Naoki07 here! Welcome to 'Embrace', the newest chapter of 'Aeturnitas'. I am happy to announce that the plot for 'Aeturnitas' is no longer in the air, thanks to many surges of inspiration. I was able to watch the magnificent creation known as 'Final Fantasy 7: Advent Children' last night, and that really got the plot for 'Aeturnitas' rolling.

I give my deepest gratitude to those that have reviewed so far. Please continue to enjoy my story-thanks to 'Advent Children', I have the perfect plan for this project. I would like to give a big shout-out to Anima Sage Kurai and 'End of Thought', for that story is a true work of art. My second shout-out goes to Hikaru, the author of 'In Writing a Letter'. That fic is another awe-inspiring masterpiece.

Chibi Soren would like to state that author watched the Japanese version of 'Advent Children'. The English version is not yet available. Naoki would like to send huge 'thank-yous' to Anima and Hikaru-two phenomenal authors. She is very happy to know that others approve of the RoyxMarth pairing. Thank you for your time.

Current background music: Orchestrated version of 'One-Winged Angel', which was originally featured in Final Fantasy 7.

His heartbeat increased with every step he took.

The task of breathing became harder and harder with every step he took.

His heart wouldn't stop pounding...he could practically hear the rhythm of his heart in his ears.

His chest was inexplicably tight. A merciless, ardent wildfire was inside of his heart, and it was wreaking havoc upon every fiber of his body. His bloodstream was no longer at its normal temperature-it was a fiery, fervent waterfall of unfathomable happiness. Every inch of his body was burning-his entire soul was on fire. Flames of rhapsody were blazing within him, and they were immeasurably beautiful flames of light.

The flames drove him closer and closer to the star of his heart. His footsteps fell through the halls of Pharae's palace, and they shattered the halcyon silence. Wildfires were within his vivid blue eyes, and they were soft yet fiery blades of anticipation. The Sovereign of Pharae was known as the 'Sovereign of Fire', and so he was perfectly familiar with fire and its ways...but whenever thoughts of his loved one crossed his mind, eruptions of fire occurred within his chest, and they never failed to take his breath away.

Time continued to soar through the stream of life, and it was a merciless force. Every second passed by in its true depth, but at the same time, they were no different from years. His head became lighter and lighter, his chest continued to burn...

I can barely breathe when I think of you.

The palace of Pharae had many gardens to its name, and each of them bore endless creations of ethereal incandescence. Five minutes carried Roy to the garden of Elysium flowers, which were astoundingly rare flowers of white luminosity. Elysium flowers emerged from slumber in the Winter, and each of their petals emitted an aura of everlasting beauty. Even the smallest Elysium flowers were beautiful. Their garden was known as the Elysium Haven, for the flowers carried the essence of immeasurable bliss about them-and they gave the palace an empyrean radiance.

The fields of flowers were complimented by a crystal white water fountain. The fountain was crafted in the hands of passionate sculptors, and it had been placed into the very center of the Elysium Haven. It was a tribute to the miraculous flowers...but there was one miracle that caught the Sovereign's heart. A soft gasp of happiness tore itself from his mouth when his eyes fell upon a heavenly, ephemeral dream...the dream he had been searching for.

It was Marth, the former Sovereign of Altea.

He was standing before the Elysium fountain. His incandescent blue eyes were closed, but his face still had an aura of divinity about it. His black cape, which had a border of pure gold, was silently flowing in the morning's soft zephyrs. Wisps of his dark blue hair were elegantly attached to the sides of his face, and his black uniform glimmered with the purity of the snow. There were no words leaving his mouth, but his heart was speaking-he was silently thanking the heavens for a certain blessing.

Roy's heart soared-it also plummeted into the depths of endless tension. The former Prince of Altea was an empyrean, radiant being-just being around him sent shockwaves of tension into his bloodstream. The Alteans that came before him were also seen as angels-in many history books, Alteans were known as the 'Messengers of Heaven', for all of them carried an ethereal aura about them. Their physical appearances were not like the physical appearances of other human beings-many people truly saw them as angels, and thought of themselves as mortals. The Sovereign of Pharae saw Marth as an angel, for his existence was truly too phenomenal to believe. If someone had said Marth was an angel in his past life, Roy would have believed him in a hot second.

His heart skipped several beats, and his chest became immoderately hot. After five skipped beats, his heart resumed its pounding-and the pounding was maddening. It was as if his heart was screaming.

Seconds passed by him, but each second felt like a year.

Roy wanted to embrace him, but he had no idea how to approach him.

Marth was like a statue-a statue carved out of diamond-

And he was a mere mortal.

Fifteen seconds passed-or were they years?

His heart continued to pound and pound, his head became lighter-

Gentle arms wrapped themselves around his waist, and his heart dropped.

A soft, tender voice drifted into his ears...and each word sent gales of happiness through his heart.

"My heart was just dreaming of you, dear one. The heavens answered my prayers."

