swedish then he's speaking with random sounds only Jack can understand. Maybe a man from the army put something in Nurms mouth, cruel but I've seen it happen. Army men posing children (mostly little girls) who see things they aren't supposed to, or sometimes just for fun.

Who does that? It's the one of the many reasons I don't carry any deadly powders or deadly weapons. My sword is the one exception, that's a mandatory necessity to be in the army, even if I'm not fighting.

As Lukas dipped the tip of his quill in the small glass jar for more ink he stopped and looked around the cabin. It was the captains cabin, or his room in normal words. Unlike the rest of his sailors Jack has a nice big room full of maps, globes, chairs, and weapons. Lukas was shocked when Jack allowed him to go into his cabin, for only the captain was allowed in there.

But Lukas wasn't the only one, Petra was there too but (if it wasn't obvious) she was going through Jack's stuff. Opening chests and crates to see what's inside. Swing around some weapons to see what was the right fit. Lukas (for the most part) ignored her, he as forced to work with a criminal after all. No point in trying to change someone you can't fix.

After testing it out Petra, put down one of the many swords she was testing. She looked at Lukas who was still writing in his journal. "What are you writing about?" She asked.

"Nothing important, just thoughts going on in my head." Lukas responded.

"Why? You can think without having to write, I think while I'm fighting all the time. But you never see me writing my thoughts down."

"Unlike you, I'm loyal to a crown. You just go kill people all willy-nilly. With this war you aren't helping anything, in my opinion you're making things worse. And I think most common folk don't understand what it's like to be a soldier, so I hope that one day I can publish this as a book."

Petra scoffed, "Why would someone want to read a book about a soldier who's most likely on the opposite side of them? This war is changing things and we have no control over it, people would be more interested in the life of a thief and murder rather than a goody-goody blond man."

"Oh please," said Lukas, "if anyone read your thoughts they would want to dead even more. The only reason I'm sparing you is for Soren, but afterwards I swear on my life that I will kill you."

"Yeah yeah, I know. Everyone wants me gone, they just want me to vanish right out of their lives. Bah they just don't get it. So what's your story? How do you know the old guy?"

Lukas put down his quill and let out a long depressed sigh. "His name is Soren. He was my teacher for most of my life, a scholar. He use to be a messenger for the kingdom but then he was thrown out a window. So now he spends the rest of his days studying. But how'd you get wrapped into his quest?"

Petra gave him a sheepish grin. "He's not the hero you believe he is. Soren actually rounded up some of the best thieves and killers in all of Europe. He offered the same quest to each of us, but one by one everyone said no. All except for me. Everyone else thought it was a trap, but I knew the old man just wanted to do what's right for his country. I know how that feels, wanting to do what's right only to be classified as something else. You know if we do this, if we manage to kill Fred and blame it on the Spanish, if we get caught you'll be dead too. You have so much more to see in this world and you're willing to give it all up for a man who is telling you to murder a diplomat?"

"I'm not doing it for the war, or to save my country. I'm doing it for Soren. That man is the closest thing I have to a father, and if that means life or death... Then so be it!" Lukas just stared at Petra after he said that. It was true, he had abandon issues and Soren filled that role in his life. Lukas would do anything to protect Sorens honor, no matter the cost.

