Our Unfading Light

by Cosmic Sky

Sometimes, all it took was a few words to rattle the strongest resolve. That said, words could also restore that shaken resolve. Alear had always been the bedrock of hers, Ivy felt she served to strengthen his in the face of Griss' revelation. She didn't expect it to go further than that, though Alear had become far more than just her deity or friend, and she'd become more to him.

Hello, everyone. Still on a bit of a Fire Emblem binge, and checking off some old items on my writing list. I didn't mean to let this particular story slip far enough that Engage is officially one year old, but hey, I actually kind of like it that way.

Speaking of like, Ivy turned out to be one of my favorite characters from the cast, not to mention one of my best units. Her character turned out to be a huge surprise, and I liked her Support Chain with Alear, even though in the end I ended up choosing Citrinne for my first playthrough. Finally, I'm able to do a story for her and Alear, one that includes a look at the aftermath of one Engage's most pivotal moments. Prepare for some headcanons, and I hope you all enjoy the story!

I do not own anything.

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This Light of Ours Will Never Fade

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It was said all manner of negative feelings tended to hang in the air of Elusia. Some claimed it was because of the kingdom's ever cold atmosphere, others claimed the negativity actually caused the frigid temperature.

Being a rational woman, Ivy saw little truth in either statement, though she supposed she leaned more toward the former. Negativity seemed to be frozen in time along with all the moisture, thus leading to ever-present snow and ice. It helped make Elusia quite a depressing nation, something noted even by the natives such as herself. Still, there had been things to love about it, things that Ivy had loved.

Worship of the Fell Dragon had never been one of them, and it certainly wasn't after retaking her family's ancestral palace. She had a hunch that Fell Dragon worship would be reexamined following this battle. Assuming that they survived it-assuming that they were able to defeat Sombron once and for all. It was a goal that Ivy was now more determined to achieve than ever. That wasn't what her mind was focused on, however. There was something far more important than that requiring her utmost attention.

The Divine Dragon, the Prince of Lythos, savior of Elyos, Alear-her deity, her comrade, her friend. He was so many things, so many important things to countless people, including her. Especially to her. At first, he'd merely been her deity, one whom was everything she believed him to be. Then, she'd learned he was more, so much more. He became more than just her idol of worship, he became her friend, one of her closest friends in fact. When Ivy looked inside of herself, she began to wonder if friendship was enough to describe what she'd begun to feel for him. Those feelings had only grown as time went by. Ivy couldn't help but wish she could go back to those times, for more reasons than one if she were being honest with herself.

The mood was understandably dreary despite the victory they'd won. It wasn't entirely a pyrrhic one as they had regained another one of the Emblem Rings, not to mention they'd at least driven Sombron's forces out of Elusia Castle. The problem was there were few people to save in the latter. Still, they had been able to save a handful of citizens.

Her mother hadn't been among them.

"Ivy…"

"It's…it's okay, Alear."

"Ivy, I know it's not."

When they arrived at Givre Port, Alear came to the same conclusion she had, not just the town's population had been turned into Corrupted but perhaps most of the nation's. Marching toward the castle, they loathed how right they were. Villages and towns of varying size, military fortresses, every man and woman had been turned into Corrupt which they had to fight. Luckily, they found survivors, but they all had the same story to tell, Sombron's mass murder of the people so to raise their corpses as undead soldiers. Ivy would never forget how many of them cried in dismay, asking why would the Fell Dragon do such a thing. She was able to hold her tongue in giving a reason-because he was evil incarnate. There were times she hadn't been so strong.

Sombron may have been evil made manifest, but that distinction didn't extent to his children. It didn't extend to Alear.

Her heels clacked against the floor as she hurried along the hallways with a destination in mind. She knew the castle inside and out, having been raised in its wicked halls since the time she was born. It'd been a childhood filled with dangerous intrigue, the likes of which she very much could have done without. Alas, it was the life she'd been born into, it was the life she'd survived. She'd survived it thanks in great part to the man she was searching for. He'd been there for her in spirit, so it was high time she returned the favor. No, not just that-Ivy wanted to return the favor.

Even though he'd promised he wouldn't go far, Ivy knew Alear wanted to be by himself. It was the last thing any of them wanted. Griss' revelations and Emblem Sigurd's confirmation of his words had thrown them all for a loop, to put it mildly. None more so than Alear, whose sense of identity had been shattered in a way Ivy, nor anyone else, could have ever imagined. Even with Emblem Sigurd's assurances that he was more Divine than Fell, Alear had been dealt an emotional blow that was going to take time to recover from. Alas, they had little of that, but just enough that Alear could take a moment to himself. Or, what he believed would have been himself.

When he walked off, Ivy knew then and there that she wouldn't leave him alone with whatever dark thoughts his true parentage had birthed. While she doubted he'd wonder off, Ivy still feared for his mental state. Everyone in the army did, and still, they'd chosen her.

Hortensia had grabbed her and told her to go, saying she'd take over supervising the recover of the castle. Ivy was grateful to her sister, yet she couldn't deny the sense of shame she felt toward herself. Shirking her duties as elder princess for her personal feelings; then again, her defection to Alear's army had been strongly rooted in her personal feelings.

Her mind drifted to her blunt admission of her devotional love toward him. She laughed remembering how utterly confused it'd left him, albeit his response was rather justified. As she explained, he came to accept it, which Ivy was forever grateful for. Despite her words, she was also grateful for his request to see him as more of a friend than as a deity. Ivy felt like she'd done both, still revering him as her god, yet he'd became so much more personal to her-someone truly near and dear.

"Ivy, I'm…I'm okay."

She wasn't surprised she heard him coming. As a dragon, Alear possessed natural superhuman senses; as a trained warrior, he'd honed those senses. It seemed not even being lost in his thoughts had been enough to dull them.

He so closely resembled her standing out on the balcony, back-turned to her. His feathery cape bellowed in the wind. "Even so, I…believe it would be best if you had some company. One may never know when or where a stray Corrupted could be lurking. Waiting for the opportunity to strike." She responded maintaining her approach. A part of her wanted him to turn around, yet she feared what she would find. Ultimately, she got her wish as the Divine Dragon did turn his head to face her. Ivy's heart ached at the visible pain in his eyes; the fact he tried to hide it with a false smile didn't help either. "Alear," she found herself whispering in dismay.

"Ivy, I'm…I…" His attempt to ward her off fell apart as he drunk in the concern that openly manifested on her face. That concern turned to gentle resolution as she finally closed the distance between them. "I'm…I…"

Reaching forward, she took hold of his hands. "You are a Divine Dragon, you are a leader, a hero, and our guiding light style." Her grip temporarily tightened as she pushed forward with the rest of her statement. "You are still my guiding light, Alear. Griss' words did not change that."

His face became one of confusion, he truly couldn't believe her words. Ivy maintained her tightened hold as she wrestled with what else to do. There was a part of her that knew simple handholding might not be enough to get her feelings across. Something else would, an act more intimate, albeit one she'd never done with Alear. She'd seen him do it with others, but never with her. Admittedly, that had fostered some jealously within her soul. Was now the time to finally act? If so, the act had to be for him-he desperately needed it."

While she wrestled with herself, Alear's face fell. A shadow had consumed him right before her eyes and she'd done nothing about it. "Ever since I woke up, I've had…dreams. Nightmares really. Now I know they weren't nightmares, only memories of the past I had forgotten. Not even a thousand-year slumber could fully erase them, something I suspect my…my-"

"Something Queen Lumera suspected." She finished for him. He nodded, coming to a stand still as he thought of the woman who'd taken him in and raised him. Ivy prayed that his image of the late Lythos queen hadn't been tainted. "Alear, they're just memories now."

