Caeda is a very interesting character and almost the perfect foil to Marth. I hope I'm able to capture that throughout the tale.

If the 9ers win the Super Bowl, I'll drop two chapters next week.

[Aircraft Carrier: 00:00]

"TALYS-6, this is ALTEA-6. Stop the run and bring the FREYJA back home," Marth ordered.

"Copy. Bringing her to base, ETA of an hour," Caeda responded.

Marth sighed. I really wish she'd stop doing that…

Hardin placed his hand on Marth's shoulder. "A stubborn one isn't she? She has good intentions."

Marth shook his head and walked off.

"Hey now, I'm only the messenger," he laughed.

"If she keeps doing this she's going to get herself killed," Marth swiftly countered. "I know that she's emerged unscathed from every single danger she's put herself in so far, but…"

"Hm?"

"When does… when does her luck run out?" Marth asked. "She has to know she's being stupid."

"Marth…" Hardin began. "She's doing this for you. She loves you with all of her heart. You care about her, don't you?"

"I do," Marth snapped. "I just can't believe her sometimes."

"If you love her enough, you'll understand," Hardin replied.

"A prince is above his own feelings," Marth countered. "Let alone the chief tactician."

"Not now," Hardin pointed out.

"Are you- fine. Just… forget about it," Marth said. "I'll talk to her when she gets back." His tone shifted. "But I didn't expect my feelings to come into place during this whole war anyway."

Hardin sighed. "That's the true horror of it I suppose."

Marth smiled. "Yeah. It is. I just wish we knew if we were winning before I had to stop and think." He stood up. "Thank you. You're a good friend. We need to draw up a plan to face the king of Pyrathi."

[Containment Cell: 00:30]

"I apologize for bothering you at this ungodly hour," Marth began. "But I'd rather you get some real rest before tomorrow."

"N-no worries, sir!" the heavy man began. "You have my gratitude."

"So why the change of heart, Roger?" Marth asked. "We do need all the strong allies we can get."

The man turned red. He laughed awkwardly and said, "Well, there's this fetching girl named Caeda who asked me to, and, uh… What can I say? I think I'm in love. Try saying no to a girl who comes racing up to you in the heat of battle just to ask if you believe in love! Whew! I must've turned red as a strawberry! Heh heh…"

Marth was stunned for a moment. Then he just started laughing and shook his head.

"What's so funny, sir?" Roger asked.

"She's a handful," Marth noted swiftly. "So what exactly did she say to you?"

"Well I suppose she convinced me to take me and my truck out to your base and… I guess she had to go after that."

"Ah," Marth said. "Typical Princess Caeda."

"Pri- w-what?"

"The princess and I are…" Marth paused. "Close because our childhoods. It's just very funny to me." Marth patted him on the shoulder. "Get some rest. You'll be drilling with Major Abel first thing tomorrow."

[Carrier LZ 01:15]

"I hate to take your co-pilot away from you right now," Marth said to Caeda's co-pilot. "But this is serious."

"A-ah no worries sir," she stuttered. "She's yours."

Caeda looked at him and raised an eyebrow.

Marth sighed. "Walk with me, please."

When they were out of eyesight and earshot, Marth pulled her into a meeting room.

"What is the matter with you?" Marth asked. "Are you trying to get yourself killed out there?!"

"Woah, easy there," Caeda laughed awkwardly. "We don't need to-"

"No, I'm serious!" Marth countered. "This always happens. You take a huge risk in doing things beyond your limits. And while you're at it, did you just flirt a poor guy into joining our army? What the hell is the matter with you?"

"Okay, genius," she snapped. "What was I supposed to do there?"

"Something smarter than that? Couldn't anyone else have flown the FREYJA?" Marth asked. "Did you think for a second?"

"Not as well as me," she countered. "You know that. As for me flirting with that guy, I can't help it if you get jealous over a bit of tactics!"

"You manipulated him," Marth said.

"So what? It worked."

"Can't we hold onto some decency here?" Marth threw up his arms. "We aren't Gra here." He spat, almost on instinct. Gra.

"Come on that's unfair," she protested. "Why are you up in your feelings? I needed to do something in that situation?"

"Glad you brought up feelings! What do you think I'll feel if you died? What about your father and-"

"I don't care if I die, if it's for you!" she snapped, tears welling up in her eyes. "D-don't you see?"

"Caeda…" Marth said. "I didn't mean-"

"So what? If I die and you win at the end, so be it!" She started, her voice breaking a bit. "He'll understand. Please! You know what I can do-"

"Caeda," he said, touching her arm. She jerked it away and covered her face to conceal the tears now falling down them.

Marth sighed. He let the moment cool down a bit. "I'm sorry, Caeda. I just… I can't imagine life without you." He took her hand and wiped the tear from her face. "I know- I know now that you feel the same. Can you forgive me?"

Caeda nodded and embraced him.

"Please" he said. "No more crazy reckless decisions. Even if you make them all work. Ah hell… no avoiding it I guess. It's who you are."

She smiled.

"Please stop flirting with other guys," he whispered under his breath.

He felt Caeda suppress a laugh. He hoped she didn't hear him.