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Fallen Embers	By : FlayraDowitcher Category: +G to L > Hetalia: Axis Powers Views: 1799 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Hetalia. I am making no money off of this fic.

Chapter List
- 12
- 13
- 14
***Warnings: Language, gore, non-con, sappiness, fantasy

***Disclaimer: I do not own Hetalia. I am making no money off of this fic.

Chapter 13

"Oh…my…God. It's so…fucking…cold!" Alfred shivered and chattered as the freezing wind blew right through his winter uniform. He had the hood tied up around his face as tight as the string would go, but his face was still numb with cold. Desperately, he lifted his legs high out of the snow while trying to walk yet growing tired. The snow was falling heavily around him and it felt like each snowflake added another inch of heavy snow to the ground.

He was lost. Lost and cold. Just a short bit ago he attempted to climb a tree in hopes to see the base and which direction to go in. But his hands had frozen even through the gloves, so tree climbing was impossible. All he could do was tread on, heading north. Never had he been so cold. If Ivan didn't find him, Alfred was certain he would freeze to death. He looked up into the foggy gray sky in hopes to see an army helicopter. The base must know by now that he is missing and out searching for him. But how would they know he ended up this far away in the middle of nowhere? It would be useless to send out a plane this far because it would be impossible for Alfred to get this far on his own. And there was just no end to all this snow.

"Someone…please save me." He whispered in a puff of white. Still, he continued on through the dark and snowy woods with little hope of finding his way back. "Just…k-keep on walking, Alfred." He told himself but his limbs and body were slowly starting to shut down on him. Everything was going numb from his feet to even his eyes. "This is where I die…not by a bullet…but by the snow."

Alfred stumbled, still knee deep in the snow as he came down. Pressing both hands on the snow he tried to push himself up, but to no avail. Now he was drowning the snow, soon to be buried alive until he froze to death. No one would ever find him in a snow that never melts. This was his grave: hard, cold, and lonely. 'Just like Ivan.' Alfred thought. 'This is how he would have died…but he was saved. Will I be saved? Or will I end up dying in his place like this?' Alfred's red, frozen eyes glanced up into the sky. 'Ivan? Where are you?' He closed his eyes from the biting wind. 'Sorry I couldn't help you…I tried.' Then, the images of his family came to him, which started to make him cry. The tears forced his eyes opened, yet the droplets froze on his face. 'Mattie…take care of dad and papa. Especially dad…he'll need you more than ever.' He found himself playing over scenes of every time he was mean to his dad, regretting now more than ever. 'Oh God…I don't want to die.' "I DON'T WANT TO DIE!"

'You are human!' The voice forced Alfred's eyes open but he had no strength to move. 'This is the suffering of humans. This is what you wanted.'

"Who…are you?" The voice was not Ivan's, nor was it Winter's. It was another voice, one that was familiar and warm. The speech was like a soothing lullaby, giving him peace in this icy grave.

'I am the spirit of the Sun God.' The name gave him the strength to lift his head and look in front of him. Before his frozen body stood a large form of bright smoke sparkling with light.

"How do I know you aren't a trick of Winter?"

'I saved you from him that time in the woods. Even as a spirit, I am still more powerful than Winter.'

"Then…you are my real father? The one who…who killed me because I loved Ivan…and cursed me to relive a hard life over and over again." Alfred found that he was now sitting up in the snow and looking at the form. "Why did you do it?" Alfred didn't feel like himself as he was speaking, as if someone else was speaking for him. Was he hallucinating?

'You broke a law, my child. A very old, old law of the heavens. I was angry that you would choose a mortal over your family. I went against my better judgment and chose to follow the old punishment. Everything I did to you hurt me twice as much. I knew your feelings were true and I even understood them but I couldn't let this happen. Not with a human, especially a human such as your Ivan.'

"But he's not just human. He's half human as well!"

'Yes, I had known all along that he was a Moon Angel and only half human. I had already given the God of Winter his rights to the Moon Angels, so I could not take it back. Your Ivan was not ready to understand such a life like that of the Moon Angels. If I had awakened Ivan's true form then the God of Winter would capture him forever, just as he has the others. There would have never been a chance for you and Ivan to be together in celestial forms.'

Alfred's eyes widened. "Together? But…I thought you didn't want us to be together, so you separated us?"

