(Ok, so this chapter is basically Fallen!Marth x Ike.

I might be wrong about the "Fallen" part, but meh.

Enjoy the one shot!~)

••••••••••

In the Kingdom of Askr, a team of multiple heroes from different worlds are joining forces. Happily being together, they live in the Summoner's castle in peace.

There are plenty of heroes here—but 2 heroes that are the most well known amongst others are Marth and Ike.

First meeting each other in the castle, they developed a strong bond for each other and began to take interest in one another.

One lovely day, Ike asked Marth the grand question of marrying him. Ever since their wedding, the 2 have never been apart.

They're inseparable.

Plenty of other things have happened in the Summoner's castle.

Embla and Askr have joined sides.

Or... that's what everyone had thought.

One day, Sharena had come up with a brilliant idea to celebrate Askr and Embla finally becoming allies by having a party in the Aether Resort.

She made invitations and sent them out with the help of Anna and Alfonse.

While Anna was handing out invitations, she stumbled across Veronica, who was sitting next to a sleeping Feh, studying her tomes.

"Veronica?" Anna mumbled, walking next to her.

Veronica jumped at the sudden voice, then calmed down after realizing who it was.

"Commander Anna.." She began. "Hi..."

Anna smiled at Veronica as she sat next to her, handing the invitation over.

"What's this?" Veronica asked, curiously, putting down her book.

Opening the envelope, she examined the paper. Once she was finished, she looked up at Anna with a shocked expression.

"You'd actually invite me to this?"

Anna nodded. "Yup! We're on the same side now, aren't we? Of course you're invited."

Veronica's mouth cracked a smile as she started to giggle. "Well, then.. thank you, Commander Anna. I will look forward to this tomorrow night."

Jumping to her feet, Anna smiled and quickly replied, "See you there!" then ran off.

"Hm. I need to let go of the past. These Askrans are.. kind to me. I suppose I just need to return the favor." Veronica thought to herself before picking up her tome.

—Meanwhile—

Barely holding back joy, Marth rushed over to Ike, showing off the invitation.

Ike laughed as he raised his envelope. "Yeah, I know. Me too."

"I'm so excited! Are you?" Marth asked, putting the invitation back into the envelope.

"Mhm. I mean, as long as there's food, I'm going." Ike replied, shrugging.

Marth smiled. "I can't wait. Oh, I haven't even decided what to wear! Sorry Ike, I've gotta go—bye!"

Ike sighed and smiled as he waved to Marth. "You really are something else."

—Skip to tomorrow night—

I can't even begin to describe how beautiful and colorful the Aether Resort looked.

Since the sun was starting to set, the area had been tinted a pretty shade of pink.

One by one, heroes arrived wearing formal attire, ready to celebrate.

As Marth and Ike walked on the stone path together, Marth reached for Ike's hand.

Ike smiled. "Too nervous to ask?"

Marth nodded, looking away. "Yes.."

"That's alright. Come on, let's pick up our pace. Don't wanna be the last ones there." Ike replied.

Marth followed close behind.

The celebration was wonderful. Heroes were dancing, eating, some were even sleeping.

Sitting with the top 3 Order of Heroes team mates, Veronica ate dinner with them.

"Here! It's a flower that Mercedes grew in the garden." Sharena offered, handing a red glowing flower to Veronica.

"What is this?" Veronica asked, tilting her head.

"Oh, that's a Dragon flower! While we tend to use them for helping heroes get stronger, it can also be a nice decoration." Sharena replied, taking a bite from her food.

Putting the flower in her hair, Veronica smiled as she saw it twinkle a faint red.

"Thank you, Princess.. Sharena." Veronica thanked.

"Of course!" Sharena answered, swallowing her food.

After taking a sip from her cup, Veronica had an urge to go take a bathroom break.

Getting up from her chair, she walked out of the dining hall and inside of the Inn to find the restroom.

After doing what she needed, she washed her hands and looked at herself in the mirror.

I guess.. this is what we've come to. I'm now part of the Order of Heroes.

She smiled at herself then went to dry her hands. Stepping out of the restroom, she walked back towards the dining hall.

