Hi everyone!!  SK here.  

If you haven't guessed, this chapter is going to feature Heliux and Layra.  How did they go from hating each other to being deeply in love?

The answers lie here.  I hope you enjoy reading this!!  This chapter takes place millions of years in the past, right before the war.

This one's long (like 5K+) and there's timeskips.. no music track because of this reason.  Just warning ya.

Heliux

"You summoned us," I state flatly.  "What is it that you wish to discuss?"

"Actually," interjects the demon beside me, "Drago summoned me.  Pharah summoned you.  They did not summon us together.  So you speak only for yourself, much less for me.  Am I understood?"

I sigh.  I do not desire another fight with the other Minister, Layra, at this moment.  It is true that we fight all the time.  Our rivalry has been known, and made clear, for eons.  However, it is not my wish to begin a quarrel in front of Her Lightness and His Darkness.  They do not need to deal with that.

"Anyways," she says, dusting her hands off, though I do not see the meaning of why she is doing that, her hands are already clean?  "Is there something that we should be discussing?  The reason you summoned us?"

I try to fight my desire to point out to Layra that the statement she just contradicted is the same statement that came out of her mouth.  I look forward, and I see Pharah giving us an amused look.

"There is something we wish to speak about," says Drago, taking Pharah's hand.  "We have news to share.  Please, accept this with open minds."

Pharah nods.  "We are in love."

My heart stops.  

"But- but-" It seems that Layra cannot get her words out.  

I can, however.  "I cannot allow it.  That is breaking the sacred rules that Lita and Zagan themselves set in place millions of years ago.  This... feeling, you have, it is nothing more than lightheartedness.  I..." my voice trails away.  "If you feel this way, then I have failed you both as your Minister."

"You didn't fail," Pharah tells me.  "You couldn't stop this."

I remain silent.  I have failed.  In so many ways, I have failed.  Despair washes over me, my frown sinking further.

"For once, he's right," Layra points out, and I resist the urge to protest to her statement.  "And even if we do allow you, how are you going to go about hiding it?  I can say for certain that the other fairies enjoy abiding to the rules.  They won't take kindly to this."

Drago nods.  "We have thought about that, Minister.  If the fairies had another distraction, something greater than this, they would not notice nor care about our love.  If both of you could pretend to love-"

Layra cuts him off right there.  "Hold up.  Me?  Love him?" she looks at me and scoffs.  "Never in a million years."

Drago gives her a look.  "You both are immortal.  You have that and plenty more."

Pharah turns her graceful yet piercing stare towards me.  "Heliux?"

I shake my head.  "I am sorry, Your Lightness, but I cannot go through with this.  Both of you are well aware about our mutual dislike of each other, and your love should not just be hidden.  It should disappear."  I sound harsh.  Good.  That is how things get done.

Pharah, however, holds her ground, suspiciously so.  "Lita came to me herself and told me that this must happen.  She told me that it would work."

I straighten myself.  "Lita came to you?  You are sure?"

"How could I not be sure, Heliux?"

"Zagan came to me too, in a dream," Drago quickly adds on.  "He said that this plan would be a success, if you two could just agree."

I sigh.  "Well, if both Lita and Zagan command us-"

"Woah," Layra interjects again, stopping me.  "I don't care if both Lita and Zagan command us.  There is no way that I can act in love with you, Heliux.  Because I'm not, and I never will be."

That stings a little, despite my hatred towards her.  "We have to do what's best for-"

"A minute ago, you were so concerned about rules," she pushes back.  "What happened to that?"

I glare at her.  "Anything that Lita or Zagan commands through spirit has the same strength as a command they made in life."

Layra turns away for a moment, then nods ever so slightly.  "Fine," she says through gritted teeth.  "But I'm not happy about this."

"You don't have to be," Drago says pleasantly, dismissing Layra's feelings completely.  The Dark Leader then turns his imperial stare towards me.  "Minister, this is a test.  If you love her, you would defend her, no?"

I wince.  "Yes, Your Darkness," I mutter.  "I-I mean, you should not say such things to Layra.  Sh-She matters." 

"That was the worst defense I've ever heard in my life," Layra smirks.  "That's another flaw to this plan," she adds to the Leaders.  "Heliux can't lie for anything."  She turns back to me, gripping my chin with two of her fingers.  "It seems like I have got some things to teach you, you fine specimen."