The form grew bigger then. 'Ivan was more human than you were. The life of a mortal is a terrible one, and I knew if given the option, you would have chosen to become one with him. I did not want to keep you from loving him, but the match was not yet ready. I knew that in order for you to make a true choice then you must learn what it was like to be a human. Each rebirth was a struggle, and aside from it being your punishment, I wanted you to learn from it as well. I could not bear to see you suffer life after life, yet I had no choice. Everything would be rewarded in the end.'

"But what about Ivan? He's trapped in a statue…and he lives in Winter's cruel world."

'He made his own choice after witnessing your death. Winter knew that Ivan would choice to live forever so that he may one day see you again. The winter god wanted all of the Moon Angels…and Ivan was the strongest of them all. If his form is ever awoken, then only he has the strength to defeat the God of Winter! But he cannot do it by himself.' The form grew brighter.

Alfred gave a smile. "I promised I would save him…but I don't know how."

'You must seek his heart, which is buried and hidden deep within the bowels of the earth. Bring it to the statue. Offer it. And then, if the statue accepts it, your Ivan will be brought to you in the flesh…as a human.' Alfred smiled. 'But be warned, my son. The God of Winter will not let him go, and once he is free of that statue, all of his power diminishes. He will be only a simple human, as you are now. Winter will kill him, along with you as well.'

Alfred's smile disappeared. "So you're saying if…if I awaken Ivan from his statue, then we are both dead? But what happens after that? Are we reborn? Or do we just…die?" The thought frightened him.

'I sense the fear and doubt in your heart, my Light. Life is different for you here…and it will impact your choice when the time comes.'

"What time? What do you mean?"

'I will offer you both the choice of immortality, to live as gods and angels together forever. That was my true wish for you, Light. If I had let you be with Ivan as a human, his death would damage you forever. Your precious light would burn out. You would have to wander the world for eternity in constant sorrow with an ache in your chest that would never heal.' The form reached out its bright strands to touch Alfred's face. 'Seeing my favorite shining star so full of grief and despair would have burned out my own light…and the world would fall into darkness. Such a cruel fate was placed upon the both of us.'

Alfred just gazed at the hypnotizing bright form and leaned in to the warm glow. "Can't you just awaken Ivan's real form?"

'It is not within my power. The God of Winter has control over the Moon Angels. If you can set one free from their crystal prison, then they will release the others. Once back into the world, the God of Winter will no longer have control over them. However, like my Sun Angels, this world no longer believes in such ancient beings. We are resorted to nothing. Only beams of light or dark forms; so will be the fate of the Moon Angels. All but one.'

Alfred smiled again. "You mean Ivan…because he is half human. He will survive…and so will I."

The form drew the light beams back, growing bigger once again. 'I will give you the choice when the time comes. The choice to become either human or angel!' Alfred gasped. 'But think carefully about your choice, and remember, your Ivan will follow whichever choice you make.'

"But…but what can I do? I don't know where Ivan is, or where his heart is hidden. I can't find the Moon Angels! The world where Winter lives is full of darkness and monsters!" Alfred started to tremble, and whispered, "I'm afraid."

The form began to grow smaller. 'I will show you the way, and I will go with you when you enter.' Alfred watched in awe as the form changed a multitude of colors right before his eyes. The cloud of light was gone, and only a fiery dagger remained in its place. Alfred held out his hand as the dagger floated into his grasp. Immediately his frozen body was surrounded in warmth and a newfound strength was coursing through his veins. From the tip of the flame's point came a beam of red light stretching out into the dark woods ahead. Alfred smiled at the dagger and took one step forward, feeling the snow melt instantly beneath his boot. Alfred smirked as he walked and the cold snow turned to mush with each step. In his hands he held the ancient power of the Sun God; his Father and Punisher. Now he could keep his promise to Ivan.

"Hang on, Ivan. I'll be coming to get you."

/

'Make it stop…please…make it stop.'

It had all happened so fast. Ivan was just preparing himself to leave the dimension when the ground opened up and swallowed him whole. Winter was punishing him for making love with Alfred. His body was laden with chains with nothing but constant pain surrounding his being. Winter had gone further than before. Just flaying some of his skin was minimal compared to what was done to his back. From his shoulders to his tailbone there was nothing left of his skin, only swollen muscle. But the worst was the gaping hole in his belly, which Winter had sliced open and gut him like an animal. All of his lower organs lay in the darkness near him. Whenever he would move, his body would touch a piece of inners. Ivan could even feel the hollowness of his lower half when he moved. He would continue to live like this because Winter still held his heart.