Out of nowhere, she was grabbed and pulled over into the shadows of a forest.

"Who's there?!" Veronica called out.

She heard a laugh.

"Why, it's only me. Or should I say.. you?"

Veronica looked around frantically, desperate to find a hero somewhere.

"Someone, please help me!" She called out.

"Veronica, dear. You need not call for someone. They can't hear you, no matter how much you scream.

Come on, don't tell you're not thinking it."

Veronica furrowed her eyebrows. "Thinking what?!"

The voice laughed once more.

"You want control. There's a part of you that still wants those lame Askrans to perish.

They're treating you fairly, I will admit. But think of what they've done to you in the past.

All your attempts.. failed—because of them! Despite you joining their side, did they even apologize?"

Veronica shook her head and placed her hands on her ears.

"Be quiet!" She yelled. "I won't let...you...!"

"Hehe.. say my name, Veronica. You know my name."

Veronica yelled out in agony. "GO AWAY, THRASÍR!"

Thrasír cackled. "Yes! That's my name.."

Emerging from the shadows of the trees, Thrasír stood in front of Veronica and smirked.

"Thrasír—it's our name. 'Veronica'—pfft. What kind of name is that? Besides," She paused, pushing Veronica onto the ground.

"Don't you want power again?

You bounded so many heroes by a contract, and what happened?

Those Askrans... they broke your contract. They broke OUR contract.

Come on, 'Veronica.' I can promise you a victory. Do it for Bruno."

Veronica gripped onto Thrasír's leg and exclaimed, "No! I'll never turn back!"

Thrasír grunted as she moved her leg away from Veronica's grip with ease.

"Don't say I was wrong."

"Huh..?" Veronica quickly mumbled.

"You'll be the first one bounded by a contract," Thrasír replied, smiling.

"Wait, n—!" Veronica tried to yell.

Her vision turned into a purple tint. Looking down at her hands, she noticed fuchsia smoke emitting from her.

Looking up at Thrasír, she kept a straight face.

"What do you want me to do..?" Veronica asked, looking back at the floor.

Thrasír grinned. "Hmph. I'll need your help, and this is all up to you.

Find me a strong hero. Capture them at dead midnight, and we'll bound them by a contract.

See this?"

Pulling out her tome, Ífingr, light green streaks flew out of it.

"I've been working on this in secret ever since I joined the Askrans. This contract is impossible to break free from.

It will grant the hero all the power they've ever wished for.

No one can take them down beside us.

Now, it's nearly 12. Heroes are getting ready to go to sleep.

Be quick, and make sure you bring a powerful hero. Understood?"

Veronica nodded as she pulled out her tome, Élivágar.

Green smoke from the book flew above Veronica's head as it slowly fell down, changing her outfit back to normal.

Thrasír nodded to Veronica as she walked away and back to the Aether Resort.

Running past the resort and other heroes, she ran to the entrance of the castle and climbed many flights of stairs in order to get a birds-eye view of the place.

Once heroes were walking to their rooms, Veronica caught sight of a specific hero.

She giggled and quickly made her way down the stairs, following her victim.

Once the hero walked into their room and shut the door, it was time for Veronica to initiate.

She looked around, seeing if anyone was nearby. The coast was clear.

Opening the door, Veronica quietly walked inside only to find the hero already sleeping.

She pulled out a black cloth and covered the hero's mouth, muffling any noise.

After reciting some foreign words, the hero's eyes closed and stopped moving.

—Short time skip—

Veronica met Thrasír deep within the forest, still there.

Hearing Veronica's footsteps, Thrasír turned around and smiled once she spotted a knocked out hero.

"Perfect. Now, let's see who you've brought me."

Veronica nodded as she sat the hero down onto the grass.

"What.. is this? Are you kidding me?" Thrasír asked, starting to feel anger.

Blue hair, tiara.. it was Marth. Veronica had brought Marth.

"Please, hear me out," Veronica begged. "Once I knocked him out, I looked through his past and his memories.

There have been multiple times where he has wanted power, but only in secret.

He makes us think that he's innocent, never wanted intentions to kill someone. Yet, he has wanted to murder at least once.