I stare blankly at her.  What on earth...?

She sighs.  "It's called flirting, Heliux.  I swear to Zagan..." her speech becomes incomprehensible muttering.  "Let's just go," she says, pushing me out.  

~~~~~~~~~~

I sit at the table in my room, frowning to myself.

The rest of the week has been filled with a tense sense of awkwardness that has not ever existed before.

Since we were seen together for more than a few seconds, some fairies questioned what we were doing.  We were forced to lie to them, and now the word has spread.  Everyone is talking.

My frown deepens.  I do not like it when people talk, it makes me lose my feelings of dominance, making me seem weak.  I put my head in my hands, hoping for this terrible act to be put to an end soon.  Soon all of these fairies will join the Spirit Realm and we do not have to pull off this grand charade any longer.

I hear a knock at the door, and I tell the fairy to come in.  Surprisingly, I see Layra standing there.

"Hey," she says, approaching me.  She holds out a plate.  "You looked sick earlier today, so I brought you something."

I gape at her.  "I am not sick, you are mistaken."

She pushes the plate towards me.  "Well you looked down.  And food always cheers me up, so..." she makes another attempt to push the plate in my direction.

I continue to avoid it.  "You poisoned this, did you not?"

She sits down on another chair directly across from me, looking at me crossly.  "Why would you think that?  I'm just trying to be nice."

"Oh please," I scoff.

"I'm serious," she insists.  "Both Drago and Pharah want us to pretend to love each other.  So we should at least act the part."

I cross my arms.  "We are alone.  You do not have to act as of now."

She sighs.  "You oblivious idiot."

"Excuse me?"

"What if I'm just trying to be nice?  We've hated each other for eons now, and to be honest, I'm getting tired of it.  If I'm really being honest, for these past millenniums I acted like I hated you because I know you can't deal with change, but screw that now.  We're the ones that are going to be here together for eternity, Heliux, so shouldn't we be together?"

Her face reddens before I can utter a word.  "Not like that," she says, blushing- what is with that?  "I mean as friends.  We should be friends."

I feel a smile coming forth.  "So you want to be friends with me?"

"Shut up!"

I turn away.  "Well, it certainly is a shame, I do not feel the same way."

"O-Oh," she stutters.  She gets up, and goes to leave.  "I'll go then.  Sorry-"

"Ahem," I say, getting her to turn back around.  "I believe I was using the term you like to call... what is it now... sarcasm?"

Layra lets out one long sigh.  "Heliux, if you're going to use sarcasm, you need to sound sarcastic!  But I'm glad you want to try and be friends," she adds, sitting back down with a small smile on her face.  "It'll probably make this lovey-dovey thing easier to act out."

I nod, finally taking a bite of the food she brought me.  Noodles... has she known that I have always fancied the taste of noodles?  "Logically, it would be the best course of action for the future."

"So what you're really saying is that you like me and want to be friends."

"Perhaps."

"You should really learn how to communicate better."

"At least I can do addition-"

"Will you ever let that go!?  I know that two plus two doesn't equal twenty-two now."

~~~~~~~~~~

Somehow, for two months now, we have been able to pull off our act.  The fairies have been nothing but supportive of our fake relationship, and, if I have to be completely honest with myself, it is beginning to feel almost refreshing spending time with Layra.  Our friendship really has blossomed; the scraggly bud has bloomed into a white winter rose.  

Today is Drago's birthday, so the regular celebrations are going on all around me.  Fairies are using their Mist Pokemon to have battles.  Normally I would be there doing some myself, but I do not quite feel like it today for some reason.  I sit at a table with Drago's Advisor, Ryder.  He has gotten two alcoholic beverages, cocktails I believe they are called, for us.  He takes giant gulps of his while I take a few sips then set my glass down.  They have quite an exotic flavour, though I have never really developed a taste for them.

"So," Ryder says between sips.  "You and Layra, huh?"

"Yes," I reply.  "Unexpected, I know."  Advisors have the lifespan of a regular fairy, but are in a similar place in the chain of command to Layra and I.  I always make a point to get to know all of them and befriend them, as we do work together very frequently.

He laughs.  "Definitely.  You two seemed like you hated each other up until a couple weeks ago.  By the way, where is she?"