"They're a part of me, Ivy. A part of who I…used to be." He muttered. It sounded like he was growing more distant with every passing moment. Ivy's heart thundered with alarm that grew in tandem with it.

A surge of courage tore through her, leading her to lift her hand. It rose, reaching toward his cheek only to stop short. Alear noticed it and stared at her. The pain and confusion within him was on full display before her eyes. Like a pack of ravenous wolves, it tore at her heart, but that same spout of courage gave her the strength to fight on. Hoping to mimic the gentle breeze of her kingdom's diagonal neighbor, she caressed his cheek. "Alear," she started. "They're still only memories. Memories of who you were, not who you are now."

"Still, I…I…I was a part of things, horrible, wicked things." Shame laced his voice as he continued. He was practically shivering now, and it wasn't from the cold gale blowing against them. "I always wondered why I kept having such dreams, but…now I know. Like I said, not even my slumber could erase them. I…I don't know if I wish they did or if I should be…I should be happy. Forgetting them, forgetting the crimes I committed in Sombron's name would be shameful. Not to mention disrespectful to all the people I did kill, including real Divine Dragons."

"Alear," she called shaking her head. "Don't talk about your own kind as if you were somehow distant from them."

"But I am, Ivy." His voice thankfully didn't rise to a shout, but it was a touch louder than before. "I'm…I…look at this red hair!" She'd perhaps spoken too soon. "This accursed red hair that-"

"Is only half of you." Far from dismayed, she remained quietly resolute. She had a feeling this was coming, so she was prepared. Her left hand rose, a little higher so she could brush her fingers through his blue bangs. "These are proof that you are merely half Fell. No, only Fell in appearance. Your heart and soul are undoubtedly Divine. It is that divine spirit that has helped see us through this, and I know it will help see us through to this war's end."

"Ivy…you still trust me?"

Against all odds, she found herself smiling. "I already told you before, though I'm happy to say it again. Yes, I do. Nothing that I heard from that maniac shook my faith in you, and I doubt anything from him or his cohorts will either. Not even anything from Sombron himself."

Alear's face brightened with each word, though maybe it also had something to do with her hands holding his cheeks. Ivy hadn't fully intended to hold his face in such a gentle embrace, but that's how it'd ended up. She continued to hold his face in such a way; he didn't seem to mind, and Ivy was honestly glad he didn't. She enjoyed being this close, this intimate with him. Even better, he seemed to enjoy her touch as his right hand rose to touch her palm. He ran into something of an obstruction when his hand brushed against the sharpen spike that sat at the top of her glove. His startled gasp shocked the both of them back to reality.

Reluctantly, Ivy pulled away, feeling heat burning her cheeks. "I-I'm sorry, A-Alear. I didn't mean to-"

"N-N-No, Ivy, i-it's fine." He called. His cheeks sported a red tinge as well, something that made Ivy's heart flutter with unexpected excitement. Suddenly, she completely forgot the grave fate still bearing down upon the continent. "Thank you." She had a feeling that there was more he wanted to say, but like her, he seemed to realize the danger that still loomed over them.

Despite that, Ivy wanted to indulge in this little moment that they had together. Who knew when they might get another one, especially as they drew closer to confronting Sombron himself. It'd be a lie for Ivy to say she wasn't the least bit concerned with how that encounter would unfold. Even more now that Alear knew of the relationship that existed between them. She was confident that his resolve to defeat him would remain, yet she couldn't help but wonder if Alear would dear to inquire more about his past. Ivy doubted the Fell Dragon Monarch would indulge him, but she could still see Alear trying for the sake of satisfying the curiosity within him. Was it her place to deny him? As his ally? As his friend? As something else?

If there was one thing she knew for absolute certainty, it was that she would protect Alear. She would protect him just as she would be there for him, no matter what.

"No matter what your nightmares, what your past tries to tell you, it's all in the past. That's all it is. Whatever wrong you might have done…you've made up for it. You can make up for it." He smiled as her words, no doubt recognizing them as being similar to his own, spoken to her not too long ago. Their roles were now reversed, a fact lost on neither of them, thus their mutual amused smiles. Before either of them knew it, laughter slipped from their lips. Ivy didn't laugh often, in fact, people such as Louis had made it their mission to get such positive expressions out of her no matter how arduous a task it proved to be. With Alear, it was rarely if ever strenuous.

"I'm sorry I'm making you use my own words on me, Ivy. It's gotta be pretty unbecoming of a deity."

Shaking her head, she fixed him with a tender smile. "Well, even gods aren't above reproach. More importantly, you're not simply my god, you're my friend. My dearest friend whom I…whom I can and will always do everything in my power to aid. Just as you have aided me as a friend before." Despite her words, she was aware of the lingering heat in her cheeks. Her heart's way of telling her that she wasn't just thinking of Alear as her friend. Not even trying with all her might could get her to hide the blush.

"…Thank you, for letting me become your friend." He whispered. "And thank you for letting me remain as such."

"Oh, Alear. Nothing has given me reason to forsake you. Again, if anything, I'm the one who should be thanking you for extending your hand in generosity after our first meeting."

"That wasn't your fault."

She giggled at his reply. Her right hand found its way to his cheek, gently brushing aside the scarlet bangs that touched against her fingers. "So, why does that reason excuse me, but not you, Alear?" His eyes widen realizing the double-standard he was subjecting himself to. It was rare to find a scenario where one used one to put themselves down while elevating others. Sadly, such a thing wasn't hard to picture when it came to Alear; Ivy refused to let it stand all the more for that reason. "I was following my father's orders, and you were doing the same. You told me I could walk on a righteous path regardless of that. If I could do that, so could you. Alear, you've been doing it far longer than I have."

He briefly looked like he wanted to dispute her words, but such a dispute never came. She chose to take that as a good news-that her words were indeed getting through to him. As joyful as that was, Ivy knew she had to go further. While Alear's doubts for the moment may have been soothed, she knew that they could potentially come back. Such insidious thoughts could strike at the worst possible moments.

As she considered her next words, she felt the urge to bring him into a tighter embrace. It was something she wanted to do, both for his sake and her own. The temptation grew as she looked into his dual-colored eyes. Her hand flattened against his cheek, causing them to grow all the more tender. Amidst their silent gazing, his hand rose and fell on hers, minding the spike of her glove of course. Ivy briefly wondered if it was time for her to remove it; more importantly, she fostered the idea of removing it so Alear could actually feel her naked touch.

Suddenly, a decision was made and acted upon with all the swiftness of a battlefield move.

"Ivy," he called. His hand immediately upon hers again, taking hold of her exposed hand as it rubbed his cheek. She wasn't at all surprised to find his cheek felt warm, a contrast to her hand. "You're always supporting me. Sometimes it feels like you give me more support than I deserve."

"No, far from it. I try to give you all you deserve, Alear. At times I fear it is insufficient."

"It never is. It's…it actually inspires me." He confessed. Over the next moment he leaned into the embrace of her touch. Seeing him do so gave Ivy another push, perhaps the final one she needed. "When it comes to you, I-"

"I-I'm sorry for cutting you off. A-And if it feels like I'm-"

"No, not at all." She supposed it could have been seen as cute how they cut one another off. First her with her sudden embrace of him, then him tightening his hold on her. Ivy recognized that she became his anchor, his bonfire, his light in the darkness. All the things he'd been to her, she now was to him. It could have been said some sort of debt was paid, but Ivy saw it as more than that. Her arms tenderly wrapped around his, her left hand still clenching her glove. "Come what may, you will always be the Divine Dragon to us, to me."

