#WOOOOOOOOO I LIVE FOR YOUR SUBMISSIONS!! esp ivan ones!! pls dont apologise for the length

[bae-leth]

AU of The Other Dimitri AU Part 2 of 2

And here is part 2, as promised! Sorry it took so long! As you will see, there’s a whole bunch of pain awaiting! All of this was a ton of fun to write and it really helps me get a better handle for how to write his character. Hopefully this means I can concentrate on the oneshot I wanna write regarding the original AU. And I hope you enjoyed it as well! **WARNING**: There will be some spoilers for the Blue Lions route. I try to be vague wherever possible and leave out the bigger spoilers of course, but some spoilers are unavoidable. Also, this part will have sections where I write down what happens to Ivan in the other routes. I will NOT specifically name any spoilers for those other routes. The most I’ll do is vaguely call something “a certain incident” (I do know a couple spoilers for the other routes but DEFINITELY not everything). There will also be a part where I write down how Ivan responds to the death of certain characters if he’s recruited. That is NOT me saying those characters do die, but rather a “what if they die? How would Ivan react?” kind of thing. With that out of the way, hope you enjoy! And, yet again, sorry for the absurdly long submissions…

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Budding Talent

*Before I forget again, I forgot that when a character activates their budding talent, they get a special skill. So I’ll list those here for “The Other Dimitri” AU Ivan and this AU of the AU Ivan*

Original Ivan

Budding Talent: Faith

Skill Learned: White Magic Avoid +20

AU Ivan

Budding Talent: Lance

Skill Learned: Frozen Lance (Might increases depending on unit’s Dexterity. Counts as a magic attack.)

Character Dependent Abilities and Arts

Abilities: Battalion Desperation, Battalion Renewal

Arts: Hit and Run, Frozen Lance

Dancing Competition

(Talked to about White Heron Cup) “Dancing in front of practically everyone in the academy. How can people do it? Singing is my hobby and I can barely do that in front of the smallest of crowds. I wonder who our House’s representative will be.”

(If chosen) “P-professor, no! If I can barely sing in front of people, how do you expect me to dance?! Won’t you change your mind? …Oh, alright then. I suppose being the academy laughingstock is just my fate…”

(If not chosen) “Oh, bless the goddess-I mean, that was a wise choice, Professor! Yes, a perfectly sensible and sound decision. Good luck finding a suitable representative!”

Paralogues

*Ivan has two Paralogues connected to him. The first Paralogue, Naïve Justice, unlocks after obtaining Ivan and Dimitri’s B support (the B support being where the brothers have their big fight). The second Paralogue, Selfishly Selfless, unlocks after completing Naïve Justice. Both Paralogues are exclusive to the Blue Lions route and will expire if not completed before the timeskip. Completing both of them is important for something BIG*

Naïve Justice

Ivan comes up to Byleth and requests some help. He tells Byleth that a while ago there was a small town where a group of mercenaries had attacked the son of the town’s lord. Dimitri took down the mercenaries and saved the young man’s life. When Byleth asks why the mercenaries would randomly attack the young man, Ivan says he wasn’t sure, Dimitri took down the group without asking for reasons, only a couple of them escaping. Besides, ganging up on one person, punching and kicking the person when they’re already down and not able to fight back, is a vile act, so it’s justice that they were taken down. As thanks for Dimitri’s deeds, the grateful lord sent a message that he has prepared a special gift for Dimitri. Ivan intercepted the message and sent one back saying that, since Dimitri is pretty busy, he would come and pick up the gift and deliver it to Dimitri. The lord was disappointed not being able to thank Dimitri in person but accepted the suggestion. And so Ivan came to Byleth to request that they come along with Ivan on the trip to pick up the gift, while also begging Byleth not to say anything to Dimitri. Byleth is understandably confused by the whole thing, wondering why they need to keep something as simple as picking up a thank you gift a secret and why Ivan intercepted a message meant for Dimitri in the first place. Cue an intense stare off as Ivan tries to explain. Eventually Byleth asks if it really was Dimitri who saved the young man. After some more prodding, Ivan finally admits that it was him who fought those mercenaries, Dimitri having no clue about the situation because Ivan never told him. Since he and Dimitri are identical twins, and since Ivan is a wallflower and unpopular among the citizens, the townsfolk who witnessed the event assumed he was Dimitri. When Byleth asks why Ivan didn’t just reveal himself, he states that it’s fine, such an act is more fitting for Dimitri than it is for him. But he hadn’t expected the town’s lord to want to give Dimitri a gift. Ivan didn’t want Dimitri knowing about this because, knowing Dimitri’s personality, he would raise a fuss about how it was Ivan who did it and how Ivan participated in a fight all alone and make this a bigger issue than it needs to be. So Ivan plans to pick up the gift and then just tell Dimitri it was an apology gift from Ivan, since the brothers had a big fight recently, although Ivan notes that having to act like he’s over the fight so soon is gonna leave a bad taste in his mouth. Byleth then notices that Ivan seems upset and asks if it’s because the townsfolk are giving Dimitri the credit. Ivan argues that it’s terrible to be upset over something so insignificant, while Byleth can respond that there’s nothing wrong with wanting appreciation for something you did. Ivan quickly dismisses the conversation and asks for Byleth’s help once more. Once Byleth agrees, Ivan says that they can bring some others along if they want but they can’t bring Dimitri.

When the group arrives at the town, they see it’s in chaos with a group of what seems like mercenaries going on a rampage. One of the mercenaries, who Ivan recognizes as a survivor from the small group of mercenaries who attacked the son of the lord before, points Ivan out, misidentifying him as Dimitri, who attacked their men. The boss of the map is revealed to be getting revenge for the death of the previous group of mercenaries, particularly since the one leading the other group was his brother. And so, battle starts! Dimitri is unavailable for this map. The objective is simple, rout the enemy to win and it’s a game over if Byleth or Ivan fall. The reward for the map is some Large Bullion, a Rusted Sword, and a Rusted Lance. But there is a special reward in store if the extra objective is completed, which is having Ivan visit all four special houses in the town (which are located in the four corners of the large map), where he has special dialogue with the inhabitants compared to if anyone else visits. The special dialogue Ivan gets from visiting the four houses has him getting more information about what went down prior to him killing the first group of mercenaries. Ivan slowly learns that it seems like the lord’s son he saved may have actually been the aggressor in the original situation. This idea is enforced if Ivan confronts the map boss and asks about why the other mercenaries attacked the young man, to which the map boss doesn’t explain but instead angrily confronts Ivan on killing the map boss’ brother and fellow mercenaries without knowing anything of the situation. Ivan is quiet but then states that, regardless of what happened in the original situation, the mercenaries are currently attacking innocent townsfolk, so they’re in the wrong in this situation.

Extra Objective Not Completed: The map ends with the lord and his son thanking Ivan and Byleth for their help. The lord then stares at Ivan and realizes it was him who had saved his son, Ivan being surprised. The lord apologizes for the mix up stating that he would have given the gift to Ivan instead, but the gift was broken in the chaos. Ivan brushes it off, bashfully saying that his thanks was enough before the lord leaves. The son stays behind to thank Ivan once more, and Ivan softly asks about the original situation that caused this revenge attack, having overheard some of the mercenaries talking about how the son may have started it. The son denies it, and Ivan can’t make him say otherwise before he leaves. But Ivan suspects that there’s truth in what was said and starts shaking. Byleth asks if he’s alright, to which Ivan replies that he doesn’t know. The group returns to the monastery, where Dimitri comes across them and asks Ivan and Byleth where they went. Ivan awkwardly stays silent while Byleth says Ivan rescued a town under attack, much to Ivan’s embarrassment. Dimitri happily tells Ivan he must have done well and wishes he had been there to see it. Ivan stays quiet for a moment before softly thanking his brother. Dimitri, sensing the tension, quickly makes up an excuse to leave. Byleth asks if Ivan doesn’t want to explain what happened to Dimitri, to which Ivan replies that he needs to take some time to think about the situation himself, particularly needing time to think about how he’s always thought of “justice”. He also mentions that Byleth was right earlier, that he had been jealous that Dimitri was getting credit for something Ivan did. But now that it looks like Ivan acted too hastily in the original situation, which led to this revenge attack, he’s ashamed of himself for ever wanting appreciation. He quietly thanks Byleth for the help before walking off.

Extra Objective Completed: The map ends with the lord and his son thanking Ivan and Byleth for their help. The lord then stares at Ivan and realizes it was him who had saved his son, Ivan being surprised. The lord apologizes for the mix up and happily presents the gift to Ivan, saying that it was made for the person who saved his son so he’s happy to give it to Ivan. The gift is a beautiful white lance with blue jewels called the Skylight Spear, which does damage based on Magic instead of Strength. Ivan has a hard time accepting the gift, though the lord remains stubborn and insists he keeps it, walking off to avoid arguing the point any further. The son stays behind to thank Ivan once more, and Ivan softly asks about the original situation that caused this revenge attack, having overheard some of the mercenaries talking about how the son may have started it. The son denies it, but Ivan then brings up how he talked to some of the townsfolk and the information he’s gathered has consistently stated that the son had been aggravating the mercenaries since they arrived in the town and tried to pick a fight with them, attacking the leader without warning, which prompted the group to gang up on him. The son looks nervous but continues to deny it, pointing out that even if it was true Ivan was the one who killed them, so he had no right trying to blame him for whatever happened, before storming off. Byleth asks Ivan if he’s alright, noticing that Ivan is shaking terribly. Ivan replies that he doesn’t feel good at all before the group heads back. Dimitri runs into them, asking where they went and wondering about the lance Ivan is carrying. When Ivan stays silent, Byleth gives a quick explanation of what happened, though leaves out the details about the reason behind the attacks for Ivan’s sake. Dimitri happily states that he’s proud of Ivan for protecting innocent people and hopes to see him wield that lance in battle. Ivan stays quiet for a moment before softly thanking his brother. Dimitri, sensing the tension between them, quickly makes up an excuse to leave. Byleth asks if Ivan doesn’t want to explain what happened to Dimitri, to which Ivan replies that he needs to take some time to think about the situation himself, particularly needing time to think about how he’s always thought of “justice”. He also mentions that Byleth was right earlier, that he had been jealous that Dimitri was getting credit for something Ivan did. But now that it looks like Ivan acted too hastily in the original situation, which led to this revenge attack, he’s ashamed of himself for ever wanting appreciation. He quietly thanks Byleth for the help and then gives Byleth the Skylight Spear. As far as Ivan is concerned, he doesn’t deserve to wield it. But he does trust in Byleth’s judgement, and so he tells Byleth to give it to anyone who they believe is worthy of the weapon. He quietly thanks Byleth for the help before walking off.  