But he couldn't see a thing where he was. Everything was pitch black and cold, the scariest thing of all to him. He didn't know what happened to Alfred, only what Winter had told him. Winter said he cast Alfred far into the snowy distance where there was no human life only wilderness. Ivan cried tears after tears of blood for Alfred's fate. His beloved angel would never survive in the frozen world by himself. His army friends would never find him. Animals and weather will be Alfred's biggest danger, and he wouldn't survive any. Now, Ivan would be forever chained in this endless darkness clinging to a never-ending life. Winter wouldn't allow him to die. 'My Alfred…my Light…my everything. I never wanted such a cruel fate to befall you. I am sorry that I failed you.

/

The light gave way to an empty spot in the woods where all life was dead. The ground opened before him as a large dark tunnel appeared. Alfred could hear the sounds of the monsters from before and sense the amount of despair from the deep darkness. Taking a deep gulp he gripped this hilt of the dagger and began down the long winding staircase. The dagger was his light and lit his way until he had reached the bottom. Somewhere up ahead he could see the light of the red tunnel and could see the monsters. He took a trembling step forward but had to pause when he saw a pair of demonic eyes at the mouth of the tunnel. He held the dagger out in front of him and took another step forward.

'Nothing will harm you so long as I am here,' said the Sun God from the dagger. 'Go forth, and the light will banish all of them.'

Alfred held his breath and continued forward with his dagger ready. He stopped for a moment when he neared the tunnel to count how many monsters were waiting for him. At the mouth there was currently three, but he was well aware of just how many creatures reside in that tunnel. He had no other choice but to trust in the words of his ancient Father to save Ivan. So with the dagger held far out in front of him, Alfred took a big step into the red tunnel. The monsters suddenly swarmed around him but the dagger gave a bright glow that made the masses screech in terror. Some of the monsters ran while others disappeared or exploded. Alfred shook his head to regain his thoughts from the terror before him and took off down the tunnel, banishing each monster in his wake. As the end was growing closer, Alfred let out a heroic laugh and destroyed the last monster.

'Best not to be so loud,' whispered the Sun God and Alfred covered his mouth muffling a 'sorry'. 'Ivan is in this direction. Keep walking.'

Alfred went in the direction the red beam was pointing, hearing nothing but the echo of his boots. To the right there was some water droplets hitting the floor, which made Alfred wonder if they were under water? Even with the beam of light Alfred was still feeling nervous and frightened by the pitch-blackness around them. With a whisper, he called "hello" and "Ivan".

"Alfred?"

Alfred gasped. "That's Ivan! Ivan! Where are you?"

"Over here! W-what is that light?"

Alfred ran now in the direction of the red beam, continuing to follow Ivan's voice. The dagger's beam disappeared and the blade blazed to life, illuminating the area. He had found Ivan, but it was not the sight Alfred was expecting. Blue eyes widened at the splattered contents of guts and blood from Ivan's body. His stomach was cut open to a gaping hole, the only bit being the end of his intestines. The chains were heavy and made of thick iron, which was making it hard for Ivan to move. Alfred just stared at his lover on the white floor who was smiling weakly up to him.

"Alfred…thank the gods you are safe! They heard my prayer!" Ivan blinked back bloody tears. "I thought I would never see you again. I am to remain here just like this for all eternity…completely empty, cold, and alone. Forever in the dark."

Alfred trembled.

"But just like before…you have brought me out of the darkness!" Ivan reached a bloodied hand up towards him. "Please Alfred…I beg you! Do not fear me. Please! Please you are my only light and love in this world!"

"I…I…" Alfred couldn't speak a word, but could only stare. Just a short while ago he was with this man making love…and now he was splattered all over the floor.

'You must leave him here.' He heard the Sun God speak in his head. 'You must find where his heart is first. Do not fear, for this body before you is only his spiritual one. His real body is encased in stone.' Alfred stepped back. 'He will scream for you, but you must not look back. Follow my beam.'

"Alfred? W-Where are you going?" Ivan gave a worried smile as Alfred continued to back away, making the area darker and darker. "Alfred?" Ivan began to panic. "No! No Alfred, don't go! Don't leave me in the dark! My light!" His battered chained arm reached out desperately towards Alfred, but the man kept backing away.

