Normally, I think author's notes would go here but I totally forgot about it in my other stories because the style is different from AO3's. So if you're curious about some of my later stories and my thoughts about them, check out the original AO3 versions I've posted. Also, this will be a bit of a sad one.

Notes:If you know, you know.

The question came out of the blue one day as Reno was submitting reports to the Commander.

"I'm curious, Reno. You keep calling yourself the sidekick, why is that?" The Commander asked.

Reno stood there in front of his desk momentarily, contemplating her answer as she placed some papers on his desk.

"Commander, it's like I said before," she replied, "you're the hero and I'm the sidekick, silly." The girl struck as best a superhero pose as she could while holding a bunch of papers.

"That's not what I meant," the Commander sighed. "I mean, I appreciate your enthusiasm but doesn't it make more sense that I'm the sidekick while you girls are the actual heroes who go out and fight?"

"Hmm, I guess. But without you, the base would be disorganized. You may think of yourself as just a regular guy pushing papers and giving orders, but you're in command for good reason." Reno continued organizing the papers into different piles on his desk. "Without you, we'd be a mess and there'd be a lot of infighting. You're the hero who holds us all together." She emphasized that point by clipping each pile of papers together, all nice and organized.

The Commander leaned back into his chair as he mulled over Reno's words. "I see. What about yourself?"

"Hm, what do you mean?"

"Well, instead of always being the sidekick, why don't you want to be the main hero?"

The light cruiser paused in her motions and for a while, the Commander thought he said something wrong. He could see the way her eyes had a distant far-off look, different than when she was simply thinking. It was only for a moment before she hid her expression with a slightly exaggerated thinking face.

"Reno, you okay?"

"Huh, yeah," the girl in question shook her head a bit. "Just thinking, is all. Anyway, to answer your question, I just feel like I can do more supporting from the sidelines. I'm not like Enterprise or Bismarck who take the fight right to the enemy."

The Commander wasn't buying it. However, just as he was about inquire further, they were interrupted by someone barging through the door.

"Ayooo! Number one idol, San Diego here!" The busty red head announced with a loud voice.

"What the?"

"Big sis Sandy?"

"Sorry for bothering you, Commander, but can I borrow my biggest little sister for a bit? It's for important idol stuff. Kay, thanks, bye." San Diego comically turned Reno around by the shoulders before pushing her out the door.

The Commander could only watch as the two left, closing the door behind them. His train of thought was interrupted and he didn't even get answers from Reno.

"Ah well, I'll ask next time unless it's too personal," he thought to himself.


"Uh, sis? Where are you taking me?" Reno asked.

San Diego didn't answer right away, shuffling from behind Reno to her side while keeping one arm around her shoulder.

"Just happened to pass by," she replied, hugging her sister closer. "My sister senses were tingling."

"You were putting your ear against the door again?" Reno questioned. She knew San Diego would eavesdrop sometimes whenever her sisters were involved. Despite her quirks, she did her best to look out for them when Atlanta wasn't around.

"You got me there, hehehe." San Diego then began to comfort Reno by rubbing her shoulder slightly before shooting a knowing look. "Besides, you sounded uncomfortable. Had to come to your rescue."

Reno didn't say anything, she already had an idea why her sister pulled her out of the Commander's office. Instead, the pair walked back to their shared dorm as San Diego gave her time to think in silence.


Another time, another place

"Hey, Reno. You okay?"

"Hm? Yeah, I'm good, Princeton," answered the girl in question.

It was a cloudy morning and Reno, along with Birmingham, were escorting Princeton. The destroyers Irwin, Cassin Young, and Gatlin were also nearby, keeping their eyes out for enemies.

"What about you, Birmingham?" Princeton asked.

"Mhm, I'm fine over here too," replied Birmingham.

Ever since Enterprise assigned them together, the trio became fast friends with each other, their camaraderie helping them to fight back against their enemies. Together, they proved to be an effective team with a combination of Princeton's aircraft, and the anti-air cover from Birmingham and Reno.

"Princeton, this is Essex. Reporting possible bandit in the area. Careful out there," came the transmission over the radio.

"Thanks for the heads up, Essex. We'll keep an eye out," the other carrier responded.

Princeton turned to her two companions and the rest of her escort. "Ladies, eyes in the sky. I just got a report on a possible bandit in the area."

"You can leave it to us," Birmingham replied.

"Of course, we're the heroes who'll save the day," Reno said with a bit more enthusiasm, striking a heroic pose.

Princeton and Birmingham shared a laugh with her, all too familiar with Reno's light-hearted antics to keep morale high.

"Yeah, I'll be counting on super Reno to protect me," Princeton joked lightly.

"Eh, I'm still a hero in training. More like a sidekick, if you will," Reno clarified, her guns bristling and ready for action. "I can't exactly fight like you, Birmy. And I can't fly a bunch of planes like you, Prince. I just provide anti-air support."