He whispered her name again as he continued to bury himself in her embrace, and she did the same to him. Though Elusia's frigid winds continued to batter at them, they were protected. They protected each other. Ivy remembered the stories she'd heard about how warm a light love could provide, strong enough to weather her home's wintry climate. She'd experienced it from her mother and sister, and now here she was providing it for Alear, and he was providing it for her.

Yes, that's what this feeling is. Not love in the religious sense like I told you before, not anymore. The realization was subtle, marked only by the blushing of her cheeks. Thankfully, it was unseen by Alear. She wasn't sure how she'd react to him seeing her in such a state, especially since she was still trying to comfort him. At the very least she could say that he wasn't still trapped in a spiral of doubt and self-loathing.

"I don't think I ever had friends like you and the others. At least…I don't think any of them survived." He murmured, his grip tightening ever so slightly.

The nightmares he had were unknown to Ivy, but she could guess at a couple. Now, she could guess at one more. "Well, we will survive. We will survive to help you put an end to Sombron, and we will survive to see you formally succeed Queen Lumera as Lythos' new Divine Dragon. You've already done her proud, and you will continue to do so."

His arms remained wrapped around her as he pulled away, thus letting her see his face. Nothing in the world could compare to his smile, to the rising joy on his face. Again, her heart fluttered in her chest, like a wyvern performing a series of aerial loops in the name of a mating dance.

Guided by the ever-growing drumbeat of her heart, Ivy reached out with her ungloved hand. She touched his cheek, and he placed a hand over it as he had before, now more comfortable without the hindrance of her glove.

"I wish this moment could last forever." Alear murmured.

His words further pulled at her heart, leading to her somewhat trembling response. "Me as well. I just…wish that I could spend the rest of time here, with you, alleviating all your worries."

"You've alleviated enough of them already, Ivy." He soothed. "Still, I do wish we could just…spend more time together."

Her composure utterly vanished. The hand on his cheek transitioned to wrapping around his neck as she threw herself into his embrace. Alear eagerly returned it, burying his face in her dark red hair as she did the same to his shoulder. "We…we can after the war's over." Ivy replied. Even when so much lay ahead of them, the army still talked of when the war would be over. There was a rising optimism as they gathered allies and Emblem Rings, slowly recovering from the disaster at Destinea Cathedral. Hope had remained and grown over time, just as Emblem Lucina had told them it would. "Elusia will have much rebuilding to done, including cleansing. I…I know that the land holds nothing but bad memories for you, Alear, but one day, I hope that you'll be able to see it in a better light."

"Not all of them are bad. While I may have been fleeing for my life, I was able to meet you again as an ally. Not to mention I was eventually able to return to Elusia with you still as an ally, and as a friend. Finally…you're here for me now, pulling me back from the brink of the abyss that I was tittering at."

"To be able to do that, it makes me happy beyond words, Alear." She always had a sense that she needed to give back to the man who'd been her guiding light for years. That feeling had only intensified as she got to know her deity as a person-as she fell in love with him. Was now the right time to reveal that to him? No, we're still at war. Most importantly, we're… That wall of logical rose, attempting to impede her again. Despite its impressive fortitude, Ivy found it crumbling before the feelings rapidly rushing through her. Her head pulled away, his heterochromatic eyes locking with her monochromatic. The wall shattered, and with it, Ivy found herself leaning forward. "I always want to be there to support you." She whispered, realizing she couldn't-or didn't want-to stop herself.

From what she saw, with what little clarity she had left, Alear didn't move to stop her. He seemed to be leaning in as well, his eyes slowly falling shut.

"D-D-Divine One!"

She came to a complete stop, her entire body freezing, though not her heart. It continued to thunder in anticipation while the rest of her froze. A moment later, she whipped her head to the left where she saw Vander standing several feet away. The veteran warrior was looking away, actually exposing the bright blush on his wrinkled cheeks.

"I-I apologize for intruding, Divine One, Princess Ivy." He said with utmost honest, yet still refusing to meet their gazes.

They couldn't exactly blame him. The two of them broke apart, their cheeks aflame as the tension from the moment still burned within them. For Ivy, she laced her hands together, suddenly feeling too warm for comfort-it was like she was back in the Solm desert.

"N-N-No, Vander, i-it's fine." Alear said to his oldest retainer.

"Y-Y-Yes, y-you weren't interrupting anything important." It was a lie that almost burned her tongue to say. Feeling a needling feeling at the base of her neck, Ivy turned to her right. She caught Alear looking back at her; they both knew how much of a lie that was.

They knew it, and so did Vander, though for the sake of their dignity, he pressed on. "You two are needed as we are in the final stages of formulating our travel plans to follow Sombron to Lythos."

"We'll be right there, Vander." Alear responded. His armored retainer gave him, and her, a respectful bow before leaving them. Ivy had the impression that he wanted to give them just a few more moments of alone time; quite considerate, and nothing less than what she expected from the Alabaster Knight. "I…guess it's…time we head back." He whispered beside her.

Ivy saw disappointment on his face, and she heard it in his voice. "I wish we had more time as well." She whispered back.

He met her shy gaze with a smile, one that had Ivy going weak at the knees. "We'll have plenty of time, once we've stopped Sombron and ended this."

She nearly fainted when his hand interlocked with hers. A gasp flew from her lips.

"Sorry if I'm being a little forward, or being inappropriate." The man who'd stolen her soul and heart sheepishly replied.

Holding fast to his hand, Ivy shook her head. "N-N-No, Alear. Y-Y-You're being perfect. You are per…you are…" Several deep breaths were needed for her to calm herself down. Not made easy by the fact she continued to hold onto his hand. Ivy had a feeling she wasn't going to be letting it go for a while, not that he seemed to mind that. With warm yet steely resolve, she looked to him with small but joyful smile. "You are you, Alear, and I will follow you through the storm that awaits us, and the peace that lies beyond it."

Wearing heartfelt smiles, they stepped forward, walking the castle hallway that had led them to the balcony. This time though, they were together, hand-in-hand, physically and arguably mentally as well. The darkness was left behind, and each step ushered them further toward the light.

---

As the saying went, it was good to be home again. The Somniel had quickly become a place Alear felt comfortable within, and the same thankfully went for his allies. No matter what they went through, the floating island remained a safe haven for them, at least when they could reach it. Ironically, those times they'd been cut off from it made their return to the floating island all the more meaningful. Often, those times had been filled with adventure, stress, and the danger the likes of which left them all reeling. That'd certainly been the case for them this time around.

Looking out over the clouds from one of the balconies, Alear marveled at the view he was enjoying, the view that he believed he wouldn't ever be able to experience again.

Every time they descended from the Somniel, Alear and his forces did so knowing that it could be the last time they did so. They were at war, and over the last few weeks, the war had intensified to frightening levels. The possibility of dying had grown, something that he quietly wrestled with. It wasn't his death that worried him, it was the death of his allies, his friends, that kept him awake at all hours. In the end, it'd ultimately been him that ended up dying.

Dying in battle against Sombron was something Alear had made peace with, particularly after learning that the Fell Monarch was his father. Some subconscious part of him even saw that as the best outcome imaginable for him-taking his wicked father with him on the way to the grave for potentially the final time. The Fell Dragon bloodline ended…or at least, it's strongest and most dangerous members put to rest. Veyle would carry on, free of Sombron's corruptive influence and even control.

Of course, life had a funny way of not panning out the way one planned it. Alear was bitterly aware of that. If there was one defining feature of his life, he'd say it was that. He'd like to put a stop to that trend though.

His hand fell against his chest, resting over his heart, which continued to beat at a steady pace. Ever since his resurrection, he'd found himself doing it several times-a constant confirmation that he was indeed alive. He hadn't been the only one in need of such a thing.