"I'll be back Ivan!" Alfred shouted to him. "I HAVE TO DO SOMETHING BUT I'LL BE BACK! JUST HANG ON!" He started to run, following the red beam. Behind him, he could hear Ivan screaming and crying for him to come back. He had just left his lover in the darkness, alone and bleeding. He grit his teeth and rubbed away the tears in his eyes. "Forgive me, Ivan! I promise I'll be back! Then I'll give you all the goddamn light you want!" Hearing those cries were maddening and yet he kept on running, following the beam.

The beam ended at a black wooden door with a large iron handle. Alfred held the dagger up to see just how tall it was. It looked as if it hadn't be open in centuries. He took another deep gulp, reached out to the handle, gripped it, and gave a heavy tug. The door screamed as it opened, bringing with it a bunch of stretched sticky cobwebs. Alfred stuck out his tongue and used the dagger to cut through the strands of web. There was no use in opening the door all the way, yet like in many of the survival games he had played, best to close the door behind you. So he did. Before him was another stone hallway, which moved with squirming bugs and other strange little creatures. Alfred's lips went up in a sneer of disgust as he moved forward. The image of Ivan's screaming and bloody form appeared in his mind again, but Alfred shook it away. There was no time to ponder on Ivan right now for he had to find the heart if he was going to help his lover at all.

Lover. Yes, he was using that word to describe Ivan. But did he really LOVE him? 'I have no reason to NOT love him. But real love will develop over time…just like papa said.'

Alfred came upon another door that was smaller than the first one. This door was a solid piece of flat stone covering an entryway. Sheathing the dagger in his belt, Alfred gripped the edges of the stone to pushed it aside. It took all of his strength to move the solid object, and by the time he was done both his face and fingers were a numbing red. He quickly rubbed the lower part of his back to soothe the tiny ache from straining to move the rock. With the dagger in his hand once again to light the way, Alfred felt just like a game adventurer. The only glitch in this game was that there were not extra lives or continues. He had only this life. All he needed now was some theme music. Yet all his happy thoughts were cut short when he came upon a room filled with towering crystals. His mouth dropped open in amazement at the crystals reaching from floor to ceiling. But when he walked up to one and what was inside, he gasped.

"Sun God! Are these…Moon Angels?"

'Yes. These are the Moon Angels.'

Alfred looked up and all around. "There's so many of them." He stopped to look into a clear one. "Oh wow…they have four wings!" The two silver wings at the top were larger than the ones on the bottom. "So this is what Ivan is?"

'Yes. But Light, before you free one you must obtain Ivan's heart first. For when we break one of these crystals, the escape will immediately alert the God of Winter and all other beasts dwelling here.' Alfred gulped.

"W-Where is Ivan's heart?" The red beam appeared again and Alfred followed. The forest of crystals seemed to last forever until he finally came upon another embedded in the wall. Alfred held the dagger up to peer inside and there, behind the crystal wall, sat a red and purple beating heart. "That's it…"

'Use the dagger to break the crystal.'

Alfred nodded, turning the dagger over so he could use the hilt instead. The first slam didn't even dent the crystal, but after the fifth slam it started to crack. Alfred turned it around to use the tip, stabbing at the weakened point in the center. The closer he got to breaking the glass the quicker the heart beat. With a loud crash the shards of the crystal clinked to the floor by his feet. Alfred slipped the dagger away and stared into the hole where the heart was beating. Strangely, Alfred removed his gloves, tucked them into his pocket, and then reached in slowly for the heart. It was odd how he was neither afraid nor affected by the beating organ in front of him. Gently, he wrapped his hands around the warm organ…and the beating slowed. Alfred smiled as he took the heart from its prison and gazed down at it in his palms. Most people would find this disgusting, but to Alfred, it only brought him comfort. For some reason he felt the need to hold it against his own heart and when he did, a wave of warmth, hope, and love washed over him.

'Ivan…can you feel me? I have your heart…and I will keep it safe.' Alfred smiled at the organ again until the dagger flashed a bright orange.

'Light, you must hurry and free one of the angels! Winter has felt the disturbance in the dimension! He knows you took Ivan's heart!'