Roy's face became a vibrant shade of red, and his chest began to burn even more. Alteans were truly gifted in the art of words-all of them were eloquent, vivid poets, and Marth was no different. The former Prince of Altea brought him into a tender embrace, delivered kisses to the back of his neck and rested his chin on his shoulder. The Altean's eyes were deep, beautiful oceans of translucent warmth-a mere glance from those sent Roy into shivers. Lord Eliwood's son had a thousand words to say to his soul mate, but the warmth of his mate's embraces rendered him speechless-Marth's presence rendered him speechless.

"I'm glad you're here."

Silence.

All of his prepared speeches never made out it.

A fervent kiss fell onto his lips, and he shivered in the Altean's arms. The scent of Marth's hair was enough to drive him to insanity-the existence of his soul mate was just too hard to believe in. Confusion, passion, happiness and sadness united within Roy's heart, and caused his head to become even lighter than a feather.

He didn't understand.

He didn't understand why Marth had decided to stand as the last Altean for him.

He didn't understand why Marth had chosen him.

His heart skipped about a year's worth of beats...and then he finally recovered the ability to produce speech. He took the flames burning within his heart and formed them into a warm, ardent smile-his face was still a bright shade of red, but his smile was an exuberant one.

"Guess what? I have an entire week of freedom, thanks to Soren."

Warmth blossomed in Marth's eyes. He tightened his embrace, but it was still a tender, gentle one of profound affection. The Altean spoke to him in the Alrias language-a passionate, melodious language.

"Seita. Mei-na t'kur nai, sain-ya."

Wonderful. I'm glad we've been given freedom, Morning Star.

Alrians had firm belief in the power of love-they were gentle, soft people of indescribable warmth. Marth knew their language well, and so did Roy. The two of them enjoyed using the language with each other, for it was the language of love. Marth gently sent several kisses to Roy's neck, bearing a smile of immoderate warmth.

"I have to give Soren my deepest gratitude. I have something planned for the two of us-I was worried that my plans wouldn't make it to the surface."

The shade of red became even brighter on Roy's face. Sadness erupted in his soul as the Altean's warm eyes melted into his...but he kept a smile upon his face. "What did you have in mind?" he asked him happily, bearing the voice of an excited child. His face was still burning-his cheeks felt as if they had been drenched in poisonous fire...

And he still didn't understand.

"I'd like to take you on a trip around the world, but unfortunately, that isn't possible. There's a certain destination in my heart, though, and it goes by the name of Charon."

Charon.

Roy's heart skipped even more beats. One could have said that he was allergic to Marth, and they wouldn't have been far from the truth. Charon was the 'Utopia of Bliss' in many eyes, and that name wasn't too far from the truth. It was a place of many cultures, lifestyles and dreams-a realm of inescapable, enchanting beauty. Markets, performances and miracles were abundant in the realm of Charon-it was an ideal place for a Christmas vacation. The idea meant everything to Marth-he was evidently familiar with Charon, and wanted to take his loved one there. Happiness bloomed in the heart of Lord Eliwood's son, and it fell into his eyes...but the winds of sadness refused to drift away. A moment of silence elapsed between the two of them...as they gathered their emotions and thoughts. Roy was responsible for breaking the silence-he lowered his head and spoke to the Altean, his voice a soft wind of confusion. His face was still burning, and his heart was still on fire-it was truly screaming now...

Marth held Roy out at arm's length and gave him a kiss on the forehead. His voice was a breathtaking, bewitching zephyr-he wove an intricate spell upon the Sovereign of Pharae with every sentence. Roy opened his mouth to speak, but was instantly cut off-another kiss robbed him of his words. The former Prince of Altea ran a hand through his short brown hair and spoke to him once again.

"My eyes fall upon you every day, but it's still so hard for me to believe that...I can hold you in my arms. My eyes fall upon you...but I feel as if I'm looking upon a dream. A mirage of grand resplendence."

Roy's heart skipped a thousand more beats. He opened his mouth to object, but as usual, he was cut off by another kiss. Marth's lips melted into his-the very contact caused him to shiver with unbridled happiness. The kiss surpassed the very limits of comprehension...for it was an enormously luscious, sweet and rich one.

Roy's face burned and burned and burned...

Oh gods...why...

"I wish these moments could last for an eternity."

The embrace became softer, sweeter...

"I could spend a thousand eternities holding you, gazing upon your smile..."

Marth was about to be overwhelmed by passion.

Roy was about to be overwhelmed by a million things.

"Shia t'kur ahrna. Tsu shia'ca shorna..."

I wish I could spend an eternity in your arms. I want to spend the rest of my time in your arms...

"Shia mehnah kuronai, shia t'skurnah..."

I want to spend the rest of my life tasting you...I want to spend the rest of eternity drowning in you...

Cascades of starlight filled Roy's eyes...and the beating of his heart became even louder. He placed his hands on Marth's cheeks and returned the warmth of his kiss, feeling his eyes overflow with oceans of happiness. The scent of Marth's hair, his beating heart...everything melted into his soul as the sound of gentle caresses filled his ears. Sadness was pushed to the side as the Sovereign of Pharae sank into his soul mate's arms...and forgot everything. All he could hear...all he needed...was the sound of Marth's gentle kisses...the warmth of his arms...