Skylight Spear – Mt: 14 Hit: 75 Crit: 5 Rng: 1-2 Wt: 10 Lvl: B Use: 35 Description: Calculates damage based on user’s Magic.

Selfishly Selfless

Dimitri comes up to Byleth in a panic and begs them for help. He explains that a group of mercenaries kidnapped a local lord and his son. When Dimitri mentions their names, Byleth thinks they sound familiar, with Dimitri explaining it’s the same lord and son who Byleth and Ivan had interacted with when a nearby town was attacked. The mercenaries that kidnapped the pair are led by the father of the two brothers who were killed in the two attacks in the lord’s town. They have to act fast if they want to save the pair’s lives. Byleth notes that Dimitri seems unusually panicked, to which he explains that as the crown prince messengers deliver news of such incidents to him. However there was a new messenger this time, who mistook Ivan for Dimitri and gave him the news. Ivan then went off all alone to handle the situation. Byleth asks why Ivan would do something so foolish.

“Because he’s always been a selfishly selfless fool! I-I’m sorry, Professor, I didn’t mean to yell at you. I’m just worried about Ivan. Please, we must leave soon. If I lose him too…”

When the group catches up with the mercenaries in the forest, there’s quite a number of them. The lord and his son are there, and Ivan is surrounded by a sizable number of mercenaries. The boss, the mercenary leader, is furious at the deaths of his sons and wants the people responsible for it to pay. Ivan argues that it was his hasty decisions that caused the deaths so the lord and son should be let go, but the mercenary leader is just as angry at the son for his actions that led to his first son’s death. The lord is confused as to what’s going on, but the son keeps denying the issue and pushing the blame on Ivan. Ivan then attacks the mercenaries near the lord and son, commanding the pair to run while Ivan takes care of everyone else. The mission is to make sure the lord and his son make it to the escape point on the map and also defeat the commander. The pair (who are ally units) will start basically on the opposite side of the map and move a few spaces in the direction of the escape point. The enemy mercenaries will prioritize targeting them, so it’s up to the students to clear the way. Meanwhile Ivan is also on the opposite side of the map, surrounded by many mercenaries who hit hard. He’s also rather close to the boss, who’s packing some nasty magic. It’s a game over if Byleth, Dimitri, Ivan, or the lord and his son fall. So it’s a mix of protecting the fleeing pair and also booking it over to Ivan before he runs out of vulneraries or gets killed considering his low Defense and Resistance. There’s no extra objective for this map, the standard reward being some Large Bullion, a Speedwing, and a Goddess Icon. Ivan and Dimitri both have unique dialogue with the boss, Dimitri’s focusing on the idea of losing family while Ivan’s focus on his role in the loss of the man’s sons while also pointing out that the kidnapping and the previous revenge attack on the town weren’t right.

Once everything’s done, the boss is still alive at the moment, heavily injured and being held back by a couple soldiers. The lord and his son meet up with the group and the lord says he got the story of the original incident from his son and that he plans on punishing the son properly for the chaos, thanking them for the help and leaving the mercenary leader’s punishment up to the group before leaving. With that out of the way, Dimitri confronts Ivan on running off to face the mercenaries without telling anyone. It’s pretty clear that if the brothers were alone, Dimitri would definitely be shouting at Ivan. Dimitri argues that Ivan’s actions endangered not only himself but also could have endangered the lord and his son. Meanwhile Ivan responds that it was his own mistakes that caused things to escalate this far in the first place, and that he’s also far more capable than Dimitri gives him credit for. The argument goes back and forth, and the pair bring up that this is similar to the fight they had in their support. Suddenly, the mercenary leader frees himself from the soldier and fires a powerful spell at Ivan’s back. Dimitri pushes Ivan out of the way, getting hit by the magic and going down. While the soldiers get the mercenary leader back in control, the rest of the group worries over Dimitri. It cuts back to the monastery, with Byleth seeing Ivan standing alone in the hallway. Byleth tells Ivan that Dimitri will be fine, he just needs to rest in the medical wing for a while. Byleth also brings up how Ivan is shaking. Ivan is quiet before soft wondering if this is a fraction of what Dimitri felt after the Tragedy of Duscur. He then apologizes to Byleth for all the trouble his actions had caused. He says how he knows how reckless he was, that he normally would never go so far. But his mind had been all over the place since their previous encounter with the mercenaries, knowing that his actions cost the mercenary leader both his sons. While he still considers what happened to the second son and the punishment the mercenary leader will receive justified, he notes that he acted too quickly in the first incident with the first son. And that the following two incidents wouldn’t have occurred if he hadn’t gone straight for the kill. Naïve, black and white justice…That’s what he’d always been accused of having, and for the first time in years he’s finally being confronted with the reality of that. He can’t fully understand what his feelings towards his views on justice are now, because some part of him is clinging to the status quo while the other part is starting to shift. But, more importantly to Ivan, he’s furious at Dimitri for taking the hit for him. That it was a stupid action that could have gotten him killed. Byleth points out that it seems only natural for Dimitri to want to protect his brother.

“He can’t afford to think like that, Professor! He’s a crown prince, heir to Faerghus! He can’t risk his life so carelessly. What will become of our kingdom without him? And even if he had the luxury of throwing his life away so easily, I’m not worth it! I’m sure there will be a pile of angrily worded letters from my uncle and the court awaiting me tomorrow, scolding me for risking Dimitri’s safety. To say nothing of the new batch of rumors this incident will cause…”

Byleth then brings up how before they arrived Dimitri called Ivan “selfishly selfless”. Ivan pauses and reveals that Dimitri has called him that several times over the years. Someone who is thinking of the “greater good” and “the right thing to do” but is so fixated on it they are unknowing or uncaring of the opinions of others, only focusing on doing an action that they feel will be the most beneficial while secretly doing said action for personal reasons. Ivan reveals that he can’t exactly say he isn’t like that…Dedue then comes in and stops Ivan from apologizing, telling him that Dimitri wishes to speak with Ivan later. Ivan quietly says he understands, believing that Dimitri has a right to outright punch him if he wants to for what Ivan did, while also preparing his own lecture for how foolish Dimitri was to take the hit for Ivan. But first Ivan has to come to one of the nearby empty classrooms, as the rest of the Blue Lions are waiting to talk to Ivan about his actions. Ivan agrees to meet up soon, knowing he owes everyone an apology. As Dedue leaves, he stops to tell Ivan that when Dimitri woke up, his first question was asking how Ivan was, and how relieved he was to know Ivan wasn’t hurt. And that the lecture the rest of the Blue Lions want to give him comes from fear that Ivan would’ve died without any of them knowing until it was too late. As Dedue leaves, Byleth can then point out to Ivan that it’s obvious he’s important to the others.

“…I understand…I swear, at heart I understand that they all care, that I’m important to them. But I-I can’t begin to explain to you how hard it is for me to accept that. No matter how many years pass, no matter what anyone says…But I’ll remember this mission, remember the lecture I’m about to get, and…remember what Dimitri did…And maybe, one day, I will honestly accept that I am of worth to them.”

Dining Hall and Group Tasks Conversations with Dimitri (Pre-Timeskip)

*After the fight in their support and after completing both Paralogues, Ivan and Dimitri’s conversations when eating and doing Group Tasks will change once more. The pair are still pretty awkward considering their support fight, especially since the second Paralogue kinda reignited said fight. But the Paralogues did seem to help change things*

Dining Hall

With Dimitri

Dimitri: “So…Does the food taste good, Ivan?”

Ivan: “…Yes. I think I understand what you mean by calling it ‘comforting’ now.”

Dimitri: “O-oh! That’s wonderful.”

Weeding

With Dimitri

Ivan: “Umm, is this weed one of those edible ones?”

Dimitri: “Hmm? Oh no, not that one! At least…I don’t think that one is…”

Ivan: “Shouldn’t you be more certain about this?”

Stable Duty

With Dimitri

Dimitri: “These horses are beautiful, don’t you think, Ivan?”

Ivan: “…Can I stand next to you, Dimitri?”

Dimitri: “…Of course.”

Sky Watch

With Dimitri

Ivan: “I’m okay, I’m okay, I’m okay.”

Dimitri: “Don’t worry, we’ll be done soon. Bear with it a little longer.”

Ivan: “R-right.”

Perfect Result

With Dimitri

Dimitri: “Excellent work today, Ivan! We make quite the pair, don’t we?”

Ivan: “…I suppose we do, once in a while.”

Good Result

With Dimitri

Ivan: “It was hard work, but the job’s done. Thank you for the help, Brother.”

Dimitri: “Oh! Y-you’re welcome.”

Miscellaneous Comments Around Monastery (Pre-Timeskip)

*These are comments Ivan makes if you speak to him when you explore the monastery. For the sake of spoilers, I’ve only included a couple and have tried to be vague where I can*

(After Remire Village) “O-oh, Professor…No, please don’t worry about me, I’m alright. It’s my brother who I’m more worried about. The way he’s acting, it reminds me of…No. It’s not my place to speak of it.”