Alfred gasped and looked on his person for a place to put Ivan's heart. The only spot big enough was the left jacket pocket, so he carefully slipped it in and made a mental note not to fall on this side. With the heart safely tucked away, Alfred gripped the dagger and started slamming the hilt into one of the crystals. Only this time the crystal was not breaking like the other. Alfred cursed and turned the dagger to try the tip. Slamming wasn't working so he tried scraping instead, but that technique failed as well. "Sun God…it's not working!"

'Hold the tip to the surface of the crystal.'

Alfred did so and felt the dagger hilt warming in his palm. From up above and all around, Alfred started to hear the whispered roars of monsters. They were coming closer! Alfred yelped when the hilt started to grow too hot for him but he didn't let go. A fiery web of orange snaked all along the crystal, forcing the hard stone to sizzle and crack. Shards of crystal started to hit the floor, and the sudden burst of light sent Alfred flying to the floor. He was able to land on his right side but still had to shield his eyes from the light. When he was able to open them again he saw a silver being with four wings floating above him. Alfred stared at it but the celestial being suddenly disappeared as it dashed through the forest of crystals, using a sparkling smoke to break the others. A torrent of angels swooped over and above Alfred, blowing the glasses off of his head. He smiled at the streams of silver that past over him, knowing that he had helped to free them. 'These are Ivan's people! He won't ever have to be alone now!'

'Light, you must leave! Hurry! Winter is on his way!'

Alfred jumped up and followed the red beam back through the broken crystals and into the halls. All around him he could hear the rumbling of stones and the roaring of monsters. They had unleashed the full power and anger of Winter. Up ahead, he could see the red tunnel (now empty) and rushed through it. Soon he would be out of this place, and then he could use the Sun God's power to help him get to the statue.

'ALFRED JONES!' The sound of his name made him slip to a halt. 'WHORE!' He sharply turned around to see the large, hulking form of a very red and very angry God of Winter. The god's yellow eyes were now glowing red like taillights, and they were focused on him. "YOU DARE TO COME IN TO MY WORLD AND TAKE AWAY ALL THAT IS MINE!'

Alfred gasped, trembling like a leaf in a windstorm.

'YOU HAD BEST START RUNNING NOW! FOR WHEN I GET MY HANDS ON YOU, YOU WILL RUE THE DAY YOU EVER CROSSED PATHS WITH ME!'

'Light! Keep running! KEEP RUNNING!'

Alfred couldn't help but scream as he ran up the dark steps. He could hear and feel the stone steps crumbling at his heels, yet he could not stop or rest. The snowy wind from up above was his guide to the world outside of this one. He was almost there!

Alfred reached the exit and leapt out into the snow, making sure to land on his right side. Right now, the area was quiet, and the dark hole in the earth closed up. Now it was just himself, Ivan's heart, and his father's dagger in a snowy clearing. All was silent. Alfred panted for a minute or two before letting out a stream of short laughs. He slapped a hand to his forehead and threw his head back to laugh loudly. Could all of this really be happening? Then, from up above, he heard the familiar sound of helicopter propellers. Alfred gasped, jumping up to search the gray sky for an army aircraft. "Are they really coming for me?"

Thinking fast, Alfred unsnapped the hood of his coat and held it up to the sky. "HERE!" He shouted. "HERE! I'M HERRRRRREEEEEE!" The bright red of the hood lining should be noticeable from the sky, and sure enough, the base helicopter came into view. Alfred grinned widely. "Thank God they see me!" But he quickly frowned as the aircraft past him by. "WAIT! YOU GUYS! WAAAAAIIIITTTT!"

'Light! Light, you must get away from here! Hurry!' Commanded the Sun God.

"NO! No I can't get out of this place on my own! I need that helico-" Alfred grinned when he saw the aircraft turn around. "THEY SEE ME! FUCK YEAH! THEY SEE ME!"

Alfred held the hood up high over his head for the army soldiers to see. The large black helicopter stopped above him, and then slowly began to make a decent. Alfred gripped the hilt of the dagger and whispered 'thank you' to his ancient Father. On his left thigh he could feel Ivan's heart beating against his skin. The men probably wouldn't believe him, but Alfred would ask them to take him to the statue. Alfred was expecting a rope ladder but instead the aircraft made a full landing in the wide clearing. The engine shut off and the side door slid open. Two familiar faces leapt out of the craft and ran to him.

"JONES! HEY JONES!"

Alfred grinned. "HOW DID YOU GUYS FIND ME?" He ran to them.