Watching Ivy from several feel away, he recalled how she'd thrown herself against him after his true resurrection. She didn't care that he was now an Emblem, or that he'd fully embraced his powers as a Divine Dragon. He was alive, he'd came back to her. He'd came back to her.

"I can't…I don't want to leave her. There's someone important to me that I can't leave behind yet. Not yet."

Hear crying and her despairing grasp as he slipped back into death's embrace, away from Ivy. It wasn't something he wanted to do, but it was how things seemingly turned out. Thankfully, a miracle had happened, literally, thanks to the Emblems.

"Go back to her, Alear."

That's what all twelve of them had said to him amidst his resurrection. A collective piece of advice that he was determined to follow through on.

Still, he found himself hesitating, staring at her backside illuminated by the sunset. Alear had a feeling that she knew he was there, though she chose not to say anything. She hadn't called out to him yet, and neither he her, something he grew to regret with each passing moment.

Steeling himself, he took a step forward, then another. "Ivy," he finally called out.

She didn't turn to him, but he saw her head rise, followed by her body trembling. "Alear, I'm sorry, I didn't-"

Just as she rose to face him, Alear encircled her in his arms. It was a move that caught her completely off-guard; Ivy was a reserved person by nature, at times even with him. While that had greatly lessened, this was still somewhat unprecedent. Or maybe not. It's not like they'd never hugged or even held hands before; they'd done the latter several times. The number of times they'd hugged one another was far smaller, yet each time had been memorable. He recalled the embrace she'd given him at Elusia Castle following the reveal of his true origins. Then, came the hug after his true resurrection. It'd been the closest they'd came to revealing how they really felt about each other in public.

"I'm so sorry for scaring you like that, Ivy. Believe me, I didn't want to leave you. Not after everything you've already been through."

Though he hated doing so, his words shattered the barrier that kept her innermost feelings restricted. Feeling a grasp at his backside, they all came pouring out. He held her as they did, providing for her the bastion of support he'd always been to her, something he'd been doing his whole life. Before, he'd never known that, but now he knew, and he took a certain level of pride in that duty. It was also one of the duties he took with utmost seriousness. While Alear knew he met a lot to countless people, practically the whole continent, it was different with Ivy.

"I…I…I thought I'd lost you forever. Just like…just like…" The sobs erupted again, but Alear already knew who she was referring to. She's suffered more pain at the hands of Sombron than she deserved, than anyone could have deserved. "Alear," came her broken voice.

"I'm right here, Ivy. I'm right here and I'm not going anywhere." He'd first spoken those words following his rebirth as an Emblem. Everyone had gathered around him, decorum forsaken in favor of showing their pure joy at his return to life. Alear had returned the various embraces, especially Ivy's. The assurances he'd whispered to her were more heartfelt than those he'd spoken to others. "I'm sorry." He repeated.

"Don't apologize. You don't have anything to apologize for, Alear." Her voice sounded just a touch more composed than before, but she was still pulling herself back together. That was typical of Ivy, even now.

"It's okay." He called. Her sobs returned, though he was there to comfort her, his hold never lessening, nor hers on his. Dusk finally turned to night behind them, the stars coming out to replace the setting sun. The stars and the moon, whose silvery glow cast its light upon them.

There was something ironic in how radiant Ivy looked despite being associated with darkness. Her clothing and general demeanor all told the story of a shadowy woman who'd be more at home in the shadows. Alear had initially thought that, only to be proven wrong when she appeared with the light of hope in their darkest hour. Then, he'd truly begun to see how bright she was on the inside and out. The latter was on full display as she pulled away to gaze into his eyes. Tears continued to slip from her eyes, tears that he wiped away. Her lips formed a smile as she placed a hand atop his, keeping it pressed against her left cheek.

Conscious thought temporarily left him, it was pure instinct that took over. He leaned forward, Ivy doing the same. This time, there wasn't anyone to interrupt them, their lips met in their first kiss. Sweet euphoria shot through his body, greater than any he'd ever known. Alear pushed forward, his tongue extending beyond the reaches of his mouth. He met Ivy's, the latter shyly flicking against his before receding backward. Taking that as an invitation, he further pressed the kiss.

Their bodies fell sideways, him ending up atop of her with the moon shining its silvery glow upon them. While he was faintly aware of it, Alear couldn't bring himself to stop. Neither could Ivy as she snaked her arms around his neck, pulling him down against her. It added to the lustful fire that had been lit within him; Alear would almost say something about it seemed…natural.

Take her. Take her. Take her. Mate her. Chanted foreign voice. It echoed in his mind simultaneous to them needing to break for air. In doing so, Alear pushed himself upward, putting some space between him and Ivy. His eyes were focused on her, and hers his.

Their positions left nothing to the imagination, especially theirs.

"I-I-Ivy," he began. An explanation might have been appropriate, but his mind was in near total chaos. As he began to think he could say something resembling an explanation, it died in his mouth. Instead, he simply kept on gaping at her like a fish out of water. From the same corner as the mysterious voice had from, a suggestion was offered. Kiss her again, with all the intensity as he'd done so before.

"I-I-I-I…t-t-that was…t-t-that was…" Though he tried to formulate a response, the words simply melted in his mouth. Part of was the fact that he couldn't help but marvel at how beautiful Ivy looked from up so close, a blush on her cheeks, and a shadowed look in her cherry-red eyes. The way her pink lips quivered as she gazed up at him. He couldn't even bring himself to sit up and give her more breathing room, she deserved that at least. "Alear," those pink lips curved into a small but genuine smile. "Thank you for being my first kiss."

The anxiety that had built up within him, the fear he'd just rent the bond between them, evaporated. He smiled at her with equal emotion. "You're welcome, and thank you for being mine."

He felt her hand grasping the back of his head, a gentle hold on it that could only serve one purpose. "If…I asked you to be my second, would you consent?"

Despite his seemingly still body, Alear's heart was a raging storm. It slowly bore down on the lone flower that stood before it, singing of its glory. "Yes, but I have to ask you, would you consent to me being your every last kiss?"

Her eyes widened at the implication behind his words. His choice to say little was partially fueled by the desire within him-a desire to do as that inner voice had beckoned him to. He wanted to, but he wanted Ivy to be willing. He truly wanted her to know that he was willing to give his life to her, and he wanted to know if she would do the same.

In retrospect, it might have seemed a bit foolish. By this point, she'd shown that her heart lay with only one person in the army, nay, all of Elyos.

"Yes, a thousand times yes, Alear." Immediately, he fell upon her. Despite his speed, she was ready for him, alternatively, she simply immediately responded. Their lips met and her tongue shot out, meeting his. There was no retreat this time, only an affectionate slapping of hers against his. A similar feeling of euphoria shot through him, and her, albeit far greater than before.

As the kiss continued, a primal urge shot through Alear. In the depths of his mind, he knew what it was, and he didn't deny it. Especially given the way Ivy tentatively brough her right leg up to massage his side. Their kiss was briefly broken so he could groan in ecstasy-laced surprise. With its end, he looked back down at her. While he recognized the shyness on her face, he also saw a glimmer of mischievous excitement on her face. Chuckling, Alear returned the favor, thrusting his hips against hers. It was Ivy's turn to moan in blissful shock.

He fell on her neck, alternating between kissing and biting it. That primal voice urged him to mark her as his. I will. Came his conscious response. Ivy's hands grasped at his backside, her lustful moans ringing his ears. His kisses transitioned into soft bites that left their mark on her neck, clear to see as he pulled away.

A lustful haze had fallen over her eyes as she moved her left hand down, it coming to rest on his cheek. "Take me, Alear. Make me yours."