(After Chapter 9) “Professor, it’s wonderful to see you walking around again. Are you…? No, asking if you’re alright is foolish. Whatever you need, whether it be company or time for yourself, please don’t hesitate to ask for it. So long as it helps you, I will do whatever I can.”

(After Flame Emperor reveal) “I-I can’t believe this! What in the world is going on here?! I’m sorry for not controlling myself, but this is all too much! And Dimitri…What am I supposed to do now…?”

Recruitment

Recruitment Requirements: Faith and Lance

There is also an additional requirement in that you have a time limit to recruit Ivan. You only have until BEFORE the mission in Remire Village to recruit Ivan. If you don’t recruit Ivan before that mission, he will no longer be able to be recruited. This is because he will stay in the Blue Lions out of concern for Dimitri, who he sees acting oddly following hearing about the Remire Village incident.

(Byleth trying to recruit Ivan before meeting requirements) “You want me to join your class, Professor? …Oh, haha, I see! You’re just joking, aren’t you? Of course you are.”

(Byleth trying to recruit Ivan after meeting requirements) “Joining your class…Y-yes, I accept. I think it’s about time I grew more independent, and I don’t see that happening if I stay with the Blue Lions. I hope my brother doesn’t take this personally though.”

(Ivan asking to be recruited) “Professor, can I ask you something? W-would it be alright if I joined your class? I feel that I’m being coddled by remaining with the Blue Lions. I believe learning under someone with your experience would prove to be quite the boon. So, would you accept my offer?”

(If Byleth says yes) “Yes, I figured you would-Wait, you accept? Oh, thank you, Professor! I look forward to working with you!”

(If Byleth says no) “O-oh. Umm, yes, I…I perfectly understand your decision. P-please, excuse me…”

What Happened During the Timeskip

After Dimitri is captured and falsely charged with murder and set for execution, Ivan goes into hiding in Faerghus with Dedue to avoid being captured themselves and to plan to help Dimitri escape. Dedue’s plan is very straightforward but also puts him in tons of danger from being killed. Ivan wants to try something else. Dedue agrees to give Ivan the chance to fulfill his plan but is also ready at any time to fulfill his own plan. Ivan goes to high ranking members of the nobility and Faerghus’ royal court who are known to be loyal to the Blaiddyd family to ask for their aid in freeing his brother. He manages to gather them together and for a few days try to plan out a way to help Dimitri escape secretly. But the big problem is how to safely do so, particularly how to ensure that Cornelia and the empire won’t immediately search for Dimitri. At which point, the nobles come to a conclusion that Ivan had briefly considered but didn’t dare to voice: having Ivan masquerade as Dimitri. The idea being that when they secretly retrieve Dimitri, Ivan will take his place…and be executed in his place…And they talk as if it’s a done deal, not asking for Ivan’s thoughts. But why would they? Hadn’t they and his uncle drilled it into his head for years and years following the Tragedy of Duscur that Ivan’s life was no longer his own? That he must be able to do anything for his brother? But wasn’t this a callous plan, even by their standards? Was his life truly worth so little to the kingdom that they can easily agree to throw him away for his brother? But…that was it, wasn’t it? His life is worth that little. And besides, he’s the spare. Usually the spare’s role was to take over should the worst happen to the true heir. But if the spare was a worthless and weak person like him, they were far more useful as decoys and sacrifices to save the true heir. Why was Ivan getting so upset? He had briefly considered the idea of sacrificing himself just moments earlier. And he doesn’t want Dimitri to die. But…

“…I don’t want to die…”

“That’s understandable, my prince, but please listen to reason. We have little time and few options. This will give Prince Dimitri the best chance for survival.”

“…But I want to survive too. Why do I have to die for Dimitri?”

“Prince Ivan, don’t be selfish. Of course you wish to live, anyone would, but this is for the good of the kingdom. It’s unfortunate to lose you, but you must be brave and behave as a proper knight should. For Prince Dimitri’s sake.”

…For Dimitri’s sake…And that’s what it all came down to, didn’t it? Dimitri, the golden child, the ideal heir, the crown prince. The unquestionably beloved favorite. And Ivan was the “other one”, the failure, the joke. The timid weakling who no one expected anything of, who no one had any hopes for. Just likes always…Just like always. And after spending a lifetime repressing his bitterness and jealousy, something inside Ivan snaps in that moment. And he attacks. Chaos erupts as Ivan loses it, attacking the nobles and anyone else who gets nears him. And of course Ivan gets hurt badly as well, suffering an especially brutal wound to the face. But he’s tired, he’s angry, and he’s done. He rages and rages. Dedue doesn’t know what’s going on but the chaos is the perfect distraction to set about his plan for freeing Dimitri. And if you played Blue Lions route you know what goes down there.

Blue Lions Version

On the Blue Lions route, Ivan eventually comes back to his senses and sees the chaos that he waged. Is anyone dead…? No, it doesn’t look like it, they’re all making noises. But there’s so much blood. And there are soldiers coming. So, using the last bits of energy he has left, he runs and runs. Cornelia puts out a bounty on his head, considering him a criminal and attempted murderer, just as much of a “demon” as his brother. Heavily injured, Ivan has no time to rest or heal with the entire kingdom on the lookout for him. So he escapes via the woods and tries to survive and keep moving, getting pretty far as he’s certain he’s nowhere near Fhirdiad or any other major residential areas. But he can only do so much with such serious wounds, he eventually collapses. When he wakes up, it’s to find himself in an unfamiliar bed in a small house. A retired former bishop and his wife who live out in this secluded part of the forest found him days earlier and have been nursing him back to health. Ivan is understandably suspicious, especially since the pair admit they know he’s a prince of Faerghus, but the pair insist they won’t harm him, nor will they allow anyone else to harm him either. And maybe it’s their gentle expressions or the fact that Ivan is just too exhausted, but he accepts their care. Besides, he has nowhere else to go, the traitors ruling the kingdom want him dead and his violent escape probably ruined any shred of mercy the citizens of Faerghus might have held for him. So Ivan spends the next five years with the bishop and his wife, doing work for them to make up for his presence and working on his fighting skills, the couple providing plenty of assistance with that. Now and then they give him news they heard about what’s going on in Faerghus, and across Fodlan. Dimitri is considered dead…But Ivan refuses to believe that. There’s no way Dedue would’ve allowed it. Then again, perhaps he refuses to believe it because he’ll break otherwise. Knowing that if he had just sacrificed himself, his brother would be alive. And maybe everything wouldn’t have gone to hell. But fighting with that part of him is a much louder side to him that is tired of being second best and considered worth less than Dimitri. A side that slowly learns to speak his mind more, that is getting used to fighting (because some bandits and stray soldiers do show up now and then and Ivan can’t leave them alive). When the day of the promised reunion with the other Blue Lions comes, Ivan doesn’t go, not believing they’d be there, ashamed of himself for being of no use all these years. But then he hears rumors of a small force occupying Garreg Mach Monastery, led by a mysterious person with a whip-like sword and a ferocious beast of a man with inhuman strength. Ivan doesn’t dare to hope…but Byleth had that sword…and his brother’s strength was always absurd…Could Byleth have survived? Was…Was Dimitri alive after all? What had become of him in the past five years? Ivan makes a decision. He thanks the bishop and wife for their help and sets out to Garreg Mach. Will he find the people who were everything to him? Will he find some strangers? Will he be killed before he gets there? Who knows? But he’s done hiding and feeling sorry for himself. And, even though his bitterness and jealousy are tearing at his heart and mind, more than anything, he wants to see everyone again. He wants to see Dimitri again.

Golden Deer Version

On the Golden Deer route, if Ivan was recruited prior to the timeskip, Ivan eventually comes back to his senses and sees the chaos that he waged. Is anyone dead…? No, it doesn’t look like it, they’re all making noises. But there’s so much blood. And there are soldiers coming. So, using the last bits of energy he has left, he runs and runs. Cornelia puts out a bounty on his head, considering him a criminal and attempted murderer, just as much of a “demon” as his brother. Heavily injured, Ivan has no time to rest or heal with the entire kingdom on the lookout for him. So he escapes via the woods and tries to survive and keep moving, getting pretty far as he’s certain he’s nowhere near Fhirdiad or any other major residential areas. But he can only do so much with such serious wounds, he eventually collapses. He wakes up when he feels a rocking sensation and opens his eyes, seeing that he’s lying in a caravan. He panics, thinking he’s been captured, until some people try to calm him down. They explain they’re merchants from Leicester who had been travelling through Faerghus on business but were trying to escape back to Leicester with things growing more chaotic. They found Ivan collapsed near the road and, seeing hos injured he was, took him in and have been trying to treat him. They ask if he’s from anywhere nearby, that if possible they could try to drop him off. But Ivan is hit with a wave of terror so intense, he begs them to let him come along. It’s cowardice, it must be. What of Dimitri’s fate? Dimitri is alive…Please, please, let him be alive. What of the citizens? They must want nothing to do with him now that he had the gall to attack his own people, not to mention Cornelia and the empire wanting him dead…He was scared. And so he’s brought back to Leicester, where after treatment he seeks out Claude. Claude offers to secretly shelter him in Leicester, provided that Ivan would be willing to help with Claude’s own plans. Ivan agrees, unable to think of anything else he could do, so long as Claude agrees to also give him news from Faerghus whenever possible, especially any news about Dimitri. And so five years pass, with Ivan providing help in Leicester’s own war efforts, and with their infighting due to split opinions on the empire. He stays with a minor noble loyal to the von Riegan family during that time, and Claude fills his end of the deal by giving him news whenever possible. Dimitri is considered dead, but there are so many suspicious circumstances that Ivan’s heart doesn’t fully shatter. He won’t let it until he sees a body. The people seem torn between considering Ivan a monster for attacking his own citizens and wondering if he was alive, if the Blaiddyd royal line was truly gone and that there was no one who would help. Ivan’s poor self-esteem plummets during his time in Leicester, even with all the help he’s providing, considering himself nothing but a coward who ran away and is hiding from trouble. But…he’ll trust in Claude’s plans, trust that it will be the best for Faerghus. Ivan doesn’t have the strength to trust in anything else.