"Clyde saw your body flying through the sky in a fucking massive gust of snow and wind! We all thought he was nuts, but we saw you weren't at the base and everyone started to panic!"

The other soldier, Clyde, gave him a thumbs up. "Luckily we found you before you froze your balls off!"

Alfred laughed. "That's the least of my worries, let me tell you!"

The ground suddenly roared, rumbled, and shook.

"What was that?" Asked the first soldier.

"Is it an earthquake, Frankie?" Asked Clyde.

Alfred gasped. "Guys, we have to get on that aircraft and get back to the base! Hurry! GO GO GO!" The ground started to crack and split beneath their feet.

All three men screamed and dashed towards the helicopter. Another soldier was standing by the door and saw the open earth. He shouted at them all to hurry, waving them on as they jumped in. "START THE ENGINE, DYLAN!" Shouted Frankie. "START THE ENGINE!"

Dylan looked out the side window and saw the crack in the earth. With a gasp, he quickly started throwing switches and grabbed the throttle. The earth split right under the back wheel of the helicopter and all the men went sliding to the back. Dylan gripped the throttle and shoved it roughly forward, adding some gas to lift the helicopter from the ground. The whole aircraft sputtered and shook as the world crumbled beneath it. With a few more switches and power, Dylan bent back all the way to push the helicopter in the air. The aircraft managed to make it off the ground just in time as the surface opened up. The other men whooped and hollered from the open door as they saw the ground split.

"WE MADE IT!" Shouted Clyde.

Alfred grinned and hugged them both. "You guys are awesome! I didn't think anyone would find me!"

Frankie smacked him behind the head. "How the hell did you get this far anyway?"

"Dude, long fucking story!" Alfred grinned. "But one I'll tell over a few good beers!" The other guys cheered. "But first, I need you guys to drop me off somewhere!"

"Where?" Asked Clyde.

"Bring me to the statue!"

"What the hell for?" Asked Frankie.

"This is all I ask." Alfred reached into his pocket and pulled out Ivan's beating heart. The two men gasped and leapt back.

"JESUS FUCKING CHRIST! WHAT THE HELL IS THAT?" Frankie turned white.

Alfred just smiled longingly at Ivan's heart. "I can't explain it to you right now. All I ask is that you drop me off at the statue. Then, I want you guys to get back to the base and start evacuating everyone!"

"Why?" Asked Clyde. "Alfred, what is going on?"

Alfred just smiled sweetly at him. "I don't even know. But what I do know is this: a bunch of shit is about to go down." He got up, placed Ivan's heart back in the jacket pocket, and went to the cockpit. "Dylan, we need to talk."

Dylan looked at him through his helmet goggles. "You're telling me! I just radioed in to the base and there are no seismograph readings of an earthquake! Something really weird is going on! I tell ya, this kind of shit doesn't happen in my home state of Indiana!" Alfred smirked.

"I need you to drop me off at the statue of that guy, in that old cemetery."

"Why?"

"Don't ask questions, just do it."

Dylan gave him a quick glance. "Why aren't you suffering from the cold? You were lost in the snow for hours!"

Alfred just stared out the window at the snowy wasteland before them. "Let's just say, I had a little help from above." He held the dagger's hilt and smiled at the warmth.

As asked, the helicopter brought them to Ivan's statue, but Dylan did not land. Instead, they lowered a rope ladder and Alfred climbed down, thanking each of them. He reminded the soldiers to go back and evacuate the base. He hoped they would heed his warning and do so.

Once on the snowy ground, Alfred took out the heart and walked over to the statue. Gazing up at it, Alfred smiled at the sorrowful look on Ivan's face. In a matter of moments, Ivan would no longer be a statue but a living, breathing, human male. Alfred looked at the heart beating slowly in palms, and strangely enough, he gave the organ a kiss. After eons of stone cold loneliness, Ivan would be allowed to breath the fresh air and embrace his beloved. Alfred was unsure of what exactly would happen when he gave Ivan back his heart, but he was prepared for the worse. The warmth on his side reminded him of his ancient Father, who was still with him at this moment. Alfred walked over to the base of Ivan's statue and looked up at him.

"Ivan, I have come to set you free just as I promised. With a little help from above, I was able to receive your heart and save your kinsmen." Holding the heart with one hand, Alfred climbed up the statue so he was face to face with Ivan. Alfred looked at the blank gray eyes of his lover, and then at the pouty lips that accompanied them. "Come back to me, Ivan. Come back to your angel."

