Smile :D

The air in Azuria was thick with an early summer heat. Soupy, one might call it. However, there was an occasional cool breeze that swept through the grasses and trees.

Even the monsters were taking this time to rest and bathe in the sun.

Velocidrome and their packs were snoozing under trees, occasionally glancing around for any sign of threats. Ludroth were sunbathing on smooth stones near the lake. A Paolumu was even playfully splashing in a nearby stream before being startled by a patrolling Rathian, who paid the other flying wyvern no mind. All predators seemed to be at ease due to this warm day.

In fact, everywhere in Azuria seemed to be at peace in one way or another.

Except for one specific place in Broadleaf Basin.

CLASH!

"You seem out of practice, Your Highness!"

CLANG!

"I could say the same to you, Simon!"

Sweat shimmered off both yours and Simon's skin. His dark hair clung to his forehead as he pressed his long sword against yours. He had discarded his oversized Ranger's jacket, leaving it hanging over a branch nearby. Your own hair stuck to your skin, and you had removed the heavier parts of your armor to make you more mobile as well as to avoid overheating.

As the two of you danced around each other, endemic life fleeing at any mere movement, you recalled how much you missed this. Just the two of you, at this large golden tree, training once more.

You caught a playful spark in his amber eyes, and Simon then lunged forward to strike at your sword. However, you had grown quite skilled over the course of your journey, and you were able to parry him with ease.

But maybe with a little too much gusto because the harsh impact caused Simon to drop his long sword and clutch his left arm in pain.

You immediately dropped your own weapon.

"Simon!" you rushed over to him and hovered your hands gently over his arm, "I'm so sorry. Are you okay?"

"Yeah..." he flexed his fingers while clutching his wrist still, "I think so."

Guilt and embarrassment washed over you as you took a step back. Your heart flailed wildly in your chest when you realized just how close you got to him. Upon seeing your reaction, Simon reached over and gently squeezed your shoulder.

"Hey, it's all good. I've dealt with this for years." Simon tried to reassure you about, but his words only made you feel worse if anything. The thought of him having to deal with crystalilisis alone, ever since you found out about it, eats at you.

"I know...but I still feel bad."

"I could've guessed as much."

A bit of silence stretched between the two of you, broken only by the sounds of birds overhead and the occasional growling yawn of the Ratha brothers.

"You know...I'm glad you come to visit so often," weapon forgotten, you began to play with your hands as a heat came to your cheeks, "I'm sure you're busy with rebuilding your village."

Simon was stunned for a moment, but then smiled.

"Rebuilding will take some time...but of course I come to see you," Simon avoided your gaze as he scratched his cheek, "I was so worried I was going to have to beg for your forgiveness."

He thought back to all the secrets he kept over the years. His illness, where he was from, being a spy for Vermeil, your mother, even his own name. Each time he thought of a secret that he kept from you, it felt like a knife was being plunged into his heart.

And Simon knew very well why.

When he finally had the courage to meet your eyes again, he saw a smile that took his breath away, and made his heart flutter so badly he thought he would pass out.

"I was never angry at you, Simon. I was sad at first. I thought I lost you in the fire, and then I thought I lost you again at the Sacrosanctum. But here we are again, like nothing happened, and I finally feel like I can..." Your voice trailed off as your smile faltered. You moved to hug yourself slightly, suddenly feeling rather conscious of your feelings.

"You can what?" Simon pressed, heart pounding in his ears and anxiety coursing through his blood as he anticipated your words.

Wind blew through and shook the leaves on the trees.

"I can...tell you how I really feel."

Simon felt like his heart was going to burst through his chest. He was hoping, praying, that somewhere along the way you would feel the same way about him as he did about you. Simon was not a good Vermeilian spy for one main reason.

He fell in love with the wrong princess.

It's why he confronted Clarissa. It's why he was willing to give his life in Ratha V's fire. It's why he kept all those secrets from you, and it was why he tried to push you away at the Sacrosanctum. All his life, Simon just wanted to protect you. You were too sweet and kind to deal with the mess that was his life.