Fourth Route Version

On the Fourth route, if Ivan was recruited prior to the timeskip, Ivan eventually comes back to his senses and sees the chaos that he waged. Is anyone dead…? No, it doesn’t look like it, they’re all making noises. But there’s so much blood. And there are soldiers coming. So, using the last bits of energy he has left, he runs and runs. Cornelia puts out a bounty on his head, considering him a criminal and attempted murderer, just as much of a “demon” as his brother. Heavily injured, Ivan has no time to rest or heal with the entire kingdom on the lookout for him. So he escapes via the woods and tries to survive and keep moving, getting pretty far as he’s certain he’s nowhere near Fhirdiad or any other major residential areas. But he can only do so much with such serious wounds, he eventually collapses. He wakes up in a familiar place, the medical wing of the monastery. Some nuns from the monastery came across his unconscious form a few days ago and brought him back to the monastery to be healed. The nuns say that once he’s been given a clean bill of health he’s free to return home to Faerghus. But Ivan is hit with a wave of terror so intense, he begs them to let him stay at the monastery. It’s cowardice, it must be. What of Dimitri’s fate? Dimitri is alive…Please, please, let him be alive. What of the citizens? They must want nothing to do with him now that he had the gall to attack his own people, not to mention Cornelia and the empire wanting him dead…He was scared. Ivan ends up meeting and speaking with Seteth, who kindly agrees to allow him to stay at the monastery since it’s so dangerous for Ivan to return to Faerghus, promising to bring Ivan any news about Faerghus and Dimitri he could obtain. For the next five years, Ivan worked hard studying under the guidance of the monastery staff and helping defend the monastery from attacks. And Seteth delivers whatever information he can find. Dimitri is considered dead, but there are so many suspicious circumstances that Ivan’s heart doesn’t fully shatter. He won’t let it until he sees a body. The people seem torn between considering Ivan a monster for attacking his own citizens and wondering if he was alive, if the Blaiddyd royal line was truly gone and that there was no one who would help. Ivan’s poor self-esteem plummets during his time in the monastery, even with all the help he’s providing, considering himself nothing but a coward who ran away and is hiding from trouble. And he truly is nothing but a coward…But if he can’t defend Faerghus, at the very least he’ll defend the monastery.

Black Eagles Version

On the Black Eagles route, if Ivan was recruited prior to the timeskip, his story is somewhat different compared to the main story listed above. In this case, Ivan and Dimitri end up having a massive falling out. Dimitri, already not doing well following everything with the Flame Emperor and stuff, does not take Ivan’s time with the Black Eagles very well, considering it a betrayal as a prince of Faerghus. Ivan knows that Dimitri isn’t well but also is getting aggravated by how Dimitri is treating him, especially since he seemed so okay with Ivan’s transfer when Ivan had originally brought it up. The two end up having a massive argument, basically the same argument from their B support, only it’s MUCH WORSE as it contains no mention of the more positive aspects of their bond, instead zeroing in on all the negatives, with them repeatedly bringing up aspects of each other that hurt badly. It then escalates to the point where the pair start actually fighting each other, and it gets nasty. Ivan gets a particularly bad wound across his face. Some guards see what’s happening and manage to pry the pair apart, but Ivan is done and shakes off everyone and runs off, without even treating his injuries. He keeps running and running and running…until he’s not sure how far he’s gone but his body can no longer move, having only lasted as far as it did thanks to adrenaline and his fury. He passes out in what seems like the middle of nowhere. When he wakes up, Ivan realizes he’s been captured by Imperial soldiers and becomes resigned to death, after all he did to escape. But the soldiers instead decided to bring him back to Edelgard alive, to see what she would like done to a prince of Faerghus. When Ivan is brought before Edelgard, he fully expects a swift death as he glares her down. He isn’t prepared for her to order that he be healed, nor that she wishes to discuss things with him. Maybe it’s the shred of kindness he received after the chaos of his escape or maybe it’s because anger and bitterness are overflowing within him, but after his talk with Edelgard, he agrees to defect to the empire. Most of the people of the empire don’t trust him, but Ivan doesn’t care. His feelings towards Faerghus, towards his brother, shift to resentment and a desire to come out on top of them, to defeat them, to be better. Perhaps it’s selfish, cold, cruel. He doesn’t care. He spends the next five years training and becoming a reliable member of the Black Eagles, ready to do whatever it takes, face whoever he must. He’s sick and tired of Faerghus. Sick and tired of Dimitri. So he’s fine with becoming a traitor…Truly he is…

Timeskip Appearance

Ivan’s default in terms of class is Bishop and his inventory is whatever he held prior to the timeskip. As for appearance, he keeps up the identical twin thing with Dimitri in terms of height and general physical looks, but there are some more noticeable changes now. He’s grown his hair to his shoulders and ties it back in a short low ponytail. He has a gigantic scar that goes diagonally across his face, starting from his hairline at the top right, partially covered by his bangs, down to the bottom left by his jawline. This scar was a result of the fight he had with the nobles (in all non-Black Eagles routes) or the fight with Dimitri (Black Eagles route). Fun fact, he doesn’t have the scar if the Black Eagles route is chosen but Ivan isn’t recruited. As for clothes, he wears a high collared black shirt with long sleeves that flare out at the wrists. The edges of the sleeves have an intricate gold pattern on them. He also wears white gloves. Over the shirt he wears a simple white vest with gold lining and gold buttons. He wears black pants, and around his left thigh is a gold garter (is that the right term???) that’s embedded with blue sapphires. He wears a brown belt that has a brown pouch attached around his hips, the pouch containing some medical supplies and some personal items (such as the lost items I mentioned in part 1 as well as other sentimental stuff). He wears knee high white boots that have golden clasps on them. And to round out the outfit he wears a blue hooded cloak (though he doesn’t wear the hood unless it’s raining/snowing) that extends down to his elbows. The edge of the bottom of the cloak and the edge of the hood is lined with fluffy white fur. The blue part of the cloak has an intricate gold design sewn onto it. And the cloak is tied across his chest via a thin golden chain.

Character Description (Post-Timeskip)

The second prince of the Holy Kingdom of Faerghus, and Dimitri’s twin. A gentle young man who has grown used to the battlefield. His feelings towards his brother and homeland are complicated, maybe more so than even he realizes.

*Also, post-timeskip, Ivan can act as a Faith and Reason instructor*

Ivan’s Return in Blue Lions Route

Ivan doesn’t come back to the party with everyone else in the reunion at the monastery. Instead he comes back a chapter later (I made up an extra chapter for this), a couple chapters before Dedue returns. He returns at the beginning of the month and everyone is as glad to see him alive and well as he is to see them. When he sees Dimitri, he gets really emotional since he always worried about what became of his brother. Dimitri, for once in the post-timeskip era, actually acts gentle and welcomes Ivan back. Ivan gives a brief rundown of what happened to him and then the month officially starts. Except, something’s off. Ivan can be spoken to in the monastery, participate in auxiliary battles, be invited for tea parties, and do stuff like eat with others. But he can’t be instructed or do group tasks. He doesn’t earn any supports with the others and no supports can be watched involving him. He can’t do other events that raise skills. It’s strange. And then, cur the end of the month battle. The group goes out on a mission and soon get word that a large number of Imperial soldiers are approaching…It’s an ambush. Dimitri wants to go on a rampage, but the numbers are far too great for their small group, it doesn’t look like escape is possible. And you may remember earlier I said that completing Ivan’s two Paralogues pre-timeskip leads to something BIG. Well, here’s that big thing. Whether or not you completed both of Ivan’s Paralogues determines his fate, hence why you couldn’t do much with him when he returned.

If Both Paralogues Were Not Completed: While the group discusses what to do, Ivan softly brings up the idea of someone baiting the Imperial forces, distracting them as many of them as possible so that the others can escape. Byleth can agree or disagree with the idea, but it sparks a huge argument as no one wants anyone else to sacrifice themselves, meanwhile Dimitri is insistent they destroy the Imperial forces. A little later, after everyone has had time to calm down, they meet again as they’re running out of time to come up with a plan…only to notice that Ivan isn’t around. Some scouts then show up to say that Ivan went off to distract the Imperial soldiers, sending them off with a message telling the others to flee while he draws the Imperial soldiers’ attention. Naturally, everyone freaks out that he went off without telling anyone and is doing this alone, so they go after him. Only to arrive just in time to see Ivan take a mortal blow and fall to the ground, asking the others why they didn’t run. The sight makes Dimitri freak out, and that’s putting it lightly. So the map becomes a rout the enemy map against a ton of enemies with several rounds of reinforcements. But Ivan had successfully taken down a fair number of enemies beforehand, so it’s no longer an impossible battle, but it’s a grueling one. After the map ends, Ivan is barely clinging to life…But it’s obvious he can’t be saved. Dimitri clings to Ivan, begging him not to go, not to become yet another spirit haunting him. Not when they’ve finally been reunited after all this time! But Ivan has reached his limit, both physically and mentally. Even if no one else will accept it, he has accepted his own fate. How funny. He ran from Faerghus five years ago precisely because he didn’t want to sacrifice himself for Dimitri. And yet he did it anyway now, of his own free will, and it didn’t even amount to anything. Isn’t that fitting? The failure second prince, an unwanted joke who is good for nothing, made even his own death a failure. With the last bits of energy Ivan has, he airs out all his grievances against Dimitri, how much he hated being considered second best, the unfavorite. How his life was so often treated as secondary to Dimitri’s, no matter what he did.