"She said she wants to dress up for today," I tell him.  "So I assume that she is busy getting ready at the moment."

"She probably just wants to look pretty for you," Ryder tells me, winking at me.  "Considering this is your first party together and all."

I nod, trying to think of any questions that would be appropriate to the situation.  "Do you have any... advice?"

Ryder looks at me.  "You want advice from me?  The ladies' man himself?"

That makes me smile.  "Ryder, you are certainly not a ladies' man."

"Not here," he explains, "but when I was human, I was basically a female magnet.  I had so many girlfriends.  I had friends who gave me the nickname Rider with an 'i' because I would ride..." he trails away.  "Ahem.  Anyways.  Just give her a good time.  Dance with her.  Give her flowers.  Gift her everything she desires.  Treat her like a princess," he finishes, "because you're her prince."

I take another sip of my drink.  "Of course, but-"

"Heliux!" I hear Layra rapidly approaching us.  "Ryder.  What do you guys think?"

"Hotter than a freshly baked pie," Ryder says, giving her a thumbs up.

"Hey," I snap.  "Only I can say..." I lose my voice as I get a clear glimpse of Layra for the first time since this party has began.

Simply put, she looks stunning.

Her violet hair, usually hanging in loose waves over her shoulders, has been put up into a high pony-tail on the back of her head, tied with a periwinkle ribbon.  Her usual purple scarf has been replaced with a silver chain, an amethyst pendant hanging off of it.  She dons a layered purple dress, more elegant than her usual one; this one has light fabric, I can tell by the way it sways with the slightest of breezes.  She covers the upper half of her chest with a netted midnight blue shawl, and combined with her indigo wings, it gives her outfit an ombré effect.  Her usual knee-high purple boots are now replaced with silver high heels.  

"Lost for words?" Layra smirks at me. 

"You look great," I say quickly.  Upon seeing her, I do not feel so good.  I can feel my face heating up, my heart beating faster than normal.  Am I sick?

"You two should go dance together," Ryder says, giving me a knowing look.

Layra is not really my significant other, so logically I should not have to dance with her.  I wait for her to tell him that she feels the same, but instead she looks like she will start bouncing up and down with excitement.  "Heliux?  What do you say?"

"S-Sure," I say, too surprised to say anything else at the moment.  

"You two have fun," Ryder says, standing up with his almost-empty glass in his hand.  "I'm off to see Forest.  Maybe I'll have some luck with her today."  He leaves.

"I really feel bad for Forest," Layra says as she leads me to the dance area.

"Me too," I say.  Forest is Pharah's Advisor, and Ryder constantly feels that he needs to flirt with her every couple seconds.  She is clearly not interested, yet Ryder still pursues her.  I do not understand fairies sometimes.  "I should put an end to his behavior."

She scoffs at me.  "Nah, just leave them be.  If he keeps pursuing her with that amount of perseverance, he'll win her heart some day."  She looks at me dead in the eyes.  "I have a feeling that she secretly likes it.  I know that he'll win her over."

I stare back.  I can sense some hidden symbolism in her words, but I do not feel like undoing the threads right at this very second.

Layra shakes her head and laughs, her ponytail flipping from side to side.  "Whatever, enough about them.  Come and dance with me!"

"If you insist," I say, her eyes lighting up.  "Although, I must admit that I am not much of a dancer."

"I don't care about that," she says.  She turns to me with a bright smile.  "I just like spending time with you."

Perhaps I feel a smile of my own begin to grace my lips.

Then she smirks at me.  "Besides, it's just an added bonus that I get to make fun of you for your horrible dancing skills."

Whatever smile I had goes away, turning into a frown.  "Be quiet," I bark, but I know that there is no stopping her.  I heave a sigh.

We reach the middle of the dance floor where Layra begins to dance around.  I try, believe me, but I do believe that I am hopeless at this.  There is only one kind of dance that I can perform exceptionally well, and that is not... this.

Suddenly, as if some fairy had flipped a switch, the fast beat of the music decelerates into a slow waltz.  This is not just any waltz, however.  This... this is a dance.

I turn to Layra.  "Would you care to join me, m'lady?"  I hold out my hand.

She takes it tentatively.  "I thought you couldn't dance," she teases.