It was practically what he wanted to hear. His body moved on instinct after that, seizing her lips in a new, far more heated kiss. Ivy eagerly returned it, her hands moving through his dual-colored hair. Their waists pressed against one another; Alear was aware of the growing tension between his legs, his primal instrument that called out for usage. He knew it was going to be used, but not here, not in the open where anyone else could happen upon them. Alear didn't want anyone interrupting them, or seeing something that was meant for his eyes only.

How possessive you've become. He noted as he stood up, hoisting Ivy in his arms. She gasped in surprise, realizing that she was being held bridal style in his arms, the arms of her savior-turned lover.

"I-I-I take it you have somewhere more…ideal in mind." Her adorable shyness permeated her voice as he began walking.

In truth, it was less of a walk and more like a stealthy run. He didn't want them being seen either. "I do, some place definitely more private for the two of us. Is that alright, Ivy?"

"Absolutely." She giggled. The scenery whisked by them in an instant. His superhuman legs carried them far and high. In seemingly the blink of an eye, they were at the balcony of his room. The curtains swayed in nightly breeze while reflecting the light of the moon behind them. Alear sat Ivy down, his arms circling her waist. "Maybe it might be best to wait until the war's over, but…I don't think I can wait any longer."

"Frankly, neither do I. Not after I almost lost you for good at Lythos Castle." He felt her heart's ping of sorry at the memory.

"I'm sorry I made you cry like that, Ivy." It was an apology that he felt had been a long time coming. So much had happened that he hadn't been able to give her a personal one, at least not until now.

"Apology accepted." She smiled before planting a sweet but short kiss on his lips. "But please, don't ever do that again. If you can help it, certainly not when we confront Sombron again." Before she could say anything else, he kissed her. This one was much longer than the previous one, their tongues affectionately sliding against each other.

Breathlessly, they separated. Their cheeks were crimson, a contrast to the silvery whiteness of the sheets that bellowed to the side, and the night sky above them. "I promise."

Can you really promise her that? Sounded the doubt in his mind. He's stronger than before, and even back then, he had just enough strength to take you down with him.

Resolutely, he looked that doubt in the eye, its crimson eyes so like his right eye. Likewise, its hair was entirely scarlet red like the left side of his hair. Yes, he may be stronger than before, but so am I. Most importantly, I'm not alone. Not anymore.

His hand slid upward, eventually sliding through Ivy's dark magenta hair. "I love you, Ivy." He probably should have given her a chance to respond, but he couldn't control himself. She gave her own response with her mouth, eagerly returning his kiss and slapping her tongue against his. Her body pressed against his, her chest squishing against his. They separated, then reconnected, the bridge of saliva between their mouths vanishing as soon as it appeared.

Somewhere amidst that kiss, Alear picked Ivy up and began moving toward the bed. Between the ecstasy of the kiss and his own superhuman strength, he hardly noticed he'd done so. They broke for air as he sat her down, though she quickly pulled him back in for another one. He pushed her back against the mattress, slowly growing to dominate the kiss. Ivy's hands aggressive clawed at his head, his hips responded with vigorous thrusts that let her know just how aroused he was.

A myriad of lewd thoughts raced through his mind-some having laid buried deep within his subconscious. Though he never truly forgot the looming portal above the continent threatening them all, Alear had to admit, just this once, he wanted to focus on something else. So did Ivy; he was her something, and she was his.

They ended up lying on the center of the bed, a position neither of them quite knew they came to, not that they were complaining. Nor did either of them complain at how Ivy had somehow ended up on top.

"I-I…Alear," her hands fell on his chest, where she felt its steady rise and fall. "P-Please, be patient for a moment. A-A-And…I hope that you enjoy the show."

With those words, he immediately knew what she was going to do. He sat up and watched as she moved to the left side of the bed, her back silhouetted by the moon. It was an utterly perfect sight, one that he had a hunch she planned on creating. He was taken with the sight of her, such a dark figure bathed in heavenly light; the light perfectly represented who she was on the inside, and he would say on the outside. Especially as she began to disrobe right before his eyes.

He'd always known she was a beautiful woman, her beauty struck him the first time they met, despite the fact it'd been as enemies in a battle. That bewitching, enchanting beauty, had only grown in his eyes as they changed from enemies to allies. The Ivy he saw now, clad only in her dark purple bra and underwear, was exclusive to him. Exclusive to him alone as her lover.

Her dark dress fell to the floor revealing her beautifully pale skin to his heterochromatic eyes. They served every piece of her, drifting from one place to another before ultimately ending back up on her face.

Blushing so red she could rival half of his hair and his right eye, she looked away. "I-I-I hope that I am…suitable enough for you in appear-"

It was primal desire that sent him into her, albeit he retained enough control that he didn't send her toppling to the floor. That restraint wasn't nearly enough to keep him from taking her lips in a borderline savage kiss. Luckily, Ivy recuperated it, again. His hands shamelessly roamed her naked backside, feeling its warmth through his fingers. She consciously grinded against his body, letting him feel the majority of her bare skin. A majority, not the totality of it. She still had her bra and undies on, a fact he became aware of as he felt his groin pressing against hers.

"I guess…that answers my question." She affectionately murmured between their ensuing kisses. Alear merely chuckled in agreement; it certainly did, as did his continued groping of her body. She purred in happy adoration of his actions. His lips slid from hers to her neck and her shoulders; there was a chance that such marks would be visible come tomorrow when she dawned her usually outfit. If she dawned it at all.

They found themselves back on the bed, her resting in his lap as they aggressively made out. Alear eventually flipped them over, their new positions mirroring those when they were outside, except this time, Ivy was barefoot of most of her clothes. Pushing himself up, he surveyed her enchanting form. The sight of her gorgeous body stirred something inside of him. That stirring led him to pull away.

"It's time I returned the favor, Ivy." He called. It was her turn to widen her eyes in shock-shocked excitement.

He'd known she'd been watching him when he was working out, even when they did so side by side. Her eyes would always wonder to him, and sometimes he'd catch her staring. Naturally, she'd always avert her gaze, but he could always see the blush on her face.

That blush was present, and stronger than ever as he stripped in front of her.

Ivy's jaw dropped as his white garb joined her dark dress on the floor.

"…As…as I thought," she whispered. "Magnificent. Utterly magnificent in body as well as soul." Her experience with scantily-clad men had been…limited, which was perfectly normal for a young woman of her standing. She wasn't a perverted woman, a distinction she was proud of when looking at some of her fellow Elusians. Well, not perverted when it came to men in general. Alear was a different story. His body told a story.

Muscular yet lean, dotted with scars that told the story of a warrior. Several of his scars seemed to be faded burns, which Ivy knew the origin of quite well. While glad that they were fading, she bemoaned their mere presence. The thought of using magic to erase them crossed her mind, though she had a feeling that Alear would protest that. He always wanted people to see him as a person, as imperfect as that implied. Ironically, in her eyes, that made him even more perfect. Alear's scars were proof that he had endured, and that made him a pillar of strength to others, including her.

With only heavy panting between them, they closed the distance that separated them. There was something positively electrifying in the way the naked portions of their bodies finally pressed against each other. While they swooped saliva yet again, Alear's hands moved along Ivy's backside, searching for the clip holding her bra up. Once he found it, he quickly undid it, and afterward he pulled away, taking her bra with him. Her nipples pressed against his bare chest, his scared chest, the chest that had a hole blown through it a thousand years prior.

Once again, their hands roamed each other's backsides. Ripples of ever-growing ecstasy spread through them as they kissed and clawed at each other, rolling over the bed. They felt the soft sheets beneath them as they rolled from one end to another. Their making out never ceased, nor did their filling up of each other's bodies. Not until they were ready to truly bear all that they were to each other.