Ivan: “If I can be honest…I really hate you, Dimitri. I hate you so, so much.”

Dimitri: “…You deserve to…You deserve to. So, please-”

Ivan: “But, to tell you the truth…I love you far more. More than I could ever say…I suppose I’m just meant…to be contradictory…to the end.”

Dimitri: “Ivan.”

Ivan: “I’m sorry…I couldn’t do anything for you…Brother.”

If Both Paralogues Were Completed: While the group discusses what to do about the ambush, Ivan is noticeably quiet throughout the conversation, even when things start getting heated between everyone. Eventually the meeting is called off for everyone to cool their heads. Later on, Ivan is seen pacing around on his own, seemingly deep in thought. Byleth goes up to him and asks what’s wrong. Ivan starts acting a little evasive, but Byleth is insistent. Eventually, Ivan relents and reveals that he had been planning to provide a distraction for everyone by drawing the Imperial forces’ attention to him. Byleth points out that he could’ve been killed, which Ivan agrees. When Byleth asks what changed his mind, Ivan admits that he remembered a time from years earlier when he went off and did something of his own that could have gotten him killed. And how he remembered how upset everyone had been, how Dimitri had risked himself to save Ivan and was happy Ivan was alright while also being furious that Ivan had tried something so reckless. When their reactions came to his mind, he froze in place. It was that same fear of death that made him not want to sacrifice himself for Dimitri. But now…This fear was more so that he didn’t want die because he wanted to grow with the others, he didn’t want them to mourn for him. Then Ivan admits he’s actually thought of a different tactic to deal with the ambush. It’s still pretty risky and it’ll be hard work, but he thinks they can do it. When Ivan and Byleth walk off to tell the others Ivan’s plan, it’s revealed that Dimitri had been secretly listening in on the conversation. Ivan then explains his plan to everyone, that there are some nearby routes that were once supply routes a long time ago. During a past war the routes were attacked and blocked off. If they can free up a small space for their small army and escape through, and then block off the paths once more, they should be safe. But they’ll have to distract the Imperial troops while others work to free an opening for them in the blocked routes. It’s hard and risky, but everyone agrees it’s worth a shot and better than anything else they had in mind. The map involves several enemies and endless reinforcements. The goal is to defend the supply route area for seven turns so that an opening can be cleared, and then have all player units escape the map within another seven turns. It’s a game over if the defense point is breached or if Dimitri, Byleth or Ivan die. Ivan has talking conversations with Byleth and Dimitri on this map.

Talked to with Byleth

Ivan: “Professor? Could you keep what I told you before a secret? You know, about my original plan? I don’t want the others to worry unnecessarily. It’s okay. I swear I won’t ever consider sacrificing myself again…I have people I care about who I don’t want to see hurt because of me.”

Talked to with Dimitri

Dimitri: “Ivan.”

Ivan: “D-Dimitri! I, umm, I didn’t expect you to talk to me. What’s wrong?”

Dimitri: “I have something to tell you later.”

Ivan: “Wait, Brother, I…And there he goes. ‘Something to tell me’…?”

After the map is completed and the supply routes are block off again so they won’t be followed, everyone is happy and congratulates Ivan on coming up with the plan, to which the boy is pretty bashful but happy that it worked out. The others then go on ahead, leaving Ivan alone with Dimitri and Byleth. Dimitri goes up to Ivan with an angry look, calling Ivan out his original plan to sacrifice himself. Ivan insists that while it was a thought, born of all the years of how he was treated by the Faerghus court, he doesn’t feel like it anymore, that he remembers how everyone responded to that incident with those mercenaries five years ago, how Dimitri responded to that. After a very tense silence…Dimitri places a hand atop Ivan’s head, while Ivan stares in surprise.

Dimitri: “Don’t die before me…Swear you won’t die before me.”

Ivan: “Brother…I can’t make such a promise. But…I will swear this. I will never throw away my life carelessly. I won’t even think of it.”

Dimitri: “Ivan…”

Ivan: “Come now, Dimitri, don’t look at me like that. I won’t die easily. I have the devil’s luck, remember?”

Dimitri: “…I suppose you do…”

Blue Lions Comments if Ivan Survived (Paralogues Were Completed)

Dedue (after he returns to the party): “I heard that Prince Ivan saved everyone from a massive ambush. I’m glad to hear that everything turned out for the best. And Prince Ivan looks much more at ease than I’ve ever seen him.”

Felix: “To be honest, when the softhearted fool said he had an idea to deal with the ambush, I was prepared to shut it down. Because, knowing him, I expected some more of his typical martyr complex act. Hmm, maybe he’s finally moving past all that. I’m actually impressed…Don’t tell him I said any of this, got it?”

Sylvain: “To think the Ivan who always cowered at the smallest noises would be the one to save the day. Actually, I don’t know why I’m acting so surprised. Ivan’s always been far more capable than anyone has ever given him credit for. That includes those of us who grew up with him. Hmm, I wonder if this is what it feels like to be a proud big brother?”

Ingrid: “Ivan really isn’t a child anymore. Haha, I know that might sound strange to say, but I’ve always treated Ivan as the same timid little boy I grew up with. As we got older, he remained so gentle that I never stopped acting like his protector. But for all his gentleness, I never saw how much he had grown in other ways…I’m proud of him. I’m certain we all are.”

Mercedes: “Ivan seems so much happier than before. And even though Dimitri is still keeping away from all of us, I’ve seen Ivan talking with him, or at him, more. I’m so glad for it, I remembered them having some issues with each other back in the academy. But if Ivan can speak with him so easily, and if Dimitri isn’t pushing him away, then they must be doing better, right?”

Annette: “Doesn’t Prince Ivan seem to be in a much better mood, Professor? It’s not like he was being a downer before, but he kept acting unusually distant. As if he felt he didn’t belong here with the rest of us. Well, I’m glad he’s talking with all of us again! Now if only Prince Dimitri would talk to us, we would finally all be together again.”

Ashe: “After seeing Prince Ivan take control of the battlefield last time, it makes me wish everyone in Faerghus could have seen it. I wish they could have watched it, just so I can point at Prince Ivan and say, ‘There. You see? That’s the man you’re always calling a pathetic joke. That’s the man you’re always looking down on.’ I can’t wait until everyone finally sees Prince Ivan the way we see him.”

Dimitri: “Go away…Speak with Ivan.”

Blue Lions Comments if Ivan Died (Paralogues Were Not Completed)

Dedue (after he returns to the party): “I…I heard what happened to Prince Ivan. I know he went off on his own, that by the time anyone noticed it was too late to do anything. But I can’t help but think if I had returned sooner then maybe he wouldn’t have…I’m sorry. Please give me a moment.”

Felix: “Ivan was always a self-sacrificial fool. He got it into his head that he’s only worth anything if he tries to throw his life away at the drop of a hat. Well, with how Faerghus is like, it’s no wonder he turned out that way…Damn it. Damn that idiot!”

Sylvain: “You know, I keep thinking about the Ivan I grew up with. He cried over everything and startled at the tiniest noises. If we weren’t comforting Felix, we were comforting him. I…I always thought he shouldn’t become a knight. He was too fragile, in many ways…Guess I was right, huh?”

Ingrid: “Ivan…Oh, Ivan! I’m so sick and tired of losing people dear to me. I know this is war, that I should be prepared for anything. But Ivan didn’t have to die! He decided to do such a foolish thing on his own and…and…Why? Why did he never believe us when we told him how important he was to us?!”

Mercedes: “Professor. Did you know I have a book of notes from Ivan? We’ve always traded notes on new healing techniques we learned or how to improve spells and potions. It was so much fun having a rival like him. Having a friend…like him…Please excuse me, Professor. I-I wish to pray for him a little longer.”

Annette: “I’ve been thinking of a new song. I know, it must sound inappropriate to be thinking of songs after Prince Ivan…Well, the song is for him. I always respected his skill for composing, his beautiful voice. I never got to tell him how much I looked up to him. And now I’ll never be able to. So, the least I can do is take everything I admired about him, everything I learned from listening to him, and create a song he would have loved…”

Ashe: “Prince Ivan is really gone. H-he’s really…Forgive me, Professor, I thought I was done crying. This…This isn’t fair! Prince Ivan only decided to sacrifice himself because of the stupid way everyone in the kingdom treated him! They never bothered to know him! And now…Prince Ivan, I’m so sorry…”

Dimitri: “Please, Ivan, don’t look at me like that. I-I swear, I’ll kill them, I’ll get revenge for you. So, please, show me your smile. Sing for me one more time. Just once, I beg of you! …Ivan, please!”

Ivan in Black Eagles Route (If Unrecruited)

In Black Eagles route, at first it isn’t clear that it’s Ivan that’s being faced (I made up extra chapter for this). It looks like Dimitri, from appearance to armor to his voice and personality. His stats, skills, and the fact that he has Areadbhar all suggest he’s Dimitri. Although you may notice his stats seem kinda strange, with higher than expected Magic and Luck and his Strength being lower than expected. Furthermore, while he only has lances in his inventory, his skills are high in Faith and Reason. It’s a rout the enemy map and “Dimitri” is waiting on the far side of the map and calling in plenty of reinforcements. After you go past a certain point of the map, “Dimitri” gives Areadbhar to another soldier and tells them to bring it back to Fhirdiad, that he won’t allow it to be lost here. Fun fact, if you somehow get to “Dimitri” without triggering that dialogue, he will use Areadbhar but regardless of how the battle ends, he’ll toss it at a nearby soldier and order them to get it back to Fhirdiad. If he survives losing Areadbhar the second way, he’ll use the other lances in his inventory. Once he loses Areadbhar the “expected” way, he instead has another soldier give him a new lance…the Skylight Spear. Which, once you kill him, you get to keep as your own! Basically as the map goes on it becomes more and more clear that it’s Ivan instead of Dimitri. Ivan is pretty much tiring out Edelgard’s army and stalling them to give Dimitri and his troops more time to prepare. When he falls, he admits that he never wished to go out like this, having to act like his brother in body and soul, barely being able to be himself…But if his actions can help save his brother and his people, then he can accept this kind of end…He dies defiant and cursing out Edelgard and the empire. “Long live the Holy Kingdom of Faerghus!”