I smile.  "Any other dance you could say that.  I am afraid that I am an expert in the waltz."

I spin her around, her hair and dress twirling around around her.  Around us, more fairies do the same with their partners.  More and more join, and soon we move into a shape of a rose, Layra and I at the center.  The music begins to pick up speed, and I lose myself in the sound and the clicks and taps of everyone's feet.  Mostly, I lose myself in Layra.  She has this grace about her and the way she moves.  She looks at me, and like she caught me with a net, I find that I am losing myself in her violet eyes.

The dance nears its end and all the dancers cast a bolt of magic above us, all the auras combining into one, raining sparkles down on us as the music finishes.  The sun is setting, but Layra has never looked brighter.  She truly looks beautiful.  Perhaps one of the most beautiful girls that I'd ever seen.

Regular dance music begins to play, and I expect Layra to begin dancing again like before.  Instead, she comes up and hugs me, though I catch a rose coloured blush on her face before she buries herself into me.  "Thank you for dancing with me," she breathes.  "That was the most fun I've ever had in... so, so long."  Her voice breaks a slight bit.

I sense some missing story there, but I do not dwell on it.  I hug her back.  "I'm glad you enjoyed yourself."  I mean it.

~~~~~~~~~~

One year later, things have worsened.

I do notice that Pharah and Drago have been getting into more quarrels as of late.  They do make an effort to keep up appearances, but I can see underneath their masks.  When Layra and I have meetings with them, they always fight over the silliest of reasons.  Aside from that, I have notice Drago taking more control over the meetings, being assertive and commanding.  I do not mind that, except whenever he obstructs his mind to criticism of any sort.

I do admit that it has been taking a toll on me.  If it were not for their relationship, I believe that they would not be fighting.  Or, maybe they would be.  My head pounds trying to make sense of it all.  The fairies have been noticing their arguments, and they have begun to gossip.  As I have said before... I do not like gossip of any sort.

"Heliux."  I hear a knocking on my door; I open it, and I see Layra in front of me.  Her gaze is shrouded in mist.  "I'm not surprised that you're awake.  We need to talk."

"Of course, but I am surprised that you are; it is very dark outside." I gesture for her to sit down.  "What about?"

She sits herself down at my table and I do the same, sitting across from her.  Layra sighs, looking pained.  "It's about Drago.  He's becoming very... commanding recently."

I nod in agreement.  "I have noticed the same," I add.  "I do not know how Her Lightness deals with him."

She turns her piercing gaze towards me.  "I'm not saying that's a bad thing.  Before they got together, he never really had a voice in anything, so it's good that he's got some confidence now.  It's just Pharah has begun to look weaker, like Drago just being with her has diminished her light.  I'm worried he might be doing something to her to make her bow to him."

Shock pulses through me.  "What evidence do you have?"

She shrugs.  "I don't have any.  It's just what my gut is telling me.  Plus," she adds, pushing her hair over her shoulders, "you know about my powers.  Drago's soul seems dimmer lately.  And I don't mean that because he's a Dark Fairy, if you get it."

I nod thoughtfully.  "So what do you want to do?  You can't confront him."

She gapes at me.  "What?  Why not?"

I pinch the bridge of my nose.  "Layra, that man is one of the most powerful fairies that I have had the pleasure of knowing.  Now more than ever, he certainly does not like being challenged.  He certainly will not take kindly to someone, even his own Minister, accusing of controlling the other Leader.  Besides, you do not know for sure that he is doing something to Her Lightness."

"So what do you want to do?" Layra seethes.  "Just do nothing?"

"Yes."  My answer is firm.  "We can look more into this matter.  But once we have solid evidence, it will not do any good to confront His Darkness right now."

"Well I think you're wrong," Layra says, slamming her hands down on the table.  "Pharah is your Leader!  How could you not take action if she could be in trouble?"

I shrug.  "Her Lightness is a strong fairy.  I put my trust in her.  If something is happening to her, she can handle herself while we investigate."

"How... how can you just say that?" Layra demands, standing up now.  "Your friend could be in trouble.  How can you just sit by and let it go?"

"You forget the key word in your sentence, 'could'," I tell her pointedly.  

Anger pulses from her like hot solar flares.  "I wouldn't care if they 'could' be in trouble or if they were in trouble!  I would go help them!"  She glares at me.  "I wouldn't hesitate."