Ivy lay on top, her hair disheveled and her eyes wild, a complete break from her usual demeanor. She spread her hands out over Alear's chest, briefly feeling it up again before she began to lower them. He sat up a little, watching her with anticipation as he knew what her destination was. Reaching it in short time, he watched her nervously grip the edge of his boxers, a tent rising in the middle. Glancing up, her wine-red eyes met his; a silent nod of confirmation ensued on his end. This was the first time revealing himself in his entirety to another person; he was glad that it was Ivy, the woman he'd come to love, yet that didn't stop him from being just the least bit nervous.

Her hands came down, taking the last shred of his clothing with them. His member flopped up, standing at full attention before the oldest princess of Elusia. Her response was to gawk at it like a star descended from the heavens. In her eyes, it practically was one.

A star that she couldn't help but reach toward with trembling hands. "A-A-A-A-Al…ear…Alear, y-y-you're…"

Despite his resolve, he couldn't help but look away in embarrassment. "I-I hope I'm not too small…or too big for your liking."

A bit of drool actually poured down the crisp of her mouth, something he caught out of the corner of his eye. His gut told him to take that as a good sign. He jumped upon feeling her hands gripping his member. Swerving his head down, he saw her continuing to stare at his penis with a look of pure awe. Alear had to admit, it was slightly comforting. She didn't seem put off by his-

"G-Gaaah~! Aaaah~!" his voice broke as the first waves of erotic ecstasy hit him. They were small, preludes to what was to come, yet so unlike anything he'd felt before. They were…mesmerizing. "I-I-Ivy," Alear gasped after several minutes of enduring those pleasurable waves. His vision was hazy, yet the moment he locked eyes with his magical lover, it cleared up.

She never looked more beautiful than in that moment, her face less than an inch from his cock, the latter wet with saliva from her tongue. Each breath she made tickled his manhood making his shudder. "Alear, your manhood is nothing short of incredible, and delicious." A smirk preceded her running her tongue along his length. He groaned while arching his back upward. The jolt of pleasure continued to rattle through him long after Ivy removed her tongue. She continued to smile at him, a smile brimming with lustful intent that potentially rivaled his own. "Now then, allow me to worship it as it deserves. To worship you, as you deserve, my love."

His nod of eagerness was a shameless confirmation that he wanted more. Luckily, Ivy was more than happy to give it to him. More licks followed, longer and more sensual, wrapping around the base of his cock like a serpent up a tree. Alear threw his head to the side and groaned; his mind was spinning, practically detaching from his body, which turned into a shuddering mess of nerves. Ivy's loving "worship" continued, filling him with greater ecstasy.

"A-AAAAH~!" Something changed, a new frontier of pleasure had been opened-up. Through the stormy winds he tried to make it out. His eyesight was no good, as were the rest of his senses. Still, he tried. Alear tried to focus on his sense of touch, perhaps the worst of his deteriorating senses. Miraculously, they managed to give him an answer. "I-I-Ivy," he whispered. "Y-Y-You're…"

A sophisticated woman she may have been, Ivy wasn't entirely what one might call a prude. The libraries of Elusia Castle were vast, as were the places one could sneak away for more…baser activities. Ivy had preferred the former for her learning of the carnal arts. It was an education she'd been somewhat ashamed of herself for taking, yet a part of her couldn't deny the curiosity. A part of her also wanted to at least have some prior knowledge of what to do should she ever…find herself in such a position. Never could she have imagined she would with her true deity, her deity-turned-lover. As she licked his cock and massaged his balls, Ivy looked back on those secretive hours with jubilation.

Once she felt she'd licked every portion of Alear's member, she decided it was time. Lifting her head, she stared at the mushroom-shaped tip, finding a divine beauty in it as it twitched in anticipation. Following a self-assured smile, she opened her mouth and took her lover's manhood into her mouth. Her ears rung with the ear-splitting howl he made-a howl of pure ecstasy. She'd made her deity scream in erotic joy; Ivy's heart danced in pride, relief, and ever-growing excitement.

In earnest, she began sucking his cock, going back to ravaging it with her tongue, albeit now it was safely tucked in the warm cavern of her mouth. She sucked it with her lips, feeling hundreds of bolts of white-hot excitement shoot through her with every suckling. Alear's howls continued, his hips occasionally thrusting upward. She savored the sliding of his cock through her mouth, something she made known with the intense flicking of her tongue against his member.

Alear thrusted again, and again. Each time, he heard Ivy moan in what was clearly enjoyment. With that realization, he leaped on the opportunity. His thrusts became conscious, directed, and progressively stronger. He'd almost compare it to his martial arts training, throwing one punch after another. Granted, such exercises were never this enjoyable.

He chanted her name and she moaned back, any intelligible words muffled by his cock pumping in and out of her. It became akin to breathing for them, his thrusting and her sucking. Not only that, it simply felt right.

Looking at her beautiful curtain of dark magenta hair, Alear became infinitely glad that there wasn't anyone else in her heart, at least not in a romantic sense. Likewise, he was happy that the religious love she felt for him had transformed into romantic love. If it hadn't, this never would have happened, he never would have known how good something like this could feel.

Suddenly, he felt a tense-up around his waist and his cock. "I-I-Ivy, I'm going to…I'm going to…" his first orgasm was approaching, fast. His mind was awash with what to do, how to prepare for it. Was there anything to prepare for?

All those questions vanished as he looked down, just as Ivy looked up. Her dark red eyes beckoned to him, invited him, to release into her. So too did her tongue, making several erotic flicks across his twitching member. Each one brought him closer to orgasming while her eyes batted at him.

His right hand gripped the side of her head while his left held the sheets beneath him. "Ivy~!" Alear yelled to the air as he made that final thrust with his hips. With it, his tip exploded in semen, all of which exploded in the princess' mouth. It pressed down on his member, as if trying to squeeze out more of his essence. Alear gave it to her, his voice being carried by the wind into the night sky. It caused the cry to echo in his ears long after it died down. His hand slid from Ivy's head, falling limply to his side along with his other.

Alear felt like he was floating, particularly on one of the many clouds outside. A rose-scented cloud, to be precise. He could have rested there until the moon disappeared and the sun rose above the horizon.

It felt like he was waiting for exactly that when a sweet voice called out to him. "Alear,"

Immediately, he snapped to it, sitting up. His eyes widened at the irresistible sight of Ivy, so close to him with cum dripping from her smiling lips. Oh, and that same affectionate blush on her face.

"I-I-Ivy," he stuttered. "That was…I…enjoyed that," his hand rose, moving behind her head as she moved closer to him. "I enjoyed that a lot." Alear declared before their lips connected. Tongues slapped against one another as the kiss became a long and deep one. His left arm wrapped around her naked waist, squishing her chest against his. The searing contact went into replenishing his cock.

"So did I, Alear," Ivy whispered upon pulling back. "I've sampled the finest wine Elusia has to offer, and Solm as well. However, neither of them can compare to you. Simply heavenly." After a chuckle, they kissed again, eagerly slapping their tongues together. Ivy shuddered as she felt his hands roaming her backside. They could shatter castle walls, yet they caressed her body with the delicate touch of a feather. "A-Aaah~!" She moaned feeling that gentle touch finally reach her bottom. "A-A-Alear, y-you want to…have you ever wanted to…touch me?"

"There have been…times it's crossed my mind." Came his shy confession.

Giggling, she pecked him on the cheek. "There's no need to sound so shy about it. We're lovers now, so I will not hold such thoughts against you. In fact, hearing them somewhat makes me feel…happy. Knowing that I caught your eye before this."

Simply smiling at her, he flipped them over. Her composure temporarily shattered as she found herself looking up into his eyes. His surprisingly silted eyes. Instead of worry or even scared, Ivy was merely aroused. She reached up to stroke his cheek, watching the intensified manner of his breathing.