Ivan in Golden Deer Route (If Unrecruited)

Following a certain incident, news reaches the Golden Deer that Ivan is fighting alone in a nearby Imperial stronghold (I made up an extra chapter for this). The Golden Deer, who were planning to capture said stronghold, try to see if they can save him, since reports say that despite how hard he’s fighting, he seems severely injured and exhausted. The map is a large one with numerous enemies, the objective being to defeat the commander, and you get a special reward if Ivan stays alive to the end. Which will be hard as he’s an ally unit who is gonna go after any enemy nearby. If he dies before the end of the map, the Golden Deer will briefly lament his loss and will retrieve his body so that he can at least be sent back to Faerghus to be laid to rest. If he survives the map, it will be revealed that he’s still far too injured, and he rejects any treatment. As thanks for their help, he gives Byleth the Skylight Spear, saying that he has no more use for it. He then begs Claude to send him to a certain place related to the previously mentioned certain incident. Claude sighs before agreeing, if that will bring Ivan peace in the end. When Ivan is dropped off at the place, he says his goodbyes and thanks the Golden Deer before walking off, never to be seen alive again.

Ivan in Fourth Route (If Unrecruited)

This is short because Ivan’s fate in the Fourth Route happens offscreen. After a certain incident, it is revealed that Ivan was killed in battle. It’s said he fought long and hard, that he tried all he could, but the foe was too numerous for him. His fate is only revealed via scouts telling the story.

Ivan’s AI

If Ivan is recruited, he will not initiate combat with any of the Blue Lions. If you put him next to a Blue Lion, the “attack” option will not appear. The only way he will attack a Blue Lion is if he is left in their attack range and they initiate an attack on him, in which case he will retaliate. There is only ONE exception to this rule. If Ivan was recruited on the Black Eagles route, he will be able to initiate combat with Dimitri, and only Dimitri.

If Ivan wasn’t recruited, then as an enemy AI he will not initiate combat with any Blue Lions that were recruited to other Houses, even if they are in his attack range. He will only attack a Blue Lion in retaliation for them initiating an attack on him.

Ivan’s Battle Quotes Against Blue Lions and Byleth

*Ivan only has special battle quotes with Byleth, Dimitri, Dedue, and his childhood friends. The other Blue Lions all share a general quote depending on the route*

Vs. Byleth (Golden Deer)

Ivan: “Professor! …I knew someone like you couldn’t have died so easily. But, to reunite here of all places. I’m sorry, Professor. But I have to do this!”

Vs. Byleth (Black Eagles)

“Dimitri”: “So you really did live, Professor. You have the devil’s luck, don’t you? Well, no matter. If you plan to destroy Faerghus, then your so-called luck runs out today!”

Vs. Dimitri (Golden Deer)

Dimitri: “So, you’ve come to face me after all.”

Ivan: “Dimitri…You’re alive. You have no idea how happy I-”

Dimitri: “Enough! How dare you talk to me so casually when you ran away from your people with your tail between your legs, you coward.”

Ivan: “So…you think that of me too? I won’t deny my cowardice. I’m a failure of a prince…But I’m truly so happy to see you again, Dimitri. So, please, can’t we-?”

Dimitri: “Silence. Either get out of my way…or prepare to be struck down.”

Vs. Dimitri (Black Eagles)

Dimitri: “Ivan! You traitorous bastard! You have the gall to appear before me?!”

Ivan: “Nice to see you again, too, Dimitri! I’ve been waiting for the chance to fight you! I’ve been waiting…for so long.”

Dimitri: “Hmph. So we’ll have the chance to finish our battle after all these years. Well then, prepare yourself. Or will you run away to hide behind someone stronger, like the weak-willed crybaby you always were?”

Ivan: “Heh…So you reveal your true thoughts at last. I should’ve known…that you always looked down on me like everyone else did. Goodbye, Your Highness!”

Vs. Dedue (Golden Deer)

Ivan: “Dedue…I’m glad you’re alright…”

Dedue: “Prince Ivan. So you survived after all. But here you stand against His Highness…I won’t hold back.”

Ivan: “I…I understand.”

Vs. Dedue (Black Eagles)

Dedue: “I would have never thought the gentle Prince Ivan I once knew would ever turn traitor. Have you no shame?”

Ivan: “Dedue. Get out of my way. I only want to face Dimitri. I have nothing against you.”

Dedue: “But the fact that you wish to fight His Highness gives me enough reason to face you.”

Vs. Felix (If Ivan was recruited to Golden Deer)

Felix: “You survived after all, huh? Not bad for someone who always shakes in battle like a newborn fawn.”

Ivan: “Felix! Listen, we don’t have to fight! Please, why don’t we-?”

Felix: “For someone who always claimed to know me like the back of his hand, you’re as naïve as ever. This is war, Ivan. I won’t abandon the field.”

Ivan: “Felix, please no…”

Vs. Felix (If Ivan was recruited to Black Eagles)

Ivan: “Oh, Felix.”

Felix: “Out of everyone in Faerghus, you always seemed too clingy and timid to ever turn against Faerghus…I guess I never knew you as well as I thought I did.”

Ivan: “No, I guess not…You won’t leave?”

Felix: “I won’t.”

Ivan: “…Then goodbye, old friend.”

Vs. Felix (If Felix was recruited to Golden Deer)

Ivan: “Felix, you…You…”

Felix: “Hmm? What’s wrong? You forgot what you were gonna say?”

Ivan: “No. More that I realized, regardless of what I say, it won’t change your mind. So, let’s get this over with.”

Felix: “…Alright.”

Vs. Felix (If Felix was recruited to Black Eagles)

“Dimitri”: “Well, look who’s shown his face after all this time! Are you enjoying trampling over the weak in your lust for power, Felix?!”

Felix: “…Who the hell do you think you’re fooling? You think such a cheap disguise will work on me?”

“Dimitri”: “…Just stay quiet and face me. I don’t want to hear anything else from you…”

Vs. Sylvain (If Ivan was recruited to Golden Deer)

Sylvain: “Well then. You really did survive, Ivan.”

Ivan: “S-Sylvain…I don’t want to fight you. Please, I’m begging you, don’t make me fight you!”

Sylvain: “…You haven’t changed much after all, have you? Well, in some ways I’m glad. But in other ways, I’m not. This is war, Ivan. As soldiers, we don’t have the luxury to say no, do we?”

Ivan: “…We don’t. I know we don’t…”

Vs. Sylvain (If Ivan was recruited to Black Eagles)

Sylvain: “I always wondered when I’d have to cut down a familiar face in this damn war. But to think you of all people would be an option? Color me surprised.”

Ivan: “…This is war. Many of the soldiers we’re facing were fellow students. You should have been more prepared for this, Sylvain.”

Sylvain: “Yeah, well…I guess I thought you’d be clinging to my back forever.”

Vs. Sylvain (If Sylvain was recruited to Golden Deer)

Ivan: “Sylvain! Why did you come here?! I don’t want to fight you!”

Sylvain: “Ivan…You look all grown up now. Guess you didn’t need me to hide behind after all.”

Ivan: “…If I told you I’d hide behind your back for the rest of my life if it meant you’d come home, would you return?”

Sylvain: “Honestly, I’d laugh in your face if you ever made such a suggestion with a straight face…Ivan. It’s nothing personal, I swear.”

Vs. Sylvain (If Sylvain was recruited to Black Eagles)

“Dimitri”: “I’ve always meant to ask, what was it that made you go over to the Black Eagles all those years ago? Was it the allure of another pretty face? Is that worth betraying your homeland, Sylvain?”

Sylvain: “Well, well, well. You’ve become quite mouthy over the years. Or…are you just that good of an actor?”

“Dimitri”: “…I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Sylvain: “I guess you don’t. Well, come at me then, Dimitri.”

Vs. Ingrid (If Ivan was recruited to Golden Deer)

Ingrid: “Oh, Ivan…I’m so happy you’re alive!”

Ivan: “Ingrid. I missed you a lot. But…won’t you leave? We don’t have to fight, do we?”

Ingrid: “I…As a knight, I can’t abandon my liege. I won’t abandon the battlefield. Even for you, my dear friend.”

Ivan: “Ingrid…”

Vs. Ingrid (If Ivan was recruited to Black Eagles)

Ivan: “Ingrid. Out of the way. I don’t want to fight you.”

Ingrid: “I don’t know who you think you are to speak with me so casually. Only my friends are allowed to speak with me in such a way. And I don’t recognize you as such!”

Ivan: “…I understand.”

Vs. Ingrid (If Ingrid was recruited to Golden Deer)

Ingrid: “Ivan. Please get out of my way. Fighting you is the last thing I want to do.”

Ivan: “Ingrid. You look well. But, I’m sorry, I can’t leave. On my honor as a knight of Faerghus. And, more importantly, on my honor as Dimitri’s brother. You can understand that, can’t you?”

Ingrid: “…Y-yes, I understand.”

Vs. Ingrid (If Ingrid was recruited to Black Eagles)

Ingrid: “Ivan…Oh, Ivan, what are you doing here?”

“Dimitri”: “…It’s Dimitri. I’d ask you to refer to me as such, but you lost any right to call me by name when you turned against Faerghus.”

Ingrid: “I see. Very well then. But…You’ve grown so strong while I wasn’t looking. Please, take pride in that.”