I stand up now too.  "I have a feeling that that was directed at me."

"Yes, Heliux.  Yes it was."  She sighs, turning away from me.  "You hesitate.  You always hesitate.  You always want to investigate to figure out the best possible pathway-"

"It is the most logical way to go about things," I try to say, but she pushes past my words.

"-and you never consider that acting quick could be the best possible option.  You never realize that while you're busy using logic and taking your sweet time, people are suffering while you fiddle with choices.  People are hurting because of you.  I'm... I'm hurting because of you...!"

Her words echo around the room, and I take a step towards her.  "I have a feeling that we are not talking about the Leaders any longer." I speak gently, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder.  "What is this about?"

She turns back to me, her eyes so full of longing that I can almost feel her pain.  She throws my hand away.  She sucks in a breath.  "Heliux, this past year... it changed me.  This friendship, it means a lot to me.  Which is why this is so hard."

"What is?" I ask her, concerned.

"This!" she exclaims, throwing her arms out.  "I can't say anything, nothing about my feelings.  Because Zagan forbid that I do anything that could force you to act in the moment.  Zagan forbid it!"

I stare at her.  "Are you saying...?"

"Yes," she spits out.  "I've fallen for you."  She lets out a breath.  "I've fallen for you."

"Layra-"

"No," she says, stepping away from me. I can see tears start to form at the edges of her eyes.  "Don't say anything.  I know what it will be."  Her voice falters.  "I can see the gears turning in your mind.  You're hesitating, just like I knew you would.  You're not going to say anything to me.  Nothing."

I move towards her, but she steps away from me.  "Layra, stop.  Frankly, you are being ridiculous."

"I'm being ridiculous?" she asks incredulously.  She laughs as tear stains start to form on her face.  "Maybe I am.  It was ridiculous to even think that I had a chance to love you," she says, walking towards the door.  She looks back at me, brimming with hurt.  "I am going to confront Drago, right now, and if you are not going to come with me, I don't care.  I... I don't care...!"

With that, she leaves and slams the door behind her, leaving me standing here dumbfounded.

I cannot even begin to process what just happened.  

Layra... Layra loves me?

Do I love her?

I try to think of all the times that we have spent together.  

The way she would always joke with me.  She would always make me feel comfortable.  She always brightens my day when I see her.  I have flashbacks to the night when I danced with her, her beauty and grace making me lose myself in her.  Everything is golden when I am with her.

I feel hurt when she feels hurt.  I would go to the ends of the earth for her.

I sit back down, sighing.  Dammit all.  I love her.

This was definitely not meant to happen.  But is has, and now I have to deal with it.

Layra is hurting.  She is hurting because of me.  Because I did not reciprocate her feelings.  Well, I have, but not in time.  I smile sadly.  Layra is right.  I do hesitate.  

In a flash I remember that Layra is out challenging Drago right now.  I feel a stab of fear.  Layra could be in trouble.

For once, I do not care about the outcomes.  My mind is set and my conscience is clear.

For once, I am not going to hesitate.

The very thought of Drago doing something to Layra makes my head hurt and my heart pound.  I am not used to these types of feelings, but I know they should be calmed if I see her and see that she is completely okay.  I stumble out of my room, making sure to close the door behind me.  I run across the Colony, not even thinking about flying for once.  I reach Layra's room and knock swiftly.  No one answers, but I cannot tell if she is just mad at me, or if she is still off with Drago.  She has not been gone for very long, so I assume it is the latter.

I hear a thud and whip my head around, my fists clenched.  It came from the direction of Drago's room.

The thought of Drago trying anything on Layra is enough to get my blood boiling.

I quickly fly over there and without hesitation, bust the door wide open.  Shards of glass cover the floor like grass on a field, and the place is an utter mess.  Drago is standing behind his bed, looking down at something.  I cannot see Layra anywhere.  I grunt and the Dark Leader turns his head towards me, and smiles.  He steps around the bed with his hands behind his back, a formal pose.  "Ah, Minister.  What are you doing here?"

"I have come to retrieve La..." my voice falters when even in this dim lighting I see a speck of blood on his cheek.  Normally this would not concern me but with the circumstances, I need to know where this came from.  "There is blood on your face, what happened?"