As Petras grin faded she made her way towards the door and said, "Don't try to impress me Lukas. If you fight for the wrong reasons, you'll end up as bad as the people who I kill." Her joking tone wasn't present when she said this. And with that she left, leaving Lukas alone in a room lit up by candlelight.

~~~~~~

It was now sunset and the two Europeans were walking around London. You see as they got to Dover that morning Petra 'borrowed' two horses from a nearby by farm. Using those horses they rode all the way to London, unfortunately only getting their at sunset.

"How much farther until we reach this friend of yours?" Asked Lukas.

Petra answers, "Not much farther, he's at the local pub."

Lukas rolled his eyes. If he's at the pub then he's probably a thug. But he had no time to worry about that now, for he was worried about the war and being in a place where he should not be. Lukas is supposed to hate the British, they believe in a different religion! But seeing how lively the city is, is making him wonder if these people aren't as bad as they say they are.

When Petra suddenly stopped, Lukas looked at the sign hanging above the building she stopped at. The cake and paws bar... How childish. As they walked in it was almost completely mobbed. Men and women drinking the night away and even some soldiers where having a good time. It's a miracle they found two seats at the counter next to two people wearing dark red cloaks.

Petra sat down first looking left and right for the bartender while Lukas (who was sitting next to the cloaked people) was listening to a conversation. Spanish? This is England not Spain, because I swear I think these people are talking in Spanish. As the bartender came by the people in cloaks dropped a small bag on the counter and got up to leave.

The bartender opened the sack and let the coins drop, with his finger he moved the coins one but one. "Wait a gosh darned second..." he said.

Panicking he looked up at the cloaked people who were just about to open the door. He shouted, "Spanish! Spanish!"

Hearing the word Spanish every stopped and the cloaked people made a run for it, the soldiers off duty following them out the door. Shouting and cussing, some drunken people followed.

The bartender who was a little bit on the malnourished side looked over at Petra and Lukas, but mostly looking at Petra. "Well look who it is... If it isn't Petra the golden killer. It's been awhile! I see you have a new look now? It's nice, really suits you."

Petra rubbed her arm in embarrassment. "You always have the nicest things to say Stampy."

The bartender who's name was apparently Stampy had a big smile. "Well someone needs to have a positive attitude during the war. I'm guessing it'll be the usual? I'm guessing your friend wants the same?"

Petra nodded as Stampy reached for two wooden cups and a bottle of some sort of alcohol. As he started pouring Lukas (assuming this was the guy) asked, "So Mr Stampy... Do you know where Sir Fred is tonight? And who where those people? Why did those soldiers run after them?"

Stampy placed the drinks in front of each person and gave Lukas a look. "Who wants to know? For all I know you could be a Protestant too!"

Petra learned over the counter and punched Stampys arm making him yelp. With a grin Petra said, "Relax Stampy. He's with me, we're on a mission to stop Sir Fred's assassination." Of course she lied but Lukas played along as Stampy let out a sigh of relief.

"Oh that's good. I thought it was something else. Okay Petra, I trust you. Here's what I know; Those Spanish that where just here are a part of the Spanish Inquisition. You can tell from their cloaks, even if they weren't they used Spanish money so I could tell who they were right away. Also I don't know where you've been pal but this war is driving people apart, things aren't how the use to be. If you aren't Catholic then the government is after you."

Like Jack..., thought Lukas. But Stampy continued, "About Sir Fred, well you're in luck. He's away from his family in Wales and is currently staying with the royal family. Some business trip or something. But that's all I know."

"Thanks Stampy. That's all we needed to know, how much do I owe you?" Petra asked.

Stampy chucked, "Petra you know you don't need to pay me. It's payment enough for you to stop by! And this time I can blame it on the Spanish!"

Petra already knew where Fred was, you don't need a map to find out where the royal family lives. And you don't need a man on the inside to tell you where your target is staying. For Petra has done this multiple times before.

Now it was midnight, August 10th. Lukas and Petra where about to break into the royal familys mansion to kill a man who's done no wrong in his life. But that's how the cookie crumbles as they say.

Lukas looked at Petra, and he swore he saw some sympathy in her eyes. "You don't want to do this huh?" He asked.

"I've killed people before... but not for anything like this. You should only kill a person if you know they've done terrible things, but Sir Fred only wanted to make things better..."

"I know, but what else can we do?"

"You mean what else can I do?"

Lukas tilted his head to the side. "Eh?"

"You," Petra explained, "are going to go home. I'll take care of Fred."

"No! I'm going with you. I'm forced with you so we're going to do this together!"

Petra sighed, "Look you seem like a great guy and all but murdering a diplomat? That's something people think 'Petra the golden killer' would do. Not 'Lukas the Protestant knight'. But if you want to help... Boost me up to that balcony right there, that's where guests stay. The royal family is foolish for having their guests so accessible to assassins."

Petra got on Lukas' shoulder so he could boost her up. You'd think she would be heavy but it was the exact opposite. Once on the balcony Petra ripped one of the curtains off from the giant glass door and threw it down to Lukas for a rope.