“Dimitri”: “Enough. Please…”

Vs. Mercedes/Ashe/Annette (If Ivan was recruited to Golden Deer)

Ivan: “I don’t want to fight you…So, please, stay away!”

Vs. Mercedes/Ashe/Annette (If Ivan was recruited to Black Eagles)

Ivan: “…Why did you have to come to me? …F-fine then. This is what I deserve.”

Vs. Mercedes/Ashe/Annette (If they were recruited to Golden Deer)

Ivan: “Are you…doing well with them? Please, return to their side. Don’t make me have to fight you!”

Vs. Mercedes/Ashe/Annette (If they were recruited to Black Eagles)

“Dimitri”: “…You traitor. We were…We were all friends, weren’t we? Weren’t we?!”

Miscellaneous Comments Around Monastery (Post-Timeskip)

*These are comments Ivan makes if you speak to him when you explore the monastery. For the sake of spoilers, I’ve only included a couple and have tried to be vague where I can*

(Blue Lions, after rejoining) “Professor, it’s wonderful to see you again! I…I always wondered if you could have survived, by some miracle. Hmm? I look distracted? …Well, how can I not be when Dimitri is like that. …I should’ve tried harder. Oh! P-please, forget I said anything.”

(Blue Lions, if he didn’t sacrifice himself) “Professor. I…I’m so glad I didn’t follow through on my plan to sacrifice myself. You have no idea how close I was to following through. But like I said before, I recalled that incident with those mercenaries and the lord’s son from five years ago. I said that I would remember everyone’s reactions to what I did, in the hopes that one day I would accept that I am of worth to them. But I’ve realized that saying that I’m ‘of worth’ to them is wrong. I’m…I’m cherished by them. They care that I’m here, they’d mourn if I died…I’m not just Dimitri’s spare, living only for his sake. I…I think I’m finally starting to accept that, with all my heart.”

(Black Eagles, first meeting post-timeskip) “So, you really did survive, Professor. To be honest, I was one of the people who had lost hope a long time ago…But here you are. It’s good to have you back. You have an odd look on your face. Is it strange to see me here? Hmph, don’t worry about it, it’s nothing you have to concern yourself over. Just…if you see Dimitri, do let me have a chance at facing him. That’s all.”

(Golden Deer/Fourth Route, first meeting post-timeskip) “Professor! You really did survive…I’m so glad. Now if only I could find proof that Dimitri…No. No, he survived, I’m certain of it. I don’t care that everyone’s telling me I’m in denial, I know my brother. He wouldn’t give up so easily on life. He’s…He’s not me.”

(Black Eagles, if at least one childhood friend remained with Blue Lions) “Having to go up against someone I’ve known since I was a baby…I’m more than ready to face golden boy. And I’m resigned to the fact that I’ll most likely have to face Dedue. But fighting one of my oldest friends…?”

(Black Eagles, if at minimum all the childhood friends were recruited) “I have to say, going up against the beloved heir of Faerghus will be simple enough. I’ve been preparing myself for the day I could face him. But Dedue…I know he’s far too loyal to Dimitri to ever leave his side. I suppose I’m prepared to face him too.”

(Golden Deer, if at least one childhood friend remained with Blue Lions) “This war is encompassing all of Fodlan. It terrifies me that, at any moment, I could run into one of my oldest friends and be forced to cut them down. Or…Or what if I have to face Dimitri? Wh-what if I have to cut down my own brother?”

(Golden Deer, if at minimum all the childhood friends were recruited) “It’s so strange…On the one hand I’m so desperate to see Dimitri again, I don’t care where or how. But, on the other hand, I don’t know the kind of man he’s become over the past five years. I…I don’t know what side of this war he’ll be on…”

(Black Eagles, after Dimitri’s death, assuming he can be killed on this route) “He’s dead. The golden prince is out of my life at last. What’s that look for, Professor? There’s no need to look so concerned. I haven’t thought of him as family in years. He had it coming. I’m fine…I am! Stop staring at me!”

(Golden Deer/Fourth Route, after Dimitri’s death, assuming he can be killed on these routes) “Dimitri…Why? Why?! After all these years…Professor! I-I’m sorry, I…That is, I…I…I��m sorry. P-please, Professor, leave me alone…Oh, Brother!”

*Assuming Dimitri can be killed in non-Blue Lions routes, for one week following the battle he was killed in, Ivan will not be available for supports, group tasks, dining, or tea parties. He can still be instructed or brought to battles, however whenever he is interacted with or has a skill growth or level up or something similar, his written quotes will all be replaced by ellipses and he will not have any spoken dialogue. He also has a special death quote that can only be seen during this week, his retreat quote during this time also being ellipses and silence. After this week, he can be interacted with as normal again*

Level Up Pre-Timeskip

“This isn’t good enough.” (0-2 stats)

*Hums the Fire Emblem level up jingle like a dork* (3-4 stats)

“I-I’m improving? I’m improving!” (5-6 stats)

“This has to be a fluke…” (7+ stats)

“This is more than I could have ever dared to dream of.” (Max stats)

Level Up Post-Timeskip

 “Typical Ivan…” (0-2 stats)

*Still hums the Fire Emblem level up jingle like a dork* (3-4 stats)

“So long as I can keep up this pace…” (5-6 stats)

“I will protect the ones I hold dear. I will!” (7+ stats)

“I’ve come a long way from the weak crybaby of my childhood.” (Max stats)

Skill Quotes Pre-Timeskip

New Skill

“This is new…”

“I have to work harder now.”

Skill Level Up

“Perhaps a little more practice will help.”

“Wait, I…I think I understand.”

“If only everything came to me so easily.”

Skill Mastery

“Oh, am I…done?”

“This will prove to be quite the boon.”

Skill Quotes Post Timeskip

New Skill

“Oh, this is new!”

“I still have a lot to learn.”

Skill Level Up

“I should practice some more later.”

“I understand now…”

“Things have been coming to me more clearly recently.”

Skill Mastery

“I’m done? Oh…”

“I hope I can help everyone with this.”

Battle Quotes Pre-Timeskip

When Selected

“At your command.” (Full Health)

“N-no, I’m okay!” (Half Health)

“You don’t have to worry about me.” (Low Health)

Enemy Deal 1 or No Damage or Misses

“Too slow!”

“Not good enough!”

Critical Attack

“Make your peace!”

“I won’t let you through!”

“On my honor!”

“It’s your finale!”

Gambit Cut-In

“Let’s do it together!”

Defeated Enemy

“It’s justice, that’s all.”

“Stop shaking, stop shaking…”

“I had to do it. I swear…”

“I’m not meant for the battlefield.”

“Is it over yet…?”

Ally Defeats Enemy

“G-good work out there!”

Healing/Rallying Ally

“We can’t afford to lose you.”

“Take care of yourself.”

Ally Heals/Rallies

“Thank you!”

“It’s more than I deserve.”

Reclassing

“I’ll have to work even harder from now on!”

Battle Quotes Post-Timeskip

When Selected

“You can rely on me.” (Full Health)

“Please, don’t worry about me.” (Half Health)

“We need to be…a little more cautious now.” (Low Health)

Enemy Deal 1 or No Damage or Misses

“You tried, I’ll say that.”

“So close!”

Critical Attack

“Who’s second rate now?!”

“This is how it must be!”

“Eyes on me!”

“Our battle has reached its coda!”

Gambit Cut-In

“Together now!”

Defeated Enemy

“Seems like I still shake once in a while…”

“Not bad for a mere spare, huh?”

“When will this all be over?”

“I hope you made your peace…”

“It’s done…It’s done.”

Ally Defeats Enemy

“You’ve been working hard, haven’t you?”

Healing/Rallying Ally

“Steady now…”

“I don’t want to see you fall.”

Ally Heals/Rallies

“You’re far too kind.”

“I’m grateful.”

Reclassing

“So long as I can be of help, I’ll do what I must.”

Retreat Quote Pre-Timeskip

“Of course…Of course I would fall here. I’m sorry I wasn’t of any help, everyone.”

Retreat Quote Post-Timeskip

“I can’t die here. I have so much I want to do! My apologies, everyone. I’ll make up for this!”

Death Quote Pre-Timeskip (If killed in his Paralogues)

“It’s so dark. Dimitri…? Where…are you? I want to see you…one more…time.”

Death Quote Post-Timeskip (During week after Dimitri’s assumed death in other routes)

“…I deserve this, don’t I? …Is it foolish…to wish to see you…even now? …Brother.”

Death Quote Post-Timeskip (If killed in map where he decided not to sacrifice himself)

“Not here…Not here…Not when I’ve finally accepted…that I’m important…to the others…”

Death Quote Post-Timeskip

“I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die! I…still have so much I wish to do…for my own sake.”

Supports

*Any support going up to B support has two B support conversations. Any support going up to A or S support has two A support conversations*

Byleth: Goes up to S support. Discusses Ivan’s position as the second prince, being made to live with his brother’s interests in mind but also practically ignored by the court. Also discusses his desire to be seen as his own person, outside of his connection to Dimitri, as well as his genuine love for Dimitri. Some changes to the post timeskip support depending on the route chosen.

Dedue: Goes up to B support. Has Ivan hanging out with Dedue while Dedue’s gardening, either reading or writing songs. Goes into how Dedue feels towards Ivan, as Dimitri’s brother but also as one of the few other people who treated Dedue well in the past.

Felix: Goes up to A support. Has Ivan trying to hang out with Felix while Felix is kinda cold but not necessarily pushing him away. Mainly discusses Ivan’s naïve view of justice, with Felix criticizing it, while Ivan also discusses Felix’s own views on chivalry and how much the pair have changed since their childhood as the crybaby pair. There are several potential changes to this support line depending on the route chosen and whether or not the Naïve Justice and Selfishly Selfless Paralogues were completed.