No one can break him free."

Thrasír thought to herself for a moment. "Very well. Let's bound him by this contract, shall we?"

Veronica nodded as she watched Thrasír perform a ritual.

Soon enough, Marth's eyes opened.

His sky blue irises changed color and turned a dark red with a mixture of magenta.

"My leader." Marth stood up and bowed. "What are your orders for me?"

Thrasír smirked as she got up from the grass, followed by Veronica.

"I want you to..."

—The next day—

Ike walked up to Marth's door and knocked, carrying breakfast.

"Marth? It's just me, Ike. I, uh... wanted to give you breakfast in bed."

No response.

"You awake, Marth?"

Silence.

"Huh. Maybe he's still sleeping."

Turning the doorknob, Ike walked in only to find the room empty.

Quickly placing down the breakfast he was carrying, he tried to find Anna as soon as possible.

"Commander Anna! I need your help!"

Whirling around at the sound of her voice, Anna saw Ike running up to her.

"Ike? What is it?" She asked.

"Marth's not in his bed. He's not in his room." Ike responded, worried.

Anna looked puzzled. "Alright, calm down. I can have some heroes search the castle if you want.

Maybe Marth just woke up early to train? Don't stress too much about it."

Ike sighed as he nodded. "Thanks, Commander."

Anna smiled. "Of course. I'll go gather some heroes to search for him."

A couple of hours go by, and soon, Anna came back with her face pale.

"We couldn't find him... He's not in the castle."

Ike's eyes widened. He paced back and forth.

Once the news broke out, heroes were stressing.

Everyone looked around frantically for the missing prince, only to end up where they started.

After thinking it through, Ike went to go look for Marth himself.

Stumbling into the garden, he saw Marth sitting on the grass.

"Marth..? This is where you've been?" Ike asked.

Marth slowly turned his head around to reveal an evil grin plastered onto his face.

His bright, magenta irises glowed.

Ike, fearful, stepped back and ran out of the garden.

He quickly went to find Anna, Sharena, and Alfonse at the castle's entrance.

After Ike told them what he had seen, they knew that heroes had to evacuate immediately.

Marth began to turn berserk. Overwhelmed by his amount of power, Marth went on to destroy buildings with the help of Thrasír and Veronica.

In fear, Anna, Sharena, and Alfonse helped the heroes leave—Ike treading behind them.

"Can you summon any new heroes?" Alfonse asked.

"As much as I want to.." Summoner started. They lifted up the divine weapon, Breidablik, revealing that it had been destroyed.

"My weapon is broken. It seems to have been slashed twice, assuming that Marth has broken Breidablik beforehand.

Not only has he gone insane... but he's smart and thought ahead." Summoner continued.

Her voice quivering, Sharena blurted out, "Then how are we supposed to defeat him?! You said it yourself—he's smart and yet strong!"

"There's no possible way to win. I think Veronica has outdone herself.." Anna mumbled.

"I will take him on," Ike said, walking towards the 4 panicking leaders.

"Are you crazy? Marth can take you out with one swing! Besides.. won't you.. hold back because of your relationship with him?" Alfonse pointed out.

Looking back at where he came from, Ike muttered, "No matter how much it will hurt me, I am going to free him. Even if it takes my whole life or even sacrificing myself, I will do it."

Before the 4 of them could stop Ike, he ran in the direction they came from, looking for Marth.

Little did he know, Veronica, Thrasír, and Marth were watching him.

"..."

Thrasír raised an eye at Marth, who looked worried.

"Why do you look so scared of him?" She paused. "Ohh, I get it. You don't want to hurt him, do you?"

Shameful, Marth looked away.

Thrasír, starting to lose her patience, grabbed Marth by his collar.

"Look at me when I'm talking to you.

If you don't respect me, I suppose I'll just have to kill you myself." She threatened.

"Forgive me, my leader. It's just that.." Marth tried to explain.

"Hey," Veronica began. "Don't worry about it. He's an easy target. He'll be weak and hold back because of who he's facing.

Listen to me. Wait for him in the arena, then and only then, kill him.