"Oh?  My bad," Drago says, bringing out his hand to wipe it off.  To my horror his hand is drenched in blood.  It is like he dipped it in a paint can.  The blood drip, drip, drips to the floor as he goes to wipe the blood off of his face.  Instead of doing that, he only succeeds in turning the entire bottom half of his face crimson.  He flashes me a look.  "Better?"

I try and steel myself.  "What have you done?"

"Why don't you go and see for yourself?" he suggests, pointing to the place where he came from.  With each step filled with tension I walk behind the bed, only to stop in my tracks.  I see Layra, or whatever is left of Layra, laying there.  Her dress has been ripped open, and through the tear, I can see a gaping wound on her stomach.  Crimson gushes out of it, the waterfall forming a lake around her.  The rest of her is covered in various cuts, done in places to make it exceptionally more painful.  Drago knows he cannot kill her; we are both immortal after all.  However, he can make her suffer.  I can see her body slowly piecing itself back together, but it needs time.

Still, the very sight of her is enough to make me want to throw up.  It is almost like blood entered my eyes, there is a red haze covering everything.  Time seems to move in slow motion.  

I take a hesitant step towards her, trying to ignore Drago's maniacal laughing behind me.  Magically, Layra slowly opens her eyes, her chest rising slowly up and down.  I can see her fighting for every breath.

"Heliux," she groans, trying to shift herself into a new position and failing.  "That couldn't have gone worse."

"You should have listened to me," I say stubbornly, if only because I am so terrified for her.  "What did he do?"

"What does it look like?" she snaps, then starts gasping for air again.  "Zagan, this is horrible.  All I wanted to do was talk, and he- Heliux, what are you doing?"

"Healing you," I say quickly, throwing my hands forwards and shooting a pulsing green magic wave at her.  "You are too weak to do it yourself."  My heart is pounding and there is a harsh wind in my ears, even though there is no wind here.

"Thanks," she sighs, closing her eyes again.  

I lurch forward.  "Keep your eyes open," I tell her.  "Don't you dare close them."

She opens her eyes and flashes me a little smile.  "Aww, are you scared for me?"

"Quite frankly, YES!" I exclaim frustratedly.  "You look like you are about to venture to the Spirit Realm, and you are covered in your own blood.  I have never felt more scared than I did when I saw you laying there.  Despite my knowledge that you cannot die I thought..." my voice trails away.  I dislike when my emotions come out in a steaming heap like this.  It makes me look vulnerable.

Layra seems to come to terms with the fact that I came because I was worried about her.  "Heliux, I'm okay.  Really.  I can't die silly," she reminds me weakly, but I can see her face.  She is pained, in more ways than one.  I can tell that I have hurt her deeply.

"I am sorry," I tell her.

She looks puzzled.  "Sorry?  For what?"

"For hurting you," I say bluntly.

"It's... it's fine.  I'm over it," she tells me, with a look that clearly says that she is not over it.  "Are you over it?"

"No," I answer.  I can feel my face heat up as I continue; I truly do not like discussing these matters.  "I should not have waited."  I move closer to her.  "I should have realized my feelings sooner, and I hurt you.  For that I am sorry."

"What... are you saying?" she whispers, going red herself.

"I may have fallen for you," I say simply, rubbing underneath my nose with my free hand out of embarrassment.  "I do hope that you still feel the same..."

"Heliux-" she starts to say, but I cut her off in fear that my hesitation has cost me a hefty price.

"Layra, I-"

Layra makes a shoving motion with her arm, attempting to shove me away from her, but she is so weak that it does not do anything.  I begin to think the worst when she shouts to me.  "Heliux, MOVE!"

I turn just in time to see Drago about to plunge a sharp silver blade in my chest.  I quickly bend to dodge the knife but Drago just throws it, landing and burrowing deep into Layra's shoulder.  She lets out a cry of raw pain, and I freeze, my vision blackening.  I look Drago dead in the eyes and a scarlet shine forms around him; him, the man that has deathly hurt my beloved.

Within an instant I have the putrid man pinned against the wall, chains spilling upwards from the depths of the earth to keep him there.  My left hands plants itself against the wall while my right has fire-hot aura surrounding it.  I grab him by the throat, pleasure surging through me as he grunts in pain.  Not enough.  I press harder, causing him to gasp for breath as beautiful black smoke begins to waft upwards.  "If you ever dare to touch her again," I say through gritted teeth, "Your spirit shall burn at the hands of Lita and Zagan."  By now he has gone unconscious, and my rage compels me to go further, further still, until all the breath has left his body-