But still, hearing you say that to him even after all that's happened, made him feel like the luckiest man alive.

"Princess Y/N...I don't know what to say." Truthfully, he was at a loss for words.

"Then let me do the talking."

You took a courageous breath. Facing an elder dragon felt easier than confessing feelings for your childhood friend.

"I wanted to tell you how I felt for a while, but then...I thought you died. I—I cried so much, Simon," your voice shuddered as you spook, and once again Simon felt guilt at making you cry, "Kora was the only one who could console me. She understood how it felt to lose someone you love."

"Love? It's the right word," Simon thought, his heart beating a little faster.

"Throughout the journey to the Sacrosanctum, even if I didn't always say it, all I could think about was you. If only I could get a second chance. If only I had said something sooner. And then when I saw you were alive—" a hint of a smile came to your face, "—I knew I finally got my second chance."

Silence stretched through the forest again.

"And here it is. I love you, Simon. The past is behind us, but I will always treasure every moment I have with you."

Your confession brought so much joy to his heart, and he knew you could see it on his face. A boyish grin that contained so much happiness it was contagious. Seemingly so, as a huge grin broke out on your face as well.

"You know, when I was healing from my injuries in Vermeil," Simon started to speak without really thinking of it, "I felt so much guilt at the secrets I kept from you. And I now know why I felt such guilt. It was because of how I felt about you."

He took a couple steps towards you and gripped your hands in his. Both of your palms were sweaty—whether it be from nerves or the summer heat, who knows—but he held onto tightly in fear you would disappear if he let go. His face was so close to yours; you could feel his breath tickle your nose.

"No more secrets, Y/N. I love you. And I always will."

The silence that came after wasn't awkward or foreboding but filled with a peaceful quiet. Like the kind that came after a storm. Simon glanced into your eyes lovingly, like he was waiting for you to confess so he could finally give you his full attention, and you started to feel shy under it. You were suddenly well aware of his hands in yours, how close he was, and judging by the way Simon nervously glanced at your lips, his next intentions were clear.

But his courage was faltering.

Thankfully, the Ratha twins have had enough.

Ratha V strutted up behind Simon. And before the younger man could react, the Skyscale nudged him forward with such force that you both tumbled to the ground with Simon on top of you.

Both Ratha and Ratha V chuffed—the wyvern equivalent to laughing you assume—before the once battle bound Skyscale went back over to lay beside his brother, resting his head on the sun-kissed grass. His work was done.

"I'm sorry about that." Simon groaned with a very red face.

"No harm done..." You squeaked, realizing that his nose was brushing yours, his hair tickling your skin.

It was hard to meet each other's eyes given the situation. However, once you did, neither one moved. It was like some hidden spark finally ignited. No words had to be said, no intentions made clear. Both of you understood what the other wanted, and Simon wasted no time.

Resting on an elbow, he brought the other hand up to cup your cheek. Even hidden in his shadow, you felt as though the sun was burning you given how hot your face was. Simon leaned down and closed the space between you both.

Clear passion came about.

You brought your hands into his hair, running your fingers through the long strands in hopes of keeping him there. Upon feeling that, Simon deepened the kiss. There was no lust or anything of that sort. Just a loving desire to be close to one another after years of unspoken love.

However, you both soon broke apart to breathe.

"That was..."

"...amazing."

Simon finished your sentence for you. Another strong sign of the bond you two share. Feelings were finally out in the open, and you could give a damn about what your father or the council says. You would runaway with Simon if you had to.

He leaned down and gently kissed your lips again before nuzzling your nose. You giggled and continued to run your fingers through his hair. Just as Simon was about to kiss you again, an appalling screech nearly deafened you both.

"Your highness?! Simon?!"

Rudy.

Simon and you had the horrified look that teenagers get when they get caught sneaking out of the house. There the Felyne stood, having the look of wanting to scream and throw up at the same time.