When you do, bring me his headband and sword.

That'll be proof of our victory. Understood?"

Marth nodded, looking determined, responded, "I understand."

Veronica smiled. "Go on, then. We'll try and track down where the heroes have hidden."

Stealthily jumping off the tower they were on, Marth went into the Arena, clutching his sword's handle tightly.

Walking through the castle, Ike tried to find Marth.

He knew that this day had to come. Ike hoped that he and Marth would never have to cross swords, and yet here they are.

Hours went by as Ike searched around the castle.

Once Ike stood in front of the entrance of the arena, he took a deep breath.

"I'm sorry it had to come to this.." He mumbled to himself.

Then, he stepped foot into the arena.

And there Marth was, sitting there, waiting for Ike.

Once he approached the middle, Marth jumped off the stands.

"So.. you finally came? Did you need time to accept the fact that I'm not your lover? Aww, you poor thing." Marth teased.

Ike raised his sword.

Marth smirked. "That's more like it. So be it," pointing his sword at Ike's head. "I'll slice that head off your shoulders and show it off as a prize!"

Marth charged forward, his sword at the ready.

Unfortunately, Ike managed to block the strike and pushed back, causing Marth to almost lose his balance.

"Huh. You expected that? Well..." Marth grinned. "I bet you won't see this."

In a flash, Marth appeared behind Ike, aiming for his back.

Ike, however, turned around and swung at Marth, his sword grazing Marth's cape.

"...?!" How is this possible?! There's no way he could've expected both attacks!

Ike titled his head. "You think I don't know your tricks? We've trained together multiple times.

I know your techniques, Marth. All the while, you probably know mine."

Marth bared his teeth. "Nonsense! Like I'd ever associate with someone like you!"

"I think your ring finger begs to differ." Ike pointed out.

Marth's eyes widened as he glanced at his right hand's ring finger.

A golden ring with a small ruby wrapped around his finger.

Marth stared at it, then started to cackle.

"You think I'd care for such a stupid little ring?" Marth said, taking off the ring and tossing it far behind him.

"I wish I never married you.."

Ike stopped moving. Those words.. they hit him down to his core.

Marth grinned and cocked his head to one side.

"What's the matter? Can't understand that I'm saying the truth?

Oh, Ike. You don't get it, do you? As much as I said I loved you, I was simply lying."

"What.. are you talking about?!" Ike questioned, demanding to know.

Marth giggled. "The 'Marth' you know and love is gone. This is who I truly am, Ike.

Under all that happiness and joy, a sick prince who's wanted power over time was hiding—wanting to come out."

Tears started to form in Ike's eyes. His vision began to turn blurry.

Was that really true? Has Marth been lying to him all along?

While Ike was mourning, Marth saw this as an opening and swung at Ike.

Barely dodging Marth's strike, Ike snapped out of his trance and lifted his sword back up.

However, his left arm had a small cut and blood began to drip out.

Ignoring the pain, Ike fought back and swung at Marth's head.

Marth ducked under Ike's sword and laughed. "You're not even trying!"

Ike groaned.

They clashed swords with each other, both barely pushing back on the other.

Staring each other off, Marth smiled.

"Yes! Those eyes, that expression. You're starting to get mad at me!

This'll be much more fun now that you'll actually be trying."

They pulled back and began to swing at each other again, their swords colliding.

Ike went for Marth's legs, but he swiftly jumped over the sword and counter attacked.

Marth kept laughing. "This is what I want to see! You're finally showing me how you really fight!"

"Maybe you should—focus on fighting rather than talking!" Ike responded, trying to speak.

Marth raised an eyebrow at him.

"Do you really think you can win? I know there's still a part of you that doesn't want to hurt me.

You're missing your chances to kill me on purpose. There have been many openings, and yet.. you never take them.

Why won't you understand, Ike?"

Their swords clashed once more.

"I don't love you. I never have."

Ike's eyebrows furrowed as he yelled and pushed Marth back with all of his strength, causing Marth to fall to the floor.

"Stay down.. I've heard enough from you!" Ike exclaimed, putting his sword next to Marth's neck.