Ingrid: Goes up to A support. Has Ivan growing frustrated with how Ingrid is treating him like a child, much like how she always doted on him growing up. Talks about the dynamics between the childhood friends growing up, and how Ingrid often cared for Ivan.

Sylvain: Goes up to A support. Sylvain has tons of fun teasing poor Ivan, who shared the baby brother role with Felix when they were kids and is still just as timid and quick to hide behind Sylvain now. Lots of discussion on how the two of them are younger brothers, with Sylvain being the favorite in his case while Dimitri is the favorite in Ivan’s case. Some changes for post timeskip support depending on the route chosen.

Ashe: Goes up to B support. Has the pair discussing books the read and basically having their own little book club. Also talks about how Ashe used to be really interested in meeting Ivan based on all the rumors he heard growing up.

Mercedes: Goes up to A support. Focused on their friendly rivalry and how they often trade notes and learn from each other. Also gets into discussing Mercedes history with her own brother and how that affects his relationship with Ivan, while Ivan doesn’t like the idea of being compared to someone else’s brother when he’s already compared to his own enough. Slight changes for post timeskip support depending on the route chosen.

Annette: Goes up to A support. Has Annette being embarrassed by her songs when she knows how skilled Ivan is at composing, meanwhile Ivan wants to learn from Annette since he is amazed by her skill to come up with lyrics and tunes off the top of her head.

Edelgard: Goes up to B support. Ivan tries to keep their past connection a secret but uses this as a second chance to get to know her on his own. The pair end up connecting slowly, though their connection is somewhat hindered on Ivan’s end since he knows about her connection to “that person”.

Dorothea: Goes up to A support. Focused a lot on music, with Dorothea learning about Ivan’s skill for music and Ivan admiring Dorothea’s own skill. Though Dorothea wonders why Ivan doesn’t train more, since he obviously loves music and could be incredible with proper training, with Ivan talking about how hard it is for him to put the effort into his own interests thanks to how he was raised. Includes a lovely duet between the two of them.

Ignatz: Goes up to B support. Two kids interested in fine arts who are being pushed into battle related stuff that they’re not very interested in. I feel they’d have a good amount of stuff to discuss.

Lysithea: Goes up to A support. They have a bunch to talk about as two skilled mages, with Ivan wanting to learn more about how Lysithea has gotten so incredible at magic and how he too wants to improve. Lots of sweets related bribing as well.

Manuela: Goes up to B support. A pretty funny support about Ivan actually being a fan of Manuela’s previous work with the opera company and Manuela being a little too invested on taking him in as her protégé.

Gilbert: Goes up to A support. Discusses how Ivan was often pushed to the side when he and Dimitri were children, Dimitri getting the main focus as the golden crown prince while Ivan himself was often sickly and weak when he was young. Has Gilbert acknowledging Ivan’s own strengths and wishing to see the prince hone them.

Dimitri: Goes up to A support. Lots going on in this support! It starts off with discussing the brothers being close despite the jealousy and other issues affecting their bond, although it focuses on how overprotective Dimitri can be at times while Ivan wants to be independent but is also rather naïve. The B support is where the pair have their big fight, which starts with small criticisms between them about how they treat each other but keeps escalating as both of them are stubborn and it’s clear there’s a lot of deep seated issues getting brought out here, especially Ivan’s anger over the blatant favoritism Dimitri always received while Dimitri is annoyed that Ivan seems to think being the crown prince makes everything better, as if it isn’t a difficult and incredibly stressful role, and also bringing up his “selfishly selfless” issue. It keeps escalating and, unfortunately, the Tragedy of Duscur gets brought up and the fight goes too far when, in a fit of anger, Dimitri blurts out how “lucky” Ivan was to be home sick and not have to experience the horrors of the tragedy. Dimitri immediately realizes he struck a nerve, since Ivan has always been guilty over his supposed luck that saved him from that incident. “Yes, Brother, I’m certainly lucky, aren’t I? I survived the Tragedy of Duscur without even lifting a finger. The last time I saw Father, Stepmother, and Glenn was when I was begging them to take me along, to not leave me behind. Just thinking about myself, not sending them off properly. And the brother I love came home a shell of his former self and has never been the same since. I must be the luckiest man alive.” The two A support conversations have them finally talking through the fight, their different reactions following the Tragedy of Duscur, and discussing Ivan’s near sacrifice attempt. It has them really talking through their feelings and how they spent the last five years apart and fearing for the other, the first time in their whole lives they’ve been apart for so long, since as twins they’ve never really been apart. It ends with them making peace with their past and focusing on how, despite everything, they’re brothers and they love each other dearly.

Some Endings

Ivan: Erased From History (Solo Ending, Black Eagles Version)

Following the war, survivors from Faerghus’ nobility destroyed all records they could find of Ivan, effectively disowning him from the Blaiddyd family for going against his homeland. The erasure of Ivan’s records was so thorough that the only information of him that exists comes from the testimonies of those who knew him. Ivan purportedly didn’t care about the disownment, stating that there was no love lost between him and Faerghus. Indeed, Ivan was never confirmed to have set foot in Faerghus again following his disownment. But there were unconfirmed rumors that a figure resembling Ivan snuck into Fhirdiad once, reportedly being spotted staring at the graves of the Blaiddyd royal family before running off when he was spotted. Soon afterwards, Ivan was never seen in Fodlan again, and there is no confirmation of what became of him following the war. However, there were sightings of a wandering bard oddly resembling the former prince, who played enchanting music and had a beautiful voice, travelling the lands near Fodlan. This bard steadfastly refused any and all invitations to perform in Fodlan. While not much information is confirmed about this mysterious bard, the songs he created were immensely popular, and remained so for many generations after the bard’s last known appearance.

Ivan: Erased From History (Solo Ending, Golden Deer/Fourth Route Version)

Following the war, survivors from Faerghus’ nobility destroyed all records they could find of Ivan, effectively disowning him from the Blaiddyd family, the people considering him a coward for never returning to Faerghus to help them. The erasure of Ivan’s records was so thorough that the only information of him that exists comes from the testimonies of those who knew him. Ivan purportedly accepted the disownment, considering his people justified in their anger. Soon after the war, there were no more confirmed sightings of Ivan in Fodlan. However, there were sightings of a wandering bard oddly resembling the former prince, who played enchanting music and had a beautiful voice, exploring Fodlan but rarely visiting Faerghus. After a few years, the bard requested to play a private performance in the cemetery where the Blaiddyd royal family was buried. While the request was unusual, the bard was insistent and charming enough that his wish was granted. The guards who supervised the man the day of his private performance reported that the bard’s songs were especially emotional as he sang to the graves. After a particularly heartbreaking song, the bard broke down in tears and ran off, with no other known sightings of him following this unusual performance. While not much information is confirmed about this bard, the songs he created were immensely popular, and remained so for many generations after the bard’s last known appearance.

Ivan: Cherished Voice (Solo Ending, Blue Lions Version)

Ivan garnered respect and admiration from the people of Faerghus for his efforts during the war, much more than the formerly ridiculed prince was used to. However, he also faced criticism due to his violent escape from Faerghus early in the war. Ivan spent several years working with the nobles and members of court he had fought with during said escape, apologizing profusely for his actions and regaining their trust, and even earning sincere apologies from them for the callous way they had treated him in the past. Ivan’s naturally good-natured personality, thoughtfulness, and the strong will he had gained during the war helped to make the people take him much more seriously, most jokes and rumors at his expense disappearing within a few years. Ivan invested in the arts, particularly his specialty of music, which helped significantly to boost the mood among the people in the post-war era as more art, books, and music were produced. Of course, no one’s works were more beloved than the music produced by the second prince himself, his singing enchanting all who heard it and the music he composed spreading far and wide, remaining popular for generations and generations. Between his beautiful music, his pleasant personality, and his hard work in helping restore the war-torn continent, Prince Ivan became a person equally as treasured by the people as his brother was. When asked about this once, Ivan purportedly smiled gently and said that his most cherished dream had finally come true.

Ivan and Dimitri (Paired Ending)

Dimitri and Ivan worked tirelessly in helping Faerghus, and Fodlan as a whole, to heal. Ivan supported Dimitri as he worked to atone for the people he hurt and the mistakes he made during his five years of exile, just as Dimitri supported Ivan as he did his best to deal with the court and nobles following Ivan’s violent escape from Faerghus early in the war. To make it clear to the people that his brother was someone to take seriously, Dimitri included Ivan more in meetings and negotiations, always asking for his opinion and even letting him take the lead at times. As time passed, the court realized that Ivan had many creative ideas and soon sought him out for advice as often as they did Dimitri, earning the brothers the nickname of the Twin Kings. The people of Faerghus also noticed that the brothers seemed much closer than they had in the past, the relationship between them lacking much of the tension and awkwardness of their childhood. Indeed, by all accounts, Dimitri and Ivan were described as a loving family and the best of friends, their bond bringing as many smiles to the citizens’ faces as Dimitri’s interactions with Fodlan’s orphans and Ivan’s lovely music did. When Dimitri passed on many years later, it is said that the song Ivan created for the funeral was so beautiful yet so heartbreaking and that any who heard just a single line of it was instantly moved to tears. This remained true even when generations passed, and the general population no longer remembered the origin of the song.

*Ending on a note about paired endings for Ivan outside of the Blue Lions route. Ivan’s paired endings outside the Blue Lions route still have him mostly keeping a low profile. To what extent depends on the ending, and in some cases he’ll still end up disappearing (though this is also effected by the route and partner chosen)*

*Actually I have one more bonus note, which is that looking over the stats and growths I gave Ivan, he’d actually make for a pretty decent Holy Knight. Faith is one of his strengths and Lance is his budding talent. His Magic is great, and his Strength is decent. However you’d have to drag him kicking and screaming through his Riding weakness (and his fear of horses)*