With a kiss to those stone lips, Alfred pressed the still beating heart against the empty space where it belonged. In a sparkling flash of gold, the heart slowly melted into the stone chest and disappeared with a whistle. In the far distance, someone could be heard yelling, 'STOP!' Alfred's palm was now pressed flat against Ivan's chest, but this time, he could finally feel the heartbeat. When he pulled way, Alfred gazed at the stone face with saddened concern. Why wasn't anything happening? And then, just at the right moment, he heard a 'crack'. Alfred jumped down from the base and watched the statue's form break and rumble. A bright flash of light filled the area, forcing Alfred to shield his eyes from the brightness. When he opened them again, he looked to the base were a single form stood. There, in the flesh, stood Ivan. His body was back to normal with no gaps, bruises, cuts, or chains. Alfred smiled brightly, feeling the tears prick at his eyes.

"Ivan?" He walked over to him.

"Alfred?" Ivan smiled. "I feel…warm."

Alfred lifted his hand for Ivan to take it. Both men squeezed. "You are back to your old self, Ivan. I promised that I would save you, and I held true." He helped Ivan down from the base. Ivan threaded their fingers together, pressing their bodies close. Alfred didn't care that Ivan towered a bit over him. All he cared about was looking into those purple orbs that shined with a love all for him. This result was different from what Alfred had thought. He didn't think he would feel such love and devotion to this man whom he'd only known for a short time. Yet he did.

"Alfred, I knew you could do it! I knew you would never leave me alone in the dark!" Ivan pulled him into a hug. "Finally, we can be together in the flesh. My love. My Light, I will follow you anywhere."

"Oh Ivan, I- AHHHHHHH!" A pillar of snow shot up between them, forcing the two to separate.

Ivan was sent tumbling in the air to land on the cold snow. It had been eons since he had last felt the true cold of the snow, yet it did not stop him from standing. "ALFRED!" He called to his lover whom was a distance away from him. Ivan could hear him calling his name as well. "Winter! I can't let him win!" Ivan started to run towards Alfred, but stopped when a wall of white blocked his path.

"IVAN!" Alfred screamed over the wall but could not see or hear a response from his lover. Suddenly, the God of Winter appeared before him in all his furious anger. Alfred reached for his dagger and unsheathed it, yet found its power to be absent from the hilt. Where had the Sun God gone? Alfred gulped, and with a fearful face, watched as the god descended upon him. "IVAAAAAAAAN!"

The God of Winter reached his hand out and wrapped it around Alfred's neck. Alfred tried to pry the hands off of him but he couldn't get the grip to budge. He was lifted high into the air and above the white wall of snow that ceased Ivan. Alfred was turned around so he could face his lover, whom looked like an ant on the earth. What happened next chilled him to the bone and sent a whirlwind of fear through his body. His military uniform was torn from his body, leaving him naked and fully exposed to the cold air. Where was the Sun God, his Father? Where were the Moon Angels? Why was no one coming to help him?

"WINTERRRRRRRR!"

Ivan shouted in pure rage and fury from the ground. He watched as the god shrunk back to the earth behind the white wall with Alfred's naked body still in his hold. Ivan took out his axe, and with a bellowing war cry, broke through the snow wall. Yet he was unprepared for the scene that awaited him. There, on the stone base where he once stood, lay Alfred against it on his back. Winter was gripping the other's legs, and looking to make sure Ivan was watching, he spread Alfred's thighs. Ivan felt his heart begin to race and pump angry adrenaline through his veins. Winter forced himself fully inside of Alfred, making his beloved angel scream in agonizing pain. The god wasted no time in his rape, thrusting wildling into the human male. Alfred's body bounced and rocked rapidly against the stone, his voice screaming and crying for the brutality to stop. Ivan gripped his heart that was now alive and aching with revenge. Alfred cries and tears only maximized as Winter thrust himself in and out at a godly speed unknown to humans. Ivan's eyes turned gray.

"STOP IIIIIIIITT!" Ivan's cry of sorrow, anger, and despair echoed throughout the land as well as the whole world.

Winter stopped.

Alfred stopped.

Ivan glowed.

The earth rumbled, and the sky was alive with a meteor shower of Moon Angels.

End Chapter 13 TBC

***Let's give a little clap for the OC Dylan who managed to get everyone up safely in the air!***
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Fallen Embers