"What are you going to do once I'm dead? Celebrate?" Marth asked. "The heroes have fled. It's just us, Ike."

Ike paused and went silent. He slowly put his sword back to his side and sighed.

Marth grinned. "You'd let down your guard that easily?"

"Huh..?" Ike mumbled.

All of a sudden, Ike was on the floor and Marth was pointing his sword at Ike's neck.

Marth chuckled. "You never learn. Against an enemy, you should never let your guard down.

Even if it's your loved one."

He put his finger to his cheek, acting like he was thinking.

"I wonder. Even if I've broken buildings, almost killed heroes—making them evacuate, and fighting you...

You're still holding back, aren't you? And here I was, thinking you'd show me how you truly fight.

I suppose I'll just have to kill you—right here, right now."

Ike sighed. "Just do it.."

Marth's eyes widened. "What? You're just going to give up when your life is on the line?!"

Ike smiled weakly. "Just like old times...

When we'd train together, you'd always win. Putting my back against a wall, claiming your victory..."

A tear rolled down Ike's cheek.

"Please tell me you at least remember that... You can't have forgotten all we've done together, Marth.

The ring... The ring, Marth. We're married. You know that, don't you?"

Ike trailed off on his words and went silent.

Marth dropped his sword on the floor, making a loud sound as he fell to his knees and onto his back.

Ike quickly went to Marth's side. "Marth?! Are you alright?"

There was no response.

Due to Marth being bounded by such a strong contract, not even he could handle being broken from it.

Essentially, since the contract wasn't broken by Thrasír or Veronica, it messes with the outcome, rendering Marth weak.

•••••••••

While Veronica and Thrasír were looking for the heroes, they paused as their eyes widened in a split second.

The fuchsia smoke emitting from Veronica began to disappear.

Thrasír started to panic. "No! What's going on?!"

"It broke.." Veronica mumbled. "That means..!"

Soon enough, Veronica's magenta irises changed back to red and she, too, broke free from her contract.

Blinking rapidly, Veronica's vision returned back to normal. She narrowed her eyes at Thrasír.

"You little b—"

In a flash, Thrasír had disappeared.

Veronica continued to search for the hidden heroes.

Once she found them, she promised that she wasn't under Thrasír's control anymore and Marth was free.

Heroes began to return back to the destroyed castle.

•••••••

"Marth...?" Ike mumbled.

He leaned his head onto Marth's chest and heard a heartbeat. Listening to Marth's breath, he was indeed, still breathing.

Ike sighed with relief. "You're alive."

He carefully lifted up Marth and carried him. Once he made it to the entrance of the arena, he spotted a patch of the floor glistening.

Picking up the glimmering item, it turned out to be Marth's ring. Ike slid it back onto Marth's finger and smiled.

••••••••

Half a year went by and the castle slowly began turning back to its original form.

Marth, however, was still knocked out. He was currently resting in one of the hospital rooms on a fully white bed.

Ike pulled up a chair next to Marth's bed and sat with him, tightly gripping Marth's hand.

"Please, Marth.. Come back to me. It's almost Christmas." Ike chuckled. "There's no one I'd rather spend the holiday with than you."

He gripped onto Marth's hand tighter. "I need you, Marth. My days would be much brighter if you were around."

Ike closed his eyes and hung his head low.

Marth's hand twitched. Ike's head quickly darted back up.

"Marth..?" Ike questioned.

Slowly opening his eyes, Marth woke up, looking clueless.

"Where... Where am I?" He glanced around, scanning the area. "...Ike?!"

Ike smiled as tears began to roll down his face.

Without thinking twice, he wrapped his hands around Marth and embraced him.

"You're awake! I was so worried you wouldn't open your eyes." Ike responded, hiding his face in Marth's shoulder.

Marth gently hugged him back as he smiled to himself. "Thank you for staying with me every day, Ike. I love you..."

They pulled away from the embrace as Ike held onto Marth's shoulders.

They exchanged smiles as Ike replied, "I love you too."

Pulling Marth in, Ike kissed him happily as he moved his hands to Marth's back.

When they parted, they laughed with each other and embraced once more.