"Heliux, stop!"

Layra's voice brings me back to the present and once again my vision is clear.  I let Drago go and the chains unravel, leaving his body collapsed on the floor.  He soon comes to, however, takes one fearful look at me, then leaves, trying to heal his throat.  I know that he will be back, but for now, good riddance.

I turn towards her, and she is shaken.  "Why did you do that?"

"He hurt you," I say seriously.  "I will absolutely not have that.  I meant what I said."  I approach her once more and begin healing her again, wincing at the knife in her shoulder.  "That will have to stay there until its safe to remove," I say apologetically as I get back to my work.

"Heliux, you really meant what you said earlier?" I know she is not talking about my threat, so I just minutely nod while I continue to heal her.  She tries to stop me, but I refuse.  

"Layra, this is importa-"

She kisses me.

I- I- 

I have no idea how to react.

After yet another moment of hesitation from me, I somehow know what I should do; I return her gesture.  Her touch feels natural despite that fact that this is the first time she has kissed me this way.  I like it.  I love it.  I close my eyes and lose myself in the moment.  I love her.

The kiss lasts a few mere moments yet it feels like it lasted a millennium.  She looks at me, her purple eyes full of emotion.  "So I guess it's official now."

"Y-Yes." I say, flustered.  "N-Now if you please, let me finish healing you."

Present day...

Layra

"Oh my gosh, that's adorable!" Serena exclaims, smiling brightly.  She takes another sip of her tea.  "He still gets that flustered too."

"I do not," Heliux protests, getting flustered.

"I know!" I agree, laughing and ignoring him.  "That's one of the things I love about him.  No matter how formal he is, I know he has a gooey cinnamon-roll heart inside of him somewhere."  Heliux shoots me a look that I know by now means stop saying such 'undignified' things about me.

Serena gets up.  "Well this was an interesting talk," she yawns, "but I'm really tired.  Ash has been in hyper-worry mode lately too so I need enough energy to deal with that," she jokes.

"Have you chosen names yet?" Heliux asks.

"We have some in mind, but we want to see the babies first before we decide," she explains.  "They'll be here in less than two weeks now if things go on schedule, though since they're related to Ash..." she laughs again, causing me to smirk with her.  She walks to the door and waves, then makes her leave.  Once its shut it's just Heliux and me.

He looks at me.  "Are you alright?"

Goddamit, this man sees right through me.  "How did you know?"

He smiles.  "You had this sullen look about you.  What's bothering you, my Love?"

Heliux wraps his arm around me and I sigh.  "I don't know... I guess just thinking of that moment all those years ago made me think.  I still remember the hours after that, when you came and told me that I was right, and that Pharah was being mistreated by him.  Then the war started right then.  I still remember leaving, and that was the last time I'd seen you for, well, a hundred years..." I look at him, feeling pained.

"That won't ever happen again," he tells me confidently.  "No more wars will happen.  We were still young back then, we know better now.  We know whether fairies can be trusted.  Ash and Serena can, but Drago and Pharah couldn't be and we didn't know that.  But it's alright now," he says, giving me a peck on the cheek.

"And with the new babies on the way..."

Heliux gives me a look.  "You know that isn't possible for us."

I sigh.  "I know.  It's not possible the fairy way.  But these days, I find myself imagining about it sometimes.  The future with our imaginary family that will never come to existence."

"Even if we can't have children, we still have each other," Heliux reminds me.  "We will be with each other for forever, literally.  Even if we can't have that future you speak of, this one still sounds promising."  He grins.  "Right?"

I smile.  "I guess you're right."  This is enough, and I think I'll be okay with that for now.

This chapter ended up being longer than 6K, holy heck.  The longest chapter I've ever written anywhere... wow.  If you made it through that all thank you for reading, and I hope you enjoyed it.

Question: What names do you think Ash and Serena's twins will be named?  I already have names for them but it's nice to hear your guesses. 

And yes, the next chapter we'll be back with more Amourshipping, and I think you know what's coming.  Until the next one, stay safe everyone!! :D