Birmingham put a comforting hand on her friend's shoulder. "I'm sure you'll get there in time. Besides, anti-air support is very much appreciated around here, or else you and I wouldn't be here. Your sister San Diego and Miss North Carolina are proof of that, remember?"

"Mhm, without Ship-Girls like them, we probably could have lost Saratoga and Enterprise," added Princeton. Her planes were still refueling and rearming after an earlier battle. "I can't launch yet, so please keep me covered as always."

"Gotcha." Reno moved to position, Birmingham doing the same as they spread out along with the destroyers to overlap their anti-air fire.

"Say, after all this is done, we should all get some drinks together." Birmingham looked to the destroyers. "You're invited, too. You girls are one of us, now."

The shyer destroyers merely smiled and nodded in response.

"I think we'd like that," Irwin said quietly.

"Maybe we can get Sister Sara to join in. I bet Princey would like that," Reno added jokingly.

Princeton blushed at the mention of the one she admired most. She remembered Enterprise's words to her from before about talking to Saratoga more. "Yeah, that'd be nice. Anyways, cut the chatter to a minimum, alright?"

The group sailed at a steady pace on the ocean, their anti-air guns pointed in all directions at the sky. However, they could see no sign of the aforementioned bandit.

"It's a bit cloudy today, don't you think?" Cassin Young pointed out, squinting at the sky.

"Yeah, you're right," Princeton agreed, looking at a particular thick cloud ahead of her.

Suddenly, her combat instincts tingled. Alarmed, she pointed her own anti-air guns forward and was about to give orders to watch their front but it was too late. An enemy dive bomber came screaming down from sky, previously hidden by the clouds.

"Incoming Judy!" Princeton shouted, firing her guns while turning to port to evade.

"Princeton!"

The combined cries of Reno and Birmingham were barely heard as Princeton found herself getting peppered by machine gun fire. The Judy kept firing before dropping it's payload, the bomb coming straight for her.

Reno saw it happen almost in slow motion, her own guns turning to bear on the aircraft. She wasn't sure who's guns hit the Judy, but the first bomb missed Princeton. Whether out of luck or skill, no one knew. It didn't matter, however, as the Judy corrected course and dropped a second bomb. This one struck true.

"AHHH!" Princeton screamed in pain as the bomb detonated on her. It didn't matter if she was a Ship-Girl with more durability, an explosion will still be fatal.

"SISTER!" Birmingham screamed in panic, trying to get close to Princeton. The group barely noticed the Judy flying away, trailing smoke behind it.

The damage was extensive. Princeton's rigging had a hole blasted through one of her flight decks, fires spreading across. Princeton herself was in terrible shape, her right side getting burned and bleeding from her wounds.

"Princeton, hold on! Irwin, help me put out the fires!" Reno shouted the orders.

Irwin tried to get close but she was smaller than Princeton, the carrier's rigging crashing into her own as she drifted on the water. Reno realized her error and quickly pushed the destroyer out of the way as Princeton got too close, still screaming, and she paid for it as one of her own gun mounts got crushed by the carrier's flight deck.

"Dammit," she cursed. She aimed her rigging's water hoses, trying to put out the fire but Princeton kept drifting into her, forcing her to back up everytime.

Birmingham also tried to get closer, putting out the fires as best as she could. It was at this moment that Princeton's screaming died down to pained whimpers as she tried to keep herself afloat. Their riggings kept smashing into each other from a combination of the ocean swells and Princeton's loss of control, but Birmingham fought through the pain and blistering heat in an effort to save her sister.

"C'mon, Princeton, stay with me," the red-head spoke, trying to stay calm. Her only response was a weak cough of blood.

Reno came closer to Princeton's other side as the flames died down from their combined efforts, holding her friend steady as she applied pressure to her wounds.

"Don't die on us, please don't," Reno pleaded. "Saratoga is waiting for you, remember? You still gotta talk to your hero, yeah?"

"I...I know," Princeton weakly coughed out. "T-thank you."

"Shh, save your breath," said Birmingham. The fires were mostly extinguished now. All they had to do was apply first-aid on Princeton herself. "Hold still, I'll patch you up."

Princeton simply nodded in reply before finding her voice. "Reno, I- cough, cough- I need you to watch the skies."

"Princeton," Birmingham scolded lightly. Then she turned to her friend. "Go on, Reno. I got this."

"Yeah...okay," replied Reno. She hesitantly let go before drifting back into formation with the destroyers. "You heard her girls, there might be more coming."

Time passed as the group sailed cautiously, having to slow down due to Princeton's incapacitated state. The carrier was currently being supported by Birmingham.

"You okay, Birmy?" Princeton asked weakly.