I mean, it's not every day he catches the crown princess of Azuria in such a compromising position with a man, especially when that man is Simon.

"I—I didn't mean to disrupt anything purrsonal!" Your Palico covered his eyes with his paws and continued, "Thea requested to see you—something with Poogies—and I couldn't find you at the base, so I—"

"Rudy, calm down before you pass out," you gently pushed Simon off you—the poor man still looked haunted even though he really didn't do anything wrong—and urged your Palico to relax.

Rudy took a deep breath before turning formal again.

"Forgive me, your highness. You are needed back at Ranger Headquarters," Rudy straightened himself up before turning to leave, but not before he gave Simon a scowl and huffed.

Then he walked off, muttering something about, "such indecency shown to the princess" and how "Simon should be ashamed of himself".

"Now THAT I'm sorry about." You muttered, a little embarrassed. Simon got to his feet before offering you a hand.

"Hey, no harm done."

He sent you a wink as he repeated your words from earlier. Then, Simon pulled you up from the ground with such force that you landed in his chest. And before you could pull away, he wrapped his arms around you in a hug and rested his head on yours.

"I don't want you to leave..." He whispered into your hair, and you could picture the frown on his face. Tenderly, you wrapped your own arms around him.

"It's not forever...you'll come back, right?" You pulled away a little to look into his eyes. Those gorgeous amber eyes that you trusted so much.

"Always, my beautiful princess."

Simon leaned down and kissed you again, moving his hands down to gently rest at your hips. You returned the kiss with such neediness one would believe he had already been gone for a while. But you and Simon needed to catch up on all the lost time because as your journey had shown—you don't know how precious something is until it's gone.

However, lucky for the both of you, there was a second chance.

One that bloomed beneath that ancient tree where you and he have escaped to over the years. The winds blew once more, brushing through your hair and scattering golden leaves around you and Simon as if Broadleaf Basin itself was saying goodbye.

You may have to separate now, but you know Simon will always return to you.

Guidelines

My policy for fanwork is that anything goes in fiction, but respect my authority and copyright outside it. This means normal fan activity like taking screencaps, posting playthroughs, and making fanart/fanfiction is completely allowed, but selling this game or its assets isn't allowed (selling fanwork of it is fine, though).

Do not use Reanimated Heart for illegal or hateful content.

Also, I expect everyone to respect the Content Warnings on the page. I'm old and do not tolerate fandom wank.

F.A.Q.

Who's the team?

Jack (creator, writer, artist), mostly. I closely work with Exodus (main programmer) and Claira (music composer). My husband edits the drafts, and my friend Bonny makes art assets. I've also gotten help from outsiders like Sleepy (prologue music + vfx) and my friend Gumjamin (main menu heart animation).

For VOs, Alex Ross voices Crux, Devin McLaughlin voices Vincenzo, Christian Cruz voices Black, Maganda Marie voices Grete, and Zoe D. Lee voices Missy.

Basically, it's mostly just me & outsourcing stuff to my friends and professionals.

How can I support Reanimated Heart?

You can pay for the game, or join our monthly Patreon! If you don't have any money, just giving it a nice rating and recommending it to a friend is already good enough. :)

Where do the funds go to?

100% gets poured back into the game. More voice acting, more music, more trailers, more art, etc. I also like to give my programmer a monthly tip for helping me.

This game is really my insane passion project, and I want to make it better with community support.

I live in the Philippines and the purchasing power of php is not high, especially since many of the people I outsource to prefer USD. (One time I spent P10k of my own money in one month just to get things.) I'll probably still do that, even if no money comes in, until I'm in danger of getting kicked out the street… but maybe even then? (jk)

What platforms will it be released in?

Itch and then Steam when it's fully finished. Still looking into other options, as I hear both are getting bad.

Will the game be free?

Chapter 1 will be free. The rest will be updated on Patreon exclusively until full release.

Are you doing a mobile version?

Yeah. Just Android for now, but it's in the works.

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