Sitting, helplessly on his knees, Marth looked at the man he once knew and loved so well. As a soft exhale escaped his lips, he lowered his head, parallel to the floor.

Standing before him, was none other than Ike. A stern expression was plastered onto his face as his sword was pointed directly at the prince's head. At any moment, Marth would be executed.

The war between Archanea and Tellius would soon be over. All that was left was to kill the prince, the one who started the whole massacre.

However, Ike's hands trembled as he grasped the handle firmly. This was it. But...

The war could only end once Marth had been slain.

For a brief moment, every moment the bluenettes had spent together flashed before their eyes. From when they first met, to parting their separate ways. Never would they have expected to cross blades or breathe their last.

Unfortunately, the time had come. More so, the prince's life was bound to end.

All the mercenary had to do was finish Marth off with one fell swing. However, he couldn't.

He shivered and shuddered as Ragnell violently shook in his hands. Before he knew it, tears began to form in his eyes and roll down his cheeks.

Ike loved Marth deeply. He never stopped adoring him, even until now.

"...What are you doing?" The prince mumbled, averting his gaze back at the hesitant mercenary. "Don't you get it? Once my life ends, our worlds will finally be at peace."

Ike bared his teeth as he hid his face away from Marth's line of vision. Stifling his sobs, he inched the tip of his sword's blade closer to Marth's forehead.

"It's all we've ever wanted, Ike... Kill me, and we can finally be at peace. Our countries won't fight and argue any longer.

So tell me...

Why?! Why won't you just kill me?!"

"Because I love you!" Ike quickly shot back, immediately bringing his sword to his side. "Even after this whole war, I never stopped caring for you!"

As his expression weakened, Marth felt something wrap around his heart tightly. Some sort of... odd feeling. He shakily took a deep breath in and muttered, "You have no right to love me. After everything I've done, I don't deserve to be loved."

"You think I care?!" Ike yelled, taking a firm step forward. "I never follow the rules! I didn't care when I was told off! Even when we were forced apart, I still found a way to see you again! No matter what you did to me, I still stuck by your side!

I...I still love you, Marth..!"

A gentle gasp escaped the prince's mouth as his eyes widened in shock. His head shot up as he stared at the flustered mercenary.

"I never stopped! And I never will!"

"I-Ike..." Marth softly spoke underneath his breath.

Forcefully wiping away his tears, Ike gritted his teeth as he let go of Ragnell's handle. His sword fell to the floor and clattered loudly. The impact created a deep *thud.*

Without another second being wasted, Ike knelt down to Marth's level and tightly embraced him, tears reforming in his eyes. He wrapped his arms around Marth, refusing to let go.

Hesitant, Marth slowly and gently gripped the back of Ike's cape. He tiredly rested his head on Ike's shoulder, letting out a silent sigh of relief.

"Ahaha..." Marth faintly chuckled. "I forgot what it's like to be held in your arms. Warm as always..."

Pretending to laugh off his emotional pain, Marth continued laughing until it finally formed into harsh sobs and tears. His grip around Ike's body tightened, as he struggled to breathe and inhale properly.

"Let's just...stay like this, okay? I don't want to let go of you. Not yet." Ike mumbled, resting his head on Marth's.

"Of course. I'll happily—urk..!"

In a brief moment, a sudden sharp pain was forcefully pierced into Marth's stomach before he could finish his sentence. Quickly letting go of Ike, he fearfully stared down at himself.

...An arrow had been shot through his body.

"M-Marth!?"

"Urgh... I-It hurts..." The prince muttered in pain, clutching the area above the bloody arrow.

"Marth, no!" Ike hurriedly yelled, catching Marth in his arms. He gripped his shoulders firmly and locked eyes with Marth.

"I-Ike..." A small, fearful smile was worn on the injured bluenette's face. A single tear rolled down the side of his face.

"No..." Ike hoarsely muttered, staring down at the bloody wound on Marth's stomach.

A soft chuckle left Marth's mouth as he smiled gently at Ike. Raising his thumb towards Ike's face, he carefully wiped away a tear.

"I suppose it was my time. Don't—urgh—be so sad. There's a reason behind everything. There's a reason I had to die.

D-Don't fret, My Love. I'm better off gone, anyway."

Ike desperately grasped Marth's hand as he kept it next to his cheek. Tears flooded his vision as he stared helplessly at his beloved.

"M-Marth, you can't die. Not like this..."

Marth chuckled. Closing his eyes, he leaned forward and pressed his lips against Ike's.

"My final goodbye to you, Ike.

Guide our worlds to peace... A-And never forget how much I love you."

As he let out his final breath, Marth's eyelids dropped. His weak body lay slumped against Ike's, his hand slowly losing its grip from the mercenary's hand.

"Marth...?! Marth, no!"

Ike shook Marth by the shoulders repeatedly.

"Marth, please! Wake up! Say something!"

...But to no avail. The prince's life had been taken. He was gone.