"Your eyes," she murmured. The way he pulled back in surprise told her that he hadn't been aware of the change. "No," Ivy called as she reached out with her hands. Taking hold of his cheeks, she pulled him back down. Their lips collided in a chaotic kiss that soon gave way to jointed effort, and satisfaction. Panting as they pulled away, she whispered soft assurances to him. "It's alright, Alear. You are a dragon, thus it's to be expected. Besides, it's not the first time I've seen your eyes transform."

"It's…not?"

She shook her head. "No, it's caught my eye. At times in battle, where you're at your fiercest. Other times, moments of calm when you're merely focusing. It seems even without transforming in full, the dragon blood in you can be roused." Her cheeks reddened all the more as she added the final bit to her statement. "That seems to include when you're…mating."

Alear had a look of adorable confusion on her face that Ivy couldn't help but laugh at. A moment later it turned into one of his accepting smiles, the sort that made her feel like all in the world was in its proper place. The next thing she knew, his lips were on hers, aggressively devouring hers. Welcoming it, she wrapped her arms around his neck, deepening the kiss. Unfortunately, it broke as she felt his manhood thrust against her. Moaning in surprise, she realized that she still had her underwear on, and it was growing increasingly wet by the second.

"Especially when my rate is the most beautiful woman in all of Elyos."

It wasn't the first time she'd been complimented as such, but coming from Alear, after everything they'd been through, it had the desired effect. Her cheeks flared red as she looked away, exposing her neck for his hungry lips. Once he'd had his fill of that, he went for her lips. Ivy threw herself into the resulting kiss, excitedly slapping at his tongue with hers and grinding her body against his. His praise had lit a fire in her, and she was certain such a blaze had long since been burning within him.

As he pulled away, she saw it in his eyes. His dualistic eyes moved down toward her chest; she never had a problem showing off the topside of her breasts, but the front was strictly reserved for only the man whom she would give herself to. That man slowly descended upon them, then struck like a viper. Ivy gasped, feeling the sudden and searing pressure on her right nipple. It was so utterly different from gripping them herself just out of curiosity. She cried out feeling the first flick of his tongue against her nipple. She thought of her previous worship of member-it was undoubtedly time for her beloved to return the favor. That he did, using his mouth on her right nipple while his fingers fiddled with her left.

Ivy's mind quickly distengrated into broken, burning pieces. Alear's tongue and fears slashed it, slashed at the shreds. Tears rapidly accumulated in her eyes as she fell under the thrall of the same erotic bliss she'd bestowed upon Alear. He gave it all that he had, a certain eagerness detectable in his actions.

Smiling, she wrapped her hands around his head. "My…body is yours, Alear. Every portion of me, it's yours to…have how you wish, whenever you wish."

"You sound almost like you want me to steal you away while we're in public, Ivy." Heavens, when did he gain such an aura of charm? Had someone been teaching him when she wasn't looking? Had it always been there, slumbering only to awake when he found his destined partner? If so, Ivy felt another surge of prideful joy knowing that special person was her.

"M-M-Maybe…I am. You bring out this new, more adventurous side of me." He crawled up to her so they were face to face. Her hands fell on his cheeks. "Perhaps now that we are lovers, I feel a bit possessive of you, and addicted to you."

Giving her another one of those smiles, he kissed her. Ivy made sure to enjoy it for as long as it lasted. Saliva connected their mouths once it ended, the bridge holding for a second before collapsing. Alear moved down south, this time assailing her left breast with his mouth while her right was tended to by his hand. Ivy let out whines and pants until he broke from her chest completely and continued further down. Knowing his destination, she lifted her hips up, allowing him to remove her undies with more ease. With their removal, she was as naked as the day she'd been born.

"You…smell…amazing." She could tell he was fighting to hold onto some measure of restraint by his voice. Grinning, she spread her legs out, openly inviting him to toss it aside.

He did so, and she cried out in ecstasy-laced jubilation. "AAAAAYYY~!"

"Mmmmm~!"

He went at her, his tongue swiftly marching through her womanhood, slapping against all sides of it. Her legs kicked up wildly while her arms flailed about. Fingers gripped at the sheets as her deity dug his way into her, marking that innermost part of her as she'd laid claim to his manhood. Eventually, her legs wrapped around Alear's head, practically fastening around it like a welded piece of metal.

"Haaaaahh~! Aaaaah~! Haaaaaaah~! Alear, oh, Alear~! Yes~! Yesssss~! Keep going~! Have your way with my cunt~!" Every sense of decorum was lost to her. Ivy felt a true sense of liberation as he continued to eat her out. "Ahhhhhaaaaahhhh~!" Her hand shot to the top of his head, grabbing it as stronger waves of bliss slammed into her. Ivy knew what they meant, yet she wanted to resist them-she tried to resist them.

"Mmmmmmm~!" As if sensing that, Alear tried harder.

"OOOOOOOHHH~!" His fingers, perhaps two or even three. Regardless of the number, they were inside of her, driving her closer and closer to the edge. "Alear~! ALEAR~!"

She felt her vaginal lips make that final squeeze before it became too much. Her juices burst forth from her loins, slamming into the Divine One like a tidal wave. Almost all of her strength left her, but in return, Ivy became filled with an exhilarating sense of euphoria. It felt like her entire body had left the bed and shot straight up into the heavens beyond the clouds around them. She savored the experience before she began her steady descent back down into the mortal world. Still, waiting for her there was her Divine One, her beloved Alear.

As she reached toward him with her limp hands, he fell upon her again. Their kiss was tender, gradually invigorating the both of them, or perhaps her more so than him. Ivy felt his body against hers, his member pressing against her soaking snatch. The more the kissed, the more their most intimate parts grinded against one another; it fed the still burning fire of arousal within them.

Alear pulled away, panting with his eyes having reverted back to normal, albeit that could change any second. Ivy did so with her next words.

"Take me, Alear. Make me yours." She pleaded in a gasping breath.

His body was moving before he even realized he'd nodded yes, before he even took in the gravity of her statement. Even after he did, Alear didn't stop-he knew this was what he, and she, wanted.

Even the hardest blade couldn't compare to his member as he angled in in front of Ivy's pussy. Cum leaked out of her freshly eaten cunt; he hoped it would make his entry into her just a touch easier.

"I'll be okay, Alear." She whispered to him, noting the slight hesitation on his face. Like her, he was no prude. He knew she'd kept herself pure, all for this moment-the moment when she would give herself to her future husband.

Alear was proud to be that man, prouder to be that than Ivy's deity. She wasn't just one of his most devote followers, she was the woman he loved with all his heart. In one swift thrust, he took her maidenhood, and claimed her as his.

"G-Gaah!" She gasped, clinching at him. "I-I-It's alright, Alear. This pain…this pain was what I expected. A-A-And it's not as bad as I thought it'd be."

He couldn't quite tell if she was lying; regardless, he refrained from moving, even though every fiber of his body was screaming for him to do so. His lover's health came first. "Even so, I'm sorry."

She stroked the back of his head. "As I said, it's alright. You…you can start moving now." To incentivize him, she leaned up and kissed him.

That kiss was all he needed; in the next breath he was thrusting into her.

"AAAAH~! AAAAAAHH~! A-A-ALEAR~!" Cried the sorceress princess in shock. One thrust had multiplied into ten, even going on twenty, all in the span of a second. She hadn't been prepared for this, but she certainly wasn't complaining about it. "AAAAAAYYYYYY~!"

"IVY! IVY~!" he wasn't going to stop, not now. It just felt so right having his cock inside of her. His hips practically moved with a mind of their own, one solely dedicated to bringing the purple-haired beauty beneath him to orgasm for the second time. He felt her hands continuing to claw at his backside as he vigorously thrusted into her. "AAAAAAAAHH~! AAAARRRRAAAAH~!"