Both in the royal palace Fred was right there. Just in the middle of the room, sleeping in that giant bed. The two walked over and Petra took out a dagger she hid behind her back. The dagger shimmered in the moonlight and had almost screamed "Hey look! I'm so great! Oh yeah did I mention I'm Spanish! Because I'm the best!"

But instead of brutally murdering him she loomed over him. "I can't do it..." And dropped the dagger on the floor which let out a loud Thump.

The two jerked back when Fred started to move. Shit they thought, as the where about to be caught. But even if they where caught Lukas saw a side of Petra he'd never thought he'd see... Compassion... Kindness... Not brutally murdering someone because of their rank.

Fred rolled over but instead of seeing a solider and a thief he saw two shadow like figures and thought they where demons. "Ah! Don't hurt me! I have a wife a-and kids! Why did Lucifer send you here!" He shouted.

Lukas was about to explain but Petra cut him off. "We good sir, are not demons. We are messengers."

"M-messenger angels?" Asked Fred, voice still shaking.

Lukas understood what Petra was trying to do and said, "Yes Fredrick. The Lord has sent us with a message, you must give up your diplomatic ways and leave England. Go to Wales with your family and never return."

Fred nodded vigorously but stopped and asked, "How do I know this isn't a trick? You don't look like messenger angels... I can't see your wings... And you look the size of a normal person."

Pera rolled her eyes (which Fred couldn't see). "We had to disguise ourselves so we wouldn't draw much attention. Listen to us Sir Fredrick, we only want to help."

Fred nodded and got out of bed still in his pajamas. But there was no time to waste, Lukas was leading him towards the balcony and helped lower him down. All while Petra adjusted the bed by stuffing pillows under the blankets to make it look like he was still sleeping, then no one would notice. But then she picked up the dagger and stabbed it, leaving the dagger there.

Now it was 1 a.m. Lukas and Petra needed to find someone to get Fred back to Wales. Luckily Petra knew a person. They went back to the cake and paws bar to at Lukas and Fred's surprise, Stampy was still there. He basically lived in the bar, never having enough money to buy a home.

As Petra explained he cut her off, "Wales? I'll be gosh darned more than glad to! I always wanted to go to Wales you know. Hold on Mr. Fred I'll get you a coat and we'll be off to Wales! My friend, Dan just happens to be a carriage man, has a way with horses you know?"

Stampy ran back inside the pub, and as Fred turned around to say goodbye to the 'angels' he realized they where gone.

July 21, 1650

The war is over! Well it has been over for about two years now... But it's over! Thirty years of bloodshed is more than enough. Wow... My last entry was when we where going to kill Fred. I should probably explained what happened ever since then.

Pera and I got back to Jack the next morning, and over the following weeks news spread that Fred was missing. Luckily I got back to the castle before the news got to Soren, but when it did he was furious. Or that's what Aiden tells me in his letters. I gave up the military life and decided I would become a farmer or carpenter. But life already had a life for me. Being a guardian angel. Do you know how many people I've saved since then? Almost a hundred! But sadly, Petra wasn't a part of that life. She was still sort of a rival. Often times we would meet up, she wanting to kill, me wanting to save. It never worked out for us, but something did form. We became best friends and enemies. Now and again we would work together for a common cause.

But something else formed over the years. Love. I saw more to her than any of her friends knew. Though it could never be, we made it last. Sometimes we would just flirt instead of argue... good times. But as she became Petra: The golden killer and queen of thieves. I became Lukas: Messenger of God and protector of the common man. Long name right? Ah but what if I told you these people that could never be had a child? Yes it's true, Petra did get pregnant and we did have a child. But that child grew up with her and less with me, but she has both of our personalities. Petra named her Gobaith which is Welsh for Hope. What a name eh?
But that child is clever, smart, and kind. She has her heart in the right place.

Aiden I heard also had a child, a child I'll never get to meet since they moved all the way to Poland. Though I've been in Poland before I could never stay long enough before someone else needed my help. And Soren? Well... I heard that he was also executed a little while after he heard that Fred was missing and not dead. He was killed because he hired a wanted criminal instead of turning them in, therefore he betrayed his county. Seeing the coward and the man he really was, I was glad that we saved Fred instead of killing him.

But I heard recently that Fred and his family spend the war in a little farm in Wales. I also heard that Stampy and his friend Dan worked their as well. I guess it was a way to get out of the war, it was a small peaceful place. I wish thats what would've been. Petra, Hope, and I living on a small farm like that. But like our love it can never be.

Though every time I see her I always say, "I never regret being forced with you."

Fin

That took longer than expected to write... And over 5k words?! Damn! Oh man but I have some good news! Besides the fact that I moved some stuff around and werewolf will be starting up this weekend my profile has a new mascot!

Say hello to: Larry the Llama!

Pirate Larry

I saw him at Walmart and said, "I need to have this Llama!" It sucks that he was twenty bucks hut it was worth it!

Anyways sorry for the long wait, I promise I'll try to update quicker but no guarantees. I hope you enjoyed your request HatsumiBamboo!