"I should be asking you that. And I thought I said save your breath." Birmingham chuckled mirthlessly. "Shit, Independence is gonna lose it when she sees you like this."

"Hmmph, I bet. Cleveland, too." Princeton stumbled a bit before being caught. "Cleveland, Independence, and everyone else. We're all still sisters, yeah?"

Birmingham held the carrier closer, mindful of her damaged rigging. "Yeah, always. Doesn't matter if you're a cruiser or I'm a carrier. Heck, remember when me and you both were planned to have consecutive hull numbers?"

"Mmhmm."

The pair stayed like that for a while in silence as their escorts covered the air.

Princeton, however, felt that something was wrong. Terribly wrong. She turned her head to her sister. "Birmy, you need to let me go."

Birmingham heard the pained whisper. "What are you talking about? Why?"

Instead of explaining, Princeton made to shove her away but she was too weak and Birmingham was too stubborn. "J-just let me go, p-please."

"Let you- no! We're getting you out of here so just...shut up!" Birmingham argued back. She held tighter despite the carrier's struggles.

Reno heard the commotion, and despite orders, she couldn't help but turn back to her friends in concern. "Girls, what's wrong?"

She could see the pained look of Princeton, tears beginning to stream down and leaving tracks through the soot on her face. She could also see faint smoke billowing from her damaged rigging. "N-no..."

Birmingham herself also started crying when she noticed her sister's tears, but she still couldn't understand why she had to get away. "Prince, just..just tell me-"

"THERE'S NO TIME!" Princeton cried out, finally shoving Birmingham off her. She tried to distance herself but her injuries limited her. "It's too late for me, Birmy!"

Birmingham made to get closer, an expression of anger and sadness on her face. "Prince, why?! What's wrong with- "

"No, wait!" Reno shouted out.

"Sister, please. I'm- "

A flash followed by a deafening boom was the last thing Birmingham would remember. She would later learn that Princeton's own rigging exploded from the damage sustained.

"Princeton! Birmingham!" Reno screamed. She could only watch from the sidelines as the explosion threw Birmingham unconscious across the water, splashing on to the surface and staining it red.

"Gatling, assist her! Irwin, with me!"

Surprisingly enough, Princeton was still alive but barely. Her right arm was gone and her right leg was a mangled mess but she was still afloat, a testament to how stubborn Eagle Union carriers refused to sink so easily.

Reno and Irwin could only look in horror as their friend bled out on the ocean, bits and debris of her rigging scattered all over.

Princeton was still conscious but found it difficult to speak. "S-scuttle..."

Reno heard but refused to believe it. Scuttle her. Sink Princeton themselves. After everything they've been through, this is how it ends?

"My sister is hurt...because of me." Princeton got the words out. "Too late for me...end it...with torpedoes." She looked pointedly at Irwin before nodding.

Irwin herself was on the verge of tears. The destroyer had just been told to sink one of her own comrades. She shook her head in denial but Reno grasped her by the shoulders before sailing them back at a safe distance.

"I- I'm sorry Irwin, boss' orders," Reno's voice cracked.

Irwin hesitantly readied her torpedo tubes before aiming towards Princeton.

Princeton coughed out more blood. "It's been... an honor."

Irwin launched a torpedo and they watched it streak towards their comrade...before it turned back around.

"Oh, shit!" Reno cursed, pulling the destroyer with her out of the way of the malfunctioning torpedo.

"I- I'm so sorry, I don't know what happened," Irwin stammered. She tried to ready another torpedo before Reno stopped her.

"Irwin, it's okay. Go with the others, I'll take it from here," Reno said quietly. She just remembered that Irwin took some damage from Princeton. Her torpedo tubes must have been affected. Sniffling, the destroyer quickly turned away.

Reno turned back to her dying friend, readying her own torpedoes. "I guess this is goodbye, then."

"Reno...my friend," Princeton said weakly. "Stay..with my sister."

"Yeah, of course."

Princeton smiled at her. "You'll...be a hero one day, I believe...it."

"Heroes don't shoot their own friends," Reno thought bitterly.

"You're the hero, Princeton." She aimed her torpedo tubes. "I'm just the sidekick."

"If only I paid more attention, I could have prevented this."

"I'll tell Saratoga everything about you." She barely heard the thumping of her own torpedo before it splashed into the water.

Princeton tearfully smiled before saluting with her remaining left hand. "I'll say...hello for you...to Atlanta and Juneau."

Reno saluted back, the blurry form of Princeton visible through her own tears. "Thank you, friend."

She closed her eyes as a geyser erupted from the water, a final farewell to a fallen hero.

May we meet again in another life.

Notes: I read an eyewitness account of a survivor on the USS Birmingham about the incident while looking up history about the USS Princeton. I was curious after playing through the Sundered Blue event back in November 2020.