"MMWWWAAAAAAHHHH~! MORE~! I BEG YOU, ALEAR, MOOOORE~!"

He met her request with stronger thrusts, enough to shake the bed three times over. Alear could faintly feel it shaking beneath him. Never had it been put through stress like this; if he wasn't so preoccupied, he'd be somewhat concerned on if it would hold out.

"OOOOOOOHHHHH~!" They screamed in joint pleasure. It was sheer coincidence that they thrusted their hips toward each other at the same time. Locking frenzied eyes with each other, they repeated the act. "AAAAAAAHHH~!" Came their second scream of shared ecstasy. A third followed as they further repeated the act.

"Alear, ALEAR~!" Ivy yelled over the slapping of flesh and their rapid panting. "I'm…I'm going to-AAAAAAHH~!" She almost came that time. The next time, she most likely would. "In…me. All of you…in me." Was what she managed to whisper between the rising tide of her orgasm.

"Mine, Ivy. You're…" he near growled in response. She looked into his eyes, seeing the return of those silted pupils.

"Yes, my dearest. I am yours, in mind, soul, and finally….body." Holding fast to him with her arms and legs, she kissed him, squeezing her breasts against his. Her hips thrusted against Alear's, pushing his cock in deep as her walls convulsed for perhaps the final time. He did the same, thrusted downward, his member driving itself straight into her core. The kiss was broken as she shut her eyes and howled in tearful ecstasy.

"ALEAR~!"

"IVY~!"

Her walls exploded in orgasmic bliss with that final push. As they did, his member did the same, blasting her core with his truly divine essence. It was inside of her, filling her to the brim. Ivy could hardly believe it was real, yet the continued presence of Alear's grip on her, his presence above her, and inside of her, confirmed that it was. He whispered her name into her ears as he continued to shoot his seed into her.

"I love you, Ivy." That lone statement stood out.

She gripped his backside with a teary smile. "And I love you, Alear. My sweet, beloved Alear."

Their lips met and remained attached to one another as their orgasm ran its course. The latter actually extended past the former. Alear removed himself from his lover's snatch when he rolled over, keeping one arm encircled around the sorceress princess. Cum flowed from her not-so-empty pussy. Despite the presence of the lake's worth of semen in her, Ivy felt the loss of Alear's cock. It was a loss she mourned and wanted to rectify.

Minutes later, once she regained enough strength, she did.

"Please, Alear…one more time." Ivy knew one more round was all she had the strength for. Between the day's events and sheer force of Alear's love, she could feel herself just hanging on by a thread. Riding him would be difficult, but the prospect of going one more round with him was simply too much for her to pass up.

Based on the fact that his cock was standing as tall and proud, Alear was up for more as well. He sat up, gazing at her with lustful eyes. She reached forward, wrapping her arms around his neck; he immediately closed the distance and kissed her.

"One more." He affirmed. Ivy's joy was cut short by her surprise. Alear turned her over to her side while he remained behind her, angling his cock into position to re-enter her.

"A-A-Alear," she gasped in shock.

"I…read about this position in a book. Not to mention I think it'd be easier on you."

She laughed, realizing her exhaustion must have been more evident than she thought. "I'd ask what book that was, but that can wait for later." Raising her left leg, she granted him easier access, which he immediately took. "Ayyyyy~" thankfully, his insertion went easier this time. The pain of her hymen's loss was thankfully a one-time ordeal. The pleasure brought by his cock plowing her though? That was going to continue for a long time. "Haaaahh~! Aaaaaah~! HAAAAAAHHH~!"

He grabbed at her left side breast, eager to feel it again as he took her. "Ivvvvvvy~"

"Yes~! Yes~! AAAAAAAH~! MWWAAAAAAAAAHHHH~!"

It was amazing how he still felt like he had so much more energy to burn. His every thought was solely directed to taking the woman before him, which he was doing with gusto. Every thrust he made shook her, which he felt through her bouncing breast. Her arms wrapped around his neck, bringing him in for a new kiss. Alear maintained it while continuing to thrust into her, relishing the constant squeeze of her vaginal lips.

"SO GOOOOOD~!"

"YES, YES, IT IS! AAAH, IVY! IVY~!"

More kisses ensued, each one building them up to the climax they knew was fast-approaching. The bed continued to shake beneath them, as did their bodies. Sweat rolled down their naked forms, some flying from their faces as they threw their heads back and shouted one final time.

"AAAAAAAAAAHHHH~!"

Alear made his final thrust into his royal lover's pussy, shooting his seed into her for the second time the night. Ivy's walls collapsed inward on his member. It was the final union of the night, but certainly not their final one. Panting, they locked eyes, smiles forming on their faces. Ivy's was the first to fall as her entire body went limp, soft pants rushing from her lips.

Realizing she'd reached her physical limit, Alear turned her over so she was facing him. Faintly recognizing the change in position, Ivy snuggled up to him, savoring the feel of his arms around her. It was the perfect way to fall asleep.

"Thank you, Alear, and…goodnight." She whispered.

"Ivy, I'm the one who should be thanking you. You always believed in me." He replied.

"I always will. After all, you are my guiding light, and my dearest love."

"And you mine, Ivy. You are mine." Her slumbering coos reached his ears not long after-at least she'd heard his final reply. "Goodnight, my love, and I'll see you in the morning." He whispered despite knowing she couldn't hear him. What mattered was that he would be with her in the morning, and all those that would follow. Those leading up to their final battle with Sombron, and those that would come afterward. Those in a world of peace that they would help maintain.

Hours later, his ears would twitch with the sound of knocking at his door. Before panic could arise, he heard the booming yet soothing voice of his aged retainer wishing him, and his bedmate, a good morning. Alear smiled as he refrained from rising. Still, his ears could hear footsteps. What followed were voices, Vander's and two others, Clanne's and Jade's. He distinctively remembered it was the latter's turn to wake him, and the former had held some residual concern for him upon their return to the Somniel. Luckily, Vander was there to alleviate her worries, as well as tell Jade he'd taken care of her duty for her.

Knowing her, Alear had a hunch that the Brodian knight might start putting the pieces together, especially if she caught sight of her and Ivy together. She'd find out in time, as would everyone else on the Somniel, including Ivy's countrymen.

For now though, their union lay solely with them and his silver-clad retainer.

"We owe Vander." He murmured.

There was some shuffling from the dark-haired beauty in his arms. "He's…standing guard, I assume?"

Finally sitting up, he watched Ivy rise with him, her naked body aglow in the light of the sunrise behind them. The first thing she did upon seeing him was smile. Smiling back, he leaned forward, kissing her. Her hand ran up his hair while his wrapped around her waist.

"How much time do we have to ourselves?" She whispered.

"I think maybe a moment or two. Still, maybe we shouldn't make too much noise. We have a lot to do today."

"Yes, we do, but for now…good morning, my love."

"And good morning, my Ivy."

A second kiss ensued, as warm and tender as the morning sun behind them.

Fin

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Dragged my feet a little because I was busy playing Prince of Persia The Lost Crown, but it's finally done. Hopefully I balanced the fluff bits with the steamier action toward the end. When it came to Ivy, I tried to walk a fine line between her being a seductress and still being a little shy about her first time with Alear, who somewhat felt the same, yet had his draconic instincts acting up. That's something I'm going to explore in further Engage writings since I have a certain headcanon regarding it; you can probably guess what it is looking at certain portions of this story.

That's all for now. Tell me what you all thought of this story, including maybe what you'd like to see in future Alear/Ivy stories, or just Alear stories in general. Until next time, readers!