Breathing was impossible...but there was no desire for its return. Roy was lightheaded, dizzy...but he had no desire to pull out of the embrace. Everything was forgotten-regret, guilt, sadness...

Five minutes elapsed between them, but each minute was shorter than a second. Roy was breathless, but he found enough room to release a thought, a thought that was soaring through his very soul...

"Marth...I love you...I love you..."

I love you...

Wait a minute.

A thunderbolt crashed onto his heart like a boulder, and shattered his peaceful, blissful mood.

I can't do this.

He pulled out of Marth's gentle embrace roughly, feeling his heart sink under an abyss of pain. A gasp tore itself from the Altean's heart instantly-he backed away from Roy in confusion, looking as if he had just witnessed the most horrific crime imaginable.

"Arhna, meita sur'kanur?"

Dear heart, what's wrong?

Sorrow erupted in Roy's heart, and it overwhelmed him.

"I can't."

Marth took on the look of a lost, confused puppy. His eyes were gentle, innocent gems of warmth...and his voice was so soft, so beautiful...

"What?"

"I can't do this."

"What is it? Did I...say something to offend you? Because I-"

His voice was just too soft...too beautiful to listen too...he truly had the look of a lost puppy about him...

Roy held up a hand.

"No. You...aren't responsible for anything. It's me."

Marth became horror-stricken. Confusion erupted in his heart-he felt as if the sky was falling upon him. He moved further away from Roy, completely horrified by his soul mate's abrupt eruption of sorrow. He loved Roy more than anything-in his eyes, he was the most precious treasure in existence...

"Roy, what are you-"

"I need to know something."

Concern fell into Marth's ethereal gems. He tilted his head in confusion, which made him look like a little puppy. "What is it?" he asked his loved one softly, and the sadness increased within Roy's eyes. The question that drifted from his soul mate's lips shot an arrow of sadness into his heart.

"Could...you please tell me...if...I'm...truly...worthy of you?"

"What?"

Roy's heart jolted violently. The Altean looked as if he had just asked him to jump off a cliff-in other words, he looked utterly appalled.

"I'd like to know...if I'm...enough for you."

The confusion became even worse. Marth looked as if Roy was asking him to cast off the throne and sell his soul to evil. A huge question mark crashed into the Altean's eyes, and stamped itself all over his face-he really bore the facial expression of a confused, lost puppy. A million answers shot through his mind, and all of them wanted to come out at once-but only one made it through.

"Of course you are! How could you ask me something like that?"

Roy's voice became fierce...but the ferocity was born from sorrow and mystification.

"I don't agree with you at all! I love you, Marth-if I said that a million times, it wouldn't be enough! I could spend a million years saying those two words to you, but it wouldn't be enough! It's just...I don't believe I deserve you! I don't understand why-"

Marth's voice was calm and melodious.

"I have chosen you to be my one and only light, and I do not regret the choice I have made. How can there be any doubt? Roy, my heart embraces you-and it will continue to embrace you until the end of eternity."

"But why? Why me? Why do you act as if I'm some fragile treasure? You're the true treasure around here, but you-"

Marth truly had the eyes of a newborn animal-they were soft, innocent and inexplicably warm. At the moment they were filled with fervent confusion and sadness-he looked as if he had been offended by Roy's questions, but he was truly saddened by his soul mate's doubt. A painful eternity drifted between the two of them, and then the Altean broke the silence. Both of them were drowning under sadness, but for different reasons-Marth was horrified by Roy's lack of self-esteem, and Roy still couldn't understand why Marth had chosen him. The Altean's voice was firm, yet immeasurably warm-it was the voice of a benevolent, shocked sage. His words melted into Roy's heart, but they were unable to eliminate the waves of doubt...the waves of blazing sadness...

"Roy, I love you. If I could spend a million eternities telling you that, I would. If I could give my heart to you a thousand times, I would. My heart embraces everything about you-your spirit, your fire...your heart. You never fail to captivate me, dear one...but my heart breaks whenever you're in pain. Please...please stop doubting yourself. I love you."

He took Roy's hands, squeezed them and gave him a gentle kiss on the nose...

Then, like an ephemeral dream of the night, he vanished into the halls of Pharae's palace...

And left behind the dreamer.

I love you.

If I could spend a million eternities telling you that, I would.

If I could give my heart to you a thousand times, I would.

Sadness erupted on Roy's face, and brought starlight to his eyes. His heart became unbearably heavy...as he thought of the soft, tender kisses that had melted into his body. The sound of Marth's voice...his tender words...

He didn't deserve any of it.

He wanted to tear himself apart.

How?

How could a lowly mortal be the soul mate of an angel?

-Please note that Charon is a place from my imagination. It doesn't exist within any of the Fire Emblem games, or in Super Smash Bros.Melee. Once again, I would like to give another shout out to Hikaru and Anima. I thank the two of you for the inspiration you have given me. I would like to thank all of my reviewers!

This one's going to be one bumpy ride...so be prepared! I'm going to give it my all!